THE REFUSAL
"Sorry, Jeanette, I cannot do what you ask. Please be patient a few
moments. I should regret your going from home just now, and feel it
would be a mistake. Yet you know I take your view of the matter into
account as well as my own. I have tried always to be friends with you,
not to force you to believe as I do, and for that reason have been
specially disappointed in you of late, dear. But this is not what I
want to tell you. The truth is I have not the money to afford your
going East to school at present."
Jeanette felt the pressure of her father's arm on her own. It occurred
to her that suddenly he seemed older than she had ever appreciated.
She glanced up at him, hardly comprehending what he had confided to
her. His dark hair was graying, there were deeper lines in his strong,
fine face, yet his eyes were as blue as ever. Jeanette often had
thought that her father had the bluest eyes she had ever seen.
Finally she became aware of the gravity of what he was saying.
"You know, dear, that we have lived in the big house on the Rainbow
Ranch, not because it was our own, or because we could afford a home
of such elegance, but because no one else was here to occupy it. The
former Ranch Girls, Jean and Olive and Frieda, are married and away. My
income as manager of the ranch and part owner has been sufficient for
our expenses until of late.
"You have realized, perhaps, that the ranch has not been paying
recently. There is a business depression all over the country and we
have had to suffer as well as other people."
Jeanette's breath was coming quickly.
Was her father actually refusing her request and offering as a reason
for his refusal a valid argument? Would entreaty, temper, all the
weapons at her command, fail to move him?
Not consciously did Jeanette ask these questions of herself, yet they
were in her mind fighting for control.
For the first time during the evening her face colored warmly; the firm
line of her lips and chin became apparent.
"Surely, father, your income cannot be so reduced that you cannot
afford to send me to boarding school. Why, we have always had
everything we wished and lots of servants! Besides, if we are to be
poor I ought to learn to support myself."
Jeanette uttered a sigh of relief. This last remark, which happily had
occurred to her at the moment, could not fail to influence her father.
In any case he must be forced to see that she must get away from home.
She could see nothing else as of equal importance.
Her father smiled.
"You may be right, Jeanette. I have always wished you girls to learn
to make your own living. Later I shall do what I can to help. What you
must see, dear, is that at present it is impossible. Not only is the
ranch failing to pay, but the stocks in which I have placed nearly all
my savings are yielding almost nothing.
"You are young, Jeanette, yet I am going to tell you something else.
I have not told any one as much as I am telling you, not even your
stepmother. She knows I have been troubled about business matters, but
she does not know how seriously. There are several reasons for this."
Mr. Colter began walking more slowly, not glancing at the figure or
the face beside him. He did not catch the expression in Jeanette's
gray-blue eyes, and about her lips.
"You see, dear, your stepmother has a good deal of money of her own
and is the most generous person in the world. She has been trying her
best ever since our marriage to make me use her income, but this I have
utterly declined to do. It is enough that she has married a man so much
older than she, so unworthy of her in many ways."
"Nonsense, father!" Jeanette said sharply, again moved from the thought
of herself. "Well, I suppose I should not say what I really think. But
truly, sending me away need not cost a great deal. I am willing to go
to as inexpensive a school as we can find. Only you must realize that I
am forced to go, as I simply cannot endure to stay at home any longer."
Without replying Mr. Colter turned and started back toward the house.
Finally he said in a different tone:
"It is impossible for me to do what you wish, Jeanette. Do not discuss
the question again."
In her father's tone there was a finality which Jeanette understood,
resented and did not intend to obey. For the present she dared say no
more.
"I must tell your mother and the other girls what I have just told you,
Jeanette, and see if they receive the information in the same spirit."
Inside the drawing-room one could have supposed there had been no
change or movement of any kind since the withdrawal of the others.
Lina, however, still in her big chair, had ceased reading and sat with
a closed book in her hand. Her brows were drawn close together and her
cheeks were delicately flushed as if she were thinking deeply.
In a corner of the room Eda was still playing with her tiny gray
kitten. Via and her new mother were still standing by the big mantel
hand in hand.
Their attitude gave Jeanette another pang of annoyance as she and her
father entered the room. She would never forgive Via's desertion of her
for her stepmother, especially of late when she needed her sympathy and
affection as never before.
Mr. Colter, as if he were physically weary, dropped into the big chair
Lina offered him.
"What is it, father? Tell us at once!" Lina demanded, seating herself
beside him on the arm of the chair and holding on to him for support.
As if she were a little jealous, Eda deserted her kitten and seated
herself in his lap.
Upon the two figures across from him--his wife, who had been Jacqueline
Ralston, and Via--Mr. Colter's gaze rested.
Purposely Jeanette removed herself from the group. Crossing again to
the window, she made a pretense of looking out as her father had done a
half hour before.
In much the same words he had used with Jeanette, Mr. Colter told the
other members of his family what had occurred.
"It is pretty hard on you, Jack," he ended.
Mrs. Colter laughed.
"Why hard upon me? Being poor? Jim, dear, please remember and be fair.
You know how little I care about money and how impossible I find it to
run this big place in the quiet fashion Jean did. Lina knows, and knows
because I am always asking her advice and help.
"If only you realized how relieved we are to know it is only worry over
money matters that has been troubling you of late! The girls and I have
been waiting for you to tell us. While you and Jeanette were outdoors
we made up our minds that we would not, could not wait much longer. You
see, we have something _we_ want to tell. Suppose for the next six
months or more we rent the big house and move over to the old lodge,
Rainbow Lodge. It is still the home I seem to love best, even if I
should not confess it."
Lina turned toward the figure by the window.
"What do you feel, Jeanette? We have been making plans while you and
father were out of the room. If father agrees we are to go over to the
old lodge in the morning and select our own rooms. We are to do most of
our work and leave the servants here for the people who rent the big
place."
Jeanette turned slowly.
"It is a very nice plan, Lina, safe and sane and comfortable, yet it
does not appeal to me. I said this afternoon that I expected to go away
to school. Father does not see this as I do and so far has not given
his consent. He must change his mind."
Jeanette looked directly at her stepmother and their eyes met for the
first time in many days.
"I never have been happy at home since father re-married. I have been
less happy of late. Perhaps Mrs. Colter knows why."
The arm about Jeanette's younger sister tightened. Jeanette felt a
twinge of jealousy.
Via was staring at her with an expression of astonishment, even of
resentment. The older girl flinched. She and Via had never a quarrel or
misunderstanding before in their lives.
Her stepmother spoke slowly. She glanced away from Jeanette toward her
husband.
"Jim, if Jeanette really wants so much to leave home, why, if you are
not seriously opposed, perhaps you could arrange it."
An uncomfortable silence followed in the drawing-room.
Jeanette moved forward a few steps. She stood now in the midst of the
family group, harmonious save for her presence.
"Thank you," she announced, with strained politeness. "I don't want
father to send me to school unless _he_ can afford it. I cannot
help understanding that you may intend to pay my expenses, and although
I appreciate why you would be glad to have me away, this I could not
accept. Good night."