Dorothy Alexander was a good type of the healthy western girl. She was
tall, well-built, and the picture of splendid health. Her hair was of a
ruddy hue, with copper glints in it. Her complexion was like “peaches
and cream,” and needed no cosmetic to enhance its charm. Her form was
lithe and supple, and her features were good. Her bright eyes sparkled
with good-humor, and her smile was contagious in its sweetness. When she
was well-dressed, she would be a beauty, thought Eleanor, but her
present overdressing depreciated her genuine good looks.
“Prof., we bring you a new convert,” laughed Eleanor, as the three girls
approached Mr. Fabian.
“Dorothy Alexander, Mr. Fabian,” added Polly.
The two acknowledged the introduction and the girl thought: “What a fine
face he has! Such wonderful expression and forehead.”
And Mr. Fabian thought: “There’s a great deal under all that sham.”
Shortly after the introduction, Mr. Fabian spoke of the flaunting
mistakes some so-called decorator had made in the selection and
furnishings of the salon. So they turned their attention to that
interesting subject. Dodo stood by and listened to it all, as she
wondered what these two good-looking girls could find to interest them
in such a dry subject? But she confessed that both girls seemed more
beautiful and attractive, when they were thoroughly interested and
animated with the ideas they were exchanging with Mr. Fabian.
As they left the room, Mr. Fabian turned his attention to Dodo,
particularly. And soon she was telling him freely, all about her life in
Denver, and how hard her father had worked and suffered at Cripple
Creek, to amass the fortune they now enjoyed. When Dodo described her
father’s character and how simple and blunt he was in everything, her
hearers fell in love with the unknown. She told how generous he was to
every one, and how no one was left in need if he could help it.
“But he has one awful sin that Ma can’t forgive him,” added Dodo,
glancing covertly around to make sure no one could hear.
Mr. Fabian shivered at what she was about to say, and he wished Dodo was
not _quite_ so frank as to reveal family skeletons. But she was launched
and nothing could check her.
“Pa has a pet old pipe that’s as black as ink. He just won’t smoke any
of the imported cigars Ma buys for him, and he won’t let her throw the
old pipe away. He gets away by himself and smokes it until he feels
happy—no matter what Ma says or does.”
All three of her audience bent double in merriment at what they just
heard. Mr. Fabian was so relieved at the “sin” he feared to hear about,
that he laughed louder than the two girls.
“S-sh!” warned Dodo, hurriedly. “Here comes Pa, now!”
Instantly they hushed and turned to watch the “grand being” they had
just heard about. The shock of beholding the actual man who was the
opposite of what Dodo had pictured him caused them to mumble confusedly
when Mr. Alexander was introduced.
He was a little wiry man of about fifty years. The top of his head was
bald, with a fringe of grey all about the crown. Right in front, on top,
grew a stiff lock of stubborn hair that generally stood upright. This
gave him the funny appearance that is often portrayed in the comic
section of the Sunday papers. His hands were knotted with hard work, and
his legs were bowed just enough to make him walk awkwardly. His eyes
were small and merry, and his ears large and fan-like. But his mouth was
the feature that attracted instant attention and held it wonderingly. It
was a wide, good-natured mouth, and when he smiled he literally
demonstrated that saying: “His head opened from ear to ear.” He wore a
huge ulster of checks and a tourist cap with ear-tabs tied on top.
“Hello, Dodo! Who’s your friends?” called he cheerily, as he came up to
them.
He was introduced, and Dodo followed up the introduction by saying: “I
was just talking about you—telling my friends what a fine man you are.”
Mr. Alexander smiled happily. “It ain’t every man what has a gal that
says that, eh?”
“You’re right there, Mr. Alexander,” agreed Mr. Fabian, glad to speak
and express something worthy of himself.
“And Dodo is sure one fine gal, too. I wonder why she ain’t sp’iled like
other gals I see.”
“Perhaps her father’s example is before her,” ventured Eleanor. And
forever after that, Dodo swore allegiance to Eleanor.
“I’m right glad you-all met Dodo, ’cause I was fearin’ the missus might
get her to give in to them foolish notions about gettin’ a furriner. Did
you tell ’em, Dodo?” said her father.
“Yes, Pa, and the girls are going to help me cure Ma of that fad.”
“That’s the best news, yet! I hope you kin do it!” said he, slapping his
knee. “You must be real gals, too, like mine, here.”
Polly laughed, and Eleanor said: “We like to ride and hike, and have
good times, but we’re not out hunting for husbands. If we ever reach
that place where we want to marry, we’ll take a man we know by heart,
and not one who is buying a doll made up at a hair-dresser and
beauty-doctor’s.”
“You’re the right sort, all right!” chuckled the little man,
transferring the slap from his knee to Eleanor’s back.
Eleanor gasped for breath but she considered the sharp commendation a
compliment that any _man_ might be glad to get. Mr. Fabian had to smile
at Eleanor’s sudden gasp and instant recovery, but Polly laughed
outright, for she was accustomed to such pleasantries from the ranchers
at home.
“Poor Pa. He’s so glad to meet some sensible folks, that he doesn’t stop
to think how hard his hand is, with all the mining and picking at gold
ore, out west,” added Dodo, smiling sympathetically at Eleanor, and then
at her father.
“Right again! This traipsing to U-rope fer a title, isn’t my kind of
work. But I jus’ couldn’t let Ma run off with Dodo and all my cash, when
I knew Dodo diden’ want to. So I says, ‘Onless you lug me along wherever
you go, my cash stays behind in America.’ You-all know, ‘cash makes the
mare go,’ so I was included in the trip.”
The little man chuckled and caused the others to laugh at his amusing
expression. Then he leaned forward and said confidentially: “But I’ll
confess, all this tight-fittin’ clothes, and a boiled shirt with stiff
collars and cuffs ain’t to my likin’! I have to pinch my feet into shiny
tight shoes, and use a tie that has to be knotted every day, ’stead of a
ready-made one that I can hook on to my collar-button.”
At that admission, the girls laughed merrily and Mr. Fabian simply
roared, for he understood collar-buttons and the agony Mr. Alexander
must endure.
The little man felt that he was making fine headway in his
conversational powers, so he continued to practice the art.
“But say! let me tell you-all—when Ma carted me to Noo York and made me
take dancing lessons to get graceful, I tried it twicet—then I balked!
‘No more of them monkey-shines for an old miner,’ says I. And I never
did it again, did I, Dodo?”
Dodo laughed and shook her head, and the others renewed their mirth. Mr.
Alexander was now encouraged to proceed.
“Ma went to a Madam Something-er-other fer to learn how to act in polite
society and how to not do the wrong things at the right time, and vice
versy, but she coulden get _me_ to go there! I spent that time at the
Movies or ridin’ on the Fifth Avenoo bus, and laughin’ at folks—the way
they rushed around like ants.
“But here I am, mixin’ in as good comp’ny as I want, and it ain’t
costin’ me a cent to sit in a little room and listen to a fat old woman
who charges a dollar a throw.” As he concluded his speech, a group of
people standing directly back of Mr. Fabian and the girls, joined the
circle.
Mr. Alexander instantly froze up and felt uncomfortable lest they had
heard him speak. Then Mr. Fabian eased his mind by saying: “Now you can
meet the Ashbys, Mr. Alexander. Miss Dodo, this is Mrs. Ashby, and Ruth,
and Mr. Ashby. And this is a new friend, Mr. Ashby, but an old
acquaintance of Polly and Eleanor’s from Denver—Mr. Alexander and Miss
Dodo.”
The introductions over, Mr. Ashby quickly smoothed the way for the
nervous little man from the west; but Dodo wondered why her mother had
the impression that these people were inferior because they were in
business in New York. She had never met any one more refined, or who
showed truer gentility than these people.
After an exchange of words, Mr. Alexander whispered to his daughter:
“Dodo, do you think we’d better go out to Ma? She might get huffy, you
know, when she finds out we’ve been meetin’ all the nice people and
leavin’ her in the cold.”
“We’ll all go out, Mr. Alexander,” suggested Eleanor, seeing how much
better it would be for the two culprits if Mrs. Alexander had to
entertain a number of new-comers instead of her own people.
They started to go on deck, but Mr. Alexander hastily surveyed himself
in a mirror as he passed. Then he pulled at Mr. Fabian’s sleeve.
“I reckon I’d better take off the ulster before the Missus sees me in
it. She can’t bear it, ’cause she thinks it looks like a workin’-man’s
coat.”
So saying, the wrap was slipped off and Mr. Alexander straightened the
cap on his shiny head. He brushed a speck from his pale grey spats, and
tugged at his tie to have it correctly placed. Then he hurried after the
others. In that time, Mr. Fabian saw how hen-pecked the poor little man
must be, and he resolved to stand by him in his troubles. Thus Dodo won
two allies, and her father unconsciously acquired a splendid friend for
times of need.
“Have you ever been abroad before?” asked Mr. Ashby, as Mr. Alexander
caught up with him.
“Not on your life! The States is good enough for me, but Dodo had to be
saved, you see, and I come along.”
Mr. Ashby knew nothing of Mrs. Alexander’s hopes and aspirations, and he
was in the dark about the little man’s words.
“You have a great treat awaiting you, if you have never visited the
famous old cities of Europe, before,” added Mr. Ashby.
“Most folks go over for other things than to see the fine towns,”
remarked Mr. Alexander.
“I hear the women-folk mostly go to get clothes in Paris.”
Everyone laughed; then the group crossed the deck to the steamer-chair
occupied by Mrs. Alexander. Dodo introduced her mother to the strangers;
she smiled loftily at the Ashbys, but was very effusive over Mr. Fabian.
So much so, that he wondered at it.
But in a few moments she unconsciously showed her reason for it. “I hear
you are going to visit at an English Peer’s, in London, Mr. Fabian.”
“My wife and daughter are visiting at Sir James Osgood’s, I believe, but
my visit there all depends on whether the Ashbys and my girls are
included in the invitation. If they are not, of course I will have to
decline, also.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t miss such a chance, would you?” cried the surprised
woman.
“I’m missing nothing that I know of,” replied Mr. Fabian; then Polly
came to his rescue and changed the conversation.
In the next few days, Mr. Alexander and Dodo became great favorites with
the Ashbys and Mr. Fabian, while Polly and Eleanor declared that the
girl was splendid! She had dropped all pretence and make-up, and had
donned the simplest gowns she had in the trunk, much to her mother’s
disapproval, and to the girls’ smiling approval.
In constant association with the quiet Polly, the well-bred Ruth Ashby,
and the thoroughbred Eleanor, Dodo soon acquired better form in every
way. She was quick and bright enough to recognise her shortcomings and
eager to improve herself.
The last morning of the trip, after the English shore had been sighted,
Mrs. Alexander suddenly changed her plans about going to Havre, and
decided to land in England when the others did. This change of plan she
confided to no one at the time. But she awaited a chance.
“Have you really decided to leave us, Mr. Fabian?” said she coyly, when
she met that gentleman in the morning at breakfast.
“Yes, we take the lighter that comes off shore at Dover, and takes on
those who wish to land.”
“Dodo tells me that you got a wireless that your wife and daughter would
meet you at the wharf, in Dover,” continued Mrs. Alexander.
“Yes, and the invitation from Sir James, includes my party, I hear, so
it is all right. We are all going there for an informal dinner-party and
to spend the night. Then we will hire an auto and continue on our trip
in the morning,” explained Mr. Fabian.
“Dear, dear! I am so upset,” sighed the amateur actress. “I find _my_
car—it was shipped over before we left Noo York—was left in London
instead of going on to France. So we have to get off when you do, and go
to London just to get our car.”
“Oh, really! I didn’t know you had sent a car across,” said Mr. Fabian.
“Dear yes! You might as well, when you have one, you know. But I expect
to buy myself a new French car whiles I am in Paris. Just for myself,
and a friend or two, to use, you know; and that lets Pa drive his own
touring car, ’cause he is crazy about motoring.”
Mr. Alexander had not mentioned a car, nor had Dodo said anything about
the trouble in the delivery of a car to the wrong port, so Mr. Fabian
mistrusted the truth of the statement made by Mrs. Alexander; but he
forbore saying anything about the matter to any of his companions.
Evidently the lady’s husband and daughter had just previously been
warned about the car, also, for they looked troubled and made no comment
when Mrs. Alexander surprised everyone by saying: “We find we have to
land at Dover, also, as our car went astray during shipment and we have
to see about it in London.”
“Oh, how nice! Then Dodo can remain with us a bit longer,” said Ruth,
guilelessly.
“And her mother, of course,” said Mrs. Alexander pointedly, lifting her
shoulders as well as her eye-brows.
“And her old man, too,” chuckled Mr. Alexander, causing everyone who
heard him to laugh.
His spouse sent him a most disquieting look, however, and he subsided in
his chair. But Eleanor, who sat beside him at the table, nudged him
encouragingly when Mrs. Alexander was not looking.
So, when the lighter touched at the Dover dock, the entire party got
off, and soon Mr. Fabian was encircled by four arms, while two heads
were pressed close to his face. A younger woman stood a bit aside,
smiling sympathetically at the reunion.
Then she was introduced to the Americans as Angela Osgood, Nancy
Fabian’s friend. And in turn, Mr. Fabian introduced his two protegées,
Polly and Eleanor, and the Ashbys, and the Alexanders.
When Mrs. Alexander really found herself face to face with the daughter
of an English Baronet, she was speechless with joy. Now she could write
home and tell everyone she ever knew about meeting Sir James Osgood’s
daughter!
But Angela never dreamed of the disturbance she had caused in the breast
of this unusual-looking woman.
“Now, how shall we dispose of all the passengers, Nancy?” laughed
Angela, counting the heads of the party she expected to drive to the
town house for dinner.
“The car only holds seven, you see,” explained she, turning to the
Ashbys. “I counted on Nancy’s father and two girls driving with me, and
the three Ashbys taking the seat in the road-car where the luggage will
be placed. The groom drives that. Or we can rearrange it any way you
say.”
Mrs. Alexander instantly pushed herself forward and said: “Oh, how very
kind of you to include us in your party! I really can’t accept a seat in
the car if anyone else must be crowded.”
Dodo looked like a thunder-cloud and pulled at her mother’s arm, but Mr.
Alexander spoke out bluntly.
“I ain’t invited to nobody’s house, so I’m going on to London to get
that car you told me about. Dodo can come with me.”
His spouse instantly silenced him with a glowering look, and Angela
hoped to smooth matters out by what she now said.
“Mother and father will be delighted to have all of you come, and I’m
sure they will feel _dreadfully_, if anyone is left out. We never stand
on ceremony, you know, and this is an occasion where you all must come
without formality.”
“We’re delighted, I assure you, Miss Osgood, and I will accept for my
family and myself. The only question now, is, how shall we manage about
the cars. If only my seven-passenger car was here instead of in London!”
exclaimed Mrs. Alexander, eagerly.
“Why, the ladies will use this car, of course,” said Mr. Fabian, “while
we men go in the baggage-car. You may be uncomfortably crowded, but I
see no other way.”
So Mrs. Fabian, Mrs. Ashby and Mrs. Alexander sat in the back seat while
Polly, Eleanor, Ruth and Dodo had to crowd upon the folding seats in the
middle of the car. Nancy sat in front and Angela drove the car. The
groom with the baggage and the three men followed directly after in his
car.
Mrs. Alexander certainly was a general when she wanted to win a battle
of wits, but it was a pity she had no better ambitions than the mere
forcing a way into society and marrying her daughter to a title.
As they started for London, she leaned back in the seat and said: “If
only the company hadn’t mistaken the directions about my car. It is such
a great roomy affair, that everyone could have traveled in it with the
utmost comfort.”
“But it wouldn’t have been here at all, for us to travel in, if they had
sent it as you directed—to Havre, instead of London,” said Mrs. Ashby.
“Oh true! But I meant—if it had been left over at Dover instead of
going on to London,” quickly corrected the lady.
The conversation drifted to other topics but was switched back again
when Mrs. Alexander remarked: “I was just thinking how nice it would be
for the Fabians and Ashbys to tour Great Britain first instead of
Europe; then they could use my big car whiles Dodo and I go in my new
runabout that I expect to buy immediately.”
“Why, Ma! you know you’re talking—” began Dodo, from the seat in front
of her mother, but Mrs. Alexander interrupted instantly.
“Oh yes, deary, I know what you would say! That I must try a new car,
first, and get acquainted with it. But I can select a make similar to
our big one, can’t I? and that is quite familiar to me.”
“Oh yes, if you want to duplicate our old car, you can do it. But you
said you wanted an up-to-date car with all the latest equipment, this
time, and such a car won’t seem familiar to you, be——”
“Never mind, Dodo! Our friends are not interested in our old cars, or
what we have done with them,” cut in Mrs. Alexander.
So Dodo subsided for the time, while her mother continued: “So there
will be ample room for you to tour in my large car, ladies, while Dodo
and I use the roadster and follow you.”
“We cannot say, one way or another, Mrs. Alexander, because nothing has
been said about a change in the itinerary. It all depends upon Mr.
Fabian and Mr. Ashby,” replied Mrs. Ashby, politely.
But Mrs. Alexander was satisfied with the progress she had made by
mentioning the tour, and so she left the rest to time.
After a long drive through the highly cultivated countryside that spread
out between Dover and London, Angela drove up in front of an imposing
mansion on one of the avenues of England’s great city. As a uniformed
man came down the wide marble steps to take orders from Angela, Mrs.
Alexander sat breathless with pleasure at the success of her
maneuvering.
The baggage-car came up shortly after the ladies had alighted from the
first automobile, and the servants carried the bags indoors, then waited
to be directed to the proper rooms.
Sir James and his wife welcomed the party of Americans, but Mrs.
Alexander felt disappointed when she saw a plain little lady dressed in
grey taffeta, and found Sir James to be a short fat man with a genial
expression, but a horsy manner. The others seemed quite at home with
these English people and all were soon exchanging opinions about the
recent problems in politics.
Not a word or look from either Sir James, or his lady, led anyone to
think that three extra visitors were thrust upon the hospitable family,
nor did any hint escape them that the unexpected guests were other than
socially their equals. Mrs. Alexander was looking for some sign of this
superiority in them because of the title, and felt most uneasy because
she detected none of it; but finding she and her family were accepted on
the same standard as the Fabians and Ashbys, she recovered her wonted
habit of pushing a way to the foreground in everything.
As the group separated to go to their separate suites, Sir James
reminded them: “Quite informal dinner, you know. We are only tarrying in
town a few days, before going on to Osgood Hall, so we make no pretence
at dressing formally.”
The Ashbys and Fabians knew this to be a courtesy extended them because
of their lack of baggage, but Mrs. Alexander thought Sir James meant
that their own trunks had gone to the country and so they were not able
to dress in dinner clothes. But she determined to show how _she_ could
dress, with her money.
Before Dorothy could lock the door of her room, her mother entered and
handed her the dress she was to wear for dinner.
“Why, Ma! we were told _not_ to dress!” exclaimed she.
“That’s only bluff. You put this on and show folks that we know what’s
what, even if we haven’t a title!” declared her mother.
Reluctantly Dodo took the beaded georgette evening dress and then closed
the door after her mother’s commanding figure. As she went to the
toilet-table she thought: “I wonder what poor Pa will have to wear
tonight!” But she was to learn about that sooner than she thought for.