The air was fine; the sky was clear without a cloud; and the spice of
autumn flavored everything. Along the roadside blackberry vines were
turning scarlet, and here and there in the distance a flaming branch
proclaimed the approach of a frosty wooing. One could not ask anything
better on such a day than to be speeding along this white velvet road
in the great blue car with two beloved children.
But all too soon Herbert Robinson's ornate house loomed up, stark and
green, with very white trimmings, and regular flower-beds each side of
the gravel walk. It was the home of a prosperous man, and as such
asserted itself. There had never been anything attractive about it to
Julia Cloud. She preferred the ugly old house in which she had always
lived, with its scaling gray paint and no pretensions to fineness. At
least it was softened by age, and had a look of experience which saved
its ugliness from being crude, and gave it the dignity of time.
And now Julia Cloud's heart began to beat rapidly. All at once she
felt that she had done a most foolish thing in allowing the children
to overrule her and bring her here. Ellen would not be dressed up nor
have the children ready for inspection, and she would be angry at her
sister for not having given warning of their coming. She leaned
forward breathlessly to suggest turning back; but Allison, perhaps
anticipating her feeling, said:
"Now don't you get cold feet, Cloudy Jewel. If Aunt Ellen is sore,
just you talk up to her, and smile a lot, and we'll back you up.
Remember everything's, going fine, and the whole thing's settled. It's
too late to change it now. Is this the place? We'll turn right in,
shall we?" And with the words he swept up under the elaborate wooden
porte-cochère, and, swinging down, flung the door open for Julia Cloud
to alight.
Leslie gave a quick, disdainful glance about, fluttered out beside her
aunt, and, catching the look of apprehension on her face, tripped up
the steps and rang the bell, poising bird-like on the threshold and
calling in a sweet, flute-like voice:
"Aunt Ellen! O Aunt Ellen! Where are you? Don't you know you've got
company all the way from California?"
It was just like taking the bull by the horns, and Julia Cloud paused
on the upper step in wonder. How winning a child she was! and how she
had known by intuition just how to mollify her unpleasant relative!
What would Ellen say? How would she take it?
Ellen Robinson bustled frowning into the hall, whetting her sharp
tongue for an encounter. She had seen the big blue car turn in at the
gate, and knew from Mrs. Perkins's description who it must be. Julia
Cloud had well judged her state of mind, for her four children could
not have been caught in a worse plight so far as untidiness was
concerned, and there had barely been time to marshal them all up the
back stairs with orders to scrub and dress or not to come down till
the visitors were gone. They were even now creeping shufflingly about
overhead on their bare feet, hunting for their respective best shoes
and stockings and other garments, and scrapping in loud whispers.
But Leslie, little diplomat that she was, wasted no time in taking
stock of her aunt. She flung her arms joyously around that astonished
woman, and fairly took her by storm, talking volubly and continuously
until they were all in the house and seated in Ellen's best satin
brocatelle parlor chairs, surrounded by crayon portraits of Herbert
Robinson's ancestors and descendants. Allison too caught on to his
sister's game, and talked a good deal about how nice it was to get
East again after all the years, and how glad they were to have some
relatives of their own. Julia Cloud sat quietly and proudly listening;
and Ellen forgot her anger, and ceased to frown. After all, it was
something to have such good-looking relatives. For the first few
minutes the well-prepared speech wherewith she had intended to dress
down poor Julia lay idle on her lips, and a few sentences of grudging
welcome even, managed to slip by. Then suddenly she turned to her
sister, and the sight of the adoration for the visitors in Julia's
transparent face kindled her anger. Never had such a look as this
glowed in Julia Cloud's face for any little Robinson, save perhaps in
the first few days of their tiny lives before the Robinson had begun
to crop out in them.
"Where were you this morning, Jule? It certainly seems queer for you
to be gadding around having a good time so soon after poor mother's
death. And the dishes not washed, either! Upon my word, you have lost
your head! You weren't brought up that way. I stood up-stairs and
looked around on those unmade beds, and thought what poor mother would
have said if she could see them. Such goings-on! I certainly was
ashamed to have Mrs. Perkins see it."
Two rosy spots bloomed out on Julia Cloud's cheeks, and a tremble came
in her lips, though one could see she was making a great effort to
control herself; and the two long breaths that Leslie and Allison drew
simultaneously were heavily threatening, much like the distant rumble
of thunder.
"I'm sure I don't see what occasion Mrs. Perkins had to see it," she
answered steadily.
"Well, she was there!" said her sister dryly. She seemed to have
forgotten the presence of the two young people, who, if they had been
in the foreground, might have been noticed doing things with their
eyebrows to their mutual understanding and agreement.
"Yes, so she told me," said Julia Cloud significantly. "But that was
not what I came over to talk about, Ellen; I wanted to let you know
that I've rented the house, and the tenant wants possession next week.
I thought you might like to pick out some of mother's things to bring
over here before I pack up. You spoke about wishing you had another
couch for the sitting-room, and you might just as well have the
dining-room one as not. Then I thought perhaps you could use mother's
bedroom suit."
"You've rented the house!" screamed Ellen as soon as she got breath
from her astonishment to interrupt. "You've rented the house without
consulting me? Who to, I'd like to know? I had a tenant already for
that house, I told you."
"Why, I had no time to consult you, Ellen; and, besides, why should I?
The house is mine, and I knew you didn't want it. You have your own
home."
"Well, you certainly are blossoming out and getting independent! I
should think mere decency would have made you consult us before you
did anything. What do you know about business? Herbert will be mad as
anything when I tell him; and like as not you'll get into no end of
trouble with a strange tenant, and we'll have to help you out. Herbert
always says women make all the trouble they can for him before they
call on him for assistance."
Julia smiled.
"I shall not be obliged to call on Herbert for assistance, Ellen.
Everything is arranged. The contract was signed this morning, and I
have promised to vacate as soon as possible. The tenant is the new
school superintendent, and he wants to come at once. I just heard last
evening that he had been disappointed in getting the Harvey house.
It's sold to the foreman of the mill. So I went over to Harmony to see
him at once."
The news was so overwhelming and so unquestionably satisfactory from a
business point of view that Ellen was speechless with astonishment.
Allison gave Leslie a grave wink, and turned to look out of the window
to prevent an outburst of giggles from his sister.
"Well, I think you might have let me know," Ellen resumed with almost
her usual poise. "It's rather mortifying not to know what's going on
in your own family when the neighbors ask. Here was I without any
knowledge of the arrival of my own niece and nephew! Had to be told by
Mrs. Perkins."
Then Allison and Leslie did laugh, but they veiled their mirth by
talking about the two white chickens out in the yard which were
contending for a worm. Suddenly Leslie exclaimed:
"O Allison! I hear the children coming down-stairs, and I forgot their
presents! Run out to the car, and bring me that box."
Allison was off at once, and the entrance of the soapy and embarrassed
children created a further diversion.
For a few minutes even Ellen Robinson was absorbed in the presents.
There was a camera for Junior, a gold chain and locket for Elaine, a
beautiful doll for Dorothy, and a small train of cars that would wind
up and run on a miniature track for Bertie; so of course everything
had to be looked at and tried. Elaine put on her chain, and preened
herself before the glass; Junior had to understand at once just how to
take a picture; everybody had to watch the doll open and shut its
eyes, and to try to unbutton and button its coat and dress; and then
the railroad track had to be set up and the train started off on its
rounds. Ellen Robinson really looked almost motherly while she watched
her happy children; and Julia Cloud relaxed, and let the smile come
around her lips once more.
But all things come to an end, and Ellen Robinson was not one to
forget her own affairs for long at a time. She sat back from starting
the engine on its third round, and fixed her eyes on her sister with
that air of commander-general that was so intolerable.
"Well, then, I suppose you won't be over here till next week," she
frowned thoughtfully. "I needed you to help with the crabapple jelly.
That makes it inconvenient. But perhaps I can hold off the fruit a
little longer; I'll see. You ought to be able to get all your packing
done this week, I should think. When do they go?" She nodded toward
the niece and nephew quite indifferently as though they were deaf.
Julia Cloud's sensitive face flushed with annoyance, but the two pairs
of bright eyes that lifted and fixed themselves upon their aunt held
nothing but enjoyment of the situation.
"Why, we're not going until Aunt Jewel is ready to go with us, Aunt
Ellen," announced Leslie, looking up from the doll she was reclothing.
"You know we're all going to college together, Auntie, too!"
Ellen Robinson lifted an indignant chin. She had no sense of humor,
and did not enjoy jokes, especially those practised upon herself.
"Going to college! At her age!" she snorted. "Well, I always knew she
was childish, but I never expected her to want to go back to
kindergarten!"
Leslie rose up straight as a rush, her strong young arms down at her
sides, her fingers in their soft suède gloves working restively as if
she wanted to rush at her aunt and administer corporal punishment. Her
pretty red lips were pursed angrily, and her blue eyes fairly blazed
righteous wrath. Julia Cloud caught her breath, and wondered how she
was to control this young fury; but before she could say a word
Allison stepped in front of her, and spoke coolly.
"That's the reason she's such a good scout, Aunt Ellen. That's why we
want her to come and take care of us. Because she knows how to stay
young."
He suddenly seemed to have grown very tall and quite mature as he
spoke, and there was something about his manly bearing that held Ellen
Robinson's tongue in check as he looked at his watch with a polite
"Excuse me," and then turned to Julia Cloud. "Aunt Jewel, if we are to
meet my guardian on that train, I think we shall have to hurry. It's
quite a run into the city, you know." Julia Cloud arose with a breath
of relief.
"The city!" gasped Ellen. "You're not going into the city this late in
the afternoon, I hope! Do you know how long it takes?"
Allison glanced out to his high-powered machine confidently.
"We made it in an hour and a half coming over. I guess we shall have
plenty of time to meet the five-o'clock train if we go at once. I've
got a peach of a car, Aunt Ellen. I'll have to come round and take you
and the kids a ride to-morrow or the next day if Aunt Jewel can spare
me."
"Thank you! I have a car of my own!" snapped his aunt disagreeably.
"Oh! I beg your pardon! Well, Aunt Jewel, we really must go if we are
to meet Mr. Luddington. Good-by, Aunt Ellen! Good-by, cousins! We'll
see you again before we leave town, of course. Come on, Aunt Jewel!"
And he took Julia Cloud lightly, protectingly by the elbow, and
steered her out of the room, down the steps, and into the car, while
Leslie danced gayly after, chattering away about how nice it was to
get back East and meet real relatives.
But Ellen Robinson was not listening to Leslie. She hurried after her
departing guests regardless of a noisy struggle that was going on
between her two youngest over the railway train, and stood on her
front steps, fairly snorting with indignation.
"Julia Cloud, what does all this mean? You shan't go away until you
explain. Have you taken leave of your senses? What is this nonsense
about going to college?"
Allison with his hand on the starter gave his aunt a swift, reassuring
smile; and Julia Cloud from the safe vantage of the back seat leaned
forward, smiling.
"Why, it's the children that are going to college, Ellen, not I. I'm
only going along to keep house and play mother for them. Isn't it
lovely? I'll tell you all about it to-morrow when you come down to
pick out your things. Be sure to come early, because I want to get
started packing the first thing in the morning. Mr. Luddington, the
children's guardian, is coming to-night to complete the arrangements,
and we expect to get away just as soon as I can get packed up. So come
early."
The engine purred softly for a rhythmical second, and the car slid
quickly away from the door.
"But--the very idea!" snorted Aunt Ellen. "Julia Cloud!" she fairly
shouted. "Stop! You had no right in the world to go ahead and make
plans without consulting me!"
But the car was beyond ear-shot now, and Leslie was waving a pretty,
tantalizing hand from the back seat.
"The very idea!" Ellen Robinson gasped to the autumn landscape as she
stood alone and watched the car, a mere speck down the road, on its
way to town. "The idea!" And then as if for self-justification: "Poor
mother! What would she think if she could know? Well, I wash my hands
of her."
But Ellen Robinson did not wash her hands of her sister. Instead, she
found that it was going to be very hard indeed to wash her hands of
her own affairs without her sister's help. She had, in fact, been
counting on that help for the last several years, after her mother
became an invalid and she knew that it was only a matter of time
before Julia's hands would be set free for other labor. It was quite
too disconcerting now, after having got along all these years on the
strength of the help that was to come, to find her capable sister
snatched away from her by two young things in this ridiculous way.
They talked it over at supper, and Herbert was almost savage about it,
as if in some way his wife had misrepresented the possibilities, and
led him to expect the assistance that would come from her sister and
save him from paying wages to a servant.
"Well, she'll be good and sick of it inside of three months, mark
my words; and then she'll come whining back and want us to take her
in;--be glad enough to get a home. So don't you worry. But what I
want understood is this: _She's not going to find it so easy to get
back._ See? You make her thoroughly understand that. You better go
down to-morrow and pick out everything you want. Take plenty. You
can't tell but something may happen to the house, and the furniture
burn up. We might as well have it as anybody. And you make it good
and sure that she understands right here and now that if she goes
she doesn't come back. Of course, I'm not saying she can't come
back if she comes to her senses, and is real humble; but you
needn't let her know that. Just give her to understand it is her
last chance, that I can't be monkeyed with this way. I've offered
her a very generous thing, and she knows it, and she's a fool,
that's what she is, a _fool_ I say!" He brought his big fist down
heavily on the table, and jarred the dishes; and the children looked
up in premature comprehension, storing up the epithet for future
use. "She's no end of a fool, going off with those crazy kids. Some
one ought to warn their guardian about her. Why, she has no more
idea of how to take care of two high and mighty good-for-nothings
like that than an infant in arms!"
Meantime the subject of their discussion was seated serenely at a
table in one of the best hotels of the great city, having the time of
her life. In the years that were to come there might be many more
delightful suppers, even more elegantly served, perhaps; but none
would ever rival this first time in her existence when she had sat
among the wealthy and great of the land and been treated like one of
them.
Mr. Luddington was a typical business man, elderly and kind, with wise
eyes and a great smile. He turned his eyes keenly on Julia Cloud for
an instant at their first meeting, then let his full smile envelop
her, and she was somehow made aware of the fact that he had set his
seal of approval to the contract already made by his two enthusiastic
wards. All the forebodings she had entertained in the little intervals
when Leslie and Allison allowed her to think at all were swept aside
by his kind look and big, serious tone when he first took her hand and
scanned her true face. "I'm glad they've picked such a woman!" he
said. "You'll have your hands full, for they're a pair! But it's worth
it!"
And, when they all rode home through the moonlight, Julia Cloud
nestled under the soft, thick robes of the car, and listened to the
pleasant talk between the young people and their guardian with a sense
of peace. If this strong, wise business man thought the arrangement
was all right, why, then she need not fear any longer. It was real,
and not a dream, and she might rely upon the wisdom of her decision.
And with that sense of being upheld by something wiser than her own
wish she fell asleep that night, haunted by no dreams of her
domineering sister.