Fledra Cronk's school days lengthened slowly into weeks. She was making
rapid strides in English, and Miss Shellington's patience went far
toward keeping her mind concentrated upon her work. At first some of the
girls at the school were inclined to smile at her endeavors; but her sad
face and questioning eyes drew many of them into firm friends.
Especially did she cling to Mildred Vandecar, and raised in the
golden-haired daughter of the governor an idol at whose shrine she
worshiped.
One Saturday morning in the latter part of March, Mildred Vandecar
persuaded her mother to allow her to go, accompanied by Katherine, to
the Shellington home. They found Ann reading aloud to the twins, Flukey
resting on the divan. Mildred was presented to him, and in the hour that
followed the sick boy became her devoted subject.
The three young people listened eagerly to the story, and after it was
finished Ann entered into conversation with Katherine.
Suddenly she heard Flukey exclaim, in answer to some question put by
Mildred:
"My sister and me ain't got no mother!"
Miss Shellington colored and partly rose; but she had no chance to
speak, for Mildred was saying:
"Oh, dear! how you must miss her! Is she dead? And haven't you any
father, either?"
"Yep," said Flukey; "but he ain't no good. He hates us, he does, and
worse than that, he's a thief!"
Mildred drew back with a shocked cry. Ann was up instantly; while
Fledra got to her feet with effort. She remembered how carefully Ann had
instructed her never to mention Lon Cronk or any of the episodes in
their early days at Ithaca; but Flukey had never been thus warned.
"Mildred, dear," Ann said anxiously, "Floyd and Fledra were unfortunate
in losing their mother, and more unfortunate in having a father who
doesn't care for them as your father does for you." She passed an arm
about Fledra and continued, "It would be better if we were not to talk
of family troubles any more, Floyd.... Fledra, won't you ask Mildred to
play something for you?"
The rest of Mildred's stay was so strained that Miss Shellington
breathed a sigh of relief when Katherine suggested going. For a few
seconds neither Ann nor Fledra spoke after the closing of the door. It
was the latter who finally broke the silence.
"Flukey hadn't ought to have said anything about Pappy Lon; but he
didn't know--he thought everybody knew about us.... Are ye going to send
us away now?"
The girl's anxiety and worried look caused Ann to reassure her quickly.
* * * * *
In describing the events of the afternoon to her mother, Mildred wept
bitterly. When a grave look spread over Mrs. Vandecar's face, Katherine
interposed:
"Aunty, while those children undoubtedly had bad parents, they will
really amount to something, I'm sure."
It was not until she was alone with Katherine that Mrs. Vandecar opened
the subject.
"I'm almost afraid I was incautious to allow a friendship to spring up
between this strange child and Mildred. I wish I could see her."
"Ask her here, then. She's very pretty, very gentle, and needs young
friends sadly, although the Shellingtons are treating the two children
beautifully. If they don't grow up to be good, it won't be Ann's fault,
nor Horace's."
"I'll invite the child to come some afternoon, then." With this decision
the subject dropped.
* * * * *
That evening Ann went out on a charitable mission, leaving Fledra to
deliver a message to Everett and to care for Floyd. The boy was in bed,
his thin white hands resting wearily at his sides. For sometime he
allowed his sister to work at her lessons. Then he said impetuously:
"Flea, why be these folks always so kind to you and me? They ain't never
been mad yet, and I'm allers a yowlin' 'cause my bones and my heart hurt
me."
Flea looked up from her book meditatively.
"They're both good, that's why."
"It's 'cause they pray all the time, ain't it?" Floyd asked.
"I guess so."
"I'd a died those nights if Sister Ann hadn't prayed for me, wouldn't I,
Flea?"
"Yes," replied Flea in abstraction.
After a silence, Floyd spoke again:
"Flea, do you like that feller what Sister Ann's going to marry?"
The girl dropped a monosyllabic negative and fell to studying.
"Why?" insisted Floyd.
Before Flea could reply, a servant appeared at the door, saying that Mr.
Brimbecomb wanted Miss Shellington.
[Illustration: "IT WERE A PRINCE--A REAL LIVE PRINCE!"]
Fledra closed her book and went to the drawing-room, where she found
Everett standing near the grate. His brilliant smile made her drop her
eyes embarrassedly. She overlooked his extended hand, and made no move
to come forward. The girl had always felt afraid of him. Now his
presence in the room increased her vague fears. Why she had felt this
sudden premonition of evil, she did not know, nor did she try to analyze
her feelings. Young as she was, Fledra recognized in him an enemy, and
yet his attitude betrayed a personal interest. She had seen him many
times during the last few weeks; but had managed to escape him through
the connivance of Miss Shellington. Ann had tactfully explained to the
girl that Mr. Brimbecomb did not feel the same toward her and Flukey as
did her brother; but had added, "It's because he does not know you both,
Dear, as Horace and I do."
Once alone with him, she knew only that she wanted to give him Ann's
message and return quickly to Floyd. Before she could speak, Brimbecomb
passed behind her and closed the door.
"Sister Ann won't be home for an hour," said Flea, turning sharply.
Everett smiled again.
"Sit down, then," he said.
"I can't; I have to study."
Something in the girl's tones brought a low laugh from Everett. He came
closer to her.
"You're a deliciously pretty child," he bantered. "Won't you take hold
of my hands?"
Placing her arms behind her, Flea answered:
"No, I don't like ye!" She backed far from him, her eyes burning with
anger.
"You're a very frank little maid, as well as pretty," drawled Everett.
"Ever since I first saw you as a girl, I've wanted to know something
about you. Who's your father?"
"None of yer business!" snapped Flea.
"Frank again," laughed the lawyer ruefully. "Now, honestly, wouldn't you
like to be friends with me?"
"No! I said I didn't like ye, and I don't! I want to go now. You can
sit here alone until Sister Ann comes."
She looked so tantalizingly lovely, so lithely young, as she flung the
disagreeable words at him, that Brimbecomb impulsively made a step
toward her. He was unused to such treatment and manners. That this girl,
sprung from some unknown corner, dared to flaunt her dislike in his
face, made him only the more determined to conquer her.
"If I wait until Sister Ann comes," he said coolly, "I shall not wait
alone. I insist that you stay here with me!"
"I have to go back to my brother. So let me go by--please!"
Fledra made an effort to pass Brimbecomb; but he grasped her
deliberately in his arms. Drawing her forcibly to him, he exclaimed:
"I've caught my pretty bird! Now I'm going to kiss you!"
Flea's mind flashed back to the day when Lem Crabbe had tried to kiss
her, and the thought came to her mind that she could have borne that
even better than this. She squirmed about until her face was far below
his arm, and muttered:
"If you try to kiss me, I'll dig a hole in yer mug!"
Half-mocking at the threat, half-inviting its fulfilment, Everett
laughed. Then, with all his strength, he forced Flea's angry, crimsoned
face up to his and closed his lips over her red mouth, kissing her again
and again. The girl struggled until she was free. In an uncontrollable
temper she thrust her hand to Everett's face, and he felt her
fingernails scrape his cheek. He released her instantly, stepping back
in a gasp of rage and surprise.
Pantingly the girl rubbed her lips with her sleeve.
"If Sister Ann weren't a lovin' ye," she flashed at him, "I'd tell her
how cussed mean ye be! If ye ever try to kiss me again, I'll tear yer
eyes out, Mister!"
She was gone before he could stop her, and, like a young fury bounded
into the presence of Flukey.
"I know why I hate that feller of Sister Ann's," she muttered; "'cause
he's bad--he's a damn dog! That's what he is!"
With a startled ejaculation, Floyd half-rose; but Ann's step in the hall
sent him back on the pillow gasping.
Fledra sank down at the table, by effort repressing her breath. She
heard the door open, and when Miss Shellington entered her red face was
bent low over the grammar.