CHAPTER XI.
THINGS ARE GETTING MIXED.
"How can you ask me, Uncle?" cried Pickering passionately.
"Because I will know." Mr. Cabot was quite determined.
"Well, then, if you must have it, it's--it's Polly Pepper." Pickeringcould get no further.
"It's Polly Pepper!" ejaculated Mr. Cabot. Then a light broke over hisface, and he laughed aloud, he was so pleased. "You mean, you are inlove with Polly Pepper?"
"As if everybody didn't know it?" cried Pickering hotly. "Don't pretend,Uncle, that you are surprised;" he was really disrespectful now inmanner. "Oh, beg pardon, sir," recovering himself.
"Never mind," said Mr. Cabot indulgently, "you are over-wrought thismorning. My boy," and he came over and clapped his nephew on the backapprovingly, "that's the best thing you ever told me; you make me veryhappy, and"--
"Hold, Uncle," cried Pickering, darting away from the hand, "don't go sofast. You are taking too much for granted."
Mr. Cabot for answer, bestowed another rap, this time on Pickering'sarm, indulging all the while in the broadest of smiles.
Just then some one knocked at the door, and in response to Mr. Cabot'sunwilling "Come in," Ben's head appeared. "Beg pardon, Mr. Cabot, butMr. Van Metre wants you out here."
Pickering lunged past Ben. "Don't stop me," he cried crossly, inresponse to Ben's "Well, old fellow."
Ben stared after him with puzzled eyes as he shot down the long store;and all that afternoon he could not get Pickering and his strange waysout of his mind, and on the edge of the twilight, jumping out of his carat the corner nearest home, he buttoned up his coat and rushed on,regardless that Billy Harlowe was making frantic endeavors to overtakehim.
"What's got into the old chap," said Ben to himself, pushing on doggedlywith the air of a man who has thoughts of his own to think out. "Ideclare, if I should know Pickering Dodge lately; I can't tell where tofind him."
"DON'T STOP ME," CRIED PICKERING CROSSLY.]
And with no light on his puzzle, Ben turned into the stone gateway, andstrode up to the east porch to let himself in as usual, with his latchkey. As he was fitting it absently, all the while his mind more intenton Pickering and his changed demeanor than on his own affairs, he hearda little rustling noise that made him turn his head to see a tall figurespring down the veranda floor in haste to gain the quickest angle.
"Charlotte, why, what are you doing out here?" exclaimed Ben, leavinghis key in the lock to look at her.
"Don't speak!" begged Charlotte hastily, and coming up to him. "Somebodywill hear you. I came out here to walk up and down--I shall die in thathouse; and I am going home to-morrow." She nervously twisted herhandkerchief around her fingers, and Ben still looking at her closely,saw that she had been crying.
"Charlotte, what are you talking about?" he cried, opening his honestblue eyes wide at her. "Why, I thought you had ever so much sense, andthat you were way ahead of other girls, except Polly," he added, quiteas a matter of course.
"Don't!" cried Charlotte, wincing, and, "but I shall go home to-morrow."
"Look here," Ben took out his key and tucked it into his pocket, thenfaced Charlotte, "take a turn up and down, Charlotte; you'll pull out ofyour bad fit; you're homesick." Ben's honest face glowed with pity as helooked at her.
"I'm--I'm everything," said Charlotte desperately. "O, Ben, you can'tthink," she seized his arm, "Polly is just having a dreadful timebecause I'm here."
"See here, now," said Ben, taking the hand on his arm in a strong grip,as if it were Polly's, "don't you go to getting such an idea into yourhead, Charlotte."
"I can't help it," said Charlotte; "it was put there," she addedbitterly.
Ben gave a start of surprise. "Well, you are not the sort of girl tobelieve such stuff, any way," he said.
Charlotte pulled away her hand. "I'm going home," she declared flatly.
"Indeed you are not," said Ben, quite as decidedly.
"O, yes, I am."
"We'll see;" he nodded at her. "Take my advice, Charlotte, and don'tmake a muff of yourself.
"It's very easy for you to talk," cried Charlotte, a little pink spot ofanger rising on either cheek, "you have everybody to love you, and to beglad you are here; very easy, indeed!"
With that, she walked off, swinging her gown disdainfully after her.
"Whew!" ejaculated Ben, "well, I must say I'm surprised at you,Charlotte. I didn't suppose you could be jealous."
"Jealous?" Charlotte flamed around at him. "O, Ben Pepper, what do youmean?"
"You are just as jealous as you can be," said Ben honestly, "absolutelygreen."
"I'd have you to know I never was jealous in my life," said Charlotte,quite pale now, and standing very still.
"You don't know it, but you are," said Ben imperturbably; "when peoplebegin to talk about other folks being loved and happy and all that,they're always jealous. Why in the world don't you think how everybodyis loving you and wanting to make you happy?" It was quite a long speechfor Ben, and he was overcome with astonishment at himself for havingmade it.
"I'M GOING HOME." DECLARED CHARLOTTE.]
"Because they are not," said Charlotte bitterly, "at least, they can'tlove me, if they do try to make me happy."
"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed Ben.
"And Polly"--then Charlotte pulled herself up.
"Well, what about Polly?" demanded Ben.
"Oh, nothing." Charlotte twisted uneasily, and shut her lips tightlytogether.
"If you think my sister Polly doesn't love you and want to make youhappy, there's no use in my talking to you," said Ben, in a displeasedway.
"I didn't say so," cried Charlotte quickly. "Oh, don't go. You are theonly one who can help me," as he made a movement toward the door. "Inever told anybody else, and they don't guess."
"And it's a pity that they should now," said Ben. "I tell you,Charlotte, if you never say anything like this again, I'll believe thatyou're the girl I thought you, with plenty of sense, and all that.There, give us your hand. Hurry up, now; here comes Phronsie."
Charlotte slowly laid her hand in Ben's big palm, as Phronsie opened theoaken door, and peered out into the darkness.
"I can't think what makes Ben so late," she said softly to herself.
"I'm going into the other door," said Charlotte, springing off down theveranda.
"Halloo, Pet!" Ben rushed into the hall, and seized Phronsie for a goodhug.
"O, Ben, you're so late!" cried Phronsie.
"Well, I'm here now," said Ben comfortably.
"You can't think what has happened," said Phronsie, with a delightfulair of mystery.
"To be sure I can't; but you are going to tell me," declared Ben withassurance.
"O, Bensie, I'd so much rather you would guess," said Phronsie, claspingher hands.
"Well, then, you have a new cat," said Ben at a hazard, while hedisposed of his coat and hat.
"O, Ben," cried Phronsie in reproach, "why, I've given up having newcats; indeed I have."
"Since when?" asked Ben.
"Why, last week. I really have. I'm not going to get any more," saidPhronsie.
Ben shouted. At the sound of his voice, somebody called over the stairs,"O, Ben, are you home? Come up here."
"Come on, Pet," cried Ben, "we're wanted," seizing Phronsie, andhurrying off to the stairs.
"I did so want to tell you myself," mourned Phronsie on the way.
"Then you shall." Ben set her on the floor suddenly. "I'll come up in aminute or so," he called. "There now, Phronsie, we'll have the wonderfulnews. Out with it, child."
"I don't suppose you ever could guess," said Phronsie, pausing a moment,"I really don't, Ben, because this is something you never would thinkof."
"No, I'm quite sure I should never guess in all the world," said Bendecidedly, "so let us have it."
"Grandpapa has promised to give us a surprise party," announcedPhronsie, with careful scrutiny to see the effect of her news.
"A surprise party? Goodness me!" exploded Ben, "what do you mean,Phronsie?"
"A surprise party to go and see Jasper; and we are to start to-morrow.Now, Ben!" and Phronsie, her news all out, beamed up into his face.
"Oh, so it's Jasper's surprise party," cried Ben.
"Yes, and it's ours too; because you see we didn't any of us thinkGrandpapa was going to do it," said Phronsie.
"Well, it's my surprise party, too," said Ben lugubriously, "for I'mastonished; and beside I'm left out in the cold."
"O, Ben, can't you go?" cried Phronsie, her face falling instantly.
"No, Pet; wait till you get to be a business man and you'll see thatsurprise parties can't be indulged in very often."
"Won't Mr. Cabot let you go?" asked Phronsie, with an anxious droop ofthe head. "O, I think he will; truly I do."
"I sha'n't ask him," said Ben; "I'm sure of that."
"But Grandpapa will," said Phronsie, her face changing.
"No, no, Pet; you mustn't say anything about that. I'd rather stick tothe business. There, come on; they're wild, I suppose, upstairs, to tellthe news."
Just then some one called Phronsie. "Oh, dear," she sighedinvoluntarily, as Ben sped over the stairs without her.
"I thought you were never coming home, Ben," said Polly, meeting him inthe upper hall. "Oh, we've such a fine thing to tell you!"
"I'm going to guess," said Ben wisely.
"Oh, you never can," declared Polly; "never in all this world. Don'ttry."
"Can't I, though? Give me a chance. You are to have a surprise party,and go to see Jasper. There!"
"How did you guess?" cried Polly in wide-eyed astonishment.
Ben burst into a hearty laugh. "Well, I met Phronsie, if you must know."
"Of course," laughed Polly; "how stupid in me! Well, was ever anythingso fine in all this world?" and she danced down the hall, and came backflushed and panting.
"And Grandpapa has written to tell Mr. Cabot how it is, and to ask for aday or two off for you," she said, with a little pat on his back.
"O, Polly!" exclaimed Ben, in dismay, "Grandpapa shouldn't--I mean, Iought not to go. I'd really rather not."
"Well, Grandpapa says that you are working too hard, Bensie, and it'squite true," Polly gave him another pat, this time a motherly one; "andso you are going."
But Ben shook his head.
"And we start to-morrow," ran on Polly, "and Jasper doesn't know a wordabout our coming; and we are going to stay at the hotel two or threedays." And here Phronsie ran eagerly up the stairs.
"And it's going to be lovely, and not rain any of the time; and we areto take Jasper a box full of everything," she announced in greatexcitement. "We began to pack it the very minute that Grandpapa told uswe were to go."
"That's fine! Well, I'll drop something into that box," said Ben.
"Of course," said Polly, in great satisfaction.
"And Jasper wouldn't like it not to have something of Ben's in it," saidPhronsie.
"Well, now, Bensie, run down after dinner and ask Pickering Dodge to go.That's a good boy." Polly patted the broad back coaxingly this time.
Ben's face fell. "How do you know that Grandpapa would like to have himalong?" he asked abruptly.
"As if I'd ask you to invite him," cried Polly, "unless Grandpapa hadsaid he could go. The very idea, Ben!"
"Well, something is the matter with Pick," confessed Ben unwillingly,"and I don't want to ask him."
"Something the matter with Pickering?" repeated Polly in dismay. "O,Ben, is he sick?"
"No," said Ben bluntly, "but he's cross."
"O, Ben, then something very bad must have happened," said Polly, "forPickering is almost never cross."
"Well, I don't know what to make of him," said Ben; "he's been queer fora week now, more or less, and to-day he wouldn't speak to me; just shotoff telling me to let him alone;" and Ben rapidly laid before Polly thelittle scene of the morning in the store.
"Now, Ben," said Polly, when it was all over, "I know really thatsomething dreadful is the matter with Pickering, and I shall send him anote to come here to-night. He must tell us what it is. I'm going towrite it now." And Polly sped off to her room, followed by Phronsie.
Ben went slowly down the hall to get ready for dinner. "I don't know howit is," he said, "but everything seems to be getting mixed up in thishouse, and all our good, quiet times gone. And now what can Charlottehave heard to make her want to go home?"
And all the time during dinner, Ben kept up a steady thinking, untilPolly, looking across the table, caught his eye.
"Don't worry," her smile said, "I've sent a note to Pickering, and we'llfind out what the trouble is."
Ben sat straight in his chair, and nodded back at her. "I can't tell hernow that Pick is not what I'm stewing over," he said to himself, "and Ican't tell her any time, either, for Charlotte has heard something thatmakes her think Polly is bothered by her being here. I must just fuss atit myself till I straighten it out."
So when Pickering Dodge, with a radiant face at being sent for byPolly's own hand, ran lightly up the steps of the King mansion, about anhour later, Ben hurried off to find Charlotte Chatterton.
"I can't come down," called Charlotte from the upper hall, "I'm tired;good-night."
"So am I tired," declared Ben, "but I'm going to talk to you,Charlotte," he added, decidedly.
"No; I don't want to talk," said Charlotte, shaking her head."Good-night. Thank you, Ben," she added a bit pleasanter, "but I'm notgoing down."
"Indeed you are!" said Ben obstinately. "I'm not going to stir from thisspot," he struck his hand on the stair railing, "until you are downhere. Come, Charlotte."
"No," began Charlotte, but the next moment she was on the stairs, sayingas she went slowly down, "I don't want to talk, Ben. There isn'tanything to say."
"Now that's something like," observed Ben cheerfully, as she reached hisside. "Come in here, do, Charlotte," leading the way into MotherFisher's little sewing-room.
"But I'm not going to talk," reiterated Charlotte, following him in.
"You are going to talk enough so that I can know how to get thisridiculous idea out of your head," said Ben, as he closed the door onthem both.
Mr. Cabot hurried into his wife's room, his face lighted with greatsatisfaction. "Well, Felicia," he said, "I believe I needn't worry aboutthat boy any more."
"Who, Pickering?" asked Mrs. Cabot, with a last little touch to the laceat her throat.
"Of course Pickering. Well, he's in better hands than mine. Oh, I'm soglad to be rid of him;" and he threw himself into an easy chair andbeamed at her.
"What in the world do you mean, Mr. Cabot?" demanded his wife. "Youhaven't had another fuss with Pickering? Oh, I'm quite sure he'll dowell in the Law, if you'll only have patience a little longer."
"Nonsense, Felicia," said Mr. Cabot, "as if I'd get him out of thatoffice, when it was such a piece of work to fasten him in there. Well,to make a long story short, he loves Polly Pepper. Think of that,Felicia!" And Mr. Cabot, in his joy, got out of the chair and began torush up and down the room, rubbing his hands together in glee.
"O, Mr. Cabot--Mr. Cabot," cried his wife, flying after him, "you don'tmean to say that Pickering and Polly are betrothed? Was ever anything solovely! Oh! never mind about dinner; I couldn't eat a mouthful. I mustgo right around there, and get my arms around that dear girl. Tell Biggsto put the horses in at once."
"Stop just one moment, Felicia, for Heaven's sake!" cried Mr. Cabot,putting himself in front of her; "that's just like a woman; only hearthe first word, and off she goes!"
"Do order the carriage," begged Mrs. Cabot, with dancing eyes. "I can'twait an instant, but I must tell Polly how glad we are. And of courseyou'll come too, Mr. Cabot. Oh, dear, it's such blessed news!"
"I didn't say they were engaged," began Mr. Cabot frantically, "I--I"--
"Didn't say that Polly and Pickering were engaged?" repeated Mrs. Cabot."Well, what did you say, Mr. Cabot?"
&nbs
p; "I said he loved her," said Mr. Cabot. "O, Felicia, it's the making ofthe boy," he added jubilantly.
Mrs. Cabot sank into her husband's deserted chair, unable to find aword.
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