The Man in Lonely Land

by Kate Langley Bosher

  II

  THE REQUEST

  Hands in his pockets and back to the fire, Mr. Winthrop Laine lookedaround the room which his sister, Mrs. Channing Warrick, believed wasa library, and again wondered why she had sent for him instead oftelephoning what she wanted. He wasn't going to do it. That is, ifit were one of the old pleadings that he would come to her parties orgo to some one else's he would decline to do it, and usually theimportant matter on which she must see him proved something of thatsort. Five years ago he had cut out things of this kind and--

  "Oh, Winthrop, I'm so glad you've come!" Laine stooped and kissed hissister. "And going out to prove it." In a gown of clinging silverover soft satin she was very lovely, and as he held her off he lookedat her critically. "That is a pretty dress you have on, but thereisn't enough of it. What on earth did you make me come for if you'regoing out? When a man is my age he is privileged to stay at home andenjoy himself, not--"

  Mrs. Channing Warrick stopped the buttoning of her long white glovesand looked up in her brother's face. "Do you enjoy yourself when youstay at home?"

  "I enjoy myself much more at home than in other people's houses.Where are you going to-night?"

  "To the Warings. There'll be cards after dinner. I suppose youdeclined."

  "I wasn't invited."

  "Hilda wanted you, but knew it was useless." Again the big blue eyeswere raised to her brother's. "What makes you so horrid, Winthrop?If you go on ignoring people as you do--"

  "I'll have to have paid pall-bearers at my funeral, won't I? Not abad idea. Well, why this summons to-night?"

  Mrs. Warrick pressed the last button of her glove securely, eased herskirt over her hips, and sat down carefully. "To ask you to dosomething for me," she said. "Channing won't be back untilto-morrow, and there is no one to meet her except Decker if youdon't. Outside of an automobile Decker has no sense and--"

  "Meet whom?" Laine flicked the ashes from his cigar into the grate."Who is it you want me to meet?"

  "Claudia Keith. She is a cousin of Channing's and lives somewhere inVirginia on the Rappahannock River, miles from a railroad, and hasnever been to New York alone before. I thought I had told you shewas coming, but I see you so seldom lately that I forget what I tellyou and what I don't. The children think it's inhuman. After awhile you won't know how to behave in company, and what will your oldbooks and your money matter if--"

  "By and by nothing will matter, my dear, but Decker's honk will beheard before I understand what you're getting at, if you don't hurry.What do you want me to do?"

  "I want you to meet the nine-fifteen train from the South and--"

  "Pick out an unknown person and bring her to a hostless house? Iwish I was as nice as you think I am, dear madam, but I'm not. Isuppose you also want me to apologize to your guest for your absencefrom home, tell her a pretty fairy tale and say--"

  "If you'd say the right thing I'd like you to make up something, butyou wouldn't. I certainly have no idea of breaking an engagement,however, just to be home when a country cousin of Channing's arrives.Being such an out-of-the-world sort of person she may think it isstrange, so please tell her--"

  "I'll tell her nothing." Laine lighted a fresh cigar. "I'm goinghome."

  "But you can't! You're to stay to dinner, that's why I didn'ttelephone you about Claudia. The children chose taking dinner withyou as their compensation for having to stay in on account of theweather, and they're hanging over the banisters this very minute."Mrs. Warrick got up and with care straightened her skimpy skirts."Please don't let them eat too much. They can have--"

  "Not a bit more than they want." Laine took the white fur coat whichthe maid had laid on the chair a minute before and held it for hissister to put on. "All this sloppy stuff given to children of thepresent day will mean anemic men and women to-morrow. I'll takedinner with them, and if they are sick I'll take the blame, but notif the Virginian has opinions of her own concerning modern manners.Are you sure you're well wrapped?"

  "Sure. I hope Decker can find her, but I doubt it. Maybe she canmanage by herself. Anyway, I've done all I could. Good night, andplease don't let the children eat too much of a mixture. You'll comeand see Claudia, won't you?"

  Laine shook his head. "I haven't time."

  "Time! Of all nonsense!" She turned and kissed him. "The childrenwill have you at dinner, anyhow, and that's why I sent for you. Goodnight, mean man!"

  She gathered up her skirts, and Laine, following her to the door, atwhich the second man stood waiting to throw a roll of carpet down thesnow-sprinkled steps to the car at the curb, watched it until thecorner was turned, then walked toward the dining-room, where twoyoung people threw two pair of arms around his legs and rent the airwith two ecstatic shrieks.

  "There's turkey and giblet gravy and salad and loads of things, UncleWinthrop, and I am going to sit at the head of the table, and Timkinssays I may pour the coffee for you in the library, and--"

  "Mother said I could have some ice-cream and two pieces of cake ifthey weren't very big." And Channing Warrick, Junior, aged seven,made effort to remove Dorothea Warrick, aged ten, from her point ofvantage next her uncle's right hand. But breath was lost in the hightoss given him by the strong arms which had sent him in the air, andas he landed on his feet he laughed in gasping delight.

  "Come on." Dorothea's voice was eager. "It's ready, and so am I,and at eight we've got to be in bed."