CHAPTER XI
Shirley was awake early that morning, almost too excited to sleep butfitfully even through the night. Now that the thing was done and theywere actually moved into a barn she began to have all sorts of fearsand compunctions concerning it. She seemed to see her delicate mothershrink as from a blow when she first learned that they had come tothis. Try as she would to bring back all the sensible philosophy thathad caused her to enter into this affair in the first place, she simplycould not feel anything but trouble. She longed to rush into hermother's room, tell her all about it, and get the dreaded episode over.But anyhow it was inevitable now. They were moved. They had barelyenough money to pay the cartage and get things started before nextpay-day. There was nothing for it but to take her mother there, evenif she did shrink from the idea.
Of course mother always had been sensible, and all that; but somehowthe burden of the great responsibility of decision rested so heavilyupon her young shoulders that morning that it seemed as if she couldnot longer bear the strain.
They still had a good fire in the kitchen range, and Shirley hastenedto the kitchen, prepared a delicate piece of toast, a poached egg, acup of tea, and took it to her mother's room, tiptoeing lightly lestshe still slept.
But the mother was awake and glad to see her. She had been awake sincethe first streak of dawn had crept into the little back window. Shehad the look of one who was girded for the worst. But, when she sawher daughter's face, the mother in her triumphed over the woman.
"What's the trouble, little girl? Has something happened?"
The tenderness in her voice was the last straw that broke Shirley'sself-control. The tears suddenly sprang into her eyes, and her liptrembled.
"Oh mother!" she wailed, setting the tray down quickly on a box andfumbling for her handkerchief. "I'm so worried! I'm so afraid youwon't like what we've done, and then what shall we do?"
"I _shall_ like it!" said the mother with instant determination."Don't for a minute think of anything else. Having done somethingirrevocably, never look back and think you might have done somethingbetter. You did the best you could, or you thought you did, anyway;and there didn't seem to be anything else at the time. So now justconsider it was the very best thing in the world, and don't go tofretting about it. There'll be _something_ nice about it, I'm sure,and goodness knows we've had enough unpleasant things here; so weneedn't expect beds of roses. We are just going to _make_ it nice,little girl. Remember that! We are going to like it. There's a treethere, you say; so, when we find things we don't like, we'll just goout and look up at our tree, and say, 'We've got _you_, anyway, and_we're glad of it!_'"
"You blessed little mother!" laughed Shirley, wiping her tears away."I just believe you will like it, maybe, after all, though I've had alot of compunctions all night. I wondered if maybe I oughtn't to havetold you all about it; only I knew you couldn't really judge at alluntil you had seen it yourself, and we wanted to surprise you."
"Well, I'm determined to be surprised," said the brave little woman;"so don't you worry. We're going to have a grand good time to-day.Now run along. It's almost time for your car, and you haven't had anybreakfast yet."
Shirley kissed her mother, and went smiling down to eat her breakfastand hurry away to the office.
There was a big rush of work at the office, or Shirley would have askedfor a half-holiday; but she did not dare endanger her position bymaking a request at so busy a season. She was glad that the next daywas Sunday and they would have a whole day to themselves in the newhome before she would have to hurry away to the office again. It wouldserve to make it seem less lonely for her mother, having them all homethat first day. She meant to work fast to-day and get all the letterswritten before five if possible. Then she would have time to get homea few minutes before Graham arrived with his car, and see that hermother was all comfortably ready. It was a good deal to put upon Carolto look after everything. It wasn't as if they had neighbors to helpout a little, for they were the very last tenants in the doomed blockto leave. All the others had gone two or three weeks before.
Thinking over again all the many details for the day, Shirley walkeddown to the office through the sunshine. It was growing warm weather,and her coat felt oppressive already. She was so thankful that motherwould not have to sleep in those breathless rooms after the heat began.The doctor had said that her mother needed rest and air and plenty ofsunshine more than anything else. She would at least have those at thebarn, and what did other things matter, after all? Mother was game.Mother wouldn't let herself feel badly over such a silly thing. Theycertainly were going to be more comfortable than they had been forseveral years. Think of that wonderful electric light. And clear coldwater from the spring! Oh, it was great! And a little thrill ofecstasy passed over her, the first she had let herself feel since shehad taken the great responsibility of transplanting her family to abarn.
After all, the day passed very quickly; and, when at half-past four thetelephone-bell rang and Graham's voice announced that he would be downat the street door waiting for her in half an hour, that she needn'thurry, he would wait till she was ready, her heart gave a little jumpof joy. It was as if school was out and she was going on a real picniclike other girls. How nice of him! How perfectly lovely of him! Andyet there hadn't been anything but the nicest friendliness in hisvoice, such as any kindly disposed landlord might use if he chose,nothing that she need feel uncomfortable about. At least, there wasthe relief that after to-night mother would know all about it; and, ifshe didn't approve, Shirley could decline any further kindness, ofcourse. And now she was just going to take mother's advice and forgeteverything but the pleasant part.
At home Carol and Harley bustled about in the empty house like twoexcited bumble-bees, washing up the few dishes, putting in an open boxeverything that had been left out for their last night's sleeping,getting lunch, and making mother take a nap. Doris, vibrating betweenher mother's room and down-stairs, kept singing over to herself: "Wegoin' to tuntry! We goin' to tuntry! See birdies an' twees and walkon gween gwass!"
After lunch was over and the dishes were put carefully into the big boxbetween comfortables and blankets Carol helped her mother to dress, andthen made her lie down and take a good long nap, with Doris asleep byher side. After that Carol and Harley tiptoed down to the barekitchen, and sat on a box side by side to converse.
"Gee! Ain't you tired, Carol?" said the boy, pushing his hair backfrom his hot face. "Gee! Don't it seem funny we aren't coming backhere any more? It kind of gets my goat I sha'n't see the fellows sooften, but it'll be great to ask 'em to see us sometimes. Say, do yousuppose we really can keep chickens?"
"Sure!" said Carol convincingly. "I asked Mr. Graham if wemight,--George said we ought to, he was such a good scout you'd want tobe sure he'd like it, and he said, 'Sure, it would be great.' He'dlike to come out and see them sometimes. He said he used to keepchickens himself when he was a kid, and he shouldn't wonder if they hada few too many at their place they could spare to start with. He toldme he'd look it up and see soon's we got settled."
"Gee! He's a peach, isn't he? Say, has he got a case on Shirl?"
"I don't know," said the girl thoughtfully; "maybe he has, but hedoesn't know it yet, I guess. But anyhow you must promise me you willnever breathe such a word. Why, Shirley would just bust right up ifyou did. I said a little something to her like that once; it wasn'tmuch, only just that he was awfully nice and I guessed he liked her bythe way he looked at her, and she just fairly froze. You know the wayher eyes get when she is sore at us? And she said I must never,_never_ even _think_ anything like that, or she would give the placeright up, and get a few rooms down on South Street, and stay in thecity all summer! She said Mr. Graham was a gentleman, and she was onlya working girl, and it would be a disgrace for her to accept any favorsfrom him except what she could pay for, and an insult for him to offerthem, because she was only a working girl and he was a gentleman, youknow."
"H'm!" growled Harley. "I guess our sister's as good as he is any day."
"Of course!" snapped Carol; "but then he might not think so."
"Well, if he don't, he can go to thunder!" bristled Harley wrathfully."I'm not going to have him looking down on Shirley. She's as good ashis baby-doll sister with her pink cheeks, and her little white hands,and her high heels and airs, any day! She's a nut, she is."
"Harley! You stop!" declared Carol, getting wrathful. "Elizabeth's adear, and you're not going to talk about her that way. Just becauseshe is pretty and doesn't have to work."
"Well, you said her brother looked down on our sister," declared Harley.
"I did not! I only said he _might_! I only meant that was the way_some_ gentlemen would. I only said people kind of expect gentlemen todo that."
"Not if they're real gentlemen, they won't. And anyhow _he_ won't. IfI find him looking down on my sister Shirley, I'll punch his face forhim. Yes, I will! I'm not afraid. George and I could beat thestuffing out of him, and we will if he does any looking-down stunts,and don't you forget it!"
"Well, I'm sure he doesn't," said Carol pacifically, trying to put asoothing sound into her voice as wise elder sisters learn to do. "Yousee if he did look down on her, Shirley would know it; right away she'dknow it. Nobody would have to tell _her_! She'd see it in his voiceand smile and everything. And, if he had, she wouldn't have gone outthere to live in the place he owns, you know. So I guess you can trustShirley. _I_ think he's been just dandy, fixing up that fireplace andstairs and lights and water and everything."
"Well, mebbe!" said Harley grudgingly. "Say, this is slow. I'm goingout to meet the fellows when they come from school, and see what thescore of the game is. Gee! I wish I could play to-day!"
"You'll be sure to come back in time?" asked Carol anxiously.
"Sure! You don't suppose I'd miss going out in that car, do you?" saidthe brother contemptuously. "Not on your tintype!"
"Well, maybe there won't be room for you. Maybe Elizabeth'll comealong, and you'll have to go in the trolley with George."
"No chance!" declared the boy. "Mr. Graham said I should ride with himin the front seat, and he looks like a man that kept his word."
"You see! _You_ know he's a gentleman!" triumphed Carol. "Well, Ithink you'd better stay here with me. You'll forget and be late, andmake a mess waiting for you."
"No, I won't!" said the restless boy. "I can't be bothered stickinground this dump all afternoon"; and Harley seized his cap, anddisappeared with a whoop around the corner. After he was gone Carolfound she was tired out herself, and, curling up on a mattress that waslying ready for the cartman, was soon asleep. It was so that Harleyfound her when he hurried back an hour later, a trifle anxious, it mustbe confessed, lest he had stayed too long. He stirred up the smallhousehold noisily, and in no time had Carol in a panic brewing the cupof tea that was to give her mother strength to take the journey,dressing Doris, smoothing her own hair, putting the last things intobags and baskets and boxes, and directing the cartman, who arrived halfan hour sooner than he promised. Carol was quite a little woman, goingfrom one thing to another and taking the place of everybody.
Meantime Elizabeth Graham and her brother had been spending theafternoon in business of their own. It was Elizabeth who had suggestedit, and her brother saw no reason why she should not carry out her planand why he should not help her.
She came down in the car after lunch, the chauffeur driving her, agreat basket of cut and potted flowers from the home conservatory inthe tonneau beside her, carefully wrapped in wax-paper. She stopped atthe office for her brother, and together they went about to severalshops giving orders and making purchases. When they had finished theydrove out to Glenside to unpack their bundles and baskets. Graham leftElizabeth with the old servant to help her, and drove rapidly back tohis office, where he telephoned to Shirley.
Certainly Elizabeth had never had such fun in her life. She scarcelyknew which delightful thing to do first, and she had only about twohours to complete her arrangements before the family would arrive.
She decided to decorate first, and the great hamper of flowers wasforthwith brought into the barn, and the chauffeur set to work twiningropes and sprays of smilax and asparagus fern over doorways andpictures, and training it like a vine about the stone chimney. Thencame the flowers. Pots of tall starry lilies, great, heavy-headed,exquisite-breathed roses, pink, white, yellow, and crimson; daffodilsand sweet peas, with quantities of sweet violets in the bottom of thebasket. Elizabeth with deft fingers selected the flowers skilfully,putting pots of lilies on the window-sills, massing a quantity of pinkroses in a dull gray jar she found among the kitchen things, thatlooked to the initiated amazingly as though it might once have beenpart of a water-filter, but it suited the pink roses wonderfully. Thetall vases on the bookcases each Bide of the fireplace held daffodils.Sweet peas were glowing in small vases and glasses and bowls, andviolets in saucers filled the air with fragrance. White and yellowroses were on the dining-table, and three exquisite tall crimsonrosebuds glowed in a slender glass vase Elizabeth had brought with her.This she placed in Mrs. Hollister's room on the little stand that shejudged would be placed beside the bed when the bed arrived. Theflowers certainly did give an atmosphere to the place in more sensesthan one; and the girl was delighted, and fluttered from one spot toanother, changing the position of a vase or bowl, and then standing offto get the effect.
"Now bring me the big bundle, Jenkins, please," she said at length whenshe was satisfied with the effect. "Oh, and the little long box. Becareful. It is broken at one end, and the screws may fall out."
Jenkins was soon back with the things.
"Now, you get the rods put up at the windows, Jenkins, while I get outthe curtains," and she untied the big bundle with eager fingers.
Jenkins was adaptable, and the rods were simple affairs. He was soonat work, and Elizabeth ran the rods into the curtains.
They were not elegant curtains. Graham had insisted that she shouldget nothing elaborate, nothing that would be out of keeping with thesimplicity. They were soft and straight and creamy, with a frost-likepattern rambling over them in threads of the same, illuminated here andthere with a single rose and a leaf in color. There was somethingcheerful and spring-like to them, and yet they looked exceedingly plainand suitable, no ruffles or trimming of any kind, just hems. ToElizabeth's mind they had been very cheap. Shirley would haveexclaimed over their beauty wistfully and turned from them with a gaspwhen she heard their price. They were one of those quiet fittingthings that cost without flaunting it. They transformed the room intoa dream.
"Oh, isn't it _beautiful_!" exclaimed Elizabeth, standing back to lookas the first curtain went up.
"Yes, Miss, it's very stunning, Miss," said the man, working away withgood will in his face.
When the curtains were all up, Elizabeth pinned one of her cards to thecurtain nearest the front door, inscribed, "With love from Elizabeth."
Then in a panic she looked at her watch.
"Oh Jenkins! It's almost six o'clock," she cried in dismay. "Theymight get here by half-past, perhaps. We must hurry! Bring the otherthings in quick now, please."
So Jenkins brought them in, bundles and bags and boxes, an ice-creamfreezer, and last of all the cooking-outfit belonging to theirtouring-car.
"Now you get the hot things ready, Jenkins, while I fix the table,"directed the girl.
Jenkins, well trained in such things, went to work, opening cans andstarting his chafing-dish fire. Elizabeth with eager fingers openedher parcels.
A great platter of delicious triangular chicken sandwiches, a dish offruit and nut salad surrounded by crisp lettuce leaves, a plate ofdelicate rolls, cream puffs, chocolate eclairs, macaroons, a cocoanutpie, things she liked herself; and then because she knew no feastwithout them there were olives, salted almonds, and bonbons as a matterof course.
Delicious odors from the kitch
en end of the room began to fill the air.Jenkins was heating a pail of rich soup--chicken with rice andgumbo--from one of the best caterers in the city. He was making richcocoa to be eaten with whipped cream that Elizabeth was pouring into aglass pitcher; the pitcher came from the ten-cent store if she had onlyknown it. Jenkins was cooking canned peas and heating lovely littlebrown potato croquettes. The ice-cream freezer was out in full sight,where they could never miss it. Everything was ready now.
"Jenkins, you better light up that queer stove of theirs now if you'resure you know how,--she said it was just like a lamp the way itworked,--and put those things in the oven to keep warm. Then we'llpack up our things, and hide them out in the grass where they can'tsee, and get them in the car when they get out. Hurry, for they'll behere very soon now, I think."
Elizabeth stuck a card in the middle of the rose-bowl that said inpretty letters, "Welcome Home," stood back a minute to see howeverything looked, and then fluttered to the door to watch for the car.
The Enchanted Barn Page 11