Part 3 (1/2)

”So she is, my dear,” agreed the old man as he gazed with undisguised admiration into Miss Sallie's smiling face.

”Do sit down,” said Miss Sallie, slightly confused, ”and tell us where you have been, and what you have been doing these last three decades.”

”It would take too long, I fear,” replied the major, looking at his watch. ”I am looking for my two nephews this morning.”

”You mean Martin's sons, I suppose?” asked Miss Sallie.

”Yes, they are coming down to stay with me at my old place, back yonder in the hills. They are bringing one or two friends with them, and we shall motor over this afternoon if the weather permits. But tell me, what are you doing here? Spending the summer? Don't you find it a little dull, young ladies?”

”Oh, we are just on a motor trip, too,” replied Ruth. ”We are birds of pa.s.sage, and stop only as long as it pleases us.”

”And have you no men along, to look after you and protect you from highwaymen, or mend the tires when they are punctured?”

”My dear Major,” replied Miss Sallie, ”you have been away from America for so long that you are old-fas.h.i.+oned. Do you think these athletic young women need a man to protect them? I a.s.sure you that the world has been changing while you have been burying yourself in Russia and j.a.pan.

Ruth, here, is as good a chauffeur as could be found, and Barbara Thurston can protect herself and us into the bargain. She rides horseback like a man.” Barbara blushed at the memory of the stolen horseback ride on the way to Newport. ”Grace and Mollie are a little bit more old-fas.h.i.+oned, perhaps, and I am as helpless as ever. But two are quite enough. They have got us out of every sc.r.a.pe so far, the two of them.”

The girls all laughed.

Only Barbara, who was leaning on the railing facing the window, saw a figure move behind the curtain, which had stood so still she had not noticed it before.

”Since you are off on a sort of wild goose chase for amus.e.m.e.nt,” began the major (here the figure that was slipping away paused again), ”couldn't you confer a great honor and pleasure on an old man by making him a visit?”

”Oh!” cried the girls, breathless with delight, remembering the automobile full of youths that would shortly appear.

”Now, Miss Sallie, you see they all want to come,” continued the major.

”Don't, I beg of you, destroy their pleasure and my happiness by declining this request of my old age.”

”Oh, do say yes, Aunt Sallie!” cried Ruth.

And still Miss Sallie hesitated. She had a curious smile on her face as she looked out over the hills and meadows beyond.

”It's an interesting old place, Sallie,” continued the major. ”It was built by my Dutch ancestors, a charming old house that has been added to from time to time. I would like to see it full of young faces once more.

What do you say, Sallie? Won't you make us all happy? The boys and me, and the girls, too? For I can see by their faces they are eager to come.”

”How far is it from here, John,” asked Miss Sallie, doubtfully. ”Is it anywhere near those dreadful forest fires?”

”It is fifteen miles back in the country, and I have heard no rumor of any fires in that vicinity lately. The boys and I are leaving this afternoon. We will see that everything is s.h.i.+p-shape, and you and the girls could follow to-morrow. I have an excellent housekeeper. She and her husband were a young couple when I went away, and they have lived at the place ever since. I am certain she can make you comfortable. I will give Miss Ruth explicit directions about the route. It is a fairly good road for motoring. We have a fine place for dancing there, young ladies.

There's a famous floor in what, in my grandmother's time, we used to call the red drawing-room. There are dozens of places for picnics, pretty valleys and creeks that I explored and knew intimately in my youth. I have some good horses in my stables, Miss Barbara, if you have a fancy for riding,” he continued, turning to Barbara with such grace of manner that she blushed for pleasure.

Looking from one eager face to another, and finally into the major's kindly gray eyes, Miss Sallie melted into acquiescence and the party was made up forthwith.

The major then pointed out to Ruth and Barbara the street they were to take, which would lead to the road to his old home. He drew a map on a piece of paper, so that they could make no mistake.

”When you come to the crossroads,” he added, as a parting caution, ”take the one with the bridge, which you can see beyond. The other road is roundabout and full of ruts besides.”

Just then the horn of an automobile was heard, as a large touring car containing four young men and a deal of baggage, drew up in front of the hotel. At the same time, Barbara, who was still facing the window, saw the figure on the other side of the curtain steal quietly away.

Major Ten Eyck went forward to meet the newcomers, and he and his two nephews had a little earnest conversation together for a few moments.

The young men looked up, saw Miss Sallie and the girls, and all four caps came off simultaneously.