Part 16 (1/2)

Should she speak to the major or should she say nothing?

On the whole, Barbara thought it would be better to keep quiet for a day or two. It might be that Miss Sallie would insist on taking them away after this last attack; but she believed Ruth's and the major's prayers would prevail, and that they would all stay through the visit.

They had planned so many delightful parties it seemed a shame to break up on the very first day of their visit. And, after all, Miss Sallie had a great tenderness for the major, a tenderness lasting through thirty years.

Then Barbara dropped off to sleep, and in the old house only one other soul was still awake as the clock in the hall chimed the hour of two.

In his room, by the light of a flickering candle, Jose sat examining the dagger that had so baffled Bab's curiosity. On his face was an expression of sorrow and bitterness that would certainly have aroused her pity had she seen him that moment. At last he shook his head hopelessly, muttered something in Spanish, and blew out the candle.

But before getting into bed he picked up the dagger again.

”Even in America,” he said in English, ”even in this far country it is the same. But I will not endure it,” he muttered. ”It is too much!”

Putting his dagger under the pillow, he crept to bed.

CHAPTER XII-NOSEGAYS AND TENNIS

The household was late in pulling itself together next morning. At half-past nine, Mary and her husband, John, had carried trays of coffee and rolls to the rooms of the guests, informing them, at the same time, that luncheon would be served at half-past twelve.

Mollie and Grace, in dressing gowns and slippers, had carried their trays into the room shared by Ruth and Barbara. Miss Sallie had followed, looking so charming in her lavender silk wrapper, elaborately trimmed with lace and ribbons that all the girls had exclaimed with admiration; which put the lady in a very good humor at the outset. Who does not like to be complimented, especially in the early morning when one is not apt to feel at one's best?

To add to the gayety of the company there was a knock on the door, which, when opened, disclosed John bearing a large tray of flowers, a small nosegay for each of the girls and a large bunch of dewy sweet peas for Miss Sallie, all with the major's compliments.

”What a man he is!” she cried. ”He disarms me with his bunches of flowers just as I was about to tell him something very disagreeable. I really don't see how I can do it.”

”Oh, please don't, auntie, dear!” exclaimed Ruth. ”I know what it is. We all do. But if we broke up the party, and went trailing off home, now that the worst is over, it wouldn't do anybody much good, and think of what a beautiful time we would be missing. To tell you the truth, auntie, we are just dying to stay. In spite of everything we are. Aren't we, girls?”

”Yes, indeed,” came in a chorus from the other three girls, a little faintly from Bab perhaps, but very eagerly from Mollie and Grace.

”Well, we'll see,” replied Miss Sallie. ”But it does seem to me that this trip has started off very badly. Three attacks in as many days.”

”That's true,” said Ruth. ”Yet by the magic Rule of Three we should have no more. We have finished now and the curse is lifted.”

”When Mollie's old Gypsy comes over we must ask her to tell a few things,” observed Grace. ”I believe she really can predict the future.

That night when you and Bab had gone with the Gypsies to get the automobile I asked her if she told fortunes, and all she said was: 'I can tell when there is blood on the moon.'”

”What a horrible idea!” exclaimed Miss Sallie. ”Weren't you frightened?”

”No, I wasn't frightened, because she seemed to have forgotten me entirely. I really thought, at the time, she must be talking about her own affairs. She looked so black and fierce.”

”Perhaps she meant Jose's blood,” remarked Mollie from behind her nosegay of honeysuckle and mignonette.

”Well, there wasn't much of it,” replied Bab, ”because Jose received only a scratch, and lost scarcely any blood. It was a close shave, though. Just half an inch nearer and it would have gone straight through his head.”

”He seems to be a very remarkable young man,” said Miss Sallie. ”Did you notice he never said one word? Just sat there as quietly as if nothing had happened.”

”He was thinking,” answered Barbara. ”But of course most people would have been too frightened to think. Did you notice the knife?” she ventured.