Part 12 (1/2)

”I'll have to give him credit for possessing genuine courtesy,” thought Stephen.

At this moment a group of young people came up and demanded the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Gray in another part of the room, and Richard was set at liberty. Stephen took him by the arm.

”Before you engage again in the antic whirl I have a special exhibit to show you outside the ballroom. Spare me five minutes?”

”Spare you anything,” responded the guest, following Stephen out of the room as if he wanted nothing so much as to do whatever might be suggested to him.

In two minutes they were downstairs and at the far end of a long corridor which led to the rooms in a wing of the big house occupied by the Stephen Grays. Richard was led through a pleasant living-room where a maid was reading a book under the drop-light. She rose at their appearance and Stephen nodded an ”All right” to her. He conducted Richard to the door of an inner room, which, as he opened it, let a rush of cold air upon the two men entering.

”Turn up your collar; it's winter in here,” said Stephen softly. He switched on a shaded light which revealed a nursery containing two small beds side by side. Two large windows at the farther end of the room were wide open, and all the breezes of the December night were playing about the sleepers.

The sleepers! Richard bent over them, one after the other, scanning each rosy face. The baby girl lay upon her side, a round little cheek, a fringe of dark eyelashes, and a tangle of fair curls showing against the pillow. The boy was stretched upon his back, his arms outflung, his head turned toward the light so that his face was fully visible. If he had been attractive with his wonderful eyes open, he was even more winsome with them closed. He looked the picture of the sleeping angel who has never known contact with earth.

”I thought he would never be done looking,” Stephen acknowledged afterward when he told his exulting wife about the scene. ”I was half frozen, but he acted like a man hypnotized. Finally he looked up at me.

'Gray, you're a rich man,' said he. 'I suppose you know it or you wouldn't have brought me up here to show me your wealth.' 'I believe I know it,' said I. 'What does it feel like,' he asked, 'to look at these and know they're yours?' I told him that that was a thing I couldn't express. 'Forgive me for asking,' said he. 'No man would want to try to express it--to another.' I began to like him after that, Rosy--I really did. The fellow seems to have a heart that hasn't been altogether spoiled by the sort of life he's lived. On our way upstairs he said nothing until we were nearly back to the attic. Then he put his hand on my arm. 'Thank you for taking me, Gray,' he said. I told him you wanted me to do it. He only gave me a look in answer to that; but I fancy you would have liked the look, little susceptible girl.”

It was Ted who got hold of the guest next. ”I hope you're having a good time, Mr. Kendrick,” said the young son of the house, politely. ”I've been so busy myself, dancing with all my girl cousins, I haven't had time to ask you.”

”I've been having the time of my life, Ted. I can't remember when I've enjoyed anything so much.”

”I saw you once with Rob. You're lucky to get her. She hasn't had time to dance once with me and I'd rather have her than any girl here, she's so jolly. She always keeps me laughing. You and she didn't seem to be laughing at all, though.”

”Did we look so serious? Perhaps she felt like laughing inside, though, at my awkward steps.”

Ted stared. ”Why, you're a bully dancer,” he declared. ”What girl are you going to have for the Virginia reel? We always end with that--at twelve o'clock, you know.”

”I haven't a partner, Ted. I wish you'd get me the one I want.”

”Tell me who it is and I'll try. We're going down to bring up supper now, we fellows. Want to help?”

”Of course I do. How is it done?”

”Everything's in the dining-room and some of the younger ones go down.

But we boys and men go and bring up everything for the older folks.

Maybe I oughtn't to ask you, though,” he hesitated. ”You're company.”

”Let me be one of the family to-night,” urged Richard. ”I'll bring up supper for Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Gray and pretend they're my aunt and uncle, too. I wish they were.”

”I don't blame you; they _are_ the jolliest ever, aren't they? Come on, then. Rosy's looking at us; maybe she'll tell you not to go.”

They hurried away downstairs, racing with each other to the first floor.

”Hullo! you, too?” Louis greeted the guest from the farther side of the table filled with all manner of toothsome viands, where he was piling up a tray to carry aloft. ”Glad to see you're game for the whole show. Take one of those trays and load it with discretion--weight equally distributed, or you'll get into trouble on the stairs. You're new at this job, and it takes training.”

”I'll manage it,” and the young man fell to work, capably a.s.sisted by a maid, who showed him what to take first and how to insure its safe delivery.

On his way up, walking cautiously on account of the cups of smoking bouillon which he was concerned lest he spill, he encountered a rose-coloured brocade frock on its way down.

”Good for you, Mr. Kendrick,” hailed Roberta's voice, full and sweet.