Part 13 (1/2)
”We ought to acknowledge each gift personally,” Maxwell said. ”You must tell us who's given what.”
”Oh, no you won't. When I took these things away from their owners by force, I acknowledged them in the politest way possible, so as to save you the trouble. You're not supposed to know where a thing came from.”
”But there must have been a lot of money spent on the rectory to get it into shape,” Maxwell a.s.serted. ”Where did it all come from?”
Mrs. Burke grinned with amus.e.m.e.nt.
”Why, can't you guess? Of course it was that merry-hearted, generous old Senior Warden of yours. Who else could it be? If there is anything you need, just let us know.”
”But the house seems to be very completely furnished as it is.”
”No, not yet. If you look around you'll see lots of things that aren't here.”
Mrs. Betty quite raved over the salad, made of lettuce, oranges, walnuts and a mayonnaise dressing. Then there came ice cream and chocolate sauce, followed by black coffee.
”This is quite too much, Mrs. Burke. You must be a superb cook. I am horribly afraid you'll have spoiled Donald, so that my cooking will seem very tame to him,” Mrs. Betty remarked.
”Well, never mind, Mrs. Betty. If worst comes to worst there are seven pans of soda biscuit secreted around the premises somewhere; so don't be discouraged. There are lots of things you can do with a soda biscuit, if you know how. Now we'll just clear the table, and wash the dishes, and put things away.”
When about nine o'clock she arose to go, Maxwell took both Hepsey's hands in his and said quietly:
”Mrs. Burke, I'm more indebted to you than I can possibly say, for all you have done for us. I wish I knew how to thank you properly, but I don't.”
”Oh, never mind that,” Mrs. Burke replied, a mist gathering in her eyes, ”it's been lots of fun, and if you're satisfied I'm more than pleased.” Then, putting her arm around Mrs. Betty's waist, she continued:
”Remember that we're not payin' this nice little wife of yours to do parish work, and if people interfere with her you just tell em to go to Thunder Cliff. Good-by.”
She was turning away when suddenly she stopped, an expression of horror on her face:
”My! think of that now! This was a bride's dinner-party, and I put yellow flowers on the table, instead of white! What'd city folks say to that!”
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER XI
VIRGINIA'S HIGH HORSE
Mrs. Betty soon succeeded in winning a place for herself in the hearts of her paris.h.i.+oners, and those who called to look over her ”clothes,”
and see if she was going to ”put on airs” as a city woman, called again because they really liked her. She returned the calls with equal interest, and soon had her part of the parish organization well in hand.
Maxwell's choice was, in fact, heartily approved--except by Virginia Bascom and the Senior Warden. The former took the opportunity to leave cards on an afternoon when all Durford was busily welcoming Betty at a tea; and was ”not at home” when Betty duly returned the call. Virginia was also careful not to ”see” either Betty or her husband if, by any chance, they pa.s.sed her when in town.
Of all of which manoeuvres Betty and Donald remained apparently sublimely unconscious.
As a means of making some return for the good-hearted generosity and hospitality of the inhabitants, represented by the furniture at the rectory and many tea-parties under various roof-trees, Mrs. Maxwell persuaded her husband that they should give a parish party.
So invitations were issued broadcast, and Mrs. Burke was asked to scan the lists, lest anyone be omitted. China sufficient for the occasion was supplemented by Hepsey Burke and Jonathan Jackson, and Nickey laid his invaluable services under contribution to fetch and carry--organizing a corps of helpers.