You always speak without thinking, chided her mother.
Yes, dont I? But, you see, I thought somehow that Dorothy had no relatives; but if she had one who was wealthy, and who allowed her to slave at sewing, then I say he was wicked, dead or alive, so there!
When work is paid for it is not slavery, commented Sabina with severity and justice.
The sewing girl looked up at her.
My grandfather, in Virginia, owned slaves before the war, and I have often thought that any curse which may have been attached to slavery has at least partly been expiated by me, as foreshadowed in the Bible, where it says that the sins of the fathers shall affect the third or fourth generations. I was thinking of that when I spoke of the shackles falling from my wrists, for sometimes, Miss Kempt, you have made me doubt whether wages and slavery are as incompatible as you appear to imagine. My father, who was a clergyman, often spoke to me of his fathers slaves, and while he never defended the institution, I think the past in his mind was softened by a glamor that possibly obscured the defects of life on the plantation. But often in depression and loneliness I have thought I would rather have been one of my grandfathers slaves than endure the life I have been called upon to lead.
Oh, Dorothy, dont talk like that, or youll make me cry, pleaded Kate. Let us be cheerful whatever happens. Tell us about the money. Begin Once upon a time, and then everything will be all right. No matter how harrowing such a story begins, it always ends with lashins and lashins of money, or else with a prince in a gorgeous uniform and gold lace, and you get the half of his kingdom. Do go on.
Dorothy looked up at her impatient friend, and a radiant cheerfulness chased away the gathering shadows from her face.
Well, once upon a time I lived very happily with my father in a little rectory in a little town near the Hudson River. His family had been ruined by the war, and when the plantation was sold, or allowed to go derelict, whatever money came from it went to his elder and only brother. My father was a dreamy scholar and not a business man as his brother seems to have been. My mother had died when I was a child; I do not remember her. My father was the kindest and most patient of men, and all I know he taught me. We were very poor, and I undertook the duties of housekeeper, which I performed as well as I was able, constantly learning by my failures. But my father was so indifferent to material comforts that there were never any reproaches. He taught me all that I know in the way of what you might call accomplishments, and they were of a strangely varied ordera smattering of Latin and Greek, a good deal of French, history, literature, and even dancing, as well as music, for he was an excellent musician. Our meager income ceased with my fathers life, and I had to choose what I should do to earn my board and keep, like Orphant Annie, in Whitcomb Rileys poem. There appeared to be three avenues open to me. I could be a governess, domestic servant, or dressmaker. I had already earned something at the latter occupation, and I thought if I could set up in business for myself, there was a greater chance of gaining an independence along that line than either as a governess or servant. But to do this I needed at least a little capital.
Although there had been no communication between the two brothers for many years, I had my uncles address, and I wrote acquainting him with the fact of my fathers death, and asking for some assistance to set up in business for myself, promising to repay the amount advanced with interest as soon as I was able, for although my father had never said anything against his elder brother, I somehow had divined, rather than knew, that he was a hard man, and his answering letter gave proof of that, for it contained no expression of regret for his brothers death. My uncle declined to make the advance I asked for, saying that many years before he had given my father two hundred dollars which had never been repaid. I was thus compelled, for the time at least, to give up my plan for opening a dressmaking establishment, even on the smallest scale, and was obliged to take a situation similar to that which I hold here. In three years I was able to save the two hundred dollars, which I sent to my uncle, and promised to remit the interest if he would tell me the age of the debt. He replied giving the information, and enclosing a receipt for the principal, with a very correct mathematical statement of the amount of interest if compounded annually, as was his legal right, but expressing his readiness to accept simple interest, and give me a receipt in full.
The brute! ejaculated Katherine, which remark brought upon her a mild rebuke from her mother on intemperance of language.
Well, go on, said Katherine, unabashed.
I merely mention this detail, continued Dorothy, as an object lesson in honesty. Never before since the world began was there such a case of casting bread upon the waters as was my sending the two hundred dollars. My uncle appears to have been a most methodical man. He filed away my letter which contained the money, also a typewritten copy of his reply, and when he died, it was these documents which turned the attention of the legal arm who acted for him to myself, for my uncle had left no will. The Californian firm communicated with lawyers in New York, and they began a series of very cautious inquiries, which at last resulted, after I had furnished certain proofs asked for, in my being declared heiress to my uncles estate.
And how much did you get? How much did you get? demanded Katherine.
I asked the lawyers from New York to deposit ten thousand dollars for me in the Sixth National Bank of this town, and they did so. It was to draw a little check against that deposit, and thus learn if it was real, that I went out to-day.
Ten thousand dollars, murmured Katherine, in accents of deep disappointment. Is that all?
Isnt that enough? asked Dorothy, with a twinkle in her eyes.
No, you deserve ten times as much, and Im not going to New York or Boston at your expense to buy new dresses. Not likely! I will attend the ball in my calico.
Dorothy laughed quietly, and drew from the little satchel she wore at her side a letter, which she handed to Katherine.
Its private and confidential, she warned her friend.
Oh, I wont tell any one, said Katherine, unfolding it. She read eagerly half-way down the page, then sprang to her feet on the top of the table, screaming:
Fifteen million dollars! Fifteen million dollars! and, swinging her arms back and forth like an athlete about to leap, sprang to the floor, nearly upsetting the little table, tray and all, as she embraced Dorothy Amhurst.
Fifteen millions! Thats something like! Why, mother, do you realize that we have under our roof one of the richest young women in the world? Dont you see that the rest of this conference must take place in our drawing-room under the most solemn auspices? The idea of our keeping such an heiress in the attic!
I believe, said Sabina, slowly and coldly, that Mr. Rockefellers income is
Oh, blow Mr. Rockefeller and his income! cried the indignant younger sister.
Katherine! pleaded the mother tearfully.
CHAPTER III ON DECK
THROUGHOUT the long summer day a gentle excitement had fluttered the hearts of those ladies, young, or not so young, who had received invitations to the ball on board the Consternation that night. The last touches were given to creations on which had been spent skill, taste, and money. Our three young women, being most tastefully and fashionably attired, were in high spirits, which state of feeling was exhibited according to the nature of each; Sabina rather stately in her exaltation; Dorothy quiet and demure; while Katherine, despite her mothers supplications, would not be kept quiet, but swung her graceful gown this way and that, practising the slide of a waltz, and quoting W. R. Gilbert, as was her custom. She glided over the floor in rhythm with her chant.
Meanwhile, in a room downstairs that good-natured veteran Captain Kempt was telling the latest stories to his future son-in-law, a young officer of the American Navy, who awaited, with dutiful impatience, the advent of the serene Sabina. When at last the ladies came down the party set out through the gathering darkness of this heavenly summer night for the private pier from which they were privileged, because of Captain Kempts official standing, to voyage to the cruiser on the little revenue cutter Whip-poor-will, which was later on to convey the Secretary of the Navy and his entourage across the same intervening waters. Just before they reached the pier their steps were arrested by the boom of a cannon, followed instantly by the sudden apparition of the Consternation picked out in electric light; masts, funnel and hull all outlined by incandescent stars.
How beautiful! cried Sabina, whose young man stood beside her. It is as if a gigantic racket, all of one color, had burst, and hung suspended there like the planets of heaven.
It reminds me, whispered Katherine to Dorothy, of an overgrown pop-corn ball, at which remark the two girls were frivolous enough to laugh.
Crash! sounded a cannon from an American ship, and then the white squadron became visible in a blaze of lightning. And now all the yachts and other craft on the waters flaunted their lines of fire, and the whole Bay was illuminated like a lake in Fairyland.
Now, said Captain Kempt with a chuckle, watch the Britisher. I think shes going to show us some color, and as he spoke there appeared, spreading from nest to mast, a huge sheet of blue, with four great stars which pointed the corners of a parallelogram, and between the stars shone a huge white anchor. Cheers rang out from the crew of the Consternation, and the band on board played The Star-Spangled Banner.
That, said Captain Kempt in explanation, is the flag of the United States Secretary of the Navy, who will be with us to-night. The visitors have kept very quiet about this bit of illumination, but our lads got on to the secret about a week ago, and Ill be very much disappointed if they dont give em tit for tat.
When the band on the Consternation ceased playing, all lights went out on the American squadron, and then on the flagship appeared from mast to mast a device with the Union Jack in the corner, a great red cross dividing the flag into three white squares. As this illumination flashed out the American band struck up the British national anthem, and the outline lights appeared again.
That, said the captain, is the British man-o-wars flag.
The Whip-poor-will speedily whisked the party and others across the sparkling waters to the foot of the grand stairway which had been specially constructed to conduct the elect from the tide to the deck. It was more than double as broad as the ordinary gangway, was carpeted from top to bottom, and on every step stood a blue-jacket, each as steady as if cast in bronze, the line forming, as one might say, a living handrail rising toward the dark sky.
Captain Kempt and his wife went first, followed by Sabina and her young man with the two girls in their wake.
Arent those men splendid? whispered Katherine to her friend. I wish each held an old-fashioned torch. I do love a sailor.
So do I, said Dorothy, then checked herself, and laughed a little.
I guess we all do, sighed Katherine.
On deck the bluff captain of the Consternation, in resplendent uniform, stood beside Lady Angela Burford of the British Embassy at Washington, to receive the guests of the cruiser. Behind these two were grouped an assemblage of officers and very fashionably dressed women, chatting vivaciously with each other. As Dorothy looked at the princess-like Lady Angela it seemed as if she knew her; as if here were one who had stepped out of an English romance. Her tall, proudly held figure made the stoutish captain seem shorter than he actually was. The natural haughtiness of those classic features was somewhat modified by a pro tem smile. Captain Kempt looked back over his shoulder and said in a low voice:
Now, young ladies, best foot forward. The Du Maurier woman is to receive the Gibson girls.
I know I shall laugh, and I fear I shall giggle, said Katherine, but she encountered a glance from her elder sister quite as haughty as any Lady Angela might have bestowed, and all thought of merriment fled for the moment; thus the ordeal passed conventionally without Katherine either laughing or giggling.
Sabina and her young man faded away into the crowd. Captain Kempt was nodding to this one and that of his numerous acquaintances, and Katherine felt Dorothy shrink a little closer to her as a tall, unknown young man deftly threaded his way among the people, making directly for the Captain, whom he seized by the hand in a grasp of the most cordial friendship.
Captain Kempt, I am delighted to meet you again. My name is DrummondLieutenant Drummond, and I had the pleasure of being introduced to you at that dinner a week or two ago.
The pleasure was mine, sir, the pleasure was mine, exclaimed the Captain with a cordiality equal to that with which he had been greeted. He had not at first the least recollection of the young man, but the Captain was something of an amateur politician, and possessed all a politicians expertness in facing the unknown, and making the most of any situation in which he found himself.
Oh, yes, Lieutenant, I remember very well that excellent song you
Isnt it a perfect night? gasped the Lieutenant. I think we are to be congratulated on our weather.
He still clung to the Captains hand, and shook it again so warmly that the Captain said to himself:
I must have made an impression on this young fellow, then aloud he replied jauntily:
Oh, we always have good weather this time of year. You see, the United States Government runs the weather. Didnt you know that? Yes, our Weather Bureau is considered the best in the world.
The Lieutenant laughed heartily, although a hollow note intervened, for the young man had got to the end of his conversation, realized he could not shake hands for a third time, yet did not know what more to say. The suavity of the politician came to his rescue in just the form the Lieutenant had hoped.
Lieutenant Drummond, allow me to introduce my wife to you.
The lady bowed.
And my daughter, Katherine, and Miss Amhurst, a friend of oursLieutenant Drummond, of the Consternation.
I wonder, said the Lieutenant, as if the thought had just occurred to him, if the young ladies would like to go to a point where they can have a comprehensive view of the decorations. II may not be the best guide, but I am rather well acquainted with the ship, you know.
Dont ask me, said Captain Kempt. Ask the girls. Everything Ive had in life has come to me because I asked, and if I didnt get it the first time, I asked again.
Of course we want to see the decorations, cried Katherine with enthusiasm, and so bowing to the Captain and Mrs. Kempt, the Lieutenant led the young women down the deck, until he came to an elevated spot out of the way of all possible promenaders, on which had been placed in a somewhat secluded position, yet commanding a splendid view of the throng, a settee with just room for two, that had been taken from some ones cabin. A blue-jacket stood guard over it, but at a nod from the Lieutenant he disappeared.
Hello! cried Katherine, reserved seats, eh? How different from a theatre chair, where you are entitled to your place by holding a colored bit of cardboard. Here a man with a cutlass stands guard. It gives one a notion of the horrors of war, doesnt it, Dorothy?