Polly and Her Friends Abroad Part 9

"Huh! Is that so? Well, don't you think _I_ got something to say in that case? Dodo takes who she wants, and no one else!"

"Don't say a word! All you've got to do is to pay the bills! I'm doing this match-making and you needn't help!" snapped his wife.

As she walked away, the little man nodded his head briskly and muttered: "We'll see! We'll see, missus!"

Mrs. Alexander found she could not beguile the two young folks into doing anything that included her, so she went towards the Abbey to meet Dodo upon her return. When they all came out, Dodo was with Polly and Eleanor, but her mother drew her away to one side and had her say.

"What do you s'pose I brought you over here for, Dodo? Not to gaze at tumbled down churches or to go nosing about musty old places where queer things are stuck up for folks to admire. No sir! I brought you here to find a peer, and now, with the one all ready-made and at hand, you leave him to Ruth Ashby-a girl not half as good-looking, or rich, as you!"

"See here, Ma," retorted Dodo angrily; "I told you, before, that I didn't want to marry anyone. Now that I've met Polly and Eleanor, and I know how fine a career will be, I am going to go in business, too."

"Not if I know it! And your Pa worth a million dollars!" exclaimed the irate woman.

"Polly and Eleanor are worth a lot of money, too, but that makes work all the pleasanter. You don't have to worry about bread and b.u.t.ter; and you can travel, or do all the things necessary to perfect yourself in your profession," explained Dodo.

At that, the mother threw up her hands despairingly, and wailed: "To think I should live to see this day! An only child turning against her fond mother!"

"Pooh! You're angry because I won't toddle about and do exactly as you say about Jimmy and his t.i.tle," Dodo said, scornfully.

"But he loves you, Dodo, and you are breaking his heart."

Dodo laughed. "He acts like it, doesn't he? Now if you go on this way, Ma, I'll run away and go back to the States. Once I am in New York, I'll stay there and earn my own living."

That silenced her mother. "Oh, Dodo! I never meant you to feel like that. I'll never mention Jimmy again, if you'll promise me you won't speak of business in front of anyone else?"

"I'll only promise to do what any sensible girl would do under the same circ.u.mstances, so there!" agreed Dodo. And her mother had to be content with that crumb of comfort.

After a good dinner at Bristol, Mr. Fabian sat poring over a road-map, deciding where next to go. While the elders in the party listened to him, the young folks followed Jimmy's beckoning hand and crept away.

They all jumped into the car and he drove off to celebrate the runaway.

That evening Jimmy spent money lavishly, and Angela's suspicions were convinced: he had borrowed or taken it from Mrs. Alexander at one of their tete-a-tetes. But the girl said nothing; she was sorry for herself and James, and felt that these despicable rich westerners could easily part with some of their wealth.

It was past midnight when the merry party returned to the hotel, where mothers sat up to scold their daughters for such an escapade. Youth laughed at all such corrections, however, and then ran off to bed.

In the morning, no young member of the party was willing to get up and start on the road. Hence it was quite late when they got into the cars preparatory to touring again. Just as the signal was given for Jimmy to lead off, an old man ran up, wildly gesticulating.

"E'en hear'n say you folks like odd bits of old stuff. Coom with me and see my shaup daown in the lane."

Mr. Fabian conversed with the old man for a few moments, and then asked the others if they cared to stop at the shop as they drove past.

Everyone agreed, and the old man was asked to step up on the car and direct them where to go.

Finally they drew up before a place in the outskirts of Bristol-a veritable picture of a place. The one-story structure had its walls panelled in sections and the plaster of these sections was white-washed.

The usual thatched roof and dormer windows topped the building, but the roses rambled so riotously up over the thatch, and greenish moss grew in spots, that the old place had a beautiful appearance.

Mr. Maxton rubbed his hands in delight, as he stood by and heard the cries of admiration from his visitors. He loved the old place and took a great pride in keeping it looking well.

Then they went indoors, leaving Jimmy and Mr. Alexander in the cars. The front room was crowded full of old china, lamps, silver and other curios, but Mr. Maxton led them directly to the rear room where the furniture was kept.

"Here be a rale Windsor chair you'll like," said he, moving forward a piece of furniture.

"My, Fabian! It must date back as early as 1690 to 1700," whispered Mr.

Ashby, as he examined the crown center of the flat head-rest that finished the comb-top at the back.

"It has the twisted upright rails at the back, and the turned rungs that go with that period," admitted Mr. Fabian, down upon his knees to examine the chair.

"Girls, see that seat-scooped out to fit the body, but it is worn thin with age along its front edge; and even the arms and legs are splintered down from centuries of hard usage," remarked Mr. Ashby.

While the two men and the dealer were bargaining over the chair, Mrs.

Alexander wandered back to the front room. There she found Ruth upon her knees examining a wonderful, old carved chest.

"Isn't this a darling, Mrs. Alex?" exclaimed the girl.

"What is it?" asked the woman, hardly interested.

"Why, it's a fine old wedding-chest with exquisite panels on its front and sides. The carving, alone, is unusual."

"A wedding chest, eh. What would you use it for?" asked Mrs. Alexander, taking a deeper interest in the article since the girl explained what the object was.

"Why, any girl would be glad to start a hope-chest with this," laughed Ruth. "I'm going to ask Daddy to buy it for me, if it isn't too costly."

Mrs. Alexander's fears took fire at that suggestive word, "hope-chest,"

from Ruth, and she turned instantly to rejoin the dealer in the back room. He had just finished writing the directions for the s.h.i.+pping of the chair he had sold, when she hurried across the room.

"Mr. Maxton, you have a carved chest in the front room. I want to buy it-how much is it?" As she spoke, Mrs. Alexander took a purse out of her bag and displayed a roll of bills.

The clever dealer saw this opportunity to drive a good bargain, and he named his figure. Without demur, the lady counted down the money and asked for a receipt.

Meanwhile the others had gone to the front room to see the purchase Mrs.

Alexander was making. She had shown no interest in antiques before, so this must be an exceptional piece to lure her money from her.

"Daddy, do come here and tell me if I may have this old chest?" called Ruth, still waiting beside the carved piece.

Then it became apparent that Ruth had wanted it for herself, but that Mrs. Alexander secured it. Everyone wondered why?

Well pleased with her purchase, the new owner of the chest came from the rear room and smiled complacently. Then she spoke to her daughter: "Dodo, when we go to Paris you can fill that old wedding chest with a trooso."

"Oh yes? Whose is it, Ma?" asked the girl.

"Why yours, of course! That's why I got it."

"My very own! for keeps? Or are you only _lending_ it to me?"

"Your very own, deary! I hope you'll pa.s.s it along to the n.o.ble children I long to call my grandchildren, some day," said Mrs. Alexander, sentimentally.

"I thank you, Ma, and I'll put it to the best use I can think of. And I'll pa.s.s it along-oh yes! but I doubt if grandchildren of yours ever see it," laughed Dodo, with a queer look.

"I'm glad you got it, Dodo, because it is a lovely thing," said Ruth to the fortunate owner, trying to hide her disappointment behind a smile.

"But you paid an outrageous price for it, Mrs. Alex," said Mr. Fabian.