Dorothy on a House Boat Part 17

Having arrived at the wharf where the Water Lily was fastened he paused and awaited the invitation without which he wouldn't have crossed the gang-plank. He had plenty of time to rest before the invitation came. None of the lads who had visited his place for cream was in sight. Mrs. Calvert and Mrs. Bruce glanced toward him and looked away. They supposed him to be another of those "peddlers" who had swarmed over the boat the evening of its arrival, and didn't wish "to be annoyed."

The Colonel saw him but gave no sign of recognition. He waited to see what his hostess would do and would then follow her example. She looked away--so did this too chivalrous guest.

The girls had gone to the woods, searching for wild grapes; and Cap'n Jack, with the lads, had taken the row-boat down stream on a fis.h.i.+ng trip. Fish, of many varieties, had been brought to the Lily for sale, but fish that one caught for one's self would be finer and cost less; so they reasoned with a fine access of economy.

Ephraim and Chloe were "tidying up;" and only little Methuselah and Billy-mule gave the visitor a word of welcome. These two were fast becoming friends, and both were p.r.o.ne on the ground; one suffering from a surfeit of gra.s.s--the other of water-melon.

Metty looked up and sat up--with a groan:

"Say, Mister, 'd you evah hab de tummy-ache?" while Billy's sad bray seemed to be asking the same question.

"Heaps of times. When I'd eaten too much green stuff. Got it?"

"Yep. Dey's a orful misery all eroun' me yeah! I'd lak some peppymin'

but Mammy she ain' done got none. Oh! my!"

"Get a _rollin'_. Nothing cures a colic quicker than that. And, look-a-here? How's this for medicine?"

Metty considered this the "mos' splendides' gemplemum" he had ever met. A gentleman made to order, indeed, with a paper bag in his pocket, chock full of beautiful red and white "peppymin's" which he lavishly dealt out to the small sufferer--a half one at a time! But many halves make several wholes, and Metty's now happy tones, in place of complaints, brought Chloe to the spot, and to the knowledge of the stranger's real errand.

"Come right erway in, suh. I sure gwine tell Miss Betty you-all ain'

none dem peddlah gemplemums, but a genuwine calleh. Dis yeah way, suh.

Metty, yo' triflin' little n.i.g.g.ah! Why ain' yo' tote one dese yeah bastics?"

A familiar, not-too-heavy, cuff on the boy's ear set him briskly "toting" one basket while his mother carried the other. Mr. Stillwell followed his guide to where Mrs. Calvert sat and explained himself and his visit so simply and pleasantly that she was charmed and exclaimed:

"This is delightful, to find neighbors where we looked for strangers only. How kind and how generous of your wife! I wish I could see and thank her in person."

Chloe had uncovered the daintily packed baskets and Mrs. Bruce fairly glowed in housewifely pleasure over the contents.

"Looks as if an artist had packed them," said Aunt Betty; and it did.

Tomatoes resting in nests of green lettuce; half-husked green corn flanked by purple eggplant and creamy squashes; crimson beets and brown skinned potatoes; these filled one basket. The other was packed with grapes of varying colors, with fine peaches, pears, rosy apples and purple plums. Together they did make a bright spot of color on the sunny deck and brought a warm glow to Mrs. Calvert's heart. The cheerful face of the farmer and his open-hearted neighborliness were an agreeable contrast to the dolefulness of the more aristocratic Colonel--called such by courtesy and custom but not from any right to the t.i.tle.

"If the girls would only come!" said Mrs. Bruce. "I'd like to have them see the things before we move one out of its pretty place."

"Well, they will. I'm sure Mr. Stillwell will wait and take our mid-day dinner with us. Besides being glad to make his acquaintance, I want to ask advice. What we are to do with the Water Lily; how to safely get the most pleasure out of it. Would you like to go over the boats, Mr. Stillwell?"

This was exactly what he did wish; and presently Aunt Betty was guiding him about, displaying and explaining every detail of the little craft, as eager and animated as if she had designed it. The Colonel stalked solemnly in the rear, sighing now and then over such wasted effort and enthusiasm, and silently wondering how a Calvert could meet on such equal terms a mere farmer, one of those "common Stillwells."

However, neither of the others paid him any attention, being too absorbed in their own talk; and the stranger in maturing a plan to help his hostess and her household.

When everything had been examined and tested by his common sense he explained:

"If this here Water Lily war mine, which she isn't; and I wanted to get the most good and most fun out of her, which I don't, I'd light right out from this region. I'd get shet of all them gapin'

Corner-ites and Jimpson-ites, and boats pa.s.sin' by an' takin' notes of things. I'd get a sensible tug to haul me, tender an' all, a mite further up stream till I met the Branch. I'd be hauled clean into that fur as war practical, then I'd 'paddle my own canoe.' Meanin' that then I'd hitch a rope to my mule, or use my poles, till I fetched up alongside Deer-Copse on the Ottawotta Run. There ain't no purtier spot on the face of G.o.d's good earth nor that. I war born there, or nigh-hand to it. If a set of idle folks can't be happy on the Ottawotta, then they sure deserve to be unhappy."

Aunt Betty was enchanted. From his further description she felt that this wonderful Run was the very stream for them to seek; and with her old decision of manner she asked Mr. Stillwell to arrange everything for her and not to stint in the matter of expense. Then she laughed:

"I have really no right to say that, either, for I'm only a guest on this boat-party. The Water Lily belongs to my little niece and it is she who will pay the bills. I wonder how soon it could be arranged with such a tug! Do you know one?"

"Sure. Right away, this evenin', if you like. I happen to have a loose foot, to-day, and can tend to it. To-morrow's market and I'll have to be up soon, and busy late. Is 't a bargain? If 'tis, I'll get right about it."

By "evening" meant with these Marylanders all the hours after mid-day; and, declining any refreshment, Mr. Stillwell departed about this business. His alertness and cheerfulness put new life into Aunt Betty and the widow, who hustled about putting into fresh order the already immaculate Lily.

"If we're going to move I want everything spick-and-span. And the girls'll come in right tired after their wood tramp. Wonderful, ain't it? How 't that peeked, puny Elsa is a gainin' right along. Never see the beat. She'll make a right smart lot of good, wholesome flesh, if she keeps on enjoyin' her victuals as she does now. Looks as if she lived on slops most of her short life. See anything more wants doing, Mrs. Calvert?"

"No, Mrs. Bruce, I do not. I wish you'd let Chloe bear her share of the work, not do so much yourself. I want you to rest--as I'm doing,"

answered the other.

"It plumb wears me out to have folks fussin' so, Ma'am. They ain't no use. A day's only a day, when all's said and done. Why not take it easy? Take it as easy as you can and it don't amount to much, life don't. Ah! hum."

But the Colonel's protest was lost on energetic Mrs. Bruce. She tossed her comely head and retorted:

"Some folks find their rest in doin' their duty, not in loafin' round on other people's time and things. Not meaning any disrespect, I'm sure, but I never did have time to do nothin' in. I'm going right now and set to work on that dinner. I do wish the girls could see those baskets, first, though!"

"Leave them untouched, then, Mrs. Bruce. Surely, we had enough provided before we had this present."

"Yes, Mrs. Calvert, we did have--for our own folks; and counting a little on the fish the men-folks was to bring in. Seems if they's gone a dreadful spell, don't it? And I heard that old Cap'n Jack say something about the Bay. If he's enticed 'em to row out onto that big water--Oh! dear! I wish they'd come!"

The Colonel roused himself to remark:

"Squalls is right frequent on the Chesapeake. And that old man is no captain at all. Used to work on an oyster boat and don't know--shucks.

Likely they've had an upset. Boys got to foolin' and--Ah! hum! Wasn't none of 'em your sons, were they, Ma'am?"

From the moment of their first meeting there had been a silent battle between the capable housekeeper and the incapable "southern gentleman." She had had several talks with Dorothy and Jim over the finances of this trip and she knew that it would have to be a short one if "ends were to meet." She felt that this man, aristocrat though he might be, had no right to impose himself and his prodigious appet.i.te upon them just because the lads had tried to buy his old mule and he had, instead, so generously presented it.

"I don't see what good that yapping Billy does, anyway! He doesn't work at all and he's living on somebody else's gra.s.s. There'll be a bill coming in for his fodder, next we know;" she had grumbled. It may be said, to her credit, that she was infinitely more careful of Dorothy's interests than she would have been of her own. But all her grumbling and hints failed to effect what she had hoped they would--the Colonel's permanent departure for home along with the useless Billy.

Now all that was to be changed. Almost before he had gone, it seemed, Farmer Stillwell came steaming down stream on a small tugboat, which puffed and fussed as if it were some mighty steams.h.i.+p, and pa.s.sing the Water Lily manoeuvred to turn around and face upstream again.

Presently, a rope was made fast to the prow of the house-boat and securely tied, and Mr. Stillwell stepped aboard to announce:

"All ready to move, Ma'am. Your company all back?"

"Not all. The girls have just come but the Captain and the boys are still away. We'll have to wait for them."

Mrs. Calvert's answer fell on unheeding ears.

"Guess not, Ma'am. This here tug's got another job right soon and if we lose this chance may not be another in a dog's age. I knowed she was around and could help us out, was the reason I spoke to you about her. I guess it's now or never with the 'Nancy Jane.' Once she goes up to Baltimo' she'll have more jobs an' she can tackle. Wouldn't be here now, only she had one down, fetching some truck-scows back. Well, what you say?"

A brief consultation was held in the cabin of the Water Lily in which the voices of four eager girls prevailed:

"Why, let's take the chance, of course, Auntie dear. We can leave a note pinned to the wharf telling the boys and Cap'n Jack that we've gone on to the Ottawotta. They can follow in their row-boat. And, Colonel Dillingham, can't you ride Billy alongside, on the sh.o.r.es we pa.s.s? We can't possibly take him on board, and he won't go without you."

But now, at last, was the doughty Colonel energetic.

"No, sir. I mean, no, madam! I go to Ottawotta? I allow my faithful Billy to set foot on that soil? No, ma'am. I will not. I will simply bid you good day. And young miss, let me tell you, what your relative here seems to have forgot; that no old Marylander, of first quality, would ha' turned a guest loose to s.h.i.+ft for himself in such a way as this. But--what can you expect? Times ain't what they were and you cayn't count on anybody any more. I bid you all good day, and a pleasant v'yage. As for Billy an' me, we'll bestow ourselves where we are better appreciated."