Marjorie at Seacote

by Carolyn Wells

  CHAPTER XVII

  WHAT HESTER DID

  "I won't have her!" declared Hester. "I'm Queen of this Court, and Iwon't have any new members taken in. You had no right, Marjorie Maynard,to ask her to belong, without consulting me!"

  "Why, Hester, I had so! You may be Queen, but you don't own the wholeSand Club! And Ruth Rowland is a lovely girl. How can you dislike her,when you know how sweet and pretty she is. She says she knows you."

  "Yes, I do know her. Stuck-up, yellow-haired thing!"

  Sand Court was in full session, and all had been going on amicably untilMarjorie had chanced to mention meeting Ruth at Atlantic City, and saidshe had asked her to come to the Sand Club meetings. At this, Hester hadflown into one of her rages, and declared that Ruth should not become amember of their little circle.

  "Look here, Hester Corey," said Tom Craig, "you promised, if you couldbe Queen, to be always sweet and pleasant. Do you call this keepingyour promise?"

  "Pooh, who cares! I only promised, if the club stayed just the same. Ifyou're going to put in a lot of new members without asking me, mypromise doesn't count."

  "Ruth isn't 'a lot,'" said Marjorie, laughing at Hester's fury.

  But her laughter only made Queen Sandy more angry than ever.

  "I don't care if she isn't! She's a new member, and I won't have _any_new members,--so, there, now!"

  "Say, Hester," began King, "I don't think you're boss of this club. Justbecause you're Queen, you don't have any more say than the GrandSandjandrum, or me, or anybody."

  "I do, too! A Queen has _all_ the say,--about everything! And I saythere sha'n't be any more people in this club, and so there sha'n't!"

  Hester stamped her foot and shook her fist and wagged her head in theangriest possible way, and if the others hadn't been so exasperated byher ill-temper they must have laughed at the funny picture she made. Hernew crown was tumbled sideways, her hair ribbons had come off, and herface, flushed red and angry, was further disfigured by a disagreeablescowl.

  And just at this moment Ruth arrived. She came in, smiling, neatlydressed in a clean print frock, and broad straw hat with a wreath offlowers round it.

  "Hello, Marjorie," she said, a little shyly, for she didn't know theCraig boys, and she couldn't help seeing that Hester was in a fit oftemper.

  "Hello, Ruth," said Marjorie, running to her, and taking her by thehand. "Come on in; this is Sand Court. These are the Craig boys,--Tom,Dick, and Harry. And this is our Queen,--but I think you know HesterCorey."

  "Yes," began Ruth, but Hester cried out: "I don't want her to know me!She sha'n't join our club, I say!"

  Ruth looked bewildered at first, and then her sweet little face wrinkledup, and the tears came into her big blue eyes.

  "Don't cry, Ruth," said Midget, putting her arm round her; "Hester issort of mad this morning, but I guess she'll get over it. Don't mindher."

  "I won't get over it," screamed Hester. "I'm not going to have RuthRowland in this club!"

  "For goodness gracious sakes, children, what _is_ the matter?"

  A grown-up voice exclaimed these words, and then Mr. Jack Bryant enteredSand Court. He took in the situation at a glance, but pretended to beignorant of the true state of things.

  "What's up, O Queen?" he said, addressing Hester. "Oh, sunny-faced,honey-voiced Queen of Sand Court, what, I prithee, is up?"

  "Nothing," growled Hester, looking sullen.

  "Nay, nay, not so, sweet Queen; I bethink me there is much up, indeed!Else why these unusual consternations on the faces of thy courtiers?"

  Of course, Cousin Jack knew all about the doings of Sand Court. He hadoften been with them, and delighted them all by talking "Courtlanguage," but to-day nobody responded to his pleasantry. Ruth andMarjorie were on the verge of tears, the boys were all angry at Hester,and Hester herself was in one of her wildest furies.

  She refused to answer Cousin Jack, and sat on her throne, shrugging hershoulders and twitching about, with every cross expression possible onher pouting face. Mr. Bryant became more serious.

  "Children," he said, "this won't do. This Sand Club is a jolly,good-natured club, usually, and now that I see you all at sixes andsevens, I want to know what's the matter. Midget, will you tell me?"

  "I want Ruth Rowland to be in our club," said Marjorie,straightforwardly; "and Hester doesn't want her. And Hester says thatbecause she is Queen, we must all do as she says."

  "Ah, ha; urn, hum. Well, Hester, my dear child, _why_ don't you wantRuth in the club?"

  "Because I don't!" and the Queen looked more disagreeable than ever.

  "Because you _don't_! Well, now, you see, my dear, that is just noreason at all, so Ruth can be a member, as far as you're concerned."

  "No, she can't! I won't have her in!"

  "Why?"

  "Because I don't like her!"

  "Ah, now we're getting at it. And suppose any of the club shouldn't likeyou; then you couldn't be a member, could you?"

  "They _do_ like me!" declared Hester.

  "_Like_ you! like _you_! A girl that flies into rages, and says unkindthings? Oh, no, nobody could like a girl like that! Now, I'll fix it.You, Hester, won't have Ruth in the club, you say. Well, then if you'renot in the club yourself, of course Ruth could come in. So, the rest ofthe club can choose which of you two girls they'd rather have, as itseems impossible to have you both. King, as the oldest, I'll ask youfirst. Will you choose to have Hester or Ruth in this club?"

  "Ruth," said King, promptly. "She doesn't quarrel all the time."

  "Next, Tom. Which do you choose?"

  "Ruth," replied Tom.

  "Why, Tom Craig!" cried Hester, in surprise; "you never saw that girltill to-day!"

  "No, but I've seen you," he replied; "and I can tell you, Hester, I'mtired of these scraps you're always putting up! I believe we'll havebetter times with Ruth Rowland."

  "Marjorie," Cousin Jack went on, "which girl do you choose?"

  "I'd like them both," said Midget, who couldn't quite bring herself todenounce Hester entirely.

  "But Hester won't have Ruth. You must choose one or the other."

  "Then I choose Ruth, Cousin Jack. For Hester does make me a lot oftrouble."

  Midget sighed deeply, for, truly, Hester had caused strife in the clubfrom its very beginning.

  The two smaller boys voted decidedly for Ruth, and then Cousin Jackturned to Hester.

  "You see," he said, but not unkindly, "the club has unanimouslyexpressed its preference for Ruth. I don't see that you can do anythingbut take your hat and go home."

  Hester looked at him in amazement.

  "What do you mean?" she cried. "I _won't_ go home! I'm Queen, and I'llstay here and _be_ Queen! Ruth can go home!"

  "No," said Mr. Bryant, more decidedly this time; "Ruth is not goinghome. You're to go home, Hester. I happen to know that the Maynardchildren and the Craig boys have already shown patience andunselfishness toward your tyranny and unreasonableness--now, they're notgoing to be imposed on any longer. I'll have a voice in this mattermyself. Either you'll stay in the club and agree to have Ruth for amember also, and be pleasant and kind to her, or else you can take yourhat and go home."

  Mr. Bryant spoke quietly, but very firmly. He knew all the club had beenthrough, in putting up with Hester's tantrums, and he thought it onlyfair that they should be relieved of this troublesome member.

  "I won't have Ruth in," she repeated, but she dropped her eyes beforeMr. Bryant's stern glance.

  "I'm sorry, Hester, but if you won't have Ruth in, then you must gohome, yourself, and I will ask you to go at once."

  "All right, I'm glad to go!" and Hester pulled off her crown and threwit on the ground, and stamped on it. Then she broke in two her prettygilt sceptre, and threw that down. She flung her hat on her head andmarched out of Sand Court with angry glances at each one. She flirtedher skirts and twitched her shoulders, and though she said nothing, shewas as furious a little girl as can well be imagined.

  Ruth was a
lmost frightened, for she was unaccustomed to such scenes. Norwere the Maynards used to them, except as they had seen Hester in herrages now and then.

  Cousin Jack looked after the child a little sadly. He was sorry that shecould behave so, but he had made up his mind that Midget and King hadbeen imposed on by Hester for a long time, and he had determined to puta stop to it. The advent of Ruth gave a good opportunity, and he availedhimself of it.

  A silence fell on them all. They watched Hester as she slowly went outof Sand Court.

  But as she started across the lawn, she saw a garden hose with which aman had been sprinkling the grass. He had gone off and left it lying onthe ground, partly turned off.

  Hester picked it up, turned it on to run full force, and whirlingherself quickly around pointed it straight at Ruth. In a moment thechild was-soaked,--her pretty fresh dress hung limp and wet, her curlswere drenched, and the swift stream of water in her face almost knockedher over.

  Marjorie sprang to Ruth's side, and received a drenching herself.

  King ran to Hester to take the hose from her, but she turned it full inhis face and sent him sprawling to the ground.

  The Craig boys were treated the same way, and when Mr. Bryantmanoeuvred to get behind Hester and pinion her arms, she wheeled andsent the splashing stream all over him.

  "You little vixen!" cried Cousin Jack, as, unheeding the water, hegrasped her right arm.

  But the child was wonderfully agile and like an eel she squirmed out ofhis grasp, and wielding her ungainly weapon with her left hand, sheagain sprayed the water on the two girls.

  "You stop that, Hester Corey!" yelled King, as he scrambled to his feet,and in another moment he and Cousin Jack succeeded in getting the hoseaway from Hester.

  "She ought to have it turned on her!" said Cousin Jack, looking at thelittle fury, now dancing up and down in her angry rage. "But, I don'twant anything more to do with you, miss. Go home at once, and tell yourmother all that has happened."

  Glad to get away without further reprimand, Hester, her wrath spent now,walked slowly across the lawn and out of the gate.

  "She's a terror!" Cousin Jack commented; "now forget it, kiddies, andlet's go into the house and get dried out. Are you girlies much wet?"

  "Not so awfully," replied Marjorie. "Mostly our hair and, oh, yes, thefront of Ruth's skirt is soaked!"

  "Well, we'll build a fire in the library, and hang ourselves up to dry.Come on, all you Sand boys and girls."

  They went in the house, and while they dried their hair and clothes,Cousin Jack told them funny stories and made no mention of Hester or ofthe Sand Club.

  "Now we're going to play a game," he announced, after everybody was dry,and the fire had died away to ashes. "Here are the things to play itwith."

  He produced what looked like some rolls of ribbon, and six pairs ofscissors. But it wasn't ribbon, it was the white paper that comes rolledin with ribbon, when bought by the piece. This paper was about an inchwide and he had enough to cut six pieces, each about ten feet long.

  These pieces he fastened by one end to the wainscoting with thumb tacks,and giving the other end of each piece to one of the children, he badethem stand in a row, far enough away to hold their paper strips outstraight across the room.

  Then, at his given signal, each one was to begin to cut, with thescissors, straight through the middle of the paper, lengthwise, the gamebeing to cut clear to the end without tearing the paper. Of course, ifcarefully done, this would divide each paper into two strips of equalwidth.

  But the game was also to see which reached the end first, and the winnerwas promised a prize. If the scissors inadvertently cut off eitherstrip, the player was "out."

  "Go!" cried Cousin Jack, "and strive only for the greatest speedconsistent with safety. If you go too fast, you're very likely to snipoff your strips; and if you go too slow, somebody else will beat you.Hurry up, Ruth, you're going evenly, but you'll never get there at thatrate! Oh, hold up, Harry! if you go so fast you'll snip it off. You'reterribly close to one edge, now! Ah, there you go! one strip is choppedright off. Well, never mind, my boy, stand here by me, and watch theothers. What, Tom out, too? Well, well, Tom, the more haste the lessspeed! Careful, Midget, you'll be out in a minute. There you go! Out itis, for Mehitabel! Well, we have three still in the running. Easy doesit, King! You're getting along finely. Hurry up, Ruth. You can go fasterthan that, and still be safe. Dick just says nothing and saws wood.That's it, Dick, slow and sure!"

  Those who were "out" watched the others with breathless interest. Itwould have been an easy task had there been no competition. To cut along paper into two strips is not difficult, but to cut that paper inhaste, with others looking on and commenting, is more trying. Thescissors seem bewitched. The paper twists and curls, and one's fingersseem to be all thumbs. King was doing well, but he gave an impatientjerk as the paper curled round his finger, and then he was out.

  Dick worked steadily, and Ruth plodded slowly along.

  As they neared the end at the same time the watchers grew greatlyexcited.

  "I bet on Ruth!" cried King; "go it, Ruth! get up! g'lang there!"

  "Go on, Dick," cried Marjorie. "Clk! Clk! go 'long!"

  On sped the cutters, but just as it seemed as if they must finish at thesame time, Dick gave a little nervous jerk at his paper, and it toreright off.

  "Oh," said Midget, "you're out, Dicksie!"

  And then Ruth, slowly and carefully, cut the last few inches of herpaper, and held up her two strips triumphantly. She looked so sweet andhappy about it that they all declared she ought to have been the winner,and Dick said, shyly: "I'm glad you won."

  The prize was a shell box that Cousin Jack had brought from AtlanticCity, and Ruth dimpled with pleasure as she took it.

  "Thank you so much, Mr. Bryant," she said, prettily; "I never won aprize before, and I shall always keep it."

  "I'm glad you won it, Ruth," said Cousin Jack, "and I want you to let ithelp you forget any unpleasantness of to-day. Will you forget all thathappened at Sand Court, and just remember that the Maynards and theCraigs are kind and polite children, and never mind about anybody else.And come again some time, and play in Sand Court, won't you? And I'llpromise you a good and pleasant time."

  Ruth agreed gladly to all this, and then she went home, so happy thatthe memory of her pleasant hours made her almost forget Hester'srudeness.

  "Now, kiddies," said Mr. Bryant, after she had gone, "I want you, too,to forget all about Hester's performance. Don't talk it over, and don'tsay hard things of Hester. Just forget it, and think about somethingnice."

  "All right, Cousin Jack," said Midget, "we'll do as you say. Come on,boys, let's race down to the beach!"

  The children ran away, and after a consultation with Mrs. Maynard, Mr.Bryant set out to make a call on Mrs. Corey.

  His was not a pleasant task, but he felt it his duty to tell her franklyof Hester's behavior, and to say that Mr. and Mrs. Maynard couldn'tallow her further to impose on their children. Mrs. Corey didn't resentthis decree, but she was greatly pained at the necessity therefor.

  "I don't know what to do with Hester," she said, sadly. "The child hasalways been subject to those ungovernable rages. I hope she will outgrowthem. I feel sorry for her, for it is not really her fault. She tries tobe more patient, and sometimes succeeds; then suddenly her temper breaksout at most unexpected moments."

  Mr. Bryant did not say what he thought; that Hester was a spoiled child,and that had her mother taught her how sinful such a temper was, shecould have learned to control it, at least, to a degree.

  But he said that the Maynards could not allow Hester to come to SandCourt any more, unless with the thorough understanding and agreementthat Ruth was to be a member of the Sand Club, and that Marjorie was tobe Queen again. He said that Hester had forfeited all right to be Queen,and that as Midget practically formed the club, the right to be Queenwas hers.

  Mrs. Corey agreed to all this, expressed great chagrin that Hester hadact
ed so rudely, and promised to talk to the child and try to induce abetter spirit of kindness and good comradeship.

  And Cousin Jack went away, feeling that he had served the littleMaynards a good turn, if it had been a difficult and unpleasant duty toperform.