Carolina Lee

by Lilian Bell

  CHAPTER X.

  CROSS PURPOSES

  "Noel must take me for a f-fool if he thinks I don't see through him!"said Kate, angrily, to her own image in the glass.

  It was about three months after Mr. Howard had offered to help Carolinato regain Guildford.

  "H-he wants to p-pump me," she went on, adjusting her motor veil. "Id-don't mind trying his automobile, b-but I hate to t-think he takes mefor a s-sucker!"

  She rummaged viciously in her top drawer for her goggles.

  "I wonder if he th-thinks I don't know he asked Carol first. Men ares-such fools! But j-just wait! He wants m-me to tell him things.M-maybe I won't g-give him a run for his money!"

  But, as she ran down the steps and jumped into the powerful new racingmachine, all outward trace of vexation was gone, and St. Quentin wasquite as excusable as most men who believe they can outwit a cleverwoman.

  Not that St. Quentin was particularly noticeable for his conceit. Heseemed like the majority of men, who are merely self-absorbed. Yet inmany respects he was quite different.

  For example, he was interested in other things besides his motor-cars.He read, thought even, and was somewhat interested in other people'smental processes,--a thing which Kate quite overlooked in her flash ofjealousy, for Kate had been obliged to admit to herself that, if thesigns spoke truly and Noel were really in love with Carolina, it wouldbe a melancholy thing for her to face.

  "But I'm game!" she often said to herself. "I won't give up the fightuntil I have to. Then, if I get left, I won't howl."

  There were several things in Kate's favour. First, Carolina showed nosymptoms of being in love with Noel, although she must know that shecould have him if she wanted him. Second, but this thought gave heralmost the same discomfort as if Carolina should fancy St. Quentin,Carolina was in a fair way to become violently interested in anotherman,--Colonel Yancey.

  The thought of how this news would stir Noel brought such a colour intoKate's cheeks that Noel, turning his eyes for the fraction of a secondfrom the wheel, said:

  "Motoring becomes you, Kate."

  "I-it's more than I can s-say for y-you, then," she answered. "You looklike a burglar in that mask."

  "Now sit tight," said St. Quentin, "I'm going to let her out a littlehere."

  Noel's idea of letting her out a little was more than Kate's nervescould stand. She touched Noel's arm imploringly and he obedientlyslowed up. Kate could hardly get her breath.

  "Wasn't that fine?" asked St. Quentin.

  "It was s-simply devilish. I'd rather travel in a wheelbarrow. Itg-gives you more time for the scenery."

  "You are just like Carolina. She hates racing. She likes to jog alongabout like this."

  Kate leaned over and looked at the speedometer. They were going at therate of thirty miles an hour.

  "P-poor Carolina!" said Kate, mockingly. "How old-fashioned we bothare!"

  Noel laughed and slowed up a little more.

  "There, is that better?" he asked, with the toleration a man shows whenhe is fond of a woman.

  "Yes, now I can tell the trees from the telegraph-poles. A m-moment agoI thought the r-road was fenced."

  "What is Carolina up to these days? I haven't seen her for over afortnight," said St. Quentin.

  Kate reluctantly admired him for being so honest about it. Most menwould have tried to come at it from around the corner. Nevertheless,she wanted to carry out her original purpose.

  "She goes to the hospital every day."

  "The hospital? What for?"

  "Oh, haven't you heard? Then I have some news for you."

  Kate smiled with wicked enjoyment. Noel was now about to receive a doseof his own medicine, and she was to administer it. She viciously hopedit was in her power to make him as uncomfortable over Colonel Yancey ashe made her about Carolina.

  "Well, soon after--why, it was the very night you were at ourhouse--after you and Doctor Colfax had gone, we still kept on talking,a-and it came out that Colonel Yancey had never told Carolina that hehad children, whereas he has t-two,--the dearest littlecreatures,--b-but the little one, Gladys, is a hopeless cripple."

  St. Quentin turned with a start.

  "Yes, that's just the way it struck me. Of course you g-get the vista.Carolina instantly investigated her c-case, and she and Mrs. Goddard gotit out of the doctors that there was only about one chance in ten of theoperation being successful, whereas--well, N-Noel, I am not sentimental,but I thank God I--I am human, and when I s-saw the frightened look inthe b-blue eyes of that l-little child--that b-baby--she's onlysix--when she found out th-they were going to cut her, I c-could havescreamed. As it w-was, I c-called them criminals and b-burst outcrying, and I b-begged Carol to c-cable Colonel Yancey for p-permissionto try Christian Science."

  "You did just right," said St. Quentin. "It seems to me that thelegitimate and proper place for Christian Science is in a desperate caselike that, when doctors agree that they are practically powerless."

  "I--I think so, too. And especially when time cuts no i-ice,--not likea fever, you know, which must b-be checked at once. Well, Carol cabled,and Colonel Yancey answered in these very words, 'Have no faith, butmust respect your intelligence. Do as you think best.'"

  "By Jove!"

  "You see? Oh, Noel, it's s-such a comfort to t-talk to you. Y-you'reso clever. Most men are f-fools. But do you s-see the diabolicalflattery of the cablegram? Do you also see that it puts Carolina in thep-place of the c-child's mother? Oh, when I saw the c-colour come intoher face, as she read that cablegram, and that s-sort of d-dewymother-look she s-sometimes gets in her eyes, I--I could have s-slappedColonel Yancey's face for him!"

  "I know," said Noel, in a low, strained tone which woke Kate from herenthusiasm to a sense of her own folly. Her face flamed.

  "Well, I'll be switched!" she said to herself. "If N-Noel took me for as-sucker, he didn't half state the case."

  "Why don't you go on?" asked St. Quentin. He looked at her flushed faceand quivering lips in surprise. "Why, I didn't think she had it in herto show such feeling!" he said to himself.

  "I am the m-more afraid," she went on, looking straight before her,"b-because Carol doesn't care for any other m-man, so she is f-free tofall in l-love with Colonel Yancey, if she wants to. He is only alittle over forty, is quite the most fascinating man I ever m-met, andhe owns Guildford."

  If Kate expected St. Quentin to betray any violent emotion on hearingthese statements, she was doomed to disappointment. However, she seemedsatisfied at Noel's utter silence. A smile quivered at the corners ofher mouth.

  "Well?" said St. Quentin at last.

  "C-can't you picture the rest? Can't you see Carol and Mrs. Goddardgoing there d-day after day, until Mrs. Goddard got permission to moveGladys to her house? I b-believe they were to t-take her there thismorning."

  "Is there any improvement in the child?" asked St. Quentin.

  "A little. She is old enough to understand and help herself, and sheknows she is g-going to get well, or as she puts it, 'I know that I amwell.' Her ankles have become flexible and her little feet can b-be putstraight with the hand, b-but, as yet, they don't stay straight. S-shehas not gained c-control over them."

  "Can she stand at all?"

  "J-just barely. But she s-sinks right down."

  "Do you believe she will be cured?"

  "I s-suppose you will think I am f-foolish, but I do."

  "Not at all, Kate. I am not sure but that I believe it myself."

  "Why, Noel S-St. Quentin! And you a Roman Catholic!"

  "Well, why not? Wouldn't I be an acceptable convert if I should decideto join their ranks?"

  "I-indeed you would not!" cried Kate, delighted to be able to administera stinging rebuff. "I have an idea that they would refuse even toinstruct you without a w-written permission from your priest. Ah, ha!Can't you j-just see your confessor g-giving up a l-little whitew-woolly
lamb like you? Y-ye are of more value than many s-sparrows."

  St. Quentin accelerated the speed of the machine so suddenly that themotor seemed to leap into the air.

  "Oh, Lord, Noel! D-don't do that again! The m-machine can't feel it!N-now if you had struck your horse--"

  St. Quentin turned on her savagely, but said nothing.

  "T-that's right, Noel. D-don't speak. There's a good deal in being ag-gentleman, after all. If you h-hadn't been, you would have said,'S-shut up, Kate!'"

  "If your husband," said St. Quentin, slowly, "ever goes to jail forwife-beating, I shall bail him out."

  "I-it's strange how men agree with one another," said Kate, pensively."M-my cousin has always said that a g-good beating with a bed-slat wouldabout fit my c-case."

  "Bright boy!" said St. Quentin. "He ought to get on in the world."

  "Hadn't we better turn back, Noel? I have an engagement at five."

  "Do you have to go home to dress, or shall I drop you anywhere?"

  "I was just going to see Gladys for half an hour. You may drop me atMrs. Goddard's if you will."

  "Will Carolina be there?" asked St. Quentin.

  "Yes, I think so. Do you want to see her?" asked Kate, innocently.

  "Well, I'd rather like to see her with the child. Will you let me comein with you?"

  "By all means. I should be delighted."

  "Then I can bring you home afterward."

  "Most thoughtful of you," murmured Kate.

  "I say, Kate," said St. Quentin, after a pause, "keep your eye open fora toy shop, will you? One oughtn't to call on a child without somelittle present, ought one?"

  "You won't find one up in this part of the country, such as you want,"said Kate. "Let her out a little and we will have time to go down toTwenty-third Street."

  When they came out of the shop, even Kate, extravagant as she was, wasaghast.

  "Noel, it's w-wicked to spend money like that. Why, that child is only ab-baby. She can't appreciate all those hand-made clothes for that doll.And real lace! It's absurd!"

  "Kate," said St. Quentin, slowly, "if you were that crippled baby, I'dhave bought you everything in that whole shop!"

  A lump came into Kate's throat so suddenly that it choked her.

  When they arrived at Mrs. Goddard's, there was no need to ask the butlerif the ladies were at home, for, instead of the formal household Mrs.Goddard used to boast, the house seemed now to have become a home. Eventhe butler looked human, as laughter and childish screams of delightfloated down the hall from the second floor.

  "Perkins, what is it?" asked Kate, pausing suddenly.

  "Little Miss Gladys finds that she can stand alone, Miss Howard, and weare so delighted none of the servants can be got to do their work. Theyjust stand around and gape at her and clap their hands."

  But Perkins himself was smiling as Kate rushed past him up the stairs.

  "Here, Perkins, my man," said St. Quentin, "lend a hand with this, willyou, and send a footman out to the motor for the rest of those parcels."

  The sight which met the eye was enough to make any one's heart leap, asKate flung open the door and joined the group.

  There were Mrs. Goddard, Rosemary, Miss Sue Yancey, Carolina, and thetwo children, Emmeline and Gladys. Gladys was standing in the corner,partly supporting herself by leaning in the angle of the walls, butstanding, nevertheless, bearing her entire weight upon her slender,beautiful little feet, which never before had been of any use to her,nor, in their distorted position, even sightly. Now they were in anormal position and actually bearing her weight, and so excited waseverybody that no one turned even to give the newcomers a greeting.Rosemary and Carolina were kneeling on the floor in front of the child,while Mrs. Goddard was audibly affirming that Gladys could walk. Gladysalone looked up at Kate and St. Quentin, and smiled a welcome.

  "Thee, Katie!" she lisped, "Gladyth can thtand alone!"

  "Gladys can walk," affirmed Mrs. Goddard, and, as they saw the childcautiously begin to remove her hands from the supporting walls andevidently intend to attempt a step, Kate snatched the huge box fromNoel's hands, and, hastily unfastening it, silently held up before her agorgeously beautiful French doll, in a long baby dress, frilled andtrimmed with cobweb lace, and calculated not only to set a child crazy,but to turn the heads of the grown-ups, for such a doll is not oftenseen.

  No one saw it at first. Then Gladys, looking up for encouragement,glanced at Kate, and, as her eyes rested on the baby doll, with onedelighted mother-cry of "Baby, baby!" she started forward and flutteredacross the floor, light as any thistle-down, until she clasped the dollin her arms, and Kate seized her little swaying body to keep her fromfalling.

  "See what Divine Love has wrought!" exclaimed Mrs. Goddard, in a voiceso filled with gratitude and a reverent exultation that it sounded likea prayer.

  There were tense exclamations, excited laughter which ended in suddentears, quivering smiles and murmurs of thanksgiving, until Carolina,turning to Noel, said:

  "Noel, I am sure that doll was your doing," when error again claimedKate for its own, for the look of gratitude Noel sent in return.

  "Lord, but this Christian Science does make me t-tired," murmured Kateto herself, as she released Gladys, and the two children, in a fever ofexcitement, sat down on the floor to undress the doll. "F-first we goup, up, up, and th-then we go down, down, down! J-just as surely as Ihave an up feeling, I g-get it in the neck inside of the next thirtyseconds. A-at any rate, there's no m-monotony about it. It k-keeps youguessing where it will hit you n-next."

  Kate unconsciously made such a wry face as she murmured these wordsunder her breath that Rosemary leaned over and whispered:

  "What's the matter, Kate?"

  "I th-think I've got an attack of what you call Error, but it cramps memost cruel. Or d-do you think I could have caught cholera infantum fromholding that d-doll baby?"

  "Kate, you are so funny!" laughed Rosemary.

  "I s-spend a good deal of v-valuable time amusing m-myself," said Kate."I sorta have to, in a way. Everybody else seems o-occupied."

  As Kate made this indiscreet remark about error, Rosemary looked back atthe other groups in the room, and surprised Noel looking at Carolinawith an expression in his eyes he gave to no other, and again a spasm ofpain crossed Kate's face. At once Rosemary understood, and Kate sawthat she did. Kate's face flamed. She pushed Rosemary into thewindow-seat, thrust her violently down, and pulled the thick crimsoncurtains together, shutting them in.

  "It's n-not so!" she whispered, excitedly. "I know w-what you think,b-but it's not true. He loves C-Carolina, and in time, no doubt, she'lll-love him. I d-don't see how she can help it. I d-don't care."

  "Oh, Kate, that is not true! I certainly hope Carolina will not fall inlove with him. He is not suited to her, she doesn't want him, and he issuited to you. You can't deny it."

  "I do d-deny it!" cried Kate, but the look that swept over her face atRosemary's remark belied her words. "And you are to t-think no moreabout it. And Rosemary Goddard, if you go to t-treating the situation,as if N-Noel and I were a couple of hunchbacks or yellow fevers ors-snake-bites, I'll h-half kill you! I--I'm no subject for p-prayer,let me tell you that now."

  "Kate, I wouldn't think of such a thing!" cried Rosemary, biting herlips. "Now go on. There's Noel calling for you to go home!"

  "As if she could mislead me," said Rosemary to herself. "She wouldn'teven try if she could have seen her own face when I said, on purpose totry her, 'There's Noel calling you to go home.' Well, bless her dearheart! I hope her love-affair will turn out as luckily as mine has, andwithout all my misery. Good-bye, all!"