CHAPTER IX
CHURCH AND STATE
THE family and a number of the servants from Kent House were on theirway to the small Episcopal church at the edge of the estate.
Jack and Frank were walking in front, with Olive and Frieda strolling alittle more slowly behind them, and the rest of the company followed inscattered groups.
At the beginning of her marriage the English Sundays had been a trial toJack. They were so much more quiet, so much more sedate than those ofher rather too unconventional girlhood in Wyoming. Then they hadsometimes held church in the open air, or if they wished to go into thenearest town, a big wagon was loaded with as many persons as could bepersuaded from the ranch, and ordinarily they stopped on the way backand had lunch somewhere. Now and then Jack even remembered having riddenon her own broncho to the church door and fastened it on the outside,while she went in to the service in a costume which was an odd crossbetween a riding habit and a church outfit.
But now, although the walk across Kent Park was only a short one, Jackwas as correctly attired as if she were in London. Beside her brownvelvet costume which was very smart and becoming, she wore a hat withfeathers, which she particularly disliked. The hat was of the kindaffected by Queen Mary of England, who always wears feather-trimmedhats.
However, the mere matter of her hat would not have made Jack feel out ofsorts, if she had not had another more potent reason. Frank was nearlyalways cross on Sunday mornings and this morning was no exception.
It is strange that Sunday should have this effect on many persons, whenone should be more cheerful than usual, and yet it does.
Frank was really worn out with all his worries and responsibilities,Jack decided to herself, as she had a number of times recently. It was aprivilege many people take advantage of, by saving their bad humors fortheir families.
"But, Frank, I don't think you understand the situation in the UnitedStates," Jack argued, speaking good naturedly. "You see, we representso many nationalities, so many differences of opinion and training, thatwe can't all think alike. The President is supposed to representeverybody."
"Nonsense," Frank interrupted his wife not too politely. "The UnitedStates has been thinking about nothing but getting rich. They are anation of shirkers, willing to stand back and let others do the work andsuffer the loss."
"There are a good many millions of us for us all to be shirkers, Frank,"Jack answered, still speaking quietly, although her cheeks had flushedand her eyes darkened.
Really she and Frank tried very hard not to discuss any differences ofopinion they felt concerning the war. During the last few years themarriages between men and women of different nationalities have had agreat strain put upon them. At present, Frank as an Englishman, thoughtthat the United States should immediately have gone in upon the side ofthe Allies, while Jack did not; and now and then they unfortunately fellinto a discussion of the subject.
Therefore, when they entered church this Sunday morning, neither Jacknor Frank were in a good humor toward each other. Jack felt that, asshe was doing all she could in the service of his country, he shouldhave made no unkind criticism of hers. Frank did not think at all,except to wish that Jack would refrain from argument. Certainly a manwished for peace in his own home when it was nowhere else. But it didnot occur to Frank that it takes two to keep peace as well as two tomake a quarrel; nor did he begin to realize how trying he had been athome during the past few months.
As a matter of fact Frank was spoiled, as many Englishmen and someAmerican men are. He had been an only son who was to inherit the familytitle, and his mother and sisters had always put him first in allthings. It was true that when he came to the United States he had fallenin love with Jacqueline Ralston because, for one reason, she did nottreat him differently at the beginning of their acquaintance from anycowboy on her ranch. That is, she was perfectly polite to him, when sheremembered his existence; but then she was polite to everybody andrecognized no social distinctions. She liked her own freedom, allowedother people theirs, and went her way untroubled by the opinion ofothers.
But, at present--as is often the case with men after they marry--thevery things in Jack which had attracted Frank before marriage annoyedhim now. He believed she ought to be more influenced by his views. Ofcourse, she ordinarily gave in to his wishes. However, he seldom felt asif she were convinced, but believed she yielded through sheer sweettemper.
Moreover, Frank's irritability continued all day, so that several timesafter their return home, Jack found herself mortified before Olive andFrieda. Not that she minded so much about Olive, since Olive and Frankhad always understood each other. But, as Frieda had announced herselfas being disappointed with marriage, Jack did not wish her to think thather own was also a failure.
After their midday luncheon on Sunday it was always Lord and Lady Kent'scustom to walk over their estate during the afternoon, visit the stablesand see as much of the condition of the place and the people on it aswas possible.
This Sunday afternoon Frank arose and started to go on his usual roundswithout suggesting that Jack accompany him.
However, she paid no attention to this, but followed him. Outdoors hechanged into a better mood.
There were not many horses left in the stables, as most of them werebeing used by the army. But when Jack and Frank went into the kennels,which adjoined the stables, a dozen great dogs began leaping over themat once.
Frank drew a little aside to watch his wife.
Jack stood in their midst laughing and protesting a little when one bighound stuck its great head, with wide open jaws and lolling tongue, toonear her face. Yet she managed to make them all happy and quiet again bypatting and stroking each one, or by calling each dog by name.
"You are not afraid of anything in the world, are you, Jack?" Frankremarked admiringly, as they again got safely away from the kennels,Jack finding it necessary at the last moment to remove two large pawsfrom her shoulders in order to settle a dispute between two of the otherdogs.
Jack laughed. "Goodness, Frank, what an extraordinary opinion you and afew other people have of me! I am one of the biggest cowards in theworld about the things I am afraid of. I simply don't happen to beafraid of animals, as so many women are. And that is not a virtue, butbecause I was brought up with them."
"I should like to know what you do fear, then?" Frank demanded.
Instead of answering at once Jack slipped her arm inside her husband's.
"I am dreadfully afraid of the people I care about being angry with me,though you and the rest of my family may not believe it, as I amsupposed to have once been a wilful person," she returned unexpectedly."Sometimes I wonder, Frank, just how much of a coward I would be, if Ihad either to give up what I thought was right or else to have some oneseriously angry with me. I have not the courage of my convictions likeFrieda."
In response Frank uttered a half growl, which was not very complimentaryto Frieda or her convictions. However, Jack went on almost withoutpausing.
"I wonder, Frank, if it is fair to Frieda not to let her know what hashappened to Professor Russell? Sometimes I have thought she has worriedmore over his silence than we imagine."
Frank shook his head.
"Frieda deserves whatever may come to her. It is an old-fashionedaxiom, dear, but all the more true for that reason: Frieda has made herbed; now let her lie upon it."
"But Frieda is hardly more than a child," Jack protested. "Besides, thatis a pretty hard rule to apply to people. I don't think you and I wouldlike to have it applied to us if we were ever in any difficulty."
As it struck Frank as utterly impossible that he and Jack ever couldhave a disagreement, which could not be settled amiably in a few hours,he paid no attention to her last statement. Nevertheless he added:
"After all, Jack, it is not for us to decide anything concerning Friedaand her husband. That is for them. We are simply doing what ProfessorRussell has requested of us."
"Yes, but Frieda," Jack expostulated more weakly.
"Frieda is receiving just what she asked for--silence. But you must notworry over Frieda. She will solve existence happily for herself soonenough. Almost any man would do anything and forgive anything in behalfof such blue eyes and yellow hair as Frieda's to say nothing of herProfessor. I may pretend to be severe but I should probably forgive heras readily."
"Sooner than you would me?" Jack inquired and laughed. "Oh, of course,you would. Everybody always has as long as I can remember."
Frank looked more closely at his wife and his face softened until hiseyes held their old expression of boyish admiration. Always he had beenpleased by her intense loyalty to the people she cared for. It had madehim forgive her in the past when she had some mistaken idea of loyaltytoward Olive.
"I am afraid you have had to do the forgiving recently, Jack. I expect Ihave been difficult. But I feel so torn these days wanting to be over inFrance doing the real work with fellows like Bryan, and at the same timewanting to be here with you and the babies and knowing I am perhaps moreuseful in London than I would be elsewhere."
Jack's clear grey eyes were full of the spiritual understanding that hadmade her always so valuable a friend, and a woman must be a friend toher husband as well as other things.
"I know, Frank," she answered, "but you are doing the right thing. If Ididn't think so, no matter how I should suffer, do you believe for amoment that I would stand in your way?"
And catching her look, Frank replied.
"No, Jack, I don't; but I thank you for understanding."
There were no letters delivered at Kent House on Sunday, but on eachSunday afternoon one of the men drove over to the post-office, which wasopen for an hour, and returned with the mail. It was important that LordKent should be kept in touch with every situation that arose, as theremight be grave and tragic developments in the course of the hours hesometimes spent away from London.
As he picked up the mail which was lying on the table in the hall asthey entered, Frank extended a letter to his wife.
"This is from Bryan, I believe, Jack. Do tell me what he says."
They went into the library where Frieda and Olive were already waitingfor tea to be served.
Jack walked over to the fire and, before taking off her hat, read herletter through quietly.
Then she looked up happily.
"Bryan says he is all right and sends his love to the family, but moreespecially to his Lady Vive. He asks us all to write to him oftener ifwe can manage it, as we are his adopted family and he has no other.Frieda, he says your gift of socks is the most wonderful in all France.I actually believe Bryan is almost having a good time; but if he is nothe is awfully brave."
Making no effort to conceal her emotion, Jack's eyes suddenly filledwith tears.
"Gracious, Jack," Frieda exclaimed. "As long as there is nothing thematter with Captain MacDonnell, I wouldn't shed any tears over him. Youso seldom cry, it always makes me wretched when you do. I'll bet Jackhas never shed any tears over you, Frank."
Frieda was not like a kitten in appearance alone. She had also softlittle claws with which she scratched a tiny bit now and then. She hadbeen entirely conscious that her brother-in-law considered that she wasto blame in a large measure for her trouble with her husband, althoughhe had never said so to her. Yet she had a desire to get a little biteven with him now and then.
Frank's face did flush slightly, although he smiled good humoredly.
"Oh, I am nothing but a civilian these days and Bryan is a soldier. Ican't expect the same interest to be bestowed upon me, even by my ownwife."
The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure Page 9
