CHAPTER XI
A SURPRISE
DURING the night Frank decided that he would not argue with Jack againthe question which was troubling them both, since it was too painful fordiscussion.
However, he did not sleep much, although not once did his convictionthat he was doing the right thing waver. Frank had the belief in his ownjudgment which comes to certain people with authority. Also, he dislikedto suggest to his wife any of the little, ugly, suspicious things oflife, which he knew her fine, clean nature would not consider. But allthe more for this reason did he believe that he should protect her, evenagainst herself.
Therefore, at breakfast the next morning, Frank made no reference toJack's final defiance the night before. Not for an instant did he thinkthat she had meant anything, except to have him appreciate how utterlyher point of view and her inclination differed from his. This heaccepted, realizing that he really could not, under the circumstances,expect anything else. But that Jack would ignore his wish--even hisexpressed command--was beyond his comprehension. She had always beenperfectly reasonable and amenable, and there was nothing to serve him asa warning.
"I'll let you know as soon as I hear from the war office," Frankremarked, as he left for London.
Jack simply nodded quietly in response without replying. As a matter offact she, too, had made up her mind in the night not to reopen thesubject upon which she and Frank were so completely at variance.
Perhaps Jack was wrong in this and in the whole proceeding whichfollowed. Except to say that she had the right to use her ownjudgment--she never attempted to justify herself.
As soon as she had arranged her household matters and had seen herchildren, she went into her private sitting room and, by using hertelephone for an hour or more, secured the information which shedesired.
She was able to locate Captain MacDonnell and also to learn that he wasstill alive. Moreover, Frank telegraphed this same fact while she wasstill at the telephone.
Then Jack sent word for Olive and Frieda to come to her bedroom, andwhen they arrived she carefully closed the door.
They found her packing a small bag.
"What is it, Jack? Are you going up to London to join Frank?" Friedainquired, she and Olive having been told nothing of the contents ofCaptain MacDonnell's letter, nor that there was such a letter inexistence.
Jack had taken off her morning dress and put on a light flannel wrapperof pale grey with a white collar, as she wished to proceed with herpacking more readily.
At Frieda's question she shook her head quietly and sat down in a bigchair for a moment, asking Olive and Frieda also to be seated.
"No; I am not going to Frank," she explained, "indeed, although I amforced to go up to London, I don't want him to know I am there, norwhere he can find me for the next day or so. Afterwards I will, ofcourse, write to him."
Seeing that Olive and Frieda were becoming more mystified thanenlightened by her explanation, and that she was in reality talking moreto herself than to them, Jack hesitated for a moment.
"Perhaps you won't approve what I am planning to do any more than Frankdoes," Jack continued, "but Captain MacDonnell has written to ask that Icome to him in France where he may be dying, and I am going. Frank hassaid I must not, but I am going anyway. I told him so last night, but Idon't believe he understood I really meant what I said."
Jack spoke without any nervousness or sentimental excitement. She lookedunhappy, but she also looked perfectly determined.
A little too surprised to answer at once, Frieda again studied hersister's face closely.
It was Olive who protested.
"I hope you won't be angry with me, Jack, and of course I cannot hope toinfluence you if Frank cannot; but I don't think you ought to do soserious a thing without Frank's consent. In any case, please don't goaway without his knowing. You must know that this is not right and thatFrank will probably be very hurt and angry."
Jack bit her lip for an instant without replying; then she said slowly,as if she fully weighed each word she uttered:
"Of course I realize you are right, Olive, and I am afraid Frank will beboth the things you say, and more than you may realize. I know, also,that I ought to see him again and tell him definitely just what I intendto do and why I intend doing it. But candidly, if I do, I fear thatFrank will not permit it. He is not an American husband, and in anyevent there would be a scene between us. Frank would not understand atfirst that this time I intend to keep to my determination. We mightquarrel and I don't wish that. It would make me even more unhappy andnot save me in any way from Frank's displeasure."
"But, Jack, why do you think it is more important to do what CaptainMacDonnell desires of you than what Frank wishes?" Frieda inquired, inthe cool, matter of fact voice with which she usually, to other people'ssurprise, asked the leading question.
Jack did not change color. She returned her sister's look with her oldclear, straightforward gaze.
"I am glad you asked me that, Frieda, dear," she responded, "because Idon't want you or anybody else to think that is true. Nothing is soimportant to me as what Frank wishes, only this time I think he ismaking a great mistake, and is not being fair. Of course he does notintend this, and is thinking of me more than of any one else, but atthe same time this is not a matter which I think Frank can decide forme. His judgment may be right from his point of view, but it isn't frommine. I have to do what I think is the fair thing, with the hope that Imay be able to persuade Frank to see it the same way later on."
Olive made no response, but it was self evident that Jack had notconvinced her.
Frieda, however, got up in her fluffy morning house gown and making asoft little rush forward, threw her arms about her sister's neck.
"Go ahead, Jack, then, and no matter what happens I'll stand by you andswear you've done the right thing to the bitter end. You have been moreright than other people as long as I've known you. I would not pay anyattention to Olive. I told you that Olive was getting to be an old maidand that old maids always take the men's side. Only you are not beingrash, Jack, are you, so you won't have to suffer uncomfortableconsequences afterwards?" Frieda concluded with a slightly plaintive andmysterious manner.
"You'll look after my babies for me, won't you, Olive? And Frieda, won'tyou try and get Frank into a good humor with me before I come back? Ishall be gone only a few days; perhaps Bryan won't need me at all when Iarrive. I am going up to London within two hours, but I'll get away fromthere as soon as I can and take the first channel boat possible. I mustfinish packing, but I'll see you again before I start."
As Jack's words and manner were both final, Olive and Frieda then lefther. However, they did not separate but went together into Frieda'ssitting-room.
There Frieda's expression grew as grave as Olive's.
"Somehow I wish Jack wouldn't. Maybe at the last moment she'll see Frankand change her mind," Frieda suggested, staring out at the winterlandscape with her small nose pressed mournfully against the window panelike a discontented child. "I don't understand Frank's disposition verywell. He is so different from Henry. Then he has changed a great deal.We never thought of his being autocratic when Jack married him, but heseems rather that way to me lately, though he is terribly nice and I amfond of him. I wouldn't be, though, if he was ever the least bitdisagreeable to Jack. She is much too good for him or any other man.Isn't it like her to go rushing off in this quixotic fashion, knowingthat lots of people will misunderstand her, just because CaptainMacDonnell would like to feel her presence beside him, if anything hasto happen to him? Well, I suppose that is exactly what I felt when Irushed to her the moment I left Henry? Only if Frank decides to behorrid it would be unfortunate for us both to be having trouble with ourhusbands at the same time. I suppose people would say it was because wedid not have the proper bringing up when we were children."
"Don't be absurd, Frieda," Olive answered irritably. "Of course, Frankand Jack are not going to have any serious difficulty. She and Frank arequite different--"
Frieda swung her pretty self around.
"Don't you ever get tired of saying that to me, Olive Van Mater? Ofcourse Jack is different, but I don't see that Frank is entirely unlikeother men. Oh, I know you'll be shocked and angry at this and so wouldFrank and Jack, if they ever heard; but just the same I think Frank Kentis a little bit jealous of Jack's friendship for Captain MacDonnell. Hewould rather die than confess it to himself. I at least give him thecredit for not knowing it, but it's true just the same."
"I think that is very horrid of you, Frieda."
Frieda shrugged her shoulders.
"Yes, I thought you would think so. Still, I do wish it was a whole weekfrom today and Jack was safely home again. I am frightened about hertaking such a trip alone; and as for my attempting to get mybrother-in-law into a good humor after he learns that his augustHighness has been disobeyed--well, the task is beyond my humble powers.In any case, Olive, you can break the news of Jack's departure to him."
But Jack spared both her sister and friend this ordeal. Instead, shewrote a very sweet letter to her husband, asking his pardon for what shewas doing and confessing that she had no right not to have spoken of herintention to him again. But would he see that she must do what shebelieved to be right, and that Bryan might not be able to wait whilethey continued to argue the question?
She left the letter on Frank's bureau.
Not finding Jack in the library that evening, where she usually awaitedhis return home, Frank had gone directly upstairs, and when she was alsonot in her room, he entered his apartment. The letter caught hisattention at once, but even then Lord Kent had no faintest idea of whatJack's letter contained. He supposed she had gone out on some errand andhad written to explain that she might be late.
When he had finished reading, he quietly tore her letter into small bitsand flung the pieces upon the fire.
Afterwards, going downstairs to dinner, he said to Olive and Frieda.
"Jack has written me a note telling me that she has gone to France. Youboth probably know I did not wish her to go. Please let us not speak ofthis matter again."
And though there was really nothing in what Frank said, neither Olivenor Frieda liked his expression or manner.
The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure Page 11
