House Party
Page 30
"Packing?" Violet gasped.
"Yes. He's planning some sort of camping trip. He . . .”
"Oh," Violet sighed. "The dear man. Darling Walter! Always thinking of me, A honeymoon in the wilderness! Could anything be more excruciatingly romantic?"
"It sounds buggy to me," Elly said.
"Ah, but Walter is such a rugged, virile man. My woodsman! I’ll go to him. I’ll go to him right now. May I take the station wagon, Lily?"
"Do you think you're quite suitably turned out for a life in the woods, Violet?" Mrs. Ames asked, eyeing her sister's burned dress, her sandals, her little fur cape.
"Clothes, Lily! Do you think of nothing but clothes? Live for the moment! For the grand romance! Besides, I can stop off at Abercrombie's and pick up something smart but suitable. Ah, the call of the wild! The birchbark canoe, the sleeping bag! But I must rush to him quickly. Good-bye, my darlings," she said, kissing the children, "Granny's going away for a little while, but she'll bring you back a new grandfather and a lovely, lovely surprise."
"A papoose?" Mrs. Ames said. But her sister hadn't heard. Already Violet was tripping toward the car.
By ten the place was swarming with the Hemenways, the Heminways and the Hemingways, who had come to view the remains of dear Papa's folly, and who volunteered to drive the members of the house party to the station.
"I’ll be moving into the gatehouse right away," Paul said, hugging his mother. "I'll keep the station wagon out here, if you're sure you won't want it in New York."
"Positive," Mrs. Ames said.
"I'll borrow an old cot or something from Betty and buy some drawing paper in the village and get right down to work. And Mother—how can I ever thank you?"
"By building good houses for good people and leading a happy, useful life. That's how." Mrs. Ames was getting a trifle teary.
"I'm driving Felicia and Fraulein and the kids in, Mother," Bryan said. "I wish I could squeeze you in, but . . ."
"No, darling, thank you. I'll take the train in with Nanny. Mrs. Hemenway has offered to take us to the station, haven't you, Maude?"
One by one the cars drove off, leaving Paul and Betty standing among the breakfast dishes. A stray zephyr picked up one of the paper napkins and carried it, fluttering, over the foundation of the house. It hovered in the air for a moment and then fell into the .ashes.
Bryan drove off, followed by the Hemenways, who, by clever arranging, had managed to pack Mrs. Ames, Nanny, Elly, Joe, Kathy and John into their car. Uncle Ned and Sturgis and Fang piled into the back of the Heminways’ car and rolled away, Fang barking and licking the back of Mr. Heminway's neck. Silently, Manning and Claire got into the last car, a Buick owned by the Hemingways. As they drove out of sight, Paul was sketching a still better kind of house on an old paper napkin.
Mr. Hemingway was a cautious driver. He went at exactly fifteen miles an hour on the left side of the road and boasted that he had never had an accident, although he had caused a good number of them. The train was standing in the station when he opened the door to let Claire and Manning out.
"Thanks oaffly," Manning said. "Teddibly nace of you to give us this lift."
Being quite deaf, Mr. Hemingway smiled politely and drove on. His nostrils dilated and relaxed. There was a funny smell about the car. "Think I’ll take it around to the Buick agency for a check-up," he said to his wife.
Claire and Manning ran for the train.
"Take your time," the conductor said genially. "This one's always late."
On the platform they stopped and looked at each other. Manning started to speak.
"So long," Claire said.
"So long," Manning said. Very carefully they got into different cars.
Table of Contents
Title Page
By the author
Original Copyright Page
1. Preparations
2: Bedrooms
3: Departure
4: En Route
5: Arrival
6: Railroad
7: Cocktails
8: Arising
9: Athletics
10: Talking
11: Tennis
12: Convoy
13: Fête Champêtre
14: Performance
15: Sunset
16: Champagne
17: Dancing
18: Romance
19: Daybreak
20: Homing
21: Self Service
22: Domestic Science
23: Picnic
24: Interviews
25: More Interviews
26: Adjustments
27. House Cleaning
28: Fireworks
29: Afterglow