The Staying Guest

by Carolyn Wells

  CHAPTER XV THE ARRIVAL OF THE EARL

  At half-past three Thursday afternoon Ladybird was in the plum-orchard.It had never occurred to her to doubt the arrival of Chester Humphreys,or that he could experience any difficulty in finding her at her somewhatindefinite address.

  And being a fairly clever and up-to-date young man, Chester Humphreys didnot experience any difficulties, or, if he did, he overcame them; forpromptly at the appointed hour he stood before Ladybird, and bowedpolitely, saying, "Miss Ladybird Lovell?"

  "Yes," said Ladybird, rising from her seat on the grass, and suddenlyacquiring a new dignity as she heard her name pronounced in such a formaltone. Then she looked at him steadily, without a touch of impertinence,but with an air of gravest criticism.

  She saw a tall, well-built young man with broad, strong shoulders, and afrank, honest face which showed both perception and responsiveness.

  "You're not an earl," she said; and though her tone showeddisappointment, it was more in sorrow than in anger.

  "How do you know I'm not?" he said, smiling a little.

  "By your clothes," said Ladybird, simply. "Of course I know you wouldn'twear your coronet and robes; but you'd wear something prettier than blueserge."

  "I am not an earl," said her visitor; "but if I were, I would wear onthis occasion these very same clothes. And now, tell me all about it."

  With a smile that seemed to compel a comfortable confidence, he motionedLadybird back to her grassy seat under the plum-tree, and then sat downby her side.

  "First of all, who are you?" he said.

  "No; first of all, who are you?" said Ladybird.

  "Quite right," said the young man; "I accept the rebuke. My name youalready know; my home is New York. Just now I'm on my vacation, and invagrant mood I'm enjoying this part of our country."

  "Are you a good man?" said Ladybird.

  "I am a good man," said Humphreys, "though very few people know it;still, I'm prepared to prove it whenever it may be necessary."

  "Are you accomplished?" said Ladybird.

  "I can play a few things, work at a few more, and I can sing."

  "I'm glad you can sing," said Ladybird; "Stella is very fond of music."

  "But, my dear child," said Humphreys, "I told you I didn't come down herein the interest of that philanthropic scheme of yours; I came only to seeyou. And now it's your turn to tell me who _you_ are."

  "Me? Oh, I'm just Ladybird."

  "Is that your real name?"

  "No, I suppose not," with a slight frown; "my aunties say it is Lavinia;but I never knew that till I came here. They say, too, I'm fourteen yearsold; but I know I'm twelve. And they say I used to have yellow hair andblue eyes; but I can't think I ever did, can you?"

  "It is hard to think so," said Humphreys, looking at the little brownface with its big dark eyes and elfish wisps of straight black hair. "Atthe same time, I dislike to doubt your aunts' word. Why do they have suchapparently contradictory notions?"

  "I don't know," said Ladybird; "I've only lived here a little while, youknow. My mama was my aunts' younger sister, and she ran away with mypapa, and they lived in India. And I lived there, too, until papa died;and then I was sent here to aunties'. And at first my aunties didn't likeme a bit, and didn't want me to stay; but I had to stay, so of coursethey had to like me. You can't live with people without liking them, youknow."

  "Can't you?" said Humphreys. "And do you like them?"

  "Yes," said Ladybird, "I _love_ them. I love Aunt Dorinda best; but Ilove Aunt Priscilla most."

  "I should like to know them," said Humphreys. "Can't you take me in andintroduce me to them?"

  "I will pretty soon," said Ladybird; "but first I want to settle aboutStella."

  "What is this Stella story, anyhow, you ridiculous child? Do your auntsknow you wrote that letter to Governor Hyde?"

  "No," said Ladybird, seriously, "they don't. If they had they wouldn'thave let me write it. You see, everything I've tried to do to help Stellathey scolded me about it, and told me I mustn't do it, and that it wasnone of my affair. Now it _is_ my affair, for Stella is my friend; andwhat can be more your affair than your friend?"

  "Nothing," said Humphreys, seeing that an answer was demanded of him.

  "No, of course not. And so I thought, and I thought; and I decided thiswas the only way to do it; and I was sure the governor would sendsomebody nice, because my aunties say he is such a nice man."

  "But tell me about Stella; I don't understand it all yet."

  "Well, you see," said Ladybird, "Stella is the beautifulest, loveliest,angelest girl in the whole world, and she has a horrid old grandfatherand grandmother who want her to marry Charley Hayes, and Charley Hayes ishorrid too. And Stella doesn't love him, but she doesn't hate him as muchas I do."

  "I should hope not, if she's going to marry him," said Humphreys.

  "But she thinks she's got to marry him," went on Ladybird, "because hergrandparents say she must, and because there isn't anybody else inPlainville that would be any better."

  "And must she marry somebody?"

  "Well, she doesn't want to marry anybody; but old Mr. and Mrs. Marshallsay she's got to. And I mean that I can't find anybody better for her inPlainville, and so that's why I wrote to the governor; and I'm glad hesent you, for you're ever so much handsomer than Charley Hayes, and Ireally think you'll do very nicely."

  "My dear little girl," said Humphreys, "you must get that notion out ofyour head. I told you in my letter that I did not come down in theinterests of the fair Stella, but to see you."

  "Why did you want to see me?" said Ladybird, her big eyes wide withbewilderment.

  "Because I wanted to know what kind of a child it was who wrote thatletter."

  "And the governor didn't send you?" cried Ladybird.

  "No, of course the governor didn't send me."

  "Oh, well, it's all the same," she said airily; "you came because I wrotethat letter to the governor, so it doesn't make any difference. Andyou'll have to marry Stella, you know, because that's what I sent for youfor. You aren't married to anybody else, are you?"

  "No, of course not," said the young man.

  "Then that's all right; and Stella is so sweet and beautiful you won'tmind it a bit."

  "You said she was beautiful, before," observed Humphreys. "And now Ithink, if you please, we will go up to the house and see your aunts. Iwould like to pay my respects to them. You have a nice dog there."

  "Cloppy?" said Ladybird. "Yes; he is the beautifulest dog in the world."She was kneading him like a mass of dough as she spoke. "He's such acomfort! He never minds what I do to him."

  "And Stella, doesn't she mind what you do to her, either?"

  "Stella! Oh, she doesn't know what I do for her. Of course when you dothings for your friends you don't tell them about it."

  "And doesn't Stella know that you wrote to the governor in her behalf?"

  "Of course _not_!" said Ladybird, with great dignity; and rising, shegathered up Cloppy, hung him over her arm and said: "Now, if you please,we will go to the house."

  Remarking to himself that this was certainly a jolly go, ChesterHumphreys followed the picturesque figure of Ladybird as she flew throughthe orchards.

  Crossing the great sweep of lawn, they came to Primrose Hall, where, onthe front veranda, sat the Misses Flint, placidly knitting.

  "My aunties," cried Ladybird, as she came near them, "this is a friend ofmine I have brought to see you. His name is Mr. Chester Humphreys, and helives in New York, and he came here to see me."

  "Chester Humphreys!" exclaimed Aunt Priscilla, rising and dropping herknitting. "Excuse me, sir, but was your mother a Stedman?"

  "She was," said the young man; "and my father was Chester Humphreys ofNewburyport."

  "Then you are the son of one of my dearest girlhood friends," said MissPriscilla, "and I am very glad to see you."

  Miss Dorinda fluttered about, brought a piazza c
hair and cushions to maketheir guest comfortable, while Ladybird seated herself on a cricket, tookher chin in her hands, and sat gazing at the young man.

  "Do you know," Humphreys observed, "that, notwithstanding my interviewwith your small niece here, and my subsequent introduction to you, Idon't even yet know the name of my hostesses?"

  "Flint," said Miss Priscilla. "We are the daughters of Josiah Flint."

  "Then," said young Humphreys, "I have always known of you; for I haveheard of the Flints all my life."

  "Yes," said Miss Priscilla, "Esther Stedman was not one to forget her oldfriends. And though I have not seen her for many years, I am more thanglad to welcome her son to my house."

  "And I," said Miss Dorinda. "But may I ask how it came about? Were youpassing through Plainville? And how did you chance to meet Ladybird?"

  "Perhaps Ladybird would prefer to tell you that herself," said ChesterHumphreys, his grave eyes looking quizzically at the child.

  "Why, you know, aunties," said Ladybird, "you know very well, for I'vetold you a hundred million times, that I wanted to find a nice, handsomeyoung man for Stella; and so you see I wrote to the governor for one,and--and Mr. Humphreys came."

  "Lavinia Lovell," exclaimed Miss Priscilla Flint, "do you mean to tellme--"

  "One moment, Miss Flint," said Chester Humphreys. "Let me assure you thatLadybird's letter was quite decorous and proper. Every citizen isprivileged to write to his governor; that's what governors are for. Andit was a very nice, ladylike letter. But let me also assure you that Idid not come down here in response to what the letter asked for, butmerely to meet the plucky and loyal friend who wrote it."

  "I am glad to see you, Mr. Humphreys," said Miss Priscilla. "I beg youwill dismiss entirely from your mind this ridiculous performance of myniece, and I will promise you that Lavinia shall not be allowed to thinkof it again, or to mention it to that very estimable young lady, MissStella Russell."

  "Oh, no, aunty," said Ladybird; "I wouldn't say a word to Stella foranything; but won't Mr. Humphreys be gorgeous for her?"

  "Go to your room, Lavinia," said Miss Priscilla, sternly; and picking upCloppy, Ladybird went.