Belinda's cousins; a tale of town and country

Front matter

GoffyrightN"

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Contents

CHAPTER

I. Last Days at School

II. At Home

I. Last Days At School

Belinda’s dear grandmother grew ill while she was away at the convent, Belinda reached Capitol Hill just in time to receive her blessing, and she died in peace, not knowing what was in store for her darling. A short time after Mrs. Murray’s death, Uncle Joe passed away, and then it was discovered that the fortune which he had invested in a silver mine had vanished as the smoke of burning leaves in the autumn, — but not leaving even a haze behind.

Frederick Murray had recovered his health and gone back to Annapolis, so that the loss did not

make so much difference to him. He was wretched

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about it for Belinda’s sake. He determined to end his career in the Navy and come out to work for her; but she would not have it so. In a few months she would be graduated. She could teach music, and support herself in that way until he ‘‘got through ” the Naval Academy, and then he could help her, — but not until then.

“You will do no good, if you come out, dear old boy. Of course it would be nice for us to live in the old house on Capitol Hill, and go to the Terrace to see the sunsets, and listen to the Marine Band in the summer, or to live cosily in a little flat in New York; but, remember, Fred, I know what it is to be poor. You don’t. You’d waste days hunting work which you would not know how to do, if you got it, — for you know only how to be a sailor man. In the meantime. I’d starve elegantly, like a lady. No ; make your career, — and I’ll do my best, with God’s help. I’m a Southern girl, as you say, but I don’t see why a Southern girl should be more ashamed to work than a Northern girl, — do you ? Some time ago, Mrs. Deresby, who is in some way related to us, asked me to visit her. I’ll go as soon as the school closes, and see what my chances are as a

LAST DAYS AT SCHOOL.

music teacher. The dear, good, sweet, generous Sisters want me to stay here ; — but this isn't the world, and I must face the world.

“ If things don’t go well there, I shall go to the Laffans’, — Mrs. Laffan was mother’s cousin, you know. I really didn’t know this until I met Marguerite at school. She will be graduated in my class, — and she is a fine girl, — so kind, so good, so unspoiled. She has great executive power, she ought to be a queen.

Amelie, you know, is still in France, and the Watsons are in the country, — I shall write to them all. I wish you would, too. Things must come right, if we do our best.”

The Deresby invitation had been to the rich Belinda, not to the poor Belinda, and she soon found this out. Then, with great sadness in her heart, she wrote to Marguerite. The next day she received a telegram from Mr. Laffan. It simply said, —

Come home as soon as you can.”

There came a long, cordial letter from Mr. Laffan, and a note from Marguerite : —

Dear, sweet, kind, altogether-lovely Belinda, no matter how kind the Deresbys are, come at

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once. I need your advice and help. I will tell all.'' Then followed sixteen pages, perfumed with lavender.

School over in June, Marguerite Laffan had made up her mind about many things. She had determined that she would take the housekeeping under her direction, and put some style into it ; she had determined that she would civilize her brother Aloysius, and that there should be no dogs about the house.

She had thought a great deal about these things. She was supposed to be one of the most brilliant girls in the graduating class ; she was just over sixteen, and she had almost won the right of reading the valedictory. People said this was a great honor for a girl of her age. She read, however, a paper on ‘‘Woman's Mission in the Nineteenth Century." She made up her mind that her mission was to make home happy by making Aloysius a gentlemanly boy, and by banishing his pigeons and dogs. Marguerite had, indeed, given up her first intention of following a post-graduate course, in order to improve her home. Her mother was an invalid, and the girl resolved to devote her life to those ideas of happiness which

LAST DAYS AT SCHOOL.

she had drawn from books and partly from her aunt’s conversation. Her aunt was Mrs. Goldwaite Gillflory, who lived on the fashionable side of Chicago, and who sometimes visited Marguerite.

Aloysius had always been a great trial to his sister. She loved him very much ; but she had never had great pleasure in his company, because he was always with Prince ; and Marguerite disliked Prince.

Aloysius — he was generally called Al” — was not beautiful. Marguerite would have forgiven this if he had been stylish.” He was stumpy and sunburned ; he had big ears, which, as his hair was closely cropped, stood out from his head like wings ; his stockings were never gartered, or if one was gartered, the other was not. His pockets always bulged ; he dragged his feet when he walked ; his English was bad ; he would say ^‘avenoo” instead of ‘‘avenue,” and “ bloo ” instead of “blue.” This grieved Marguerite very much. And, then, he had a bad habit of calling out, “ She don’t know nothing,” that almost curdled the blood in her veins. Sometimes he washed his face in streaks, and sometimes he did

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not wash it at all. He was twelve years old. The other brother, Fred, was seven. She did not worry much about him ; he was the baby of the family, and Marguerite made up her mind that she could easily manage that little darling.

Of course I love Aloysius,’' observed Marguerite to her Cousin Belinda, as they sat, hand in hand, on a bench on the lawn, after the Commencement exercises were over; ^‘but I cannot esteem him as I ought. ^ My aunt, on my father’s side, Mrs. Gillflory — she goes into the best South Side society in Chicago, — tells me that he is awful; and Peggy Gillflory, my cousin, says that she feels that I ought to do something to bring my poor father and mother out of the condition into which they have been dragged by my brother.”

But he is so young.”

‘‘ A boy ought to begin to be something at twelve. Montaigne learned Greek at seven, and Julius Caesar — dear me, I forgot to say good-bye to Sister Clement. I shall never forget her, — never. And, O Belinda,” said Marguerite, you know how I feel in giving up my post-graduate course for my family.”

LAST DAYS AT SCHOOL.

‘‘ I should like to stay, too,'' said Belinda, with a sigh. I must teach music at once. If poor uncle had not died, — but, as it is, I ought to be thankful that he left me the means of getting a living. * Work is the word,' as Sister Clement said. I will be cheerful, no matter what happens."

I shall be cheerful if things go right," said Marguerite. ‘‘I almost envy you your plunge into the world. As it is, I feel my responsibility. I suppose I shall have to go into society, too, for Al's sake and papa's. You know mamma never goes out."

“ Society," said Belinda. Why, Marguerite, you are not old enough for that, are you ? And A1 "

Aloysius, if you please."

‘‘ I thought you said A1 — Aloysius is not old enough for society."

My aunt says," replied Marguerite, smoothing down her muslin dress, that society polishes a boy more than anything else. And, then, one must make social connections for him. His are very low, I am afraid. I know my duties, dear. But don't let the thought of them make you

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sad/’ she added, solemnly kissing Belinda on the forehead.

Sad ! ” exclaimed Belinda. “ If I were going home to a dear father and mother I should not be sad. If you were an orphan like me.”

‘^Ah, Belinda,” answered her companion, ‘‘you have only yourself to look after : I have others.”

“ Aloysius and — a dog,” remarked Belinda, smiling a little.

Marguerite looked at her reproachfully. Then she gathered up her fan, her various souvenirs, and her flowers, and rushed into Sister Clement’s arms.

An hour later she was seated beside her father in the train for home. She made Belinda promise to visit her soon. Her father looked at her approvingly. In her quiet, dark, convent-made frock, with her hair rippling a little over her forehead, not in “ Pompadour,” under a neat little hat, she hit his taste exactly.

“You will be a great comfort to us all, my dear,” he said, softly.

“ Of course I shall, papa,” she answered, smiling at him.

It was hard to give up the post-graduate course.

LAST DAYS AT SCHOOL.

Marguerite thought; but just lovely to have a father for whom one could sacrifice so much. She looked at the girl in front of her, and thought of her large hat and ribbon streamers with some dissatisfaction. She felt herself to be very plain.

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II. At Home

Mr. Laffan's house was not imposing. It was comfortable and large enough. It stood in Rosevale, a small town within easy distance of Chicago. There was a good lawn in front of it, and a big garden behind it. Over the brown timber of the house ivy and running roses and wall-flowers and clematis intermingled. Mrs. LafTan liked the thick vines, which werq the homes of innumerable birds; and Mr. Laffap approved of them, because they saved the painter a great deal of work, — for nobody could see whether the house had been painted or not, so thick w^re the vines.

The garden at the back was filled with ojd- "" fashioned flowers. There were dwarf-pear and apple trees and a grapevine arbor. But the most important thing in this garden was a small whit^ house, with Grecian pillars in front of it. There

AT HOME. 17

Prince and AVs other dogs lived. On the roof of this house was a place for the pigeons.

A carriage was waiting for Mr. Laffan and his daughter at the station. On the front seat with the driver was Aloysius, his straw hat rather the worse for wear, and, as usual, one stocking hanging about his ankle. Marguerite tried to kiss him, but she succeeded only in hitting her nose against the rough straw of the brim of his hat, for he dodged his head. He did not like to be kissed.

‘'Why, Mag,’' he said, “ how big you’ve grown. You’re almost a young lady.”

“ Am I ? ” said Marguerite, rather pleased. “Do you think I have changed? You have grown, too.”

“ I should think I have. Why, I am first base of the R. R. V, Nine, and I can ‘ do ’ anybody of my size with one hand.”

“ Just lift that traveling bag into the carriage,” said his father," and jump up quick. Marguerite must want her supper.”

They drove quickly through the country. They passed the wheat fields and the little houses,

with their sentinel sunflowers and hollyhocks, and at last stopped in front of the vine-covered cottage.

Welcome home/* said her father, kissing her again, as he lifted her out of the carriage. She ran at once to her mother’s room. Her mother sat in a big arm-chair waiting for her. Mrs. Laffan cried a little, kissed her daughter and the beautiful graduating medal many times. She looked better than usual, and had actually walked across the room twice, in spite of the inflammatory rheumatism that had held her captive for so many years.

‘‘You will be such a comfort to us,” said her mother, repeating the kind words of Mr. Laffan.

Marguerite uttered a scream ; she had trodden on something that bounded up from under her mother’s chair like a big India rubber ball.

“It’s only Fred,” said Mrs. Laffan. “Fred, do behave yourself. Here’s Marguerite.”

Marguerite screamed again ; for the small boy that had suddenly appeared from under the table was accompanied by a hideous animal — a dog that looked like a sausage. It was fat and there was no hair on its body ; it looked odd to say the least.

AT HOME.

Marguerite forgot her good manners and kicked at it. The small boy frowned, put his fingers in his mouth and began to howl, with his big blue eyes fixed on his sister. The strange dog began to yelp, too.

“ Go kiss your sister, Fred,'' said his mother.

Fred wept louder. She kicked Morfido, — she did, she did," he exclaimed, tears now streaking his cheeks. i

Marguerite blushed deeply. Suppose Sister Clement or anybody should hear that speech.

Come to me, Fred," she said, soothingly.

‘‘ What did you bring me?" demanded Fred, coming nearer. I want a gun ; I want a pistol; I want a watch that you can wind up as often as you like and it won't break."

Marguerite had to confess that she had not thought of anything. Then Fred threw himself on the floor, in the deepest grief. He rolled and rolled about, Morfido rolling with him, and the air was filled with sobs and yelps.

In the meantime, Aloysius had washed himself and put on his best suit of clothes. Prince had been scrubbed early in the morning, and Aloysius put a new collar on him. Aloysius was glad that

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Marguerite had come home, although he did not like girls, as a rule. But he had made up his mind to be nice to her if she liked dogs and pigeons. So far she had not made a bad impression on him. She had kissed him, to be sure ; but, of course, girls could not help that sort of foolishness. If Prince took to her, she must have something good in her after all. Bob Taylor's sister had made his Floss a big red ribbon bow for the dog race ; perhaps Mag might make Prince a blue one. There were many things a girl could do, — and, poor things, Aloysius thought, it was well they were worth something.

Prince was a Scotch terrier. The end of his tail had been nipped off in battle, and one eye was closed, owing to another battle. His coat looked glossy and yellow after scrubbing; but, as a rule, it was very dim and dingy looking. His good eye had a very sharp look, and Aloysius understood well the language of the tail.

‘‘Try to like her. Prince," his owner whispered to him, as the bell for supper rang. “ She’s only a girl, but do try to like her."

THE FAMILY DINNER.

III. The Family Dinner

Marguerite's first evening at home passed off fairly well. She did not approve of tea, which was served by Hannah in rather a rustic fashion. There was an enormous plate of stewed meat for the boys, dry bread and some mineral water for her father, and rolls and marmalade and tea for herself. A stiff bunch of double hollyhocks decorated the table ; and Hannah walked in and out as she pleased, rebuking the boys or making remarks to Mr. Laffan, who, as a dyspeptic, took his frugal meal v^ery slowly.

“ I hope you like the marmalade, Margie," said Hannah; ^Ht's real Scotch, They can grow oranges in this country, but they canna’ make marmalade in this country. I opened the last pot for you, child. Til wager you never had marmalade like that at the convent."

Marguerite made a face ; she disliked marma-

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lade, though the boys, to use Hannah’s words,

wallowed ” in it.

“ Dear me, but you’re a brave girl,” Hannah said, standing over her. ‘‘ I missed you so much last vacation. Indeed I’ve oft been thinking that your aunt’s was no place for you. She’s just that stuck up and overpowering that she’s no companion for you, a young girl. We’ve all been a-wearingfor you, — Master Fred,” she broke off sharply, “ you’re not to feed the dog from the table. I won’t have the cloth mussed up by his paws, — I won’t that, now. You may drop a wee bit of the meat on the floor, — just a wee bit on the oil-cloth under your chair ; but it’s not manners to have the beastie eating off the cloth itself.”

Fred grinned at Hannah with all the impishness that a small boy can put into a grin ; and Hannah turned away to give a similar reprimand to Aloysius, who was just in the act of holding a bone over Prince’s head.

Marguerite looked at her father ; but he silently munched his bread and drank his water, taking no notice of the boys.

“ Master Aloysius,” cried Hannah, striking Prince’s head with her apron, which she rolled for

THE FAMILY DINNER.

the moment into a sort of a rope. ^‘You'll soil the tablecloth. When I lived with Mr. Sawyer, at the manse in the country, he'd have brained little Davie if he did what you are doing. Ah, Davie was a good child, and he's a great man in India to-day ! "

Are there Indians in India, Han.^" asked Fred, giving Morfido's head a push.

There are no red Indians, they're just natives of India," said Hannah, forgetting her wrath. ‘‘ Keep your fingers out of the sugar. Master Fred ! Don't you see the spoon ? — And they are poor, benighted pagans, Margie."

I know, Hannah," said Marguerite, glad to have a chance of improving the boys' minds. ‘‘ It was the idea of converting them that made Columbus cross the ocean to America. Just think, Fred, he started for India, and found himself in America!"

‘‘How foolish!" said Fred. “If papa would give me a ship of my own. I’d know where to

go*"

Marguerite looked disgusted, and pushed Prince away, as he was attempting to put his tongue into her saucer.

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‘‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Marg Laffan,’' cried Aloysius, “to hit a poor dawg that can’t talk ! I should think the Sisters would have taught you better.”

“They would have made you say dog and not ‘ dawg,’ ” she replied, with a superior air; “and taught you that the table is no place for dogs.”

“ Popper ! popper ! popper ! ” wailed Fred*. “ Is Marg Laffan to interfere with us? Who is my boss, Hannah or Marg?”

Mr. Laffan squirted some more mineral water from his syphon, and sighed.

“ What are they fussing about. Marguerite ? ” he asked. “ I declare I have been thinking so deeply that I have paid no attention. Things are not so cheerful as they used to be, my dear. Your mother can’t come down to her meals and Hannah does just the best she can. But I know you’ll make us all more cheerful. And I’m so glad you’re not a young lady, but just a nice, simple-minded little girl. Trust the Sisters for keeping you nice and kind and young.”

“ Aunt Gillflory thinks the convents are too simple. She says that girls intended for society ought to have more aplomb.”

THE FAMILY DINNER.

Aloysius and Fred giggled.

‘‘ More what ? ” asked Mr. Laffan. ‘‘ I declare, I have forgotten what little French I knew!'’

‘‘ Oh, more self-assertion, more knowledge of the world 1 "

‘‘Ah," said Mr. Laffan. “Your Aunt Gillflory was always queer."

“ Daft, I should say," put in Hannah, coming in with her plate of hot rolls. “ What with her airs and her graces, your sister, sir, is more like a pagan than a self-respecting Christian."

Mr. Laffan sighed. “ The house needs discipline, my dear," he said. “ But don't mind Hannah ; she has always had her way. Fm sure, my dear, you’ll make us all more cheerful ; and,” he said, with a laugh, “ perhaps you can do something for the boys' manners. I am too busy to look after them."

Marguerite smiled. “ The mission of woman," she had said in her essay, “ is to elevate at the cost of any sacrifice."

“ We really ought to have a new dinner set, papa," she said, looking at the cracked plate.

“ That's right ! " said her father. “ Order it.

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I knew you'd see our defects. But don't be too hard on the boys."

Marguerite ran around to her father's chair and kissed him. He smiled, and went into his study.

‘‘You needn't mind liking her, Prince," said Aloysius to the Scotch terrier, as they ran races on the lawn after tea ; “ she will never suit us."

LETTERS.

IV. Letters

Marguerite looked into her mother’s room. All was silent.

Do you want me, mamma?” she asked.

No,” said a weak voice, — “not if you have anything else to do.”

Marguerite hesitated. Should she give up her letter-writing to stay with her mother? Her mother could wait ; and she must write to Mrs. Gillflory and Belinda. It would not make much difference ; she would be with her mother all summer.

She went up to her room. It was neat and clean and rather bare. There were none of the pretty ornaments that young girls like : no blue and white toilet-table, or knots of ribbons or silver-framed photographs. The room was severely white, a rug on the carefully scrubbed floor, and a little iron bedstead. A shelf near the

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door held a holy-water font. There was a picture over the mantelpiece representing a sinful soul in flames. Hannah, who was a devout Scotch Catholic, was very fond of this picture, and she had put it into Marguerite’s room as a special mark of regard. Marguerite opened her own desk — a pretty thing given to her by Aunt Gillflory, — and patted it affectionately. She drew from her trunk some delicate note-paper, and began to write to her aunt.

‘‘ I have found things, my dear aunt, much as you described them to me. Two years ago I was too young to notice much ; and, then, at school everything is so simple — there is such an absence of style — that I did not understand how rude our life was at home. Since I visited you I began to understand how people ought to live. My father and mother are lovely, but the boys will need a great deal of my attention. I shall begin to teach Aloysius French to-morrow, and induce him to part with a shocking dog, which actually eats off the table. Fred has another beast, which I shall send away too. Well dressed, my brothers would look well enough, though, dear Aunt

LETTERS.

Gillflory, they have none of the Laffan beauty. Aloysius wears no cuffs, and I found a vile piece of chewing-gum pressed under the table at tea. Happily, he does not smoke ; he says cigarettes are only for dudes. Fred has nice blue eyes and the funniest bang; his nose is freckled, and when he wrinkles it up he almost frightens me. At tea he put his fingers in his mouth and widened it so dreadfully that I almost screamed. We sometimes think that the minims at the convent are impish ; but no little girl can possibly be so awful as a small boy. He knows what you are thinking about, and he grins at you !

I shall do my best to brighten up this afflicted home. I know that I cannot be a St. Catherine, or a Vittoria Colonna, or a Fabiola ; but I shall strive to be a social star like you, and bless with my cheering rays all about me. There were no finger-bowls at the table, and papa said that I might order a new dinner set. I feel that I have begun well. I should paint one myself, if I had the time ; but I must give up art and literature and society for our dear family. I need a ‘ rat ' ; and if you will send me a hair-curler that will not burn the hair, I shall be obliged. I don't

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care for dress, but papa and Aloysius will expect me to look like other girls. Sacrifice comes easy, if we practise it. We have tea at six, just as we did at the convent. I shall change that, and have dinner at seven as you do. More later.

‘‘Your affectionate niece,

“ Marguerite.*'

Having put some light blue wax on the envelope and sealed this letter, she took up her pen to write again to Belinda Murray.

“ I am home at last, my dear Belinda — what a queer, old-fashioned name you have ! It makes me think of the great, tall, stiff hollyhocks that grow by our garden gate ; or the larkspur, or the white pinks, or the China roses. It is so prim and so like you !

“ I am dashing off a few lines to you, in the hope that you will do the same. My brothers are anything but cultured. I wish you could see them ; but you, with your gentle ways, would never get on with them. They need firmness. I shall change them in a week or so. Our lawn is beautiful for a party. I shall give one soon, because I must represent papa socially, and Aunt

LETTERS.

Gillflory tells me that his family and position are better than anybody’s here. If you saw my brothers you wouldn’t think they had any blue blood in them ; though I must say Fred has a certain something about him — when his face is clean. Write soon. Good-bye !

''Marguerite Laffan,

de Mr

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V. Marguerite's Threat

Hannah^ had grown old in the service of the Laffans, and she had long become accustomed to having her own way in the kitchen. She scolded the boys and the dogs, but they did not mind her. Mr. Laffan had the opinion that many things about the house could be changed for the better ; and he hoped that Marguerite would know how to do this by managing Hannah.

Marguerite ran lightly into her mother’s room, after she had finished her letters, to bid her good-night.

‘‘ Ah, my dear,” her mother said, as she raised her hands to her eyes, as if even the shaded light in the bedroom were too strong for them, ‘‘ I am so glad you are at home ! The household needs you very badly. There may come a time when I shall be well again ; but just now it is a heavy task I have to lay on such young shoulders. Your

MARGUERITE’S THREAT.

brothers may try you a little, but patience will do much. And, as your father said to me only a few moments ago, you can get Hannah to do anything if you show her a little kindness. Old people like the young to be fond of them, my child.’’

Oh, I shall manage Hannah, never fear ! Aunt Gillflory has taught me many things about the management of servants.”

Mrs. Laffan was silent. Still, Margery, you must remember that Hannah has the position in many ways of a privileged friend. Your aunt’s servants are very different. But I am sure a little experience, joined with the lessons of your dear convent, will clear the way for you. Hannah has been very faithful all these years.”

‘‘ She was paid for it,” said Marguerite, unconsciously quoting her aunt.

Mrs. Laffan took her daughter’s hand in hers.

‘‘No money can pay for such service as hers has been.”

“ Absurd ! ” Marguerite said, under her breath. “ A servant is a servant.”

“ The boys will try you a little, I repeat ; and

until I get better you will have to look after

34 :

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papa’s comfort. I fancy that if you would learn to make some nice dishes, he would give up those dreadful mineral waters, which make him ill. Did you learn to cook at school ? ”

Oh, yes ! ” said Marguerite. ‘‘ I can make the loveliest lady locks — the kind of cakes that Hannah calls maids of honor, — and meringue pie. I never cared for plain cooking, though Sister Clement scolded and scolded.”

Ah ! well — perhaps at home you will find something to please your dear father. And now good-night. You will read to me sometimes, dear?”

Marguerite smoothed her mother’s pillow, kissed her tenderly, and then ran down to the study, where her father sat bending over his law papers.

Glad to see you, little girl ! ” he said. Your mother seems better than ever since you came home. We shall have pleasant times together, — all of us. The boys are not so well mannered as they might be, but a sister’s influence in a house is everything ; and I am sure they’ll soon learn to imitate your manners. Dear me, how delightful it is to have one’s own little girl at home