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And then they both laughed as hard as they could, and there was the dear old Mary Beck after all, and a tough bit of ice was forever broken. Betty threw open the parlor blinds, regardless of Serena's feelings about flies, and the two friends spent a delightful hour together.
Hapgood's kind of man awaited the return of his wife and daughter with considerable uneasiness. Hapgood, in his capacity as trained, capable, aristocratic servant, had been a favorite of Serena's. The captain dreaded telling his wife what, in the heat of his anger, he had done. But his dread was needless.
But you'll excuse my saying so, won't you; you know Phelps and I have had some experience in keeping up a city estate don't you think it might prove rather expensive for you to maintain?" Serena's armor was not even dented. "Oh," she said, lightly, "that wouldn't trouble us, I'm sure. Really, we've hardly thought of the expense. The Scarford place wasn't ALL that Aunt Lavinia left us, Mrs. Black."
He was so very, very much at home in the family now; in fact, he seemed to take his permanent membership in that family for granted. He had ceased to refer to himself as being on a vacation, and, as for his "literary work," he appeared to have forgotten that altogether. But these were not the real reasons for Serena's growing dislike and uneasiness.
As the dance went on, there were frequent comments of approval to encourage her in the labour of love. "Sereny's doin' splendid, ain't she?" said the other girls. To which the men replied, "You bet! The playin' 's reel nice, and good 'nough fer anybody outside o' city folks." But Serena's repertory was weak, though her spirit was willing.
It was somewhat disappointing to find that the plural was merely a bit of verbal embroidery on the caretaking butler's part, and that there was but one kitchen, situated in the basement. However, it was of good size and well furnished with closets, the contents of which stirred Serena's housekeeping curiosity. The inspection of the kitchen and laundry took some time.
Dear Serena's absurd salons served some good purpose after all. Francesca was not an early riser and her breakfast was only just beginning to mobilise on the breakfast-table next morning when a copy of The Times, sent by special messenger from her brother's house, was brought up to her room.
The paper had been applauded and she had been congratulated by her fellow members. Annette was enthusiastic and Mrs. Lake and the other leaders equally so. Stories of the "vast" wealth inherited by the Dotts had been circulated freely, and these, quite as much as the wonderful paper, were responsible for Serena's bound into popularity.
And I know, too, that nobody else seems to know or care. Your pa trusts everything to his wife, and she trusts everything to that Hapgood. She can't be bothered, she says, and Hapgood's such a capable buyer. Capable! he'll be rich as well as capable if it keeps on, and the rest of us'll be capable of the poorhouse. And there's Serena's health.
This speech, I was sorry to see, damped cousin Serena's ardor; for this working by proxy, as it were, did not at all coincide with her old-fashioned notions; and "ready-made garments" were to her a delusion and a snare, giving opportunity to Satan to find mischief for idle hands to do.
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