CHAPTER IV.A HEARTY WELCOME.
“Welcome, welcome to Meadwold!” cried the merry voices.
Dick’s eyes swam in a happy, wondering mist. At that moment he feared it was all a dream from which he would quickly awaken. This vision of June—June, radiant and flushed, and more beautiful than ever—could not be other than a dream.
“Dick—Dick, don’t you know me? Dick, aren’t you glad to see me?”
It was her voice. He would have known it had it reached his ears in the heart of darkest Africa. This was no dream; it was a grand, joyous reality. The next instant he was on the steps, both her warm hands clasped in his.
“June, June!” he murmured ecstatically. “June, is it possible? Can it be I’m really awake and this is you?”
“Kiss her! kiss her! kiss her!” shouted a chorus of voices.
June, red as a fresh-blown peony, her voice trembling with excitement, her eyes gleaming like twin stars, answered his questions.
“Of course it is I, and, of course, you’re wide awake.”
“No, he isn’t,” piped another voice, that sounded strangely familiar. “If he was wide awake, he would never pass up an opportunity like that.”
“How is it possible that I find you here?” asked Dick.
“Chester will explain.”
“Chester——”
“Present,” laughed a bronzed youth, stepping quickly down and placing an affectionate hand on Dick’s shoulder. “How are you, Merriwell, old man? On my soul, I’m quivering with delight over seeing you again. Give us a grip at that man’s hand of yours.”
This was June’s brother, who wrung Dick’s hand with all the hearty regard and affection of his soul.
“My head is humming,” laughed the bewildered boy. “I thought you were in Wellsburg, June; and you, Chester—I thought you somewhere away out in the wild and woolly.”
“I’ve shed my chaps, had my hair cut, hung up the riata, and come back to civilization,” said Arlington. “But I don’t suppose we ought to monopolize him, June. He has other friends who are anxious to get at him.”
While June and Chet turned to Brad Buckhart, Dick shook hands with Jack Randall, of Harvard.
“Quite a lively little party this of yours,” smiled the handsome Harvard man.
“Mine?” said Dick. “Why, Steele got up this party.”
“But we all understand it’s for your benefit and entertainment. Here are Barbara and Mabel.”
And now Dick understood why he had not seen Bab Midhurst and Mabel Ditson at the baseball game that afternoon.
“It’s a conspiracy!” he cried. “I have been deceived, and I’m glad of it.”
“I brought another friend of yours along with me,” said Randall. “Where is he? He should have been among the first to attack you.”
“Like the modest, shrinking little violet that I am,” said the voice that had declared Dick was not wide awake when he shook hands with June, “I am contentto bloom low amid the other gorgeous flowers of this fair garden. Therefore, I am easily overlooked. Hello, Dick! Give us the high wigwag.”
“Dale Sparkfair, you handsome rascal!” cried Merriwell, getting a good hold on the speaker’s hand.
Sparkfair it was, jolly, jovial, scintillating as ever.
“You see, I’m always loth to thrust myself forward, Dick,” said Spark. “I’ve been suppressed and sat on so much since butting into Harvard that my natural timidness and reticence has increased a thousandfold.”
“Suppressed? Sat on?” laughed Randall. “If ever there was a freshman who could not be suppressed and sat on, this fresh freshman is the one. Why, he’s had all Cambridge standing on its head the biggest part of the time since he landed there. A dozen times he’s turned the old place over to look at the bottom side of it. He has more friends and enemies to the square yard than any man at Harvard who is not a senior or a big gun in athletics.”
“Fie! fie!” remonstrated Dale. “I fear much that you will give people a false impression by the careless trippling of your tongue. Trippling is good. I think I’ll copyright it. I’m great at coining words. That’s about the only kind of coin I can get hold of lately.”
Introductions followed, Dick presenting his Yale friends to those friends of his he had unexpectedly found at Meadwold. All were then made acquainted with the young people, youths, and maids who belonged to Casper Steele’s particular set. At the very beginning of these introductions, in a cautious whisper, Sparkfair warned Dick not to exhaust his supply of “hot-air compliments” too quickly, as there were lots of pretty girls in the party, and he would need a liberal supply to go round.
Steele had turned the touring car over to his mechanician,who was awaiting the arrival at Meadwold. He now led the way into the renovated house, and the chattering guests flocked after him.
Casper’s mother was there, standing just inside the door and smiling on them all. She gave her hand to Dick and his friends as her son presented her. There were also two other middle-aged ladies who were present as chaperons.
“I’m very glad to meet Dick Merriwell,” said Mrs. Steele. “You won’t mind if I call you Dick, will you? You see, I’ve heard Casper call you that so often that it’s most natural for me.”
“I am genuinely complimented to know that you wish to call me by my Christian name, Mrs. Steele,” he bowed.
“You must make yourself at home—you and your friends. I hope you all have a pleasant time at Meadwold.”
“That is assured already, madam. I’ve had one of the most delightful surprises of my life.”
Steele took Dick, Brad, Rob, and Tommy upstairs to the room they were to occupy.
“You see, we’re a bit crowded,” he explained. “There are two beds here and a bath adjoining. I think you’ll be comfortable.”
“Comfortable!” said the Texan, looking around. “Great horn spoon, I should say so! Why, this is great for a man who has found comfort sleeping in a blanket, with his boots for his pillow and the ground for his bed.”
“Well, I’m certainly glad I came,” said Tucker. “Isn’t it great, boys?”
“It reminds me of hospitality in old Virginia, gentlemen,” came from Claxton. “I didn’t suppose they had anything like it in your cold and reserved North.”
“Oh, we’re not as cold and reserved as we seem,once you get under our skins,” chuckled Steele. “Take your time to wash up, fellows. Come down when you get ready. I fancy we’ll have dinner very soon now.”
“A great chap, that Steele,” murmured Tommy, as the door closed behind Casper. “And to think he didn’t get through college—it’s a shame. But then, he has so much money that he doesn’t need a college education to help him spend it.”
“And that’s one of the brightest remarks I ever heard you make, Tucker,” laughed Dick.
“Listen!” exclaimed Buckhart. “I sure hear music! On my word, they’ve got an orchestra.”
It was true, for the soft strains of an orchestra floated up to their ears from some part of the house.
“Steele is certainly doing the thing up brown,” chuckled Tucker. “Go ahead, Dick, and make your ablutions. You’re the one in this bunch who’s most wanted down below. The rest of us won’t be missed if we’re slower in reappearing.”
Dick pulled off his coat, rolled back his cuffs, and disappeared into the bathroom.
“No flies on this party, eh?” grinned Tucker. “Everybody agreeable and congenial.”
Buckhart shrugged his shoulders.
“With one exception, possibly,” he muttered, not wishing Dick to hear. “Chester Arlington might have improved the party had he remained away. He was Dick’s bitterest enemy at Fardale, and I can’t easily forget the dirty tricks in which he was concerned. My pard seems to think the fellow has reformed, but I’m far from satisfied on that point. I doubt if any one as rotten as Arlington has been ever wholly reformed. However, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until he shows the cloven hoof again. If he does that, I’ll certain feel like lighting on him all spraddled out. You hear me softly warble!”