The negotiations between Monsieur Petard, the editor ofChit-Chat, and the Bryces were neither so brief nor so simple as Mrs. Bryce had supposed that they would be. She did not have to be told that, after the notoriety of the Cartel incident, the name of Isabelle Bryce was one for editors to conjure with. This wily editor, who made his living by scandal, obligingly outlined the advertising campaign he would follow, to lead up to the publication of the letters.
Anxious as Mrs. Bryce was to have the scandal suppressed, she was unwilling that Wally should pay the price which these rascals demanded. So lengthy and irritating meetings followed—discussion and bargaining. Wally insisted upon paying anything they asked, and putting a period to the affair. But Mrs. Bryce was upheld by Clifford, in the idea that they would beat them down to a much lower figure, if they persisted.
During this period Max was so furious at both Isabelle and Miss Watts that it seemed wise for them to keep out of her way. They were like two conspirators slipping in and out of the house. But the most annoying detail was the espionage of Jean Jacques Petard. They soon discovered that he lay in wait for them, near the house, and on all occasions save when he was closetedwith Brycepère et mère, he was at the heels of Brycefille.
He made Miss Watts so nervous that she could hardly be induced to go out. Isabelle was all for having a talk with the man, and speaking her mind, but Miss Watts prevented this. She repeatedly said that she must tell Mr. Bryce of his behaviour, but Isabelle begged her not to do that as it would only result in their being ordered to stay indoors. After all, he did not speak to them, his presence could not hurt them. Let him follow!
These were the most difficult days Isabelle had ever known. Usually, before, she had rescued herself with a high hand, from her escapades. But this thing had descended upon her head, like an avalanche, and for once, she saw no way of extricating herself.
Then, too, she was so homesick for Bermuda that she could scarcely bear the thought of it. The long, happy days, with Percy and Jack at heel, and Captain Larry O’Leary somewhere on the horizon, they haunted her. It was ten whole days since they left them, and not a word from any of them. To come from that paradise into this prison—from that atmosphere of devotion to this one of reproach—from that freedom—to this—tagged by the horrid little Frenchman!
The strain was telling upon poor Miss Watts, too. She was thinner than ever, and she looked haunted. Isabelle begged her to leave her, but she always replied: “My dear, we will face this together.”
But in her innermost heart Miss Watts lamented that Isabelle had not tried harder to interest Captain O’Leary.He was the right man for her, she knew it; and they certainly did need a man on their side. Wally might be there in spirit, but Mrs. Bryce did not allow him to express it.
The twelfth day since their return was a dark one for everybody. Max and Wally had to meet the enemy at eleven, in the lawyer’s office. The air was electric with Mrs. Bryce’s irritability. She left the two culprits in a state of collapse.
“One more performance like that, and I shall marry Jean Jacques Petard, and disappear,” announced Isabelle, violently, as the door closed on them.
“Isabelle, don’t talk like that,” begged Miss Watts.
“Let’s go back to Bermuda; I hate it here!” said the girl, going to the window. “We’ve got to get out of this hateful house. The spy will be busy this morning, so we’d better make the best of it.”
A motor drew up to the curb and a man got out, looking up at the numbers.
“O my Lord!” cried Isabelle, as if it were a prayer. She ran out of the room and down the hall, with Miss Watts, startled into action, hurrying after her. Before the bell sounded, Isabelle had the door open. Captain O’Leary looked, first surprised and then delighted.
“Cricket!” said he.
“Larry—Larry!” she cried.
He took both her hands and beamed on her—beamed. Then suddenly he was aware of Miss Watts, and he surprised everybody, including himself, by saluting that lady’s cheek.
“Captain O’Leary!” she exclaimed, and kissed him back.
They all went into the living room, talking in chorus—asking questions, answering them—incoherent and excited.
“Larry, when did you come?”
“Just landed. Where are your parents?”
“They’re out. Oh, I’m in an awful lot of trouble with them.”
“Why didn’t ye tell me ye were leavin’ down there?”
“I thought you knew. We left on a cable from Wally to hurry home. I told everybody.”
“I didn’t know. What’s this trouble ye speak of?”
“I oughtn’t to begin the moment you come.”
“Yes, ye ought. Let’s hear.”
Miss Watts gave a deep sigh of relief. Isabelle began the story of her patriotism. Here and there Larry asked a question, and when the climax was reached, he leaned back and roared. Isabelle’s eyes suddenly misted with tears.
“Oh, but Larry, it isn’t funny, it’s awful! He’s trying to make Wally pay a lot of money for my letters, and if Wally doesn’t pay up, he is going to sell them to a nasty society sheet calledChit-Chat.”
His face was grave enough to suit her now.
“Where is the little whelp?”
“He’s usually across the street looking at the house, or following me around,” she began.
“Ye mean to say he follows ye?”
“You may think I’m to blame, Captain O’Leary, for not telling Mr. Bryce of this, but Isabelle thought it would mean that her parents would keep her indoors. She is dreadfully in disgrace with her parents,” Miss Watts said.
“Poor little crickety-Cricket,” he murmured.
“You don’t blame me, do you, Larry? I know it was silly, but I just wanted to be a patriot, and to practise my French.”
“Sure I don’t blame ye, ye blessed baby,” he laughed.
She choked a little; it was so good to be championed.
“Mr. and Mrs. Bryce have gone for a conference with these men this morning, and we all hope they may settle it,” sighed Miss Watts.
“Where is this conference?”
“At Wally’s lawyer’s office,” said Isabelle.
“Get your hat, Cricket; we’ll go say a word or two at this conference.”
She looked at him inquiringly, and went for her wraps without a word.
“Oh, Captain O’Leary, we have needed you so!” exclaimed Miss Watts.
“Woman, woman, why didn’t ye cable me? As it is I took the first boat.”
“I know you and Isabelle want to be alone, but I’m so in disgrace now, with Mrs. Bryce, that I dare not let her go with you, unless I go.”
He frowned, then smiled.
“Of course, get your bonnet. Isabelle and I will have enough time later, to catch up on our affairs.”
So all three of them got into the Captain’s taxi, and hurried to the address which Isabelle gave the driver.
There was some little difficulty in Mr. Clifford’s outer office, but Captain O’Leary simplified it, by lifting theoffice boy out of the way, bodily, opening the door and marching in, followed by the two women.
Startled glances were lifted to this tall officer, stranger to them all, who strode in, unannounced. The lawyer rose angrily.
“How did you get in?” he demanded.
“Walked. Present me to the Bryces, Miss Watts,” he replied.
Miss Watts in a trembling voice said:
“Mrs. Bryce, this is Captain O’Leary, a friend of Isabelle’s and mine from Bermuda.”
Mrs. Bryce stared—too astonished to speak. The tall, young man bowed.
“This is my father,” said Isabelle. The two men shook hands.
“I object to this man’s coming in here,” began the editor ofChit-Chat.
Captain O’Leary fixed him with a stormy eye.
“We’ll hear your objections later. I know all about this rotten deal. Is this Jean Jacques Petard?”
“This is none of your business,” began Clifford, but he never finished it. With one long arm Captain O’Leary reached for Monsieur Petard, lifted the gentleman by the seat of his trousers and his collar, bore him toward the door. Isabelle opened it for him.
“Don’t kill him,” she said, as he went out.
Wally and Clifford rushed after him. Isabelle followed and Miss Watts got as far as the door. Max and the editor sat still, but sounds came to them from the outer hall.
It was about ten minutes later that O’Leary strode into the room again, with heightened colour but otherwise undisturbed.
“We’ll hear no more of Mr. Petard, I think. Now sir, it is your turn.”
The editor defended himself with a chair.
“What business is this, of yours?” he yelled.
“Miss Bryce is going to do me the honour of marrying me, and you’ll jolly well see how much it is my business. Put down that chair, it is words for you, not blows. Mr. Bryce, if the ladies will leave us, we can settle shortly with this gentleman.”
Max and Miss Watts lost no time in obeying the hint.
“Close the door, Isabelle, please,” he said to her.
“Who is this man?” demanded Mrs. Bryce.
“Don’t talk! If that creature hurts him,” said Isabelle, her ear at the door.
There were sounds of angry voices inside, loud argument. Then silence. After what seemed a long time, Larry opened the door.
“Come in, now, please.”
They filed in. The editor was huddled in his chair. He was pretty much to pieces, nervously. Larry held up a package of letters.
“Mrs. Bryce, the letters are in my possession. May I keep them, for the present, Isabelle?”
She nodded.
“This gentleman has just signed a paper, drawn up by Mr. Bryce and me, signed by Mr. Clifford. This will be held by Mr. Clifford, in case of need. That ends this conference, I believe,” he said affably.
The editor left hastily. Mr. Clifford went into the outer office, and Max turned to Isabelle.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were going to marry this man?” she demanded.
Isabelle looked at Larry inquiringly, whereupon he took her hand and drew it through his arm.
“Ye must forgive her, Mrs. Bryce, ye see she didn’t know it. I’ve never had a chance yet to ask her.”
Max was used to shocks, but this morning had been too much for her. At this astounding statement on the part of their god-like liberator, she sat down suddenly, bereft of words, and stared at the two young people.
“Take me home, Wally,” she said, “I can’t stand any more!”
Table of Contents
“Suppose,”—said Mrs. Bryce, as they got into the limousine, “—suppose we postpone explanations until after lunch. I’m too worn out to understand anything you may say.”
So conversation was casual enough on the way home. Once there, Isabelle manœuvred to get Larry alone, but Wally stuck to him like a father.
“Wally,” said his daughter, sternly, “Max wants you.”
“What does she want?”—impatiently.
“You.”
He went, reluctantly. Larry held out two eager hands to Isabelle, but she ignored them.
“Sweetheart,” he said, anxiously.
“Larry, you told a lie.”
“Many of ’em, darlin’. Which one?”
“You said I was going to marry you.”
“Aren’t you, crickety-Cricket?”—anxiously.
“I haven’t decided—yet.”
“But won’t ye decide, dearie?”
“I may—when I’m properly asked.”
“What is properly, Mavourneen?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been proposed to before, except by Jean Jacques Petard.”
She was entirely in earnest, so he humoured her.
“Would ye prefer the formal ‘Will-ye-do-me-the-honour-to-become-me-bride?’ sort, or a more impassioned style?”
“Oh, Larry, you must advise me! Which would you take?”
With a laugh—half amused, wholly tender—he took her into his arms.
“I’d take the quickest way to get ye, little wee leprechaun.”
“Larry, I won’t let you off. I do sowantto be proposed to.”
“My dear,” he said gently, “I love ye a very great deal. I want ye to love me a very great deal, and to be my wife.”
Both arms went around his neck. She drew his tall head down to her, and kissed him.
“Thank you, Larry; I will,” she said.
He gathered her up and went to sit in a chair big enough to hold them both. He kissed her eyes, her saucy chin, her hair. He told her in tender ways, known only to the Irish, how he loved her, how he wanted to make for her a shield of his love, to keep her safe and happy.
“Do ye love me, Cricket?” he begged her.
“Larry,” she said, solemnly; “I feel as if you were all the people I have loved in my whole life—Ann, Mrs. Benjamin, Jerry, and Herbert——”
“And Percy?” he teased her. “When did ye begin to love me?” he asked, in the old way of lovers.
“On the boat, going down.”
“Ye didn’t.”
“I did.”
“I felt it comin’ on me, stronger and stronger, at Bermuda, but that night when ye came into my arms in the garden settled it. I had to come and find out who ye thought ye were lovin’.”
She only laughed. Luncheon was announced and the family appeared. The meal was more or less the usual midday repast, but to Isabelle and Larry it might have been ambrosia, or sawdust. They made motions of eating, between long glances. Wally and Max tried not to notice, but Miss Watts’s face was wreathed in a fatuous smile of satisfaction.
Later, when they went to the living room, she started to slip away, but Isabelle put her arm through the older woman’s and led her along.
“We’ll face this out together,” she whispered.
“We seem to have had the end of this story, Isabelle; suppose we now have the first of it,” said her mother in an amused tone.
The Captain and Isabelle smiled at each other.
“Will you recite it, or shall I?” he asked.
“Together.”
“Chapter One. The good ship ‘Astra.’ The hero forces his acquaintance upon the heroine . . .” he began.
“Didn’t you want to meet him?” inquired Max, curiously.
“Certainly, but I didn’t want him to know it. All the women on board made fools of themselves about him.”
“Deceivin’ little minx! Is this the way ye brought her up, Mrs. Bryce?”
“I didn’t bring her up. She’s brought herself up. Go on with the story.”
“The hero curried favour with one Miss Watts in hope of advancing his suit . . .”
“Miss Watts was foolish about him, too,” announced Isabelle.
“I was,” admitted Miss Watts.
“The heroine promptly acquired one Major O’Dell, of the English army, one odious youth, named Percy, one nondescript yclept Jack——”
“And an Irishman named O’Leary,” boasted Isabelle.
“And an Irishman named O’Leary. She led them all a pretty dance, and when her affairs were so complicated that a lawyer couldn’t straighten them out, whist! she disappears.”
“Engaged to a Frenchman!” supplied Wally. “Catholic tastes, our Isabelle, a regular internationalist.”
Larry looked at Wally as if seeing him for the first time, and laughed appreciatively.
“The Irishman followed,” prompted Isabelle.
“The Irishman followed. Now he wishes to apologize for the abrupt way in which he intruded into the peace conference. He makes the proper, if somewhat belated request, that Mr. and Mrs. Bryce will look upon him kindly as a son-in-law.”
His gay smile went swiftly from Max to Wally.
“Isabelle, has he proposed yet?” asked Max.
“Yes.”
“Did you accept him?”
“Yes.”
“I cannot believe that you could ever do anything so sensible.”
“Thank you,” bowed the Captain. “Mr. Bryce, the British consul has full information about me. I am a captain in the —— Regiment. I am on sick leave, wounded at Ypres.”
Wally put out his hand and grasped O’Leary’s.
“I’ll have a talk with the Consul this afternoon, but if Isabelle likes you as well as I do, your case is safe right now.”
Isabelle fell upon Wally and hugged him. The next victim was Miss Watts.
“I know you’ll be happy, my dear. You know how to take care of her, Captain O’Leary.”
“Trust me,” he said.
Isabelle went and stood in front of her mother.
“Well?” said Isabelle.
“I think you ought to kiss me, don’t you?”
She did.
“It is ridiculous for you to be engaged before you’re out,” remarked Mrs. Bryce.
“Max, I never intended to come out. I made up my mind about that long ago.”
Max shrugged her shoulders and held out a hand to Larry.
“I’m glad we are going to have such a handsome person in the family,” she said.
He bowed over the hand.
“Ye’re remindin’ me that ‘handsome is as handsome does.’ I invite ye to watch me.”
She laughed.
“Don’t talk any nonsense about getting married, for this child is only eighteen.”
“I’m expectin’ my orders any day,” he said, turning to the girl.
“To go back—there?” she cried.
He nodded. She went to stand in the circle of his arm.
“Max, when Larry goes, I go with him, if it is to-morrow,” she said—quietly, firmly.
No more was said about it at that time, but it was an issue that had to be faced very shortly. Two halcyon weeks followed for the lovers, and then for Larry a summons came. He brought the news to her one afternoon. When he came into the room she knew. She went into his arms with a little cry—
“Dearest, when?”
He held her close for a moment.
“I must sail on Saturday, belovedest.”
He felt the shiver that went through her, but she made no protest.
“I can be ready,” she said.
“Little love, I’ve been thinkin’, maybe ye’d better not go. Maybe ye’d better stay here and wait for me.”
“I’ll wait for you, just as close to those dreadful trenches as they’ll let me come!” she said, fiercely.
She summoned the family and told them the news. Shewished to be married on the morrow and sail with her boy on Saturday.
“But you’ve got no clothes!” protested Max.
“We’ll be married to-morrow at five, Max; here or in a church, whichever you say.”
“Here, of course,” said Wally.
“We don’t want any fuss, or people, or excitement. I will pack to-night so that Larry and I may have the whole day free to-morrow,” said Isabelle, with a quiet authority that silenced them all.
For once Max let her have it her own way. She had always dreamed of Isabelle’s wedding as a big fashionable event. It was like her daughter to do it this way. She actually went off for the entire day with her lover, coming back only in time to dress.
There were no guests except Miss Watts and Martin Christiansen. Major O’Dell, whose orders took him back on the ship with them, acted as best man for Larry. Just as she was hurrying downstairs, Isabelle met Wally, waiting for her. He slipped a box into her hand and said brokenly:
“Little secret between us, Isabelle. I know you’re going to be happy with this chap, but I’m frightened,—it’s all such a gamble!”
She put her arms about him and kissed him tenderly. He felt that she had grown into a woman over night.
“It’s all right, dear. I’m not frightened. I’m sure!”
“Lord, but I’ll miss you!”
“Dear old Wally—dear old Wally!” she said very close to tears.
It was a simple brief ceremony, this wedding. They were all a little solemn with the thought of what this world in dissolution might hold for these radiant young lovers. Larry O’Leary’s face was something to remember, when Isabelle plighted him her troth, and there was a sudden womanly dignity in Isabelle’s bearing that made the eyes smart.
But later, at the wedding supper, no one could resist the boyish happiness of Larry. He swept them all into his joyousness, and when the time came for their farewells, there were no tears, only good wishes and high hopes.
In the motor car on the way to the hotel, Larry’s arm held Isabelle close.
“Wee wife,” he said, softly; “wee wife.”
There was no need of words, their happiness was folded round them like a cloak. They dined in their sitting room, as merry as larks.
“Happy, darlin’?” he asked her.
“I suppose that’s what you call it! I’ve got a whole new world, Larry. That’s your wedding gift to me!”
He kissed her hair and went into the other room for a second. When he came back he held something behind him.
“Heart of me,” said he, “I’ve a confession!”
“Larry!”
“It’s only luck that you’re here to-night.”
“What?”
“There once was a leprechaun visited me in the night, and she left me something to know her by. I’ve been lookin’ for her ever since. I swore I’d marry her when I found her!”
“Yes?”—anxiously.
“Will ye see if ye’ll fit my leprechaun coat?”
He held out the orange-and-black Chinese coat, and laid it about her shoulders.
“Larry! it was you!”
“Yes, darlin’, an isn’t it luck that it’syou!”
The coat and its owner were folded close to Larry’s heart. Both of them had come home.
the end.
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Transcriber's NotesSpacing around ellipses and em-dashes is as in the original.The images are whole page illustrations, which have been moved in this eBook to the relevant part of the text. The link in the List of Illustrations to Page 240 has therefore been adjusted to point to Page 242 instead.The following corrections have been made to the text:Page 6: “{original had a single quotation mark}Well, if you want her to go to this party, you’d better make a bargain with her. I know her.”Page 12: “{original had a single quotation mark}I’m free an’ a half, an’ I don’t take off my cloves at a party,”Page 14: “{original had a single quotation mark}Why?”Page 32: There was something about the little beggar——{original had superfluous closing quotation mark}Page 46: “Put her down and let{original had ler} her walk then.Page 67: “Most flattering. I would prefer that.”{original omitted closing quotation mark}Page 68: “Very well. I’ll wear a white linen dress, with a black belt, and my black hat,” announced the girl.{original had superfluous closing quotation mark}Page 148: “I want thee to eat some lunch, my Isabelle.”{original had a single quotation mark}Page 183: “{original omitted opening quotation mark}Yes,” she replied, “but it’s chronic in our family!”Page 233: Major O’Dell and Captain{original had Captaim} O’Leary, the latter looking very white,Page 238: “Give{original had Giver} her a spoon to play with, Larry, and pay some attention to me.”Page 242: She nodded. He fell in step beside her.{original omitted the period}Page 264: “I didn’t know. What’s this trouble ye speak of?”{original had a single quotation mark}The following words appear with and without a hyphen. They have been left as in the original.godlike/god-likehothouse/hot-housepincushion/pin-cushionrewrote/re-wrote
Transcriber's Notes
Spacing around ellipses and em-dashes is as in the original.
The images are whole page illustrations, which have been moved in this eBook to the relevant part of the text. The link in the List of Illustrations to Page 240 has therefore been adjusted to point to Page 242 instead.
The following corrections have been made to the text:
Page 6: “{original had a single quotation mark}Well, if you want her to go to this party, you’d better make a bargain with her. I know her.”Page 12: “{original had a single quotation mark}I’m free an’ a half, an’ I don’t take off my cloves at a party,”Page 14: “{original had a single quotation mark}Why?”Page 32: There was something about the little beggar——{original had superfluous closing quotation mark}Page 46: “Put her down and let{original had ler} her walk then.Page 67: “Most flattering. I would prefer that.”{original omitted closing quotation mark}Page 68: “Very well. I’ll wear a white linen dress, with a black belt, and my black hat,” announced the girl.{original had superfluous closing quotation mark}Page 148: “I want thee to eat some lunch, my Isabelle.”{original had a single quotation mark}Page 183: “{original omitted opening quotation mark}Yes,” she replied, “but it’s chronic in our family!”Page 233: Major O’Dell and Captain{original had Captaim} O’Leary, the latter looking very white,Page 238: “Give{original had Giver} her a spoon to play with, Larry, and pay some attention to me.”Page 242: She nodded. He fell in step beside her.{original omitted the period}Page 264: “I didn’t know. What’s this trouble ye speak of?”{original had a single quotation mark}
Page 6: “{original had a single quotation mark}Well, if you want her to go to this party, you’d better make a bargain with her. I know her.”
Page 12: “{original had a single quotation mark}I’m free an’ a half, an’ I don’t take off my cloves at a party,”
Page 14: “{original had a single quotation mark}Why?”
Page 32: There was something about the little beggar——{original had superfluous closing quotation mark}
Page 46: “Put her down and let{original had ler} her walk then.
Page 67: “Most flattering. I would prefer that.”{original omitted closing quotation mark}
Page 68: “Very well. I’ll wear a white linen dress, with a black belt, and my black hat,” announced the girl.{original had superfluous closing quotation mark}
Page 148: “I want thee to eat some lunch, my Isabelle.”{original had a single quotation mark}
Page 183: “{original omitted opening quotation mark}Yes,” she replied, “but it’s chronic in our family!”
Page 233: Major O’Dell and Captain{original had Captaim} O’Leary, the latter looking very white,
Page 238: “Give{original had Giver} her a spoon to play with, Larry, and pay some attention to me.”
Page 242: She nodded. He fell in step beside her.{original omitted the period}
Page 264: “I didn’t know. What’s this trouble ye speak of?”{original had a single quotation mark}
The following words appear with and without a hyphen. They have been left as in the original.
godlike/god-likehothouse/hot-housepincushion/pin-cushionrewrote/re-wrote
godlike/god-like
hothouse/hot-house
pincushion/pin-cushion
rewrote/re-wrote