CHAPTER VRECOGNITION
“Pleasetell Mrs. Ogden, Rose, that I will join her at once.”
“Very well, Miss Ogden,” and the trim maid departed.
Ethel Ogden, conscious that she had made a hurried toilet, and feeling but half awake, paused before her cheval glass and took a final look at her costume and hair, patting a stray curl into place, then left her bedroom in search of her cousin. She had a dim impression that to be late for breakfast would rank with one of the crimes of the Decalogue in the eyes of Walter Ogden.
The climate in Washington that winter had proved too severe for Ethel’s father, and by the advice of his physician he had gone in December to winter with friends in Atlanta. Mrs. Ogden, torn between anxiety for her husband and her desire to be with Ethel, had thankfully accepted their cousins’ invitation to have Ethel spend the winter with them.
Walter Ogden had been a frequent visitor to theNational Capital for a dozen years or more, and in times gone by, before he had made his not inconsiderable fortune, Commodore Ogden had assisted him financially on several occasions. Both Walter Ogden and his wife had urged Ethel to visit them in their western home, but she had never been able to accept. Their last invitation had solved many difficulties for it enabled her to remain in Washington and continue her work.
Commodore Ogden, who had retired before the age limit from the United States Navy on account of old wounds, had found, some years before, his modest savings swept away in unfortunate speculation, and outstanding debts had further crippled his resources. Ethel, to the horror of her mother, whose old-fashioned ideas did not include a tolerant view of the modern woman, had found hermetierin teaching English to foreigners residing in Washington, and with the salary received from her pupils dressed herself and contributed to the household expenses.
During the forty-eight hours she had been with her cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ogden, she had seen little of them, owing to her own business and social engagements, and had not had time to properly adjust herself to the household routine. The house was a large one, and reaching an intersectingcorridor in the wide wall, Ethel paused in indecision. Had she turned to her right or to her left when leaving Mrs. Ogden’s pretty bedroom the night before? Debating the point in her own mind, however, did not settle the question, and Ethel, finding a bedroom door ajar on her right, laid her hand on the knob.
“Caught entering ‘Blue Beard’s chamber,’” said a soft languid voice just back of her, and wheeling about Ethel confronted her cousin. “Fie! Fie! Ethel.”
“I plead guilty only to searching for you.” Ethel’s gay laugh was infectious. “Tell me, is ‘Blue Beard’s chamber’ where Cousin Walter abides?”
“Mercy, no.” Mrs. Ogden tucked her hand inside Ethel’s. “‘Blue Beard’s Chamber’ is theraison d’êtreof our being here. On account of it Walter was offered the house at a ridiculously low rental—one hundred and fifty dollars a month.”
“One hundred and fifty for this!” Ethel’s voice was raised in a crescendo of astonishment, and her eyes swept the well proportioned hallway and the vista of spacious rooms opening from it, and the handsome stairway down which they were passing. “Is there a ‘harnt,’ as the darkies say, in ‘Blue Beard’s Chamber,’ or is the house considered unlucky that the owners give it away?”
“Neither—a much less romantic reason. The owner, what is his name? Never mind, Walter attends to all that”—with placid disregard of details. “The owner is adivorcéwho, owing to some technicality of the decree, must keep his legal residence in Washington; so he leases this house for a song, with the proviso that he is permitted to keep a bedroom containing his personal belongings and occupy it occasionally.”
“But, Cousin Jane, how unpleasant!” ejaculated Ethel. “Suppose he elects to spend the winter with you?”
“Well, at that, my dear, we’d be saving money.” Mrs. Ogden straightened a rug on the handsome hardwood floor. “It’s a wonderful house for the money, and you know nothing pleases Walter so much as to save.”
Mrs. Ogden’s frank discussion of family traits and failings was apt to prove disconcerting and Ethel colored with embarrassment.
“I think it is perfectly dear of you to take me in this winter,” she began, but Mrs. Ogden cut her short.
“Don’t look at it in that light, my dear,” she said with kindly intent. “Both Walter and I are devoted to you, and I am looking forward to your companionship this winter. Walter is so immersed inbusiness, and he never will assist me in my social duties.”
“Late again, Jane,” announced a querulous voice as they entered the dining room, and Walter Ogden looked up from behind the folds of a morning paper. “I hope, Ethel, you will teach Jane punctuality.”
“I’m more apt to prove a culprit in that regard than a teacher,” declared Ethel. “I’m seldom on time in the early morning.”
“Too many late hours,” grumbled Ogden, rising heavily to pull out a chair for his wife.
“Did you enjoy the dance last night, Ethel?” asked Mrs. Ogden, rattling the coffee cups with unnecessary vigor in the hope of diverting Ethel’s attention from Ogden’s early breakfast grumpiness.
“Very much!” Ethel took a large helping of cereal offered her by the attentive butler. “But it was a later affair than I anticipated, and on the way home Jim Patterson’s car had a blow-out.”
“Oh, did Mr. Patterson bring you back?”
“Yes, and the Marshalls as well.” Ethel smiled demurely. Mrs. Ogden’s interest in James Patterson, United States representative from California, was transparent.
“I can’t think why you don’t marry Jim Patterson, Ethel; he’s asked you often enough,” remarked Mrs. Ogden, taking in her cousin’s fresh youngbeauty with an appraising glance. “And then you would be able to give up your tiresome teaching.”
“But my teaching is not tiresome,” protested Ethel, flushing hotly. “You try giving lessons in conversational English to some of the diplomats and you will soon find how amusing it is.”
“I hope for the foreigner’s sake, Ethel, you don’t use old-fashioned phrase books,” broke in Ogden. “I recall that some years ago the wife of a diplomat brushed up her English, of which she spoke only a few words, before attending a large luncheon, and during a pause in the conversation, she remarked politely to her hostess: ‘I see the rat. The rat is under the chair,’ and consternation prevailed until the hostess and other guests grasped the situation.”
“My pupils have no opportunity to quote from primers,” laughed Ethel. “I never use them. We talk, read, and compose, and I have them write letters to me. Oh!” she paused and took a letter from her bag. “This came last night from Maru Takasaki. I asked him to write me his impressions of the Diplomatic Reception at the White House. Do listen, he is my prize pupil,” and she read the note aloud.
My dear Miss Ogden:I have honor to inform you a news which you have been so anxious to hear.Last evening we went duly to the White House where we were received by Mr. President, assisted by the ladies of the Cabinet as usual.All the rooms were lighted brilliantly, and the Marine musical band made the scenery more vivid and attractive. The strange costumes of the different countries, mixed with the plain dress of this country, at once reflect the peculiarities of these nations.Doubtless it was the grandest reception that has ever happened in this city. But all these things are not the object of my information; the only thing which I intend to inform you is that there was a punch, to your astonishment, and thus to the satisfaction of all the hosts. Indeed, the iced Californian claret was the only drinkable matter, besides several kinds of cold meats and dessert.I cannot keep this event in myself for so many days, seeing that you have been so anxious to know. Details I will reserve till the Monday evening when I shall meet you.Yours sincerely,Maru Takasaki.
My dear Miss Ogden:
I have honor to inform you a news which you have been so anxious to hear.
Last evening we went duly to the White House where we were received by Mr. President, assisted by the ladies of the Cabinet as usual.
All the rooms were lighted brilliantly, and the Marine musical band made the scenery more vivid and attractive. The strange costumes of the different countries, mixed with the plain dress of this country, at once reflect the peculiarities of these nations.
Doubtless it was the grandest reception that has ever happened in this city. But all these things are not the object of my information; the only thing which I intend to inform you is that there was a punch, to your astonishment, and thus to the satisfaction of all the hosts. Indeed, the iced Californian claret was the only drinkable matter, besides several kinds of cold meats and dessert.
I cannot keep this event in myself for so many days, seeing that you have been so anxious to know. Details I will reserve till the Monday evening when I shall meet you.
Yours sincerely,
Maru Takasaki.
“Maru Takasaki,” repeated Ogden. “Is he the newattachéof the Japanese Embassy?”
“Yes; and he is so pleased with his progress in English that he wishes me to give lessons to his wife, who has just arrived from Japan. They have taken a house two blocks from here and have just moved in.”
“I predict you will shortly have more pupils than you can handle,” and Mrs. Ogden smiled at Ethel’s enthusiasm. “But you must not be so busy that you cannot be nice to my cousin”—she stopped speaking as the butler approached her husband and commenced whispering in his ear. “What is it, Walter?”
“You say he’shere?” asked Ogden, paying no attention to his wife’s question.
“Yes, sor,” and Charles, the butler, laid a visiting card in front of Ogden. “At the door, sor.”
“Good Lord!” Ogden dropped his napkin and gazed blankly across at his wife. “He’s come——”
“He—who? Not——” Eager welcome in her eyes.
“No one you know,” responded Ogden. “The owner of this house—Professor Richard Norcross—has come to occupy ‘Blue Beard’s Chamber.’”
“Well!” Mrs. Ogden blinked in astonishment. “What a mercy I put on my most becoming morning gown. Ask him in to breakfast, Walter,” and, as her husband left the room, she added hastily, “Don’t desert me, Ethel.”
“I really ought to be at Mrs. Henderson’s in twenty minutes, Cousin Jane,” expostulated Ethel, but she lingered a moment longer to fold her napkin, and the next second Ogden had entered, followed by Professor Norcross.
“It is very kind of you not to look upon my arrival as an intrusion,” said the professor, after greeting Mrs. Ogden and Ethel. “I sent word to my agent to notify you, Mrs. Ogden, that the law required that I make a brief visit to Washington.”
“We shall try and make your stay pleasant,”answered Mrs. Ogden cordially. She was agreeably impressed with the professor’s scholarly appearance. “Charles, bring some hot coffee. Oh, don’t go, Ethel,” as the latter moved toward the door.
“I really must, Cousin Jane, I’ll be back in time for luncheon,” and nodding a smiling farewell to the men, Ethel whisked out of the dining room.
Fifteen minutes later Ethel opened the front door of the house with more than her accustomed impetuosity and ran into the arms of a distinguished looking stranger.
“I beg your pardon,” gasped Ethel, straightening her hat which had tilted at a rakish angle on encountering the stranger’s forehead. “The butler will be here in an instant; oh, here he is now——” and Ethel dashed down the steps.
“Do you wish to see Mr. Ogden?” inquired Charles, but his question passed unheard, as Julian Barclay gazed after Ethel;—he had found the girl of the miniature.