The Melting of Molly Read online

  Leaf VI.

  Conflagration.

  Most parties are just bunches of selfish people who go off in thecorners and have good times all by themselves; but in Hillsboro it isnot that way. Everybody that is not invited helps the hostess get readyand have nice things for the others, and sometimes I think they reallyhave the best time of all.

  This morning Aunt Bettie came up my front steps before breakfastwith a large basketful of things for my dinner, and I wondered whatI would have collected to be served to those people by the time all myneighbours had made their prize contributions. It took Aunt Bettie andJane a half-hour to unpack her things and set them in the refrigeratorand on the pantry shelves. One was a plump fruit-cake that had beenkeeping company, in a tight box, with other equally rich cakes eversince the New Year. It was ripe, or smelt so. It made me feel veryhungry.

  A little later Jane was exclaiming over a two-year-old ham that had beensimmered in some wonderful liquor and larded with egg dressing, whenMrs. Johnson came in and began to unpack her basket.

  I had planned to have a lot of food and had ordered some things up froma caterer in the city, but I telegraphed to them not to deliver themuntil the next day, even if they did spoil. How could I use smelts whenMrs. Wade had sent me word that she was going to bake some brook troutby a recipe of the judge's grandmother's? Mrs. Hampton Buford had letme know about two fat little summer turkeys she was going to stuff withchestnuts, and roast fowl seemed foolish eating beside them. But whenthe little bit of a baby pig, roasted whole with an apple in its mouth,looking too frisky and innocent for worlds with his little baked tailcurled up in the air, arrived from Mrs. Caruthers Cain, I went out intothe garden and laughed at the idea of having spent money for lobsters.

  When I got back in the kitchen things were well under way, everythingsmelling grand, and Aunt Bettie in full swing matching up my dinnerguests.

  "Nobody in this town could suit me better than Pet Buford for adaughter-in-law, and I believe I'll have all the east rooms done up withblue chintz for her. I think that would be the best thing to set off herblue eyes and fair hair," she was saying as she cut orange peel intostrips.

  "You've planned the refurnishing of that east wing to suit the style ofnearly every girl in Hillsboro since Tom put on long trousers, BettiePollard, and they are just as they have been for fifteen years since youdid up the whole house," said Mrs. Johnson as she poured a wine-glasshalf full from one bottle and added a tablespoonful from another.

  "Well, I think he is really interested now from the way he spent most ofhis time with her down at the hotel the other night, and I have hopesI never had before. Now, Molly, do put him between you and her, sort ofcornered, so he can't even see Ruth Clinton. She is too old for him."And Tom's mother looked at me over the orange-peel as to a confederate.

  "Humph, I'd like to see you or Molly or any woman 'corner' Tom Pollard,"said Mrs. Johnson with a wry smile as she tasted the concoction in thewine-glass.

  "I have to put him at the end of the table because he is my kinsman andthe only host I've got at present, Aunt Bettie," I said regretfully.I always take every chance to rub in Tom's and my relationship on AuntBettie, so that she won't notice our friendliness.

  "I'd put John Moore at the head of the table if I were you, MollyCarter, because he's about the only man you've invited that has gotany sense left since you and that Clinton girl took to going aboutHillsboro. He's a host of steadiness in himself, and the way he ignoresall you women, who would run after him if he would let you, shows whathe is. He has my full confidence," and as she delivered herself of thisjudgment of Dr. John, Mrs. Johnson drove in all the corks tight andbegan to pound spice.

  "He's not out of the widower-woods yet, Caroline," said Aunt Bettie withher most speculative smile. "I have about decided on him for Ruth sincethe judge has taken to following Molly about as bad as Billy Moore does.But don't any of you say a word, for John's very timid, and I don'tbelieve, in spite of all these years, he's had a single notion yet. Hedoesn't see a woman as anything but a patient at the end of a spoon, andmighty kind and gentle he does the dosing of them, too. Just the otherday--dearie me, Jane, what has boiled over now?" And in the excitementthat ensued I escaped to the garden.

  Yes, Aunt Bettie is right about Dr. John; he doesn't see a woman, andthere is no way to make him. What she had said about it made me realisethat he had always been like that, and I told myself that there was noreason in the world why my heart should beat in my slippers on thataccount. Still I don't see why Ruth Clinton should have her headliterally thrown against that stone wall, and I wish Aunt Bettiewouldn't. It seemed like a desecration even to try to match-make him,and it made me hot with indignation all over. I dug so fiercely at theroots of my phlox with a trowel I had picked up that they groaned soloud I could almost hear them. I felt as if I must operate on something.And it was in this mood that Alfred's letter found me.

  It had a surprise in it, and I sat back on the grass and read it with myheart beating like a hammer. He was leaving Paris the day he had postedit, and he was due to arrive in London almost as soon as it did, justany hour now I calculated in a flash. And "from London immediately toHillsboro" he had written in words that fairly sung themselves off thepaper. I was frightened--so frightened that the letter shook in myhands, and with only the thought of being sure that I might be alone fora few minutes with it, I fled to the garret.

  Surely no woman ever in all the world read such a letter as that, and nowonder my breath almost failed me. It was a love-letter in which thecold paper was turned into a heart that beat against mine, and I bowedmy head over it as I wetted it with tears. I knew then that I had takenhis coming back lightly; had fussed over it and been silly-proud of it;while not _really_ caring at all. All that awful reducing my waistmeasure seemed just a lack of confidence in his love for me; he wouldn'thave minded if I weighed five hundred pounds, I felt sure. He lovedme--really, really, really; and I had sat and weighed him with a lot ofmen who were nothing more than amused by my chatter, or taken with mybeauty, and who wouldn't have known such love if it were shown to themthrough a telescope.

  I reached into a trunk that stood just beside me and took out a box thatI hadn't looked into for years. His letters were all there, and hisphotographs, that were very handsome. I could hardly see them throughmy tears, but I knew that they were dim in places with being cried overwhen I had put them away years ago after Aunt Adeline decided that I wasto be married. I kissed the poor little-girl cry-spots; and with that aperfect flood of tears rose to my eyes--but they didn't fall, for there,right in front of me, stood a more woe-stricken human being than I couldpossibly be, if I judged by appearances.

  "Molly, Molly," gulped Billy, "I am so ill I'm going to die here on thefloor," and he sank into my arms.

  "Oh, Billy, what is the matter?" I gasped and gave him a littleterrified shake.

  "Mamie Johnson did it--poked her finger down her throat and mine, too,"he wailed against my breast. "We was full of things people gived us toeat and couldn't eat no more. She said if we did that with our fingersit would make room for some more then. She did it, and I'm going to diedead--dead!

  "No, no, pet; you'll be all right in a second. Stay quiet here in yourMolly's lap and you will be well in just a few minutes," I said with asmile I hid in his yellow mop as I kissed the drake-tail kiss-spot."Where's Mamie?" I thought to ask with the greatest apprehension.

  "In the garden eating cup-cake Jane baked hot for both of us," heanswered, snuggling close and much comforted.

  "Don't ever, ever do that again, Billy," I said, giving him both a hugand a shake. "It's piggy to eat more than is good for you and then stillwant more. What would your father say?"

  "Father isn't no good, and I don't care what he says," answered Billywith spirit. "He don't play no more, and he don't laugh no more, and hedon't eat no more hardly, too. I'm not going to live in that house withhim more'n two days longer. I want to come over and sleep in your bedand have you to play with me, Molly."

&
nbsp; "Don't say that, darling, ever again," I said as I bent over him. "Yourfather is the best man in the world, and you must never, never leavehim."

  "I 'spect I will, when I get big enough to kill a bear," answered Billydecidedly. "I say, do you think Mamie saved even a little piece of thatcake? I 'spect I had better go see," and he slipped out of my arms andwas gone before I could hold him.

  It is a lonely house across the garden with the big and the tiny manin it all by themselves! And tears, from another corner of my heartentirely, rose to my eyes at the thought, but they, too, never fell, forI heard Mrs. Johnson calling, and I had to run down quick and see whatnew delicacy had arrived for my party.

  Somehow I didn't enjoy dressing to-night for my dinner, and when I wasready I stood before the mirror and looked at myself a long time. I wasvery tall and slim and--well, I suppose I might say regal in thatamethyst crepe with the soft rose-point, but I looked to myself aboutthe eyes as I had been doing for years. And to-night that Rene triumphmade me feel no different from one of Miss Hettie Primm's conceptionsthat I had been wearing for ages with indifference and total lack ofstyle. I shrugged my shoulder with what I thought was sadness, though itfelt a trifle like temper, too, and went on down into the garden to seeif any of my flowers had a cheer-up message for me.

  But it was a bored garden I stepped into just as the last purple flushof day was being drunk down by the night. The tall white lilies laidtheir heads over on my breast and went to sleep before I had said a wordto them, and the nasturtiums snarled round my feet until they got myslippers stained with green. Only Billy's bachelor's-buttons stood upstiff and sturdy, slightly flushed with imbibing the night dew. I feltcheered at the sight of them, and bent down to gather a bunch of them towear, even if they did clash with my amethyst draperies, when an amusedsmile, that was done out loud, came from the path just behind me.

  "Don't gather them all to-night, Mrs. Molly," said Dr. John teasingly,as he stooped beside me. "Leave a few for--for the others." I waked upin a half-second, and so did all those prying flowers, I felt sure.

  "I was just gathering them for place bouquets for--for the girls," Isaid stupidly as I moved over a little nearer to him. Why it is that theminute that man comes near me I get warm and comfortable and stupid, andas young as Billy, and bubbly and sad and happy and cross, is more thanI can say, but I do. I never possibly know how to answer any remark thathe may happen to make, unless it is something that makes me lose mytemper. His next remark was the usual spark.

  "Better give them the run of the garden--alone, Mrs. Molly. No chancefor them unless you do," he said laughingly, "or the buttons, either,"he added under his breath so I could just hear it. I wish Mrs. Johnsoncould have heard how soft his voice lingered over that littlehalf-sentence. She is so experienced she could have told me if itmeant--but, of course, he isn't like other men!

  There are lots of questions I'm going to ask Alfred after I'm marriedto him.

  "Oh, you Molly," came a hail in Tom's voice from the gate, just as I wasmaking up my mind to try and think of something to wither the doctorwith, and he and Ruth Clinton came up the front walk to meet us. Iwondered why I was having a party in my house when being alone in mygarden with just a neighbour was so much more interesting, but I had tobegin to enjoy myself right off, for in a few minutes all the rest came.

  I don't think I ever saw my house look so lovely before. Mrs. Johnsonhad put all the flowers out of hers and Mrs. Cain's garden all overeverything, and the table was a mass of soft pink roses that wereshedding perfume and nodding at one another in their most societymanner. There is no glimmer in the world like that which comes fromreally old polished silver and rosewood and mahogany, and one'sgreat-great-grandmother's hand-woven linen feels like Oriental silkacross one's knees.

  Suddenly I felt very stately and granddamey and responsible as I lookedat them all across the roses and sparkling glass. They were lovelywomen, all of them, and could such men be found anywhere else in theworld? When I left them all to go out into the big universe to meet thedistinctions that I knew my future husband would have for me, would Isit at table with people who loved me like this? I saw Pet Buford saysomething to Tom about me that I know was lovely from the way he smiledat me; and the judge's eyes were a full cup for any woman to haveoffered her. Then in a flash it all seemed to go to my head, and tearsrose to my eyes, and there I might have been crying at my own party ifI hadn't felt a strong warm hand laid on mine as it rested on my lap andDr. John's kind voice teased into my ears--"Steady, Mrs. Molly, there'sthe loving-cup to come yet," he whispered. I hated him, but held on tohis thumb tight for half a minute. He didn't know what the matter reallywas, but he understood what I needed. He always does.

  And after that everybody had a good time, Jane and her nephew as muchas anybody, and I could see Aunt Bettie and Mrs. Johnson peeping in thepantry door, having the time of their lives, too.

  That dinner was going like an airship on a high wind, when somethinghappened to tangle its tail feathers, and I can hardly write it fortrembling yet. It was a simple little telegram, but it might have beennitro-glycerine on a tear for the way it acted. It was for me, but thenephew handed it to Tom, and he opened it and, looking at me, hesolemnly read it out loud. It said--

  "Arrived this noon. Have I your permission to come to Hillsboro immediately? Answer. ALFRED."

  It was dreadful! Nobody said a word, and Tom laid the telegram rightdown in his plate, where it immediately began to soak up the dressingof his salad. He was so white and shaky that Pet looked at him inamazement, and then I am sure she had the good sense to find his handunder the cloth and hold it, for his shoulder hovered against hers, andthe colour came back to his face as he smiled down at her. I don'tbelieve I'll ever get the courage to look at Tom again until he marriesPet, which he'll do now, I feel sure.

  And as for the judge and Ruth Clinton, I was glad they were sittingbeside each other, for I could avoid that side of the table with my eyesuntil I had steadied myself a few seconds at least. The surprise madethe others I had been dining seem statues from the stone age, and onlyMr. Graves' fork failed to hang fire. His appetite is as strong as hisnerves, and Delia Hawes looked at his composure with the relief plain inher eyes. Henrietta's smile in the judge's direction was doubtful. Butthey were not all my lovers, and why that awful silence?

  I couldn't say a word, and I am sure I don't know what I should havedone if it hadn't been for the doctor. He leaned forward, and his deepeyes came out in their wonderful way and seemed to collect every pair ofeyes at the table, even the most astounded. We all held our breaths andwaited for him to speak.

  "No wonder we are all stricken dumb at Mrs. Carter's telegram," hesaid in his deep voice that commands everybody and everything, even theterrors of birth and death. "The whole town will be paralysed at thenews that its most distinguished citizen is only going to give them twodays to get ready to receive him. I can see the panic the brass bandwill have now getting the brass polished up, and I want to be the oneto tell Mayor Pollard myself, so as to suggest to him to have at leasta two-hour speech of welcome to hand out at the train. We'll make it agreat time for him when he lands in the old town."

  * * * * *

  Tom took Pet home early, and I hope they walked in the moonlight forhours. Tom is the kind of man that any pretty girl who is sympatheticenough in the moonlight could comfort for anything. I'm not at allworried about him, but--

  The hour I sat in the garden and talked to Judge Wade must have broughtgrey hairs to my head if it was daylight and I could see them. RuthClinton had said good-bye with the loveliest haunted look in her greatdark eyes, and I had felt as if I had killed something that was alive.Dr. John had been called from his coffee to a patient and had gone withjust a friendly word of good night, and the others had at last left thejudge and me alone--also in the moonlight, which I wished in my heartsomebody would put out.

  To-night he looked me in the face and told me how to marry, and I'm notsure yet th
at I won't do as he says. Of course I'm in love with Alfred,but if he wants me he had better get me away quick before the judgemakes all his arrangements. A woman loves to be courted with poems andflowers and deference, but she's wonderfully apt to marry the man whosays, "Don't argue, but put on your bonnet and come with me."

  Oh, I'm crying, crying in my heart, which is worse than in my eyes, asI sit and look across my garden, where the cold moon is hanging low overthe tall trees behind the doctor's house and his light in his room isburning warm and bright. They are right: _he_ doesn't care if I amgoing away for ever with Alfred. His quick eulogy of him, and the lovelywarm look he poured over poor frightened me at his side, told me thatonce and for all. Still, we have been so close together over his baby,and I have grown so dependent on him for so many things, that it cutsinto me like a hot knife that he shouldn't care if he lost me--even fora neighbour. I shouldn't mind not having _any_ husband if I couldalways live close by him and Billy like this, and if I married JudgeWade--_no, I don't like that!_ Of course, I'm going with Alfred,now that an accident has made me announce the fact to the whole townbefore he even knows it himself, but wherever I go, that light in theroom with that lonely man is going to burn in my heart. I hope it willthrow a glow over Alfred!