Part 16 (1/2)

A dozen other tests followed until the girls' occult knowledge reached the limit. Then they danced in the Gym to music furnished by Mrs.

Vincent, who ended the prancing by sending in a huge ”fate cake,” a big basket of nuts, a jug of sweet cider and some of Aunt Hippy's cookies.

Cutting the fate cake ended the Hallow E'en frolic. Lily Pearl was thrown into a flutter by finding the ring in her slice. Juno turned scornful when a plump raisin fell to her share, Helen drew a tiny key from her piece, and the coin dropped into Rosalie's lap.

”Rubbis.h.!.+ I don't want riches. I want a handsome husband,” she cried with refres.h.i.+ng frankness.

”I hardly think I would noise that fact abroad,” was Isabel's superior criticism.

”No, I wouldn't if I were you, it would be so perfectly preposterous,”

retorted Rosalie.

Isabel made no reply, but took care that no one else discovered who had found the thimble.

CHAPTER XII

CHRISTMAS AT SEVERNDALE

By a lucky chance Christmas this year fell upon Monday, thus giving the mids.h.i.+pmen either liberty, or leave, according to their cla.s.ses, or conduct grade, from Sat.u.r.day at twelve-thirty to Monday at five-thirty, when those enjoying the latter rare privilege had to report for duty in Bancroft Hall. Christmas leave for the first cla.s.s was an innovation, which only those on first conduct grade might hope to enjoy. That there was the ghost of a chance of any member of the lower cla.s.ses coming in for such a rare treat not even the most sanguine dreamed. _But_, and that BUT was written in italics and capitals, when Captain Stewart made up his mind to do a certain thing it required considerable force of will, stress of circ.u.mstances, and concerted opposition to divert him.

But the outcome lies in the near future.

The excitement incident to the rescue of Columbine had barely subsided when a telegram brought Peggy the joyful news that Captain Stewart's s.h.i.+p, which had met with some slight accident to her machinery, was to be dry-docked at Norfolk and her father was to have two weeks' leave.

The _Rhode Island_ was to be in port at the New York Navy Yard, and this meant the forgathering of all who were nearest and dearest to Peggy and Polly; a rare joy at the holiday season for those connected with the Navy.

Consequently, this year's Yuletide was to be a red letter one in every sense, for Mrs. Howland and Gail, who had spent Thanksgiving in New York, would return to Annapolis for Christmas and, joy of joys!

Constance, Snap, and Mr. Harold would come with them.

The telegraph and telephone wires between New York, Norfolk, Was.h.i.+ngton and Annapolis were in a fair way to become fused.

As many of the girls lived at great distances from Was.h.i.+ngton, the Christmas Recess began on the twenty-second. Captain Stewart had 'phoned to his party ”Heavy marching orders, three P. M., Friday, Dec. 22, 19--.” A wild flutter ensued.

The Thanksgiving holiday at Mrs. Harold's had been widely discussed at Columbia Heights and had stirred all sorts of emotions to their very centers. At Captain Stewart's request, Mrs. Harold had sent unique invitations to each of the girls soon after their return to school.

They were couched in the formal wording of an official invitation from a battle s.h.i.+p of the fleet and created a sensation.

Natalie, Stella, Nelly, Rosalie, Juno and Marjorie were invited. Lily Pearl's and Helen's attentions to Peggy and Polly having proved abortive, they contrived ways and means of their own to reach the Land o' Heart's Desire. Helen's old bachelor uncle, a queer, dull old gentleman, whose mind was certainly _not_ active, and whom Helen could, figuratively speaking, turn and twist about her little finger, was persuaded to pa.s.s the holidays at Wilmot Hall. He knew a number of people in Annapolis, so the path to a certain extent was cleared for Lily Pearl and Helen, though they would have given up all the uncles in Christendom to have been included in that house party. But half a loaf is certainly better than no bread, and once at Annapolis they meant to make the most of that half. So it was with no small degree of triumph that they announced the fact that they, too, would be at the Christmas hop. Just how they intended to manage it they did not disclose.

Sufficient unto the hour was to be the triumph thereof.

Captain Stewart arrived on Friday morning in time for luncheon and, guileless man that he has already shown himself to be, promptly offered to ”convoy the two little cruisers to Annapolis.” His offer was accepted with so many gus.h.i.+ng responses that the poor man looked about as bewildered as a great St. Bernard which has inadvertently upset a cage of humming birds, and finds them fluttering all about him. Lily and Helen were of a different type from the girls he knew best, but he accepted the situation gracefully and enjoyed himself hugely with the others, even Marjorie blossoming out wonderfully under his genial kindliness.

Isabel amused him immensely. Isabel was to spend her holiday in Boston, _of course_, but was to meet a friend in Baltimore who would chaperone the shrinking damsel safely to Mamma's protecting arms. Captain Stewart would escort her to the Naval Academy Junction, from which point it seemed perfectly safe to let her pursue the remaining half hour's journey to Baltimore unattended. In the course of the journey from Was.h.i.+ngton to the Junction Isabel elected to make some delayed notes in her diary, greatly to the secret amus.e.m.e.nt of Captain Stewart, who happened to be sitting just behind her.

”Making a list of all your dances and Christmas frolicings, little-er-ahem--, Miss?”

”Boylston, Captain Stewart. Oh, no, I rarely attend dances; there is so much that is instructive to be enjoyed while at home. I am making some notes in my diary.”

”Don't say so. Find the outlook inspiring?” Captain Stewart laughed as he looked out upon the dreary landscape, for the afternoon was lowery, and certainly, the cheerless flat landscape between Was.h.i.+ngton and the Junction was far from thrilling.