"Twice as much as he would have taken," added Mr. Ashby.

"I don't care what it cost. I'd have given ten times the price to have it for Dodo," snapped Mrs. Alexander, not feeling the delight she had antic.i.p.ated in the purchase.

Just then Mr. Alexander poked his bald head in at the doorway and said: "Ain't you folks most ready to go on?"

"Come here, Ebeneezer! I want you to give that address of the hotel in Paris to this Mr. Maxton. I bought a chest for Dodo and he is to ship it there, so's I can fill it when I arrive," said Mrs. Alexander.

"Have I got the address?" stammered her husband.

"Of course! In that red-covered leather memorandum book."

Mr. Alexander searched in his pockets and finally brought out a little book from his inside coat-pocket. He fumbled the pages as he sought for the needed address, and murmured so that the others could distinctly hear.

"H-um, what's this? 'Go to the barber's for a clean shave every day-don't forget.' It ain't that." Then he turned to the next page, and squinted at the writing.

"'Ne-ver use a knife at table when you eat-only to cut.' It ain't that page, nuther."

His wife remonstrated, and he suddenly said: "Wait now-here it 'tis: 'Don't go in front of others unless you say 'excuse me.' Don't sit down with ladies standing.' Wall now, it ain't on that page, either," he remarked, but Mrs. Alexander grew annoyed when she saw the sympathetic smiles of their companions.

They recognized the "teacher's" rules for their friend, and they felt sorry for his lot in life. Then she snapped out: "Can't you find it in there, Eben?"

"No, b' gosh! It ain't down. All's I can find is 'don'ts and do's' what you told me."

"Give me the book-I'll find it," demanded his wife. "You never _could_ read your own writing." And she took the book and quickly turned to the last page. Then she read off the address to the waiting dealer. This done she thrust the book back at her meek spouse.

"Well now! I never thought to look backwards first! I begun in the front of the book like I was taught at school," said Mr. Alexander to his companions, in apology for his blunder.

The tourists finally got away from Bristol but they were too late to make Birmingham that night. So they planned to stop at Gloucester or Worcester, which ever was most convenient.

CHAPTER V-LOVE AFFAIRS AND ANTIQUES

While the cars were speeding over the long flat country that stretched away after leaving Bristol, Dodo entered into a confidential chat with Ruth who sat in the back seat beside her. Although it was against Jimmy's wishes, Angela managed to get in the front seat beside him, in order to give him some sound advice about his future.

"I just heard, Ruth, that you would have a birthday, shortly," began Dodo.

"Yes, but who told you so?" returned Ruth.

"Polly mentioned it, and I said that I hoped we would all be with you to help celebrate. When is it?"

"Not for three weeks yet, Dodo. And I expect to be at Uncle's, then.

They'll give me a party, I suppose," said Ruth.

"Well, that's too bad-that we won't be together-as I have a little gift for you and I hope you'll like it."

"Oh, Dodo! How nice of you. I really did not look for anything from anyone, you know," cried Ruth, delightedly.

"Maybe not, dearie; and this isn't much-not what you deserve, but it is a little remembrance, as you will find when you get it. I'm not going to give it to you until the day arrives, but when you open it you'll understand everything that I can't explain to you, now," explained Dodo.

"Whatever it is, little or big, I will like it, Do, as coming from your generous heart. Even a flower from my friends is more than a jewel from someone who doesn't mean it," said Ruth.

"I know that, Ruth, and that's why I want to give you something you'll like. You are true blue, and you deserve all the joy one can give you."

"It's awfully good of you, Dodo, to say that," smiled Ruth, although tears of pleasure welled up in her eyes.

The other girls had overheard the conversation and now they chimed in.

"Dodo's right, Ruth. You're just fine!"

Later in the afternoon, Jimmy stopped his car at a tiny farmhouse with the spoken intention of getting a drink of water. But his subtle reason was to get Angela _out_ of the front seat and Ruth _in_ it. "Who wants a drink?" called he, as he jumped out and started for the cottage.

"I do!" cried Polly, getting out to go after him.

At the open door of the humble dwelling, the two looked in and saw the house-wife bending over a cook-stove, turning some doughnuts in a pan of hot fat. Jimmy waited until she had finished and then said: "May we have a drink, if you please?"

His smile and manner were very pleasing, and Polly saw how people fell before his winsome way. "Just a minute-I'll draw some fresh cold water for you," said the woman.

"Oh, do let me help you!" exclaimed Jimmy, whipping off his cap as he hurried through the room to carry the pail the woman had taken.

The two of them went out to the back-shed where the water ran, and filled the pail. Meanwhile, Polly gazed about the interior of the little house. She saw several objects which might be old pieces, so she wondered how she could get Mr. Fabian there to judge.

As Jimmy came in, carrying the pail, and the woman held a tin dipper for the tourists, he remarked as he pa.s.sed the cook-stove: "My, how good those doughnuts smell." And he sniffed.

"You shall hov some!" declared the woman, laughingly.

"Oh no! I couldn't think of it," objected Jimmy, hoping all the time to be persuaded into taking some.

"I knows what young boys' appet.i.tes is like," chaffed the woman, taking a large platter from the corner cupboard and piling a heap of doughnuts upon it.

Jimmy laughingly protested, but she waved him out and followed at his heels. When they reached the cars, she proffered the platter to the _gentlemen_ first. Polly tried to get Mr. Fabian's eye to tell him about the furniture in the cottage.

But his eyes were rivetted on the old Staffordshire platter that held the refreshments. He nudged Mr. Ashby and both men eagerly took the dish. As they gazed at it, and then pa.s.sed it on to the ladies to help themselves first, they exchanged opinions.

"It's the rare old blue that seems etched on the ivory glaze," whispered Mr. Fabian.

"Where that came from, there may be more," added Mr. Ashby, eagerly.

The platter had reached Mr. Alexander on its return trip to the men, when the little man took two doughnuts, one in each hand.

"Ebeneezer Alexander! How can you? Don't you know what your red book says?" scolded his wife.

"I dun't care, Maggie! I'm good and hongry and dunnits always was my temptation. These smell like your'n ust to before we got too rich for you to cook."

Mrs. Alexander tried to hide the smile of satisfaction that tried to creep up into her face. She reached out her hand for one of his doughnuts, without saying a word. But Mr. Alexander moved away out of her reach.

He hurriedly held at arm's length the hand that held one doughnut, while he took several great bites from the tidbit held in the other hand, lest his wife compel him to give up his treasure trove. The others laughed at him, and Mr. Ashby said: