"Watch me," she promised.

Mr. Jones reentered the room physically clean and mentally chastened but deep in gloom. He had forgotten that the darkest hour comes just before dawn. Yet, a private secretary must not allow his personal feelings to interfere with duty. He approached Virginia in what might be described as a graceful manner marred by lameness. "I regret the unfortunate occurrence which delayed me," he apologized. "If Miss Dale wishes to see her father--"

A pair of blue eyes rested upon him in the kindest manner and a most attractive mouth said, "I know that my father is away today and that neither of you has much to do."

Obadiah's official staff looked guilty.

Virginia went on with enthusiasm. "We are going to give a concert this afternoon for the old ladies at the Lucinda Home. It will be lovely. A bra.s.s band--ice cream--Mr. Wilkins--"

The high interest of the young man cooled slightly at the lawyer's name, regardless of the pleasing company in which he was mentioned.

"Won't you both come? You could help me so much."

"We can't get off," declared the practical Kelly.

"Yes, you can. My father said that I could invite whom I pleased."

She turned pleadingly to Mr. Jones. "You'll come and bring Mr. Kelly, won't you?"

The victim of disaster was as one hypnotized by the charm of her presence. Before the wiles of women, his gallant soul became as putty.

Mr. Jones stammered, he stuttered, he blushed--and from his lips came the whispered answer, "Yes, Ma'am."

CHAPTER XI

OLD HEARTS MADE YOUNG

Nature left nothing to be desired in the weather as the hour approached for the concert at the Lucinda Home. Over the closely shaven lawn and beneath the shade of the trees lay the tranquillity of a summer's afternoon.

This was disturbed, shortly after lunch, by the roaring of the Dale car as it rushed up the curving driveway to the main building. It was driven by Ike, and Serena sat beside him in the purity of apparel, freshly laundered and starched.

But, even at this hour, the aged ladies had retired to their apartments to make ready for the gaieties of the late afternoon.

The coming of the Dale car was the beginning of a series of commotions in this haven of peace. A big army truck arrived with a noise of thunder bringing trestles and plank for a temporary band stand. It stopped, and through the balmy silence sounded a rough, coa.r.s.e, masculine voice, "Where in the devil do they want this blame thing?" Answered his companion, "You can search me."

A window closed with a crash to shut out contamination from such vulgar sources.

As the army truck and its crew noisily departed, another machine entered the grounds. It was a quiet car, not given to loud or uncouth uproar.

Stealing up the driveway, it stopped. Mr. Vivian emerged, garbed in spotless white. Other soft stepping, mild mannered men, similarly clothed, accompanied him, bearing freezers of cream and boxes of cake.

Serena entered into conference with the caterer. "Des ole ladies dey wants der tea mo'e den yo'alls sweet stuff."

Mr. Vivian appeared pained at such taste.

Serena went on, "Ah's gwine mek de tea in de kitchen an' surve it an'

de sandwiches outen de side do'."

Disgust sat upon Mr. Vivian's features. "I shall serve the cream from under the trees, in the cool fresh air," he announced.

"You gwine surve it full o' bugs an' flies den," predicted Serena.

Mr. Vivian, through the exercise of self-control, stood mute.

Serena sought information. "Who gwine surve ma tea an' ma sandwiches?"

she inquired.

Mr. Vivian whistled a few measures of melody, softly. Being thus engaged, he could not respond.

Serena pressed for an answer. "Ain' yo'all do dat?"

"Possibly my men may a.s.sist you," the caterer conceded, as he glanced at his a.s.sistants grouped at his back.

Serena was supported by Ike and several colored females, employees of the Home, into whose good graces the chauffeur was endeavoring to ingratiate himself.

The situation was tense.

Serena's hands were upon her hips and her entire body vibrated. Her eyes glistened with rage and rested menacingly upon the caterer. She was clothed in an air of mystery. Her opponent could not determine whether she proposed to rely upon logical argument, abusive language, or physical violence.

Mr. Vivian noted uneasily the ma.s.s of vibrant temper he had aroused. He stood his ground, however, and did not retreat.

"Whoall is er givin' dis yere sociable? Whoall pays fo' dis yere 'tainment? Ah asts you dat? Answer me, whiteman?"

Ike drew nigh, inclining an ear that he might miss no word of the altercation. "Dats right," he interjected in a rich mellow voice.

Mr. Vivian gave no heed to the aid and comfort vouchsafed his adversary.

"Ah tells you who pays. Ah'm right yere to tell yo'all who pays,"

proclaimed Serena. "Miss Virginy done pay. Dat who." Hers was a song of triumph now. "Ahs her nu'se. Ah's her housekeeper." She shook a great fist at the caterer. "Whiteman, wot ah sez, ah means. Ef yo'all ain' gwine surve ma sandwiches an' ma tea, jes tek yo'se'f an' des yere white waiters away f'om yere."

"Dat's right," concurred Ike, confident that he appeared to good advantage before the employees of the Home and that, through his stalwart support of Serena, he was laying up treasure for a rainy day.

"What's all this talk about?" Mr. Vivian demanded suddenly as if being a stranger to the controversy he sought enlightenment. "Who said that I wouldn't serve your sandwiches and tea?"

Serena, after the manner of her generation, was wise. She understood the whiteman and knew when to stop war and resort to diplomacy. She whirled upon the hapless Ike. "Ain' yo'all got no bettah manners an' to stan' der er listin' at dis gent'men an' me a talkin'.

You 'minds me o' er ole turkey gobbler er standin der wid you' haid twisted."

Such an unlooked-for attack, from one with whom he had publicly allied himself, grieved Ike sorely. He retreated crestfallen and humiliated.

When Virginia entered the kitchen she found Serena and Mr. Vivian laboring diligently and as intimate friends, decrying the efficiency of their a.s.sistants without regard to color or previous condition of servitude.

Another army truck brought the band. White collars and ties showed festively above bra.s.s b.u.t.toned blue coats. Hair, mustaches, and whiskers had been dressed with extraordinary care, and aged musicians looked from beneath campaign hats worn at a most rakish angle. As they took possession of the stand, there ensued a period of melancholy tootings as instruments were adjusted and lips made supple.

Excitement seized the old ladies at their toilets, as these isolated blarings smote their ears. Certain partially deaf ones, confident that the concert had begun and desirous of missing no note of it, descended, minus switches, false fronts and, indeed, in one case, an over-skirt. These omissions became the subject of great embarra.s.sment when discovered later.

As three o'clock approached, a prim calmness fell upon the inmates of the home when they a.s.sembled stiffly gowned in best apparel.