Chapter XII: "under Green Apple-Boughs."

A LIGHT breeze blew softly through the open doorway of the old home at Roseville. Busy brown bees were making a drowsy hum among the blossoms overhanging the porch; upon the garden slope, apple-trees sent with every little gust of perfume-laden air a shower of rose-touched petals to the ground; birds sang blithely in the as yet delicately clad trees near the house, a flash of blue across the gray-green foliage denoting the presence of a blue-bird, or a burnished orange redbreast showing vividly against the grass of the lawn, telling that a robin had returned to his May-time haunts.

Instead of Eldorado Ann, a little colored girl was cleaning knives by the kitchen-door, once in a while joining in soft accord with Mammy, whose singing came in snatches through the window as she worked away.

"When Eve eat de apple,
When Eve eat de apple,
When Eve eat de apple,
Oh, what a tryin' time!"

sang Mammy.

"When she gib de co' to Adam,
When she gib de co' to Adam,
When she gib de co' to Adam,
Oh, what a tryin' time!"

came in response from Tatty, energetically applying her piece of raw potato to a knife-blade.

"Hyar, you Tatty! What you 'bout?" inquired Mammy, coming to the door. "Don' yuh know Miss Theo done tell yuh ter come ter her ez soon as dem knives is done? How long yuh reckon she gwine ter wait?"

"'Deed, Aunt Jane, I mos' done," Tatty replied, viewing a blade critically. "Dese yer little spotty places ter'ble hard to git off'n de knives. I hu'yin' all I kin."

"Den don' was'e yo' bref on Adam, er dey'll be tryin' times fer yuh sho' 'nough," replied Mammy, returning to her work, her own voice in a few moments rising shrilly to,—

"Air dey writin', air dey writin', air dey writin' on de wall?"

"How good it does sound to hear Mammy!" said Theo, coming into her aunt's room. "And oh, auntie, how good it is altogether! Aren't you glad we came home first? Much as I love Archie and Val, somehow or other I can get hold of everything better when just you and I are here alone. I mean just at first. I feel as if I could put my arms around everything, and hug the whole place with everything on it, up close to me, I love it so. Did you ever see any one so happy as Mammy is to have us back again? And Tatty is as pleased as Punch to be here. She grins all the time. Why, the blessed boy! Did he come to find Mitty?"

And Theo stooped to pick up her cat, Ishmael, who had followed her up-stairs.

Posie-Cossie, who was lying at Miss Nelson's feet, raised his head and regarded Ishmael fixedly. The two pets had not come to strictly amicable terms as yet, though they behaved with great propriety. Ishmael assumed an air of supreme indifference, while Posie-Cossie once in a while made playful overtures, by leaping forward with a short bark, and then hastily retreating if Ishmael turned his eyes upon him.

"Mrs. Lewis says that Ishmael would never go near my room all the time we were away," said Theo, "and the very first evening I was at home, he came up and established himself on the window-seat. The idea of saying cats have no love for persons, only for places! I think I shall find it very interesting to study the two, and note the difference between feline and canine qualities. There, I must go. I hear Tatty. I told her to come up and help me with Val's room when Mammy could spare her. Isn't it a satisfaction to know Eldorado Ann is so contented at Lyndehurst? I had no idea she would be."

"It is the very place for her," returned Miss Nelson. "Mammy could never quite conceal her contempt for 'po' white trash,' and Eldorado Ann could not be expected to brook Mammy's control. But with Mrs. Barton it will be different, and Eldorado Ann will doubtless develop into a good, honest woman, with wholesome ideas."

"Then, too, it is a good thing for Tommy," said Theo; "so Eldorado Ann's discontent turned out to very good advantage after all, and Mammy is having a fine time training Tatty."

"Mammy is nothing if not dictatorial," rejoined auntie. "She quite resented my modernizing my dress. That I should go on the street without a wrap quite scandalized her. I wish you could have heard the severe tone in which she said, 'Law, Miss Janet, yuh ain't gwine out in yo' figgur, is yuh?'"

Theo laughed. "That is so like Mammy," she said. Then she turned to the window, saying, "What a beautiful May-day it is! I can hardly keep in-doors. I am so glad they are all coming home to such loveliness. And to think this afternoon, we will all be together, just as we used to be. You don't know how much has rolled off since I came home. I believe I felt all the burdens of humanity pressing upon me three months ago, and here I forget so many disagreeable things. I can't forget everything," she added, after a pause.

"That would be unwise," laughed Miss Nelson. "We are no lotus-eaters, dear; we have work to do in this world which we must take up with stout, brave hearts. I should be sorry to have you lapse into a life of dreamy idleness."

"No danger," replied Theo, smiling. "There are too many things to interest me. I have a dozen schemes on foot already, and am puzzling over the best way of carrying them out. Now I really must go. I cannot spend any more time here, pleasant as it is to chatter. I want to find more violets for Val's room, and I must put some apple-blossoms in the blue pitcher for Archie."

"Mr. Smith thought he might come, you know. What can you find for the guest-room?"

"I'll find something," responded Theo. "There is no lack of blossoms, and the wild-flowers are crowding the hill-sides. Can't you come with me, auntie?"

"No, I am afraid not. I have a number of things on hand. You'll have to do the decorative part, and I'll attend to the substantials."

Theo went into Val's room, where Tatty was wiping up the hearth. "Get some fresh water for all the rooms, Tatty," she directed, "and ask Miss Nelson for towels. Don't shut the window; we want all the out-doors we can get. Did you shake the table-cover well? Now I think Miss Janet has something for you to do. I am going to the woods. Oh, yes, Tatty, find the old blue pitcher and put it in Mr. Archie's room."

And then, picking up her hat, Theo went out into the spring sunshine, through the garden and down the little path that led to the nearest piece of woods.

The whole world seemed to be pulsating with expectancy. Slender twigs bore bursting buds; the curling fronds of tall ferns were gradually unrolling to the genial warmth; tufts of green at first attracted the eye to sunny spots which showed upon closer observation young buds pushing soft pink tips through downy sheaths; an advance guard of little buff butterflies hovered over a muddy place in the path where a small stream crossed, which, tinkling on, lost itself under boughs of low willows swinging pendulous streamers across the little flecks of foam which every now and then leaped over the pebbles.

But Theo did not stop for anemone or iris, nor even for a saucy Jack-in-the-pulpit. She was looking for violets, and she knew her ground; for, turning towards a sunny slope rising from the little stream, "Blue ran the flash across," and in a few moments, she had her hands full.

Then she turned towards home, stopping on the way for a branch of dogwood, and gathering from a favorite tree apple-blossoms which showed a livelier pink than any others in the garden.

"What a happy-looking girlie!" was Miss Janet's greeting as she entered. "You look the very embodiment of spring with your blossoms."

"Aren't they lovely!" said Theo. "I thought this was such a pretty branch of dogwood. Shall I put it in the guest-room?"

"Wouldn't it look better in the hall? You can find something sweeter for Mr. Smith, I am sure."

"Bless his dear old heart! Of course I can. There, those go nicely in this big vase. Now I'll arrange the others, and it will be nearly time for the train. Would you go to meet them, auntie?"

"I hardly think it worth while. Take a little rest. You have been so energetic to-day, I should think you would be tired out."

"I hadn't thought of it before, but I believe I am. I'll take this magazine up-stairs and look it over between whiles. Lie down yourself, auntie. There's a lot of time, for the train is always late."

But this time, for a wonder, the train arrived on time.

And Theo, deep in her magazine, was surprised by Tatty's voice announcing, "Hyar dey come, Miss Theo; hyar dey come, bag an' baggage."

"Oh, Val, where are you?" cried Theo, as she sped down-stairs.

But it was not upon Val that her eyes rested as she entered the room; it was upon a tall, manly figure which at that moment seemed to shut out everything else from her vision. And she sprang past the others, all her soul in her eyes, and her pulses flying fast, as she exclaimed, "Oh, Jack!"

And poor, dear, obtuse Jack would never have seen at all, would never have fathomed the gladness, the tenderness in Theo's tone, if sly little Val had not said, teasingly, "When you have done feasting your eyes upon Jack, Theo, perhaps you will have a word to say to me."

And then Theo, too, realized what it meant, and she flushed and was so confused that, after all, she did not even shake hands with the dear boy, but hid her confusion in the effusive greeting she bestowed upon Val, while Jack's face wore such a look of gladness as it had not shown for many a long day.

And after a little while, Val slipped out. Then her guardian, with a twinkle in his eye, responded to Val's mute little gesture, and the two were left together; for when Theo attempted to follow the others, Jack stopped her, and, looking down at the drooping head, said, "Theo, Theo, is it true?"

"Is what true?" was Theo's response, almost in a whisper.

"That you are glad to see me," was Jack's rather lame reply.

But to Theo, the sentence was full of meaning, and she did not realize that this was their first word together for many months. She only felt that it was enough to have Jack back again, and that to lose him would be more than she could bear. So she looked up, with her sweet eyes revealing all that was in her heart, though she said again only "Oh, Jack!"

But that was quite sufficient. They both knew the rest; and Jack felt that all the blessings of heaven and earth had been promised him in that one little exclamation.

And then auntie, who had been detained by Val, came in, and was so glad to see the boy that she gave him as loving a greeting as she could have bestowed upon Archie.

"Where is Archie?" asked Theo, just realizing that some one was missing.

And Val, who had followed auntie, with a little mirthful laugh at Theo's expense, explained that Archie had discovered that some mistake had been made about the baggage, and had stopped to have the matter inquired into.

"Do tell us all about yourself, Jack. What a surprise you have given us, to be sure," said Miss Nelson.

"Well," replied Jack, "there isn't much to tell. Things didn't turn out very well in Florida. The man of whose plantation I had charge had not had much experience, and insisted upon trying all sorts of experiments. We had a snapping frost just at the wrong time, and that finished him up; so I wandered over to Texas, and there I fell in with Jim Downs. I was pretty blue and miserable, and Jim offered me a living, so I took his offer; but that wretched fever got hold of me and nearly finished me. It didn't seem wise for me to stay down there another season and risk my health."

"I should think not," interposed Miss Nelson.

"So," continued Jack, "when Mr. Smith wrote, telling me I was not quite a pauper, I was ready enough to pull up stakes, I can tell you."

"You can imagine how I felt when the old fellow walked into the office one day," said Archie, who had come in. "I don't think I was ever so glad to see anybody in my life. But he hasn't told you half. Such tales and such adventures! You ought to hear them. I have managed to extract a few facts from him, but I'll venture to say he has a lot more to tell. You would suppose from what he has told you that he had been sitting around in an aimless sort of a way, or else driving up a few sheep; but, my goodness! If you can get him in the mood—I always knew Jack wouldn't stay in the background. If you can only get him warmed up to tell how he saved Jim Downs's life, and how he got on the track of a mail-robber, and how he saved a man from being lynched—my goodness! People, you don't know what a hero you are entertaining."

"Now, Arch! Now, Arch!" Jack kept expostulating. "What do you bring up those things for?" he said, as Archie concluded. "I just told you because you were so persistent, and I thought you would be amused by my cowboy exploits. Don't go and blow about them."

That evening, Jack disclosed to Theo his plans. "I have been talking to Mr. Smith," he said. "You don't know what a brick he is. We are going to look at a piece of property down this way that Mr. Smith thinks will make a good manufacturing site. He proposes to start the concern, and I am to manage it, if the matter is consummated."

"Then you will not have to go away again."

"Are you sorry?" asked Jack, smiling. But before she could answer, he said, repentantly, "That wasn't a fair question. I know you are glad. You are too true, too sincere, dear, for any pretence."

"I shall not pretend, and, after the abominable way I have treated you, you deserve to know that I am more than glad."

"I have so little to offer you now," said Jack. "My little fortune is very small, Theo, but I shall work faithfully, and perhaps it need not be hard for you."

"We will work together," replied Theo, "and we shall be ever so much happier for having to make a few sacrifices for each other. I am very glad you haven't all that money. You are twice as valuable to me without it. Come, Jack, let us go down to the apple-trees. I want you to see how full they are of blossoms this year."

"And we will stay here together, Theo, always," said Jack, looking around at the fair scene.

"Always, together," repeated Theo.

And then they both looked up at the wreaths of bloom, and smiled.

"Dear, good Mr. Smith!" said Theo to Archie, a few days later, as they talked over Jack's prospects. "Imagine his ever being called 'that disagreeable Mr. Smith.'"

Archie laughed. "He isn't always honey," he replied. "At times, he is the most irritable man I ever saw. I've had the opportunity of becoming pretty well acquainted with his moods. But he has a heart of gold, though he doesn't show it to everybody."

"No. I realize that his 'seamy side' appears to be the best known, but we know what he is, no matter what the rest of the world think."

"I am glad he is going to give himself a rest; it will do him a world of good to take a long trip, and Val has a way of mellowing him up that no one else has."

"I'm sure you have," said Theo.

"Sometimes; but he never can withstand Val. Where is Jack?" Archie asked, suddenly.

"He is talking to auntie," said Theo, a little confusedly. "There is the Colonel now, Arch. I want to speak to him," and running down the steps, Theo met Mr. Smith, who was coming up the walk.

"I want to thank you, Colonel," she said, "for all your kindness to Archie, and to—to Jack," she added.

Mr. Smith looked at her quizzically, as he answered, "I have done very little, not enough to merit any very great depth of gratitude."

Then he continued, very seriously, "Nothing could gratify me more than what you have done for Jack."

Theo looked up shyly, but with a happy smile. "You helped me there more than any one. You showed me Jack's goodness better than any one else did. I wonder at my blindness now."

Just then, Jack came out of the house, and seeing Archie on the porch alone, sat down on the step by him. Archie regarded him with satisfaction. "You're the happiest-looking fellow I ever saw," he said.

"I have reason to be," replied Jack, his eyes seeking Theo, who was walking slowly towards the house with Mr. Smith.

"Well, you do seem mighty glad to get back to us," remarked Archie.

Then, following Jack's glance towards Theo, he caught the gentle smile with which she answered his look, and he turned to Jack suddenly.

"I believe I am as blind as a mole," he said. "You old duplicitous rascal! I've a mind to pound you."

Jack laughed. Jack's laugh was always good to hear, but this time it was the embodiment of happiness. "Pound away," he said.

But, instead, Archie held out his hand and gave Jack's such a grip as left no doubt of his feelings.