第51章

"Why--why, yes, I like you fust rate, Imogene," he admitted."I--Idon't know's I ever see anybody I liked better.But when it comes to-- You see, that time when I said--er--er what I said I was kind of--of desperate along of Hannah and--""Well, you're desperate now, ain't you? Here," sharply, "you sit still and let me finish.I've got a plan and you'd better listen to it.Kenelm, won't you sit still, for--for my sake?"The "big day" of the Ostable County Cattle Show and Fair came to an end as all days, big or little, have to come.Captain Obed Bangs and his guests enjoyed every minute of it.They inspected the various exhibits, witnessed the horse races and the baseball game, saw the balloon ascension, and thrilled with the rest of the great crowd at the "parachute drop." It was six o'clock when they left the Fair grounds and Thankful began to worry about the condition of affairs at the High Cliff House.

"It'll be way past dinner time when you and I get there, Emily,"she said, "and goodness knows what my boarders have had to eat.

Imogene's smart and capable enough, but whether she can handle everything alone I don't know.We ought to have started sooner, but it's nobody's fault more'n mine that we didn't."However, when the High Cliff House was reached its proprietor found that her fears were groundless.But a few of the boarders had planned to eat their evening meal there; most of the city contingent were stopping at various teahouses and restaurants in Ostable or along the road and would not be home until late.

"Everything's fine, ma'am," declared Imogene."There was only three or four here for supper and I fixed them all right.Mr.

Hammond came in late, but I fed him up and he's gone to bed.Tired out, I guess.I asked him if he had a good time and he said he had, but it cost him a sight of money."Captain Obed laughed."Caleb will have to do without his mornin'

newspapers for quite a spell to make up for today's extravagance,"he declared."That's what 'tis to take the girls around.Better take warnin', John."John Kendrick smiled."Considering," he said, "that you and I have almost come to blows before I was permitted to even buy a package of popcorn with my own money, I think you need the warning more than I, Cap'n Bangs.""Imogene," said Thankful, "you've been a real, nice girl today;you've helped me out a lot and I shan't forget it.Now you go to bed and rest, so's to feel like gettin' an early start for the Fair tomorrow."Imogene shook her head."I can't go right now, thank you, ma'am,"she said."I've got company."

Emily and Thankful looked at each other.

"Company!" repeated the former."What company?"Before Imogene could answer the dining-room door was flung open and Hannah Parker rushed in.She was still arrayed in her Sunday gown, which she had donned in honor of Fair Day, but her Sunday bonnet was, as Captain Obed said afterward, "canted down to leeward" and her general appearance indicated alarm and apprehension.

"Why, Hannah!" exclaimed Thankful."Why, Miss Parker, what's the matter?"Hannah's glance swept the group before her; then it fastened upon Imogene.

"Where's my brother?" she demanded."Have you seen my brother?"Captain Bangs broke in.

"Your brother? Kenelm?" he asked."Why, what about Kenelm? Ain't he to home?""No.No, he ain't.And he ain't been home, either.I left a cold supper for him on the table, and I put the teapot on the rack of the stove ready for him to bile.But he ain't been there.It ain't been touched.I--I can't think what--"Imogene interrupted."Your brother's all right, Miss Parker," she said, calmly."He's been havin' supper with me out in the kitchen.

He's there now.He's the company I said I had, Mrs.Thankful."Hannah stared at her.Imogene returned the gaze coolly, blandly and with a serene air of confident triumph.

"Perhaps you'd better come out and see him, ma'am," she went on.

"He--we, that is--have got somethin' to tell you.The rest can come, too, if they want to," she added."It's nothin' we want to keep from you."Hannah Parker pushed by her and rushed for the kitchen.Imogene followed her and the others followed Imogene.As Thankful said, describing her own feelings, "I couldn't have stayed behind if Iwanted to.My feet had curiosity enough to go by themselves."Kenelm, who had been sitting by the kitchen table before a well-filled plate, had heard his sister's approach and had risen.When Mrs.Barnes and the others reached the kitchen he had backed into a corner.

"Kenelm Parker," demanded Hannah, "what are you doin' here, this time of night?""I--I been eatin' supper," stammered Kenelm, "but I--I'm through now.""Through! Didn't you know your supper was waitin' for you at home?

Didn't I tell you to come home early and have MY supper ready?

Didn't--"

Imogene interrupted."I guess you did, ma'am," she said, "but you see I asked him to stay here, so he stayed.""YOU asked him! And he stayed! Well, I must say! Kenelm, have you been eatin' supper alone with that--with that--"She was too greatly agitated to finish, but as Kenelm did not answer, Imogene did, without waiting.

"Yes'm," she said, soothingly."It's all right.Kenelm and me can eat together, if we want to, I guess.We're engaged.""ENGAGED!" Almost everyone said it--everyone except Hannah; she could not say anything.

"Yes," replied Imogene."We're engaged to be married.We are, aren't we, Kenelm?"Kenelm tried to back away still further, but the wall was behind him and he could only back against it.He was pale and he swallowed several times.

"Kenelm, dear," said Imogene, "didn't you hear me? Tell your sister about our bein' engaged."Kenelm's mouth opened and shut."Eh--eh--" he stammered."I--I--""Don't be bashful," urged Imogene."We're engaged to be married, ain't we?"Mr.Parker gulped, choked and then nodded."Yes," he admitted, faintly."I--I cal'late we be."His sister took a step forward, her arm raised.Captain Obed stepped in front of her.

"Just a minute, Hannah! Heave to! Come up into the wind a jiffy.