"That way and _any_ way," she said. "But, Father. Where are we going?"
"You will sleep better if I tell you nothing tonight. Don't
worry--that's all."
"But, Daddy, are we going to _sleep_ here? I don't see any beds."
Presently, however, the porter began pulling beds right out of the air,
or so it seemed to Jeanne. Some came down out of the ceiling, some came
up out of the floor--and there you were, surrounded by beds! Oh, what a
fairy story to tell the children!
A few whispered instructions and Jeanne knew how to prepare for bed, and
how to get up in the morning. Also what to do with her clothes.
"We change in Chicago in the morning," added her father; "so you must
hop up quickly when I call you."
Jeanne could hardly sleep for the joy of her lovely white night-dress.
Never had the neglectful Shannons provided her with anything so white
and soft and lovely as that night-dress for _daytime_, let alone night.
Disturbing, too, was the motion of the train, the alarming things that
rushed by in the darkness, the horrible grinding noises underneath, as
if the train were breaking in two and shrieking for help. How _could_
one sleep!
But finally she did. And then her father's hand was on her shoulder.
After that, only half awake, she was getting into her clothes. Oh,
_such_ a jiggly, troublesome business! And one rope garter had broken
right in two.
Next they were off the train and eating breakfast in a great big noisy
station that seemed to be moving like the cars. Jeanne was whisked from
this into something that really moved--a taxicab. After that, another
train--a _day_ coach, her father said. Jeannette was thankful that she
didn't have to go to bed in _that_; but oh, how her head whirled!
And now, with the darkness gone, all the world was whizzing past her
window. A shabby world of untidy backyards and smoke-blackened houses,
huddled horribly close together--at least the Duvals had had no untidy
neighbors and certainly there had been plenty of elbow room. But now the
houses were farther apart. Presently there were none. The country--Oh,
that was _much_ better. If one could only walk along that woodsy road or
play in that pleasant field!
"Jeanne," said Mr. Duval, touching her hand softly, "I'll tell you now
where we are going. It happens that you have a grandfather. His name is
William Huntington--your mother's father, you know. Some weeks ago I
wrote to an old friend to ask if he were still living. He is. Your
mother's brother Charles and his family live with him: a wife and three
children, I believe. Your aunt is undoubtedly a lady, since your uncle's
marriage was, I understand, pleasing to his family. Your mother was away
from home at the time of our marriage and I met only her parents
afterwards. Your grandfather I could have liked, had he liked me. Your
grandmother--she is dead now--seemed the more unforgiving. Yet, neither
forgave."
"Do they know about _me_?" asked Jeanne.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account