The Ranch Girls and Their Great AdventureVandercook, Margaret
General
The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure
Vandercook, Margaret
Family -- Fiction; Friendship -- Juvenile fiction; Love stories; Sisters -- Juvenile fiction
"I was lonely after Olive left me in New York," Frieda explained. "So
when I read in the paper one morning that a particularly comfortable
steamer was sailing, I decided not to wait an entire week, if I could
get a nice stateroom. I thought Olive would not need but a few days to
tell you. You have told, haven't you, Olive?" Frieda demanded, with a
slight change of tone.
When Olive answered "yes," briefly, she went on:
"Please don't ask me any questions tonight, Jack. I'm most dead. No; I
didn't have a rough crossing, but I have never arrived anywhere alone
before in my whole life. I knew I could call up Frank at his club in
London, but I did not wish to see him first. Still, I don't care what he
thinks, since I have lost all faith in men. But I don't see why some one
did not meet me at the station here. I telegraphed from Liverpool that I
was on the way."
Jack shook her head.
"Curious dear, but we never received your telegram."
"Oh, well;" Frieda added more indulgently, "I didn't exactly telegraph
myself, but I gave the money to a boy and told him what to say. Perhaps
he made a mistake, or kept the money, or something," she ended
nonchalantly. For they were now entering the great hall at Kent House
and Frieda realized that she did not care very much for small things, so
grateful was she to be again with her sister.
Impulsively she turned and embraced her.
Perhaps it was because Frieda was tired, but Jack could see that she was
not so unaffected by what she had been passing through as Olive had
imagined.
It is true Frieda looked as much like an exquisite wax doll as ever. Her
eyes were as large and delicately blue, and her hair was a mass of soft
yellow curls; yet there was a subtle change in her expression.
Olive had led the way into the library.
"We won't talk about anything until you like, Frieda," Jack whispered.
"Will you go up to your rooms now or have something to eat first down
here with Olive and me?" she asked.
Frieda permitted Olive and Jack to remove her coat and hat. A few
moments later, however, she announced that she preferred going upstairs
to bed. So Jack finally bade her goodnight, after arranging that she was
to ring her bell for breakfast, when she wished it the next morning.
When Frieda rang for breakfast it was nearly eleven o'clock and Jack
went into her room with the maid who carried the tray.
Frieda ate her morning repast languidly, while her sister sat beside her
talking of trivial things.
"Where is Olive?" Frieda inquired finally. And when informed that Olive
was in the nursery with the children, protested: "I suppose you know I
am jealous of your baby's being named for Olive. Of course I know you
and she are very dear friends; but, after all, I am your sister."
"I felt that way about it too, Frieda, but Frank seemed not to wish a
German name," Jack answered, "and Vive has her own name now anyhow.
Maybe the next time."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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