CHAPTER XIV

Erica pirouetted slowly on her toes to show off her new splendor, and Lis, drawing nearer and emerging from his first amazement at the sight of her, began to laugh.

“But it’s mighty pretty, at that,” he conceded, generously. “I suppose that was in the chest Uncle Eric spoke of.”

“Yes, and pieces and pieces of the loveliest silks you ever saw,” Erica said. “And these two necklaces.” She touched the strings of jade and agate she was wearing, with a reverent finger tip.

They went into the saloon together, to find the long table in the center set for the evening meal, with Sun Li in his deep chair already seated at the head, smiling at his latest guests. Captain Eric was at the foot of the table, and Erica was placed between the little Chinese doctor and Sun Li, while Lis had the opposite side all to himself.

The Governor had brought with him in the _Sea Gull_ not only his coolie bearers for the gorgeous sedan chair in which he went ashore on occasions, but his Chinese cook as well, so the supper was a curious but delicious mixture of Chinese and American dishes which set the young Nantucketers off into a prolonged series of “ohs” and “ahs” of appreciation and delight.

In spite of the exalted rank of their host, and the usual rigidity of Chinese etiquette, it was an informal meal, with much chattering on both Erica’s and Lister’s part, and a constant, amused plying them with questions on that of Sun Li. Erica, in her Chinese garments, evoked stately compliments from the Governor and his physician, though they smiled, too, at the obvious unfitness of the little red-headed, tomboy American to play a demure Chinese maiden.

“Am I like your Chinese girls at home, godfather?” she demanded, eagerly, seeing their quietly exchanged glances.

Sun Li spread out his hands in a regretful gesture, and bowed.

“I fear me you are all American, Blossom,” he admitted. “But I have seen many Chinese maidens. It is interesting now to study the ways of the daughters of my old friend’s race. Do they all wear their hair short like their brothers, over here?”

Captain Eric sat up suddenly, and stared at his daughter with a puzzled expression.

“I’ve been vaguely wondering what was different,” he declared. “Ricky, what on _earth_——”

“Oh, please, don’t say you don’t like it, like all the others,” Erica wailed, putting both hands consciously up to her bobbed head. “I cut it off last fall—all in a minute. I had so much hair, and it was so long and hot and hard to keep neat. So one day, without telling anyone, I cut it off. Aunt Charity almost wept over it, and the boys have teased, of course. But I’m not a bit sorry—that is, unless _you_ are, father. But if you only knew how comfortable it feels——” She stopped with a choke, and studied his face anxiously.

“Well, I’m a bit taken aback,” her father confessed. “Still, the deed’s done, isn’t it, and as it’s your hair, my dear, I don’t see that I can have much to say. It looks rather—well, boyish, but I expect I’ll get used to it after a bit, and perhaps”—he looked at her again—”I may even end by approving it. It does seem a sensible idea, after all,” he concluded, unexpectedly.

Erica clapped her hands in vehement applause of this sentiment, and a laugh went round the table. Altogether it was a pleasant meal, and the evening they spent afterward in Sun Li’s orange-hung cabin was equally interesting, for then the Governor, at Erica’s pleading, undertook the rôle of answerer-of-questions, and under her endless catechism talked of China and its customs, both ancient and of his own day. It seemed to the absorbed boy and girl that scarcely half an hour had slipped away when the tales were brought to a close, regretfully but firmly, by the little Chinese doctor, who decreed that his master had talked all that his physical endurance permitted of for one evening.

They went ashore about the middle of the following morning, in the largest of the _Sea Gull’s_ boats, Sun Li in his very gorgeous palanquin with two coolie bearers in native costume. The little doctor accompanied them, walking tranquilly up Main Street in his stiff, dark-colored Chinese robes, as interested in the novelty of the scenes about him as the Nantucketers they passed quite obviously were in him.

Erica walked beside Sun Li’s sedan chair, her expression demure, but her heart thumping riotously and proudly over the commotion the procession was causing. And it _was_ causing a most unprecedented flutter in the quiet island streets.

People ran to windows to peer out curiously, and congregated on the corners to stare after them when they had gone by.

The clever, tired old eyes of the Governor read behind Erica’s forced quiet to the seething excitement she was valiantly trying to repress, and once or twice the stolidity of his own countenance was touched with the faint beginnings of a smile.

And so, in the due course of time, the procession arrived in front of Mrs. Folger’s gate on Orange Street, and turned in to the already open front door. In the hall, within, stood Mrs. Folger, with Milly close beside her, and Baby Barbee peering out timidly between their full skirts.

Sun Li’s sedan chair was got through the doorway with some difficulty, and carried into the parlor, where his bearers lifted him forth and sat him down carefully in one of the deep, comfortable chairs by the hearth. The little doctor was induced, with many bows on his part of deprecation, to accept the opposite armchair, and then the rest of the party found seats where and as they chose.

Mrs. Folger and Milly, after the first polite greetings were over, disappeared into the kitchen to finish the culinary labors already under way, and Erica—who had dutifully offered to help them—was reassured by being told she was to remain behind and play hostess.

On hearing that Sun Li’s physician was to be one of the dinner guests, Mrs. Folger dispatched Lis to Dr. Spencer’s house, farther up the street, to invite the latter to join them at the midday meal. And it was odd and rather amusing, yet very pleasant, too, to see how these two elderly doctors from such widely divergent races and schools took to one another, and at once plunged into an animated discussion—each exhibiting much amazement over what the other had to relate of his own practise and interpretation of their common profession. Before long they had the whole room interested, too, and had effectually broken up any possible stiffness that might have resulted from the strange assortment of guests gathered under Mrs. Callie Folger’s roof that day.

Aunt Charity, who had improved most encouragingly under her new rest cure, was carried downstairs by Captain Eric and Lis in time to sit in a big armchair at the table, between the Governor and Dr. Spencer, where she talked, ate, and smiled like her former hale and hearty self.

Altogether the dinner was a decided success. Mrs. Folger and Milly had fairly outdone themselves in the excellence and variety of the dishes they had prepared, and both Sun Li and Dr. Wu (which was the little Chinese physician’s name, they learned) seemed highly appreciative of their introduction to Western cookery. Sun Li, in fact, so far surpassed his former attempts at an appetite that both Captain Eric and the little doctor were openly delighted and triumphant.

It was not until the long, bountiful meal was nearly over that Erica’s father leaned back in his chair, and—with an inquiring glance at the Governor, who responded with a nod of approval—broached abruptly a most astounding and breath-taking plan.

“Before consenting to take this voyage in the _Sea Gull_,” Captain Eric began, smiling about the circle of intent faces, “His Excellency stipulated the present call at Nantucket and the delivery of a certain invitation to a number of people present. We have planned, on leaving here, to continue south and visit several of the southern coast cities, as well as the West Indian islands. In spite of the time of the year, and the greater heat in those latitudes, Sun Li is anxious to make the trip—and we can usually count on ocean breezes to keep us comfortable as long as we’re at sea. It’s only the ports that will be hot, and I guess we can bear that.” He stopped and looked teasingly from face to face fixed on him with such eager attention.

“Well, the upshot of a long preamble,” he went on then, “is that in the Governor’s name I am instructed to invite my sister, Miss Charity Folger (who will find a sea trip the final step in her rest cure, I feel sure); my sister-in-law, Mrs. Callie Folger; these two new nieces of mine, Miss Milly Thorne and little Barbee; my nephew, Lister Folger; and last but perhaps not least, my spoiled tomboy daughter, His Excellency’s ‘Little Sea Girl’—to join us on the southern cruise. We expect to be gone about two months in all, and will return to Nantucket to drop our guests before sailing for China. How many are going to accept, I wonder?”

A regular babel of voices answered him, in which the excited exclamations of the younger members of the party predominated. Mrs. Callie Folger demurred a little about being able to leave her home, and Miss Charity’s half-hearted protests that perhaps she was not strong enough yet, were cut decisively short by Dr. Spencer’s declaration that the trip was exactly what he would have ordered for her in the first place if he had supposed it at all possible.

Through all the laughing discussion Sun Li sat looking on, silent but evidently enjoying to the full the sensation his wholesale invitation had created. Several times his impassive Chinese calm was broken with a smile that broadened almost to a real laugh as he listened. It was evident that he was both highly entertained and pleased.

It was late in the afternoon when the party broke up, Sun Li, Dr. Wu, and the coolie bearers returning with Captain Eric to the _Sea Gull_, and the rest of the family plunging, immediately upon their departure, into a frenzy of planning and packing. There was but short time for either, since His Excellency wanted to be on his way to southern waters by the following afternoon, and under the circumstances, naturally, his wish was as effective as his commands were at home in his native province.

The rest of that day and the next were a sort of dreamlike confusion to Erica, who went about with her red head in the clouds, and her feet stumbling, in consequence, into all kinds of absurd blunders when she tried to help. She was so excited over the impending trip that she was quite as little to be counted on for practical assistance as Baby Barbee. Fortunately, however, Milly kept her head, and between Aunt Callie and herself, with some aid from Lis’s strong young arms, the necessary packing of clothes, and the removal of baggage and family on board the _Sea Gull_, were duly and efficiently accomplished before sundown of the second day.

Erica never was to forget, in all the years to come, the hushed, thrilling sense of expectancy that seemed to hang over the moment when the _Sea Gull’s_ white wings were finally flung free to the winds and the soft slap of little waves against her graceful sides began, as the clipper drew away from her moorings and set her sharp nose toward the open sea.

The sun was sinking in a great red ball behind the little gray town, and a faint bluish mist hung over the roofs and the high church steeples. Here and there wisps of trailing clouds caught fire from the afterglow, and burned in a gold and scarlet flame against the blue of the sky. The quiet harbor waters in their turn reflected the bright tints, and as Erica leaned against the rail, gazing down, she saw in the red and gold reflections the white sails of the clipper also mirrored. It was so beautiful it made the breath catch in her throat, and a film of unshed tears softened everything about her like the dropping of a fine gauze curtain over the evening’s glory.

Then, as the town, and finally the island itself, faded more and more dimly into the gathering twilight behind them, Erica abruptly left her post on deck, and hurried below to her cabin—which she must share now with Milly Thorne.

When she came on deck half an hour later she was once more wearing her new Chinese costume of jade green, with the cunning betasseled silk slippers, and the jade and agate necklaces.

“This,” she informed her astonished aunts and Milly, bowing low in what she fondly imagined must be true Chinese style, “is my seagoing costume. Sun Li likes me in it, and it’s certainly heaps more comfortable than anything I’ve ever worn before. I feel so—so free and light, somehow—something the way cutting off my hair made me feel. Now, please don’t say I mustn’t, Aunt Charity,” she pleaded, coming over to the low deck chair where Miss Charity was reclining luxuriously. “Just look at the lovely silk, and see all the wee, tiny, patient stitches in the embroidery! And look at my beads! I’ll hurt Sun Li’s feelings if I don’t wear them—and, besides, here on board, who’s to see and disapprove, except just us?”

With a little laugh of mingled amusement and defeat, Miss Charity nodded acquiescence, glancing apologetically at her sister-in-law as she did so. But Mrs. Folger, too, was smiling indulgently, and made no protest.

“Oh, why not, sister?” she asked. “Let the child have her fun dressing up—all children love that. It will please the poor Governor, too, and there seems so little we can do to thank him properly for this fine trip he is giving us.”

“Besides, of course,” Miss Charity agreed, further, finding evident comfort in the thought, “this is his idea of what a proper, well-brought-up little Chinese girl ought to wear, so really I suppose Erica might as well be happy.”

Late that night, when she and Milly were getting ready for bed, Erica drew out the teakwood chest Sun Li had had placed in her cabin, and unlocking it, showed the other the dazzling array of silks, crêpes, and heavy embroidered materials that filled it.

“You sew so wonderfully, Milly,” she offered, “that if you would like to have a real Chinese costume like mine to wear on board, just pick out the silk you like and make it.”

But Milly, breathless with admiration of the lovely shimmering fabrics, only shook her head at the suggestion.

“I’m not——daring, like you, Ricky,” she said. (Since the night of the reconciliation between the two girls when Milly’s secret had come out, the latter had taken to using the twins’ name for her of “Ricky,” instead of the rather stately “Erica.”) “I couldn’t wear such clothes, though they’re awfully pretty. They look, somehow—well, just right on you. But”—she hesitated and drew a wistful sigh, her black eyes anxious and a little shy—”but, I’d _love_ cutting into some of that beautiful silk and sewing on it. Oh-h, Ricky, I’ve never even _handled_ such stuff before in my life! Couldn’t—couldn’t I make some of it up into a dress for you on this trip?”

Erica considered thoughtfully. “I don’t believe Aunt Charity would let me wear a dress of such gorgeous silk. I’m afraid it really wouldn’t—fit into Nantucket.” She, too, sighed wistfully. Then a quick glance at her jade-green trousers and long tunic-coat brought the smile back.

“But if you really want the fun of sewing on some of this—do you suppose you could copy this Chinese costume for me—so I can have two? I’d be crazy about this pale-gold color. Feel the silk—it’s so heavy, and yet so soft! Think you—_could_, Milly? I know it would please Sun Li, too.”

Milly’s face lighted with professional enthusiasm. She felt of the chosen piece of silk with critical, expert fingers, and then turned to study the jade-green model Erica was wearing.

“I know I could,” she said, with great earnestness, “if you’ll lend me those other things to cut the pattern by. And, oh, I’d rather do this than anything you could possibly offer!” she wound up in a great outburst of excitement. “Let’s—let’s start in right now, cutting out,” she pleaded. “Then I won’t have to have your clothes tomorrow, when you’ll want to be wearing them.”

Erica’s answer was to slip out of her long green coat with business-like promptness and lay it on the bunk, while Milly, wild with delight, her fingers actually trembling with excitement, unrolled the heavy bolt of silk.

When Aunt Callie opened the cabin door to see if they were safely in bed, an hour later, she was almost struck dumb with astonishment to see the two seated side by side on the soft golden carpet Sun Li had had laid in the cabin for his goddaughter, the black and red heads bent absorbedly over yards and yards of golden silk that swirled about them like a bit of leftover sunset from that evening.

“My stars!” she gasped, and then burst into a little, understanding chuckle. “We shall probably all be Chinese before the ship touches at Nantucket again, two months from now!”