16. Double Triumph
“And these guys do all their own work, too,” Tommy continued. The Craig family was at lunch and at the moment was listening with mounting interest to Tommy’s story about Mercyville. For Tommy had been spending many afternoons out at the boys’ town with his new chum, Bert Cramer.
“They make their own butter and cheese from their own milk. And they’ve a neat carpentry shop, too! They make furniture and stuff. But they seem to have lots of time for games and swimming and stuff. Timmy is making a swell adjustment. He’s crazy about the place.” He grinned. “I wouldn’t mind living there myself.”
Mr. Craig smiled. “I guess we’ll have to lose you somewhere, son. Maybe Mercyville will take you in.”
Mrs. Craig nodded. “I thought they already had. Seems to me Tommy’s been out there almost constantly.”
“Mother,” Tommy asked, “would it be okay if I brought Bert home to dinner?”
“My goodness, Tommy,” Mrs. Craig said, “I was wondering when you were going to invite him here. You’ve been out there so much.”
“Would tonight be okay? He’s having his tryout this afternoon here in town, and he could come after that.”
“Tonight would be fine,” Mrs. Craig agreed.
“You say he plays the violin?” Mr. Craig asked.
“Well, I’ve never heard him play. But that’s what he said,” Tommy said.
“What does he look like?” Kit asked.
“Aw, I don’t know. Like a fellow. He’s taller’n me. But he’s older.”
Mrs. Craig smiled. “Tonight we’ll have a dinner for our musicians. We were going to have a special dinner for Doris, anyway.”
“Jeepers!” Tommy cried. “That’s swell! Excuse me, please. I’ll call him right away before he leaves Mercyville!” He jumped from the table.
“I think I hear Becky in the kitchen,” Mrs. Craig said, getting up from the table. She went into the hall and called to Becky.
“I’m just putting some fresh cookies into your jar,” Becky called back. “Land but I’ve a mess of ’em here. Judge Ellis would be sick for a week if I left them around the house for him to nibble at.”
She bustled into the hall. “Well, Marge,” she said. “So this is the big day. Just get over one and you have another. Jean sure is right smart in her cap ’n’ everything.”
“Thank you, Becky,” Mrs. Craig said. “We’re pretty proud of her. And yes, this is Doris’s day. And now Tommy has invited a friend from Mercyville for dinner, so we’ll have a little party. We can use the cookies, you see.”
“You’re welcome to ’em, child. I’ve heard about this Mercyville place. It’s wonderful, I understand.” She picked up her basket. “I have to run, Marge. But you let me know first you hear about how Doris comes out.”
Mrs. Craig walked with her to the door. “I certainly will, Becky. And thanks so much for the cookies.”
After lunch, Doris went into the living room to practice. Mrs. Craig worried about whether or not Doris should practice just before her try-out, but she kept silent, not wanting to upset her daughter. As she heard Doris’s skillful fingers run over scales and arpeggios, she relaxed and went about her household chores with a light heart. Certainly Doris couldn’t fail to impress the examiners!
At three o’clock they arrived. Mrs. Tyler, Doris’s music teacher, appeared with Mr. Hensen and Miss Smythe of the college. Mrs. Craig brought them into the parlor where Doris was still limbering up her fingers.
“This is Doris,” she said, introducing her child to the young teachers.
“I’m glad we had the chance to break in on your practicing,” Mr. Hansen said. “It’s sometimes easier to tell about a performance when the girl doesn’t realize we’re listening.”
Doris smiled shyly and sat down on the bench. “I know you’re in a hurry, so I’ll start right off,” she said.
She opened her small program with a Bach prelude. Her fingers moved with precision and grace. Then she played the first movement of a Beethoven sonata, and she closed with a Chopin etude.
Mr. Hansen and Miss Smythe were silent for a moment after Doris had finished. Finally Mr. Hansen stood up. “Forgive me if I appear to be rude, Mrs. Craig, but I would like to talk to Miss Smythe alone for a minute.”
“Of course!” Mrs. Craig cried, jumping up. Doris and Mrs. Tyler followed her out into the hall.
“You were just perfect, Doris,” Mrs. Tyler said. “I never heard you play so well.” She wiped her eyes.
“Oh, Mother,” Doris sighed, leaning against Mrs. Craig. “I’m scared.”
Mrs. Craig patted her arm. “Relax, darling. We probably won’t know for several months whether or not you won. If not, you can always try again.”
Mr. Hansen stepped into the hall. He stroked his chin thoughtfully as they all went back into the living room.
“I don’t understand it,” he said thoughtfully. “I simply don’t understand it at all. Miss Smythe and I have been traveling the length of the East Coast, and right here in Elmhurst we do something we’ve never done before. Not once, but twice!”
Doris clutched her mother’s hand.
“It’s our usual procedure,” Mr. Hansen continued, “to award five scholarships to Timothy College a year. We make quite comprehensive notes about each student and then talk it over later and award them just before the opening of school after we’ve completed our trip. But this afternoon we heard a young man ... a violinist ... who prompted us to choose him without any further discussion. He’s extremely gifted. I haven’t heard talent in such a youngster for years!
“And now your daughter. She is very gifted, Mrs. Craig. Both Miss Smythe and I have no hesitation in inviting Doris to Timothy for a year of study.”
Doris stared wide-eyed at the man. “You mean...?”
He nodded. “This seems to be good climate for musicians. I hope you’ll decide to accept our scholarship, Doris. You’ve a precious talent, my dear.”
Doris burst into tears and ran from the room. Mrs. Craig looked after her uncertainly.
“Let her go, Mrs. Craig,” Miss Smythe said. “She’ll be all right in a few minutes.”
Mrs. Craig gestured with her hands. “I ... I don’t know what to say. Except thank you. Thank you very much.”
Mr. Hansen chuckled. “We’re more than thanked by hearing such a promising youngster. I really would like to know what you people do to produce such talent up here!”
“I hope you can stay to tea,” Mrs. Craig said.
Miss Smythe shook her head regretfully. “I hate to turn you down, Mrs. Craig. But we have a train to catch in one hour.”
Still in a daze, Mrs. Craig watched them as they went down the long driveway. And as she stood in the doorway, she saw Tommy and his new friend, Bert, drive up toward the house. They waved at the passing car and then they spotted her. Bert brought his car to a halt and they jumped out. The older boy brought along his violin and tucked it under his arm.
“Hey, Mom, here’s Bert Cramer,” Tommy called as they dashed up the porch steps. “And you know what?”
Mrs. Craig grinned as she clasped the boy’s hand. “Yes, I do,” she said. “And I think it’s perfectly marvelous!”
“Thank you, Mrs. Craig,” Bert said. “My winning that scholarship will mean a lot to us all out there.”
“Just as Doris’s winning means a lot to us,” Mrs. Craig answered.
Tommy stared at his mother. “Aw, you’re kidding!” he said. “They told Bert they hardly ever tell before they get back to Timothy.”
Mrs. Craig said, “I know. They made an exception in Bert’s case. And in Doris’s case, too!”
Tommy turned a handspring in the hall. “Dopey old Doris!” he cried.
“Why, Tommy!” his mother said.
“Isn’t she wonderful, Mom?” he cried. “Isn’t she just about the most wonderful girl ever?”
“Take Bert upstairs to see Jack,” Mrs. Craig told her son. “I think Doris is up with him, now. We have a son in bed with rheumatic fever,” she explained to Bert.
“Yes, ma’am, I know,” Bert said. “I’m very sorry.”
“Come on, Bert,” Tommy cried. “You’ll like Jack.”
Upstairs, Doris was pouring out the story of the afternoon to Jack, who lay back on his pillow, grinning from ear to ear.
“I told you you could do it, Doris,” he said as Tommy and Bert came in. “Hi, Tommy,” he said.
“Doris, this is Bert Cramer,” Tommy said. “And this is my brother, Jack.”
Doris turned to face the boys. Her large dark eyes were shining with happiness and her cheeks were flushed. Bert looked at her as if he were seeing an angel. Suddenly he tore his gaze away and strode over to Jack’s cot.
“Hi, there, Jack,” Bert said. “Tommy’s told me a lot about you.”
“Bert won a scholarship, too, kids.”
“Jeepers! What talented company I have!” Jack cried. “And here I thought that Doris was just family. I guess I’ll have to be more polite to the genius in the future!”
“Jack, you’re a goose!” Doris said, hugging him. “And Bert, I think it’s wonderful that you won.”
“Thank you, Doris,” Bert said. “I’m just now beginning to realize how lucky I was to win.”
Doris looked at him. She saw his honest brown eyes looking straight into hers, and she blushed.
Dinner was hilarious. Mr. Craig and Tommy and Jack, who was permitted to eat downstairs now, kept everyone in stitches with old jokes and bad puns. And after a dessert of apple pie and ice cream, the family adjourned to the parlor.
“I wonder,” Mr. Craig mused, “whether we might hear our young geniuses perform.”
Without hesitation, Bert said, “I left my violin in the hall. If you like, I’ll get it.”
“He’s a pretty poised youngster for one so young,” Mr. Craig said, watching him go out to the hall.
“My, he’s a nice kid,” Kit said.
“You can say that again!” Tommy agreed. “I’m gonna get the gang together next time he comes for dinner. We’ll have a peachy time.”
They could hear Bert tuning his violin in the hall.
“Tommy,” Mr. Craig said, “isn’t Bert a little old for your gang?” He glanced over at Doris. “I have a hunch that next time he comes to dinner, he might be calling on someone else.”
Bert came back into the parlor and handed Doris some sheet music. “This isn’t exactly fair. You have to do all the sight reading. I know it by heart.”
Doris sat down at the piano. “I don’t mind,” she said. “Oh good! Scarlatti! Why, I know this sonata!”
They began to play. The music transported everyone in the room, and they played together as if they had practiced together for years. As he played, Bert looked down at Doris, and Mr. Craig nodded and stroked his chin. It was obvious to him that they would see a great deal of Bert Cramer this summer, and not as part of Tommy’s gang.