“I don’t remember learning to ride, Admiral Page,” she said, doubtfully. “I’m a ranch girl, and we learn to sit in a saddle almost before we can walk.”
The Admiral regarded her admiringly, stroking his thin gray imperial slowly.
“You must teach my Polly. And mind, while you remain here at Queen’s Ferry, the gates of Glenwood stand wide to you as guest of honor—a girl who can ride like that.”
Jean could hardly reply, except to smile at him. During the long winter of close work, she had made no new friends, and had not come in contact with Southern hospitality. Now, as she walked back through the lovely old-fashioned garden, between Polly and the stately old gentleman, she began to feel the charm of it stealing over her. It seemed so strange, though, that she, Jean Murray of the Crossbar ranch, should be guest of honor at Glenwood. She lifted her chin a little bit higher than usual, not from pride, for there was precious little of personal vanity in her make-up, but just at the thought of what her mother and the boys and Peggie would say if they only knew.
CHAPTER VI
POLLY AIMS AT A STAR
The next letter that Jean sent home contained a full description of the dinner that evening. There were four very large rooms that took up the ground floor of the old mansion at Glenwood, the two great drawing-rooms on either side the hall, and back of these were the Admiral’s study on one side, and the dining-room on the other.
“And there are two kitchens, mother,” Jean wrote. “Polly showed me them after dinner, and it made me think of home. I am sure some Southerner started the fashion in ranch life, having the kitchen away from the main house. Here, the winter kitchen is the first story at the back of the house, where the builders allowed for the slope of the land riverward. But in the summer-time, they cook in an old stone house down the garden, and there is a vine-covered walk leading to it from the house. From where I sat, I could see the little colored boy, Stoney, going back and forth, bearing covered dishes in state, just the way Sally does at the ranch.”
It was very pleasant being guest of honor, she discovered. Both the Admiral and Polly were interested in hearing about the ranch, and her girlhood out there.
“Weren’t you lonesome?” asked Polly.