Substitute Guest by Grace Livingston Hill

Author:Grace Livingston Hill [Hill, Grace Livingston]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-62416-467-5
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-11-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Demeter Cass would have called long ago if she hadn’t had something more interesting to do. A new young man had appeared on the scene at the house party, and she was trying him out. Also it was true that she hadn’t been up very long, for the festivities of the night before had lasted far into the morning, ending with scrambled eggs for everybody, and they had slept late as Alan had known they would do. And then there had been a hilarious breakfast at noon. That took time.

But now for a few moments there was a cessation of amusements and Demeter had returned to the fray.

Alan arose reluctantly with a frown of annoyance. He didn’t want to be interrupted now. He didn’t want to talk to Demeter Cass. She was a false note in this perfect harmony.

The family hushed their cheerful clamor when he went to the telephone lest they would annoy him, and so they could not help hearing his short replies.

“Yes? Oh, is that you, Demeter? Merry Christmas!… Yes, I got your message but I thought you’d just about be getting up. I didn’t get up very early myself. I had a long hard hike in the storm last night….Why didn’t I telephone? Well, to tell you the truth I hadn’t thought of it yet. I had too much else on my mind. And then you know I told Mrs. Wyndringham that I wasn’t sure I could come. I told you that, too. I thought you would understand on account of the storm….I was going to call up sometime this afternoon to offer my apologies to Mrs. Wyndringham and wish you all a Merry Christmas. But I hardly expected you would be wound up and going yet, so early in the day….No, it’s impossible, Demeter. The storm is too heavy! I couldn’t make it!… No, even if I dared try I couldn’t. My car is broken down and it will be a day or so before it’s in shape to travel…. Oh, you needn’t pity me. I’m having the time of my life!… Yes, they’re friends. I’ll say they’re friends!… No, I don’t think you have met them….No, you mustn’t think of sending for me. No, indeed! Why should you even if you could?… What? Somebody you want me to meet? Well, I’ll be delighted of course, but I shall have to postpone the pleasure….Why is it so urgent?”

There was a long pause this time while the voice at the other end talked earnestly, persistently, and the listeners in the other room looked at one another silently and wondered. Would he go? If there was a way, would he go?

They glanced out of the window where still the snow was steadily beating down, and dreaded to think that perhaps he would try. There was no telling what a man with his courage would think he ought to do or, for all they knew, wanted to do. And after all he was a stranger. These people

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