Bab: A Sub Deb

M >> Mary Roberts Rinehart >> Bab: A Sub Deb



P. S. I have mentioned to your mother that I am thinking of buying you a
small car. VERBUM SAP.


* * * * *


The next day my mother took me calling, because if the Servants were
talking it was best to put up a bold front, and pretend that nothing had
happened except a Burglar alarm and no Burglar. We went to Gray's and
Tom's grandmother was there, WITHOUT HER CRUCHES.

During the evening I dressed in a pink frock, with roses, and listened
for a car, because I knew Tom was now allowed to drive again. I felt
very kind and forgiving, because father had said I was to bring the car
to our garage and he would buy gasoline and so on, although paying no
old bills, because I would have to work out my own Salvation, but buying
my revolver at what I paid for it.

But Tom did not come. This I could not beleive at first, because such
conduct is very young and imature, and to much like fighting at dancing
school because of not keeping step and so on.

At last, Dear Reader, I heard a machine coming, and I went to the
entrance to our drive, sliding in the shrubery to surprize him. I did
not tremble as previously, because I had learned that he was but human,
though I had once considered otherwise, but I was willing to forget.

How happy is the blameless Vestal's lot!
The World forgeting, by the World forgot.
Pope.

However, the car did not turn into our drive, but went on. And in it
were Tom, and that one who I had considered until that time my best and
most intimite friend, Jane Raleigh.

SANS fiancee, SANS friend, SANS reward and SANS Allowence, I turned and
went back to my father, who was on the verandah and was now, with my
mother and sister, all that I had left in the World.

And my father said: "Well, here I am, around as usual. Do you feel to
grown-up to sit on my knee?"

I did not.




CHAPTER V

THE G.A.C.

APRIL 9TH. As I am leaving this School to-morrow for the Easter
Holadays, I revert to this Dairy, which has not been written in for some
months, owing to being a Senior now and carrying a heavy schedule.

My trunk has now gone, and I have but just returned from Chapel, where
Miss Everett made a Speach, as the Head has quinzy. She raised a
large Emblem that we have purchaced at fifty cents each, and said in a
thrilling voice that our beloved Country was now at war, and expected
each and all to do his duty.

"I shall not," she said, "point out to any the Fields of their
Usefulness. That they must determine for themselves. But I know that
the Girls of this school will do what they find to do, and return to the
school at the end of two weeks, school opening with evening Chapel as
usual and no tardiness permitted, better off for the use they have made
of this Precious Period."

We then sang the Star-Spangled Banner, all standing and facing the
piano, but watching to see if Fraulein sang, which she did. Because
there are those who consider that she is a German Spy.

I am now sitting in the Upper House, wondering what I can do. For I am
like this and always have been. I am an American through and through,
having been told that I look like a tipical American girl. And I do
not beleive in allowing Patriotism to be a matter of words--words, emty
words.

No. I am one who beleives in doing things, even though necesarily small.
What if I can be but one of the little drops of Water or little grains
of Sand? I am ready to rise like a lioness to my country's call and
would, if permitted and not considered imodest by my Familey, put on the
clothing of the Other Sex and go into the trenches.

What can I do?

It is strange to be going home in this manner, thinking of Duty and not
of boys and young men. Usualy when about to return to my Familey I think
of Clothes and AFFAIRS DE COUER, because at school there is nothing
much of either except on Friday evenings. But now all is changed. All
my friends of the Other Sex will have roused to the defense of their
Country, and will be away.

And I to must do my part, or bit, as the English say.

But what? Oh what?


APRIL 10TH. I am writing this in the Train, which accounts for poor
writing, etcetera. But I cannot wait for I now see a way to help my
Country.

The way I thought of it was this:

I had been sitting in deep thought, and although returning to my Familey
was feeling sad at the idea of my Country at war and I not helping.
Because what could I do, alone and unarmed? What was my strength against
that of the German Army? A trifle light as air!

It was at this point in my pain and feeling of being utterly useless,
that a young man in the next seat asked if he might close the Window,
owing to Soot and having no other coller with him. I assented.

How little did I realize that although resembling any other Male of
twenty years, he was realy Providence?

The way it happened was in this manner. Although not supposed to talk on
trains, owing to once getting the wrong suit-case, etcetera, one cannot
very well refuse to anser if one is merely asked about a Window. And
also I pride myself on knowing Human Nature, being seldom decieved as to
whether a gentleman or not. I gave him a steady glance, and saw that he
was one.

I then merely said to him that I hoped he intended to enlist, because I
felt that I could at least do this much for my Native Land.

"I have already done so," he said, and sat down beside me. He was very
interesting and I think will make a good soldier, although not handsome.
He said he had been to Plattsburg the summer before, drilling, and had
not been the same since, feeling now very ernest and only smoking three
times a day. And he was two inches smaller in the waste and three inches
more in chest. He then said:

"If some of you girls with nothing to do would only try it you would
have a new outlook on Life."

"Nothing to do!" I retorted, in an angry manner. "I am sick and tired
of the way my Sex is always reproached as having nothing to do. If
you consider French and music and Algebra and History and English
composition nothing, as well as keeping house and having children and
atending to social duties, I DO not."

"Sorry," he said, stiffly. "Of course I had no idea--do you mean that
you have a Familey of your own?"

"I was refering to my Sex in general," I replied, in a cold tone.

He then said that there were Camps for girls, like Plattsburg only more
Femanine, and that they were bully. (This was his word. I do not use
slang.)

"You see," he said, "they take a lot of over-indulged society girls and
make them over into real People."

Ye gods! Over-indulged!

"Why don't you go to one?" he then asked.

"Evadently," I said, "I am not a real Person."

"Well, I wouldn't go as far as that. But there isn't much left of the
way God made a girl, by the time she's been curled and dressed and
governessed for years, is there? They can't even walk, but they talk
about helping in the War. It makes me sick!"

I now saw that I had made a mistake, and began reading a Magazine, so
he went back to his seat and we were as strangers again. As I was very
angry I again opened my window, and he got a cinder in his eye and had
to have the Porter get it out.

He got out soon after, and he had the impertinance to stop beside me and
say:

"I hate to disapoint you, but I find I have a clean coller in my bag
after all." He then smiled at me, although I gave him no encouragment
whatever, and said: "You're sitting up much better, you know. And if you
would take off those heals I'll venture to say you could WALK with any
one."

I detested him with feirceness at that time. But since then I have
pondered over what he said. For it is my Nature to be fair and to
consider things from every angel. I therfore said this to myself.

"If members of the Male Sex can reduce their wastes and increase their
usefulness to their Native Land by camping, exercising and drilling, why
not get up a camp of my own, since I knew that I would not be alowed to
go away to train, owing to my Familey?"

I am always one to decide quickly. So I have now made a sketch of a
Unaform and written out the names of ten girls who will be home when I
am. I here write out the Purpose of our organisation:


To defend the Country and put ourselves into good Physical
Condition.--Memo: Look up "physical" as it looks odd, as if mispelled.

MOTTO: To be voted on later.

PASSWORD: Plattsburg.

DUES: Ten dollars each in advance to buy Tent, etcetera.

UNAFORM: Kakhi, with orange-colored necktie. In times of danger the
orange color to be changed to something which will not atract the guns
of the Enemy.

NAME: Girls' Aviation Corps. But to be known generally as the G. A. C.
as because of Spies and so on we must be as secret as possable.


I have done everything thus in advance, because we will have but a short
time, and besides I know that if everything is not settled Jane will
want to run things, and probably insist on a set of By-Laws, etcetera,
which will take to much time.

I have also decided to be Captain, as having organised the Camp and
having a right to be.


10 P. M. I am now in my familiar Chamber, and Hannah says they intended
to get new furnature but feel they should not, as War is here and
everything very expencive.

But I must not complain. It is war time.

I shall now record the events from 5 P. M. to the present.

Father met me at the station as usual, and asked me if I cared to stop
and buy some candy on the way home. Ye gods, was I in a mood for candy?

"I think not, father," I replied, in a dignafied way. "Our dear Country
is now at war, and it is no time for self-indulgence."

"Good for you!" he said. "Evadently that school of yours is worth
something after all. But we might have a bit of candy, anyhow, don't
you think? Because we want to keep our Industries going and money in
circulation."

I could not refuse under such circumstances, and purchaced five pounds.

Alas, war has already made changes in my Familey. George, the butler,
has felt the call of Duty and has enlisted, and we now have a William
who chips the best china, and looks like a German although he says not,
and willing to put out the Natioual Emblem every morning from a window
in father's dressing room. Which if he is a Spy he would probably not
do, or at least without being compeled to.

I said nothing about the G. A. C. during dinner, as I was waiting to see
if father would give me ten dollars before I organized it. But I am a
person of strong feelings, and I was sad and depressed, thinking of my
dear Country at War and our beginning with soup and going on through as
though nothing was happening. I therfore observed that I considered it
unpatriotic, with the Enemy at our gatez, to have Sauterne on the table
and a Cocktail beforehand, as well as expencive tobacco and so on, even
although economising in other ways, such as furnature.

"What's that?" my father said to me, in a sharp tone.

"Let her alone, father," Leila said. "She's just dramatising herself as
usual. We're probably in for a dose of Patriotism."

I would perhaps have made a sharp anser, but a street piano outside
began to play The Star-Spangled Banner. I then stood up, of course, and
mother said: "Sit down, for heaven's sake, Barbara."

"Not until our National Anthem is finished, mother," I said in a tone
of gentle reproof. "I may not vote or pay taxes, but this at least I can
do."

Well, father got up to, and drank his coffee standing. But he gave
William a dollar for the man outside, and said to tell him to keep away
at meal times as even patriotism requires nourishment.

After dinner in the drawing room, mother said that she was going to let
me give a Luncheon.

"There are about a dosen girls coming out when you do, Bab," she said.
"And you might as well begin to get acquainted. We can have it at the
Country Club, and have some boys, and tennis afterwards, if the courts
are ready."

"Mother!" I cried, stupafied. "How can you think of Social pleasures
when the enemy is at our gates?"

"Oh nonsense, Barbara," she replied in a cold tone. "We intend to do our
part, of course. But what has that to do with a small Luncheon?"

"I do not feel like festivaty," I said. "And I shall be very busy this
holaday, because although young there are some things I can do."

Now I have always loved my mother, although feeling sometimes that she
had forgoten about having been a girl herself once, and also not being
much given to Familey embrases because of her hair being marceled and so
on. I therfore felt that she would probably be angry and send me to bed.

But she was not. She got up very sudenly and came around the table while
William was breaking a plate in the pantrey, and put her hand on my
shoulder.

"Dear little Bab!" she said. "You are right and I am wrong, and we will
just turn in and do what we can, all of us. We will give the party money
to the Red Cross."

I was greatly agatated, but managed to ask for the ten dollars for my
share of the Tent, etcetera, although not saying exactly what for, and
father passed it over to me. War certainly has changed my Familey, for
even Leila came over a few moments ago with a hat that she had bought
and did not like.

I must now stop and learn the Star-Spangled Banner by heart, having
never known but the first verse, and that not entirely.


LATER: How helpless I feel and how hopeless!

I was learning the second verse by singing it, when father came over in
his ROBE DE NUIT, although really pagamas, and said that he enjoyed it
very much, and of course I was right to learn it as aforsaid, but that
if the Familey did not sleep it could not be very usefull to the Country
the next day such as making shells and other explosives.


APRIL 11TH: I have had my breakfast and called up Jane Raleigh. She was
greatly excited and said:

"I'm just crazy about it. What sort of a Unaform will we have?"

This is like Jane, who puts clothes before everything. But I told her
what I had in mind, and she said it sounded perfectly thrilling.

"We each of us ought to learn some one thing," she said, "so we can do
it right. It's an age of Specialties. Suppose you take up signaling, or
sharp-shooting if you prefer it, and I can learn wireless telegraphy.
And maybe Betty will take the flying course, because we ought to have
an Aviator and she is afraid of nothing, besides having an uncle who is
thinking of buying an Aeroplane."

"What else would you sugest?" I said freezingly. Because to hear her one
would have considered the entire G. A. C. as her own idea.

"Well," she said, "I don't know, unless we have a Secret Service and
guard your father's mill. Because every one thinks he is going to have
trouble with Spies."

I made no reply to this, as William was dusting the Drawing Room, but
said, "Come over. We can discuss that privatly." I then rang off.

I am terrably worried, because my father is my best friend, having
always understood me. I cannot endure to think that he is in danger.
Alas, how true are the words of Dryden:

"War, he sung, is Toil and Trouble,
Honour but an empty Bubble."

NOON: Jane came over as soon as she had had her breakfast, and it was
a good thing I had everything written out, because she started in right
away to run things. She wanted a Constitution and By-Laws as I had
expected. But I was ready for her.

"We have a Constitution, Jane," I said, solemnly. "The Constitution of
the United States, and if it is good enough for a whole Country I darsay
it is good enough for us. As for By-laws, we can make them as we need
them, which is the way laws ought to be made anyhow."

We then made a list, Jane calling up as I got the numbers in the
telephone book. Everybody accepted, although Betty Anderson objected to
the orange tie because she has red hair, and one of the Robinson twins
could not get ten dollars because she was on probation at School and
her Familey very cold with her. But she had loned a girl at school five
dollars and was going to write for it at once, and thought she could
sell a last year's sweater for three dollars to their laundress's
daughter. We therfore admited her.

All is going well, unless our Parents refuse, which is not likely, as we
intend to purchace the Tent and Unaforms before consulting them. It is
the way of Parents not to care to see money wasted.

Our motto we have decided on. It is but three letters, W. I. H., and is
a secret.


LATER: Sis has just informed me that Carter Brooks has not enlisted, but
is playing around as usual! I feel dreadfully, as he is a friend of my
Familey. Or rather WAS.


7 P. M.: The G. A. C. is a fact. It is also ready for duty. How
wonderful it is to feel that one is about to be of some use to one's
own, one's Native Land!

We held a meeting early this P. M. in our library, all doors being
closed and Sentries posted. I had made some fudge also, although the
cook, who is a new one, was not pleasant about the butter and so on.

We had intended to read the Constitution of the U. S. out loud, but as
it is long we did not, but signed our names to it in my father's copy of
the American Common Wealth. We then went out and bought the Tent and ten
camp chairs, although not expecting to have much time to sit down.

The G. A. C. was then ready for duty.

Before disbanding for the day I made a short speach in the shop, which
was almost emty. I said that it was our intention to show the members
of the Other Sex that we were ready to spring to the Country's call, and
also to assist in recruiting by visiting the different Milatary Stations
and there encouraging those who looked faint-hearted and not willing to
fight.

"Each day," I said, in conclusion, "one of us will be selected by the
Captain, myself, to visit these places and as soon as a man has signed
up, to pin a flower in his buttonhole. As we have but little money,
the tent having cost more than expected, we can use carnations as not
expencive."

The man who had sold us the tent thought this was a fine idea, and said
he thought he would enlist the next day, if we would be around.

We then went went to a book shop and bought the Plattsburg Manual, and I
read to the members of the Corps these rules, to be strictly observed:


1. Carry yourself at all times as though you were proud of Yourself,
your Unaform, and your Country.

2. Wear your hat so that the brim is parallel to the ground.

3. Have all buttons fastened.

4. Never have sleeves rolled up.

5. Never wear sleeve holders.

6. Never leave shirt or coat unbuttoned at the throat.

7. Have leggins and trousers properly laced. (Only leggins).

8. Keep shoes shined.

9. Always be clean shaved. (Unecessary).

10. Keep head up and shoulders square.

11. Camp life has a tendency to make one careless as to personal
cleanliness. Bear this in mind.


We then gave the Milatary Salute and disbanded, as it was time to go
home and dress for dinner.

On returning to my domacile I discovered that, although the sun had
set and the hour of twilight had arived, the Emblem of my Country
still floated in the breese. This made me very angry, and ringing the
door-bell I called William to the steps and pointing upward, I said:

"William, what does this mean?"

He pretended not to understand, although avoiding my eye.

"What does what mean, Miss Barbara?"

"The Emblem of my Country, and I trust of yours, for I understand you
are naturalized, although if not you'd better be, floating in the breese
AFTER SUNSET."

Did I or did I not see his face set into the lines of one who had little
or no respect for the Flag?

"I'll take it down when I get time, miss," he said, in a tone of
resignation. "But what with making the salid and laying the table for
dinner and mixing cocktails, and the cook so ugly that if I as much as
ask for the paprika she's likely to throw a stove lid, I haven't much
time for Flags."

I regarded him sternly.

"Beware, William," I said. "Remember that, although probably not a Spy
or at least not dangerous, as we in this country now have our eyes open
and will stand no nonsense, you must at all times show proper respect to
the National Emblem. Go upstairs and take it in."

"Very well, miss," he said. "But perhaps you will allow me to say this,
miss. There are to many houses in this country where the Patriotic
Feeling of the inhabatants are shown only by having a paid employee hang
out and take in what you call The Emblem."

He then turned and went in, leaving me in a stupafied state on the
door-step.

But I am not one to be angry on hearing the truth, although painfull. I
therfore ran in after him and said:

"William, you are right and I am wrong. Go back to your Pantrey, and
leave the Flag to me. From now on it will be my duty."

I therfore went upstairs to my father's dressing room, where he was
shaveing for dinner, and opened the window. He was disagreable and
observed:

"Here, shut that! It's as cold as blue blazes."

I turned and looked at him in a severe manner.

"I am sorry, father," I said. "But as between you and my Country I have
no choice."

"What the dickens has the Country got to do with giving me influensa?"
he exclaimed, glaring at me. "Shut that window."

I folded my arms, but remained calm.

"Father," I said, in a low and gentle tone, "need I remind you that
it is at present almost seven P. M. and that the Stars and Stripes,
although supposed to be lowered at sunset, are still hanging out this
window?"

"Oh, that's it, is it?" he said in a releived tone. "You're nothing if
you're not thorough, Bab! Well, as they have hung an hour and fifteen
minutes to long as it is, I guess the Country won't go to the dogs if
you shut that window until I get a shirt on. Go away and send Williarm
up in ten minutes."

"Father," I demanded, intencely, "do you consider yourself a Patriot?"

"Well," he said, "I'm not the shouting tipe, but I guess I'll be around
if I'm needed. Unless I die of the chill I'm getting just now, owing to
one shouting Patriot in the Familey."

"Is this your Country or William's?" I insisted, in an inflexable voice.

"Oh, come now," he said, "we can divide it, William and I. There's
enough for both. I'm not selfish."

It is always thus in my Familey. They joke about the most serious
things, and then get terrably serious about nothing at all, such as
overshoes on wet days, or not passing in French grammer, or having a
friend of the Other Sex, etcetera.

"There are to many houses in this country, father," I said, folding my
arms, "where the Patriotism of the Inhabatants is shown by having a paid
employee hang out and take in the Emblem between Cocktails and salid, so
to speak."

"Oh damm!" said my father, in a feirce voice. "Here, get away and let me
take it in. And as I'm in my undershirt I only hope the neighbors aren't
looking out."

He then sneazed twice and drew in the Emblem, while I stood at the
Salute. How far, how very far from the Plattsburg Manual, which decrees
that our flag be lowered to the inspiring music of the Star-Spangled
Banner, or to the bugel call, "To the Colors."

Such, indeed, is life.


LATER: Carter Brooks dropped in this evening. I was very cold to him and
said:

"Please pardon me if I do not talk much, as I am in low spirits."

"Low spirits on a holaday!" he exclaimed. "Well, we'll have to fix that.
How about a motor Picnic?"

It is always like that in our house. They regard a Party or a Picnic as
a cure for everything, even a heartache, or being worried about Spies,
etcetera.

"No, thank you," I said. "I am worried about those of my friends who
have enlisted." I then gave him a scornful glance and left the room. He
said "Bab!" in a strange voice and I heard him coming after me. So I ran
as fast as I could to my Chamber and locked the door.


IN CAMP GIRLS AVIATION CORPS, APRIL 12TH.

We are now in Camp, although not in Unaform, owing to the delivery
waggon not coming yet with our clothes. I am writing on a pad on my
knee, while my Orderley, Betty Anderson, holds the ink bottle.

What a morning we have had!

Would one not think that, in these terrable times, it would be a simple
matter to obtain a spot wherein to prepare for the defence of the
Country? Should not the Young be encouraged to spring to the call, "To
arms, to arms, ye braves!" instead of being reproved for buying a Tent
with no place as yet to put it, and the Adams's governess being sent
along with Elaine because we need a Chaperone?

Ye gods! A Chaperone to a Milatary Camp!

She is now sitting on one of the camp stools and embroidering a
centerpeice. She brought her own lunch and Elaine's, refusing to allow
her to eat the regular Milatary rations of bacon and boiled potatoes,
etcetera, and not ofering a thing to us, although having brought chicken
sandwitches, cake and fruit.

I shall now put down the events of the day, as although the Manual says
nothing of keeping a record, I am sure it is always done. Have I not
read, again and again, of the Captain's log, which is not wood, as it
sounds, but is a journal or Dairy?

This morning the man at the tent store called up and asked where to
send the tent. I then called a meeting in my Chamber, only to meet with
bitter disapointment, as one Parent after another had refused to allow
their grounds to be used. I felt sad--helpless, as our house has no
grounds, except for hanging out washing, etcetera.