Molly Browns Orchard Home | Page 8

in their own estimation and need a good taking
down every now and then. They are often more provincial than
villagers, with no excuse for so being," and Mr. Kinsella gave his
nephew an affectionate push.
The air was clear and crisp, with a rising wind that gave promise of a
heavy sea. The passengers had begun to fill the decks, dragging steamer
chairs into sheltered nooks and looking about for desirable places out
of the wind, where they could see the sun set and the moon rise, get out
of the way of the smokestacks, the fog horn and the whistle, and at the
same time be in a good locality to see everything that was going on.
Molly and her mother were much amused at the sight. They were both
inclined to be rather careless of their ease and it had never entered their
heads to hustle and bustle to make themselves comfortable on the trip.
"Jimmy Lufton has had our chairs placed on deck and lashed to the
railing. He said he knew we would never look out for ourselves, and
unless he saw to it, we would go abroad standing up or sitting on the
floor! He tagged our chairs, too, as our names were on the backs only.
He said there were always some 'chair hogs' who would push the chairs
against the wall with the name out of sight and refuse to budge," said
Molly.
"Where are your chairs?" asked Pierce. "Let's go find them and
afterward we can get Uncle's and mine and have a snug foursome of a
chat. Oh, Miss Brown, how lovely your mother is! I want to paint her;
but I should have to put you in the picture, too, so that I could catch the
wonderful expression on her face. It is when she is looking at you that
she is most lovely."
"Well, don't you think I could be present to inspire the desired
expression without being in the picture?" laughed Molly, delighted by
the praise of her beloved mother. "But can you paint? I have been
wondering what you are and what your uncle is, but I did not like to be
too inquisitive."
"Well, one does not have to be with me long to hear the story of my
life," said the boy. "You ask if I can paint: yes, I can paint; not as well

as I want to by a long shot, but I mean to be a great painter. That
sounds conceited, but it is not. I have talent and there is no use in being
mealy-mouthed over it. To be a great painter means work, work, work;
and I am prepared to do that with every breath I breathe. Painting isn't
work to me; it is joy and life. Besides, I mean to make it up to Uncle
for his disappointment in life, and the only way I can do it is by
succeeding."
Molly was dying to know more about the uncle and what his
disappointment was, but she was too well bred to show her desire and
Pierce did not seem inclined to go on with his family disclosures. He
stood looking at two ladies who had just come on deck, followed by a
maid carrying rugs and cushions. The ladies were a very handsome
mother and daughter, although the mother appeared too young to have
such a very sophisticated, grown-up daughter. They were beautifully
dressed in long fur coats and small toques. "Rather warm for October,"
thought Molly, but the rising cold wind soon made her know her
mistake.
"There are our chairs," said Molly, starting toward the railing where the
ever handy-man, Jimmy, had lashed the two steamer chairs.
At the same moment the elegant, fur-clad lady rapidly crossed the deck
and placing her hand on the back of the nearest chair, said in a cold and
haughty tone to the maid: "Here, Marie, place the rugs and cushions in
these chairs. They will do quite nicely."
"Excuse me, but these chairs are ours, mine and my mother's," said
Molly. "But we are not going to use them until after supper, I mean
dinner, so you are welcome to them until then."
"Some mistake surely," rejoined the older woman, eying Molly
scornfully through her lorgnette. "You will have to complain to the
steward if you cannot find your chairs, young woman; these are mine,
engaged and paid for." With that, she prepared to seat herself with the
help of the maid, who was blushing furiously, mortified by the flagrant
untruth of her mistress.

Molly was, by nature, easy-going and peace-loving and her inclination
was to leave the haughty dame in possession of the chairs and beat a
hasty retreat; but she remembered Jimmy Lufton's remark about "chair
hogs" and