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diff --git a/13753-h/13753-h.htm b/13753-h/13753-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa633d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/13753-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4858 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dorothy Dainty's Gay Times, by Amy Brooks</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + Body { font-size: large; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10% } + P {text-indent: 1.5em; + margin-top: .1em; + font-size: large; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .05em; } + P.cont {text-indent: 0; + margin-top: 0; + font-size: large; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .05em; } + Blockquote { font-size: medium; + margin-left: 15%; + width: 70%; } + blockquote span {font-size: small; margin-left: 1.2em; display: block;} + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 {text-align: center; } + HR { width: 35%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + .thoughtbreak {margin-top: 1em;} + hr.chapbreak { width: 65%; + margin-top: 2.5em; + margin-bottom: 1.5em;} + h3.chapbreak {margin-top: 3em;} + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none;} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none;} + a:hover {color:red;} + pre {font-size: small;} + .illus a:link img, .illus a:visited img {border: 2px solid white;} + .illus a:hover img {border: 2px solid red;} + .illus img {padding-bottom: 10px;} + .bigillus a:link img, .bigillus a:visited img {border: 2px solid white;} + .bigillus a:hover img {border: 2px solid red;} + P.illus{text-indent: 0; + text-align: center; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 3em; + font-size: medium;} + P.chapone {text-indent: 0; + margin-top: .1em; + font-size: large; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .05em; } + TD.contents {text-align: right; + padding-right: 0.5em;} + TD.cont {font-variant: small-caps;} + hr.pg { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size: 9pt;} + // --> + +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13753 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Dorothy Dainty's Gay Times, by Amy Brooks, +Illustrated by Amy Brooks</h1> +</font> +<hr class="pg" noshade> +<br> +<p class="illus"><a name="illus001" href="images/Illus001.jpg" +target="_blank"><img src="images/Illus001s.jpg" alt= +"Down the path came a lovely little girl swinging a skipping-rope" +width="333" height="418"></a><br> +Down the path came a lovely little girl swinging a +skipping-rope.—<i><a href="#I001">Page 1</a></i>.</p> + +<h1>DOROTHY DAINTY'S</h1> + +<h1>GAY TIMES</h1> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>AMY BROOKS</h3> + +<h6>AUTHOR OF <i>DOROTHY DAINTY SERIES</i>, <i>THE RANDY +BOOKS</i>,<br> AND <i>A JOLLY CAT TALE</i></h6> + +<h4><i>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR</i></h4> + +<h6>Published August, 1908</h6> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<th style="font-size: x-small">CHAPTER</th> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">I.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapI">The First Day at School</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">II.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapII">Arabella at School</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">III.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapIII">The Dialogue</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">IV.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapIV">An Entertainment</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">V.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapV">The Return of Patricia</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">VI.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapVI">What Flossie Did</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">VII.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapVII">Patricia's Promise</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">VIII.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapVIII">The Party</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">IX.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapIX">Two Sleighrides</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">X.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapX">The Pung Ride</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">XI.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapXI">An Unexpected Trip</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td class="contents">XII.</td> +<td class="cont"><a href="#chapXII">The Necklace</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<h3 class="chapbreak">ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> + +<ul style="list-style: none; text-indent: -0.5em;"> +<li><a href="#illus001">Down the path came a lovely little girl +swinging a skipping-rope</a></li> + +<li><a href="#illus064">She was reaching down as if to get +something</a></li> + +<li><a href="#illus113">“Put your left paw on <i>do</i>, and +your right paw on <i>mi</i>; now sing”</a></li> + +<li><a href="#illus172">“There! that's another +fountain”</a></li> + +<li><a href="#illus219">“I'll go if you'll promise to bring +me back”</a></li> + +<li><a href="#illus248">Nancy clasped her hands together and +gasped, “Oh-o-o!”</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr class="thoughtbreak"> +<h2>DOROTHY DAINTY'S<br> +GAY TIMES</h2> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapI">CHAPTER I</a></h3> + +<h4>THE FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL</h4> + +<p class="chapone">The great gateway stood wide open, and through +it one could see the fine stone house with its vine-covered +balconies, its rare flowers and stately trees.</p> + +<p>A light breeze swayed the roses, sending out their perfume in +little gusts of sweetness, while across the path the merry sunbeams +flickered, like little dancing elves.</p> + +<p><a name="I001">Down the path came a lovely little girl</a>, +swinging a skipping-rope, and dancing over and under it in perfect +time with the song which she was singing.</p> + +<p>The sunlight touched her bright curls, making her look like a +fairy, and now she skipped backward, and forward, around the +circular garden, and back again, only pausing to rest when another +little girl ran across the lawn to meet her.</p> + +<p>She was Dorothy Dainty, the lovely little daughter of the house, +and the sprightly, dark-eyed child who now joined her was Nancy +Ferris, her dearest playmate.</p> + +<p>“I was just wishing you'd come out, for I've something to +tell you,” Dorothy said. “You know Aunt Charlotte has +all her plans ready for opening her private school next week, and +you heard her tell mamma that the class was <i>very</i> +full.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know it's to be a big class,” said Nancy, +“for besides all the girls that used to be in it, there's to +be one new one, and one <i>boy</i>, Katie Dean's cousin, Reginald, +and,—oh, <i>did</i> you know that Arabella is to join the +class?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Nancy, are you <i>sure?</i>” asked Dorothy; +“only yesterday we looked over toward her house, and there +seemed to be no one at home.” Nancy's eyes were merry.</p> + +<p>“Come and look <i>now!</i>” she said, clasping +Dorothy's hand, and running with her down to the gate.</p> + +<p>“There!” said Nancy, “see all those windows +open, and somebody out there behind the house beating a rug; you +see they <i>are</i> at home, and that's her queer little old Aunt +Matilda.”</p> + +<p>Dorothy looked at the resolute little figure, and wondered how +the thin arm could wield the rug-beater with so much energy. She +remembered that Arabella had said that her father <i>always</i> did +as Aunt Matilda directed, and truly the small woman appeared able +to marshal an army of men, if she chose.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps Arabella will go over to the public +school,” said Dorothy; “she doesn't have to enter Aunt +Charlotte's private class.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but she <i>will</i>, I just know she will,” +Nancy replied, “and Aunt Charlotte'll <i>have</i> to let her. +You know Mr. Corryville was in your papa's class at college, and if +he says he wishes Arabella to join the class, your papa will surely +say ‘yes.’”</p> + +<p>“He certainly will,” said Dorothy, “but +there's one thing to think of,” she said, with a bright +smile, “There are nice girls in the class, and if Arabella is +queer, we <i>mustn't</i> mind it.”</p> + +<p>“We'll <i>try</i> not to,” Nancy said, and then, as +Dorothy again swung her rope, Nancy “ran in,” and the +two skipped around the house together, the rope whipping the gravel +walk in time with the dancing feet.</p> + +<p>It was cool and shady near the wall, and they sat down upon a +low seat where the soft breeze fanned their flushed cheeks.</p> + +<p>“I'd almost forgotten something that I meant to tell +you,” Dorothy said. “You know Aunt Charlotte says that +the pupils are to give a little entertainment each month, when we +are to have dialogues, songs, solo dances, pieces to be spoken, and +chorus music. Well, mamma has arranged to have a fine little stage +and curtain. You didn't know that, <i>did</i> you?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed I didn't,” said Nancy, “and I guess +the others will be surprised. You haven't told them yet, have +you?”</p> + +<p>“I only knew it this morning myself, but I'm eager to tell +them,” said Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“Here's Mollie Merton and Flossie Barnet now,” cried +Nancy, and, turning, Dorothy saw the two playmates running up the +driveway.</p> + +<p>“Mollie was over at my house,” said Flossie, +“and we saw you and Nancy just as you ran around the house, +and we thought we'd come over.”</p> + +<p>“We were wild to know if our private school is +<i>truly</i> to commence next week. Mamma said it would if enough +pupils were ready to join it,” said Mollie, “and we +knew Katie Dean's cousin was a new one, and won't it be funny to +have one boy in the class?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but he is just a <i>little</i> boy,” said +Nancy.</p> + +<p>“And he must begin to go to school this year, and he says +he likes girls ever so much better than boys, so he asked if he +might go to our school,” Dorothy said.</p> + +<p>“He <i>always</i> says he likes girls best,” said +Flossie; “isn't he a queer little fellow?”</p> + +<p>“I don't know,” Mollie said, so drolly that they all +laughed.</p> + +<p>“And there is a new pupil, who has just come here to live, +and she is <i>very</i> nice, Jeanette Earl says,” and as she +spoke Dorothy looked up at her friends, a soft pleading in her blue +eyes.</p> + +<p>She intended to give a kindly welcome to the new pupil, and she +hoped that the others would be friendly.</p> + +<p>“How does Jeanette know?” asked Mollie, bluntly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jeanette ought to know,” said Nancy, “for +the new little girl is her cousin, I mean her <i>third</i> +cousin.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Nina is Jeanette's sister,” said Mollie, +“so what does <i>she</i> say?”</p> + +<p>“She didn't say anything,” said Nancy, “she +just <i>looked</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Arabella Corryville is to be in our class,” said +Flossie, “and when I told Uncle Harry he laughed, and asked +me if her Aunt Matilda was coming to school with her.”</p> + +<p>Of course they laughed, and it was Mollie who first spoke.</p> + +<p>“Your Uncle Harry is always joking,” she said, +“and sometimes I can't tell whether he is in earnest, or only +saying things just for fun.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess you'll laugh when I tell you what he said +next! He said that although he had graduated from college, and now +was in business, he would urge Aunt Charlotte to let him attend a +<i>few</i> sessions of our school, if Arabella's Aunt Matilda was +to be there. He said it would be a great pleasure which he really +could not miss.”</p> + +<p>How they laughed at the idea of Flossie's handsome young uncle +in the little private school, while Arabella's prim little aunt was +also a pupil.</p> + +<p>“I asked him what he meant,” said Flossie, who +looked completely puzzled, “and he said that sometimes a +man's wits needed sharpening, and that Aunt Matilda would be a +regular file. Papa laughed, but mamma said: ‘Harry, Harry, +you really mustn't,’ and he ran up to the music-room +whistling ‘O dear, what can the matter be?’ I can't +help laughing even when I don't understand his teasing jokes, he +says things in such a funny way, while his eyes just +dance.”</p> + +<p>“He looked very handsome the day he wore his uniform, with +the gold lace on it,” said Dorothy; “don't you +remember, Flossie? Your aunt was on the piazza, and she stooped and +pinned a rose in his buttonhole. Do you think he knew how fine he +looked, when he sprang into the saddle, and rode away?”</p> + +<p>“I don't know,” Flossie said, her blue eyes very +thoughtful, “he never seems to think about it, and one thing +I don't at all understand, he's big, and brave, and manly, yet he +plays with me so gently, and he's as full of fun as a +boy.”</p> + +<p>“That's why we all like him,” said Nancy, “and +he never acts as if we were just little girls, and so not worth +noticing.”</p> + +<p>“Do you remember the day that the tramp came into our +kitchen, and frightened the cook? Uncle Harry was just strolling +along the driveway. He walked into the kitchen, took the dirty +tramp by the collar and marched him right out to the street,” +and Flossie's cheeks glowed with pride for her dear Uncle +Harry.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and a moment after, he saw little Reginald fall off +his bicycle, and you ought to have seen how tenderly he picked him +up, and brushed off the dust, and he was quite as gentle as mamma +would have been.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he's just fine,” said Mollie, “and I +<i>do</i> wish he would visit our school on a day when Arabella's +aunt would be there! I love to see him when he looks at her. +Someway he seems so very respectful, and yet his eyes +laugh.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it's just a few days now before school begins, and +what fun we'll have,” said Flossie, “and perhaps +Arabella will invite her aunt to one of our entertainments; if she +does, I'm just sure Uncle Harry would go.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, come here this minute, every one of you,” +called a cheery voice, and Nina Earl stepped through an opening in +the hedge.</p> + +<p>“Why, how surprised you look! I've been over to the stone +cottage to call for you, Nancy, and Aunt Charlotte said that you +were with Dorothy, so I ran across the lawn. I could hear you all +talking, and I was wild to tell you something.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, tell it, tell it, Nina!” cried Mollie.</p> + +<p>Nina looked back through the opening in the hedge.</p> + +<p>“She's just saying ‘good-morning’ to Aunt +Charlotte,” she said, “and let me tell you something; +she's been all over the stone cottage, looking into this thing and +peeping into that, till I'd think Aunt Charlotte would be wild. +It's Arabella's aunt, and she says she came to learn if the house +was a healthy one to be in, and to see if the plumbing was all +right.”</p> + +<p>Dorothy's sweet eyes suddenly flashed.</p> + +<p>“Doesn't she think my papa would keep Aunt Charlotte's +house as comfortable as ours?” she said.</p> + +<p>“Oh, 'tisn't that!” laughed Nina, “she said +she felt obliged to find out if the cottage was a healthy place for +a private school to be in, before she could say that Arabella might +belong to the class! Did you ever hear anything like +that?”</p> + +<p>“Well, what makes her let Arabella come to our +school?” queried blunt little Mollie; “she could go to +the public school. I guess we wouldn't mind.”</p> + +<p>“Mamma says we must be kind to Arabella,” said +Dorothy, “so I think we mustn't speak like that.”</p> + +<p>“I'll be kind to her when she comes,” said Mollie, +“because your mamma wishes it, but <i>now</i>, before school +begins, I'm going to say that I just <i>wish</i> Arabella was going +to the other school.”</p> + +<p>The others felt, as Mollie did, that the class would be quite as +pleasant if Arabella attended the public school, but they did not +like to say so.</p> + +<hr class="thoughtbreak"> +<p>The few days of waiting were past, and now the first day of +school had come. The door of the pretty stone cottage stood wide +open, as if assuring a welcome to the little pupils who would soon +arrive, while the sunlight streamed in across the hall, giving a +cheery greeting.</p> + +<p>On the rug sat Pompey, the cat, his fine coat sleek and glossy, +and his white bosom as pure as much washing could make it. His paws +were snugly tucked in, and he purred softly to himself as if he +knew that it was nearly time for the pupils to arrive, and +remembered that the little girls had been very fond of him.</p> + +<p>In the cheery sitting-room, which was used as a schoolroom, sat +Aunt Charlotte Grayson, looking over some books which lay upon the +table.</p> + +<p>Her soft gray gown and broad lace collar were most becoming, and +she looked every inch the gentlewoman that she really was. She had +once been Mrs. Dainty's governess, and now, as mistress of a +thriving private school, she was independent and happy. The class +was not a large one, but the little pupils belonged to families who +were well able to pay generously for fine instruction, and her home +at the stone cottage was a loving gift from Mr. and Mrs. +Dainty.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Grayson had permitted Dorothy and Nancy to call her +“Aunt Charlotte,” and now it had become the loving +title by which all her pupils addressed her.</p> + +<p>She was eager to have her little class assemble, and, wondering +if they were late, she looked at her watch.</p> + +<p>“Quarter of nine,” she said, and as if he understood +what she had said, Pompey blinked up at the tall clock, yawned, and +looked at the door.</p> + +<p>The sound of merry voices made him prick up his ears. A moment +more, and Dorothy and Nancy, Mollie and Flossie, Nina and Jeanette +Earl ran up the steps and in at the open door. Pompey received his +usual number of love-pats, and then the girls, having hung their +hats and coats in the hall, walked quietly in to greet Aunt +Charlotte.</p> + +<p>It was a fixed rule at the private school that there should +never be any haste in reaching places in the schoolroom.</p> + +<p>“It matters not that you are little girls, or that you are +at school,” Mrs. Grayson would say; “let me always have +the pleasure of seeing you enter the class-room in as gentle a +manner as you would enter a drawing-room,” and her pupils +took pleasure in doing as she wished.</p> + +<p>The broad window-seats were banked with flowering plants, and as +the children took their places they thought it the brightest, +cheeriest schoolroom in the world.</p> + +<p>As if to show that he also had a place in Aunt Charlotte's +class, Pompey ran across the floor and sprang up into a space on +one window-seat between two large flowerpots, where he could enjoy +a sun-bath.</p> + +<p>Katie Dean, with her little Cousin Reginald, now entered, just +in time to avoid being late.</p> + +<p>“I thought you said your cousin was coming,” +whispered Mollie, but Aunt Charlotte had opened her Testament, and +was commencing to read, so Nina only shook her head, and Mollie saw +that she must wait until recess to know what Nina would say.</p> + +<p>“‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be +called the children of God,’” read Aunt Charlotte, and +every girl looked towards Flossie Barnet, who was always trying to +say a pleasant word of an absent friend, or to coax two playmates, +who had become estranged, to be fast friends again. Often they had +heard her Uncle Harry say: “Flossie, you're a +peacemaker.” Her hands were clasped, and her blue eyes were +full of interest in the verse which Aunt Charlotte was reading. Her +red lips moved.</p> + +<p>“‘They shall be called the children of +God,’” she whispered, and in her gentle little heart +she determined to be, if possible, more kind and loving than ever +before, toward her playmates.</p> + +<p>Little Reginald had failed to understand the verse, and sat +staring at Aunt Charlotte with round eyes. He was a handsome little +fellow, with soft flaxen curls, and a smart, sturdy figure, and as +he looked up into Aunt Charlotte's face, he seemed like a pudgy +cupid whom some one had dressed in a sailor suit.</p> + +<p>Singing followed the reading, and all through the two merry +songs which they sang, Reginald watched Aunt Charlotte, and +wondered over the verse which she had read. When the arithmetic +lesson was over, Aunt Charlotte asked if any one had a question to +ask.</p> + +<p>Katie Dean wished to hear an example explained, and when it had +been made clear to her, Reginald held up his hand.</p> + +<p>“What is your question?”</p> + +<p>“What's ‘peacemakers’?” he asked.</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte explained the verse, and Reginald listened, but +it was easy to see that he was disappointed.</p> + +<p>“Do you understand now what the peacemakers are?” +Aunt Charlotte asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes'm,” said Reginald, “but I wish I +didn't.”</p> + +<p>“And why?” questioned Aunt Charlotte.</p> + +<p>“'Cause I thought grandma was a peacemaker,” +Reginald said, “for she's <i>piecin'</i> a silk patchwork +quilt, an' papa said she'd be <i>blessed</i> glad when it's +done.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte was the only one who did not laugh, but the small +boy was not at all vexed.</p> + +<p>“<i>You</i> needn't laugh,” he said to Katie, +“for you've seen her makin' pieces out of silk, an' what's +the difference between <i>makin' pieces</i> an' +<i>peacemakin'?</i>”</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapII">CHAPTER II</a></h3> + +<h4>ARABELLA AT SCHOOL</h4> + +<p class="chapone">When recess time came Mollie had forgotten to +ask Nina if her cousin was to be a pupil, and it happened that +neither of the others questioned her.</p> + +<p>They were in the midst of a game of hide-and-seek, when Mollie, +who, with Nina, was hiding behind a large rosebush, looked up just +in time to see the garden gate open.</p> + +<p>“Look!” she whispered.</p> + +<p>“Why, that's Arabella!” said Nina, “but why +has she brought her Aunt Matilda with her?”</p> + +<p>“I guess she didn't,” whispered Mollie, “it's +likely her Aunt Matilda's bringing <i>her</i>.”</p> + +<p>Nina stifled a laugh, and they saw the two go along the walk, +and enter the cottage.</p> + +<p>Flossie, who had been “it,” ran quite around the +house, and the others “ran in,” Reginald loudly +shouting, “All in, all in!”</p> + +<p>Flossie returned, laughing gaily to think that they had all got +in free. Then they commenced to talk of the new pupil, and quite +forgot their game.</p> + +<p>The schoolroom windows were open, and Aunt Matilda's shrill, +piping voice could be plainly heard, but the children were not near +enough to know what she was saying.</p> + +<p>They saw her turn to go, and then, when she reached the door, +she drew something from her bag, and placed it in Arabella's +hand.</p> + +<p>“What <i>do</i> you s'pose she's giving her?” +whispered Nina.</p> + +<p>“<i>Peppermints!</i>” said Mollie, but although she +had whispered it, she felt that Dorothy had heard it, and knew that +both she and Nina had been laughing at Arabella and her aunt. +Mollie's cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her shoes. She knew +that Dorothy's sweet eyes were looking at her, not angrily, but +with a tender grieving.</p> + +<p>Dorothy was full of fun, and ready for merriment at any time, +but she saw nothing amusing in laughing at a playmate, or friend, +and she had asked them all to be kind to Arabella.</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte turned to the window, and set the little silver +bell tinkling, and the pupils at once filed into the +schoolroom.</p> + +<p>They found Arabella Corryville sitting primly in her place. Her +small, thin hands were clasped upon her desk, and she looked at the +pupils as they filed in, peeping first over her glasses, and then +through them, as if she were hunting for little faults which she +really hoped to find.</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte had told her that on this, her first day of +school, she might listen to the recitations, and on the next day +come with her lessons prepared, and then recite with the class.</p> + +<p>She sat very still, only moving her round eyes to watch the +pupils, and as she did not smile, one could not guess if she were +pleased with the school or not.</p> + +<p>The little girls busied themselves with their books, but +Reginald kept his blue eyes fixed upon Arabella, as if he could +think of nothing else.</p> + +<p>At first she seemed not to notice him, but after a time she +moved restlessly on her seat, and wriggled about in a way that +delighted the small boy.</p> + +<p>Arabella was not used to being stared at. She always stared +boldly at other people, but here was some one who looked at her +without so much as blinking. She glanced at the clock, and then, as +if just remembering something, took a small bottle from her pocket, +shook some pills into her hand, swallowed them, and turned to see +if Reginald were looking. He was, and Arabella was provoked.</p> + +<p>“What you staring at?” she whispered rudely.</p> + +<p>“You!” he whispered, not a bit abashed.</p> + +<p>“Well, you just <i>needn't</i>,” said Arabella.</p> + +<p>“I know <i>I needn't</i>,” replied the small boy, +“but I like to.”</p> + +<p>“Why?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“'Cause you're funny,” Reginald said.</p> + +<p>It was not strange that Arabella was angry. Would any girl be +pleased to have a small boy watching her, and declaring that she +was “funny?”</p> + +<p>And now Aunt Charlotte was calling the youngest class in +reading, and Reginald hastily snatched his book, and began to hunt +for the lesson.</p> + +<p>“The third page, Reginald,” said Aunt Charlotte; +“you may read the first paragraph.”</p> + +<p>He found the place, and read the lines without a mistake. It was +his first term at school, but his mother had found pleasure in +teaching him, and he read quite as well as some of the younger +pupils.</p> + +<p>“Read the next paragraph, Reginald,” said Aunt +Charlotte.</p> + +<p>“‘When the king rode over the highway, the sun +glistened upon his,—on his,—’”</p> + +<p>It was a word which Reginald had never seen, and he frowned +until an odd little pucker appeared on his forehead.</p> + +<p>“‘When the king rode over the highway, the sun +glistened upon his,’”—again he paused. The word +looked no easier this time than when he had first read the +lines.</p> + +<p>“I <i>can't</i> pronounce that word,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Read the lines again, and when you come to the word that +puzzles you, pronounce it as you think it should be,” said +Aunt Charlotte.</p> + +<p>The other pupils were interested, but when Reginald glanced +toward Arabella, he saw that she was smiling in evident delight at +his discomfiture. He resolved to rush through the reading in a way +that would tell her that he could read <i>anything</i>. He drew a +long breath, and then, as fast as possible, he read:</p> + +<p>“‘When the king rode over the highway, the sun +glistened upon his <i>carrot</i> wheels!’”</p> + +<p>Even Aunt Charlotte smiled at the droll error, but Arabella +laughed long and loud.</p> + +<p>“Order, order!” said Aunt Charlotte.</p> + +<p>“The word is <i>chariot</i>,” she said.</p> + +<p>The others read in turn, until they had finished the charming +story, and each of the girls wondered why Arabella was not reproved +for rudeness. The arithmetic lesson completed the morning's work, +and as they walked home, they talked of the new pupil.</p> + +<p>“I don't see why Aunt Charlotte didn't speak to +Arabella,” said Nina Earl, “she was horridly +rude.”</p> + +<p>“And how queer she is,” said Mollie Merton; +“just the minute school was out she ran down the path, and +across the street to get home before any of us could talk with her. +And I <i>do</i> wonder Aunt Charlotte didn't speak to her about +laughing so loudly, just because Reginald made a mistake. I don't +believe she could read any better.”</p> + +<p>“I guess <i>perhaps</i> Arabella didn't mean to be +disagreeable,” said Flossie Barnet.</p> + +<p>She disliked Arabella, but she never could bear to hear any one +spoken of unkindly.</p> + +<p>“Now, Flossie Barnet, you might just know that Arabella +<i>likes</i> to be unpleasant,” said Jeanette, and Flossie +could not deny it.</p> + +<p>Dorothy and Nancy had heard what they were saying, and they +thought that it was not at all nice of the girls to speak as if +Aunt Charlotte had allowed Arabella to be rude.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps Aunt Charlotte thought she wouldn't correct her +the very first day,” Nancy said, and Nina and Mollie wished +that what they had said had not been heard.</p> + +<p>Little Reginald seemed, for once, to have nothing to say.</p> + +<p>He was skipping along between his cousin Katie Dean and Jeanette +Earl, and tightly grasping their hands.</p> + +<p>There had been a light shower early in the morning, and here and +there a little puddle reflected the blue sky and floating clouds. +Reginald saw one just ahead, and laughed softly. Katie and Jeanette +were talking with Dorothy, and paying little heed to the small boy +who walked between them.</p> + +<p>“I thought your cousin was coming to school this +morning,” said Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“She's coming the first of next week,” said +Jeanette.</p> + +<p>“And what is her name?” asked Katie.</p> + +<p>They were close to a fine large puddle now, and Reginald with a +hop landed both feet in the middle of it.</p> + +<p>“Why, Reginald Merton Dean! You naughty boy!” said +Katie; “just <i>look</i> at my new shoes! See the dirty water +you've splashed on Jeanette's dress!”</p> + +<p>“And look at the puddle,” exclaimed Reginald, +“I didn't spoil the puddle; it looks just same's it did +before I jumped in it.”</p> + +<p>Katie forgot that her question had not been answered, but +Jeanette remembered it.</p> + +<p>“You asked what my cousin's name is,” said Jeanette; +“her name is Lola Blessington.”</p> + +<p>“Is she a peacemaker?” asked Reginald, who still +remembered the morning's verse.</p> + +<p>“Well,—no, I mean not <i>exactly</i>,” said +Nina, who hastened to reply before Jeanette could do so.</p> + +<p>“What's she like?” asked Reginald.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you'll know when you see her,” said +Jeanette.</p> + +<p>“And we shall see her next week,” Katie said.</p> + +<p>The sunny days slipped by, and nothing unusual happened at the +little school.</p> + +<p>In that first week the other pupils learned that there was but +one way to get on peaceably with Arabella.</p> + +<p>At first they followed Dorothy's example, and urged Arabella to +join them in their games, but games which they chose never pleased +her, and when Friday came, Reginald spoke his mind. They were +walking home from school, and Arabella, as usual, had turned from +her playmates, preferring to go home alone.</p> + +<p>Reginald looked after her frowning.</p> + +<p>“She's just an old <i>fussbudget!</i>” he said.</p> + +<p>“Oh, hush!” said Katie, “don't you know that +we all promised Dorothy we'd be kind to Arabella?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I didn't say it <i>to</i> her,” said +Reginald, “but I'd like to.”</p> + +<p>“Now, Reginald,” said Katie, “you know mamma +said that you were always to be a gentleman, and that you must be +'specially polite and gentle if you were to be in a class of +girls.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what did I <i>do</i>?” he asked with wide +open eyes. “I haven't touched Arabella; if she'd been a boy I +would have shaken her this morning, when she sneered and called me +a pretty boy. Boys aren't ever pretty; only girls are pretty, and +any boy would hate Arabella for saying it.”</p> + +<p>They tried not to laugh, but the handsome little fellow was so +angry, and all because Arabella had called him pretty. Reginald, +who never could be angry long, joined in the general laugh which +could not be controlled.</p> + +<p>Early Monday morning Dorothy and Nancy were skipping along the +avenue on their way to school.</p> + +<p>Every day of the first week had been sunny, and here was Monday +with the bright blue sky overhead, and the little sunbeams dancing +on the road.</p> + +<p>“We had every lesson perfect last week,” said +Dorothy, “and I mean to get ‘perfect’ this week, +too.”</p> + +<p>“So do I,” said Nancy, “and I can, if Arabella +doesn't make me do half her examples!”</p> + +<p>“I don't think she ought to,” Dorothy said.</p> + +<p>“She doesn't <i>really</i> ask me to,” said Nancy, +“but it's almost the same. She says she can't do them, and +says she could if some one was kind enough to just show her how. +Then I can't seem to be unkind, and the minute I say I'll +<i>help</i> her, she pushes her slate and pencil towards me. +‘You can do 'em easier than I can,’ she says, and +instead of <i>helping</i> her, I do them all.”</p> + +<p>“Does Aunt Charlotte like to have you?” asked +Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“I don't know; I haven't told her about it yet. I don't +want to be a telltale,” Nancy said.</p> + +<p>“Of course you don't,” agreed Dorothy, “but +you know Aunt Charlotte says that we are to be independent, and +Arabella's anything but independent when she doesn't do her +examples herself. It's puzzling, though; mamma says we mustn't +notice her queer ways, and that we must be kind to her, and it +doesn't seem kind to refuse to help her with her +lessons.”</p> + +<p>“Wait for us!” called a merry voice, and turning, +they saw Nina and Jeanette running toward them. A third girl +clasped their hands, and Dorothy knew that she must be their +cousin, Lola Blessington.</p> + +<p>She was very pretty, and she seemed so friendly that Dorothy was +really glad that she was to join the class, and Nancy was quite as +pleased. It was early for school, and Nina proposed that they sit +on the wall, and wait for Katie and Reginald.</p> + +<p>They seated themselves upon the stone wall, and like a row of +sparrows, they chattered gaily.</p> + +<p>Lola seemed full of fun, and she told of some fine games which +she had played at the school where she had been a pupil, and they +were all very glad that she was to be a member of the private +class.</p> + +<p>And now a thin little figure made its way across the street, +just a little way from where they were sitting.</p> + +<p>Nina reached behind Lola, and touched her sister's sleeve; +Jeanette nodded, and looked toward the girl who walked along, +looking down upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Dorothy saw her, and called to her kindly:</p> + +<p>“Arabella! Arabella! Won't you come and meet our new +playmate?”</p> + +<p>Arabella turned, paused just a second to stare at the new pupil. +Then turning toward the stone cottage, she said:</p> + +<p>“I can't stop to talk; I've got to go to +school.”</p> + +<p>“Why, how—” Nancy would not finish the +sentence.</p> + +<p>She was grieved that Arabella should be so rude to Dorothy, and +vexed that their new friend should be unkindly treated.</p> + +<p>“Who is she?” Lola asked.</p> + +<p>“She's Arabella Corryville,” said Nina, “and +she's in our class, and I wish—” she stopped as short +as Nancy had a few moments before.</p> + +<p>Lola turned to look at Nina.</p> + +<p>“What were you going to say?” she whispered.</p> + +<p>“I was going to say that I wished she wasn't.”</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapIII">CHAPTER III</a></h3> + +<h4>THE DIALOGUE</h4> + +<p class="chapone">Lola received a cordial greeting from Aunt +Charlotte, and at recess time she declared that she was now in the +nicest school that she had ever attended.</p> + +<p>“Why, how many have you been in?” asked Mollie; +“this is the only one I've ever been to, and you aren't any +older than I am.”</p> + +<p>Lola laughed.</p> + +<p>“I've been in three schools,” she said. “Last +year I commenced in one school, but we moved, and I had to go to +another one. This makes the third, and I know I shall like it best +of all.”</p> + +<p>Every one liked Lola. She seemed to be tireless. She knew many +games, and as soon as they wearied of one, she chose another.</p> + +<p>“She's as much fun to play with as a boy,” said +Reginald, at which Arabella laughed.</p> + +<p>“You like <i>any</i> girls better'n boys; you said so the +other day,” she said.</p> + +<p>“I like <i>some</i> girls,” said the small boy, and +he might have said more, but his cousin Katie stood behind +Arabella, shaking her head, and frowning at him. Reginald looked at +Katie, and decided to be silent.</p> + +<p>There were ever so many things which he would have liked to say, +but Katie <i>might</i> tell at home if he were too naughty.</p> + +<p>When Arabella found that Lola was liked by all the other pupils, +she decided to be just a bit friendly toward her, and Lola seemed +pleased that Arabella was no longer odd and silent.</p> + +<p>And so it happened that Arabella now seemed really to be a +member of the class.</p> + +<p>She no longer refused to join in their games at recess, and took +more interest in her lessons than she had before.</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte was delighted, and hoped that Arabella's pleasant +mood would last.</p> + +<p>There was great excitement one morning when the little class was +told that plans had been made for the first entertainment, and that +rehearsals would commence that afternoon. A little murmur of +delight passed over the class, and Aunt Charlotte smiled at their +pleasure.</p> + +<p>“I shall ask Dorothy to sing two songs for us; Nancy, I +know, will be willing to do a fancy dance; Nina and Jeanette are +learning a new duet for the piano, and I should be pleased to have +that for another number on our programme. I have chosen a fine +dialogue which will give a part to every girl, and also a boy's +rôle for Reginald.”</p> + +<p>When Aunt Charlotte had finished speaking, there was another +little murmur of delight, and then the lessons for the day +commenced.</p> + +<p>At recess they could not spare a moment for games! They talked, +and talked of the entertainment which they were to give, and of the +fine times which they would have at the afternoon rehearsals, and +after school, when they walked along the avenue, they still were +talking of the solo numbers, and of the dialogue.</p> + +<p>“There's eight girls in it, and one boy, that's +Reginald,” said Mollie, “and I know—oh, wait till +I tie my shoe.”</p> + +<p>She rested her foot on a stone, and tied the ribbons with a +smart little twitch.</p> + +<p>“And now what were you going to say?” asked +Jeanette.</p> + +<p>“I <i>said</i> how many were to be in the dialogue, and I +was <i>going</i> to say that I know I'm just wild to hear Aunt +Charlotte read it to us this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“Then you won't have to be wild long,” Jeanette +said, “for we are to come back at two to have our parts given +to us.”</p> + +<hr class="thoughtbreak"> +<p>At two o'clock they were again at the cottage, eagerly watching +Aunt Charlotte, as she opened her desk, and took from it a book +with a scarlet cover.</p> + +<p>“There are nine girls in my class, just the number +required for this dialogue,” she said. “Eight of the +characters are school girls, one is a fairy, and the boy in the +little play is an elfin messenger.”</p> + +<p>“That'll be <i>me</i>, for I'm the only boy here,” +said Reginald; “you girls don't know <i>who'll</i> be +<i>which!</i>”</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte laughed at this speech as heartily as did the +girls.</p> + +<p>“We'll soon know who'll be which,” said Nancy.</p> + +<p>“Yes, because Aunt Charlotte will tell us,” laughed +Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“The directions for producing the play, speaks of the +fairy queen as being taller than the school girls, so I will give +that part to you, Jeanette, as you are a trifle taller than the +others.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I'll love to be the queen,” Jeanette said +quickly, and she glanced at her playmates with flashing eyes.</p> + +<p>“I guess Dorothy expected to be the queen,” +whispered Nina to Lola. Nina felt <i>almost</i> as proud as if she +herself had been honored.</p> + +<p>It was true that Dorothy had usually been given leading parts, +but evidently she was not at all vexed.</p> + +<p>“You'll make a fine queen, Jeanette,” she was +saying, “and oh, Aunt Charlotte, do tell her to let her hair +hang loose; it's 'most below her waist.”</p> + +<p>“Surely Jeanette must have her hair unbraided,” Aunt +Charlotte agreed, “and we must make a tiny gold crown for +her.”</p> + +<p>“How lovely!” said Nancy, and Jeanette was +delighted.</p> + +<p>Of course Reginald was to be the little page, and the other +parts were assigned, Aunt Charlotte choosing for each of the girls +the part which best fitted her.</p> + +<p>At first Arabella had seemed greatly interested, but as soon as +Jeanette had been chosen for the fairy queen, she left the group, +and turning toward the window, looked out into the garden.</p> + +<p>Flossie called to her.</p> + +<p>“Come, Arabella!” she cried. “We're going to +read our dialogue now.”</p> + +<p>The others took their places, and Arabella turned, and slowly +joined them.</p> + +<p>“We will pass the book from one to another, and thus read +the little play through,” said Aunt Charlotte, “and I +will copy each part carefully, that each can memorize all that she +has to say. When you have learned your lines, we will have our +first rehearsal.”</p> + +<p>“Hooray!” said Reginald, and although the girls +laughed, they were quite as eagerly delighted as he.</p> + +<p>They left the cottage, and as they walked down the avenue they +talked of the pretty dialogue, each insisting that she liked her +part best.</p> + +<p>“But mine's the best,” said Reginald, “for I'm +the only boy in it.”</p> + +<p>“Mine's the best, for I'm the queen,” said Jeanette, +and she held her head very high, as she looked toward her +playmates.</p> + +<p>“<i>All</i> the parts are nice,” Nancy said, +“and we'll have a fine entertainment.”</p> + +<p>Arabella had stopped to arrange her books in her desk, and was +the last to leave the cottage.</p> + +<p>“I like to see that you are orderly,” Aunt Charlotte +said, as Arabella passed her on her way to the door.</p> + +<p>She made no reply, but hurried down the walk.</p> + +<p>“An odd child, truly,” Aunt Charlotte said, as she +looked after the slender little figure.</p> + +<p>The next day each girl received a copy of her lines, and +Wednesday of the next week was set for the first rehearsal.</p> + +<hr class="thoughtbreak"> +<p>“I know every word I have to say,” said Jeanette, as +she walked along toward the cottage with Katie Dean.</p> + +<p>It was Wednesday morning, and the first rehearsal was set for +the afternoon.</p> + +<p>“I <i>guess</i> I know mine, but I'm not sure. Aunt +Charlotte will have the book and she can prompt me,” Katie +said.</p> + +<p>“I know mine,” boasted Reginald; “I have to +run in right after the fairy, and say, ‘Here is your magic +wand, oh, queen,’”</p> + +<p>“I guess you can't say it <i>that</i> way,” laughed +Jeanette, “for Aunt Charlotte wouldn't let you. You said it +just as if you'd said, ‘Here is a great, big sandwich, oh, +queen!’”</p> + +<p>“Well, I <i>didn't</i> say that, and you needn't laugh. It +makes you feel big to be queen!”</p> + +<p>“<i>Reginald!</i>”</p> + +<p>“Well, it does,” declared the small boy, “an' +Arabella said so yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“Arabella likes to say mean things,” said Jeanette, +“but it doesn't prove that they're so because she says +so.”</p> + +<p>Everything went smoothly at the afternoon rehearsal, until +Dorothy said that Nancy was to do a lovely fancy dance for one +number on the programme, when Arabella felt moved to make one of +her unpleasant remarks.</p> + +<p>“My Aunt Matilda doesn't 'prove of dancing,” she +said, looking sharply at Nancy.</p> + +<p>“Well, your Aunt Matilda doesn't <i>have</i> to +dance,” said Mollie, pertly.</p> + +<p>Mollie knew that she was naughty, but truly Arabella was +trying.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps your aunt likes music,” said Nina; +“Dorothy is going to sing.”</p> + +<p>“I don't know whether she likes singing or not,” +Arabella replied, “but she doesn't like dancing, I know, for +she said she wouldn't ever let me learn to dance.”</p> + +<p>“P'r'aps your father'd let you learn,” said +Reginald.</p> + +<p>“He wouldn't unless Aunt Matilda said I could.”</p> + +<p>“Why <i>does</i> folks have Aunt Matildas?” muttered +Reginald.</p> + +<p>Mollie Merton laughed. She had heard what he said, although he +had spoken almost in a whisper.</p> + +<p>They left the cottage, promising to study their parts very +carefully, and as they walked down the avenue they repeated some of +the pleasing lines which they remembered.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Reginald spoke.</p> + +<p>“I've got to go back; I've left my ball on my desk,” +he said.</p> + +<p>“Don't go back,” Katie said, “you won't want +it to-night.”</p> + +<p>“P'raps I will, and anyway I'm going after it,” said +Reginald, stoutly; “you wait for me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we can't, Reginald,” Katie said, “but you +can overtake us if you hurry.”</p> + +<p>Reginald was already running toward the cottage, so he did not +hear what Katie said. He pushed open the little gate and ran in, +and up the steps on to the piazza.</p> + +<p>“I left my ball on my desk,” he said to Aunt +Charlotte, who was standing in the hall.</p> + +<p>“The schoolroom is open,” she said with a smile, and +Reginald rushed past her, and hurried to his desk. The ball was not +on it, nor was it in the desk, as careful hunting proved.</p> + +<p>“I left it right on top of my desk,” he declared to +Aunt Charlotte, who had followed, and now stood beside him.</p> + +<p>“Are you quite sure of that?” she asked gently.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I <i>know</i> I left it there, and I came back +on purpose to get it,” he said, his blue eyes wide with +surprise, “and now it is getting late to hunt for it, 'sides, +I don't know where to hunt.”</p> + +<p>His lip quivered, and there was something very like tears in his +eyes, although he blinked very hard to hide them.</p> + +<p>“I will search for the ball, and keep it for you to-morrow +morning,” Aunt Charlotte said; “it may have dropped to +the floor, and rolled away into some shadowy corner, or behind the +draperies. It is almost twilight now, but the lamplight to-night or +the bright daylight to-morrow will help me to find it for +you.”</p> + +<p>Thus comforted, Reginald left the cottage, but although he ran +nearly all the way home, he saw neither of his schoolmates. He had +hunted so long for the coveted ball that they had reached their +homes before he was even in sight.</p> + +<p>“We can't wait for him,” Katie had said, as she +looked down the road to see if he were coming, and then they had +become so interested in talking of their dialogue that they forgot +all about him.</p> + +<p>Usually Reginald called for his cousin Katie, but the next +morning he was so eager to learn if his ball had been found, that +he started early, intending to be the first at school, and hurried +past Katie's house lest she might call to him to wait.</p> + +<p>He had almost reached the cottage when he remembered that he had +left both his spelling-book and reader at home.</p> + +<p>It was really provoking, and for just a moment he paused, +wondering if he might borrow books, or if indeed he ought to return +for his own.</p> + +<p>It was only a few days before that Aunt Charlotte had spoken of +promptness at school, and at the same time said that only a +careless pupil would be obliged to borrow.</p> + +<p>He would not be the first to be thought careless; he would run +back to the house, but he must hurry, or be late.</p> + +<p>There was a field that he could cross, and thus save a little +time, he thought, but when half-way across it he found that he was +losing, instead of gaining time. The uneven ground and coarse grass +were much harder to run over than the fine, hard surface of the +avenue, and in his haste he stumbled along over sticks and rough +places, reaching the house flushed and tired.</p> + +<p>He found his books just where he had left them and hurried past +the maid, who was surprised to see him.</p> + +<p>“Why, Master Reginald, I thought I see yer go out to +school some time ago,” she said.</p> + +<p>“I had to come back after my books,” he replied, +looking over his shoulder as he ran down the walk.</p> + +<p>“I won't go across that little old field,” he said +in disgust. “It must have taken twice as long to go that +way.”</p> + +<p>So he ran along the avenue, and soon neared the bend of the road +where, between trees and shrubbery, he could see a bit of the +cottage.</p> + +<p>“I'll be the only one that's late,” he thought, when +at that moment he noticed some one farther along the avenue.</p> + +<p>It was Arabella Corryville, but what was she doing?</p> + +<p>He drew back, and stood behind a bush which overhung the +sidewalk and partly hid him.</p> + +<p>Arabella was looking over the low wall,—ah, now she was +reaching down as if trying to get something that was hard to reach, +or was she dropping something over?</p> + +<p class="illus"><a name="illus064" href="images/Illus064.jpg" +target="_blank"><img src="images/Illus064s.jpg" alt= +"She was reaching down as if to get something" width="340" height= +"420"></a><br> +She was reaching down as if to get something.</p> + +<p>Reginald could not guess which she was doing, and he knew that +if he asked her, she would not tell him.</p> + +<p>Now Arabella was running; Reginald ran, too. He knew that he +must be quite late, for none of the other pupils were in sight.</p> + +<p>He was a swift runner, and he entered the door just as Arabella +was about to close it.</p> + +<p>“You're late, too,” she whispered.</p> + +<p>The little pupils were singing, and the two went softly to their +seats.</p> + +<p>After the singing, Aunt Charlotte questioned Reginald.</p> + +<p>“I started early, but I forgot my books, and going back +for them made me late. I ran 'most all the way; I meant to be here +early.”</p> + +<p>“Being late for such a reason as that is excusable,” +said Aunt Charlotte.</p> + +<p>“You, also, were late, Arabella.”</p> + +<p>“I had to help my Aunt Matilda,” said Arabella, as +glibly as if it had been true.</p> + +<p>“Oh, oo! That's a fib!” whispered Reginald, but +Arabella did not hear him.</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte said nothing, but she thought it strange that +Arabella's aunt should have detained her. Surely the maid could +have given all necessary assistance, rather than force the little +daughter of the house to be late at school.</p> + +<p>Reginald had longed to peep over that wall, but he dared not +linger. What had Arabella been doing? He determined to wait until +he had a fine chance, and then he would look over that wall. He +believed that she had hidden something there. He would not tell the +other girls, for they might tell Arabella.</p> + +<p>At recess time he asked Aunt Charlotte if she had found his +ball.</p> + +<p>No, the ball was not in the room.</p> + +<p>“I think you must have been mistaken,” she said, +“the ball must be at your home.”</p> + +<p>“Truly I had it here,” the boy insisted, “I +left it on my desk.”</p> + +<p>“It must have gone to find my red book which had our +dialogue in it, for that has disappeared, and hunt as I will, I +cannot find it. You have your parts carefully copied, and can be +learning them, but I need the book to prompt you.”</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapIV">CHAPTER IV</a></h3> + +<h4>AN ENTERTAINMENT</h4> + +<p class="chapone">Reginald knew that the ball had been on his desk +when he had left the schoolroom, and he could not think how it +could have disappeared unless some one had helped it to do so.</p> + +<p>Again he searched in his desk, but the ball was not there. He +put away the books which he had taken out, and closed his desk, +looking up just in time to see that Arabella was closely watching +him. How queer she looked! She was not laughing, but she seemed to +be amused.</p> + +<p>“I b'lieve I know where my ball is,” he whispered; +“I just know Arabella took it, and p'r'aps that was what she +dropped over the wall.”</p> + +<p>“What are you saying?” whispered Arabella, but +Reginald only shook his head.</p> + +<p>“I guess I won't tell her,” he thought, “but +right after school I'll look.”</p> + +<p>When school was out he lingered, hoping that the girls would +hurry off, and thus leave him free to search behind the wall where +he believed Arabella had hidden his ball.</p> + +<p>It was useless to wait. The girls sat upon the wall talking +until Reginald was out of patience, and when at last they started +for home, Katie insisted that he must go with her.</p> + +<p>“You know mamma said that we were to hurry home from +school,” she said.</p> + +<p>“You weren't hurrying when you were sitting on this +wall,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>“But I forgot, so I'm hurrying now,” Katie replied, +and grasping his hand, she commenced to run very fast, laughing +because he looked so unwilling.</p> + +<p>That night there was a heavy shower that drenched the trees and +left clear little puddles in the road.</p> + +<p>Reginald reached the cottage just in time to avoid being +late.</p> + +<p>The lessons went smoothly until the readers were opened. It was +a charming story, but there were many long words which puzzled the +pupils.</p> + +<p>“The water nymphs paused in the moonlight to watch the +fountain spray,” was the opening sentence of the paragraph +which Reginald was to read, but the letters were spaced so that the +s and p were not close together in “spray.” Reginald +read it as it appeared:</p> + +<p>“‘The water nymphs paused in the moonlight to watch +the fountains pray.’”</p> + +<p>“Why, how could they?” he asked, “how could +fountains <i>pray</i>?”</p> + +<p>The class was amused, but Arabella laughed long and loudly, and +Aunt Charlotte was obliged to speak forcibly to her to check her +merriment. The small boy was angry.</p> + +<p>“I'll get even with her; see 'f I don't,” he +thought.</p> + +<p>Indeed he could hardly wait to punish Arabella for her +rudeness.</p> + +<p>“May I leave the yard?” he asked at recess time, +“I've thought of one place I'd like to hunt for my +ball.”</p> + +<p>He was off like a flash, and the girls returned to their +game.</p> + +<p>“It's your turn, Dorothy,” Nancy said, and Dorothy +entered the ring.</p> + +<blockquote>“From this ring that has no end<br> +You may choose a little friend,”</blockquote> + +<p class="cont">sang the merry voices, and Dorothy looked from one +to another. She would have liked to choose Nancy, but she thought +how few of the girls <i>ever</i> chose Arabella, and she held out +her hand to the playmate who seldom was favored.</p> + +<p>If Arabella was pleased she did not show it. She took her place +in the ring, however, and looked at the merry faces that circled +around her.</p> + +<blockquote>“You are next the favored guest,<br> +Choose the friend you love the best.”</blockquote> + +<p>“Choose?” How <i>could</i> she choose? She never +liked to do a pleasant thing for any one, and whomever she called +into the ring would feel favored.</p> + +<p>“Hurry, and choose some one, Arabella,” called +Mollie Merton, but still Arabella stood sullenly staring at her +shoes.</p> + +<p>Mollie was ready again to urge Arabella to choose, when the gate +flew open, and Reginald, breathless and excited, rushed in. Aunt +Charlotte was standing in the walk, watching the pretty game. +Reginald ran to her, holding out something very wet and +dripping.</p> + +<p>“I didn't find my ball, but I guess this is the di'logue +book you couldn't find,” he said.</p> + +<p>The red and gold cover was blistered, and its fine color had +almost disappeared.</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte looked her surprise.</p> + +<p>“Where did you find it?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Down behind the wall, where I saw somebody drop +it,” he said, looking sharply at Arabella.</p> + +<p>Of course they all looked at Arabella, who hesitated for a +moment, then pushing past the girls, she ran down the walk to the +gate, looking over her shoulder to call to Aunt Charlotte:</p> + +<p>“I've got to go home, 'cause my head aches.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder what Aunt Charlotte will do about the +book?” whispered Mollie.</p> + +<p>“Why, what <i>could</i> she do?” Flossie asked in +surprise.</p> + +<p>“Why, Flossie Barnet! You saw the cover all spoiled. Don't +you s'pose she'll—”</p> + +<p>But Mollie's question was hushed by the silvery tinkle of the +bell which told that recess was over.</p> + +<p>Arabella did not return for the afternoon rehearsal, but she +entered the class-room on the next morning as calmly as if nothing +had happened, and she seemed very eager to show her interest in the +dialogue by appearing at all the other rehearsals.</p> + +<hr class="thoughtbreak"> +<p>Exhibition day had arrived, and parents and friends were seated +before the tiny stage, waiting for the curtain to rise.</p> + +<p>Dorothy had sung two songs very sweetly, Nancy had danced for +them, and had charmed them with her grace, Nina and Jeanette had +played a duet, and now, yes, the curtain was rising!</p> + +<p>Every one leaned forward to catch the first glimpse of the +stage-setting, and in the midst of the excitement, a small, prim +figure entered the room, and made its way toward the only seat +which was still unoccupied. It was beside Flossie's Uncle Harry, +and as the woman took the seat he turned, and then moved to make +extra room for her.</p> + +<p>“That <i>must</i> be Arabella's Aunt Matilda!” he +whispered to his wife.</p> + +<p>“Hush-sh-sh!” she whispered.</p> + +<p>“It not only <i>must</i> be, but it <i>is!</i>” he +declared, and he offered her his programme.</p> + +<p>Aunt Matilda was not wholly pleased with his courtesy, and had +half a mind to refuse it, but few could resist his winning smile, +and reluctantly she kept it.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Matilda looks as if she were angry because she is +not included in the dialogue,” whispered Uncle Harry, to +which his lovely young wife replied:</p> + +<p>“She'll hear you, if you aren't careful; now <i>do</i> +give your attention to the stage.”</p> + +<p>“I'm simply <i>all</i> ears,” he whispered, and at +that moment, the children ran on, entering from either side.</p> + +<p>The pretty scene represented a little grove, in which the school +girls had gathered to summon the queen of the fairies, who might +grant the dearest wish of each.</p> + +<p>The first fairy to appear was Green Feather, an elfin page or +messenger, and Reginald made a perfect sprite, in his green suit, +and cap with a long, green quill.</p> + +<p>He took the message which the girls wished to send to the queen, +and then hurried away to summon her, while the school girls chanted +a magic verse which should aid her to appear quickly.</p> + +<blockquote>“Fairy queen, we wait for thee,<br> +Willing subjects we will be.<br> +Come! Thou'lt find us at thy feet,<br> +We would beg, ay, and entreat<br> +That our wishes thou wilt hear,<br> +When thou dost indeed appear.<br> +Now we draw a magic ring,<br> +‘Come, fair queen,’ we gaily sing.”</blockquote> + +<p>With a silver-tipped wand they drew a circle upon the ground, +and scarcely was it finished when Jeanette ran out from between the +mimic trees, and sprang into the circle, a dazzling figure, all +white and silver, and blue. Upon her long, dark hair rested a tiny +gold crown, and in her hand she carried a gold wand which was wound +with strings of pearls.</p> + +<blockquote>“Thou, with voice so silvery clear,<br> +I your dearest wish will hear.”</blockquote> + +<p>As Jeanette spoke the lines she held her wand above Dorothy's +head.</p> + +<blockquote>“Song! Ah, let me always sing<br> +For the peasant, or the king,<br> +For the ones I hold most dear,<br> +For all hearts that I may cheer,”</blockquote> + +<p class="cont">sang Dorothy, in her clear, light little treble, +and very winning she looked, as she extended her hand toward the +fairy whom she implored to grant her wish.</p> + +<blockquote>“Sing you shall, in tones so clear<br> +That the very birds shall hear,<br> +And, in envy, cease their lay<br> +While your melody holds sway.”</blockquote> + +<p>As Jeanette chanted the verse, she waved her wand, and Dorothy, +entering the circle beside her, sang a fairy song which delighted +all who listened.</p> + +<p>The woman beside Uncle Harry seemed ill at ease, crumpling her +programme, and moving restlessly upon her seat as if the little +play bored her.</p> + +<p>Uncle Harry stooped, and picked up the fan which had dropped +from her lap. She looked at him as if she thought that he had +intended to steal it, then, relenting, she screwed her thin lips +into something like a smile.</p> + +<p>“Thank ye,” she said, as she took the fan, and +glanced at his pleasant face.</p> + +<p>Uncle Harry wished that she would speak again.</p> + +<p>“I wish she'd give us some of her +‘<i>views</i>,’” he whispered to his wife, +“Arabella says she has plenty of them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Harry, hush, unless you want her to hear +you.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn't mind,” he whispered, his blue eyes +twinkling with merriment.</p> + +<p>Just at that moment, the fairy queen seated herself upon her +woodland throne, and as the girls knelt before her, the red curtain +rolled slowly down, hiding the little stage.</p> + +<p>The first act was finished, and now, in the few moments before +the curtain would rise, the buzz of voices whispered approval of +the pretty play.</p> + +<p>Arabella's prim little aunt looked furtively toward her +neighbor. He smiled encouragingly, and she ventured to speak.</p> + +<p>She was a little old lady and he was tall and stalwart; his +handsome face was youthful, and she wished him to know that she +thought him a mere boy.</p> + +<p>“Young man, do you approve of this play-acting?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, surely,” he replied. “Who would care to +see professionals, if he might, instead, see children <i>trying</i> +to act?”</p> + +<p>She eyed him sharply to learn if he were joking, but his manner +was so dignified that she did not dream that he was amused.</p> + +<p>“Well, I think if we had these exhibitions often the +children would grow to be just too pert for anything. I have my +views about play-acting, and as my niece is a pupil here, I'm just +a little anxious about how this school is run. Have you any small +sisters here?” she asked.</p> + +<p>His eyes were dancing.</p> + +<p>“I've no small sisters,” he said, “and as my +little daughter is but nine months old, I've not yet sent her to +school.”</p> + +<p>“Your daughter? Well, I declare! Why, I thought you were +an overgrown boy!” she said, bluntly.</p> + +<p>“Alas! That's what my wife frequently calls me,” he +said, and from his manner one might have thought that he deeply +regretted the fact.</p> + +<p>“If your wife is here, young man, I should think she'd see +you talking to that pretty girl beside you,” said the little +woman, sharply.</p> + +<p>“Oh, she rather likes it,” he said, with a soft +laugh, “you see that pretty girl is my wife.” Aunt +Matilda stared.</p> + +<p>“Wouldn't you like to meet her?” he asked; +“this is such a very informal gathering that I might venture +to present her, if only I knew your name.”</p> + +<p>“I'm Arabella Corryville's aunt,” she said, without +realizing that that was not telling her name.</p> + +<p>“Vera,” he said, “allow me to present you to +Arabella's aunt; madam, this is my wife!”</p> + +<p>The ladies bowed, and the younger woman spoke very cordially, +then the curtain went up and every eye turned toward the stage.</p> + +<p>It was in the last act that Arabella entered from the right, and +all were surprised when in a clear voice, and with appropriate +gestures, she spoke her lines, making quite as good an impression +as any of her schoolmates.</p> + +<p>During the early part of the dialogue Arabella had not been on +the little stage, and her doting aunt felt injured, because she +believed that the other children had been given the most important +parts. She had expressed her disapproval of +“play-acting” to Uncle Harry.</p> + +<p>Now all was different; Arabella had appeared, had spoken well, +and the applause which she received completely changed Aunt +Matilda's mind.</p> + +<blockquote>“Granted our wishes,<br> +Happy hearts have we;<br> +True to our fairy queen<br> +Ever we'll be,”</blockquote> + +<p class="cont">sang the children, and then once more the red +curtain hid the tiny stage.</p> + +<p>“On second thoughts, I guess play-acting is rather a fine +thing if it's well done,” Aunt Matilda said, “an' I +guess my Arabella did 'bout as well as any of 'em. I shouldn't +wonder if she could be a great actress if she chose. Not that I'd +want her to be one; no <i>indeed</i>, but it's pleasant to think +that she could.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, certainly,” said Uncle Harry. “It would +be most delightful if we could be <i>sure</i> that, at ten minutes' +notice, Arabella could become the world's greatest actress; that by +gently beckoning to him, the most obdurate theatrical manager would +bow abjectly before her.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess so,” the prim little woman said, not +quite understanding his meaning, but thinking the speech, as a +whole, rather grand.</p> + +<p>The little entertainment had been a success, and Aunt Charlotte +received very warm congratulations for the fine work which her +little pupils had done.</p> + +<p>As they strolled homeward, the guests talked of the numbers +which had most delighted them.</p> + +<p>Uncle Harry, wag that he was, had found Aunt Matilda quite as +amusing as the music, the pretty dance which Nancy had contributed, +or the fairy dialogue. He was expecting every moment that his young +wife would gently upbraid him for his raillery, and he had not long +to wait. As they turned in at their own gateway, she looked up at +him.</p> + +<p>“Harry,” she said, “you have a merry heart, +and I would not for the world have you more quiet, but sometimes +you carry your jokes too far. Dear, will you tell me why you did +not mention that strange woman's name? You introduced her as +Arabella's aunt.”</p> + +<p>“My dear, that's who she said she was; she didn't tell me +her name, so how could I tell you?”</p> + +<p>“But you did not tell her <i>my</i> name; you introduced +me as your wife.”</p> + +<p>“Well, surely you <i>are</i> my wife; as she omitted to +state what <i>her</i> name was, I wouldn't tell her <i>yours</i>. +Simply evening things up, that's all.”</p> + +<p>“What an idea!” she said, but she could not help +laughing at his little joke.</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapV">CHAPTER V</a></h3> + +<h4>THE RETURN OF PATRICIA</h4> + +<p class="chapone">Of course they talked and talked of their +entertainment, of their fine audience, of the applause, and the +delight of their friends.</p> + +<p>They were on their way to school one morning, Nina, Jeanette, +and their cousin, Lola Blessington.</p> + +<p>“Nancy Ferris danced just <i>beautifully</i>,” said +Lola, “I wonder where she learned.”</p> + +<p>“I don't know,” Jeanette said, sullenly.</p> + +<p>She had envied the applause which Nancy's graceful dancing had +evoked.</p> + +<p>“Why, Jeanette,” exclaimed Nina, “you +<i>do</i> know that Nancy learned to dance in New York.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't know <i>who</i> taught her, and that's +probably what Lola meant,” Jeanette retorted sharply.</p> + +<p>“New York!” said Lola. “Why, I remember a +little girl I saw once at the theatre, who danced so gracefully +that I thought she must be a fairy. She seemed ever so much like +Nancy, but she had—”</p> + +<p>“Come here, Nancy,” called Jeanette, sharply, +“Lola says she saw a girl once, at a theatre in New York, who +danced and looked like you. What do you think of that?”</p> + +<p>“<i>Jeanette!</i>” cried Nina, surprised that her +sister should be so eager to tease Nancy, but Nancy did not seem +annoyed.</p> + +<p>She looked straight into Jeanette's flashing eyes, as she said, +quietly:</p> + +<p>“Perhaps Lola did see me dance; I was in New +York.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I didn't say it was you who danced at the theatre. I +said the little girl was like you, but I remember now her hair was +yellow,” Lola said.</p> + +<p>“I wore a wig of long yellow curls,” Nancy said, +“and I had to dance whether I wished to or not; Uncle Steve +made me. Oh, I was not happy there. I was never so happy as when +I've been with dear Aunt Charlotte, and Dorothy. Let's talk about +something else.”</p> + +<p>Jeanette felt a bit ashamed. Nina wished that her sister had not +been so rude, and for a few moments neither could think of anything +to say, but just at that moment Dorothy joined them, and soon they +were talking as gaily as before.</p> + +<p>Then Katie and Reginald came hurrying along the avenue, and a +moment later Mollie Merton and Flossie Barnet, and soon they were +all chattering like a flock of sparrows.</p> + +<p>“Say! Just listen to me a minute,” shouted Reginald, +“I've got something great to tell you, but I can't until +you'll hark.”</p> + +<p>“What is it? What is it?” cried the eager +voices.</p> + +<p>“It's just this,” he said with much importance: +“My mamma called on Aunt Charlotte yesterday, and while they +were talking 'bout our school Aunt Charlotte said that the big +girls would begin to study history this week, and my brother Bob +says it'll be all 'bout cutting folks' heads off. I guess it'll +scare girls to study that. 'Twould scare me, and <i>I'm</i> a +boy!”</p> + +<p>“Why, Reginald Dean!” cried Katie.</p> + +<p>“My middle name's Merton,” said the small boy, +coolly.</p> + +<p>“Well, Reginald Merton Dean, then,” Katie said, +“and whatever your name is, you ought not to tell things like +that!”</p> + +<p>“Like what? Like learning 'bout folks choppin' off other +folks' heads? Well, I guess it's so if my big brother says +so,” Reginald replied.</p> + +<p>The girls did not believe it, but they could not deny it. They +knew that Reginald <i>thought</i> what he said was true, but they +believed that, in some way, the facts had become twisted.</p> + +<p>They were at the cottage door now, and as they entered Reginald +whispered:</p> + +<p>“You just see, Katie Dean! I tell you Bob +knows!”</p> + +<p>The early morning lessons were the same as usual, and the girls +soon forgot what Reginald had said, and at recess there were so +many games to be played that there was little time for talking.</p> + +<p>It was after recess that the surprise came. The reading lesson +had been unusually interesting, and instead of twenty minutes, it +had occupied a half-hour.</p> + +<p>When the readers were put aside, Aunt Charlotte said:</p> + +<p>“Commencing to-morrow, we shall devote a half-hour to +studying history. You are all much younger than the pupils in the +public schools who begin to study history, but we shall take it up +in an easy, enjoyable way. I shall read to you from a finely +written volume which I own, while you will try to write, from +memory, what I have read.”</p> + +<p>“What did I tell you?” whispered Reginald. +“<i>Now</i> I guess you'll hear 'bout folks with their heads +off!”</p> + +<p>Katie put her hands over her ears, but Reginald's eyes were +twinkling with delight. The girls would have to admit that his +scrap of news was true!</p> + +<p>As they hastened down the long avenue after school, he again +asked his question:</p> + +<p>“Say, girls! What did I say?”</p> + +<p>“You said we'd got to learn horrid things, and Aunt +Charlotte didn't say so,” said Mollie.</p> + +<p>“I know she didn't, but Bob did, and you wait,” was +the quick reply.</p> + +<p>“<i>I'll</i> tell you something that you'd hardly believe, +but it's <i>true</i>,” said Mollie; “it's somebody +that's coming right here to Merrivale to live.”</p> + +<p>“Is it somebody you know?” Dorothy asked.</p> + +<p>Mollie laughed.</p> + +<p>“Somebody we <i>all</i> know,” she said.</p> + +<p>“Is she nice? Do we like her?” Nina questioned.</p> + +<p>“I'll tell you who it is, and then you'll know whether +you're glad or not,” said Mollie.</p> + +<p>She had been walking backward, and in front of her playmates, +and thus she could watch their faces. She looked at them an +instant, then she said:</p> + +<p>“It's—<i>Patricia Lavine!</i>”</p> + +<p>The little group stood stock still, and it was quite evident +that not one of the party was delighted.</p> + +<p>Nancy was the first to speak.</p> + +<p>“Are you <i>sure</i>, Mollie?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“She said so,” Mollie replied. “I was running +across the lawn to call for Flossie, when I heard some one +call:</p> + +<p>“‘Mollie! Mollie! Mollie Merton!’</p> + +<p>“I turned, and there was Patricia running up the walk. You +know she was always in a rush, and she's just the same now.</p> + +<p>“‘I can't stop but a minute,’ she said, +‘but I've just time to tell you that we've been hunting +houses, and we're coming here to live. We've got a house right next +to the big schoolhouse, and that's nice, for I wouldn't want to go +to private school.’</p> + +<p>“Then she ran off, just looking over her shoulder to +say:</p> + +<p>“‘I've got to hurry, for I've an engagement, but +I'll be over to see you all soon.’”</p> + +<p>“I wish she <i>wouldn't,</i>” said Reginald, +stoutly.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps she's pleasanter than when she lived here +before,” ventured Flossie, looking up into the faces of her +playmates.</p> + +<p>Dear little girl, the youngest of the group, she was ever ready +to say a kind word for an absent playmate.</p> + +<p>“She <i>looked</i> just the same,” said Mollie.</p> + +<p>“If she said she was to live next to the big schoolhouse, +that is just <i>miles</i> from here,” Jeanette said, +“so she wouldn't be likely to come over here very +often.”</p> + +<p>“'Tisn't any farther than where she lived before,” +said Nina, “and she came often enough then.”</p> + +<hr class="thoughtbreak"> +<p>Aunt Charlotte had chosen wisely, when she had decided to +interest her young pupils in history, by reading aloud from a +volume in which the facts were set forth in story form, and there +was one pupil who listened more intently than any of the +others.</p> + +<p>One glance at Reginald's earnest little face would have +convinced any one that he was wildly interested.</p> + +<p>His round, blue eyes never left Aunt Charlotte's face while she +was reading. The story of Ponce de Leon's search for the fountain +of youth was more exciting than any fairy tale that he had ever +heard. He saw no pathos in the old Spaniard's useless search. The +picture which the history painted for him showed only the little +band of swarthy men following their handsome, white-haired leader +through the wild, unexplored South, their picturesque, gaily +colored costumes gleaming in the sunlight.</p> + +<p>How brilliant the pageant! How brave, how valiant they must have +appeared! Even the gorgeous wild flowers paled with chagrin as the +bold, venturesome Spaniards trampled them underfoot as they marched +steadily onward, hoping yet to find the crystal fountain which +should grant to them eternal youth.</p> + +<p>When Aunt Charlotte ceased reading, she said:</p> + +<p>“Now, take your pencils, and write all that you remember +of what I have read.”</p> + +<p>How their pencils flew! In a short time their papers were ready, +and the little pupils proved that they had been attentive, many of +the sketches giving the story almost word for word. Of course the +older girls had written most accurately, but a few lines which +little Flossie Barnet had written showed her tender, loving +heart.</p> + +<p>“I'm sorry for the poor old Spanyard, for a fountane like +that wouldn't be <i>anywhere</i>, so I wish he and his brave men +had sailed across the sea and land to hunt for something that he +could truly find.”</p> + +<p>Some faulty spelling, but no error in the loving, tender heart. +The pathos of the story had touched her.</p> + +<p>Reginald was but a few months older than Flossie, but he was not +sensitive, and only the adventure, the beauty described appealed to +him. He looked at Flossie in surprise when she had finished reading +her little sketch, and wondered that she could see anything +pathetic in the tale.</p> + +<p>Then he rose to read his own effort at story-telling.</p> + +<p>“They tramped and tramped for miles through the trees and +swamps, and I'd like to have worn a red velvet coat and hunt for +that fountane, for if we hadn't found it we'd have had a jolly +hunt. I'd like to have worn a red velvet coat and a big hat with +fethers on it, and a pare of boots with big tops to them. We could +have tramped better with those big boots and all those fine things +on.”</p> + +<p>A droll idea, truly. No wonder that the girls laughed at the +vanity which Reginald had so innocently betrayed.</p> + +<p>“Where did you get your description of his costume?” +Aunt Charlotte asked. She could not help smiling.</p> + +<p>“From a painting in my uncle's hall,” said Reginald, +promptly, “and when I told him that I wished that men wore +clothes like that now, he just laughed, and said he thought those +huge, long-plumed hats would be an awful nuisance.”</p> + +<p>The older girls were soon to study English history, and they +felt very important indeed.</p> + +<p>“We're bigger than Flossie and Katie and Reginald,” +said Jeanette, “so we are to have an extra study.”</p> + +<p>“We wouldn't want what you're going to have,” +Reginald said, “for it's just horrid. I told you my brother +Bob said it was all full of chopping folks' heads off, and you +didn't believe it, Jeanette Earl, but you'll find out it's so; you +see 'f you don't.”</p> + +<p>Flossie slipped her hand into Reginald's, as if for +protection.</p> + +<p>“We wouldn't like to study it,” she said, “and +we won't like to hear it, but we'll have to when they say their +lessons.”</p> + +<p>Dorothy and Nancy had been obliged to hurry home from school. +They were to drive with Mrs. Dainty and Aunt Charlotte, and Mrs. +Dainty had told them to be prompt.</p> + +<p>Flossie and Reginald lingered after the others had gone. He +gathered some blossoming weeds which grew near the cottage, +thinking thus to cheer her, and to turn her mind from the hated +English history.</p> + +<p>She took the flowers, and for a time she laughed and talked so +brightly that she seemed her sunny self.</p> + +<p>He was just thinking how happy she looked when suddenly she +leaned toward him, and said earnestly:</p> + +<p>“Do you s'pose Bob was mistaken?”</p> + +<p>Reginald hesitated. He ardently admired Bob, but he also cared +for dear little Flossie, and longed to please her, so after a pause +he said:</p> + +<p>“My big brother knows <i>'most everything</i>, but just +<i>p'r'aps</i> he might have been mistaken.”</p> + +<p>It was not much comfort, but it was better than if Reginald had +insisted that Bob's knowledge was absolute.</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Dainty's carriage bowled along the avenue, the trees +seemed ablaze with autumn splendor, for the leaves that danced in +the sunlight were scarlet and gold, and the sunbeams flickered and +shimmered like merry elves.</p> + +<p>The light breeze tossed the plumes on Dorothy's hat, and blew +her golden curls about her lovely little face.</p> + +<p>She leaned back in the carriage and laid her hand in Nancy's. +Nancy's fingers were quick to clasp Dorothy's, and for a time they +sat listening to what Mrs. Dainty and Aunt Charlotte Grayson were +saying.</p> + +<p>Then something made Nancy turn. A little figure was mincing +along the avenue; its shoes had very high heels, its stockings were +pink, and its dress a bright green. A showy hat with many-colored +flowers crowned its head, and as the carriage passed it waved a +lace handkerchief, thus setting her many bangles tinkling.</p> + +<p>“That <i>was</i> Patricia Lavine,” said Nancy; +“Mollie Merton said she saw her just a few days +ago.”</p> + +<p>“O dear!” said Dorothy, “and it's not nice to +say that when Patricia has just come back here to live, but truly +she wasn't pleasant.”</p> + +<p>“I don't wonder you said, ‘O dear,’ for +wherever she was, she made somebody uncomfortable,” Nancy +said, which was indeed true.</p> + +<p>Patricia was not wholly at fault. She dearly loved anything that +was showy, and her mother, who was a very ignorant woman, was quite +as fond of display.</p> + +<p>She had never taught her little daughter to be kind or +courteous, but instead had laughed at her pert ways, and thought +them amusing.</p> + +<p>Patricia hastened along the avenue as fast as her little steeple +heels would permit, and when she saw Flossie and Reginald, she +rushed toward them, assuring them that she <i>never</i> had been so +glad to see any one before.</p> + +<p>Neither Flossie nor Reginald could say that they were quite as +pleased, but Patricia did not wait for them to speak.</p> + +<p>“We've been living in N' York,” she said, “but +we're going to live here now, an' we've got a el'gant house right +next the schoolhouse. Ma says it's one of the finest houses in +Merrivale, an' I guess—”</p> + +<p>“If it's next to the schoolhouse it's the one where our +cook's brother lives,” remarked Reginald. “He lives on +the first floor, and the man that drives the water-cart lives just +over him.”</p> + +<p>Patricia was annoyed. She had wished them to think that the +entire house had been engaged for her own small family.</p> + +<p>Her cheeks were flushed, but she made the best of the situation, +and at once commenced to tell of the beauties of the flat.</p> + +<p>“We lived in a great big hotel in N' York,” she +said, “but ma says this flat is handsomer than the one what +we had at the hotel. Ma says I can give a party this winter, if I +want to. Of course I'll invite <i>all</i> my N' York friends, but I +shall only ask the girls here that have been nice to me, and I +don't think I shall ask <i>any</i> boys at all.”</p> + +<p>She cast a withering glance at Reginald, who whistled softly. +Then he made a naughty reply.</p> + +<p>“P'r'aps the boys wouldn't come if you asked them,” +he said.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Reginald!” said Flossie.</p> + +<p>“Well, she said a mean thing 'bout not inviting boys, else +I wouldn't have said it. I wouldn't speak like that to you or +Dorothy, or any of the nice girls I know.”</p> + +<p>“There were nice boys in N' York,” snapped Patricia. +“I didn't see a boy while I was there who wasn't <i>very</i> +nice.”</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapVI">CHAPTER VI</a></h3> + +<h4>WHAT FLOSSIE DID</h4> + +<p class="chapone">In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the +butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had +left.</p> + +<p>He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to +study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the +handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.</p> + +<p>The little French maid, peering over the baluster, laughed +softly.</p> + +<p>“M'sieur is curious, but he should not delay. The +lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already +waiting is.”</p> + +<p>With a soft, yet merry laugh, the maid returned to dress her +mistress's hair, and the burly butler stalked up the stairway, +angry that Marie should have seen him studying the letters, and +annoyed by her saucy laugh.</p> + +<p>“That girl is always 'round,” he muttered.</p> + +<p>It was Saturday morning, and although it was October, it was as +warm as a June day.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Barnet was in the hands of the French maid, and could not +be disturbed while her hair was being dressed.</p> + +<p>Flossie wondered what she could find to play with.</p> + +<p>She wished that Saturday had been a schoolday.</p> + +<p>Usually she found the baby amusing, but Uncle Harry's little +daughter was out for an airing.</p> + +<p>The kitten skurried down the hall and Flossie caught her, and +ran off to the music-room.</p> + +<p>She managed to clamber up on to the stool with pussy in her +arms, and reached for the music, which she opened.</p> + +<p>“Now that's a <i>very</i> nice song, kitty,” she +said, “but you needn't sing it; you can just practise the +'comfrement. Now one, two, three, begin!”</p> + +<p>She held the kitten's paws, and forced them to press the +keys.</p> + +<p>“Me-u! Me-u!” squeaked wee pussy.</p> + +<p>“You going to sing and play, too? Why, that's fine,” +said Flossie, “only you don't get the tune right.”</p> + +<p>“Me-u! Me-u!” wailed the white kitten.</p> + +<p>“Now pussy darling, you're real sweet to <i>try</i>, but +you don't sing the tune right; it didn't sound like <i>that</i> +when Uncle Harry sang it last night. We'll sing it together, and +maybe you'll learn it. Put your left paw on <i>do</i>, and your +right paw on <i>mi</i>; now sing.”</p> + +<p class="illus"><a name="illus113" href="images/Illus113.jpg" +target="_blank"><img src="images/Illus113s.jpg" alt= +"'Put your left paw on _do_, and your right paw on _mi_; now sing.'" + width="338" height="426"></a><br> +“Put your left paw on <i>do</i>, and your right paw on +<i>mi</i>; now sing.”</p> + +<p>What a droll duet it was! Franz Abt's beautiful song was never +before thus rendered.</p> + +<blockquote>“I love thee, dearest, thee alone,<br> +Love thee, and only thee!”</blockquote> + +<p class="cont">sang Flossie, while little pussy, regardless of +time or sentiment, sang “me-u! me-<i>ow!</i> me-u! +<i>me-u!</i>”</p> + +<p>“Our voices don't <i>har-mer-lize</i>, pussy, I know they +don't. You'll just have to practise alone. That's what Mollie +Merton's mamma said last night when Uncle Harry and Aunt Vera sang +together. She said: ‘Oh, how beautifully their voices +<i>har-mer-lize</i>.’ Now that's just what our voices +<i>don't</i> do, so I'll put you right on to the keys, and you can +practise the <i>'comfrement</i> alone.”</p> + +<p>Flossie ran to the window to see if any of her playmates were in +sight, while the kitten, left to amuse herself, walked slowly +across the keyboard, and sat down upon the lower bass notes.</p> + +<p>The French maid paused in the doorway.</p> + +<p>“Ah, it is the petite beast that the bad music makes. I +will the feline terrible remove, before she more mischief does +do.”</p> + +<p>“Don't take the kitten out, Marie,” cried Flossie, +“I'm making her practise her lesson.”</p> + +<p>“Eh, bien! In this great mansion where all do so much +learning have, even the petite cat must an education get! What more +astounding could one behold?”</p> + +<p>“I want to make her learn the song Uncle Harry sang last +night. Did you hear him sing, Marie? Wasn't his voice +sweet?”</p> + +<p>“Ah, well did I the music hear. The sweet sounds did up +the stairway float, and I did say: ‘He is one beau gallant! +His voice the rock would melt! Many hearts he must broken have +before he loved Madame Vera who now his wife is.’”</p> + +<p>“I don't know what you mean, Marie,” Flossie said, +“but I do know I <i>love</i> him, and I love to hear him +sing.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I could listen the day and the night when he music +makes,” the maid replied, and Flossie was satisfied.</p> + +<p>A moment later Mollie, in great excitement, ran over to call for +Flossie.</p> + +<p>“Oh, do you know, Dorothy's mamma told my mamma that +there's to be a great party at the stone house, and all of +Dorothy's friends are to be invited. Now aren't you glad I came +over to tell you?”</p> + +<p>“When is it to be? I guess I am glad, Mollie Merton, and +so will everybody be. When is the party to be?” she repeated, +her blue eyes shining, and her little feet restlessly dancing.</p> + +<p>“I don't know just when, but I guess it's pretty soon, and +it's to be different from any party we ever went to. I don't know +just <i>how</i> different; that part is a secret, but we are to +know as soon as the invitations are ready.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we <i>'most</i> can't wait,” said Flossie.</p> + +<p>Of course the delightful news travelled, and by Monday morning +every child in town knew that there was to be a grand party at the +great stone house, but no one could find out just what sort of +party it was to be. Even Dorothy could not enlighten them.</p> + +<p>“It's to be fine,” she said, “and different +from any party I ever had, but mamma doesn't wish me to tell +anything about it.”</p> + +<p>“Won't she let you tell Nancy?” questioned Katie +Dean.</p> + +<p>“Nancy knows <i>now</i>!” declared Reginald; +“just look at her!”</p> + +<p>Indeed Nancy's dark eyes were merry, and her voice rippled with +laughter, as she said:</p> + +<p>“I <i>do</i> know, and I'm going to keep the secret, but +it's the hardest one I ever tried to keep.”</p> + +<p>At recess they walked arm-in-arm, talking of the party instead +of playing games. They were chattering so gaily that they heard no +one approach, and when suddenly Patricia Lavine peeped over the +wall, they were startled, and wondered how she could have appeared +without any one having seen her coming.</p> + +<p>“Why, Patricia! Where'd you come from?” said +Mollie.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I was walking along and came over because I heard you +talking. Whose party is it going to be?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Dorothy is to have the party,” said Jeanette, +“but why aren't you in school?”</p> + +<p>“Why aren't <i>you?</i>” Patricia asked with a saucy +laugh.</p> + +<p>“It's recess time at <i>our</i> school,” said +Nina.</p> + +<p>“Well, it's recess time at <i>ours</i>, too,” +Patricia replied.</p> + +<p>“But you're a long way from your school,” Reginald +said.</p> + +<p>“Am I?” queried Patricia, “well, I don't have +to go to school every single day, as <i>some</i> folks do,” +she retorted.</p> + +<p>“I know 'most all the tables now, and I know a little +geog-er-fry, and 'most half of the history, 'cause some of it I +learned when I was in N' York. We had a el'gant school there, and +ma says I learned so much that I needn't go to school every day +now.”</p> + +<p>Little Flossie looked quite impressed, but the older girls were +not so sure that Patricia had gained so much knowledge.</p> + +<p>No one spoke, and Patricia thought that they were all much +surprised at what she had said.</p> + +<p>“There's to be visitors at our school to-day, and teacher +said she was going to let them ask questions,” she +continued.</p> + +<p>“Guess you stayed away so as not to tell all you +know,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>Katie nudged him sharply, but he only twitched away, laughing +because Patricia looked angry.</p> + +<p>The little silver bell tinkled, and they turned to enter the +cottage.</p> + +<p>“Good-by,” they called to Patricia, who stood at the +gate.</p> + +<p>“Good-by,” she replied, then looking over her +shoulder, she said:</p> + +<p>“I'm glad I don't have to go to private school; it's too +stupid.”</p> + +<p>“The horrid, rude girl,” whispered Nina Earl, but +Arabella surprised them all by saying:</p> + +<p>“I think I'd like that Patricia What's-her-name; she isn't +like everybody else.”</p> + +<p>Reginald heard what Arabella said, and in a loud whisper +informed her that he wouldn't go to school if <i>all</i> the girls +were like Patricia.</p> + +<p>Arabella would have answered him sharply, but they were entering +the schoolroom, so she was obliged to be silent.</p> + +<p>Later, when they were asked to write upon the little blackboard, +Arabella looked for a chance to tease Reginald.</p> + +<p>“If he does anything that I can laugh at, I'll laugh till +he's mad as a hornet,” she whispered.</p> + +<p>It happened that Reginald was the first to go to the board.</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte asked for a sentence which should contain but +five words, and yet tell a bit of news.</p> + +<p>Every hand was raised.</p> + +<p>Dorothy intended to write: “Nancy is a true friend,” +while Nancy thought that this would be interesting: “Dorothy +will have a party,” but Reginald felt sure that he had +thought of the smartest sentence, and his face beamed with delight +when he was told that he might write it.</p> + +<p>He glanced toward Arabella as he strutted to the blackboard, and +boldly he wrote:</p> + +<p>“Phido has a new collar.”</p> + +<p>It was funny, and Reginald wondered why even Aunt Charlotte +looked amused. Every one knew Fido, and only that morning the +little dog had followed Reginald and Katie half-way to school, the +bell on his new collar tinkling all the way.</p> + +<p>That Reginald should have spelled the name +“<i>Phido</i>” made them laugh, but Arabella was not +contented with laughing; she fairly shouted.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't care if you do laugh,” he said, his +eyes blazing as he looked at her; “you spell photo, just +<i>p-h-o,</i> and why can't Fido be spelt <i>P-h-i?</i>”</p> + +<p>When the room was again quiet Aunt Charlotte told Reginald and +Arabella to remain for a few moments after school.</p> + +<p>When the other pupils had gone, Aunt Charlotte turned toward the +two who still kept their seats, and very gently she told Arabella +how rude it was to laugh at another's error, and how equally rude +for Reginald to reply in so saucy a manner.</p> + +<p>“A little girl should be a little lady,” she said, +“and a small boy should surely be a little +gentleman.”</p> + +<p>Then Reginald spoke.</p> + +<p>Looking straight into Arabella's eyes, he said:</p> + +<p>“I guess I'm a gentleman, so I'll 'pol'gize; if I was just +a boy I <i>wouldn't,</i> though.”</p> + +<p>Arabella was fully equal to a reply.</p> + +<p>“I'm as much a lady as you are a gentleman, so I'll say I +oughtn't to have laughed, but I <i>won't</i> say I'm +sorry.”</p> + +<p>It was late afternoon, and Flossie, on the piazza, waved her +hand to her playmates as they ran down the walk to the gate.</p> + +<p>They had played delightful games, they had talked of the fine +party which they would soon enjoy, they had guessed and guessed +what sort of party it was to be, and Dorothy, who knew all about +it, had laughed merrily because their countless guesses were +nowhere near right.</p> + +<p>“I wish playmates didn't ever have to go home,” said +Flossie, as she ran into the house.</p> + +<p>There was no one in the hall save the baby, who sat in her +carriage. The maid had just brought her in from a long ride, and +had left her for a moment while she chatted with the butler and the +cook. Flossie loved the baby, and she ran to the carriage to kiss +the sunny little face that smiled at her.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you lovely, lovely baby,” she cried, “are +you glad to see me?”</p> + +<p>For answer the little one cooed sweetly, and snatched at +Flossie's curling hair.</p> + +<p>“Mustn't pull so hard, baby,” pleaded Flossie, and +just at that moment the maid returned, and rescued Flossie's +ringlets from the little dimpled hands.</p> + +<p>“You give her to me,” said Flossie. “I'll sit +on this rug and hold her. Uncle Harry said I could take this baby +any time I want to, and I want to now.”</p> + +<p>The maid waited for no urging. Here was a chance for a few more +moments of gossip. If Miss Flossie wished to take care of the baby, +why not permit her to? Her Uncle Harry had given his permission, +and as it was his baby, who could object?</p> + +<p>For a few moments Flossie and the baby played upon the great +hall rug. The bright-colored ball which Flossie had taken from her +pocket was a pretty plaything, and the baby crowed with +delight.</p> + +<p>The butler and the maids were in the butler's pantry at the rear +of the hall, but while their voices could be plainly heard. Flossie +noticed nothing which they said until the maid spoke of the +baby.</p> + +<p>“She ees well, the petite belle, but upon her cheek the, +what ees eet the doctaire did say?”</p> + +<p>“Sure, Marie, 'tis a ould-fashioned rash, an' manny's the +toime Oive seen ut on a babby's face, an' whoile the docthor makes +a fuss about it, it's just nothin' at all, at all,” responded +Bridget.</p> + +<p>“I'm thinkin' it don't pay to let it go an' not have the +doctor see about it,” growled the butler in a deep bass +voice.</p> + +<p>“An' ain't they seein' about it wid all their eyes, the +ould docthor a-peekin' at the swate little thing t'rough his +goggles, an' puttin' a wee bit t'ermom'ter into her mouth what for +I do' 'no' unless 'tis ter foind out if it's near toime fer her ter +be a-talkin'.”</p> + +<p>“He's very ugly, le m'sieur doctaire; if he was fine to +behold it would be well. And what said he of the child? That at +home she could not remain? If they do away take her M'sieur Harry +will weep his fine eyes out.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you little Frenchie!” exclaimed the butler with +a jolly laugh, “you get things mixed. If it's nothing but a +rash, as Bridget says, she'll stay here, but if it's measles she'll +be hurried off up-stairs, and—”</p> + +<p>“An' be <i>quarantained</i>, Oim tould,” interrupted +Bridget.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Breejhay, what <i>ees</i> that?” cried the +little French maid, and Flossie waited to hear no more.</p> + +<p><i>Quarantined!</i> Oh, what a big word, and what <i>did</i> it +mean? Who was going to do <i>that</i> to dear Uncle Harry's +baby?</p> + +<p><i>No</i> one! She would not let them!</p> + +<p>Quickly she gathered the wee mite in her arms, wrapped the warm +little cloak around her, and walking softly to the door, slipped +out, the baby nestled close in her arms.</p> + +<p>Across the lawn she trudged, past the summer-house, and on to +the little clump of trees and shrubs which the children called the +grove.</p> + +<p>In a little nook between the tall hedge and the shrubbery she +sat down, and took the baby on her lap. Fortunately it had no idea +of crying; she loved Flossie, and she cooed contentedly.</p> + +<p>And now the shadows were long, and the light breeze, growing +stronger, swept in little chilly gusts across the treetops, and +searching lower, tossed the small shrubs as if trying to discover +Flossie's hiding-place.</p> + +<p>She drew the baby's cloak closer around it, and bending lower, +kissed it, and whispered lovingly:</p> + +<p>“You're all safe with me, for I won't let that old doctor +<i>quantine</i> you. You're Uncle Harry's own baby, and I won't let +anybody hurt you.”</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapVII">VII</a></h3> + +<h4>PATRICIA'S PROMISE</h4> + +<p class="chapone">At the Barnet house all was excitement. Servants +were rushing this way and that, searching for Flossie and the +baby.</p> + +<p>Again and again the maid insisted that she had left them in the +hall but a few moments, and the cook and the butler declared that +she had spoken truly, yet it seemed strange that in so short a time +the two could have so completely disappeared.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the excitement Uncle Harry came home, and he +looked very grave when he learned the cause of their alarm.</p> + +<p>Yes, the house and grounds had been thoroughly searched, they +told him, and neither could be found, nor could any one remember +having seen them after the baby had been brought in from her +ride.</p> + +<p>And while the other members of the household were searching in +every direction, Uncle Harry secured a lantern, and went out into +the shadowy garden, hoping that he might, in some forgotten corner, +find the two children whom he so dearly loved.</p> + +<p>Around the house, along the driveway toward the stable, down a +little path to where the tall dahlias nodded; across the lawn to +the open space where the new moon spread its sheen, then toward the +shrubbery and the hedge.</p> + +<p>Flossie saw the gleam of the bright lantern through the bushes, +and huddled closer to the little shrubs. She believed that it was +the butler who carried the lantern, and that he had been sent to +capture the baby.</p> + +<p>“Hush, hush—sh—sh!” she whispered, +patting its shoulder gently.</p> + +<p>It had no idea of crying, but she was so afraid that it might, +and thus tell where they were hiding. It happened that the baby was +sleepy, and snug and warm in Flossie's loving arms, it was quite +content.</p> + +<p>Nearer, and yet nearer came the light! Now it was going farther +from her,—now returning, and now, oh, she must hold her +breath!</p> + +<p>A firm step trampled the underbrush, the lantern was swung high, +and the two runaways were discovered. With a sob Flossie clasped +the infant closer, hiding its face with her own.</p> + +<p>“You sha'n't have this baby!” she cried, “for +I won't let you! Nobody shall touch my Uncle Harry's baby; nobody's +going to <i>quantine</i> her. I'm 'fraid out here, but I'll stay to +take care of his own baby!”</p> + +<p>“Flossie! Flossie, little girl, who has frightened you? +Why are you hiding out here with the baby?”</p> + +<p>“Go away!” she cried, holding the baby closer, +“they've sent you to find us, but you don't know that they're +going to <i>quantine</i> this baby, but I'll never let them do +it.”</p> + +<p>“Flossie, Flossie, you're frightened, listen to +me.”</p> + +<p>He put the lantern down, and seating himself upon the grass, +placed his strong arm around Flossie, drawing the two closer as if +to protect them.</p> + +<p>“They <i>are</i> going to <i>quantine</i> this +baby!” she cried, “and they sha'n't cut her head off +'cause there's spots on her face. She's your baby, and oh, I +<i>love</i> you both!”</p> + +<p>The wild note in her voice showed how genuine was her +terror.</p> + +<p>“Nobody shall harm baby, I promise you that, dear,” +said Uncle Harry, an odd quiver in his voice, “and you were a +dear little girl to take care of her for me, but now I must take +you both up to the house, for every one is hunting for +you.”</p> + +<p>“But Bridget said they'd have to +quantine,”—sobbed Flossie.</p> + +<p>“Bridget was mistaken,” he said, “and besides, +no one is harmed by being quarantined. I'll tell you all about that +at another time. You are about chilled through, and as you're not +very huge, I guess I'll carry you both.”</p> + +<p>There was no help for it, so Flossie laid her head upon his +shoulder, the baby, sound asleep, still in her arms, and Uncle +Harry strode across the lawn, up to the piazza, and into the hall, +where a frightened group were talking.</p> + +<p>They crowded around him to learn where he had found them, but he +raised his hand to stop the eager questioning.</p> + +<p>Flossie had been badly frightened, and he felt that she must not +be excited.</p> + +<p>Once in her own little room with her mother bending over her, +she listened eagerly while Uncle Harry explained what the maids had +meant, and she sighed happily when she at last realized that the +baby was safe from harm, and that she would remain right under the +roof of their beautiful home.</p> + +<p>When on the following day the old doctor called to see the baby, +he laughed heartily at the story of Flossie's fear, and he declared +that Flossie must have done a very fine thing for the baby. Its +little pink cheeks were fair, and the tiny spots which had so +frightened its young mother had been chased away, so the doctor +said, by its long stay out in the evening air.</p> + +<p>“Then I <i>did</i> do something nice for that baby,” +said Flossie, to which Uncle Harry responded:</p> + +<p>“You were a brave little niece, Flossie,” and +Flossie was happy.</p> + +<hr class="thoughtbreak"> +<p>When the postman called on the morning of the next day, he +brought an invitation for the long-dreamed-of party.</p> + +<p>Then the secret was out as to what kind of party it was to +be.</p> + +<p>A fancy dress party! A costume carnival!</p> + +<p>Of course the first question that each little friend asked of +the other was:</p> + +<p>“What are you going to wear?”</p> + +<p>“Why, our prettiest party dresses, of course,” said +Mollie Merton.</p> + +<p>Mollie, who was always very positive, was greatly surprised when +Dorothy overtook them on the way to school, and explained that each +little guest was expected to appear in a costume which should +represent some well-known character in history or story.</p> + +<p>“And mamma says we are not to tell each other what we're +going to be,” said Dorothy; “we're to wear long +dominoes over our frocks, and we'll dance and play games, just +peeping through eyeholes to see where we're going.”</p> + +<p>“And nobody'll know who anybody is,” chimed in +Nancy, “for Mrs. Dainty and Aunt Charlotte will receive, and +Dorothy will walk up to greet them, so neither of us will even know +who Dorothy is.”</p> + +<p>“What fun!” cried Jeanette, and the little group +laughed gaily.</p> + +<p>“Any boys besides me invited?” questioned +Reginald.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, there are ever so many boys invited,” +Dorothy said. “My cousins Russell and Arthur are coming, and +three of papa's nephews will be here. I've never met them, but +they're coming for a little visit of a few days, and I'm to have my +party while they're here.”</p> + +<p>“If you girls are going to wear those funny long cloaks, +of course they'll hide who you are, but you'll every one of you +know us fellows,” said Reginald, who felt that the girls were +more favored.</p> + +<p>“Indeed, we won't know you,” laughed Dorothy, +“for papa insists that you boys must wear dominoes, +too.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah for us, I say!” shouted Reginald; +“we'll have as much fun as you girls will.”</p> + +<p>“And we've two weeks to wait,” said Katie Dean, +“and all that time we're not to tell what we're to +be.”</p> + +<p>“Nor even the color of our dominoes,” said +Jeanette.</p> + +<p>“I sha'n't tell what I'm to be,” Reginald proudly +said, “but some of you girls will just <i>have</i> to tell; +girls can't keep a secret.”</p> + +<p>“We can keep a secret, Reginald Dean,” said Mollie, +to which Flossie chimed in:</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed we can. I <i>can't</i> tell what I'm to be, +because I don't know; mamma hasn't told me, but I <i>do</i> know +what color I'm to wear, and I won't tell that!”</p> + +<p>Reginald liked to tease.</p> + +<p>“Somebody'll tell something, see 'f they don't!” he +said, nodding and laughing.</p> + +<hr class="thoughtbreak"> +<p>It was now just a week from the day set for the party.</p> + +<p>Arabella, hurrying along the avenue, tried to thrust her arms +into the sleeves of her jacket.</p> + +<p>“O dear! I shouldn't think this jacket had any +armholes!” she cried impatiently.</p> + +<p>She had hurried out before Aunt Matilda could stop her, and she +was trying to get her jacket on without pausing to do so. At last +her arms were in her sleeves, and she looked ahead to see if any +one was in sight.</p> + +<p>“She'll be awful cross if I'm late,” thought +Arabella, and she tried to run even faster.</p> + +<p>There were two reasons for Arabella's haste. The first was that +she had promised to meet Patricia, and the second reason was that +it was Saturday morning, and if she remained at home Aunt Matilda +would be sure to find something for her to do. Of course Aunt +Matilda would ask where she had been, and why she had run out so +early, and oh, no end of questions!</p> + +<p>“It'll be by-'m-bye when Aunt Matilda questions me,” +whispered Arabella, adding cheerfully: “and by-'m-bye isn't +<i>now</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Hello!” called Patricia, “you're some late, +but not <i>very</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I'm here as soon as you are,” said +Arabella.</p> + +<p>“I know that,” Patricia replied, “but I +thought you'd be over to my house by this time.”</p> + +<p>“Aren't we 'most there?” questioned Arabella.</p> + +<p>“Almost, and not quite,” said Patricia, “and +anyway I was going to stop at a store before I go over to my house. +Ma gave me some money and I'm going to spend it for candy. Have you +got any to spend?”</p> + +<p>Arabella shook her head.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Matilda won't let me spend money; she has her views +about folks spending money, she says.”</p> + +<p>“I wouldn't want her for <i>my</i> aunt,” said +Patricia.</p> + +<p>“Well, she isn't your aunt,” snapped Arabella, and +now they had reached the little candy store, and Patricia, grasping +Arabella's hand, walked boldly in.</p> + +<p>Arabella was greatly impressed, and when Patricia asked her +which kind she would like to have, she managed to just whisper that +<i>any</i> kind would do.</p> + +<p>At Arabella's home Aunt Matilda reigned supreme, and it was said +that no one, not even Mr. Corryville, dared spend any money, unless +Aunt Matilda approved, but that might not be true.</p> + +<p>Arabella thought it very grand that Patricia had enough money to +buy whatever she wished, and her surprise increased when she chose +a half-pound of two different kinds, ordering the clerk to put them +in separate papers.</p> + +<p>“You can have that bundle, and I'll have this,” said +Patricia, as they left the store, “and now we'll go over to +my house, it's that one next to the school.”</p> + +<p>Arabella looked toward the house at which Patricia pointed. It +did not look at all like the homes of her other friends. Patricia +rang the bell, and they heard the lock slip, then they commenced to +mount the stairs. The building was four stories high, and Patricia +lived on the top floor.</p> + +<p>“We like the top floor because it's so airy,” she +said.</p> + +<p>Arabella said nothing, but when they were seated cosily in the +corners of an old sofa, each with her package of candy, Arabella +was glad that she had come.</p> + +<p>A few moments later Patricia's mother entered. She was showily +dressed, and her many pieces of jewelry made Arabella stare. She +did not know that those glittering rings and bangles were worth +very little money.</p> + +<p>“Now, Patricia, you know I don't like to have you buy so +much candy,” whined Mrs. Lavine.</p> + +<p>“I haven't <i>much</i> candy,” replied Patricia, +“that Arabella's got belongs to her.”</p> + +<p>Arabella looked quickly at Patricia. Was not that a sort of fib? +Patricia had not <i>said</i> that Arabella had bought her package +of candy, but she had certainly intended her mother to think +so.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lavine took a book from the table, and sat down by the +window to read.</p> + +<p>Soon Patricia became restless.</p> + +<p>“Let's go out again,” she said, and in a few moments +they were running down the stairs, and out into the street.</p> + +<p>“I've got a little more money, and we'll have some ice +cream,” said Patricia.</p> + +<p>Arabella wondered where she got her money, but dared not ask +her, and while she was thinking about it Patricia spoke.</p> + +<p>“I asked you over to my house because I think I'd like you +for my best friend,” she said, “and because I've got +something to tell you.”</p> + +<p>Arabella stared at her through her glasses, but she said +nothing.</p> + +<p>“You're sort of old-fashioned,” Patricia continued, +“but I guess we can play together nicely, and you needn't be +provoked at what I said, for we're going to have a secret the very +first thing, and I'll tell it to you when we're having our ice +cream.”</p> + +<p>They entered a tiny store which the sign stated was an +“Ice Cream Parlor.” There was room for but three little +tables, but Arabella thought it quite grand, for the wall-paper was +covered with gaudy flowers, and the ice cream was very pink.</p> + +<p>They took tiny sips that the treat might last longer, and +Arabella watched Patricia, and waited to hear what she had to +tell.</p> + +<p>At last Patricia lost patience.</p> + +<p>“Why don't you ask what the secret is?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“Why don't you tell it if it's worth telling?” +Arabella asked, coolly.</p> + +<p>“I <i>guess</i> it's worth telling,” said Patricia. +“Say, you'll be at Dorothy Dainty's party, won't +you?”</p> + +<p>“Of course I'll be there; my costume is 'most +done.”</p> + +<p>“What's it going to be?”</p> + +<p>“Why, don't you remember we are not to tell any one what +we are to wear; not even the color of our dominoes?” Arabella +asked in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Well, we didn't promise not to tell,” said +Patricia, “and, anyway, I'm going to tell you. Ma has made me +a Spanish dress, all spangles, and red ribbons, and gold tinsel, +and my domino that will cover it for the first of the evening will +be bright yellow! I've told you, Arabella Corryville, because now +you'll know which I am, as soon as you see me, and you'll be just +mean if you don't tell me now what you're going to wear.”</p> + +<p>Arabella hesitated.</p> + +<p>“Dorothy wouldn't like to have us tell,” she +said.</p> + +<p>“Well, we needn't tell her we told, and what about +<i>me</i>? Here I've treated you to candy and ice cream, and told +you all about my costume. If you were half-nice, you'd think you +<i>ought</i> to tell me about yours.”</p> + +<p>Patricia's voice sounded grieved, and Arabella wavered.</p> + +<p>Ought she to tell? She knew she ought not, but Patricia urged +again.</p> + +<p>“And I was going to say we could each wear a blue ribbon +on the third buttonhole of our dominoes, so we'd know each other +the minute we got there. And, say,” she continued, +“have you ever been all over the stone house?”</p> + +<p>“Not in every room,” said Arabella.</p> + +<p>“Have you been in the observatory?”</p> + +<p>“The <i>what?</i>” asked Arabella.</p> + +<p>Patricia was sure that she had made a mistake.</p> + +<p>“The room where the flowers are?” she said.</p> + +<p>“Oh, the <i>conservatory</i>, you mean,” Arabella +said, grandly. “No, I haven't been in there, but I've seen +the flowers from the doorway, and they're lovely.”</p> + +<p>“Well, they're twice as lovely when you're right in the +room with them. I <i>know</i>, because I've been in there!” +said Patricia.</p> + +<p>“<i>When?</i>” queried Arabella.</p> + +<p>“The last time I was there,” Patricia replied, +“and <i>now</i> I'll tell you something; there's something in +that room that I know about, and not another girl knows it but me. +I won't tell you what it is now, but at the party I'll do better +than <i>tell</i> you; I'll <i>show</i> you. We'll go out into the +hall when nobody is looking at us, and we'll go into the +what-you-call-it,—”</p> + +<p>“The conservatory,” prompted Arabella.</p> + +<p>“The conservatory,” repeated Patricia, “and +then you'll see <i>what</i> you'll see! I <i>promise</i> to +surprise you.”</p> + +<p>“Don't you tell if I tell you,” said Arabella.</p> + +<p>“No, '<i>ndeed</i>,” Patricia agreed.</p> + +<p>“Well, Aunt Matilda said she wouldn't let me wear anything +<i>flighty</i>, so she's made me a dress like a Puritan, and my +domino is tan color.”</p> + +<p>Arabella's curiosity forced her to tell all that Patricia longed +to know, because she was simply wild to visit the conservatory, and +find out what it was that Patricia could show.</p> + +<p>With vows of secrecy they parted, Patricia walking slowly +homeward; Arabella running all the way.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Matilda'll say something, I guess, when she sees +me,” she whispered as she ran, “First thing she'll ask +where I've been, and oh, I never thought to take those horrid +pills! The bottle is in my pocket, and I've eaten candy and ice +cream! It's lucky she don't know <i>that</i>; if she did she'd say, +'I shouldn't wonder if that child had fits before morning!' She +don't know it, and p'r'aps I won't have the fits.”</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapVIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></h3> + +<h4>THE PARTY</h4> + +<p class="chapone">Lights blazed from every window of the stone +house, the great garden was brilliantly lighted, even the twinkling +stars overhead seemed brighter than usual, as if they knew of the +party, and were laughing as they watched the little guests +arriving.</p> + +<p>Lightly they stepped from their carriages, and flew up the steps +as if their feet had wings.</p> + +<p>What was their surprise to see the manservant, at the door as +usual, to be sure, but in a fine old suit of livery that made him +look like an English serving-man of many, many years ago.</p> + +<p>Yes, there was the maid in the hall in a cute Watteau costume, a +tiny lace cap on her head, and a kerchief over her flowered gown. +She presented her salver, and each little guest laid a card upon +it, with the name of the character which she represented. These +were merely to be kept as souvenirs, that later Dorothy might look +them over, and see what a variety of noted personages had called to +do her honor.</p> + +<p>They were not to be announced, for while the names of the girls' +costumes would not tell <i>which</i> girl wore it, the characters +that the boys took would of course be male personages.</p> + +<p>So the little guests tripped through the great hall, and into +the long drawing-room, where another surprise awaited them.</p> + +<p>There stood handsome Mr. Dainty in royal robes, as a king, his +beautiful wife in velvet and ermine as his queen, and gentle Aunt +Charlotte as lady-in-waiting.</p> + +<p>How quaint the little figures looked in their long, cloak-like +dominoes of red, blue, pink, green, white, lilac, and indeed every +known color and tint.</p> + +<p>As they each extended a little hand, they peeped at host and +hostess through the eyeholes in their dominoes, and if they were +recognized, they did not know it.</p> + +<p>Now and then a ripple of stifled laughter told how greatly they +enjoyed their disguise.</p> + +<p>When all had been greeted, Mrs. Dainty raised her sceptre, and +when the little figures were all attention she spoke.</p> + +<p>“Dear little subjects, we are happy to have you with us, +and for a short time we wish you to wear the long dominoes which +keep us guessing who you are. And now we will listen to some music, +and while you listen you shall enjoy a wealth of royal +bonbons.”</p> + +<p>At a signal from the queen the little Watteau maid entered, +followed by five other maids in similar costumes, each bearing +trays of candies.</p> + +<p>At the same moment sweet strains of music sounded through the +room, coming from behind a group of palms and flowering plants.</p> + +<p>The bonbons were delicious, and the merry music set little feet +tapping beneath the long cloaks.</p> + +<p>Two figures sat very close together. One wore a bright yellow +cloak, the other domino was a quiet tan color. They were Arabella +and Patricia, and while they sat eating their bonbons, they talked +softly, that no one might hear them. A little figure in a long red +cloak leaned against the wall, listening to the music, and at the +same time watching the two who talked together.</p> + +<p>It was Reginald who watched them, and his eyes twinkled as he +whispered:</p> + +<p>“I just <i>know</i> that those two are girls, and they've +gone and told each other who they are. <i>I'd</i> like to know who +they are, too, and I guess I'll walk over there.”</p> + +<p>He made his way across the room, and soon was standing just +behind them.</p> + +<p>The musicians were playing a sprightly polka. A triangle marked +the measures, and Reginald's red shoe tapped the floor beneath his +long red cloak.</p> + +<p>The two who sat upon the divan were talking in what they thought +to be a very low tone, but when suddenly the music ceased, +Patricia's voice could be plainly heard,</p> + +<p>“Why, Arabella!” she said, and then, surprised at +hearing her own voice, she said no more.</p> + +<p>Reginald laughed softly, and Patricia turned to look at him, but +of course could not guess who the red-cloaked figure might be. Oh, +it was fun to be hiding behind the gay-colored dominoes! It was +almost like hide-and-seek.</p> + +<p>And now the beautiful queen was speaking.</p> + +<p>“We will have a pretty march now,” she said. +“My king and I will lead, my lady-in-waiting will follow me, +while you, my merry subjects, shall form, two by two, and march to +grandest music. After the march, the dominoes shall be cast aside, +and then—” she paused, then laughing gaily she +concluded, “<i>then</i> I shall know who my guests +are.”</p> + +<p>The trumpet's blare told all to be ready! The king and queen +came down from their red velvet throne, the stately lady-in-waiting +followed, and then the bright-hued figures, two by two, marched +like a moving rainbow after the tall figures who led.</p> + +<p>Around the great drawing-room in graceful figures the gorgeous +little procession moved. How bright their colors appeared, the +light shimmering upon a pink cloak beside a blue one, a green cloak +walking with a yellow one, a scarlet one with a white, a buff one +with bright cherry-hued domino!</p> + +<p>But the greatest excitement came when, after the march, the +colored cloaks were cast aside, and the laughing playmates were +revealed.</p> + +<p>“Did you know me?”</p> + +<p>“Did you guess who I was?”</p> + +<p>“Did you know you were talking to me?”</p> + +<p>These were the questions which they asked each other, and the +gracious king and queen looked down upon their merry courtiers, and +admired their brilliant costumes.</p> + +<p>And what a variety there was! First of all, Dorothy, as an elf +in gauze and spangles, was a lovely sprite to look upon.</p> + +<p>Near her stood Nancy, dressed as a shepherdess. Dorothy's +cousin, Russell Dalton, made a charming page, while his sister, +Aline, was a flower girl. Reginald strutted about in an early +Spanish costume, and he had chosen his own dress.</p> + +<p>“I can't look old enough for Ponce de Leon,” he had +said, “but I want a suit like the one he wears in the +painting that hangs in the hall.”</p> + +<p>His wish had been granted, and he looked like a tiny cavalier +about to sally forth in search of fortune, or undiscovered +countries.</p> + +<p>Mollie Merton made a pretty Red-riding-hood, while, as usual, +close beside her, stood Flossie Barnet as Little Bo-Peep.</p> + +<p>“Anybody'd know I'm Bo-peep, because I've this crook in my +hand,” said Flossie, “but look at Nina and Jeanette; +what are they?”</p> + +<p>“We're Spring and Summer,” Jeanette answered with a +laugh at Flossie's little puzzled face, “I am a rose, and +she's a crocus,” she continued, “and have you seen +Katie Dean yet? She's a lovely butterfly. There she is +now.”</p> + +<p>They all turned to look at Katie as she came toward them. She +was indeed a dainty butterfly. Her frock of yellow gauze matched +her wings, which were edged with gold, and as she ran toward them, +she looked as if she might fly if she wished.</p> + +<p>Arabella looked very demure as a little Puritan, and really, +Patricia's showy Spanish costume was becoming.</p> + +<p>There were many more guests, and all were in beautiful costumes. +The room was alive with color, and when, later, they danced to +merry music, it seemed, indeed, a joyous carnival.</p> + +<p>The games came next, and how they played! And of all the games +they found one very old one to be the most delightful. Some one +asked if they might play it, and thus it happened that the king +announced that the next would be “A Journey to +Nubia.”</p> + +<p>The maids entered, and quickly placed two rows of chairs, back +to back, down the centre of the room, placing <i>one less</i> chair +than there were children.</p> + +<p>When the music sounded they were to march around and around the +rows of chairs, but when the music should stop abruptly, they must +rush to get a seat. The one child who would be left standing must +pay a forfeit.</p> + +<p>A stirring march was played, and the children walked around the +chairs, and every time that they came to the end of the line they +paused, believing that the music would cease, but the musicians +played on and on. The laughing children marched gaily, when, in the +middle of a lively strain, the music stopped, and they rushed for +seats.</p> + +<p>It was Nancy who found no chair, and she knew that she must pay +a forfeit.</p> + +<p>“What shall I do?” she asked, and Russell, who liked +Nancy, asked if he might set the task for her.</p> + +<p>He was given permission, and turning to her he said: “I'll +ask something, Nancy, that I know you can do. I'll beg you to dance +for us.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you need not beg,” Nancy said sweetly, +“if they will play a waltz, I'll gladly dance for +you.”</p> + +<p>Softly they played a bewitching melody, and Nancy, running out +to an open space, danced till those who watched her were wild with +delight. And when the dance was finished they crowded around her, +crying in wonder:</p> + +<p>“Oh, Nancy, how can you do it so gracefully?”</p> + +<p>“You wouldn't wonder if you only knew how long I studied, +and how many hours I practised,” she said.</p> + +<p>“I couldn't dance like that if I practised for ten +years,” said Russell.</p> + +<p>“I don't believe he could,” laughed his sister +Aline, “his talent is surely not for dancing, for only the +other day he told me that at dancing-school, just as sure as he +tried not to step on his partner's toes, he always trod on his +own.”</p> + +<p>“It's just what I do,” agreed Russell, joining in +the laughter that greeted Aline's words.</p> + +<p>Again and again they marched around the double row of chairs, +and each time the one caught standing was made to pay a forfeit, to +the delight of all the others.</p> + +<p>For the next game they clasped hands and formed a great ring. +Dorothy, in the centre, extended her arms as she sang this +verse:</p> + +<blockquote>“As around you gaily dance,<br> +I must see if, just by chance,<br> +In your ring which has no end,<br> +You do hold my dearest friend.<br> +Yes, my truest friend I see,<br> +Nancy, dearest, come to me.”</blockquote> + +<p>Nancy ran into the circle, and the others, clasping hands, +danced around them singing gaily:</p> + +<blockquote>“See the happy, merry two,<br> +One with brown eyes, one with blue,<br> +One is dark and one is fair,<br> +Which of us will join them there?”</blockquote> + +<p>It was Nancy's turn now to choose a friend from the ring, and +she at once chose Flossie.</p> + +<p>Flossie was the youngest of the little guests, and she was +delighted to be so soon chosen.</p> + +<p>Unnoticed by the children, several new arrivals had entered the +room. They were a few of Mrs. Dainty's nearest neighbors who had +been invited to come in during the evening and see the +merrymaking.</p> + +<p>As Flossie stood in the centre of the ring with Dorothy and +Nancy, she looked toward the playmates who circled around them, and +was about to choose Mollie, when she spied Uncle Harry, and she +laughed with delight. He was dressed as an English squire of an +early century. Quickly she whispered to Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“May I, oh, <i>may</i> I?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, oh, <i>do</i>,” laughed Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“I choose you, Uncle Harry,” she cried, “oh, +come quick.”</p> + +<p>Never too dignified to have a bit of fun, and always ready to +please the children, he hurried forward and entered the ring.</p> + +<p>“As if I'd lose a moment in joining three such charming +young ladies,” he said, while the laughing children danced +yet faster around the merry four.</p> + +<p>How handsome he looked as he stood among his little friends. A +brave, athletic young man he was, with a heart full of love for the +children, who returned his affection with interest.</p> + +<p>“Now, Uncle Harry, it's your turn to sing,” said +Flossie. “Do you know the verse you ought to sing?”</p> + +<p>“I don't believe I do know the one which belongs in this +game, but I'll sing one of my own,” he said with a laugh.</p> + +<blockquote>“You are so charming, all in a ring,<br> +Hardly I know of which siren to sing,<br> +Yet if I <i>must</i> choose, then it shall be<br> +Mollie, bright Mollie to come unto me.”</blockquote> + +<p>His was a fine voice, and he sang his improvised verse to the +music of one of his favorite songs, “Beautiful +Dreamer.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wish you had to sing ever so many verses,” +Jeanette said impulsively, and he bowed to her earnestly spoken +compliment.</p> + +<p>They had paused for a moment to rest, and for a time their hands +were unclasped. Patricia thought that this was just her chance. She +touched Arabella's arm.</p> + +<p>“Come,” she whispered, and Arabella followed.</p> + +<p>It happened that no one noticed that the two had left their +playmates, and soon they were flying around in a circle, singing +their verses, and choosing as before.</p> + +<p>The conservatory was brightly lighted, and the perfume of the +flowers was rich and heavy. The fountain plashed in its shallow +basin, and it seemed like a glimpse of fairyland. Patricia looked +about to see if any one had followed them, but no one was near.</p> + +<p>“Now this is what I'm going to show you,” she said. +“You see that one lovely fountain?”</p> + +<p>Oh, yes, Arabella saw that.</p> + +<p>“Well, there's <i>two</i> fountains, and <i>I</i> know +where the other one is. I'll let you try to find it first, and if +you can't find it, I'll show it to you.”</p> + +<p>“How do <i>you</i> know where it is?” questioned +Arabella.</p> + +<p>Patricia looked very important.</p> + +<p>“I know, because I <i>do</i> know,” she said.</p> + +<p>Arabella looked into this corner, and peeped into that, and +between them they managed to tip over some small pots of valuable +plants, but the music and laughter in the drawing-room prevented +any sounds in the conservatory from being heard. At last Arabella +was disgusted.</p> + +<p>“I don't believe there's two fountains,” she +said.</p> + +<p>“Then I'll <i>show</i> you,” said Patricia, +“and I'll tell you how I know. Just see here,” and she +pointed to the jet of water which flew high in air, letting fall a +veil of mist and spray.</p> + +<p>“That's where the butler turns the water on to set the +fountain playing. I was in here once when I saw him turn that +little thing round, and I saw the water fly right up in a +minute.”</p> + +<p>Arabella watched Patricia closely.</p> + +<p>“But where's the <i>other</i> fountain?” she asked +impatiently.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you'll see in a second. Come over here,” +Patricia said, laughing softly.</p> + +<p class="illus"><a name="illus172" href="images/Illus172.jpg" +target="_blank"><img src="images/Illus172s.jpg" alt= +"'There! that's another fountain.'" width="339" height="423"> +</a><br> +“There! that's another fountain.”</p> + +<p>“There!” she said, pointing to a pipe that ran along +the floor beneath a shelf filled with flowering plants; +“that's <i>another</i> fountain, and I should think they'd +have both playing when they have a party.”</p> + +<p>“That's <i>not</i> a fountain!” said Arabella.</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess I know, and so will you in a second, for +I'm going to set it going. See here!”</p> + +<p>“Fizz-z-sss!”</p> + +<p>A cloud of steam filled the little conservatory, and the two +frightened girls screamed with terror, believing that nothing less +than an explosion had happened. The servants rushed in and quickly +turned off the steam, while Mrs. Dainty and Aunt Charlotte, who had +hastened to the rescue, tried to quiet the fear of the +mischief-makers.</p> + +<p>Not a word was said of the beautiful plants which were now +completely ruined, and Mrs. Dainty's kindness made Patricia feel +ashamed.</p> + +<p>“I'm sorry,” she whispered, and no one had ever +before heard her say that.</p> + +<p>Arabella was fairly hysterical, laughing and crying at the same +time, but Aunt Charlotte at last succeeded in calming her, and when +the little banquet was announced, they joined the other children, +and were as happy as any of the merry party that marched out to the +great dining-room.</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapIX">CHAPTER IX</a></h3> + +<h4>TWO SLEIGHRIDES</h4> + +<p class="chapone">In the centre of the table was a huge round cake +encrusted with gorgeous frosting in the forms of beautiful flowers. +Around its sides were festoons of buds and blossoms, while here and +there a sugar butterfly was poised as if ready for flight.</p> + +<p>There were flowers beside every plate, there were ices in +wonderful shapes, there were bonbons and nuts in abundance, while +great silver baskets were heaped with luscious fruits.</p> + +<p>What a treat it was! How they laughed and talked as they enjoyed +the feast! How bright the lights, how sweet the scent of the lovely +flowers with which every room was decorated!</p> + +<p>From the drawing-room the tender music floated in. Oh, it was +like a dream of fairyland!</p> + +<p>Nina Earl watched Patricia closely.</p> + +<p>“I guess you never saw a finer party than +<i>this</i>,” she said.</p> + +<p>Patricia stared for a moment, then she said just what one might +have expected.</p> + +<p>“This <i>is</i> a lovely party, and I never saw a grander +one except one I went to when I was in N' York, where they had a +cake as big as this whole table, and—”</p> + +<p>“Then the table to hold such a cake as that must have been +pretty big to get inside of any room!” laughed Reginald.</p> + +<p>“Well, you didn't see it, so you can't know how grand it +looked,” Patricia replied, and as that was quite true, +Reginald had nothing to say.</p> + +<p>Lola Blessington sat beside Nancy, and many of the older guests +watched the two as they talked together, and thought how charming +they were, and how very unlike.</p> + +<p>Lola's blue eyes were merry, and her sea-nymph's costume was +very becoming, while Nancy's fine dark eyes and graceful figure +never looked prettier than in her lovely shepherdess frock.</p> + +<p>At Nancy's right sat Dorothy, and her beautiful little face +showed the joy that was in her heart. She was always happiest when +giving pleasure to others.</p> + +<p>And when at last the feast had been enjoyed, more merry games +had been played, and tripping feet had danced to lively measures, +then the great hall clock hands pointed to the hour, and the guests +remembered that it was quite time to be thinking of home.</p> + +<p>A surprise awaited the merrymakers, for when good-nights had +been said, and they stepped out into the crisp air, they shouted +with delight, for lo, while they had been in the warm, +flower-scented rooms, a snowstorm had been covering the steps, the +gardens, the avenue with a white velvet carpet!</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted Reginald, “this is the first +snowstorm, and there'll be fun every day as long as it +lasts.”</p> + +<p>Long icicles hung like diamond pendants from roof and balcony, +and still the snow-flakes like downy feathers were falling lazily, +as if they knew not whether to pause, or to continue to +descend.</p> + +<p>And when the last carriage had rolled down the driveway Dorothy +turned, and clasping Nancy's hands, she said:</p> + +<p>“Oh, there never was such a perfect party! We'll always +remember it.”</p> + +<p>“Always,” said Nancy.</p> + +<p>There were two thoughts, two pictures in her mind. She was +thinking of Dorothy's first party, when, as a little outcast, she +had climbed up into the branches of a tree which overhung the great +garden, that thus she might peep at the lovely children in their +beautiful frocks; now, as Dorothy's friend and playmate, she had +enjoyed this fancy dress party, in a costume as charming as that of +any guest.</p> + +<p>She was happy now, and how dearly she loved Dorothy, how +grateful she was for her home and friends!</p> + +<p>For days they talked of nothing but the party, and Aunt +Charlotte found it a little difficult to keep them from whispering +about it during school hours.</p> + +<p>Three little guests who had intended to come, had, at the last +moment, been obliged to remain at home. They were Mr. Dainty's +nephews, and they had been much disappointed in losing a charming +visit in which a fine party was to have been included.</p> + +<p>Patricia, with her usual lack of sweetness, told Arabella that +she did not believe that those three boys had ever <i>thought</i> +of coming.</p> + +<p>“Well, anyway, <i>we</i> were there, and we had a fine +time, but say,—there <i>weren't</i> two fountains after +all!” said Arabella.</p> + +<p>“Why, what a thing to say, when I showed you the second +one, only it didn't work right,” Patricia replied. “The +way I turned it made steam, so if I'd only just turned it the +<i>other</i> way it would have been water.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know it would?” Arabella asked in a +teasing voice.</p> + +<p>“How do you know it <i>wouldn't?</i>” Patricia +replied, and Arabella chose to make no reply.</p> + +<p>After the little happening in the conservatory on the evening of +the party, Aunt Matilda spoke plainly to Arabella about her choice +of playmates.</p> + +<p>“I don't approve of that Lavine girl,” she had +said.</p> + +<p>“You don't know her,” ventured Arabella.</p> + +<p>“I don't need to,” was the curt reply. “A girl +that can't go to a party without meddling with things, and getting +into mischief, is not the girl that I care to have you with, and +there's no reason why you should go to the other end of the town to +find a playmate; there are enough pleasant girls in your own +school.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Matilda's words were true, but with Arabella's contrary +nature, the fact that her aunt did not approve of Patricia, made +her the most desirable of all her playmates.</p> + +<p>She at once decided to spend the next Saturday with Patricia. +She did not dare to ask Patricia to call for her, because Aunt +Matilda, if exasperated, might send her home, and Patricia would +never overlook that. She had just decided to invite herself to +visit Patricia when something happened which delighted her.</p> + +<p>It was after school, and they were talking of the coming +Saturday, and how it should be spent.</p> + +<p>“We've not seen you driving your pony for a long +time,” said Katie Dean.</p> + +<p>“We are going out with Romeo on Saturday,” Dorothy +said.</p> + +<p>“There's a lovely road where the great icicles hang from +the trees like fringe, and the groom says it's the finest road for +sleighing in Merrivale.”</p> + +<p>Patricia had not been to school, and had walked over to meet the +pupils of the little private class.</p> + +<p>“I suppose Nancy's going with you,” Patricia +said.</p> + +<p>“Of course she will,” said Katie, “don't you +just know that Dorothy wouldn't care for the ride if Nancy weren't +with her?”</p> + +<p>Katie laughed as she said it, the others joining in the +merriment, for it was well known that while Dorothy cared very +truly for all her friends, Nancy was the dearest. Patricia knew how +handsome Romeo looked in his fine harness, and the trim little +sleigh with its soft fur robes made a nice setting for Dorothy and +Nancy as they spun over the glistening road. She determined to say +something which would impress all who listened.</p> + +<p>“I'll invite you to a sleighride with <i>me</i>, +Arabella,” she said, “will you go?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <i>indeed</i>,” said Arabella, “what +time shall I be ready?”</p> + +<p>“You be over at my house 'bout two, and we'll go as soon +as we want to,” she said.</p> + +<p>Nina looked at Jeanette, and when Patricia had left them she +spoke the thought that was in her mind.</p> + +<p>“I didn't know Patricia Lavine had a horse and sleigh. Has +any one ever seen her driving?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Don't b'lieve she has,” said Reginald.</p> + +<p>Patricia had offended him that afternoon by calling him a +<i>little</i> boy.</p> + +<p>“You mustn't say that,” said Katie, who, being a +year older than her cousin Reginald, felt obliged to reprove him +when things that he said were just a little too naughty.</p> + +<p>“You just tell me, Katie Dean, do <i>you</i> b'lieve she +has?” he asked, but Katie was talking to Mollie, and she +chose to let him think that she had not heard his question.</p> + +<p>The day set for the two sleighrides was clear and crisp.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dainty and Aunt Charlotte were entertaining each other with +exchanging memories of Mrs. Dainty's school-days when with her +classmates she had been as popular as Dorothy now was, and Aunt +Charlotte had found it a task to keep them under good discipline +without quelling their high spirits.</p> + +<p>The fire in the grate flamed higher and crackled merrily, and in +the glow the two ladies were enjoying tea, small cakes, and +bonbons.</p> + +<p>“You may go for a short sleighride, if you wish,” +Mrs. Dainty said, “if you and Nancy will dress very warmly +for the trip. Aunt Charlotte and I have decided to remain here +cosily by the fire.”</p> + +<p>“But Romeo hasn't been out for days, and I don't mind the +cold. It'll be just gay out in the crisp air,” Dorothy +said.</p> + +<p>“Then surely you may go if it is to be so very gay,” +said Mrs. Dainty, laughing, “but remember what I said about +wearing warm wraps and furs.”</p> + +<p>Dorothy promised, and soon, with the groom riding behind them, +they were off over the road.</p> + +<p>Romeo was as delighted as they, and sped along as if shod with +wings, his mane and tail floating gracefully as he almost flew +along.</p> + +<p>Dorothy and Nancy, nestled in a white fur robe, felt only the +frosty touch of the sharp wind upon their cheeks, and they laughed +and talked as if it had been a summer day.</p> + +<p>On the dry bushes by the roadside great flocks of tiny sparrows +hopped from twig to twig, chattering and twittering as they pecked +at the little dried berries. A great crow flew out from a bit of +woodland, making a noisy protest that any one should drive over the +quiet road, and thus disturb his musings.</p> + +<p>The icicles were glittering in the sunlight, and the crust +sparkled as if powdered with diamond dust, while the rough bark of +the trees still held a coating of frost which the sunlight had not +been warm enough to melt.</p> + +<p>“We'll tell them how beautiful it looked when we get +home,” said Dorothy, her eyes bright with delight.</p> + +<p>“It will take two of us to even <i>half</i> tell +it,” laughed Nancy.</p> + +<p>And while Dorothy and Nancy were gliding rapidly over the frosty +highway, Arabella was standing at Patricia's door, ringing the +bell, and wondering why no one replied. Then some one came around +the corner.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” she cried. “Ma's gone to spend the +afternoon with a friend, and I've just been out to see about our +sleigh, so nobody heard you ring. The sleigh'll be here in just a +minute; you come up with me and help me bring down some +shawls.”</p> + +<p>Without stopping to question, Arabella followed her up the three +flights of stairs, and such an array of shawls as Patricia brought +out!</p> + +<p>“These sofa cushions I'll throw downstairs, and we can +pick them up afterwards,” she said.</p> + +<p>Over the baluster she flung cushion after cushion, until +Arabella's curiosity forced her to question.</p> + +<p>“What ever <i>are</i> you going to do with all those +cushions?” she asked.</p> + +<p>Patricia looked very wise.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you'll see,” she said, and when she had reached +the lower hall she peeped out.</p> + +<p>“Here it is!” she said.</p> + +<p>Arabella looked.</p> + +<p>“Why, that's an old <i>pung!</i>” she said.</p> + +<p>“Well, who said it wasn't?” Patricia replied +sharply; “but it isn't an <i>old</i> one <i>now</i>, because +it has just been painted yellow. It's our grocer's, and the boy +that drives it is going to let us ride in it this +afternoon.”</p> + +<p>Arabella hesitated. She knew that Aunt Matilda did not wish her +to be with Patricia at all, and she also felt that to ride in a +yellow pung, lettered, “Fine Groceries, Butter, Cheese, and +Eggs,” was surely not aristocratic, and yet, what <i>fun</i> +it would be!</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapX">CHAPTER X</a></h3> + +<h4>THE PUNG RIDE</h4> + +<p class="chapone">The grocer's boy had delivered all of his +parcels except two large paper bags which he had pushed over near +the dasher. Patricia began to bring out the cushions, and the boy +tossed them in upon the straw which lay upon the floor of the pung. +Then Patricia and Arabella climbed in, the boy cracked his whip, +the horse sprang forward with a surprising jolt, then settled down +to a comical amble.</p> + +<p>How cold it was! Arabella had wondered at the number of shawls +which Patricia had taken. Now she was very glad to wrap two around +her, while Patricia wore the other two.</p> + +<p>“G'lang!” shouted the boy, and again the horse gave +an amazing hop which sent the pung forward with a lurch, and rolled +the two girls over upon the straw. Patricia thought it a joke, but +Arabella, never very good-tempered, was actually angry.</p> + +<p>“O dear!” she cried, “I think it's just horrid +to be shaken up so. Well, I don't think you're very nice to laugh +about it, Patricia. I wouldn't like to take any one out to a +sleighride, and have 'em banged around,—oh, o-o!”</p> + +<p>It was a “thank-you-ma'am” in the middle of the road +that caused Arabella's angry speech to end in a little shriek.</p> + +<p>It was useless for Patricia to try to hide her merriment. She +could not help laughing. She rarely felt sorry for any one's +discomfort, and really Arabella did look funny.</p> + +<p>In the shake-up, her hat had been pushed over to one side of her +head, but she did not know that, and her old-fashioned little face +looked smaller than usual, because of the two heavy shawls which +were crowded so high that she appeared to have no neck at all. +Small as her face was, it could show a great deal of rage, and as +she drew her shawls tighter around her, and glared at Patricia, she +looked odd enough to make any one laugh.</p> + +<p>“You look as if you'd like to spit like a cat,” +laughed Patricia, and just at that moment the boy who was driving +turned to ask which way he should go.</p> + +<p>“I got ter take them bags over ter the big old house +what's painted the color er this pung, an' stands between a old +barn an' a carriage shed. Know where 'tis?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Indeed, I don't,” declared Patricia.</p> + +<p>“Wal, I was goin' ter say that I kin git there by two +different roads, an' I'd go the way ye'd like best ter go ef ye +knew which that was,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I only know I want the ride, and this road is stupid and +poky. Go the way that has the most houses on it,” Patricia +answered, and the boy turned into another avenue, and soon they +were passing houses enough, such as they were!</p> + +<p>Small houses that were dingy, and held one family, and larger +ones that must have held three tribes at least, judging by the +number of washings which hung upon the dilapidated piazzas.</p> + +<p>“G'lang!” shouted the boy, but the nag had heard +that too often to be impressed, and he only wagged one ear in +response, but took not a step quicker.</p> + +<p>Arabella was cold and provoked that she had come. Patricia was +excited, and felt that she was having a frolic, and even Arabella's +glum face could not quiet her; indeed, the more she looked at her, +the more inclined was she to laugh.</p> + +<p>Arabella felt aggrieved.</p> + +<p>“The idea of laughing at <i>me</i>,” she thought, +“when I should think I might laugh at her for inviting me to +ride in a sleigh that is only a <i>pung!</i>”</p> + +<p>Then something happened which made Arabella forget that she was +provoked with Patricia, because she suddenly became so vexed with +some one else.</p> + +<p>A short, stubby boy with a mass of hay-colored hair, ran out +from a yard that they were passing.</p> + +<p>“Ho! Look at the girlth a-havin' a ride out! Look at the +horthe! My, thee hith bonthe thtick out! Gueth they feed him on +thawdutht an' shavingth, don't they, Mandy?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, look at 'em! Look at 'em! Them's some er the +<i>private</i> school; don't they look <i>grand</i> ridin' in Bill +Tillson's grocery wagin?” shouted Mandy.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if that horthe would jump if I fired a +thnowball?”</p> + +<p>“Don't ye do it!” shouted the driver.</p> + +<p>“Better not, Chub!” cried Mandy, thinking that +perhaps the fun had gone far enough.</p> + +<p>The fact that he had been told not to made Chub long to do +it.</p> + +<p>“Here's the place,” said the driver, and, grasping +one of the bags, he jumped from the team and ran into the house +with the parcel. The reins lay loosely upon the horse's back.</p> + +<p>Chub, who had kept pace with the team, now paused to choose the +most interesting bit of mischief. Should he make a grab at the +loose-lying reins, and by jerking them surprise the horse, or would +he be more frisky if the half-dozen snowballs which he had been +making were all hurled at him at once?</p> + +<p>Before he could decide, the boy came out of the house, and +jumping into the pung, gathered up the reins, and attempted to turn +the team towards home. Chub thought if he were to have any fun, he +must get it quickly.</p> + +<p>“<i>Heighoh</i>! You Jumpin' Ginger!” he shouted, at +the same time letting fly the six snowballs. The frightened nag +reared, and turning sharply about, tipped the pung, completely +emptying it of passengers and freight.</p> + +<p>“That'th a <i>thpill!</i> Girlth an' <i>onionth!</i> +Girlth an' <i>onionth!</i>” shouted Chub, but Mandy, who was +older, knew quite enough to be frightened, that is, frightened for +her own safety. If the little girls were hurt, would some one blame +her or Chub?</p> + +<p>The driver had stopped the thoroughly terrified horse, the pung +was not injured, so he thought he might see if the children were +harmed.</p> + +<p>Mandy had helped Arabella to her feet, and picked up her shawls, +which had fallen off. She was more frightened than hurt, but her +feelings were injured. Patricia, brushing the snow from her cloak, +spoke her thoughts very plainly.</p> + +<p>“Chub's a perfectly horrid boy,” she said, +“and we <i>might</i> have broken our necks.”</p> + +<p>“Ye <i>didn't</i>, though,” said Mandy.</p> + +<p>“And I shouldn't wonder if Ma had him put in the big +lock-up,” she said, “for scaring our horse, and tipping +us out on the road. We may get <i>reumonia</i> for being thrown +into the snow.”</p> + +<p>“Ye can't 'rest Chub; he ain't nothin' but a big +baby,” said Mandy, “an' what's <i>reumonia</i>, +anyway?”</p> + +<p>Patricia would not reply. The driver helped them to pick up the +cushions, but the bag of onions, which he had forgotten to take to +the big house, he left where they lay in the road. They were too +widely scattered to be gathered up.</p> + +<p>Chub found a huge one, and commenced to eat it as eagerly as if +it had been a luscious bit of fruit.</p> + +<p>“Thith ith <i>fine</i>,” he said as he took a big +bite from the onion.</p> + +<p>“That Chub's a regular little pig,” Patricia said, +as they rode off, but her words were not heard by Mandy or Chub, +for the youthful driver was shouting a loud warning to Chub to +throw no more snowballs for fear of a sound thrashing followed by +arrest, while Chub, afraid to throw the snowballs, hurled after the +pung the worst names that he could think of.</p> + +<p>“That horthe ith thlow ath a old moolly cow! It'th an old +thlow-poke! What a thkinny nag! That horthe eath nothin' but +newthpaper and thtring!” he yelled.</p> + +<p>“That Chub is just a horrid-looking child,” said +Patricia, “an' he's the Jimmy boy's brother, but nobody'd +ever think it.”</p> + +<p>“Who's the Jimmy boy?” Arabella asked.</p> + +<p>“Why, don't you know the boy that we see sometimes at +Dorothy Dainty's house?”</p> + +<p>Arabella shook her head.</p> + +<p>“I mean the one that wears a cap with a gold band on it, +and a coat with brass buttons, and tries to walk like a man when +Mr. Dainty sends him out with parcels,” explained +Patricia.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know,” said Arabella, “but <i>he's</i> +real <i>nice</i> looking, and Dorothy says her father thinks he's +smart. I shouldn't think he could be brother to that little pig or +that Mandy girl.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he is, and one thing Dorothy said one day I +couldn't understand. She said that one reason why her father was so +kind to Jimmy is because Jimmy helped to get Nancy Ferris home one +time when she was stolen from them. Did you ever hear 'bout that? I +don't see how just a boy could do that, do you?”</p> + +<p>No, Arabella did not see, nor had she heard the story, but she +had seen Jimmy, and she wondered that he belonged to such a family +as that which produced Mandy and Chub.</p> + +<p>“Ye're 'most home,” declared the driver, “an' +soon's I've landed ye I'll hev ter scoot.”</p> + +<p>“But you'll have to take Arabella home; she lives 'way +over the other side of the town,” insisted Patricia.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, no, he <i>won't!</i>” said Arabella. +“I'd rather walk all the way than have Aunt Matilda know that +I've been sleighing.”</p> + +<p>“Why, how funny!” and Patricia stared in +surprise.</p> + +<p>“It's funnier now than it would be when Aunt Matilda found +it out.”</p> + +<p>“Why?” Patricia asked.</p> + +<p>“Because,” said Arabella, “whenever I've been +out, and she thinks I've taken cold, she boils some old herb tea, +and makes me drink it hot, and I have to be bundled in blankets, +and she makes such a fuss that I wish I hadn't gone anywhere at +all.”</p> + +<p>“I guess you'd better not tell her,” Patricia +advised, to which Arabella replied:</p> + +<p>“I just don't intend to.”</p> + +<p>And while Dorothy and Nancy were standing before a blazing fire +in the sitting-room at the stone house, recounting the beauties of +the sky, the branches fringed with glittering icicles, the +squirrels that raced across the hard crust of snow, and indeed, +every lovely bit of road or forest which they had seen, Arabella, +shivering as she hurried along, saw the bright lights, and rushed +past the great gate, across the avenue and in at her own driveway. +She hoped that every one would be talking when she entered. She +intended to join in the conversation, and she thought if she could +manage to talk very, <i>very</i> fast, Aunt Matilda might not ask +where she had been. But she did.</p> + +<p>Arabella had removed her hat and cloak, and trying very hard to +stop shivering, she pushed aside the portière, and stood in +the glow of the shaded lamp.</p> + +<p>“Warmer weather to-morrow, the paper says, and I guess we +shall all be glad to have it,” Aunt Matilda was saying.</p> + +<p>“It w-would be f-fine to h-h-have it w-w-warmer,” +said Arabella, her teeth chattering so that she thought every one +must hear them rattle.</p> + +<p>Over her paper Aunt Matilda's bright eyes peered at the little +girl who shivered in spite of her effort to stand very still.</p> + +<p>“Where have you been, Arabella? You're chilled through. I +say, where have you been?”</p> + +<p>“I've just taken quite a long walk,” Arabella +replied.</p> + +<p>“If you've taken a long walk as late as this in the +afternoon, you've come some distance. Have you been spending this +whole afternoon at that Lavine girl's house?”</p> + +<p>“No'm,” said Arabella, “I haven't been in her +house <i>any</i> of the afternoon; I've been +out-of-doors.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Matilda threw up her hands in amazement, as if a number of +hours in the open air ought to have actually killed Arabella, +whereas, she really was alive, but exceedingly chilly.</p> + +<p>Then the very thing happened which Arabella had told Patricia +would happen.</p> + +<p>Aunt Matilda had her old-fashioned notions regarding the care of +children, and Arabella was sent to bed, packed in blankets, after +having drank a pint bowl full of the worst-tasting herb tea which +Aunt Matilda had ever brewed.</p> + +<p>She had thought that she might drink half of it, and then throw +the rest away, but as if guessing her intention, Aunt Matilda stood +close beside her to be sure that not a drop was wasted.</p> + +<p>“It's no use to make such an outrageous face, +Arabella,” she remarked, “for the worse it tastes the +more good it's <i>sure</i> to do.”</p> + +<p>“But I'd 'most rather have a cold than take that +stuff,” wailed Arabella.</p> + +<p>“That's the time you don't have your choice,” was +the dry reply.</p> + +<p>And indeed she did not, for besides taking the despised herb +tea, she awoke the next morning with a heavy cold that kept her +away from school for the whole of the next week.</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapXI">CHAPTER XI</a></h3> + +<h4>AN UNEXPECTED TRIP</h4> + +<p class="chapone">The next Saturday proved to be warm and sunny, +and Mrs. Dainty had taken an early train for the city, intending to +spend the day in shopping.</p> + +<p>It had been necessary that Dorothy should go with her, because +there was a new cloak to be “tried on.” Mrs. Dainty had +wished to have Mrs. Grayson with her, but both had thought that +Nancy would be lonely.</p> + +<p>“If I were to spend the day in the stores, Nancy, I would +take you with me, because you always enjoy shopping,” Aunt +Charlotte said, “but I am to visit a friend who is ill, and +that would be very dull for you, and if you go with Dorothy, you +will think that the hours drag if you sit waiting while her cloak +is being fitted.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but I shall not mind being at home <i>this</i> +time,” Nancy said, cheerfully; “I shall play with +Flossie and Mollie all the forenoon,—”</p> + +<p>“And the maid will serve your lunch at <i>my</i> house at +one,” Dorothy said.</p> + +<p>“And I'll ask them both to come over to the cottage to +play with me this afternoon,” Nancy continued, “and +before we're done playing you'll return.”</p> + +<p>And the forenoon was quite as pleasant as she had thought it +would be. She had gone over to Mollie's, and found Flossie already +there, and they had played tag and hide-and-seek just as if it had +been a summer day. The sunlight was warm, the breeze soft and +sweet, and every bit of snow had vanished. It was like springtime, +and they played without ceasing until the hour for lunch.</p> + +<p>“Well come over to the cottage together this +afternoon,” called Mollie, as Nancy hurried away towards the +stone house.</p> + +<p>She knew that lunch was always served promptly as the hands upon +the dining-room clock pointed to the hour of one.</p> + +<p>She was rather afraid of the burly butler, because he stood so +very erect, and never, <i>never</i> smiled even when the jokes told +at the table were very funny. But the maid's eyes often twinkled, +and Nancy hoped that it would be the maid who would serve her.</p> + +<p>She was surprised to find that lunching alone in the great +dining-room was not very cheerful after all, and after a hasty +meal, she slipped from her chair, refusing to taste any more of the +dainties which the maid offered her.</p> + +<p>“You've not had much lunch, Miss Nancy,” the girl +said, “you might take an orange, and eat it away from the +table if you like.”</p> + +<p>Nancy took the big orange, and after much coaxing, pushed it +into her pocket, and soon forgot that she had it. It was only +quarter-past one. She looked again at the clock. Yes, that was just +what it said; quarter-past one, and Mollie and Flossie were still +at lunch. She remembered that they rarely came out to play in the +afternoon before half-past two. She wondered where she would rather +spend the time. At the cottage she could play with the kitten, get +out the new game that Mrs. Dainty had given her, or read her newest +book, but Dorothy's books were up in the playroom of the stone +house, and she was always free to read them. No, she would not stay +indoors. She would go out and be ready to greet her playmates as +soon as she saw them running down the avenue.</p> + +<p>She put on her cloak and hat, and walked slowly through the +hall, thus using up as much time as possible. The house stood high, +and from the doorway she could see the avenue. There was no one yet +in sight.</p> + +<p>She strolled down the driveway, intending to wait at the great +gate for her playmates to appear.</p> + +<p>The gates were wide open, and as Nancy looked out, some one +rushed past her. The plainly dressed young woman turned to look at +the little girl.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Nancy!” she cried, and “Why, Sue!” +cried Nancy.</p> + +<p>“D'ye live in that el'gant place Nancy? Why, it looks like +er palace!”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Dainty lives there, and I'm there 'most all the time +playing with Dorothy. I live in that dear little stone cottage with +Aunt Charlotte,” Nancy said, “but Sue, how happened you +to be here? Aren't you working for the doctor?”</p> + +<p>“Nancy, I come <i>purpose</i> ter see yer,” said the +girl, bending to look into Nancy's face; “I wondered if you'd +remember me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, how <i>could</i> I forget you, Sue? It was you who +used to be kind to me when Uncle Steve was cross, and when I was +sick you sent my little note to Aunt Charlotte so that she and Mrs. +Dainty came for me.”</p> + +<p>“I done what I could for yer, Nancy, an' now I've come ter +ax yer ter do somethin' that I'm 'fraid ye won't want ter +do.”</p> + +<p>Eagerly Nancy looked up into Sue's honest face.</p> + +<p>“I'd do <i>anything</i> for you, Sue, because you were +good to me when no one else was kind. You were working for Uncle +Steve, and you were as afraid of him as I was, but you helped me, +and you knew he'd be angry if he found it out.”</p> + +<p>“Ye're a kind little thing; ye'd do it quick fer me, but +it ain't fer me I'm askin',” Sue replied.</p> + +<p>“Is it for the doctor who helped me to get well? I'd do +something just as quick for him. Uncle Steve was going to +<i>make</i> me dance when I was sick, but the big doctor said I +shouldn't, and Uncle Steve didn't dare.”</p> + +<p>As she spoke Nancy's clear brown eyes looked up into Sue's blue +ones, and Sue's cheek flushed. She looked down at the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>“It ain't fer the doctor,” she said; “he's +gone ter Europe, but he's payin' my wages whilst he's gone, an' I'm +stayin' with a woman what I worked fer before. Nancy, it's yer aunt +I'm with, an' it's her that made me come!”</p> + +<p>Nancy started back in terror. With frightened eyes she stared a +moment at the girl, then turned to run.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Nancy, Nancy! Come here!” cried Sue. “Ye +don't understand.”</p> + +<p>Nancy paused, but she did not take a step nearer.</p> + +<p>Sue hastened towards her, and Nancy seemed about to run +again.</p> + +<p>“Don't run away, Nancy,” pleaded the girl, “I +know what ye think; ye think yer Uncle Steve's after yer, but ye +can be sure he ain't. Yer Uncle Steve's dead, an' I do'no's ye need +try ter be very sorry.”</p> + +<p>Nancy came back to where Sue was standing.</p> + +<p>“Is it <i>true?</i>” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Honest an' true,” said Sue, “an' all yer aunt +wants me ter git yer fer is because she's sick, an' she wants ter +see yer. Oh, if yer could see her, Nancy, ye'd hate ter say +‘no.’ She keeps askin' fer yer all day, an' when I told +her I'd find yer, an' ask yer ter come an' jest let her look at +yer, she looked brighter'n she had fer days.”</p> + +<p>“But I'm afraid to go to the city to see her,” said +Nancy.</p> + +<p>“She ain't in the city. She's in a town only a little ways +from here. Ye could go with me in just no time, an' ye'd do her so +much good.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>Nancy asked the question in wonder. It seemed strange that her +aunt, who had never loved her, should now long to see her.</p> + +<p>“She's got something she wants ter give yer, an' she's got +something she wants ter say, an' she says she can't rest till she +sees ye. It's her worryin' that won't let her git well. Ef she +could see ye fer a little talk, an' tell ye what she wants ter +tell, I guess she'd git well right off. Seems ef ye'd <i>ought</i> +ter come with me, ef it'll do so much good.”</p> + +<p>Nancy's eyes were full of tears, and her sensitive lips +quivered.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I <i>wish</i> I knew what to do!” she cried, +clasping her hands together very tightly.</p> + +<p>“Why, ask 'em ter let ye go,” said Sue; +“they'd let ye ef they knew yer Uncle Steve wasn't there, an' +yer aunt was jest pinin' ter see yer.”</p> + +<p>“I'm '<i>most</i> sure they would if they <i>knew</i>, but +everybody's away. If only Aunt Charlotte or Mrs. Dainty were here, +I'd ask them.”</p> + +<p>“Can't ye write a note, an' leave it at the cottage where +yer Aunt Charlotte'll find it as soon's she gits home? Ye kin tell +her I took yer ter yer aunt what's sick, an' ef ye tell her 'bout +yer Uncle Steve, she won't worry.”</p> + +<p>Nancy hesitated.</p> + +<p>“An' I hate ter hurry yer,” Sue urged, “but +I'll <i>hev</i> ter be gittin' back ter yer aunt, so I must go with +yer, er else leave ye here, an' tell her I couldn't coax ye ter +come.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don't tell her <i>that</i>. If she's wanting so much +to see me, I guess I <i>ought</i> to go,” Nancy said, but her +voice trembled. Even although Sue had assured her that Uncle Steve +was not living, the old fear of <i>any</i> member of his family +made her hesitate.</p> + +<p>“I'm so glad ter see ye agin, Nancy,” coaxed Sue, +“an' ye'd ought ter feel reel safe with <i>me</i>.”</p> + +<p>“I'll go,” Nancy said, “if you'll +<i>promise</i> to <i>bring</i> me <i>back!</i>”</p> + +<p class="illus"><a name="illus219" href="images/Illus219.jpg" +target="_blank"><img src="images/Illus219s.jpg" alt= +"'I'll go if you'll promise to bring me back.'" width="332" height= +"419"></a><br> +“I'll go if you'll promise to bring me back.”</p> + +<p>“Why, of course I will,” said Sue, and after a +moment's hesitating, Nancy ran over to the cottage, wrote a hasty +note, which she left upon the table, and then, with her heart +beating fast, and her lashes still wet with tears, she walked +swiftly down the avenue with Sue.</p> + +<p>Sue was delighted to be with Nancy again, and she had no idea +that she was doing anything which could possibly cause Nancy's +friends any uneasiness.</p> + +<p>She had intended to call at the house, and ask permission to +take Nancy to her aunt.</p> + +<p>Having met Nancy at the gate, she had learned that there was no +one at home, but she had urged Nancy to leave a note at the cottage +telling where she had gone, and with whom, and she felt that that +made the whole affair open and honest. Nancy's loving little heart +was less light. She thought that it must be right to go with Sue, +and if her aunt was so <i>very</i> sick, why surely she ought not +to delay going to her, but if only dear Aunt Charlotte had been at +home she could have <i>asked</i> her; could have just asked +her.</p> + +<p>Sue talked all the way, but Nancy said little, and when they had +nearly reached the depot she looked back, and as she looked, +wondered if, even then, she ought to run back to the cottage. Then +the thought of her aunt calling constantly for her caused her once +more to think that it must be right for her to go.</p> + +<p>There were not many minutes in which to think about it, for when +Sue had bought their tickets, the whistle of a locomotive was heard +coming around a bend of the road, and almost before Nancy knew it +they were seated in the car, and spinning over the rails towards +the little town where her aunt was now living.</p> + +<p>It was all like a dream. She saw the tall trees, the broad +fields now brown, yet bare of snow, because the warm sun had melted +it, the church spires of other villages standing out clearly +against the blue sky, but they blurred and became indistinct, +because she could not keep back the tears. She was not really +crying, but as fast as the tears were forced back, others would +come, and she turned from the window to hear what Sue was +saying.</p> + +<p>“I say it's only three stations more, an' then we'll be +there, an' when ye see how much good it'll do yer aunt, ye'll be +glad ye come,” she said.</p> + +<p>Nancy's eyes brightened. If it was to do so much good, then she +had done right. It must be that she really ought to be on her way +towards the little house, and Sue had promised to return with +her.</p> + +<p>And now the train, which had been flying along, slackened its +speed, and a frowzy-haired brakeman thrust his head into the car +doorway, shouting something, Nancy could not tell what.</p> + +<p>“Here we are,” said Sue, as she rose to her +feet.</p> + +<p>Nancy slipped from the seat, and together they left the car and +stepped out upon the platform.</p> + +<p>“I didn't ask ye ef ye wanted ter bring anything with +yer?” said Sue. “Ye could hev packed a little bag with +anything ye'd want while ye was here.”</p> + +<p>“Why, what should I want to bring in a bag?” Nancy +asked in surprise.</p> + +<p>“I didn't know but you'd want a apron, a night-gown, or +something,” Sue replied.</p> + +<p>Nancy stood still in the middle of the road, and stared at +Sue.</p> + +<p>“A <i>night-dress!</i> Why, aren't you coming back with me +to-night?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Nancy, don't stop there. I thought I told ye that +yer aunt wanted yer ter visit her.”</p> + +<p>“You said she wanted to look at me, and that she had +something to give me, and something to tell me, but that wouldn't +take long, and I ought to go home to-night.”</p> + +<p>“But there's no train home ter-night, Nancy. This is a +little town, an' there's only two er three trains a day. Ye +<i>must</i> hev told in yer letter that ye was goin' ter +<i>visit</i> yer aunt, didn't yer?”</p> + +<p>“I don't know whether I <i>said</i> visit or not, but +truly I didn't think you meant to stay over night,” Nancy +replied.</p> + +<p>“Wal, I guess ye said so, an' here's the street. It's only +a lane, an' that little bit of a house where the cat sits on the +step is the one where yer aunt lives. It's kind er cosy, ain't +it?”</p> + +<p>Nancy did not notice Sue's question. She was looking at the +little house, the tiny fruit-trees in the yard, and the white cat +that sat upon the upper step, washing its face in the sun.</p> + +<p>The place looked very poor and small after the Dainty mansion +and the trim stone cottage. But small though it was, it looked far +better than the old house in the city where Steve Ferris had taken +her, when he had stolen her from her home and friends.</p> + +<h3 class="chapbreak"><a name="chapXII">CHAPTER XII</a></h3> + +<h4>THE NECKLACE</h4> + +<p class="chapone">Nancy could not help making friends with the +white cat, and it purred with delight at being noticed. Sue slipped +a key into the lock, and opened the door. They entered the tiny +hall, and the white cat followed them, as they walked towards a +little room at the rear.</p> + +<p>“Is that you, Sue? Did ye see her? Did she come?” +called a thin, tired voice.</p> + +<p>Sue opened the door of the sitting-room and Nancy ran in, all +sympathy now for the aunt who was really ill.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ferris lay upon an old carpet-covered lounge, and she +raised herself upon her elbow to look at Nancy as she stood before +her.</p> + +<p>“Set down on that little stool, Nancy,” she said, +“so I kin look at ye better. My! But ye look well an' strong +'side er what ye did when I last seen ye, whilst I've grown sick +an' tired. But seein' ye'll do me good, an' ter-morrer I'll talk +with ye. They's some things I <i>must</i> say, but I'll rest +ter-night, an' tell ye ter-morrer.”</p> + +<p>Nancy looked the fear that she felt, and Mrs. Ferris hastened to +reassure her.</p> + +<p>“Ye're safe here, Nancy,” she said. “There +ain't nobody here ter harm ye. Like 'nough Sue remembered ter tell +ye 'bout yer Uncle Steve.”</p> + +<p>Nancy nodded, and was about to speak when Mrs. Ferris +continued:</p> + +<p>“I don't want ter speak hard 'bout him now, an' I don't +hev ter. Ye was with us long 'nough ter know what yer Uncle Steve +was like, but I will tell ye one thing: we didn't hev no luck after +ye left us. Steve kept ye dancin' at the theatre, an' they paid +well fer dancin', too. Then ye was sick, an' them two ladies come +an' took yer home. After that we went from one place ter another, +Steve workin' when he felt like it, an' not workin' when he +<i>didn't</i> feel like it, which was most er the time. Since he's +went, I've worked hard at sewin', an' with a few boarders I've +managed ter save 'nough ter buy this little house. It didn't cost +much. It's in a out-er-the-way place, an' they's only four rooms in +it, but ef I kin git well agin I'll earn 'nough ter git +along.”</p> + +<p>She lay back against the pillow as if telling the story had +tired her.</p> + +<p>The clock upon the little mantel ticked loudly, and the white +cat blinked at it a moment, then sprang up into Nancy's lap. She +clasped her arms around it, and bending, laid her cheek against its +head.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ferris opened her eyes, and lay watching Nancy, as she +caressed the cat.</p> + +<p>“I like ter see ye here,” she said, “an' +ter-morrer I'll tell ye why I sent fer ye.”</p> + +<p>The kitchen door opened, and the scent of brewing tea came in +with Sue as she entered with a little tray which she placed upon a +chair near Mrs. Ferris.</p> + +<p>“There's yer tea an' toast,” she said, “an' ye +kin help yerself while me an' Nancy has some in the +kitchen.”</p> + +<p>And while Nancy sat beside Sue, and tried very hard to like the +coarse food offered her, her friends at the great stone house found +it impossible to taste the tempting dishes which graced their +table.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dainty was away from home on important business, and Mrs. +Dainty had asked Aunt Charlotte to come to the house with Nancy, +and stay with her until he should return.</p> + +<p>So when Mrs. Dainty's shopping was finished, and Aunt Charlotte +had left the house of her friend, they had met at the station, and +had found seats in the first car of the train. Their carriage was +waiting for them when they arrived at Merrivale, and all the way up +the avenue Dorothy talked of the gift which she had bought for +Nancy, and of Nancy's delight when she should see it.</p> + +<p>But no Nancy ran out to greet them, nor was she in sight when +they entered the hall.</p> + +<p>In sudden terror Dorothy had thrown herself down into a +cushioned chair, and no words of comfort could stop her sobbing or +stay her hot tears. That Nancy was stolen, never to return, she +earnestly believed, and although Mrs. Dainty tried to quiet her, +and to assure her that her playmate would doubtless soon be found, +she only shook her head, and cried at the thought that her Nancy +was not with her.</p> + +<p>The maid was sent to the cottage to see if any accident had +befallen her which kept her there, while the butler, in the +interest which he felt, forgot his dignity and begged permission to +call at the homes of her little friends to learn if she were +there.</p> + +<p>He soon returned with the news that Mollie and Flossie had +played with her all the forenoon, and had promised to go over to +the cottage after lunch; that they did so, but they found no one to +play with, and after waiting for some time, they ran unable to +understand why Nancy had not been waiting to greet them.</p> + +<p>Then the maid entered.</p> + +<p>“If ye please, Mrs. Grayson, I found this paper on yer +table. I do'no' what it is, fer I'd not be readin' what wa'n't writ +ter me, but wonderin' if it was writ by Miss Nancy, I've brought it +ter ye.”</p> + +<p>Dorothy sat with wide eyes and pale cheeks, her slender fingers +tightly clasping the arms of the chair. Could the note be from +Nancy? Would it tell where she was?</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dainty leaned over Aunt Charlotte's chair, and together +they read the hastily pencilled note.</p> + +<p class="thoughtbreak">“Dear Aunt Charlotte:—I guess +you remember Sue, I've forgotten what her other name is, but she's +the girl that worked for Uncle Steve, and was so good to me when I +was sick. She called to-day, and says my aunt is sick and thinks +she <i>must</i> see me, and you needn't think I'm stolen, because +Uncle Steve is dead, so he couldn't steal me again.</p> + +<p>“My aunt doesn't live in the city. Sue meant to ask you if +I could go, but you were away, and she said I ought to go so I did. +I'll be right home as soon as my aunt has told me what Sue says +she's <i>got</i> to tell.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 5em;"> +“Lovingly,</span></p> + +<p style="text-align: right; font-variant: small-caps;"> +“Nancy.”</p> + +<p class="thoughtbreak">“The dear child has not told us +<i>where</i> her aunt lives, only that she is <i>not</i> in the +city. What are we to do?”</p> + +<p>Aunt Charlotte's face was pale as she asked the question, and +the hand which held the note shook so that the bit of paper rustled +like a leaf as it lay against her silk gown.</p> + +<p>“We can do nothing to-night,” Mrs. Dainty replied, +“but to-morrow at daybreak the search must commence. I try to +find comfort in the fact that the girl, Sue, seemed to be honest, +and certainly she was straightforward if she intended to ask us if +she might take Nancy to her aunt, and to insist that she write a +note explaining her absence.”</p> + +<p>“I am sure that the girl's intentions are honest, but I am +<i>not</i> so sure of the woman who sent her to get Nancy. Steve +Ferris is dead, but while it was he who once stole Nancy, it was +his wife who helped him to keep her. I am frightened, and I can not +believe that she has sent for her only for the pleasure of seeing +her.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dainty turned quickly to see if Dorothy had heard what Aunt +Charlotte had said, but Dorothy was questioning the maid to learn +when she had last seen Nancy. Aunt Charlotte's words, which surely +would have frightened her, had passed unnoticed.</p> + +<p>It was late before any member of the household could think of +sleeping, and when at last Dorothy lay dreaming of Nancy, her long +lashes were wet with tears.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dainty had tried to comfort and cheer her by telling her +that <i>this</i> time they knew with whom Nancy was staying, and +that Sue, who had once before helped them to find her, would, +doubtless, bring her back.</p> + +<p>Dorothy had listened patiently, but when Mrs. Dainty kissed her +and said “good night,” Dorothy threw her arms about her +neck.</p> + +<p>“Oh, mamma, I know we have Nancy's note,” she said, +“and Sue <i>was</i> good to her once, but how do we know what +her aunt will do? What if she means to make her dance at a theatre, +just as her Uncle Steve did?”</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Dainty could find no words with which to comfort her, +because her own heart was filled with that very thought which made +Dorothy so unhappy.</p> + +<p>And when the bright sunlight streamed in through the windows of +the stone house it found every one wide awake and full of +excitement, eager to be doing something towards finding Nancy, but +in doubt as to what to do first.</p> + +<p>It was Mrs. Dainty's calmness that stilled their excitement, her +cool head that directed their efforts, her firm will which chose to +guide, rather than command.</p> + +<p>And while every effort was being made to find Nancy, and to +learn if she were safe, Nancy lay upon an old bed in the little +house in the country lane, and slept soundly, after having cried +herself to sleep the night before.</p> + +<p>She awoke with a start when a stray sunbeam came in through the +tiny window and touched her cheek.</p> + +<p>For a moment she stared at the glint of light which danced upon +the wall, then a puzzled look came into her brown eyes, and she +rubbed them as if in that way she might better see, and understand +her strange surroundings.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly she remembered all about it. Why she was in so +shabby a room, and why she was there at all. Ah, yes, Sue had +brought her, and she had thought that she should return that +night.</p> + +<p>Now the morning had come, and with it the hope that before night +she would be again in her own home, and with those who were dear to +her.</p> + +<p>She listened. There was not a sound of any one stirring, nor was +there any slight noises out-of-doors which told of busy people up +and about at early morning. She had forgotten that they were not on +a public highway. In the little lane there was continual quiet +whether at dawn or at high noon, so that one might have thought the +whole town asleep, or at least napping.</p> + +<p>And shabby as the bed was upon which Nancy lay, it was far more +comfortable than the old lounge which Sue had chosen to occupy.</p> + +<p>She had tried to honor Nancy as her guest, and so had given her +the best resting-place which the cottage afforded.</p> + +<p>Nancy wondered if Sue were yet awake.</p> + +<p>“Sue!” she whispered.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” whispered Sue in reply.</p> + +<p>“Isn't it time to get up now?”</p> + +<p>“Not yet,” said Sue, “fer Mis' Ferris don't +hev her breakfast till 'bout ten, an' it ain't pleasant ter wander +'round a cold house when there ain't no reason fer it, an' she +don't want wood burned fer a fire until I use it ter git breakfast +with. Ye might try ter git ter sleep agin; they's nothin' else ter +do.”</p> + +<p>One glance around the dingy chamber would have told any one that +much could be done before a ten-o'clock breakfast, but Mrs. Ferris +wished the house to be quiet during the early hours of the +morning.</p> + +<p>And in spite of the fact that she was very wide awake, Nancy did +go to sleep.</p> + +<p>At first she amused herself by staring at the odd-shaped scrolls +and blossoms upon the paper. There were blue and yellow flowers +with bright green leaves, supported upon latticework of a queer +shade of brown.</p> + +<p>Nancy thought the vines looked as if they were crawling, and +that the yellow blossoms were shaped like huge bugs. The longer she +looked at it the more it seemed as if those vines did really move +upon the wall. While she watched them she dropped to sleep and +dreamed that she was trying to dance, but could not do the graceful +steps which she so well knew, because those vines had come down +from the wall, and were tangled about her feet.</p> + +<p>When she again awoke the sun was shining brightly, and she could +hear the rattling of dishes down in the little kitchen.</p> + +<p>She sprang up, and hurriedly dressed, wondering why Sue had not +called her. There was frost upon the window-pane, and she shivered. +Each garment which she put on seemed colder than the one +before.</p> + +<p>She searched the room for a button-hook, and finding none, ran +down to the kitchen.</p> + +<p>“Thought I wouldn't call ye till we got a bit warmed +up,” said Sue.</p> + +<p>“What's that? No. I ain't seen no button-hook in this +place, but ye jest set on that chair an' I'll fasten yer boots fer +ye.”</p> + +<p>She took a huge, crooked hair-pin from her hair, and buttoned +Nancy's boots with wonderful speed, when the tool which she worked +with was considered.</p> + +<p>And what a breakfast that was, which Nancy ate from a blue-edged +pie-plate that was badly crackled.</p> + +<p>A small piece of very tough ham, an egg fried for ten minutes, +until it looked and tasted like leather, a boiled potato the color +of lead, and a biscuit of about the same hue.</p> + +<p>“I don't s'pose ye're used ter drinkin' tea, but I guess +I'll give ye some ter wash yer bread down. That biscuit's kinder +dry,” and she offered Nancy a cup of drink, which, from its +flavor, might have been tea—or anything else.</p> + +<p>The little kitchen was dingy, and the food not at all like the +appetizing fare which she usually enjoyed, but she was hungry, and +Sue felt flattered that Nancy ate the breakfast which she had +served.</p> + +<p>And after breakfast how the hours dragged!</p> + +<p>Nancy was anxious to be starting for home, yet she could do +nothing to hasten the time when she could go. Sue was busy with the +ordinary work of the morning, and Mrs. Ferris had told her to tell +Nancy that she would talk with her after dinner. That she felt too +ill to see her until afternoon.</p> + +<p>“'Tain't no use ter fret, Nancy,” said Sue, +“she ain't good fer much till after dinner, but I guess shell +talk with ye then fast 'nough.”</p> + +<p>“But I'm wild to get back to the cottage,” wailed +Nancy.</p> + +<p>“Ye couldn't git there ter-day, fer this is Sunday, and we +don't hev but two trains that stop here Sundays. One leaves here at +half-past seven in the morning, an' the other stops here at +half-past nine at night, but that one goes ter the city, an' that +would be going right away from Merrivale.”</p> + +<p>Nancy made no reply, but turned to look from the window.</p> + +<p>“To-morrow will be Monday, and I <i>must</i> get back to +school,” she thought.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when Mrs. Ferris called Nancy to +listen to what she had to say.</p> + +<p>“I kin talk ter ye now,” she said, “an' first +I'll ask ye ef ye remember the old house in Merrivale where ye used +ter live before Mis' Dainty give ye a home?”</p> + +<p>“I guess I <i>do</i>,” said Nancy.</p> + +<p>“Wal, 'twa'n't much of er livin' ye had, an' the woman +what took keer of ye was only yer <i>stepmother</i>. Did ye know +that?”</p> + +<p>“Some of the children told me,” Nancy replied.</p> + +<p>“Wal, did any one ever tell ye 'bout yer <i>own</i> +mother?”</p> + +<p>Nancy stared in round-eyed surprise.</p> + +<p>“Why, if she was my <i>stepmother</i>, of course I must +have had an own mother once, but I never thought of it.”</p> + +<p>“She was a beauty, an' ye'll look like her when ye're a +young lady. Her hair was dark an' curly, an' her figger was +graceful. Her big dark eyes was melting, an' she could dance, oh, +how she could dance!”</p> + +<p>“My mamma danced?” questioned Nancy.</p> + +<p>“She danced like a fairy. She was a stage dancer; there's +where ye got yer nimble toes, but she died when ye wasn't a year +old, an' yer father married that other woman who wa'n't nobody at +all. Yer own ma was called ‘Ma'm'selle Nannette’ on the +play-bills, an' she was a good woman, a sweet woman as ever +lived.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I'd known her,” Nancy said, her eyes filled +with tears at the thought of the beautiful young mother whom she +had never known.</p> + +<p>“An' one thing I sent fer yer fer was this,” and +Mrs. Ferris took a small box from beneath her shawl. “What's +in this box belonged ter yer own ma, an' how Steve got hold of it I +don't know. I found it 'mong his things, an' when I see yer ma's +name on to it, I knew he'd no right ter hev it. I took an' hid it, +an' Steve tore 'round like mad a-tellin' that he'd been robbed, but +he didn't say anything ter the perlice, 'cause he knew it didn't +b'long ter him in the first place.”</p> + +<p>She opened the box and held up a slender gold necklace set with +tiny brilliants.</p> + +<p class="illus"><a name="illus248" href="images/Illus248.jpg" +target="_blank"><img src="images/Illus248s.jpg" alt= +"Nancy clasped her hands together, and gasped, 'Oh!--O--O!'" width= +"337" height="423"></a><br> +Nancy clasped her hands together, and gasped, +“Oh!–O–O!”</p> + +<p>Nancy clasped her hands together, and gasped, +“Oh-o-o,” in admiration.</p> + +<p>“There's the name on the clasp,” said Mrs. +Ferris.</p> + +<p>“When I found it I wondered why he hadn't sold it when he +was hard up, which was often 'nough, goodness knows, but after I +hid it, he said he'd kept holdin' on to it fer the time when he'd +need the money more, but I think he was <i>'fraid</i> ter sell it. +Knowin' 'twa'n't his'n, he thought he <i>might</i> git 'cused er +hevin' stolen it.”</p> + +<p>Nancy took the pretty necklace, and held it so that it sparkled +like dewdrops.</p> + +<p>It was truly a charming bit of jewelry, not costly, but +tasteful, and just what one might think would have shone +resplendent upon the white throat of the beautiful Nannette.</p> + +<p>“It's yours by good rights,” Mrs. Ferris said, +“an' I ain't like Steve was; I don't want nothin' that don't +b'long ter me.</p> + +<p>“Now I've given that ter ye, I feel some better. I've felt +like a thief ever since I found it, an' knew who it b'longed ter. +They's a note in the little box, an' when ye've puzzled over the +flourishes done in fancy ink, ye kin read that that necklace was +presented ter Ma'm'selle Nannette by, I forgot who, fer her +beautiful dancin'.”</p> + +<p>Nancy looked as if she listened in a dream.</p> + +<p>“An' one thing more I want ter tell ye. I never approved +er Steve's stealin' ye. I told him 'twa'n't right, but he wouldn't +listen, an' I couldn't help ye. I was as 'fraid er him as ye was, +an' he was so headstrong, I had ter let him do as he wanted ter. +I'm tired now, and ye'd better run out ter the kitchen with Sue. I +know I'll feel better now I've freed my mind.”</p> + +<p>Nancy hurried to Sue to tell the wonderful story, and to show +the necklace.</p> + +<p>“And here's her name on the large flat side of the +clasp,” she said.</p> + +<p>Sue's eyes sparkled with delight.</p> + +<p>“And I didn't like to ask her how soon I could go home, +just when she'd given the pretty thing to me, but, Sue,” she +continued, “don't you think she means <i>surely</i> to let me +go as early as to-morrow?”</p> + +<p>“I do'no' what she means ter do, that is, not +<i>exactly</i>, but p'raps ye won't hev ter ask her. Maybe she'll +tell ye 'thout any teasin'.”</p> + +<p>Those who would like to see Dorothy and her many friends again, +and to learn what became of Nancy, may meet them all again in +“Dorothy Dainty in the Country.”</p> + +<br> +<br> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13753 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus001.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d844f93 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus001.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus001s.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus001s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb5823a --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus001s.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus064.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus064.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7db30c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus064.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus064s.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus064s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8290fe4 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus064s.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus113.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus113.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c1d3a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus113.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus113s.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus113s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d93f651 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus113s.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus172.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus172.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..53ca4dc --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus172.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus172s.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus172s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b87a3e --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus172s.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus219.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus219.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a319c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus219.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus219s.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus219s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4668263 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus219s.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus248.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus248.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a723aa7 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus248.jpg diff --git a/13753-h/images/Illus248s.jpg b/13753-h/images/Illus248s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ce7221 --- /dev/null +++ b/13753-h/images/Illus248s.jpg |
