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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17506-8.txt b/17506-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6ba2f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/17506-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9615 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Little Mother to the Others, by L. T. Meade + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Mother to the Others + +Author: L. T. Meade + +Release Date: January 12, 2006 [EBook #17506] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS *** + + + + +Produced by Lenna Knox, Juliet Sutherland, Sankar +Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + A Little Mother to + the Others + + + + BY + + MRS. L.T. MEADE + + AUTHOR OF + "POLLY: A NEW-FASHIONED GIRL," "A SWEET + GIRL GRADUATE," ETC. + + + + + + NEW YORK + + GROSSET & DUNLAP + + PUBLISHERS + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER + +I. THE POOR INNOCENT, + +II. A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS, + +III. THE ARRIVAL OF THE AUNT, + +IV. RUB-A-DUB, + +V. AUNT IS HER NAME, + +VI. THE POOR DEAD UN'S, + +VII. BUT ANN COULD NOT HELP LETTING OUT NOW AND THEN, + +VIII. THE STRAW TOO MUCH, + +IX. THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER, + +X. BOW AND ARROW, + +XI. JOG'APHY, + +XII. A BABY'S HONOR, + +XIII. BIRCH ROD, + +XIV. DIANA'S REVENGE, + +XV. MOTHER RODESIA, + +XVI. UNCLE BEN, + +XVII. GREASED LIGHTNING, + +XVIII. THE HEART OF THE LITTLE MOTHER, + +XIX. "A PIGMY I CALL HIM", + +XX. "LET'S PERTEND," SAID DIANA, + +XXI. POLE STAR, + +XXII. THE MILKMAN, + +XXIII. FORTUNE, + +XXIV. ON THE TRAIL, + +XXV. FOUND, + +XXVI. THE LITTLE MOTHER TO THE RESCUE, + + + + +A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE POOR INNOCENT. + + +The four children had rather peculiar names. The eldest girl was +called Iris, which, as everybody ought to know, means rainbow--indeed, +there was an Iris spoken of in the old Greek legends, who was supposed +to be Hera's chief messenger, and whenever a rainbow appeared in the +sky it was said that Iris was bringing down a message from Hera. The +Iris of this story was a very pretty, thoughtful little girl, aged ten +years. Her mother often talked to her about her name, and told her the +story which was associated with it. The eldest boy was called Apollo, +which also is a Greek name, and was supposed at one time to belong to +the most beautiful boy in the world. The next girl was called Diana, +and the youngest boy's name was Orion. + +When this story opens, Iris was ten years old, Apollo nine, Diana six, +and little Orion five. They were like ordinary children in appearance, +being neither particularly handsome nor particularly the reverse; but +in their minds and ways, in their habits and tastes, they seemed to +have inherited a savor of those far-off beings after whom their mother +had called them. They were, in short, very unworldly children--that +does not mean that they were specially religious--but they did not +care for fine clothes, nor the ordinary amusements which ordinary +children delight in. They loved flowers with a love which was almost a +passion, and they also knew a great deal about the stars, and often +coaxed their mother to allow them to sit up late at night to watch the +different constellations; but above all these things they adored, with +a great adoration, the entire animal kingdom. + +It so happened that the little Delaneys spent the greater part of +their time in a beautiful garden. I don't think, in all the course of +my wanderings, I ever saw a garden quite to compare to that in which +their early days were spent. Even in the winter they lived the greater +part of their time here, being hardy children and never catching cold. +The house was a fine and beautiful building, having belonged to their +family for several generations, but the children thought nothing at +all of that in comparison with the garden. Here, when possible, they +even had their lessons; here they played all their wonderful and +remarkable games; here they went through their brief sorrows, and +tasted their sweetest joys. But I must hasten to describe the garden +itself. In the first place, it was old-fashioned, having very high +brick walls covered all over with fruit trees. These fruit trees had +grown slowly, and were now in the perfection of their prime. Never +were such peaches to be seen, nor such apricots, nor such cherries, as +ripened slowly on the red brick walls of the old garden. Inside the +walls almost all well-known English flowers flourished in lavish +profusion. There was also fruit to be found here in quantities. Never +were such strawberries to be seen as could be gathered from those +great strawberry beds. Then the gooseberries with which the old bushes +were laden; the currants, red, black, and white; the raspberries, had +surely their match nowhere else on this earth. + +The walled-in garden contained quite five acres of ground, and was +divided itself into three portions. In the middle was the flower +garden proper. Here there was a long, straight walk which led to an +arbor at the bottom. The children were particularly fond of this +arbor, for their father had made it for them with his own hands, and +their mother had watched its growth. Mrs. Delaney was very delicate at +the time, and as she looked on and saw the pretty arbor growing into +shape, she used to lean on Iris' arm and talk to her now and then in +her soft, low voice about the flowers and the animals, and the happy +life which the little people were leading. At these moments a look +would often come into her mother's gentle eyes which caused Iris' +heart to beat fast, and made her tighten her clasp on the slender arm. +Then, when the arbor was quite finished, Mr. Delaney put little seats +into it, a rustic chair for each child, which he or she could take in +or out at pleasure. The chairs were carved in commemoration of each +child's name. Iris had the deep purple flowers which go by that name +twined round and round the back of hers. Apollo's chair was made +memorable with his well-known lyre and bow, and these words were +carved round it: "The golden lyre shall be my friend, the bent bow my +delight, and in oracles will I foretell the dark future." + +Diana's chair had a bow and quiver engraved on the back, while little +Orion's represented a giant with a girdle and a sword. The children +were very proud of their chairs, and often talked of them to one +another, and Iris, who was the story-teller of the party, was never +tired of telling the stories of the great originals after whom she and +her brothers and sister were named. + +Down the straight path which led to the pretty arbor were Scotch +roses, red and white. The smell of these roses in the summer was quite +enough to ravish you. Iris in particular used to sniff at them and +sniff at them until she felt nearly intoxicated with delight. + +The central garden, which was mostly devoted to flowers, led through +little, old-fashioned, somewhat narrow postern doors into the fruit +gardens on either side. In these were the gooseberries. Here were to +be found the great beds of strawberries; here, by-and-by, ripened the +plums and the many sorts of apples and pears; here, too, were the +great glass houses where the grapes assumed their deep claret color +and their wonderful bloom; and here also were some peculiar and +marvelous foreign flowers, such as orchids, and many others. + +Whenever the children were not in the house they were to be found in +the garden, for, in addition to the abundance of fruit and vegetables, +it also possessed some stately trees, which gave plenty of shade even +when the sun was at its hottest. Here Iris would lie full length on +her face and hands, and dream dreams to any extent. Now and then also +she would wake up with a start and tell marvelous stories to her +brothers and sister. She told stories very well, and the others always +listened solemnly and begged her to tell more, and questioned and +argued, and tried to make the adventures she described come really +into their own lives. + +Iris was undoubtedly the most imaginative of all the little party. +She was also the most gentle and the most thoughtful. She took most +after her beautiful mother, and thought more than any of the others of +the peculiar names after which they were all called. + +On a certain day in the first week of a particularly hot and lovely +June, Iris, who had been in the house for some time, came slowly out, +swinging her large muslin hat on her arm. Her face looked paler than +usual, and somewhat thoughtful. + +"Here you are at last, Iris," called out Diana, in her brisk voice, +"and not a moment too soon. I have just found a poor innocent dead on +the walk; you must come and look at it at once." + +On hearing these words, the gloom left Iris' face as if by magic. + +"Where is it?" she asked. "I hope you did not tread on it, Diana." + +"No; but Puff-Ball did," answered Diana. "Don't blame him, please, +Iris; he is only a puppy and always up to mischief. He took the poor +innocent in his mouth and shook it; but I think it was quite deaded +before that." + +"Then, if it is dead, it must be buried," said Iris solemnly. "Bring +it into the arbor, and let us think what kind of funeral we will give +it." + +"Why not into the dead-house at once?" queried Diana. + +"No; the arbor will do for the present." + +Iris quickened her footsteps and walked down the straight path through +the midst of the Scotch roses. Having reached the pretty little +summer-house, she seated herself on her rustic chair and waited until +Diana arrived with the poor innocent. This was a somewhat unsightly +object, being nothing more nor less than a dead earthworm which had +been found on the walk, and which Diana respected, as she did all live +creatures, great or small. + +"Put it down there," said Iris; "we can have a funeral when the sun is +not quite so hot." + +"I suppose it will have a private funeral," said Apollo, who came into +the summer-house at that moment. "It is nothing but a poor innocent, +and not worth a great deal of trouble; and I do hope, Iris," he added +eagerly, "that you will not expect me to be present, for I have got +some most important chemical experiments which I am anxious to go on +with. I quite hope to succeed with my thermometer to-day, and, after +all, as it is only a worm----" + +Iris looked up at him with very solemn eyes. + +"_Only_ a worm," she repeated. "Is _that_ its fault, poor thing?" +Apollo seemed to feel the indignant glance of Iris' brown eyes. He sat +down submissively on his own chair. Orion and Diana dropped on their +knees by Iris' side. "I think," said Iris slowly, "that we will give +this poor innocent a simple funeral. The coffin must be made of dock +leaves, and----" + +Here she was suddenly interrupted--a shadow fell across the entrance +door of the pretty summer-house. An elderly woman, with a thin face +and lank, figure, looked in. + +"Miss Iris," she said, "Mrs. Delaney is awake and would be glad to see +you." + +"Mother!" cried Iris eagerly. She turned at once to her sister and +brothers. "The innocent must wait," she said. "Put it in the +dead-house with the other creatures. I will attend to the funeral in +the evening or to-morrow. Don't keep me now, children." + +"But I thought you had just come from mother," said Apollo. + +"No. When I went to her she was asleep. Don't keep me, please." The +woman who had brought the message had already disappeared down the +long straight walk. Iris took to her heels and ran after her. +"Fortune," she said, looking into her face, "is mother any better?" + +"As to that, Miss Iris, it is more than I can tell you. Please don't +hold on to my hand, miss. In hot weather I hate children to cling to +me." + +Iris said nothing more, but she withdrew a little from Fortune's side. + +Fortune hurried her steps, and Iris kept time with her. When they +reached the house, the woman stopped and looked intently at the child. + +"You can go straight upstairs at once, miss, and into the room," she +said. "You need not knock; my mistress is waiting for you." + +"Don't you think, Fortune, that mother is just a little _wee_ bit +better?" asked Iris again. There was an imploring note in her question +this time. + +"She will tell you herself, my dear. Now, be quick; don't keep her +waiting. It is bad for people, when they are ill, to be kept waiting." + +"I won't keep her; I'll go to her this very instant," said Iris. + +The old house was as beautiful as the garden to which it belonged. It +had been built, a great part of it, centuries ago, and had, like many +other houses of its date, been added to from time to time. Queerly +shaped rooms jutted out in many quarters; odd stairs climbed up in +several directions; towers and turrets were added to the roof; +passages, some narrow, some broad, connected the new buildings with +the old. The whole made an incongruous and yet beautiful effect, the +new rooms possessing the advantages and comforts which modern builders +put into their houses, and the older part of the house the quaint +devices and thick, wainscoted walls and deep, mullioned windows of the +times which are gone by. + +Iris ran quickly through the wide entrance hall and up the broad, +white, stone stairs. These stairs were a special feature of Delaney +Manor. They had been brought all the way from Italy by a Delaney +nearly a hundred years ago, and were made of pure marble, and were +very lovely to look at. When Iris reached the first landing, she +turned aside from the spacious modern apartments and, opening a green +baize door, ran down a narrow passage. At the end of the passage she +turned to the left and went down another passage, and then wended her +way up some narrow stairs, which curled round and round as if they +were going up a tower. This, as a matter of fact, was the case. +Presently Iris pushed aside a curtain, and found herself in an octagon +room nearly at the top of a somewhat high, but squarely built, tower. +This room, which was large and airy, was wainscoted with oak; there +was a thick Turkey carpet on the floor, and the many windows were +flung wide open, so that the summer breeze, coming in fresh and sweet +from this great height, made the whole lovely room as fresh and cheery +and full of sweet perfume as if its solitary inmate were really in the +open air. + +Iris, however, had often been in the room before, and had no time or +thought now to give to its appearance. Her eyes darted to the sofa on +which her young mother lay. Mrs. Delaney was half-sitting up, and +looked almost too young to be the mother of a child as big as Iris. +She had one of the most beautiful faces God ever gave to anybody. It +was not so much that her features were perfect, but they were full of +light, full of soul, and such a very loving expression beamed in her +eyes that no man, woman, or child ever looked at her without feeling +the best in their natures coming immediately to the surface. + +As to little Iris, her feelings for her mother were quite beyond any +words to express. She ran up to her now and knelt by her side. + +"Kiss me, Iris," said Mrs. Delaney. + +Iris put up her soft, rosebud lips; they met the equally soft lips of +the mother. + +"You are much better, mummy; are you not?" said the child, in an +eager, half-passionate whisper. + +"I have had a long sleep, darling, and I am rested," said Mrs. +Delaney. "I told Fortune to call you. Father is away for the day. I +thought we could have half an hour uninterrupted." + +"How beautiful, mother! It is the most delightful thing in all the +world to be alone with you, mummy." + +"Well, bring your little chair and sit near me, Iris. Fortune will +bring in tea in a moment, and you can pour it out. You shall have tea +with me, if you wish it, darling." + +Iris gave a sigh of rapture; she was too happy almost for words. This +was almost invariably the case when she found herself in her mother's +presence. When with her mother she was quiet and seldom spoke a great +deal. In the garden with the other children Iris was the one who +chattered most, but with her mother her words were always few. She +felt herself then to be more or less in a listening attitude. She +listened for the words which dropped from those gentle lips; she was +always on the lookout for the love-light which filled the soft brown +eyes. + +At that moment the old servant, Fortune, brought in the tea on a +pretty tray and laid it on a small table near Mrs. Delaney. Then Iris +got up, and with an important air poured it out and brought a cup, +nicely prepared, to her mother. + +Mrs. Delaney sipped her tea and looked from time to time at her little +daughter. When she did so, Iris devoured her with her anxious eyes. + +"No," she said to herself, "mother does not look ill--not even _very_ +tired. She is not like anybody else, and that is why--why she wears +that wonderful, almost holy expression. Sometimes I wish she did not, +but I would not change her, not for all the world." + +Iris' heart grew quiet. Her cup of bliss was quite full. She scarcely +touched her tea; she was too happy even to eat. + +"Have you had enough tea, mother?" she asked presently. + +"Yes, darling. Please push the tea-table a little aside, and then come +up very near to me. I want to hold your dear little hand in mine; I +can't talk much." + +"But you are better--you are surely better, mother?" + +"In one sense, yes, Iris." + +Iris moved the tea-table very deftly aside, and then, drawing up her +small chair, slipped her hand inside her mother's. + +"I have made up my mind to tell you, Iris," said the mother. She +looked at the little girl for a full minute, and then began to talk in +a low, clear voice. "I am the mother of four children. I don't think +there are any other children like you four in the wide world. I have +thought a great deal about you, and while I have been ill have prayed +to God to keep you and to help me, and now, Iris, now that I have got +to go away--" + +"To go away, mother?" interrupted Iris, turning very pale. + +"Yes, dearest. Don't be troubled, darling; I can make it all seem +quite happy to you. But now, when I see it must be done, that I must +undertake this very long journey, I want to put things perfectly +straight between you and me, my little daughter." + +"Things have been always straight between us, mother," said Iris. "I +don't quite understand." + +"Do you remember the time when I went to Australia?" + +"Are you going to Australia again?" asked Iris. "You were a whole year +away then. It was a very long time, and sometimes, mother, sometimes +Fortune was a little cross, and Miss Stevenson never seemed to suit +Apollo. I thought I would tell you about that." + +"But Fortune means well, dearest. She has your true interest at heart, +and I think matters will be differently arranged, as far as Miss +Stevenson is concerned, in the future. It is not about her or Fortune +I want to speak now." + +"And you are going back to Australia again?" + +"I am going quite as far as Australia; but we need not talk of the +distance just now. I have not time for many words, nor very much +strength to speak. You know, Iris, the meaning of your names, don't +you?" + +"Of course," answered Iris; "and, mother, I have often talked to the +others about our names. I have told Apollo how beautiful he must try +to be, not only in his face, but in his mind, mother, and how brave +and how clever. I have told him that he must try to have a beautiful +soul; and Orion must be very brave and strong, and Diana must be +bright and sparkling and noble. Yes, mother; we all know about our +names." + +"I am glad of that," said Mrs. Delaney. "I gave you the names for a +purpose. I wanted you to have names with meaning to them. I wanted you +to try to live up to them. Now, Iris, that I am really going away, I +am afraid you children will find a great many things altered. You have +hitherto lived a very sheltered life; you have just had the dear old +garden and the run of the house, and you have seen your father or me +every day. But afterwards, when I have gone, you will doubtless have +to go into the world; and, my darling, my darling, the cold world does +not always understand the meaning of names like yours, the meaning of +strength and beauty and nobleness, and of bright, sparkling, and high +ideas. In short, my little girl, if you four children are to be worthy +of your names and to fulfill the dreams, the longings, the _hopes_ I +have centered round you, there is nothing whatever for you to do but +to begin to fight your battles." + +Iris was silent. She had very earnest eyes, something like her +mother's in expression. They were fixed now on Mrs. Delaney's face. + +"I will not explain exactly what I mean," said the mother, giving the +little hand a loving squeeze, "only to assure you, Iris, that, as the +trial comes, strength will be given to you to meet it. Please +understand, my darling, that from first to last, to the end of life, +it is all a fight. 'The road winds uphill all the way.' If you will +remember that you will not think things half as hard, and you will be +brave and strong, and, like the rainbow, you will cheer people even in +the darkest hours. But, Iris, I want you to promise me one thing--I +want you, my little girl, to be a mother to the others." + +"A mother to the others?" said Iris, half aloud. She paused and did +not speak at all for a moment, her imagination was very busy. She +thought of all the creatures to whom she was already a mother, not +only her own dear pets--the mice in their cages, the silk-worms, the +three dogs, the stray cat, the pet Persian cat, the green frogs, the +poor innocents, as the children called worms--but in addition to +these, all creatures that suffered in the animal kingdom, all flowers +that were about to fade, all sad things that seemed to need care and +comfort. But up to the present she had never thought of the other +children except as her equals. Apollo was only a year younger than +herself, and in some ways braver and stouter and more fearless; and +Orion and Diana were something like their names--very bright and even +fierce at times. She, after all, was the gentlest of the party, and +she was very young--not more than ten years of age. How could she +possibly be a mother to the others? + +She looked at Mrs. Delaney, and her mother gazed solemnly at her, +waiting for her to speak. + +"After all," thought Iris, "to satisfy the longing in mother's eyes is +the first thing of all. I will promise, cost what it may." + +"Yes," she said; then softly, "I will, mother; I will be a mother to +the others." + +"Kiss me, Iris." + +The little girl threw her arms round her mother's neck; their lips met +in a long embrace. + +"Darling, you understand? I am satisfied with your promise, and I am +tired." + +"Must I go away, mother? May not I stay very quietly with you? Can you +not sleep if I am in the room?" + +"I would rather you left me now. I can sleep better when no one is by. +Ring the bell for Fortune as you go. She will come and make me +comfortable. Yes; I am very tired." + +"One moment first, mummy--you have not told me yet when you are going +on the journey." + +"The day is not quite fixed, Iris, although it is--yes, it is nearly +so." + +"And you have not said _where_ you are going, mother. I should like to +tell the others." + +But Mrs. Delaney had closed her eyes, and did not make any reply. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS. + + +That night the children's young mother went on her journey. The +summons for her to go came unexpectedly, as it often does in the end. +She had not even time to say good-by to the children, nor to her +husband, only just a brief moment to look, with startled eyes, at the +wonderful face of the angel who had come to fetch her, and then with a +smile of bliss to let him clasp her in his arms and feel his strong +wings round her, and then she was away, beyond the lovely house and +the beautiful garden, and the children sleeping quietly in their beds, +and the husband who was slumbering by her side--beyond the tall trees +and the peaks of the highest mountains, beyond the stars themselves, +until finally she entered the portals of a home that is everlasting, +and found herself in a land where the flowers do not fade. + +In the morning the children were told that their mother was dead. They +all cried, and everyone thought it dreadfully sad, except Iris, who +knew better. It was Fortune who brought in the news to the +children--they had just gone into the day-nursery at the time. + +Fortune was a stern woman, somewhat over fifty years of age. She was +American by birth, and had lived with Mrs. Delaney since Iris was +born. Mrs. Delaney was also American, which may have accounted for +some of her bright fancies, and quiet, yet sweet and quick ways. +Fortune was very fond of the children after her fashion, which was, +however, as a rule, somewhat severe and exacting. But to-day, in her +bitter grief, she sank down on the nearest chair, and allowed them all +to crowd round her, and cried bitterly, and took little Orion in her +arms and kissed him and petted him, and begged of each child to +forgive her for ever having been cross or disagreeable, and promised, +as well and as heartily as she could, never to transgress again in +that manner as long as she lived. + +While the others were sobbing and crying round Fortune, Iris stood +silent. + +"Where is father?" she said at last, in a very quiet but determined +voice. + +Fortune glanced round at the grave little girl in some wonder. + +"Miss Iris," she said, "you are not even crying." + +"What do tears matter?" answered Iris. "Please, Fortune, where is +father? I should like to go to him." + +"He is locked up in his study, darling, and could not possibly see you +nor anyone else. He is quite stunned, master is, and no wonder. You +cannot go to him at present, Miss Iris." + +Iris did not say another word, but she looked more grave and more +thoughtful than ever. After a long pause she sat down in her own +little chair near the open window. It was a very lovely day, just as +beautiful as the one which had preceded it. As the child sat by the +window, and the soft, sweet breeze fanned her pale cheeks, an +indescribable longing came over her. No one was particularly noticing +her. She crept softly out of the room, ran down some passages, and at +last found herself once more mounting the turret stairs to the tower. +A moment later she had entered the octagon room where she and her +mother had talked together on the previous day. The windows were wide +open, the pretty room looked just as usual, but mother's sofa was +vacant. Iris went straight over to one of the open windows, knelt +down, and put her little elbows on the ledge. + +"Yes, mother," she said, speaking aloud and looking full up at the +bright blue sky, "I promise you. I promised you yesterday, but I make +a fresh, very, _very_ solemn promise to-day. Yes, I will be a mother +to the others; I will try never to think of myself; I will remember, +mother darling, exactly what you want me to do. I will try to be +beautiful, to be a little messenger of the gods, as you sometimes said +I might be, and to be like the rainbow, full of hope. And I will try +to help Apollo to be the most beautiful and the bravest boy in the +world; and, mother, I will do my best to help Diana to be strong and +bright and full of courage; and I will do what I can for Orion--he +must be grand like a giant, so that he may live up to the wonderful +name you have given him. Mother, it will be very hard, but I promise, +I promise with all my might, to do everything you want me to do. I +will act just as if you were there and could see, mother, and I will +_always_ remember that it is beautiful for you to have gone away, for +while you were here you had so much pain and so much illness. I won't +fret, mother; no, I won't fret--I promise to be a mother to the +others, and there won't be any time to fret." + +No tears came to Iris' bright eyes, but her little thin face grew +paler and paler. Presently she left the window and went slowly +downstairs again. + +Fortune had now left the other children to themselves. They were +scattered about the bright day nursery, looking miserable, though they +could scarcely tell why. + +"I don't believe a bit that mother is never coming back," said Orion, +in a stout, determined voice. + +He was a very handsome little fellow, strongly made--he had great big +black eyes like his father's. He was standing now with his Noah's ark +in his hand. + +"It is unfeeling of you to want to play with your Noah's ark to-day, +Orion," said Apollo. "Now, do you think I would go into my laboratory +and try to make a thermometer?" + +"Well, at least," said Diana, speaking with a sort of jerk, and her +small face turning crimson, "whatever happens, the animals must be +fed." + +"Of course they must, Diana," said Iris, coming forward, "and, Apollo, +there is not the least harm in our going into the garden, and I don't +think there is any harm in Orion playing with his Noah's ark. Come, +children; come with me. We will feed all the pets and then go into the +arbor, and, if you like, I will tell you stories." + +"What sort of stories?" asked Diana, in quite a cheerful voice. She +trotted up to her sister, and gave her her hand as she spoke. She also +was a finely made child, not unlike her name. + +"I 'gree with Orion," she said. "I'm quite certain sure that mother is +coming back 'fore long. Fortune did talk nonsense. She said, Iris--do +you know what she said?--she said that in the middle of the night, +just when it was black dark, you know, a white angel came into the +room and took mother in his arms and flew up to the sky with her. You +don't believe that; do you, Iris?" + +"Yes, I do, Diana," answered Iris. "But I will tell you more about it +in the arbor. Come, Apollo; mother would not like us to stay in the +house just because she has gone away to the angels. Mother never was +the least little bit selfish. Come into the garden." + +The three forlorn-looking little children were much comforted by Iris' +brave words. They dried their eyes, and Diana ran into the night +nursery to fetch their hats. They then ran downstairs without anyone +specially noticing them, passed through the great entrance hall, and +out on to the wide gravel sweep, which led by a side walk into the +lovely garden. + +Iris held Diana by one hand and Orion by the other, and Apollo ran on +in front. + +"Now, then," said Iris, when they had reached the garden, "we must +begin by feeding all the pets." + +"There _are_ an awful lot of them," said Diana, in quite a cheerful +voice; "and don't you remember, Iris, the poor innocent was not buried +yesterday?" + +Iris could not help giving a little shiver. + +"No more it was," she said, in a low tone. "It must have quite a +private funeral. Please get some dock leaves, Apollo." + +"Yes," answered Apollo. + +He ran off, returning with a bunch in a moment or two. + +"Take them into the dead-house," said Iris, "and sew them up and put +the poor innocent inside, and then take your spade and dig a hole in +the cemetery. We can't have a public funeral. I--I don't feel up to +it," she added, her lips trembling for the first time. + +Diana nestled close up to Iris. + +"You need not look sad, Iris," she said; "there's no cause, is there? +I don't believe that story 'bout mother, and if it is not true +there'll be nothing wrong in my laughing, will there?" + +"You may laugh if you like, darling," answered Iris. + +They all entered the arbor now, and Iris seated herself in the little +chair which mother had seen father make, and round which the beautiful +flowers of the iris had been carved. + +"Laugh, Di," she said again; "I know mother won't mind." + +For a full moment Diana stood silent, staring at her sister; then her +big black eyes, which had been full of the deepest gloom, brightened. +A butterfly passed the entrance to the summer-house, and Diana flew +after it, chasing it with a loud shout and a gay, hearty fit of +laughter. + +Apollo came back with the stray cat, whose name was "Trust," in his +arms. + +"She looks miserable, poor thing," he said. "I don't believe she has +had anything to eat to-day. She must have her breakfast, as usual; +must she not, Iris?" + +"Yes; we must feed all the pets," said Iris, making a great effort to +brighten up. "Let us go regularly to work, all of us. Apollo, will you +take the birds? You may as well clean out their cages--they are sure +to want it. I will collect flies for the green frogs, and Orion, you +may pick mulberry leaves for the silk-worms." + +For the next hour the children were busily employed. No one missed +them in the house. The house was full of shade, but the garden, +although mother had left it forever, was quite bright; the sun shone +as brilliantly as it did every other day; a great many fresh flowers +had come out; there was a very sweet smell from the opening roses, and +in especial the Scotch roses, white and red, made a waft of delicious +perfume as the children ran up and down. + +"I'm awfully hungry," said Diana suddenly. + +"But we won't go into the house for lunch to-day," said Iris. "Let us +have a fruit lunch--I think mother would like us to have a fruit lunch +just for to-day. Please, Apollo, go into the other garden and pick +some of the ripest strawberries. There were a great many ripe +yesterday, and there are sure to be more to-day. Bring a big leaf +full, and we can eat them in the summer-house." + +Apollo ran off at once. He brought back a good large leaf of +strawberries, and Iris divided them into four portions. Diana and +Orion, seated on their little chairs, ate theirs with much gusto, and +just as happily as if mother had not gone away; but as to Iris, +notwithstanding her brave words and her determination not to think of +herself, the strawberries tasted like wood in her mouth. There was +also a great lump in her throat, and a feeling of depression was +making itself felt more and more, moment by moment. + +Apollo sat down beside his sister, and glanced from time to time into +her face. + +"I cannot think why I don't _really_ care for the strawberries +to-day," he said suddenly. "I--" His lips trembled. "Iris," he said, +gazing harder than ever at his sister, "you have got such a queer look +on your face. + +"Don't notice it, please, Apollo," answered Iris. + +"I wish you would cry," said the boy. "When Fortune came in and told +us the--the dreadful news, we all cried and we kissed her, and she +cried and she said she was sorry she had ever been unkind to us; but I +remember, Iris, you did not shed one tear, and you--you always seemed +to love mother the best of us all." + +"And I love her still the best," said Iris, in a soft voice; "but, +Apollo, I have something else to do." And then she added, lowering her +tones, "You know, I can't be sorry about mother herself. I can only be +glad about her." + +"Glad about mother! Glad that she is dead!" said the boy. + +"Oh, I don't think about that part," said Iris. "She is not dead--not +really. She is only away up above the stars and the blue sky, and she +will never have any more suffering, and she will always be as happy as +happy can be, and sometime or other, Apollo, I think she will be able +to come back; and, if she can, I am sure she will. Yes, I am quite +sure she will." + +"If she comes back we shall see her," said Apollo; "but she can't come +back, Iris. Dead people can't come back." + +"Oh, please, don't call her that," said Iris, with a note of great +pain in her voice. + +"But Fortune says that mother is dead, just like anybody else, and in +a few days she will be put into the ground. Oh, Iris! I am frightened +when I think of it. Mother was so lovely, and to think of their +putting her into the ground in a box just like--like we put the poor +innocent and the other creatures, and if that is the case she can +never come back--never, never, never!" + +The little boy buried his black head of curling hair on his sister's +knee, and gave vent to a great burst of tears. + +"But it is not true, Apollo," said Iris. "I mean in one way it is not +true--I can't explain it, but I know. Let us forget all the dark, +dreadful part--let us think of her, the real mother, the mother that +looked at us out of her beautiful eyes; she is not dead, she has only +gone away, and she wants us all to be good, so that we may join her +some day. She called me after the rainbow, and after the messenger of +the gods; and you, Apollo, after the bravest and the most beautiful +boy that was supposed ever to live; and Diana, too, was called after a +great Greek goddess; and Orion after the most lovely star in all the +world. Oh, surely we four little children ought to try to be great, +and good, and brave, if we are ever to meet our mother again!" + +"Well, it is all very puzzling," said Apollo, "and I can't understand +things the way you can, Iris, and I have an awful ache in my throat. I +am hungry, and yet I am not hungry. I love strawberries as a rule, but +I hate them to-day. If only father would come and talk to us it would +not be quite so bad; but Fortune said we were not to go to him, that +he was shut up in his study, and that he was very unhappy. She said +that he felt it all dreadfully about mother." + +"Iris," said Diana's voice at that moment, "we are not surely to have +any lessons to-day?" + +She had come to the door of the summer-house, and was looking in. + +"Lessons?" said Iris. She put up her hand to her forehead in a dazed +manner. + +"Yes; do be quick and say. Miss Stevenson is coming down the garden +path. I do think that on the very day when mother has gone away it +would be hard if we were to have lessons; and if what you say is true, +Iris, and mother is happy, why, it does not seem fair; does it? We +ought to have a whole holiday to-day, ought we not? Just as if it was +a birthday, you know." + +"I think so too," said Orion, with a shout. "I don't think we need be +bothered with old Stevie to-day." He raised his voice, and ran to meet +her. "You are not to give us any lessons to-day, Stevie," he said. "It +is a holiday, a great, _big_ holiday--it is a sort of birthday. We +were all eating strawberries, for Iris said we were not to go back to +the house." + +"Oh, my poor, dear, little boy!" said Miss Stevenson. She was a +kind-hearted, although old-fashioned, governess. She bent down now and +kissed Orion, and tried to take one of his very dirty little hands in +hers. + +"My dear little children--" she began again. + +"Please, Miss Stevenson, don't pity us," said Iris. + +Miss Stevenson started. + +"My dear Iris," she said, "you don't realize what it means." + +"I do," answered Iris stoutly. + +"And I know what Iris means," said Apollo; "I know quite well. I feel +miserable; I have got a pain in my throat, and I cannot eat my +strawberries; but Iris says we ought not fret, for mother is much +better off." + +"Then, if mother is much better off, we ought to have a holiday, same +as if it was a birthday; ought we not, Miss Stevenson?" said Diana, +puckering up her face and looking, with her keen black eyes, full at +her governess. + +"You poor little innocents, what is to become of you all?" said Miss +Stevenson. + +She entered the summer-house as she spoke, sank down on the nearest +chair, and burst into tears. The four children surrounded her. They +none of them felt inclined to cry at that moment. Orion, after staring +at her for some little time, gave her a sharp little tap on her arm. + +"What are you crying about?" he said. "Don't you think you are rather +stupid?" + +"You poor innocents!" said Miss Stevenson. + +"Please don't call us that," said Diana; "that is our name for the +worms. Worms can't see, you know, and they are not to blame for being +only worms, and sometimes they get trodden on; and Iris thought we +might call them innocents, and we have always done so since she gave +us leave; but we would rather not be called by _quite_ the same name." + +Miss Stevenson hastily dried her eyes. + +"You certainly are the most extraordinary little creatures," she said. +"Don't you feel anything?" + +"It would be horrid selfish to be sorry," said Diana "Iris says that +mother is awfully happy now." + +Miss Stevenson stared at the children as if they were bewitched. + +"And we are _not_ to have lessons, Stevie," said Orion; "that's +settled, isn't it?" + +"Oh, my dear little child! I was not thinking of your lessons. It is +your terrible--your terrible loss that fills my mind; that and your +want of understanding. Iris, you are ten years old; I am surprised at +you." + +Iris stood, looking very grave and silent, a step or two away. + +"Please, Miss Stevenson," she said, after a long pause, "don't try to +understand us, for I am afraid it would be of no use. Mother talked to +me yesterday, and I know quite what to do. Mother asked me to be a +mother to the others, so I have no time to cry, nor to think of myself +at all. If you will give us a holiday to-day, will you please go away +and let us stay together, for I think I can manage the others if I am +all alone with them?" + +Miss Stevenson rose hastily. + +"I thought you would all have been overwhelmed," she said. "I thought +if ever children loved their mother you four did. Oh! how stunned I +feel! Yes, I will certainly go--I don't profess to understand any of +you." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ARRIVAL OF THE AUNT. + + +About a week after the events related in the last chapter, on a +certain lovely day in June, a hired fly might have been seen ascending +the steep avenue to Delaney Manor. The fly had only one occupant--a +round, roly-poly sort of little woman. She was dressed in deep +mourning, and the windows of the fly being wide open, she constantly +poked her head out, now to the right and now to the left, to look +anxiously and excitedly around her. + +After gazing at the magnificent view, had anyone been there to look, +they might have observed her shaking her head with great solemnity. +She had round black eyes, and a rather dark-complexioned face, with a +good deal of color in her cheeks. She was stoutly built, but the +expression on her countenance was undoubtedly cheerful. Nothing +signified gloom about her except her heavy mourning. Her eyes, +although shrewd and full of common sense, were also kindly; her lips +were very firm; there was a matter-of-fact expression about her whole +appearance. + +"Now, why does David waste all those acres of splendid land?" she +muttered angrily to herself. "The whole place, as far as I can see, +seems to be laid out in grass. I know perfectly well that this is an +agricultural country, and yet, when produce is so precious, what do I +see but a lawn here and another lawn there, and not even cows feeding +on them. Oh, yes! of course there is the park! The park is right +enough, and no one wants to interfere with that. But why should all +the land in that direction, and in that direction, and in that +direction"--here she put out her head again and looked frantically +about her--"why should all that land be devoted to mere ornament? It +seems nothing more nor less than a tempting of Providence." Here she +suddenly raised her voice. "Driver," she said, "have the goodness to +poke up your horse, and to go a little faster. I happen to be in a +hurry." + +"'Orse won't do it, ma'am," was the response. "Steep 'ill this. Can't +go no faster." + +The little lady gave an indignant snort, and retired once more into +the depths of the gloomy fly. Presently a bend in the avenue brought +the old manor house into view. Once more she thrust out her head and +examined it critically. + +"There it stands," she said to herself. "I was very happy at the Manor +as a girl. I wonder if the old garden still exists. Twenty to one it +has been done away with; there's no saying. Evangeline had such +dreadfully queer ideas. Yes, there stands the house, and I do hope +some remnants of the garden are in existence; but the thing above all +others to consider now is, what kind these children are. Poor David, +he was quite mad about Evangeline--not that I ever pretended to +understand her. She was an American, and I hate the Americans; yes, I +cordially hate them. Poor David, however, was devoted--oh, it was +melancholy, melancholy! I suppose it was on account of Evangeline that +all this splendid land has been allowed to lie fallow--not even cows, +not even a stray sheep to eat all that magnificent grass. Wherever I +turn I see flower-beds--flower-beds sloping away to east and west, as +far almost as the eye can travel. And so there are four children. I +have no doubt they are as queer, and old-fashioned, and untrained as +possible. It would be like their mother to bring them up in that sort +of style. Well, at least I am not the one to shirk my duty, and I +certainly see it now staring me in the face. I am the wife of a +hard-working vicar; I work hard myself, and I have five children of my +own; but never mind, I am prepared to do my best for those poor +deserted orphans. Ah, and here we are at last! That is a comfort." + +The rickety old fly drew up with a jerk opposite the big front +entrance, and Mrs. Dolman got out. She was short in stature, but her +business-like manner and attitude were unmistakable. As soon as ever +she set foot on the ground she turned to the man. + +"Put the portmanteau down on the steps," she said. "You need not wait. +What is your fare?" + +The fly-driver named a price, which she immediately disputed. + +"Nonsense!" she said. "Eight shillings for driving me from the station +here? Why, it is only five miles." + +"It is nearly seven, ma'am, and all uphill. I really cannot do it for +a penny less." + +"Then you are an impostor. I shall complain of you." + +At this moment one of the stately footmen threw open the hall door and +stared at Mrs. Dolman. + +"Take my portmanteau in immediately, if you please," she said, "and +pray tell me if your master is at home." + +"Yes, madam," was the grave reply. "But Mr. Delaney is not seeing +company at present." + +"He will see me," said Mrs. Dolman. "Have the goodness to tell him +that his sister has arrived, and please also see that my luggage is +taken to my room--and oh, I say, wait one moment. What is the fare +from Beaminster to Delaney Manor?" + +The grave-looking footman and the somewhat surly driver of the cab +exchanged a quick glance. Immediately afterwards the footman named +eight shillings in a voice of authority. + +"Preposterous!" said Mrs. Dolman, "but I suppose I must pay it, or, +rather, you can pay it for me; I'll settle with you afterwards." + +"Am I to acquaint my master that you have come, madam?" + +"No; on second thoughts I should prefer to announce myself. Where did +you say Mr. Delaney was?" + +"In his private study." + +"I know that room well. See that my luggage is taken to a bedroom, and +pay the driver." + +Mrs. Dolman entered the old house briskly. It felt quiet, remarkably +quiet, seeing that there was a large staff of servants and four +vigorous, healthy children to occupy it. + +"Poor little orphans, I suppose they are dreadfully overcome," thought +the good lady to herself. "Well, I am glad I have appeared on the +scene. Poor David is just the sort of man who would forget everybody +else when he is in a state of grief. Of course I know he was +passionately attached to Evangeline, and she certainly was a charming, +although _quite_ incapable, creature. I suppose she was what would be +termed 'a man's woman.' Now, I have never any patience with them, and +when I think of those acres of land and--but, dear me! sometimes a +matter-of-fact, plain body like myself is useful in an emergency. The +emergency has arrived with a vengeance, and I am determined to take +the fortress by storm." + +The little lady trotted down one or two passages, then turned abruptly +to her left, and knocked at a closed door. A voice said, "Come in." +She opened the door and entered. A man was standing with his back to +her in the deep embrasure of a mullioned window. His hands were +clasped behind his back; he was looking fixedly out. The window was +wide open. + +"There, David, there! I knew you would take it hard; but have the +goodness to turn round and speak to me," said Mrs. Dolman. + +When he heard these unexpected words, the master of Delaney Manor +turned with a visible start. + +"My dear Jane, what have you come for?" he exclaimed. He advanced to +meet his sister, dismay evident on every line of his face. + +"I knew you would not welcome me, David. Oh, no prevarications! if you +please. It is awful to think how many lies people tell in the cause of +politeness. When I undertook this wearisome journey from the north of +England, I knew I should not be welcome, but all the same I came; and, +David, when I have had a little talk with you, and when you have +unburdened your heart to me, you will feel your sorrow less." + +"I would rather not touch on that subject," said Mr. Delaney. He +offered his sister a chair very quietly, and took another himself. + +Father, as Iris used to say, was not the least like mother. Mother +had the gentlest, the sweetest, the most angelic face in the world; +she never spoke loudly, and she seldom laughed; her voice was low and +never was heard to rise to an angry tone. Her smile was like the +sweetest sunshine, and wherever she appeared she brought an atmosphere +of peace with her. But father, on the other hand, although an +excellent and loving parent, was, when in good spirits, given to +hearty laughter--given to loud, eager words, to strong exercise, both +physical and mental. He was, as a rule, a very active man, seldom +staying still in one place, but bustling here, there, and everywhere. +He was fond of his children, and petted them a good deal; but the one +whom he really worshiped was his gentle and loving wife. She led him, +although he did not know it, by silken cords. She always knew exactly +how to manage him, how to bring out his fine points. She never rubbed +him the wrong way. He had a temper, and he knew it; but in his wife's +presence it had never been exasperated. His sister, however, managed +to set it on edge with the very first words she uttered. + +"Of course, I know you mean well, Jane," he said, "and I ought to be +obliged to you for taking all this trouble. Now that you have come, +you are welcome; but I must ask you to understand immediately that I +will not have the subject of my"--he hesitated, and his under lip +shook for a moment--"the subject of my trouble alluded to. And I will +also add that I should have preferred your writing to me beforehand. +This taking a man by storm is, you know of old, my dear Jane--not +agreeable to me." + +"Precisely, David. I did not write, for the simple reason that I +thought it likely you would have asked me not to come; and as it was +necessary for me to appear on the scene, I determined, on this +occasion, to take, as you express it, Delaney Manor by storm." + +"Very well, Jane; as you have done it you have done it, and there is +no more to be said." + +Mr. Delaney rose from his seat as he spoke. + +"Would you not like to go to your room, and wash and change your +dress?" he asked. + +"I cannot change my dress, for I have only brought one. I will go to +my room presently. What hour do you dine?" + +"At half-past eight." + +"I have a few minutes still to talk to you, and I will not lose the +opportunity. It will be necessary for me to return home the day after +to-morrow." + +An expression of relief swept over Mr. Delaney's countenance. + +"I shall, therefore," continued Mrs. Dolman, taking no notice of this +look, which she plainly saw, "have but little time at my disposal, and +there is a great deal to be done. But before I proceed to anything +else, may I ask you a question? How could you allow all that splendid +land to lie waste?" + +"What land, Jane? What do you mean?" + +"Those acres of grass outside the house." + +"Are you alluding to the lawns?" + +"I don't know what name you choose to call all that grass, but I think +it is a positive tempting of Providence to allow so much land to lie +fallow. Why, you might grow potatoes or barley or oats, and make +pounds and pounds a year. I know of old what the land round Delaney +Manor can produce." + +"As the land happens to belong to me, perhaps I may be allowed to +arrange it as pleases myself," said Mr. Delaney, in a haughty tone. + +His sister favored him with a long, reflective gaze. + +"He is just as obstinate as ever," she muttered to herself. "With that +cleft in his chin, what else can be expected? There is no use +bothering him on that point at present, and, as he won't allow me to +talk of poor Evangeline,--who had, poor soul, as many faults as I ever +saw packed into a human being,--there is nothing whatever for me to do +but to look up those children." + +Mrs. Dolman rose from her seat as this thought came to her. + +"I am tired," she said. "From Yorkshire to Delaney Manor is a long +journey, as perhaps you do _not_ remember, David; so I will seek my +room after first having informed you what the object of my visit is." + +"I should be interested to know that, Jane," he answered, in a +somewhat softened tone. + +"Well, seeing I am the only sister you have--" + +"But we never did pull well together," interrupted he. + +"We used to play in the same garden," she answered, and for the first +time a really soft and affectionate look came into her face. "I hope +to goodness, David, that the garden is not altered." + +"It is much the same as always, Jane. The children occupy it a good +deal." + +"I am coming to the subject of the children. Of course, now that +things are so much changed--" + +"I would rather not go into that," said Mr. Delaney. + +"Dear me, David, how touchy you are! Why will you not accept a patent +fact? I have no wish to hurt your feelings, but I really must speak +out plain common sense. I always was noted for my common sense, was I +not? I don't believe, in the length and breadth of England, you will +find better behaved children than my five. I have brought them up on a +plan of my own, and now that I come here at great trouble, and I may +also add expense, to try and help you in your--oh, of course, I must +not say it--to try and help you when you want help, you fight shy of +my slightest word. Well, the fact is this: I want you to take my +advice, and to shut up Delaney Manor, or, better still, to let it well +for the next two or three years, and go abroad yourself, letting me +have the children!" + +"My dear Jane!" + +"Oh, I am your dear Jane now--now that you think I can help you. Well, +David, I mean it, and what is more, the matter must be arranged. I +must take the children back with me the day after to-morrow. Now I +will go to my bedroom, as I am dead tired. Perhaps you will ring the +bell and ask a servant to take me there." + +Mr. Delaney moved slowly across the room. He rang the electric bell, +and a moment later the footman appeared in answer to his summons. He +gave certain directions, and Mrs. Dolman left the room. + +The moment he found himself alone, the father of the children sank +down on the nearest chair, put his hands on the table, pressed his +face down on them, and uttered a bitter groan. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +RUB-A-DUB. + + +"What am I to do, Evangeline?" said Mr. Delaney, a few moments later. +He stood up as he spoke, shook himself, and gazed straight before him. +It was exactly as if he were really speaking to the children's mother. +Then again he buried his face in his big hands, and his strong frame +shook. After a moment's pause he took up a photograph which stood +near, and looked earnestly at the beautiful pictured face. The eyes, +so full of truth and tenderness, seemed to answer him back. He started +abruptly to his feet. "You always directed me, Evangeline," he said. +"God only knows what I am to do now that you have left me. I am in +some matters as weak as a reed, great, blustering fellow though I +appear. And now that Jane has come--she always did bully me--now that +she has come and wants to take matters into her own hands, oh, +Evangeline! what is to be done? The fact is, I am not fit to manage +this great house, nor the children, without you. The children are not +like others; they will not stand the treatment which ordinary children +receive. Oh, why has Jane, of all people, come? What am I to do?" + +He paced rapidly up and down his big study; clenching his hands at +times, at times making use of a strong exclamation. + +The butler knocked at the door. "Dinner will be served in half an +hour, sir," he said. "Am I to lay for two?" + +"Yes, Johnson. Mrs. Dolman, my sister, has arrived, and will dine with +me. Have places laid for two." + +The man withdrew, and Mr. Delaney, stepping out through the open +window, looked across the lawns which his sister had so strongly +disapproved of. + +"Jane was always the one to poke her finger into every pie," he said +half aloud. "Certainly this place is distasteful to me now, and there +is--upon my word, there is something in her suggestion. But to deliver +over those four children to her, and to take them away from the +garden, and the house, and the memory of their mother--oh! it cannot +be thought of for a moment; and yet, to shift the responsibility while +my heart is so sore would be an untold relief." + +A little voice in the distance was heard shouting eagerly, and a small +child, very dirty about the hands and face, came trotting up to Mr. +Delaney. It was Diana. She was sobbing as well as shouting, and was +holding something tenderly wrapped up in her pocket handkerchief. + +"What is the matter with you, Di?" said her father. He lifted her into +his arms. "Why, little woman, what can be the matter? and what have +you got in your handkerchief?" + +"It's Rub-a-Dub, and he is deaded," answered Diana. She unfolded the +handkerchief carefully and slowly, and showed her father a small +piebald mouse, quite dead, and with a shriveled appearance. "He is as +dead as he can be," repeated Diana. "Look at him. His little claws are +blue, and oh! his little nose, and he cannot see; he is stone dead, +father." + +"Well, you shall go into Beaminster to-morrow and buy another mouse," +said Mr. Delaney. + +Diana gazed at him with grave, wondering black eyes. + +"That would not be Rub-a-Dub," she said; then she buried her little, +fat face on his shoulder and sobs shook her frame. + +"Evangeline would have known exactly what to say to the child," +muttered the father, in a fit of despair. "Come along, little one," he +said. "What can't be cured must be endured, you know. Now, take my +hand and I'll race you into the house." + +The child gave a wan little smile; but the thought of the mouse lay +heavy against her heart. + +"May I go back to the garden first?" she said. "I want to put +Rub-a-Dub into the dead-house." + +"The dead-house, Diana? What do you mean?" + +"It is the house where we keep the poor innocents, and all the other +creatures what get deaded," said Diana. "We keep them there until Iris +has settled whether they are to have a pwivate or a public funeral. +Iris does not know yet about Rub-a-Dub. He was quite well this +morning. I don't know what he could have died of. Perhaps, father, if +you look at him you will be able to tell me." + +"Well, let me have a peep," said the man, his mustache twitching as he +spoke. + +Diana once again unfolded her small handkerchief, in the center of +which lay the much shriveled-up mouse. + +"The _darling_!" said the little girl tenderly. "I loved Rub-a-Dub so +much; I love him still. I do hope Iris will think him 'portant enough +for a public funeral." + +"Look here," said Mr. Delaney, interested in spite of himself, and +forgetting all about the dinner which would be ready in a few minutes; +"I'll come right along with you to the dead-house; but I did not know, +Di, that you kept an awful place of that sort in the garden." + +"Tisn't awful," said Diana. "We has to keep a dead-house when we find +dead things. We keep all the dead 'uns we find there. There aren't as +many as usual to-day--only a couple of butterflies and two or three +beetles, and a poor crushed spider. And oh! I forgot the toad that we +found this morning. It was awful hurt and Apollo had to kill it; he +had to stamp on it and kill it; and he did not like it a bit. Iris +can't kill things, nor can I, nor can Orion, so we always get Apollo +to kill the things that are half dead--to put them out of their +misery, you know, father." + +"You seem to be a very wise little girl; but I am sure this cannot be +at all wholesome work," said the father, looking more bewildered and +puzzled than ever. + +Diana gazed gravely up at him. She did not know anything about the +work being wholesome or the reverse. The dead creatures had to be +properly treated, and had to be buried either privately or +publicly--that was essential--nothing else mattered at all to her. + +"As Rub-a-Dub is such a dear darlin', I should not be s'prised if Iris +did have a public funeral," she commented. + +"But what is the difference, Di? Tell me," said her father. + +"Oh, father! you are ig'rant. At a pwivate funeral the poor dead 'un +is just sewn up in dock leaves and stuck into a hole in the cemetery." + +"The cemetery! Good Heavens, child! do you keep a cemetery in the +garden?" + +"Indeed we does, father. We have a very large one now, and heaps and +heaps of gravestones. Apollo writes the insipcron. He is quite +bothered sometimes. He says the horrid work is give to him,--carving +the names on the stones and killing the half-dead 'uns,--but course he +has to do it 'cos Iris says so. Course we all obey Iris. When it is a +pwivate funeral, the dead 'un is put into the ground and covered up, +and it don't have a gravestone; then of course, by and by, it is +forgot. You underland; don't you, father?" + +"Bless me if I do," said Mr. Delaney, in a puzzled tone. + +"But if it is a public funeral," continued Diana, strutting boldly +forward now, and throwing back her head in quite a martial attitude, +"why, then it's grand. There is a box just like a coffin, and cotton +wool--we steal the cotton wool most times. We know where Fortune has +got a lot of it put away. Iris does not think it quite right to steal, +but the rest of us don't mind. And we have banners, and Orion plays +the Jew's harp, and I beat the drum, and Iris sings, and Apollo digs +the grave, and the dead 'un is put into the ground, and we all cry, or +pretend to cry. Sometimes I do squeeze out a tiny tear, but I'm so +incited I can't always manage it, although I'm sure I'll cry when +Rub-a-Dub is put into the ground. Then afterwards there is a +tombstone, and Iris thinks of the insipcron. I spects we'll have a +beautiful insipcron for poor Rub-a-Dub, 'cos we all loved him so +much." + +"Well, all this is very interesting, of course," said Mr. Delaney. +"But now we must be quick, because your Aunt Jane has come." + +"Who's her?" asked Diana. + +"A very good lady indeed--your aunt." + +"What's an aunt?" + +"A lady whom you ought to love very much." + +"Ought I? I never love people I ought to love," said Diana firmly. +"Please, father, this is the dead-house. You can come right in if you +like, father, and see the dead 'uns; they are all lying on this shelf. +Most of them is to be buried pwivate, 'cos they are not our own pets, +you know; but Rub-a-Dub is sure to have a public funeral, and an +insipcron, and all the rest." + +Mr. Delaney followed Diana into the small shed which the children +called the dead-house. He gazed solemnly at the shelf which she +indicated, and on which lay the several dead 'uns. + +"Put your mouse down now," he said, "and come along back with me to +the house at once. You ought to have been in bed long ago." + +Diana laid the mouse sorrowfully down in the midst of its dead +brethren, shut the door of the dead-house, and followed her father up +the garden path. + +"It's a most beautiful night," she said, after a pause. "It's going to +be a starful night; isn't it, father?" + +"Starful?" said Mr. Delaney. + +"Yes; and when it is a starful night Orion can't sleep well, 'cos he +is a star hisself; isn't he, father?" + +"Good gracious, child, no! He is a little boy!" + +"No, no, father! You are awfu' mistook. Mother called him a star. I'll +show you him up in the sky if it really comes to be a starful night. +May I, father?" + +"Some time, my darling; but now you must hurry in, for I have to get +ready for dinner. Kiss me, Di. Good-night. God bless you, little one!" + +"B'ess you too, father," said Diana. "I love 'oo awfu' well." + +She raised her rosebud lips, fixed her black eyes on her parent's +face, kissed him solemnly, and trotted away into the house. When she +got close to it, a great sob came up from her little chest. She +thought again of the dead Rub-a-Dub, but then the chance of his having +a public funeral consoled her. She longed to find Iris. + +Full of this thought, her little heart beating more quickly than +usual, she rushed up the front stairs, and was turning down the +passage which led to the nursery, when she was confronted by a short, +stout woman dressed in black. + +"Now, who is this little girl, I wonder?" said a high-pitched, cheery +voice. + +"It is not your little girl; and I am in a hurry, please," said Diana, +who could be very rude when she liked. She did not wish to be +interrupted now; she wanted to find Iris to tell her of the sad fate +of Rub-a-Dub. + +"Highty-tighty!" exclaimed the little lady, "that is no way to speak +to grown-up people. I expect, too, you are one of my little nieces. +Come here at once and say, 'How do you do?'" + +"Are you the aunt?" asked Diana solemnly. + +"The aunt!" replied Mrs. Dolman. "I am your aunt, my dear. What is +your name?" + +"Diana. Please, aunt, don't clutch hold of my hand; I want to find +Iris." + +"Of all the ridiculous names," muttered Mrs. Dolman under her breath. +"Well, child, I am inclined to keep you for a moment, as I want to +talk to you. Do you know, you rude little girl, that I have come a +long way to see you. Of course, my little girl, I know you are sad at +present; but you must try to get over your great sorrow." + +"Do you know, then, about Rub-a-Dub?" said Diana, her whole face +changing, and a look of keen interest coming into it. + +If Aunt--whatever her other name was--should turn out to be interested +in Rub-a-Dub, and sorry for his untimely end, why, then, Diana felt +there was a possibility of her squeezing a little corner for her in +her hearts of hearts. But Mrs. Dolman's next words disturbed the +pleasant illusion. + +"You are a poor little orphan, my child," she said. "Your poor, dear +mother's death must be a terrible sorrow to you; but, believe me, you +will get over it after a time." + +"I has quite got over it awready," answered Diana, in a cheerful +voice. "It would be awfu' selfish to be sorry 'bout mother, 'cos +mother is not suffering any more pain, you know. I am very _glad_ +'bout mother. I am going to her some day. Please don't squeeze my hand +like that. Good-by, aunt; I weally can't stay another moment." + +She trotted off, and Mrs. Dolman gazed after her with a petrified +expression of horror on her round face. + +"Well," she said to herself, "if ever! And the poor mother was devoted +to them all, and she is scarcely a week in her grave, and yet that +mite dares to say she has got over it. What nonsense she talked, and +what a queer name she has. Now, our family names are sensible and +suited for the rising generation. We have had our Elizabeths and our +Anns, and our Lucys and our Marys, and, of course, there is Jane, my +name. All these are what I call good old respectable Delaney names; +but Diana and Iris make me sick. And I believe, if report tells true, +that there are some still more extraordinary names in the family. What +a rude, dirty little child! I did not like her manners at all, and how +neglected she looked. I shall follow her; it is my manifest duty to +see to these children at once. Oh! I shall have difficulty in breaking +them in, but broken in they must be!" + +Accordingly Mrs. Dolman turned down the passage where Diana's fat legs +disappeared. The eager but gentle flow of voices directed her steps, +and presently she opened the door of a large room and looked in. + +She found herself unexpectedly on the threshold of the day-nursery. It +was a beautiful room, facing due west; the last rays of the evening +sun were shining in at the open windows; some children were collected +in a corner of the room. Diana had gone on her knees beside a girl a +little older and slighter than herself. Her plump elbows were resting +on the girl's knee, her round hands were pressed to her rounder +cheeks, and her black eyes were fixed upon the girl's face. + +The elder girl, very quiet and calm, had one hand on Diana's shoulder, +her other arm was thrown round a handsome little boy, not unlike Diana +in appearance, while an older boy sat on a hassock at her feet. + +"I will listen to you presently, Diana," said Iris. "Now, I must +finish my story." + +"Yes, please go on, Iris," said Orion; "it's all about me, and I'm +'mensely inte'sted." + +"Very well, Orion. The King of Chios did not want his daughter to +marry you." + +"Good gracious!" muttered Mrs. Dolman in the doorway. + +"So he let you fall sound asleep," continued Iris, in her calm voice. +None of the children had yet seen the stout personage on the threshold +of the room. "He let you fall very sound asleep, having given you some +strong wine." + +"What next?" thought Mrs. Dolman. + +"And when you were very sound asleep indeed, he put out both your +eyes. When you awoke you found yourself quite blind, and did not know +what to do or where to go. Suddenly, in the midst of your misery, you +heard the sound of a blacksmith's forge. Guided by the noise, you +reached the place and begged the blacksmith to climb on your +shoulders, and so lend you his eyes to guide you. The blacksmith was +willing to do it, and seated himself on your shoulders. Then you said, +'Guide me to the place where I can see the first sunbeam that rises in +the east over the sea,' and--" + +"Yes," said Orion, whose breath was coming quickly, "yes; and what +happened to me then?" + +"Nonsense, little boy! Don't you listen to another word of that +folly," said a very strong, determined voice. + +All the children turned abruptly. + +"Oh, _she_ has come bothering!" said Diana. + +But the other three had started to their feet, and a flush rose into +Iris' pale face. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AUNT IS HER NAME. + + +"Aunt is her name," said Diana, "and I don't think much of her." + +Mrs. Dolman strode rapidly into the nursery. + +"Yes, children," she said, "I am your aunt--your Aunt Jane Dolman, +your father's only sister. Circumstances prevented my coming to see +your father and mother for several years; but now that God has seen +fit to give you this terrible affliction, and has taken your dear +mother to Himself, I have arrived, determined to act a mother's part +to you. I do not take the least notice of what that rude little girl +says. When I have had her for a short time under my own control, she +will know better. Now, one of you children, please have the politeness +to offer me a chair, and then you can come up one by one and kiss me." + +Iris was so much petrified that she could not stir. Diana and Orion +came close together, and Diana flung her stout little arm round +Orion's fat neck. Apollo, however, sprang forward and placed a chair +for his aunt. + +"Will you sit here, please, Aunt Jane Dolman?" he said. + +"You need not say Aunt Jane Dolman," replied the lady; "that is a very +stiff way of speaking. Say Aunt Jane. You can kiss me, little boy." + +Apollo raised his lips and bestowed a very chaste salute upon Aunt +Jane's fat cheek. + +"What is your name?" said Aunt Jane, taking one of his small, hard +hands in hers. + +"Apollo," he replied, flinging his head back. + +"Apollo! Heaven preserve us! Why, that is the name of one of the +heathen deities--positively impious. What could my poor sister-in-law +and your father have been thinking of? At one time I considered your +father a man of sense." + +Apollo flushed a beautiful rosy red. + +"Please, Aunt Jane," he said, "I like my name very much indeed, and I +would rather you did not say a word against it, because mother gave it +to me." + +"It is a name with a beautiful meaning," said Iris, coming forward at +last. "How are you Aunt Jane? My name is Iris, and this is Diana, and +this is Orion--both Diana and Orion are very good children indeed, +and"--here her lips quivered, her earnest, brown eyes were fixed with +great solicitude on her aunt's face--"I ought to know," she said, "for +I am a mother to the others, and, I think, please, Aunt Jane, Orion +and Diana should be going to bed now." + +"I have not the slightest objection, my dear. I simply wished to see +you children. I will say good-night now; we can have a further talk +to-morrow. But first, before I go, let me repeat over your names, or +rather you--Apollo, I think you call yourself--had better say them for +me." + +"That is Iris," said Apollo, pointing to his elder sister, "and I am +Apollo, and that is Diana, and that is Orion." + +"All four names taken from the heathen mythology," replied Aunt Jane, +"and I, the wife of a good honest clergyman of the Church of England, +have to listen to this nonsense. I declare it may be inconvenient--it +may frighten the parishioners. I must think it well over. I have, of +course, heard before of girls being called Diana, and also of girls +being called Iris--but Apollo and Orion! My poor children, I am sorry +for you; you are burdened for life. Good-night, good-night! You will +see me again to-morrow." + +The great dinner-gong sounded through the house, and Aunt Jane sailed +away from the day-nursery. + +"Fortune, who is she?" asked Iris, raising a pair of almost frightened +eyes to the old nurse's face. + +"She is your father's sister, my darling," said Fortune. "She has come +on a visit, and uninvited, Peter tells me. I doubt if my master is +pleased to see her. She will most likely go away in a day or two, so +don't you fret, Miss Iris, love. Now, come along, Master Orion, and +let me undress you. It is very late, and you ought to be in your +little bed." + +"I'm Orion," said the little boy, "and I'm stone blind." He began to +strut up and down the nursery with his eyes tightly shut. + +"Apollo, please, may I get on your shoulder for a bit, and will you +lead me to that place where the first sunbeam rises in the east over +the sea?" + +"Come," said Fortune, in what Diana would call a "temperish" tone, "we +can have no more of that ridiculous story-telling to-night. Miss Iris, +you'll ask them to be good, won't you?" + +"Yes. Children, do be good," said Iris, in her earnest voice. + +Diana trotted up to her sister and took her hand. + +"I has something most 'portant to tell you," she said, in a low +whisper. "It's an awfu' sorrow, but you ought to know." + +"What is it, Di?" + +"Rub-a-Dub has got deaded." + +"Rub-a-Dub?" + +"Yes; it is quite true. I found him stark dead and stiff. I has put +him in the dead-house." + +Iris said nothing. + +"And he is to have a public funeral, isn't he?" said Diana, "and a +beautiful insipcron. Do say he is, and let us have the funeral +to-morrow." + +"I am awfully sorry," said Iris, then; "I did love Rub-a-Dub. Yes, Di; +I'll think it over. We can meet after breakfast in the dead-house and +settle what to do." + +"There are to be a lot of funerals to-morrow--I'm so glad," said +Diana, with a chuckle. + +She followed Orion into the night-nursery. He was still walking with +his eyes tightly shut and went bang up against his bath, a good +portion of which he spilt on the floor. This put both Fortune and the +under-nurse, Susan, into a temper, and they shook him and made him +cry, whereupon Diana cried in concert, and poor Iris felt a great +weight resting on her heart. + +"It is awfully difficult to be a mother to them all," she thought. +"The usual kind of things don't seem to please them. Apollo, what is +the matter? What are you thinking of?" + +"I'm only wishing that I might be the real Apollo," said the boy, "and +that I might get quite far away from here. Things are different here +now that mother has gone, Iris. I don't like Aunt Jane Dolman a bit." + +"Oh, well, she is our aunt, so I suppose it is wrong not to like her," +answered Iris. + +"I can't help it," replied Apollo. "I have a feeling that she means +to make mischief. Why did she come here without being asked? Iris, +shall we go down to dessert to-night, or not?" + +"I would much rather not," answered Iris. + +"But father likes us to go. It is the only time in the day when he +really sees us. I think, perhaps, we ought to get dressed and be ready +to go down." + +"I will if you think so, Apollo; but I am very tired and sleepy." + +"Well, I really do. We must not shirk things if we are to be a bit +what mother wants us to be; and now that Aunt Jane has come, poor +father may want us worse than ever." + +"I never thought of that," replied Iris. "I'll run and get dressed at +once, Apollo." + +She flew away into a tiny little room of her own, which opened into +the night-nursery. + +"Susan," she called out, "will you please help me to put on my +after-dinner frock?" + +"You have only a white dress to wear this evening, miss; your new +black one has not come home yet." + +"A white one will be all right," replied Iris. + +"Oh, dear me, miss! and your poor mother only a week dead." + +"I wish, Susan, you would not talk of mother as dead," answered Iris. +"I don't think of her like that a bit. She is in Heaven; she has gone +up the golden stairs, and she is quite well and ever so happy, and she +won't mind my wearing a white dress, more particular if I want to +comfort father. Please help me on with it and then brush out my hair." + +Iris had lovely hair--it was of a deep, rich chestnut, and it curled +and curled, and waved and waved in rich profusion down her back. When +Susan had brushed it, and taken the tangles out, it shone like +burnished gold. Her pretty white frock was speedily put on, and she +ran out of her little room to join Apollo, who, in his black velvet +suit, looked very picturesque and handsome. + +Not long afterwards the little pair, taking each other's hands, ran +down the broad, white marble stairs and entered the big dining room. +They looked almost lost in the distance when they first appeared, for +the table at which Mr. Delaney and Mrs. Dolman sat was far away in a +bay window at the other end of the stately apartment. + +"Hullo, children! so there you are!" called their father's voice to +them. He had never been better pleased to see them in all his life, +and the note of welcome in his tones found an answering echo in Iris' +loving little heart. + +They both tripped eagerly up the room and placed themselves one on +each side of him, while Iris slipped her hand into his. + +"Well, my chicks, I am right glad to see you," he said. + +"Perhaps, David, you will remember how disgracefully late it is," said +Mrs. Dolman. "Children, I must frankly say that I am _not_ pleased to +see you. What are you doing up at this hour?" + +"We have come to keep father company," said Apollo, fixing his +flashing black eyes, with a distinctly adverse expression in them, on +his aunt's face. + +"In my day," continued Aunt Jane complacently, helping herself to +strawberries, "the motto was: 'Little boys should be seen and not +heard.' To-night, of course, I make allowances; but things will be +different presently. David, you surely are not giving those children +wine?" + +"Oh, they generally have a little sip each from my port," said Mr. +Delaney; "it does not do them any harm." + +"You may inculcate a taste," said Mrs. Dolman, in a very solemn voice. +"In consequence of that little sip, which appears so innocent, those +children may grow up drunkards. Early impressions! Well, all I can say +is this--when they come to live at the Rectory they will have to be +teetotalers. In my house we are all teetotalers. My husband and I both +think that we cannot have proper influence on the parishioners unless +we do ourselves what we urge them to do." + +Iris and Apollo both listened to these strange words with fast-beating +hearts. What did they mean? Mrs. Dolman spoke of when they were to +live at the Rectory. What rectory? She spoke of a time when they were +to live with her. Oh, no; she must be mistaken. Nothing so perfectly +awful could be going to happen. + +Nevertheless, Iris could scarcely touch her wine, and she pushed aside +the tempting macaroon which Mr. Delaney had slipped on to her plate. +She found it impossible to eat. + +Apollo, after a moment's hesitation, attacked his wine and swallowed +his biscuit manfully; but even he had not his usual appetite. + +After a short pause, Iris gave a gentle sigh and put both her arms +round her father's neck. + +"I am tired, father; I should like to go to bed." + +"And I want to go too," said Apollo. + +"Those are the first sensible remarks I have heard from either of the +children," said Mrs. Dolman. "I should think they are dead tired for +want of sleep, poor little mites. Good-night, both of you. When you +come to live with me--ah! I see you are astonished; but we will talk +of that pleasant little scheme to-morrow. Good-night to you both." + +"Good-night, Aunt Jane," said Iris. + +"Good-night, Aunt Jane," said Apollo. + +"Good-night to you both, my pets," said Mr. Delaney. + +Iris gave her father a silent hug, Apollo kissed him on the +forehead--a moment later the little pair left the room. As soon as +ever they had done so, Mrs. Dolman turned to her brother. + +"Now then, David," she said, "you have got to listen to me; we may +just as well settle this matter out of hand. I must return home on +Thursday--and this is Tuesday evening. It will be impossible for you +to stay on here with those four children and no one responsible to +look after them. You appear half dead with grief and depression, and +you want a thorough change. The place is going to rack and ruin. Your +rent-roll, how much is it?" + +"About fifteen thousand pounds a year--quite enough to keep me out of +anxiety," said Mr. Delaney, with a grim smile. + +"It ought to be twenty thousand a year--in our father's time it was +quite that. No doubt you let your farms too cheap; and so much grass +round the house is disgraceful. Now, if I had the management--" + +"But you see you have not, Jane," said Mr. Delaney. "The property +happens to belong to me." + +"That is true, and I have a great deal too much on my mind to worry +myself about Delaney Manor; but, of course, it is the old place, and +you are my only brother, and I am anxious to help you in your great +affliction. When you married you broke off almost all connection with +me, but now--now I am willing to overlook the past. Do you, or do you +not, intend those children to run wild any longer? Even though they +are called after heathen idols they are flesh and blood, and it is to +be hoped that some religious influence may be brought to bear on them. +At the present moment, I conclude that they have none whatever." + +"I never saw better children," said Mr. Delaney; "their mother brought +them up as no one else could. In my opinion, they are nearly perfect." + +"You talk nonsense of that kind because you are blinded by your +fatherly affection. Now, let me assure you, in full confidence, that I +never came across more neglected and more utterly absurd little +creatures. Good-looking they are--you are a fine-looking man yourself, +and your wife was certainly pretty--the children take after you both. +I have nothing to say against their appearance; but they talk utter +gibberish; and as to that eldest little girl, if she is not given +something sensible to occupy her I cannot answer for the consequence. +My dear David, I don't want to interfere with your estate." + +"You could not, Jane; I would not permit it." + +"But with regard to the children, I really have experience. I have +five children of my own, and I think, if you were to see them, you +would be well assured that Iris and Diana, Apollo and Orion would do +well to take example by them. We might change the names of the boys +and give them titles not quite so terrible." + +"I wish them to be called by the names their mother chose," said Mr. +Delaney, with great firmness. + +"Well, I suppose the poor children will live it down, but they will +have a terrible time at school. However, they are too young for +anything of that kind at present. Give me the children, David, and I +will act as a mother to them; then pack up your belongings, put your +estate into the hands of a good agent, and go abroad for some years." + +"It would be an untold relief," said Mr. Delaney. + +At that moment the door was opened, and the butler appeared with the +evening post on a salver. Mr. Delaney laid the letters languidly by +his plate. + +"Shall we go into the drawing room, Jane?" he said. + +Mrs. Dolman rose briskly. + +"I shall retire early to bed," she said. "Read your letters, please, +David; you need not stand on ceremony with me." + +Mr. Delaney looked over his post; then his eyes lighted up as he saw +the handwriting on one of the envelopes. He opened the letter in +question, which immediately interested him vastly. It happened to be +from an old friend, and certainly seemed to come at an opportune +moment. This friend was about to start on an expedition to the +Himalayas, and he begged his old fellow-traveler to go with him. His +long letter, the enthusiastic way he wrote, the suggestions he threw +out of possible and exciting adventures came just at the nick of time +to the much-depressed and weary man. + +"Why, I declare, Jane," he said, "this does seem to come opportunely." +He walked over to where his sister was standing, and read a portion of +the letter aloud. "If I might venture to trust my darlings to you," he +said, "there is nothing in all the world I should like better than to +accompany Seymour to the Himalayas. He starts in a fortnight's time, +so there really is not a day to lose." + +"Then, David," said Mrs. Dolman, "you will not allow this valuable +opportunity to slip--you will trust your children to me. I assure you +I will do my duty by them." She spoke with real sincerity, and tears +absolutely dimmed her bright eyes. "David," she continued, "that +letter seems a Providence; you will act upon it." + +"It certainly does," said the man; "but, Jane, you will be good to the +children--tender, I mean. Their mother has always been very gentle to +them." + +"You need not question me as to how I will treat them. I will bring +them up as I would my own. I will do my utmost to rear them in the +fear of God. David, this clinches the matter. Write to Mr. Seymour by +this night's post." + +Mr. Delaney promised to do so, and soon afterwards Mrs. Dolman, +feeling that she had done a very good and excellent work, retired, in +a thoroughly happy frame of mind, to her bedroom. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE POOR DEAD 'UNS. + + +Mr. Delaney's bedroom faced east, and the following morning, at a very +early hour, he began to have most unpleasant dreams. He thought a +hobgoblin was seated on his chest, and several brownies were pulling +him where he did not wish to go, and finally that a gnome of enormous +dimensions was dragging him into a dark cavern, where he could never +again behold the daylight. At last, in great perturbation, he opened +his dazed eyes. The sight he saw seemed at first to be a continuation +of his dream, but after a moment or two he discovered that the person +who had become possessed of his chest was a small boy of the name of +Orion, that a little black-eyed girl called Diana had comfortably +ensconced herself on his knees, and that Iris and Apollo were seated +one at each side of his pillow. The four children had all climbed up +on to the big bedstead, and were gazing attentively at him. + +"He is opening his eyes," said Orion, "he'll be all right after a +minute or two. Don't hurry up, father; we can wait." + +"We can wait quite well, father," said Diana; "and it's very comf'able +on your knees; they is so flat." + +"We are awfully sorry to disturb you, father," said Iris. + +"But we can't help it, because it's most solemnly important," said +Apollo. + +"So it seems," remarked Mr. Delaney, when he could at last find a +voice. "You have all subjected me to a terrible dream. I am really +glad that I have awakened and find that the hobgoblins, and gnomes, +and brownies are no less little people than my own four children. But +why am I to be disturbed at such a very early hour?" + +"If you like, father," said Diana, "we'll pull up all the blinds; then +the hot, blazin' sun will come in, and you'll see that it's not early +at all; it's late." + +Mr. Delaney happened to glance at a clock which stood on the +mantelpiece exactly facing the big bed. + +"I read on the face of that clock," he said, "that the hour is +half-past five. Now, what have you four little children to do, sitting +on my bed at half-past five in the morning?" + +When Mr. Delaney said this he shook himself slightly and upset Diana's +balance, and made Orion choke with silent laughter. Iris and Apollo +gazed at him gravely. + +"We all made up our minds to do it," said Iris. "We have come to ask +you to make a promise, father." + +"A promise, my dear children! But you might have waited until the +usual hour for getting up. What are you going to wring from me at this +inclement moment?" + +"I don't exactly know what inclement moment means," said Iris, "but I +do know, and so does Apollo--" + +"And so do I know all about it," shouted Diana. "You see, father," +continued the little girl, who spoke rather more than any of the other +children, "we has to think of the poor innocents, and the birds and +the mice, and the green frogs, and our puppy, and our pug dog, and +our--and our--" Here she fairly stammered in her excitement. + +"Has a sudden illness attacked that large family?" said Mr. Delaney. +"Please, children, explain yourselves, for if you are not sleepy, I +am." + +"Yes, father," said Iris, "we can explain ourselves quite easily. The +thing is this--we don't want to go away." + +"To go away? My dear children, what do you mean?" But as Mr. Delaney +spoke he had a very uncomfortable memory of a letter which he had +posted with his own hands on the previous evening. + +"Yes," said Apollo; "we don't want to go away with her." + +"And we don't wish for no aunts about the place," said Diana, +clenching her little fist, and letting her big, black eyes flash. + +"Now I begin to see daylight," said Mr. Delaney. "So you don't like +poor Aunt Jane?" + +"Guess we don't," said Orion. "She comed in last night and she made an +awful fuss, and she didn't like me 'cos I'm Orion, and 'cos I'm a +giant, and 'cos sometimes I has got no eyes. Guess she's afraid of me. +I thought her a silly sort of a body." + +"She's an aunt, and that's enough," said Diana. "I don't like no +aunts; they are silly people. I want her to go." + +"Apollo and I brought the two younger children," continued Iris, +"because we thought it best for us all to come. It is not Aunt Jane +being here that is so dreadful to me, and so very, very terrible to +Apollo," she continued. "It's what she said, father, that we--we were +to go away, away from the house and the garden--the garden where +mother used to be, and the house where the angel came to fetch mother +away--and we are to live with her. She spoke, father, as if it was +settled; but it is not true, is it? Tell us, father, that it is not +true." + +"My poor little children!" said the father. His own ruddy and sunburnt +face turned absolutely pale; there was a look in his eyes which Diana +could not in the least understand, nor could Orion, and which even +Apollo only slightly fathomed; but one glance told Iris the truth. + +"When I am away you are to be a mother to the others," seemed at that +moment to echo her mother's own voice in her ear. She gulped down a +great sob in her throat, and stretching herself by her father's side +she put one soft arm round his neck. + +"Never mind if it is _really_ settled," she said. "I will try hard to +bear it." + +"You are about the bravest little darling in the world," said Mr. +Delaney. + +"What are you talking about, Iris?" cried Apollo, clutching his sister +by her long hair as she spoke. "You say that you will try and bear it, +and that father is not to mind? But father must mind. If I go to Aunt +Jane Dolman's, why--why, it will kill me." And the most beautiful of +all the heathen gods cast such a glance of scorn at his parent at that +moment that Mr. Delaney absolutely quailed. + +"For goodness' sake, Apollo, don't eat me up," he said. "The fact is +this, children; I may as well have the whole thing out. Aunt Jane came +last night and took me by surprise. I have been very lonely lately, +and you know, you poor little mites, you cannot be left to the care of +Fortune. She is a very good soul, but you want more than her to look +after you, and then Miss Stevenson--I never did think her up to much." + +"Father," said Apollo, "you have no right to abuse our spiritual +pastors and masters." + +Notwithstanding his heathenish name, it will be seen by this remark +that some of his time was occupied learning the church catechism. + +"I stand corrected, my son," said Mr. Delaney, "or, rather, at the +present moment, I lie corrected. Well, children, the truth must +out--Aunt Jane took me by surprise. She promises she will look after +you and be a mother to you." + +"We don't want no other mother, now that our own mother is gone, +except Iris," said Apollo. "We won't have Aunt Jane for a mother." + +"She is a howid old thing, and I hate aunts," said Diana. + +"Well, children, I am very sorry for you, but it is too late to do +anything now. The whole thing is arranged. I hope you will try to be +good, and also to be happy with Aunt Jane. You won't find her half bad +when you get to know her better, and of course I won't be very long +away, and when I come back again--" + +"Please don't say any more, father," interrupted Iris. She slipped off +the bed and stood very pale and still, looking at her father with eyes +which, notwithstanding all her efforts, were full of reproach. + +"Come, children," she said to the others, "let poor father have his +sleep out. It is quite early, father, and--and we understand now." + +"Do say you are not angry with me, you dear little kids. I would not +hurt you for the whole world." + +"Of course we are not angry, father," said Iris. She bent slowly +forward and kissed her father on his forehead. "Go to sleep, father; +we are sorry we woke you so early." + +"Yes, father, go to s'eep," echoed Diana. "I underland all 'bout it. +You won't have no hobgoblins now to dweam about, for I has got off +your knees. They was lovely and flat, and I didn't mind sitting on +them one bit." + +"All the same, Diana, I am obliged to you for getting off," said Mr. +Delaney, "for I was beginning to get quite a terrible cramp, to say +nothing of my sensations at having this giant Orion planting himself +on my chest. I will have a long talk with you all, darlings, in the +course of the day, and I do hope you won't be very unhappy with your +Aunt Jane Dolman." + +"We'll be mis'ble, but it can't be helped," said Diana. "I never did +like aunts, and I'm never going to, what's more. Come 'long now, +sildrens. It's a gweat nuisance getting up so early, particular when +father can't help hisself. Can you, father? Go to s'eep now, father. +Come 'long this minute, back to bed, sildrens." + +Diana looked really worthy of her distinguished name as she strode +down the passage and returned to the night-nursery. She and Orion +slipped into their respective little cots and lay down without waking +either Fortune or Susan, who slept in beds at the opposite side of the +room. Iris and Apollo also returned to their beds, and presently +Apollo dropped asleep, for, though he had an alarming temper, his fits +of passion never lasted long. But Iris did not close her bright brown +eyes again that morning. She lay awake, full of troubled +thoughts--thoughts far too old for her tender years. + +It was one of Fortune's fads never on any occasion to awaken a +sleeping child, and as the other children slept rather longer than +usual after their early waking, breakfast was in consequence full half +an hour late in the day-nursery that morning. At last, however, it was +finished. No special lessons had been attended to since mother had +gone away to the angels, and the children, snatching up their hats, +rushed off as fast as possible to the garden. When they got there they +all four breathed freely. This at least was their own domain--their +fairyland, their country of adventure. From here they could travel to +goodness only knew where--sometimes to the stars with bright Apollo +and brave Orion--sometimes to happy hunting fields with Diana, the +goddess of the chase, and sometimes they might even visit the rainbow, +with sweet Iris as their companion. + +There never were happier children than these four in that lovely, +lovely beyond words, garden. When the children went into it, it seemed +as if an additional ray of sunshine had come out to fill all the happy +world with light and love and beauty. The bees hummed more +industriously than ever, the flowers opened their sweet eyes and gazed +at the children, the animals came round them in a group. + +On this special morning, however, Diana's dear little face looked very +grave and full of business. + +"It's most 'citing," she said. "'Fore we does anything else we must +'tend to the funerals--there is such a lot of dead 'uns to bury this +morning. Come 'long to the dead-house at once, Iris." + +"I must smell the Scotch roses first," answered Iris. + +"You can do that afterwards, can't you? There's poor Rub-a-Dub. We has +to 'cide whether he is to have a public or a pwivate funeral, or +whether he is just to be sewn up in dock leaves, and put into the +gwound p'omisc's." + +Diana had a great facility for taking up long words, which she always +used in the most matter-of-fact style, not in the least caring how she +pronounced them. + +The other children could not help laughing at her now, and the four +hurried off as fast as they possibly could to the dead-house. + +This unpleasantly named abode was in reality a pretty little shed in +one corner of the old garden. It contained a door with lock and key, a +nice little window, and everything fitted up for the keeping of tools +and carpenters' implements. Long ago, however, the children decided +that here the dead animals of all sorts and species were to be kept +until the solemn moment of interment. + +Iris looked just as grave as the others when she unlocked the door of +the dead-house now, and they all entered. The dead 'uns were decently +laid out on a shelf, just in front of the public view. There was a +dead bee, and two butterflies; there were two dead worms and a dead +toad; also three or four beetles in different stages of decomposition, +and a terribly crushed spider--and solemnly lying in the midst of his +dead brethren lay Rub-a-Dub, the precious and dearly loved piebald +mouse. + +"They look beautiful, poor darlin's," said Diana; "they will most fill +up the cemetery. Now please, Iris, which is to have a public funeral?" + +"Of course Rub-a-Dub must," answered Iris. "As to the others--" + +"Don't you think that poor toad, Iris?" said Diana, wrinkling up her +brows, and gazing anxiously at her sister. "The toad seems to me to be +rather big to have only a pwivate funeral. We could scarcely get dock +leaves enough." + +"We must try," answered Iris; "the toad must be buried privately with +the others. We always make it a rule--don't you remember, Di--only to +give public funerals to our own special pets." + +"All wight," answered Diana. She was very easily brought round to +accept Iris' view. In her heart of hearts she considered Iris' verdict +like the laws of the Medes and Persians--something which could not +possibly be disputed. + +"Run, Orion!" she said; "be quick, and fetch as many dock leaves as +possible. I will thread a needle so as to sew up the poor dead 'uns in +their coffins. We must get through the pwivate funerals as quick as +possible this morning, and then we'll be weady for poor Rub-a-Dub." + +"Rub-a-Dub is to be buried exactly at eleven o'clock," said Iris. + +"We'll all wear mourning, course?" asked Diana. + +"Yes; black bows." + +"And are the dogs and the other animals to wear mourning?" + +"Black bows," repeated Iris. + +"That is most lovely and 'citing," said Diana. + +Orion left the dead-house, and presently returned with a great pile of +dock leaves. Then the children sat down on the floor and began to sew +coffins for the different dead 'uns. They were accustomed to the work +and did it expeditiously and well. When all the poor dead 'uns were +supplied with coffins they were carried in a tray across the garden +to the far-famed cemetery. Here they were laid in that part of the +ground apportioned to private funerals. Apollo made small holes with +his spade, and each dead 'un in his small coffin was returned to +mother earth. The ground was immediately covered over, and Apollo +trampled on it with his feet. He did this on the present occasion with +right good will. "I'll be rather glad when the funerals are over," he +said, looking at Iris as he spoke, "for I want to get on with my ship. +I have got hold of some canvas the gardener brought me from town, and +I really believe I may be able to make a funnel and a place for +boiling water. You would like to see my ship when it is afloat; would +you not, Iris?" + +"Yes; very much indeed," answered Iris. + +"I call ships stupid," said Diana. "I don't see no use in 'em. Now, do +let us hurry back. Poor Rub-a-Dub will be so lonely." + +"It's you who is silly now," said Orion. "You know Rub-a-Dub can't +feel; don't you, Di?" + +"I know nothing 'bout it," said Diana. "I want to hurry back to get +his beautiful public funeral weady. Now, look here, 'Rion; will you go +into the house to steal the cotton wool, or shall I?" + +"What is that I hear?" said a voice which seemed to come from right +over the children's heads. + +They all looked up in alarm, to see Aunt Jane Dolman and their father +standing close by. Mr. Delaney wore an amused, and Aunt Jane a scared +expression. + +"What were you saying, little girl?" she continued, taking Diana by +her arm and giving her a slight shake; "that you wished to _steal_ +something?" + +"Yes; some cotton wool," said Diana; "it's most 'portant; it's for a +public funeral." + +Mrs. Dolman turned her round black eyes on her brother. Horror was +expressed in each movement of her face. + +"My dear Jane," he said, _sotto voce_, "there are several things which +these children do which will astonish you very much. Don't you think +you had better give up the scheme?" + +"Not I, David," she replied. "The more I see of the poor neglected +mites the more I long to rescue them from evident destruction." + +He shook his head and looked with some pity at Iris. + +"Shall Orion go to steal the cotton wool?" repeated Diana, who looked +as if it was impossible for anyone in this world to terrify her in the +very least. + +"If it must be stolen, and if you ask me," said Mr. Delaney, "perhaps +Orion may as well be the thief as anyone else. In the old times of the +heathen deities I believe they did now and then stoop to that small +crime." + +"David, it is appalling to hear you speak," said Mrs. Dolman. "Orion, +I hate to pronounce your name, but listen to me, little boy. I forbid +you to go if you are bent on theft." + +"But I must go," said Orion. "Poor Rub-a-Dub must be buried, and I +must have a box for his coffin and cotton wool to lay him in." + +"See here, Orion," said the father; "where do you get the cotton +wool?" + +"We gen'ly get it from Fortune's box in the night-nursery," replied +Orion. + +"And you steal it?" + +"Oh, yes; she would make _such_ a fuss if we asked her for some. We +always steal it for public funerals." + +"Well, on this occasion, and to spare your aunt's feelings, tell +Fortune that I desire her to give you some. + +"Now, Jane," continued Mr. Delaney, "as you are here, and as I am +here, we may both of us as well witness this ceremony. The children +are fond of doing all honor to their pets, even after the supreme +moment of dissolution. Shall we witness this public funeral?" + +Mrs. Dolman looked wonderfully inclined to say "No," but as her object +now was to humor her brother as far as possible, she agreed very +unwillingly to wait. + +Accordingly he and she began to pace up and down the lovely garden, +and soon, in the interest which the sight of the unforgotten +playground of her youth excited within her, her brow cleared, and she +became pleasant and even talkative. The two were in the midst of a +very interesting conversation, and were pacing up and down not far +from the summer-house, when Orion's clear voice was heard. "The public +funeral is going to begin," he shouted, "so you had best come along if +you want to see it. If you don't, Diana and me, and Apollo and +Iris--why, we don't care." + +"Oh, we'll come, you rude little body," said his father, laughing and +chuckling as he spoke. "You mark my words, Jane," he continued, "you +will have a handful with those children." + +"Oh, I'll manage them," said Mrs. Dolman. "I have not lived my +thirty-five years for nothing; they certainly need managing, poor +little spoilt creatures." + +They both hurried to the cemetery, where Apollo was standing, having +dug a grave nearly a foot deep, and large enough to hold a square +cardboard box. He stood leaning on his spade now, his hat pushed off, +his handsome little face slightly flushed with the exercise, his eyes +full of a sort of gloomy defiance. But now the funeral procession was +coming on apace. Orion's mouth was much puffed out because he was +blowing vigorously on his Jew's harp, Diana followed him beating a +little drum, and Iris, with long black ribbons fastened to her flowing +chestnut locks, was walking behind, carrying the tiny coffin. Iris, as +she walked, rang an old dinner bell in a very impressive manner, and +also sang a little dirge to the accompaniment of the bell and the two +other children's music. These were the words Iris sang: + + "Ding-a-dong, Rub-a-Dub's dead; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub. + Sleep well in your little bed; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub. + + "We'll put a stone at your head and your feet; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub. + And you shall sleep very sound and sweet; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub. + And you'll never know fear any more; + Little dear; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub." + +Iris was a poet on occasions, and she had made up these impressive +lines in great haste while the other children were arranging minor +details of the funeral. + +As the mourning party approached the open grave, Apollo came forward +and dropped on his knees. The coffin was supplied with strings of +white satin ribbon, and was lowered with great solemnity into the +grave. Then the four mourners stood over it and each of them sang the +last words of Iris' poem: + + "And you'll never know fear any more, + Little dear; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub." + +The moment this was over flowers were strewn upon the box, and Apollo +with great vigor began to shovel in the earth. + +"Make a nice high mound," said Diana; "let it look as like a weal +gwave as possible." Then she turned eagerly to her sister. "When are +we to see about making the tombstone for the head and the feet?" she +asked. + +"We'll talk it over this evening," answered Iris. + +It may here be noted that none of the four mourners took the slightest +notice of Mr. Delaney or of Mrs. Dolman. To them it was as if these +two grown-up spectators did not exist--they were all lost in their own +intensely important world. + +"Well," said Mrs. Dolman, as she turned away with her brother, "of all +the heathenish and wicked nonsense that I was ever permitted to +witness, this beats everything. It is a right good thing--yes, I will +say it frankly, David--that you are going abroad, and that your +benighted children are handed over to me. When you come back in a year +or two--I assure you, my dear brother, I do not wish to hurry you--but +when you come back in a few years you will see, please Providence, +very different children waiting to welcome you." + +"Well, Jane," said David Delaney, "I have arranged to give the +children to you, and I hope to Heaven I am doing right; but do not +spoil them whatever you do, for to me and to their sainted mother +they were ever the sweetest little quartette that breathed the breath +of life." Mr. Delaney's eyes filled with sudden tears as he said these +words. "Good-by, Rub-a-Dub," he whispered as he left the garden. "Yes, +there are many good-bys in the air just now." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +BUT ANN COULD NOT HELP LETTING OUT NOW AND THEN. + + +The Rectory at Super-Ashton was a large, sunny, cheerful house. It was +filled with every modern convenience, and possessed plenty of rooms +papered with light, bright-looking papers, and painted also in +cheerful colors. The windows were large and let in every scrap of +sunshine; the passages and hall and stairs were broad and roomy; the +nurseries and the children's rooms were models of comfort; the +servants were all well behaved and thoroughly accustomed to their +duties; the meals were punctual to a moment; in fact, nothing was left +to chance at Super-Ashton Rectory. + +Mrs. Dolman was the life and soul of this extremely orderly English +home. She was one of the most active little women in the world. She +invariably got up, summer and winter, soon after six o'clock, and +might be seen bustling about the house, and bustling about the garden, +and bustling about the parish from that moment until she retired to +rest again, somewhere between ten and eleven at night. She was never +exactly cross, but she was very determined. She had strict ideas, and +made everyone in the parish not only respect her and look up to her, +but live up to her rule of life. She was, as a matter of fact, thought +a great deal more of by the parishioners than her husband, the +Reverend William Dolman, and the real Rector of Super-Ashton. + +Mr. Dolman was a very large man, tall in stature and broad. He was +also fat and loosely built. He had a kindly face and a good-humored +way of talking. He preached very fair sermons on Sundays, and attended +to his duties, but without any of the enthusiasm which his wife +displayed. + +When Mrs. Dolman wrote to her husband to say that she was returning +home with the four little Delaneys, it caused considerable excitement +at the breakfast table. Five little hearts beat considerably faster +than usual; but so great were the order and regularity of the +household that the five little faces to which the hearts belonged +remained apparently impassive. + +Miss Ramsay, the governess, was presiding at the head of the table. +The Dolman girls were neatly dressed in print frocks with white +pinafores; the boys wore holland blouses and knickerbockers. The boys +happened to be the two youngest of the family, and none of the +children had yet gone to school. The name and ages of the five were as +follows: First came Lucy, aged twelve; then Mary, aged ten; then Ann, +aged nine; then Philip and Conrad, aged respectively seven and a half +and six. The faces of the whole five bore a curious resemblance to +both father and mother, the eldest girl having the round, black eyes +of her mother, and the large, somewhat irregular features of the +father. Mary resembled Lucy in being fat and largely built, but her +eyes were blue instead of black; while little Ann had a small face, +with gray eyes and rather sensitive lips. The complexions of the three +were fair, and their good looks were rather above the average. They +were proper, neat-looking little girls, and, notwithstanding their +inward excitement, they ate their breakfast tidily, and took good care +not to express any emotion before Miss Ramsay or their good-natured +father. + +"Yes," said Mr. Dolman, looking at them, and pushing his spectacles up +on his forehead, "yes, that is the news. Your mother returns to-night, +and the four Delaneys with her. Let me see what else she says." He +replaced his spectacles on his nose and looked over his wife's letter +again. "These are the very words," he said; "Observe, Miss Ramsay, +that I read from the letter. 'I return by the train which reaches +Super-Ashton at six o'clock, and will bring the four Delaneys with +me.' Four, you see, Lucy; that is the number. But mamma does not +mention the sex of the children. How many boys or how many girls? I +really am quite out of date with regard to your cousins, my love." + +"But I know all about them, papa," burst from Ann's eager lips. + +"You forget your French, Ann," said Miss Ramsay, laying her hand on +the little girl's arm. "You will be punished if you speak English +again at meals." + +Ann colored and dropped her eyes. She began to eat her bread and +butter hastily; she longed beyond words to tell the others the +knowledge she had secretly acquired about her cousins the Delaneys. + +"'Please send the wagonette to the station,'" continued Mr. Dolman, +reading his wife's letter, and holding it close to his eyes, +"'and--yes, the cart for the luggage, as the children'--um, um, um, +that part is private, my dears." + +Mr. Dolman dropped his spectacles and nodded at the eager little group +round the table. + +"Well," he continued, "I am glad mamma is coming home. I have really +been quite bothered by the parishioners since she went away. There is +always a vast deal of work left undone when mamma is absent, eh, +children? eh, Miss Ramsay?" + +"I agree with you, Mr. Dolman," said Miss Ramsay. "Mrs. Dolman does +not spare herself; she will have her reward some day." + +"God grant it!" said Mr. Dolman, with a heavy sigh. "She certainly +will need rest whenever she does leave this world, for I never did +come across such an active woman." + +He left the room, hitching up his huge shoulders as he did so, and +slammed the door noisily behind him. + +"Papa would not do that if mamma were here," whispered Philip to Ann. + +Ann said "Hush!" in a frightened tone, and then Miss Ramsay folded her +hands as an intimation to the children that the meal was at an end, +and that one of them was to say grace. + +Immediately after breakfast they went upstairs to the schoolroom, and +lessons began, just as if no four little Delaneys were to arrive to +turn everything topsy-turvy that evening. + +Lessons proceeded without any interruption until twelve o'clock. Then +the three little girls retired to the neat bedroom which they shared +together, and put on their sun-bonnets, their white capes, and their +washing-gloves, and came back again to Miss Ramsay, equipped for their +walk. The boys, with straw hats sticking very far back on their heads, +were also waiting Miss Ramsay's pleasure in the hall downstairs. The +children and the governess went out walking solemnly two and two, Miss +Ramsay and Conrad in front, Lucy and Mary following, with Ann and +Philip behind. + +It was a hot day; but Miss Ramsay never excused the morning walk on +the dusty highroads. The children came in very much flushed and tired +at one o'clock for dinner. They assembled again in the big, cool +dining room and ate their roast mutton and peas and new potatoes, and +rice pudding and stewed fruit with the propriety of children who have +been thoroughly well brought up. + +At dinner French was again the only language allowed to be spoken. In +consequence there was a sad dearth of any conversation at that dinner +table. + +After dinner Mr. Dolman told Miss Ramsay that he had given orders +about the wagonette, and he supposed Simpson knew about the sleeping +arrangements, as he was given to understand that she had received a +letter from Mrs. Dolman. + +"I have spoken to Simpson," replied Miss Ramsay, dropping her eyes as +she made the remark, "and she fully understands what is expected of +her. The two girls are to have small rooms to themselves, and so is +the eldest boy, but the youngest will sleep in the nursery with Philip +and Conrad. Those are Mrs. Dolman's directions." + +"Quite right, quite right," said Mr. Dolman. "Anything Mrs. Dolman +wishes, of course. Miss Ramsay, I shall not be home to tea this +evening. I have to go to visit a sick parishioner at the other end of +the parish. Good-by, Lucy; good-by, the rest of you children. I hope +to see you all before bedtime; if not--" + +"But, father," burst from Ann, "the new children will be here about +six." + +"They cannot arrive before half-past six, my dear," replied Mr. +Dolman. + +"Ann, you have again spoken English," said Miss Ramsay; "I shall be +forced to punish you. You will have to stay in after the others this +afternoon, and learn ten lines of your French poetry." + +Poor little Ann colored and her lips trembled. She really felt +dreadfully excited, and it was terrible to have to bottle up all her +thoughts during the long, hot day. + +Immediately after dinner the children went up to the schoolroom, where +they lay down on the floor for half an hour to learn their lessons. + +At three o'clock the ordinary lessons began again, and went on without +interruption until five, when there was tea. After tea the children +were supposed to have the rest of the day to do what they liked in. +But on this occasion, Ann was kept in the schoolroom to learn her +French poetry as best she could. The ten lines were difficult, and the +little girl felt sleepy, cross, and dissatisfied. Soon her small, +curly head fell upon her plump arms, and sleep took possession of her +little soul. + +Miss Ramsay came in and found her in a state of heavy slumber. + +"Ann!" she cried; "Ann!" + +Little Ann raised herself with a start. + +"Oh, please, Miss Ramsay, won't you excuse the French poetry to-day," +she cried; "I am so--" + +"So what, Ann? I am surprised at you. What can be the matter?" + +"I am _so_ excited about the little Delaneys," answered Ann. "They are +coming so soon, and they are my own first cousins--I seem to see them +all the day--they come between me and--and my poetry. Please, Miss +Ramsay, if you'll only allow me I'll get up early to-morrow morning +and learn it perfectly. Do say I need not finish it this +afternoon--do, please." + +Miss Ramsay was astonished and annoyed at this rebellion on the part +of Ann. + +"You surprise me," she said. "You know that lessons have to be done +during lesson hours, and that rules are not to be broken. You know +what your mother would say if she heard you talking English at meals. +Twice to-day you broke through that rule. The first time I pardoned +you--the second time it was unpardonable. Now, my dear, apply yourself +to your task--get it well over, and you will doubtless be ready to +welcome your cousins when they arrive." + +Miss Ramsay left the room. Ann shed a few tears, and then, seeing +there was no help for it, applied herself with all her might and main +to learning her appointed task. She got her poetry by heart after a +fashion, and, hastily replacing the book in the bookcase, ran out of +the schoolroom. She saw Lucy and Mary pacing up and down the terrace +in front of the house. They were in clean white frocks, with sashes +round their waists, and their hair was very trimly brushed and curled +over their heads. Their faces shone from soap and water, and even at +that distance Ann could perceive that their hands were painfully, +terribly clean. In her heart of hearts Ann hated clean hands; they +meant so much that was unpleasant--they meant that there must be no +grubbing in the garden, no searching for dear little weeds and small +flowers, and all kinds of delicious, unexpected things in mother +earth. In her heart of hearts Ann had a spark of originality of her +own, but it had little chance of flourishing under the treatment so +carefully pursued at Super-Ashton. + +Philip and Conrad might also be seen on the terrace in their clean +linen blouses and fresh knickerbockers; their hands were also +carefully washed, their hair brushed back from their faces, the faces +themselves shining from soap and water. + +"Oh, dear! there's no help for it," thought little Ann, "I must go +into the nursery and let Simpson pull me about. How she will scrub me +and tug at my hair, and put on such a horrid starched dress, and it's +so hot to-night! Well, if I hurry I may be in time to tell Philip what +I know about their names. Oh, how delicious it will be! He'll be so +excited. Yes, I'll be as quick as possible." + +Ann ran down the long passage which led from the schoolroom to the +nursery, opened the door, and approached a prim old servant with a +somewhat cross face, who was busily engaged mending stockings. + +"Please, Simpson, here I am. Will you dress me?" said Ann, panting as +she spoke. + +Simpson laid down her work with deliberation. + +"Now, I wonder, Miss Ann," she said, "why I am to be put about for +you. I have just finished dressing all the other children. Why didn't +you come with the others? There, miss, you must just dress yourself, +for I can't and won't be worried; these stockings must be finished +before the mistress comes home." + +"All right," answered Ann, in a cheerful tone. "I can wash myself +beautifully. May I go into the night-nursery, please, Simpson, and do +my best?" + +"Yes, my dear. You'll find a white frock hanging in the wardrobe. I'll +fasten it for you after you have washed yourself and combed out your +hair. Now, do be quick. I would help you willingly, Miss Ann, only I +really have not a minute to spare; Master Philip and Master Conrad are +dreadful with their socks, and when the mistress comes with that fresh +family, goodness knows when I shall have a moment to see to your +clothes again." + +Ann dressed herself, and ran back to Simpson. + +"Simpson," she said, as that good woman was fastening the hooks and +eyes at the back of her frock, "I know it is wrong to be so much +excited, but I am. My heart beats awfully fast at the thought of their +coming." + +"Well, Miss Ann, it's more than my heart does. And now, miss, if +you'll take a word of advice from me, you'll keep your feelin's to +yourself, as far as your ma is concerned. Your ma don't wish any of +you to give way to excitement. She wants you to grow up steady, +well-conducted young ladies." + +"I hate being a well-conducted young lady," burst from little Ann. + +"Oh, dear me, miss! it's dreadful to hear you talk so unproper. Now +stand still and don't fidget." + +The frock was fastened, and Ann ran off to join her brothers and +sisters on the terrace. + +Lucy and Mary were little girls after their mother's own heart. They +never questioned her wishes, they never rebelled against her rules, +they were as good and well-behaved as any two little English maids of +the respective ages of twelve and ten could be. Now, as little Ann +approached, they looked at her as if they thought her quite beneath +their notice. + +"Oh, do go away, Ann!" said Lucy. "Mary and I are talking secrets, and +we don't want you." + +"You are always talking secrets," said Ann. "It's horrid unfair to +me." + +"We have got to talk things over. We can't confide in you; you're the +youngest. Please don't be disagreeable now. We are having a most +important talk. Please run away at once." + +Ann looked beseeching, but then, all of a sudden, her eyes fell upon +Philip. She turned, ran up to him, clutched him by the arm, and pulled +him away from Conrad. + +"Phil," she said, "I want to have you all to myself. I have something +terribly exciting to say." + +Philip looked from Conrad to Ann. + +"But you are always getting into hot water, Ann," he replied, "and Con +and I were talking about our fishes. We think if we are very careful +with our pocket-money we may have enough to buy some gold and silver +fish in the holidays." + +"Yes, yes," answered Ann impetuously; "buy any kind of fish you like. +Only, Con, like a dear, good boy, please go and walk at the other end +of the terrace for five minutes. I must speak to someone or I'll +burst." + +"How awfully vulgar you are, Ann!" said Lucy, who happened to pass by, +with Mary leaning on her arm, at that moment. + +But Philip felt flattered at Ann's evident anxiety to be alone with +him. + +"Go and do as you are told, Conrad," he said, in lofty tones; "go to +the other end of the terrace at once." + +"It's rather hard on me," said Conrad. "I like having secrets as well +as anybody else; the air is full of secrets to-day--why shouldn't I +have some?" + +"I'll have a secret with you by and by," said Ann, "if you'll only go +away now." + +The little boy looked at her, saw she was in earnest, and obeyed +somewhat unwillingly. + +"Now then, Ann," said Philip, "speak out; be as quick as ever you +can." + +"Philip," said Ann, in a solemn voice, "don't you want to know all +about the children who are coming to-night?" + +"Is that what the secret is about?" said Philip in disgust. "Do you +know, Ann, what I heard Miss Ramsay say to Simpson to-day. She said +that the new children would be awful bothers, and that _she_ for one +does not know if she is going to stay, and Simpson said she was sure +that she would give notice too. Miss Ramsay said it was an awful shame +bringing four children to the house, and Simpson threw up her hands. +You know how she looks when she throws up her hands. And she said, +'Them's my sentiments, Miss Ramsay.' Do you know what she meant by +'Them's my sentiments,' Ann, 'cos I don't? I never heard such funny +words before. Did you, Ann?" + +"No," said Ann; "but you ought not to have listened, Phil." + +"Oh, I often listen!" replied Philip calmly. "I get to know all kinds +of funny things that way, and they turn out no end useful. I know lots +of things about Miss Ramsay, and since I just let her know that I did, +she is not half so hard on me. That's how I find listening useful." + +"Well, it is not right," said Ann, "but I have no time to argue with +you now, Phil; I want to talk about the children. Whatever Simpson +says, and whatever Miss Ramsay says, I am delighted that they are +coming. I think it will be fun. In my heart, you know, Phil, I love +fun, and I want to be able to talk English sometimes, and Phil, would, +_would_ you like to know their names?" + +"Their names?" said Philip. "I suppose they have names, although I +never thought about them." + +"Well, of course they have, and I'll tell you what they are. They have +got lovely names; once I heard mother say that the whole four of them +were called after heathen idols. Isn't it awful and exciting to be +called after a heathen idol? Oh, Phil! they have such lovely names!" + +Philip was not much interested in heathen idols, but Ann's excited +face and her bright blue eyes did strike him as out of the common. + +"Well, you are in a state," he said. "What creatures girls are! You'll +catch it when mother comes home. You know she never can stand anybody +all jumpy, and jerky, and quivery, like you are now. Well, what are +the names? Out with them and get them over." + +"Iris is the name of the eldest girl," said Ann. "Then comes +Apollo--he is a boy." + +"I'll never be able to get hold of that name," said Philip. "Apollo! +how queer." + +"But it is not queer, really," said Ann, delighted at having roused +his real interest at last. "Of course, Apollo is very well known +indeed. He was a sort of beautiful god long ago." + +"But this boy is not a god--horrid little beggar," said Philip. "Well, +what are the names of the others?" + +"There is a girl called Diana." + +"Diana," repeated Philip. "There's nothing in that name. That name is +in the Bible. Miss Ramsay read the whole story aloud to us last +Sunday when the beastly rain kept dropping and dropping all day long. +'Great is Diana of the Ephesians.' I rather like the sound, but +there's nothing at all in a name of that sort, Ann." + +"Well, I didn't say there was," answered Ann. "I only think it awfully +pretty." + +"I don't think much of it for an ordinary girl. Well, now, what is the +other name? I'll call Conrad back, if you are not quick." + +"I'll tell it to you. Look here, Phil, I bet you never heard a name +like it." + +"You bet?" said Philip. "Oh, if mamma only heard you!" + +"For goodness' sake, don't tell her," said Ann. "I can't help letting +out sometimes, and it does relieve me so. The name of the other boy is +Orion, and he is called after a cluster of stars. I do know that much. +And oh, Phil! Phil! Phil! they are coming! they are coming!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE STRAW TOO MUCH. + + +The crunching of wheels was heard distinctly on the gravel, and the +next moment the wagonette swept into view. The horses drew up with a +nourish at the front door of the pretty Rectory, and the five little +Dolmans rushed forward. + +"Stand back, children, and allow your cousins to get comfortably out +of the carriage," called out Mrs. Dolman. "No excitement, I beg, from +any of you--I have had quite enough of that already. Stand quietly +just where you are. Lucy, where is Miss Ramsay?" + +"Up in her room, I think, mamma. Shall I call her?" + +"Not at present, although she ought to have been here. Now, Iris, get +out quietly--quietly, my dear. Apollo, give me your hand, you come +next; now, Diana--easy, little girl, easy--you will fall, if you jump +like that." + +"I think nothing of a little easy hop like that, aunt," replied Diana. +She sprang from the carriage, disdaining the use of the steps. When +she found herself on the gravel sweep she stood very firmly on her two +fat legs and looked her five cousins all over. + +"You aren't none of you much to boast," she said; "I'd wather have the +animals." Then she turned her back and gazed around her at the view. + +Meanwhile, Orion was being helped out of the carriage. He was also +very sturdy and independent, and felt half inclined to follow Diana's +spirited example; but Mrs. Dolman would not permit this. She took the +youngest of the little heathen gods firmly into her arms and deposited +him on the gravel. + +"There you are, little boy," she said, giving him a slight shake as +she did so, "and I do trust you will behave yourself." + +Orion ran up to Diana and took hold of her hand. Diana took no notice +of him, but continued to admire the view. + +Mrs. Dolman's face was quite red. She was very tired after her long +journey, and she had found the little Delaneys not the easiest +traveling companions in the world. It is true that Iris had been as +good as possible, but between whiles she had cried a good deal, and +her sad face, and somewhat reproachful expression, seemed to hurt Mrs. +Dolman even more than the really obstreperous, and at times violent, +behavior of her brothers and sister; for the fact is, the other three +little Delaneys had not yet got the slightest idea into their heads +that they were bound to obey Mrs. Dolman. Far from this; a sudden and +extreme naughtiness had taken possession of their unruly little +hearts. Even Iris' gentle words had no effect on them. They hated Aunt +Jane; considering her, in their heart of hearts, extremely cruel and +unworthy of affection. Had she not parted them at one blow from their +father, their home, their lovely garden, even from poor Fortune, who +was better than nobody, and, above all, from their darling, precious +pets? They had none of them been broken-hearted children when their +mother died, but they all, even Iris, felt broken-hearted now. But +this fact did not prevent their being extremely naughty and +rebellious, and when Diana felt Orion's hand clutching hers, she +whispered to him in an indignant voice: + +"Come 'long, 'Rion, let's have a wun--my legs is so stiff; and, Orion, +I has got the box, and we can open it when we is away by our own two +selves." + +"What are you talking about, little children?" questioned Mary Dolman. +"You mean to run away all by yourselves. But you must do nothing of +the sort. This is not the hour for running about in the open air. +There is supper ready for us all in the dining room, but I think mamma +would like you first to go upstairs and have your faces and hands +washed. If you will follow me, I'll show you where to go." + +"Thank you, Mary," said Mrs. Dolman, who had overheard her daughter. +"Ann, my dear, what are you staring at me for? Go and help your +cousins. Now, you four children, follow Lucy and Ann to your rooms, +where my servant, Simpson, will attend upon you. Go, children, at +once. If there is any naughtiness, remember I shall have to punish you +severely." + +"What do she mean by that?" said Diana, fixing her eyes on Mary's +face. "I never did like aunts. Is she your aunt?" + +"No; she is my mother," said Mary, "and you must not speak in that +tone of mamma." + +"I'll speak in any tone I p'ease," replied Diana. "Ise not going to be +fwightened. But what do she mean by punish? Who will she punish?" + +"She will punish you," replied Mary. "Were you never punished?" + +"Never. I don't know what it means. Is it nasty?" + +"Oh, isn't it!" said Philip, who came up at that moment. "What a lark +it will be to see you punished, Diana. I wonder when your first time +will come? I expect rather soon. You had best obey mamma, I can tell +you, and papa too; if you don't, you'll just catch it hot." + +"Boo!" replied Diana, "you is a silly boy." Then she turned to Mary. +"I is awfu' tired and s'eepy," she said. "I'd like to go stwaight to +bed." + +"You must have supper first. Did you not hear mamma say so? Now, come +along with me." + +Mary held out her hand, which Diana, after a momentary hesitation, +condescended to take. + +Meanwhile, Ann had gone up to Iris. + +"Would you not like me to show you your room, cousin?" she said; "and +please, I want to say how very glad I am that you have come." + +A faint tinge of delicate color came into Iris' sweet little face at +these words--they were the first attempt at a real welcome she had +received. She held out her hand to Ann without a word, and the +Delaneys and Dolmans entered the cheerful Rectory in a body. The four +little strangers, accompanied by Mary and Ann, went upstairs, where +Simpson was waiting for them. Simpson was feeling very cross at the +arrival of four additional children, but when she saw Diana's tired +face, and the tears on Iris' pale cheeks, and the defiant, and yet +baby look in Orion's bright eyes, something came over her which she +could not quite account for, and she suddenly became kind and +agreeable. + +"Come, my dears," she said; "why, you must all be dead tired, you poor +little mites. Come now--come in here. And what are your names?" + +"I am Iris," replied the eldest little girl in a sweet voice. + +"Iris!" repeated Simpson; "and what's your name, young master?" + +"Apollo," answered the little boy, flinging back his dark head and +fixing his handsome eyes upon the woman. + +"My word! that's a queer sort of name--outlandish, I call it!" +ejaculated Simpson. "And now, missy, I expect you are called Baby?" + +"No, I aren't," replied Diana. "I is the gweat Diana; I has got a bow +and arrow, and I'll shoot you if you is not kind." + +"Oh, lor'! Now, missy, you would not be so cruel as that?" + +"Yes, I would," replied Diana. "See this box in my hand? It's an awfu' +pwecious box--it has got spiders in it and two beetles. May I put the +poor darlin's loose in my room?" + +Now, if Simpson had a horror, it was of spiders and beetles. + +"You keep that box shut, miss," she said, "for if you dare to open it +in your bedroom I'll just go straight down and tell my mistress." + +"And then you'll get punished, Diana," said Mary, in her most annoying +voice. + +"Is you a cousin?" asked Diana, by way of reply. + +"Certainly I am." Mary opened her round eyes in some astonishment. + +"Is you my cousin?" + +"Yes; I am your first cousin." + +"First cousin," repeated Diana. She flung off her hat and threw it on +the floor. + +"Orion," she said, turning to her little brother, "you take good care +of our pwecious box. And what is you?" she continued, raising her eyes +to Simpson's face. + +"Well, my dear, at the present moment I am the nurse, and ready to +wash you and look after you, and make you comfortable." + +"Then I wishes to say something," remarked Diana. "I wishes to say it +bold, and I wishes to say it soon. I hate cousins, more 'specially +first, and I hate nurses. There, now, you can go downstairs, first +cousin, and tell aunt, and she can punish me. I don't care. You can +tell your mamma just what you p'ease." + +Diana strutted across the room, deposited her box on the +washhand-stand, and then, turning round once again, began to view the +company. What might have happened at that moment there is no saying, +if Iris had not come to the rescue. + +"Please don't mind her," she said; "she is only a very little child +and she has gone through great trouble, for our mother--our own +mother--she has left us, you know. Diana does not really mean to be +rude. Please let me talk to her. Di, darling, come to me, come to +Iris." + +It was impossible to resist Iris when she spoke in that tone, and when +she looked at Diana with her speaking dark eyes, and that gentle, +beautiful expression on her little face, it seemed to Diana then as if +the hard journey, and the pain of all the partings had never taken +place at all. She rushed up to her sister, clasped her fat arms round +her neck, and began to sob. + +"Poor little thing, she is dreadfully tired!" said Iris. "If I might +have a little bread and milk to give her, and then if she might be put +to bed, I know she would fall asleep immediately and be quite herself +in the morning." + +"Indeed, miss, I think you are right," said Simpson, who could not +help gazing at Iris with admiration. "I see you are a very kind little +sister, and of course no one ought to mind the words of a mere baby. +I'll take it upon me, miss, to do what you suggest, even though my +missus may be angry. Oh, my word! there's the supper gong. You must go +down at once, Miss Iris, you really must. I cannot answer for two of +you being absent, but I will speak to Mrs. Dolman afterwards, and tell +her that I just put Miss Diana straight to bed, for she was much too +sleepy to go downstairs again." + +"But I won't let you leave me, Iris," almost screamed Diana, +tightening her arms round her sister's neck. + +"Please let me stay here," said Iris. "I do not really want any +supper, and I know how to manage her. She has gone through a great +deal." + +"Well, miss, do you dare?" + +"Oh, I dare anything! I am quite positive certain Aunt Jane won't mind +when I tell her my own self what I have done." + +"I will tell mamma; she shan't mind," said little Ann suddenly. + +Iris looked up at her and smiled--Ann smiled back at her. The hearts +of the two little cousins were knit together in real love from that +moment. + +The gong sounded again downstairs, and this time in a distinctly angry +manner. The three Dolman girls and the two Delaney boys had to hurry +off as fast as they could, and then Iris undressed Diana and put her +into her snug little white bed. + +"I is drefful unhappy, Iris," said Diana, as she laid her head on her +pillow. + +"But you won't be in the morning, Diana. You'll feel brave and strong +and bright in the morning, just like the dear name mother gave you." + +"Oh, p'ease, p'ease, will you see that the spiders and beetles has +somethin' to eat? They is so far from home, poor darlin's, and they +has come a drefful long journey, and they may be deaded in the morning +if nothing's not done for 'em. P'ease see to 'em; won't you, Iris?" + +"Yes," replied Iris. + +"Very well. Now, I'll say my pwayers and go stwaight off to s'eep. +P'ease, God, b'ess Di, make her good girl. Amen. Good-night, Iris." + +The next moment the little girl had gone away into the world of happy +slumber and innocent dreams. She knew nothing whatever about what poor +Iris, to her dismay, soon discovered, namely, that Simpson had marched +off with the box which contained the spiders and beetles. That box, +with its contents, was never found again. It was the straw too much, +as Simpson expressed it afterwards. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER. + + +The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might +have gone on being so but for Diana. The four little Delaneys had +slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, +and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all +the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with +one another. It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to +have cousins to walk about with and talk to. Philip and Conrad, too, +were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their +gardens and their several pets. Life was certainly prim at the Rectory +compared to what it had been at the Manor; but children will be +children all the world over, and when there is a bright sun in the +heavens, and flowers grow at their feet, and a gentle breeze is +blowing, it is almost impossible to be all sulks and tears and misery. +Even Diana was interested in what was going on. She had never been +away from home before, and she found it pleasant to watch the Dolman +children. As she expressed it, in her sturdy fashion, she did not +think much of any of them, but still it amused her to hear them speak, +and to take Ann's hand and allow her to lead her round the garden. + +Ann was extremely kind to her, but she only received a very qualified +measure of approval from the saucy little miss. Lucy and Mary she +could not bear, but as Ann showed her all her treasures, and as Ann +happened also to be very fond of animals, Diana began to chatter, and +presently became almost confidential. Suddenly, however, in the midst +of quite a merry game of play, the little girl was heard to utter a +shout. + +"Where is my darlin's that I brought from home?" she cried; "my three +spiders and my four beetles? I have not given none of 'em their +bwekfus. I must wun and fetch 'em. Iris promised to see to 'em last +night, so I know they isn't deaded; but I must go this very instant +minute to feed 'em, 'cos, of course, they wants their bwekfus, poor +dears. If you like I'll show 'em to you, Ann; you can see 'em while +they is eating." + +"Please, Diana, don't go!" called out Ann; but Diana did not hear her. +Putting wings to her sturdy little feet, she sped across the lawn, ran +helter-skelter into the house, and up to the room where she had slept. + +The room was empty, the windows were wide open, the little bed was +neatly made; there was not a sign of the precious box to be discovered +anywhere. + +"Where is that howid old nurse?" called Diana aloud. "She must know +where my pets is. Oh, they must be desp'te hungry, poor darlin's. I +say, nurse, where is 'oo? Nurse, come 'long, you howid old thing!" + +Simpson, who happened to be in the day-nursery not far away, heard +Diana's imperious little cry. The under-nurse was also standing in the +room. + +"Mrs. Simpson," she said, "I hear one of the strange little ladies +calling out for you." + +"Well, and so do I hear her," answered Mrs. Simpson, with a toss of +her head; "but she must learn to speak respectful before I take any +notice. I fully expect it's that pert little Miss Diana. They say she +is called after one of the heathen gods; no wonder she is so fiery +and--" + +But at that moment the fierce little face, the jet-black head and +sparkling eyes were seen peeping round the nursery door. + +"There you is, old Simpson; that's wight," said Diana, dancing up to +her. "Now, p'ease, tell me where you put my box." + +"What box, miss? I'll thank you, Miss Diana, not to call me old +Simpson. My name is Mrs. Simpson." + +"I only call you what you is," said Diana. "You is old, your hair is +gway; you is awfu' old, I 'spect. Now, where is my box? Where did you +put it, old--I mean, Mrs. Simpson?" + +"What box, miss?" said Simpson, beginning to temporize, for she really +was afraid of the burst of wrath which Diana might give way to when +she learned the truth. + +"You _is_ a stupid," said Diana. "It's the box what holds my pwecious +beetles and spiders. I want to feed 'em. I'm just going to catch flies +for my spiders. I know how to catch 'em quite well; and my dear little +bettles, too, must be fed on bits of sugar. Where did you put the box? +The woom I s'ept in is kite tidy. Where is the box? Speak, can't you?" + +"Well, then, Miss Diana, I must just tell you the simple truth. We +can't have no messing with horrid vermin in this house. I would not +stay here for an hour if I thought those odious beetles and spiders +were anywhere about." + +"Well, then, you can go," said Diana; "nobody wants you to stay; you +is of no cons'kence. I want my darlin' pets, my little home things +that comed from the lovely garden; my spiders and my dear beetles. +Where did you put 'em?" + +"The fact is, Miss Diana, you want a right good talking to," said +Simpson. "Well, then, this is the truth. I have put 'em away." + +"Away! Where?" + +"They are gone, miss; you'll never find 'em again." + +"Gone!" cried Diana, her face turning pale. "Gone! Did Iris let you +take 'em away?" + +"Your sister knew nothing about it, miss. I took the box last night +and threw it into the dust-hole. I hope the vermin inside are dead by +now--horrid, odious, disgusting things!" + +"Vermin!" cried Diana. Her great eyes leaped, a ray of pure fire +seemed to dart from them. She looked for a moment as if she meant to +strike Simpson, but then, thinking better of it, she turned and rushed +like a little fury from the room. Downstairs, with her heart choking, +her breath coming fast, her whole little body palpitating with the +most frantic passion, she ran. + +The first person she happened to meet was her uncle, Mr. Dolman. He +was coming sleepily in from the garden, for the day was getting +intensely hot. He meant to go to his study to begin to write his +sermon for next Sunday. He did not feel at all inclined to write his +sermon, but as it had to be got through somehow, he thought he would +devote an hour, or perhaps an hour and a half, to its composition this +morning. When he saw Diana, however, rushing madly through the hall, +with her eyes shining, her face white, and her whole little body +quivering with excitement, he could not help exclaiming under his +breath at her remarkable beauty. + +"What a handsome little spitfire!" he said aloud. + +"Spitfire, indeed!" said Diana; "it's you all who is spitfires; it's +not me. I want to say something to you, big man." + +"Very well, small girl," answered Mr. Dolman. "I am willing to listen +to you. What is the matter?" + +This was really much more diverting than sitting down to his sermon. + +"I want you to have that howid old woman upstairs put in pwison. I +want you to get the perlice, and have her hands tied, and have her +took away to pwison. She has done a murder--she has killed my--" But +here little Diana's voice suddenly failed; high as her spirit was, it +could not carry her any further. A sense of absolute loneliness came +over her, and her passion ended in a burst of frantic weeping. + +And now all might have been well, for Mr. Dolman was a kind-hearted +man, and the little child, in her black dress, would have appealed to +him, and he would have taken her in his arms and comforted her after a +fashion, and matters might never have been so sore and hard again for +little Diana, if at that moment Mrs. Dolman had not appeared. She was +walking hastily across the hall with her district-visiting hat on. +Mrs. Dolman's district-visiting hat was made in the shape of a very +large mushroom. It was simply adorned with a band of brown ribbon, and +was not either a becoming or fashionable headgear. + +Diana, who had a strong sense of the ludicrous, stopped her tears +where her aunt appeared. + +"What a poky old thing you is!" she said. + +These words enraged Mrs. Dolman. + +"William," she remarked, "what are you doing with that child? Why, you +have taken her in your arms; put her down this minute. Diana, you are +a very naughty little girl." + +"So is you a very naughty old woman," retorted Diana. "I's not going +away from this nice old man. I don't like you. I'm going to stay with +you, old man, so don't put me down out of your arms. You will send for +the perlice, won't you, and you'll have that howid puson upstairs put +in pwison. Go 'way, aunt. I never did like you, and I never will, and +you is awfu' poky in that bonnet. But I'll go with you, old man." Here +she flung her fat arms round her uncle's neck and gave him a hug. + +"You are not pwetty like faver," she said, "you are kite an ugly old +man, but all the same I like you;" and she kissed him, a slobbering, +wet kiss on his cheek. + +"Jane," said Mr. Dolman, "this poor little girl is in great trouble. I +cannot in the least make out why, but perhaps you had better let her +come with me into the library for a few minutes." + +"I'll allow nothing of the kind," answered Mrs. Dolman. "Diana Delaney +is an extremely naughty little child, and I am quite determined that +her spirit shall be broken. It was all very well for you to go on with +your tantrums at the Manor, miss, but now you are under my control, +and you shall do exactly what I wish. Come, Diana, none of this. What, +you'll kick me, will you? Then I shall have you whipped." + +"What's whipped?" questioned Diana. + +Mrs. Dolman stooped down and lifted her into her arms. She was a +stout and largely-made child, and the little woman found her somewhat +difficult to carry. She would not let her down, however, but conducted +her across the cool hall and into a room at the further end of the +passage. This room was nearly empty, matting covered the floor and a +round table stood in the center, while two or three high-backed +chairs, with hard seats, were placed at intervals round the walls. It +was a decidedly dreary room, and rendered all the more so because the +morning sun was pouring in through the dusty panes. + +This room was well known to all the little Dolmans, for it was called +the punishment chamber. In this room they had all of them shed bitter +tears in their time, and some of the spirit which had been given to +them at their birth was subdued and broken here, and here they learned +to fear mamma, although not to respect her. They were all accustomed +to this chamber, but little Diana Delaney had never in the whole +course of her spirited six years heard of anything in the least +resembling this odious and ugly apartment. + +"Here you stay until you beg my pardon," said Mrs. Dolman, "and if I +hear you daring to call me names again, or your uncle names, or doing +anything but just behaving like a proper little Christian child, I +shall have you whipped. I believe in not sparing the rod, and so the +child is not spoiled. What, you'll defy me, miss!" + +"I hate you," screamed Diana, "and I want you to go to pwison too, as +well as that awfu' old Simpson upstairs. She has gone and murdered all +my animals--she said they was vermin. Oh, I hate you, aunt!" + +"Hate me or not, you'll stay where you are until dinner-time," said +Mrs. Dolman, and she left the room, locking the door after her. + +Diana flew to it and kicked it furiously, but although she kicked and +screamed and shouted herself hoarse, no one heard her, and no one came +to the rescue. At last, worn out with her frantic grief, she threw +herself down in the middle of the floor and, babylike, forgot her +sorrows in profound slumber. + +The rest of the children were having a fairly happy morning, and Iris, +who was trying to make the best of things, did not miss her little +sister until the preparation gong for dinner sounded. The moment its +sonorous notes were heard pealing over the Rectory garden, little Ann +got up soberly, and Lucy and Mary also rose to their feet. + +"That is the first gong, Iris," said Ann; "we must go in to clean our +hands and have our hair brushed. Mamma would be very angry if we were +not all in the dining room when the second gong sounds. There is only +five minutes between the two gongs, so we had better go and get ready +at once." + +Iris was quite ready to accompany her cousins into the house. Now, for +the first time, however, she missed Diana. + +"Where is Di?" she said. "Apollo, have you seen her?" + +Apollo was coming up the lawn; Iris ran down to meet him. + +"Oh, there's Orion with Philip and Conrad," said Iris, "but where can +Di be? I thought she was with you, Apollo." + +"I have not seen her for the greater part of the morning," replied +Apollo. "Have you, Orion?" + +"Not I," answered Orion, giving himself a little shake. "I say, +Phil," he continued, "is it true that you can take me fishing with you +this afternoon?" + +"Yes; but pray don't talk so loud. I'll take you, if you won't split +about it." + +"What's 'split'?" questioned Orion. + +"Hush, you little beggar!" Philip drew Orion to one side and began to +whisper in his ear. Orion's face got very red. + +"Oh!" he said. "Well, I won't tell. What are you talking about, Iris?" + +"I want to find Diana," said Iris. + +"I have not seen her," said Orion. "I wish you would not bother me, +Iris. I am talking to Philip. Phil and I has got some secrets. Very +well, Phil; we'll walk on in front, if you like." + +"Yes, come along," said Philip; "you can come too, Conrad. Now, Orion, +if you are not going to be a silly goose and a tell-tale, I'll--" Here +he dropped his voice to a whisper, and Orion bent an attentive ear. + +Iris, in some bewilderment, turned to her girl cousins. + +"I must find Diana," she said. + +"She may be in the house," said Ann. "Perhaps she has gone to the +nurseries--perhaps she is with Simpson." + +The whole party entered the house, which was very cool and pleasant in +contrast to the hot outside world. They met Mr. Dolman striding across +the hall. + +"You had better be quick, children," he called out. "Mamma won't be +pleased unless you are all waiting and ready to sit down to table when +the second gong sounds." + +"Oh, please, Uncle William!" said Iris, "do you happen to know where +Diana is?" + +"Little Diana with the spirited black eyes?" questioned Mr. Dolman. + +"Yes; do you know anything about her?" + +He pushed his spectacles halfway up on his broad, bald forehead. + +"I am afraid little Diana has been very naughty," he said; "but, pray +don't say that I mentioned it. You had better question your aunt, my +dear. No, there is no use asking me. I vow, once for all, that I am +not going to interfere with you children--particularly with you little +Delaneys. I only know that Diana has been naughty. Ask your aunt--ask +your aunt, my dear." + +"Iris, do pray come upstairs," called out Mary; "we'll get into the +most dreadful scrape if we are late. Mamma is so terribly particular." + +"Oh, there is Aunt Jane!" said Iris, with a sigh of relief. "Aunt +Jane, please," she continued, running up to her aunt as she spoke, "I +can't find Diana anywhere. Do you happen to know where she is?" + +"I am afraid you won't find Diana, Iris," answered Mrs. Dolman, "for +the simple reason that she has been a very impertinent, naughty little +girl, and I have been obliged to lock her up." + +"You were obliged to lock her up?" said Iris, her face turning pale. +She gave Mrs. Dolman a look which reminded that lady of her brother. +Now, the little Delaneys' father could give very piercing glances out +of his dark eyes when he chose, and Mrs. Dolman had been known, in her +early days, to quail before them. For the same inexplicable reason she +quailed now before the look in Iris' brown eyes. "Please take me at +once to my sister," said the little girl, with dignity. + +Mrs. Dolman hesitated for a moment. + +"Very well, Iris, on this occasion I will take you," she said. "But +please first understand that you four children have got to bend your +wills to mine; and when you are naughty,--although I don't expect you +will ever be naughty, Iris,--I trust you, at least, will be an example +to the others,--but when any of you are naughty you will be most +certainly punished. I have brought you here with the intention of +disciplining you and making you good children." + +"Then," said Iris, very slowly, "do you really think, Aunt Jane, that +when mother was alive we were bad children?" + +"I have nothing to say on that point," answered Mrs. Dolman. She led +Iris across the cool hall, and, taking a key out of her pocket, opened +the door of the punishment chamber. She threw it wide open, and there, +in the center of the matting, lay Diana, curled up like a little dog, +very sound asleep. + +"Much she cares," said Mrs. Dolman. + +"Oh, Aunt Jane!" said Iris, tears springing to her eyes, "how could +you be cruel to her, and she is not long without mother, you know--how +could you be cruel to her, Aunt Jane?" + +"You are not to dare to speak to me in that tone, Iris," said Aunt +Jane. + +But at that moment the noise, or perhaps it was the draught of fresh +air, caused Diana to stir in her sleep. She raised her head and looked +around her. The first person her eyes met was Iris. + +"So you has come at last," she said. "I don't think much of you for a +mother. You made a lot of pwomises, and that's all you care. Has that +ugly old woman been sent to pwison? There's my darlin' pets gone and +got deaded, and she deaded 'em. Has she been put in pwison for murder? +Oh, there you is, too, old Aunt Jane! Well, I is not going to obey +you, so there! Now you know the twuf. I is Diana, the gweat Diana. I +isn't going to obey nobody!" + +"Iris," said Mrs. Dolman, "will you speak to this extremely naughty +little girl? If she will not repent and beg my pardon she shall have +no dinner. I will send her in some bread and water; and here she shall +stay until her naughty little spirit is broken." + +Mrs. Dolman left the room as she spoke, and Iris found herself alone +with her sister. + +"You isn't much of a mother," repeated Diana. She went over to the +window, and stood with her back to Iris. Her little bosom was heaving +up and down; she felt very forlorn, but still she hugged her misery to +her as a cloak. + +Iris gazed at her in perplexity. + +"Di," she said, "I never saw you like this before. What are you +turning away from me for? Come to me, Di; do come to me." + +Diana's little breast heaved more than ever, tears came into her eyes, +but she blinked them furiously away. + +"You can come to me, if you want; I shan't come to you. You isn't much +of a mother," she repeated. + +"But I did not know you were in trouble, darling. Do, do come to your +own Iris. Do tell me what is the matter." + +"Oh, Iris!" sobbed Diana. + +The first kind note utterly melted her little heart; she rushed to +her sister, flung herself upon her, and sobbed as if she would never +stop crying. + +"We can't stay in this howid place, Iris," she said; "all my darlin's +has gone and got deaded. That howid old woman upstairs said they was +wermin. She has killed 'em all. I can't stay here; I won't stay here. +Take me back to the beautiful garden. Do, Iris; do. I'se just so +mis'ble." + +Iris sat down on one of the hard-backed chairs. + +"Look here, Di," she said, "I have no time now to talk things over +with you. Of course, everything is altered, and our lives are +completely changed. When mother was dying, when I last saw her, she +told me that I must expect this. She said she knew that, when she went +away to the angels, we four children would have to go out into the +world and fight our battles. She said that everybody in the world has +got a battle to fight, and even little children have to fight theirs. +She said, too, that if we were brave and the kind of children she +wants us to be, we would follow the names she gave us and conquer our +enemies. Now, Di, you are called after Diana, the great Diana, who was +supposed to be a sort of goddess. Do you think she would have given +in? Don't you think she would have been brave?" + +"Yes, course," said the little nineteenth-century Diana. "She would +have shotted people down dead with her bow and arrows--I know kite +well she was a bwave sort of a lady. All wight, Iris, I'll copy her if +you wishes." + +"Indeed I do wish, darling. I think it would be splendid of you." + +"She was a very bwave lady," repeated Diana. "She had her bow and her +arrows; she was a gweat huntwess, and she shotted people. I don't +mind copying her one little bit." + +Diana dried away her tears and looked fixedly at her sister. + +"Then you really mean to be good and brave, Di?" + +"Certain sure, Iris." + +"And you won't call Aunt Jane any more names?" + +"I won't call her names--names don't si'nify, names don't kill +people." + +"And you'll go and beg her pardon now?" + +"What's that?" + +"You'll say you are sorry that you called her names." + +"Would she let me out of this woom, then? and could I do just what I +liked my own self?" + +"I expect so; I expect she is really sorry that she had to be hard on +you to-day; but you see she has got a different way of bringing up +children from our own mother." + +"Please, Iris, we won't talk much of our own mother--it makes me lumpy +in the trof," said Diana, with a little gulp. "I'll beg her pardon, if +it pleases her. I don't care--what's words? I'll go at once, and, +Iris, mind me that I'm like Diana. She was a bwave lady and she +shotted lots of people." + +"Well, then, come along, Di; you'll be allowed to come to dinner if +you beg Aunt Jane's pardon." + +Di gave her hand to Iris, who took her upstairs. Here Iris washed her +little sister's face and hands and brushed out her thick black hair, +and kissed her on her rosebud lips, and then said: + +"There is nothing I would not do, Di, to be a real little mother to +you." + +"All wight," answered Diana; "you just mind me now and then that I is +called after the bwave lady what lived long, long ago. Is that the +second gong? I'se desp'ate hungy. Let's wun downstairs, p'ease, Iris." + +Diana entered the dining room with her face all aglow with smiles, the +rich color back again in her cheeks, and her black eyes dancing. Even +Mr. Dolman gave a gasp of relief when he saw her. + +Even Mrs. Dolman felt a slight degree of satisfaction. She did not +intend to be hard on the children--in her heart of hearts she was +quite resolved to make them not only good, but also happy. + +"Well, my dear little girl," she said, drawing Diana to her side, "and +so you are sorry for what you said?" + +"Awfu' sossy," answered Diana, in a cheerful voice. + +"Then you beg my pardon, and you won't be naughty again?" + +"I begs yous pardon, Aunt Jane," said Diana. She looked very +attentively up and down her relation's figure as she spoke. + +"Poor Aunt Jane, she's awfu' stout," murmured Diana, under her breath. +"I must get a good sharp arrow--oh, yes! words is nothing." + +Mrs. Dolman drew out a chair near herself. + +"You shall sit near me, Diana, and I will help you to your dinner," +she said. "I hope in future you will really try to be a very good +little girl." + +Diana made no reply to this, but when her aunt piled her plate with +nourishing and wholesome food, she began to eat with appetite. Towards +the end of the meal she bent over towards Mrs. Dolman, and said in a +confiding voice: + +"Has you got woods wound here?" + +"Yes, my dear; there are some nice woods about a mile away." + +"I'd like to go there this afternoon, please, Aunt Jane. I has +'portant business to do in those woods." Diana looked round the table +very solemnly as she said these last words. Philip could not help +laughing. + +"Hush, Philip! I won't have Diana laughed at," said Mrs. Dolman, who +for some reason was now inclined to be specially kind to the little +girl. "If you would really like to spend the afternoon in the woods, +Diana, I see nothing against it," she remarked. "You are all having a +holiday, and as to-morrow lessons will of course be resumed, I do not +see why your wish should not be gratified. Miss Ramsay, you will of +course accompany the children, and, Lucy, my dear, you can have the +pony chaise, if you promise to be very careful. You can take turns to +sit in it, children. And what do you say to asking cook to put up a +few bottles of milk and some cake and bread and butter--then you need +not return home to tea?" + +"That would be delightful, mamma," said Lucy, in her prim voice. + +"Thank you, mamma," said Mary. + +"French, my dears; French!" said Miss Ramsay. + +"As it is a holiday, Miss Ramsay, the children are allowed to tender +their thanks to me in the English tongue," said Mrs. Dolman. + +Miss Ramsay bowed and slightly colored. + +"Is you going with us?" asked Diana, fixing her dark eyes full upon +the governess' face. + +"Yes, Diana; your aunt wishes it." + +"We don't want no g'own-ups." + +"Hush, Diana! you must not begin to be rude again," said Mrs. Dolman. +"Miss Ramsay certainly goes with you, please understand." + +"I underland--thank you, Aunt Jane," said Diana. + +She looked solemnly down at her empty plate. Her whole little mind was +full of her namesake--the great Diana of long ago. She wondered if in +the deep shade of the woods she might find a bow strong enough to +injure her enemies. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BOW AND ARROW. + + +Nothing interfered with the excursion to the pleasant woods near +Super-Ashton Rectory. The children all found themselves there soon +after four o'clock on this lovely summer afternoon. They could sit +under the shade of the beautiful trees, or run about and play to their +hearts' content. + +Miss Ramsay was a very severe governess during school hours, but when +there was a holiday she was as lax as she was particular on other +occasions. This afternoon she took a novel out of her pocket, seated +herself with her back to a great overspreading elm tree, and prepared +to enjoy herself. + +Lucy, Mary, and Ann surrounded Iris; Apollo marched away by himself, +and Philip and Conrad mysteriously disappeared with little Orion. +Diana thus found herself alone. For a time she was contented to lie +stretched out flat on the grass playing soldiers, and watching the +tricks of a snow-white rabbit who ran in and out of his hole close by. +Presently, however, she grew tired of this solitary entertainment, and +sprang to her feet, looking eagerly around her. + +"Punishment is a very good thing," she said to herself. "I's punished, +and I's lot better. It's now Aunt Jane's turn to be punished, and it's +Simpson's turn to be punished--it'll do them heaps of good. First time +I's only going to punish 'em, I isn't going to kill 'em down dead, +but I's going to pwick 'em. I is Diana, and mother said I was to live +just like the gweat Diana what lived long, long, _long_ ago." + +Diana began to trot eagerly up and down under the shade of the tall +forest trees. She looked about her to right and left, and presently +was fortunate enough to secure a pliant bough of a tree which was +lying on the ground. Having discovered this treasure, she sat down +contentedly and began to pull off the leaves and to strip the bark. +When she had got the long, supple bough quite bare, she whipped some +string out of her pocket, and converted it into the semblance of a +bow. It was certainly by no means a perfect bow, but it was a bow +after a fashion. + +The bow being made, the arrow must now be secured. Diana could not +possibly manage an arrow without a knife, and she was not allowed to +keep a knife of her own. Both bow and arrow must be a secret, for if +anyone saw her with them it might enter into the head of that person +not to consider it quite proper for her to punish Aunt Jane. + +"And Aunt Jane must be punished," muttered Diana. "I must make an +arrow, and I must pwick her with it. My bow is weally beautiful--it is +a little crooked, but what do that matter? I could shoot my arrow now +and pwick the twees, if only I could get one made. Oh, here's a +darlin' little stick--it would make a lovely arrow, if I had a knife +to sharpen the point with. Now, I do wonder what sort of a woman that +Miss Wamsay is." + +Diana fixed her coal-black eyes on the lady. + +"She looks sort of gentle now she's weading," whispered the little +girl to herself. "She looked howid this morning in the schoolroom, but +she looks sort of gentle now. I even seed her smile a minute back, +and I should not be a bit s'prised if she didn't hate Aunt Jane too. I +know what I'll do; I'll just go and ask her--there is nothing in all +the world like being plain-spoke. If Miss Wamsay hates Aunt Jane, why, +course, she'll help me to sharpen my arrow, when I tell her it is to +give Aunt Jane a little pwick." + +Accordingly Diana approached Miss Ramsay's side, and, as the governess +did not look up, she flung herself on the grass near by, uttering a +deep sigh as she did so. But Miss Ramsay was intent on her book, and +did not take the least notice of Diana's deep-drawn breath. The little +girl fidgeted, and tried further measures. She came close up to the +governess, and, stretching out one of her fat hands, laid it on one of +Miss Ramsay's. + +"Don't touch me, my dear," said the lady. "You are much too hot, and +your hand is very dirty." + +"I's sossy for that," said Diana. "I had to touch you 'cos you +wouldn't look up. I has something most 'portant to talk over." + +"Have you indeed?" replied Miss Ramsay. She closed her book. The part +she was reading was not specially interesting, and she could not help +being amused with such a very curious specimen of the genus child as +Diana Delaney. + +"Well, little girl, and what is it?" she asked. + +"I 'spects," said Diana, looking very solemnly into her face, "that +you and me, we has both got the same enemies." + +"The same enemies! My dear child, what do you mean?" asked Miss +Ramsay. + +"I 'spects I's wight," said Diana, tossing her black head. "I's not +often wrong. I wead your thoughts--I think that you has a desp'ate +hate, down deep in your heart, to Aunt Jane." + +"Good gracious!" cried the governess, "what does the child mean? Why +should I hate Mrs. Dolman?" + +"But why should not you?--that's the point," said Diana. + +"Well, I don't," said Miss Ramsay. + +Diana looked intently at her. Slowly, but surely, her big black eyes +filled with tears; the tears rolled down her cheeks; she did not +attempt to wipe them away. + +"What is the matter with you, you queer little creature?" said Miss +Ramsay. "What in the world are you crying about?" + +"I is so bitter dis'pointed," repeated Diana. + +"What, because I don't hate your Aunt Jane?" + +"I is bitter dis-pointed," repeated Diana. "I thought, course, you +hated her, 'cos I saw her look at you so smart like, and order you to +be k'ick this morning, and I thought, 'Miss Wamsay don't like that, +and course Miss Wamsay hates her, and if Miss Wamsay hates her, well, +she'll help me, 'cos I hates her awful.'" + +"But do you know that all this is very wrong?" said Miss Ramsay. + +"W'ong don't matter," answered Diana, sweeping her hand in a certain +direction, as if she were pushing wrong quite out of sight. "I hate +her, and I want to punish her. You ought to hate her, 'cos she told +you to be k'ick, and she looked at you with a kind of a fwown. Won't +you twy and begin? Do, p'ease." + +"I really never heard anything like this before in the whole course of +my life," said Miss Ramsay. "Mrs. Dolman did warn me to be prepared +for much, but I never heard a Christian child speak in the way you +are doing." + +"I isn't a Chwistian child," said Diana. "I is a heathen. Did you +never hear of Diana what lived long, long ago?--the beautiful, bwave +lady that shotted peoples whenever she p'eased with her bow and +arrows?" + +"Do you mean the heathen goddess?" said Miss Ramsay. + +"I don't know what you call her, but I is named after her, and I mean +to be like her. My beautiful mother said I was to be like her, and I'm +going to twy. See, now, here is the bow"--she held up the crooked bow +as she spoke--"and I only want the arrow. Will you help me to make the +arrow? I thought--oh, I did think--that if you hated Aunt Jane you +would help me to make the arrow. Here's the stick, and if you have a +knife in your pocket you can just sharpen it, and it will make the +most perfect arrow in all the world. I'll love you then. I'll help you +always. I'll do my lessons if you ask me, and I'll twy to be good to +you; 'cos you and me we'll both have our enemies, and p'w'aps, if I'm +not stwong enough to use the bow, p'w'aps you could use it, and we +might go about together and sting our enemies, and be weal fwiends. +Will you twy? Will you make me the little arrow, p'ease, p'ease?" + +"And what are you going to do with the arrow when it is made?" asked +Miss Ramsay. "I happen," she continued, without waiting for Diana's +reply, "to have a knife in my pocket, and I don't mind sharpening that +piece of wood for you. But bows and arrows are dangerous weapons for +little girls like you." + +"Course they is dangerous," said Diana. "What would be the use of +'em, if they wasn't? They is to pwick our enemies and p'w'aps kill +'em." + +"But look here, Diana, what do you want this special bow and arrow +for?" + +"I want to have Aunt Jane Dolman and Simpson shotted. I'll tell you +why I want 'em both to be shotted--'cos Simpson killed my spiders and +beetles, and Aunt Jane Dolman is a poky old thing and she shut me up +in a punishment woom. Now wouldn't you like to help me--and then we'll +both have deaded our enemies, and we'll be as happy as the day is +long." + +Miss Ramsay was so astounded at Diana's remarks that she slowly rose +from her seat and stared for nearly half a minute at the little girl. + +"Well," she said at last, "I have seen in my lifetime all sorts of +children. I have taught little girls and boys since I was eighteen +years of age. I have seen good children and naughty children, and +clever children, and stupid children, but I have never met anyone like +you, little Diana Delaney. Do you really know what you are saying? Do +you know that you are a very, very wicked little girl?" + +"Are I?" said Diana. "Well, then, I like being a wicked little girl. I +thought p'w'aps you would help me; but it don't matter, not one bit." + +Before Miss Ramsay could say another word Diana had turned abruptly +and flown, as if on the wings of the wind, right down through the +wood. + +The governess watched the little figure disappearing between the oaks +and elms until at last it quite vanished from view. She felt a +momentary inclination to go after the child, but her book was +interesting, and her seat under the overhanging elm extremely +comfortable. And this was a holiday, and she worked hard enough, poor +thing, on working days. And, after all, Diana was nothing but a silly +little child, and didn't mean half she said. + +"It would be folly to take the least notice of her remarks," thought +the governess. "I'll just go on treating her like the others. I expect +I shall have a good deal of work breaking in that interesting little +quartette, for, after all, if my salary is to be raised, I may as well +stay at the Rectory as anywhere else. The house is comfortable, and I +have got used to Mrs. Dolman's queer ways by this time." + +Accordingly Miss Ramsay reseated herself, and again took up her novel. +She turned the leaves, and soon got into a most interesting part of +the volume. Lost in the sorrows of her hero and heroine, she forgot +all about Diana Delaney and her bow and arrow. + +Meanwhile, Diana, walking rapidly away by herself, was reflecting +hard. + +"Miss Wamsay's a poor sort," she thought. "I aren't going to twouble +'bout anyone like her, but I must get that arrow made. The bow is +beautiful, but I can't do nothing 'cos I hasn't got an arrow." + +At this moment, to her great delight, she saw Apollo coming to meet +her. + +"There you is!" she shouted. + +"What do you want with me?" asked Apollo. + +"Look at my bow, 'Pollo! Aren't it beautiful? Aren't I just like the +weal Diana now?" + +"Did you make this bow all by yourself?" asked Apollo. + +"Yes; why shouldn't I?" + +"Well, it's awfully crooked." + +"Is it?" said Diana; "I thought it was beautiful. Can you stwaighten +it for me a little bit, 'Pollo?" + +"I think I can make you a better bow than this," answered Apollo. + +"Oh, can you? What a darlin' you is! And will you cut an arrow for me, +and will you make it very sharp? Will you make it awfu' sharp? The +kind that would pwick deep, you know, that would cut into things and +be like the arrow that the gweat Diana used." + +Apollo was finding his afternoon somewhat dull. He had made no friends +as yet with the little Dolman children. Orion had disappeared with +both the boys; Iris was with Ann, Lucy, and Mary; he had been thrown +for the last hour completely on his own resources. The sight, +therefore, of Diana, with her flushed face and bright eyes and +spirited manner, quite cheered the little fellow. He and Diana had +often been chums, and he thought it would be rather nice to be chummy +with his little sister to-day. + +"I may as well help you," he said, "but, of course, Di, you can't +expect me to do this sort of thing often. I shall most likely be very +soon going to school, and then I'll be with fellows, you know." + +"What's fellows?" asked Diana. + +"Oh, boys! Of course, when I get with boys, you can't expect me to be +much with you." + +"All wight," answered Diana. "I hope you won't get with no fellows +this afternoon, 'cos you is useful to me. Just sit down where you is, +and help me to make a bow and arrow." + +Apollo instantly seated himself on the grass, and Diana threw herself +on her face and hands by his side. She raised herself on her elbows +and fixed her bright black eyes on her brother's face. She stared +very hard at him, and he stared back at her. + +"Well," she said, "isn't you going to begin?" + +"Yes," he replied; "but what do you want the bow and arrow for?" + +"To get my enemies shotted." + +"Your enemies? What folly this is, Di. You have not got any enemies." + +"Haven't I? I know better. I won't talk to you about it, 'Pollo." + +"All right," replied Apollo; "you must tell me, or I won't help you." + +"There, now!" said Diana, "you's got a howid fwown between your bwows. +I don't like it; you's going to be obs'nate. I don't like obs'nate +boys." + +"I mean what I say," replied Apollo. "I know you of old, you monkey. +You are up to mischief, and I insist upon hearing all about it." + +Diana gazed at him solemnly. + +"Does you like Aunt Jane?" she said, after a pause. + +"I can't say that I do," replied Apollo. + +"Does you like that old thing in the nursery--Simpson, they calls +her?" + +"I can't say that I do," replied the boy again. + +"They is sort of enemies of yours, isn't they?" asked Diana. + +"Oh! I don't know that I go as far as that," replied Apollo. + +"But if Aunt Jane makes you do howid lessons all day, and if Simpson +is always fussing you and getting you to wash your face and hands, and +if you can't never go with _fellows_, and if you is kept in--and +if--and if--" + +"Oh! don't begin all that, Di," said Apollo. "Where is the use of +making the worst of things?" + +"Well, I want to make the best of things," said Diana. "I want to have +our enemies shotted wight off." + +"Do you mean to tell me," said Apollo, laughing, "that you wish to +shoot Aunt Jane and that old woman in the nursery?" + +"I wish to pwick 'em first time, and then, if they is naughty again, +to have 'em shotted down dead. Why not? Mother, who is up in the +heavens, called me after gweat Diana, and Diana always shotted her +enemies." + +"Oh, dear me, Di! I think you are the queerest little thing in the +world," said Apollo. "But now, look here," he added, "I am older than +you, and I know that what you are thinking about is very wrong. I +can't make you a bow and arrow to do that sort of thing." + +Diana looked bitterly disappointed. She could master, or she fancied +she could master, Aunt Jane, Simpson, and Miss Ramsay, but she knew +well, from past experience, that she could not master Apollo. + +"What is to be done?" she said. She thought for a long time. "Would +not you like a bow and arrow just all your own, to shoot at the twees +with?" she asked at last artfully. + +"Oh, I have no objection to that!" answered Apollo. "It seems right +that I should have one; does it not, Di? But of course I would never +do any mischief with it. Why, little thing, you have been talking the +most awful rot." + +"Well, you can make a bow and arrow for your very own self," said +Diana. + +"I don't see why I shouldn't, but you'll have to promise--" + +"Oh, I won't make pwomises!" said Diana. "Why should I make pwomises +about your bow and arrows? I'll help you to make 'em. Do let me, +Apollo!" + +Apollo seemed suddenly smitten with the idea. After all, it would be +fine to make a bow and arrow, and to try to shoot things in the wood. +How lovely it would be if he succeeded in shooting a rabbit; he would +certainly have a try. Accordingly, he rose and climbed into the lower +branches of an elm tree, and cut down a long, smooth young bough, and, +descending again to the ground, began to peel the bark off. When this +was done, Diana produced some more string out of her pocket, and a +very creditable bow was the result. + +"Now, the arrow," said the little girl. + +"We must get some strong wood for that," said Apollo, "something that +won't split. I'll just walk about and look around me." He did so, and +soon found a stick suitable for his purpose. He sat down again and +began whittling away. Very soon a fairly sharp arrow was the result. +"Of course it ought to be tipped," said Apollo, "but we have nothing +to tip it with. It is lucky that the wood is hard, and so it is really +sharp. Now, shall I have a few shots with it?" + +"Please do, Apollo. Oh, how 'licious it all is! Don't you feel just as +if you was a heathen god?" + +"I wish I were," said Apollo, throwing back his head. "Oh, Di, how hot +it is in the wood! What wouldn't I give to be back in the dear old +garden again?" + +"Maybe we'll go soon," said Diana; "maybe they won't want to keep us +if--" But here she shut up her little mouth firmly. + +Apollo was too much excited about the bow and arrows to think of +Diana's remarks. He stood up and began to practice shooting. + +"You is doing it beautiful," said Diana, applauding his extremely poor +efforts. "Now, twy again. Think that you has lived long, long ago, and +that you is shotting things for our dinner." + +The arrow went wide of the mark, the arrow went everywhere but where +it ought to. Diana clapped and laughed and shouted, and Apollo thought +himself the finest archer in the world. + +"Now, let me have a teeny turn," she said. + +"To be sure I will," he replied good-naturedly. He showed her how to +place the arrow, and she made one or two valiant attempts to send it +flying through the wood. + +"It is hard," she panted; "the arrow don't seem even to make the least +little pwick. Now, I want to shoot stwaight at that oak twee, or would +you mind awfu', Apollo, if I was to shoot at you?" + +"All right," replied Apollo; "you may aim at my hand, if you like." He +walked about a dozen yards away and held up his hand. + +Diana made valiant efforts, and grew crimson in the face, but the +arrow still went wide of the mark. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +JOG'APHY. + + +The next day lessons began with a vengeance. It was one thing for the +four Delaney children to work with Miss Stevenson at the old Manor +House. Lessons in mother's time were rather pleasant than otherwise; +as often as not they were conducted in the garden, and when the day +happened to be very hot, and the little people somewhat impatient of +restraint, Miss Stevenson gave them a certain amount of liberty; but +lessons at the Rectory were an altogether different matter. Miss +Ramsay, when she awoke the next day, had seemed emphatically to have +put on all her armor. During the holiday, neither Orion nor Diana, +neither Apollo nor Iris, thought Miss Ramsay of any special account. +They stared a good deal at Uncle Dolman, and they watched Aunt Jane +with anxious eyes, but Miss Ramsay did not matter, one way or the +other. The next day, however, they came to have a totally different +opinion with regard to her. + +At breakfast, on the following morning, whenever Diana opened her +rosebud lips, she was told that she must not speak unless she could do +so in the French tongue. Now, all that Diana could manage to say in +French was 'Oui' and 'Non,' nor was she very certain when to say +either of these very simple words. She hated being silent, for she was +a very talkative, cheery little body, except when she was angry. +Accordingly, the meal was a depressing one, and Diana began to yawn +and to look wearily out on the sunshiny garden before it was +half-finished. But, of course, there was no play in the garden for any +of the children that morning. Immediately after breakfast they all +went up to the schoolroom. Now, the schoolroom was a very pleasant +room, nicely and suitably furnished, but in summer it was hot, and on +very sunshiny days it was painfully hot; its single large bay window +faced due south, and the sun poured in relentlessly all during the +hours of morning school. Miss Ramsay, seated at the head of the +baize-covered table with her spectacles on, looked decidedly +formidable, and each of the children gazed at their governess with +anxious eyes. Mary and Lucy were always good little girls, but Philip +and Conrad were as idle as boys could possibly be, and did their +utmost to evade Miss Ramsay's endeavors to instill learning into their +small heads. Orion sat between his two little boy cousins, but for +some reason or other Orion did not look well that morning. His little +face, not unlike Diana's in appearance, was bloated, his eyes were +heavy, he had scarcely touched his breakfast, and he earnestly, most +earnestly longed to get out of the hot schoolroom. + +Miss Ramsay, when all the little people were seated round her, knocked +sharply on the table with her ruler, and proceeded to make a speech. +"My dear old pupils," she said, looking at the five little Dolmans as +she spoke, "on account of your cousins, who, I fear, are ignorant +little children, I mean on this occasion to speak to you in the +English tongue. I have now got nine pupils to instruct, and nine +pupils are a great many for one person to teach. Your mother, +however, has promised that the master from the village shall come up +to instruct you all in arithmetic, and your French master and your +music master will, of course, attend here as usual. I trust, +therefore, that by more attention on the part of my pupils I may be +able to continue the heavy task which I have undertaken. What I want +to impress upon you children"--here she turned abruptly to the little +Delaneys--"is that lessons are lessons, and play is play. During +lesson-time I allow _no_ wandering thoughts, I allow no attempts at +shirking your duties. The tasks I set you will be carefully chosen +according to your different abilities, and I can assure you beforehand +that learned they must be. If I find that they are not carefully +prepared I shall punish you. By being attentive, by making the best of +your time, you can easily get through the lessons appointed you, and +then when they are over I hope you will thoroughly enjoy your time of +play. Now, all of you sit quiet. We will begin with a lesson from +English history." + +Miss Ramsay then began to lecture in her usual style. She was really +an excellent teacher, and Iris found what she said very interesting. +She began to tell about the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and she made +that time quite live to the intelligent little girl. But Apollo had +not nearly come to the reign of Elizabeth in his English history. He, +consequently, could not follow the story, and soon began to look out +of the window, and to count the flies which were buzzing in the hot +sunshine on the window-panes. When Miss Ramsay addressed a sudden +question to him he was unable to reply. She passed it on to Ann, who +instantly gave the correct answer. But Apollo felt himself to be in +his governess' black books. As this was the first morning of lessons, +she was not going to be severe, and, telling the little boy to take +his history away to another table, desired him to read it all +carefully through. + +"I will question you to-morrow about what I told you to-day," she +said. "Now, remember, you must tell me the whole story of the Spanish +Armada to-morrow." + +"But I have not gone farther than the reign of John," said Apollo. + +"Don't answer me, Apollo," said Miss Ramsay; "you are to read this +part of your history book. Now, sit with your back to the others and +begin." + +Apollo shrugged his shoulders. For a short time he made an effort to +read his dull history, but then once again his eyes sought the +sunshine and the flies on the window panes. + +Meanwhile Diana, Orion, and the two little Dolman boys were in a class +by themselves, busily engaged over a geography lesson. + +Diana had not the smallest wish to become acquainted with any portion +of the globe where she was not herself residing. Her thoughts were all +full of the bow and arrow which Apollo had carefully hidden in a +little dell at the entrance of the wood, on the previous night. She +was wondering when she could run off to secure the prize, and when she +would have an opportunity of punishing her enemies. She began to think +that it would be really necessary to give Miss Ramsay a prick with the +fatal arrow. Miss Ramsay was turning out to be most disagreeable. + +Meanwhile, the heat of the room, and a curious giddy sensation in her +head, caused it to sink lower and lower, until finally it rested on +her book, and little Diana was off in the land of dreams. + +A sharp tap on her shoulders roused her with a start. Miss Ramsay was +standing over her, looking very angry. + +"Come, Diana! this will never do," she cried. "How dare you go to +sleep! Do you know your geography?" + +"P'ease, I doesn't know what jog-aphy is," said Diana. + +"What a very naughty little girl you are! Have not I been taking pains +to explain it all to you? You will have to stay in the schoolroom when +lessons are over for quite five minutes. Now, stand up on your chair, +hold your book in your hands, don't look out of the window, keep your +eyes fixed on your book, and then you will soon learn what is required +of you." + +Diana obeyed this mandate with a very grave face. + +In about ten minutes Miss Ramsay called her to her side. + +"Well, do you know your lesson?" she asked. + +"Kite perfect," replied Diana. + +"Well, let me hear you. What is the capital of England?" + +"Dublin Bay," replied Diana, with avidity. + +"You are a very naughty child. How can you tell me you know your +lesson? See, I will ask you one more question. What is the capital of +Scotland?" + +"Ireland," answered Diana, in an earnest voice. + +Miss Ramsay shut the book with a bang. Diana looked calmly at her. + +"I thought I knew it," she said. "I's sossy. I don't think I care to +go on learning jog-aphy; it don't suit me." She stretched herself, +gave utterance to a big yawn, and half turned her back on her +teacher. "You is getting in temper," she continued, "and that isn't +wight; I don't care to learn jog-aphy." + +What serious consequences might not have arisen at that moment it is +hard to tell, had not Orion caused a sudden diversion. He fell off his +chair in a heap on the floor. + +Iris sprang from her seat and ran to the rescue. + +"I'm drefful sick," said Orion; "I think it was the lollipops and +ginger-beer. Please let me go to bed." + +"Lollipops and ginger-beer!" cried Miss Ramsay in alarm. "What does +the child mean?" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A BABY'S HONOR. + + +When Miss Ramsay repeated Orion's words there was a dead silence for a +full half minute in the schoolroom. Had anyone noticed them, they +might have observed Philip and Conrad turn very pale; but all eyes +were directed to little Orion, who was lying on the floor, pressing +his hand to his stomach and moaning bitterly. + +"I'm drefful sick," he said; "I wish I had not taken that horrid +ginger-beer." + +"But where did you get ginger-beer?" said Miss Ramsay, finding her +voice at last. "Get up this minute, Orion, and come to me. + +"Really," continued the good lady to herself, "there must be something +uncanny in those outlandish names; I don't think I can manage these +children. Orion is as bad as Diana, and she is the greatest handful I +ever came across. + +"Come here, Orion," continued the governess, "and tell me what is the +matter with your stomach." + +"Pain," answered the little boy, "crampy pain. It's the ginger-beer. +I'm drefful sick; I can't do no more lessons." + +"Let me put him to bed," said Diana; "let me go nurse him. I'll sit on +his bed and talk to him. He is a very naughty boy, but I know how to +manage him. Come 'long, Orion; come 'long wid sister Di." She grasped +the little boy firmly with one of her own stout little hands, and +pulled him up on to his feet. + +"Diana, you are not to interfere," said Miss Ramsay. "Come, Orion; +come and explain what is the matter." + +"Lollipops," moaned Orion, "and ginger-beer. Oh, I did like the +lollipops, and I was so thirsty I thought I'd never leave off drinking +ginger-beer." + +"But where did you get lollipops and ginger-beer? Mrs. Dolman never +allows the children to take such unwholesome things. What can you +mean? Where did you get them?" + +To this question Orion refused to make any reply. Baby as he was, he +had a confused sort of idea of honor. Philip and Conrad had told him +that he was on no account whatever to mention the fact that they had +gone away fishing on the previous afternoon, that they had visited a +little shop and spent some of Orion's own money. Philip and Conrad had +no money of their own, but before he parted with the children, Mr. +Delaney had given the two elder ones five shillings apiece, and the +two younger ones half a crown, and Orion's half-crown had seemed great +wealth to Philip and Conrad, and had accordingly induced them to treat +the little fellow with marked consideration. The whole of the money +was now gone. How, Orion had not the slightest idea. He only knew that +his pockets were empty and that he felt very sick and very miserable. + +He shut up his little lips now and raised his eyes, with a sort of +scowl in their expression, to Miss Ramsay's face. + +"Where did you get the lollipops and ginger-beer?" repeated the +governess. + +"That's my own business," said Orion. "I'm drefful sick; I want to go +to bed." + +"You are a very naughty little boy," said Miss Ramsay. + +"I think him a brick," whispered Philip to Conrad. + +"Hush, for goodness' sake!" whispered back Conrad. + +"I want to go to bed," repeated Orion. "I'm drefful sick; I'm quite +tired of telling you. I have got a headache and a pain in my tumtum." +Again he pressed his hand to his stomach and looked imploringly around +him. + +"What's all this fuss?" here burst from Diana. "Why can't Orion go to +bed? New teacher, you has a very queer way of managing sildrens. When +we was at home we went to bed when we had pains. I can't underland +you, not one little bit." + +"Come with me this moment, Orion," said Miss Ramsay. "Diana, if you +speak a word except in the French tongue, you shall be kept in during +all the afternoon." + +Orion and Miss Ramsay left the room, and the other children stared at +one another. The three Dolman girls sat down to their books. Philip +and Conrad thought it best to follow their example. Iris and Apollo +looked wistfully from one to the other, but did not dare to speak; but +Diana, walking boldly over to the nearest window, amused herself by +touching each fly in turn with the tip of her small fat finger. + +"They don't like it, poor darlin's," she said to herself, "but I don't +mean to hurt 'em. I wonder now if I could get away to the wood and get +hold of my bow and arrow. Miss Wamsay must be shotted as well as the +others. It's awful what I has got to do." + +Apollo sank dejectedly down before the account of the Spanish Armada, +and Iris, with tears slowly rising to her eyes, turned over her lesson +books. At last the impulse to do something was more than she could +stand, and, rising from her seat, she edged her way to the door. Mary +called after her in French to know what she was going to do, but Iris +would make no reply. She reached the door, opened it, and then ran as +fast as she could to the nursery. + +There she found Simpson putting Orion to bed. The little boy was +crying bitterly. + +"As soon as ever you lie down, master, you have got to drink off this +medicine," said Simpson. + +"I won't touch it--horrid stuff!" said Orion. + +"But you must, sir. I'll allow no 'won'ts' in my nursery. Little boys +have got to do what they are told. If you make any fuss I'll just hold +your nose and then you'll be obliged to open your mouth, and down the +medicine will go. Come, come, sir, none of those tears. You have been +a very naughty little boy, and the pain is sent you as a punishment." + +"Oh, there you are, Iris!" said Orion. "Oh, Iris! I am so glad. Please +be a mother to me--please put your arms round me--please kiss me, +Iris." + +Iris flew to the little fellow, clasped him in her arms, and held his +hot little forehead against her cheek. + +"Simpson," she said, turning to the nurse, "I know quite well how to +manage him. Won't you let me do it?" + +"I am sure, Miss Iris, I'd be only too thankful," said the perplexed +woman. "There's Miss Ramsay and my mistress in no end of a state, and +Master Orion as obstinate as a boy can be. There's something gone +wrong in this house since you four children arrived, and I really +don't know how I am to stand it much longer. Not that I have any +special fault to find with you, Miss Iris, nor, indeed, for that +matter, with Master Apollo; but it's the two younger ones. They are +handfuls, and no mistake." + +"I like being a handfu' 'cept when I'm sick," said Orion. "I don't +want to be a handfu' to-day. Please, Iris, don't mek me take that +horrid medicine." + +"He must take it, Miss Iris; he won't be better till he do," said the +nurse, lifting up the glass as she spoke and stirring the contents +with a spoon. "Come, now, sir, be a brave boy. Just open your mouth +and get it down. Then you'll drop asleep, and when you wake you will +probably be quite well." + +Orion pressed his lips very tightly together. + +"You'll take the medicine for me, Orion?" said Iris. + +"No, I can't," he moaned. + +"Oh, but, darling! just try and think. Remember you are a giant--a +grand, great giant, with your girdle and your sword, and this medicine +is just an enemy that you have got to conquer. Here now; open your +mouth and get it down. Think of mother, Orion. She would like you to +take it." + +Orion still kept his mouth very firmly shut, but he opened his sweet, +dark eyes and looked full at his sister. + +"Would mother really like it?" he said at last, in a whisper. + +"Of course; it would make her ever so happy." + +"And will she know about it, Iris?" + +"I think she will. Maybe she is in the room with us just now." + +"Oh, lor'! what awful talk to say to the child," murmured Simpson to +herself. + +"If I really thought mother could see, and if I really thought--" +began the little boy. + +"Yes, yes, she can see!" said Iris, going on her knees and clasping +both the little fellow's hands in one of hers. "She can see, she does +know, and she wants her own brave giant to be a giant to the end. Now, +here is the enemy; open your mouth, conquer it at one gulp." + +"Well, to be sure," whispered Simpson. + +Orion, however, did not glance at Simpson. He gazed solemnly round the +room as if he really saw someone; then he fixed his brown eyes on his +sister's face, then he opened his mouth very wide. She instantly took +the cup and held it to the little lips. Orion drained off the nauseous +draught and lay back, panting, on his pillow. + +"It was a big thing to conquer. I am a fine giant," he said, when he +returned the empty cup to Iris. + +"Yes, you are a splendid old chap," she replied. + +At that moment Mrs. Dolman and Miss Ramsay entered the room. + +"Has Orion taken his medicine?" said Mrs. Dolman. "Iris, my dear, what +are you doing here?" + +"I am very sorry, Aunt Jane," replied Iris, "but I had to come. He +would never have taken his medicine but for me. I had to remind him--" + +"To remind him of his duty. He certainly wanted to be reminded. So he +has taken the medicine. I am glad of that; but all the same, Iris, you +did very wrong to leave the schoolroom." + +"Please forgive me this one time, Aunt Jane." + +"I really think Iris does try to be a good child," interrupted Miss +Ramsay. + +"And she certainly can manage her little brother, ma'am," said +Simpson, speaking for the first time. "He would not touch his medicine +for me--no, not for anything I could do; but he drank it off when Miss +Iris talked some gibberish, all about giants and belts and swords." + +"'Tisn't gibberish," said Orion, starting up from his pillow; "it's +the truest thing in all the world. I am a giant, and I has got a belt +and a sword. You can look up in the sky on starful nights and you can +see me. 'Tisn't gibberish." + +"Well, lie down now, child, and go to sleep. I am afraid he is a bit +feverish, ma'am." + +"No, that I aren't," said Orion. "Only I'm drefful sick," he added. + +"Listen to me, Orion," said Mrs. Dolman, seating herself on the edge +of the bed and gazing very sternly at the little fellow. "I intend to +wring a confession out of you." + +"What's to wring?" asked Orion. + +"I am going to get you to tell me where you got the lollipops and +ginger-beer." + +"I promised not to tell, and I aren't going to," answered Orion. + +"But you must. I insist." + +"Perhaps, Aunt Jane," said Iris, "I could get him to tell. You see he +is not accustomed to--not accustomed to----" Her little face turned +crimson. + +"What do you mean, Iris? Do you object to the way I speak to this +child?" + +"Mother never spoke to him like that," said Iris. + +"And oh! it is so hot, and he is not well, and I think I can manage +him. I may get him to tell me." + +"Yes, I'll tell you," said Orion, "'cos you'll be faithful." + +"Well, really," said Mrs. Dolman, "I am absolutely perplexed. I +suppose I must give in on this occasion, or that child will be really +ill, and I by no means wish to have the expense of a doctor. Miss +Ramsay, you and I had better leave that little pair together. You can +remain with Orion until dinner-time, Iris." + +"Thank you very much indeed, Aunt Jane," replied Iris. + +That day at dinner Iris looked very grave. Orion was better, but was +not present. Mrs. Dolman waited until the meal had come to an end, +then she called the little girl to her side. + +"Now, my dear Iris, what is all this mystery?" she asked. + +"Orion has told me all about it, Aunt Jane, but I don't think I'll +tell. Please don't ask me." + +"My dear. I insist upon knowing." + +"It was not his fault, Aunt Jane, and I am almost sure he will never +do it again; he is very sorry indeed. I think he will try to be good +in future." + +Mrs. Dolman was about to reply angrily, when a sudden memory came over +her. She recalled words her brother had used. + +"I will give you the children," he had said, "but you must try to be +gentle with them." + +She looked at Iris now, and did not speak for nearly a minute. + +"Very well," she said then; "you are a queer child, but I am inclined +to trust you. Only please understand that if ever there is any +misconduct in the future, I shall insist on knowing everything." + +"I am greatly obliged to you, Aunt Jane. I could love you for being so +kind. I will promise that Orion never does anything of that sort +again." + +The children all filed out of the dining room. They had now, according +to the rule of the day, to return to the schoolroom and lie down for +an hour. This part of the daily programme was intensely distasteful to +the little Dolmans, and certainly the Delaneys did not appreciate it a +bit better, but at long last the wearisome lessons were over, and the +little people were free. + +The moment they got into the garden Philip and Conrad might have been +seen scudding away as fast as their little feet could carry them. +Iris, however, had watched them disappearing. + +"I want to speak to the boys," she said to Ann. + +"Why?" asked Ann. + +"Please ask them to come to me, Ann; I have something most particular +to say to them." + +"I know what you mean," answered Ann, turning crimson; "it was Philip +and Conrad who got poor little Orion into mischief. Oh, Iris! it was +brave of you, and it was brave of Orion not to tell. I wondered how +you had the courage to defy mamma." + +"I did not defy her," answered Iris. "But please, Ann, I must speak to +the boys. Send them to me at once." + +"They are frightened, and are going to hide," said Ann; "but I'll soon +get them," she answered. "I know their ways." + +After a minute or two she returned, leading Philip and Conrad by the +hands. + +"Iris wants to talk to you," she said to them. + +"Yes," said Iris, "I want to say something to you by yourselves." + +Ann disappeared. + +"I love Iris," whispered little Ann Dolman to herself. "I think she is +beautiful; and how brave she is! I wish I were like her." + +"What do you want with us, Iris?" asked Philip, when he found himself +alone with his cousin. He raised defiant eyes, and put on an ugly +little scowl. + +"I want to tell you, Phil," said Iris, "that I know everything. Poor +little Orion would not confess, because you got him to promise not to +tell; but, of course, he told me the truth. Don't you think you +behaved very badly indeed?" + +"We don't want _you_ to lecture us," said Conrad. + +"All right," replied Iris with spirit. "But please remember that I +promised Orion I would not tell, only so long as you make me a promise +that you will not tempt him again. If ever I hear that you have led +Orion into mischief, I will tell everything." + +"I thought you looked like a tell-tale," said Conrad. + +"No, I am not, nor is Orion; you know better, both of you. Now, please +understand that I will not have Orion made miserable nor tempted to do +naughty things. Aunt Jane thinks you are good boys, and she thinks +Diana and Orion very bad little children; but neither Orion nor Diana +would do the sort of thing you both did yesterday. Neither of them +would think of _that_ sort of naughtiness. I call it mean." + +Iris walked away with her head in the air. The boys gazed after her +with a queer sinking of heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +BIRCH ROD. + + +Orion speedily recovered from his bad fit of indigestion, and matters +began to shake down a little in the schoolroom and nursery. No one +meant to be unkind to the little Delaneys; and although all things +were changed for them, in some ways both Iris and Apollo were all the +better for the strict and vigorous discipline they were now +undergoing. Iris really enjoyed her lessons, and when Apollo found +that he had no chance of going to school, and of being with "fellows," +as he expressed it, until he had conquered certain difficult tasks +which Miss Ramsay set him, he began, for his own sake, to apply +himself to his lessons. He was a bright, clever little chap, and when +he tried to understand his governess' method of teaching, he did his +work fairly well. But Diana and Orion were much too young for the +somewhat severe transplantation which had taken place in their little +lives. Had Iris been allowed to be with them matters might not have +grown quite so bad, but she was much occupied with her lessons, and +the younger children spent the greater part of their time alone. + +Philip and Conrad were afraid to make any further advances to Orion. +In consequence, he had no companion near his own age, except Diana, +and Diana's little heart, day by day, was growing fuller of +insubordinate and angry feelings. She was not at all by nature an +unforgiving little child, but the want of petting and the severe life +which she was obliged to lead began to tell on her high spirits. She +became defiant, and was always looking out for an opportunity to vent +her wrath upon the people whom she termed her enemies. Had Iris only +had a chance of talking to the little girl, she would soon have got to +the bottom of the matter, and things might not have turned out as they +did; but Iris did not even sleep in the room with Diana, and in her +sister's presence the little girl made a valiant effort to appear as +happy as usual. As a matter of fact, however, she and Orion spent most +of their playtime in perfecting their little scheme of revenge, and on +a certain hot day matters came to a crisis. + +It had been much more trying than usual in the schoolroom; the sun +seemed to beat in with fiercer rays; there were more flies on the +window-panes, and the air seemed more charged with that terrible +sleepiness which poor little Diana could not quite conquer. At last +she dropped so sound asleep that Miss Ramsay took pity on her, and +told her she might go and have a run in the garden. + +"Go into the Filbert walk," said the governess; "don't on any account +play where the sun is shining. You may stay out for half an hour. +There is a clock just by the stables, which you can see when you come +to the end of the walk; you will know then when the half-hour is out. +Run off now and enjoy yourself." + +Diana scarcely wasted any time in thanking Miss Ramsay. She flew from +the schoolroom as though she were herself a little arrow shot from a +bow, she tumbled rather than walked downstairs, and with no hat over +her thick, black curls, careered out wildly, shouting as she did so. +The prospect of the walk and the look of the sunshine were making the +little girl very happy, and she might not have thought of any special +revenge had not Mrs. Dolman at that moment caught sight of her. + +Mrs. Dolman was coming out of the kitchen garden. She had on her +invariable mushroom hat, her face was much flushed with exercise, and +she was by no means in the best of humors. + +"Diana," she said, "what are you doing? Come here this minute." + +"No, I won't," answered Diana. She backed before the good lady, +dancing and skipping and flinging her fat arms over her head. "Oh, +it's 'licious out!" she said: "I won't come. I has only got half an +hour; I hasn't any time; I won't come." + +Mrs. Dolman began to run after her, which fact excited the little girl +very much. She instantly raced away, and the stout lady had to follow +her, panting and puffing. + +"Diana, you are a dreadfully naughty little girl; if I catch you up, +won't I punish you!" panted Mrs. Dolman. + +"I don't care," called back Diana. "You can't catch me up; you is fat; +you can't wun. See, let's have a wace--let's find out who'll be at the +end of the walk first. Now then, one, two, three, and away! Go it, +Aunt Jane! Now, then, k'ick, Aunt Jane; k'ick!" + +Mrs. Dolman's rage at this great impertinence made her almost +speechless. She flew after Diana, but would have had little or no +chance of catching her, if the child had not suddenly tripped up +against a stone and measured her full length on the ground. Before +she could rise again Mrs. Dolman had caught her by the shoulder, and, +as a preliminary measure, began to shake her violently. + +"You are a bad little thing," she said. "Why didn't you come to me +when I called you?" + +"'Cos I didn't want to, Aunt Jane." + +"But do you know that you have got to obey me, miss? What would your +mother say?" + +"You isn't to dare to talk of mother to me," answered Diana. + +"Highty-tighty! I'm not to dare. Do you suppose, Diana, that I will +allow a little child like you to defy me in my own house?" + +"What's defy?" asked Diana. + +"You are defying me now; you are a very naughty little girl, and I +shall punish you." + +"I don't care," said Diana, tossing her head. "I was sent out by Miss +Wamsay 'cos I found the schoolroom too hot and I was sleepy. I can't +obey you and Miss Wamsay both at the same time, can I? I did not come +to you 'cos I don't like you." + +"That's a pretty thing to say to your own aunt. Come, miss, I shall +punish you immediately." + +"Oh, you's going to lock me up in the punishment woom. I don't care +one bit for that," said Diana. "I'll just lie on the floor and curl up +like a puppy and go to s'eep. I dweam beautiful when I s'eep. I dweam +that you is shotted, and that I is back again in the dear old garden +at home with all the pets; and that Rub-a-Dub is alive again. I dweam +that you is shotted down dead, and you can do no more harm, and----" + +But Diana could not proceed any further. Mrs. Dolman, in her wild +indignation, had lifted her in her arms, clapped her hand over her +mouth, and carried her bodily into the study, where Mr. Dolman was +preparing his sermon. + +"William," said his wife, "I am really very sorry to disturb you, but +I must ask you to come to my assistance." + +"In what way, Jane?" he said. He pushed his spectacles, as his +invariable habit was, high up on the middle of his forehead, and +looked from his wife to Diana, and from Diana back again to his wife. + +"Hi, Diana! is that you? Why, what is the matter, little one?" he +said. + +"You are not to speak to this very naughty little girl," said Mrs. +Dolman. "I am sorry to trouble you, William, but matters have come to +a crisis, and if you don't support your wife on this occasion, I +really do not know what will happen." + +"But, my dear Jane, do you mean to say that little Diana----" + +"Little Diana!" repeated Mrs. Dolman. "She is quite a monster, I can +tell you--a monster of ingratitude, wickedness, and rudeness, and I +don't see how we can keep her any longer with our own children." + +"But I am afraid, my dear wife, we cannot get David Delaney back now; +he must have reached the Himalayas by this time." + +"Poor fellow!" said Mrs. Dolman, "I pity him for being the father of +such a very bad little girl." + +"I aren't bad," cried Diana. "If you say any more, naughty woman, I'll +slap 'oo." + +Mrs. Dolman thought it best to let Diana slide down on the floor. + +The moment the little girl found her feet she rushed up to her Uncle +Dolman. + +"I like you, old man," she said; "you isn't half a bad sort. I'll stay +with you. P'ease, Aunt Jane, punish me by letting me stay with Uncle +William. I'll just sit on the floor curled up, and maybe I'll dwop +as'eep, and have my nice dweams about the time when you is shotted, +and I'm back again in the old garden with all my darlin', dear, sweet +pets. I'll dweam, p'waps, that we is having funerals in the garden and +we is awfu' happy, and you is shotted down dead. Let me stay with +Uncle William, Aunt Jane." + +"Now, you see what kind of child she is, William," said Mrs. Dolman. +"You have heard her with your own ears--she absolutely threatens _me_. +Oh, I cannot name what she says; it is so shocking. I never came +across such a terribly bad little girl. William, I must insist here +and now on your chastising her." + +"In what way?" said Mr. Dolman. "I am very busy, my dear Jane, over my +sermon. Could it not be postponed, or could not you, my dear?" + +"No, William, I could not, for the dark room is not bad enough for +this naughty little girl. She must be whipped, and you must do it. +Fetch the birch rod." + +"But really," said Mr. Dolman, looking terribly distressed, "you know +I don't approve of corporal punishment, my dear." + +"No more do I, except in extreme cases, but this is one. William, I +insist on your whipping this very bad little girl." + +"I don't care if you whip me," said Diana. She stood bolt upright now, +but her round, flushed little face began perceptibly to pale. + +Mr. Dolman looked at her attentively, then he glanced at his wife, and +then at the manuscript which lay on his desk. He always hated writing +his sermons, and, truth to tell, did not write at all good ones; but +on this special morning his ideas seemed to come a little more rapidly +than usual--now, of course, he had lost every thought, and the sermon +was ruined. Besides, he was a kind-hearted man. He thought Diana a +very handsome little fury, and was rather amused with her than +otherwise. Had she been left alone with him, he would not have taken +the least notice of her defiant words. He would have said to himself, +"She is but a baby, and if I take no notice she will soon cease to +talk in this very silly manner." + +But alas! there was little doubt that Uncle William was very much +afraid of Aunt Jane, and when Aunt Jane dared him to produce the birch +rod, there was nothing whatever for it but to comply. He rose and +walked slowly and very unwillingly across the room. He unlocked the +door of a big cupboard in the wall, and, poking in his large, soft, +flabby hand, presently produced what looked in Diana's eyes a very +terrible instrument. It was a rod, clean, slender, and with, as she +afterwards expressed it, _temper_ all over it. It flashed through her +little mind by and by that, if she could really secure this rod, it +might make a better bow even than the one which she and Apollo had +hidden in the wood, but she had little time to think of any future use +for the birch rod at this awful moment. The terrible instrument in +Uncle William's flabby hand was carried across the room. When she saw +it approaching her vicinity she uttered a piercing shriek and hid +herself under the table. + +"Come, come; none of this nonsense!" said Mrs. Dolman. "Punished you +shall be. You must be made to understand that you are to respect your +elders. Now, then, William, fetch that child out." + +"Diana, my dear, you are a very naughty little girl; come here," said +Mr. Dolman. + +Diana would not have minded in the least defying Aunt Jane, but there +was something in Uncle William's slow tones, particularly in a sort of +regret which seemed to tremble in his voice, and which Diana felt +without understanding, which forced her to obey. She scrambled slowly +out, her hair tumbled over her forehead, her lower lip drooping. + +"Suppose I have a little talk with her, Jane; suppose she says she is +sorry and never does it again," said Mr. Dolman. + +"Oh, yes, yes, Uncle William!" said Diana, really terrified for the +first time in her life. "Yes, I's sossy--I's awfu' sossy, Aunt Jane. +It's all wight now, Aunt Jane; Diana's sossy." + +"You shall be a great deal more sorry before I have done with you," +said Mrs. Dolman, who had no idea of letting the culprit off. "Now, +then, William, do your duty." + +"But it's all wight," said Diana, gazing with puzzled eyes up into her +aunt's face. "I's been a bad girl, but I's sossy; it's all wight, I +say. Naughty wod, go 'way, naughty wod." + +She tried to push the rod out of Mr. Dolman's hand. + +"Really, Jane, she is only five years old, and--and a poor little +orphan, you know." + +"Yes," said Diana eagerly, "I's a poor orphan, only a baby, five years +old, awfu' young, and I's sossy, and it's all wight now. Go 'way, Aunt +Jane; go 'way, naughty Aunt Jane; I's sossy." + +"William," said Mrs. Dolman, "if you refuse to give that child the +necessary punishment which is to make her a Christian character, I +shall simply wash my hands of her. Now, then, miss, get on my lap. +William, do your duty." + +Poor Mr. Dolman, pale to the very lips, was forced to comply. Down +went the rod on the fat little form--shriek after shriek uttered +Diana. At last, more from terror than pain, she lay quiet on Mrs. +Dolman's knee. The moment she did so, Mr. Dolman threw the rod on the +floor. + +"It's a horrid business," he said. "I hate corporal punishment. We +have hurt the child. Here, give her to me." + +"Nonsense, William! She is only pretending." + +But this was not the case. The fright, joined to the state of +excitement and heat which she had been previously in, proved too much +for the defiant little spirit, and Diana had really fainted. + +Mrs. Dolman was frightened now, and rushed for cold water. She bathed +the child's forehead, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing her +coming to again. + +There was not a word of defiance from Diana now, and not a single +utterance of reproach, but when she looked at Mrs. Dolman there was an +expression in her black eyes from which this lady absolutely recoiled. + +"Uncle William, I's hurted awfu'," whispered Diana. "Let me lie in +your arms, p'ease, Uncle William." + +And so she did for the rest of the morning, and the sermon never got +written. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DIANA'S REVENGE. + + +Diana had quite a nice time for the rest of the morning. Uncle William +had not the least idea of sending her back to the schoolroom. + +"It's very hot," he said, "and I feel sleepy. I dare say you do also." + +"I do awfu'," answered Diana. "You isn't a bad old man, not at all," +she continued. Here she raised her fat hand and stroked his flabby +cheek. "You hates writing sermons, don't you?" + +"Diana," he answered, "I would rather you did not speak about it." + +"Oh, I can keep secrets," replied Diana. + +"Well, in that case, to be quite frank with you, I do not care for +writing sermons." + +"And I don't care for learning lessons. You didn't mean to sting me so +bad with that howid wod, did you, Uncle William?" + +Mr. Dolman made no reply with his lips, for he did not like to defy +his wife's authority, but Diana read his thoughts in his rather dull +blue eyes. + +"You is a kind old man," she said; "that is, when you isn't tempted by +that naughty, howid woman. You is a kind old man by yourself, and you +shan't be shotted." + +"What do you mean by being shotted, Diana?" + +But here Diana pursed up her rosy lips and looked rather solemn. + +"That's a secret," she answered. "Uncle William, may I have a whole +holiday to-day?" + +"I think so, my dear little girl. I really think that can be managed. +It is too hot to work--at least, I find it so." + +"Then course I does also," answered Diana, clapping her hands. "Shall +we go out into the garding--what you say?" + +"Would you like to?" he asked. + +"Yes, more particular in fruit garding. We can eat cherries and +strawberries, and pelt each other. What you say?" + +Mr. Dolman looked out of the open window. He was pretty certain that +his wife by this time was absent in the village. The clock on the +mantelpiece pointed to half-past eleven; the early dinner would not be +ready until one o'clock. It would be cool and pleasant in the fruit +garden, and it would please poor little Diana, who, in his opinion, +had been very harshly treated. + +"All right," he answered, "but, you know, your aunt is not to be +told." + +He rose from his chair as he spoke, and, stretching out his long hand, +allowed Diana to curl her fingers round one of his. + +"I should wather think Aunt Jane isn't to know," replied Diana, +beginning to skip in her rapture. "I don't like aunts; I always said +so. I like uncles; they isn't half bad. You isn't bad, for an old man. +You is awfu' old, isn't you?" + +"Not so very old, Diana. I'm not forty yet." + +"Forty! What a ter'ble age!" said Diana. "You must 'member all the +kings and queens of England; don't you, Uncle William?" + +"Not quite all, Diana. Now, I'll just take you through the garden, for +I think a little fresh air will do you good." + +"And if I pop cherries into your mouf it 'll do you good," answered +Diana. "Oh, we'll have a lovely time!" + +So they did, and Mr. Dolman devoutly hoped that there was no one there +to see. For Diana rapidly recovered her spirits, and picked cherries +in quantities and pelted her uncle; and then she ran races and incited +him to follow her, and she picked strawberries, heaps and heaps, and +got him to sit down on a little bench near the strawberry beds, and +popped the delicious ripe berries into his mouth; and although he had +never played before in such a fashion with any little girl, he quite +enjoyed it, and presently entered the house with his lips suspiciously +red, and a confession deep down in his heart that he had spent quite a +pleasant morning. + +At dinner-time Diana and her uncle walked into the room, side by side. + +"Well, William," said Mrs. Dolman, "I hope you have finished your +sermon." + +"Not quite, my dear," he answered. + +"Not kite, my dear," echoed Diana. + +Mr. Dolman gave her a half-terrified glance, but she was stanch +enough, and had not the least idea of betraying the happy morning they +had spent together. + +Towards the end of the meal, her clear little voice might have been +heard calling to her uncle. + +"Uncle William, you wishes me to have a whole holiday; doesn't you? +You pwomised I is to have a whole holiday to-day." + +Now, Mrs. Dolman had felt very uncomfortable about Diana during her +hot walk to the village that morning. She had not at all minded +punishing her, but when she saw her lying white and unconscious in her +arms, she had certainly gone through a terrible moment, and had, +perhaps, in the whole course of her life, never felt so thankful as +when the black eyes opened wide, and the little voice sounded once +again. The look, too, that Diana had given her on this occasion she +could not quite efface from her recollection. On the whole, therefore, +she felt inclined to be gentle to the little girl, and when she +pleaded for a holiday Mrs. Dolman did not say a word to interfere. + +"It is a very hot day, and Diana was not quite well this morning," +said Mr. Dolman, glancing first at his wife and then at Miss Ramsay, +"so, all things considered, perhaps--" + +"Thank you, uncle," interrupted Diana, "it's kite settled, and you +isn't half a bad sort of old man. And now, p'ease, I want Orion to +have a holiday too." + +"Oh, that's another matter!" interrupted Miss Ramsay. "Orion is in +perfect health to-day, and as he is extremely backward for his age--" + +"But the heat of the day, and the child being so young," put in Mr. +Dolman. + +"I'd be much happier if I had Orion with me," continued Diana, "and +it's 'portant my being happy; isn't it, Uncle William? P'ease, Uncle +William, say that Orion may have a holiday." + +"I will give leave if your aunt and Miss Ramsay will," he replied. + +"Oh, don't ask me!" said Mrs. Dolman, rising hastily as she spoke. "I +wash my hands of the pair." + +"She washes her hands of the pair, so she don't count," said Diana. +"Is we to have a holiday, Uncle William? I is, but is Orion, too? +That's the 'portant part," she added. + +"I have no objection," said Miss Ramsay, who thought it best to close +this scene as quickly as possible. + +Orion uttered a shout of rapture, Diana rushed up to him, clutched him +round the neck, and pulled him from the room. + +Nearly wild with glee, they both ran helter-skelter out of the house, +into the cool shrubbery beyond. + +"Now, Orion," said Diana, the moment they found themselves alone, "you +must cool down and not 'cite yourself too much. We has a ter'ble lot +of work to do. I has got my holiday through awfu' suff'in'. I was +beated and killed, and I has come fresh to life again. Course I's in a +wage, and I's got a holiday for you and for me 'cos we must do our +work. Wun upstairs, Orion, and bwing down your big straw hat and mine, +and we'll go and find _them_." + +Orion knew perfectly well what "them" meant. He looked hard at Diana, +saw something in her eyes which she could not suppress, and, with a +sigh of mingled pleasure and alarm ran off to do her bidding. He +returned in less than a minute with his large sailor hat stuck on the +back of his head, and a white sun-bonnet for Diana. Diana's sun-bonnet +had a black bow at the back and black strings. + +"Howid, hot old thing," she said, "I won't wear it. Here, let's hide +it; I don't mind going with nothing." + +"But you must not do that," said Orion, "'cos, if they see you, +they'll catch you and bring you home. You had best sling it on your +arm, Di; and then, if they are seen coming, why, you can pop it on +your head." + +"Well, p'w'aps so," answered Diana. "We has an awfu' lot to do this +afternoon, Orion, 'cos Aunt Jane has got to be shotted, and I's +thinking of having Miss Wamsay shotted too." + +"But do you mean," said Orion, "that you'll really shoot 'em both?" + +"Yes," replied Diana. "It has to be done; it's ter'ble, but it must be +done. What would be the good if they wasn't shotted dead? Yes, they'll +be shotted, and they'll have a public funeral, and after that we'll +have a lovely time. Uncle William isn't half bad, and 'stead of doing +howid lessons every morning we'll just go into the garding and eat +stwawberries and cherries, and he'll play with us. He'll love to, for +he don't like writing sermins a bit, and we'll blindfold him and he'll +wun after us. He's k'ite a nice old man, and if Aunt Jane and Miss +Wamsay is shotted--why, we'll have a jolly time. Now, let's wun and +fetch the big bow and arrows." + +Orion had always a great respect for his younger sister Diana. "Well," +he said, "if you're a grand lady, don't forget that I'm a big giant, +and that I've got a belt and a sword. There's Simpson, you know; she's +rather a bother, and I can run my sword into her, if you really wish +it, Diana." + +"I'll think about it," answered Diana. "I don't want to have three +persons deaded wight off; it might be sort of troublesome. I'll think +what's best to be done with Simpson. Now, let's start at once." + +Mrs. Dolman was under the supposition that the children had gone to +play in the back garden. The greater part of that somewhat neglected +domain was laid out in shrubbery, and there were shady trees and +swings and see-saws, and other sources of amusement for the little +Dolmans during their brief hours of play. Miss Ramsay also thought +that Diana and Orion would go to the shrubbery. She went up, +therefore, to the schoolroom quite contented. Mr. Dolman retired to +his study, where he went to sleep, and Mrs. Dolman ordered the pony +chaise, and went off to see a distant parishioner, who was very ill. + +The house was wonderfully quiet, and nothing occurred to disturb Mr. +Dolman in his deep slumber. The manuscript pages which were to be +covered by his neatly written sermon lay in virgin purity before him. +In his sleep he dreamt of little Diana, and awoke presently with a +queer sense of uneasiness with regard to her. But he was by nature a +very lazy man, and it did not occur to him to inquire as to her +present whereabouts. "She's a fine little soul," he said to himself. +"I do wish Jane had not taken such a dislike to her. It is useless to +drive that sort of child; she must be led, and led gently. 'Pon my +word, I did have an entertaining morning with the little mite, and +what a lot of strawberries she made me eat! I wonder Jane did not +remark at dinner how poor my appetite was--I was dreadfully afraid she +would do so. Certainly Jane is an active woman, an excellent woman, +but just a little bit stern." + +Meanwhile Diana, holding Orion by the hand, had started running up the +long avenue. The little pair soon reached the lodge gates. Diana and +her brother went out through the postern door which was at the side, +and the next moment found themselves on the highroad. This road led in +the direction of the shady woods where Apollo had hidden the bow and +arrows a few weeks ago. It was a pretty road, a couple of miles in +length, and well shaded by trees, a kind of outgrowth of the forest +itself. As she was not likely to meet any of the Dolman family on the +road, Diana did not wear her sun-bonnet, but kept it hanging on her +arm. "It is nice to be out," she said, as she tripped along. "I love +hot sun; I love twees; I love blue sky; I love dust." + +"I don't," replied Orion; "this road is horrid dusty, and it gets into +my shoes. I have only my house shoes on, you know, Diana." + +"Oh, never mind!" answered Diana. "If you is a giant, you isn't going +to g'umble. What is the use of g'umbling? You be all wight soon. We'll +be in the wood soon, and we'll have got the bow and arrows, and then +we'll have to pwactice shooting. Oh, I say, there's a turnstile and a +path, and I believe the path leads stwaight to the wood. Let's leave +the woad and go to the wood that way." + +"All right," replied Orion. He always did say "all right" to every +single thing Diana asked him to do. + +The children now found themselves in a shady lane, between high +hedgerows. It was a pretty lane, only very sultry at this time of day; +but Diana, seeing butterflies flying about, began to give chase to +them. She also stopped many times to pick flowers. Orion shouted as he +ran, and neither of the little pair minded, for a time at least, the +fact that the sun was pouring on their heads, and that their small +faces were getting redder and redder. + +"I's stweaming down with hotness," said Diana, at last. "I must stop +a bit or I'll melt away. I don't want to melt till I has shotted my +enemies. Is you stweaming with hotness, Orion?" + +"Yes," said Orion. + +They stood still, took out their handkerchiefs, mopped their faces +vigorously, and then continued their walk. The time seemed to drag all +of a sudden; they were both very tired. How glad they were when they +finally reached the friendly shelter of the Super-Ashton woods. Here +it was deliciously cool, and here Diana, thoroughly exhausted, threw +herself on her face and hands, and, before Orion could say a word, had +dropped off into sound sleep. He thought she looked very comfortable, +and it occurred to him that he could not do better than follow her +example. Accordingly, he also stretched himself on the ground, and, +with his head resting on one of Diana's fat little legs, also visited +the land of dreams. For two hours the children slept. When they awoke +at last they found that the sun was no longer high in the heavens; it +was veering rapidly towards the west, and was sending slanting and +very beautiful rays of light through the wood. Diana rubbed her eyes +and looked around her. + +"I's awfu' hung'y," she said. "How does you feel, Orion?" + +"My tumtum's empty," answered Orion. + +"We'll pick berries in the wood," said Diana; "that'll sat'sfy us. +Berries is wight for wunaway sildrens. Do you 'member what we has come +here for, Orion?" + +"To amuse ourselves, I suppose," replied Orion. + +Diana gave him an angry flash from her black eyes. + +"What a silly little boy you is!" she said. "We has come for most +solemn, 'portant business. I is Diana--the gweat Diana what lived +years and years ago--and you is Orion. I is the gweatest huntwess in +all the world, and I's going to shoot Aunt Jane and Miss Wamsay. Now, +come 'long, Orion, and let's look for the bow and arrow." + +The children searched and searched, and after a long time did actually +discover the crooked and badly made bow and the blunt arrow. + +"Here they is, the darlin's!" cried Diana. "My own bow, my own +arrow--how I loves 'em! Now, Orion, I is going to shoot you--for +pwactice, you know, and then you shall shoot me for pwactice too. You +stand up there against the twee, and I'll make good shots. You don't +mind if I does hurt you a bit, does you?" + +"But I don't want to be shotted down dead," replied Orion. + +"No, I won't go as far as that. It's only Aunt Jane and Miss Wamsay +who is to be shotted dead; but you'll have to be shotted, 'cos I must +pwactice how to do it." + +"But couldn't you practice against the tree without me standing +there?" said Orion, who had no fancy to have even this very blunt +arrow directed at his face. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MOTHER RODESIA. + + +After some very slight persuasion Diana induced Orion to put his back +up against an oak tree and to allow her to shoot at him. He quickly +discovered that he had little or no cause for fear. Diana's arrows, +wielded with all the cunning she possessed, from the crooked bow, +never went anywhere near him. They fell on the grass and startled the +birds, and one little baby rabbit ran quite away, and some squirrels +looked down at the children through the thick trees; but Orion had +very little chance of getting hurt. + +"It's awfu' difficult," said Diana, whose face grew redder and redder +with her efforts. "If it don't shoot pwoper, Aunt Jane won't get +shotted to-night. What is to be done? Suppose you was to twy for a +bit, Orion?" + +Orion was only too anxious to accede to this proposition. He took the +bow and arrow and made valiant efforts, but in the course of his +endeavors to shoot properly, the badly made bow suddenly snapped in +two, and Diana, in her discomfiture, and the dashing to the ground of +her hopes, burst into tears. + +"You is bad boy," she cried. "See what you's done. Back we goes to +slav'ry--to Aunt Jane and Miss Wamsay. You is a bad, howid boy." + +"I aren't," said Orion, who had a very easily aroused temper. "It's +you that's a horrid little girl." + +"Come, children; what's all this noise about?" said a voice in their +ears. + +They turned abruptly, forgetting on the instant their own cause of +quarrel, and saw a tall, swarthy-looking woman coming towards them. By +this time it was beginning to get dark in the wood, but they could see +the figure of the woman quite distinctly. She came close to them, and +then, putting her arms akimbo, surveyed them both with a certain queer +expression on her face. + +"Well, my little dears," she said, "and what may you two be doing in +this part of the wood?" + +"We is pweparing to have our enemies shotted," answered Diana, in a +calm, but sturdy, voice. "What's your name, gweat big woman?" + +"Mother Rodesia Lee," replied the woman, "and I'm fond of little +children. I like to meet them in the wood. I often come into the wood, +and when I see little strange children I love 'em at once. I'm a sort +of mother to all little strangers who get into the woods without +leave." Here she flashed a pair of black eyes full into Diana's face. +But Diana met their gaze without a vestige of shrinking, with eyes as +black. + +"We has not come without leave," she said; "you is naughty to talk +that way. We has got a whole holiday to-day from our Uncle William. He +didn't say nothing 'bout not going into the woods, and we has been +here for lots of hours. We is going home now 'cos we is hung'y, and +'cos my bow has got bwoke. We is awfu' unhappy--we is mis'ble, but we +is going home. Good-night, woman; don't keep us talkin' any longer." + +"I aint going to keep you," said the woman; "only, p'r'aps, if you +two are so hungry, p'r'aps I could give you a bit of supper." + +"Oh, yes, Diana! Do let her," said Orion. + +"What sort of supper?" asked Diana, who never allowed herself to be +taken unawares. "Would it be stwawberries and k'eam, or would it be +cake and milk?" + +"Strawberries and cream, and milk and cake, plenty and plenty," said +the woman. "And what do you say to delicious soup and honey, p'r'aps? +Oh, come along, my little loves; I'll give you something fine to eat." + +"Do let's go," said Orion; "my tumtum's so empty it feels like a big +hole." + +"I know," said the woman, in a very sympathetic voice. "I have had it +myself like that at times. It's sort of painful when it's like that; +aint it?" + +"Yes," answered Orion. He went up to his sister, and took her hand. +"Come along, Di," he said. "Do let this nice woman give us our +supper." + +"You may be sure I won't give it," said the woman, "unless both you +little children ask me in a very perlite voice. You must say, 'Please, +Mother Rodesia.'" + +"I can't say that keer sort of name," said Diana. + +"Well, then, call me mother without anything else. They often does +that at home--often and often. All the little kids is desp'ate fond of +me. I dote so on little children. My heart runs over with love to +'em." + +"You would not let a little girl be beated?" said Diana. + +"Be beaten?" replied the woman. "No, that I wouldn't; it would be +downright cruel." + +"I was beated to-day," said Diana; "it was an enemy did it, and I'm +going to have her shotted." + +"Oh, I wouldn't do that!" said the woman. "You might be hanged up for +that." + +"What's being hanged up?" asked Diana. + +"It's something very bad--I need not tell you now; but there are laws +in this country, and if you shoot your enemies you are hanged up for +it. You are not allowed to do those sort of things in this country." + +"Yes, I are," answered Diana, "'cos I are the gweat Diana. You +underland, don't you?" + +"I don't know that I do; but, anyhow, I have no time to stand talking +now. Come along, and you can tell me afterwards. I have got such a +nice supper--plenty of strawberries and cream, plenty of milk and +cake." + +"Oh, my tumtum," said Orion, pressing his hand to that part of his +little body with great solemnity. + +"How soon will the supper be over? and how soon can we get back home?" +asked Diana. + +"That depends on where your home is, my pretty little dear," said +Mother Rodesia. + +"It's at Wectory, stoopid woman." + +"I don't know that place, miss." + +"Don't you know my Uncle William Dolman?" + +"What! the rector?" said the woman. "And so you come from the +_Rectory_?" She looked frightened for a moment, and her manner became +hesitating. "Are you one of the rector's children, my little love?" +she asked. + +"No; he's only an uncle; he belongs to an aunt. I hate aunts. He's not +a bad sort his own self; but I hate aunts!" + +"Then you wouldn't mind if you was to leave her?" + +"No. But I can't leave Uncle William, and I can't leave Iris, and I +can't leave Apollo. We would like some supper 'cos we is hung'y, and +it's past our tea hour; but then we must go stwaight home." + +"All right, my little love; everything can be managed to your +satisfaction. My son has got a pony and cart, and he'll drive you over +to the Rectory in a twinkling, after your appetites are satisfied. I +can't abear to see little children real hungry. You come along with me +this minute or the supper will be eat up." + +Diana hesitated no longer. She carried her broken bow on one arm, and +she slung her arrow, by a string, round her neck; then, taking one of +Mother Rodesia's large brown hands, and Orion taking the other, the +two children trotted deeper into the dark wood. They all three walked +for over a mile, and the wood seemed to get darker and denser, and the +children's little feet more and more tired. Orion also began to +complain that the hole inside him was getting bigger and bigger; but +Mother Rodesia, now that she had got them to go with her, said very +few words, and did not take the least notice of their complaints. At +last, when they suddenly felt that they could not go another step, so +great was their fatigue, they came out on an open clearing in the +wood, in the center of which a great big tent was pitched. Several +smaller tents were also to be seen in the neighborhood of the big one, +and a lot of children, very brown and ugly, and only half-dressed, +were lying about on the grass, squabbling and rolling over one +another. Some dogs also were with the children, and an old woman, a +good deal browner than Mother Rodesia, was sitting at the door of the +big tent. + +As soon as ever the children saw the little strangers, they scrambled +to their feet with a cry, and instantly surrounded Mother Rodesia and +Orion and Diana. + +"Back, all of you, you little rascallions," said Mother Rodesia; +"back, or I'll cuff you. Where's Mother Bridget? I want to speak to +her?" + +When Mother Rodesia said this the old woman at the door of the +principal tent rose slowly and came to meet them. + +"Well, Rodesia," she said, "and so you has found these little +strangers in the wood? What purty little dears!" + +"Yes, I have found them," said Mother Rodesia, "and I have brought +them home to supper. After supper we are to send them home. They hail +from the Rectory. Is Jack anywhere about?" + +"I saw him not half an hour back," said the old woman; "he had just +brought in a fat hare, and I popped it into the pot for supper. You +can smell it from here, little master," she said, stooping suddenly +down and letting her brown, wrinkled, aged face come within an inch or +two of Orion's. He started back, frightened. He had never seen anyone +so old nor so ugly before. Even the thought of the strawberries and +cream, and the milk and cake, could not compensate for the look on +Mother Bridget's face. + +Diana, however, was not easily alarmed. + +"The stuff in the pot smells vedy good," she said, sniffing. "I could +shoot lots of hares, 'cos I is the gweatest huntwess in all the world. +I is Diana. Did you ever hear of Diana, ugly old woman?" + +"You had best not call Mother Bridget names," said Mother Rodesia, +giving Diana a violent shake as she spoke. + +But the little girl leaped lightly away from her. + +"I always call peoples just what I think them," she said; "I wouldn't +be the gweat Diana if I didn't. I has not got one scwap of fear in me, +so you needn't think to come wound me that way. I do think she is +awfu' ugly. She's uglier than Aunt Jane, what I _used_ to think was +the ugliest person in the world. You had best not twy to fwighten me, +for it can't be done." + +"What a spirited little missy it is!" said Mother Bridget, gazing with +admiration at Diana. "Why, now, she is a fine little child. I'm sure, +dearie, I don't mind whether you call me ugly or not; it don't matter +the least bit in the world to me. And how old may you be, my little +love?" + +"I is five," answered Diana. "I's a well-grown girl, isn't I?" + +"That you are, missy, and hungry, too, I guess. You shall have some +beautiful hare soup." + +"I don't want hare soup," answered Diana; "I want what that woman +pwomised--stwawberries and k'eam, and milk and cake--and then, +perhaps, a _little_ soup. I don't want soup to begin." + +"Well," said the old woman, "we hasn't got no strawberries, nor no +milk, nor no cake--we are very poor folks here, missy. A little lady +must be content with what she can get, unless, my dear, you would like +to pay 'andsome for it." + +"I has nothing to pay with," answered Diana. "I would, if I had the +money, but I hasn't got none. I's sossy," she continued, looking full +at Mother Rodesia as she spoke, "that you big, big woman told such +awfu' lies. But, now that we has come, we'll take a little hare soup. +Orion, you stand near me, and don't any of you dirty peoples come up +too close, 'cos I can't abear dirty peoples. I is the gweatest shot +in all the world, and Orion, he's a giant." + +Two or three men had approached at that moment, and they all began to +laugh heartily when poor little pale Orion was called a giant. + +"You can see him in the sky sometimes on starful nights," continued +Diana, "and he has got a belt and a sword." + +"Well, to be sure, poor little thing," said Mother Rodesia, "she must +be a bit off her head, but she's a fine little spirited thing for all +that. I think she would just about do. You come along here for a +minute, Jack, and let me talk to you." + +The man called Jack moved a few steps away, and Mother Rodesia +followed him. They began to talk together in low and earnest voices. +At first the man shook his head as he listened to Mother Rodesia, but +by degrees he began to agree with some suggestion she was making, and +finally he nodded emphatically, and at last was heard to say: + +"It shall be done." + +Meanwhile Diana, with one arm clasped protectingly round Orion's +waist, was partaking of the soup which old Mother Bridget had ladled +into a little bowl. Orion was provided with a similar bowl of the very +excellent liquid. The soup contained meat and vegetables, pieces of +bread and quantities of good gravy, and, as Diana and Orion were very +hungry indeed, they ate up their portions, while the gypsy children +clustered round them, coming closer and closer each minute. Diana's +eyes, however, were as black as theirs, and her manner twice as +spirited. She would not allow them to approach too close. + +"You had best not take lib'ties," she said. "I is a gweat lady; I is +Diana, the biggest shot in all the world." + +"Oh, lawk! hark to her," cried one of the boys. "I wonder if you could +shoot me, little miss?" + +"Shoot you, boy?" cried Diana. "That I could. You would be shotted +down dead if I was to take up my bow and use my arrow." + +At last the children had finished the contents of their bowls, and +rose solemnly to their feet. + +"Now," said Diana, going up to Mother Bridget, "I are vedy obliged to +you; you has been kind; you has gived us good supper. We'll 'scuse +'bout the stwawberries and k'eam and the milk and cake, 'cos you +didn't know that the other big woman told lots of lies. And now, +p'ease, we are going home. We isn't glad to go home, but we is going. +P'ease tell the man to put pony to cart, and dwive us home as fast as +he can." + +"Yes, indeed, my little dear," said Mother Bridget; "there aint one +moment to be lost. You just come inside the tent, though, first for a +minute." + +"I don't want to go inside that dirty tent," said Diana; "I don't like +dirt. You had best not twy to take lib'ties. I is Diana, and this is +Orion, and we is both very big peoples indeed." + +At that moment Mother Rodesia came forward. + +"They need not go into the tent," she said to the old woman; "I can +manage better than that. Just you help lift 'em into the cart; it's a +dark night, and there'll be no stars, and we can get off as far +as----" Here she dropped her voice, and Diana could not hear the next +words. + +"I'm going with them," she continued, "and Jack will drive. They are +exactly the kind of children Ben wants. Now then, little missy, jump +in. Ah, here you are! You'll be glad of the drive, won't you?" + +"When will we get back to Wectory?" asked Diana. + +"In about an hour, missy." + +"Come 'long, Orion," said Diana, "you sit next me. Hold my hand, poor +little boy, case you is fwightened. Diana never was fwightened; that +isn't her." + +Orion scrambled also into the cart, and the two children huddled up +close together. Mother Rodesia got in with them, and sat down at the +opposite side, with her knees huddled up close to her chin. The man +called Jack mounted the driver's seat, whacked the pony with two or +three hard touches of his whip and away they bounded. + +The night was very dark, and the cart rattled roughly, and jolted and +banged the children about, but Orion felt comforted and contented +after his good supper, and Diana's fat little arm felt warm round his +neck, and soon his head rested on her shoulder and he was sound +asleep. Not so little Diana. She sat wide awake and gazed hard at the +woman, whose dark eyes were seen to flash now and then as the party +jolted over the roads. + +"Tell him to go k'icker," said Diana. "I must get home afore Uncle +William goes to bed. Aunt Jane might beat me again, and I don't want +to be beated. Tell him to go k'icker, Mother 'Odesia." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +UNCLE BEN. + + +Mother Rodesia was most kind and obliging. The pony was whipped up, +and now it seemed to Diana's excited fancy that they quite flew over +the road. She felt for her broken bow, which she had laid by her side, +then she cuddled up closer to Orion, and whispered to herself: + +"Mother 'Odesia's a good woman when all's said, done. She has gived us +supper and soon we'll be home; and Uncle William won't be in bed, and +he won't let c'uel Aunt Jane beat me. It's all wight; I may just as +well go to s'eep, 'cos I is drefful s'eepy, and it's late. I wonder if +the night will be starful, and if I'll see Orion up in the sky. +Anyhow, there's no stars at pwesent, and I had best go to s'eep." + +So the little girl cuddled herself up close to her brother, and soon +the big dark eyes were shut, and she was happy in the land of dreams. + +When this happened, Mother Rodesia softly and stealthily changed her +position. She stretched out her hand and touched Jack on his arm. This +seemed to have been an arranged signal, for he drew up the pony at +once. + +They were still under the shelter of the great woods which extended +for miles over that part of the country. + +"We had best begin to change their clothes now," said Mother Rodesia. +"They are both as sound as nails, and I don't want the clothes to be +seen by Ben, for he's safe to pawn 'em, and if he pawns 'em the police +may get 'em, and then the children may be traced, and we may get into +hot water." + +"But, mother," said Jack, "do you dare to disturb them now when they +are asleep? That young 'un with the black eyes is such a fury; seemed +to me as if she was never goin' off." + +"She's all right now," said Mother Rodesia. "She's just dead tired. Of +course, if I had had my way, I'd have put a little of that syrup into +their soup--Mother Winslow's Syrup--but Mother Bridget wouldn't have +it. She took quite a fancy to the little gal, and all on account of +her firing up and calling her names." + +Jack laughed. + +"I never seed sech a little 'un," he said, "sech a sparky little +piece. Ben's in rare luck. I'd like to keep her for a sort of little +sister of my own--she'd amuse me fine." + +"Well, well, you aint a-goin' to have her," said Mother Rodesia. "I'm +goin' to ask thirty shillin's for her and thirty shillin's for the +boy. That'll be three pund--not a bad night's work; eh, Jack?" + +"No," replied Jack; but then he continued after a pause, "You'll tell +him, won't you, mother, to be good to the children. I wouldn't like to +think that little 'un was treated cruel, and her sperit broke--she has +got a fine sperit, bless her; I wouldn't like it to be broke. I don't +care for the little boy. There's nothing in 'im." + +"Well, stop talking now," said Mother Rodesia. "They must be missed at +the Rectory by this time, and they'll be sendin' people out to look +for 'em. It's a rare stroke of luck that nobody knows that we are +camping in the Fairy Dell, for if they did they would be sure to come +straight to us, knowin' that poor gypsies is always _supposed_ to +kidnap children. Now, Jack, you just hold the pony as still as you +can, and I'll slip the clothes off the pair of 'em." + +Little Diana, in her deep sleep, was not at all disturbed when stout +hands lifted her away from Orion, and when she lay stretched out flat +on a large lap. One by one her clothes were untied and slipped off her +pretty little body, and some very ugly, sack-like garments substituted +in their place. Diana had only a dim feeling in her dreams that mother +was back again, and was undressing her, and that she was very glad to +get into bed. And when the same process of undressing took place on +little Orion, he was still sounder asleep and still more indifferent +to the fact that he was turned sometimes over on his face, and +sometimes on his back, and that his pretty, dainty clothes, which his +own mother had bought for him, were removed, never to be worn by him +again. + +"Now, then," said Mother Rodesia, when she had laid the two children +back again upon the straw, "when they awake, and if Ben is not there, +we must dye their faces with walnut juice; but we can't begin that +now, for they are sure to howl a good bit, and if folks are near, they +will hear them and come to the rescue. Jack, have you got that spade +'andy?" + +The man, without a word, lifted a portion of the straw in the cart, +and took out a spade. + +"That's right," said the woman. "You make a deep hole under that tree, +and put all the clothes in. Bury 'em well. I'll rescue 'em and pawn +'em myself when we go to the West of England in the winter, but for +the present they must stay under ground. See, I'll wrap 'em up in this +good piece of stout brown paper, and then perhaps they won't get much +spoiled." + +Jack took the little bundle (there were the soft, pretty socks, the +neat little shoes, even the ribbon with which Diana's hair was tied), +and twisted them all up into a bundle. Then his mother wrapped the +bundle in the piece of brown paper, and gave it to him to bury. + +This being done the pony was once more whipped up, and the cart +proceeded at a rapid rate. They were now on the highroad, and going in +the direction of a large town. The town was called Maplehurst. It was +fifteen miles away from the Rectory of Super-Ashton. + +Little Diana slept on and on, and the sun was beginning to send faint +rays of light into the eastern sky, when at last she opened her eyes. + +"Where is I?" she said with a gasp. + +"With me, my little dear; you are as safe as child can be," said +Mother Rodesia. "Don't you stir, my love; you are just as good as you +was in your little bed. See, let me lay this rug over you." + +She threw a piece of heavy tarpaulin, lined with cloth, over the child +as she spoke. + +Diana yawned in a comfortable manner. + +"Isn't we at Wectory yet?" she asked. + +"No, dear; the pony went lame, and we had to stop for a good bit on +the road; but if you like to go to sleep again, you'll be there when +next you wake." + +"I isn't s'eepy any longer," said Diana, sitting bolt upright in the +cart. "Oh, what a funny dwess I has on. Where is my nice b'ack dwess, +and my pinafore, and my shoes and socks?" + +"Well, dear," said Mother Rodesia, "you were so dead asleep, and the +pony got that lame we couldn't stir hand nor foot, so I thought it +best to put a little nightdress on you." + +"But what a funny one," said Diana, gazing with curious admiration at +the stout, sack-like garment. + +"It's the best poor Mother Rodesia has, my dear. I'm awful poor, you +know." + +"Is you?" asked Diana. + +"Yes, dear." + +"And does you mind?" asked Diana. + +"Yes, dear; 'cos when people are poor they can't get bread to eat, and +then they can't get nice clothes like you, little missy. You are a +very rich little gal; aint you, little dear?" + +"My faver's awfu' rich," said Diana. "We used to live in a most +beaut'ful house, and we had a beaut'ful garding to play in. We had +animals there--lots and lots. Woman, is you fond of animals--mices and +that sort?" + +"Love--I just adores 'em." + +"Then you _is_ a nice sort," answered Diana. She left her place by +Orion and crept up close to the woman. + +"May I sit on your lap?" she said. + +Mother Rodesia made a place for her at once. + +"Put your arm wound me, p'ease; I is still a teeny bit s'eepy." + +"You lay your head against my breast, little love, and you'll go off +into a beautiful sleep, and I'll keep you nice and warm, for hot as +the days are, it's chilly in the mornin's." + +"When my faver comes home I'll ask him to give you lots of money, +Mother 'Odesia," said Diana. + +She closed her eyes as she spoke, and in another moment was once again +slumbering peacefully. + +When little Diana next opened her eyes all was completely changed. She +was no longer in the funny cart with the straw. Her nightdress was +still on her, it is true, and there were neither shoes nor stockings +on her bare feet; but she and Orion found themselves in a dirty room +with a nasty smell. Both children looked at one another, and both felt +cold and frightened. The broad daylight was lighting up the room, and +Diana could perceive that there was scarcely any furniture in it. Her +bow was also gone, and her arrow no longer hung round her neck. She +clutched a firm hold of Orion's hand. + +"Don't you be afeared, Orion," she said. "Don't you forget you is a +big giant. Don't you forget you has got your belt and your sword." + +"But I haven't, that's just it," replied Orion. "Diana, I aren't a +giant, and I'm awfu' frightened." + +"Where can us be?" said Diana. "What a keer room! But there's one good +comfort; there isn't no aunts anywheres 'bout." + +"I can't remember nothing," said Orion. "Why aren't we in bed? It's +too early to get up. How have we got into this horrid little room?" + +"I don't know more nor you," said Diana, "only I do know that we has +got to be bwave. Don't you forget, Orion, that mother gived you your +name, and that you is a giant, whether you likes it or not. Don't you +forget that, and I won't forget that I is Diana, and that mother gived +me my name too, and that I is the bwavest huntwess in all the world." + +"But you haven't got a bow and arrow," said Orion. + +Diana was silent for a moment. + +"Anyhow," she said, with a little shake, "I isn't going to be +fwightened. Let's sit close together, and let's think." + +"Why can't we open that door and go out?" said Orion. "Why should we +stay in this horrid room?" + +"'Cos our foots is bare," said Diana. + +"But don't let's mind that," said Orion; "let's go to the door and +open it, and let's run back to Rectory. I'd rather have Aunt Jane and +Miss Ramsay than this horrid room--and oh, Diana! my tumtum has got a +big hole in it again." + +"And mine has too," answered Diana. "I could eat a whole loaf, that I +could." + +"Hush!" whispered Orion; "somebody's coming. Oh, come close to me, +Diana!" + +"Now, you isn't to be fwightened, little boy," said Diana. "I is near +you, and I isn't fwightened of nobody." + +At that moment the door was flung open, and Mother Rodesia, +accompanied by a tall, dark man, with a scowling face, came in. + +"Mornin', little dears," said Mother Rodesia. "Now I have got +something to say to you." + +"P'ease, where's Wectory?" asked Diana. + +"You are not going there just for the present, my dear. This man, Ben +is his name--you told me last night that you were fond of uncles--you +can call 'im Uncle Ben; he's very kind and very, very fond of +children." + +"Oh, yes! I'm very fond of children," said the man. He spoke in a +gruff voice which seemed to come right from the bottom of his chest. + +"And as you don't like aunts," continued Mother Rodesia, "I have +brought an uncle. You can call 'im Uncle Ben; and if you do just what +he says, why, you'll be as happy as the day is long." + +"Look here," said the man; "you stop your talk, Rodesia. Before I +makes myself an uncle to these kids I must see what sort they are. You +stand up along here, little gal, and let me examine you." + +Diana scrambled instantly to her feet and went straight up to the man. +She gave him a keen glance from her piercing black eyes. + +"What wight has you to speak to me in that sort of style?" she said. +"You isn't my uncle, and I isn't going to have nothing to do with +you." + +"There," said Mother Rodesia; "did I say one word too much for her?" + +The man burst into a loud laugh. + +"No, that you didn't," he said; "and aint you frightened of me, +missy?" + +"Fwightened?" replied Diana; "that aren't me." She turned her back and +strode back to Orion. + +"'Member you is a giant," she said, in a whisper; "and giants never is +fwightened." + +The man laughed again. + +"Well, they are a queer little pair," he said. "I tell you what it is, +Rodesia Lee; I'll give you a pund apiece for 'em. Come, now; not a +penny more." + +Diana stared very hard indeed when these words were uttered. She had +not the faintest idea what a "pund apiece" meant. Mother Rodesia +seemed to consider. + +"And you may think yourself in rare luck," continued the man; "for, +remember, if it is known--" Here he walked to the farthest end of the +room, and Mother Rodesia followed him. + +"You had best close up the bargain and be quick about it," he said; +"for not one penny more will you drag out of me. I'll give you a gold +sov. for each of 'em, and that's as much as I can manage. They will +take a sight of training, and then there's the risk." + +"Very well," said Mother Rodesia, "I suppose I had best do it; only +they are worth more. There's a fortune in that little gal, and +whenever you are tired of her, why, there's a rich father to fall back +on. I spect he would give a sight of money to have her back again. +Very well, we'll agree; only, if ever you do get a fortune out of that +child, Ben Holt, you might remember poor Rodesia Lee." + +The man laughed and patted Mother Rodesia on her shoulder. Then the +pair left the room, locking the door behind them. + +"What does it all mean?" said Orion. + +"I don't know," said Diana; "but I aren't fwightened; that aren't me." +Her little voice shook as she spoke, and she had great difficulty in +keeping the tears back from her big, black eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +GREASED LIGHTNING. + + +At the end of half an hour the door of the small room was again +unlocked, and a woman with a thin, pale face, and somewhat frightened +manner, appeared. She carried a tray in her hand, which contained two +little bowls of porridge, and a small jug of milk. "So you are the two +young 'uns," she said. "Well, you had best be quick and eat up your +breakfast. Uncle Ben is going to have a rehearsal, and he wants you to +see what they are all doing." + +"We hasn't got no Uncle Ben," said Diana; "don't be silly, woman. +What's your name?" she added. + +"I'm generally called Aunt Sarah," was the reply; "and now, look here, +you two little mites; I'll be good to you if you'll let me. I'm real +sorry you has come, and it's against my wish, you remember that. Now, +eat up your breakfasts, both of you. Uncle Ben, he don't know that I +have brought you porridge and milk; but children as young as you are +can't eat coarse food. Sup up your porridge, my dears." + +"Thank you very much indeed, Aunt Sawah," said Diana, slipping down +from her seat close to Orion on the bench, and preparing to attack her +breakfast. "P'w'aps," she continued, as she put great mouthfuls of +porridge into her mouth, "when we has finished this nice bekfus you'll +take us back to Wectory? You see, you isn't our aunt weally, not by no +manner of wights, and Uncle Ben isn't our uncle, and so we ought not +to stay here; and if we go back to Wectory, why, Uncle William, what's +our weal uncle, p'w'aps he would pay you money, if it's money you +wants." + +"Yes; it's true enough, it is money we want," replied the woman; "but, +my dear," she added, the tears springing to her eyes, "I can't take +you back to no Rectory. You have just got to stay here and to watch +Uncle Ben when he's going through his rehearsal, and then this +afternoon we are going on a very long journey, and you are coming with +us--and oh, I forgot to say that, when you have finished your +breakfast, I must put something on your faces." + +"Something on our faces?" said Diana. + +"Yes, my little love; it has to be done. But when we get to another +part of the country I'll wash the ugly stuff off again, and you'll +look as fair and pretty as you do now. It won't make much difference +after all to you, little missy," she added, gazing fixedly at Diana, +"'cos you are very dark by nature. Yes, I had a little kid of my own, +a little gal, and she wasn't unlike you--no, not by no means. I'll be +kind to you for her pretty sake, my little dear. Now, eat your +breakfast, and be quick, the pair of you." + +"Has your little girl what was like me got deaded?" asked Diana, in a +very thoughtful and earnest voice. + +"She is dead, my dear. Yes, yes, she is dead," replied the woman. "Eat +up your breakfast now; I have no time to answer questions." + +Orion did not need a second bidding; he had already plunged his spoon +into the porridge, and soon his little bowl was empty, and also the +jug of milk. Diana also finished her breakfast, but more thoughtfully. +She was a wonderfully wise little girl for her tender years, and at +the present moment she was dreadfully puzzled to know what to do. She +was quite shrewd enough to guess that Mother Rodesia was a bad sort of +woman, and that she, Diana, had done wrong ever to trust herself to +her. Uncle Ben, too, in spite of her brave words, terrified her more +or less. All things considered, therefore, she would not have been at +all sorry to find herself back again at the Rectory, with Miss Ramsay +to teach her, and Aunt Jane hovering in the background. "Isn't it +funny, we has got our nightdwesses on?" she said suddenly. "Woman, +it's not pwoper to have our bekfus in our nightdwesses; and these are +such keer nightdwesses, not at all what they ought to be. Our mother +would not like us to be dwessed in this sort of style. Can you get our +day dwesses, p'ease, for us to put on, Aunt Sawah?" + +"No; I can't get the dresses you wore yesterday," replied Aunt Sarah; +"but for all that you shall wear a very pretty little frock. I have +got a blue one for you with white wings. What do you say to that?" + +"B'ue, with white wings?" echoed Diana. "It sounds pwetty; but I must +have a b'ack bow, p'ease, woman, 'cos our mother has gone away to the +angels, you underland; and when mothers go to the angels little girls +wear b'ack bows--at least, that's what Iris says. Oh, I say, Orion," +suddenly concluded Diana; "what is we to do without Iris? She is our +little mother now. You underland what I mean; doesn't you, Orion?" + +The only answer Orion made was to fling himself flat down on the floor +and begin to howl with all his might. + +"You had best not do that, young sir," said Aunt Sarah, "for if Uncle +Ben hears he'll be awful angry. He is a terrible man when he's +angered. It's only right I should tell you the solemn truth, you poor +little kids." + +"We isn't kids; we is sildrens," said Diana. + +"Well, you poor little children, then. Now, young master, if you'll +take my advice, you'll do exactly what I tell you. I'm going to be a +friend to you and to your little sister. I'll give you, by hook or by +crook, the very best food I can get, and the prettiest dresses to +wear, and I'll see that my husband, Ben Holt, aint rough to you, and +I'll see, also, that Molly and Kitty and Susan, the circus girls, are +kind to you, and that Tom, the clown, behaves as he ought; but I can +do nothing if you won't obey me. And if you begin by angering Uncle +Ben, why, it'll be all up with you, my little dears." + +"I don't know what you mean by all up," answered Diana, her eyes +sparkling brightly; "and what's more, I don't care. But I'd like to +know if you has a weal live clown about, 'cos I like clowns and I love +pant'mimes. I went to a pant'mime 'fore mother was took to the +angels." + +"Our show is something like a pantomime, and yet it's different," +replied Aunt Sarah. "Now then, missy, stop talking, for we has no time +to waste. Come over here and let me put this nice stuff on your face. +It won't hurt you one little bit--it's just to make you look a little +browner than you do now, you and little master. Now, come along here, +and let me do it at once. Afterwards, I'll dress you in real pretty +things. You, little missy, shall wear some of my own child's +clothes--the little Rachel what died. My heart broke when she died, +missy, and if I didn't mean to be real kind to you I wouldn't put her +pretty little dress on you, that I wouldn't." + +Orion stepped back in some alarm when he saw the woman stirring +something very brown and ugly in a tin can. + +"I don't want that horrid stuff on my face," he said. + +"But you must have it, master; if you don't, Uncle Ben will use you +dreadful," said the woman. "Now, missy, tell your little brother to be +guided by me. If he don't do what I tell 'im he'll suffer, and I won't +be able to help either of you." + +"Don't be silly, Orion," said Diana. "What do a little bwown stuff +matter? And Aunt Sawah's wather a nice sort of woman. I'll do what you +wish, Aunt Sawah." She came up as she spoke, pushed her black, tangled +hair away from her charming little face, and allowed Aunt Sarah to +cover it with the walnut juice. "It's sort of sticky, and it don't +smell nice," said the little girl; "but I spects you can't help it. I +spects you is kind about your heart; isn't you?" + +"Yes, my little dear; I try to be," said the woman. "Now, call your +brother over, and let me dye his face and neck and little hands." + +"Come 'long, Orion," said Diana; "don't be silly." + +"You do look so ugly, Diana," answered Orion. + +"Well, what do it matter?" said Diana. "I has to p'ease Aunt Sawah; +she's a nice sort of a woman. I wather like her." + +Orion, who had always submitted to Diana, submitted again now as a +matter of course. The walnut dye was not pleasant; he felt quite +sticky and uncomfortable, but he allowed it to cover his little face +and his white neck and hands. + +The dye dried very quickly, and the children looked as like two +gypsies as possible when they surveyed one another. + +"Now, I'm going to fetch the clothes," said Aunt Sarah. + +She left the room, returning in a very few moments with a pretty +spangled suit of knickerbockers, which she put on Orion, and which +quite enchanted him. + +"If you are a good boy," she continued, "you won't dislike the life +with us. I wonder if you are fond of horses?" + +"Horses!" said Orion, his eyes sparkling. "Rather!" + +"Well, Uncle Ben will teach you to ride, and to jump, and to do all +kinds of things. Now, just stand back, and let me dress little missy, +for Ben is waiting to begin the rehearsal. Missy, you let me put on +your dress." + +Diana was only too willing to be attired in a flimsy skirt of white +tarlatan, which stuck out from her little figure; she also wore wings +on her shoulders, and her black hair was rendered gay with bows of +crimson ribbon. She felt quite excited and pleased with herself. + +"I spects I look awfu' pwetty," she said. "I'd like to see my own self +in a looking-glass. Has you got a looking-glass in your pocket, Aunt +Sawah?" + +"Yes, dear; a small one." + +Aunt Sarah whipped her hand into a deep pocket and took out a glass. +Diana surveyed herself critically in its depths. + +"I like my dwess," she said, "but I don't like this howid bwown stuff +on my face." + +"Never mind, dear; bear it for the present. When we get down to the +southwest of England it shall all be taken off; but up here Uncle Ben +thinks it best for you both to have it on." + +"Why?" asked Diana. + +Aunt Sarah was puzzled for a moment. + +"'Cos it's wholesome," she said at last. + +"And isn't it wholesome in the southwest of England?" asked Diana. + +Aunt Sarah was puzzled how to reply. Diana, who was gazing at her very +intently, burst into a clear, childish laugh. + +"Do you know you _is_ a humbug?" she said. "You know perfect well why +you is using that. You want to hide us, that's why. What a silly old +Aunt Sawah you is!" + +Before Aunt Sarah could make a suitable reply, the loud voice of Uncle +Ben was heard in the distance. + +"Come, Sarah," he called, "bring those kids along. I can't be kept +waiting another minute." + +"Now then, dears," said Aunt Sarah, "I'll take you to the circus." + +"The circus!" cried Diana. "Is we going to a circus? I love 'em!" + +"Well, my dear, you are not only going to _see_ a circus, but you are +going soon to be part of a circus. Uncle Ben owns one; it's a sort of +traveling circus. He takes it about with him from one part of the +country to another. You'll be part of the circus in the future, little +miss." + +"And may I wide horses?" asked Diana. + +"Surely, my dear, and perhaps other animals as well. Oh, never fear! +you'll be taught all kinds of queer things. You'll have quite a nice +time if you keep on the buttered side of Uncle Ben." + +"The buttered side! That must be g'easy," said Diana. + +"Well, you keep on it, miss. If he's kind to you, why, all will be +right, and, for my part, I'll see you want for nothing." + +"I do believe," said Diana, her eyes sparkling; she turned as she +spoke and clasped one of Orion's hands--"I do weally b'lieve this is +better nor aunt's. Do come 'long, Orion; I always did love circuses." + +Aunt Sarah led the children down a long, narrow passage, and then +across an open court, until presently they found themselves inside the +entrance of a huge circular tent. Here seats were arranged for a crowd +of people, all of which were, of course, empty at present; but the +whole of the center of the tent was occupied by a wide arena covered +with sand. In the middle of this space stood Uncle Ben. He had a big +whip in his hand, and looked very fierce and terrible. + +"There you are at last, Sarah!" he called out. "Oh, and there are the +kids!" He stepped forward as he spoke. "Now, little missy," he said, +looking full at Diana, "what would you say if I was to put you on top +of a horse's back? You wouldn't be frightened, would you?" + +"No," replied Diana. + +"I don't believe you would. I believe you are a plucky little girl. +Well, I'd just as lief give you a lesson straight away, for you'll +have to take your part in the show in a week from now. We'll let her +ride round the arena on Greased Lightning; eh, Sarah?" + +"Oh, I wouldn't! Not on that 'orse," said the woman. She clasped her +hands imploringly together. "Remember, Ben," she continued, speaking +in a timorous voice, and her color coming and going, "remember that +Greased Lightning is a very wicious sort of 'orse, and this is only a +little child. Has you ever been on a 'orse's back afore, little love?" + +"Sometimes," replied Diana. "And my faver said when I got older he +would give me a horse of my own to wide. He said I was too young yet, +you know; but I aren't fwightened," she added. "I don't mind a bit +sitting on the back of G'eased Lightning. But what a funny name!" + +"Right you are!" said the man. "You shall have your ride. I can see +that you have plenty of pluck, young 'un. Come along, then, little +missy. Tom, you go and bring out Greased Lightning this minute." + +A tall lad, with red hair and a cast in one eye, now made his +appearance in the arena of the circus. At Uncle Ben's words he turned +abruptly, disappeared through a curtain, and a moment later +re-entered, leading a very graceful chestnut horse by a bridle. The +creature pawed the ground as it walked, and arched its stately neck. + +"You had best have a saddle, guv'nor," said the boy. + +"None of your sauce, Tom. The young 'un must learn to ride bare-back, +and at once. I'll walk round with her the first time. Now then, +missy." + +Diana was clapping her hands; her eyes were blazing with excitement. + +"It's kite 'licious," she said, jumping up and down. "I aren't +fwightened," she continued; "that aren't me." + +The next moment she was lifted on to the back of Greased Lightning. In +all probability the horse which bore that title had never carried +such a feather-weight as little Diana before. Uncle Ben began to lead +him round and round the circus. Diana sat perfectly upright; she did +not attempt even to clutch a hair of his mane. Uncle Ben praised her. + +"You are a plucky little missy," he said. "Why, you'll do fine. Now, +do you think you can stand on the horse?" + +"Course," replied Diana. "What's foots for, you silly man, if not to +stand? You is silly, Uncle Ben." + +"I never!" said Uncle Ben, bursting out laughing. "Well, missy, if I +am silly, you has got a lot of sauce. 'What's good for the goose is +good for the gander.'" + +"That sounds howid vulgar, and I don't underland," answered Diana, in +a dignified tone. "I'll stand on my two foots if you'll hold G'eased +Lightning k'ite still." + +"Woe! stay quiet this minute," said the man to the horse. The pretty +creature instantly obeyed, and little Diana, nothing loath, scrambled +on to her small feet. The horse moved gently forward, and the little +child managed to keep her balance. She went the entire round of the +circus two or three times in this position, and then Uncle Ben, saying +that she was a very fine little creature, and would answer his +purposes to a nicety, lifted her down in the height of good humor. + +"Take care of her," he said, bringing her back to Aunt Sarah; "there's +a fortune in her, little mite that she is. She need not do any more +to-day. Why, I'll have her trained in no time when we get down to the +west of England. She'll do her work beautiful, and will take the house +by storm. Now then, master, it's your turn. We must have a pair of +you, you know--a boy and a girl. It's the very thing to draw crowds in +the west." + +But alas! Orion, notwithstanding his brave name, was made of very +different stuff from his sister. He felt fear, where Diana, in all +truth, did not know the meaning of the word. He shivered visibly when +he was lifted on to Greased Lightning's back. Diana called out to him +in an encouraging and cheery voice. + +"Don't forget you is a giant," she said. "Think, of yous sword and +yous belt. Now then, gee up! pretty horse; I only wishes I was widing +you." + +"Come, young master, don't clutch the mane so hard," said Holt. "Hands +off, I say! Greased Lightning won't stand that kind of treatment." + +But the more the manager spoke the tighter did Orion grasp the black +mane of the chestnut horse. Greased Lightning began to paw the ground +and to show many signs of discomfort; whereupon Orion uttered a +piercing cry and began slipping backwards, towards the tail of the +beast. + +"Come," said the man; "get back to your seat this minute. I have a +whip in my hand, and it can sting; come, young sir!" + +"Don't you dare to stwike my bwother!" said Diana, running across the +arena. + +Some girls, who had just come in, and several men, all burst out +laughing. + +"You had best come back, miss; you had best not anger him," said a +fair-haired girl, stretching out her hand to the little child as she +spoke. + +"Anger him?" said Diana. "I doesn't know what you mean. Does you think +I are going to let Orion be hurted? Listen to me, man. You had best +let Orion jump off this morning, 'cos he's tired. I'll talk to him all +about widing to-morrow. Let him get down now, p'ease, big man." + +"Not until he has been twice round the circus," said Uncle Ben. "You +stand aside, missy, or Greased Lightning may tread on you." + +But Diana was not to be so easily restrained. She now flew up to Uncle +Ben and tried to pull his big whip from his hand. + +"You don't dare to stwike my bwother!" she repeated, her eyes +flashing. Her determined attitude, the fearlessness of her whole +little nature induced Uncle Ben to yield to her for the nonce. This he +did more, particularly as he saw that the little boy was really +incapable of keeping his seat another moment. + +"Well, then, look here, little miss," he said; "you has behaved very +well indeed yourself, and so I'll let the little chap off this +morning. Now you know, sir, it is 'cos of your sister, for she's a +plucky 'un; so you may go back to my wife. Here, Sarah; take the pair +of 'em. You can go and sit on one of them chairs over there, children, +and see us as we go through our rehearsal." + +The rest of the morning was a truly exciting, not to say breathless, +time to Diana. She had not an instant to regret her absence from Iris +and Apollo. The exploits, the feats performed by the three circus +girls, and by Tom the clown, to say nothing of the advent of the +elephant and of the donkey who could perform numberless tricks, and +finally, the performances of the troop of dogs, who seemed more human +than most human beings, all fascinated the little girl. Even Orion +forgot his terrors as he looked on; his cheeks flamed through their +walnut dye, and his dark eyes grew brighter than ever. + +When the rehearsal was at last over, the whole party rushed back to +their rooms, where a hasty meal was served; and little Diana sat +between two of the circus girls and was petted, and laughed at, and +made much of, and Orion kept close to Aunt Sarah, who took care that +he should have as many tit-bits as she could manage to secure for him. + +At three o'clock there was a public performance, but now neither Diana +nor Orion was allowed to be present. They found themselves shut up +once more in the ugly little room, where Mother Rodesia had first +taken them. From this place they could hear as a sort of distant echo +the shouts of the men and women who were performing, and the cheers of +the people who were looking on. + +At six o'clock the performance came to an end, and then, indeed, began +a fearful bustle and excitement. People were running here, there, and +everywhere, and, two hours later, the great vans were all packed, the +animals properly secured, and the party, with the exception of Aunt +Sarah, Diana, and Orion, had started _en route_ for the west of +England. + +"Why isn't we going with the others?" asked Diana. + +"'Cos the train is faster, little miss," answered Aunt Sarah. "And now +the cab is at the door, and, if you will jump in at once we will be at +the station in no time." + +"I calls it lovely," said Diana, turning to secure Orion's approval. +"I like it miles better nor lessons with Miss Wamsay nor being beated +by Aunt Jane. Only, course," she added, in a meditative voice, "I's +twuly, twuly sossy for Uncle William and Iris and Apollo." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE HEART OF THE LITTLE MOTHER. + + +It may seem almost impossible to believe that two little children +could be kidnaped in the England of to-day. Nevertheless, such was the +case. Mother Rodesia had managed her theft with great skill. The +gypsies had appeared unexpectedly in the Fairy Dell--no one knew they +were there, therefore no one looked for them. Having kidnaped the +children, Mother Rodesia took care immediately to bury their clothes, +and then she sold them to Ben Holt, the great circus manager, who took +them within a few hours right away to the southwest of England. The +little children had not accompanied the _troupe_, but had gone with +Aunt Sarah by train. There had been little fuss and no apparent +attempt at hiding the pair, therefore no one thought of looking for +them in the large southwestern town where Holt established his great +circus. + +It was the most popular time of the year for performing shows of all +sorts, and Ben Holt expected to make a considerable sum of money out +of the pretty and vivacious little pair. + +Meanwhile, the police were on their track; advertisements about them +were scattered all over the country--considerable rewards were +offered, and there was more than one nearly broken heart in the pretty +Rectory of Super-Ashton. + +Even Aunt Jane felt by no means herself. She would not own to having +done anything wrong, but she became wonderfully gentle to Iris and +Apollo. She was unremitting, too, in her efforts to recover the lost +children, and began to look quite peaky about the face and lined round +the mouth. + +As to Uncle William, he preached nothing but old sermons, finding it +beyond his powers to devote his attention to anything fresh or new. He +hated the study window where little Diana had lain in his arms--he +hated the memory of the whip which he had used over her. On one +occasion he even went the length of saying to his wife: + +"Jane, it was your doing--she was too spirited a child for the +treatment you subjected her to. She ought never to have been whipped. +But for you she would not have run away." + +This was a very terrible moment for Aunt Jane, and she was too much +cowed and stricken to reply a single word to her husband. He could not +help, notwithstanding his great anxiety, having a momentary sense of +pleasure when he found that he had got the upper hand of his clever +wife; but Aunt Jane had it out with the servants and the parishioners +afterwards, and so revenged herself after a fashion. + +As to Iris, a very sad change came over her. She grew thin and very +pale; she scarcely ate anything, and scarcely ever spoke. Even Apollo, +even little Ann quite failed to comfort her. She did not complain, but +she went about with a drooping look, somewhat like a little flower +which wants water. + +"Iris is not well," Miss Ramsay said one morning to Mrs. Dolman. "She +does not eat her food, and when I went into her bedroom last night I +found that she was wide awake, and had evidently been silently crying. +I think she ought to see a doctor!" + +"Dear, dear!" replied Mrs. Dolman. "Do you know, Miss Ramsay, I am +almost sorry I undertook the charge of the little Delaneys. They +certainly have turned out, as their poor father expressed it, a +handful. If Iris is really ill, I had better see her. Send her to me. +You don't suppose she is--fretting?" + +"Yes; of course she is fretting dreadfully," replied Miss Ramsay. "And +no wonder, poor little girl! For my part, I consider it perfectly +awful to contemplate the fate of those poor lost children." + +"Oh, they will be found--they are likely to return here any day," +replied Mrs. Dolman. "It is just like you, Miss Ramsay, to go to the +fair with things, and to imagine the very worst. Why, for instance, +should not some very kind people have found the children? Why must +they, as a matter of course, have fallen into the hands of cruel and +unprincipled folk? Some of the very sharpest detectives in Scotland +Yard are on their track. For my part, I have not the slightest doubt +that they will soon be brought back." + +Miss Ramsay uttered a sigh. + +"I will send Iris down to speak to you," she said. + +This conversation occurred between three and four weeks after little +Orion and Diana had disappeared. Mrs. Dolman was in her study. It was +a very ugly room, sparsely furnished. There was a large, old-fashioned +desk in the center of the room, and she was seated in an armchair in +front of it, busily engaged making up her different tradesmen's books, +when the door was softly opened and Iris came in. + +Mrs. Dolman had not had any special conversation with Iris since the +mysterious disappearance of the two younger children, and now, as she +raised her eyes and looked at her attentively, she was startled at +the great change in her appearance. The child was reduced almost to a +shadow. She was dressed in her heavy black, without a touch of +relieving white. Her lovely hair hung over her shoulders, and was +pushed back from her low brow, bringing into greater contrast the +small, pinched, white face, and the great brown eyes, which looked now +too big for the little countenance to which they belonged. + +"Come here, Iris," said Mrs. Dolman. She had always liked Iris the +best of the children. "Come and tell me what is the matter." + +Iris came slowly forward. + +"Miss Ramsay says that you do not eat and do not sleep. If that is the +case, I must send for the doctor to see you," continued Aunt Jane. + +"Yes, Aunt Jane," answered Iris. + +She hung her head listlessly. Mrs. Dolman put her arm round the +slender waist and drew the child close to her side. Iris submitted to +this embrace without in any way returning it. + +"And when you see the doctor he will, of course, order you a tonic, +and perhaps tell us to take you to the seaside. If that is the case, +we must do so, Iris--we must do our duty by you, whatever happens. It +would never do for you to be ill, you understand." + +"Yes, Aunt Jane," answered Iris; "that's what I think myself--it would +never do." + +"Then you will try to get well, dear? You will do exactly what the +doctor says?" + +"Yes, Aunt Jane." + +Mrs. Dolman looked earnestly into her little niece's face. + +"You know," she said, in a brisk voice, "I am, for my part, quite +certain that we shall get tidings of the lost children either to-day +or to-morrow. We are not leaving a stone unturned to get them back." + +Iris raised her delicate brows, and for a moment there came a flashing +light of hope into her eyes; but then it died out. She lowered her +lashes and did not speak. + +"You are pale, and your hands are hot," said Mrs. Dolman. + +"I feel hot," answered Iris, "and I am thirsty," she added. + +"Oh, come! this will never do," said Aunt Jane. "I shall just take you +away this minute to see the doctor." + +She rose impatiently as she spoke. The apathy which was over Iris +irritated her more than she could express. If the child had only burst +into tears, or even defied her as little Diana used to do, she felt +that she could comprehend matters a great deal better. + +"If we are quick, we may see Dr. Kent before he goes on his rounds," +she said. "Run upstairs at once, Iris, and fetch your hat." + +Iris immediately left the room. + +"The child looks as if something had stunned her," thought Mrs. Dolman +to herself. "I never saw such a queer expression on any little girl's +face. Now, I am quite certain if Philip or Conrad had been kidnaped, +that Lucy and Mary would be a great deal too sensible to act in this +silly way. The worst of it is, too, that there is nothing really to +lay hold of, for the child does not even complain--she simply suffers. +What am I to do? How am I to tell the children's father that two of +them have disappeared, and the eldest, his favorite, too, is very +ill?" + +Iris re-entered the room, with her sun-bonnet hanging on her arm. + +"Put it on, my dear, put it on; and brisk up a little," said Mrs. +Dolman. "There is no good in giving way to your feelings." + +"I never give way to them, Aunt Jane. I try to be patient," answered +Iris. + +Mrs. Dolman tied on her own bonnet with her usual vigor. She then took +one of the hot little hands in hers, and, a few moments later, the +aunt and niece were standing outside Dr. Kent's door in the pretty +little village street. + +Dr. Kent was at home. He was a young man, and a clever doctor, and he +gave Iris a good overhauling. He listened to her lungs and heart, put +several questions to her, was kind in his manner, and did not express +the least surprise when he heard that the little girl could neither +eat nor sleep. + +"I perfectly understand," he said. "And now, my dear, I hope soon to +have you as right as a trivet; but, in the meantime, I should like to +have a little talk with your aunt. Can you find your way into my +dining room? You have only to turn to the left when you leave this +room." + +"Thank you," answered Iris. She went to the door, opened it, and shut +it behind her. + +"Now, what do you think about her?" said Aunt Jane. "Out with the +truth, please, Dr. Kent. You know I never can stand any beating about +the bush." + +"There is nothing of the ordinary nature the matter with your little +niece," began the doctor. + +Mrs. Dolman raised her brows in surprise and indignation. + +"How can you say that?" she remarked. "The child looks seriously ill." + +"Please allow me to finish my speech. There is nothing the matter with +the child in the form of organic or any other disease; but just at +present there is such a severe strain on her mind that, if it is not +completely relieved, she is very likely to die." + +"Doctor! What a terrible thing to say!" + +"It is true. The child needs rousing--she is losing all interest in +life. She has been subjected to a terrible shock." + +"Of course she has," replied Mrs. Dolman; "but the extraordinary thing +is that a child of ten years of age should feel it so much." + +"It is not extraordinary in that sort of child," replied the doctor. +"Can you not see for yourself that she has a very delicate and a very +nervous organism. She has lately, too, lost her mother, has she not?" + +"Yes; and I believe the child was very fond of her; but, indeed, I may +as well say that I never saw anyone more sensible than little Iris +about that. She scarcely seemed to grieve at all. Of course, I dare +say she was very sorry, but she did not show it." + +"All the worse for her," answered Dr. Kent. "If she had given way +about her mother, and allowed her grief to get the upper hand, she +would not be so ill as she is now. Then came the second blow--the +extraordinary loss of the children." + +"Then you really think her very ill?" said Mrs. Dolman. "I would do +anything to save her, doctor. These four children were put into my +care by their father." + +"Where is the father now?" asked Dr. Kent. + +"He must have nearly reached the Himalayas by this time." + +"Is it possible for you to communicate with him?" + +"To say the truth, I have hesitated to do so. He suffered terribly at +the death of his wife. It would be fearful for him to learn that two +of the children are missing, and one very ill. I have waited, hoping +for better news." + +"You did wrong. He ought to know of this calamity. Each day that does +not give you tidings of the missing children lessens the chance of +your ever recovering them. I must say their disappearance is most +mysterious." + +"So it is," answered Aunt Jane suddenly. "And in my heart of hearts," +she added, "I am greatly alarmed." + +"Well, if I were you, I would send a cablegram to the address most +likely to find Mr. Delaney." + +"If you think it right." + +"I do. It is the only thing to do. He ought to come home immediately. +That little girl ought to have her father with her." + +"Then your opinion is that Iris is very ill?" + +"She is on her way to be very ill. At the same time, if her mind is +relieved, she will be well in a week. Under existing circumstances, +however, there seems but small chance of that. You ought to +communicate with the father, and if I were you I would let the child +do something herself--even if that something is useless--to try to +recover her lost brother and sister." + +"What do you mean? It really is impossible for the child to go over +the country looking for Orion and Diana. Oh, what trouble I brought +upon myself when I undertook the care of my brother's family!" + +"I am very sorry for you, Mrs. Dolman, but I must give you my true +opinion. Please act on my suggestion; I am sure you will not regret +it. Communicate with the father in the quickest way possible, urge him +to return to London without fail, and give little Iris something to do +which will occupy and satisfy her mind. In the meantime I will order +her a tonic, but medicines are not what she needs. She requires mind +rest, and nothing else will make her well." + +Mrs. Dolman left Dr. Kent's house, feeling very uncomfortable. She +took Iris home, was wonderfully gentle to her during the walk, and +sent her up to the schoolroom with a message to Miss Ramsay to say +that she was not to do any more lessons that morning. Having got rid +of Iris, she went immediately to have an interview with her husband in +his study. + +"Well, William," she said, "I own myself beaten." + +"My dear Jane--beaten? In what way?" + +"Here's a pretty mess," continued Mrs. Dolman; "Orion and Diana cannot +be found, and Dr. Kent says that Iris is going to be very ill." + +"Iris going to be ill?" repeated Mr. Dolman. "Has she caught anything +taking. If so, Jane, it would be our duty to separate the children +immediately." + +"Oh, nonsense, William! Where would she take a catching complaint in a +wholesome, well-sanitated rectory like this? Have you never heard of +nerve troubles?" + +Mr. Dolman opened his sleepy eyes and stared full at his wife. + +"My dear," he said, "I often thought that _you_ had never heard of +them. So you really believe in them at last?" + +"I am forced to when that pretty child is dying from the effects of +them." + +Mrs. Dolman then repeated to her husband all that Dr. Kent had said. + +"I cannot stand the responsibility any longer," she said. "I will send +a cablegram to David this very day. What will he think of me? Of +course he will never forgive me. In the meantime, William, have you +anything to propose about little Iris?" + +"Yes," answered Mr. Dolman. "There may not be much in my suggestion; +but the fact is, I feel dreadfully restless, sitting here day after +day, doing nothing." + +"William, what do you mean?" answered his wife. "Sitting here day +after day, doing nothing! Have you not your parish to attend to?" + +"Oh, I don't mean that--you attend to the parish, my love." + +"Thank you, William, for acknowledging that fact at last." + +"I frankly acknowledge it. Then, too, we have no sick poor in the +parish, and everything is really in a prosperous condition; but the +fact is, I hate sitting down to my comfortable meals, and lying down +at night on my comfortable bed, not knowing in what part of the world +dear, spirited little Diana may be. I don't think half so much about +the boy as little Diana." + +"You are like all the rest of your sex, William; you are taken by a +child because it happens to be a girl and has a pair of black eyes. +For my part, I never could bear little Diana." + +"Please don't say that now." + +"Oh, it is not that I am not sorry for her; of course, I am dreadfully +sorry, and I acknowledge--I do acknowledge--that I have been more or +less to blame. But now, please, come to the point--you always were +such a man for going round and round a subject." + +"Well, then," said Mr. Dolman, "this is it. The doctor wishes Iris to +be roused. Let me take both her and Apollo, and let us begin to look +for the lost children." + +"And do you suppose," answered Mrs. Dolman, with a laugh, "that you +will be more likely to find the children than the clever detectives +who are on their track?" + +"We can go to London and take a detective with us. Iris will at once +feel happier if she is doing something. The fact is this: I am certain +the inaction is killing her." + +"It is an extraordinary plan," said Mrs. Dolman; "but after all, if it +is the only way to keep Iris alive, I suppose we must consider it. +But, William, I am the suitable one to take Iris and Apollo about. +Indeed, why should Apollo go at all? He at least is in perfect +health." + +"The person to consider is Iris," said Mr. Dolman. "She will confide +in Apollo when she will not confide in anyone else; and I think, +Jane," he added, looking very strong and determined, "that she would +rather go with me than with you." Mrs. Dolman flushed. "You know, +Jane," continued her husband, "you have been a little hard on these +children." + +"Perhaps so," answered Mrs. Dolman, "and when I have tried to do my +duty, too. But, of course, Evangeline's children were likely to be +unmanageable; they had such extraordinary training when they were +babies. However, as matters stand, I have not a word to say." + +"Then, my dear, we will consider the thing arranged. We can easily get +John Burroughs to lend us one of his curates for Sunday, and you will +do all the rest. Now, shall I see Iris and submit the plan to her?" + +"An extraordinary plan it is," answered Mrs. Dolman; "but perhaps you +are right, William. At any rate, I have proved myself so completely in +the wrong that I am willing on this occasion to be guided by you." + +She rose from her seat, left the room, and went up to the schoolroom. + +"Iris," she said to the little girl, "I want you and Apollo to come +downstairs immediately." + +Iris sprang to her feet; she grew white to her lips. + +"Have you heard anything?" she asked. + +"No, my dear, nothing--nothing whatever; only your uncle wishes to +speak to you. Now, come at once, for he is not the sort of man to be +kept waiting." + +Mrs. Dolman left the room and the children followed her. When they +reached the study, Iris went straight up to her uncle. + +"What do you want with me, Uncle William?" she asked. + +"The fact is this," he answered, scarcely looking at her, and speaking +with great eagerness and emphasis for him; "you and I, Iris, have got +to do something, and there is not a moment to delay." + +A great flood of color filled Iris' cheeks, a new light darted into +her eyes. + +"Oh, yes, Uncle William," she said, panting as she spoke, "we have +been doing nothing too long. It has nearly killed me, Uncle William," +she added. + +"Then, my dear, we will just be our own detectives--you and I and +Apollo. We will start this very afternoon; we will look for the +children ourselves. Why, what is the matter, my dear; what is the +matter? What are you doing?" + +For little Iris had fallen on her knees, had caught her uncle's hand +in both of hers, and was pressing it frantically to her lips. + +"Oh, Uncle William," she said, "how can I thank you? I promised mother +the day she died that I would be a little mother to the others, and I +have failed, I have failed dreadfully, and it is killing me, Uncle +William. But oh, if I can find them again, and if you will really help +me, and if we do start to-day--oh, if this is true, then I am happy +again." + +"You observe, my dear Jane," said Mr. Dolman, "that my proposal seems +to be correct. Now, run off, Iris, and get Simpson to pack some +clothes for you and Apollo. We will leave Super-Ashton by the three +o'clock train." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +"A PIGMY I CALL HIM." + + +The seaside town of Madersley was crowded to excess. It was the height +of the summer season, and Holt's circus was doing a roaring trade. +There were two exhibitions daily, and every available corner in the +great tent was crammed to excess. The spectators said that they came +principally to see the little dark-eyed girl ride. For Diana had taken +to the life almost as kindly as a young duck takes to the water. She +had learned her part quickly, and in a very short time she could ride +even the most spirited horse. She was really almost destitute of fear, +and was even seen to laugh when she was put upon the back of a +buck-jumper, who did his utmost to toss her off. There were always men +or women close by to catch her if she did fail to go through any of +the rings, the large paper balloons, or the other obstructions put in +her way. Her piquant little face, the bold expression of her eyes, her +fearless manner, and the unmistakable look of babyhood about her, +roused the spectators to a frenzy of admiration. + +But though Diana did well and delighted Ben Holt, Orion by no means +followed her example. Put to the test, poor little Orion had little of +the real giant about him. He was an ordinary little boy, with pretty +black eyes and a good-humored, somewhat touching expression of face, +but Diana was anything but an ordinary girl. + +Orion, having slipped once or twice from the back of Greased +Lightning, became terribly afraid of the beast, and always turned +white to his little lips when he was going through his exercises. As a +rule, Ben Holt always trained the novices himself, and although he was +kind to Diana, he soon began to have a thorough contempt for little +Orion. + +"He's a peaky little chap," he said to his wife. "Why, he aint even +worth the twenty shillin's I paid for 'im. Now the little 'un--the +gal--there's a fortune in her; but the boy--I have no patience with +the boy." + +Meanwhile, he began to use rough language and threats to the child, +and once or twice he even touched the little fellow with his great +whip. On this occasion Orion lost every scrap of nerve he possessed, +and fell flat down upon the sanded floor of the arena, shivering and +crying painfully. Diana did not happen to be present. When she was by, +small child that she was, Uncle Ben never showed at his worst, and +Orion, looking round now in vain for his sister, gave himself up for +lost. + +"Now listen to me, you young villain," said the tyrant; "I'll force +you to do what I want. You get on Greased Lightning's back this very +minute." + +Little Orion struggled painfully to his feet. A good-natured girl, who +stood near, tried to say a word in his favor. + +"Don't you forget that he's very young, Ben Holt," she said. "It will +be all the worse for you if you are too hard on the little kid." + +"I'll thank you not to give me any of your sauce, Susan Jenkins," was +the angry reply. + +Susan Jenkins, a pretty, slight, fair-haired girl, who went by the +graceful name of Ariel in the circus programme, did not venture to say +anything further, but in her heart she resolved to give Diana a hint +of the true state of the case. + +Orion was once more lifted on Greased Lightning's back, and the +manager cracking his whip, the beautiful horse began to trot round and +round the arena. At first the creature went fairly quietly, and Orion +managed to keep his seat. His piteous white face, the black shadows +under his eyes, his little trembling hands were noticed, however, by +Susan. She kept near on purpose and tried to encourage him by smiles +and nods. When he passed close to her he heard her hearty voice +saying, "Well done, little chap! You jest stick on and you'll be as +right as a trivet." + +A strangled sob by way of answer rose in Orion's throat. Alas! he knew +only too well that he could not stick on. Louder and faster grew the +crack of the manager's whip, and faster and fleeter trotted Greased +Lightning. It was impossible for Orion to keep his seat; he had +nothing to cling to, nothing to hold on to. + +"You will have to do all this before the company to-morrow," called +out the manager; "and now, no more of that easy sitting still. You +jest scramble to your feet and _stand_ on the 'orse's back." + +"I can't! I'll be killed!" cried the child, whose face was white to +his very lips. + +Crack went the great whip. + +"Stand up this minute, or you'll have a taste of this about your +legs," said the man, in a brutal tone. + +In deadly fear the little fellow struggled to his feet; he looked +wildly round him, the horse trotted forward, the child fell on his +face and hands and clutched hold of the black mane. This enraged the +spirited beast, who began to dance and curvet about, and the next +moment, but for the speedy interference of Susan Jenkins, little Orion +would have measured his length upon the floor. Even as it was he was +hurt and shaken, and lay weeping and trembling in her arms. + +"Now, Susan, you jest listen to me," said Holt, in an enraged voice. +"I aint a-goin' to stand this sort of thing. That little chap has got +to learn his lesson or he don't stay here; he is not a patch on his +sister, but he shall learn his part. I has it all arranged that them +two children is to appear in public to-morrow, and the boy must help +the gal. The gal will do her work right well, but the boy must help +her. It's the look of the two, and they so young, that I reckon on to +fill the house. I'm determined that a mite of that sort shan't beat +me. He could have stood on the horse's back if he had had a mind. He +has disobeyed me and he shall be punished. You take 'im and lock 'im +up in the black cage." + +The black cage was a terrible place, in which some of the fiercer +animals were put from time to time to train them. It really consisted +of a huge box without windows, but with one or two small ventilating +shafts in the door. On rare occasions, when thoroughly enraged, the +manager had been known to lock a refractory member of the troupe up +there; but such a punishment had never been given to a child before. + +"Oh, no, Ben Holt! You can't mean that," said Susan. "Why, it'll +frighten him awful, and it do smell so bad of the last leopard." + +But for this answer the poor girl only got a crack of the whip round +her ankles. + +What might have really happened at the end is not known; but suddenly +at this juncture the swing door was flung open and little Diana +marched in. She held her head well back, and trotted boldly into the +center of the arena. + +"Dear, dear, what's all this fuss?" she cried out in her frank, hearty +voice. "Uncle Ben, is anybody a-vexing of you?" + +"Yes, my dear; that little brother of yours. You jest tell him to do +his duty." + +"Oh, Diana, Diana! he's killing me!" sobbed little Orion. He struggled +out of Susan's arms, flew to his sister, flung the whole weight of his +little body against her, and gave way to a fresh agony of howling and +weeping. + +Diana's black eyes flashed. + +"You stay k'iet. Orion; 'member you is a giant," she said, speaking in +a whisper to the boy. "I's here, and I'll look after you. You stay +k'iet. Now, Uncle Ben, what's all this?" + +"Only that silly boy won't ride Greased Lightning. He won't even stand +on the 'orse, let alone leap through the rings and the balloons." + +"Is that all?" said Diana, her eyes gleaming. "But I can do all that; +I can do all that beautiful. _Dear_ G'eased Lightning!" She unclasped +Orion's arms from her neck and trotted across the stage. She ran up to +the great chestnut and began to stroke its nose. The creature licked +her little hand and looked affectionately down at her small figure. + +"Uncle Ben," she said suddenly, "I isn't going to have Orion punished; +you isn't to do it; give him to me. You can't do anything with a +little sild like that if you fwighten him. Give him to me, Uncle Ben; +I'll manage him." + +"But what are you but a little child yourself?" said Uncle Ben. + +"Yes, but I is made different. Nothing fwightens me. I aren't afeared +of nothing, and I aren't afeared of you, Uncle Ben, so don't you begin +to think I is." + +"Never seed sech a child," said Uncle Ben, once more restored to good +humor. "Jest notice that perfect demon of a 'orse, how 'e takes to +'er. Never seed anything like it afore. Well, missy, and if you can +manage your brother I'm sure I'll be only too pleased, but jest you +remember this--you are both to go before the footlights to-morrow for +the public to see. I has never had that young 'un on the stage yet, +but he's to ride with you to-morrow." + +"So he shall, Uncle Ben; course you will, won't you, Orion?" + +"With you, Di," sobbed Orion; "if you are close to me, Di." + +"Course I'll be close to you, Orion. I is the gweat Diana. Well, Uncle +Ben, you isn't going to punish him. If you punish him he can't wide, +'cos he'll be ill. He's a giant." + +"A pigmy I call him," said Uncle Ben. + +"You talk silly," replied Diana; "he's a giant, 'cos mother said he +was, and on starful nights you can see him shining in the sky." + +"Bless you, child, don't take up any more of my time talking that +gibberish." + +"Well, he's not to be punished, 'cos I say he isn't. He's coming with +me now to his dinner. Come 'long, Orion, this minute; I has come to +fetch you. Good-by, Uncle Ben." + +Uncle Ben did not utter a word. Orion and Diana left the arena, hand +in hand. + +"What about the black cage now, mister?" said the circus girl, with a +sneer. + +"Hang me, if I know what the world's coming to!" said Uncle Ben, +scratching his head. "I can do nothing agen that little gal--she's the +'cutest, sharpest, bravest little cuss I ever come across." + +"She's got the upper hand of you, leastways," said Susan, with a +laugh; "and, for my part," she added, "I am right glad. I don't want +that pore little kid to be used hard." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +"LET'S PERTEND," SAID DIANA. + + +The circus was crowded that evening, but neither Diana nor Orion put +in an appearance. They were to make their grand _début_ together on +the following day, for hitherto only Diana had ridden in public. They +were left now in the little room, all alone, but as they were together +that did not matter at all to them. Orion's weary head rested against +his sister's shoulder. Her stout little arm was flung round his waist; +he was fast asleep, but there were traces of tears on his pale cheeks. +It seemed a very long time now to little Orion since all the world had +altered for him. From being a beautiful place, full of lovely gardens, +and lovely homes, and kind people--from being full of snug little beds +to sleep in, and nice food to eat, and loving services of all +sorts--it had suddenly turned and shown its black face to the tenderly +nurtured little boy. Rough words were now his portion; he had a hard +bed to lie on, very insufficient and very poor food to eat, and in +addition to these things, blows and kicks were measured out to him +with a very liberal hand. Besides these fearful things, he was +expected to do what terrified him into the very core of his somewhat +timorous heart. Until he had been kidnaped by Mother Rodesia he had +never known that he was really timid, but now this side of his nature +had come to the fore. Day by day he grew more and more frightened, +and for the last fortnight he really lost his appetite, and his health +began to fail. He refused to eat the coarse and insufficient food, and +when he slept his sleep was broken by bad dreams. Little Diana knew +that there was something very wrong the matter, but she could not +quite tell what. She had a very energetic little brain, however, and +it was working now hard in Orion's behalf. + +The noise and shouts made by the circus people were distinctly audible +to the two little children. Orion raised his head, looked around him +with a terrified glance, and began to cry feebly. + +"Is Uncle Ben coming? Have I got to ride Greased Lightning? Di, are +you there? are you close to me?" + +"Course I is," answered Diana. "Orion, don't you be such a silly; I is +with you. There's nothing going to happen." + +"Nothing? Are you certain sure?" asked the child. + +"K'ite. I is with you, Orion; don't you be fwightened; there's nothing +going to happen." + +Orion leaned comfortably back against the fat little shoulder. + +"P'w'aps you is a bit hung'y," said Diana. "There's bwead and milk on +the table; Aunt Sawah left it. Shall we eat our supper afore we +talks?" + +"I can't eat," replied Orion. "I'm not a scrap hungry; I am never +hungry now. I wonder you can eat, Diana." + +"Course I can eat," replied Diana; "I aren't a silly. I has got to +wide G'eased Lightning. I love G'eased Lightning. Don't know why you +is fwightened of him." + +"But I am to ride Pole Star, and he's worse than Greased Lightning," +replied Orion. + +"Well, you listen to me," said Diana, speaking in a very firm and +authoritative voice. "See, I am eating up my supper, and you had best +have some with me. I'll sit by you on the floor, if you like, and feed +you same as if you was a baby." + +"But you are younger nor me," said Orion, with a little laugh; "seems, +though, as if you were much older." + +"Can't help that," answered Diana; "can't help feelin' old, whether we +is nor not. You is almost a baby--I is k'ite a big girl. Now, open +your mouth; I am going to pop in some food. Here's a vedy nice piece +of bwead." + +Orion did what Diana wished, but he could scarcely eat. Tears came +suddenly into his eyes. + +"I wish I was dead, like poor Rub-a-Dub," he said, after a pause; "I +wish I was lying in the beautiful garden, in the cemetery part with +Rub-a-Dub." + +"Oh, don't be such a silly!" said Diana. "You has a lot to do afore +you is deaded. Don't forget that you is a star and a giant." + +"No, that I aren't," said the child. "Oh, Di! if mother was here she +would be disappointed, for I am not a star, nor yet a giant. I'm just +the frightenest little boy in the world." + +"I has thought of a plan," said Diana very calmly. "You shan't wide +Pole Star to-morrow; you shall wide G'eased Lightning." + +"But I am nearly as frightened of one horse as the other." + +"I know G'eased Lightning k'ite well by this time," continued Diana, +"and if I are there he'll be gentle. You shall wide him, and I'll wide +Pole Star." + +"But I heard Uncle Ben say that I was to have the other horse." + +"Never you mind that. What does that si'nify? I'll manage. I'm not +fwightened of any horse that ever walked. If I are there, and if I +look at G'eased Lightning, he'll be as good as good can be, and you +must just keep looking at me, Orion, and do the things that I do. When +you see me standing on Pole Star you must stand on your two foots on +G'eased Lightning, and when we fly faster and faster you must still +keep looking at me, and when I jump through the wings you must do the +same, and then, Orion, then, why, it will be over. Now, bend down; I'm +going to whisper something to you." + +Orion bent his ear with deep interest. + +"You don't mean it?" he said, when Diana had said some very energetic +words in a low voice. + +"Yes, I does. Does I say things I doesn't mean? I means it twuly, +twuly. You wide G'eased Lightning, and then--then it'll all be over." + +"Oh, I really think I can, if you are _quite_ sure," said Orion. His +little face brightened up, two fever spots came into his cheeks; his +eyes shone. + +"Are you quite sure, Di?" he said. + +"Pos'tive certain. Now, lie down if you like, and go to s'eep." + +"I could eat a bit more supper," said Orion. "I'm kind of hungry now +that you has told me you is positive, Di." + +"All wight," answered Diana. "There's a teeny dwop of milk left. +Course I was hungry and thirsty, and my trof was dry, but you shall +drink up the last dwop of milk. Here now, isn't you better?" + +"I am really, truly," said Orion; "but are you quite certain it's +true, Di?" + +"K'ite. Do you think I would tell a lie? I is the _gweat_ Diana. You +is sort of forgetting, Orion." + +"No, I aren't," said Orion. "Oh, I am happy now!" + +"Well, lie down. I'll make up your bed, and you shall go to s'eep. We +has a lot to do to-morrow, hasn't we?" + +"Yes, a lot," answered Orion, with a little laugh. "Oh, Di! will they +let us?" + +"Course they'll let us," said Diana. "I has it all settled beautiful. +Now, go to s'eep, p'ease, Orion." + +Orion did very soon enter the land of dreams, but little Diana lay +broad awake. She was thinking hard, and her thoughts were wonderfully +sensible for such a baby. + +The performance at the circus had turned out a great success. Diana +had already appeared once or twice on Greased Lightning's back, but +Ben Holt now kept her out of sight on purpose. He had caused rumors to +be spread about her wonderful riding; his aim was to make people very +anxious to see her again. He wanted the public to have a sort of +craving for her. He hoped that when she finally appeared, dressed as +the great Diana, with the bow and arrows, and when little Orion +accompanied her with his girdle round his waist, and a sword in his +hand, and when the two children rode round and round the circus on the +fleetest horses in the company, that they would in very truth bring +down the house--in short, that crowds would come to see them. + +Uncle Ben was full of hope with regard to Diana, but he was by no +means so sure as far as Orion was concerned. If Orion would not play +his part well, and look what he was--one of the prettiest boys in +England, and one of the very youngest who had ever appeared in a +circus--why, half the effect would be lost. He began to perceive, +however, that cruelty had little or no effect on the child, and he was +inclined to allow that little genius, Diana, to manage him in her own +way. + +That night when the entertainment had come to an end, and Uncle Ben +was seated at his cozy supper, he was much surprised when the door of +the room was pushed suddenly open and a small girl, clad in a little +white nightdress, made her appearance. + +"Is my dear Uncle Ben anywhere about?" called out the clear little +voice. + +"My word! if that aint little Diana," said the man. "Come here this +minute, you little romp, and get on my knee." + +Diana flew up to him, climbed on his knee, put her arms round his +neck, and kissed him. + +"You's sort o' fond of me, I'm thinking," she said. + +"Yes, that I be, missy," he answered; "you are the 'cutest little gal +I ever seed, and you are fond of poor Uncle Ben, eh?" + +"It all apends," replied Diana. + +"Now what do you mean by that, missy?" + +"It all apends," she repeated. + +"Wife, can you understand her?" questioned the man. + +"I think she means that it all depends, Ben." + +"Oh, depends--on what now, my dear?" + +"On whether you is good to my bwother or not." + +"Oh, is that all? Well, I'll be good to 'im." + +"He's awfu' fwightened of you." + +"Well, he needn't be. If you'll manage him I won't say a word." + +"Won't you twuly? Then I love you," said Diana. "Now, listen to me--I +has been a-talking to him." + +"That's right, missy. Have a sip of my stout, won't you?" + +"No; I don't like it; it's black, nasty stuff. Put it away; I won't +touch it. Well, now, listen to me, Uncle Ben. It apends altogether on +whether you is good to Orion to-morrow or not whether he wides well, +or whether he wides badly, and what I think is this--" + +"Well, missy, you are a very wise little miss for your age." + +"What I think is this," repeated Diana. "Let Orion wide G'eased +Lightning and let me wide Pole Star." + +"But you can do anything with Greased Lightning," said the man. "Why, +the 'orse fairly loves you, and Pole Star's a rare and wicious sort of +beast." + +"I aren't fwightened; that aren't me," said Diana, in her usual proud, +confident tone. "Orion isn't to wide a wicious sort of beast." + +She slipped down from the man's knees and stood before him. + +"It aren't me to be fwightened of any horse," she said. "I never was +and I never will be." + +"I believe yer, miss," said Uncle Ben, gazing at her with great +admiration. + +"But Orion he is--he is awfu' fwightened of Pole Star, and he sha'n't +wide him. Now, G'eased Lightning, he'll do anything for me, and so +what I say is this--let Orion wide him, and if he begins to dance +about and get sort of fidgety, why, I'll stwoke him down. You know I +could pwactice widing a little on Pole Star in the morning." + +"To be sure you could, missy." + +"Oh, my dear Ben," said Aunt Sarah at that moment, "you are never +a-going to let either of them little kids ride a 'orse like Pole +Star?" + +"You let me manage my own affairs," said the man, scowling angrily. + +"Well, I call it a shame," answered the woman. + +"Poor Aunt Sawah! you needn't be fwightened," said Diana. "I is never +fwightened; that aren't me. I'll wide Pole Star, and Orion, he'll wide +G'eased Lightning, _only_--now, Uncle Ben, is you listening?" + +"Yes, to be sure I am, missy," said Uncle Ben, taking another deep +draught from his big glass of stout. "What's the 'only,' little miss?" + +"Let's pertend," said Diana. + +"Pretend what, missy?" + +"That after Orion has done it, after he has wode G'eased Lightning, he +may go 'way." + +"Go away, missy?" + +"Yes, let's pertend it. If he thinks he's going away after he has done +it, why, there's nothing he won't twy to do, 'cos, you see, he's +longing to go. Let's say this to him: 'Orion, you's good boy, you's +darlin' boy, and when you has done what I want you to do, you shall go +way'--then he'll do it beaut'ful." + +"But he aint a-going," said the man, "he's my property. I has bought +him; I has bought you both. You are sort of slaves to me." + +"No, I aren't a slave to nobody," said Diana, whose fierce little +blood could not brook this word. + +"Well, you are a very good little gal, and so I am to pretend to Orion +that he's going away; but now, when I don't mean him to go, that seems +sort of cruel." + +"Oh, you leave it to me!" said Diana; "let him think he's going away +and I'll manage. Tell Susan to tell him, and tell Aunt Sawah to tell +him, and you tell him, and I'll tell him, and then he'll be as good as +good, and as bwave--as bwave as a big giant." + +"Well, my dear, manage it your own way," said Uncle Ben; "but, all the +same, it seems a shame. I aint what's called a very soft sort of man, +but it seems a shame to deceive a little kid; only you manage it your +own way, little missy." + +"I'll manage it my own way," echoed Diana. "I'm awfu' 'bliged." + +She tripped gayly out of the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +POLE STAR. + + +The next day, at an early hour, the different performers had a grand +rehearsal of their parts. It was a dress rehearsal. Holt was in high +spirits, and Aunt Sarah, who stood just in front of the circus, petted +and encouraged both Diana and Orion as much as possible. Orion felt +shaky and looked very white, but the delicious thought that, after he +had gone through those few minutes of agony, he might really be free +to run away, to leave the dreadful, terrible circus forever, sustained +him wonderfully. Diana had assured him that this could be managed. She +had told him that Uncle Ben had promised that if he was a brave boy +and sat well on Greased Lightning, and stood up when necessary, and, +in short, went through the ordeal set him to do, without a murmur, he +should be allowed to leave the circus that evening. It mattered +nothing at all to little Orion that he did not know where he was to +go, that he was a penniless and very small, very ignorant boy. The one +object on which all his hopes were centered was the desire to get away +from Uncle Ben and the terrible horses which he was forced to ride. + +"Now, 'member, you is to be bwave," said Diana; "you isn't to be +fwightened. If you's fwightened, Uncle Ben won't let you go. You just +be as bwave as possible, and never mind nobody. Now, then, it's your +turn. Come 'long." + +Orion looked charming in his pretty dress. He wore a little sky-blue +tunic, with small, tight knickers of white; his little legs and feet +were bare, round his waist was a crimson girdle, and at his side was +attached a toy sword. + +Diana wore a silk skirt and tights, her curling black hair fell partly +over her forehead; her bold, black eyes were full of a strange mixture +of frolic, affection, and defiance. She looked the personification of +healthy life and courageous fire. In her hand she held the bow of +Diana, and round her neck was slung a couple of arrows. She was a +wonderfully graceful child in all her movements, and looked charming +in her picturesque dress. + +The call for the children came, and the two bounded on the stage. The +moment they did so, Diana ran up to Uncle Ben and took hold of the +great whip which he carried. + +"You must let me do it my own way," she said; "you have pwomised. +Orion won't be bwave boy if I don't manage him. Give me that whip." + +"Oh, but I say, little missy----" + +"Give me that whip," repeated Diana, flashing her eyes up at the man. +"I is the gweat Diana and I order you. Give me the whip; I'll slash +it; I know how. Ah, here comes G'eased Lightning. Come 'long, you +beauty; come 'long, you darlin'." + +Diana ran fearlessly up to the horse, fondled its nose, and looked +into its eyes; the creature stood perfectly still, bent its graceful +head, and licked her little hand. + +"And it's a perfect brute to everyone else," thought Uncle Ben to +himself, but this time he did not utter a word. + +The horse stood perfectly motionless until little Orion was mounted on +its back. + +"Now, G'eased Lightning, you has got to be a good horse," said Diana, +speaking to him in a confiding voice. "You isn't to fwighten Orion; +'member he's a giant, and it's a gweat honor for you to carry him, +'cos most times he lives up in the stars." + +"Come, missy, we have no time for that sort of nonsense," said Uncle +Ben, who began to get impatient. "Give me back my whip." + +"No; I is going to slash the whip. Come, G'eased Lightning; twot, +twot, p'ease." + +The horse began to amble gently forward. Little Diana went and stood +by Uncle Ben's side. + +"I's managing," she said; "you shall have whip to-night; but I's +managing now." + +The other performers stood round in breathless silence. Orion kept his +seat manfully. Greased Lightning was as gentle as a lamb. + +"Good boy!" called out Diana; "vedy good little boy. Good horse, +G'eased Lightning! you is a vedy good horse. Now then, go faster." +Diana gave the whip a crack. + +The horse looked at her out of his big, intelligent eyes, and began to +trot, but still very gently, round and round the circus. + +"Good boy," repeated Diana; "good horse! Now then, Orion, get up on to +yous two foots; don't be fwightened. 'Member what will happen when +it's over. Get up on to yous foots this minute." + +Poor little Orion scrambled in deadly terror on to his small feet; but +the horse still went swift and smooth, neither budging nor turning to +the right or the left. Diana once again cracked her whip. He went +faster and faster. Orion began to lose his fear; he even laughed with +excitement; the rose bloom came out on his delicate little face. The +terrible hoops were brought, and the child made a manful effort to get +through them. Diana cracked her whip and called out and encouraged +him, and finally brought him successfully through the ordeal. He was +taken off the stage wet with perspiration, and trembling all over, but +at the same time he had a wild sort of triumph in his little heart. + +"I did it well; didn't I, Aunt Sarah?" he said. + +"You did it splendidly, my little love," said Aunt Sarah; "but I never +did see a little gal like your sister. Oh, merciful Heavens! that man +aint never a-going to let her ride Pole Star!" + +A black horse of immense strength and size was now brought upon the +stage. This horse seemed to paw the air as he walked; his eyes were +bloodshot and full of a dangerous light. + +"Remember it's your own fault, missy," said Uncle Ben; "this aint the +'orse I'd give you. I don't want any harm to come to you; but if you +insist on that little chap, that aint a patch on you, riding Greased +Lightning, why, there aint nothing for it but for you to ride Pole +Star." + +"You don't 'uppose I's fwightened of Pole Star? Why, he's a weal +beauty," said Diana. + +"He's the----" The man arrested the words on his lips. + +Diana had thrown down her whip and rushed across the stage. With just +the same fearless confidence as, half an hour before, she had gone up +to Greased Lightning--she now approached Pole Star. + +"You's pwetty, you's a darlin'," she said. She held out her tiny +brown hand. "Give me a bit of sugar, somebody," she demanded. + +A girl who stood near ran away to fetch a lump. The child offered it +to the horse. He looked at her, pawed the ground restlessly, and then, +stooping, licked the sugar off her hand as tenderly as if he were a +kitten. + +"Well, I never!" said Uncle Ben, breathing a great sigh of relief. + +"It's a beauty horse," repeated Diana; "I like it better nor G'eased +Lightning. Pole Star, I's going to wide you; you's a dear, good +horse." She stroked the creature's nose--the fierce eyes grew +gentle--a moment later the child was mounted on its back. + +"Now, gee up, gee up!" called Diana. "P'ease, Uncle Ben, don't cwack +your whip; I can manage Pole Star." She pulled at the reins, and the +creature began, at first gently and then more rapidly, to run round +and round the stage. After all, notwithstanding her bravery, it was an +ordeal, for Pole Star could run double as fast as Greased Lightning. +Soon, from running he seemed to take to flying, and little Diana +gasped and lost her breath; but she sat firm as a statue, and never +touched a hair of the creature's mane. + +"Now, Pole Star," she called out, when the horse had stopped for want +of breath; "I's going to stand on you, and you must be vedy good." She +patted the animal on its head; then she scrambled to her feet, and, +holding the reins taut, stood firm as an arrow, while the creature +once more flew round the stage. When her ride was over she had won the +applause of the whole house. + +After this Diana and Orion were taken away to rest until the evening. +They were given the best food and a great deal of petting from Aunt +Sarah. As to Diana, she was in excellent spirits. + +"Oh, please, Di; nothing will make you stop, nothing will make you +break your word?" said little Orion once to her. + +"What I pwomise I do," replied Diana, with dignity. + +And so the hours flew by, and at last the time arrived when the +children were to appear before the footlights. + +The huge circus tent was packed to the highest gallery. There was, in +short, not standing room in the audience part of the house. Uncle Ben, +in the highest spirits, was darting here and there behind the wings, +giving directions, gesticulating, ordering, rearranging. Little Diana +flew up to him and took his hand. + +"What is you 'cited about?" she asked. "Is you fwightened 'bout +anything?" + +"No, little gal, no--that is, provided you and your brother do your +parts well." + +"We has pwomised," said Diana, with great firmness; "you needn't be +fwightened; we has pwomised." + +The children were to appear as the last item of the first part of the +performance. Uncle Ben felt that on them really turned the success of +the evening. At last the crucial moment arrived. Two beautiful horses +were led into the circus, and immediately afterwards little Diana, +holding Orion by the hand, skipped on to the stage. She came lightly +forward, almost up to the footlights, dropped a somewhat pert little +courtesy, turned round, and, taking Orion's hand, danced up to where +the two horses were impatiently pawing the ground. Uncle Ben, with +his big whip in his hand, dressed in evening clothes, was standing at +one side. A man came forward to help Diana to mount Pole Star--another +gave his hand to Orion. + +"'Member, Orion, you has pwomised, and it all apends," said Diana, in +a low, but very clear, voice. + +The little fellow looked at her. Her spirited action, the splendid +color in her cheeks, the glow of excitement in her great big eyes, +inspired him. He would not ride for those horrid people who were +crowding all the seats in front, those horrid, terrible people who +seemed to rise from the floor to the ceiling. He did not care anything +about those faces, those cruel, staring eyes, those smiling lips; but +he did care for Diana. He would ride his best for her. + +"Steady, G'eased Lightning," said the little girl; "you's to be good +horse, 'member. Now, Pole Star, beauty, darlin', do just what Diana +wants." + +The horses began to canter forward, going briskly and swiftly side by +side. Greased Lightning's coal-black eye was fixed upon Diana as she +sat on Pole Star's back. Pole Star felt the feather-weight of the hot +hand on his mane, the touch of the little feet somewhere near his +neck. There was a magnetic current of sympathy between the horse and +the child. + +"Think you's a giant," she said once to Orion, as she shot past him in +the race. + +The crowd, speechless with astonishment and delight for the first +moment or two, now began to clap and cheer loudly. Crack went Uncle +Ben's whip. The circus girls in the wings, the men, the clown, all +watched the little pair with beating hearts. Diana they felt sure of, +but what of little Orion? And yet a change had come over the child. +His face was no longer pale; some of Diana's spirit seemed to have +entered into his soul. + +The signal came for the pair to stand upon the bare, backs of their +horses. Little Orion scrambled as quickly and nimbly to his feet as +Diana herself. He caught the reins; crack again went the whip; the +horses flew round and round. Now and then Diana said a soft word to +Greased Lightning; now and then she stamped her small foot on Pole +Star's neck. Each movement, each glance of the child, seemed to thrill +through the willing beast. Incomprehensible as it may seem, both these +wild, half-tamed creatures loved her. They kept straight, veering +neither to left nor right, for her sake. + +The first part of the performance went safely through, but now came +the more difficult and dangerous time. The children were now not only +to ride the horses standing, but they were obliged to ride holding one +foot in the air, then to keep on their steeds standing on tiptoe, and +finally they had to spring through great rings made of tissue paper, +and leap again upon the horses as they galloped through. Diana +performed her task with unfailing exactness, always reaching the +horse's back at the right moment, springing up, sitting down, standing +first on one foot, then on the other, being apparently on wires, +afraid of nothing, triumphant through all. Orion made a gallant effort +to follow her example. In two minutes now the whole thing would be +over. + +"Don't be fwightened, Orion; time's nearly up," whispered the gay, +brave little voice in his ear. + +The horses flew, the children moved as if they were puppets, and all +might now have been well if at that moment Diana herself--Diana the +fearless, the brave, the unconquerable--had not slipped, slipped at +the very moment when she was springing through one of the rings. The +horse galloped on without her, and she lay prone upon the floor of the +circus. Uncle Ben rushed madly to the rescue, and before Orion's horse +had reached the spot he had caught the child in his arms. She was +stunned by the fall, and lay white as death in his embrace. The house +thought the fall had killed her, and there was a horrified murmur; but +Diana was only stunned. In a moment she raised her cheery little +voice. + +"I's awfu' sossy; I's all wight now," she said. "Where's Pole Star?" + +"Nay, little gal," said Uncle Ben, knowing well the temper of the +house, "you must do no more to-night. The company, I know, will excuse +you." + +Seating the child on his shoulder, and patting her hand +affectionately, as if he were her father, he brought little Diana to +the front. + +"I hope, ladies and gentlemen," he called out, "that you will excuse +this great lady huntress to-night. But if you wish her to take another +turn round on the back of the great Pole Star, she is willing to +comply." + +"No!" shouted voice after voice in the gallery; "let little missy off. +We'll come to see little missy another night. Three cheers for little +missy!" + +The next moment Diana and Orion found themselves at the back of the +stage. + +"Is it true, Di?" gasped Orion. "Is it all over?" + +"Yes; it's all over," answered little Diana. She leaned against the +wall. "I's a bit giddy," she said; "but I'll be all wight by and by." + +Aunt Sarah, with tears in her eyes, brought the child a restorative. + +"Drink this, little love," she said; "you'll soon be much better, I'm +sure." + +The curtain had fallen on the first half of the performance, and Uncle +Ben came up in a huge good humor. + +"Missy, I hope you aint hurt," he said. + +"Hurt?" answered Diana. "What do a fall matter? I's as wight as wain. +Didn't Orion do well, Uncle Ben?" + +"Yes, all things considerin'," said Uncle Ben. "We has a full house, +missy, and I'm very much obliged to you. Now you had best go straight +to bed. Sarah, take the kids off and give them a good supper, for they +has earned it." + +Aunt Sarah took Diana's hand and led her to their bedroom. + +"But aren't we going away now?" said Orion. + +Aunt Sarah sat down at the foot of one of the beds with a white face. + +"Come to me, little missy," she said to Diana. + +The child went to her. + +"I's k'ite well," she said, "only a little giddy. Why, Aunt Sawah, +you's kying." + +"I thought you were dead for a minute, my little miss; you that is the +image of my Rachel, what the good God took from me. I thought you were +dead, and it 'most broke my 'eart--oh, little missy, little darlin'!" + +"But, Diana, aren't we going away?" Said Orion. "You promised, and you +never broke your word." + +"I pwomised, and I never break my word," said Diana. "Yes, Orion, yes; +we is going away." + +"I declare," said Aunt Sarah, "I believe it would be the right thing +to do. It would kill me if you was killed, missy--and them 'orses!" + +"They is darlin's," interrupted Diana. + +"Well, go to sleep now, and I'll fetch some supper," said Aunt Sarah. + +She shut the door behind the children, returning in a few minutes with +bowls of bread and milk. Diana sat listlessly down on the nearest +bench. + +"I's awfu' s'eepy," she said. + +She did not quite know what was the matter with her; it seemed as if +something had suddenly knocked all her spirit away. She did not know +herself without the brave spirit which God had put into her little +breast. Orion gazed at her anxiously. + +"You do look queer," he said; "your eyes are bigger than ever, and +they stare so. What's the matter, Di?" + +"Nothing," said Diana. + +"Aren't you going to eat your supper?" + +"I's wather sick," said Diana; "I don't want to eat. You had best eat +all you can, Orion." + +"Yes, I had best," answered Orion, "'cos I won't have strength to run +away if I hasn't plenty of food." + +He began to eat up his own basin of bread and milk, and, as it was not +too large, he thought he might attack Diana's also; then he gave her +an anxious glance. She was sitting strangely still, her hands lying +idly in her lap, her eyes staring straight at the opposite wall. + +"'Member we is going away, and that you promised," he said. "Isn't it +time for us to be off?" + +"Yes, Orion," she answered. + +"Well, drink off this teeny drop of milk; it will strengthen you." He +brought the bowl to Diana, who sipped of a few spoonfuls; but then she +shook her head. + +"I's sick," she said; "it aren't good to eat when you is sick." + +"Well, do come now," said Orion. "If you don't go at once they will +find us; and you promised, and you never broke your word yet." + +"I underland," said Diana; "I would not bweak my word; that would be +mean." + +"Well, let us go now." + +Diana slipped off the little bench on which she had seated herself. +She was still in her circus dress; her little bow was hung at her +side, her arrow slung round her neck. Orion was also in his pretty +dress, with his tiny sword and belt, his blue jacket and little white +knickers. + +"Let's put on our shoes," he said; "we can't go far in bare feet." + +"We can't go far in bare foots," echoed Diana, in a dreary sort of +voice. "I's s'eepy. Shall we wun away in the morning, Orion?" + +"No; to-night! to-night!" he said, in terror. "You'll break your +promise if we don't go to-night." + +"All wight," she answered. + +He brought her shoes, slipped them on her feet, buttoned them, and put +on his own; then he took her hand in his. They opened the door of +their bedroom and ran down a long passage, at the end of which was +another door; it was on the latch. Orion opened it, and the little +children found themselves at the back of the stage. There were no +people about to see them, even Aunt Sarah was far away in one of the +wings. + +"There! we is safe," said Orion. "We has runned away, and we are +safe." + +"We has wunned away and we is safe," echoed Diana, in that dreary +little voice. "But, Orion, I's drefful s'eepy." + +"Never mind," said Orion; "we'll sleep in the fields." + +"We'll s'eep in the fields," echoed Diana, in a vague manner. + +Orion took her hand; they ran as fast as they could down a shady lane, +for the great circus tent had been put outside the town. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE MILKMAN. + + +It was a lovely summer's night, and as the children ran, Orion looked +up at the stars. + +"Why, it's a starful night!" he cried, in a joyful voice, "and there's +me. Do look at me, Di! There I am up in the sky, ever so big and +'portant." + +"So you is," said Diana, laughing and then checking herself. "Is it +far to----" + +"To where, Di?" + +"To the garding," said Diana; "to the dead-house where Rub-a-Dub is. +Let's go and sit on the little bench and see the dead 'uns--let's +count 'em; I wonder how many there is!" She stopped suddenly and gazed +around her. + +"What do you mean?" said Orion, in some alarm. "We are nowhere near +the garden. Don't you know where we are, Diana?" + +"Yes, I do now, course," she answered, with a laugh. "I think I was +dweaming; it's my head; it's keer. I want to s'eep awfu'." + +"Well, here are the fields," said Orion; "here's a beautiful green +field, and the moon is shining on it. Oh, and there's a hole in the +hedge; let's creep in." + +"Let's k'eep in," said Diana. + +They pushed their way through the hole and found themselves in a +clover field. The clover, slightly wet with dew, felt very refreshing +to their hot little feet. + +"Isn't this 'licious?" said Diana. "Let's lie down on the g'een +g'ass; let's s'eep here; I's awfu' s'eepy." + +"It's very near the circus," said Orion. "I'm rather frightened for +fear Uncle Ben will find us." + +"No, he won't; it's all wight," said Diana. + +She allowed her little brother to lead her as far as the hedge, and +then nothing would persuade her to go any further. Down on the damp +grass she flung herself, and then next moment was fast asleep. + +Orion, aged six, did not think it wrong for Diana to sleep on the wet +grass. The moon shone all over her bare little legs. She folded her +arms when she lay down, and now there was not a stir, nor a movement +from her. + +Far away, or at least it seemed far away to little Orion, he could see +the blinking lights of the town, and when he stood on tiptoe he could +also see the lights of the merry-go-rounds and the other +accompaniments of the great circus. He knew that he was dreadfully +near his tyrants, and he longed beyond words to awaken Diana and make +her go farther away; but she was asleep--dead tired. He never could +master her. There was nothing, therefore, but for him to lie down +also, close to her. + +Accordingly, he flung himself on the grass, laid his head on her +shoulder, nestling up close to her for warmth and protection, and in a +few moments he had also forgotten his fears, and was calmly living in +the blessed land of dreams. The great Orion overhead looked down on +his tiny namesake, and the little boy dreamt that he was a giant in +very truth, and that he and Diana were fighting their way through the +world. + +The children slept, and presently the creatures of the night came +out--the owls, and the bats, and the night moths--and looked with +wonder at the queer little pair lying prone amongst the green clover. +Thousands of wonderful night noises also began to awaken in all +directions--the merry chirp of the cricket, the whir of the bat on its +circling flight, the hum of the moths--but the children heard nothing, +although the creatures of the night were curious about these strange +little beings who, by good rights, ought not to be sharing their +kingdom. + +At last, just when the first peep of dawn began to tinge the east, +little Orion opened his eyes and rubbed them hard. With a great rush +memory returned to him. He had run away; he had ridden Greased +Lightning and had not fallen from his back; his terrible life in the +circus was at an end. Uncle Ben was nowhere near to chide him. He and +Diana had got off; but it was true that they had not put a great +distance between themselves and Uncle Ben. Perhaps Uncle Ben, who had +promised that he might go away if he did his part well, might change +his mind in the morning. It was most important that he and his sister +should go farther away as quickly as possible. + +Accordingly, he proceeded to wake Diana. Diana was very sound asleep +indeed. He could see her face distinctly, for the first faint return +of day was spreading a tender glow over it. She did not look pale; +there was a hot spot on either cheek--a spot of vivid rose. + +"I am cold enough," thought the little fellow, "but Diana seems warm. +Wake up, Di; wake up!" he said. "We has runned away, but we has not +run far enough. Wake up, Di, and let's go on." + +Diana did not stir at all at his first summons. He spoke loudly, +looking around him as he did so in some terror. A night owl, +preparing to go home, was seated on a tree near by. The owl looked at +Orion and hooted in a very melancholy manner. His voice seemed to say: + +"I never saw two greater little fools than you children in all my +life." + +Orion felt rather afraid of the owl. Having failed to awaken Diana by +words, he proceeded to shake her. This device succeeded. She opened +her great, big, sleepy eyes and stared around her in bewilderment. + +"So you is our little mother now, Iris?" she said. "All wight; I's +coming." + +She sat up on her grassy bed and rubbed her eyes, then stared at Orion +and burst out laughing. + +"What are you laughing at?" said Orion. "We are in awful danger here. +Uncle Ben may catch us any minute." + +"Who's Uncle Ben?" asked Diana. + +"Why, Di! how very queer you are. Don't you remember Uncle Ben, the +awful man who has the circus?" + +"No, I don't," said Diana. "Is it true that Rub-a-Dub's dead?" + +"Oh, Di! Rub-a-Dub died weeks ago. What does it matter about a mouse? +I'm frightened about Uncle Ben. If he catches us he'll change his +mind, perhaps, and I cannot ride Greased Lightning again. Don't speak +so queer, Di. Do rouse yourself. We must get out of this as fast as we +can." + +"As fast as we can," echoed Diana. "All wight, Orion; I's k'ite +sati'fied." + +"Well, come, then," said Orion; "get up." + +"I don't think I care to." + +"But we can't run away if you are lying there." + +"No more we can," said Diana. She laughed again. "Isn't it fun?" she +said. "And so Rub-a-Dub isn't dead after all?" + +"Yes; of course he is." + +"Orion, look!" said the child; "look!" + +"Look at what?" answered the little fellow. "Oh, Diana! don't say it's +Uncle Ben!" + +"I don't know nothing 'bout no Uncle Ben; but didn't you see something +flash there?--something white, just over there? I know who it was; it +was mother. Mother has gone to the angels, but she has come back. +Mother! mother! come here! Call her, Orion; call her, call her!" + +"Mother! mother!" said the little boy; "mother, come here!" + +But there was no answer to this cry, which, on the part of Orion at +least, was full of agony. No answer either from the heaven above or +the earth beneath. + +"It was a mistake, I s'pect," said Diana. "Mother is in heaven; she's +a beautiful angel, singing loud. Well, let's come 'long." She +staggered to her feet, and, supported by Orion, began to walk across +the field. "Let's go into the garding," she said. + +Poor little Orion was quite in despair. + +"We are miles from the garden," he said. "I think you have gone +silly." + +"S'pect I has," said Diana. "What fun!" + +"And you have got such a queer look on your face." + +"A k'eer look on my face?" repeated Diana. + +"Yes; and your eyes, they are ever so big; they frighten me." + +"My eyes k'ite fwighten you, poor little boy," said Diana. "Well, +let's wun; let's get to the garding. Why, it's the day mother went +away to the angels, and we has got no lessons. Where's Iris? I want +Iris." + +"So do I," said Orion. "Oh, Di! what is to become of us? You frighten +me." + +"K'ite fwighten poor little boy," echoed Diana. "I's sossy, but I +can't help it. I's giddy in my head. Does this way lead to garding, +Orion?" + +"No. What are we to do?" said Orion. "Oh, I am so frightened!" He +really was. Diana's strange behavior was more than he could +understand. "Oh, I'm so bitter hungry!" he cried. He flung himself on +the grass. + +Diana stood and looked at him with a puzzled expression on her face. + +"Why, you is a poor little boy," she said. "Now, if you'll take my +hand we'll go indoors, and Fortune will give us a lovely bekfus. Come, +Orion; don't be fwightened, poor little boy." + +They walked across the field. By this time the sun was up and the +place felt warm and dry. Little Orion, shivering in his queer circus +dress, was glad of this, and a faint degree of returning courage came +into his heart. + +Diana did not seem to feel anything at all. She walked along, singing +as she walked. + +"We's going to the dead-house," she said. "Rub-a-Dub's dead." + + "You'll never know fear any more, + Little dear; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub." + +"Oh, don't Di! You make me feel so frightened," said Orion. "Why do +you talk like that? Can't you 'member nothing?" + +"Course I 'member," said Diana. "Rub-a-Dub's dead." + + "Never know fear, + Little dear; + Rub-a-Dub's dead." + +"Come this way," said Orion, taking her hand. + +She was quite willing to follow him, although she did not in the least +know where she was going. + +"S'pect I aren't well," she said at last. "Don't be fwightened, poor +little boy. S'pect I aren't k'ite well." + +"I's so hungry," moaned Orion. + +"Well, let's go into the house; let's have bekfus. Where's Fortune? +Come 'long, Orion; come 'long." + +They had reached the highroad now, and were walking on, Orion's arm +flung round Diana's waist. Suddenly, rattling round a corner of the +country road, came a man with a milk cart. He was a very +cheery-looking man with a fat face. He had bright blue eyes and a +kindly mouth. + +"Hullo!" he said, when he saw the two little children coming to meet +him. "Well, I never! And what may you two be doing out at this hour?" + +Diana gazed up at him. + +"I's going to the garding," she said. "I's to meet Iris in garding. We +is to 'cide whether it's to be a pwivate or a public funeral." + +"Bless us and save us!" said the man. + +"Don't mind her," said Orion; "she's not well. She fell off a horse +last night, and there's something gone wrong inside her head. I s'pect +something's cracked there. She's talking a lot of nonsense. We has +runned away, and we is desperate hungry. Can you give us a drink of +milk?" + +"Well, to be sure," said the man, smacking his lips as he spoke. "I +never saw anything like this afore, and never heard anything like it, +neither. Why, it's like a page out of a printed book. And so you has +run away, and you belong to the circus, I guess. Why, you are in your +circus dresses." + +"See my bow and arrow," said Diana. "I is the gweat Diana; I is the +gweatest huntwess in all the world." + +"To be sure; to be sure!" said the man. + +"And I am Orion," said the boy, seeing that Diana's words were having +a good effect. "You can watch me up in the sky on starful nights. I am +a great giant, and this is my girdle, and this is my sword." + +"I never heard anything so like a fairy tale afore," said the man. +"Are you sure you are human, you two little mites?" + +Diana took no notice of this. + +"I want to get into the garding," she said. "I want to lie down in the +garding; I want Iris; I want mother. Man, do you know that my mother +has gone away to the angels? She is playing a gold harp and singing +ever so loud; and once we had a little mouse, and it was called +Rub-a-Dub, and it's deaded. We gived it a public funeral." + +"Oh, do let us have some milk, and don't mind her!" said Orion. + +The man jumped down off the cart, and, turning a tap in the great big +can, poured out a glass of foaming milk. He gave it to Orion, who +drank it all off at the first draught. He then filled out a second +measure, which he gave to Diana. She took it, raised it to her lips, +took one or two sips, and then gave it to Orion. + +"There's something sick inside of me," she said. "I don't know what's +the matter; I isn't well." + +"She had a bad fall last night at the circus," said Orion. "She fell +from one of the rings. I s'pect something's cracked inside her head." + +"I s'pect something's c'acked inside my head," echoed Diana, looking +up piteously. "I want to go to the garding; I want to lie down." + +"Well, look here," said the man; "this is more than I can understand. +You had best, both of you, go back to the circus, and let the people +who has the charge of you see what's the matter." + +"No!" screamed Orion; "never! never!" + +He suddenly put wings to his little feet, and began to fly down the +road, away from the milkman. + +Diana stood quite still. + +"Aren't he silly little boy?" she said. "But he mustn't go back to +circus, milkman; it would kill him. I isn't able to wide to-day, 'cos +I's c'acked inside my head; and he mustn't wide without me, 'cos it +would kill him. Couldn't we go to your house, milkman, and rest there +for a bit?" + +"Well, to be sure; I never thought of that," said the man. "So you +shall, and welcome. Jump up beside me on the cart, missy." + +"I can't, 'cos my head's c'acked," said Diana. + +"Then I'll lift you up. Here, you sit there and lean against the big +milk can. Now, we'll set Peggy going, and she will soon overtake +little master." + +Diana laughed gleefully. + +"Do you know, you's an awfu' nice man?" she said. + +"I am glad you think so, missy." + +The man took the reins and Peggy started forward. They soon overtook +little Orion, who was lifted also into the milk cart. Then the milkman +turned swiftly round and carried the children back to a small house on +the outskirts of the town. When he got there he called out in a lusty +voice: + +"Hi, Bessie! are you within?" + +A woman with a smiling face came to the door. + +"Now, what in the world is the matter with you, Jonathan?" she +answered. + +"Only this, wife. I met the queerest little pair in all the world on +the road. Can't you take them in and give them rest for a bit? I +believe the little miss is hurt awful." + +"I's c'acked inside my head, but it don't matter," said Diana. + +The woman stared from the children to the man; then something in +Diana's face went straight to her heart. + +"Why, you poor little mite," she said, "come along this minute. Why, +Jonathan, don't you know her? Course it's the little missy that we +both saw in the circus last night. Didn't I see her when she fell from +the ring? Oh, poor little dear! poor little love!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +FORTUNE. + + +Uncle William took the children straight up to London. They spent the +night at a great big hotel, and in the morning he went alone to have a +long consultation with one of the best detectives in New Scotland +Yard. When he returned after this interview, Iris came to meet him +with a wise look on her face. + +"I know what to do," she exclaimed. + +"Well, then, my dear, it's more than I do," replied Uncle William. + +"It's the only thing," repeated Iris. "Let's go straight home." + +"Home? Do you mean to the Rectory? Why, we have just come from there." + +"I don't mean the Rectory. I mean our real home," answered Iris. +"Let's get back at once to Delaney Manor." + +"I don't see much use in that," answered Uncle William. + +"It's all a feel I have inside of me," replied Iris. "Often and often +I get that feel, and whenever I obey it things come right. I have a +feel now that I shall be nearer to Diana and to Orion in the old +garden than anywhere else. I always try to obey my feel. Perhaps it's +silly, but I can't help it. Do you ever get that sort of feel inside +of you, Uncle William?" + +"If I did," replied Uncle William, "your Aunt Jane would say that I +was the silliest old man she had ever come across." + +"But you aren't, you know. You are a right good sort," answered +Apollo, in a patronizing tone. + +"I am glad you think so, my boy," replied Uncle William. "Well, now," +he added, "I always did hate London, and in the middle of summer it +seems to me that it is wanting in air. I once heard a countryman say +that he believed people only breathed turn about in London, and it +really seems something like that this morning. The place is so close +and so used-up that there is not a breath anywhere; so, Iris, if you +have got that feel, and if you will promise not to tell your Aunt Jane +that _that_ is your reason for returning to the Manor, why, we may +just as well do so--only, I suppose, the place is all shut up." + +"Fortune, at any rate, is there," replied Iris; "and if anybody can +help us to find Diana and Orion, it's Fortune; for she had them, you +know, Uncle William, from the moment the angel brought them down from +heaven. She had to do for them and nurse them, and tend them from that +moment until Aunt Jane took them away. Oh, yes!" continued Iris; "if +there is a person who will help us to find them, it's Fortune." + +"She partakes of the strange names which seem to run in your family," +answered Uncle William. "But there, it is as good an idea as any +other, and we shall at least each of us have our proper number of +breaths at Delaney Manor. That certainly is in favor of the scheme." + +Accordingly, that very afternoon, Uncle William, Iris, and Apollo took +the train into Devonshire. They arrived at the Manor in the evening. +Nobody expected them, and the place looked, to Uncle William, at +least, very dull and desolate. But when Iris saw the quaint old +gateway, and when Apollo felt his feet once again upon the well-known +avenue, the sadness of heart which had oppressed both children seemed +to lift itself as if it had wings and fly right away. + +"Let's go to the garden this very instant," exclaimed Iris, looking at +her brother. + +They clasped each other's hands and, flying along the well-remembered +haunts, soon reached their favorite garden. + +"Oh, Apollo! I live; I breathe again," said Iris, panting as she +spoke. "Oh, I am happy once more!" + +"Let us see if anything has been injured while we were away," said +Apollo. "Oh, I wonder if anybody has watered our pretty gardens. I +planted a lot of mignonette the day before I went away. I wonder if it +has come up." + +The children wandered about the garden. The dead-house was now empty; +the four little gardens looked sadly the worse for want of watering +and general looking after. The cemetery, however, looked much as +usual; so also did the greenswards of grass, the roses, the different +summer flowers; and finally Iris and Apollo visited the little +summer-house, and seated themselves on their own chairs. + +"The garden has not run away," said Apollo. "That's a comfort. I'm +real glad of that." + +"It's exactly like the garden of Eden," said Iris, panting as she +spoke. "I don't think anybody," she continued, "could be naughty in +this garden." + +Apollo kicked his legs in a somewhat impatient manner. + +"I feel dreadfully hungry, Iris," he said. "Suppose we go to the house +now and have some supper." + +"Who is that coming down the walk?" said Iris. + +It was dusk by this time, and in the little summer-house all was dark; +but Iris, as she spoke, sprang to her feet, and the next moment found +herself clasped in Fortune's motherly arms. + +"My darling!" said the woman. "Why, it drives me near mad to see you +again. And now, what in the world is up with the two of you, and where +are the others? There's an elderly gentleman--a clergyman--in the +house, and he said I was to look for you here, and that you were going +to spend the night. What does it mean, Iris? Oh, my dear! I can't see +your face, for it is too dark; but you are very light. Why, you are no +weight at all, my honey." + +"I expect I'm rather worn out," replied Iris, in her old-fashioned +tone. "You know, Fortune, when mother went away she told me to be a +mother to the others, and--oh, Fortune, Fortune! I have failed, I have +failed." + +Iris' little arms were clasped tightly round her old nurse's neck; her +face was hidden against her bosom; her heavy sobs came thick and fast. + +"Why, my poor dear, you are exactly like a feather," said Fortune; "it +aint to be expected that a young thing like you could be a mother. But +what's gone wrong, dearie? what's gone wrong?" + +"They are lost. That's what has gone wrong," said Iris. "Orion and +Diana are lost, Fortune." + +"Sakes alive, child! stand up and speak proper," said Fortune. "Your +little brother and sister lost! Impossible; you are joking me, Iris, +and that aint fair, seeing I was with you since you drew the breath +of life." + +"Do you think I could joke upon such a subject?" said Iris. "You say I +am like a feather--that is because I have all wasted away from--from +fretting, from--from misery. Yes, Fortune, they are lost, and I wish I +were dead. I feel it here so dreadfully." The child pressed both her +hands against her heart. "I have not been a mother," she continued. +"Oh, Fortune! what is to be done?" + +"You jest sit down on my lap and stop talking nonsense," said Fortune. +"Why, you are trembling like an aspen. You jest rest yourself a bit +alongside o' me. Now then, Master Apollo, tell me the whole truth, +from beginning to end. The two children lost? Now, I don't believe it, +and that's a fact." + +"You'll have to believe it, Fortune," said Apollo, "for it's true. +They went out one day about a month ago--we think they must have gone +to some woods not far from that horrid Rectory, but nobody seems to +know for certain--and they just never came back. We missed them at +tea-time, and we began to look for 'em, and we went on looking from +that minute until now, and we have never found either of 'em. That's +about all. They are both quite lost. What I think," continued the +little boy, speaking in a wise tone, "is that Diana must have met the +great Diana of long ago, and gone right away with her, and perhaps +Orion has been turned into one of the stars that he's called after. I +don't really know what else to think," continued Apollo. + +"Fudge!" said Fortune. "Don't you waste your time talking any more +such arrant nonsense. Now, the two of you are as cold and shivery as +can be, and I doubt not, as hungry also. Come straight away to the +house. This thing has got to be inquired into." + +"Oh, Fortune! can you do anything?" asked Iris. + +"Can I do anything?" said Fortune. "I have got to find those blessed +children, or my name's not Fortune Squeers. Did your mother bring me +all the way from America to be of no use in an emergency like the +present? You needn't fret any more, Iris; nor you either, Apollo. Just +come right along to the house and have your cozy, warm supper, the two +of you, and then let me undress you and put you into your old little +beds, and I'll sleep in the room alongside of you, and in the morning +we'll see about getting back those two children. Lost, is it? Not a +bit of it. They are mislaid, if you like, but lost they aint--not +while Fortune is above ground." + +Fortune's strong words were of the greatest possible comfort to Iris. +It is true that Aunt Jane had told her somewhat the same, day by +day--Aunt Jane was also sure that the children were certain to be +found--but, as far as Iris could gather, she only spoke, and never did +anything to aid their recovery; for Iris had no faith in detectives, +nor secret police, nor any of the known dignitaries of the law. But +she put the greatest possible faith in the strong, cheery words of her +old nurse, and she returned to the house clasping Fortune's hand, and +feeling as if the worst of her troubles were at an end. + +The greater part of Delaney Manor was shut up, and Fortune and two +other old servants were left in charge; but very soon a comfortable +meal was spread for the travelers, a room was provided for Uncle +William, and Iris and Apollo slept once more in the dear old nursery. + +How very sound Iris did sleep that night! How happy she felt once +more! + +Fortune had dragged in her bed, and laid it on the floor close to the +little girl's side, and the sound of Fortune's snores was the sweetest +music Iris had listened to for a long time. + +"Fortune will find the others, and I can be a real mother once more," +she whispered over and over to herself. + +And so she slept sweetly and dreamed happily, and awoke in the morning +with color in her cheeks and hope in her eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +ON THE TRAIL. + + +It was on the very evening that Orion and Diana had left the great +circus that Uncle William and the two children arrived at Delaney +Manor, for Delaney Manor was only five miles distant from the +prosperous seaside town of Madersley. + +Now, Uncle Ben had very little idea, when he brought the two children +to the southwest of England, that he was really taking them back to +their native country. These things, however, are ordered, and the +wisest man in the world cannot go against the leadings of Providence. +Uncle Ben thought to hide the children from their best friends, +whereas, in reality, he was taking them home once more. + +But two little circus children might wander about at their own sweet +will at Madersley, and be heard nothing whatever of at Delaney Manor, +and these little children might never have been found, and this story +might have had a totally different ending, but for Fortune. + +When Fortune, however, lay down on her mattress by Iris' side, she +thought a great deal before she went to sleep. She thought, as she +expressed it to herself, all round the subject, to the right of it, +and to the left of it. She thought of it in its breadth, and she +thought of it in its height, and, having finally settled the matter to +her own satisfaction, she went to sleep, and soothed little Iris with +the comforting music of her snores. + +On the following morning she had an interview with Mr. Dolman. + +"I want to ask you a straight question, sir," she said. "What is it +the police are doing? It seems a mighty strange thing to me that two +little children should be lost in the middle of a civilized country +like England." + +"It seems a stranger thing to me," replied Uncle William. "I am +dreadfully puzzled over the whole matter. We have now four detectives +at work, but up to the present they have not got the slightest clew to +the children's whereabouts." + +"As like as not," said Fortune, "these two have been stolen by +gypsies." + +"We thought of that at once," said Uncle William. + +"Yes," interrupted Fortune, "and then, when you couldn't make the +thing fit, or find your clew, you dropped it. Now let me tell you, +sir, that aint our way in America. When we get the faintest ghost of a +clew we cling on to it as if it were grim death, and we don't let it +go, not for nobody. It's my belief that gypsies are at the bottom of +the matter, and why have not you and your detectives looked in every +gypsy encampment in the length and breadth of England?" + +"There were some gypsies in our neighborhood, only we did not know it +the first day," continued Mr. Dolman, "and their camp was of course +thoroughly examined, but no little people in the least resembling the +children were found there." + +"Then of course it goes without saying," continued Fortune, "that the +gypsies passed on the little dears to other folk. Now the question is, +What sort of folk would be interested in a little pair like them? +They was both young, both lissom, both handsome, and Miss Diana was +the bravest child I ever come across--maybe they was sold to someone +to train 'em to walk on the tight rope." + +Uncle William smiled indulgently. + +"The detectives would certainly have found that out by this time," he +said. "Besides, there were no traveling companies of any sort within a +radius of quite fifteen miles." + +"Very well," said Fortune; "then, perhaps, sir, you'll allow me to +manage things my own way. I aint a detective, but I'm bent on +detective work for the time being. I'm going straight off to Madersley +this morning. I'm going to have descriptions of those children printed +in very big characters, and posted all over Madersley." + +"And why specially all over Madersley?" asked Mr. Dolman. + +"'Cos Madersley is, so to speak, their native town," answered Fortune. +"Why, there aint a person in Madersley who don't know Delaney Manor; +and strangers, when they come there, drive out to see Delaney Manor as +they would any other big place, and folks at this time of year travel +from far to stay at Madersley, because the place is bracing and the +coast good for bathing. So you see, Mr. Dolman, there'll be lots of +people who will read my descriptions, and when they read 'em they'll +begin to talk about the children, and there's no saying what may +happen." + +"It doesn't sound a bad idea," said Mr. Dolman. + +"Bad!" repeated Fortune. "It's a first-rate idea; it's an American +idea. In America we never let the grass grow under our feet. I'm off +to Madersley this minute to see after those posters. Why, we post up +everything in America, every single thing that is lost, let alone +children, and we do it in big type, as big as they make it, and we put +the posters on the walls, and wherever there's a scrap of available +space. By your leave, sir, I'm off to Madersley now." + +Fortune was as good as her word. She not only went to Madersley and +interviewed some of the best printers in the place, but she also +visited the police station, and told the police to be on the lookout. + +"For the two youngest little Delaneys are missing," she said, "and +found they must be, if heaven and earth are moved to accomplish the +job." + +The superintendent of police remembered that he had already had notice +of two children being missing somewhere in the North of England, but +as he thought it extremely unlikely that such children would come to +the southwest, he had not troubled himself much about them. Fortune's +words, however, stimulated his zeal, and he promised to keep a sharp +lookout. The printer also was full of enthusiasm, and agreed to print +posters which should even satisfy Fortune. He certainly did his best; +and a day or two later flaming posters, in red and black ink, were +pasted up all over the little town. In these, Fortune had given a most +accurate description of little black-eyed Diana and Orion. Their ages +were mentioned, their sizes, the color also of their eyes and hair. + +The immediate effect of these posters was to frighten Uncle Ben Holt +considerably. He had been in a dreadful rage when first he discovered +that Diana and Orion had taken him at his word and had decamped. He +had been very cruel to every member of the troupe, and in especial to +his poor wife. He vowed, and vowed, loudly, that he would not leave a +stone unturned to find the children, and he also informed his wife +that he would start off the following morning to acquaint the police +with the fact that two of his troupe were missing. + +"Why," he said, "there's a fortune in that little gal; I must have the +little gal. I don't think nothing at all of the boy. She was quite the +most sperited little 'un I ever come across. Fact is, I would not lose +her for a fifty-pund note." + +For two days Uncle Ben stormed, and the performances at the circus +went languidly; but when, on the third morning, he saw the posters +about the town, and when one happened to be pasted up exactly opposite +his own circus, he began to cool down and to change his mind. + +"Where are you, Sarah?" he called out. + +His wife flew to answer the fierce summons of her lord and master. + +"I'm here, Ben," she answered. + +"'I'm here, Ben,'" he retorted, mimicking her tone. "There you are, +Sarah, without the sperit of a mouse. Have you seen, or have you not, +what's up all over the town?" + +"Yes, to be sure," replied Sarah Holt; "and it's a faithful +description of the children. Why, they are as like what that +description says of 'em as two peas, Ben." + +"I'm not saying they aint," snapped Ben, in a very indignant voice; +"but what I do want to know is this--what's to be done if they are +found and we are discovered to have bought 'em? We had all our plans +arranged, and we have taken this field for a fortnight; but, bad as +the loss will be to ourselves, it'll be better than the perlice +discovering that we had anything to do with them children. The fact is +this, Sarah: I'm going to pack our traps and be off out of this, +to-night at the latest." + +"Perhaps you are right, Ben," said the woman, in a very sad tone; +"only," she added, with a sigh, "if we are really going, may not I run +up to Delaney Manor and just give 'em a hint? It seems so dreadful to +me if anything should happen to them little kids, more particular to +little Diana, who was the mortal image of my Rachel who died." + +"If you do anything of the kind I'll kill you," roared the man. "Do +you want to see me locked up in prison for kidnaping children? No; we +must be out of this to-night, and I must lose the ten pund I paid for +the use of the field." + +By this time the news of the posters had spread not only through the +whole town, but amongst the members of Ben Holt's troupe. The men and +women in the troupe were all interested and excited, and whenever they +had a spare moment they used to run out to read the poster which +Fortune had been clever enough to dictate. + +Meanwhile, that good woman herself was by no means idle. + +"I have done something," she said to Iris, "and what I have done at +Madersley ought to have been done before now all over the length and +breadth of England. But now, Miss Iris, having put the posters up, it +doesn't mean that we are to be idle. We have got to do more. I have my +eye on that circus. They says it's a very pretty circus indeed, and +there are a lot of entertaining spectacles to be viewed there. Now, +what do you say to you and me and Mr. Dolman, if he likes to come, and +Master Apollo going this afternoon to see the performance?" + +"I don't think I much care," answered Iris. "I don't seem to take any +interest in anything just now." + +"Well, all the same, dear, I would like you to go. The best of us can +but take steps, and when we has taken the steps that Providence seems +to indicate, there's no use a-fretting ourselves into our graves. +Folks are coming to Madersley now from the length and breadth of +England, being such a pretty and such a favorite seaside resort. Let's +go to the circus this afternoon, Miss Iris, and see what is to be +seen." + +Iris could not follow Fortune's reasonings, but she submitted to her +desire to pay a visit to the traveling circus, and, accordingly, that +afternoon, the very last of Holt's stay at Madersley, two other little +Delaneys entered the large tent and took their places in the front +row. The children were accompanied both by Uncle William and Fortune. +The curtain rose almost immediately after their entrance, and the +performance began. + +For some reason or other it was sadly lacking in spirit, and a +neighbor who sat not far from Fortune began to remark on the fact. + +"I wouldn't have paid three shillings for my seat if I had known the +thing was so poor," she said. "Why, my husband was here last week and +said it was downright splendid. But I suppose that was owing to the +performances of the children." + +"The children?" inquired Fortune. "I see no children about." + +"Oh, well, there were two the other night--a little girl and boy; and +they said the girl rode splendidly, and was the life of the whole +thing. She was simply wonderful; she----" + +But here the curtain rose and the performance began anew. Fortune +longed to question her loquacious neighbor, but when she turned +presently to speak to her she found that she had left the tent. + +"Ho, ho!" thought the American woman to herself; "they had a boy and a +girl here, had they, and they aren't here no longer. Now I wonder if I +can strike that trail? Being from America it would be hard if I +didn't, and also if I didn't succeed." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +FOUND! + + +When the performance came to an end Fortune suggested to Uncle William +that he should go to the best hotel in the place, and give Iris and +Apollo some tea. Iris was loath to leave Fortune's side, but Fortune +bent down and whispered to her to obey. + +"I am on the trail," she said, "and I don't want to be interrupted. I +don't mind telling you, Iris, that the tea is all an excuse. You get +your uncle to take you to the hotel, and keep him there until I join +him. Now, go off this minute, like a good girl." + +Iris looked into Fortune's small, but honest, eyes, and felt once +again that her feel was leading her in the right direction. + +"Uncle William, I should like some tea very much," she said. + +"Well, then, my dear, if you want tea you shall have it," replied +Uncle William. + +He hailed a fly, and took the children immediately to the best hotel +in the town. + +When Fortune found herself alone she turned round, and gazed to right +and left of her. The great tent was almost empty, for the spectators +had all departed; a few, however, were standing in little groups +talking to one another. Fortune edged near one of these. It consisted +of a good-looking young man and two pretty girls. They were standing +opposite the poster which gave such a lifelike account of little +Diana and Orion. + +"I see you are reading that poster," said Fortune, "and maybe you're +interested?" + +"Why, of course we are," said one of the girls, turning and looking at +Fortune. + +"Now, I wonder," continued Fortune Squeers, "if it lies anywhere in +your power to give me a bit of help? Fact is, I'm interested in the +children described in that poster, and as I was sitting inside the +circus, I heard a neighbor say that the children belonging to your +show were not present. Being an American, I never lose any clews, and +there may be just the ghost of a chance that the children who were not +at the performance to-day are the very identical same children that +are written about in that there poster. Maybe you has heard of those +children--that is, if you are Madersley folk?" + +"Yes, yes; we are Madersley folk," said the young man, now turning and +speaking eagerly to Fortune. + +"Well, sir, do you know anything about the children who were not in +the circus to-day?" + +"I have heard of them, of course," said the man. "Don't you remember, +Amelia," he added, "when I came home last Saturday night how I told +you we must go and see Holt's circus, for he had got a little girl who +was riding wonderfully? I could not manage it on Saturday, and to-day, +it seems, she's off." + +"And he had a boy as well, hadn't he?" said Fortune. + +"Yes, there was talk of a boy; but he didn't seem to have the spirit +of his sister. Anyhow, they are neither of them playing to-day, and, +for my part, I thought the performance lame." + +"Well, that's my opinion," said Fortune. "No American would go the +length of the road to see anything so poor and common. And so the +children are off--but the children were on. Now, I wish to goodness I +could see those children." + +"I don't suppose they have anything to do with the lost children who +are spoken of in these posters," said the man. "They say they were +brown as gypsies, that the boy was timid, and the girl rode +wonderfully. She must have been trained for some time to ride as well +as she did." + +Not being able to get anything more out of these folks, Fortune turned +on her heel and wandered in another direction. She crossed the +entrance to the great tent, and made for the exit at the opposite side +of the field. In doing this she ran right up against a fair-haired, +rather pretty circus girl. + +"My dear," said Fortune, "you'll excuse my stopping to speak to you, +but will you tell me if I can get into the town by the gate yonder?" + +"It's rather a roundabout way," answered the girl, "but you can go, of +course. You will have to walk quite a way down a country lane, then +turn to your left, and it will bring you to the other side of the +town." + +"Fact is," continued Fortune, "I'm anxious to see some more of those +posters. I'm mighty took with them. They seem to describe a most +elegant little pair of children." + +The girl uttered a sigh and changed color. + +"Maybe, miss," said Fortune, fixing her with her keen eyes, "you can +tell me something about 'em? Now, if you could, and would, it would be +worth your while." + +"Oh, I know nothing at all," said the girl, in alarm. "What should I +know?" + +"How is it," continued Fortune, "that the little children belonging to +your circus were not present this afternoon? It seems a sort of +cheating of the public." + +"The little children belonging to our circus?" repeated the girl. "But +we hasn't no children." She turned very white now, and suddenly +leaving Fortune, ran as fast as ever she could in the direction of the +tent. + +Fortune followed her with her eyes. She saw a dark man peeping out. + +"That girl is frightened; she's hiding something," thought the woman. +"There's no doubt the trail strengthens, and I, being an +American--well, well, 'taint likely I'm going to leave off now. Yes, +hot grows the trail." + +Fortune pursued her way. She had just reached the gate of the opposite +exit of the field when a light hand was laid on her arm. Turning +quickly, she saw the same girl. + +"For the love of God, madam," she said, "don't you tell on me--it's as +much as my place is worth--he would kill me, if he knew--but we had +two little kids here, and that poster in front of the circus gives +their very description to a hair. But they have run away--they ran +away some days ago, and God in heaven only knows where they are now." + +"What were their names?" asked Fortune. + +"Diana was the name of the girl----" + +"Diana!" cried Fortune. "You need not tell me any more; and so it was +_you_ who stole 'em?" + +"I!" said the girl; "I had nothing to do with it. I was kind to 'em +when I could, and nothing would ever frighten Diana. But oh, please, +promise you won't tell on me--you won't let out that I said anything?" + +"No, my dear; I won't injure you," said Fortune; "but I must know +this: When was it they ran away?" + +"Three nights ago, madam; and Ben Holt, he's fairly wild at losing the +girl. He doesn't think anything at all about the boy, but the little +girl--why, she won us all, she was so plucky and fearless. But they +ran away three nights back, and no one knows where they are." + +"Don't keep me," said Fortune. "I'm much obliged to you; but don't +keep me now." + +She left the field where the tent was, and began to walk rapidly down +the lane. + +"Now, am I an American or am I not?" she thought. "Do I, or do I not, +want the police to interfere in this matter? Do I, or do I not, want +to find those children my very own self? They were here three nights +ago, and they have run away. What can be the meaning of it?" + +Fortune pressed her hand to her forehead. + +"Well, if there's one thing more evident than another." she muttered +after a pause, "it's this: I must not leave Madersley at present. I'll +just go to the hotel and tell Mr. Dolman that I am on the trail, and +that not all the coaxing and all the worriting in the world will get +me off it until I have found those children." + +No sooner had this resolve formed itself in Fortune's stalwart mind +than she hailed a fly and desired the man to drive her to the +Madersley Arms. When she reached the big hotel she was shown at once +into Mr. Dolman's presence. + +"Now, sir," she said; "I hope you have all had a good tea and enjoyed +it." + +"Very much, thank you," replied Uncle William, who really, if the +truth must be known, was having quite a delightful time--no Aunt Jane +to pull him up, no sermons to write, and a vast amount of variety to +occupy his mind. "We have enjoyed our tea, all of us," he said; "and +now, Fortune, would not you like a cup? Iris, my dear, we'll ring the +bell for some more hot water." + +"Thank you, sir" replied Fortune; "but I have no time to eat nor drink +at present. I am on the trail, and no one can get me off it." + +"Do you really mean that you have had news of the children?" + +"I have had very positive news. Why, they belonged to the circus we +went to see to-day! I had my suspicions as soon as ever I heard that +woman talking and saying that the performance was miserably poor +without the children. At that very instant it came right over me that +it was our little Miss Di who had made things so sparkling and +lively." + +"Oh, Fortune! let me go to her," cried Iris. "Is she there? Please, +Fortune, take me to her at once." + +"Now, Iris, love, that's just what I can't do. Patience has to be +exercised always in the matter of trails," continued Fortune; "and +when we hurry or flurry ourselves we lose the scent, and then we are +nowhere. The children did belong to the circus, for I had it from the +lips of one of the circus girls. Poor innocent lambs, to think of them +having anything to do with such a defiling place! But there they +were, and there they would not stay, for three nights ago, Iris, they +ran away, and nobody in the wide world knows where they are at the +present moment." + +"Well, and what do you propose to do?" said Mr. Dolman. "For my part, +I think the police----" + +"Excuse me, sir, this is a matter for me, not the police. I propose, +sir, to stay at Madersley until I bring the children back. I hope to +bring them back to-night." + +"To-night!" cried Iris. "Oh, Fortune! do you mean it?" + +"Yes, my love. I am an American, and I generally do what I say. I mean +to bring the little dears back to their rightful home to-night. And +now I'm off, and please expect me when you see me." + +Fortune turned abruptly and left the hotel. She walked down the High +Street. + +"Now," she said to herself, "why should not I just go and pay a visit +to my old friend and neighbor, Matty Bell. I want a woman that is a +gossip just now, and if there is a gossip in the whole of Madersley, +it's Matty Bell. As a rule, I can't abear her, but there are times +when a gossiping woman comes in handy; and Matty's neither very low +nor very high up in the world, so she's acquainted with all that goes +on in both circles, the high and the low. Yes, I'll go to Matty this +very moment; and as there's not any time to lose, I'll take a fly and +drive there." + +Fortune hailed the first fly she came across, and was quickly borne to +the abode of her old neighbor, Matty Bell. + +Matty Bell was a woman of about sixty years of age. At one time she +had been a servant at Delaney Manor, but having married, and then lost +her husband, she had set up in the laundry line. In that interesting +trade she had done a thriving business, and kept a comfortable roof +over her head. She had never had children, and consequently had plenty +of time to attend to her neighbors' affairs. + +"Well, to be sure, Fortune, and what brings you here?" she said, when +Fortune alighted from the fly. "Dear heart! I didn't know that you +would care to leave Delaney Manor with all the troubles about." + +"And what troubles do you mean now, Matty Bell?" said Fortune, as she +paid a shilling to the driver, and then tripped lightly into Matty's +little front parlor. + +"Why, the death of the poor missus, Heaven bless her memory! and then +the master going off to the other end of nobody knows where, and all +them blessed little children took from their home and carried--oh, we +needn't go into that, Fortune--it's been a trouble to you, and I see +it writ on your face." + +"You are right there, Matty," said Fortune; "it has been a bitter +trouble to me, and there's more behind, for the lady who took the +children had no right to interfere, not having a mother's heart in her +breast, for all that Providence granted her five babes of her own to +manage. What do you think she went and did, Matty? Why, lost two of +our children." + +"Lost two of 'em? Sakes alive! you don't say so!" replied Matty. "Have +a cup of tea, Fortune, do; I have it brewing lovely on the hob." + +"No, thank you," replied Fortune. "I'm in no mood for tea." + +"Well, then, do go on with your story, for it's mighty interesting." + +"It's simple enough," replied Fortune. "Two of the children are lost, +and now I have traced 'em to a circus in the town." + +"A circus here--what, Holt's?" said the woman. + +"No less. Why, Matty; you look queer yourself. Do you know anything?" + +"I know nothing for certain," said Matty. "I can only tell you--but +there, perhaps I had better not say--only will you excuse me for a +minute or two, Fortune?" + +"I'll excuse you, Matty, if you are on the trail of the children, but +if you aren't, you had better stay here and let me talk matters over. +You always were a fearful one for gossip, and perhaps you have picked +up news. Yes, I see you have--you have got something at the back of +your head this blessed minute, Matty Bell." + +"That I have," replied Mrs. Bell. "But please don't ask me a word +more, only let me get on my bonnet and cloak." + +Mrs. Bell left the room, and quickly returned dressed in her widow's +weeds, for though Bell had been dead for over ten years, his widow was +still faithful to his memory; she slipped a thick crêpe veil over her +face, and went out, looking the very essence of respectability. She +was not more than twenty minutes away, and when she came back she +looked much excited. On each of her smooth, pasty cheeks might even be +seen a little flush of color, and her dull blue eyes were brighter +than their wont. + +"Fortune," she cried, "as there's a heaven above me, I've found 'em!" + +"Bless you, Matty; but where--where?" + +"Why, at no less a place than Jonathan Darling's." + +"Jonathan Darling? Who may he be?" + +"He's as honest a fellow, Fortune, as you can find in the whole of +Madersley--he drives a milk cart. He found the two little dears three +mornings ago, wandering about in their circus dresses, and he took 'em +home." + +"Well," said Fortune, "well--then _that's_ all right. It was a +trouble, but it's over, thank the good God. I could fall on my knees +this moment and offer up a prayer; that I could, Matty Bell." + +Fortune's small, twinkling eyes were full of tears; she caught her +neighbor's hand and wrung it hard. + +"And I bless you, Matty," she continued, "for you have put me on the +right trail. I'll never blame a gossiping neighbor again, never as +long as I live." + +"But you haven't heard me out to the end," said Matty, "for one of the +little 'uns is very ill. You have found 'em, it is true; but it isn't +all beer and skittles, Fortune Squeers." + +"One of the children ill?" said Fortune. + +"Yes; little Miss Diana. You come along and see her at once. They say +she fell on her head out of a ring at the circus, and she must have +hurt herself rather bad. Anyhow, she don't know a word she is saying, +poor little dear." + +When Fortune heard this news she shut up her mouth very tight, tied +her bonnet-strings, and followed her neighbor out of the house. + +The Darlings' humble little domicile happened to be in the next +street, and in less than five minutes Fortune was standing over little +Diana's bed. The child was tossing from side to side, her big eyes +were wide open; she was gazing straight before her, talking eagerly +and incessantly. + +"Is it to be a pwivate funeral?" she said, when Fortune entered the +room, and, falling on her knees, clasped the hot little hands in hers. + +"Oh, my little darling!" said the good woman, "and have I really found +you at last?" + +She sank down by the child and burst into more bitter tears than she +had even shed when Mrs. Delaney went away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE LITTLE MOTHER TO THE RESCUE. + + +Yes, the lost children were found, but little Diana was very ill. The +blow she had received on her head had developed into inflammation of +the brain. She was highly feverish, and did not in the least know what +she was saying. Fortune immediately made up her mind not to leave her. +After standing by her bedside for a minute or two, she went into the +next room and asked Mrs. Darling if she would take a fly and go with +little Orion to Delaney Manor. + +"You are going to your own home, my poor little boy," said the nurse, +"and please tell your uncle and Iris and Apollo that I am staying here +to look after Diana." + +The little boy was so excited at the prospect of being home once more +that he forgot any small anxieties which he had experienced with +regard to Diana. He started off, therefore, with Mrs. Darling in the +highest spirits, and Fortune returned to the bedside of the sick +child. Within a couple of hours after Orion's departure, Mr. Dolman +arrived in person. When he saw Diana he immediately insisted on the +best doctor in the place being sent for to see her. + +The medical man arrived; but, when he did so, he shook his head. + +"The child is dangerously ill," he said. "I could not hear of her +being moved at present. She must have absolute quiet and good +nursing." + +"I'm going to nurse her," said Fortune. + +"A properly trained nurse would be best," said the doctor. + +"I and no other am going to nurse her," repeated Fortune. + +She had taken off her bonnet and mantle and was seated quietly by the +bedside. No one could look more capable, more determined, than the +American woman did on this occasion. The doctor saw that he must give +way. + +"Haven't I done for her from the blessed moment when she was sent from +heaven into her mother's arms?" continued Fortune. "I shall nurse her +now, whether it's the will of the Almighty that she lives or dies." + +At these words, little Diana opened her great, black eyes. + + "And you'll never know fear + Any more, little dear," + +she said in a voice of intense satisfaction. Then she looked up at +Fortune, and raised her brow in a puzzled manner. + +"I aren't fwightened of G'eased Lightning," she said. A smile broke +over her little face, then the light of reason once more faded, and +she entered the dark region of delirium and danger. + +The doctor did all he could and Fortune did all she could, and +presently Aunt Jane appeared on the scene, and insisted on seeing the +child, and shook her head over her and cried a little privately; but, +in spite of all their efforts to get her well again, little Diana +grew weaker, day by day. She did not know Fortune, except at very +rare intervals. Day and night she talked incessantly of her past life, +of the beautiful garden, of the animals, of Rub-a-Dub, and more +especially of Rub-a-Dub's public funeral. She also mentioned Greased +Lightning and Pole Star, and Uncle Ben and the circus; but when she +talked of them her voice changed; it grew high, eager, and excited, +and her little breath panted out of her weary body. She often ended +her delirious talk with a cry of distress. + +"Oh, I has fallen," she said, with a sob. "I has fallen from the +wing." Then she would clasp both her hot hands to her aching head, and +moan bitterly. + +The doctor was very anxious about her, and Fortune was very sad, and +so was Uncle William, and even Aunt Jane. + +The cablegram was sent to father, and they all earnestly hoped that he +was already on his homeward way. + +Meanwhile, at the Manor, Iris, Apollo, and Orion had a hard time. It +is true that they were no longer fettered or coerced in any way. Aunt +Jane took scarcely any notice of them, and Uncle William spent most of +his time alone. The three children could come in and out of the house +as they pleased; they could wander about the garden where four used to +play happily; they could visit the old haunts that four used to love; +but because the fourth was now absent, the joy and the mirth of the +old days seemed quite to have left the remaining three. + +As time went by, Iris grew whiter and whiter. Often she wandered away +by herself, and flinging herself on the ground, would moan out her +distress. + +"Mother, mother," she used to sob, "I have not done what you told me; +I have not been a little mother. Can you ever forgive me? Oh, if Diana +dies, I am certain that I shall never forgive myself." + +At last, when a fortnight had passed by, Iris had a dream. She never +told her dream to anyone, but she got up that morning with a very +determined expression on her small face. After breakfast she went +straight downstairs to the library, and spoke to Uncle William. + +"Uncle William," she said, "I want to say that I am going to see +Diana." + +"My dear," said Uncle William, who was furtively at that moment wiping +a tear from his eye, "I greatly fear that you cannot do so; we have +had bad news of little Diana this morning. I greatly fear, Iris, that +she will not be long with us; her strength is going, and there is +little chance of the fever abating. The doctor has but a small hope of +her recovery--in fact, I may almost say that he has no hope." + +"It is a fortnight since Diana was found, and you have never let me +see her yet," continued Iris; "but I am going to her to-day. I had a +dream last night," she continued, "and in my dream I--But I'm not +going to say anything more, only I must see Diana to-day." + +"I am afraid you cannot do so, Iris," replied Uncle William. + +"And why not, if the child has the wish?" remarked Aunt Jane suddenly. + +Until that moment Iris had no idea that Aunt Jane was in the room. She +started now when she heard her voice; but reading the expression on +her face, she ran up to her eagerly. + +"If you are for it, Aunt Jane, it will be all right," she cried. +"Please have a carriage ordered this minute and let me go." + +"I would not, if I were you, wife," said Uncle William. "You see how +delicate Iris is already, and the sight of her little sister would +shock her dreadfully." + +"She may just as well go," said Aunt Jane. "In my opinion, it would be +wrong to leave any stone unturned, and Iris always had a remarkable +influence over the other children. Besides, my dear William, when +David comes back, I should not like Iris to have to tell him that I +refused what, after all, is a very natural request." + +"Aunt Jane, I love you for those words," said Iris. + +Aunt Jane's face quite flushed when Iris said she loved her. She went +across the room and rang the bell. + +"Desire the pony carriage to be sent round directly," was her order to +the servant when he appeared. + +Accordingly, in less than half an hour, Iris and Aunt Jane were +driving into Madersley. They went straight to the humble house where +the Darlings lived. The greater part of the house was given up to +little Diana and her nurse. + +"Please, Aunt Jane," said Iris, as they approached the door; "may I go +into Diana's room by myself? I don't want anyone to be with me when I +see her." + +"You may have it your way, Iris," said Aunt Jane. "I interfered once, +and I believe I did wrong; now you shall have it your own way." + +"Thank you, Aunt Jane," answered Iris. She scarcely looked at her +aunt; all her thoughts were centered on the mission which she had +taken in hand. When the carriage drew up at the humble door, the +child ran straight into the house. + +"Who may you be, little miss?" said Bessie Darling, who had never seen +her before. + +"I am the sister of Diana; I am a mother to the others," said Iris. + +"Sakes alive!" exclaimed the woman. "You a mother? Why, you poor +little mite, you look as if you wanted a deal of mothering yourself." + +"Please tell me what room my sister is in," said Iris, removing her +hat as she spoke. + +Bessie Darling stared at her for a moment, then she pointed to a door. +Iris turned the handle and entered the room. + +It was a hot day, and the window was wide open; a green blind was down +to keep out the glare of the sun; there was a quantity of ice in a +great pail in one corner of the room, and, as Iris softly entered, +Fortune was in the act of putting a fresh cold cloth on the sick +child's forehead. + +Little Diana was murmuring her ceaseless refrain: + + "You'll never know fear, + Any more, little dear. + Good-by." + +"Why, Diana!" said Iris. + +Iris's voice was quite fresh. It had a different note in it from all +the voices which for weeks had sounded in little Diana's ears. She was +lying in a partial stupor, but now she opened her eyes very wide. + +"Iris," she said; "Iris." And a smile broke all over her face. + +Iris ran up to the bedside. She was always quiet in her manner; great +excitement only accentuated her quiet. She knelt down at once by the +sick child, and took both her hot hands in hers. + +"Darling," she said, "I am your little mother, and I have come back to +you." + +"That's beautiful," answered Diana. She uttered a very deep sigh. She +had been tossing restlessly about, but now her hot hands lay quiet in +Iris'. + +As to Fortune, she was so amazed that she did not utter a word. + +"Go to sleep, Di," said Iris, in a voice of authority; "I am your +little mother, and I wish you to go to sleep." + +"It's awfu' nice to be mothered again," said Diana. She opened her +eyes languidly, fixed them on Iris, smiled once more, and then the +thick lashes fell over the pale cheeks. In about five minutes she was +sound asleep. + +Little Diana had often slept during the past fortnight, but during all +that time she had had no sleep like this--so quiet, so restful. Iris, +kneeling by her side, never moved. + +"Let me give you a chair or you'll faint, my love," said Fortune, in a +low whisper. + +Iris shook her head. + +Soon afterwards Fortune softly left the room, and then there fell a +deep and solemn silence over the little house. + +Aunt Jane, Bessie Darling, and Fortune all sat in the outer room. The +heat grew greater; they opened both door and window, and a gentle +breeze now blew through the sick-room. The child slept on. The little +mother kneeling by her side remained as still as if she was carved in +marble. + +About four in the afternoon the doctor came in. + +"Who is this?" he whispered, looking at Iris. + +"It's the eldest little sister, sir," said Fortune; "she came down +here this morning quite unbidden, and she told the little one that she +was her mother, and the little one smiled and went off sound asleep +directly." + +The doctor, too, retreated into the outer room. + +"It is my belief that the little girl has saved the child's life," he +said. "Whatever you do, don't make a sound; my little patient has not +slept like this since the beginning of her illness. This sleep will +probably be the turning-point. I shall not be far off; send for me +whenever she awakens." + +The day wore on, the evening approached; and Iris still knelt by +Diana's side, and Diana still slept. The sick child had no dreams in +that healthful, beautiful, life-restoring slumber. Slowly, hour by +hour, the fret and the worry left the little face, the burning fever +departed, the little brow grew cool and calm; smiles--baby +smiles--came once more round the lips; the old child-look--the old +Diana-look--returned. + +Iris knelt on. Her knees ached, her arms ached, her head ached; she +grew stiff; she grew first hot and then cold; but never once did she +move or swerve from her original position. The great joy of her spirit +supported her through the terrible ordeal. At long, long last she was +really a little mother; she was saving Diana's life. + +Now and then Fortune approached to hold a cup of milk or other +restorative to Iris' pale lips. She feared that the child might faint +before Diana awoke. But great love enabled Iris to go through this +time of suffering. She neither fainted nor failed. + +The beautiful healing sleep lasted for nearly eight hours; then, when +faint, cool shadows had stolen across the sick room, little Diana +opened her eyes. She saw Iris still kneeling in the same position and +looking at her with a world of love in her face. Diana smiled back in +answer to the love. + +"I's k'ite well, Iris," she said. "I's had a beaut'ful s'eep, and +there's not going to be a pwivate nor yet a public funeral." + +"No, no, Di!" said Iris, sobbing now as she spoke. + +"I's hung'y," said little Diana. "I'd like my supper awfu' much." + + * * * * * + +The crisis was over, and Diana was to live. From that hour she +recovered, slowly but surely. Iris was allowed to be with her a good +deal, and the mere fact of Iris being in the room always seemed to +chase the irritation and the weakness of that long recovery away. At +the end of a fortnight the sick child was well enough to return to +Delaney Manor. Then, from being half well she became quite well, and +when the autumn really came, and the cool breezes blew in from the +sea, father returned to his home once more, and he and Aunt Jane had a +long talk, and it was finally arranged that the four children were to +remain in the old home, and were to play in the old garden, and that +father was to stay at home himself and look after them as best he +could. + +"They are not ordinary children, and I frankly confess I cannot manage +them," said Aunt Jane. "As to Iris, she is without exception the most +peculiar child I ever came across; I know, of course, she is a good +child--I would not say a word to disparage her, for I admire her +strength--but when a child considers that she has got a mission----" + +"I know all about that," said David Delaney. + +"Iris thinks that she is to be a little mother to the others--those +were Evangeline's last words to her. Well, Jane, it is a heavy burden +for such a little creature to carry, but the fact of her obeying her +mother's last injunction really saved little Diana's life." + + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Little Mother to the Others, by L. T. 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Meade. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + a[name] { position:absolute; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + div.index { /* styles that apply to all text in an index */ + font-size: 90%; /*small type for compactness */ + } + + table { padding: 1em; text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + .tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} + .tocch { text-align: right; vertical-align: top;} + .tocpg {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } +.img1{ border-style:solid; border-color:#000000; border-width:thin; } + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i3 {display: block; margin-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i5 {display: block; margin-left: 5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Little Mother to the Others, by L. T. Meade + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Mother to the Others + +Author: L. T. Meade + +Release Date: January 12, 2006 [EBook #17506] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS *** + + + + +Produced by Lenna Knox, Juliet Sutherland, Sankar +Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="center"><img src="images/image_01.jpg" alt="Cover" width="500" height="781" /></div> + +<div class="center"><img src="images/image_03.jpg" alt="Cover" width="350" height="554" /></div> + +<h1>A Little Mother to<br /> +the Others</h1> + + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>MRS. L.T. MEADE</h2> + +<p class="center">AUTHOR OF</p> + +<p class="center">"POLLY: A NEW-FASHIONED GIRL," "A SWEET<br /> +GIRL GRADUATE," ETC.</p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="center"><img src="images/image_04.jpg" alt="Seal" width="200" height="117" /></div> +<p> </p> + +<h4>NEW YORK</h4> + +<h3>GROSSET & DUNLAP</h3> + +<h4>PUBLISHERS</h4> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr><td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>CHAPTER</td><td class="tocpg">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch"> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tocpg"> </td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">I. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">The Poor Innocent</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">II. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">A Little Mother to the Others</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">III. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">The Arrival of the Aunt</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">IV. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Rub-a-Dub</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">V. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Aunt is Her Name</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VI. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">The Poor Dead Un's</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VII. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">But Ann Could not Help Letting out Now and Then</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VIII. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">The Straw too Much</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">IX. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">The Punishment Chamber</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">X. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">Bow And Arrow</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XI. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Jog'aphy</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XII. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">A Baby's Honor</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIII. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">Birch Rod</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIV. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Diana's Revenge</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XV. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">Mother Rodesia</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVI. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">Uncle Ben</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVII. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Greased Lightning</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVIII. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">The Heart of the Little Mother</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIX. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">"A Pigmy I Call Him"</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XX. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">"Let's Pertend," Said Diana</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXI. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">Pole Star</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXII. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">The Milkman</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_232">232</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXIII. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">Fortune</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_242">242</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXIV. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">On the Trail</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXV. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">Found</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXVI. </td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">The Little Mother to the Rescue</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_268">268</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2><a name="A_LITTLE_MOTHER_TO_THE_OTHERS" id="A_LITTLE_MOTHER_TO_THE_OTHERS"></a>A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><img src="images/image_02.jpg" alt="Frontipiece" width="350" height="547" class="img1" /></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE POOR INNOCENT.</h3> + + +<p>The four children had rather peculiar names. The eldest girl was +called Iris, which, as everybody ought to know, means rainbow—indeed, +there was an Iris spoken of in the old Greek legends, who was supposed +to be Hera's chief messenger, and whenever a rainbow appeared in the +sky it was said that Iris was bringing down a message from Hera. The +Iris of this story was a very pretty, thoughtful little girl, aged ten +years. Her mother often talked to her about her name, and told her the +story which was associated with it. The eldest boy was called Apollo, +which also is a Greek name, and was supposed at one time to belong to +the most beautiful boy in the world. The next girl was called Diana, +and the youngest boy's name was Orion.</p> + +<p>When this story opens, Iris was ten years old, Apollo nine, Diana six, +and little Orion five. They were like ordinary children in appearance, +being neither particularly handsome nor particularly the reverse; but +in their minds and ways, in their habits and tastes, they seemed to +have inherited a savor of those far-off beings after whom their mother +had called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> them. They were, in short, very unworldly children—that +does not mean that they were specially religious—but they did not +care for fine clothes, nor the ordinary amusements which ordinary +children delight in. They loved flowers with a love which was almost a +passion, and they also knew a great deal about the stars, and often +coaxed their mother to allow them to sit up late at night to watch the +different constellations; but above all these things they adored, with +a great adoration, the entire animal kingdom.</p> + +<p>It so happened that the little Delaneys spent the greater part of +their time in a beautiful garden. I don't think, in all the course of +my wanderings, I ever saw a garden quite to compare to that in which +their early days were spent. Even in the winter they lived the greater +part of their time here, being hardy children and never catching cold. +The house was a fine and beautiful building, having belonged to their +family for several generations, but the children thought nothing at +all of that in comparison with the garden. Here, when possible, they +even had their lessons; here they played all their wonderful and +remarkable games; here they went through their brief sorrows, and +tasted their sweetest joys. But I must hasten to describe the garden +itself. In the first place, it was old-fashioned, having very high +brick walls covered all over with fruit trees. These fruit trees had +grown slowly, and were now in the perfection of their prime. Never +were such peaches to be seen, nor such apricots, nor such cherries, as +ripened slowly on the red brick walls of the old garden. Inside the +walls almost all well-known English flowers flourished in lavish +profusion. There was also fruit to be found here in quantities. Never +were such strawberries to be seen as could be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> gathered from those +great strawberry beds. Then the gooseberries with which the old bushes +were laden; the currants, red, black, and white; the raspberries, had +surely their match nowhere else on this earth.</p> + +<p>The walled-in garden contained quite five acres of ground, and was +divided itself into three portions. In the middle was the flower +garden proper. Here there was a long, straight walk which led to an +arbor at the bottom. The children were particularly fond of this +arbor, for their father had made it for them with his own hands, and +their mother had watched its growth. Mrs. Delaney was very delicate at +the time, and as she looked on and saw the pretty arbor growing into +shape, she used to lean on Iris' arm and talk to her now and then in +her soft, low voice about the flowers and the animals, and the happy +life which the little people were leading. At these moments a look +would often come into her mother's gentle eyes which caused Iris' +heart to beat fast, and made her tighten her clasp on the slender arm. +Then, when the arbor was quite finished, Mr. Delaney put little seats +into it, a rustic chair for each child, which he or she could take in +or out at pleasure. The chairs were carved in commemoration of each +child's name. Iris had the deep purple flowers which go by that name +twined round and round the back of hers. Apollo's chair was made +memorable with his well-known lyre and bow, and these words were +carved round it: "The golden lyre shall be my friend, the bent bow my +delight, and in oracles will I foretell the dark future."</p> + +<p>Diana's chair had a bow and quiver engraved on the back, while little +Orion's represented a giant with a girdle and a sword. The children +were very proud of their chairs, and often talked of them to one +an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>other, and Iris, who was the story-teller of the party, was never +tired of telling the stories of the great originals after whom she and +her brothers and sister were named.</p> + +<p>Down the straight path which led to the pretty arbor were Scotch +roses, red and white. The smell of these roses in the summer was quite +enough to ravish you. Iris in particular used to sniff at them and +sniff at them until she felt nearly intoxicated with delight.</p> + +<p>The central garden, which was mostly devoted to flowers, led through +little, old-fashioned, somewhat narrow postern doors into the fruit +gardens on either side. In these were the gooseberries. Here were to +be found the great beds of strawberries; here, by-and-by, ripened the +plums and the many sorts of apples and pears; here, too, were the +great glass houses where the grapes assumed their deep claret color +and their wonderful bloom; and here also were some peculiar and +marvelous foreign flowers, such as orchids, and many others.</p> + +<p>Whenever the children were not in the house they were to be found in +the garden, for, in addition to the abundance of fruit and vegetables, +it also possessed some stately trees, which gave plenty of shade even +when the sun was at its hottest. Here Iris would lie full length on +her face and hands, and dream dreams to any extent. Now and then also +she would wake up with a start and tell marvelous stories to her +brothers and sister. She told stories very well, and the others always +listened solemnly and begged her to tell more, and questioned and +argued, and tried to make the adventures she described come really +into their own lives.</p> + +<p>Iris was undoubtedly the most imaginative of all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> the little party. +She was also the most gentle and the most thoughtful. She took most +after her beautiful mother, and thought more than any of the others of +the peculiar names after which they were all called.</p> + +<p>On a certain day in the first week of a particularly hot and lovely +June, Iris, who had been in the house for some time, came slowly out, +swinging her large muslin hat on her arm. Her face looked paler than +usual, and somewhat thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"Here you are at last, Iris," called out Diana, in her brisk voice, +"and not a moment too soon. I have just found a poor innocent dead on +the walk; you must come and look at it at once."</p> + +<p>On hearing these words, the gloom left Iris' face as if by magic.</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" she asked. "I hope you did not tread on it, Diana."</p> + +<p>"No; but Puff-Ball did," answered Diana. "Don't blame him, please, +Iris; he is only a puppy and always up to mischief. He took the poor +innocent in his mouth and shook it; but I think it was quite deaded +before that."</p> + +<p>"Then, if it is dead, it must be buried," said Iris solemnly. "Bring +it into the arbor, and let us think what kind of funeral we will give +it."</p> + +<p>"Why not into the dead-house at once?" queried Diana.</p> + +<p>"No; the arbor will do for the present."</p> + +<p>Iris quickened her footsteps and walked down the straight path through +the midst of the Scotch roses. Having reached the pretty little +summer-house, she seated herself on her rustic chair and waited until +Diana arrived with the poor innocent. This was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> somewhat unsightly +object, being nothing more nor less than a dead earthworm which had +been found on the walk, and which Diana respected, as she did all live +creatures, great or small.</p> + +<p>"Put it down there," said Iris; "we can have a funeral when the sun is +not quite so hot."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it will have a private funeral," said Apollo, who came into +the summer-house at that moment. "It is nothing but a poor innocent, +and not worth a great deal of trouble; and I do hope, Iris," he added +eagerly, "that you will not expect me to be present, for I have got +some most important chemical experiments which I am anxious to go on +with. I quite hope to succeed with my thermometer to-day, and, after +all, as it is only a worm——"</p> + +<p>Iris looked up at him with very solemn eyes.</p> + +<p>"<i>Only</i> a worm," she repeated. "Is <i>that</i> its fault, poor thing?" +Apollo seemed to feel the indignant glance of Iris' brown eyes. He sat +down submissively on his own chair. Orion and Diana dropped on their +knees by Iris' side. "I think," said Iris slowly, "that we will give +this poor innocent a simple funeral. The coffin must be made of dock +leaves, and——"</p> + +<p>Here she was suddenly interrupted—a shadow fell across the entrance +door of the pretty summer-house. An elderly woman, with a thin face +and lank, figure, looked in.</p> + +<p>"Miss Iris," she said, "Mrs. Delaney is awake and would be glad to see +you."</p> + +<p>"Mother!" cried Iris eagerly. She turned at once to her sister and +brothers. "The innocent must wait," she said. "Put it in the +dead-house with the other creatures. I will attend to the funeral in +the evening or to-morrow. Don't keep me now, children." <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I thought you had just come from mother," said Apollo.</p> + +<p>"No. When I went to her she was asleep. Don't keep me, please." The +woman who had brought the message had already disappeared down the +long straight walk. Iris took to her heels and ran after her. +"Fortune," she said, looking into her face, "is mother any better?"</p> + +<p>"As to that, Miss Iris, it is more than I can tell you. Please don't +hold on to my hand, miss. In hot weather I hate children to cling to +me."</p> + +<p>Iris said nothing more, but she withdrew a little from Fortune's side.</p> + +<p>Fortune hurried her steps, and Iris kept time with her. When they +reached the house, the woman stopped and looked intently at the child.</p> + +<p>"You can go straight upstairs at once, miss, and into the room," she +said. "You need not knock; my mistress is waiting for you."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think, Fortune, that mother is just a little <i>wee</i> bit +better?" asked Iris again. There was an imploring note in her question +this time.</p> + +<p>"She will tell you herself, my dear. Now, be quick; don't keep her +waiting. It is bad for people, when they are ill, to be kept waiting."</p> + +<p>"I won't keep her; I'll go to her this very instant," said Iris.</p> + +<p>The old house was as beautiful as the garden to which it belonged. It +had been built, a great part of it, centuries ago, and had, like many +other houses of its date, been added to from time to time. Queerly +shaped rooms jutted out in many quarters; odd stairs climbed up in +several directions; towers and turrets were added to the roof; +passages, some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> narrow, some broad, connected the new buildings with +the old. The whole made an incongruous and yet beautiful effect, the +new rooms possessing the advantages and comforts which modern builders +put into their houses, and the older part of the house the quaint +devices and thick, wainscoted walls and deep, mullioned windows of the +times which are gone by.</p> + +<p>Iris ran quickly through the wide entrance hall and up the broad, +white, stone stairs. These stairs were a special feature of Delaney +Manor. They had been brought all the way from Italy by a Delaney +nearly a hundred years ago, and were made of pure marble, and were +very lovely to look at. When Iris reached the first landing, she +turned aside from the spacious modern apartments and, opening a green +baize door, ran down a narrow passage. At the end of the passage she +turned to the left and went down another passage, and then wended her +way up some narrow stairs, which curled round and round as if they +were going up a tower. This, as a matter of fact, was the case. +Presently Iris pushed aside a curtain, and found herself in an octagon +room nearly at the top of a somewhat high, but squarely built, tower. +This room, which was large and airy, was wainscoted with oak; there +was a thick Turkey carpet on the floor, and the many windows were +flung wide open, so that the summer breeze, coming in fresh and sweet +from this great height, made the whole lovely room as fresh and cheery +and full of sweet perfume as if its solitary inmate were really in the +open air.</p> + +<p>Iris, however, had often been in the room before, and had no time or +thought now to give to its appearance. Her eyes darted to the sofa on +which her young mother lay. Mrs. Delaney was half-sitting up,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> and +looked almost too young to be the mother of a child as big as Iris. +She had one of the most beautiful faces God ever gave to anybody. It +was not so much that her features were perfect, but they were full of +light, full of soul, and such a very loving expression beamed in her +eyes that no man, woman, or child ever looked at her without feeling +the best in their natures coming immediately to the surface.</p> + +<p>As to little Iris, her feelings for her mother were quite beyond any +words to express. She ran up to her now and knelt by her side.</p> + +<p>"Kiss me, Iris," said Mrs. Delaney.</p> + +<p>Iris put up her soft, rosebud lips; they met the equally soft lips of +the mother.</p> + +<p>"You are much better, mummy; are you not?" said the child, in an +eager, half-passionate whisper.</p> + +<p>"I have had a long sleep, darling, and I am rested," said Mrs. +Delaney. "I told Fortune to call you. Father is away for the day. I +thought we could have half an hour uninterrupted."</p> + +<p>"How beautiful, mother! It is the most delightful thing in all the +world to be alone with you, mummy."</p> + +<p>"Well, bring your little chair and sit near me, Iris. Fortune will +bring in tea in a moment, and you can pour it out. You shall have tea +with me, if you wish it, darling."</p> + +<p>Iris gave a sigh of rapture; she was too happy almost for words. This +was almost invariably the case when she found herself in her mother's +presence. When with her mother she was quiet and seldom spoke a great +deal. In the garden with the other children Iris was the one who +chattered most, but with her mother her words were always few. She +felt herself then to be more or less in a listening attitude.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> She +listened for the words which dropped from those gentle lips; she was +always on the lookout for the love-light which filled the soft brown +eyes.</p> + +<p>At that moment the old servant, Fortune, brought in the tea on a +pretty tray and laid it on a small table near Mrs. Delaney. Then Iris +got up, and with an important air poured it out and brought a cup, +nicely prepared, to her mother.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Delaney sipped her tea and looked from time to time at her little +daughter. When she did so, Iris devoured her with her anxious eyes.</p> + +<p>"No," she said to herself, "mother does not look ill—not even <i>very</i> +tired. She is not like anybody else, and that is why—why she wears +that wonderful, almost holy expression. Sometimes I wish she did not, +but I would not change her, not for all the world."</p> + +<p>Iris' heart grew quiet. Her cup of bliss was quite full. She scarcely +touched her tea; she was too happy even to eat.</p> + +<p>"Have you had enough tea, mother?" she asked presently.</p> + +<p>"Yes, darling. Please push the tea-table a little aside, and then come +up very near to me. I want to hold your dear little hand in mine; I +can't talk much."</p> + +<p>"But you are better—you are surely better, mother?"</p> + +<p>"In one sense, yes, Iris."</p> + +<p>Iris moved the tea-table very deftly aside, and then, drawing up her +small chair, slipped her hand inside her mother's.</p> + +<p>"I have made up my mind to tell you, Iris," said the mother. She +looked at the little girl for a full minute, and then began to talk in +a low, clear voice. "I am the mother of four children. I don't think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +there are any other children like you four in the wide world. I have +thought a great deal about you, and while I have been ill have prayed +to God to keep you and to help me, and now, Iris, now that I have got +to go away—"</p> + +<p>"To go away, mother?" interrupted Iris, turning very pale.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dearest. Don't be troubled, darling; I can make it all seem +quite happy to you. But now, when I see it must be done, that I must +undertake this very long journey, I want to put things perfectly +straight between you and me, my little daughter."</p> + +<p>"Things have been always straight between us, mother," said Iris. "I +don't quite understand."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember the time when I went to Australia?"</p> + +<p>"Are you going to Australia again?" asked Iris. "You were a whole year +away then. It was a very long time, and sometimes, mother, sometimes +Fortune was a little cross, and Miss Stevenson never seemed to suit +Apollo. I thought I would tell you about that."</p> + +<p>"But Fortune means well, dearest. She has your true interest at heart, +and I think matters will be differently arranged, as far as Miss +Stevenson is concerned, in the future. It is not about her or Fortune +I want to speak now."</p> + +<p>"And you are going back to Australia again?"</p> + +<p>"I am going quite as far as Australia; but we need not talk of the +distance just now. I have not time for many words, nor very much +strength to speak. You know, Iris, the meaning of your names, don't +you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," answered Iris; "and, mother, I have often talked to the +others about our names. I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> told Apollo how beautiful he must try +to be, not only in his face, but in his mind, mother, and how brave +and how clever. I have told him that he must try to have a beautiful +soul; and Orion must be very brave and strong, and Diana must be +bright and sparkling and noble. Yes, mother; we all know about our +names."</p> + +<p>"I am glad of that," said Mrs. Delaney. "I gave you the names for a +purpose. I wanted you to have names with meaning to them. I wanted you +to try to live up to them. Now, Iris, that I am really going away, I +am afraid you children will find a great many things altered. You have +hitherto lived a very sheltered life; you have just had the dear old +garden and the run of the house, and you have seen your father or me +every day. But afterwards, when I have gone, you will doubtless have +to go into the world; and, my darling, my darling, the cold world does +not always understand the meaning of names like yours, the meaning of +strength and beauty and nobleness, and of bright, sparkling, and high +ideas. In short, my little girl, if you four children are to be worthy +of your names and to fulfill the dreams, the longings, the <i>hopes</i> I +have centered round you, there is nothing whatever for you to do but +to begin to fight your battles."</p> + +<p>Iris was silent. She had very earnest eyes, something like her +mother's in expression. They were fixed now on Mrs. Delaney's face.</p> + +<p>"I will not explain exactly what I mean," said the mother, giving the +little hand a loving squeeze, "only to assure you, Iris, that, as the +trial comes, strength will be given to you to meet it. Please +understand, my darling, that from first to last, to the end of life, +it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> is all a fight. 'The road winds uphill all the way.' If you will +remember that you will not think things half as hard, and you will be +brave and strong, and, like the rainbow, you will cheer people even in +the darkest hours. But, Iris, I want you to promise me one thing—I +want you, my little girl, to be a mother to the others."</p> + +<p>"A mother to the others?" said Iris, half aloud. She paused and did +not speak at all for a moment, her imagination was very busy. She +thought of all the creatures to whom she was already a mother, not +only her own dear pets—the mice in their cages, the silk-worms, the +three dogs, the stray cat, the pet Persian cat, the green frogs, the +poor innocents, as the children called worms—but in addition to +these, all creatures that suffered in the animal kingdom, all flowers +that were about to fade, all sad things that seemed to need care and +comfort. But up to the present she had never thought of the other +children except as her equals. Apollo was only a year younger than +herself, and in some ways braver and stouter and more fearless; and +Orion and Diana were something like their names—very bright and even +fierce at times. She, after all, was the gentlest of the party, and +she was very young—not more than ten years of age. How could she +possibly be a mother to the others?</p> + +<p>She looked at Mrs. Delaney, and her mother gazed solemnly at her, +waiting for her to speak.</p> + +<p>"After all," thought Iris, "to satisfy the longing in mother's eyes is +the first thing of all. I will promise, cost what it may."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said; then softly, "I will, mother; I will be a mother to +the others."</p> + +<p>"Kiss me, Iris."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + +<p>The little girl threw her arms round her mother's neck; their lips met +in a long embrace.</p> + +<p>"Darling, you understand? I am satisfied with your promise, and I am +tired."</p> + +<p>"Must I go away, mother? May not I stay very quietly with you? Can you +not sleep if I am in the room?"</p> + +<p>"I would rather you left me now. I can sleep better when no one is by. +Ring the bell for Fortune as you go. She will come and make me +comfortable. Yes; I am very tired."</p> + +<p>"One moment first, mummy—you have not told me yet when you are going +on the journey."</p> + +<p>"The day is not quite fixed, Iris, although it is—yes, it is nearly +so."</p> + +<p>"And you have not said <i>where</i> you are going, mother. I should like to +tell the others."</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Delaney had closed her eyes, and did not make any reply.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS.</h3> + + +<p>That night the children's young mother went on her journey. The +summons for her to go came unexpectedly, as it often does in the end. +She had not even time to say good-by to the children, nor to her +husband, only just a brief moment to look, with startled eyes, at the +wonderful face of the angel who had come to fetch her, and then with a +smile of bliss to let him clasp her in his arms and feel his strong +wings round her, and then she was away, beyond the lovely house and +the beautiful garden, and the children sleeping quietly in their beds, +and the husband who was slumbering by her side—beyond the tall trees +and the peaks of the highest mountains, beyond the stars themselves, +until finally she entered the portals of a home that is everlasting, +and found herself in a land where the flowers do not fade.</p> + +<p>In the morning the children were told that their mother was dead. They +all cried, and everyone thought it dreadfully sad, except Iris, who +knew better. It was Fortune who brought in the news to the +children—they had just gone into the day-nursery at the time.</p> + +<p>Fortune was a stern woman, somewhat over fifty years of age. She was +American by birth, and had lived with Mrs. Delaney since Iris was +born. Mrs. Delaney was also American, which may have ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>counted for +some of her bright fancies, and quiet, yet sweet and quick ways. +Fortune was very fond of the children after her fashion, which was, +however, as a rule, somewhat severe and exacting. But to-day, in her +bitter grief, she sank down on the nearest chair, and allowed them all +to crowd round her, and cried bitterly, and took little Orion in her +arms and kissed him and petted him, and begged of each child to +forgive her for ever having been cross or disagreeable, and promised, +as well and as heartily as she could, never to transgress again in +that manner as long as she lived.</p> + +<p>While the others were sobbing and crying round Fortune, Iris stood +silent.</p> + +<p>"Where is father?" she said at last, in a very quiet but determined +voice.</p> + +<p>Fortune glanced round at the grave little girl in some wonder.</p> + +<p>"Miss Iris," she said, "you are not even crying."</p> + +<p>"What do tears matter?" answered Iris. "Please, Fortune, where is +father? I should like to go to him."</p> + +<p>"He is locked up in his study, darling, and could not possibly see you +nor anyone else. He is quite stunned, master is, and no wonder. You +cannot go to him at present, Miss Iris."</p> + +<p>Iris did not say another word, but she looked more grave and more +thoughtful than ever. After a long pause she sat down in her own +little chair near the open window. It was a very lovely day, just as +beautiful as the one which had preceded it. As the child sat by the +window, and the soft, sweet breeze fanned her pale cheeks, an +indescribable longing came over her. No one was particularly noticing +her. She crept softly out of the room, ran down some passages, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> at +last found herself once more mounting the turret stairs to the tower. +A moment later she had entered the octagon room where she and her +mother had talked together on the previous day. The windows were wide +open, the pretty room looked just as usual, but mother's sofa was +vacant. Iris went straight over to one of the open windows, knelt +down, and put her little elbows on the ledge.</p> + +<p>"Yes, mother," she said, speaking aloud and looking full up at the +bright blue sky, "I promise you. I promised you yesterday, but I make +a fresh, very, <i>very</i> solemn promise to-day. Yes, I will be a mother +to the others; I will try never to think of myself; I will remember, +mother darling, exactly what you want me to do. I will try to be +beautiful, to be a little messenger of the gods, as you sometimes said +I might be, and to be like the rainbow, full of hope. And I will try +to help Apollo to be the most beautiful and the bravest boy in the +world; and, mother, I will do my best to help Diana to be strong and +bright and full of courage; and I will do what I can for Orion—he +must be grand like a giant, so that he may live up to the wonderful +name you have given him. Mother, it will be very hard, but I promise, +I promise with all my might, to do everything you want me to do. I +will act just as if you were there and could see, mother, and I will +<i>always</i> remember that it is beautiful for you to have gone away, for +while you were here you had so much pain and so much illness. I won't +fret, mother; no, I won't fret—I promise to be a mother to the +others, and there won't be any time to fret."</p> + +<p>No tears came to Iris' bright eyes, but her little thin face grew +paler and paler. Presently she left the window and went slowly +downstairs again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>Fortune had now left the other children to themselves. They were +scattered about the bright day nursery, looking miserable, though they +could scarcely tell why.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe a bit that mother is never coming back," said Orion, +in a stout, determined voice.</p> + +<p>He was a very handsome little fellow, strongly made—he had great big +black eyes like his father's. He was standing now with his Noah's ark +in his hand.</p> + +<p>"It is unfeeling of you to want to play with your Noah's ark to-day, +Orion," said Apollo. "Now, do you think I would go into my laboratory +and try to make a thermometer?"</p> + +<p>"Well, at least," said Diana, speaking with a sort of jerk, and her +small face turning crimson, "whatever happens, the animals must be +fed."</p> + +<p>"Of course they must, Diana," said Iris, coming forward, "and, Apollo, +there is not the least harm in our going into the garden, and I don't +think there is any harm in Orion playing with his Noah's ark. Come, +children; come with me. We will feed all the pets and then go into the +arbor, and, if you like, I will tell you stories."</p> + +<p>"What sort of stories?" asked Diana, in quite a cheerful voice. She +trotted up to her sister, and gave her her hand as she spoke. She also +was a finely made child, not unlike her name.</p> + +<p>"I 'gree with Orion," she said. "I'm quite certain sure that mother is +coming back 'fore long. Fortune did talk nonsense. She said, Iris—do +you know what she said?—she said that in the middle of the night, +just when it was black dark, you know, a white angel came into the +room and took mother in his arms and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> flew up to the sky with her. You +don't believe that; do you, Iris?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do, Diana," answered Iris. "But I will tell you more about it +in the arbor. Come, Apollo; mother would not like us to stay in the +house just because she has gone away to the angels. Mother never was +the least little bit selfish. Come into the garden."</p> + +<p>The three forlorn-looking little children were much comforted by Iris' +brave words. They dried their eyes, and Diana ran into the night +nursery to fetch their hats. They then ran downstairs without anyone +specially noticing them, passed through the great entrance hall, and +out on to the wide gravel sweep, which led by a side walk into the +lovely garden.</p> + +<p>Iris held Diana by one hand and Orion by the other, and Apollo ran on +in front.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said Iris, when they had reached the garden, "we must +begin by feeding all the pets."</p> + +<p>"There <i>are</i> an awful lot of them," said Diana, in quite a cheerful +voice; "and don't you remember, Iris, the poor innocent was not buried +yesterday?"</p> + +<p>Iris could not help giving a little shiver.</p> + +<p>"No more it was," she said, in a low tone. "It must have quite a +private funeral. Please get some dock leaves, Apollo."</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Apollo.</p> + +<p>He ran off, returning with a bunch in a moment or two.</p> + +<p>"Take them into the dead-house," said Iris, "and sew them up and put +the poor innocent inside, and then take your spade and dig a hole in +the cemetery. We can't have a public funeral. I—I don't feel up to +it," she added, her lips trembling for the first time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>Diana nestled close up to Iris.</p> + +<p>"You need not look sad, Iris," she said; "there's no cause, is there? +I don't believe that story 'bout mother, and if it is not true +there'll be nothing wrong in my laughing, will there?"</p> + +<p>"You may laugh if you like, darling," answered Iris.</p> + +<p>They all entered the arbor now, and Iris seated herself in the little +chair which mother had seen father make, and round which the beautiful +flowers of the iris had been carved.</p> + +<p>"Laugh, Di," she said again; "I know mother won't mind."</p> + +<p>For a full moment Diana stood silent, staring at her sister; then her +big black eyes, which had been full of the deepest gloom, brightened. +A butterfly passed the entrance to the summer-house, and Diana flew +after it, chasing it with a loud shout and a gay, hearty fit of +laughter.</p> + +<p>Apollo came back with the stray cat, whose name was "Trust," in his +arms.</p> + +<p>"She looks miserable, poor thing," he said. "I don't believe she has +had anything to eat to-day. She must have her breakfast, as usual; +must she not, Iris?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; we must feed all the pets," said Iris, making a great effort to +brighten up. "Let us go regularly to work, all of us. Apollo, will you +take the birds? You may as well clean out their cages—they are sure +to want it. I will collect flies for the green frogs, and Orion, you +may pick mulberry leaves for the silk-worms."</p> + +<p>For the next hour the children were busily employed. No one missed +them in the house. The house was full of shade, but the garden, +although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> mother had left it forever, was quite bright; the sun shone +as brilliantly as it did every other day; a great many fresh flowers +had come out; there was a very sweet smell from the opening roses, and +in especial the Scotch roses, white and red, made a waft of delicious +perfume as the children ran up and down.</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully hungry," said Diana suddenly.</p> + +<p>"But we won't go into the house for lunch to-day," said Iris. "Let us +have a fruit lunch—I think mother would like us to have a fruit lunch +just for to-day. Please, Apollo, go into the other garden and pick +some of the ripest strawberries. There were a great many ripe +yesterday, and there are sure to be more to-day. Bring a big leaf +full, and we can eat them in the summer-house."</p> + +<p>Apollo ran off at once. He brought back a good large leaf of +strawberries, and Iris divided them into four portions. Diana and +Orion, seated on their little chairs, ate theirs with much gusto, and +just as happily as if mother had not gone away; but as to Iris, +notwithstanding her brave words and her determination not to think of +herself, the strawberries tasted like wood in her mouth. There was +also a great lump in her throat, and a feeling of depression was +making itself felt more and more, moment by moment.</p> + +<p>Apollo sat down beside his sister, and glanced from time to time into +her face.</p> + +<p>"I cannot think why I don't <i>really</i> care for the strawberries +to-day," he said suddenly. "I—" His lips trembled. "Iris," he said, +gazing harder than ever at his sister, "you have got such a queer look +on your face.</p> + +<p>"Don't notice it, please, Apollo," answered Iris.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would cry," said the boy. "When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> Fortune came in and told +us the—the dreadful news, we all cried and we kissed her, and she +cried and she said she was sorry she had ever been unkind to us; but I +remember, Iris, you did not shed one tear, and you—you always seemed +to love mother the best of us all."</p> + +<p>"And I love her still the best," said Iris, in a soft voice; "but, +Apollo, I have something else to do." And then she added, lowering her +tones, "You know, I can't be sorry about mother herself. I can only be +glad about her."</p> + +<p>"Glad about mother! Glad that she is dead!" said the boy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't think about that part," said Iris. "She is not dead—not +really. She is only away up above the stars and the blue sky, and she +will never have any more suffering, and she will always be as happy as +happy can be, and sometime or other, Apollo, I think she will be able +to come back; and, if she can, I am sure she will. Yes, I am quite +sure she will."</p> + +<p>"If she comes back we shall see her," said Apollo; "but she can't come +back, Iris. Dead people can't come back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, please, don't call her that," said Iris, with a note of great +pain in her voice.</p> + +<p>"But Fortune says that mother is dead, just like anybody else, and in +a few days she will be put into the ground. Oh, Iris! I am frightened +when I think of it. Mother was so lovely, and to think of their +putting her into the ground in a box just like—like we put the poor +innocent and the other creatures, and if that is the case she can +never come back—never, never, never!"</p> + +<p>The little boy buried his black head of curling hair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> on his sister's +knee, and gave vent to a great burst of tears.</p> + +<p>"But it is not true, Apollo," said Iris. "I mean in one way it is not +true—I can't explain it, but I know. Let us forget all the dark, +dreadful part—let us think of her, the real mother, the mother that +looked at us out of her beautiful eyes; she is not dead, she has only +gone away, and she wants us all to be good, so that we may join her +some day. She called me after the rainbow, and after the messenger of +the gods; and you, Apollo, after the bravest and the most beautiful +boy that was supposed ever to live; and Diana, too, was called after a +great Greek goddess; and Orion after the most lovely star in all the +world. Oh, surely we four little children ought to try to be great, +and good, and brave, if we are ever to meet our mother again!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it is all very puzzling," said Apollo, "and I can't understand +things the way you can, Iris, and I have an awful ache in my throat. I +am hungry, and yet I am not hungry. I love strawberries as a rule, but +I hate them to-day. If only father would come and talk to us it would +not be quite so bad; but Fortune said we were not to go to him, that +he was shut up in his study, and that he was very unhappy. She said +that he felt it all dreadfully about mother."</p> + +<p>"Iris," said Diana's voice at that moment, "we are not surely to have +any lessons to-day?"</p> + +<p>She had come to the door of the summer-house, and was looking in.</p> + +<p>"Lessons?" said Iris. She put up her hand to her forehead in a dazed +manner.</p> + +<p>"Yes; do be quick and say. Miss Stevenson is coming down the garden +path. I do think that on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> the very day when mother has gone away it +would be hard if we were to have lessons; and if what you say is true, +Iris, and mother is happy, why, it does not seem fair; does it? We +ought to have a whole holiday to-day, ought we not? Just as if it was +a birthday, you know."</p> + +<p>"I think so too," said Orion, with a shout. "I don't think we need be +bothered with old Stevie to-day." He raised his voice, and ran to meet +her. "You are not to give us any lessons to-day, Stevie," he said. "It +is a holiday, a great, <i>big</i> holiday—it is a sort of birthday. We +were all eating strawberries, for Iris said we were not to go back to +the house."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my poor, dear, little boy!" said Miss Stevenson. She was a +kind-hearted, although old-fashioned, governess. She bent down now and +kissed Orion, and tried to take one of his very dirty little hands in +hers.</p> + +<p>"My dear little children—" she began again.</p> + +<p>"Please, Miss Stevenson, don't pity us," said Iris.</p> + +<p>Miss Stevenson started.</p> + +<p>"My dear Iris," she said, "you don't realize what it means."</p> + +<p>"I do," answered Iris stoutly.</p> + +<p>"And I know what Iris means," said Apollo; "I know quite well. I feel +miserable; I have got a pain in my throat, and I cannot eat my +strawberries; but Iris says we ought not fret, for mother is much +better off."</p> + +<p>"Then, if mother is much better off, we ought to have a holiday, same +as if it was a birthday; ought we not, Miss Stevenson?" said Diana, +puckering up her face and looking, with her keen black eyes, full at +her governess.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You poor little innocents, what is to become of you all?" said Miss +Stevenson.</p> + +<p>She entered the summer-house as she spoke, sank down on the nearest +chair, and burst into tears. The four children surrounded her. They +none of them felt inclined to cry at that moment. Orion, after staring +at her for some little time, gave her a sharp little tap on her arm.</p> + +<p>"What are you crying about?" he said. "Don't you think you are rather +stupid?"</p> + +<p>"You poor innocents!" said Miss Stevenson.</p> + +<p>"Please don't call us that," said Diana; "that is our name for the +worms. Worms can't see, you know, and they are not to blame for being +only worms, and sometimes they get trodden on; and Iris thought we +might call them innocents, and we have always done so since she gave +us leave; but we would rather not be called by <i>quite</i> the same name."</p> + +<p>Miss Stevenson hastily dried her eyes.</p> + +<p>"You certainly are the most extraordinary little creatures," she said. +"Don't you feel anything?"</p> + +<p>"It would be horrid selfish to be sorry," said Diana "Iris says that +mother is awfully happy now."</p> + +<p>Miss Stevenson stared at the children as if they were bewitched.</p> + +<p>"And we are <i>not</i> to have lessons, Stevie," said Orion; "that's +settled, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear little child! I was not thinking of your lessons. It is +your terrible—your terrible loss that fills my mind; that and your +want of understanding. Iris, you are ten years old; I am surprised at +you."</p> + +<p>Iris stood, looking very grave and silent, a step or two away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Please, Miss Stevenson," she said, after a long pause, "don't try to +understand us, for I am afraid it would be of no use. Mother talked to +me yesterday, and I know quite what to do. Mother asked me to be a +mother to the others, so I have no time to cry, nor to think of myself +at all. If you will give us a holiday to-day, will you please go away +and let us stay together, for I think I can manage the others if I am +all alone with them?"</p> + +<p>Miss Stevenson rose hastily.</p> + +<p>"I thought you would all have been overwhelmed," she said. "I thought +if ever children loved their mother you four did. Oh! how stunned I +feel! Yes, I will certainly go—I don't profess to understand any of +you."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE ARRIVAL OF THE AUNT.</h3> + + +<p>About a week after the events related in the last chapter, on a +certain lovely day in June, a hired fly might have been seen ascending +the steep avenue to Delaney Manor. The fly had only one occupant—a +round, roly-poly sort of little woman. She was dressed in deep +mourning, and the windows of the fly being wide open, she constantly +poked her head out, now to the right and now to the left, to look +anxiously and excitedly around her.</p> + +<p>After gazing at the magnificent view, had anyone been there to look, +they might have observed her shaking her head with great solemnity. +She had round black eyes, and a rather dark-complexioned face, with a +good deal of color in her cheeks. She was stoutly built, but the +expression on her countenance was undoubtedly cheerful. Nothing +signified gloom about her except her heavy mourning. Her eyes, +although shrewd and full of common sense, were also kindly; her lips +were very firm; there was a matter-of-fact expression about her whole +appearance.</p> + +<p>"Now, why does David waste all those acres of splendid land?" she +muttered angrily to herself. "The whole place, as far as I can see, +seems to be laid out in grass. I know perfectly well that this is an +agricultural country, and yet, when produce is so precious, what do I +see but a lawn here and another lawn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> there, and not even cows feeding +on them. Oh, yes! of course there is the park! The park is right +enough, and no one wants to interfere with that. But why should all +the land in that direction, and in that direction, and in that +direction"—here she put out her head again and looked frantically +about her—"why should all that land be devoted to mere ornament? It +seems nothing more nor less than a tempting of Providence." Here she +suddenly raised her voice. "Driver," she said, "have the goodness to +poke up your horse, and to go a little faster. I happen to be in a +hurry."</p> + +<p>"'Orse won't do it, ma'am," was the response. "Steep 'ill this. Can't +go no faster."</p> + +<p>The little lady gave an indignant snort, and retired once more into +the depths of the gloomy fly. Presently a bend in the avenue brought +the old manor house into view. Once more she thrust out her head and +examined it critically.</p> + +<p>"There it stands," she said to herself. "I was very happy at the Manor +as a girl. I wonder if the old garden still exists. Twenty to one it +has been done away with; there's no saying. Evangeline had such +dreadfully queer ideas. Yes, there stands the house, and I do hope +some remnants of the garden are in existence; but the thing above all +others to consider now is, what kind these children are. Poor David, +he was quite mad about Evangeline—not that I ever pretended to +understand her. She was an American, and I hate the Americans; yes, I +cordially hate them. Poor David, however, was devoted—oh, it was +melancholy, melancholy! I suppose it was on account of Evangeline that +all this splendid land has been allowed to lie fallow—not even cows, +not even a stray<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> sheep to eat all that magnificent grass. Wherever I +turn I see flower-beds—flower-beds sloping away to east and west, as +far almost as the eye can travel. And so there are four children. I +have no doubt they are as queer, and old-fashioned, and untrained as +possible. It would be like their mother to bring them up in that sort +of style. Well, at least I am not the one to shirk my duty, and I +certainly see it now staring me in the face. I am the wife of a +hard-working vicar; I work hard myself, and I have five children of my +own; but never mind, I am prepared to do my best for those poor +deserted orphans. Ah, and here we are at last! That is a comfort."</p> + +<p>The rickety old fly drew up with a jerk opposite the big front +entrance, and Mrs. Dolman got out. She was short in stature, but her +business-like manner and attitude were unmistakable. As soon as ever +she set foot on the ground she turned to the man.</p> + +<p>"Put the portmanteau down on the steps," she said. "You need not wait. +What is your fare?"</p> + +<p>The fly-driver named a price, which she immediately disputed.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" she said. "Eight shillings for driving me from the station +here? Why, it is only five miles."</p> + +<p>"It is nearly seven, ma'am, and all uphill. I really cannot do it for +a penny less."</p> + +<p>"Then you are an impostor. I shall complain of you."</p> + +<p>At this moment one of the stately footmen threw open the hall door and +stared at Mrs. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"Take my portmanteau in immediately, if you please," she said, "and +pray tell me if your master is at home."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, madam," was the grave reply. "But Mr. Delaney is not seeing +company at present."</p> + +<p>"He will see me," said Mrs. Dolman. "Have the goodness to tell him +that his sister has arrived, and please also see that my luggage is +taken to my room—and oh, I say, wait one moment. What is the fare +from Beaminster to Delaney Manor?"</p> + +<p>The grave-looking footman and the somewhat surly driver of the cab +exchanged a quick glance. Immediately afterwards the footman named +eight shillings in a voice of authority.</p> + +<p>"Preposterous!" said Mrs. Dolman, "but I suppose I must pay it, or, +rather, you can pay it for me; I'll settle with you afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Am I to acquaint my master that you have come, madam?"</p> + +<p>"No; on second thoughts I should prefer to announce myself. Where did +you say Mr. Delaney was?"</p> + +<p>"In his private study."</p> + +<p>"I know that room well. See that my luggage is taken to a bedroom, and +pay the driver."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman entered the old house briskly. It felt quiet, remarkably +quiet, seeing that there was a large staff of servants and four +vigorous, healthy children to occupy it.</p> + +<p>"Poor little orphans, I suppose they are dreadfully overcome," thought +the good lady to herself. "Well, I am glad I have appeared on the +scene. Poor David is just the sort of man who would forget everybody +else when he is in a state of grief. Of course I know he was +passionately attached to Evangeline, and she certainly was a charming, +although <i>quite</i> incapable, creature. I suppose she was what would be +termed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> 'a man's woman.' Now, I have never any patience with them, and +when I think of those acres of land and—but, dear me! sometimes a +matter-of-fact, plain body like myself is useful in an emergency. The +emergency has arrived with a vengeance, and I am determined to take +the fortress by storm."</p> + +<p>The little lady trotted down one or two passages, then turned abruptly +to her left, and knocked at a closed door. A voice said, "Come in." +She opened the door and entered. A man was standing with his back to +her in the deep embrasure of a mullioned window. His hands were +clasped behind his back; he was looking fixedly out. The window was +wide open.</p> + +<p>"There, David, there! I knew you would take it hard; but have the +goodness to turn round and speak to me," said Mrs. Dolman.</p> + +<p>When he heard these unexpected words, the master of Delaney Manor +turned with a visible start.</p> + +<p>"My dear Jane, what have you come for?" he exclaimed. He advanced to +meet his sister, dismay evident on every line of his face.</p> + +<p>"I knew you would not welcome me, David. Oh, no prevarications! if you +please. It is awful to think how many lies people tell in the cause of +politeness. When I undertook this wearisome journey from the north of +England, I knew I should not be welcome, but all the same I came; and, +David, when I have had a little talk with you, and when you have +unburdened your heart to me, you will feel your sorrow less."</p> + +<p>"I would rather not touch on that subject," said Mr. Delaney. He +offered his sister a chair very quietly, and took another himself.</p> + +<p>Father, as Iris used to say, was not the least like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> mother. Mother +had the gentlest, the sweetest, the most angelic face in the world; +she never spoke loudly, and she seldom laughed; her voice was low and +never was heard to rise to an angry tone. Her smile was like the +sweetest sunshine, and wherever she appeared she brought an atmosphere +of peace with her. But father, on the other hand, although an +excellent and loving parent, was, when in good spirits, given to +hearty laughter—given to loud, eager words, to strong exercise, both +physical and mental. He was, as a rule, a very active man, seldom +staying still in one place, but bustling here, there, and everywhere. +He was fond of his children, and petted them a good deal; but the one +whom he really worshiped was his gentle and loving wife. She led him, +although he did not know it, by silken cords. She always knew exactly +how to manage him, how to bring out his fine points. She never rubbed +him the wrong way. He had a temper, and he knew it; but in his wife's +presence it had never been exasperated. His sister, however, managed +to set it on edge with the very first words she uttered.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I know you mean well, Jane," he said, "and I ought to be +obliged to you for taking all this trouble. Now that you have come, +you are welcome; but I must ask you to understand immediately that I +will not have the subject of my"—he hesitated, and his under lip +shook for a moment—"the subject of my trouble alluded to. And I will +also add that I should have preferred your writing to me beforehand. +This taking a man by storm is, you know of old, my dear Jane—not +agreeable to me."</p> + +<p>"Precisely, David. I did not write, for the simple reason that I +thought it likely you would have asked me not to come; and as it was +necessary for me to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> appear on the scene, I determined, on this +occasion, to take, as you express it, Delaney Manor by storm."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Jane; as you have done it you have done it, and there is +no more to be said."</p> + +<p>Mr. Delaney rose from his seat as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Would you not like to go to your room, and wash and change your +dress?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I cannot change my dress, for I have only brought one. I will go to +my room presently. What hour do you dine?"</p> + +<p>"At half-past eight."</p> + +<p>"I have a few minutes still to talk to you, and I will not lose the +opportunity. It will be necessary for me to return home the day after +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>An expression of relief swept over Mr. Delaney's countenance.</p> + +<p>"I shall, therefore," continued Mrs. Dolman, taking no notice of this +look, which she plainly saw, "have but little time at my disposal, and +there is a great deal to be done. But before I proceed to anything +else, may I ask you a question? How could you allow all that splendid +land to lie waste?"</p> + +<p>"What land, Jane? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Those acres of grass outside the house."</p> + +<p>"Are you alluding to the lawns?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what name you choose to call all that grass, but I think +it is a positive tempting of Providence to allow so much land to lie +fallow. Why, you might grow potatoes or barley or oats, and make +pounds and pounds a year. I know of old what the land round Delaney +Manor can produce."</p> + +<p>"As the land happens to belong to me, perhaps I may be allowed to +arrange it as pleases myself," said Mr. Delaney, in a haughty tone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>His sister favored him with a long, reflective gaze.</p> + +<p>"He is just as obstinate as ever," she muttered to herself. "With that +cleft in his chin, what else can be expected? There is no use +bothering him on that point at present, and, as he won't allow me to +talk of poor Evangeline,—who had, poor soul, as many faults as I ever +saw packed into a human being,—there is nothing whatever for me to do +but to look up those children."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman rose from her seat as this thought came to her.</p> + +<p>"I am tired," she said. "From Yorkshire to Delaney Manor is a long +journey, as perhaps you do <i>not</i> remember, David; so I will seek my +room after first having informed you what the object of my visit is."</p> + +<p>"I should be interested to know that, Jane," he answered, in a +somewhat softened tone.</p> + +<p>"Well, seeing I am the only sister you have—"</p> + +<p>"But we never did pull well together," interrupted he.</p> + +<p>"We used to play in the same garden," she answered, and for the first +time a really soft and affectionate look came into her face. "I hope +to goodness, David, that the garden is not altered."</p> + +<p>"It is much the same as always, Jane. The children occupy it a good +deal."</p> + +<p>"I am coming to the subject of the children. Of course, now that +things are so much changed—"</p> + +<p>"I would rather not go into that," said Mr. Delaney.</p> + +<p>"Dear me, David, how touchy you are! Why will you not accept a patent +fact? I have no wish to hurt your feelings, but I really must speak +out plain common sense. I always was noted for my common sense,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> was I +not? I don't believe, in the length and breadth of England, you will +find better behaved children than my five. I have brought them up on a +plan of my own, and now that I come here at great trouble, and I may +also add expense, to try and help you in your—oh, of course, I must +not say it—to try and help you when you want help, you fight shy of +my slightest word. Well, the fact is this: I want you to take my +advice, and to shut up Delaney Manor, or, better still, to let it well +for the next two or three years, and go abroad yourself, letting me +have the children!"</p> + +<p>"My dear Jane!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am your dear Jane now—now that you think I can help you. Well, +David, I mean it, and what is more, the matter must be arranged. I +must take the children back with me the day after to-morrow. Now I +will go to my bedroom, as I am dead tired. Perhaps you will ring the +bell and ask a servant to take me there."</p> + +<p>Mr. Delaney moved slowly across the room. He rang the electric bell, +and a moment later the footman appeared in answer to his summons. He +gave certain directions, and Mrs. Dolman left the room.</p> + +<p>The moment he found himself alone, the father of the children sank +down on the nearest chair, put his hands on the table, pressed his +face down on them, and uttered a bitter groan.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>RUB-A-DUB.</h3> + + +<p>"What am I to do, Evangeline?" said Mr. Delaney, a few moments later. +He stood up as he spoke, shook himself, and gazed straight before him. +It was exactly as if he were really speaking to the children's mother. +Then again he buried his face in his big hands, and his strong frame +shook. After a moment's pause he took up a photograph which stood +near, and looked earnestly at the beautiful pictured face. The eyes, +so full of truth and tenderness, seemed to answer him back. He started +abruptly to his feet. "You always directed me, Evangeline," he said. +"God only knows what I am to do now that you have left me. I am in +some matters as weak as a reed, great, blustering fellow though I +appear. And now that Jane has come—she always did bully me—now that +she has come and wants to take matters into her own hands, oh, +Evangeline! what is to be done? The fact is, I am not fit to manage +this great house, nor the children, without you. The children are not +like others; they will not stand the treatment which ordinary children +receive. Oh, why has Jane, of all people, come? What am I to do?"</p> + +<p>He paced rapidly up and down his big study; clenching his hands at +times, at times making use of a strong exclamation.</p> + +<p>The butler knocked at the door. "Dinner will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> served in half an +hour, sir," he said. "Am I to lay for two?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Johnson. Mrs. Dolman, my sister, has arrived, and will dine with +me. Have places laid for two."</p> + +<p>The man withdrew, and Mr. Delaney, stepping out through the open +window, looked across the lawns which his sister had so strongly +disapproved of.</p> + +<p>"Jane was always the one to poke her finger into every pie," he said +half aloud. "Certainly this place is distasteful to me now, and there +is—upon my word, there is something in her suggestion. But to deliver +over those four children to her, and to take them away from the +garden, and the house, and the memory of their mother—oh! it cannot +be thought of for a moment; and yet, to shift the responsibility while +my heart is so sore would be an untold relief."</p> + +<p>A little voice in the distance was heard shouting eagerly, and a small +child, very dirty about the hands and face, came trotting up to Mr. +Delaney. It was Diana. She was sobbing as well as shouting, and was +holding something tenderly wrapped up in her pocket handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with you, Di?" said her father. He lifted her into +his arms. "Why, little woman, what can be the matter? and what have +you got in your handkerchief?"</p> + +<p>"It's Rub-a-Dub, and he is deaded," answered Diana. She unfolded the +handkerchief carefully and slowly, and showed her father a small +piebald mouse, quite dead, and with a shriveled appearance. "He is as +dead as he can be," repeated Diana. "Look at him. His little claws are +blue, and oh! his little nose, and he cannot see; he is stone dead, +father." <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, you shall go into Beaminster to-morrow and buy another mouse," +said Mr. Delaney.</p> + +<p>Diana gazed at him with grave, wondering black eyes.</p> + +<p>"That would not be Rub-a-Dub," she said; then she buried her little, +fat face on his shoulder and sobs shook her frame.</p> + +<p>"Evangeline would have known exactly what to say to the child," +muttered the father, in a fit of despair. "Come along, little one," he +said. "What can't be cured must be endured, you know. Now, take my +hand and I'll race you into the house."</p> + +<p>The child gave a wan little smile; but the thought of the mouse lay +heavy against her heart.</p> + +<p>"May I go back to the garden first?" she said. "I want to put +Rub-a-Dub into the dead-house."</p> + +<p>"The dead-house, Diana? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"It is the house where we keep the poor innocents, and all the other +creatures what get deaded," said Diana. "We keep them there until Iris +has settled whether they are to have a pwivate or a public funeral. +Iris does not know yet about Rub-a-Dub. He was quite well this +morning. I don't know what he could have died of. Perhaps, father, if +you look at him you will be able to tell me."</p> + +<p>"Well, let me have a peep," said the man, his mustache twitching as he +spoke.</p> + +<p>Diana once again unfolded her small handkerchief, in the center of +which lay the much shriveled-up mouse.</p> + +<p>"The <i>darling</i>!" said the little girl tenderly. "I loved Rub-a-Dub so +much; I love him still. I do hope Iris will think him 'portant enough +for a public funeral."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Mr. Delaney, interested in spite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> of himself, and +forgetting all about the dinner which would be ready in a few minutes; +"I'll come right along with you to the dead-house; but I did not know, +Di, that you kept an awful place of that sort in the garden."</p> + +<p>"Tisn't awful," said Diana. "We has to keep a dead-house when we find +dead things. We keep all the dead 'uns we find there. There aren't as +many as usual to-day—only a couple of butterflies and two or three +beetles, and a poor crushed spider. And oh! I forgot the toad that we +found this morning. It was awful hurt and Apollo had to kill it; he +had to stamp on it and kill it; and he did not like it a bit. Iris +can't kill things, nor can I, nor can Orion, so we always get Apollo +to kill the things that are half dead—to put them out of their +misery, you know, father."</p> + +<p>"You seem to be a very wise little girl; but I am sure this cannot be +at all wholesome work," said the father, looking more bewildered and +puzzled than ever.</p> + +<p>Diana gazed gravely up at him. She did not know anything about the +work being wholesome or the reverse. The dead creatures had to be +properly treated, and had to be buried either privately or +publicly—that was essential—nothing else mattered at all to her.</p> + +<p>"As Rub-a-Dub is such a dear darlin', I should not be s'prised if Iris +did have a public funeral," she commented.</p> + +<p>"But what is the difference, Di? Tell me," said her father.</p> + +<p>"Oh, father! you are ig'rant. At a pwivate funeral the poor dead 'un +is just sewn up in dock leaves and stuck into a hole in the cemetery."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The cemetery! Good Heavens, child! do you keep a cemetery in the +garden?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed we does, father. We have a very large one now, and heaps and +heaps of gravestones. Apollo writes the insipcron. He is quite +bothered sometimes. He says the horrid work is give to him,—carving +the names on the stones and killing the half-dead 'uns,—but course he +has to do it 'cos Iris says so. Course we all obey Iris. When it is a +pwivate funeral, the dead 'un is put into the ground and covered up, +and it don't have a gravestone; then of course, by and by, it is +forgot. You underland; don't you, father?"</p> + +<p>"Bless me if I do," said Mr. Delaney, in a puzzled tone.</p> + +<p>"But if it is a public funeral," continued Diana, strutting boldly +forward now, and throwing back her head in quite a martial attitude, +"why, then it's grand. There is a box just like a coffin, and cotton +wool—we steal the cotton wool most times. We know where Fortune has +got a lot of it put away. Iris does not think it quite right to steal, +but the rest of us don't mind. And we have banners, and Orion plays +the Jew's harp, and I beat the drum, and Iris sings, and Apollo digs +the grave, and the dead 'un is put into the ground, and we all cry, or +pretend to cry. Sometimes I do squeeze out a tiny tear, but I'm so +incited I can't always manage it, although I'm sure I'll cry when +Rub-a-Dub is put into the ground. Then afterwards there is a +tombstone, and Iris thinks of the insipcron. I spects we'll have a +beautiful insipcron for poor Rub-a-Dub, 'cos we all loved him so +much."</p> + +<p>"Well, all this is very interesting, of course," said Mr. Delaney. +"But now we must be quick, because your Aunt Jane has come." <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who's her?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"A very good lady indeed—your aunt."</p> + +<p>"What's an aunt?"</p> + +<p>"A lady whom you ought to love very much."</p> + +<p>"Ought I? I never love people I ought to love," said Diana firmly. +"Please, father, this is the dead-house. You can come right in if you +like, father, and see the dead 'uns; they are all lying on this shelf. +Most of them is to be buried pwivate, 'cos they are not our own pets, +you know; but Rub-a-Dub is sure to have a public funeral, and an +insipcron, and all the rest."</p> + +<p>Mr. Delaney followed Diana into the small shed which the children +called the dead-house. He gazed solemnly at the shelf which she +indicated, and on which lay the several dead 'uns.</p> + +<p>"Put your mouse down now," he said, "and come along back with me to +the house at once. You ought to have been in bed long ago."</p> + +<p>Diana laid the mouse sorrowfully down in the midst of its dead +brethren, shut the door of the dead-house, and followed her father up +the garden path.</p> + +<p>"It's a most beautiful night," she said, after a pause. "It's going to +be a starful night; isn't it, father?"</p> + +<p>"Starful?" said Mr. Delaney.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and when it is a starful night Orion can't sleep well, 'cos he +is a star hisself; isn't he, father?"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, child, no! He is a little boy!"</p> + +<p>"No, no, father! You are awfu' mistook. Mother called him a star. I'll +show you him up in the sky if it really comes to be a starful night. +May I, father?"</p> + +<p>"Some time, my darling; but now you must hurry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> in, for I have to get +ready for dinner. Kiss me, Di. Good-night. God bless you, little one!"</p> + +<p>"B'ess you too, father," said Diana. "I love 'oo awfu' well."</p> + +<p>She raised her rosebud lips, fixed her black eyes on her parent's +face, kissed him solemnly, and trotted away into the house. When she +got close to it, a great sob came up from her little chest. She +thought again of the dead Rub-a-Dub, but then the chance of his having +a public funeral consoled her. She longed to find Iris.</p> + +<p>Full of this thought, her little heart beating more quickly than +usual, she rushed up the front stairs, and was turning down the +passage which led to the nursery, when she was confronted by a short, +stout woman dressed in black.</p> + +<p>"Now, who is this little girl, I wonder?" said a high-pitched, cheery +voice.</p> + +<p>"It is not your little girl; and I am in a hurry, please," said Diana, +who could be very rude when she liked. She did not wish to be +interrupted now; she wanted to find Iris to tell her of the sad fate +of Rub-a-Dub.</p> + +<p>"Highty-tighty!" exclaimed the little lady, "that is no way to speak +to grown-up people. I expect, too, you are one of my little nieces. +Come here at once and say, 'How do you do?'"</p> + +<p>"Are you the aunt?" asked Diana solemnly.</p> + +<p>"The aunt!" replied Mrs. Dolman. "I am your aunt, my dear. What is +your name?"</p> + +<p>"Diana. Please, aunt, don't clutch hold of my hand; I want to find +Iris."</p> + +<p>"Of all the ridiculous names," muttered Mrs. Dolman under her breath. +"Well, child, I am inclined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> to keep you for a moment, as I want to +talk to you. Do you know, you rude little girl, that I have come a +long way to see you. Of course, my little girl, I know you are sad at +present; but you must try to get over your great sorrow."</p> + +<p>"Do you know, then, about Rub-a-Dub?" said Diana, her whole face +changing, and a look of keen interest coming into it.</p> + +<p>If Aunt—whatever her other name was—should turn out to be interested +in Rub-a-Dub, and sorry for his untimely end, why, then, Diana felt +there was a possibility of her squeezing a little corner for her in +her hearts of hearts. But Mrs. Dolman's next words disturbed the +pleasant illusion.</p> + +<p>"You are a poor little orphan, my child," she said. "Your poor, dear +mother's death must be a terrible sorrow to you; but, believe me, you +will get over it after a time."</p> + +<p>"I has quite got over it awready," answered Diana, in a cheerful +voice. "It would be awfu' selfish to be sorry 'bout mother, 'cos +mother is not suffering any more pain, you know. I am very <i>glad</i> +'bout mother. I am going to her some day. Please don't squeeze my hand +like that. Good-by, aunt; I weally can't stay another moment."</p> + +<p>She trotted off, and Mrs. Dolman gazed after her with a petrified +expression of horror on her round face.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said to herself, "if ever! And the poor mother was devoted +to them all, and she is scarcely a week in her grave, and yet that +mite dares to say she has got over it. What nonsense she talked, and +what a queer name she has. Now, our family names are sensible and +suited for the rising generation. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> have had our Elizabeths and our +Anns, and our Lucys and our Marys, and, of course, there is Jane, my +name. All these are what I call good old respectable Delaney names; +but Diana and Iris make me sick. And I believe, if report tells true, +that there are some still more extraordinary names in the family. What +a rude, dirty little child! I did not like her manners at all, and how +neglected she looked. I shall follow her; it is my manifest duty to +see to these children at once. Oh! I shall have difficulty in breaking +them in, but broken in they must be!"</p> + +<p>Accordingly Mrs. Dolman turned down the passage where Diana's fat legs +disappeared. The eager but gentle flow of voices directed her steps, +and presently she opened the door of a large room and looked in.</p> + +<p>She found herself unexpectedly on the threshold of the day-nursery. It +was a beautiful room, facing due west; the last rays of the evening +sun were shining in at the open windows; some children were collected +in a corner of the room. Diana had gone on her knees beside a girl a +little older and slighter than herself. Her plump elbows were resting +on the girl's knee, her round hands were pressed to her rounder +cheeks, and her black eyes were fixed upon the girl's face.</p> + +<p>The elder girl, very quiet and calm, had one hand on Diana's shoulder, +her other arm was thrown round a handsome little boy, not unlike Diana +in appearance, while an older boy sat on a hassock at her feet.</p> + +<p>"I will listen to you presently, Diana," said Iris. "Now, I must +finish my story."</p> + +<p>"Yes, please go on, Iris," said Orion; "it's all about me, and I'm +'mensely inte'sted."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Orion. The King of Chios did not want his daughter to +marry you." <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" muttered Mrs. Dolman in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"So he let you fall sound asleep," continued Iris, in her calm voice. +None of the children had yet seen the stout personage on the threshold +of the room. "He let you fall very sound asleep, having given you some +strong wine."</p> + +<p>"What next?" thought Mrs. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"And when you were very sound asleep indeed, he put out both your +eyes. When you awoke you found yourself quite blind, and did not know +what to do or where to go. Suddenly, in the midst of your misery, you +heard the sound of a blacksmith's forge. Guided by the noise, you +reached the place and begged the blacksmith to climb on your +shoulders, and so lend you his eyes to guide you. The blacksmith was +willing to do it, and seated himself on your shoulders. Then you said, +'Guide me to the place where I can see the first sunbeam that rises in +the east over the sea,' and—"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Orion, whose breath was coming quickly, "yes; and what +happened to me then?"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, little boy! Don't you listen to another word of that +folly," said a very strong, determined voice.</p> + +<p>All the children turned abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>she</i> has come bothering!" said Diana.</p> + +<p>But the other three had started to their feet, and a flush rose into +Iris' pale face. </p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>AUNT IS HER NAME.</h3> + + +<p>"Aunt is her name," said Diana, "and I don't think much of her."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman strode rapidly into the nursery.</p> + +<p>"Yes, children," she said, "I am your aunt—your Aunt Jane Dolman, +your father's only sister. Circumstances prevented my coming to see +your father and mother for several years; but now that God has seen +fit to give you this terrible affliction, and has taken your dear +mother to Himself, I have arrived, determined to act a mother's part +to you. I do not take the least notice of what that rude little girl +says. When I have had her for a short time under my own control, she +will know better. Now, one of you children, please have the politeness +to offer me a chair, and then you can come up one by one and kiss me."</p> + +<p>Iris was so much petrified that she could not stir. Diana and Orion +came close together, and Diana flung her stout little arm round +Orion's fat neck. Apollo, however, sprang forward and placed a chair +for his aunt.</p> + +<p>"Will you sit here, please, Aunt Jane Dolman?" he said.</p> + +<p>"You need not say Aunt Jane Dolman," replied the lady; "that is a very +stiff way of speaking. Say Aunt Jane. You can kiss me, little boy."</p> + +<p>Apollo raised his lips and bestowed a very chaste salute upon Aunt +Jane's fat cheek.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is your name?" said Aunt Jane, taking one of his small, hard +hands in hers.</p> + +<p>"Apollo," he replied, flinging his head back.</p> + +<p>"Apollo! Heaven preserve us! Why, that is the name of one of the +heathen deities—positively impious. What could my poor sister-in-law +and your father have been thinking of? At one time I considered your +father a man of sense."</p> + +<p>Apollo flushed a beautiful rosy red.</p> + +<p>"Please, Aunt Jane," he said, "I like my name very much indeed, and I +would rather you did not say a word against it, because mother gave it +to me."</p> + +<p>"It is a name with a beautiful meaning," said Iris, coming forward at +last. "How are you Aunt Jane? My name is Iris, and this is Diana, and +this is Orion—both Diana and Orion are very good children indeed, +and"—here her lips quivered, her earnest, brown eyes were fixed with +great solicitude on her aunt's face—"I ought to know," she said, "for +I am a mother to the others, and, I think, please, Aunt Jane, Orion +and Diana should be going to bed now."</p> + +<p>"I have not the slightest objection, my dear. I simply wished to see +you children. I will say good-night now; we can have a further talk +to-morrow. But first, before I go, let me repeat over your names, or +rather you—Apollo, I think you call yourself—had better say them for +me."</p> + +<p>"That is Iris," said Apollo, pointing to his elder sister, "and I am +Apollo, and that is Diana, and that is Orion."</p> + +<p>"All four names taken from the heathen mythology," replied Aunt Jane, +"and I, the wife of a good honest clergyman of the Church of England, +have to listen to this nonsense. I declare it may be incon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>venient—it +may frighten the parishioners. I must think it well over. I have, of +course, heard before of girls being called Diana, and also of girls +being called Iris—but Apollo and Orion! My poor children, I am sorry +for you; you are burdened for life. Good-night, good-night! You will +see me again to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The great dinner-gong sounded through the house, and Aunt Jane sailed +away from the day-nursery.</p> + +<p>"Fortune, who is she?" asked Iris, raising a pair of almost frightened +eyes to the old nurse's face.</p> + +<p>"She is your father's sister, my darling," said Fortune. "She has come +on a visit, and uninvited, Peter tells me. I doubt if my master is +pleased to see her. She will most likely go away in a day or two, so +don't you fret, Miss Iris, love. Now, come along, Master Orion, and +let me undress you. It is very late, and you ought to be in your +little bed."</p> + +<p>"I'm Orion," said the little boy, "and I'm stone blind." He began to +strut up and down the nursery with his eyes tightly shut.</p> + +<p>"Apollo, please, may I get on your shoulder for a bit, and will you +lead me to that place where the first sunbeam rises in the east over +the sea?"</p> + +<p>"Come," said Fortune, in what Diana would call a "temperish" tone, "we +can have no more of that ridiculous story-telling to-night. Miss Iris, +you'll ask them to be good, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Children, do be good," said Iris, in her earnest voice.</p> + +<p>Diana trotted up to her sister and took her hand.</p> + +<p>"I has something most 'portant to tell you," she said, in a low +whisper. "It's an awfu' sorrow, but you ought to know."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Di?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Rub-a-Dub has got deaded."</p> + +<p>"Rub-a-Dub?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; it is quite true. I found him stark dead and stiff. I has put +him in the dead-house."</p> + +<p>Iris said nothing.</p> + +<p>"And he is to have a public funeral, isn't he?" said Diana, "and a +beautiful insipcron. Do say he is, and let us have the funeral +to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"I am awfully sorry," said Iris, then; "I did love Rub-a-Dub. Yes, Di; +I'll think it over. We can meet after breakfast in the dead-house and +settle what to do."</p> + +<p>"There are to be a lot of funerals to-morrow—I'm so glad," said +Diana, with a chuckle.</p> + +<p>She followed Orion into the night-nursery. He was still walking with +his eyes tightly shut and went bang up against his bath, a good +portion of which he spilt on the floor. This put both Fortune and the +under-nurse, Susan, into a temper, and they shook him and made him +cry, whereupon Diana cried in concert, and poor Iris felt a great +weight resting on her heart.</p> + +<p>"It is awfully difficult to be a mother to them all," she thought. +"The usual kind of things don't seem to please them. Apollo, what is +the matter? What are you thinking of?"</p> + +<p>"I'm only wishing that I might be the real Apollo," said the boy, "and +that I might get quite far away from here. Things are different here +now that mother has gone, Iris. I don't like Aunt Jane Dolman a bit."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, she is our aunt, so I suppose it is wrong not to like her," +answered Iris.</p> + +<p>"I can't help it," replied Apollo. "I have a feeling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> that she means +to make mischief. Why did she come here without being asked? Iris, +shall we go down to dessert to-night, or not?"</p> + +<p>"I would much rather not," answered Iris.</p> + +<p>"But father likes us to go. It is the only time in the day when he +really sees us. I think, perhaps, we ought to get dressed and be ready +to go down."</p> + +<p>"I will if you think so, Apollo; but I am very tired and sleepy."</p> + +<p>"Well, I really do. We must not shirk things if we are to be a bit +what mother wants us to be; and now that Aunt Jane has come, poor +father may want us worse than ever."</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that," replied Iris. "I'll run and get dressed at +once, Apollo."</p> + +<p>She flew away into a tiny little room of her own, which opened into +the night-nursery.</p> + +<p>"Susan," she called out, "will you please help me to put on my +after-dinner frock?"</p> + +<p>"You have only a white dress to wear this evening, miss; your new +black one has not come home yet."</p> + +<p>"A white one will be all right," replied Iris.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me, miss! and your poor mother only a week dead."</p> + +<p>"I wish, Susan, you would not talk of mother as dead," answered Iris. +"I don't think of her like that a bit. She is in Heaven; she has gone +up the golden stairs, and she is quite well and ever so happy, and she +won't mind my wearing a white dress, more particular if I want to +comfort father. Please help me on with it and then brush out my hair."</p> + +<p>Iris had lovely hair—it was of a deep, rich chestnut, and it curled +and curled, and waved and waved in rich<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> profusion down her back. When +Susan had brushed it, and taken the tangles out, it shone like +burnished gold. Her pretty white frock was speedily put on, and she +ran out of her little room to join Apollo, who, in his black velvet +suit, looked very picturesque and handsome.</p> + +<p>Not long afterwards the little pair, taking each other's hands, ran +down the broad, white marble stairs and entered the big dining room. +They looked almost lost in the distance when they first appeared, for +the table at which Mr. Delaney and Mrs. Dolman sat was far away in a +bay window at the other end of the stately apartment.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, children! so there you are!" called their father's voice to +them. He had never been better pleased to see them in all his life, +and the note of welcome in his tones found an answering echo in Iris' +loving little heart.</p> + +<p>They both tripped eagerly up the room and placed themselves one on +each side of him, while Iris slipped her hand into his.</p> + +<p>"Well, my chicks, I am right glad to see you," he said.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, David, you will remember how disgracefully late it is," said +Mrs. Dolman. "Children, I must frankly say that I am <i>not</i> pleased to +see you. What are you doing up at this hour?"</p> + +<p>"We have come to keep father company," said Apollo, fixing his +flashing black eyes, with a distinctly adverse expression in them, on +his aunt's face.</p> + +<p>"In my day," continued Aunt Jane complacently, helping herself to +strawberries, "the motto was: 'Little boys should be seen and not +heard.' To-night, of course, I make allowances; but things will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +different presently. David, you surely are not giving those children +wine?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they generally have a little sip each from my port," said Mr. +Delaney; "it does not do them any harm."</p> + +<p>"You may inculcate a taste," said Mrs. Dolman, in a very solemn voice. +"In consequence of that little sip, which appears so innocent, those +children may grow up drunkards. Early impressions! Well, all I can say +is this—when they come to live at the Rectory they will have to be +teetotalers. In my house we are all teetotalers. My husband and I both +think that we cannot have proper influence on the parishioners unless +we do ourselves what we urge them to do."</p> + +<p>Iris and Apollo both listened to these strange words with fast-beating +hearts. What did they mean? Mrs. Dolman spoke of when they were to +live at the Rectory. What rectory? She spoke of a time when they were +to live with her. Oh, no; she must be mistaken. Nothing so perfectly +awful could be going to happen.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Iris could scarcely touch her wine, and she pushed aside +the tempting macaroon which Mr. Delaney had slipped on to her plate. +She found it impossible to eat.</p> + +<p>Apollo, after a moment's hesitation, attacked his wine and swallowed +his biscuit manfully; but even he had not his usual appetite.</p> + +<p>After a short pause, Iris gave a gentle sigh and put both her arms +round her father's neck.</p> + +<p>"I am tired, father; I should like to go to bed."</p> + +<p>"And I want to go too," said Apollo.</p> + +<p>"Those are the first sensible remarks I have heard from either of the +children," said Mrs. Dolman. "I should think they are dead tired for +want of sleep, poor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> little mites. Good-night, both of you. When you +come to live with me—ah! I see you are astonished; but we will talk +of that pleasant little scheme to-morrow. Good-night to you both."</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Aunt Jane," said Iris.</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Aunt Jane," said Apollo.</p> + +<p>"Good-night to you both, my pets," said Mr. Delaney.</p> + +<p>Iris gave her father a silent hug, Apollo kissed him on the +forehead—a moment later the little pair left the room. As soon as +ever they had done so, Mrs. Dolman turned to her brother.</p> + +<p>"Now then, David," she said, "you have got to listen to me; we may +just as well settle this matter out of hand. I must return home on +Thursday—and this is Tuesday evening. It will be impossible for you +to stay on here with those four children and no one responsible to +look after them. You appear half dead with grief and depression, and +you want a thorough change. The place is going to rack and ruin. Your +rent-roll, how much is it?"</p> + +<p>"About fifteen thousand pounds a year—quite enough to keep me out of +anxiety," said Mr. Delaney, with a grim smile.</p> + +<p>"It ought to be twenty thousand a year—in our father's time it was +quite that. No doubt you let your farms too cheap; and so much grass +round the house is disgraceful. Now, if I had the management—"</p> + +<p>"But you see you have not, Jane," said Mr. Delaney. "The property +happens to belong to me."</p> + +<p>"That is true, and I have a great deal too much on my mind to worry +myself about Delaney Manor; but, of course, it is the old place, and +you are my only brother, and I am anxious to help you in your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> great +affliction. When you married you broke off almost all connection with +me, but now—now I am willing to overlook the past. Do you, or do you +not, intend those children to run wild any longer? Even though they +are called after heathen idols they are flesh and blood, and it is to +be hoped that some religious influence may be brought to bear on them. +At the present moment, I conclude that they have none whatever."</p> + +<p>"I never saw better children," said Mr. Delaney; "their mother brought +them up as no one else could. In my opinion, they are nearly perfect."</p> + +<p>"You talk nonsense of that kind because you are blinded by your +fatherly affection. Now, let me assure you, in full confidence, that I +never came across more neglected and more utterly absurd little +creatures. Good-looking they are—you are a fine-looking man yourself, +and your wife was certainly pretty—the children take after you both. +I have nothing to say against their appearance; but they talk utter +gibberish; and as to that eldest little girl, if she is not given +something sensible to occupy her I cannot answer for the consequence. +My dear David, I don't want to interfere with your estate."</p> + +<p>"You could not, Jane; I would not permit it."</p> + +<p>"But with regard to the children, I really have experience. I have +five children of my own, and I think, if you were to see them, you +would be well assured that Iris and Diana, Apollo and Orion would do +well to take example by them. We might change the names of the boys +and give them titles not quite so terrible."</p> + +<p>"I wish them to be called by the names their mother chose," said Mr. +Delaney, with great firmness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose the poor children will live it down, but they will +have a terrible time at school. However, they are too young for +anything of that kind at present. Give me the children, David, and I +will act as a mother to them; then pack up your belongings, put your +estate into the hands of a good agent, and go abroad for some years."</p> + +<p>"It would be an untold relief," said Mr. Delaney.</p> + +<p>At that moment the door was opened, and the butler appeared with the +evening post on a salver. Mr. Delaney laid the letters languidly by +his plate.</p> + +<p>"Shall we go into the drawing room, Jane?" he said.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman rose briskly.</p> + +<p>"I shall retire early to bed," she said. "Read your letters, please, +David; you need not stand on ceremony with me."</p> + +<p>Mr. Delaney looked over his post; then his eyes lighted up as he saw +the handwriting on one of the envelopes. He opened the letter in +question, which immediately interested him vastly. It happened to be +from an old friend, and certainly seemed to come at an opportune +moment. This friend was about to start on an expedition to the +Himalayas, and he begged his old fellow-traveler to go with him. His +long letter, the enthusiastic way he wrote, the suggestions he threw +out of possible and exciting adventures came just at the nick of time +to the much-depressed and weary man.</p> + +<p>"Why, I declare, Jane," he said, "this does seem to come opportunely." +He walked over to where his sister was standing, and read a portion of +the letter aloud. "If I might venture to trust my darlings to you," he +said, "there is nothing in all the world I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> should like better than to +accompany Seymour to the Himalayas. He starts in a fortnight's time, +so there really is not a day to lose."</p> + +<p>"Then, David," said Mrs. Dolman, "you will not allow this valuable +opportunity to slip—you will trust your children to me. I assure you +I will do my duty by them." She spoke with real sincerity, and tears +absolutely dimmed her bright eyes. "David," she continued, "that +letter seems a Providence; you will act upon it."</p> + +<p>"It certainly does," said the man; "but, Jane, you will be good to the +children—tender, I mean. Their mother has always been very gentle to +them."</p> + +<p>"You need not question me as to how I will treat them. I will bring +them up as I would my own. I will do my utmost to rear them in the +fear of God. David, this clinches the matter. Write to Mr. Seymour by +this night's post."</p> + +<p>Mr. Delaney promised to do so, and soon afterwards Mrs. Dolman, +feeling that she had done a very good and excellent work, retired, in +a thoroughly happy frame of mind, to her bedroom. </p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE POOR DEAD 'UNS.</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Delaney's bedroom faced east, and the following morning, at a very +early hour, he began to have most unpleasant dreams. He thought a +hobgoblin was seated on his chest, and several brownies were pulling +him where he did not wish to go, and finally that a gnome of enormous +dimensions was dragging him into a dark cavern, where he could never +again behold the daylight. At last, in great perturbation, he opened +his dazed eyes. The sight he saw seemed at first to be a continuation +of his dream, but after a moment or two he discovered that the person +who had become possessed of his chest was a small boy of the name of +Orion, that a little black-eyed girl called Diana had comfortably +ensconced herself on his knees, and that Iris and Apollo were seated +one at each side of his pillow. The four children had all climbed up +on to the big bedstead, and were gazing attentively at him.</p> + +<p>"He is opening his eyes," said Orion, "he'll be all right after a +minute or two. Don't hurry up, father; we can wait."</p> + +<p>"We can wait quite well, father," said Diana; "and it's very comf'able +on your knees; they is so flat."</p> + +<p>"We are awfully sorry to disturb you, father," said Iris.</p> + +<p>"But we can't help it, because it's most solemnly important," said +Apollo.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So it seems," remarked Mr. Delaney, when he could at last find a +voice. "You have all subjected me to a terrible dream. I am really +glad that I have awakened and find that the hobgoblins, and gnomes, +and brownies are no less little people than my own four children. But +why am I to be disturbed at such a very early hour?"</p> + +<p>"If you like, father," said Diana, "we'll pull up all the blinds; then +the hot, blazin' sun will come in, and you'll see that it's not early +at all; it's late."</p> + +<p>Mr. Delaney happened to glance at a clock which stood on the +mantelpiece exactly facing the big bed.</p> + +<p>"I read on the face of that clock," he said, "that the hour is +half-past five. Now, what have you four little children to do, sitting +on my bed at half-past five in the morning?"</p> + +<p>When Mr. Delaney said this he shook himself slightly and upset Diana's +balance, and made Orion choke with silent laughter. Iris and Apollo +gazed at him gravely.</p> + +<p>"We all made up our minds to do it," said Iris. "We have come to ask +you to make a promise, father."</p> + +<p>"A promise, my dear children! But you might have waited until the +usual hour for getting up. What are you going to wring from me at this +inclement moment?"</p> + +<p>"I don't exactly know what inclement moment means," said Iris, "but I +do know, and so does Apollo—"</p> + +<p>"And so do I know all about it," shouted Diana. "You see, father," +continued the little girl, who spoke rather more than any of the other +children, "we has to think of the poor innocents, and the birds and +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> mice, and the green frogs, and our puppy, and our pug dog, and +our—and our—" Here she fairly stammered in her excitement.</p> + +<p>"Has a sudden illness attacked that large family?" said Mr. Delaney. +"Please, children, explain yourselves, for if you are not sleepy, I +am."</p> + +<p>"Yes, father," said Iris, "we can explain ourselves quite easily. The +thing is this—we don't want to go away."</p> + +<p>"To go away? My dear children, what do you mean?" But as Mr. Delaney +spoke he had a very uncomfortable memory of a letter which he had +posted with his own hands on the previous evening.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Apollo; "we don't want to go away with her."</p> + +<p>"And we don't wish for no aunts about the place," said Diana, +clenching her little fist, and letting her big, black eyes flash.</p> + +<p>"Now I begin to see daylight," said Mr. Delaney. "So you don't like +poor Aunt Jane?"</p> + +<p>"Guess we don't," said Orion. "She comed in last night and she made an +awful fuss, and she didn't like me 'cos I'm Orion, and 'cos I'm a +giant, and 'cos sometimes I has got no eyes. Guess she's afraid of me. +I thought her a silly sort of a body."</p> + +<p>"She's an aunt, and that's enough," said Diana. "I don't like no +aunts; they are silly people. I want her to go."</p> + +<p>"Apollo and I brought the two younger children," continued Iris, +"because we thought it best for us all to come. It is not Aunt Jane +being here that is so dreadful to me, and so very, very terrible to +Apollo," she continued. "It's what she said, father, that we—we were +to go away, away from the house<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> and the garden—the garden where +mother used to be, and the house where the angel came to fetch mother +away—and we are to live with her. She spoke, father, as if it was +settled; but it is not true, is it? Tell us, father, that it is not +true."</p> + +<p>"My poor little children!" said the father. His own ruddy and sunburnt +face turned absolutely pale; there was a look in his eyes which Diana +could not in the least understand, nor could Orion, and which even +Apollo only slightly fathomed; but one glance told Iris the truth.</p> + +<p>"When I am away you are to be a mother to the others," seemed at that +moment to echo her mother's own voice in her ear. She gulped down a +great sob in her throat, and stretching herself by her father's side +she put one soft arm round his neck.</p> + +<p>"Never mind if it is <i>really</i> settled," she said. "I will try hard to +bear it."</p> + +<p>"You are about the bravest little darling in the world," said Mr. +Delaney.</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about, Iris?" cried Apollo, clutching his sister +by her long hair as she spoke. "You say that you will try and bear it, +and that father is not to mind? But father must mind. If I go to Aunt +Jane Dolman's, why—why, it will kill me." And the most beautiful of +all the heathen gods cast such a glance of scorn at his parent at that +moment that Mr. Delaney absolutely quailed.</p> + +<p>"For goodness' sake, Apollo, don't eat me up," he said. "The fact is +this, children; I may as well have the whole thing out. Aunt Jane came +last night and took me by surprise. I have been very lonely lately, +and you know, you poor little mites, you cannot be left to the care of +Fortune. She is a very good soul,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> but you want more than her to look +after you, and then Miss Stevenson—I never did think her up to much."</p> + +<p>"Father," said Apollo, "you have no right to abuse our spiritual +pastors and masters."</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding his heathenish name, it will be seen by this remark +that some of his time was occupied learning the church catechism.</p> + +<p>"I stand corrected, my son," said Mr. Delaney, "or, rather, at the +present moment, I lie corrected. Well, children, the truth must +out—Aunt Jane took me by surprise. She promises she will look after +you and be a mother to you."</p> + +<p>"We don't want no other mother, now that our own mother is gone, +except Iris," said Apollo. "We won't have Aunt Jane for a mother."</p> + +<p>"She is a howid old thing, and I hate aunts," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Well, children, I am very sorry for you, but it is too late to do +anything now. The whole thing is arranged. I hope you will try to be +good, and also to be happy with Aunt Jane. You won't find her half bad +when you get to know her better, and of course I won't be very long +away, and when I come back again—"</p> + +<p>"Please don't say any more, father," interrupted Iris. She slipped off +the bed and stood very pale and still, looking at her father with eyes +which, notwithstanding all her efforts, were full of reproach.</p> + +<p>"Come, children," she said to the others, "let poor father have his +sleep out. It is quite early, father, and—and we understand now."</p> + +<p>"Do say you are not angry with me, you dear little kids. I would not +hurt you for the whole world."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Of course we are not angry, father," said Iris. She bent slowly +forward and kissed her father on his forehead. "Go to sleep, father; +we are sorry we woke you so early."</p> + +<p>"Yes, father, go to s'eep," echoed Diana. "I underland all 'bout it. +You won't have no hobgoblins now to dweam about, for I has got off +your knees. They was lovely and flat, and I didn't mind sitting on +them one bit."</p> + +<p>"All the same, Diana, I am obliged to you for getting off," said Mr. +Delaney, "for I was beginning to get quite a terrible cramp, to say +nothing of my sensations at having this giant Orion planting himself +on my chest. I will have a long talk with you all, darlings, in the +course of the day, and I do hope you won't be very unhappy with your +Aunt Jane Dolman."</p> + +<p>"We'll be mis'ble, but it can't be helped," said Diana. "I never did +like aunts, and I'm never going to, what's more. Come 'long now, +sildrens. It's a gweat nuisance getting up so early, particular when +father can't help hisself. Can you, father? Go to s'eep now, father. +Come 'long this minute, back to bed, sildrens."</p> + +<p>Diana looked really worthy of her distinguished name as she strode +down the passage and returned to the night-nursery. She and Orion +slipped into their respective little cots and lay down without waking +either Fortune or Susan, who slept in beds at the opposite side of the +room. Iris and Apollo also returned to their beds, and presently +Apollo dropped asleep, for, though he had an alarming temper, his fits +of passion never lasted long. But Iris did not close her bright brown +eyes again that morning. She lay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> awake, full of troubled +thoughts—thoughts far too old for her tender years.</p> + +<p>It was one of Fortune's fads never on any occasion to awaken a +sleeping child, and as the other children slept rather longer than +usual after their early waking, breakfast was in consequence full half +an hour late in the day-nursery that morning. At last, however, it was +finished. No special lessons had been attended to since mother had +gone away to the angels, and the children, snatching up their hats, +rushed off as fast as possible to the garden. When they got there they +all four breathed freely. This at least was their own domain—their +fairyland, their country of adventure. From here they could travel to +goodness only knew where—sometimes to the stars with bright Apollo +and brave Orion—sometimes to happy hunting fields with Diana, the +goddess of the chase, and sometimes they might even visit the rainbow, +with sweet Iris as their companion.</p> + +<p>There never were happier children than these four in that lovely, +lovely beyond words, garden. When the children went into it, it seemed +as if an additional ray of sunshine had come out to fill all the happy +world with light and love and beauty. The bees hummed more +industriously than ever, the flowers opened their sweet eyes and gazed +at the children, the animals came round them in a group.</p> + +<p>On this special morning, however, Diana's dear little face looked very +grave and full of business.</p> + +<p>"It's most 'citing," she said. "'Fore we does anything else we must +'tend to the funerals—there is such a lot of dead 'uns to bury this +morning. Come 'long to the dead-house at once, Iris."</p> + +<p>"I must smell the Scotch roses first," answered Iris.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You can do that afterwards, can't you? There's poor Rub-a-Dub. We has +to 'cide whether he is to have a public or a pwivate funeral, or +whether he is just to be sewn up in dock leaves, and put into the +gwound p'omisc's."</p> + +<p>Diana had a great facility for taking up long words, which she always +used in the most matter-of-fact style, not in the least caring how she +pronounced them.</p> + +<p>The other children could not help laughing at her now, and the four +hurried off as fast as they possibly could to the dead-house.</p> + +<p>This unpleasantly named abode was in reality a pretty little shed in +one corner of the old garden. It contained a door with lock and key, a +nice little window, and everything fitted up for the keeping of tools +and carpenters' implements. Long ago, however, the children decided +that here the dead animals of all sorts and species were to be kept +until the solemn moment of interment.</p> + +<p>Iris looked just as grave as the others when she unlocked the door of +the dead-house now, and they all entered. The dead 'uns were decently +laid out on a shelf, just in front of the public view. There was a +dead bee, and two butterflies; there were two dead worms and a dead +toad; also three or four beetles in different stages of decomposition, +and a terribly crushed spider—and solemnly lying in the midst of his +dead brethren lay Rub-a-Dub, the precious and dearly loved piebald +mouse.</p> + +<p>"They look beautiful, poor darlin's," said Diana; "they will most fill +up the cemetery. Now please, Iris, which is to have a public funeral?"</p> + +<p>"Of course Rub-a-Dub must," answered Iris. "As to the others—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you think that poor toad, Iris?" said Diana, wrinkling up her +brows, and gazing anxiously at her sister. "The toad seems to me to be +rather big to have only a pwivate funeral. We could scarcely get dock +leaves enough."</p> + +<p>"We must try," answered Iris; "the toad must be buried privately with +the others. We always make it a rule—don't you remember, Di—only to +give public funerals to our own special pets."</p> + +<p>"All wight," answered Diana. She was very easily brought round to +accept Iris' view. In her heart of hearts she considered Iris' verdict +like the laws of the Medes and Persians—something which could not +possibly be disputed.</p> + +<p>"Run, Orion!" she said; "be quick, and fetch as many dock leaves as +possible. I will thread a needle so as to sew up the poor dead 'uns in +their coffins. We must get through the pwivate funerals as quick as +possible this morning, and then we'll be weady for poor Rub-a-Dub."</p> + +<p>"Rub-a-Dub is to be buried exactly at eleven o'clock," said Iris.</p> + +<p>"We'll all wear mourning, course?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"Yes; black bows."</p> + +<p>"And are the dogs and the other animals to wear mourning?"</p> + +<p>"Black bows," repeated Iris.</p> + +<p>"That is most lovely and 'citing," said Diana.</p> + +<p>Orion left the dead-house, and presently returned with a great pile of +dock leaves. Then the children sat down on the floor and began to sew +coffins for the different dead 'uns. They were accustomed to the work +and did it expeditiously and well. When all the poor dead 'uns were +supplied with coffins they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> carried in a tray across the garden +to the far-famed cemetery. Here they were laid in that part of the +ground apportioned to private funerals. Apollo made small holes with +his spade, and each dead 'un in his small coffin was returned to +mother earth. The ground was immediately covered over, and Apollo +trampled on it with his feet. He did this on the present occasion with +right good will. "I'll be rather glad when the funerals are over," he +said, looking at Iris as he spoke, "for I want to get on with my ship. +I have got hold of some canvas the gardener brought me from town, and +I really believe I may be able to make a funnel and a place for +boiling water. You would like to see my ship when it is afloat; would +you not, Iris?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; very much indeed," answered Iris.</p> + +<p>"I call ships stupid," said Diana. "I don't see no use in 'em. Now, do +let us hurry back. Poor Rub-a-Dub will be so lonely."</p> + +<p>"It's you who is silly now," said Orion. "You know Rub-a-Dub can't +feel; don't you, Di?"</p> + +<p>"I know nothing 'bout it," said Diana. "I want to hurry back to get +his beautiful public funeral weady. Now, look here, 'Rion; will you go +into the house to steal the cotton wool, or shall I?"</p> + +<p>"What is that I hear?" said a voice which seemed to come from right +over the children's heads.</p> + +<p>They all looked up in alarm, to see Aunt Jane Dolman and their father +standing close by. Mr. Delaney wore an amused, and Aunt Jane a scared +expression.</p> + +<p>"What were you saying, little girl?" she continued, taking Diana by +her arm and giving her a slight shake; "that you wished to <i>steal</i> +something?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes; some cotton wool," said Diana; "it's most 'portant; it's for a +public funeral."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman turned her round black eyes on her brother. Horror was +expressed in each movement of her face.</p> + +<p>"My dear Jane," he said, <i>sotto voce</i>, "there are several things which +these children do which will astonish you very much. Don't you think +you had better give up the scheme?"</p> + +<p>"Not I, David," she replied. "The more I see of the poor neglected +mites the more I long to rescue them from evident destruction."</p> + +<p>He shook his head and looked with some pity at Iris.</p> + +<p>"Shall Orion go to steal the cotton wool?" repeated Diana, who looked +as if it was impossible for anyone in this world to terrify her in the +very least.</p> + +<p>"If it must be stolen, and if you ask me," said Mr. Delaney, "perhaps +Orion may as well be the thief as anyone else. In the old times of the +heathen deities I believe they did now and then stoop to that small +crime."</p> + +<p>"David, it is appalling to hear you speak," said Mrs. Dolman. "Orion, +I hate to pronounce your name, but listen to me, little boy. I forbid +you to go if you are bent on theft."</p> + +<p>"But I must go," said Orion. "Poor Rub-a-Dub must be buried, and I +must have a box for his coffin and cotton wool to lay him in."</p> + +<p>"See here, Orion," said the father; "where do you get the cotton +wool?"</p> + +<p>"We gen'ly get it from Fortune's box in the night-nursery," replied +Orion.</p> + +<p>"And you steal it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; she would make <i>such</i> a fuss if we asked her for some. We +always steal it for public funerals."</p> + +<p>"Well, on this occasion, and to spare your aunt's feelings, tell +Fortune that I desire her to give you some.</p> + +<p>"Now, Jane," continued Mr. Delaney, "as you are here, and as I am +here, we may both of us as well witness this ceremony. The children +are fond of doing all honor to their pets, even after the supreme +moment of dissolution. Shall we witness this public funeral?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman looked wonderfully inclined to say "No," but as her object +now was to humor her brother as far as possible, she agreed very +unwillingly to wait.</p> + +<p>Accordingly he and she began to pace up and down the lovely garden, +and soon, in the interest which the sight of the unforgotten +playground of her youth excited within her, her brow cleared, and she +became pleasant and even talkative. The two were in the midst of a +very interesting conversation, and were pacing up and down not far +from the summer-house, when Orion's clear voice was heard. "The public +funeral is going to begin," he shouted, "so you had best come along if +you want to see it. If you don't, Diana and me, and Apollo and +Iris—why, we don't care."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll come, you rude little body," said his father, laughing and +chuckling as he spoke. "You mark my words, Jane," he continued, "you +will have a handful with those children."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll manage them," said Mrs. Dolman. "I have not lived my +thirty-five years for nothing; they certainly need managing, poor +little spoilt creatures."</p> + +<p>They both hurried to the cemetery, where Apollo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> was standing, having +dug a grave nearly a foot deep, and large enough to hold a square +cardboard box. He stood leaning on his spade now, his hat pushed off, +his handsome little face slightly flushed with the exercise, his eyes +full of a sort of gloomy defiance. But now the funeral procession was +coming on apace. Orion's mouth was much puffed out because he was +blowing vigorously on his Jew's harp, Diana followed him beating a +little drum, and Iris, with long black ribbons fastened to her flowing +chestnut locks, was walking behind, carrying the tiny coffin. Iris, as +she walked, rang an old dinner bell in a very impressive manner, and +also sang a little dirge to the accompaniment of the bell and the two +other children's music. These were the words Iris sang:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ding-a-dong, Rub-a-Dub's dead;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Good-by, Rub-a-Dub.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sleep well in your little bed;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Good-by, Rub-a-Dub.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"We'll put a stone at your head and your feet;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Good-by, Rub-a-Dub.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And you shall sleep very sound and sweet;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Good-by, Rub-a-Dub.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And you'll never know fear any more;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Little dear;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Good-by, Rub-a-Dub."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Iris was a poet on occasions, and she had made up these impressive +lines in great haste while the other children were arranging minor +details of the funeral.</p> + +<p>As the mourning party approached the open grave, Apollo came forward +and dropped on his knees. The coffin was supplied with strings of +white satin ribbon, and was lowered with great solemnity into the +grave.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> Then the four mourners stood over it and each of them sang the +last words of Iris' poem:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"And you'll never know fear any more,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Little dear;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Good-by, Rub-a-Dub."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The moment this was over flowers were strewn upon the box, and Apollo +with great vigor began to shovel in the earth.</p> + +<p>"Make a nice high mound," said Diana; "let it look as like a weal +gwave as possible." Then she turned eagerly to her sister. "When are +we to see about making the tombstone for the head and the feet?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"We'll talk it over this evening," answered Iris.</p> + +<p>It may here be noted that none of the four mourners took the slightest +notice of Mr. Delaney or of Mrs. Dolman. To them it was as if these +two grown-up spectators did not exist—they were all lost in their own +intensely important world.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Dolman, as she turned away with her brother, "of all +the heathenish and wicked nonsense that I was ever permitted to +witness, this beats everything. It is a right good thing—yes, I will +say it frankly, David—that you are going abroad, and that your +benighted children are handed over to me. When you come back in a year +or two—I assure you, my dear brother, I do not wish to hurry you—but +when you come back in a few years you will see, please Providence, +very different children waiting to welcome you."</p> + +<p>"Well, Jane," said David Delaney, "I have arranged to give the +children to you, and I hope to Heaven I am doing right; but do not +spoil them what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>ever you do, for to me and to their sainted mother +they were ever the sweetest little quartette that breathed the breath +of life." Mr. Delaney's eyes filled with sudden tears as he said these +words. "Good-by, Rub-a-Dub," he whispered as he left the garden. "Yes, +there are many good-bys in the air just now."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>BUT ANN COULD NOT HELP LETTING OUT NOW AND THEN.</h3> + + +<p>The Rectory at Super-Ashton was a large, sunny, cheerful house. It was +filled with every modern convenience, and possessed plenty of rooms +papered with light, bright-looking papers, and painted also in +cheerful colors. The windows were large and let in every scrap of +sunshine; the passages and hall and stairs were broad and roomy; the +nurseries and the children's rooms were models of comfort; the +servants were all well behaved and thoroughly accustomed to their +duties; the meals were punctual to a moment; in fact, nothing was left +to chance at Super-Ashton Rectory.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman was the life and soul of this extremely orderly English +home. She was one of the most active little women in the world. She +invariably got up, summer and winter, soon after six o'clock, and +might be seen bustling about the house, and bustling about the garden, +and bustling about the parish from that moment until she retired to +rest again, somewhere between ten and eleven at night. She was never +exactly cross, but she was very determined. She had strict ideas, and +made everyone in the parish not only respect her and look up to her, +but live up to her rule of life. She was, as a matter of fact, thought +a great deal more of by the parishioners than her husband, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +Reverend William Dolman, and the real Rector of Super-Ashton.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dolman was a very large man, tall in stature and broad. He was +also fat and loosely built. He had a kindly face and a good-humored +way of talking. He preached very fair sermons on Sundays, and attended +to his duties, but without any of the enthusiasm which his wife +displayed.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Dolman wrote to her husband to say that she was returning +home with the four little Delaneys, it caused considerable excitement +at the breakfast table. Five little hearts beat considerably faster +than usual; but so great were the order and regularity of the +household that the five little faces to which the hearts belonged +remained apparently impassive.</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay, the governess, was presiding at the head of the table. +The Dolman girls were neatly dressed in print frocks with white +pinafores; the boys wore holland blouses and knickerbockers. The boys +happened to be the two youngest of the family, and none of the +children had yet gone to school. The name and ages of the five were as +follows: First came Lucy, aged twelve; then Mary, aged ten; then Ann, +aged nine; then Philip and Conrad, aged respectively seven and a half +and six. The faces of the whole five bore a curious resemblance to +both father and mother, the eldest girl having the round, black eyes +of her mother, and the large, somewhat irregular features of the +father. Mary resembled Lucy in being fat and largely built, but her +eyes were blue instead of black; while little Ann had a small face, +with gray eyes and rather sensitive lips. The complexions of the three +were fair, and their good looks were rather above the average. They +were proper, neat-looking little girls,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> and, notwithstanding their +inward excitement, they ate their breakfast tidily, and took good care +not to express any emotion before Miss Ramsay or their good-natured +father.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Dolman, looking at them, and pushing his spectacles up +on his forehead, "yes, that is the news. Your mother returns to-night, +and the four Delaneys with her. Let me see what else she says." He +replaced his spectacles on his nose and looked over his wife's letter +again. "These are the very words," he said; "Observe, Miss Ramsay, +that I read from the letter. 'I return by the train which reaches +Super-Ashton at six o'clock, and will bring the four Delaneys with +me.' Four, you see, Lucy; that is the number. But mamma does not +mention the sex of the children. How many boys or how many girls? I +really am quite out of date with regard to your cousins, my love."</p> + +<p>"But I know all about them, papa," burst from Ann's eager lips.</p> + +<p>"You forget your French, Ann," said Miss Ramsay, laying her hand on +the little girl's arm. "You will be punished if you speak English +again at meals."</p> + +<p>Ann colored and dropped her eyes. She began to eat her bread and +butter hastily; she longed beyond words to tell the others the +knowledge she had secretly acquired about her cousins the Delaneys.</p> + +<p>"'Please send the wagonette to the station,'" continued Mr. Dolman, +reading his wife's letter, and holding it close to his eyes, +"'and—yes, the cart for the luggage, as the children'—um, um, um, +that part is private, my dears."</p> + +<p>Mr. Dolman dropped his spectacles and nodded at the eager little group +round the table.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," he continued, "I am glad mamma is coming home. I have really +been quite bothered by the parishioners since she went away. There is +always a vast deal of work left undone when mamma is absent, eh, +children? eh, Miss Ramsay?"</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Mr. Dolman," said Miss Ramsay. "Mrs. Dolman does +not spare herself; she will have her reward some day."</p> + +<p>"God grant it!" said Mr. Dolman, with a heavy sigh. "She certainly +will need rest whenever she does leave this world, for I never did +come across such an active woman."</p> + +<p>He left the room, hitching up his huge shoulders as he did so, and +slammed the door noisily behind him.</p> + +<p>"Papa would not do that if mamma were here," whispered Philip to Ann.</p> + +<p>Ann said "Hush!" in a frightened tone, and then Miss Ramsay folded her +hands as an intimation to the children that the meal was at an end, +and that one of them was to say grace.</p> + +<p>Immediately after breakfast they went upstairs to the schoolroom, and +lessons began, just as if no four little Delaneys were to arrive to +turn everything topsy-turvy that evening.</p> + +<p>Lessons proceeded without any interruption until twelve o'clock. Then +the three little girls retired to the neat bedroom which they shared +together, and put on their sun-bonnets, their white capes, and their +washing-gloves, and came back again to Miss Ramsay, equipped for their +walk. The boys, with straw hats sticking very far back on their heads, +were also waiting Miss Ramsay's pleasure in the hall downstairs. The +children and the governess went out walking solemnly two and two, Miss +Ramsay and Conrad in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> front, Lucy and Mary following, with Ann and +Philip behind.</p> + +<p>It was a hot day; but Miss Ramsay never excused the morning walk on +the dusty highroads. The children came in very much flushed and tired +at one o'clock for dinner. They assembled again in the big, cool +dining room and ate their roast mutton and peas and new potatoes, and +rice pudding and stewed fruit with the propriety of children who have +been thoroughly well brought up.</p> + +<p>At dinner French was again the only language allowed to be spoken. In +consequence there was a sad dearth of any conversation at that dinner +table.</p> + +<p>After dinner Mr. Dolman told Miss Ramsay that he had given orders +about the wagonette, and he supposed Simpson knew about the sleeping +arrangements, as he was given to understand that she had received a +letter from Mrs. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"I have spoken to Simpson," replied Miss Ramsay, dropping her eyes as +she made the remark, "and she fully understands what is expected of +her. The two girls are to have small rooms to themselves, and so is +the eldest boy, but the youngest will sleep in the nursery with Philip +and Conrad. Those are Mrs. Dolman's directions."</p> + +<p>"Quite right, quite right," said Mr. Dolman. "Anything Mrs. Dolman +wishes, of course. Miss Ramsay, I shall not be home to tea this +evening. I have to go to visit a sick parishioner at the other end of +the parish. Good-by, Lucy; good-by, the rest of you children. I hope +to see you all before bedtime; if not—"</p> + +<p>"But, father," burst from Ann, "the new children will be here about +six."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They cannot arrive before half-past six, my dear," replied Mr. +Dolman.</p> + +<p>"Ann, you have again spoken English," said Miss Ramsay; "I shall be +forced to punish you. You will have to stay in after the others this +afternoon, and learn ten lines of your French poetry."</p> + +<p>Poor little Ann colored and her lips trembled. She really felt +dreadfully excited, and it was terrible to have to bottle up all her +thoughts during the long, hot day.</p> + +<p>Immediately after dinner the children went up to the schoolroom, where +they lay down on the floor for half an hour to learn their lessons.</p> + +<p>At three o'clock the ordinary lessons began again, and went on without +interruption until five, when there was tea. After tea the children +were supposed to have the rest of the day to do what they liked in. +But on this occasion, Ann was kept in the schoolroom to learn her +French poetry as best she could. The ten lines were difficult, and the +little girl felt sleepy, cross, and dissatisfied. Soon her small, +curly head fell upon her plump arms, and sleep took possession of her +little soul.</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay came in and found her in a state of heavy slumber.</p> + +<p>"Ann!" she cried; "Ann!"</p> + +<p>Little Ann raised herself with a start.</p> + +<p>"Oh, please, Miss Ramsay, won't you excuse the French poetry to-day," +she cried; "I am so—"</p> + +<p>"So what, Ann? I am surprised at you. What can be the matter?"</p> + +<p>"I am <i>so</i> excited about the little Delaneys," answered Ann. "They are +coming so soon, and they are my own first cousins—I seem to see them +all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> day—they come between me and—and my poetry. Please, Miss +Ramsay, if you'll only allow me I'll get up early to-morrow morning +and learn it perfectly. Do say I need not finish it this +afternoon—do, please."</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay was astonished and annoyed at this rebellion on the part +of Ann.</p> + +<p>"You surprise me," she said. "You know that lessons have to be done +during lesson hours, and that rules are not to be broken. You know +what your mother would say if she heard you talking English at meals. +Twice to-day you broke through that rule. The first time I pardoned +you—the second time it was unpardonable. Now, my dear, apply yourself +to your task—get it well over, and you will doubtless be ready to +welcome your cousins when they arrive."</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay left the room. Ann shed a few tears, and then, seeing +there was no help for it, applied herself with all her might and main +to learning her appointed task. She got her poetry by heart after a +fashion, and, hastily replacing the book in the bookcase, ran out of +the schoolroom. She saw Lucy and Mary pacing up and down the terrace +in front of the house. They were in clean white frocks, with sashes +round their waists, and their hair was very trimly brushed and curled +over their heads. Their faces shone from soap and water, and even at +that distance Ann could perceive that their hands were painfully, +terribly clean. In her heart of hearts Ann hated clean hands; they +meant so much that was unpleasant—they meant that there must be no +grubbing in the garden, no searching for dear little weeds and small +flowers, and all kinds of delicious, unexpected things in mother +earth. In her heart of hearts Ann had a spark of originality of her +own, but it had little chance of flourish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>ing under the treatment so +carefully pursued at Super-Ashton.</p> + +<p>Philip and Conrad might also be seen on the terrace in their clean +linen blouses and fresh knickerbockers; their hands were also +carefully washed, their hair brushed back from their faces, the faces +themselves shining from soap and water.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! there's no help for it," thought little Ann, "I must go +into the nursery and let Simpson pull me about. How she will scrub me +and tug at my hair, and put on such a horrid starched dress, and it's +so hot to-night! Well, if I hurry I may be in time to tell Philip what +I know about their names. Oh, how delicious it will be! He'll be so +excited. Yes, I'll be as quick as possible."</p> + +<p>Ann ran down the long passage which led from the schoolroom to the +nursery, opened the door, and approached a prim old servant with a +somewhat cross face, who was busily engaged mending stockings.</p> + +<p>"Please, Simpson, here I am. Will you dress me?" said Ann, panting as +she spoke.</p> + +<p>Simpson laid down her work with deliberation.</p> + +<p>"Now, I wonder, Miss Ann," she said, "why I am to be put about for +you. I have just finished dressing all the other children. Why didn't +you come with the others? There, miss, you must just dress yourself, +for I can't and won't be worried; these stockings must be finished +before the mistress comes home."</p> + +<p>"All right," answered Ann, in a cheerful tone. "I can wash myself +beautifully. May I go into the night-nursery, please, Simpson, and do +my best?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear. You'll find a white frock hanging in the wardrobe. I'll +fasten it for you after you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> washed yourself and combed out your +hair. Now, do be quick. I would help you willingly, Miss Ann, only I +really have not a minute to spare; Master Philip and Master Conrad are +dreadful with their socks, and when the mistress comes with that fresh +family, goodness knows when I shall have a moment to see to your +clothes again."</p> + +<p>Ann dressed herself, and ran back to Simpson.</p> + +<p>"Simpson," she said, as that good woman was fastening the hooks and +eyes at the back of her frock, "I know it is wrong to be so much +excited, but I am. My heart beats awfully fast at the thought of their +coming."</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Ann, it's more than my heart does. And now, miss, if +you'll take a word of advice from me, you'll keep your feelin's to +yourself, as far as your ma is concerned. Your ma don't wish any of +you to give way to excitement. She wants you to grow up steady, +well-conducted young ladies."</p> + +<p>"I hate being a well-conducted young lady," burst from little Ann.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me, miss! it's dreadful to hear you talk so unproper. Now +stand still and don't fidget."</p> + +<p>The frock was fastened, and Ann ran off to join her brothers and +sisters on the terrace.</p> + +<p>Lucy and Mary were little girls after their mother's own heart. They +never questioned her wishes, they never rebelled against her rules, +they were as good and well-behaved as any two little English maids of +the respective ages of twelve and ten could be. Now, as little Ann +approached, they looked at her as if they thought her quite beneath +their notice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do go away, Ann!" said Lucy. "Mary and I are talking secrets, and +we don't want you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are always talking secrets," said Ann. "It's horrid unfair to +me."</p> + +<p>"We have got to talk things over. We can't confide in you; you're the +youngest. Please don't be disagreeable now. We are having a most +important talk. Please run away at once."</p> + +<p>Ann looked beseeching, but then, all of a sudden, her eyes fell upon +Philip. She turned, ran up to him, clutched him by the arm, and pulled +him away from Conrad.</p> + +<p>"Phil," she said, "I want to have you all to myself. I have something +terribly exciting to say."</p> + +<p>Philip looked from Conrad to Ann.</p> + +<p>"But you are always getting into hot water, Ann," he replied, "and Con +and I were talking about our fishes. We think if we are very careful +with our pocket-money we may have enough to buy some gold and silver +fish in the holidays."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," answered Ann impetuously; "buy any kind of fish you like. +Only, Con, like a dear, good boy, please go and walk at the other end +of the terrace for five minutes. I must speak to someone or I'll +burst."</p> + +<p>"How awfully vulgar you are, Ann!" said Lucy, who happened to pass by, +with Mary leaning on her arm, at that moment.</p> + +<p>But Philip felt flattered at Ann's evident anxiety to be alone with +him.</p> + +<p>"Go and do as you are told, Conrad," he said, in lofty tones; "go to +the other end of the terrace at once."</p> + +<p>"It's rather hard on me," said Conrad. "I like having secrets as well +as anybody else; the air is full of secrets to-day—why shouldn't I +have some?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll have a secret with you by and by," said Ann, "if you'll only go +away now."</p> + +<p>The little boy looked at her, saw she was in earnest, and obeyed +somewhat unwillingly.</p> + +<p>"Now then, Ann," said Philip, "speak out; be as quick as ever you +can."</p> + +<p>"Philip," said Ann, in a solemn voice, "don't you want to know all +about the children who are coming to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Is that what the secret is about?" said Philip in disgust. "Do you +know, Ann, what I heard Miss Ramsay say to Simpson to-day. She said +that the new children would be awful bothers, and that <i>she</i> for one +does not know if she is going to stay, and Simpson said she was sure +that she would give notice too. Miss Ramsay said it was an awful shame +bringing four children to the house, and Simpson threw up her hands. +You know how she looks when she throws up her hands. And she said, +'Them's my sentiments, Miss Ramsay.' Do you know what she meant by +'Them's my sentiments,' Ann, 'cos I don't? I never heard such funny +words before. Did you, Ann?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Ann; "but you ought not to have listened, Phil."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I often listen!" replied Philip calmly. "I get to know all kinds +of funny things that way, and they turn out no end useful. I know lots +of things about Miss Ramsay, and since I just let her know that I did, +she is not half so hard on me. That's how I find listening useful."</p> + +<p>"Well, it is not right," said Ann, "but I have no time to argue with +you now, Phil; I want to talk about the children. Whatever Simpson +says, and whatever Miss Ramsay says, I am delighted that they are +com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>ing. I think it will be fun. In my heart, you know, Phil, I love +fun, and I want to be able to talk English sometimes, and Phil, would, +<i>would</i> you like to know their names?"</p> + +<p>"Their names?" said Philip. "I suppose they have names, although I +never thought about them."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course they have, and I'll tell you what they are. They have +got lovely names; once I heard mother say that the whole four of them +were called after heathen idols. Isn't it awful and exciting to be +called after a heathen idol? Oh, Phil! they have such lovely names!"</p> + +<p>Philip was not much interested in heathen idols, but Ann's excited +face and her bright blue eyes did strike him as out of the common.</p> + +<p>"Well, you are in a state," he said. "What creatures girls are! You'll +catch it when mother comes home. You know she never can stand anybody +all jumpy, and jerky, and quivery, like you are now. Well, what are +the names? Out with them and get them over."</p> + +<p>"Iris is the name of the eldest girl," said Ann. "Then comes +Apollo—he is a boy."</p> + +<p>"I'll never be able to get hold of that name," said Philip. "Apollo! +how queer."</p> + +<p>"But it is not queer, really," said Ann, delighted at having roused +his real interest at last. "Of course, Apollo is very well known +indeed. He was a sort of beautiful god long ago."</p> + +<p>"But this boy is not a god—horrid little beggar," said Philip. "Well, +what are the names of the others?"</p> + +<p>"There is a girl called Diana."</p> + +<p>"Diana," repeated Philip. "There's nothing in that name. That name is +in the Bible. Miss Ramsay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> read the whole story aloud to us last +Sunday when the beastly rain kept dropping and dropping all day long. +'Great is Diana of the Ephesians.' I rather like the sound, but +there's nothing at all in a name of that sort, Ann."</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't say there was," answered Ann. "I only think it awfully +pretty."</p> + +<p>"I don't think much of it for an ordinary girl. Well, now, what is the +other name? I'll call Conrad back, if you are not quick."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell it to you. Look here, Phil, I bet you never heard a name +like it."</p> + +<p>"You bet?" said Philip. "Oh, if mamma only heard you!"</p> + +<p>"For goodness' sake, don't tell her," said Ann. "I can't help letting +out sometimes, and it does relieve me so. The name of the other boy is +Orion, and he is called after a cluster of stars. I do know that much. +And oh, Phil! Phil! Phil! they are coming! they are coming!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE STRAW TOO MUCH.</h3> + + +<p>The crunching of wheels was heard distinctly on the gravel, and the +next moment the wagonette swept into view. The horses drew up with a +nourish at the front door of the pretty Rectory, and the five little +Dolmans rushed forward.</p> + +<p>"Stand back, children, and allow your cousins to get comfortably out +of the carriage," called out Mrs. Dolman. "No excitement, I beg, from +any of you—I have had quite enough of that already. Stand quietly +just where you are. Lucy, where is Miss Ramsay?"</p> + +<p>"Up in her room, I think, mamma. Shall I call her?"</p> + +<p>"Not at present, although she ought to have been here. Now, Iris, get +out quietly—quietly, my dear. Apollo, give me your hand, you come +next; now, Diana—easy, little girl, easy—you will fall, if you jump +like that."</p> + +<p>"I think nothing of a little easy hop like that, aunt," replied Diana. +She sprang from the carriage, disdaining the use of the steps. When +she found herself on the gravel sweep she stood very firmly on her two +fat legs and looked her five cousins all over.</p> + +<p>"You aren't none of you much to boast," she said; "I'd wather have the +animals." Then she turned her back and gazed around her at the view.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Orion was being helped out of the carriage. He was also +very sturdy and independent, and felt half inclined to follow Diana's +spirited example; but Mrs. Dolman would not permit this. She took the +youngest of the little heathen gods firmly into her arms and deposited +him on the gravel.</p> + +<p>"There you are, little boy," she said, giving him a slight shake as +she did so, "and I do trust you will behave yourself."</p> + +<p>Orion ran up to Diana and took hold of her hand. Diana took no notice +of him, but continued to admire the view.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman's face was quite red. She was very tired after her long +journey, and she had found the little Delaneys not the easiest +traveling companions in the world. It is true that Iris had been as +good as possible, but between whiles she had cried a good deal, and +her sad face, and somewhat reproachful expression, seemed to hurt Mrs. +Dolman even more than the really obstreperous, and at times violent, +behavior of her brothers and sister; for the fact is, the other three +little Delaneys had not yet got the slightest idea into their heads +that they were bound to obey Mrs. Dolman. Far from this; a sudden and +extreme naughtiness had taken possession of their unruly little +hearts. Even Iris' gentle words had no effect on them. They hated Aunt +Jane; considering her, in their heart of hearts, extremely cruel and +unworthy of affection. Had she not parted them at one blow from their +father, their home, their lovely garden, even from poor Fortune, who +was better than nobody, and, above all, from their darling, precious +pets? They had none of them been broken-hearted children when their +mother died, but they all, even Iris, felt broken-hearted now.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> But +this fact did not prevent their being extremely naughty and +rebellious, and when Diana felt Orion's hand clutching hers, she +whispered to him in an indignant voice:</p> + +<p>"Come 'long, 'Rion, let's have a wun—my legs is so stiff; and, Orion, +I has got the box, and we can open it when we is away by our own two +selves."</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about, little children?" questioned Mary Dolman. +"You mean to run away all by yourselves. But you must do nothing of +the sort. This is not the hour for running about in the open air. +There is supper ready for us all in the dining room, but I think mamma +would like you first to go upstairs and have your faces and hands +washed. If you will follow me, I'll show you where to go."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mary," said Mrs. Dolman, who had overheard her daughter. +"Ann, my dear, what are you staring at me for? Go and help your +cousins. Now, you four children, follow Lucy and Ann to your rooms, +where my servant, Simpson, will attend upon you. Go, children, at +once. If there is any naughtiness, remember I shall have to punish you +severely."</p> + +<p>"What do she mean by that?" said Diana, fixing her eyes on Mary's +face. "I never did like aunts. Is she your aunt?"</p> + +<p>"No; she is my mother," said Mary, "and you must not speak in that +tone of mamma."</p> + +<p>"I'll speak in any tone I p'ease," replied Diana. "Ise not going to be +fwightened. But what do she mean by punish? Who will she punish?"</p> + +<p>"She will punish you," replied Mary. "Were you never punished?"</p> + +<p>"Never. I don't know what it means. Is it nasty?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't it!" said Philip, who came up at that moment. "What a lark +it will be to see you punished, Diana. I wonder when your first time +will come? I expect rather soon. You had best obey mamma, I can tell +you, and papa too; if you don't, you'll just catch it hot."</p> + +<p>"Boo!" replied Diana, "you is a silly boy." Then she turned to Mary. +"I is awfu' tired and s'eepy," she said. "I'd like to go stwaight to +bed."</p> + +<p>"You must have supper first. Did you not hear mamma say so? Now, come +along with me."</p> + +<p>Mary held out her hand, which Diana, after a momentary hesitation, +condescended to take.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Ann had gone up to Iris.</p> + +<p>"Would you not like me to show you your room, cousin?" she said; "and +please, I want to say how very glad I am that you have come."</p> + +<p>A faint tinge of delicate color came into Iris' sweet little face at +these words—they were the first attempt at a real welcome she had +received. She held out her hand to Ann without a word, and the +Delaneys and Dolmans entered the cheerful Rectory in a body. The four +little strangers, accompanied by Mary and Ann, went upstairs, where +Simpson was waiting for them. Simpson was feeling very cross at the +arrival of four additional children, but when she saw Diana's tired +face, and the tears on Iris' pale cheeks, and the defiant, and yet +baby look in Orion's bright eyes, something came over her which she +could not quite account for, and she suddenly became kind and +agreeable.</p> + +<p>"Come, my dears," she said; "why, you must all be dead tired, you poor +little mites. Come now—come in here. And what are your names?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am Iris," replied the eldest little girl in a sweet voice.</p> + +<p>"Iris!" repeated Simpson; "and what's your name, young master?"</p> + +<p>"Apollo," answered the little boy, flinging back his dark head and +fixing his handsome eyes upon the woman.</p> + +<p>"My word! that's a queer sort of name—outlandish, I call it!" +ejaculated Simpson. "And now, missy, I expect you are called Baby?"</p> + +<p>"No, I aren't," replied Diana. "I is the gweat Diana; I has got a bow +and arrow, and I'll shoot you if you is not kind."</p> + +<p>"Oh, lor'! Now, missy, you would not be so cruel as that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I would," replied Diana. "See this box in my hand? It's an awfu' +pwecious box—it has got spiders in it and two beetles. May I put the +poor darlin's loose in my room?"</p> + +<p>Now, if Simpson had a horror, it was of spiders and beetles.</p> + +<p>"You keep that box shut, miss," she said, "for if you dare to open it +in your bedroom I'll just go straight down and tell my mistress."</p> + +<p>"And then you'll get punished, Diana," said Mary, in her most annoying +voice.</p> + +<p>"Is you a cousin?" asked Diana, by way of reply.</p> + +<p>"Certainly I am." Mary opened her round eyes in some astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Is you my cousin?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I am your first cousin."</p> + +<p>"First cousin," repeated Diana. She flung off her hat and threw it on +the floor.</p> + +<p>"Orion," she said, turning to her little brother,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> "you take good care +of our pwecious box. And what is you?" she continued, raising her eyes +to Simpson's face.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, at the present moment I am the nurse, and ready to +wash you and look after you, and make you comfortable."</p> + +<p>"Then I wishes to say something," remarked Diana. "I wishes to say it +bold, and I wishes to say it soon. I hate cousins, more 'specially +first, and I hate nurses. There, now, you can go downstairs, first +cousin, and tell aunt, and she can punish me. I don't care. You can +tell your mamma just what you p'ease."</p> + +<p>Diana strutted across the room, deposited her box on the +washhand-stand, and then, turning round once again, began to view the +company. What might have happened at that moment there is no saying, +if Iris had not come to the rescue.</p> + +<p>"Please don't mind her," she said; "she is only a very little child +and she has gone through great trouble, for our mother—our own +mother—she has left us, you know. Diana does not really mean to be +rude. Please let me talk to her. Di, darling, come to me, come to +Iris."</p> + +<p>It was impossible to resist Iris when she spoke in that tone, and when +she looked at Diana with her speaking dark eyes, and that gentle, +beautiful expression on her little face, it seemed to Diana then as if +the hard journey, and the pain of all the partings had never taken +place at all. She rushed up to her sister, clasped her fat arms round +her neck, and began to sob.</p> + +<p>"Poor little thing, she is dreadfully tired!" said Iris. "If I might +have a little bread and milk to give her, and then if she might be put +to bed, I know she would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> fall asleep immediately and be quite herself +in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, miss, I think you are right," said Simpson, who could not +help gazing at Iris with admiration. "I see you are a very kind little +sister, and of course no one ought to mind the words of a mere baby. +I'll take it upon me, miss, to do what you suggest, even though my +missus may be angry. Oh, my word! there's the supper gong. You must go +down at once, Miss Iris, you really must. I cannot answer for two of +you being absent, but I will speak to Mrs. Dolman afterwards, and tell +her that I just put Miss Diana straight to bed, for she was much too +sleepy to go downstairs again."</p> + +<p>"But I won't let you leave me, Iris," almost screamed Diana, +tightening her arms round her sister's neck.</p> + +<p>"Please let me stay here," said Iris. "I do not really want any +supper, and I know how to manage her. She has gone through a great +deal."</p> + +<p>"Well, miss, do you dare?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I dare anything! I am quite positive certain Aunt Jane won't mind +when I tell her my own self what I have done."</p> + +<p>"I will tell mamma; she shan't mind," said little Ann suddenly.</p> + +<p>Iris looked up at her and smiled—Ann smiled back at her. The hearts +of the two little cousins were knit together in real love from that +moment.</p> + +<p>The gong sounded again downstairs, and this time in a distinctly angry +manner. The three Dolman girls and the two Delaney boys had to hurry +off as fast as they could, and then Iris undressed Diana and put her +into her snug little white bed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I is drefful unhappy, Iris," said Diana, as she laid her head on her +pillow.</p> + +<p>"But you won't be in the morning, Diana. You'll feel brave and strong +and bright in the morning, just like the dear name mother gave you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, p'ease, p'ease, will you see that the spiders and beetles has +somethin' to eat? They is so far from home, poor darlin's, and they +has come a drefful long journey, and they may be deaded in the morning +if nothing's not done for 'em. P'ease see to 'em; won't you, Iris?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Iris.</p> + +<p>"Very well. Now, I'll say my pwayers and go stwaight off to s'eep. +P'ease, God, b'ess Di, make her good girl. Amen. Good-night, Iris."</p> + +<p>The next moment the little girl had gone away into the world of happy +slumber and innocent dreams. She knew nothing whatever about what poor +Iris, to her dismay, soon discovered, namely, that Simpson had marched +off with the box which contained the spiders and beetles. That box, +with its contents, was never found again. It was the straw too much, +as Simpson expressed it afterwards.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER.</h3> + + +<p>The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might +have gone on being so but for Diana. The four little Delaneys had +slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, +and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all +the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with +one another. It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to +have cousins to walk about with and talk to. Philip and Conrad, too, +were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their +gardens and their several pets. Life was certainly prim at the Rectory +compared to what it had been at the Manor; but children will be +children all the world over, and when there is a bright sun in the +heavens, and flowers grow at their feet, and a gentle breeze is +blowing, it is almost impossible to be all sulks and tears and misery. +Even Diana was interested in what was going on. She had never been +away from home before, and she found it pleasant to watch the Dolman +children. As she expressed it, in her sturdy fashion, she did not +think much of any of them, but still it amused her to hear them speak, +and to take Ann's hand and allow her to lead her round the garden.</p> + +<p>Ann was extremely kind to her, but she only received a very qualified +measure of approval from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> saucy little miss. Lucy and Mary she +could not bear, but as Ann showed her all her treasures, and as Ann +happened also to be very fond of animals, Diana began to chatter, and +presently became almost confidential. Suddenly, however, in the midst +of quite a merry game of play, the little girl was heard to utter a +shout.</p> + +<p>"Where is my darlin's that I brought from home?" she cried; "my three +spiders and my four beetles? I have not given none of 'em their +bwekfus. I must wun and fetch 'em. Iris promised to see to 'em last +night, so I know they isn't deaded; but I must go this very instant +minute to feed 'em, 'cos, of course, they wants their bwekfus, poor +dears. If you like I'll show 'em to you, Ann; you can see 'em while +they is eating."</p> + +<p>"Please, Diana, don't go!" called out Ann; but Diana did not hear her. +Putting wings to her sturdy little feet, she sped across the lawn, ran +helter-skelter into the house, and up to the room where she had slept.</p> + +<p>The room was empty, the windows were wide open, the little bed was +neatly made; there was not a sign of the precious box to be discovered +anywhere.</p> + +<p>"Where is that howid old nurse?" called Diana aloud. "She must know +where my pets is. Oh, they must be desp'te hungry, poor darlin's. I +say, nurse, where is 'oo? Nurse, come 'long, you howid old thing!"</p> + +<p>Simpson, who happened to be in the day-nursery not far away, heard +Diana's imperious little cry. The under-nurse was also standing in the +room.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Simpson," she said, "I hear one of the strange little ladies +calling out for you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, and so do I hear her," answered Mrs. Simpson, with a toss of +her head; "but she must learn to speak respectful before I take any +notice. I fully expect it's that pert little Miss Diana. They say she +is called after one of the heathen gods; no wonder she is so fiery +and—"</p> + +<p>But at that moment the fierce little face, the jet-black head and +sparkling eyes were seen peeping round the nursery door.</p> + +<p>"There you is, old Simpson; that's wight," said Diana, dancing up to +her. "Now, p'ease, tell me where you put my box."</p> + +<p>"What box, miss? I'll thank you, Miss Diana, not to call me old +Simpson. My name is Mrs. Simpson."</p> + +<p>"I only call you what you is," said Diana. "You is old, your hair is +gway; you is awfu' old, I 'spect. Now, where is my box? Where did you +put it, old—I mean, Mrs. Simpson?"</p> + +<p>"What box, miss?" said Simpson, beginning to temporize, for she really +was afraid of the burst of wrath which Diana might give way to when +she learned the truth.</p> + +<p>"You <i>is</i> a stupid," said Diana. "It's the box what holds my pwecious +beetles and spiders. I want to feed 'em. I'm just going to catch flies +for my spiders. I know how to catch 'em quite well; and my dear little +bettles, too, must be fed on bits of sugar. Where did you put the box? +The woom I s'ept in is kite tidy. Where is the box? Speak, can't you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, Miss Diana, I must just tell you the simple truth. We +can't have no messing with horrid vermin in this house. I would not +stay here for an hour if I thought those odious beetles and spiders +were anywhere about."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, then, you can go," said Diana; "nobody wants you to stay; you +is of no cons'kence. I want my darlin' pets, my little home things +that comed from the lovely garden; my spiders and my dear beetles. +Where did you put 'em?"</p> + +<p>"The fact is, Miss Diana, you want a right good talking to," said +Simpson. "Well, then, this is the truth. I have put 'em away."</p> + +<p>"Away! Where?"</p> + +<p>"They are gone, miss; you'll never find 'em again."</p> + +<p>"Gone!" cried Diana, her face turning pale. "Gone! Did Iris let you +take 'em away?"</p> + +<p>"Your sister knew nothing about it, miss. I took the box last night +and threw it into the dust-hole. I hope the vermin inside are dead by +now—horrid, odious, disgusting things!"</p> + +<p>"Vermin!" cried Diana. Her great eyes leaped, a ray of pure fire +seemed to dart from them. She looked for a moment as if she meant to +strike Simpson, but then, thinking better of it, she turned and rushed +like a little fury from the room. Downstairs, with her heart choking, +her breath coming fast, her whole little body palpitating with the +most frantic passion, she ran.</p> + +<p>The first person she happened to meet was her uncle, Mr. Dolman. He +was coming sleepily in from the garden, for the day was getting +intensely hot. He meant to go to his study to begin to write his +sermon for next Sunday. He did not feel at all inclined to write his +sermon, but as it had to be got through somehow, he thought he would +devote an hour, or perhaps an hour and a half, to its composition this +morning. When he saw Diana, however, rushing madly through the hall, +with her eyes shining, her face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> white, and her whole little body +quivering with excitement, he could not help exclaiming under his +breath at her remarkable beauty.</p> + +<p>"What a handsome little spitfire!" he said aloud.</p> + +<p>"Spitfire, indeed!" said Diana; "it's you all who is spitfires; it's +not me. I want to say something to you, big man."</p> + +<p>"Very well, small girl," answered Mr. Dolman. "I am willing to listen +to you. What is the matter?"</p> + +<p>This was really much more diverting than sitting down to his sermon.</p> + +<p>"I want you to have that howid old woman upstairs put in pwison. I +want you to get the perlice, and have her hands tied, and have her +took away to pwison. She has done a murder—she has killed my—" But +here little Diana's voice suddenly failed; high as her spirit was, it +could not carry her any further. A sense of absolute loneliness came +over her, and her passion ended in a burst of frantic weeping.</p> + +<p>And now all might have been well, for Mr. Dolman was a kind-hearted +man, and the little child, in her black dress, would have appealed to +him, and he would have taken her in his arms and comforted her after a +fashion, and matters might never have been so sore and hard again for +little Diana, if at that moment Mrs. Dolman had not appeared. She was +walking hastily across the hall with her district-visiting hat on. +Mrs. Dolman's district-visiting hat was made in the shape of a very +large mushroom. It was simply adorned with a band of brown ribbon, and +was not either a becoming or fashionable headgear.</p> + +<p>Diana, who had a strong sense of the ludicrous, stopped her tears +where her aunt appeared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What a poky old thing you is!" she said.</p> + +<p>These words enraged Mrs. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"William," she remarked, "what are you doing with that child? Why, you +have taken her in your arms; put her down this minute. Diana, you are +a very naughty little girl."</p> + +<p>"So is you a very naughty old woman," retorted Diana. "I's not going +away from this nice old man. I don't like you. I'm going to stay with +you, old man, so don't put me down out of your arms. You will send for +the perlice, won't you, and you'll have that howid puson upstairs put +in pwison. Go 'way, aunt. I never did like you, and I never will, and +you is awfu' poky in that bonnet. But I'll go with you, old man." Here +she flung her fat arms round her uncle's neck and gave him a hug.</p> + +<p>"You are not pwetty like faver," she said, "you are kite an ugly old +man, but all the same I like you;" and she kissed him, a slobbering, +wet kiss on his cheek.</p> + +<p>"Jane," said Mr. Dolman, "this poor little girl is in great trouble. I +cannot in the least make out why, but perhaps you had better let her +come with me into the library for a few minutes."</p> + +<p>"I'll allow nothing of the kind," answered Mrs. Dolman. "Diana Delaney +is an extremely naughty little child, and I am quite determined that +her spirit shall be broken. It was all very well for you to go on with +your tantrums at the Manor, miss, but now you are under my control, +and you shall do exactly what I wish. Come, Diana, none of this. What, +you'll kick me, will you? Then I shall have you whipped."</p> + +<p>"What's whipped?" questioned Diana.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman stooped down and lifted her into her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> arms. She was a +stout and largely-made child, and the little woman found her somewhat +difficult to carry. She would not let her down, however, but conducted +her across the cool hall and into a room at the further end of the +passage. This room was nearly empty, matting covered the floor and a +round table stood in the center, while two or three high-backed +chairs, with hard seats, were placed at intervals round the walls. It +was a decidedly dreary room, and rendered all the more so because the +morning sun was pouring in through the dusty panes.</p> + +<p>This room was well known to all the little Dolmans, for it was called +the punishment chamber. In this room they had all of them shed bitter +tears in their time, and some of the spirit which had been given to +them at their birth was subdued and broken here, and here they learned +to fear mamma, although not to respect her. They were all accustomed +to this chamber, but little Diana Delaney had never in the whole +course of her spirited six years heard of anything in the least +resembling this odious and ugly apartment.</p> + +<p>"Here you stay until you beg my pardon," said Mrs. Dolman, "and if I +hear you daring to call me names again, or your uncle names, or doing +anything but just behaving like a proper little Christian child, I +shall have you whipped. I believe in not sparing the rod, and so the +child is not spoiled. What, you'll defy me, miss!"</p> + +<p>"I hate you," screamed Diana, "and I want you to go to pwison too, as +well as that awfu' old Simpson upstairs. She has gone and murdered all +my animals—she said they was vermin. Oh, I hate you, aunt!"</p> + +<p>"Hate me or not, you'll stay where you are until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> dinner-time," said +Mrs. Dolman, and she left the room, locking the door after her.</p> + +<p>Diana flew to it and kicked it furiously, but although she kicked and +screamed and shouted herself hoarse, no one heard her, and no one came +to the rescue. At last, worn out with her frantic grief, she threw +herself down in the middle of the floor and, babylike, forgot her +sorrows in profound slumber.</p> + +<p>The rest of the children were having a fairly happy morning, and Iris, +who was trying to make the best of things, did not miss her little +sister until the preparation gong for dinner sounded. The moment its +sonorous notes were heard pealing over the Rectory garden, little Ann +got up soberly, and Lucy and Mary also rose to their feet.</p> + +<p>"That is the first gong, Iris," said Ann; "we must go in to clean our +hands and have our hair brushed. Mamma would be very angry if we were +not all in the dining room when the second gong sounds. There is only +five minutes between the two gongs, so we had better go and get ready +at once."</p> + +<p>Iris was quite ready to accompany her cousins into the house. Now, for +the first time, however, she missed Diana.</p> + +<p>"Where is Di?" she said. "Apollo, have you seen her?"</p> + +<p>Apollo was coming up the lawn; Iris ran down to meet him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's Orion with Philip and Conrad," said Iris, "but where can +Di be? I thought she was with you, Apollo."</p> + +<p>"I have not seen her for the greater part of the morning," replied +Apollo. "Have you, Orion?"</p> + +<p>"Not I," answered Orion, giving himself a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> shake. "I say, +Phil," he continued, "is it true that you can take me fishing with you +this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but pray don't talk so loud. I'll take you, if you won't split +about it."</p> + +<p>"What's 'split'?" questioned Orion.</p> + +<p>"Hush, you little beggar!" Philip drew Orion to one side and began to +whisper in his ear. Orion's face got very red.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" he said. "Well, I won't tell. What are you talking about, Iris?"</p> + +<p>"I want to find Diana," said Iris.</p> + +<p>"I have not seen her," said Orion. "I wish you would not bother me, +Iris. I am talking to Philip. Phil and I has got some secrets. Very +well, Phil; we'll walk on in front, if you like."</p> + +<p>"Yes, come along," said Philip; "you can come too, Conrad. Now, Orion, +if you are not going to be a silly goose and a tell-tale, I'll—" Here +he dropped his voice to a whisper, and Orion bent an attentive ear.</p> + +<p>Iris, in some bewilderment, turned to her girl cousins.</p> + +<p>"I must find Diana," she said.</p> + +<p>"She may be in the house," said Ann. "Perhaps she has gone to the +nurseries—perhaps she is with Simpson."</p> + +<p>The whole party entered the house, which was very cool and pleasant in +contrast to the hot outside world. They met Mr. Dolman striding across +the hall.</p> + +<p>"You had better be quick, children," he called out. "Mamma won't be +pleased unless you are all waiting and ready to sit down to table when +the second gong sounds."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, please, Uncle William!" said Iris, "do you happen to know where +Diana is?"</p> + +<p>"Little Diana with the spirited black eyes?" questioned Mr. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"Yes; do you know anything about her?"</p> + +<p>He pushed his spectacles halfway up on his broad, bald forehead.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid little Diana has been very naughty," he said; "but, pray +don't say that I mentioned it. You had better question your aunt, my +dear. No, there is no use asking me. I vow, once for all, that I am +not going to interfere with you children—particularly with you little +Delaneys. I only know that Diana has been naughty. Ask your aunt—ask +your aunt, my dear."</p> + +<p>"Iris, do pray come upstairs," called out Mary; "we'll get into the +most dreadful scrape if we are late. Mamma is so terribly particular."</p> + +<p>"Oh, there is Aunt Jane!" said Iris, with a sigh of relief. "Aunt +Jane, please," she continued, running up to her aunt as she spoke, "I +can't find Diana anywhere. Do you happen to know where she is?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you won't find Diana, Iris," answered Mrs. Dolman, "for +the simple reason that she has been a very impertinent, naughty little +girl, and I have been obliged to lock her up."</p> + +<p>"You were obliged to lock her up?" said Iris, her face turning pale. +She gave Mrs. Dolman a look which reminded that lady of her brother. +Now, the little Delaneys' father could give very piercing glances out +of his dark eyes when he chose, and Mrs. Dolman had been known, in her +early days, to quail before them. For the same inexplicable reason she +quailed now before the look in Iris' brown eyes. "Please<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> take me at +once to my sister," said the little girl, with dignity.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman hesitated for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Iris, on this occasion I will take you," she said. "But +please first understand that you four children have got to bend your +wills to mine; and when you are naughty,—although I don't expect you +will ever be naughty, Iris,—I trust you, at least, will be an example +to the others,—but when any of you are naughty you will be most +certainly punished. I have brought you here with the intention of +disciplining you and making you good children."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Iris, very slowly, "do you really think, Aunt Jane, that +when mother was alive we were bad children?"</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to say on that point," answered Mrs. Dolman. She led +Iris across the cool hall, and, taking a key out of her pocket, opened +the door of the punishment chamber. She threw it wide open, and there, +in the center of the matting, lay Diana, curled up like a little dog, +very sound asleep.</p> + +<p>"Much she cares," said Mrs. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Aunt Jane!" said Iris, tears springing to her eyes, "how could +you be cruel to her, and she is not long without mother, you know—how +could you be cruel to her, Aunt Jane?"</p> + +<p>"You are not to dare to speak to me in that tone, Iris," said Aunt +Jane.</p> + +<p>But at that moment the noise, or perhaps it was the draught of fresh +air, caused Diana to stir in her sleep. She raised her head and looked +around her. The first person her eyes met was Iris.</p> + +<p>"So you has come at last," she said. "I don't think much of you for a +mother. You made a lot of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> pwomises, and that's all you care. Has that +ugly old woman been sent to pwison? There's my darlin' pets gone and +got deaded, and she deaded 'em. Has she been put in pwison for murder? +Oh, there you is, too, old Aunt Jane! Well, I is not going to obey +you, so there! Now you know the twuf. I is Diana, the gweat Diana. I +isn't going to obey nobody!"</p> + +<p>"Iris," said Mrs. Dolman, "will you speak to this extremely naughty +little girl? If she will not repent and beg my pardon she shall have +no dinner. I will send her in some bread and water; and here she shall +stay until her naughty little spirit is broken."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman left the room as she spoke, and Iris found herself alone +with her sister.</p> + +<p>"You isn't much of a mother," repeated Diana. She went over to the +window, and stood with her back to Iris. Her little bosom was heaving +up and down; she felt very forlorn, but still she hugged her misery to +her as a cloak.</p> + +<p>Iris gazed at her in perplexity.</p> + +<p>"Di," she said, "I never saw you like this before. What are you +turning away from me for? Come to me, Di; do come to me."</p> + +<p>Diana's little breast heaved more than ever, tears came into her eyes, +but she blinked them furiously away.</p> + +<p>"You can come to me, if you want; I shan't come to you. You isn't much +of a mother," she repeated.</p> + +<p>"But I did not know you were in trouble, darling. Do, do come to your +own Iris. Do tell me what is the matter."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Iris!" sobbed Diana.</p> + +<p>The first kind note utterly melted her little heart;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> she rushed to +her sister, flung herself upon her, and sobbed as if she would never +stop crying.</p> + +<p>"We can't stay in this howid place, Iris," she said; "all my darlin's +has gone and got deaded. That howid old woman upstairs said they was +wermin. She has killed 'em all. I can't stay here; I won't stay here. +Take me back to the beautiful garden. Do, Iris; do. I'se just so +mis'ble."</p> + +<p>Iris sat down on one of the hard-backed chairs.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Di," she said, "I have no time now to talk things over +with you. Of course, everything is altered, and our lives are +completely changed. When mother was dying, when I last saw her, she +told me that I must expect this. She said she knew that, when she went +away to the angels, we four children would have to go out into the +world and fight our battles. She said that everybody in the world has +got a battle to fight, and even little children have to fight theirs. +She said, too, that if we were brave and the kind of children she +wants us to be, we would follow the names she gave us and conquer our +enemies. Now, Di, you are called after Diana, the great Diana, who was +supposed to be a sort of goddess. Do you think she would have given +in? Don't you think she would have been brave?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, course," said the little nineteenth-century Diana. "She would +have shotted people down dead with her bow and arrows—I know kite +well she was a bwave sort of a lady. All wight, Iris, I'll copy her if +you wishes."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do wish, darling. I think it would be splendid of you."</p> + +<p>"She was a very bwave lady," repeated Diana. "She had her bow and her +arrows; she was a gweat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> huntwess, and she shotted people. I don't +mind copying her one little bit."</p> + +<p>Diana dried away her tears and looked fixedly at her sister.</p> + +<p>"Then you really mean to be good and brave, Di?"</p> + +<p>"Certain sure, Iris."</p> + +<p>"And you won't call Aunt Jane any more names?"</p> + +<p>"I won't call her names—names don't si'nify, names don't kill +people."</p> + +<p>"And you'll go and beg her pardon now?"</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"You'll say you are sorry that you called her names."</p> + +<p>"Would she let me out of this woom, then? and could I do just what I +liked my own self?"</p> + +<p>"I expect so; I expect she is really sorry that she had to be hard on +you to-day; but you see she has got a different way of bringing up +children from our own mother."</p> + +<p>"Please, Iris, we won't talk much of our own mother—it makes me lumpy +in the trof," said Diana, with a little gulp. "I'll beg her pardon, if +it pleases her. I don't care—what's words? I'll go at once, and, +Iris, mind me that I'm like Diana. She was a bwave lady and she +shotted lots of people."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, come along, Di; you'll be allowed to come to dinner if +you beg Aunt Jane's pardon."</p> + +<p>Di gave her hand to Iris, who took her upstairs. Here Iris washed her +little sister's face and hands and brushed out her thick black hair, +and kissed her on her rosebud lips, and then said:</p> + +<p>"There is nothing I would not do, Di, to be a real little mother to +you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All wight," answered Diana; "you just mind me now and then that I is +called after the bwave lady what lived long, long ago. Is that the +second gong? I'se desp'ate hungy. Let's wun downstairs, p'ease, Iris."</p> + +<p>Diana entered the dining room with her face all aglow with smiles, the +rich color back again in her cheeks, and her black eyes dancing. Even +Mr. Dolman gave a gasp of relief when he saw her.</p> + +<p>Even Mrs. Dolman felt a slight degree of satisfaction. She did not +intend to be hard on the children—in her heart of hearts she was +quite resolved to make them not only good, but also happy.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear little girl," she said, drawing Diana to her side, "and +so you are sorry for what you said?"</p> + +<p>"Awfu' sossy," answered Diana, in a cheerful voice.</p> + +<p>"Then you beg my pardon, and you won't be naughty again?"</p> + +<p>"I begs yous pardon, Aunt Jane," said Diana. She looked very +attentively up and down her relation's figure as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"Poor Aunt Jane, she's awfu' stout," murmured Diana, under her breath. +"I must get a good sharp arrow—oh, yes! words is nothing."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman drew out a chair near herself.</p> + +<p>"You shall sit near me, Diana, and I will help you to your dinner," +she said. "I hope in future you will really try to be a very good +little girl."</p> + +<p>Diana made no reply to this, but when her aunt piled her plate with +nourishing and wholesome food, she began to eat with appetite. Towards +the end of the meal she bent over towards Mrs. Dolman, and said in a +confiding voice:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Has you got woods wound here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear; there are some nice woods about a mile away."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to go there this afternoon, please, Aunt Jane. I has +'portant business to do in those woods." Diana looked round the table +very solemnly as she said these last words. Philip could not help +laughing.</p> + +<p>"Hush, Philip! I won't have Diana laughed at," said Mrs. Dolman, who +for some reason was now inclined to be specially kind to the little +girl. "If you would really like to spend the afternoon in the woods, +Diana, I see nothing against it," she remarked. "You are all having a +holiday, and as to-morrow lessons will of course be resumed, I do not +see why your wish should not be gratified. Miss Ramsay, you will of +course accompany the children, and, Lucy, my dear, you can have the +pony chaise, if you promise to be very careful. You can take turns to +sit in it, children. And what do you say to asking cook to put up a +few bottles of milk and some cake and bread and butter—then you need +not return home to tea?"</p> + +<p>"That would be delightful, mamma," said Lucy, in her prim voice.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, mamma," said Mary.</p> + +<p>"French, my dears; French!" said Miss Ramsay.</p> + +<p>"As it is a holiday, Miss Ramsay, the children are allowed to tender +their thanks to me in the English tongue," said Mrs. Dolman.</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay bowed and slightly colored.</p> + +<p>"Is you going with us?" asked Diana, fixing her dark eyes full upon +the governess' face.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Diana; your aunt wishes it."</p> + +<p>"We don't want no g'own-ups."</p> + +<p>"Hush, Diana! you must not begin to be rude<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> again," said Mrs. Dolman. +"Miss Ramsay certainly goes with you, please understand."</p> + +<p>"I underland—thank you, Aunt Jane," said Diana.</p> + +<p>She looked solemnly down at her empty plate. Her whole little mind was +full of her namesake—the great Diana of long ago. She wondered if in +the deep shade of the woods she might find a bow strong enough to +injure her enemies.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>BOW AND ARROW.</h3> + + +<p>Nothing interfered with the excursion to the pleasant woods near +Super-Ashton Rectory. The children all found themselves there soon +after four o'clock on this lovely summer afternoon. They could sit +under the shade of the beautiful trees, or run about and play to their +hearts' content.</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay was a very severe governess during school hours, but when +there was a holiday she was as lax as she was particular on other +occasions. This afternoon she took a novel out of her pocket, seated +herself with her back to a great overspreading elm tree, and prepared +to enjoy herself.</p> + +<p>Lucy, Mary, and Ann surrounded Iris; Apollo marched away by himself, +and Philip and Conrad mysteriously disappeared with little Orion. +Diana thus found herself alone. For a time she was contented to lie +stretched out flat on the grass playing soldiers, and watching the +tricks of a snow-white rabbit who ran in and out of his hole close by. +Presently, however, she grew tired of this solitary entertainment, and +sprang to her feet, looking eagerly around her.</p> + +<p>"Punishment is a very good thing," she said to herself. "I's punished, +and I's lot better. It's now Aunt Jane's turn to be punished, and it's +Simpson's turn to be punished—it'll do them heaps of good. First time +I's only going to punish 'em, I isn't going<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> to kill 'em down dead, +but I's going to pwick 'em. I is Diana, and mother said I was to live +just like the gweat Diana what lived long, long, <i>long</i> ago."</p> + +<p>Diana began to trot eagerly up and down under the shade of the tall +forest trees. She looked about her to right and left, and presently +was fortunate enough to secure a pliant bough of a tree which was +lying on the ground. Having discovered this treasure, she sat down +contentedly and began to pull off the leaves and to strip the bark. +When she had got the long, supple bough quite bare, she whipped some +string out of her pocket, and converted it into the semblance of a +bow. It was certainly by no means a perfect bow, but it was a bow +after a fashion.</p> + +<p>The bow being made, the arrow must now be secured. Diana could not +possibly manage an arrow without a knife, and she was not allowed to +keep a knife of her own. Both bow and arrow must be a secret, for if +anyone saw her with them it might enter into the head of that person +not to consider it quite proper for her to punish Aunt Jane.</p> + +<p>"And Aunt Jane must be punished," muttered Diana. "I must make an +arrow, and I must pwick her with it. My bow is weally beautiful—it is +a little crooked, but what do that matter? I could shoot my arrow now +and pwick the twees, if only I could get one made. Oh, here's a +darlin' little stick—it would make a lovely arrow, if I had a knife +to sharpen the point with. Now, I do wonder what sort of a woman that +Miss Wamsay is."</p> + +<p>Diana fixed her coal-black eyes on the lady.</p> + +<p>"She looks sort of gentle now she's weading," whispered the little +girl to herself. "She looked howid this morning in the schoolroom, but +she looks sort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> of gentle now. I even seed her smile a minute back, +and I should not be a bit s'prised if she didn't hate Aunt Jane too. I +know what I'll do; I'll just go and ask her—there is nothing in all +the world like being plain-spoke. If Miss Wamsay hates Aunt Jane, why, +course, she'll help me to sharpen my arrow, when I tell her it is to +give Aunt Jane a little pwick."</p> + +<p>Accordingly Diana approached Miss Ramsay's side, and, as the governess +did not look up, she flung herself on the grass near by, uttering a +deep sigh as she did so. But Miss Ramsay was intent on her book, and +did not take the least notice of Diana's deep-drawn breath. The little +girl fidgeted, and tried further measures. She came close up to the +governess, and, stretching out one of her fat hands, laid it on one of +Miss Ramsay's.</p> + +<p>"Don't touch me, my dear," said the lady. "You are much too hot, and +your hand is very dirty."</p> + +<p>"I's sossy for that," said Diana. "I had to touch you 'cos you +wouldn't look up. I has something most 'portant to talk over."</p> + +<p>"Have you indeed?" replied Miss Ramsay. She closed her book. The part +she was reading was not specially interesting, and she could not help +being amused with such a very curious specimen of the genus child as +Diana Delaney.</p> + +<p>"Well, little girl, and what is it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I 'spects," said Diana, looking very solemnly into her face, "that +you and me, we has both got the same enemies."</p> + +<p>"The same enemies! My dear child, what do you mean?" asked Miss +Ramsay.</p> + +<p>"I 'spects I's wight," said Diana, tossing her black head. "I's not +often wrong. I wead your thoughts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>—I think that you has a desp'ate +hate, down deep in your heart, to Aunt Jane."</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" cried the governess, "what does the child mean? Why +should I hate Mrs. Dolman?"</p> + +<p>"But why should not you?—that's the point," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't," said Miss Ramsay.</p> + +<p>Diana looked intently at her. Slowly, but surely, her big black eyes +filled with tears; the tears rolled down her cheeks; she did not +attempt to wipe them away.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with you, you queer little creature?" said Miss +Ramsay. "What in the world are you crying about?"</p> + +<p>"I is so bitter dis'pointed," repeated Diana.</p> + +<p>"What, because I don't hate your Aunt Jane?"</p> + +<p>"I is bitter dis-pointed," repeated Diana. "I thought, course, you +hated her, 'cos I saw her look at you so smart like, and order you to +be k'ick this morning, and I thought, 'Miss Wamsay don't like that, +and course Miss Wamsay hates her, and if Miss Wamsay hates her, well, +she'll help me, 'cos I hates her awful.'"</p> + +<p>"But do you know that all this is very wrong?" said Miss Ramsay.</p> + +<p>"W'ong don't matter," answered Diana, sweeping her hand in a certain +direction, as if she were pushing wrong quite out of sight. "I hate +her, and I want to punish her. You ought to hate her, 'cos she told +you to be k'ick, and she looked at you with a kind of a fwown. Won't +you twy and begin? Do, p'ease."</p> + +<p>"I really never heard anything like this before in the whole course of +my life," said Miss Ramsay. "Mrs. Dolman did warn me to be prepared +for much,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> but I never heard a Christian child speak in the way you +are doing."</p> + +<p>"I isn't a Chwistian child," said Diana. "I is a heathen. Did you +never hear of Diana what lived long, long ago?—the beautiful, bwave +lady that shotted peoples whenever she p'eased with her bow and +arrows?"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean the heathen goddess?" said Miss Ramsay.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you call her, but I is named after her, and I mean +to be like her. My beautiful mother said I was to be like her, and I'm +going to twy. See, now, here is the bow"—she held up the crooked bow +as she spoke—"and I only want the arrow. Will you help me to make the +arrow? I thought—oh, I did think—that if you hated Aunt Jane you +would help me to make the arrow. Here's the stick, and if you have a +knife in your pocket you can just sharpen it, and it will make the +most perfect arrow in all the world. I'll love you then. I'll help you +always. I'll do my lessons if you ask me, and I'll twy to be good to +you; 'cos you and me we'll both have our enemies, and p'w'aps, if I'm +not stwong enough to use the bow, p'w'aps you could use it, and we +might go about together and sting our enemies, and be weal fwiends. +Will you twy? Will you make me the little arrow, p'ease, p'ease?"</p> + +<p>"And what are you going to do with the arrow when it is made?" asked +Miss Ramsay. "I happen," she continued, without waiting for Diana's +reply, "to have a knife in my pocket, and I don't mind sharpening that +piece of wood for you. But bows and arrows are dangerous weapons for +little girls like you."</p> + +<p>"Course they is dangerous," said Diana. "What<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> would be the use of +'em, if they wasn't? They is to pwick our enemies and p'w'aps kill +'em."</p> + +<p>"But look here, Diana, what do you want this special bow and arrow +for?"</p> + +<p>"I want to have Aunt Jane Dolman and Simpson shotted. I'll tell you +why I want 'em both to be shotted—'cos Simpson killed my spiders and +beetles, and Aunt Jane Dolman is a poky old thing and she shut me up +in a punishment woom. Now wouldn't you like to help me—and then we'll +both have deaded our enemies, and we'll be as happy as the day is +long."</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay was so astounded at Diana's remarks that she slowly rose +from her seat and stared for nearly half a minute at the little girl.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said at last, "I have seen in my lifetime all sorts of +children. I have taught little girls and boys since I was eighteen +years of age. I have seen good children and naughty children, and +clever children, and stupid children, but I have never met anyone like +you, little Diana Delaney. Do you really know what you are saying? Do +you know that you are a very, very wicked little girl?"</p> + +<p>"Are I?" said Diana. "Well, then, I like being a wicked little girl. I +thought p'w'aps you would help me; but it don't matter, not one bit."</p> + +<p>Before Miss Ramsay could say another word Diana had turned abruptly +and flown, as if on the wings of the wind, right down through the +wood.</p> + +<p>The governess watched the little figure disappearing between the oaks +and elms until at last it quite vanished from view. She felt a +momentary inclination to go after the child, but her book was +interesting, and her seat under the overhanging elm extremely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +comfortable. And this was a holiday, and she worked hard enough, poor +thing, on working days. And, after all, Diana was nothing but a silly +little child, and didn't mean half she said.</p> + +<p>"It would be folly to take the least notice of her remarks," thought +the governess. "I'll just go on treating her like the others. I expect +I shall have a good deal of work breaking in that interesting little +quartette, for, after all, if my salary is to be raised, I may as well +stay at the Rectory as anywhere else. The house is comfortable, and I +have got used to Mrs. Dolman's queer ways by this time."</p> + +<p>Accordingly Miss Ramsay reseated herself, and again took up her novel. +She turned the leaves, and soon got into a most interesting part of +the volume. Lost in the sorrows of her hero and heroine, she forgot +all about Diana Delaney and her bow and arrow.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Diana, walking rapidly away by herself, was reflecting +hard.</p> + +<p>"Miss Wamsay's a poor sort," she thought. "I aren't going to twouble +'bout anyone like her, but I must get that arrow made. The bow is +beautiful, but I can't do nothing 'cos I hasn't got an arrow."</p> + +<p>At this moment, to her great delight, she saw Apollo coming to meet +her.</p> + +<p>"There you is!" she shouted.</p> + +<p>"What do you want with me?" asked Apollo.</p> + +<p>"Look at my bow, 'Pollo! Aren't it beautiful? Aren't I just like the +weal Diana now?"</p> + +<p>"Did you make this bow all by yourself?" asked Apollo.</p> + +<p>"Yes; why shouldn't I?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it's awfully crooked."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is it?" said Diana; "I thought it was beautiful. Can you stwaighten +it for me a little bit, 'Pollo?"</p> + +<p>"I think I can make you a better bow than this," answered Apollo.</p> + +<p>"Oh, can you? What a darlin' you is! And will you cut an arrow for me, +and will you make it very sharp? Will you make it awfu' sharp? The +kind that would pwick deep, you know, that would cut into things and +be like the arrow that the gweat Diana used."</p> + +<p>Apollo was finding his afternoon somewhat dull. He had made no friends +as yet with the little Dolman children. Orion had disappeared with +both the boys; Iris was with Ann, Lucy, and Mary; he had been thrown +for the last hour completely on his own resources. The sight, +therefore, of Diana, with her flushed face and bright eyes and +spirited manner, quite cheered the little fellow. He and Diana had +often been chums, and he thought it would be rather nice to be chummy +with his little sister to-day.</p> + +<p>"I may as well help you," he said, "but, of course, Di, you can't +expect me to do this sort of thing often. I shall most likely be very +soon going to school, and then I'll be with fellows, you know."</p> + +<p>"What's fellows?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"Oh, boys! Of course, when I get with boys, you can't expect me to be +much with you."</p> + +<p>"All wight," answered Diana. "I hope you won't get with no fellows +this afternoon, 'cos you is useful to me. Just sit down where you is, +and help me to make a bow and arrow."</p> + +<p>Apollo instantly seated himself on the grass, and Diana threw herself +on her face and hands by his side. She raised herself on her elbows +and fixed her bright<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> black eyes on her brother's face. She stared +very hard at him, and he stared back at her.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, "isn't you going to begin?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he replied; "but what do you want the bow and arrow for?"</p> + +<p>"To get my enemies shotted."</p> + +<p>"Your enemies? What folly this is, Di. You have not got any enemies."</p> + +<p>"Haven't I? I know better. I won't talk to you about it, 'Pollo."</p> + +<p>"All right," replied Apollo; "you must tell me, or I won't help you."</p> + +<p>"There, now!" said Diana, "you's got a howid fwown between your bwows. +I don't like it; you's going to be obs'nate. I don't like obs'nate +boys."</p> + +<p>"I mean what I say," replied Apollo. "I know you of old, you monkey. +You are up to mischief, and I insist upon hearing all about it."</p> + +<p>Diana gazed at him solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Does you like Aunt Jane?" she said, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"I can't say that I do," replied Apollo.</p> + +<p>"Does you like that old thing in the nursery—Simpson, they calls +her?"</p> + +<p>"I can't say that I do," replied the boy again.</p> + +<p>"They is sort of enemies of yours, isn't they?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't know that I go as far as that," replied Apollo.</p> + +<p>"But if Aunt Jane makes you do howid lessons all day, and if Simpson +is always fussing you and getting you to wash your face and hands, and +if you can't never go with <i>fellows</i>, and if you is kept in—and +if—and if—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! don't begin all that, Di," said Apollo. "Where is the use of +making the worst of things?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I want to make the best of things," said Diana. "I want to have +our enemies shotted wight off."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to tell me," said Apollo, laughing, "that you wish to +shoot Aunt Jane and that old woman in the nursery?"</p> + +<p>"I wish to pwick 'em first time, and then, if they is naughty again, +to have 'em shotted down dead. Why not? Mother, who is up in the +heavens, called me after gweat Diana, and Diana always shotted her +enemies."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me, Di! I think you are the queerest little thing in the +world," said Apollo. "But now, look here," he added, "I am older than +you, and I know that what you are thinking about is very wrong. I +can't make you a bow and arrow to do that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>Diana looked bitterly disappointed. She could master, or she fancied +she could master, Aunt Jane, Simpson, and Miss Ramsay, but she knew +well, from past experience, that she could not master Apollo.</p> + +<p>"What is to be done?" she said. She thought for a long time. "Would +not you like a bow and arrow just all your own, to shoot at the twees +with?" she asked at last artfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have no objection to that!" answered Apollo. "It seems right +that I should have one; does it not, Di? But of course I would never +do any mischief with it. Why, little thing, you have been talking the +most awful rot."</p> + +<p>"Well, you can make a bow and arrow for your very own self," said +Diana. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + + +<p>"I don't see why I shouldn't, but you'll have to promise—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I won't make pwomises!" said Diana. "Why should I make pwomises +about your bow and arrows? I'll help you to make 'em. Do let me, +Apollo!"</p> + +<p>Apollo seemed suddenly smitten with the idea. After all, it would be +fine to make a bow and arrow, and to try to shoot things in the wood. +How lovely it would be if he succeeded in shooting a rabbit; he would +certainly have a try. Accordingly, he rose and climbed into the lower +branches of an elm tree, and cut down a long, smooth young bough, and, +descending again to the ground, began to peel the bark off. When this +was done, Diana produced some more string out of her pocket, and a +very creditable bow was the result.</p> + +<p>"Now, the arrow," said the little girl.</p> + +<p>"We must get some strong wood for that," said Apollo, "something that +won't split. I'll just walk about and look around me." He did so, and +soon found a stick suitable for his purpose. He sat down again and +began whittling away. Very soon a fairly sharp arrow was the result. +"Of course it ought to be tipped," said Apollo, "but we have nothing +to tip it with. It is lucky that the wood is hard, and so it is really +sharp. Now, shall I have a few shots with it?"</p> + +<p>"Please do, Apollo. Oh, how 'licious it all is! Don't you feel just as +if you was a heathen god?"</p> + +<p>"I wish I were," said Apollo, throwing back his head. "Oh, Di, how hot +it is in the wood! What wouldn't I give to be back in the dear old +garden again?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe we'll go soon," said Diana; "maybe they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> won't want to keep us +if—" But here she shut up her little mouth firmly.</p> + +<p>Apollo was too much excited about the bow and arrows to think of +Diana's remarks. He stood up and began to practice shooting.</p> + +<p>"You is doing it beautiful," said Diana, applauding his extremely poor +efforts. "Now, twy again. Think that you has lived long, long ago, and +that you is shotting things for our dinner."</p> + +<p>The arrow went wide of the mark, the arrow went everywhere but where +it ought to. Diana clapped and laughed and shouted, and Apollo thought +himself the finest archer in the world.</p> + +<p>"Now, let me have a teeny turn," she said.</p> + +<p>"To be sure I will," he replied good-naturedly. He showed her how to +place the arrow, and she made one or two valiant attempts to send it +flying through the wood.</p> + +<p>"It is hard," she panted; "the arrow don't seem even to make the least +little pwick. Now, I want to shoot stwaight at that oak twee, or would +you mind awfu', Apollo, if I was to shoot at you?"</p> + +<p>"All right," replied Apollo; "you may aim at my hand, if you like." He +walked about a dozen yards away and held up his hand.</p> + +<p>Diana made valiant efforts, and grew crimson in the face, but the +arrow still went wide of the mark.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>JOG'APHY.</h3> + + +<p>The next day lessons began with a vengeance. It was one thing for the +four Delaney children to work with Miss Stevenson at the old Manor +House. Lessons in mother's time were rather pleasant than otherwise; +as often as not they were conducted in the garden, and when the day +happened to be very hot, and the little people somewhat impatient of +restraint, Miss Stevenson gave them a certain amount of liberty; but +lessons at the Rectory were an altogether different matter. Miss +Ramsay, when she awoke the next day, had seemed emphatically to have +put on all her armor. During the holiday, neither Orion nor Diana, +neither Apollo nor Iris, thought Miss Ramsay of any special account. +They stared a good deal at Uncle Dolman, and they watched Aunt Jane +with anxious eyes, but Miss Ramsay did not matter, one way or the +other. The next day, however, they came to have a totally different +opinion with regard to her.</p> + +<p>At breakfast, on the following morning, whenever Diana opened her +rosebud lips, she was told that she must not speak unless she could do +so in the French tongue. Now, all that Diana could manage to say in +French was 'Oui' and 'Non,' nor was she very certain when to say +either of these very simple words. She hated being silent, for she was +a very talkative,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> cheery little body, except when she was angry. +Accordingly, the meal was a depressing one, and Diana began to yawn +and to look wearily out on the sunshiny garden before it was +half-finished. But, of course, there was no play in the garden for any +of the children that morning. Immediately after breakfast they all +went up to the schoolroom. Now, the schoolroom was a very pleasant +room, nicely and suitably furnished, but in summer it was hot, and on +very sunshiny days it was painfully hot; its single large bay window +faced due south, and the sun poured in relentlessly all during the +hours of morning school. Miss Ramsay, seated at the head of the +baize-covered table with her spectacles on, looked decidedly +formidable, and each of the children gazed at their governess with +anxious eyes. Mary and Lucy were always good little girls, but Philip +and Conrad were as idle as boys could possibly be, and did their +utmost to evade Miss Ramsay's endeavors to instill learning into their +small heads. Orion sat between his two little boy cousins, but for +some reason or other Orion did not look well that morning. His little +face, not unlike Diana's in appearance, was bloated, his eyes were +heavy, he had scarcely touched his breakfast, and he earnestly, most +earnestly longed to get out of the hot schoolroom.</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay, when all the little people were seated round her, knocked +sharply on the table with her ruler, and proceeded to make a speech. +"My dear old pupils," she said, looking at the five little Dolmans as +she spoke, "on account of your cousins, who, I fear, are ignorant +little children, I mean on this occasion to speak to you in the +English tongue. I have now got nine pupils to instruct, and nine +pupils are a great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> many for one person to teach. Your mother, +however, has promised that the master from the village shall come up +to instruct you all in arithmetic, and your French master and your +music master will, of course, attend here as usual. I trust, +therefore, that by more attention on the part of my pupils I may be +able to continue the heavy task which I have undertaken. What I want +to impress upon you children"—here she turned abruptly to the little +Delaneys—"is that lessons are lessons, and play is play. During +lesson-time I allow <i>no</i> wandering thoughts, I allow no attempts at +shirking your duties. The tasks I set you will be carefully chosen +according to your different abilities, and I can assure you beforehand +that learned they must be. If I find that they are not carefully +prepared I shall punish you. By being attentive, by making the best of +your time, you can easily get through the lessons appointed you, and +then when they are over I hope you will thoroughly enjoy your time of +play. Now, all of you sit quiet. We will begin with a lesson from +English history."</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay then began to lecture in her usual style. She was really +an excellent teacher, and Iris found what she said very interesting. +She began to tell about the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and she made +that time quite live to the intelligent little girl. But Apollo had +not nearly come to the reign of Elizabeth in his English history. He, +consequently, could not follow the story, and soon began to look out +of the window, and to count the flies which were buzzing in the hot +sunshine on the window-panes. When Miss Ramsay addressed a sudden +question to him he was unable to reply. She passed it on to Ann, who +instantly gave the correct answer. But Apollo felt himself to be in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +his governess' black books. As this was the first morning of lessons, +she was not going to be severe, and, telling the little boy to take +his history away to another table, desired him to read it all +carefully through.</p> + +<p>"I will question you to-morrow about what I told you to-day," she +said. "Now, remember, you must tell me the whole story of the Spanish +Armada to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"But I have not gone farther than the reign of John," said Apollo.</p> + +<p>"Don't answer me, Apollo," said Miss Ramsay; "you are to read this +part of your history book. Now, sit with your back to the others and +begin."</p> + +<p>Apollo shrugged his shoulders. For a short time he made an effort to +read his dull history, but then once again his eyes sought the +sunshine and the flies on the window panes.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Diana, Orion, and the two little Dolman boys were in a class +by themselves, busily engaged over a geography lesson.</p> + +<p>Diana had not the smallest wish to become acquainted with any portion +of the globe where she was not herself residing. Her thoughts were all +full of the bow and arrow which Apollo had carefully hidden in a +little dell at the entrance of the wood, on the previous night. She +was wondering when she could run off to secure the prize, and when she +would have an opportunity of punishing her enemies. She began to think +that it would be really necessary to give Miss Ramsay a prick with the +fatal arrow. Miss Ramsay was turning out to be most disagreeable.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the heat of the room, and a curious giddy sensation in her +head, caused it to sink lower<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> and lower, until finally it rested on +her book, and little Diana was off in the land of dreams.</p> + +<p>A sharp tap on her shoulders roused her with a start. Miss Ramsay was +standing over her, looking very angry.</p> + +<p>"Come, Diana! this will never do," she cried. "How dare you go to +sleep! Do you know your geography?"</p> + +<p>"P'ease, I doesn't know what jog-aphy is," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"What a very naughty little girl you are! Have not I been taking pains +to explain it all to you? You will have to stay in the schoolroom when +lessons are over for quite five minutes. Now, stand up on your chair, +hold your book in your hands, don't look out of the window, keep your +eyes fixed on your book, and then you will soon learn what is required +of you."</p> + +<p>Diana obeyed this mandate with a very grave face.</p> + +<p>In about ten minutes Miss Ramsay called her to her side.</p> + +<p>"Well, do you know your lesson?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Kite perfect," replied Diana.</p> + +<p>"Well, let me hear you. What is the capital of England?"</p> + +<p>"Dublin Bay," replied Diana, with avidity.</p> + +<p>"You are a very naughty child. How can you tell me you know your +lesson? See, I will ask you one more question. What is the capital of +Scotland?"</p> + +<p>"Ireland," answered Diana, in an earnest voice.</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay shut the book with a bang. Diana looked calmly at her.</p> + +<p>"I thought I knew it," she said. "I's sossy. I don't think I care to +go on learning jog-aphy; it don't suit me." She stretched herself, +gave utterance to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> big yawn, and half turned her back on her +teacher. "You is getting in temper," she continued, "and that isn't +wight; I don't care to learn jog-aphy."</p> + +<p>What serious consequences might not have arisen at that moment it is +hard to tell, had not Orion caused a sudden diversion. He fell off his +chair in a heap on the floor.</p> + +<p>Iris sprang from her seat and ran to the rescue.</p> + +<p>"I'm drefful sick," said Orion; "I think it was the lollipops and +ginger-beer. Please let me go to bed."</p> + +<p>"Lollipops and ginger-beer!" cried Miss Ramsay in alarm. "What does +the child mean?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>A BABY'S HONOR.</h3> + + +<p>When Miss Ramsay repeated Orion's words there was a dead silence for a +full half minute in the schoolroom. Had anyone noticed them, they +might have observed Philip and Conrad turn very pale; but all eyes +were directed to little Orion, who was lying on the floor, pressing +his hand to his stomach and moaning bitterly.</p> + +<p>"I'm drefful sick," he said; "I wish I had not taken that horrid +ginger-beer."</p> + +<p>"But where did you get ginger-beer?" said Miss Ramsay, finding her +voice at last. "Get up this minute, Orion, and come to me.</p> + +<p>"Really," continued the good lady to herself, "there must be something +uncanny in those outlandish names; I don't think I can manage these +children. Orion is as bad as Diana, and she is the greatest handful I +ever came across.</p> + +<p>"Come here, Orion," continued the governess, "and tell me what is the +matter with your stomach."</p> + +<p>"Pain," answered the little boy, "crampy pain. It's the ginger-beer. +I'm drefful sick; I can't do no more lessons."</p> + +<p>"Let me put him to bed," said Diana; "let me go nurse him. I'll sit on +his bed and talk to him. He is a very naughty boy, but I know how to +manage him. Come 'long, Orion; come 'long wid sister Di."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> She grasped +the little boy firmly with one of her own stout little hands, and +pulled him up on to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Diana, you are not to interfere," said Miss Ramsay. "Come, Orion; +come and explain what is the matter."</p> + +<p>"Lollipops," moaned Orion, "and ginger-beer. Oh, I did like the +lollipops, and I was so thirsty I thought I'd never leave off drinking +ginger-beer."</p> + +<p>"But where did you get lollipops and ginger-beer? Mrs. Dolman never +allows the children to take such unwholesome things. What can you +mean? Where did you get them?"</p> + +<p>To this question Orion refused to make any reply. Baby as he was, he +had a confused sort of idea of honor. Philip and Conrad had told him +that he was on no account whatever to mention the fact that they had +gone away fishing on the previous afternoon, that they had visited a +little shop and spent some of Orion's own money. Philip and Conrad had +no money of their own, but before he parted with the children, Mr. +Delaney had given the two elder ones five shillings apiece, and the +two younger ones half a crown, and Orion's half-crown had seemed great +wealth to Philip and Conrad, and had accordingly induced them to treat +the little fellow with marked consideration. The whole of the money +was now gone. How, Orion had not the slightest idea. He only knew that +his pockets were empty and that he felt very sick and very miserable.</p> + +<p>He shut up his little lips now and raised his eyes, with a sort of +scowl in their expression, to Miss Ramsay's face.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get the lollipops and ginger-beer?" repeated the +governess.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's my own business," said Orion. "I'm drefful sick; I want to go +to bed."</p> + +<p>"You are a very naughty little boy," said Miss Ramsay.</p> + +<p>"I think him a brick," whispered Philip to Conrad.</p> + +<p>"Hush, for goodness' sake!" whispered back Conrad.</p> + +<p>"I want to go to bed," repeated Orion. "I'm drefful sick; I'm quite +tired of telling you. I have got a headache and a pain in my tumtum." +Again he pressed his hand to his stomach and looked imploringly around +him.</p> + +<p>"What's all this fuss?" here burst from Diana. "Why can't Orion go to +bed? New teacher, you has a very queer way of managing sildrens. When +we was at home we went to bed when we had pains. I can't underland +you, not one little bit."</p> + +<p>"Come with me this moment, Orion," said Miss Ramsay. "Diana, if you +speak a word except in the French tongue, you shall be kept in during +all the afternoon."</p> + +<p>Orion and Miss Ramsay left the room, and the other children stared at +one another. The three Dolman girls sat down to their books. Philip +and Conrad thought it best to follow their example. Iris and Apollo +looked wistfully from one to the other, but did not dare to speak; but +Diana, walking boldly over to the nearest window, amused herself by +touching each fly in turn with the tip of her small fat finger.</p> + +<p>"They don't like it, poor darlin's," she said to herself, "but I don't +mean to hurt 'em. I wonder now if I could get away to the wood and get +hold of my bow and arrow. Miss Wamsay must be shotted as well as the +others. It's awful what I has got to do."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>Apollo sank dejectedly down before the account of the Spanish Armada, +and Iris, with tears slowly rising to her eyes, turned over her lesson +books. At last the impulse to do something was more than she could +stand, and, rising from her seat, she edged her way to the door. Mary +called after her in French to know what she was going to do, but Iris +would make no reply. She reached the door, opened it, and then ran as +fast as she could to the nursery.</p> + +<p>There she found Simpson putting Orion to bed. The little boy was +crying bitterly.</p> + +<p>"As soon as ever you lie down, master, you have got to drink off this +medicine," said Simpson.</p> + +<p>"I won't touch it—horrid stuff!" said Orion.</p> + +<p>"But you must, sir. I'll allow no 'won'ts' in my nursery. Little boys +have got to do what they are told. If you make any fuss I'll just hold +your nose and then you'll be obliged to open your mouth, and down the +medicine will go. Come, come, sir, none of those tears. You have been +a very naughty little boy, and the pain is sent you as a punishment."</p> + +<p>"Oh, there you are, Iris!" said Orion. "Oh, Iris! I am so glad. Please +be a mother to me—please put your arms round me—please kiss me, +Iris."</p> + +<p>Iris flew to the little fellow, clasped him in her arms, and held his +hot little forehead against her cheek.</p> + +<p>"Simpson," she said, turning to the nurse, "I know quite well how to +manage him. Won't you let me do it?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure, Miss Iris, I'd be only too thankful," said the perplexed +woman. "There's Miss Ramsay and my mistress in no end of a state, and +Master Orion as obstinate as a boy can be. There's some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>thing gone +wrong in this house since you four children arrived, and I really +don't know how I am to stand it much longer. Not that I have any +special fault to find with you, Miss Iris, nor, indeed, for that +matter, with Master Apollo; but it's the two younger ones. They are +handfuls, and no mistake."</p> + +<p>"I like being a handfu' 'cept when I'm sick," said Orion. "I don't +want to be a handfu' to-day. Please, Iris, don't mek me take that +horrid medicine."</p> + +<p>"He must take it, Miss Iris; he won't be better till he do," said the +nurse, lifting up the glass as she spoke and stirring the contents +with a spoon. "Come, now, sir, be a brave boy. Just open your mouth +and get it down. Then you'll drop asleep, and when you wake you will +probably be quite well."</p> + +<p>Orion pressed his lips very tightly together.</p> + +<p>"You'll take the medicine for me, Orion?" said Iris.</p> + +<p>"No, I can't," he moaned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but, darling! just try and think. Remember you are a giant—a +grand, great giant, with your girdle and your sword, and this medicine +is just an enemy that you have got to conquer. Here now; open your +mouth and get it down. Think of mother, Orion. She would like you to +take it."</p> + +<p>Orion still kept his mouth very firmly shut, but he opened his sweet, +dark eyes and looked full at his sister.</p> + +<p>"Would mother really like it?" he said at last, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"Of course; it would make her ever so happy."</p> + +<p>"And will she know about it, Iris?"</p> + +<p>"I think she will. Maybe she is in the room with us just now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, lor'! what awful talk to say to the child," murmured Simpson to +herself.</p> + +<p>"If I really thought mother could see, and if I really thought—" +began the little boy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, she can see!" said Iris, going on her knees and clasping +both the little fellow's hands in one of hers. "She can see, she does +know, and she wants her own brave giant to be a giant to the end. Now, +here is the enemy; open your mouth, conquer it at one gulp."</p> + +<p>"Well, to be sure," whispered Simpson.</p> + +<p>Orion, however, did not glance at Simpson. He gazed solemnly round the +room as if he really saw someone; then he fixed his brown eyes on his +sister's face, then he opened his mouth very wide. She instantly took +the cup and held it to the little lips. Orion drained off the nauseous +draught and lay back, panting, on his pillow.</p> + +<p>"It was a big thing to conquer. I am a fine giant," he said, when he +returned the empty cup to Iris.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are a splendid old chap," she replied.</p> + +<p>At that moment Mrs. Dolman and Miss Ramsay entered the room.</p> + +<p>"Has Orion taken his medicine?" said Mrs. Dolman. "Iris, my dear, what +are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry, Aunt Jane," replied Iris, "but I had to come. He +would never have taken his medicine but for me. I had to remind him—"</p> + +<p>"To remind him of his duty. He certainly wanted to be reminded. So he +has taken the medicine. I am glad of that; but all the same, Iris, you +did very wrong to leave the schoolroom."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Please forgive me this one time, Aunt Jane."</p> + +<p>"I really think Iris does try to be a good child," interrupted Miss +Ramsay.</p> + +<p>"And she certainly can manage her little brother, ma'am," said +Simpson, speaking for the first time. "He would not touch his medicine +for me—no, not for anything I could do; but he drank it off when Miss +Iris talked some gibberish, all about giants and belts and swords."</p> + +<p>"'Tisn't gibberish," said Orion, starting up from his pillow; "it's +the truest thing in all the world. I am a giant, and I has got a belt +and a sword. You can look up in the sky on starful nights and you can +see me. 'Tisn't gibberish."</p> + +<p>"Well, lie down now, child, and go to sleep. I am afraid he is a bit +feverish, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"No, that I aren't," said Orion. "Only I'm drefful sick," he added.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, Orion," said Mrs. Dolman, seating herself on the edge +of the bed and gazing very sternly at the little fellow. "I intend to +wring a confession out of you."</p> + +<p>"What's to wring?" asked Orion.</p> + +<p>"I am going to get you to tell me where you got the lollipops and +ginger-beer."</p> + +<p>"I promised not to tell, and I aren't going to," answered Orion.</p> + +<p>"But you must. I insist."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, Aunt Jane," said Iris, "I could get him to tell. You see he +is not accustomed to—not accustomed to——" Her little face turned +crimson.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Iris? Do you object to the way I speak to this +child?"</p> + +<p>"Mother never spoke to him like that," said Iris.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And oh! it is so hot, and he is not well, and I think I can manage +him. I may get him to tell me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll tell you," said Orion, "'cos you'll be faithful."</p> + +<p>"Well, really," said Mrs. Dolman, "I am absolutely perplexed. I +suppose I must give in on this occasion, or that child will be really +ill, and I by no means wish to have the expense of a doctor. Miss +Ramsay, you and I had better leave that little pair together. You can +remain with Orion until dinner-time, Iris."</p> + +<p>"Thank you very much indeed, Aunt Jane," replied Iris.</p> + +<p>That day at dinner Iris looked very grave. Orion was better, but was +not present. Mrs. Dolman waited until the meal had come to an end, +then she called the little girl to her side.</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear Iris, what is all this mystery?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Orion has told me all about it, Aunt Jane, but I don't think I'll +tell. Please don't ask me."</p> + +<p>"My dear. I insist upon knowing."</p> + +<p>"It was not his fault, Aunt Jane, and I am almost sure he will never +do it again; he is very sorry indeed. I think he will try to be good +in future."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman was about to reply angrily, when a sudden memory came over +her. She recalled words her brother had used.</p> + +<p>"I will give you the children," he had said, "but you must try to be +gentle with them."</p> + +<p>She looked at Iris now, and did not speak for nearly a minute.</p> + +<p>"Very well," she said then; "you are a queer child, but I am inclined +to trust you. Only please under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>stand that if ever there is any +misconduct in the future, I shall insist on knowing everything."</p> + +<p>"I am greatly obliged to you, Aunt Jane. I could love you for being so +kind. I will promise that Orion never does anything of that sort +again."</p> + +<p>The children all filed out of the dining room. They had now, according +to the rule of the day, to return to the schoolroom and lie down for +an hour. This part of the daily programme was intensely distasteful to +the little Dolmans, and certainly the Delaneys did not appreciate it a +bit better, but at long last the wearisome lessons were over, and the +little people were free.</p> + +<p>The moment they got into the garden Philip and Conrad might have been +seen scudding away as fast as their little feet could carry them. +Iris, however, had watched them disappearing.</p> + +<p>"I want to speak to the boys," she said to Ann.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Ann.</p> + +<p>"Please ask them to come to me, Ann; I have something most particular +to say to them."</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean," answered Ann, turning crimson; "it was Philip +and Conrad who got poor little Orion into mischief. Oh, Iris! it was +brave of you, and it was brave of Orion not to tell. I wondered how +you had the courage to defy mamma."</p> + +<p>"I did not defy her," answered Iris. "But please, Ann, I must speak to +the boys. Send them to me at once."</p> + +<p>"They are frightened, and are going to hide," said Ann; "but I'll soon +get them," she answered. "I know their ways."</p> + +<p>After a minute or two she returned, leading Philip and Conrad by the +hands.</p> + +<p>"Iris wants to talk to you," she said to them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," said Iris, "I want to say something to you by yourselves."</p> + +<p>Ann disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I love Iris," whispered little Ann Dolman to herself. "I think she is +beautiful; and how brave she is! I wish I were like her."</p> + +<p>"What do you want with us, Iris?" asked Philip, when he found himself +alone with his cousin. He raised defiant eyes, and put on an ugly +little scowl.</p> + +<p>"I want to tell you, Phil," said Iris, "that I know everything. Poor +little Orion would not confess, because you got him to promise not to +tell; but, of course, he told me the truth. Don't you think you +behaved very badly indeed?"</p> + +<p>"We don't want <i>you</i> to lecture us," said Conrad.</p> + +<p>"All right," replied Iris with spirit. "But please remember that I +promised Orion I would not tell, only so long as you make me a promise +that you will not tempt him again. If ever I hear that you have led +Orion into mischief, I will tell everything."</p> + +<p>"I thought you looked like a tell-tale," said Conrad.</p> + +<p>"No, I am not, nor is Orion; you know better, both of you. Now, please +understand that I will not have Orion made miserable nor tempted to do +naughty things. Aunt Jane thinks you are good boys, and she thinks +Diana and Orion very bad little children; but neither Orion nor Diana +would do the sort of thing you both did yesterday. Neither of them +would think of <i>that</i> sort of naughtiness. I call it mean."</p> + +<p>Iris walked away with her head in the air. The boys gazed after her +with a queer sinking of heart.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>BIRCH ROD.</h3> + + +<p>Orion speedily recovered from his bad fit of indigestion, and matters +began to shake down a little in the schoolroom and nursery. No one +meant to be unkind to the little Delaneys; and although all things +were changed for them, in some ways both Iris and Apollo were all the +better for the strict and vigorous discipline they were now +undergoing. Iris really enjoyed her lessons, and when Apollo found +that he had no chance of going to school, and of being with "fellows," +as he expressed it, until he had conquered certain difficult tasks +which Miss Ramsay set him, he began, for his own sake, to apply +himself to his lessons. He was a bright, clever little chap, and when +he tried to understand his governess' method of teaching, he did his +work fairly well. But Diana and Orion were much too young for the +somewhat severe transplantation which had taken place in their little +lives. Had Iris been allowed to be with them matters might not have +grown quite so bad, but she was much occupied with her lessons, and +the younger children spent the greater part of their time alone.</p> + +<p>Philip and Conrad were afraid to make any further advances to Orion. +In consequence, he had no companion near his own age, except Diana, +and Diana's little heart, day by day, was growing fuller of +insubordinate and angry feelings. She was not at all by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> nature an +unforgiving little child, but the want of petting and the severe life +which she was obliged to lead began to tell on her high spirits. She +became defiant, and was always looking out for an opportunity to vent +her wrath upon the people whom she termed her enemies. Had Iris only +had a chance of talking to the little girl, she would soon have got to +the bottom of the matter, and things might not have turned out as they +did; but Iris did not even sleep in the room with Diana, and in her +sister's presence the little girl made a valiant effort to appear as +happy as usual. As a matter of fact, however, she and Orion spent most +of their playtime in perfecting their little scheme of revenge, and on +a certain hot day matters came to a crisis.</p> + +<p>It had been much more trying than usual in the schoolroom; the sun +seemed to beat in with fiercer rays; there were more flies on the +window-panes, and the air seemed more charged with that terrible +sleepiness which poor little Diana could not quite conquer. At last +she dropped so sound asleep that Miss Ramsay took pity on her, and +told her she might go and have a run in the garden.</p> + +<p>"Go into the Filbert walk," said the governess; "don't on any account +play where the sun is shining. You may stay out for half an hour. +There is a clock just by the stables, which you can see when you come +to the end of the walk; you will know then when the half-hour is out. +Run off now and enjoy yourself."</p> + +<p>Diana scarcely wasted any time in thanking Miss Ramsay. She flew from +the schoolroom as though she were herself a little arrow shot from a +bow, she tumbled rather than walked downstairs, and with no hat over +her thick, black curls, careered out wildly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> shouting as she did so. +The prospect of the walk and the look of the sunshine were making the +little girl very happy, and she might not have thought of any special +revenge had not Mrs. Dolman at that moment caught sight of her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman was coming out of the kitchen garden. She had on her +invariable mushroom hat, her face was much flushed with exercise, and +she was by no means in the best of humors.</p> + +<p>"Diana," she said, "what are you doing? Come here this minute."</p> + +<p>"No, I won't," answered Diana. She backed before the good lady, +dancing and skipping and flinging her fat arms over her head. "Oh, +it's 'licious out!" she said: "I won't come. I has only got half an +hour; I hasn't any time; I won't come."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman began to run after her, which fact excited the little girl +very much. She instantly raced away, and the stout lady had to follow +her, panting and puffing.</p> + +<p>"Diana, you are a dreadfully naughty little girl; if I catch you up, +won't I punish you!" panted Mrs. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," called back Diana. "You can't catch me up; you is fat; +you can't wun. See, let's have a wace—let's find out who'll be at the +end of the walk first. Now then, one, two, three, and away! Go it, +Aunt Jane! Now, then, k'ick, Aunt Jane; k'ick!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman's rage at this great impertinence made her almost +speechless. She flew after Diana, but would have had little or no +chance of catching her, if the child had not suddenly tripped up +against a stone and measured her full length on the ground. Before +she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> could rise again Mrs. Dolman had caught her by the shoulder, and, +as a preliminary measure, began to shake her violently.</p> + +<p>"You are a bad little thing," she said. "Why didn't you come to me +when I called you?"</p> + +<p>"'Cos I didn't want to, Aunt Jane."</p> + +<p>"But do you know that you have got to obey me, miss? What would your +mother say?"</p> + +<p>"You isn't to dare to talk of mother to me," answered Diana.</p> + +<p>"Highty-tighty! I'm not to dare. Do you suppose, Diana, that I will +allow a little child like you to defy me in my own house?"</p> + +<p>"What's defy?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"You are defying me now; you are a very naughty little girl, and I +shall punish you."</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Diana, tossing her head. "I was sent out by Miss +Wamsay 'cos I found the schoolroom too hot and I was sleepy. I can't +obey you and Miss Wamsay both at the same time, can I? I did not come +to you 'cos I don't like you."</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty thing to say to your own aunt. Come, miss, I shall +punish you immediately."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you's going to lock me up in the punishment woom. I don't care +one bit for that," said Diana. "I'll just lie on the floor and curl up +like a puppy and go to s'eep. I dweam beautiful when I s'eep. I dweam +that you is shotted, and that I is back again in the dear old garden +at home with all the pets; and that Rub-a-Dub is alive again. I dweam +that you is shotted down dead, and you can do no more harm, and——"</p> + +<p>But Diana could not proceed any further. Mrs. Dolman, in her wild +indignation, had lifted her in her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> arms, clapped her hand over her +mouth, and carried her bodily into the study, where Mr. Dolman was +preparing his sermon.</p> + +<p>"William," said his wife, "I am really very sorry to disturb you, but +I must ask you to come to my assistance."</p> + +<p>"In what way, Jane?" he said. He pushed his spectacles, as his +invariable habit was, high up on the middle of his forehead, and +looked from his wife to Diana, and from Diana back again to his wife.</p> + +<p>"Hi, Diana! is that you? Why, what is the matter, little one?" he +said.</p> + +<p>"You are not to speak to this very naughty little girl," said Mrs. +Dolman. "I am sorry to trouble you, William, but matters have come to +a crisis, and if you don't support your wife on this occasion, I +really do not know what will happen."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear Jane, do you mean to say that little Diana——"</p> + +<p>"Little Diana!" repeated Mrs. Dolman. "She is quite a monster, I can +tell you—a monster of ingratitude, wickedness, and rudeness, and I +don't see how we can keep her any longer with our own children."</p> + +<p>"But I am afraid, my dear wife, we cannot get David Delaney back now; +he must have reached the Himalayas by this time."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" said Mrs. Dolman, "I pity him for being the father of +such a very bad little girl."</p> + +<p>"I aren't bad," cried Diana. "If you say any more, naughty woman, I'll +slap 'oo."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman thought it best to let Diana slide down on the floor.</p> + +<p>The moment the little girl found her feet she rushed up to her Uncle +Dolman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I like you, old man," she said; "you isn't half a bad sort. I'll stay +with you. P'ease, Aunt Jane, punish me by letting me stay with Uncle +William. I'll just sit on the floor curled up, and maybe I'll dwop +as'eep, and have my nice dweams about the time when you is shotted, +and I'm back again in the old garden with all my darlin', dear, sweet +pets. I'll dweam, p'waps, that we is having funerals in the garden and +we is awfu' happy, and you is shotted down dead. Let me stay with +Uncle William, Aunt Jane."</p> + +<p>"Now, you see what kind of child she is, William," said Mrs. Dolman. +"You have heard her with your own ears—she absolutely threatens <i>me</i>. +Oh, I cannot name what she says; it is so shocking. I never came +across such a terribly bad little girl. William, I must insist here +and now on your chastising her."</p> + +<p>"In what way?" said Mr. Dolman. "I am very busy, my dear Jane, over my +sermon. Could it not be postponed, or could not you, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"No, William, I could not, for the dark room is not bad enough for +this naughty little girl. She must be whipped, and you must do it. +Fetch the birch rod."</p> + +<p>"But really," said Mr. Dolman, looking terribly distressed, "you know +I don't approve of corporal punishment, my dear."</p> + +<p>"No more do I, except in extreme cases, but this is one. William, I +insist on your whipping this very bad little girl."</p> + +<p>"I don't care if you whip me," said Diana. She stood bolt upright now, +but her round, flushed little face began perceptibly to pale.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dolman looked at her attentively, then he glanced at his wife, and +then at the manuscript which lay on his desk. He always hated writing +his sermons,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> and, truth to tell, did not write at all good ones; but +on this special morning his ideas seemed to come a little more rapidly +than usual—now, of course, he had lost every thought, and the sermon +was ruined. Besides, he was a kind-hearted man. He thought Diana a +very handsome little fury, and was rather amused with her than +otherwise. Had she been left alone with him, he would not have taken +the least notice of her defiant words. He would have said to himself, +"She is but a baby, and if I take no notice she will soon cease to +talk in this very silly manner."</p> + +<p>But alas! there was little doubt that Uncle William was very much +afraid of Aunt Jane, and when Aunt Jane dared him to produce the birch +rod, there was nothing whatever for it but to comply. He rose and +walked slowly and very unwillingly across the room. He unlocked the +door of a big cupboard in the wall, and, poking in his large, soft, +flabby hand, presently produced what looked in Diana's eyes a very +terrible instrument. It was a rod, clean, slender, and with, as she +afterwards expressed it, <i>temper</i> all over it. It flashed through her +little mind by and by that, if she could really secure this rod, it +might make a better bow even than the one which she and Apollo had +hidden in the wood, but she had little time to think of any future use +for the birch rod at this awful moment. The terrible instrument in +Uncle William's flabby hand was carried across the room. When she saw +it approaching her vicinity she uttered a piercing shriek and hid +herself under the table.</p> + +<p>"Come, come; none of this nonsense!" said Mrs. Dolman. "Punished you +shall be. You must be made to understand that you are to respect your +elders. Now, then, William, fetch that child out."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Diana, my dear, you are a very naughty little girl; come here," said +Mr. Dolman.</p> + +<p>Diana would not have minded in the least defying Aunt Jane, but there +was something in Uncle William's slow tones, particularly in a sort of +regret which seemed to tremble in his voice, and which Diana felt +without understanding, which forced her to obey. She scrambled slowly +out, her hair tumbled over her forehead, her lower lip drooping.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I have a little talk with her, Jane; suppose she says she is +sorry and never does it again," said Mr. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, yes, Uncle William!" said Diana, really terrified for the +first time in her life. "Yes, I's sossy—I's awfu' sossy, Aunt Jane. +It's all wight now, Aunt Jane; Diana's sossy."</p> + +<p>"You shall be a great deal more sorry before I have done with you," +said Mrs. Dolman, who had no idea of letting the culprit off. "Now, +then, William, do your duty."</p> + +<p>"But it's all wight," said Diana, gazing with puzzled eyes up into her +aunt's face. "I's been a bad girl, but I's sossy; it's all wight, I +say. Naughty wod, go 'way, naughty wod."</p> + +<p>She tried to push the rod out of Mr. Dolman's hand.</p> + +<p>"Really, Jane, she is only five years old, and—and a poor little +orphan, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Diana eagerly, "I's a poor orphan, only a baby, five years +old, awfu' young, and I's sossy, and it's all wight now. Go 'way, Aunt +Jane; go 'way, naughty Aunt Jane; I's sossy."</p> + +<p>"William," said Mrs. Dolman, "if you refuse to give that child the +necessary punishment which is to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> make her a Christian character, I +shall simply wash my hands of her. Now, then, miss, get on my lap. +William, do your duty."</p> + +<p>Poor Mr. Dolman, pale to the very lips, was forced to comply. Down +went the rod on the fat little form—shriek after shriek uttered +Diana. At last, more from terror than pain, she lay quiet on Mrs. +Dolman's knee. The moment she did so, Mr. Dolman threw the rod on the +floor.</p> + +<p>"It's a horrid business," he said. "I hate corporal punishment. We +have hurt the child. Here, give her to me."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, William! She is only pretending."</p> + +<p>But this was not the case. The fright, joined to the state of +excitement and heat which she had been previously in, proved too much +for the defiant little spirit, and Diana had really fainted.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman was frightened now, and rushed for cold water. She bathed +the child's forehead, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing her +coming to again.</p> + +<p>There was not a word of defiance from Diana now, and not a single +utterance of reproach, but when she looked at Mrs. Dolman there was an +expression in her black eyes from which this lady absolutely recoiled.</p> + +<p>"Uncle William, I's hurted awfu'," whispered Diana. "Let me lie in +your arms, p'ease, Uncle William."</p> + +<p>And so she did for the rest of the morning, and the sermon never got +written.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>DIANA'S REVENGE.</h3> + + +<p>Diana had quite a nice time for the rest of the morning. Uncle William +had not the least idea of sending her back to the schoolroom.</p> + +<p>"It's very hot," he said, "and I feel sleepy. I dare say you do also."</p> + +<p>"I do awfu'," answered Diana. "You isn't a bad old man, not at all," +she continued. Here she raised her fat hand and stroked his flabby +cheek. "You hates writing sermons, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Diana," he answered, "I would rather you did not speak about it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can keep secrets," replied Diana.</p> + +<p>"Well, in that case, to be quite frank with you, I do not care for +writing sermons."</p> + +<p>"And I don't care for learning lessons. You didn't mean to sting me so +bad with that howid wod, did you, Uncle William?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Dolman made no reply with his lips, for he did not like to defy +his wife's authority, but Diana read his thoughts in his rather dull +blue eyes.</p> + +<p>"You is a kind old man," she said; "that is, when you isn't tempted by +that naughty, howid woman. You is a kind old man by yourself, and you +shan't be shotted."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by being shotted, Diana?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>But here Diana pursed up her rosy lips and looked rather solemn.</p> + +<p>"That's a secret," she answered. "Uncle William, may I have a whole +holiday to-day?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, my dear little girl. I really think that can be managed. +It is too hot to work—at least, I find it so."</p> + +<p>"Then course I does also," answered Diana, clapping her hands. "Shall +we go out into the garding—what you say?"</p> + +<p>"Would you like to?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, more particular in fruit garding. We can eat cherries and +strawberries, and pelt each other. What you say?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Dolman looked out of the open window. He was pretty certain that +his wife by this time was absent in the village. The clock on the +mantelpiece pointed to half-past eleven; the early dinner would not be +ready until one o'clock. It would be cool and pleasant in the fruit +garden, and it would please poor little Diana, who, in his opinion, +had been very harshly treated.</p> + +<p>"All right," he answered, "but, you know, your aunt is not to be +told."</p> + +<p>He rose from his chair as he spoke, and, stretching out his long hand, +allowed Diana to curl her fingers round one of his.</p> + +<p>"I should wather think Aunt Jane isn't to know," replied Diana, +beginning to skip in her rapture. "I don't like aunts; I always said +so. I like uncles; they isn't half bad. You isn't bad, for an old man. +You is awfu' old, isn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Not so very old, Diana. I'm not forty yet."</p> + +<p>"Forty! What a ter'ble age!" said Diana. "You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> must 'member all the +kings and queens of England; don't you, Uncle William?"</p> + +<p>"Not quite all, Diana. Now, I'll just take you through the garden, for +I think a little fresh air will do you good."</p> + +<p>"And if I pop cherries into your mouf it 'll do you good," answered +Diana. "Oh, we'll have a lovely time!"</p> + +<p>So they did, and Mr. Dolman devoutly hoped that there was no one there +to see. For Diana rapidly recovered her spirits, and picked cherries +in quantities and pelted her uncle; and then she ran races and incited +him to follow her, and she picked strawberries, heaps and heaps, and +got him to sit down on a little bench near the strawberry beds, and +popped the delicious ripe berries into his mouth; and although he had +never played before in such a fashion with any little girl, he quite +enjoyed it, and presently entered the house with his lips suspiciously +red, and a confession deep down in his heart that he had spent quite a +pleasant morning.</p> + +<p>At dinner-time Diana and her uncle walked into the room, side by side.</p> + +<p>"Well, William," said Mrs. Dolman, "I hope you have finished your +sermon."</p> + +<p>"Not quite, my dear," he answered.</p> + +<p>"Not kite, my dear," echoed Diana.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dolman gave her a half-terrified glance, but she was stanch +enough, and had not the least idea of betraying the happy morning they +had spent together.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of the meal, her clear little voice might have been +heard calling to her uncle.</p> + +<p>"Uncle William, you wishes me to have a whole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> holiday; doesn't you? +You pwomised I is to have a whole holiday to-day."</p> + +<p>Now, Mrs. Dolman had felt very uncomfortable about Diana during her +hot walk to the village that morning. She had not at all minded +punishing her, but when she saw her lying white and unconscious in her +arms, she had certainly gone through a terrible moment, and had, +perhaps, in the whole course of her life, never felt so thankful as +when the black eyes opened wide, and the little voice sounded once +again. The look, too, that Diana had given her on this occasion she +could not quite efface from her recollection. On the whole, therefore, +she felt inclined to be gentle to the little girl, and when she +pleaded for a holiday Mrs. Dolman did not say a word to interfere.</p> + +<p>"It is a very hot day, and Diana was not quite well this morning," +said Mr. Dolman, glancing first at his wife and then at Miss Ramsay, +"so, all things considered, perhaps—"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, uncle," interrupted Diana, "it's kite settled, and you +isn't half a bad sort of old man. And now, p'ease, I want Orion to +have a holiday too."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's another matter!" interrupted Miss Ramsay. "Orion is in +perfect health to-day, and as he is extremely backward for his age—"</p> + +<p>"But the heat of the day, and the child being so young," put in Mr. +Dolman.</p> + +<p>"I'd be much happier if I had Orion with me," continued Diana, "and +it's 'portant my being happy; isn't it, Uncle William? P'ease, Uncle +William, say that Orion may have a holiday."</p> + +<p>"I will give leave if your aunt and Miss Ramsay will," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't ask me!" said Mrs. Dolman, rising<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> hastily as she spoke. "I +wash my hands of the pair."</p> + +<p>"She washes her hands of the pair, so she don't count," said Diana. +"Is we to have a holiday, Uncle William? I is, but is Orion, too? +That's the 'portant part," she added.</p> + +<p>"I have no objection," said Miss Ramsay, who thought it best to close +this scene as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>Orion uttered a shout of rapture, Diana rushed up to him, clutched him +round the neck, and pulled him from the room.</p> + +<p>Nearly wild with glee, they both ran helter-skelter out of the house, +into the cool shrubbery beyond.</p> + +<p>"Now, Orion," said Diana, the moment they found themselves alone, "you +must cool down and not 'cite yourself too much. We has a ter'ble lot +of work to do. I has got my holiday through awfu' suff'in'. I was +beated and killed, and I has come fresh to life again. Course I's in a +wage, and I's got a holiday for you and for me 'cos we must do our +work. Wun upstairs, Orion, and bwing down your big straw hat and mine, +and we'll go and find <i>them</i>."</p> + +<p>Orion knew perfectly well what "them" meant. He looked hard at Diana, +saw something in her eyes which she could not suppress, and, with a +sigh of mingled pleasure and alarm ran off to do her bidding. He +returned in less than a minute with his large sailor hat stuck on the +back of his head, and a white sun-bonnet for Diana. Diana's sun-bonnet +had a black bow at the back and black strings.</p> + +<p>"Howid, hot old thing," she said, "I won't wear it. Here, let's hide +it; I don't mind going with nothing."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But you must not do that," said Orion, "'cos, if they see you, +they'll catch you and bring you home. You had best sling it on your +arm, Di; and then, if they are seen coming, why, you can pop it on +your head."</p> + +<p>"Well, p'w'aps so," answered Diana. "We has an awfu' lot to do this +afternoon, Orion, 'cos Aunt Jane has got to be shotted, and I's +thinking of having Miss Wamsay shotted too."</p> + +<p>"But do you mean," said Orion, "that you'll really shoot 'em both?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Diana. "It has to be done; it's ter'ble, but it must be +done. What would be the good if they wasn't shotted dead? Yes, they'll +be shotted, and they'll have a public funeral, and after that we'll +have a lovely time. Uncle William isn't half bad, and 'stead of doing +howid lessons every morning we'll just go into the garding and eat +stwawberries and cherries, and he'll play with us. He'll love to, for +he don't like writing sermins a bit, and we'll blindfold him and he'll +wun after us. He's k'ite a nice old man, and if Aunt Jane and Miss +Wamsay is shotted—why, we'll have a jolly time. Now, let's wun and +fetch the big bow and arrows."</p> + +<p>Orion had always a great respect for his younger sister Diana. "Well," +he said, "if you're a grand lady, don't forget that I'm a big giant, +and that I've got a belt and a sword. There's Simpson, you know; she's +rather a bother, and I can run my sword into her, if you really wish +it, Diana."</p> + +<p>"I'll think about it," answered Diana. "I don't want to have three +persons deaded wight off; it might be sort of troublesome. I'll think +what's best to be done with Simpson. Now, let's start at once."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman was under the supposition that the children had gone to +play in the back garden. The greater part of that somewhat neglected +domain was laid out in shrubbery, and there were shady trees and +swings and see-saws, and other sources of amusement for the little +Dolmans during their brief hours of play. Miss Ramsay also thought +that Diana and Orion would go to the shrubbery. She went up, +therefore, to the schoolroom quite contented. Mr. Dolman retired to +his study, where he went to sleep, and Mrs. Dolman ordered the pony +chaise, and went off to see a distant parishioner, who was very ill.</p> + +<p>The house was wonderfully quiet, and nothing occurred to disturb Mr. +Dolman in his deep slumber. The manuscript pages which were to be +covered by his neatly written sermon lay in virgin purity before him. +In his sleep he dreamt of little Diana, and awoke presently with a +queer sense of uneasiness with regard to her. But he was by nature a +very lazy man, and it did not occur to him to inquire as to her +present whereabouts. "She's a fine little soul," he said to himself. +"I do wish Jane had not taken such a dislike to her. It is useless to +drive that sort of child; she must be led, and led gently. 'Pon my +word, I did have an entertaining morning with the little mite, and +what a lot of strawberries she made me eat! I wonder Jane did not +remark at dinner how poor my appetite was—I was dreadfully afraid she +would do so. Certainly Jane is an active woman, an excellent woman, +but just a little bit stern."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Diana, holding Orion by the hand, had started running up the +long avenue. The little pair soon reached the lodge gates. Diana and +her brother went out through the postern door which was at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> side, +and the next moment found themselves on the highroad. This road led in +the direction of the shady woods where Apollo had hidden the bow and +arrows a few weeks ago. It was a pretty road, a couple of miles in +length, and well shaded by trees, a kind of outgrowth of the forest +itself. As she was not likely to meet any of the Dolman family on the +road, Diana did not wear her sun-bonnet, but kept it hanging on her +arm. "It is nice to be out," she said, as she tripped along. "I love +hot sun; I love twees; I love blue sky; I love dust."</p> + +<p>"I don't," replied Orion; "this road is horrid dusty, and it gets into +my shoes. I have only my house shoes on, you know, Diana."</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind!" answered Diana. "If you is a giant, you isn't going +to g'umble. What is the use of g'umbling? You be all wight soon. We'll +be in the wood soon, and we'll have got the bow and arrows, and then +we'll have to pwactice shooting. Oh, I say, there's a turnstile and a +path, and I believe the path leads stwaight to the wood. Let's leave +the woad and go to the wood that way."</p> + +<p>"All right," replied Orion. He always did say "all right" to every +single thing Diana asked him to do.</p> + +<p>The children now found themselves in a shady lane, between high +hedgerows. It was a pretty lane, only very sultry at this time of day; +but Diana, seeing butterflies flying about, began to give chase to +them. She also stopped many times to pick flowers. Orion shouted as he +ran, and neither of the little pair minded, for a time at least, the +fact that the sun was pouring on their heads, and that their small +faces were getting redder and redder.</p> + +<p>"I's stweaming down with hotness," said Diana, at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> last. "I must stop +a bit or I'll melt away. I don't want to melt till I has shotted my +enemies. Is you stweaming with hotness, Orion?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Orion.</p> + +<p>They stood still, took out their handkerchiefs, mopped their faces +vigorously, and then continued their walk. The time seemed to drag all +of a sudden; they were both very tired. How glad they were when they +finally reached the friendly shelter of the Super-Ashton woods. Here +it was deliciously cool, and here Diana, thoroughly exhausted, threw +herself on her face and hands, and, before Orion could say a word, had +dropped off into sound sleep. He thought she looked very comfortable, +and it occurred to him that he could not do better than follow her +example. Accordingly, he also stretched himself on the ground, and, +with his head resting on one of Diana's fat little legs, also visited +the land of dreams. For two hours the children slept. When they awoke +at last they found that the sun was no longer high in the heavens; it +was veering rapidly towards the west, and was sending slanting and +very beautiful rays of light through the wood. Diana rubbed her eyes +and looked around her.</p> + +<p>"I's awfu' hung'y," she said. "How does you feel, Orion?"</p> + +<p>"My tumtum's empty," answered Orion.</p> + +<p>"We'll pick berries in the wood," said Diana; "that'll sat'sfy us. +Berries is wight for wunaway sildrens. Do you 'member what we has come +here for, Orion?"</p> + +<p>"To amuse ourselves, I suppose," replied Orion.</p> + +<p>Diana gave him an angry flash from her black eyes.</p> + +<p>"What a silly little boy you is!" she said. "We has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> come for most +solemn, 'portant business. I is Diana—the gweat Diana what lived +years and years ago—and you is Orion. I is the gweatest huntwess in +all the world, and I's going to shoot Aunt Jane and Miss Wamsay. Now, +come 'long, Orion, and let's look for the bow and arrow."</p> + +<p>The children searched and searched, and after a long time did actually +discover the crooked and badly made bow and the blunt arrow.</p> + +<p>"Here they is, the darlin's!" cried Diana. "My own bow, my own +arrow—how I loves 'em! Now, Orion, I is going to shoot you—for +pwactice, you know, and then you shall shoot me for pwactice too. You +stand up there against the twee, and I'll make good shots. You don't +mind if I does hurt you a bit, does you?"</p> + +<p>"But I don't want to be shotted down dead," replied Orion.</p> + +<p>"No, I won't go as far as that. It's only Aunt Jane and Miss Wamsay +who is to be shotted dead; but you'll have to be shotted, 'cos I must +pwactice how to do it."</p> + +<p>"But couldn't you practice against the tree without me standing +there?" said Orion, who had no fancy to have even this very blunt +arrow directed at his face.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>MOTHER RODESIA.</h3> + + +<p>After some very slight persuasion Diana induced Orion to put his back +up against an oak tree and to allow her to shoot at him. He quickly +discovered that he had little or no cause for fear. Diana's arrows, +wielded with all the cunning she possessed, from the crooked bow, +never went anywhere near him. They fell on the grass and startled the +birds, and one little baby rabbit ran quite away, and some squirrels +looked down at the children through the thick trees; but Orion had +very little chance of getting hurt.</p> + +<p>"It's awfu' difficult," said Diana, whose face grew redder and redder +with her efforts. "If it don't shoot pwoper, Aunt Jane won't get +shotted to-night. What is to be done? Suppose you was to twy for a +bit, Orion?"</p> + +<p>Orion was only too anxious to accede to this proposition. He took the +bow and arrow and made valiant efforts, but in the course of his +endeavors to shoot properly, the badly made bow suddenly snapped in +two, and Diana, in her discomfiture, and the dashing to the ground of +her hopes, burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"You is bad boy," she cried. "See what you's done. Back we goes to +slav'ry—to Aunt Jane and Miss Wamsay. You is a bad, howid boy."</p> + +<p>"I aren't," said Orion, who had a very easily aroused temper. "It's +you that's a horrid little girl."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come, children; what's all this noise about?" said a voice in their +ears.</p> + +<p>They turned abruptly, forgetting on the instant their own cause of +quarrel, and saw a tall, swarthy-looking woman coming towards them. By +this time it was beginning to get dark in the wood, but they could see +the figure of the woman quite distinctly. She came close to them, and +then, putting her arms akimbo, surveyed them both with a certain queer +expression on her face.</p> + +<p>"Well, my little dears," she said, "and what may you two be doing in +this part of the wood?"</p> + +<p>"We is pweparing to have our enemies shotted," answered Diana, in a +calm, but sturdy, voice. "What's your name, gweat big woman?"</p> + +<p>"Mother Rodesia Lee," replied the woman, "and I'm fond of little +children. I like to meet them in the wood. I often come into the wood, +and when I see little strange children I love 'em at once. I'm a sort +of mother to all little strangers who get into the woods without +leave." Here she flashed a pair of black eyes full into Diana's face. +But Diana met their gaze without a vestige of shrinking, with eyes as +black.</p> + +<p>"We has not come without leave," she said; "you is naughty to talk +that way. We has got a whole holiday to-day from our Uncle William. He +didn't say nothing 'bout not going into the woods, and we has been +here for lots of hours. We is going home now 'cos we is hung'y, and +'cos my bow has got bwoke. We is awfu' unhappy—we is mis'ble, but we +is going home. Good-night, woman; don't keep us talkin' any longer."</p> + +<p>"I aint going to keep you," said the woman; "only,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> p'r'aps, if you +two are so hungry, p'r'aps I could give you a bit of supper."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Diana! Do let her," said Orion.</p> + +<p>"What sort of supper?" asked Diana, who never allowed herself to be +taken unawares. "Would it be stwawberries and k'eam, or would it be +cake and milk?"</p> + +<p>"Strawberries and cream, and milk and cake, plenty and plenty," said +the woman. "And what do you say to delicious soup and honey, p'r'aps? +Oh, come along, my little loves; I'll give you something fine to eat."</p> + +<p>"Do let's go," said Orion; "my tumtum's so empty it feels like a big +hole."</p> + +<p>"I know," said the woman, in a very sympathetic voice. "I have had it +myself like that at times. It's sort of painful when it's like that; +aint it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Orion. He went up to his sister, and took her hand. +"Come along, Di," he said. "Do let this nice woman give us our +supper."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure I won't give it," said the woman, "unless both you +little children ask me in a very perlite voice. You must say, 'Please, +Mother Rodesia.'"</p> + +<p>"I can't say that keer sort of name," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, call me mother without anything else. They often does +that at home—often and often. All the little kids is desp'ate fond of +me. I dote so on little children. My heart runs over with love to +'em."</p> + +<p>"You would not let a little girl be beated?" said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Be beaten?" replied the woman. "No, that I wouldn't; it would be +downright cruel."</p> + +<p>"I was beated to-day," said Diana; "it was an enemy did it, and I'm +going to have her shotted."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I wouldn't do that!" said the woman. "You might be hanged up for +that."</p> + +<p>"What's being hanged up?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"It's something very bad—I need not tell you now; but there are laws +in this country, and if you shoot your enemies you are hanged up for +it. You are not allowed to do those sort of things in this country."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I are," answered Diana, "'cos I are the gweat Diana. You +underland, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I do; but, anyhow, I have no time to stand talking +now. Come along, and you can tell me afterwards. I have got such a +nice supper—plenty of strawberries and cream, plenty of milk and +cake."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my tumtum," said Orion, pressing his hand to that part of his +little body with great solemnity.</p> + +<p>"How soon will the supper be over? and how soon can we get back home?" +asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"That depends on where your home is, my pretty little dear," said +Mother Rodesia.</p> + +<p>"It's at Wectory, stoopid woman."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that place, miss."</p> + +<p>"Don't you know my Uncle William Dolman?"</p> + +<p>"What! the rector?" said the woman. "And so you come from the +<i>Rectory</i>?" She looked frightened for a moment, and her manner became +hesitating. "Are you one of the rector's children, my little love?" +she asked.</p> + +<p>"No; he's only an uncle; he belongs to an aunt. I hate aunts. He's not +a bad sort his own self; but I hate aunts!"</p> + +<p>"Then you wouldn't mind if you was to leave her?"</p> + +<p>"No. But I can't leave Uncle William, and I can't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> leave Iris, and I +can't leave Apollo. We would like some supper 'cos we is hung'y, and +it's past our tea hour; but then we must go stwaight home."</p> + +<p>"All right, my little love; everything can be managed to your +satisfaction. My son has got a pony and cart, and he'll drive you over +to the Rectory in a twinkling, after your appetites are satisfied. I +can't abear to see little children real hungry. You come along with me +this minute or the supper will be eat up."</p> + +<p>Diana hesitated no longer. She carried her broken bow on one arm, and +she slung her arrow, by a string, round her neck; then, taking one of +Mother Rodesia's large brown hands, and Orion taking the other, the +two children trotted deeper into the dark wood. They all three walked +for over a mile, and the wood seemed to get darker and denser, and the +children's little feet more and more tired. Orion also began to +complain that the hole inside him was getting bigger and bigger; but +Mother Rodesia, now that she had got them to go with her, said very +few words, and did not take the least notice of their complaints. At +last, when they suddenly felt that they could not go another step, so +great was their fatigue, they came out on an open clearing in the +wood, in the center of which a great big tent was pitched. Several +smaller tents were also to be seen in the neighborhood of the big one, +and a lot of children, very brown and ugly, and only half-dressed, +were lying about on the grass, squabbling and rolling over one +another. Some dogs also were with the children, and an old woman, a +good deal browner than Mother Rodesia, was sitting at the door of the +big tent.</p> + +<p>As soon as ever the children saw the little strangers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> they scrambled +to their feet with a cry, and instantly surrounded Mother Rodesia and +Orion and Diana.</p> + +<p>"Back, all of you, you little rascallions," said Mother Rodesia; +"back, or I'll cuff you. Where's Mother Bridget? I want to speak to +her?"</p> + +<p>When Mother Rodesia said this the old woman at the door of the +principal tent rose slowly and came to meet them.</p> + +<p>"Well, Rodesia," she said, "and so you has found these little +strangers in the wood? What purty little dears!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have found them," said Mother Rodesia, "and I have brought +them home to supper. After supper we are to send them home. They hail +from the Rectory. Is Jack anywhere about?"</p> + +<p>"I saw him not half an hour back," said the old woman; "he had just +brought in a fat hare, and I popped it into the pot for supper. You +can smell it from here, little master," she said, stooping suddenly +down and letting her brown, wrinkled, aged face come within an inch or +two of Orion's. He started back, frightened. He had never seen anyone +so old nor so ugly before. Even the thought of the strawberries and +cream, and the milk and cake, could not compensate for the look on +Mother Bridget's face.</p> + +<p>Diana, however, was not easily alarmed.</p> + +<p>"The stuff in the pot smells vedy good," she said, sniffing. "I could +shoot lots of hares, 'cos I is the gweatest huntwess in all the world. +I is Diana. Did you ever hear of Diana, ugly old woman?"</p> + +<p>"You had best not call Mother Bridget names," said Mother Rodesia, +giving Diana a violent shake as she spoke.</p> + +<p>But the little girl leaped lightly away from her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I always call peoples just what I think them," she said; "I wouldn't +be the gweat Diana if I didn't. I has not got one scwap of fear in me, +so you needn't think to come wound me that way. I do think she is +awfu' ugly. She's uglier than Aunt Jane, what I <i>used</i> to think was +the ugliest person in the world. You had best not twy to fwighten me, +for it can't be done."</p> + +<p>"What a spirited little missy it is!" said Mother Bridget, gazing with +admiration at Diana. "Why, now, she is a fine little child. I'm sure, +dearie, I don't mind whether you call me ugly or not; it don't matter +the least bit in the world to me. And how old may you be, my little +love?"</p> + +<p>"I is five," answered Diana. "I's a well-grown girl, isn't I?"</p> + +<p>"That you are, missy, and hungry, too, I guess. You shall have some +beautiful hare soup."</p> + +<p>"I don't want hare soup," answered Diana; "I want what that woman +pwomised—stwawberries and k'eam, and milk and cake—and then, +perhaps, a <i>little</i> soup. I don't want soup to begin."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the old woman, "we hasn't got no strawberries, nor no +milk, nor no cake—we are very poor folks here, missy. A little lady +must be content with what she can get, unless, my dear, you would like +to pay 'andsome for it."</p> + +<p>"I has nothing to pay with," answered Diana. "I would, if I had the +money, but I hasn't got none. I's sossy," she continued, looking full +at Mother Rodesia as she spoke, "that you big, big woman told such +awfu' lies. But, now that we has come, we'll take a little hare soup. +Orion, you stand near me, and don't any of you dirty peoples come up +too close, 'cos I can't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> abear dirty peoples. I is the gweatest shot +in all the world, and Orion, he's a giant."</p> + +<p>Two or three men had approached at that moment, and they all began to +laugh heartily when poor little pale Orion was called a giant.</p> + +<p>"You can see him in the sky sometimes on starful nights," continued +Diana, "and he has got a belt and a sword."</p> + +<p>"Well, to be sure, poor little thing," said Mother Rodesia, "she must +be a bit off her head, but she's a fine little spirited thing for all +that. I think she would just about do. You come along here for a +minute, Jack, and let me talk to you."</p> + +<p>The man called Jack moved a few steps away, and Mother Rodesia +followed him. They began to talk together in low and earnest voices. +At first the man shook his head as he listened to Mother Rodesia, but +by degrees he began to agree with some suggestion she was making, and +finally he nodded emphatically, and at last was heard to say:</p> + +<p>"It shall be done."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Diana, with one arm clasped protectingly round Orion's +waist, was partaking of the soup which old Mother Bridget had ladled +into a little bowl. Orion was provided with a similar bowl of the very +excellent liquid. The soup contained meat and vegetables, pieces of +bread and quantities of good gravy, and, as Diana and Orion were very +hungry indeed, they ate up their portions, while the gypsy children +clustered round them, coming closer and closer each minute. Diana's +eyes, however, were as black as theirs, and her manner twice as +spirited. She would not allow them to approach too close.</p> + +<p>"You had best not take lib'ties," she said. "I is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> a gweat lady; I is +Diana, the biggest shot in all the world."</p> + +<p>"Oh, lawk! hark to her," cried one of the boys. "I wonder if you could +shoot me, little miss?"</p> + +<p>"Shoot you, boy?" cried Diana. "That I could. You would be shotted +down dead if I was to take up my bow and use my arrow."</p> + +<p>At last the children had finished the contents of their bowls, and +rose solemnly to their feet.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Diana, going up to Mother Bridget, "I are vedy obliged to +you; you has been kind; you has gived us good supper. We'll 'scuse +'bout the stwawberries and k'eam and the milk and cake, 'cos you +didn't know that the other big woman told lots of lies. And now, +p'ease, we are going home. We isn't glad to go home, but we is going. +P'ease tell the man to put pony to cart, and dwive us home as fast as +he can."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, my little dear," said Mother Bridget; "there aint one +moment to be lost. You just come inside the tent, though, first for a +minute."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to go inside that dirty tent," said Diana; "I don't like +dirt. You had best not twy to take lib'ties. I is Diana, and this is +Orion, and we is both very big peoples indeed."</p> + +<p>At that moment Mother Rodesia came forward.</p> + +<p>"They need not go into the tent," she said to the old woman; "I can +manage better than that. Just you help lift 'em into the cart; it's a +dark night, and there'll be no stars, and we can get off as far +as——" Here she dropped her voice, and Diana could not hear the next +words.</p> + +<p>"I'm going with them," she continued, "and Jack will drive. They are +exactly the kind of children Ben<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> wants. Now then, little missy, jump +in. Ah, here you are! You'll be glad of the drive, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"When will we get back to Wectory?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"In about an hour, missy."</p> + +<p>"Come 'long, Orion," said Diana, "you sit next me. Hold my hand, poor +little boy, case you is fwightened. Diana never was fwightened; that +isn't her."</p> + +<p>Orion scrambled also into the cart, and the two children huddled up +close together. Mother Rodesia got in with them, and sat down at the +opposite side, with her knees huddled up close to her chin. The man +called Jack mounted the driver's seat, whacked the pony with two or +three hard touches of his whip and away they bounded.</p> + +<p>The night was very dark, and the cart rattled roughly, and jolted and +banged the children about, but Orion felt comforted and contented +after his good supper, and Diana's fat little arm felt warm round his +neck, and soon his head rested on her shoulder and he was sound +asleep. Not so little Diana. She sat wide awake and gazed hard at the +woman, whose dark eyes were seen to flash now and then as the party +jolted over the roads.</p> + +<p>"Tell him to go k'icker," said Diana. "I must get home afore Uncle +William goes to bed. Aunt Jane might beat me again, and I don't want +to be beated. Tell him to go k'icker, Mother 'Odesia."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>UNCLE BEN.</h3> + + +<p>Mother Rodesia was most kind and obliging. The pony was whipped up, +and now it seemed to Diana's excited fancy that they quite flew over +the road. She felt for her broken bow, which she had laid by her side, +then she cuddled up closer to Orion, and whispered to herself:</p> + +<p>"Mother 'Odesia's a good woman when all's said, done. She has gived us +supper and soon we'll be home; and Uncle William won't be in bed, and +he won't let c'uel Aunt Jane beat me. It's all wight; I may just as +well go to s'eep, 'cos I is drefful s'eepy, and it's late. I wonder if +the night will be starful, and if I'll see Orion up in the sky. +Anyhow, there's no stars at pwesent, and I had best go to s'eep."</p> + +<p>So the little girl cuddled herself up close to her brother, and soon +the big dark eyes were shut, and she was happy in the land of dreams.</p> + +<p>When this happened, Mother Rodesia softly and stealthily changed her +position. She stretched out her hand and touched Jack on his arm. This +seemed to have been an arranged signal, for he drew up the pony at +once.</p> + +<p>They were still under the shelter of the great woods which extended +for miles over that part of the country.</p> + +<p>"We had best begin to change their clothes now," said Mother Rodesia. +"They are both as sound as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> nails, and I don't want the clothes to be +seen by Ben, for he's safe to pawn 'em, and if he pawns 'em the police +may get 'em, and then the children may be traced, and we may get into +hot water."</p> + +<p>"But, mother," said Jack, "do you dare to disturb them now when they +are asleep? That young 'un with the black eyes is such a fury; seemed +to me as if she was never goin' off."</p> + +<p>"She's all right now," said Mother Rodesia. "She's just dead tired. Of +course, if I had had my way, I'd have put a little of that syrup into +their soup—Mother Winslow's Syrup—but Mother Bridget wouldn't have +it. She took quite a fancy to the little gal, and all on account of +her firing up and calling her names."</p> + +<p>Jack laughed.</p> + +<p>"I never seed sech a little 'un," he said, "sech a sparky little +piece. Ben's in rare luck. I'd like to keep her for a sort of little +sister of my own—she'd amuse me fine."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, you aint a-goin' to have her," said Mother Rodesia. "I'm +goin' to ask thirty shillin's for her and thirty shillin's for the +boy. That'll be three pund—not a bad night's work; eh, Jack?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Jack; but then he continued after a pause, "You'll tell +him, won't you, mother, to be good to the children. I wouldn't like to +think that little 'un was treated cruel, and her sperit broke—she has +got a fine sperit, bless her; I wouldn't like it to be broke. I don't +care for the little boy. There's nothing in 'im."</p> + +<p>"Well, stop talking now," said Mother Rodesia. "They must be missed at +the Rectory by this time, and they'll be sendin' people out to look +for 'em. It's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> a rare stroke of luck that nobody knows that we are +camping in the Fairy Dell, for if they did they would be sure to come +straight to us, knowin' that poor gypsies is always <i>supposed</i> to +kidnap children. Now, Jack, you just hold the pony as still as you +can, and I'll slip the clothes off the pair of 'em."</p> + +<p>Little Diana, in her deep sleep, was not at all disturbed when stout +hands lifted her away from Orion, and when she lay stretched out flat +on a large lap. One by one her clothes were untied and slipped off her +pretty little body, and some very ugly, sack-like garments substituted +in their place. Diana had only a dim feeling in her dreams that mother +was back again, and was undressing her, and that she was very glad to +get into bed. And when the same process of undressing took place on +little Orion, he was still sounder asleep and still more indifferent +to the fact that he was turned sometimes over on his face, and +sometimes on his back, and that his pretty, dainty clothes, which his +own mother had bought for him, were removed, never to be worn by him +again.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said Mother Rodesia, when she had laid the two children +back again upon the straw, "when they awake, and if Ben is not there, +we must dye their faces with walnut juice; but we can't begin that +now, for they are sure to howl a good bit, and if folks are near, they +will hear them and come to the rescue. Jack, have you got that spade +'andy?"</p> + +<p>The man, without a word, lifted a portion of the straw in the cart, +and took out a spade.</p> + +<p>"That's right," said the woman. "You make a deep hole under that tree, +and put all the clothes in. Bury 'em well. I'll rescue 'em and pawn +'em myself when we go to the West of England in the winter,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> but for +the present they must stay under ground. See, I'll wrap 'em up in this +good piece of stout brown paper, and then perhaps they won't get much +spoiled."</p> + +<p>Jack took the little bundle (there were the soft, pretty socks, the +neat little shoes, even the ribbon with which Diana's hair was tied), +and twisted them all up into a bundle. Then his mother wrapped the +bundle in the piece of brown paper, and gave it to him to bury.</p> + +<p>This being done the pony was once more whipped up, and the cart +proceeded at a rapid rate. They were now on the highroad, and going in +the direction of a large town. The town was called Maplehurst. It was +fifteen miles away from the Rectory of Super-Ashton.</p> + +<p>Little Diana slept on and on, and the sun was beginning to send faint +rays of light into the eastern sky, when at last she opened her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Where is I?" she said with a gasp.</p> + +<p>"With me, my little dear; you are as safe as child can be," said +Mother Rodesia. "Don't you stir, my love; you are just as good as you +was in your little bed. See, let me lay this rug over you."</p> + +<p>She threw a piece of heavy tarpaulin, lined with cloth, over the child +as she spoke.</p> + +<p>Diana yawned in a comfortable manner.</p> + +<p>"Isn't we at Wectory yet?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, dear; the pony went lame, and we had to stop for a good bit on +the road; but if you like to go to sleep again, you'll be there when +next you wake."</p> + +<p>"I isn't s'eepy any longer," said Diana, sitting bolt upright in the +cart. "Oh, what a funny dwess I has on. Where is my nice b'ack dwess, +and my pinafore, and my shoes and socks?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, dear," said Mother Rodesia, "you were so dead asleep, and the +pony got that lame we couldn't stir hand nor foot, so I thought it +best to put a little nightdress on you."</p> + +<p>"But what a funny one," said Diana, gazing with curious admiration at +the stout, sack-like garment.</p> + +<p>"It's the best poor Mother Rodesia has, my dear. I'm awful poor, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Is you?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear."</p> + +<p>"And does you mind?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear; 'cos when people are poor they can't get bread to eat, and +then they can't get nice clothes like you, little missy. You are a +very rich little gal; aint you, little dear?"</p> + +<p>"My faver's awfu' rich," said Diana. "We used to live in a most +beaut'ful house, and we had a beaut'ful garding to play in. We had +animals there—lots and lots. Woman, is you fond of animals—mices and +that sort?"</p> + +<p>"Love—I just adores 'em."</p> + +<p>"Then you <i>is</i> a nice sort," answered Diana. She left her place by +Orion and crept up close to the woman.</p> + +<p>"May I sit on your lap?" she said.</p> + +<p>Mother Rodesia made a place for her at once.</p> + +<p>"Put your arm wound me, p'ease; I is still a teeny bit s'eepy."</p> + +<p>"You lay your head against my breast, little love, and you'll go off +into a beautiful sleep, and I'll keep you nice and warm, for hot as +the days are, it's chilly in the mornin's."</p> + +<p>"When my faver comes home I'll ask him to give you lots of money, +Mother 'Odesia," said Diana.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>She closed her eyes as she spoke, and in another moment was once again +slumbering peacefully.</p> + +<p>When little Diana next opened her eyes all was completely changed. She +was no longer in the funny cart with the straw. Her nightdress was +still on her, it is true, and there were neither shoes nor stockings +on her bare feet; but she and Orion found themselves in a dirty room +with a nasty smell. Both children looked at one another, and both felt +cold and frightened. The broad daylight was lighting up the room, and +Diana could perceive that there was scarcely any furniture in it. Her +bow was also gone, and her arrow no longer hung round her neck. She +clutched a firm hold of Orion's hand.</p> + +<p>"Don't you be afeared, Orion," she said. "Don't you forget you is a +big giant. Don't you forget you has got your belt and your sword."</p> + +<p>"But I haven't, that's just it," replied Orion. "Diana, I aren't a +giant, and I'm awfu' frightened."</p> + +<p>"Where can us be?" said Diana. "What a keer room! But there's one good +comfort; there isn't no aunts anywheres 'bout."</p> + +<p>"I can't remember nothing," said Orion. "Why aren't we in bed? It's +too early to get up. How have we got into this horrid little room?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know more nor you," said Diana, "only I do know that we has +got to be bwave. Don't you forget, Orion, that mother gived you your +name, and that you is a giant, whether you likes it or not. Don't you +forget that, and I won't forget that I is Diana, and that mother gived +me my name too, and that I is the bwavest huntwess in all the world."</p> + +<p>"But you haven't got a bow and arrow," said Orion.</p> + +<p>Diana was silent for a moment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Anyhow," she said, with a little shake, "I isn't going to be +fwightened. Let's sit close together, and let's think."</p> + +<p>"Why can't we open that door and go out?" said Orion. "Why should we +stay in this horrid room?"</p> + +<p>"'Cos our foots is bare," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"But don't let's mind that," said Orion; "let's go to the door and +open it, and let's run back to Rectory. I'd rather have Aunt Jane and +Miss Ramsay than this horrid room—and oh, Diana! my tumtum has got a +big hole in it again."</p> + +<p>"And mine has too," answered Diana. "I could eat a whole loaf, that I +could."</p> + +<p>"Hush!" whispered Orion; "somebody's coming. Oh, come close to me, +Diana!"</p> + +<p>"Now, you isn't to be fwightened, little boy," said Diana. "I is near +you, and I isn't fwightened of nobody."</p> + +<p>At that moment the door was flung open, and Mother Rodesia, +accompanied by a tall, dark man, with a scowling face, came in.</p> + +<p>"Mornin', little dears," said Mother Rodesia. "Now I have got +something to say to you."</p> + +<p>"P'ease, where's Wectory?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"You are not going there just for the present, my dear. This man, Ben +is his name—you told me last night that you were fond of uncles—you +can call 'im Uncle Ben; he's very kind and very, very fond of +children."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I'm very fond of children," said the man. He spoke in a +gruff voice which seemed to come right from the bottom of his chest.</p> + +<p>"And as you don't like aunts," continued Mother Rodesia, "I have +brought an uncle. You can call<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> 'im Uncle Ben; and if you do just what +he says, why, you'll be as happy as the day is long."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said the man; "you stop your talk, Rodesia. Before I +makes myself an uncle to these kids I must see what sort they are. You +stand up along here, little gal, and let me examine you."</p> + +<p>Diana scrambled instantly to her feet and went straight up to the man. +She gave him a keen glance from her piercing black eyes.</p> + +<p>"What wight has you to speak to me in that sort of style?" she said. +"You isn't my uncle, and I isn't going to have nothing to do with +you."</p> + +<p>"There," said Mother Rodesia; "did I say one word too much for her?"</p> + +<p>The man burst into a loud laugh.</p> + +<p>"No, that you didn't," he said; "and aint you frightened of me, +missy?"</p> + +<p>"Fwightened?" replied Diana; "that aren't me." She turned her back and +strode back to Orion.</p> + +<p>"'Member you is a giant," she said, in a whisper; "and giants never is +fwightened."</p> + +<p>The man laughed again.</p> + +<p>"Well, they are a queer little pair," he said. "I tell you what it is, +Rodesia Lee; I'll give you a pund apiece for 'em. Come, now; not a +penny more."</p> + +<p>Diana stared very hard indeed when these words were uttered. She had +not the faintest idea what a "pund apiece" meant. Mother Rodesia +seemed to consider.</p> + +<p>"And you may think yourself in rare luck," continued the man; "for, +remember, if it is known—" Here he walked to the farthest end of the +room, and Mother Rodesia followed him.</p> + +<p>"You had best close up the bargain and be quick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> about it," he said; +"for not one penny more will you drag out of me. I'll give you a gold +sov. for each of 'em, and that's as much as I can manage. They will +take a sight of training, and then there's the risk."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Mother Rodesia, "I suppose I had best do it; only +they are worth more. There's a fortune in that little gal, and +whenever you are tired of her, why, there's a rich father to fall back +on. I spect he would give a sight of money to have her back again. +Very well, we'll agree; only, if ever you do get a fortune out of that +child, Ben Holt, you might remember poor Rodesia Lee."</p> + +<p>The man laughed and patted Mother Rodesia on her shoulder. Then the +pair left the room, locking the door behind them.</p> + +<p>"What does it all mean?" said Orion.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Diana; "but I aren't fwightened; that aren't me." +Her little voice shook as she spoke, and she had great difficulty in +keeping the tears back from her big, black eyes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>GREASED LIGHTNING.</h3> + + +<p>At the end of half an hour the door of the small room was again +unlocked, and a woman with a thin, pale face, and somewhat frightened +manner, appeared. She carried a tray in her hand, which contained two +little bowls of porridge, and a small jug of milk. "So you are the two +young 'uns," she said. "Well, you had best be quick and eat up your +breakfast. Uncle Ben is going to have a rehearsal, and he wants you to +see what they are all doing."</p> + +<p>"We hasn't got no Uncle Ben," said Diana; "don't be silly, woman. +What's your name?" she added.</p> + +<p>"I'm generally called Aunt Sarah," was the reply; "and now, look here, +you two little mites; I'll be good to you if you'll let me. I'm real +sorry you has come, and it's against my wish, you remember that. Now, +eat up your breakfasts, both of you. Uncle Ben, he don't know that I +have brought you porridge and milk; but children as young as you are +can't eat coarse food. Sup up your porridge, my dears."</p> + +<p>"Thank you very much indeed, Aunt Sawah," said Diana, slipping down +from her seat close to Orion on the bench, and preparing to attack her +breakfast. "P'w'aps," she continued, as she put great mouthfuls of +porridge into her mouth, "when we has finished this nice bekfus you'll +take us back to Wectory? You see, you isn't our aunt weally, not by no +manner of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> wights, and Uncle Ben isn't our uncle, and so we ought not +to stay here; and if we go back to Wectory, why, Uncle William, what's +our weal uncle, p'w'aps he would pay you money, if it's money you +wants."</p> + +<p>"Yes; it's true enough, it is money we want," replied the woman; "but, +my dear," she added, the tears springing to her eyes, "I can't take +you back to no Rectory. You have just got to stay here and to watch +Uncle Ben when he's going through his rehearsal, and then this +afternoon we are going on a very long journey, and you are coming with +us—and oh, I forgot to say that, when you have finished your +breakfast, I must put something on your faces."</p> + +<p>"Something on our faces?" said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my little love; it has to be done. But when we get to another +part of the country I'll wash the ugly stuff off again, and you'll +look as fair and pretty as you do now. It won't make much difference +after all to you, little missy," she added, gazing fixedly at Diana, +"'cos you are very dark by nature. Yes, I had a little kid of my own, +a little gal, and she wasn't unlike you—no, not by no means. I'll be +kind to you for her pretty sake, my little dear. Now, eat your +breakfast, and be quick, the pair of you."</p> + +<p>"Has your little girl what was like me got deaded?" asked Diana, in a +very thoughtful and earnest voice.</p> + +<p>"She is dead, my dear. Yes, yes, she is dead," replied the woman. "Eat +up your breakfast now; I have no time to answer questions."</p> + +<p>Orion did not need a second bidding; he had already plunged his spoon +into the porridge, and soon his little bowl was empty, and also the +jug of milk. Diana also finished her breakfast, but more thoughtfully. +She was a wonderfully wise little girl for her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> tender years, and at +the present moment she was dreadfully puzzled to know what to do. She +was quite shrewd enough to guess that Mother Rodesia was a bad sort of +woman, and that she, Diana, had done wrong ever to trust herself to +her. Uncle Ben, too, in spite of her brave words, terrified her more +or less. All things considered, therefore, she would not have been at +all sorry to find herself back again at the Rectory, with Miss Ramsay +to teach her, and Aunt Jane hovering in the background. "Isn't it +funny, we has got our nightdwesses on?" she said suddenly. "Woman, +it's not pwoper to have our bekfus in our nightdwesses; and these are +such keer nightdwesses, not at all what they ought to be. Our mother +would not like us to be dwessed in this sort of style. Can you get our +day dwesses, p'ease, for us to put on, Aunt Sawah?"</p> + +<p>"No; I can't get the dresses you wore yesterday," replied Aunt Sarah; +"but for all that you shall wear a very pretty little frock. I have +got a blue one for you with white wings. What do you say to that?"</p> + +<p>"B'ue, with white wings?" echoed Diana. "It sounds pwetty; but I must +have a b'ack bow, p'ease, woman, 'cos our mother has gone away to the +angels, you underland; and when mothers go to the angels little girls +wear b'ack bows—at least, that's what Iris says. Oh, I say, Orion," +suddenly concluded Diana; "what is we to do without Iris? She is our +little mother now. You underland what I mean; doesn't you, Orion?"</p> + +<p>The only answer Orion made was to fling himself flat down on the floor +and begin to howl with all his might.</p> + +<p>"You had best not do that, young sir," said Aunt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> Sarah, "for if Uncle +Ben hears he'll be awful angry. He is a terrible man when he's +angered. It's only right I should tell you the solemn truth, you poor +little kids."</p> + +<p>"We isn't kids; we is sildrens," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Well, you poor little children, then. Now, young master, if you'll +take my advice, you'll do exactly what I tell you. I'm going to be a +friend to you and to your little sister. I'll give you, by hook or by +crook, the very best food I can get, and the prettiest dresses to +wear, and I'll see that my husband, Ben Holt, aint rough to you, and +I'll see, also, that Molly and Kitty and Susan, the circus girls, are +kind to you, and that Tom, the clown, behaves as he ought; but I can +do nothing if you won't obey me. And if you begin by angering Uncle +Ben, why, it'll be all up with you, my little dears."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean by all up," answered Diana, her eyes +sparkling brightly; "and what's more, I don't care. But I'd like to +know if you has a weal live clown about, 'cos I like clowns and I love +pant'mimes. I went to a pant'mime 'fore mother was took to the +angels."</p> + +<p>"Our show is something like a pantomime, and yet it's different," +replied Aunt Sarah. "Now then, missy, stop talking, for we has no time +to waste. Come over here and let me put this nice stuff on your face. +It won't hurt you one little bit—it's just to make you look a little +browner than you do now, you and little master. Now, come along here, +and let me do it at once. Afterwards, I'll dress you in real pretty +things. You, little missy, shall wear some of my own child's +clothes—the little Rachel what died. My heart broke when she died, +missy, and if I didn't mean to be real<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> kind to you I wouldn't put her +pretty little dress on you, that I wouldn't."</p> + +<p>Orion stepped back in some alarm when he saw the woman stirring +something very brown and ugly in a tin can.</p> + +<p>"I don't want that horrid stuff on my face," he said.</p> + +<p>"But you must have it, master; if you don't, Uncle Ben will use you +dreadful," said the woman. "Now, missy, tell your little brother to be +guided by me. If he don't do what I tell 'im he'll suffer, and I won't +be able to help either of you."</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly, Orion," said Diana. "What do a little bwown stuff +matter? And Aunt Sawah's wather a nice sort of woman. I'll do what you +wish, Aunt Sawah." She came up as she spoke, pushed her black, tangled +hair away from her charming little face, and allowed Aunt Sarah to +cover it with the walnut juice. "It's sort of sticky, and it don't +smell nice," said the little girl; "but I spects you can't help it. I +spects you is kind about your heart; isn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my little dear; I try to be," said the woman. "Now, call your +brother over, and let me dye his face and neck and little hands."</p> + +<p>"Come 'long, Orion," said Diana; "don't be silly."</p> + +<p>"You do look so ugly, Diana," answered Orion.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do it matter?" said Diana. "I has to p'ease Aunt Sawah; +she's a nice sort of a woman. I wather like her."</p> + +<p>Orion, who had always submitted to Diana, submitted again now as a +matter of course. The walnut dye was not pleasant; he felt quite +sticky and uncomfortable, but he allowed it to cover his little face +and his white neck and hands.</p> + +<p>The dye dried very quickly, and the children looked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> as like two +gypsies as possible when they surveyed one another.</p> + +<p>"Now, I'm going to fetch the clothes," said Aunt Sarah.</p> + +<p>She left the room, returning in a very few moments with a pretty +spangled suit of knickerbockers, which she put on Orion, and which +quite enchanted him.</p> + +<p>"If you are a good boy," she continued, "you won't dislike the life +with us. I wonder if you are fond of horses?"</p> + +<p>"Horses!" said Orion, his eyes sparkling. "Rather!"</p> + +<p>"Well, Uncle Ben will teach you to ride, and to jump, and to do all +kinds of things. Now, just stand back, and let me dress little missy, +for Ben is waiting to begin the rehearsal. Missy, you let me put on +your dress."</p> + +<p>Diana was only too willing to be attired in a flimsy skirt of white +tarlatan, which stuck out from her little figure; she also wore wings +on her shoulders, and her black hair was rendered gay with bows of +crimson ribbon. She felt quite excited and pleased with herself.</p> + +<p>"I spects I look awfu' pwetty," she said. "I'd like to see my own self +in a looking-glass. Has you got a looking-glass in your pocket, Aunt +Sawah?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear; a small one."</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah whipped her hand into a deep pocket and took out a glass. +Diana surveyed herself critically in its depths.</p> + +<p>"I like my dwess," she said, "but I don't like this howid bwown stuff +on my face."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, dear; bear it for the present. When we get down to the +southwest of England it shall all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> be taken off; but up here Uncle Ben +thinks it best for you both to have it on."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah was puzzled for a moment.</p> + +<p>"'Cos it's wholesome," she said at last.</p> + +<p>"And isn't it wholesome in the southwest of England?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah was puzzled how to reply. Diana, who was gazing at her very +intently, burst into a clear, childish laugh.</p> + +<p>"Do you know you <i>is</i> a humbug?" she said. "You know perfect well why +you is using that. You want to hide us, that's why. What a silly old +Aunt Sawah you is!"</p> + +<p>Before Aunt Sarah could make a suitable reply, the loud voice of Uncle +Ben was heard in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Come, Sarah," he called, "bring those kids along. I can't be kept +waiting another minute."</p> + +<p>"Now then, dears," said Aunt Sarah, "I'll take you to the circus."</p> + +<p>"The circus!" cried Diana. "Is we going to a circus? I love 'em!"</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, you are not only going to <i>see</i> a circus, but you are +going soon to be part of a circus. Uncle Ben owns one; it's a sort of +traveling circus. He takes it about with him from one part of the +country to another. You'll be part of the circus in the future, little +miss."</p> + +<p>"And may I wide horses?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"Surely, my dear, and perhaps other animals as well. Oh, never fear! +you'll be taught all kinds of queer things. You'll have quite a nice +time if you keep on the buttered side of Uncle Ben."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The buttered side! That must be g'easy," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Well, you keep on it, miss. If he's kind to you, why, all will be +right, and, for my part, I'll see you want for nothing."</p> + +<p>"I do believe," said Diana, her eyes sparkling; she turned as she +spoke and clasped one of Orion's hands—"I do weally b'lieve this is +better nor aunt's. Do come 'long, Orion; I always did love circuses."</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah led the children down a long, narrow passage, and then +across an open court, until presently they found themselves inside the +entrance of a huge circular tent. Here seats were arranged for a crowd +of people, all of which were, of course, empty at present; but the +whole of the center of the tent was occupied by a wide arena covered +with sand. In the middle of this space stood Uncle Ben. He had a big +whip in his hand, and looked very fierce and terrible.</p> + +<p>"There you are at last, Sarah!" he called out. "Oh, and there are the +kids!" He stepped forward as he spoke. "Now, little missy," he said, +looking full at Diana, "what would you say if I was to put you on top +of a horse's back? You wouldn't be frightened, would you?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Diana.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you would. I believe you are a plucky little girl. +Well, I'd just as lief give you a lesson straight away, for you'll +have to take your part in the show in a week from now. We'll let her +ride round the arena on Greased Lightning; eh, Sarah?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wouldn't! Not on that 'orse," said the woman. She clasped her +hands imploringly together. "Remember, Ben," she continued, speaking +in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> timorous voice, and her color coming and going, "remember that +Greased Lightning is a very wicious sort of 'orse, and this is only a +little child. Has you ever been on a 'orse's back afore, little love?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes," replied Diana. "And my faver said when I got older he +would give me a horse of my own to wide. He said I was too young yet, +you know; but I aren't fwightened," she added. "I don't mind a bit +sitting on the back of G'eased Lightning. But what a funny name!"</p> + +<p>"Right you are!" said the man. "You shall have your ride. I can see +that you have plenty of pluck, young 'un. Come along, then, little +missy. Tom, you go and bring out Greased Lightning this minute."</p> + +<p>A tall lad, with red hair and a cast in one eye, now made his +appearance in the arena of the circus. At Uncle Ben's words he turned +abruptly, disappeared through a curtain, and a moment later +re-entered, leading a very graceful chestnut horse by a bridle. The +creature pawed the ground as it walked, and arched its stately neck.</p> + +<p>"You had best have a saddle, guv'nor," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"None of your sauce, Tom. The young 'un must learn to ride bare-back, +and at once. I'll walk round with her the first time. Now then, +missy."</p> + +<p>Diana was clapping her hands; her eyes were blazing with excitement.</p> + +<p>"It's kite 'licious," she said, jumping up and down. "I aren't +fwightened," she continued; "that aren't me."</p> + +<p>The next moment she was lifted on to the back of Greased Lightning. In +all probability the horse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> which bore that title had never carried +such a feather-weight as little Diana before. Uncle Ben began to lead +him round and round the circus. Diana sat perfectly upright; she did +not attempt even to clutch a hair of his mane. Uncle Ben praised her.</p> + +<p>"You are a plucky little missy," he said. "Why, you'll do fine. Now, +do you think you can stand on the horse?"</p> + +<p>"Course," replied Diana. "What's foots for, you silly man, if not to +stand? You is silly, Uncle Ben."</p> + +<p>"I never!" said Uncle Ben, bursting out laughing. "Well, missy, if I +am silly, you has got a lot of sauce. 'What's good for the goose is +good for the gander.'"</p> + +<p>"That sounds howid vulgar, and I don't underland," answered Diana, in +a dignified tone. "I'll stand on my two foots if you'll hold G'eased +Lightning k'ite still."</p> + +<p>"Woe! stay quiet this minute," said the man to the horse. The pretty +creature instantly obeyed, and little Diana, nothing loath, scrambled +on to her small feet. The horse moved gently forward, and the little +child managed to keep her balance. She went the entire round of the +circus two or three times in this position, and then Uncle Ben, saying +that she was a very fine little creature, and would answer his +purposes to a nicety, lifted her down in the height of good humor.</p> + +<p>"Take care of her," he said, bringing her back to Aunt Sarah; "there's +a fortune in her, little mite that she is. She need not do any more +to-day. Why, I'll have her trained in no time when we get down to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +west of England. She'll do her work beautiful, and will take the house +by storm. Now then, master, it's your turn. We must have a pair of +you, you know—a boy and a girl. It's the very thing to draw crowds in +the west."</p> + +<p>But alas! Orion, notwithstanding his brave name, was made of very +different stuff from his sister. He felt fear, where Diana, in all +truth, did not know the meaning of the word. He shivered visibly when +he was lifted on to Greased Lightning's back. Diana called out to him +in an encouraging and cheery voice.</p> + +<p>"Don't forget you is a giant," she said. "Think, of yous sword and +yous belt. Now then, gee up! pretty horse; I only wishes I was widing +you."</p> + +<p>"Come, young master, don't clutch the mane so hard," said Holt. "Hands +off, I say! Greased Lightning won't stand that kind of treatment."</p> + +<p>But the more the manager spoke the tighter did Orion grasp the black +mane of the chestnut horse. Greased Lightning began to paw the ground +and to show many signs of discomfort; whereupon Orion uttered a +piercing cry and began slipping backwards, towards the tail of the +beast.</p> + +<p>"Come," said the man; "get back to your seat this minute. I have a +whip in my hand, and it can sting; come, young sir!"</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare to stwike my bwother!" said Diana, running across the +arena.</p> + +<p>Some girls, who had just come in, and several men, all burst out +laughing.</p> + +<p>"You had best come back, miss; you had best not anger him," said a +fair-haired girl, stretching out her hand to the little child as she +spoke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Anger him?" said Diana. "I doesn't know what you mean. Does you think +I are going to let Orion be hurted? Listen to me, man. You had best +let Orion jump off this morning, 'cos he's tired. I'll talk to him all +about widing to-morrow. Let him get down now, p'ease, big man."</p> + +<p>"Not until he has been twice round the circus," said Uncle Ben. "You +stand aside, missy, or Greased Lightning may tread on you."</p> + +<p>But Diana was not to be so easily restrained. She now flew up to Uncle +Ben and tried to pull his big whip from his hand.</p> + +<p>"You don't dare to stwike my bwother!" she repeated, her eyes +flashing. Her determined attitude, the fearlessness of her whole +little nature induced Uncle Ben to yield to her for the nonce. This he +did more, particularly as he saw that the little boy was really +incapable of keeping his seat another moment.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, look here, little miss," he said; "you has behaved very +well indeed yourself, and so I'll let the little chap off this +morning. Now you know, sir, it is 'cos of your sister, for she's a +plucky 'un; so you may go back to my wife. Here, Sarah; take the pair +of 'em. You can go and sit on one of them chairs over there, children, +and see us as we go through our rehearsal."</p> + +<p>The rest of the morning was a truly exciting, not to say breathless, +time to Diana. She had not an instant to regret her absence from Iris +and Apollo. The exploits, the feats performed by the three circus +girls, and by Tom the clown, to say nothing of the advent of the +elephant and of the donkey who could perform numberless tricks, and +finally, the performances of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> troop of dogs, who seemed more human +than most human beings, all fascinated the little girl. Even Orion +forgot his terrors as he looked on; his cheeks flamed through their +walnut dye, and his dark eyes grew brighter than ever.</p> + +<p>When the rehearsal was at last over, the whole party rushed back to +their rooms, where a hasty meal was served; and little Diana sat +between two of the circus girls and was petted, and laughed at, and +made much of, and Orion kept close to Aunt Sarah, who took care that +he should have as many tit-bits as she could manage to secure for him.</p> + +<p>At three o'clock there was a public performance, but now neither Diana +nor Orion was allowed to be present. They found themselves shut up +once more in the ugly little room, where Mother Rodesia had first +taken them. From this place they could hear as a sort of distant echo +the shouts of the men and women who were performing, and the cheers of +the people who were looking on.</p> + +<p>At six o'clock the performance came to an end, and then, indeed, began +a fearful bustle and excitement. People were running here, there, and +everywhere, and, two hours later, the great vans were all packed, the +animals properly secured, and the party, with the exception of Aunt +Sarah, Diana, and Orion, had started <i>en route</i> for the west of +England.</p> + +<p>"Why isn't we going with the others?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"'Cos the train is faster, little miss," answered Aunt Sarah. "And now +the cab is at the door, and, if you will jump in at once we will be at +the station in no time."</p> + +<p>"I calls it lovely," said Diana, turning to secure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> Orion's approval. +"I like it miles better nor lessons with Miss Wamsay nor being beated +by Aunt Jane. Only, course," she added, in a meditative voice, "I's +twuly, twuly sossy for Uncle William and Iris and Apollo." </p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE HEART OF THE LITTLE MOTHER.</h3> + + +<p>It may seem almost impossible to believe that two little children +could be kidnaped in the England of to-day. Nevertheless, such was the +case. Mother Rodesia had managed her theft with great skill. The +gypsies had appeared unexpectedly in the Fairy Dell—no one knew they +were there, therefore no one looked for them. Having kidnaped the +children, Mother Rodesia took care immediately to bury their clothes, +and then she sold them to Ben Holt, the great circus manager, who took +them within a few hours right away to the southwest of England. The +little children had not accompanied the <i>troupe</i>, but had gone with +Aunt Sarah by train. There had been little fuss and no apparent +attempt at hiding the pair, therefore no one thought of looking for +them in the large southwestern town where Holt established his great +circus.</p> + +<p>It was the most popular time of the year for performing shows of all +sorts, and Ben Holt expected to make a considerable sum of money out +of the pretty and vivacious little pair.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the police were on their track; advertisements about them +were scattered all over the country—considerable rewards were +offered, and there was more than one nearly broken heart in the pretty +Rectory of Super-Ashton.</p> + +<p>Even Aunt Jane felt by no means herself. She would not own to having +done anything wrong, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> she became wonderfully gentle to Iris and +Apollo. She was unremitting, too, in her efforts to recover the lost +children, and began to look quite peaky about the face and lined round +the mouth.</p> + +<p>As to Uncle William, he preached nothing but old sermons, finding it +beyond his powers to devote his attention to anything fresh or new. He +hated the study window where little Diana had lain in his arms—he +hated the memory of the whip which he had used over her. On one +occasion he even went the length of saying to his wife:</p> + +<p>"Jane, it was your doing—she was too spirited a child for the +treatment you subjected her to. She ought never to have been whipped. +But for you she would not have run away."</p> + +<p>This was a very terrible moment for Aunt Jane, and she was too much +cowed and stricken to reply a single word to her husband. He could not +help, notwithstanding his great anxiety, having a momentary sense of +pleasure when he found that he had got the upper hand of his clever +wife; but Aunt Jane had it out with the servants and the parishioners +afterwards, and so revenged herself after a fashion.</p> + +<p>As to Iris, a very sad change came over her. She grew thin and very +pale; she scarcely ate anything, and scarcely ever spoke. Even Apollo, +even little Ann quite failed to comfort her. She did not complain, but +she went about with a drooping look, somewhat like a little flower +which wants water.</p> + +<p>"Iris is not well," Miss Ramsay said one morning to Mrs. Dolman. "She +does not eat her food, and when I went into her bedroom last night I +found that she was wide awake, and had evidently been silently crying. +I think she ought to see a doctor!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dear, dear!" replied Mrs. Dolman. "Do you know, Miss Ramsay, I am +almost sorry I undertook the charge of the little Delaneys. They +certainly have turned out, as their poor father expressed it, a +handful. If Iris is really ill, I had better see her. Send her to me. +You don't suppose she is—fretting?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; of course she is fretting dreadfully," replied Miss Ramsay. "And +no wonder, poor little girl! For my part, I consider it perfectly +awful to contemplate the fate of those poor lost children."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they will be found—they are likely to return here any day," +replied Mrs. Dolman. "It is just like you, Miss Ramsay, to go to the +fair with things, and to imagine the very worst. Why, for instance, +should not some very kind people have found the children? Why must +they, as a matter of course, have fallen into the hands of cruel and +unprincipled folk? Some of the very sharpest detectives in Scotland +Yard are on their track. For my part, I have not the slightest doubt +that they will soon be brought back."</p> + +<p>Miss Ramsay uttered a sigh.</p> + +<p>"I will send Iris down to speak to you," she said.</p> + +<p>This conversation occurred between three and four weeks after little +Orion and Diana had disappeared. Mrs. Dolman was in her study. It was +a very ugly room, sparsely furnished. There was a large, old-fashioned +desk in the center of the room, and she was seated in an armchair in +front of it, busily engaged making up her different tradesmen's books, +when the door was softly opened and Iris came in.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman had not had any special conversation with Iris since the +mysterious disappearance of the two younger children, and now, as she +raised her eyes and looked at her attentively, she was startled at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +the great change in her appearance. The child was reduced almost to a +shadow. She was dressed in her heavy black, without a touch of +relieving white. Her lovely hair hung over her shoulders, and was +pushed back from her low brow, bringing into greater contrast the +small, pinched, white face, and the great brown eyes, which looked now +too big for the little countenance to which they belonged.</p> + +<p>"Come here, Iris," said Mrs. Dolman. She had always liked Iris the +best of the children. "Come and tell me what is the matter."</p> + +<p>Iris came slowly forward.</p> + +<p>"Miss Ramsay says that you do not eat and do not sleep. If that is the +case, I must send for the doctor to see you," continued Aunt Jane.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Aunt Jane," answered Iris.</p> + +<p>She hung her head listlessly. Mrs. Dolman put her arm round the +slender waist and drew the child close to her side. Iris submitted to +this embrace without in any way returning it.</p> + +<p>"And when you see the doctor he will, of course, order you a tonic, +and perhaps tell us to take you to the seaside. If that is the case, +we must do so, Iris—we must do our duty by you, whatever happens. It +would never do for you to be ill, you understand."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Aunt Jane," answered Iris; "that's what I think myself—it would +never do."</p> + +<p>"Then you will try to get well, dear? You will do exactly what the +doctor says?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Aunt Jane."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman looked earnestly into her little niece's face.</p> + +<p>"You know," she said, in a brisk voice, "I am, for my part, quite +certain that we shall get tidings of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> lost children either to-day +or to-morrow. We are not leaving a stone unturned to get them back."</p> + +<p>Iris raised her delicate brows, and for a moment there came a flashing +light of hope into her eyes; but then it died out. She lowered her +lashes and did not speak.</p> + +<p>"You are pale, and your hands are hot," said Mrs. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"I feel hot," answered Iris, "and I am thirsty," she added.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come! this will never do," said Aunt Jane. "I shall just take you +away this minute to see the doctor."</p> + +<p>She rose impatiently as she spoke. The apathy which was over Iris +irritated her more than she could express. If the child had only burst +into tears, or even defied her as little Diana used to do, she felt +that she could comprehend matters a great deal better.</p> + +<p>"If we are quick, we may see Dr. Kent before he goes on his rounds," +she said. "Run upstairs at once, Iris, and fetch your hat."</p> + +<p>Iris immediately left the room.</p> + +<p>"The child looks as if something had stunned her," thought Mrs. Dolman +to herself. "I never saw such a queer expression on any little girl's +face. Now, I am quite certain if Philip or Conrad had been kidnaped, +that Lucy and Mary would be a great deal too sensible to act in this +silly way. The worst of it is, too, that there is nothing really to +lay hold of, for the child does not even complain—she simply suffers. +What am I to do? How am I to tell the children's father that two of +them have disappeared, and the eldest, his favorite, too, is very +ill?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>Iris re-entered the room, with her sun-bonnet hanging on her arm.</p> + +<p>"Put it on, my dear, put it on; and brisk up a little," said Mrs. +Dolman. "There is no good in giving way to your feelings."</p> + +<p>"I never give way to them, Aunt Jane. I try to be patient," answered +Iris.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman tied on her own bonnet with her usual vigor. She then took +one of the hot little hands in hers, and, a few moments later, the +aunt and niece were standing outside Dr. Kent's door in the pretty +little village street.</p> + +<p>Dr. Kent was at home. He was a young man, and a clever doctor, and he +gave Iris a good overhauling. He listened to her lungs and heart, put +several questions to her, was kind in his manner, and did not express +the least surprise when he heard that the little girl could neither +eat nor sleep.</p> + +<p>"I perfectly understand," he said. "And now, my dear, I hope soon to +have you as right as a trivet; but, in the meantime, I should like to +have a little talk with your aunt. Can you find your way into my +dining room? You have only to turn to the left when you leave this +room."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," answered Iris. She went to the door, opened it, and shut +it behind her.</p> + +<p>"Now, what do you think about her?" said Aunt Jane. "Out with the +truth, please, Dr. Kent. You know I never can stand any beating about +the bush."</p> + +<p>"There is nothing of the ordinary nature the matter with your little +niece," began the doctor.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman raised her brows in surprise and indignation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How can you say that?" she remarked. "The child looks seriously ill."</p> + +<p>"Please allow me to finish my speech. There is nothing the matter with +the child in the form of organic or any other disease; but just at +present there is such a severe strain on her mind that, if it is not +completely relieved, she is very likely to die."</p> + +<p>"Doctor! What a terrible thing to say!"</p> + +<p>"It is true. The child needs rousing—she is losing all interest in +life. She has been subjected to a terrible shock."</p> + +<p>"Of course she has," replied Mrs. Dolman; "but the extraordinary thing +is that a child of ten years of age should feel it so much."</p> + +<p>"It is not extraordinary in that sort of child," replied the doctor. +"Can you not see for yourself that she has a very delicate and a very +nervous organism. She has lately, too, lost her mother, has she not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and I believe the child was very fond of her; but, indeed, I may +as well say that I never saw anyone more sensible than little Iris +about that. She scarcely seemed to grieve at all. Of course, I dare +say she was very sorry, but she did not show it."</p> + +<p>"All the worse for her," answered Dr. Kent. "If she had given way +about her mother, and allowed her grief to get the upper hand, she +would not be so ill as she is now. Then came the second blow—the +extraordinary loss of the children."</p> + +<p>"Then you really think her very ill?" said Mrs. Dolman. "I would do +anything to save her, doctor. These four children were put into my +care by their father."</p> + +<p>"Where is the father now?" asked Dr. Kent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He must have nearly reached the Himalayas by this time."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible for you to communicate with him?"</p> + +<p>"To say the truth, I have hesitated to do so. He suffered terribly at +the death of his wife. It would be fearful for him to learn that two +of the children are missing, and one very ill. I have waited, hoping +for better news."</p> + +<p>"You did wrong. He ought to know of this calamity. Each day that does +not give you tidings of the missing children lessens the chance of +your ever recovering them. I must say their disappearance is most +mysterious."</p> + +<p>"So it is," answered Aunt Jane suddenly. "And in my heart of hearts," +she added, "I am greatly alarmed."</p> + +<p>"Well, if I were you, I would send a cablegram to the address most +likely to find Mr. Delaney."</p> + +<p>"If you think it right."</p> + +<p>"I do. It is the only thing to do. He ought to come home immediately. +That little girl ought to have her father with her."</p> + +<p>"Then your opinion is that Iris is very ill?"</p> + +<p>"She is on her way to be very ill. At the same time, if her mind is +relieved, she will be well in a week. Under existing circumstances, +however, there seems but small chance of that. You ought to +communicate with the father, and if I were you I would let the child +do something herself—even if that something is useless—to try to +recover her lost brother and sister."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean? It really is impossible for the child to go over +the country looking for Orion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> and Diana. Oh, what trouble I brought +upon myself when I undertook the care of my brother's family!"</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry for you, Mrs. Dolman, but I must give you my true +opinion. Please act on my suggestion; I am sure you will not regret +it. Communicate with the father in the quickest way possible, urge him +to return to London without fail, and give little Iris something to do +which will occupy and satisfy her mind. In the meantime I will order +her a tonic, but medicines are not what she needs. She requires mind +rest, and nothing else will make her well."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman left Dr. Kent's house, feeling very uncomfortable. She +took Iris home, was wonderfully gentle to her during the walk, and +sent her up to the schoolroom with a message to Miss Ramsay to say +that she was not to do any more lessons that morning. Having got rid +of Iris, she went immediately to have an interview with her husband in +his study.</p> + +<p>"Well, William," she said, "I own myself beaten."</p> + +<p>"My dear Jane—beaten? In what way?"</p> + +<p>"Here's a pretty mess," continued Mrs. Dolman; "Orion and Diana cannot +be found, and Dr. Kent says that Iris is going to be very ill."</p> + +<p>"Iris going to be ill?" repeated Mr. Dolman. "Has she caught anything +taking. If so, Jane, it would be our duty to separate the children +immediately."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense, William! Where would she take a catching complaint in a +wholesome, well-sanitated rectory like this? Have you never heard of +nerve troubles?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Dolman opened his sleepy eyes and stared full at his wife.</p> + +<p>"My dear," he said, "I often thought that <i>you</i> had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> never heard of +them. So you really believe in them at last?"</p> + +<p>"I am forced to when that pretty child is dying from the effects of +them."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman then repeated to her husband all that Dr. Kent had said.</p> + +<p>"I cannot stand the responsibility any longer," she said. "I will send +a cablegram to David this very day. What will he think of me? Of +course he will never forgive me. In the meantime, William, have you +anything to propose about little Iris?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Mr. Dolman. "There may not be much in my suggestion; +but the fact is, I feel dreadfully restless, sitting here day after +day, doing nothing."</p> + +<p>"William, what do you mean?" answered his wife. "Sitting here day +after day, doing nothing! Have you not your parish to attend to?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't mean that—you attend to the parish, my love."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, William, for acknowledging that fact at last."</p> + +<p>"I frankly acknowledge it. Then, too, we have no sick poor in the +parish, and everything is really in a prosperous condition; but the +fact is, I hate sitting down to my comfortable meals, and lying down +at night on my comfortable bed, not knowing in what part of the world +dear, spirited little Diana may be. I don't think half so much about +the boy as little Diana."</p> + +<p>"You are like all the rest of your sex, William; you are taken by a +child because it happens to be a girl and has a pair of black eyes. +For my part, I never could bear little Diana."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Please don't say that now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is not that I am not sorry for her; of course, I am dreadfully +sorry, and I acknowledge—I do acknowledge—that I have been more or +less to blame. But now, please, come to the point—you always were +such a man for going round and round a subject."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said Mr. Dolman, "this is it. The doctor wishes Iris to +be roused. Let me take both her and Apollo, and let us begin to look +for the lost children."</p> + +<p>"And do you suppose," answered Mrs. Dolman, with a laugh, "that you +will be more likely to find the children than the clever detectives +who are on their track?"</p> + +<p>"We can go to London and take a detective with us. Iris will at once +feel happier if she is doing something. The fact is this: I am certain +the inaction is killing her."</p> + +<p>"It is an extraordinary plan," said Mrs. Dolman; "but after all, if it +is the only way to keep Iris alive, I suppose we must consider it. +But, William, I am the suitable one to take Iris and Apollo about. +Indeed, why should Apollo go at all? He at least is in perfect +health."</p> + +<p>"The person to consider is Iris," said Mr. Dolman. "She will confide +in Apollo when she will not confide in anyone else; and I think, +Jane," he added, looking very strong and determined, "that she would +rather go with me than with you." Mrs. Dolman flushed. "You know, +Jane," continued her husband, "you have been a little hard on these +children."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," answered Mrs. Dolman, "and when I have tried to do my +duty, too. But, of course,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> Evangeline's children were likely to be +unmanageable; they had such extraordinary training when they were +babies. However, as matters stand, I have not a word to say."</p> + +<p>"Then, my dear, we will consider the thing arranged. We can easily get +John Burroughs to lend us one of his curates for Sunday, and you will +do all the rest. Now, shall I see Iris and submit the plan to her?"</p> + +<p>"An extraordinary plan it is," answered Mrs. Dolman; "but perhaps you +are right, William. At any rate, I have proved myself so completely in +the wrong that I am willing on this occasion to be guided by you."</p> + +<p>She rose from her seat, left the room, and went up to the schoolroom.</p> + +<p>"Iris," she said to the little girl, "I want you and Apollo to come +downstairs immediately."</p> + +<p>Iris sprang to her feet; she grew white to her lips.</p> + +<p>"Have you heard anything?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, my dear, nothing—nothing whatever; only your uncle wishes to +speak to you. Now, come at once, for he is not the sort of man to be +kept waiting."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dolman left the room and the children followed her. When they +reached the study, Iris went straight up to her uncle.</p> + +<p>"What do you want with me, Uncle William?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"The fact is this," he answered, scarcely looking at her, and speaking +with great eagerness and emphasis for him; "you and I, Iris, have got +to do something, and there is not a moment to delay."</p> + +<p>A great flood of color filled Iris' cheeks, a new light darted into +her eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Uncle William," she said, panting as she spoke, "we have +been doing nothing too long. It has nearly killed me, Uncle William," +she added.</p> + +<p>"Then, my dear, we will just be our own detectives—you and I and +Apollo. We will start this very afternoon; we will look for the +children ourselves. Why, what is the matter, my dear; what is the +matter? What are you doing?"</p> + +<p>For little Iris had fallen on her knees, had caught her uncle's hand +in both of hers, and was pressing it frantically to her lips.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle William," she said, "how can I thank you? I promised mother +the day she died that I would be a little mother to the others, and I +have failed, I have failed dreadfully, and it is killing me, Uncle +William. But oh, if I can find them again, and if you will really help +me, and if we do start to-day—oh, if this is true, then I am happy +again."</p> + +<p>"You observe, my dear Jane," said Mr. Dolman, "that my proposal seems +to be correct. Now, run off, Iris, and get Simpson to pack some +clothes for you and Apollo. We will leave Super-Ashton by the three +o'clock train."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>"A PIGMY I CALL HIM."</h3> + + +<p>The seaside town of Madersley was crowded to excess. It was the height +of the summer season, and Holt's circus was doing a roaring trade. +There were two exhibitions daily, and every available corner in the +great tent was crammed to excess. The spectators said that they came +principally to see the little dark-eyed girl ride. For Diana had taken +to the life almost as kindly as a young duck takes to the water. She +had learned her part quickly, and in a very short time she could ride +even the most spirited horse. She was really almost destitute of fear, +and was even seen to laugh when she was put upon the back of a +buck-jumper, who did his utmost to toss her off. There were always men +or women close by to catch her if she did fail to go through any of +the rings, the large paper balloons, or the other obstructions put in +her way. Her piquant little face, the bold expression of her eyes, her +fearless manner, and the unmistakable look of babyhood about her, +roused the spectators to a frenzy of admiration.</p> + +<p>But though Diana did well and delighted Ben Holt, Orion by no means +followed her example. Put to the test, poor little Orion had little of +the real giant about him. He was an ordinary little boy, with pretty +black eyes and a good-humored, somewhat touching expression of face, +but Diana was anything but an ordinary girl.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>Orion, having slipped once or twice from the back of Greased +Lightning, became terribly afraid of the beast, and always turned +white to his little lips when he was going through his exercises. As a +rule, Ben Holt always trained the novices himself, and although he was +kind to Diana, he soon began to have a thorough contempt for little +Orion.</p> + +<p>"He's a peaky little chap," he said to his wife. "Why, he aint even +worth the twenty shillin's I paid for 'im. Now the little 'un—the +gal—there's a fortune in her; but the boy—I have no patience with +the boy."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, he began to use rough language and threats to the child, +and once or twice he even touched the little fellow with his great +whip. On this occasion Orion lost every scrap of nerve he possessed, +and fell flat down upon the sanded floor of the arena, shivering and +crying painfully. Diana did not happen to be present. When she was by, +small child that she was, Uncle Ben never showed at his worst, and +Orion, looking round now in vain for his sister, gave himself up for +lost.</p> + +<p>"Now listen to me, you young villain," said the tyrant; "I'll force +you to do what I want. You get on Greased Lightning's back this very +minute."</p> + +<p>Little Orion struggled painfully to his feet. A good-natured girl, who +stood near, tried to say a word in his favor.</p> + +<p>"Don't you forget that he's very young, Ben Holt," she said. "It will +be all the worse for you if you are too hard on the little kid."</p> + +<p>"I'll thank you not to give me any of your sauce, Susan Jenkins," was +the angry reply.</p> + +<p>Susan Jenkins, a pretty, slight, fair-haired girl, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> went by the +graceful name of Ariel in the circus programme, did not venture to say +anything further, but in her heart she resolved to give Diana a hint +of the true state of the case.</p> + +<p>Orion was once more lifted on Greased Lightning's back, and the +manager cracking his whip, the beautiful horse began to trot round and +round the arena. At first the creature went fairly quietly, and Orion +managed to keep his seat. His piteous white face, the black shadows +under his eyes, his little trembling hands were noticed, however, by +Susan. She kept near on purpose and tried to encourage him by smiles +and nods. When he passed close to her he heard her hearty voice +saying, "Well done, little chap! You jest stick on and you'll be as +right as a trivet."</p> + +<p>A strangled sob by way of answer rose in Orion's throat. Alas! he knew +only too well that he could not stick on. Louder and faster grew the +crack of the manager's whip, and faster and fleeter trotted Greased +Lightning. It was impossible for Orion to keep his seat; he had +nothing to cling to, nothing to hold on to.</p> + +<p>"You will have to do all this before the company to-morrow," called +out the manager; "and now, no more of that easy sitting still. You +jest scramble to your feet and <i>stand</i> on the 'orse's back."</p> + +<p>"I can't! I'll be killed!" cried the child, whose face was white to +his very lips.</p> + +<p>Crack went the great whip.</p> + +<p>"Stand up this minute, or you'll have a taste of this about your +legs," said the man, in a brutal tone.</p> + +<p>In deadly fear the little fellow struggled to his feet; he looked +wildly round him, the horse trotted forward, the child fell on his +face and hands and clutched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> hold of the black mane. This enraged the +spirited beast, who began to dance and curvet about, and the next +moment, but for the speedy interference of Susan Jenkins, little Orion +would have measured his length upon the floor. Even as it was he was +hurt and shaken, and lay weeping and trembling in her arms.</p> + +<p>"Now, Susan, you jest listen to me," said Holt, in an enraged voice. +"I aint a-goin' to stand this sort of thing. That little chap has got +to learn his lesson or he don't stay here; he is not a patch on his +sister, but he shall learn his part. I has it all arranged that them +two children is to appear in public to-morrow, and the boy must help +the gal. The gal will do her work right well, but the boy must help +her. It's the look of the two, and they so young, that I reckon on to +fill the house. I'm determined that a mite of that sort shan't beat +me. He could have stood on the horse's back if he had had a mind. He +has disobeyed me and he shall be punished. You take 'im and lock 'im +up in the black cage."</p> + +<p>The black cage was a terrible place, in which some of the fiercer +animals were put from time to time to train them. It really consisted +of a huge box without windows, but with one or two small ventilating +shafts in the door. On rare occasions, when thoroughly enraged, the +manager had been known to lock a refractory member of the troupe up +there; but such a punishment had never been given to a child before.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Ben Holt! You can't mean that," said Susan. "Why, it'll +frighten him awful, and it do smell so bad of the last leopard."</p> + +<p>But for this answer the poor girl only got a crack of the whip round +her ankles.</p> + +<p>What might have really happened at the end is not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> known; but suddenly +at this juncture the swing door was flung open and little Diana +marched in. She held her head well back, and trotted boldly into the +center of the arena.</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear, what's all this fuss?" she cried out in her frank, hearty +voice. "Uncle Ben, is anybody a-vexing of you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear; that little brother of yours. You jest tell him to do +his duty."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Diana, Diana! he's killing me!" sobbed little Orion. He struggled +out of Susan's arms, flew to his sister, flung the whole weight of his +little body against her, and gave way to a fresh agony of howling and +weeping.</p> + +<p>Diana's black eyes flashed.</p> + +<p>"You stay k'iet. Orion; 'member you is a giant," she said, speaking in +a whisper to the boy. "I's here, and I'll look after you. You stay +k'iet. Now, Uncle Ben, what's all this?"</p> + +<p>"Only that silly boy won't ride Greased Lightning. He won't even stand +on the 'orse, let alone leap through the rings and the balloons."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" said Diana, her eyes gleaming. "But I can do all that; +I can do all that beautiful. <i>Dear</i> G'eased Lightning!" She unclasped +Orion's arms from her neck and trotted across the stage. She ran up to +the great chestnut and began to stroke its nose. The creature licked +her little hand and looked affectionately down at her small figure.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Ben," she said suddenly, "I isn't going to have Orion punished; +you isn't to do it; give him to me. You can't do anything with a +little sild like that if you fwighten him. Give him to me, Uncle Ben; +I'll manage him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But what are you but a little child yourself?" said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I is made different. Nothing fwightens me. I aren't afeared +of nothing, and I aren't afeared of you, Uncle Ben, so don't you begin +to think I is."</p> + +<p>"Never seed sech a child," said Uncle Ben, once more restored to good +humor. "Jest notice that perfect demon of a 'orse, how 'e takes to +'er. Never seed anything like it afore. Well, missy, and if you can +manage your brother I'm sure I'll be only too pleased, but jest you +remember this—you are both to go before the footlights to-morrow for +the public to see. I has never had that young 'un on the stage yet, +but he's to ride with you to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"So he shall, Uncle Ben; course you will, won't you, Orion?"</p> + +<p>"With you, Di," sobbed Orion; "if you are close to me, Di."</p> + +<p>"Course I'll be close to you, Orion. I is the gweat Diana. Well, Uncle +Ben, you isn't going to punish him. If you punish him he can't wide, +'cos he'll be ill. He's a giant."</p> + +<p>"A pigmy I call him," said Uncle Ben.</p> + +<p>"You talk silly," replied Diana; "he's a giant, 'cos mother said he +was, and on starful nights you can see him shining in the sky."</p> + +<p>"Bless you, child, don't take up any more of my time talking that +gibberish."</p> + +<p>"Well, he's not to be punished, 'cos I say he isn't. He's coming with +me now to his dinner. Come 'long, Orion, this minute; I has come to +fetch you. Good-by, Uncle Ben."</p> + +<p>Uncle Ben did not utter a word. Orion and Diana left the arena, hand +in hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What about the black cage now, mister?" said the circus girl, with a +sneer.</p> + +<p>"Hang me, if I know what the world's coming to!" said Uncle Ben, +scratching his head. "I can do nothing agen that little gal—she's the +'cutest, sharpest, bravest little cuss I ever come across."</p> + +<p>"She's got the upper hand of you, leastways," said Susan, with a +laugh; "and, for my part," she added, "I am right glad. I don't want +that pore little kid to be used hard."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>"LET'S PERTEND," SAID DIANA.</h3> + + +<p>The circus was crowded that evening, but neither Diana nor Orion put +in an appearance. They were to make their grand <i>début</i> together on +the following day, for hitherto only Diana had ridden in public. They +were left now in the little room, all alone, but as they were together +that did not matter at all to them. Orion's weary head rested against +his sister's shoulder. Her stout little arm was flung round his waist; +he was fast asleep, but there were traces of tears on his pale cheeks. +It seemed a very long time now to little Orion since all the world had +altered for him. From being a beautiful place, full of lovely gardens, +and lovely homes, and kind people—from being full of snug little beds +to sleep in, and nice food to eat, and loving services of all +sorts—it had suddenly turned and shown its black face to the tenderly +nurtured little boy. Rough words were now his portion; he had a hard +bed to lie on, very insufficient and very poor food to eat, and in +addition to these things, blows and kicks were measured out to him +with a very liberal hand. Besides these fearful things, he was +expected to do what terrified him into the very core of his somewhat +timorous heart. Until he had been kidnaped by Mother Rodesia he had +never known that he was really timid, but now this side of his nature +had come to the fore. Day by day he grew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> more and more frightened, +and for the last fortnight he really lost his appetite, and his health +began to fail. He refused to eat the coarse and insufficient food, and +when he slept his sleep was broken by bad dreams. Little Diana knew +that there was something very wrong the matter, but she could not +quite tell what. She had a very energetic little brain, however, and +it was working now hard in Orion's behalf.</p> + +<p>The noise and shouts made by the circus people were distinctly audible +to the two little children. Orion raised his head, looked around him +with a terrified glance, and began to cry feebly.</p> + +<p>"Is Uncle Ben coming? Have I got to ride Greased Lightning? Di, are +you there? are you close to me?"</p> + +<p>"Course I is," answered Diana. "Orion, don't you be such a silly; I is +with you. There's nothing going to happen."</p> + +<p>"Nothing? Are you certain sure?" asked the child.</p> + +<p>"K'ite. I is with you, Orion; don't you be fwightened; there's nothing +going to happen."</p> + +<p>Orion leaned comfortably back against the fat little shoulder.</p> + +<p>"P'w'aps you is a bit hung'y," said Diana. "There's bwead and milk on +the table; Aunt Sawah left it. Shall we eat our supper afore we +talks?"</p> + +<p>"I can't eat," replied Orion. "I'm not a scrap hungry; I am never +hungry now. I wonder you can eat, Diana."</p> + +<p>"Course I can eat," replied Diana; "I aren't a silly. I has got to +wide G'eased Lightning. I love G'eased Lightning. Don't know why you +is fwightened of him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I am to ride Pole Star, and he's worse than Greased Lightning," +replied Orion.</p> + +<p>"Well, you listen to me," said Diana, speaking in a very firm and +authoritative voice. "See, I am eating up my supper, and you had best +have some with me. I'll sit by you on the floor, if you like, and feed +you same as if you was a baby."</p> + +<p>"But you are younger nor me," said Orion, with a little laugh; "seems, +though, as if you were much older."</p> + +<p>"Can't help that," answered Diana; "can't help feelin' old, whether we +is nor not. You is almost a baby—I is k'ite a big girl. Now, open +your mouth; I am going to pop in some food. Here's a vedy nice piece +of bwead."</p> + +<p>Orion did what Diana wished, but he could scarcely eat. Tears came +suddenly into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I wish I was dead, like poor Rub-a-Dub," he said, after a pause; "I +wish I was lying in the beautiful garden, in the cemetery part with +Rub-a-Dub."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't be such a silly!" said Diana. "You has a lot to do afore +you is deaded. Don't forget that you is a star and a giant."</p> + +<p>"No, that I aren't," said the child. "Oh, Di! if mother was here she +would be disappointed, for I am not a star, nor yet a giant. I'm just +the frightenest little boy in the world."</p> + +<p>"I has thought of a plan," said Diana very calmly. "You shan't wide +Pole Star to-morrow; you shall wide G'eased Lightning."</p> + +<p>"But I am nearly as frightened of one horse as the other."</p> + +<p>"I know G'eased Lightning k'ite well by this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> time," continued Diana, +"and if I are there he'll be gentle. You shall wide him, and I'll wide +Pole Star."</p> + +<p>"But I heard Uncle Ben say that I was to have the other horse."</p> + +<p>"Never you mind that. What does that si'nify? I'll manage. I'm not +fwightened of any horse that ever walked. If I are there, and if I +look at G'eased Lightning, he'll be as good as good can be, and you +must just keep looking at me, Orion, and do the things that I do. When +you see me standing on Pole Star you must stand on your two foots on +G'eased Lightning, and when we fly faster and faster you must still +keep looking at me, and when I jump through the wings you must do the +same, and then, Orion, then, why, it will be over. Now, bend down; I'm +going to whisper something to you."</p> + +<p>Orion bent his ear with deep interest.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean it?" he said, when Diana had said some very energetic +words in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I does. Does I say things I doesn't mean? I means it twuly, +twuly. You wide G'eased Lightning, and then—then it'll all be over."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I really think I can, if you are <i>quite</i> sure," said Orion. His +little face brightened up, two fever spots came into his cheeks; his +eyes shone.</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure, Di?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Pos'tive certain. Now, lie down if you like, and go to s'eep."</p> + +<p>"I could eat a bit more supper," said Orion. "I'm kind of hungry now +that you has told me you is positive, Di."</p> + +<p>"All wight," answered Diana. "There's a teeny dwop of milk left. +Course I was hungry and thirsty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> and my trof was dry, but you shall +drink up the last dwop of milk. Here now, isn't you better?"</p> + +<p>"I am really, truly," said Orion; "but are you quite certain it's +true, Di?"</p> + +<p>"K'ite. Do you think I would tell a lie? I is the <i>gweat</i> Diana. You +is sort of forgetting, Orion."</p> + +<p>"No, I aren't," said Orion. "Oh, I am happy now!"</p> + +<p>"Well, lie down. I'll make up your bed, and you shall go to s'eep. We +has a lot to do to-morrow, hasn't we?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a lot," answered Orion, with a little laugh. "Oh, Di! will they +let us?"</p> + +<p>"Course they'll let us," said Diana. "I has it all settled beautiful. +Now, go to s'eep, p'ease, Orion."</p> + +<p>Orion did very soon enter the land of dreams, but little Diana lay +broad awake. She was thinking hard, and her thoughts were wonderfully +sensible for such a baby.</p> + +<p>The performance at the circus had turned out a great success. Diana +had already appeared once or twice on Greased Lightning's back, but +Ben Holt now kept her out of sight on purpose. He had caused rumors to +be spread about her wonderful riding; his aim was to make people very +anxious to see her again. He wanted the public to have a sort of +craving for her. He hoped that when she finally appeared, dressed as +the great Diana, with the bow and arrows, and when little Orion +accompanied her with his girdle round his waist, and a sword in his +hand, and when the two children rode round and round the circus on the +fleetest horses in the company, that they would in very truth bring +down the house—in short, that crowds would come to see them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> + +<p>Uncle Ben was full of hope with regard to Diana, but he was by no +means so sure as far as Orion was concerned. If Orion would not play +his part well, and look what he was—one of the prettiest boys in +England, and one of the very youngest who had ever appeared in a +circus—why, half the effect would be lost. He began to perceive, +however, that cruelty had little or no effect on the child, and he was +inclined to allow that little genius, Diana, to manage him in her own +way.</p> + +<p>That night when the entertainment had come to an end, and Uncle Ben +was seated at his cozy supper, he was much surprised when the door of +the room was pushed suddenly open and a small girl, clad in a little +white nightdress, made her appearance.</p> + +<p>"Is my dear Uncle Ben anywhere about?" called out the clear little +voice.</p> + +<p>"My word! if that aint little Diana," said the man. "Come here this +minute, you little romp, and get on my knee."</p> + +<p>Diana flew up to him, climbed on his knee, put her arms round his +neck, and kissed him.</p> + +<p>"You's sort o' fond of me, I'm thinking," she said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that I be, missy," he answered; "you are the 'cutest little gal +I ever seed, and you are fond of poor Uncle Ben, eh?"</p> + +<p>"It all apends," replied Diana.</p> + +<p>"Now what do you mean by that, missy?"</p> + +<p>"It all apends," she repeated.</p> + +<p>"Wife, can you understand her?" questioned the man.</p> + +<p>"I think she means that it all depends, Ben."</p> + +<p>"Oh, depends—on what now, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"On whether you is good to my bwother or not."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, is that all? Well, I'll be good to 'im."</p> + +<p>"He's awfu' fwightened of you."</p> + +<p>"Well, he needn't be. If you'll manage him I won't say a word."</p> + +<p>"Won't you twuly? Then I love you," said Diana. "Now, listen to me—I +has been a-talking to him."</p> + +<p>"That's right, missy. Have a sip of my stout, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"No; I don't like it; it's black, nasty stuff. Put it away; I won't +touch it. Well, now, listen to me, Uncle Ben. It apends altogether on +whether you is good to Orion to-morrow or not whether he wides well, +or whether he wides badly, and what I think is this—"</p> + +<p>"Well, missy, you are a very wise little miss for your age."</p> + +<p>"What I think is this," repeated Diana. "Let Orion wide G'eased +Lightning and let me wide Pole Star."</p> + +<p>"But you can do anything with Greased Lightning," said the man. "Why, +the 'orse fairly loves you, and Pole Star's a rare and wicious sort of +beast."</p> + +<p>"I aren't fwightened; that aren't me," said Diana, in her usual proud, +confident tone. "Orion isn't to wide a wicious sort of beast."</p> + +<p>She slipped down from the man's knees and stood before him.</p> + +<p>"It aren't me to be fwightened of any horse," she said. "I never was +and I never will be."</p> + +<p>"I believe yer, miss," said Uncle Ben, gazing at her with great +admiration.</p> + +<p>"But Orion he is—he is awfu' fwightened of Pole Star, and he sha'n't +wide him. Now, G'eased Lightning, he'll do anything for me, and so +what I say is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> this—let Orion wide him, and if he begins to dance +about and get sort of fidgety, why, I'll stwoke him down. You know I +could pwactice widing a little on Pole Star in the morning."</p> + +<p>"To be sure you could, missy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear Ben," said Aunt Sarah at that moment, "you are never +a-going to let either of them little kids ride a 'orse like Pole +Star?"</p> + +<p>"You let me manage my own affairs," said the man, scowling angrily.</p> + +<p>"Well, I call it a shame," answered the woman.</p> + +<p>"Poor Aunt Sawah! you needn't be fwightened," said Diana. "I is never +fwightened; that aren't me. I'll wide Pole Star, and Orion, he'll wide +G'eased Lightning, <i>only</i>—now, Uncle Ben, is you listening?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, to be sure I am, missy," said Uncle Ben, taking another deep +draught from his big glass of stout. "What's the 'only,' little miss?"</p> + +<p>"Let's pertend," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Pretend what, missy?"</p> + +<p>"That after Orion has done it, after he has wode G'eased Lightning, he +may go 'way."</p> + +<p>"Go away, missy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, let's pertend it. If he thinks he's going away after he has done +it, why, there's nothing he won't twy to do, 'cos, you see, he's +longing to go. Let's say this to him: 'Orion, you's good boy, you's +darlin' boy, and when you has done what I want you to do, you shall go +way'—then he'll do it beaut'ful."</p> + +<p>"But he aint a-going," said the man, "he's my property. I has bought +him; I has bought you both. You are sort of slaves to me."</p> + +<p>"No, I aren't a slave to nobody," said Diana, whose fierce little +blood could not brook this word.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, you are a very good little gal, and so I am to pretend to Orion +that he's going away; but now, when I don't mean him to go, that seems +sort of cruel."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you leave it to me!" said Diana; "let him think he's going away +and I'll manage. Tell Susan to tell him, and tell Aunt Sawah to tell +him, and you tell him, and I'll tell him, and then he'll be as good as +good, and as bwave—as bwave as a big giant."</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, manage it your own way," said Uncle Ben; "but, all the +same, it seems a shame. I aint what's called a very soft sort of man, +but it seems a shame to deceive a little kid; only you manage it your +own way, little missy."</p> + +<p>"I'll manage it my own way," echoed Diana. "I'm awfu' 'bliged."</p> + +<p>She tripped gayly out of the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>POLE STAR.</h3> + + +<p>The next day, at an early hour, the different performers had a grand +rehearsal of their parts. It was a dress rehearsal. Holt was in high +spirits, and Aunt Sarah, who stood just in front of the circus, petted +and encouraged both Diana and Orion as much as possible. Orion felt +shaky and looked very white, but the delicious thought that, after he +had gone through those few minutes of agony, he might really be free +to run away, to leave the dreadful, terrible circus forever, sustained +him wonderfully. Diana had assured him that this could be managed. She +had told him that Uncle Ben had promised that if he was a brave boy +and sat well on Greased Lightning, and stood up when necessary, and, +in short, went through the ordeal set him to do, without a murmur, he +should be allowed to leave the circus that evening. It mattered +nothing at all to little Orion that he did not know where he was to +go, that he was a penniless and very small, very ignorant boy. The one +object on which all his hopes were centered was the desire to get away +from Uncle Ben and the terrible horses which he was forced to ride.</p> + +<p>"Now, 'member, you is to be bwave," said Diana; "you isn't to be +fwightened. If you's fwightened, Uncle Ben won't let you go. You just +be as bwave as possible, and never mind nobody. Now, then, it's your +turn. Come 'long."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p>Orion looked charming in his pretty dress. He wore a little sky-blue +tunic, with small, tight knickers of white; his little legs and feet +were bare, round his waist was a crimson girdle, and at his side was +attached a toy sword.</p> + +<p>Diana wore a silk skirt and tights, her curling black hair fell partly +over her forehead; her bold, black eyes were full of a strange mixture +of frolic, affection, and defiance. She looked the personification of +healthy life and courageous fire. In her hand she held the bow of +Diana, and round her neck was slung a couple of arrows. She was a +wonderfully graceful child in all her movements, and looked charming +in her picturesque dress.</p> + +<p>The call for the children came, and the two bounded on the stage. The +moment they did so, Diana ran up to Uncle Ben and took hold of the +great whip which he carried.</p> + +<p>"You must let me do it my own way," she said; "you have pwomised. +Orion won't be bwave boy if I don't manage him. Give me that whip."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I say, little missy——"</p> + +<p>"Give me that whip," repeated Diana, flashing her eyes up at the man. +"I is the gweat Diana and I order you. Give me the whip; I'll slash +it; I know how. Ah, here comes G'eased Lightning. Come 'long, you +beauty; come 'long, you darlin'."</p> + +<p>Diana ran fearlessly up to the horse, fondled its nose, and looked +into its eyes; the creature stood perfectly still, bent its graceful +head, and licked her little hand.</p> + +<p>"And it's a perfect brute to everyone else," thought Uncle Ben to +himself, but this time he did not utter a word.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>The horse stood perfectly motionless until little Orion was mounted on +its back.</p> + +<p>"Now, G'eased Lightning, you has got to be a good horse," said Diana, +speaking to him in a confiding voice. "You isn't to fwighten Orion; +'member he's a giant, and it's a gweat honor for you to carry him, +'cos most times he lives up in the stars."</p> + +<p>"Come, missy, we have no time for that sort of nonsense," said Uncle +Ben, who began to get impatient. "Give me back my whip."</p> + +<p>"No; I is going to slash the whip. Come, G'eased Lightning; twot, +twot, p'ease."</p> + +<p>The horse began to amble gently forward. Little Diana went and stood +by Uncle Ben's side.</p> + +<p>"I's managing," she said; "you shall have whip to-night; but I's +managing now."</p> + +<p>The other performers stood round in breathless silence. Orion kept his +seat manfully. Greased Lightning was as gentle as a lamb.</p> + +<p>"Good boy!" called out Diana; "vedy good little boy. Good horse, +G'eased Lightning! you is a vedy good horse. Now then, go faster." +Diana gave the whip a crack.</p> + +<p>The horse looked at her out of his big, intelligent eyes, and began to +trot, but still very gently, round and round the circus.</p> + +<p>"Good boy," repeated Diana; "good horse! Now then, Orion, get up on to +yous two foots; don't be fwightened. 'Member what will happen when +it's over. Get up on to yous foots this minute."</p> + +<p>Poor little Orion scrambled in deadly terror on to his small feet; but +the horse still went swift and smooth, neither budging nor turning to +the right or the left. Diana once again cracked her whip. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> went +faster and faster. Orion began to lose his fear; he even laughed with +excitement; the rose bloom came out on his delicate little face. The +terrible hoops were brought, and the child made a manful effort to get +through them. Diana cracked her whip and called out and encouraged +him, and finally brought him successfully through the ordeal. He was +taken off the stage wet with perspiration, and trembling all over, but +at the same time he had a wild sort of triumph in his little heart.</p> + +<p>"I did it well; didn't I, Aunt Sarah?" he said.</p> + +<p>"You did it splendidly, my little love," said Aunt Sarah; "but I never +did see a little gal like your sister. Oh, merciful Heavens! that man +aint never a-going to let her ride Pole Star!"</p> + +<p>A black horse of immense strength and size was now brought upon the +stage. This horse seemed to paw the air as he walked; his eyes were +bloodshot and full of a dangerous light.</p> + +<p>"Remember it's your own fault, missy," said Uncle Ben; "this aint the +'orse I'd give you. I don't want any harm to come to you; but if you +insist on that little chap, that aint a patch on you, riding Greased +Lightning, why, there aint nothing for it but for you to ride Pole +Star."</p> + +<p>"You don't 'uppose I's fwightened of Pole Star? Why, he's a weal +beauty," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"He's the——" The man arrested the words on his lips.</p> + +<p>Diana had thrown down her whip and rushed across the stage. With just +the same fearless confidence as, half an hour before, she had gone up +to Greased Lightning—she now approached Pole Star.</p> + +<p>"You's pwetty, you's a darlin'," she said. She held<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> out her tiny +brown hand. "Give me a bit of sugar, somebody," she demanded.</p> + +<p>A girl who stood near ran away to fetch a lump. The child offered it +to the horse. He looked at her, pawed the ground restlessly, and then, +stooping, licked the sugar off her hand as tenderly as if he were a +kitten.</p> + +<p>"Well, I never!" said Uncle Ben, breathing a great sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>"It's a beauty horse," repeated Diana; "I like it better nor G'eased +Lightning. Pole Star, I's going to wide you; you's a dear, good +horse." She stroked the creature's nose—the fierce eyes grew +gentle—a moment later the child was mounted on its back.</p> + +<p>"Now, gee up, gee up!" called Diana. "P'ease, Uncle Ben, don't cwack +your whip; I can manage Pole Star." She pulled at the reins, and the +creature began, at first gently and then more rapidly, to run round +and round the stage. After all, notwithstanding her bravery, it was an +ordeal, for Pole Star could run double as fast as Greased Lightning. +Soon, from running he seemed to take to flying, and little Diana +gasped and lost her breath; but she sat firm as a statue, and never +touched a hair of the creature's mane.</p> + +<p>"Now, Pole Star," she called out, when the horse had stopped for want +of breath; "I's going to stand on you, and you must be vedy good." She +patted the animal on its head; then she scrambled to her feet, and, +holding the reins taut, stood firm as an arrow, while the creature +once more flew round the stage. When her ride was over she had won the +applause of the whole house.</p> + +<p>After this Diana and Orion were taken away to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> rest until the evening. +They were given the best food and a great deal of petting from Aunt +Sarah. As to Diana, she was in excellent spirits.</p> + +<p>"Oh, please, Di; nothing will make you stop, nothing will make you +break your word?" said little Orion once to her.</p> + +<p>"What I pwomise I do," replied Diana, with dignity.</p> + +<p>And so the hours flew by, and at last the time arrived when the +children were to appear before the footlights.</p> + +<p>The huge circus tent was packed to the highest gallery. There was, in +short, not standing room in the audience part of the house. Uncle Ben, +in the highest spirits, was darting here and there behind the wings, +giving directions, gesticulating, ordering, rearranging. Little Diana +flew up to him and took his hand.</p> + +<p>"What is you 'cited about?" she asked. "Is you fwightened 'bout +anything?"</p> + +<p>"No, little gal, no—that is, provided you and your brother do your +parts well."</p> + +<p>"We has pwomised," said Diana, with great firmness; "you needn't be +fwightened; we has pwomised."</p> + +<p>The children were to appear as the last item of the first part of the +performance. Uncle Ben felt that on them really turned the success of +the evening. At last the crucial moment arrived. Two beautiful horses +were led into the circus, and immediately afterwards little Diana, +holding Orion by the hand, skipped on to the stage. She came lightly +forward, almost up to the footlights, dropped a somewhat pert little +courtesy, turned round, and, taking Orion's hand, danced up to where +the two horses were impatiently pawing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> the ground. Uncle Ben, with +his big whip in his hand, dressed in evening clothes, was standing at +one side. A man came forward to help Diana to mount Pole Star—another +gave his hand to Orion.</p> + +<p>"'Member, Orion, you has pwomised, and it all apends," said Diana, in +a low, but very clear, voice.</p> + +<p>The little fellow looked at her. Her spirited action, the splendid +color in her cheeks, the glow of excitement in her great big eyes, +inspired him. He would not ride for those horrid people who were +crowding all the seats in front, those horrid, terrible people who +seemed to rise from the floor to the ceiling. He did not care anything +about those faces, those cruel, staring eyes, those smiling lips; but +he did care for Diana. He would ride his best for her.</p> + +<p>"Steady, G'eased Lightning," said the little girl; "you's to be good +horse, 'member. Now, Pole Star, beauty, darlin', do just what Diana +wants."</p> + +<p>The horses began to canter forward, going briskly and swiftly side by +side. Greased Lightning's coal-black eye was fixed upon Diana as she +sat on Pole Star's back. Pole Star felt the feather-weight of the hot +hand on his mane, the touch of the little feet somewhere near his +neck. There was a magnetic current of sympathy between the horse and +the child.</p> + +<p>"Think you's a giant," she said once to Orion, as she shot past him in +the race.</p> + +<p>The crowd, speechless with astonishment and delight for the first +moment or two, now began to clap and cheer loudly. Crack went Uncle +Ben's whip. The circus girls in the wings, the men, the clown, all +watched the little pair with beating hearts. Diana they felt sure of, +but what of little Orion? And yet a change had come over the child. +His face was no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> longer pale; some of Diana's spirit seemed to have +entered into his soul.</p> + +<p>The signal came for the pair to stand upon the bare, backs of their +horses. Little Orion scrambled as quickly and nimbly to his feet as +Diana herself. He caught the reins; crack again went the whip; the +horses flew round and round. Now and then Diana said a soft word to +Greased Lightning; now and then she stamped her small foot on Pole +Star's neck. Each movement, each glance of the child, seemed to thrill +through the willing beast. Incomprehensible as it may seem, both these +wild, half-tamed creatures loved her. They kept straight, veering +neither to left nor right, for her sake.</p> + +<p>The first part of the performance went safely through, but now came +the more difficult and dangerous time. The children were now not only +to ride the horses standing, but they were obliged to ride holding one +foot in the air, then to keep on their steeds standing on tiptoe, and +finally they had to spring through great rings made of tissue paper, +and leap again upon the horses as they galloped through. Diana +performed her task with unfailing exactness, always reaching the +horse's back at the right moment, springing up, sitting down, standing +first on one foot, then on the other, being apparently on wires, +afraid of nothing, triumphant through all. Orion made a gallant effort +to follow her example. In two minutes now the whole thing would be +over.</p> + +<p>"Don't be fwightened, Orion; time's nearly up," whispered the gay, +brave little voice in his ear.</p> + +<p>The horses flew, the children moved as if they were puppets, and all +might now have been well if at that moment Diana herself—Diana the +fearless, the brave,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> the unconquerable—had not slipped, slipped at +the very moment when she was springing through one of the rings. The +horse galloped on without her, and she lay prone upon the floor of the +circus. Uncle Ben rushed madly to the rescue, and before Orion's horse +had reached the spot he had caught the child in his arms. She was +stunned by the fall, and lay white as death in his embrace. The house +thought the fall had killed her, and there was a horrified murmur; but +Diana was only stunned. In a moment she raised her cheery little +voice.</p> + +<p>"I's awfu' sossy; I's all wight now," she said. "Where's Pole Star?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, little gal," said Uncle Ben, knowing well the temper of the +house, "you must do no more to-night. The company, I know, will excuse +you."</p> + +<p>Seating the child on his shoulder, and patting her hand +affectionately, as if he were her father, he brought little Diana to +the front.</p> + +<p>"I hope, ladies and gentlemen," he called out, "that you will excuse +this great lady huntress to-night. But if you wish her to take another +turn round on the back of the great Pole Star, she is willing to +comply."</p> + +<p>"No!" shouted voice after voice in the gallery; "let little missy off. +We'll come to see little missy another night. Three cheers for little +missy!"</p> + +<p>The next moment Diana and Orion found themselves at the back of the +stage.</p> + +<p>"Is it true, Di?" gasped Orion. "Is it all over?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; it's all over," answered little Diana. She leaned against the +wall. "I's a bit giddy," she said; "but I'll be all wight by and by."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah, with tears in her eyes, brought the child a restorative.</p> + +<p>"Drink this, little love," she said; "you'll soon be much better, I'm +sure."</p> + +<p>The curtain had fallen on the first half of the performance, and Uncle +Ben came up in a huge good humor.</p> + +<p>"Missy, I hope you aint hurt," he said.</p> + +<p>"Hurt?" answered Diana. "What do a fall matter? I's as wight as wain. +Didn't Orion do well, Uncle Ben?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, all things considerin'," said Uncle Ben. "We has a full house, +missy, and I'm very much obliged to you. Now you had best go straight +to bed. Sarah, take the kids off and give them a good supper, for they +has earned it."</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah took Diana's hand and led her to their bedroom.</p> + +<p>"But aren't we going away now?" said Orion.</p> + +<p>Aunt Sarah sat down at the foot of one of the beds with a white face.</p> + +<p>"Come to me, little missy," she said to Diana.</p> + +<p>The child went to her.</p> + +<p>"I's k'ite well," she said, "only a little giddy. Why, Aunt Sawah, +you's kying."</p> + +<p>"I thought you were dead for a minute, my little miss; you that is the +image of my Rachel, what the good God took from me. I thought you were +dead, and it 'most broke my 'eart—oh, little missy, little darlin'!"</p> + +<p>"But, Diana, aren't we going away?" Said Orion. "You promised, and you +never broke your word."</p> + +<p>"I pwomised, and I never break my word," said Diana. "Yes, Orion, yes; +we is going away."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I declare," said Aunt Sarah, "I believe it would be the right thing +to do. It would kill me if you was killed, missy—and them 'orses!"</p> + +<p>"They is darlin's," interrupted Diana.</p> + +<p>"Well, go to sleep now, and I'll fetch some supper," said Aunt Sarah.</p> + +<p>She shut the door behind the children, returning in a few minutes with +bowls of bread and milk. Diana sat listlessly down on the nearest +bench.</p> + +<p>"I's awfu' s'eepy," she said.</p> + +<p>She did not quite know what was the matter with her; it seemed as if +something had suddenly knocked all her spirit away. She did not know +herself without the brave spirit which God had put into her little +breast. Orion gazed at her anxiously.</p> + +<p>"You do look queer," he said; "your eyes are bigger than ever, and +they stare so. What's the matter, Di?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you going to eat your supper?"</p> + +<p>"I's wather sick," said Diana; "I don't want to eat. You had best eat +all you can, Orion."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I had best," answered Orion, "'cos I won't have strength to run +away if I hasn't plenty of food."</p> + +<p>He began to eat up his own basin of bread and milk, and, as it was not +too large, he thought he might attack Diana's also; then he gave her +an anxious glance. She was sitting strangely still, her hands lying +idly in her lap, her eyes staring straight at the opposite wall.</p> + +<p>"'Member we is going away, and that you promised," he said. "Isn't it +time for us to be off?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Orion," she answered.</p> + +<p>"Well, drink off this teeny drop of milk; it will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> strengthen you." He +brought the bowl to Diana, who sipped of a few spoonfuls; but then she +shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I's sick," she said; "it aren't good to eat when you is sick."</p> + +<p>"Well, do come now," said Orion. "If you don't go at once they will +find us; and you promised, and you never broke your word yet."</p> + +<p>"I underland," said Diana; "I would not bweak my word; that would be +mean."</p> + +<p>"Well, let us go now."</p> + +<p>Diana slipped off the little bench on which she had seated herself. +She was still in her circus dress; her little bow was hung at her +side, her arrow slung round her neck. Orion was also in his pretty +dress, with his tiny sword and belt, his blue jacket and little white +knickers.</p> + +<p>"Let's put on our shoes," he said; "we can't go far in bare feet."</p> + +<p>"We can't go far in bare foots," echoed Diana, in a dreary sort of +voice. "I's s'eepy. Shall we wun away in the morning, Orion?"</p> + +<p>"No; to-night! to-night!" he said, in terror. "You'll break your +promise if we don't go to-night."</p> + +<p>"All wight," she answered.</p> + +<p>He brought her shoes, slipped them on her feet, buttoned them, and put +on his own; then he took her hand in his. They opened the door of +their bedroom and ran down a long passage, at the end of which was +another door; it was on the latch. Orion opened it, and the little +children found themselves at the back of the stage. There were no +people about to see them, even Aunt Sarah was far away in one of the +wings.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There! we is safe," said Orion. "We has runned away, and we are +safe."</p> + +<p>"We has wunned away and we is safe," echoed Diana, in that dreary +little voice. "But, Orion, I's drefful s'eepy."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Orion; "we'll sleep in the fields."</p> + +<p>"We'll s'eep in the fields," echoed Diana, in a vague manner.</p> + +<p>Orion took her hand; they ran as fast as they could down a shady lane, +for the great circus tent had been put outside the town.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE MILKMAN.</h3> + + +<p>It was a lovely summer's night, and as the children ran, Orion looked +up at the stars.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's a starful night!" he cried, in a joyful voice, "and there's +me. Do look at me, Di! There I am up in the sky, ever so big and +'portant."</p> + +<p>"So you is," said Diana, laughing and then checking herself. "Is it +far to——"</p> + +<p>"To where, Di?"</p> + +<p>"To the garding," said Diana; "to the dead-house where Rub-a-Dub is. +Let's go and sit on the little bench and see the dead 'uns—let's +count 'em; I wonder how many there is!" She stopped suddenly and gazed +around her.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" said Orion, in some alarm. "We are nowhere near +the garden. Don't you know where we are, Diana?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do now, course," she answered, with a laugh. "I think I was +dweaming; it's my head; it's keer. I want to s'eep awfu'."</p> + +<p>"Well, here are the fields," said Orion; "here's a beautiful green +field, and the moon is shining on it. Oh, and there's a hole in the +hedge; let's creep in."</p> + +<p>"Let's k'eep in," said Diana.</p> + +<p>They pushed their way through the hole and found themselves in a +clover field. The clover, slightly wet with dew, felt very refreshing +to their hot little feet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Isn't this 'licious?" said Diana. "Let's lie down on the g'een +g'ass; let's s'eep here; I's awfu' s'eepy."</p> + +<p>"It's very near the circus," said Orion. "I'm rather frightened for +fear Uncle Ben will find us."</p> + +<p>"No, he won't; it's all wight," said Diana.</p> + +<p>She allowed her little brother to lead her as far as the hedge, and +then nothing would persuade her to go any further. Down on the damp +grass she flung herself, and then next moment was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Orion, aged six, did not think it wrong for Diana to sleep on the wet +grass. The moon shone all over her bare little legs. She folded her +arms when she lay down, and now there was not a stir, nor a movement +from her.</p> + +<p>Far away, or at least it seemed far away to little Orion, he could see +the blinking lights of the town, and when he stood on tiptoe he could +also see the lights of the merry-go-rounds and the other +accompaniments of the great circus. He knew that he was dreadfully +near his tyrants, and he longed beyond words to awaken Diana and make +her go farther away; but she was asleep—dead tired. He never could +master her. There was nothing, therefore, but for him to lie down +also, close to her.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he flung himself on the grass, laid his head on her +shoulder, nestling up close to her for warmth and protection, and in a +few moments he had also forgotten his fears, and was calmly living in +the blessed land of dreams. The great Orion overhead looked down on +his tiny namesake, and the little boy dreamt that he was a giant in +very truth, and that he and Diana were fighting their way through the +world.</p> + +<p>The children slept, and presently the creatures of the night came +out—the owls, and the bats, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> night moths—and looked with +wonder at the queer little pair lying prone amongst the green clover. +Thousands of wonderful night noises also began to awaken in all +directions—the merry chirp of the cricket, the whir of the bat on its +circling flight, the hum of the moths—but the children heard nothing, +although the creatures of the night were curious about these strange +little beings who, by good rights, ought not to be sharing their +kingdom.</p> + +<p>At last, just when the first peep of dawn began to tinge the east, +little Orion opened his eyes and rubbed them hard. With a great rush +memory returned to him. He had run away; he had ridden Greased +Lightning and had not fallen from his back; his terrible life in the +circus was at an end. Uncle Ben was nowhere near to chide him. He and +Diana had got off; but it was true that they had not put a great +distance between themselves and Uncle Ben. Perhaps Uncle Ben, who had +promised that he might go away if he did his part well, might change +his mind in the morning. It was most important that he and his sister +should go farther away as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he proceeded to wake Diana. Diana was very sound asleep +indeed. He could see her face distinctly, for the first faint return +of day was spreading a tender glow over it. She did not look pale; +there was a hot spot on either cheek—a spot of vivid rose.</p> + +<p>"I am cold enough," thought the little fellow, "but Diana seems warm. +Wake up, Di; wake up!" he said. "We has runned away, but we has not +run far enough. Wake up, Di, and let's go on."</p> + +<p>Diana did not stir at all at his first summons. He spoke loudly, +looking around him as he did so in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> some terror. A night owl, +preparing to go home, was seated on a tree near by. The owl looked at +Orion and hooted in a very melancholy manner. His voice seemed to say:</p> + +<p>"I never saw two greater little fools than you children in all my +life."</p> + +<p>Orion felt rather afraid of the owl. Having failed to awaken Diana by +words, he proceeded to shake her. This device succeeded. She opened +her great, big, sleepy eyes and stared around her in bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"So you is our little mother now, Iris?" she said. "All wight; I's +coming."</p> + +<p>She sat up on her grassy bed and rubbed her eyes, then stared at Orion +and burst out laughing.</p> + +<p>"What are you laughing at?" said Orion. "We are in awful danger here. +Uncle Ben may catch us any minute."</p> + +<p>"Who's Uncle Ben?" asked Diana.</p> + +<p>"Why, Di! how very queer you are. Don't you remember Uncle Ben, the +awful man who has the circus?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," said Diana. "Is it true that Rub-a-Dub's dead?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Di! Rub-a-Dub died weeks ago. What does it matter about a mouse? +I'm frightened about Uncle Ben. If he catches us he'll change his +mind, perhaps, and I cannot ride Greased Lightning again. Don't speak +so queer, Di. Do rouse yourself. We must get out of this as fast as we +can."</p> + +<p>"As fast as we can," echoed Diana. "All wight, Orion; I's k'ite +sati'fied."</p> + +<p>"Well, come, then," said Orion; "get up."</p> + +<p>"I don't think I care to."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But we can't run away if you are lying there."</p> + +<p>"No more we can," said Diana. She laughed again. "Isn't it fun?" she +said. "And so Rub-a-Dub isn't dead after all?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; of course he is."</p> + +<p>"Orion, look!" said the child; "look!"</p> + +<p>"Look at what?" answered the little fellow. "Oh, Diana! don't say it's +Uncle Ben!"</p> + +<p>"I don't know nothing 'bout no Uncle Ben; but didn't you see something +flash there?—something white, just over there? I know who it was; it +was mother. Mother has gone to the angels, but she has come back. +Mother! mother! come here! Call her, Orion; call her, call her!"</p> + +<p>"Mother! mother!" said the little boy; "mother, come here!"</p> + +<p>But there was no answer to this cry, which, on the part of Orion at +least, was full of agony. No answer either from the heaven above or +the earth beneath.</p> + +<p>"It was a mistake, I s'pect," said Diana. "Mother is in heaven; she's +a beautiful angel, singing loud. Well, let's come 'long." She +staggered to her feet, and, supported by Orion, began to walk across +the field. "Let's go into the garding," she said.</p> + +<p>Poor little Orion was quite in despair.</p> + +<p>"We are miles from the garden," he said. "I think you have gone +silly."</p> + +<p>"S'pect I has," said Diana. "What fun!"</p> + +<p>"And you have got such a queer look on your face."</p> + +<p>"A k'eer look on my face?" repeated Diana.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and your eyes, they are ever so big; they frighten me."</p> + +<p>"My eyes k'ite fwighten you, poor little boy," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> Diana. "Well, +let's wun; let's get to the garding. Why, it's the day mother went +away to the angels, and we has got no lessons. Where's Iris? I want +Iris."</p> + +<p>"So do I," said Orion. "Oh, Di! what is to become of us? You frighten +me."</p> + +<p>"K'ite fwighten poor little boy," echoed Diana. "I's sossy, but I +can't help it. I's giddy in my head. Does this way lead to garding, +Orion?"</p> + +<p>"No. What are we to do?" said Orion. "Oh, I am so frightened!" He +really was. Diana's strange behavior was more than he could +understand. "Oh, I'm so bitter hungry!" he cried. He flung himself on +the grass.</p> + +<p>Diana stood and looked at him with a puzzled expression on her face.</p> + +<p>"Why, you is a poor little boy," she said. "Now, if you'll take my +hand we'll go indoors, and Fortune will give us a lovely bekfus. Come, +Orion; don't be fwightened, poor little boy."</p> + +<p>They walked across the field. By this time the sun was up and the +place felt warm and dry. Little Orion, shivering in his queer circus +dress, was glad of this, and a faint degree of returning courage came +into his heart.</p> + +<p>Diana did not seem to feel anything at all. She walked along, singing +as she walked.</p> + +<p>"We's going to the dead-house," she said. "Rub-a-Dub's dead."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"You'll never know fear any more,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Little dear;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Good-by, Rub-a-Dub."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Oh, don't Di! You make me feel so frightened,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> said Orion. "Why do +you talk like that? Can't you 'member nothing?"</p> + +<p>"Course I 'member," said Diana. "Rub-a-Dub's dead."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Never know fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Little dear;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rub-a-Dub's dead."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Come this way," said Orion, taking her hand.</p> + +<p>She was quite willing to follow him, although she did not in the least +know where she was going.</p> + +<p>"S'pect I aren't well," she said at last. "Don't be fwightened, poor +little boy. S'pect I aren't k'ite well."</p> + +<p>"I's so hungry," moaned Orion.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's go into the house; let's have bekfus. Where's Fortune? +Come 'long, Orion; come 'long."</p> + +<p>They had reached the highroad now, and were walking on, Orion's arm +flung round Diana's waist. Suddenly, rattling round a corner of the +country road, came a man with a milk cart. He was a very +cheery-looking man with a fat face. He had bright blue eyes and a +kindly mouth.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" he said, when he saw the two little children coming to meet +him. "Well, I never! And what may you two be doing out at this hour?"</p> + +<p>Diana gazed up at him.</p> + +<p>"I's going to the garding," she said. "I's to meet Iris in garding. We +is to 'cide whether it's to be a pwivate or a public funeral."</p> + +<p>"Bless us and save us!" said the man.</p> + +<p>"Don't mind her," said Orion; "she's not well. She fell off a horse +last night, and there's something gone wrong inside her head. I s'pect +something's cracked there. She's talking a lot of nonsense. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> has +runned away, and we is desperate hungry. Can you give us a drink of +milk?"</p> + +<p>"Well, to be sure," said the man, smacking his lips as he spoke. "I +never saw anything like this afore, and never heard anything like it, +neither. Why, it's like a page out of a printed book. And so you has +run away, and you belong to the circus, I guess. Why, you are in your +circus dresses."</p> + +<p>"See my bow and arrow," said Diana. "I is the gweat Diana; I is the +gweatest huntwess in all the world."</p> + +<p>"To be sure; to be sure!" said the man.</p> + +<p>"And I am Orion," said the boy, seeing that Diana's words were having +a good effect. "You can watch me up in the sky on starful nights. I am +a great giant, and this is my girdle, and this is my sword."</p> + +<p>"I never heard anything so like a fairy tale afore," said the man. +"Are you sure you are human, you two little mites?"</p> + +<p>Diana took no notice of this.</p> + +<p>"I want to get into the garding," she said. "I want to lie down in the +garding; I want Iris; I want mother. Man, do you know that my mother +has gone away to the angels? She is playing a gold harp and singing +ever so loud; and once we had a little mouse, and it was called +Rub-a-Dub, and it's deaded. We gived it a public funeral."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do let us have some milk, and don't mind her!" said Orion.</p> + +<p>The man jumped down off the cart, and, turning a tap in the great big +can, poured out a glass of foaming milk. He gave it to Orion, who +drank it all off at the first draught. He then filled out a second<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +measure, which he gave to Diana. She took it, raised it to her lips, +took one or two sips, and then gave it to Orion.</p> + +<p>"There's something sick inside of me," she said. "I don't know what's +the matter; I isn't well."</p> + +<p>"She had a bad fall last night at the circus," said Orion. "She fell +from one of the rings. I s'pect something's cracked inside her head."</p> + +<p>"I s'pect something's c'acked inside my head," echoed Diana, looking +up piteously. "I want to go to the garding; I want to lie down."</p> + +<p>"Well, look here," said the man; "this is more than I can understand. +You had best, both of you, go back to the circus, and let the people +who has the charge of you see what's the matter."</p> + +<p>"No!" screamed Orion; "never! never!"</p> + +<p>He suddenly put wings to his little feet, and began to fly down the +road, away from the milkman.</p> + +<p>Diana stood quite still.</p> + +<p>"Aren't he silly little boy?" she said. "But he mustn't go back to +circus, milkman; it would kill him. I isn't able to wide to-day, 'cos +I's c'acked inside my head; and he mustn't wide without me, 'cos it +would kill him. Couldn't we go to your house, milkman, and rest there +for a bit?"</p> + +<p>"Well, to be sure; I never thought of that," said the man. "So you +shall, and welcome. Jump up beside me on the cart, missy."</p> + +<p>"I can't, 'cos my head's c'acked," said Diana.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll lift you up. Here, you sit there and lean against the big +milk can. Now, we'll set Peggy going, and she will soon overtake +little master."</p> + +<p>Diana laughed gleefully.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, you's an awfu' nice man?" she said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am glad you think so, missy."</p> + +<p>The man took the reins and Peggy started forward. They soon overtook +little Orion, who was lifted also into the milk cart. Then the milkman +turned swiftly round and carried the children back to a small house on +the outskirts of the town. When he got there he called out in a lusty +voice:</p> + +<p>"Hi, Bessie! are you within?"</p> + +<p>A woman with a smiling face came to the door.</p> + +<p>"Now, what in the world is the matter with you, Jonathan?" she +answered.</p> + +<p>"Only this, wife. I met the queerest little pair in all the world on +the road. Can't you take them in and give them rest for a bit? I +believe the little miss is hurt awful."</p> + +<p>"I's c'acked inside my head, but it don't matter," said Diana.</p> + +<p>The woman stared from the children to the man; then something in +Diana's face went straight to her heart.</p> + +<p>"Why, you poor little mite," she said, "come along this minute. Why, +Jonathan, don't you know her? Course it's the little missy that we +both saw in the circus last night. Didn't I see her when she fell from +the ring? Oh, poor little dear! poor little love!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>FORTUNE.</h3> + + +<p>Uncle William took the children straight up to London. They spent the +night at a great big hotel, and in the morning he went alone to have a +long consultation with one of the best detectives in New Scotland +Yard. When he returned after this interview, Iris came to meet him +with a wise look on her face.</p> + +<p>"I know what to do," she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, my dear, it's more than I do," replied Uncle William.</p> + +<p>"It's the only thing," repeated Iris. "Let's go straight home."</p> + +<p>"Home? Do you mean to the Rectory? Why, we have just come from there."</p> + +<p>"I don't mean the Rectory. I mean our real home," answered Iris. +"Let's get back at once to Delaney Manor."</p> + +<p>"I don't see much use in that," answered Uncle William.</p> + +<p>"It's all a feel I have inside of me," replied Iris. "Often and often +I get that feel, and whenever I obey it things come right. I have a +feel now that I shall be nearer to Diana and to Orion in the old +garden than anywhere else. I always try to obey my feel. Perhaps it's +silly, but I can't help it. Do you ever get that sort of feel inside +of you, Uncle William?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If I did," replied Uncle William, "your Aunt Jane would say that I +was the silliest old man she had ever come across."</p> + +<p>"But you aren't, you know. You are a right good sort," answered +Apollo, in a patronizing tone.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you think so, my boy," replied Uncle William. "Well, now," +he added, "I always did hate London, and in the middle of summer it +seems to me that it is wanting in air. I once heard a countryman say +that he believed people only breathed turn about in London, and it +really seems something like that this morning. The place is so close +and so used-up that there is not a breath anywhere; so, Iris, if you +have got that feel, and if you will promise not to tell your Aunt Jane +that <i>that</i> is your reason for returning to the Manor, why, we may +just as well do so—only, I suppose, the place is all shut up."</p> + +<p>"Fortune, at any rate, is there," replied Iris; "and if anybody can +help us to find Diana and Orion, it's Fortune; for she had them, you +know, Uncle William, from the moment the angel brought them down from +heaven. She had to do for them and nurse them, and tend them from that +moment until Aunt Jane took them away. Oh, yes!" continued Iris; "if +there is a person who will help us to find them, it's Fortune."</p> + +<p>"She partakes of the strange names which seem to run in your family," +answered Uncle William. "But there, it is as good an idea as any +other, and we shall at least each of us have our proper number of +breaths at Delaney Manor. That certainly is in favor of the scheme."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, that very afternoon, Uncle William, Iris, and Apollo took +the train into Devonshire. They arrived at the Manor in the evening. +Nobody<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> expected them, and the place looked, to Uncle William, at +least, very dull and desolate. But when Iris saw the quaint old +gateway, and when Apollo felt his feet once again upon the well-known +avenue, the sadness of heart which had oppressed both children seemed +to lift itself as if it had wings and fly right away.</p> + +<p>"Let's go to the garden this very instant," exclaimed Iris, looking at +her brother.</p> + +<p>They clasped each other's hands and, flying along the well-remembered +haunts, soon reached their favorite garden.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Apollo! I live; I breathe again," said Iris, panting as she +spoke. "Oh, I am happy once more!"</p> + +<p>"Let us see if anything has been injured while we were away," said +Apollo. "Oh, I wonder if anybody has watered our pretty gardens. I +planted a lot of mignonette the day before I went away. I wonder if it +has come up."</p> + +<p>The children wandered about the garden. The dead-house was now empty; +the four little gardens looked sadly the worse for want of watering +and general looking after. The cemetery, however, looked much as +usual; so also did the greenswards of grass, the roses, the different +summer flowers; and finally Iris and Apollo visited the little +summer-house, and seated themselves on their own chairs.</p> + +<p>"The garden has not run away," said Apollo. "That's a comfort. I'm +real glad of that."</p> + +<p>"It's exactly like the garden of Eden," said Iris, panting as she +spoke. "I don't think anybody," she continued, "could be naughty in +this garden."</p> + +<p>Apollo kicked his legs in a somewhat impatient manner.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I feel dreadfully hungry, Iris," he said. "Suppose we go to the house +now and have some supper."</p> + +<p>"Who is that coming down the walk?" said Iris.</p> + +<p>It was dusk by this time, and in the little summer-house all was dark; +but Iris, as she spoke, sprang to her feet, and the next moment found +herself clasped in Fortune's motherly arms.</p> + +<p>"My darling!" said the woman. "Why, it drives me near mad to see you +again. And now, what in the world is up with the two of you, and where +are the others? There's an elderly gentleman—a clergyman—in the +house, and he said I was to look for you here, and that you were going +to spend the night. What does it mean, Iris? Oh, my dear! I can't see +your face, for it is too dark; but you are very light. Why, you are no +weight at all, my honey."</p> + +<p>"I expect I'm rather worn out," replied Iris, in her old-fashioned +tone. "You know, Fortune, when mother went away she told me to be a +mother to the others, and—oh, Fortune, Fortune! I have failed, I have +failed."</p> + +<p>Iris' little arms were clasped tightly round her old nurse's neck; her +face was hidden against her bosom; her heavy sobs came thick and fast.</p> + +<p>"Why, my poor dear, you are exactly like a feather," said Fortune; "it +aint to be expected that a young thing like you could be a mother. But +what's gone wrong, dearie? what's gone wrong?"</p> + +<p>"They are lost. That's what has gone wrong," said Iris. "Orion and +Diana are lost, Fortune."</p> + +<p>"Sakes alive, child! stand up and speak proper," said Fortune. "Your +little brother and sister lost! Impossible; you are joking me, Iris, +and that aint<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> fair, seeing I was with you since you drew the breath +of life."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I could joke upon such a subject?" said Iris. "You say I +am like a feather—that is because I have all wasted away from—from +fretting, from—from misery. Yes, Fortune, they are lost, and I wish I +were dead. I feel it here so dreadfully." The child pressed both her +hands against her heart. "I have not been a mother," she continued. +"Oh, Fortune! what is to be done?"</p> + +<p>"You jest sit down on my lap and stop talking nonsense," said Fortune. +"Why, you are trembling like an aspen. You jest rest yourself a bit +alongside o' me. Now then, Master Apollo, tell me the whole truth, +from beginning to end. The two children lost? Now, I don't believe it, +and that's a fact."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to believe it, Fortune," said Apollo, "for it's true. +They went out one day about a month ago—we think they must have gone +to some woods not far from that horrid Rectory, but nobody seems to +know for certain—and they just never came back. We missed them at +tea-time, and we began to look for 'em, and we went on looking from +that minute until now, and we have never found either of 'em. That's +about all. They are both quite lost. What I think," continued the +little boy, speaking in a wise tone, "is that Diana must have met the +great Diana of long ago, and gone right away with her, and perhaps +Orion has been turned into one of the stars that he's called after. I +don't really know what else to think," continued Apollo.</p> + +<p>"Fudge!" said Fortune. "Don't you waste your time talking any more +such arrant nonsense. Now, the two of you are as cold and shivery as +can be, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> I doubt not, as hungry also. Come straight away to the +house. This thing has got to be inquired into."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Fortune! can you do anything?" asked Iris.</p> + +<p>"Can I do anything?" said Fortune. "I have got to find those blessed +children, or my name's not Fortune Squeers. Did your mother bring me +all the way from America to be of no use in an emergency like the +present? You needn't fret any more, Iris; nor you either, Apollo. Just +come right along to the house and have your cozy, warm supper, the two +of you, and then let me undress you and put you into your old little +beds, and I'll sleep in the room alongside of you, and in the morning +we'll see about getting back those two children. Lost, is it? Not a +bit of it. They are mislaid, if you like, but lost they aint—not +while Fortune is above ground."</p> + +<p>Fortune's strong words were of the greatest possible comfort to Iris. +It is true that Aunt Jane had told her somewhat the same, day by +day—Aunt Jane was also sure that the children were certain to be +found—but, as far as Iris could gather, she only spoke, and never did +anything to aid their recovery; for Iris had no faith in detectives, +nor secret police, nor any of the known dignitaries of the law. But +she put the greatest possible faith in the strong, cheery words of her +old nurse, and she returned to the house clasping Fortune's hand, and +feeling as if the worst of her troubles were at an end.</p> + +<p>The greater part of Delaney Manor was shut up, and Fortune and two +other old servants were left in charge; but very soon a comfortable +meal was spread for the travelers, a room was provided for Uncle +William, and Iris and Apollo slept once more in the dear old nursery.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> + +<p>How very sound Iris did sleep that night! How happy she felt once +more!</p> + +<p>Fortune had dragged in her bed, and laid it on the floor close to the +little girl's side, and the sound of Fortune's snores was the sweetest +music Iris had listened to for a long time.</p> + +<p>"Fortune will find the others, and I can be a real mother once more," +she whispered over and over to herself.</p> + +<p>And so she slept sweetly and dreamed happily, and awoke in the morning +with color in her cheeks and hope in her eyes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>ON THE TRAIL.</h3> + + +<p>It was on the very evening that Orion and Diana had left the great +circus that Uncle William and the two children arrived at Delaney +Manor, for Delaney Manor was only five miles distant from the +prosperous seaside town of Madersley.</p> + +<p>Now, Uncle Ben had very little idea, when he brought the two children +to the southwest of England, that he was really taking them back to +their native country. These things, however, are ordered, and the +wisest man in the world cannot go against the leadings of Providence. +Uncle Ben thought to hide the children from their best friends, +whereas, in reality, he was taking them home once more.</p> + +<p>But two little circus children might wander about at their own sweet +will at Madersley, and be heard nothing whatever of at Delaney Manor, +and these little children might never have been found, and this story +might have had a totally different ending, but for Fortune.</p> + +<p>When Fortune, however, lay down on her mattress by Iris' side, she +thought a great deal before she went to sleep. She thought, as she +expressed it to herself, all round the subject, to the right of it, +and to the left of it. She thought of it in its breadth, and she +thought of it in its height, and, having finally settled the matter to +her own satisfaction, she went to sleep,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> and soothed little Iris with +the comforting music of her snores.</p> + +<p>On the following morning she had an interview with Mr. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"I want to ask you a straight question, sir," she said. "What is it +the police are doing? It seems a mighty strange thing to me that two +little children should be lost in the middle of a civilized country +like England."</p> + +<p>"It seems a stranger thing to me," replied Uncle William. "I am +dreadfully puzzled over the whole matter. We have now four detectives +at work, but up to the present they have not got the slightest clew to +the children's whereabouts."</p> + +<p>"As like as not," said Fortune, "these two have been stolen by +gypsies."</p> + +<p>"We thought of that at once," said Uncle William.</p> + +<p>"Yes," interrupted Fortune, "and then, when you couldn't make the +thing fit, or find your clew, you dropped it. Now let me tell you, +sir, that aint our way in America. When we get the faintest ghost of a +clew we cling on to it as if it were grim death, and we don't let it +go, not for nobody. It's my belief that gypsies are at the bottom of +the matter, and why have not you and your detectives looked in every +gypsy encampment in the length and breadth of England?"</p> + +<p>"There were some gypsies in our neighborhood, only we did not know it +the first day," continued Mr. Dolman, "and their camp was of course +thoroughly examined, but no little people in the least resembling the +children were found there."</p> + +<p>"Then of course it goes without saying," continued Fortune, "that the +gypsies passed on the little dears to other folk. Now the question is, +What sort of folk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> would be interested in a little pair like them? +They was both young, both lissom, both handsome, and Miss Diana was +the bravest child I ever come across—maybe they was sold to someone +to train 'em to walk on the tight rope."</p> + +<p>Uncle William smiled indulgently.</p> + +<p>"The detectives would certainly have found that out by this time," he +said. "Besides, there were no traveling companies of any sort within a +radius of quite fifteen miles."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Fortune; "then, perhaps, sir, you'll allow me to +manage things my own way. I aint a detective, but I'm bent on +detective work for the time being. I'm going straight off to Madersley +this morning. I'm going to have descriptions of those children printed +in very big characters, and posted all over Madersley."</p> + +<p>"And why specially all over Madersley?" asked Mr. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"'Cos Madersley is, so to speak, their native town," answered Fortune. +"Why, there aint a person in Madersley who don't know Delaney Manor; +and strangers, when they come there, drive out to see Delaney Manor as +they would any other big place, and folks at this time of year travel +from far to stay at Madersley, because the place is bracing and the +coast good for bathing. So you see, Mr. Dolman, there'll be lots of +people who will read my descriptions, and when they read 'em they'll +begin to talk about the children, and there's no saying what may +happen."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't sound a bad idea," said Mr. Dolman.</p> + +<p>"Bad!" repeated Fortune. "It's a first-rate idea; it's an American +idea. In America we never let the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> grass grow under our feet. I'm off +to Madersley this minute to see after those posters. Why, we post up +everything in America, every single thing that is lost, let alone +children, and we do it in big type, as big as they make it, and we put +the posters on the walls, and wherever there's a scrap of available +space. By your leave, sir, I'm off to Madersley now."</p> + +<p>Fortune was as good as her word. She not only went to Madersley and +interviewed some of the best printers in the place, but she also +visited the police station, and told the police to be on the lookout.</p> + +<p>"For the two youngest little Delaneys are missing," she said, "and +found they must be, if heaven and earth are moved to accomplish the +job."</p> + +<p>The superintendent of police remembered that he had already had notice +of two children being missing somewhere in the North of England, but +as he thought it extremely unlikely that such children would come to +the southwest, he had not troubled himself much about them. Fortune's +words, however, stimulated his zeal, and he promised to keep a sharp +lookout. The printer also was full of enthusiasm, and agreed to print +posters which should even satisfy Fortune. He certainly did his best; +and a day or two later flaming posters, in red and black ink, were +pasted up all over the little town. In these, Fortune had given a most +accurate description of little black-eyed Diana and Orion. Their ages +were mentioned, their sizes, the color also of their eyes and hair.</p> + +<p>The immediate effect of these posters was to frighten Uncle Ben Holt +considerably. He had been in a dreadful rage when first he discovered +that Diana and Orion had taken him at his word and had decamped. He +had been very cruel to every member<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> of the troupe, and in especial to +his poor wife. He vowed, and vowed, loudly, that he would not leave a +stone unturned to find the children, and he also informed his wife +that he would start off the following morning to acquaint the police +with the fact that two of his troupe were missing.</p> + +<p>"Why," he said, "there's a fortune in that little gal; I must have the +little gal. I don't think nothing at all of the boy. She was quite the +most sperited little 'un I ever come across. Fact is, I would not lose +her for a fifty-pund note."</p> + +<p>For two days Uncle Ben stormed, and the performances at the circus +went languidly; but when, on the third morning, he saw the posters +about the town, and when one happened to be pasted up exactly opposite +his own circus, he began to cool down and to change his mind.</p> + +<p>"Where are you, Sarah?" he called out.</p> + +<p>His wife flew to answer the fierce summons of her lord and master.</p> + +<p>"I'm here, Ben," she answered.</p> + +<p>"'I'm here, Ben,'" he retorted, mimicking her tone. "There you are, +Sarah, without the sperit of a mouse. Have you seen, or have you not, +what's up all over the town?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, to be sure," replied Sarah Holt; "and it's a faithful +description of the children. Why, they are as like what that +description says of 'em as two peas, Ben."</p> + +<p>"I'm not saying they aint," snapped Ben, in a very indignant voice; +"but what I do want to know is this—what's to be done if they are +found and we are discovered to have bought 'em? We had all our plans +arranged, and we have taken this field for a fortnight;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> but, bad as +the loss will be to ourselves, it'll be better than the perlice +discovering that we had anything to do with them children. The fact is +this, Sarah: I'm going to pack our traps and be off out of this, +to-night at the latest."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right, Ben," said the woman, in a very sad tone; +"only," she added, with a sigh, "if we are really going, may not I run +up to Delaney Manor and just give 'em a hint? It seems so dreadful to +me if anything should happen to them little kids, more particular to +little Diana, who was the mortal image of my Rachel who died."</p> + +<p>"If you do anything of the kind I'll kill you," roared the man. "Do +you want to see me locked up in prison for kidnaping children? No; we +must be out of this to-night, and I must lose the ten pund I paid for +the use of the field."</p> + +<p>By this time the news of the posters had spread not only through the +whole town, but amongst the members of Ben Holt's troupe. The men and +women in the troupe were all interested and excited, and whenever they +had a spare moment they used to run out to read the poster which +Fortune had been clever enough to dictate.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, that good woman herself was by no means idle.</p> + +<p>"I have done something," she said to Iris, "and what I have done at +Madersley ought to have been done before now all over the length and +breadth of England. But now, Miss Iris, having put the posters up, it +doesn't mean that we are to be idle. We have got to do more. I have my +eye on that circus. They says it's a very pretty circus indeed, and +there are a lot of entertaining spectacles to be viewed there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> Now, +what do you say to you and me and Mr. Dolman, if he likes to come, and +Master Apollo going this afternoon to see the performance?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think I much care," answered Iris. "I don't seem to take any +interest in anything just now."</p> + +<p>"Well, all the same, dear, I would like you to go. The best of us can +but take steps, and when we has taken the steps that Providence seems +to indicate, there's no use a-fretting ourselves into our graves. +Folks are coming to Madersley now from the length and breadth of +England, being such a pretty and such a favorite seaside resort. Let's +go to the circus this afternoon, Miss Iris, and see what is to be +seen."</p> + +<p>Iris could not follow Fortune's reasonings, but she submitted to her +desire to pay a visit to the traveling circus, and, accordingly, that +afternoon, the very last of Holt's stay at Madersley, two other little +Delaneys entered the large tent and took their places in the front +row. The children were accompanied both by Uncle William and Fortune. +The curtain rose almost immediately after their entrance, and the +performance began.</p> + +<p>For some reason or other it was sadly lacking in spirit, and a +neighbor who sat not far from Fortune began to remark on the fact.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have paid three shillings for my seat if I had known the +thing was so poor," she said. "Why, my husband was here last week and +said it was downright splendid. But I suppose that was owing to the +performances of the children."</p> + +<p>"The children?" inquired Fortune. "I see no children about."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, there were two the other night—a little girl and boy; and +they said the girl rode splendidly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> and was the life of the whole +thing. She was simply wonderful; she——"</p> + +<p>But here the curtain rose and the performance began anew. Fortune +longed to question her loquacious neighbor, but when she turned +presently to speak to her she found that she had left the tent.</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho!" thought the American woman to herself; "they had a boy and a +girl here, had they, and they aren't here no longer. Now I wonder if I +can strike that trail? Being from America it would be hard if I +didn't, and also if I didn't succeed."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>FOUND!</h3> + + +<p>When the performance came to an end Fortune suggested to Uncle William +that he should go to the best hotel in the place, and give Iris and +Apollo some tea. Iris was loath to leave Fortune's side, but Fortune +bent down and whispered to her to obey.</p> + +<p>"I am on the trail," she said, "and I don't want to be interrupted. I +don't mind telling you, Iris, that the tea is all an excuse. You get +your uncle to take you to the hotel, and keep him there until I join +him. Now, go off this minute, like a good girl."</p> + +<p>Iris looked into Fortune's small, but honest, eyes, and felt once +again that her feel was leading her in the right direction.</p> + +<p>"Uncle William, I should like some tea very much," she said.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, my dear, if you want tea you shall have it," replied +Uncle William.</p> + +<p>He hailed a fly, and took the children immediately to the best hotel +in the town.</p> + +<p>When Fortune found herself alone she turned round, and gazed to right +and left of her. The great tent was almost empty, for the spectators +had all departed; a few, however, were standing in little groups +talking to one another. Fortune edged near one of these. It consisted +of a good-looking young man and two pretty girls. They were standing +opposite the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> poster which gave such a lifelike account of little +Diana and Orion.</p> + +<p>"I see you are reading that poster," said Fortune, "and maybe you're +interested?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course we are," said one of the girls, turning and looking at +Fortune.</p> + +<p>"Now, I wonder," continued Fortune Squeers, "if it lies anywhere in +your power to give me a bit of help? Fact is, I'm interested in the +children described in that poster, and as I was sitting inside the +circus, I heard a neighbor say that the children belonging to your +show were not present. Being an American, I never lose any clews, and +there may be just the ghost of a chance that the children who were not +at the performance to-day are the very identical same children that +are written about in that there poster. Maybe you has heard of those +children—that is, if you are Madersley folk?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; we are Madersley folk," said the young man, now turning and +speaking eagerly to Fortune.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, do you know anything about the children who were not in +the circus to-day?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard of them, of course," said the man. "Don't you remember, +Amelia," he added, "when I came home last Saturday night how I told +you we must go and see Holt's circus, for he had got a little girl who +was riding wonderfully? I could not manage it on Saturday, and to-day, +it seems, she's off."</p> + +<p>"And he had a boy as well, hadn't he?" said Fortune.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there was talk of a boy; but he didn't seem to have the spirit +of his sister. Anyhow, they are neither of them playing to-day, and, +for my part, I thought the performance lame."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, that's my opinion," said Fortune. "No American would go the +length of the road to see anything so poor and common. And so the +children are off—but the children were on. Now, I wish to goodness I +could see those children."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose they have anything to do with the lost children who +are spoken of in these posters," said the man. "They say they were +brown as gypsies, that the boy was timid, and the girl rode +wonderfully. She must have been trained for some time to ride as well +as she did."</p> + +<p>Not being able to get anything more out of these folks, Fortune turned +on her heel and wandered in another direction. She crossed the +entrance to the great tent, and made for the exit at the opposite side +of the field. In doing this she ran right up against a fair-haired, +rather pretty circus girl.</p> + +<p>"My dear," said Fortune, "you'll excuse my stopping to speak to you, +but will you tell me if I can get into the town by the gate yonder?"</p> + +<p>"It's rather a roundabout way," answered the girl, "but you can go, of +course. You will have to walk quite a way down a country lane, then +turn to your left, and it will bring you to the other side of the +town."</p> + +<p>"Fact is," continued Fortune, "I'm anxious to see some more of those +posters. I'm mighty took with them. They seem to describe a most +elegant little pair of children."</p> + +<p>The girl uttered a sigh and changed color.</p> + +<p>"Maybe, miss," said Fortune, fixing her with her keen eyes, "you can +tell me something about 'em? Now, if you could, and would, it would be +worth your while."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I know nothing at all," said the girl, in alarm. "What should I +know?"</p> + +<p>"How is it," continued Fortune, "that the little children belonging to +your circus were not present this afternoon? It seems a sort of +cheating of the public."</p> + +<p>"The little children belonging to our circus?" repeated the girl. "But +we hasn't no children." She turned very white now, and suddenly +leaving Fortune, ran as fast as ever she could in the direction of the +tent.</p> + +<p>Fortune followed her with her eyes. She saw a dark man peeping out.</p> + +<p>"That girl is frightened; she's hiding something," thought the woman. +"There's no doubt the trail strengthens, and I, being an +American—well, well, 'taint likely I'm going to leave off now. Yes, +hot grows the trail."</p> + +<p>Fortune pursued her way. She had just reached the gate of the opposite +exit of the field when a light hand was laid on her arm. Turning +quickly, she saw the same girl.</p> + +<p>"For the love of God, madam," she said, "don't you tell on me—it's as +much as my place is worth—he would kill me, if he knew—but we had +two little kids here, and that poster in front of the circus gives +their very description to a hair. But they have run away—they ran +away some days ago, and God in heaven only knows where they are now."</p> + +<p>"What were their names?" asked Fortune.</p> + +<p>"Diana was the name of the girl——"</p> + +<p>"Diana!" cried Fortune. "You need not tell me any more; and so it was +<i>you</i> who stole 'em?"</p> + +<p>"I!" said the girl; "I had nothing to do with it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> I was kind to 'em +when I could, and nothing would ever frighten Diana. But oh, please, +promise you won't tell on me—you won't let out that I said anything?"</p> + +<p>"No, my dear; I won't injure you," said Fortune; "but I must know +this: When was it they ran away?"</p> + +<p>"Three nights ago, madam; and Ben Holt, he's fairly wild at losing the +girl. He doesn't think anything at all about the boy, but the little +girl—why, she won us all, she was so plucky and fearless. But they +ran away three nights back, and no one knows where they are."</p> + +<p>"Don't keep me," said Fortune. "I'm much obliged to you; but don't +keep me now."</p> + +<p>She left the field where the tent was, and began to walk rapidly down +the lane.</p> + +<p>"Now, am I an American or am I not?" she thought. "Do I, or do I not, +want the police to interfere in this matter? Do I, or do I not, want +to find those children my very own self? They were here three nights +ago, and they have run away. What can be the meaning of it?"</p> + +<p>Fortune pressed her hand to her forehead.</p> + +<p>"Well, if there's one thing more evident than another." she muttered +after a pause, "it's this: I must not leave Madersley at present. I'll +just go to the hotel and tell Mr. Dolman that I am on the trail, and +that not all the coaxing and all the worriting in the world will get +me off it until I have found those children."</p> + +<p>No sooner had this resolve formed itself in Fortune's stalwart mind +than she hailed a fly and desired the man to drive her to the +Madersley Arms. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> she reached the big hotel she was shown at once +into Mr. Dolman's presence.</p> + +<p>"Now, sir," she said; "I hope you have all had a good tea and enjoyed +it."</p> + +<p>"Very much, thank you," replied Uncle William, who really, if the +truth must be known, was having quite a delightful time—no Aunt Jane +to pull him up, no sermons to write, and a vast amount of variety to +occupy his mind. "We have enjoyed our tea, all of us," he said; "and +now, Fortune, would not you like a cup? Iris, my dear, we'll ring the +bell for some more hot water."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir" replied Fortune; "but I have no time to eat nor drink +at present. I am on the trail, and no one can get me off it."</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean that you have had news of the children?"</p> + +<p>"I have had very positive news. Why, they belonged to the circus we +went to see to-day! I had my suspicions as soon as ever I heard that +woman talking and saying that the performance was miserably poor +without the children. At that very instant it came right over me that +it was our little Miss Di who had made things so sparkling and +lively."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Fortune! let me go to her," cried Iris. "Is she there? Please, +Fortune, take me to her at once."</p> + +<p>"Now, Iris, love, that's just what I can't do. Patience has to be +exercised always in the matter of trails," continued Fortune; "and +when we hurry or flurry ourselves we lose the scent, and then we are +nowhere. The children did belong to the circus, for I had it from the +lips of one of the circus girls. Poor innocent lambs, to think of them +having anything to do with such a defiling place! But there they +were,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> and there they would not stay, for three nights ago, Iris, they +ran away, and nobody in the wide world knows where they are at the +present moment."</p> + +<p>"Well, and what do you propose to do?" said Mr. Dolman. "For my part, +I think the police——"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, sir, this is a matter for me, not the police. I propose, +sir, to stay at Madersley until I bring the children back. I hope to +bring them back to-night."</p> + +<p>"To-night!" cried Iris. "Oh, Fortune! do you mean it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my love. I am an American, and I generally do what I say. I mean +to bring the little dears back to their rightful home to-night. And +now I'm off, and please expect me when you see me."</p> + +<p>Fortune turned abruptly and left the hotel. She walked down the High +Street.</p> + +<p>"Now," she said to herself, "why should not I just go and pay a visit +to my old friend and neighbor, Matty Bell. I want a woman that is a +gossip just now, and if there is a gossip in the whole of Madersley, +it's Matty Bell. As a rule, I can't abear her, but there are times +when a gossiping woman comes in handy; and Matty's neither very low +nor very high up in the world, so she's acquainted with all that goes +on in both circles, the high and the low. Yes, I'll go to Matty this +very moment; and as there's not any time to lose, I'll take a fly and +drive there."</p> + +<p>Fortune hailed the first fly she came across, and was quickly borne to +the abode of her old neighbor, Matty Bell.</p> + +<p>Matty Bell was a woman of about sixty years of age. At one time she +had been a servant at Delaney Manor, but having married, and then lost +her hus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span>band, she had set up in the laundry line. In that interesting +trade she had done a thriving business, and kept a comfortable roof +over her head. She had never had children, and consequently had plenty +of time to attend to her neighbors' affairs.</p> + +<p>"Well, to be sure, Fortune, and what brings you here?" she said, when +Fortune alighted from the fly. "Dear heart! I didn't know that you +would care to leave Delaney Manor with all the troubles about."</p> + +<p>"And what troubles do you mean now, Matty Bell?" said Fortune, as she +paid a shilling to the driver, and then tripped lightly into Matty's +little front parlor.</p> + +<p>"Why, the death of the poor missus, Heaven bless her memory! and then +the master going off to the other end of nobody knows where, and all +them blessed little children took from their home and carried—oh, we +needn't go into that, Fortune—it's been a trouble to you, and I see +it writ on your face."</p> + +<p>"You are right there, Matty," said Fortune; "it has been a bitter +trouble to me, and there's more behind, for the lady who took the +children had no right to interfere, not having a mother's heart in her +breast, for all that Providence granted her five babes of her own to +manage. What do you think she went and did, Matty? Why, lost two of +our children."</p> + +<p>"Lost two of 'em? Sakes alive! you don't say so!" replied Matty. "Have +a cup of tea, Fortune, do; I have it brewing lovely on the hob."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you," replied Fortune. "I'm in no mood for tea."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, do go on with your story, for it's mighty interesting."</p> + +<p>"It's simple enough," replied Fortune. "Two of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> the children are lost, +and now I have traced 'em to a circus in the town."</p> + +<p>"A circus here—what, Holt's?" said the woman.</p> + +<p>"No less. Why, Matty; you look queer yourself. Do you know anything?"</p> + +<p>"I know nothing for certain," said Matty. "I can only tell you—but +there, perhaps I had better not say—only will you excuse me for a +minute or two, Fortune?"</p> + +<p>"I'll excuse you, Matty, if you are on the trail of the children, but +if you aren't, you had better stay here and let me talk matters over. +You always were a fearful one for gossip, and perhaps you have picked +up news. Yes, I see you have—you have got something at the back of +your head this blessed minute, Matty Bell."</p> + +<p>"That I have," replied Mrs. Bell. "But please don't ask me a word +more, only let me get on my bonnet and cloak."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bell left the room, and quickly returned dressed in her widow's +weeds, for though Bell had been dead for over ten years, his widow was +still faithful to his memory; she slipped a thick crêpe veil over her +face, and went out, looking the very essence of respectability. She +was not more than twenty minutes away, and when she came back she +looked much excited. On each of her smooth, pasty cheeks might even be +seen a little flush of color, and her dull blue eyes were brighter +than their wont.</p> + +<p>"Fortune," she cried, "as there's a heaven above me, I've found 'em!"</p> + +<p>"Bless you, Matty; but where—where?"</p> + +<p>"Why, at no less a place than Jonathan Darling's."</p> + +<p>"Jonathan Darling? Who may he be?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He's as honest a fellow, Fortune, as you can find in the whole of +Madersley—he drives a milk cart. He found the two little dears three +mornings ago, wandering about in their circus dresses, and he took 'em +home."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Fortune, "well—then <i>that's</i> all right. It was a +trouble, but it's over, thank the good God. I could fall on my knees +this moment and offer up a prayer; that I could, Matty Bell."</p> + +<p>Fortune's small, twinkling eyes were full of tears; she caught her +neighbor's hand and wrung it hard.</p> + +<p>"And I bless you, Matty," she continued, "for you have put me on the +right trail. I'll never blame a gossiping neighbor again, never as +long as I live."</p> + +<p>"But you haven't heard me out to the end," said Matty, "for one of the +little 'uns is very ill. You have found 'em, it is true; but it isn't +all beer and skittles, Fortune Squeers."</p> + +<p>"One of the children ill?" said Fortune.</p> + +<p>"Yes; little Miss Diana. You come along and see her at once. They say +she fell on her head out of a ring at the circus, and she must have +hurt herself rather bad. Anyhow, she don't know a word she is saying, +poor little dear."</p> + +<p>When Fortune heard this news she shut up her mouth very tight, tied +her bonnet-strings, and followed her neighbor out of the house.</p> + +<p>The Darlings' humble little domicile happened to be in the next +street, and in less than five minutes Fortune was standing over little +Diana's bed. The child was tossing from side to side, her big eyes +were wide open; she was gazing straight before her, talking eagerly +and incessantly.</p> + +<p>"Is it to be a pwivate funeral?" she said, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> Fortune entered the +room, and, falling on her knees, clasped the hot little hands in hers.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my little darling!" said the good woman, "and have I really found +you at last?"</p> + +<p>She sank down by the child and burst into more bitter tears than she +had even shed when Mrs. Delaney went away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE MOTHER TO THE RESCUE.</h3> + + +<p>Yes, the lost children were found, but little Diana was very ill. The +blow she had received on her head had developed into inflammation of +the brain. She was highly feverish, and did not in the least know what +she was saying. Fortune immediately made up her mind not to leave her. +After standing by her bedside for a minute or two, she went into the +next room and asked Mrs. Darling if she would take a fly and go with +little Orion to Delaney Manor.</p> + +<p>"You are going to your own home, my poor little boy," said the nurse, +"and please tell your uncle and Iris and Apollo that I am staying here +to look after Diana."</p> + +<p>The little boy was so excited at the prospect of being home once more +that he forgot any small anxieties which he had experienced with +regard to Diana. He started off, therefore, with Mrs. Darling in the +highest spirits, and Fortune returned to the bedside of the sick +child. Within a couple of hours after Orion's departure, Mr. Dolman +arrived in person. When he saw Diana he immediately insisted on the +best doctor in the place being sent for to see her.</p> + +<p>The medical man arrived; but, when he did so, he shook his head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The child is dangerously ill," he said. "I could not hear of her +being moved at present. She must have absolute quiet and good +nursing."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to nurse her," said Fortune.</p> + +<p>"A properly trained nurse would be best," said the doctor.</p> + +<p>"I and no other am going to nurse her," repeated Fortune.</p> + +<p>She had taken off her bonnet and mantle and was seated quietly by the +bedside. No one could look more capable, more determined, than the +American woman did on this occasion. The doctor saw that he must give +way.</p> + +<p>"Haven't I done for her from the blessed moment when she was sent from +heaven into her mother's arms?" continued Fortune. "I shall nurse her +now, whether it's the will of the Almighty that she lives or dies."</p> + +<p>At these words, little Diana opened her great, black eyes.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"And you'll never know fear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Any more, little dear,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>she said in a voice of intense satisfaction. Then she looked up at +Fortune, and raised her brow in a puzzled manner.</p> + +<p>"I aren't fwightened of G'eased Lightning," she said. A smile broke +over her little face, then the light of reason once more faded, and +she entered the dark region of delirium and danger.</p> + +<p>The doctor did all he could and Fortune did all she could, and +presently Aunt Jane appeared on the scene, and insisted on seeing the +child, and shook her head over her and cried a little privately; but, +in spite of all their efforts to get her well again, little Diana +grew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> weaker, day by day. She did not know Fortune, except at very +rare intervals. Day and night she talked incessantly of her past life, +of the beautiful garden, of the animals, of Rub-a-Dub, and more +especially of Rub-a-Dub's public funeral. She also mentioned Greased +Lightning and Pole Star, and Uncle Ben and the circus; but when she +talked of them her voice changed; it grew high, eager, and excited, +and her little breath panted out of her weary body. She often ended +her delirious talk with a cry of distress.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I has fallen," she said, with a sob. "I has fallen from the +wing." Then she would clasp both her hot hands to her aching head, and +moan bitterly.</p> + +<p>The doctor was very anxious about her, and Fortune was very sad, and +so was Uncle William, and even Aunt Jane.</p> + +<p>The cablegram was sent to father, and they all earnestly hoped that he +was already on his homeward way.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, at the Manor, Iris, Apollo, and Orion had a hard time. It +is true that they were no longer fettered or coerced in any way. Aunt +Jane took scarcely any notice of them, and Uncle William spent most of +his time alone. The three children could come in and out of the house +as they pleased; they could wander about the garden where four used to +play happily; they could visit the old haunts that four used to love; +but because the fourth was now absent, the joy and the mirth of the +old days seemed quite to have left the remaining three.</p> + +<p>As time went by, Iris grew whiter and whiter. Often she wandered away +by herself, and flinging herself on the ground, would moan out her +distress.</p> + +<p>"Mother, mother," she used to sob, "I have not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> done what you told me; +I have not been a little mother. Can you ever forgive me? Oh, if Diana +dies, I am certain that I shall never forgive myself."</p> + +<p>At last, when a fortnight had passed by, Iris had a dream. She never +told her dream to anyone, but she got up that morning with a very +determined expression on her small face. After breakfast she went +straight downstairs to the library, and spoke to Uncle William.</p> + +<p>"Uncle William," she said, "I want to say that I am going to see +Diana."</p> + +<p>"My dear," said Uncle William, who was furtively at that moment wiping +a tear from his eye, "I greatly fear that you cannot do so; we have +had bad news of little Diana this morning. I greatly fear, Iris, that +she will not be long with us; her strength is going, and there is +little chance of the fever abating. The doctor has but a small hope of +her recovery—in fact, I may almost say that he has no hope."</p> + +<p>"It is a fortnight since Diana was found, and you have never let me +see her yet," continued Iris; "but I am going to her to-day. I had a +dream last night," she continued, "and in my dream I—But I'm not +going to say anything more, only I must see Diana to-day."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you cannot do so, Iris," replied Uncle William.</p> + +<p>"And why not, if the child has the wish?" remarked Aunt Jane suddenly.</p> + +<p>Until that moment Iris had no idea that Aunt Jane was in the room. She +started now when she heard her voice; but reading the expression on +her face, she ran up to her eagerly.</p> + +<p>"If you are for it, Aunt Jane, it will be all right,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> she cried. +"Please have a carriage ordered this minute and let me go."</p> + +<p>"I would not, if I were you, wife," said Uncle William. "You see how +delicate Iris is already, and the sight of her little sister would +shock her dreadfully."</p> + +<p>"She may just as well go," said Aunt Jane. "In my opinion, it would be +wrong to leave any stone unturned, and Iris always had a remarkable +influence over the other children. Besides, my dear William, when +David comes back, I should not like Iris to have to tell him that I +refused what, after all, is a very natural request."</p> + +<p>"Aunt Jane, I love you for those words," said Iris.</p> + +<p>Aunt Jane's face quite flushed when Iris said she loved her. She went +across the room and rang the bell.</p> + +<p>"Desire the pony carriage to be sent round directly," was her order to +the servant when he appeared.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, in less than half an hour, Iris and Aunt Jane were +driving into Madersley. They went straight to the humble house where +the Darlings lived. The greater part of the house was given up to +little Diana and her nurse.</p> + +<p>"Please, Aunt Jane," said Iris, as they approached the door; "may I go +into Diana's room by myself? I don't want anyone to be with me when I +see her."</p> + +<p>"You may have it your way, Iris," said Aunt Jane. "I interfered once, +and I believe I did wrong; now you shall have it your own way."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Aunt Jane," answered Iris. She scarcely looked at her +aunt; all her thoughts were centered on the mission which she had +taken in hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> When the carriage drew up at the humble door, the +child ran straight into the house.</p> + +<p>"Who may you be, little miss?" said Bessie Darling, who had never seen +her before.</p> + +<p>"I am the sister of Diana; I am a mother to the others," said Iris.</p> + +<p>"Sakes alive!" exclaimed the woman. "You a mother? Why, you poor +little mite, you look as if you wanted a deal of mothering yourself."</p> + +<p>"Please tell me what room my sister is in," said Iris, removing her +hat as she spoke.</p> + +<p>Bessie Darling stared at her for a moment, then she pointed to a door. +Iris turned the handle and entered the room.</p> + +<p>It was a hot day, and the window was wide open; a green blind was down +to keep out the glare of the sun; there was a quantity of ice in a +great pail in one corner of the room, and, as Iris softly entered, +Fortune was in the act of putting a fresh cold cloth on the sick +child's forehead.</p> + +<p>Little Diana was murmuring her ceaseless refrain:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"You'll never know fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Any more, little dear.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Good-by."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Why, Diana!" said Iris.</p> + +<p>Iris's voice was quite fresh. It had a different note in it from all +the voices which for weeks had sounded in little Diana's ears. She was +lying in a partial stupor, but now she opened her eyes very wide.</p> + +<p>"Iris," she said; "Iris." And a smile broke all over her face.</p> + +<p>Iris ran up to the bedside. She was always quiet in her manner; great +excitement only accentuated her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> quiet. She knelt down at once by the +sick child, and took both her hot hands in hers.</p> + +<p>"Darling," she said, "I am your little mother, and I have come back to +you."</p> + +<p>"That's beautiful," answered Diana. She uttered a very deep sigh. She +had been tossing restlessly about, but now her hot hands lay quiet in +Iris'.</p> + +<p>As to Fortune, she was so amazed that she did not utter a word.</p> + +<p>"Go to sleep, Di," said Iris, in a voice of authority; "I am your +little mother, and I wish you to go to sleep."</p> + +<p>"It's awfu' nice to be mothered again," said Diana. She opened her +eyes languidly, fixed them on Iris, smiled once more, and then the +thick lashes fell over the pale cheeks. In about five minutes she was +sound asleep.</p> + +<p>Little Diana had often slept during the past fortnight, but during all +that time she had had no sleep like this—so quiet, so restful. Iris, +kneeling by her side, never moved.</p> + +<p>"Let me give you a chair or you'll faint, my love," said Fortune, in a +low whisper.</p> + +<p>Iris shook her head.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards Fortune softly left the room, and then there fell a +deep and solemn silence over the little house.</p> + +<p>Aunt Jane, Bessie Darling, and Fortune all sat in the outer room. The +heat grew greater; they opened both door and window, and a gentle +breeze now blew through the sick-room. The child slept on. The little +mother kneeling by her side remained as still as if she was carved in +marble.</p> + +<p>About four in the afternoon the doctor came in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who is this?" he whispered, looking at Iris.</p> + +<p>"It's the eldest little sister, sir," said Fortune; "she came down +here this morning quite unbidden, and she told the little one that she +was her mother, and the little one smiled and went off sound asleep +directly."</p> + +<p>The doctor, too, retreated into the outer room.</p> + +<p>"It is my belief that the little girl has saved the child's life," he +said. "Whatever you do, don't make a sound; my little patient has not +slept like this since the beginning of her illness. This sleep will +probably be the turning-point. I shall not be far off; send for me +whenever she awakens."</p> + +<p>The day wore on, the evening approached; and Iris still knelt by +Diana's side, and Diana still slept. The sick child had no dreams in +that healthful, beautiful, life-restoring slumber. Slowly, hour by +hour, the fret and the worry left the little face, the burning fever +departed, the little brow grew cool and calm; smiles—baby +smiles—came once more round the lips; the old child-look—the old +Diana-look—returned.</p> + +<p>Iris knelt on. Her knees ached, her arms ached, her head ached; she +grew stiff; she grew first hot and then cold; but never once did she +move or swerve from her original position. The great joy of her spirit +supported her through the terrible ordeal. At long, long last she was +really a little mother; she was saving Diana's life.</p> + +<p>Now and then Fortune approached to hold a cup of milk or other +restorative to Iris' pale lips. She feared that the child might faint +before Diana awoke. But great love enabled Iris to go through this +time of suffering. She neither fainted nor failed.</p> + +<p>The beautiful healing sleep lasted for nearly eight hours; then, when +faint, cool shadows had stolen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> across the sick room, little Diana +opened her eyes. She saw Iris still kneeling in the same position and +looking at her with a world of love in her face. Diana smiled back in +answer to the love.</p> + +<p>"I's k'ite well, Iris," she said. "I's had a beaut'ful s'eep, and +there's not going to be a pwivate nor yet a public funeral."</p> + +<p>"No, no, Di!" said Iris, sobbing now as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"I's hung'y," said little Diana. "I'd like my supper awfu' much."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The crisis was over, and Diana was to live. From that hour she +recovered, slowly but surely. Iris was allowed to be with her a good +deal, and the mere fact of Iris being in the room always seemed to +chase the irritation and the weakness of that long recovery away. At +the end of a fortnight the sick child was well enough to return to +Delaney Manor. Then, from being half well she became quite well, and +when the autumn really came, and the cool breezes blew in from the +sea, father returned to his home once more, and he and Aunt Jane had a +long talk, and it was finally arranged that the four children were to +remain in the old home, and were to play in the old garden, and that +father was to stay at home himself and look after them as best he +could.</p> + +<p>"They are not ordinary children, and I frankly confess I cannot manage +them," said Aunt Jane. "As to Iris, she is without exception the most +peculiar child I ever came across; I know, of course, she is a good +child—I would not say a word to disparage her, for I admire her +strength—but when a child considers that she has got a mission——"</p> + +<p>"I know all about that," said David Delaney.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Iris thinks that she is to be a little mother to the others—those +were Evangeline's last words to her. Well, Jane, it is a heavy burden +for such a little creature to carry, but the fact of her obeying her +mother's last injunction really saved little Diana's life."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Little Mother to the Others, by L. T. 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T. Meade + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Mother to the Others + +Author: L. T. Meade + +Release Date: January 12, 2006 [EBook #17506] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS *** + + + + +Produced by Lenna Knox, Juliet Sutherland, Sankar +Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + A Little Mother to + the Others + + + + BY + + MRS. L.T. MEADE + + AUTHOR OF + "POLLY: A NEW-FASHIONED GIRL," "A SWEET + GIRL GRADUATE," ETC. + + + + + + NEW YORK + + GROSSET & DUNLAP + + PUBLISHERS + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER + +I. THE POOR INNOCENT, + +II. A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS, + +III. THE ARRIVAL OF THE AUNT, + +IV. RUB-A-DUB, + +V. AUNT IS HER NAME, + +VI. THE POOR DEAD UN'S, + +VII. BUT ANN COULD NOT HELP LETTING OUT NOW AND THEN, + +VIII. THE STRAW TOO MUCH, + +IX. THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER, + +X. BOW AND ARROW, + +XI. JOG'APHY, + +XII. A BABY'S HONOR, + +XIII. BIRCH ROD, + +XIV. DIANA'S REVENGE, + +XV. MOTHER RODESIA, + +XVI. UNCLE BEN, + +XVII. GREASED LIGHTNING, + +XVIII. THE HEART OF THE LITTLE MOTHER, + +XIX. "A PIGMY I CALL HIM", + +XX. "LET'S PERTEND," SAID DIANA, + +XXI. POLE STAR, + +XXII. THE MILKMAN, + +XXIII. FORTUNE, + +XXIV. ON THE TRAIL, + +XXV. FOUND, + +XXVI. THE LITTLE MOTHER TO THE RESCUE, + + + + +A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE POOR INNOCENT. + + +The four children had rather peculiar names. The eldest girl was +called Iris, which, as everybody ought to know, means rainbow--indeed, +there was an Iris spoken of in the old Greek legends, who was supposed +to be Hera's chief messenger, and whenever a rainbow appeared in the +sky it was said that Iris was bringing down a message from Hera. The +Iris of this story was a very pretty, thoughtful little girl, aged ten +years. Her mother often talked to her about her name, and told her the +story which was associated with it. The eldest boy was called Apollo, +which also is a Greek name, and was supposed at one time to belong to +the most beautiful boy in the world. The next girl was called Diana, +and the youngest boy's name was Orion. + +When this story opens, Iris was ten years old, Apollo nine, Diana six, +and little Orion five. They were like ordinary children in appearance, +being neither particularly handsome nor particularly the reverse; but +in their minds and ways, in their habits and tastes, they seemed to +have inherited a savor of those far-off beings after whom their mother +had called them. They were, in short, very unworldly children--that +does not mean that they were specially religious--but they did not +care for fine clothes, nor the ordinary amusements which ordinary +children delight in. They loved flowers with a love which was almost a +passion, and they also knew a great deal about the stars, and often +coaxed their mother to allow them to sit up late at night to watch the +different constellations; but above all these things they adored, with +a great adoration, the entire animal kingdom. + +It so happened that the little Delaneys spent the greater part of +their time in a beautiful garden. I don't think, in all the course of +my wanderings, I ever saw a garden quite to compare to that in which +their early days were spent. Even in the winter they lived the greater +part of their time here, being hardy children and never catching cold. +The house was a fine and beautiful building, having belonged to their +family for several generations, but the children thought nothing at +all of that in comparison with the garden. Here, when possible, they +even had their lessons; here they played all their wonderful and +remarkable games; here they went through their brief sorrows, and +tasted their sweetest joys. But I must hasten to describe the garden +itself. In the first place, it was old-fashioned, having very high +brick walls covered all over with fruit trees. These fruit trees had +grown slowly, and were now in the perfection of their prime. Never +were such peaches to be seen, nor such apricots, nor such cherries, as +ripened slowly on the red brick walls of the old garden. Inside the +walls almost all well-known English flowers flourished in lavish +profusion. There was also fruit to be found here in quantities. Never +were such strawberries to be seen as could be gathered from those +great strawberry beds. Then the gooseberries with which the old bushes +were laden; the currants, red, black, and white; the raspberries, had +surely their match nowhere else on this earth. + +The walled-in garden contained quite five acres of ground, and was +divided itself into three portions. In the middle was the flower +garden proper. Here there was a long, straight walk which led to an +arbor at the bottom. The children were particularly fond of this +arbor, for their father had made it for them with his own hands, and +their mother had watched its growth. Mrs. Delaney was very delicate at +the time, and as she looked on and saw the pretty arbor growing into +shape, she used to lean on Iris' arm and talk to her now and then in +her soft, low voice about the flowers and the animals, and the happy +life which the little people were leading. At these moments a look +would often come into her mother's gentle eyes which caused Iris' +heart to beat fast, and made her tighten her clasp on the slender arm. +Then, when the arbor was quite finished, Mr. Delaney put little seats +into it, a rustic chair for each child, which he or she could take in +or out at pleasure. The chairs were carved in commemoration of each +child's name. Iris had the deep purple flowers which go by that name +twined round and round the back of hers. Apollo's chair was made +memorable with his well-known lyre and bow, and these words were +carved round it: "The golden lyre shall be my friend, the bent bow my +delight, and in oracles will I foretell the dark future." + +Diana's chair had a bow and quiver engraved on the back, while little +Orion's represented a giant with a girdle and a sword. The children +were very proud of their chairs, and often talked of them to one +another, and Iris, who was the story-teller of the party, was never +tired of telling the stories of the great originals after whom she and +her brothers and sister were named. + +Down the straight path which led to the pretty arbor were Scotch +roses, red and white. The smell of these roses in the summer was quite +enough to ravish you. Iris in particular used to sniff at them and +sniff at them until she felt nearly intoxicated with delight. + +The central garden, which was mostly devoted to flowers, led through +little, old-fashioned, somewhat narrow postern doors into the fruit +gardens on either side. In these were the gooseberries. Here were to +be found the great beds of strawberries; here, by-and-by, ripened the +plums and the many sorts of apples and pears; here, too, were the +great glass houses where the grapes assumed their deep claret color +and their wonderful bloom; and here also were some peculiar and +marvelous foreign flowers, such as orchids, and many others. + +Whenever the children were not in the house they were to be found in +the garden, for, in addition to the abundance of fruit and vegetables, +it also possessed some stately trees, which gave plenty of shade even +when the sun was at its hottest. Here Iris would lie full length on +her face and hands, and dream dreams to any extent. Now and then also +she would wake up with a start and tell marvelous stories to her +brothers and sister. She told stories very well, and the others always +listened solemnly and begged her to tell more, and questioned and +argued, and tried to make the adventures she described come really +into their own lives. + +Iris was undoubtedly the most imaginative of all the little party. +She was also the most gentle and the most thoughtful. She took most +after her beautiful mother, and thought more than any of the others of +the peculiar names after which they were all called. + +On a certain day in the first week of a particularly hot and lovely +June, Iris, who had been in the house for some time, came slowly out, +swinging her large muslin hat on her arm. Her face looked paler than +usual, and somewhat thoughtful. + +"Here you are at last, Iris," called out Diana, in her brisk voice, +"and not a moment too soon. I have just found a poor innocent dead on +the walk; you must come and look at it at once." + +On hearing these words, the gloom left Iris' face as if by magic. + +"Where is it?" she asked. "I hope you did not tread on it, Diana." + +"No; but Puff-Ball did," answered Diana. "Don't blame him, please, +Iris; he is only a puppy and always up to mischief. He took the poor +innocent in his mouth and shook it; but I think it was quite deaded +before that." + +"Then, if it is dead, it must be buried," said Iris solemnly. "Bring +it into the arbor, and let us think what kind of funeral we will give +it." + +"Why not into the dead-house at once?" queried Diana. + +"No; the arbor will do for the present." + +Iris quickened her footsteps and walked down the straight path through +the midst of the Scotch roses. Having reached the pretty little +summer-house, she seated herself on her rustic chair and waited until +Diana arrived with the poor innocent. This was a somewhat unsightly +object, being nothing more nor less than a dead earthworm which had +been found on the walk, and which Diana respected, as she did all live +creatures, great or small. + +"Put it down there," said Iris; "we can have a funeral when the sun is +not quite so hot." + +"I suppose it will have a private funeral," said Apollo, who came into +the summer-house at that moment. "It is nothing but a poor innocent, +and not worth a great deal of trouble; and I do hope, Iris," he added +eagerly, "that you will not expect me to be present, for I have got +some most important chemical experiments which I am anxious to go on +with. I quite hope to succeed with my thermometer to-day, and, after +all, as it is only a worm----" + +Iris looked up at him with very solemn eyes. + +"_Only_ a worm," she repeated. "Is _that_ its fault, poor thing?" +Apollo seemed to feel the indignant glance of Iris' brown eyes. He sat +down submissively on his own chair. Orion and Diana dropped on their +knees by Iris' side. "I think," said Iris slowly, "that we will give +this poor innocent a simple funeral. The coffin must be made of dock +leaves, and----" + +Here she was suddenly interrupted--a shadow fell across the entrance +door of the pretty summer-house. An elderly woman, with a thin face +and lank, figure, looked in. + +"Miss Iris," she said, "Mrs. Delaney is awake and would be glad to see +you." + +"Mother!" cried Iris eagerly. She turned at once to her sister and +brothers. "The innocent must wait," she said. "Put it in the +dead-house with the other creatures. I will attend to the funeral in +the evening or to-morrow. Don't keep me now, children." + +"But I thought you had just come from mother," said Apollo. + +"No. When I went to her she was asleep. Don't keep me, please." The +woman who had brought the message had already disappeared down the +long straight walk. Iris took to her heels and ran after her. +"Fortune," she said, looking into her face, "is mother any better?" + +"As to that, Miss Iris, it is more than I can tell you. Please don't +hold on to my hand, miss. In hot weather I hate children to cling to +me." + +Iris said nothing more, but she withdrew a little from Fortune's side. + +Fortune hurried her steps, and Iris kept time with her. When they +reached the house, the woman stopped and looked intently at the child. + +"You can go straight upstairs at once, miss, and into the room," she +said. "You need not knock; my mistress is waiting for you." + +"Don't you think, Fortune, that mother is just a little _wee_ bit +better?" asked Iris again. There was an imploring note in her question +this time. + +"She will tell you herself, my dear. Now, be quick; don't keep her +waiting. It is bad for people, when they are ill, to be kept waiting." + +"I won't keep her; I'll go to her this very instant," said Iris. + +The old house was as beautiful as the garden to which it belonged. It +had been built, a great part of it, centuries ago, and had, like many +other houses of its date, been added to from time to time. Queerly +shaped rooms jutted out in many quarters; odd stairs climbed up in +several directions; towers and turrets were added to the roof; +passages, some narrow, some broad, connected the new buildings with +the old. The whole made an incongruous and yet beautiful effect, the +new rooms possessing the advantages and comforts which modern builders +put into their houses, and the older part of the house the quaint +devices and thick, wainscoted walls and deep, mullioned windows of the +times which are gone by. + +Iris ran quickly through the wide entrance hall and up the broad, +white, stone stairs. These stairs were a special feature of Delaney +Manor. They had been brought all the way from Italy by a Delaney +nearly a hundred years ago, and were made of pure marble, and were +very lovely to look at. When Iris reached the first landing, she +turned aside from the spacious modern apartments and, opening a green +baize door, ran down a narrow passage. At the end of the passage she +turned to the left and went down another passage, and then wended her +way up some narrow stairs, which curled round and round as if they +were going up a tower. This, as a matter of fact, was the case. +Presently Iris pushed aside a curtain, and found herself in an octagon +room nearly at the top of a somewhat high, but squarely built, tower. +This room, which was large and airy, was wainscoted with oak; there +was a thick Turkey carpet on the floor, and the many windows were +flung wide open, so that the summer breeze, coming in fresh and sweet +from this great height, made the whole lovely room as fresh and cheery +and full of sweet perfume as if its solitary inmate were really in the +open air. + +Iris, however, had often been in the room before, and had no time or +thought now to give to its appearance. Her eyes darted to the sofa on +which her young mother lay. Mrs. Delaney was half-sitting up, and +looked almost too young to be the mother of a child as big as Iris. +She had one of the most beautiful faces God ever gave to anybody. It +was not so much that her features were perfect, but they were full of +light, full of soul, and such a very loving expression beamed in her +eyes that no man, woman, or child ever looked at her without feeling +the best in their natures coming immediately to the surface. + +As to little Iris, her feelings for her mother were quite beyond any +words to express. She ran up to her now and knelt by her side. + +"Kiss me, Iris," said Mrs. Delaney. + +Iris put up her soft, rosebud lips; they met the equally soft lips of +the mother. + +"You are much better, mummy; are you not?" said the child, in an +eager, half-passionate whisper. + +"I have had a long sleep, darling, and I am rested," said Mrs. +Delaney. "I told Fortune to call you. Father is away for the day. I +thought we could have half an hour uninterrupted." + +"How beautiful, mother! It is the most delightful thing in all the +world to be alone with you, mummy." + +"Well, bring your little chair and sit near me, Iris. Fortune will +bring in tea in a moment, and you can pour it out. You shall have tea +with me, if you wish it, darling." + +Iris gave a sigh of rapture; she was too happy almost for words. This +was almost invariably the case when she found herself in her mother's +presence. When with her mother she was quiet and seldom spoke a great +deal. In the garden with the other children Iris was the one who +chattered most, but with her mother her words were always few. She +felt herself then to be more or less in a listening attitude. She +listened for the words which dropped from those gentle lips; she was +always on the lookout for the love-light which filled the soft brown +eyes. + +At that moment the old servant, Fortune, brought in the tea on a +pretty tray and laid it on a small table near Mrs. Delaney. Then Iris +got up, and with an important air poured it out and brought a cup, +nicely prepared, to her mother. + +Mrs. Delaney sipped her tea and looked from time to time at her little +daughter. When she did so, Iris devoured her with her anxious eyes. + +"No," she said to herself, "mother does not look ill--not even _very_ +tired. She is not like anybody else, and that is why--why she wears +that wonderful, almost holy expression. Sometimes I wish she did not, +but I would not change her, not for all the world." + +Iris' heart grew quiet. Her cup of bliss was quite full. She scarcely +touched her tea; she was too happy even to eat. + +"Have you had enough tea, mother?" she asked presently. + +"Yes, darling. Please push the tea-table a little aside, and then come +up very near to me. I want to hold your dear little hand in mine; I +can't talk much." + +"But you are better--you are surely better, mother?" + +"In one sense, yes, Iris." + +Iris moved the tea-table very deftly aside, and then, drawing up her +small chair, slipped her hand inside her mother's. + +"I have made up my mind to tell you, Iris," said the mother. She +looked at the little girl for a full minute, and then began to talk in +a low, clear voice. "I am the mother of four children. I don't think +there are any other children like you four in the wide world. I have +thought a great deal about you, and while I have been ill have prayed +to God to keep you and to help me, and now, Iris, now that I have got +to go away--" + +"To go away, mother?" interrupted Iris, turning very pale. + +"Yes, dearest. Don't be troubled, darling; I can make it all seem +quite happy to you. But now, when I see it must be done, that I must +undertake this very long journey, I want to put things perfectly +straight between you and me, my little daughter." + +"Things have been always straight between us, mother," said Iris. "I +don't quite understand." + +"Do you remember the time when I went to Australia?" + +"Are you going to Australia again?" asked Iris. "You were a whole year +away then. It was a very long time, and sometimes, mother, sometimes +Fortune was a little cross, and Miss Stevenson never seemed to suit +Apollo. I thought I would tell you about that." + +"But Fortune means well, dearest. She has your true interest at heart, +and I think matters will be differently arranged, as far as Miss +Stevenson is concerned, in the future. It is not about her or Fortune +I want to speak now." + +"And you are going back to Australia again?" + +"I am going quite as far as Australia; but we need not talk of the +distance just now. I have not time for many words, nor very much +strength to speak. You know, Iris, the meaning of your names, don't +you?" + +"Of course," answered Iris; "and, mother, I have often talked to the +others about our names. I have told Apollo how beautiful he must try +to be, not only in his face, but in his mind, mother, and how brave +and how clever. I have told him that he must try to have a beautiful +soul; and Orion must be very brave and strong, and Diana must be +bright and sparkling and noble. Yes, mother; we all know about our +names." + +"I am glad of that," said Mrs. Delaney. "I gave you the names for a +purpose. I wanted you to have names with meaning to them. I wanted you +to try to live up to them. Now, Iris, that I am really going away, I +am afraid you children will find a great many things altered. You have +hitherto lived a very sheltered life; you have just had the dear old +garden and the run of the house, and you have seen your father or me +every day. But afterwards, when I have gone, you will doubtless have +to go into the world; and, my darling, my darling, the cold world does +not always understand the meaning of names like yours, the meaning of +strength and beauty and nobleness, and of bright, sparkling, and high +ideas. In short, my little girl, if you four children are to be worthy +of your names and to fulfill the dreams, the longings, the _hopes_ I +have centered round you, there is nothing whatever for you to do but +to begin to fight your battles." + +Iris was silent. She had very earnest eyes, something like her +mother's in expression. They were fixed now on Mrs. Delaney's face. + +"I will not explain exactly what I mean," said the mother, giving the +little hand a loving squeeze, "only to assure you, Iris, that, as the +trial comes, strength will be given to you to meet it. Please +understand, my darling, that from first to last, to the end of life, +it is all a fight. 'The road winds uphill all the way.' If you will +remember that you will not think things half as hard, and you will be +brave and strong, and, like the rainbow, you will cheer people even in +the darkest hours. But, Iris, I want you to promise me one thing--I +want you, my little girl, to be a mother to the others." + +"A mother to the others?" said Iris, half aloud. She paused and did +not speak at all for a moment, her imagination was very busy. She +thought of all the creatures to whom she was already a mother, not +only her own dear pets--the mice in their cages, the silk-worms, the +three dogs, the stray cat, the pet Persian cat, the green frogs, the +poor innocents, as the children called worms--but in addition to +these, all creatures that suffered in the animal kingdom, all flowers +that were about to fade, all sad things that seemed to need care and +comfort. But up to the present she had never thought of the other +children except as her equals. Apollo was only a year younger than +herself, and in some ways braver and stouter and more fearless; and +Orion and Diana were something like their names--very bright and even +fierce at times. She, after all, was the gentlest of the party, and +she was very young--not more than ten years of age. How could she +possibly be a mother to the others? + +She looked at Mrs. Delaney, and her mother gazed solemnly at her, +waiting for her to speak. + +"After all," thought Iris, "to satisfy the longing in mother's eyes is +the first thing of all. I will promise, cost what it may." + +"Yes," she said; then softly, "I will, mother; I will be a mother to +the others." + +"Kiss me, Iris." + +The little girl threw her arms round her mother's neck; their lips met +in a long embrace. + +"Darling, you understand? I am satisfied with your promise, and I am +tired." + +"Must I go away, mother? May not I stay very quietly with you? Can you +not sleep if I am in the room?" + +"I would rather you left me now. I can sleep better when no one is by. +Ring the bell for Fortune as you go. She will come and make me +comfortable. Yes; I am very tired." + +"One moment first, mummy--you have not told me yet when you are going +on the journey." + +"The day is not quite fixed, Iris, although it is--yes, it is nearly +so." + +"And you have not said _where_ you are going, mother. I should like to +tell the others." + +But Mrs. Delaney had closed her eyes, and did not make any reply. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS. + + +That night the children's young mother went on her journey. The +summons for her to go came unexpectedly, as it often does in the end. +She had not even time to say good-by to the children, nor to her +husband, only just a brief moment to look, with startled eyes, at the +wonderful face of the angel who had come to fetch her, and then with a +smile of bliss to let him clasp her in his arms and feel his strong +wings round her, and then she was away, beyond the lovely house and +the beautiful garden, and the children sleeping quietly in their beds, +and the husband who was slumbering by her side--beyond the tall trees +and the peaks of the highest mountains, beyond the stars themselves, +until finally she entered the portals of a home that is everlasting, +and found herself in a land where the flowers do not fade. + +In the morning the children were told that their mother was dead. They +all cried, and everyone thought it dreadfully sad, except Iris, who +knew better. It was Fortune who brought in the news to the +children--they had just gone into the day-nursery at the time. + +Fortune was a stern woman, somewhat over fifty years of age. She was +American by birth, and had lived with Mrs. Delaney since Iris was +born. Mrs. Delaney was also American, which may have accounted for +some of her bright fancies, and quiet, yet sweet and quick ways. +Fortune was very fond of the children after her fashion, which was, +however, as a rule, somewhat severe and exacting. But to-day, in her +bitter grief, she sank down on the nearest chair, and allowed them all +to crowd round her, and cried bitterly, and took little Orion in her +arms and kissed him and petted him, and begged of each child to +forgive her for ever having been cross or disagreeable, and promised, +as well and as heartily as she could, never to transgress again in +that manner as long as she lived. + +While the others were sobbing and crying round Fortune, Iris stood +silent. + +"Where is father?" she said at last, in a very quiet but determined +voice. + +Fortune glanced round at the grave little girl in some wonder. + +"Miss Iris," she said, "you are not even crying." + +"What do tears matter?" answered Iris. "Please, Fortune, where is +father? I should like to go to him." + +"He is locked up in his study, darling, and could not possibly see you +nor anyone else. He is quite stunned, master is, and no wonder. You +cannot go to him at present, Miss Iris." + +Iris did not say another word, but she looked more grave and more +thoughtful than ever. After a long pause she sat down in her own +little chair near the open window. It was a very lovely day, just as +beautiful as the one which had preceded it. As the child sat by the +window, and the soft, sweet breeze fanned her pale cheeks, an +indescribable longing came over her. No one was particularly noticing +her. She crept softly out of the room, ran down some passages, and at +last found herself once more mounting the turret stairs to the tower. +A moment later she had entered the octagon room where she and her +mother had talked together on the previous day. The windows were wide +open, the pretty room looked just as usual, but mother's sofa was +vacant. Iris went straight over to one of the open windows, knelt +down, and put her little elbows on the ledge. + +"Yes, mother," she said, speaking aloud and looking full up at the +bright blue sky, "I promise you. I promised you yesterday, but I make +a fresh, very, _very_ solemn promise to-day. Yes, I will be a mother +to the others; I will try never to think of myself; I will remember, +mother darling, exactly what you want me to do. I will try to be +beautiful, to be a little messenger of the gods, as you sometimes said +I might be, and to be like the rainbow, full of hope. And I will try +to help Apollo to be the most beautiful and the bravest boy in the +world; and, mother, I will do my best to help Diana to be strong and +bright and full of courage; and I will do what I can for Orion--he +must be grand like a giant, so that he may live up to the wonderful +name you have given him. Mother, it will be very hard, but I promise, +I promise with all my might, to do everything you want me to do. I +will act just as if you were there and could see, mother, and I will +_always_ remember that it is beautiful for you to have gone away, for +while you were here you had so much pain and so much illness. I won't +fret, mother; no, I won't fret--I promise to be a mother to the +others, and there won't be any time to fret." + +No tears came to Iris' bright eyes, but her little thin face grew +paler and paler. Presently she left the window and went slowly +downstairs again. + +Fortune had now left the other children to themselves. They were +scattered about the bright day nursery, looking miserable, though they +could scarcely tell why. + +"I don't believe a bit that mother is never coming back," said Orion, +in a stout, determined voice. + +He was a very handsome little fellow, strongly made--he had great big +black eyes like his father's. He was standing now with his Noah's ark +in his hand. + +"It is unfeeling of you to want to play with your Noah's ark to-day, +Orion," said Apollo. "Now, do you think I would go into my laboratory +and try to make a thermometer?" + +"Well, at least," said Diana, speaking with a sort of jerk, and her +small face turning crimson, "whatever happens, the animals must be +fed." + +"Of course they must, Diana," said Iris, coming forward, "and, Apollo, +there is not the least harm in our going into the garden, and I don't +think there is any harm in Orion playing with his Noah's ark. Come, +children; come with me. We will feed all the pets and then go into the +arbor, and, if you like, I will tell you stories." + +"What sort of stories?" asked Diana, in quite a cheerful voice. She +trotted up to her sister, and gave her her hand as she spoke. She also +was a finely made child, not unlike her name. + +"I 'gree with Orion," she said. "I'm quite certain sure that mother is +coming back 'fore long. Fortune did talk nonsense. She said, Iris--do +you know what she said?--she said that in the middle of the night, +just when it was black dark, you know, a white angel came into the +room and took mother in his arms and flew up to the sky with her. You +don't believe that; do you, Iris?" + +"Yes, I do, Diana," answered Iris. "But I will tell you more about it +in the arbor. Come, Apollo; mother would not like us to stay in the +house just because she has gone away to the angels. Mother never was +the least little bit selfish. Come into the garden." + +The three forlorn-looking little children were much comforted by Iris' +brave words. They dried their eyes, and Diana ran into the night +nursery to fetch their hats. They then ran downstairs without anyone +specially noticing them, passed through the great entrance hall, and +out on to the wide gravel sweep, which led by a side walk into the +lovely garden. + +Iris held Diana by one hand and Orion by the other, and Apollo ran on +in front. + +"Now, then," said Iris, when they had reached the garden, "we must +begin by feeding all the pets." + +"There _are_ an awful lot of them," said Diana, in quite a cheerful +voice; "and don't you remember, Iris, the poor innocent was not buried +yesterday?" + +Iris could not help giving a little shiver. + +"No more it was," she said, in a low tone. "It must have quite a +private funeral. Please get some dock leaves, Apollo." + +"Yes," answered Apollo. + +He ran off, returning with a bunch in a moment or two. + +"Take them into the dead-house," said Iris, "and sew them up and put +the poor innocent inside, and then take your spade and dig a hole in +the cemetery. We can't have a public funeral. I--I don't feel up to +it," she added, her lips trembling for the first time. + +Diana nestled close up to Iris. + +"You need not look sad, Iris," she said; "there's no cause, is there? +I don't believe that story 'bout mother, and if it is not true +there'll be nothing wrong in my laughing, will there?" + +"You may laugh if you like, darling," answered Iris. + +They all entered the arbor now, and Iris seated herself in the little +chair which mother had seen father make, and round which the beautiful +flowers of the iris had been carved. + +"Laugh, Di," she said again; "I know mother won't mind." + +For a full moment Diana stood silent, staring at her sister; then her +big black eyes, which had been full of the deepest gloom, brightened. +A butterfly passed the entrance to the summer-house, and Diana flew +after it, chasing it with a loud shout and a gay, hearty fit of +laughter. + +Apollo came back with the stray cat, whose name was "Trust," in his +arms. + +"She looks miserable, poor thing," he said. "I don't believe she has +had anything to eat to-day. She must have her breakfast, as usual; +must she not, Iris?" + +"Yes; we must feed all the pets," said Iris, making a great effort to +brighten up. "Let us go regularly to work, all of us. Apollo, will you +take the birds? You may as well clean out their cages--they are sure +to want it. I will collect flies for the green frogs, and Orion, you +may pick mulberry leaves for the silk-worms." + +For the next hour the children were busily employed. No one missed +them in the house. The house was full of shade, but the garden, +although mother had left it forever, was quite bright; the sun shone +as brilliantly as it did every other day; a great many fresh flowers +had come out; there was a very sweet smell from the opening roses, and +in especial the Scotch roses, white and red, made a waft of delicious +perfume as the children ran up and down. + +"I'm awfully hungry," said Diana suddenly. + +"But we won't go into the house for lunch to-day," said Iris. "Let us +have a fruit lunch--I think mother would like us to have a fruit lunch +just for to-day. Please, Apollo, go into the other garden and pick +some of the ripest strawberries. There were a great many ripe +yesterday, and there are sure to be more to-day. Bring a big leaf +full, and we can eat them in the summer-house." + +Apollo ran off at once. He brought back a good large leaf of +strawberries, and Iris divided them into four portions. Diana and +Orion, seated on their little chairs, ate theirs with much gusto, and +just as happily as if mother had not gone away; but as to Iris, +notwithstanding her brave words and her determination not to think of +herself, the strawberries tasted like wood in her mouth. There was +also a great lump in her throat, and a feeling of depression was +making itself felt more and more, moment by moment. + +Apollo sat down beside his sister, and glanced from time to time into +her face. + +"I cannot think why I don't _really_ care for the strawberries +to-day," he said suddenly. "I--" His lips trembled. "Iris," he said, +gazing harder than ever at his sister, "you have got such a queer look +on your face. + +"Don't notice it, please, Apollo," answered Iris. + +"I wish you would cry," said the boy. "When Fortune came in and told +us the--the dreadful news, we all cried and we kissed her, and she +cried and she said she was sorry she had ever been unkind to us; but I +remember, Iris, you did not shed one tear, and you--you always seemed +to love mother the best of us all." + +"And I love her still the best," said Iris, in a soft voice; "but, +Apollo, I have something else to do." And then she added, lowering her +tones, "You know, I can't be sorry about mother herself. I can only be +glad about her." + +"Glad about mother! Glad that she is dead!" said the boy. + +"Oh, I don't think about that part," said Iris. "She is not dead--not +really. She is only away up above the stars and the blue sky, and she +will never have any more suffering, and she will always be as happy as +happy can be, and sometime or other, Apollo, I think she will be able +to come back; and, if she can, I am sure she will. Yes, I am quite +sure she will." + +"If she comes back we shall see her," said Apollo; "but she can't come +back, Iris. Dead people can't come back." + +"Oh, please, don't call her that," said Iris, with a note of great +pain in her voice. + +"But Fortune says that mother is dead, just like anybody else, and in +a few days she will be put into the ground. Oh, Iris! I am frightened +when I think of it. Mother was so lovely, and to think of their +putting her into the ground in a box just like--like we put the poor +innocent and the other creatures, and if that is the case she can +never come back--never, never, never!" + +The little boy buried his black head of curling hair on his sister's +knee, and gave vent to a great burst of tears. + +"But it is not true, Apollo," said Iris. "I mean in one way it is not +true--I can't explain it, but I know. Let us forget all the dark, +dreadful part--let us think of her, the real mother, the mother that +looked at us out of her beautiful eyes; she is not dead, she has only +gone away, and she wants us all to be good, so that we may join her +some day. She called me after the rainbow, and after the messenger of +the gods; and you, Apollo, after the bravest and the most beautiful +boy that was supposed ever to live; and Diana, too, was called after a +great Greek goddess; and Orion after the most lovely star in all the +world. Oh, surely we four little children ought to try to be great, +and good, and brave, if we are ever to meet our mother again!" + +"Well, it is all very puzzling," said Apollo, "and I can't understand +things the way you can, Iris, and I have an awful ache in my throat. I +am hungry, and yet I am not hungry. I love strawberries as a rule, but +I hate them to-day. If only father would come and talk to us it would +not be quite so bad; but Fortune said we were not to go to him, that +he was shut up in his study, and that he was very unhappy. She said +that he felt it all dreadfully about mother." + +"Iris," said Diana's voice at that moment, "we are not surely to have +any lessons to-day?" + +She had come to the door of the summer-house, and was looking in. + +"Lessons?" said Iris. She put up her hand to her forehead in a dazed +manner. + +"Yes; do be quick and say. Miss Stevenson is coming down the garden +path. I do think that on the very day when mother has gone away it +would be hard if we were to have lessons; and if what you say is true, +Iris, and mother is happy, why, it does not seem fair; does it? We +ought to have a whole holiday to-day, ought we not? Just as if it was +a birthday, you know." + +"I think so too," said Orion, with a shout. "I don't think we need be +bothered with old Stevie to-day." He raised his voice, and ran to meet +her. "You are not to give us any lessons to-day, Stevie," he said. "It +is a holiday, a great, _big_ holiday--it is a sort of birthday. We +were all eating strawberries, for Iris said we were not to go back to +the house." + +"Oh, my poor, dear, little boy!" said Miss Stevenson. She was a +kind-hearted, although old-fashioned, governess. She bent down now and +kissed Orion, and tried to take one of his very dirty little hands in +hers. + +"My dear little children--" she began again. + +"Please, Miss Stevenson, don't pity us," said Iris. + +Miss Stevenson started. + +"My dear Iris," she said, "you don't realize what it means." + +"I do," answered Iris stoutly. + +"And I know what Iris means," said Apollo; "I know quite well. I feel +miserable; I have got a pain in my throat, and I cannot eat my +strawberries; but Iris says we ought not fret, for mother is much +better off." + +"Then, if mother is much better off, we ought to have a holiday, same +as if it was a birthday; ought we not, Miss Stevenson?" said Diana, +puckering up her face and looking, with her keen black eyes, full at +her governess. + +"You poor little innocents, what is to become of you all?" said Miss +Stevenson. + +She entered the summer-house as she spoke, sank down on the nearest +chair, and burst into tears. The four children surrounded her. They +none of them felt inclined to cry at that moment. Orion, after staring +at her for some little time, gave her a sharp little tap on her arm. + +"What are you crying about?" he said. "Don't you think you are rather +stupid?" + +"You poor innocents!" said Miss Stevenson. + +"Please don't call us that," said Diana; "that is our name for the +worms. Worms can't see, you know, and they are not to blame for being +only worms, and sometimes they get trodden on; and Iris thought we +might call them innocents, and we have always done so since she gave +us leave; but we would rather not be called by _quite_ the same name." + +Miss Stevenson hastily dried her eyes. + +"You certainly are the most extraordinary little creatures," she said. +"Don't you feel anything?" + +"It would be horrid selfish to be sorry," said Diana "Iris says that +mother is awfully happy now." + +Miss Stevenson stared at the children as if they were bewitched. + +"And we are _not_ to have lessons, Stevie," said Orion; "that's +settled, isn't it?" + +"Oh, my dear little child! I was not thinking of your lessons. It is +your terrible--your terrible loss that fills my mind; that and your +want of understanding. Iris, you are ten years old; I am surprised at +you." + +Iris stood, looking very grave and silent, a step or two away. + +"Please, Miss Stevenson," she said, after a long pause, "don't try to +understand us, for I am afraid it would be of no use. Mother talked to +me yesterday, and I know quite what to do. Mother asked me to be a +mother to the others, so I have no time to cry, nor to think of myself +at all. If you will give us a holiday to-day, will you please go away +and let us stay together, for I think I can manage the others if I am +all alone with them?" + +Miss Stevenson rose hastily. + +"I thought you would all have been overwhelmed," she said. "I thought +if ever children loved their mother you four did. Oh! how stunned I +feel! Yes, I will certainly go--I don't profess to understand any of +you." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ARRIVAL OF THE AUNT. + + +About a week after the events related in the last chapter, on a +certain lovely day in June, a hired fly might have been seen ascending +the steep avenue to Delaney Manor. The fly had only one occupant--a +round, roly-poly sort of little woman. She was dressed in deep +mourning, and the windows of the fly being wide open, she constantly +poked her head out, now to the right and now to the left, to look +anxiously and excitedly around her. + +After gazing at the magnificent view, had anyone been there to look, +they might have observed her shaking her head with great solemnity. +She had round black eyes, and a rather dark-complexioned face, with a +good deal of color in her cheeks. She was stoutly built, but the +expression on her countenance was undoubtedly cheerful. Nothing +signified gloom about her except her heavy mourning. Her eyes, +although shrewd and full of common sense, were also kindly; her lips +were very firm; there was a matter-of-fact expression about her whole +appearance. + +"Now, why does David waste all those acres of splendid land?" she +muttered angrily to herself. "The whole place, as far as I can see, +seems to be laid out in grass. I know perfectly well that this is an +agricultural country, and yet, when produce is so precious, what do I +see but a lawn here and another lawn there, and not even cows feeding +on them. Oh, yes! of course there is the park! The park is right +enough, and no one wants to interfere with that. But why should all +the land in that direction, and in that direction, and in that +direction"--here she put out her head again and looked frantically +about her--"why should all that land be devoted to mere ornament? It +seems nothing more nor less than a tempting of Providence." Here she +suddenly raised her voice. "Driver," she said, "have the goodness to +poke up your horse, and to go a little faster. I happen to be in a +hurry." + +"'Orse won't do it, ma'am," was the response. "Steep 'ill this. Can't +go no faster." + +The little lady gave an indignant snort, and retired once more into +the depths of the gloomy fly. Presently a bend in the avenue brought +the old manor house into view. Once more she thrust out her head and +examined it critically. + +"There it stands," she said to herself. "I was very happy at the Manor +as a girl. I wonder if the old garden still exists. Twenty to one it +has been done away with; there's no saying. Evangeline had such +dreadfully queer ideas. Yes, there stands the house, and I do hope +some remnants of the garden are in existence; but the thing above all +others to consider now is, what kind these children are. Poor David, +he was quite mad about Evangeline--not that I ever pretended to +understand her. She was an American, and I hate the Americans; yes, I +cordially hate them. Poor David, however, was devoted--oh, it was +melancholy, melancholy! I suppose it was on account of Evangeline that +all this splendid land has been allowed to lie fallow--not even cows, +not even a stray sheep to eat all that magnificent grass. Wherever I +turn I see flower-beds--flower-beds sloping away to east and west, as +far almost as the eye can travel. And so there are four children. I +have no doubt they are as queer, and old-fashioned, and untrained as +possible. It would be like their mother to bring them up in that sort +of style. Well, at least I am not the one to shirk my duty, and I +certainly see it now staring me in the face. I am the wife of a +hard-working vicar; I work hard myself, and I have five children of my +own; but never mind, I am prepared to do my best for those poor +deserted orphans. Ah, and here we are at last! That is a comfort." + +The rickety old fly drew up with a jerk opposite the big front +entrance, and Mrs. Dolman got out. She was short in stature, but her +business-like manner and attitude were unmistakable. As soon as ever +she set foot on the ground she turned to the man. + +"Put the portmanteau down on the steps," she said. "You need not wait. +What is your fare?" + +The fly-driver named a price, which she immediately disputed. + +"Nonsense!" she said. "Eight shillings for driving me from the station +here? Why, it is only five miles." + +"It is nearly seven, ma'am, and all uphill. I really cannot do it for +a penny less." + +"Then you are an impostor. I shall complain of you." + +At this moment one of the stately footmen threw open the hall door and +stared at Mrs. Dolman. + +"Take my portmanteau in immediately, if you please," she said, "and +pray tell me if your master is at home." + +"Yes, madam," was the grave reply. "But Mr. Delaney is not seeing +company at present." + +"He will see me," said Mrs. Dolman. "Have the goodness to tell him +that his sister has arrived, and please also see that my luggage is +taken to my room--and oh, I say, wait one moment. What is the fare +from Beaminster to Delaney Manor?" + +The grave-looking footman and the somewhat surly driver of the cab +exchanged a quick glance. Immediately afterwards the footman named +eight shillings in a voice of authority. + +"Preposterous!" said Mrs. Dolman, "but I suppose I must pay it, or, +rather, you can pay it for me; I'll settle with you afterwards." + +"Am I to acquaint my master that you have come, madam?" + +"No; on second thoughts I should prefer to announce myself. Where did +you say Mr. Delaney was?" + +"In his private study." + +"I know that room well. See that my luggage is taken to a bedroom, and +pay the driver." + +Mrs. Dolman entered the old house briskly. It felt quiet, remarkably +quiet, seeing that there was a large staff of servants and four +vigorous, healthy children to occupy it. + +"Poor little orphans, I suppose they are dreadfully overcome," thought +the good lady to herself. "Well, I am glad I have appeared on the +scene. Poor David is just the sort of man who would forget everybody +else when he is in a state of grief. Of course I know he was +passionately attached to Evangeline, and she certainly was a charming, +although _quite_ incapable, creature. I suppose she was what would be +termed 'a man's woman.' Now, I have never any patience with them, and +when I think of those acres of land and--but, dear me! sometimes a +matter-of-fact, plain body like myself is useful in an emergency. The +emergency has arrived with a vengeance, and I am determined to take +the fortress by storm." + +The little lady trotted down one or two passages, then turned abruptly +to her left, and knocked at a closed door. A voice said, "Come in." +She opened the door and entered. A man was standing with his back to +her in the deep embrasure of a mullioned window. His hands were +clasped behind his back; he was looking fixedly out. The window was +wide open. + +"There, David, there! I knew you would take it hard; but have the +goodness to turn round and speak to me," said Mrs. Dolman. + +When he heard these unexpected words, the master of Delaney Manor +turned with a visible start. + +"My dear Jane, what have you come for?" he exclaimed. He advanced to +meet his sister, dismay evident on every line of his face. + +"I knew you would not welcome me, David. Oh, no prevarications! if you +please. It is awful to think how many lies people tell in the cause of +politeness. When I undertook this wearisome journey from the north of +England, I knew I should not be welcome, but all the same I came; and, +David, when I have had a little talk with you, and when you have +unburdened your heart to me, you will feel your sorrow less." + +"I would rather not touch on that subject," said Mr. Delaney. He +offered his sister a chair very quietly, and took another himself. + +Father, as Iris used to say, was not the least like mother. Mother +had the gentlest, the sweetest, the most angelic face in the world; +she never spoke loudly, and she seldom laughed; her voice was low and +never was heard to rise to an angry tone. Her smile was like the +sweetest sunshine, and wherever she appeared she brought an atmosphere +of peace with her. But father, on the other hand, although an +excellent and loving parent, was, when in good spirits, given to +hearty laughter--given to loud, eager words, to strong exercise, both +physical and mental. He was, as a rule, a very active man, seldom +staying still in one place, but bustling here, there, and everywhere. +He was fond of his children, and petted them a good deal; but the one +whom he really worshiped was his gentle and loving wife. She led him, +although he did not know it, by silken cords. She always knew exactly +how to manage him, how to bring out his fine points. She never rubbed +him the wrong way. He had a temper, and he knew it; but in his wife's +presence it had never been exasperated. His sister, however, managed +to set it on edge with the very first words she uttered. + +"Of course, I know you mean well, Jane," he said, "and I ought to be +obliged to you for taking all this trouble. Now that you have come, +you are welcome; but I must ask you to understand immediately that I +will not have the subject of my"--he hesitated, and his under lip +shook for a moment--"the subject of my trouble alluded to. And I will +also add that I should have preferred your writing to me beforehand. +This taking a man by storm is, you know of old, my dear Jane--not +agreeable to me." + +"Precisely, David. I did not write, for the simple reason that I +thought it likely you would have asked me not to come; and as it was +necessary for me to appear on the scene, I determined, on this +occasion, to take, as you express it, Delaney Manor by storm." + +"Very well, Jane; as you have done it you have done it, and there is +no more to be said." + +Mr. Delaney rose from his seat as he spoke. + +"Would you not like to go to your room, and wash and change your +dress?" he asked. + +"I cannot change my dress, for I have only brought one. I will go to +my room presently. What hour do you dine?" + +"At half-past eight." + +"I have a few minutes still to talk to you, and I will not lose the +opportunity. It will be necessary for me to return home the day after +to-morrow." + +An expression of relief swept over Mr. Delaney's countenance. + +"I shall, therefore," continued Mrs. Dolman, taking no notice of this +look, which she plainly saw, "have but little time at my disposal, and +there is a great deal to be done. But before I proceed to anything +else, may I ask you a question? How could you allow all that splendid +land to lie waste?" + +"What land, Jane? What do you mean?" + +"Those acres of grass outside the house." + +"Are you alluding to the lawns?" + +"I don't know what name you choose to call all that grass, but I think +it is a positive tempting of Providence to allow so much land to lie +fallow. Why, you might grow potatoes or barley or oats, and make +pounds and pounds a year. I know of old what the land round Delaney +Manor can produce." + +"As the land happens to belong to me, perhaps I may be allowed to +arrange it as pleases myself," said Mr. Delaney, in a haughty tone. + +His sister favored him with a long, reflective gaze. + +"He is just as obstinate as ever," she muttered to herself. "With that +cleft in his chin, what else can be expected? There is no use +bothering him on that point at present, and, as he won't allow me to +talk of poor Evangeline,--who had, poor soul, as many faults as I ever +saw packed into a human being,--there is nothing whatever for me to do +but to look up those children." + +Mrs. Dolman rose from her seat as this thought came to her. + +"I am tired," she said. "From Yorkshire to Delaney Manor is a long +journey, as perhaps you do _not_ remember, David; so I will seek my +room after first having informed you what the object of my visit is." + +"I should be interested to know that, Jane," he answered, in a +somewhat softened tone. + +"Well, seeing I am the only sister you have--" + +"But we never did pull well together," interrupted he. + +"We used to play in the same garden," she answered, and for the first +time a really soft and affectionate look came into her face. "I hope +to goodness, David, that the garden is not altered." + +"It is much the same as always, Jane. The children occupy it a good +deal." + +"I am coming to the subject of the children. Of course, now that +things are so much changed--" + +"I would rather not go into that," said Mr. Delaney. + +"Dear me, David, how touchy you are! Why will you not accept a patent +fact? I have no wish to hurt your feelings, but I really must speak +out plain common sense. I always was noted for my common sense, was I +not? I don't believe, in the length and breadth of England, you will +find better behaved children than my five. I have brought them up on a +plan of my own, and now that I come here at great trouble, and I may +also add expense, to try and help you in your--oh, of course, I must +not say it--to try and help you when you want help, you fight shy of +my slightest word. Well, the fact is this: I want you to take my +advice, and to shut up Delaney Manor, or, better still, to let it well +for the next two or three years, and go abroad yourself, letting me +have the children!" + +"My dear Jane!" + +"Oh, I am your dear Jane now--now that you think I can help you. Well, +David, I mean it, and what is more, the matter must be arranged. I +must take the children back with me the day after to-morrow. Now I +will go to my bedroom, as I am dead tired. Perhaps you will ring the +bell and ask a servant to take me there." + +Mr. Delaney moved slowly across the room. He rang the electric bell, +and a moment later the footman appeared in answer to his summons. He +gave certain directions, and Mrs. Dolman left the room. + +The moment he found himself alone, the father of the children sank +down on the nearest chair, put his hands on the table, pressed his +face down on them, and uttered a bitter groan. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +RUB-A-DUB. + + +"What am I to do, Evangeline?" said Mr. Delaney, a few moments later. +He stood up as he spoke, shook himself, and gazed straight before him. +It was exactly as if he were really speaking to the children's mother. +Then again he buried his face in his big hands, and his strong frame +shook. After a moment's pause he took up a photograph which stood +near, and looked earnestly at the beautiful pictured face. The eyes, +so full of truth and tenderness, seemed to answer him back. He started +abruptly to his feet. "You always directed me, Evangeline," he said. +"God only knows what I am to do now that you have left me. I am in +some matters as weak as a reed, great, blustering fellow though I +appear. And now that Jane has come--she always did bully me--now that +she has come and wants to take matters into her own hands, oh, +Evangeline! what is to be done? The fact is, I am not fit to manage +this great house, nor the children, without you. The children are not +like others; they will not stand the treatment which ordinary children +receive. Oh, why has Jane, of all people, come? What am I to do?" + +He paced rapidly up and down his big study; clenching his hands at +times, at times making use of a strong exclamation. + +The butler knocked at the door. "Dinner will be served in half an +hour, sir," he said. "Am I to lay for two?" + +"Yes, Johnson. Mrs. Dolman, my sister, has arrived, and will dine with +me. Have places laid for two." + +The man withdrew, and Mr. Delaney, stepping out through the open +window, looked across the lawns which his sister had so strongly +disapproved of. + +"Jane was always the one to poke her finger into every pie," he said +half aloud. "Certainly this place is distasteful to me now, and there +is--upon my word, there is something in her suggestion. But to deliver +over those four children to her, and to take them away from the +garden, and the house, and the memory of their mother--oh! it cannot +be thought of for a moment; and yet, to shift the responsibility while +my heart is so sore would be an untold relief." + +A little voice in the distance was heard shouting eagerly, and a small +child, very dirty about the hands and face, came trotting up to Mr. +Delaney. It was Diana. She was sobbing as well as shouting, and was +holding something tenderly wrapped up in her pocket handkerchief. + +"What is the matter with you, Di?" said her father. He lifted her into +his arms. "Why, little woman, what can be the matter? and what have +you got in your handkerchief?" + +"It's Rub-a-Dub, and he is deaded," answered Diana. She unfolded the +handkerchief carefully and slowly, and showed her father a small +piebald mouse, quite dead, and with a shriveled appearance. "He is as +dead as he can be," repeated Diana. "Look at him. His little claws are +blue, and oh! his little nose, and he cannot see; he is stone dead, +father." + +"Well, you shall go into Beaminster to-morrow and buy another mouse," +said Mr. Delaney. + +Diana gazed at him with grave, wondering black eyes. + +"That would not be Rub-a-Dub," she said; then she buried her little, +fat face on his shoulder and sobs shook her frame. + +"Evangeline would have known exactly what to say to the child," +muttered the father, in a fit of despair. "Come along, little one," he +said. "What can't be cured must be endured, you know. Now, take my +hand and I'll race you into the house." + +The child gave a wan little smile; but the thought of the mouse lay +heavy against her heart. + +"May I go back to the garden first?" she said. "I want to put +Rub-a-Dub into the dead-house." + +"The dead-house, Diana? What do you mean?" + +"It is the house where we keep the poor innocents, and all the other +creatures what get deaded," said Diana. "We keep them there until Iris +has settled whether they are to have a pwivate or a public funeral. +Iris does not know yet about Rub-a-Dub. He was quite well this +morning. I don't know what he could have died of. Perhaps, father, if +you look at him you will be able to tell me." + +"Well, let me have a peep," said the man, his mustache twitching as he +spoke. + +Diana once again unfolded her small handkerchief, in the center of +which lay the much shriveled-up mouse. + +"The _darling_!" said the little girl tenderly. "I loved Rub-a-Dub so +much; I love him still. I do hope Iris will think him 'portant enough +for a public funeral." + +"Look here," said Mr. Delaney, interested in spite of himself, and +forgetting all about the dinner which would be ready in a few minutes; +"I'll come right along with you to the dead-house; but I did not know, +Di, that you kept an awful place of that sort in the garden." + +"Tisn't awful," said Diana. "We has to keep a dead-house when we find +dead things. We keep all the dead 'uns we find there. There aren't as +many as usual to-day--only a couple of butterflies and two or three +beetles, and a poor crushed spider. And oh! I forgot the toad that we +found this morning. It was awful hurt and Apollo had to kill it; he +had to stamp on it and kill it; and he did not like it a bit. Iris +can't kill things, nor can I, nor can Orion, so we always get Apollo +to kill the things that are half dead--to put them out of their +misery, you know, father." + +"You seem to be a very wise little girl; but I am sure this cannot be +at all wholesome work," said the father, looking more bewildered and +puzzled than ever. + +Diana gazed gravely up at him. She did not know anything about the +work being wholesome or the reverse. The dead creatures had to be +properly treated, and had to be buried either privately or +publicly--that was essential--nothing else mattered at all to her. + +"As Rub-a-Dub is such a dear darlin', I should not be s'prised if Iris +did have a public funeral," she commented. + +"But what is the difference, Di? Tell me," said her father. + +"Oh, father! you are ig'rant. At a pwivate funeral the poor dead 'un +is just sewn up in dock leaves and stuck into a hole in the cemetery." + +"The cemetery! Good Heavens, child! do you keep a cemetery in the +garden?" + +"Indeed we does, father. We have a very large one now, and heaps and +heaps of gravestones. Apollo writes the insipcron. He is quite +bothered sometimes. He says the horrid work is give to him,--carving +the names on the stones and killing the half-dead 'uns,--but course he +has to do it 'cos Iris says so. Course we all obey Iris. When it is a +pwivate funeral, the dead 'un is put into the ground and covered up, +and it don't have a gravestone; then of course, by and by, it is +forgot. You underland; don't you, father?" + +"Bless me if I do," said Mr. Delaney, in a puzzled tone. + +"But if it is a public funeral," continued Diana, strutting boldly +forward now, and throwing back her head in quite a martial attitude, +"why, then it's grand. There is a box just like a coffin, and cotton +wool--we steal the cotton wool most times. We know where Fortune has +got a lot of it put away. Iris does not think it quite right to steal, +but the rest of us don't mind. And we have banners, and Orion plays +the Jew's harp, and I beat the drum, and Iris sings, and Apollo digs +the grave, and the dead 'un is put into the ground, and we all cry, or +pretend to cry. Sometimes I do squeeze out a tiny tear, but I'm so +incited I can't always manage it, although I'm sure I'll cry when +Rub-a-Dub is put into the ground. Then afterwards there is a +tombstone, and Iris thinks of the insipcron. I spects we'll have a +beautiful insipcron for poor Rub-a-Dub, 'cos we all loved him so +much." + +"Well, all this is very interesting, of course," said Mr. Delaney. +"But now we must be quick, because your Aunt Jane has come." + +"Who's her?" asked Diana. + +"A very good lady indeed--your aunt." + +"What's an aunt?" + +"A lady whom you ought to love very much." + +"Ought I? I never love people I ought to love," said Diana firmly. +"Please, father, this is the dead-house. You can come right in if you +like, father, and see the dead 'uns; they are all lying on this shelf. +Most of them is to be buried pwivate, 'cos they are not our own pets, +you know; but Rub-a-Dub is sure to have a public funeral, and an +insipcron, and all the rest." + +Mr. Delaney followed Diana into the small shed which the children +called the dead-house. He gazed solemnly at the shelf which she +indicated, and on which lay the several dead 'uns. + +"Put your mouse down now," he said, "and come along back with me to +the house at once. You ought to have been in bed long ago." + +Diana laid the mouse sorrowfully down in the midst of its dead +brethren, shut the door of the dead-house, and followed her father up +the garden path. + +"It's a most beautiful night," she said, after a pause. "It's going to +be a starful night; isn't it, father?" + +"Starful?" said Mr. Delaney. + +"Yes; and when it is a starful night Orion can't sleep well, 'cos he +is a star hisself; isn't he, father?" + +"Good gracious, child, no! He is a little boy!" + +"No, no, father! You are awfu' mistook. Mother called him a star. I'll +show you him up in the sky if it really comes to be a starful night. +May I, father?" + +"Some time, my darling; but now you must hurry in, for I have to get +ready for dinner. Kiss me, Di. Good-night. God bless you, little one!" + +"B'ess you too, father," said Diana. "I love 'oo awfu' well." + +She raised her rosebud lips, fixed her black eyes on her parent's +face, kissed him solemnly, and trotted away into the house. When she +got close to it, a great sob came up from her little chest. She +thought again of the dead Rub-a-Dub, but then the chance of his having +a public funeral consoled her. She longed to find Iris. + +Full of this thought, her little heart beating more quickly than +usual, she rushed up the front stairs, and was turning down the +passage which led to the nursery, when she was confronted by a short, +stout woman dressed in black. + +"Now, who is this little girl, I wonder?" said a high-pitched, cheery +voice. + +"It is not your little girl; and I am in a hurry, please," said Diana, +who could be very rude when she liked. She did not wish to be +interrupted now; she wanted to find Iris to tell her of the sad fate +of Rub-a-Dub. + +"Highty-tighty!" exclaimed the little lady, "that is no way to speak +to grown-up people. I expect, too, you are one of my little nieces. +Come here at once and say, 'How do you do?'" + +"Are you the aunt?" asked Diana solemnly. + +"The aunt!" replied Mrs. Dolman. "I am your aunt, my dear. What is +your name?" + +"Diana. Please, aunt, don't clutch hold of my hand; I want to find +Iris." + +"Of all the ridiculous names," muttered Mrs. Dolman under her breath. +"Well, child, I am inclined to keep you for a moment, as I want to +talk to you. Do you know, you rude little girl, that I have come a +long way to see you. Of course, my little girl, I know you are sad at +present; but you must try to get over your great sorrow." + +"Do you know, then, about Rub-a-Dub?" said Diana, her whole face +changing, and a look of keen interest coming into it. + +If Aunt--whatever her other name was--should turn out to be interested +in Rub-a-Dub, and sorry for his untimely end, why, then, Diana felt +there was a possibility of her squeezing a little corner for her in +her hearts of hearts. But Mrs. Dolman's next words disturbed the +pleasant illusion. + +"You are a poor little orphan, my child," she said. "Your poor, dear +mother's death must be a terrible sorrow to you; but, believe me, you +will get over it after a time." + +"I has quite got over it awready," answered Diana, in a cheerful +voice. "It would be awfu' selfish to be sorry 'bout mother, 'cos +mother is not suffering any more pain, you know. I am very _glad_ +'bout mother. I am going to her some day. Please don't squeeze my hand +like that. Good-by, aunt; I weally can't stay another moment." + +She trotted off, and Mrs. Dolman gazed after her with a petrified +expression of horror on her round face. + +"Well," she said to herself, "if ever! And the poor mother was devoted +to them all, and she is scarcely a week in her grave, and yet that +mite dares to say she has got over it. What nonsense she talked, and +what a queer name she has. Now, our family names are sensible and +suited for the rising generation. We have had our Elizabeths and our +Anns, and our Lucys and our Marys, and, of course, there is Jane, my +name. All these are what I call good old respectable Delaney names; +but Diana and Iris make me sick. And I believe, if report tells true, +that there are some still more extraordinary names in the family. What +a rude, dirty little child! I did not like her manners at all, and how +neglected she looked. I shall follow her; it is my manifest duty to +see to these children at once. Oh! I shall have difficulty in breaking +them in, but broken in they must be!" + +Accordingly Mrs. Dolman turned down the passage where Diana's fat legs +disappeared. The eager but gentle flow of voices directed her steps, +and presently she opened the door of a large room and looked in. + +She found herself unexpectedly on the threshold of the day-nursery. It +was a beautiful room, facing due west; the last rays of the evening +sun were shining in at the open windows; some children were collected +in a corner of the room. Diana had gone on her knees beside a girl a +little older and slighter than herself. Her plump elbows were resting +on the girl's knee, her round hands were pressed to her rounder +cheeks, and her black eyes were fixed upon the girl's face. + +The elder girl, very quiet and calm, had one hand on Diana's shoulder, +her other arm was thrown round a handsome little boy, not unlike Diana +in appearance, while an older boy sat on a hassock at her feet. + +"I will listen to you presently, Diana," said Iris. "Now, I must +finish my story." + +"Yes, please go on, Iris," said Orion; "it's all about me, and I'm +'mensely inte'sted." + +"Very well, Orion. The King of Chios did not want his daughter to +marry you." + +"Good gracious!" muttered Mrs. Dolman in the doorway. + +"So he let you fall sound asleep," continued Iris, in her calm voice. +None of the children had yet seen the stout personage on the threshold +of the room. "He let you fall very sound asleep, having given you some +strong wine." + +"What next?" thought Mrs. Dolman. + +"And when you were very sound asleep indeed, he put out both your +eyes. When you awoke you found yourself quite blind, and did not know +what to do or where to go. Suddenly, in the midst of your misery, you +heard the sound of a blacksmith's forge. Guided by the noise, you +reached the place and begged the blacksmith to climb on your +shoulders, and so lend you his eyes to guide you. The blacksmith was +willing to do it, and seated himself on your shoulders. Then you said, +'Guide me to the place where I can see the first sunbeam that rises in +the east over the sea,' and--" + +"Yes," said Orion, whose breath was coming quickly, "yes; and what +happened to me then?" + +"Nonsense, little boy! Don't you listen to another word of that +folly," said a very strong, determined voice. + +All the children turned abruptly. + +"Oh, _she_ has come bothering!" said Diana. + +But the other three had started to their feet, and a flush rose into +Iris' pale face. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AUNT IS HER NAME. + + +"Aunt is her name," said Diana, "and I don't think much of her." + +Mrs. Dolman strode rapidly into the nursery. + +"Yes, children," she said, "I am your aunt--your Aunt Jane Dolman, +your father's only sister. Circumstances prevented my coming to see +your father and mother for several years; but now that God has seen +fit to give you this terrible affliction, and has taken your dear +mother to Himself, I have arrived, determined to act a mother's part +to you. I do not take the least notice of what that rude little girl +says. When I have had her for a short time under my own control, she +will know better. Now, one of you children, please have the politeness +to offer me a chair, and then you can come up one by one and kiss me." + +Iris was so much petrified that she could not stir. Diana and Orion +came close together, and Diana flung her stout little arm round +Orion's fat neck. Apollo, however, sprang forward and placed a chair +for his aunt. + +"Will you sit here, please, Aunt Jane Dolman?" he said. + +"You need not say Aunt Jane Dolman," replied the lady; "that is a very +stiff way of speaking. Say Aunt Jane. You can kiss me, little boy." + +Apollo raised his lips and bestowed a very chaste salute upon Aunt +Jane's fat cheek. + +"What is your name?" said Aunt Jane, taking one of his small, hard +hands in hers. + +"Apollo," he replied, flinging his head back. + +"Apollo! Heaven preserve us! Why, that is the name of one of the +heathen deities--positively impious. What could my poor sister-in-law +and your father have been thinking of? At one time I considered your +father a man of sense." + +Apollo flushed a beautiful rosy red. + +"Please, Aunt Jane," he said, "I like my name very much indeed, and I +would rather you did not say a word against it, because mother gave it +to me." + +"It is a name with a beautiful meaning," said Iris, coming forward at +last. "How are you Aunt Jane? My name is Iris, and this is Diana, and +this is Orion--both Diana and Orion are very good children indeed, +and"--here her lips quivered, her earnest, brown eyes were fixed with +great solicitude on her aunt's face--"I ought to know," she said, "for +I am a mother to the others, and, I think, please, Aunt Jane, Orion +and Diana should be going to bed now." + +"I have not the slightest objection, my dear. I simply wished to see +you children. I will say good-night now; we can have a further talk +to-morrow. But first, before I go, let me repeat over your names, or +rather you--Apollo, I think you call yourself--had better say them for +me." + +"That is Iris," said Apollo, pointing to his elder sister, "and I am +Apollo, and that is Diana, and that is Orion." + +"All four names taken from the heathen mythology," replied Aunt Jane, +"and I, the wife of a good honest clergyman of the Church of England, +have to listen to this nonsense. I declare it may be inconvenient--it +may frighten the parishioners. I must think it well over. I have, of +course, heard before of girls being called Diana, and also of girls +being called Iris--but Apollo and Orion! My poor children, I am sorry +for you; you are burdened for life. Good-night, good-night! You will +see me again to-morrow." + +The great dinner-gong sounded through the house, and Aunt Jane sailed +away from the day-nursery. + +"Fortune, who is she?" asked Iris, raising a pair of almost frightened +eyes to the old nurse's face. + +"She is your father's sister, my darling," said Fortune. "She has come +on a visit, and uninvited, Peter tells me. I doubt if my master is +pleased to see her. She will most likely go away in a day or two, so +don't you fret, Miss Iris, love. Now, come along, Master Orion, and +let me undress you. It is very late, and you ought to be in your +little bed." + +"I'm Orion," said the little boy, "and I'm stone blind." He began to +strut up and down the nursery with his eyes tightly shut. + +"Apollo, please, may I get on your shoulder for a bit, and will you +lead me to that place where the first sunbeam rises in the east over +the sea?" + +"Come," said Fortune, in what Diana would call a "temperish" tone, "we +can have no more of that ridiculous story-telling to-night. Miss Iris, +you'll ask them to be good, won't you?" + +"Yes. Children, do be good," said Iris, in her earnest voice. + +Diana trotted up to her sister and took her hand. + +"I has something most 'portant to tell you," she said, in a low +whisper. "It's an awfu' sorrow, but you ought to know." + +"What is it, Di?" + +"Rub-a-Dub has got deaded." + +"Rub-a-Dub?" + +"Yes; it is quite true. I found him stark dead and stiff. I has put +him in the dead-house." + +Iris said nothing. + +"And he is to have a public funeral, isn't he?" said Diana, "and a +beautiful insipcron. Do say he is, and let us have the funeral +to-morrow." + +"I am awfully sorry," said Iris, then; "I did love Rub-a-Dub. Yes, Di; +I'll think it over. We can meet after breakfast in the dead-house and +settle what to do." + +"There are to be a lot of funerals to-morrow--I'm so glad," said +Diana, with a chuckle. + +She followed Orion into the night-nursery. He was still walking with +his eyes tightly shut and went bang up against his bath, a good +portion of which he spilt on the floor. This put both Fortune and the +under-nurse, Susan, into a temper, and they shook him and made him +cry, whereupon Diana cried in concert, and poor Iris felt a great +weight resting on her heart. + +"It is awfully difficult to be a mother to them all," she thought. +"The usual kind of things don't seem to please them. Apollo, what is +the matter? What are you thinking of?" + +"I'm only wishing that I might be the real Apollo," said the boy, "and +that I might get quite far away from here. Things are different here +now that mother has gone, Iris. I don't like Aunt Jane Dolman a bit." + +"Oh, well, she is our aunt, so I suppose it is wrong not to like her," +answered Iris. + +"I can't help it," replied Apollo. "I have a feeling that she means +to make mischief. Why did she come here without being asked? Iris, +shall we go down to dessert to-night, or not?" + +"I would much rather not," answered Iris. + +"But father likes us to go. It is the only time in the day when he +really sees us. I think, perhaps, we ought to get dressed and be ready +to go down." + +"I will if you think so, Apollo; but I am very tired and sleepy." + +"Well, I really do. We must not shirk things if we are to be a bit +what mother wants us to be; and now that Aunt Jane has come, poor +father may want us worse than ever." + +"I never thought of that," replied Iris. "I'll run and get dressed at +once, Apollo." + +She flew away into a tiny little room of her own, which opened into +the night-nursery. + +"Susan," she called out, "will you please help me to put on my +after-dinner frock?" + +"You have only a white dress to wear this evening, miss; your new +black one has not come home yet." + +"A white one will be all right," replied Iris. + +"Oh, dear me, miss! and your poor mother only a week dead." + +"I wish, Susan, you would not talk of mother as dead," answered Iris. +"I don't think of her like that a bit. She is in Heaven; she has gone +up the golden stairs, and she is quite well and ever so happy, and she +won't mind my wearing a white dress, more particular if I want to +comfort father. Please help me on with it and then brush out my hair." + +Iris had lovely hair--it was of a deep, rich chestnut, and it curled +and curled, and waved and waved in rich profusion down her back. When +Susan had brushed it, and taken the tangles out, it shone like +burnished gold. Her pretty white frock was speedily put on, and she +ran out of her little room to join Apollo, who, in his black velvet +suit, looked very picturesque and handsome. + +Not long afterwards the little pair, taking each other's hands, ran +down the broad, white marble stairs and entered the big dining room. +They looked almost lost in the distance when they first appeared, for +the table at which Mr. Delaney and Mrs. Dolman sat was far away in a +bay window at the other end of the stately apartment. + +"Hullo, children! so there you are!" called their father's voice to +them. He had never been better pleased to see them in all his life, +and the note of welcome in his tones found an answering echo in Iris' +loving little heart. + +They both tripped eagerly up the room and placed themselves one on +each side of him, while Iris slipped her hand into his. + +"Well, my chicks, I am right glad to see you," he said. + +"Perhaps, David, you will remember how disgracefully late it is," said +Mrs. Dolman. "Children, I must frankly say that I am _not_ pleased to +see you. What are you doing up at this hour?" + +"We have come to keep father company," said Apollo, fixing his +flashing black eyes, with a distinctly adverse expression in them, on +his aunt's face. + +"In my day," continued Aunt Jane complacently, helping herself to +strawberries, "the motto was: 'Little boys should be seen and not +heard.' To-night, of course, I make allowances; but things will be +different presently. David, you surely are not giving those children +wine?" + +"Oh, they generally have a little sip each from my port," said Mr. +Delaney; "it does not do them any harm." + +"You may inculcate a taste," said Mrs. Dolman, in a very solemn voice. +"In consequence of that little sip, which appears so innocent, those +children may grow up drunkards. Early impressions! Well, all I can say +is this--when they come to live at the Rectory they will have to be +teetotalers. In my house we are all teetotalers. My husband and I both +think that we cannot have proper influence on the parishioners unless +we do ourselves what we urge them to do." + +Iris and Apollo both listened to these strange words with fast-beating +hearts. What did they mean? Mrs. Dolman spoke of when they were to +live at the Rectory. What rectory? She spoke of a time when they were +to live with her. Oh, no; she must be mistaken. Nothing so perfectly +awful could be going to happen. + +Nevertheless, Iris could scarcely touch her wine, and she pushed aside +the tempting macaroon which Mr. Delaney had slipped on to her plate. +She found it impossible to eat. + +Apollo, after a moment's hesitation, attacked his wine and swallowed +his biscuit manfully; but even he had not his usual appetite. + +After a short pause, Iris gave a gentle sigh and put both her arms +round her father's neck. + +"I am tired, father; I should like to go to bed." + +"And I want to go too," said Apollo. + +"Those are the first sensible remarks I have heard from either of the +children," said Mrs. Dolman. "I should think they are dead tired for +want of sleep, poor little mites. Good-night, both of you. When you +come to live with me--ah! I see you are astonished; but we will talk +of that pleasant little scheme to-morrow. Good-night to you both." + +"Good-night, Aunt Jane," said Iris. + +"Good-night, Aunt Jane," said Apollo. + +"Good-night to you both, my pets," said Mr. Delaney. + +Iris gave her father a silent hug, Apollo kissed him on the +forehead--a moment later the little pair left the room. As soon as +ever they had done so, Mrs. Dolman turned to her brother. + +"Now then, David," she said, "you have got to listen to me; we may +just as well settle this matter out of hand. I must return home on +Thursday--and this is Tuesday evening. It will be impossible for you +to stay on here with those four children and no one responsible to +look after them. You appear half dead with grief and depression, and +you want a thorough change. The place is going to rack and ruin. Your +rent-roll, how much is it?" + +"About fifteen thousand pounds a year--quite enough to keep me out of +anxiety," said Mr. Delaney, with a grim smile. + +"It ought to be twenty thousand a year--in our father's time it was +quite that. No doubt you let your farms too cheap; and so much grass +round the house is disgraceful. Now, if I had the management--" + +"But you see you have not, Jane," said Mr. Delaney. "The property +happens to belong to me." + +"That is true, and I have a great deal too much on my mind to worry +myself about Delaney Manor; but, of course, it is the old place, and +you are my only brother, and I am anxious to help you in your great +affliction. When you married you broke off almost all connection with +me, but now--now I am willing to overlook the past. Do you, or do you +not, intend those children to run wild any longer? Even though they +are called after heathen idols they are flesh and blood, and it is to +be hoped that some religious influence may be brought to bear on them. +At the present moment, I conclude that they have none whatever." + +"I never saw better children," said Mr. Delaney; "their mother brought +them up as no one else could. In my opinion, they are nearly perfect." + +"You talk nonsense of that kind because you are blinded by your +fatherly affection. Now, let me assure you, in full confidence, that I +never came across more neglected and more utterly absurd little +creatures. Good-looking they are--you are a fine-looking man yourself, +and your wife was certainly pretty--the children take after you both. +I have nothing to say against their appearance; but they talk utter +gibberish; and as to that eldest little girl, if she is not given +something sensible to occupy her I cannot answer for the consequence. +My dear David, I don't want to interfere with your estate." + +"You could not, Jane; I would not permit it." + +"But with regard to the children, I really have experience. I have +five children of my own, and I think, if you were to see them, you +would be well assured that Iris and Diana, Apollo and Orion would do +well to take example by them. We might change the names of the boys +and give them titles not quite so terrible." + +"I wish them to be called by the names their mother chose," said Mr. +Delaney, with great firmness. + +"Well, I suppose the poor children will live it down, but they will +have a terrible time at school. However, they are too young for +anything of that kind at present. Give me the children, David, and I +will act as a mother to them; then pack up your belongings, put your +estate into the hands of a good agent, and go abroad for some years." + +"It would be an untold relief," said Mr. Delaney. + +At that moment the door was opened, and the butler appeared with the +evening post on a salver. Mr. Delaney laid the letters languidly by +his plate. + +"Shall we go into the drawing room, Jane?" he said. + +Mrs. Dolman rose briskly. + +"I shall retire early to bed," she said. "Read your letters, please, +David; you need not stand on ceremony with me." + +Mr. Delaney looked over his post; then his eyes lighted up as he saw +the handwriting on one of the envelopes. He opened the letter in +question, which immediately interested him vastly. It happened to be +from an old friend, and certainly seemed to come at an opportune +moment. This friend was about to start on an expedition to the +Himalayas, and he begged his old fellow-traveler to go with him. His +long letter, the enthusiastic way he wrote, the suggestions he threw +out of possible and exciting adventures came just at the nick of time +to the much-depressed and weary man. + +"Why, I declare, Jane," he said, "this does seem to come opportunely." +He walked over to where his sister was standing, and read a portion of +the letter aloud. "If I might venture to trust my darlings to you," he +said, "there is nothing in all the world I should like better than to +accompany Seymour to the Himalayas. He starts in a fortnight's time, +so there really is not a day to lose." + +"Then, David," said Mrs. Dolman, "you will not allow this valuable +opportunity to slip--you will trust your children to me. I assure you +I will do my duty by them." She spoke with real sincerity, and tears +absolutely dimmed her bright eyes. "David," she continued, "that +letter seems a Providence; you will act upon it." + +"It certainly does," said the man; "but, Jane, you will be good to the +children--tender, I mean. Their mother has always been very gentle to +them." + +"You need not question me as to how I will treat them. I will bring +them up as I would my own. I will do my utmost to rear them in the +fear of God. David, this clinches the matter. Write to Mr. Seymour by +this night's post." + +Mr. Delaney promised to do so, and soon afterwards Mrs. Dolman, +feeling that she had done a very good and excellent work, retired, in +a thoroughly happy frame of mind, to her bedroom. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE POOR DEAD 'UNS. + + +Mr. Delaney's bedroom faced east, and the following morning, at a very +early hour, he began to have most unpleasant dreams. He thought a +hobgoblin was seated on his chest, and several brownies were pulling +him where he did not wish to go, and finally that a gnome of enormous +dimensions was dragging him into a dark cavern, where he could never +again behold the daylight. At last, in great perturbation, he opened +his dazed eyes. The sight he saw seemed at first to be a continuation +of his dream, but after a moment or two he discovered that the person +who had become possessed of his chest was a small boy of the name of +Orion, that a little black-eyed girl called Diana had comfortably +ensconced herself on his knees, and that Iris and Apollo were seated +one at each side of his pillow. The four children had all climbed up +on to the big bedstead, and were gazing attentively at him. + +"He is opening his eyes," said Orion, "he'll be all right after a +minute or two. Don't hurry up, father; we can wait." + +"We can wait quite well, father," said Diana; "and it's very comf'able +on your knees; they is so flat." + +"We are awfully sorry to disturb you, father," said Iris. + +"But we can't help it, because it's most solemnly important," said +Apollo. + +"So it seems," remarked Mr. Delaney, when he could at last find a +voice. "You have all subjected me to a terrible dream. I am really +glad that I have awakened and find that the hobgoblins, and gnomes, +and brownies are no less little people than my own four children. But +why am I to be disturbed at such a very early hour?" + +"If you like, father," said Diana, "we'll pull up all the blinds; then +the hot, blazin' sun will come in, and you'll see that it's not early +at all; it's late." + +Mr. Delaney happened to glance at a clock which stood on the +mantelpiece exactly facing the big bed. + +"I read on the face of that clock," he said, "that the hour is +half-past five. Now, what have you four little children to do, sitting +on my bed at half-past five in the morning?" + +When Mr. Delaney said this he shook himself slightly and upset Diana's +balance, and made Orion choke with silent laughter. Iris and Apollo +gazed at him gravely. + +"We all made up our minds to do it," said Iris. "We have come to ask +you to make a promise, father." + +"A promise, my dear children! But you might have waited until the +usual hour for getting up. What are you going to wring from me at this +inclement moment?" + +"I don't exactly know what inclement moment means," said Iris, "but I +do know, and so does Apollo--" + +"And so do I know all about it," shouted Diana. "You see, father," +continued the little girl, who spoke rather more than any of the other +children, "we has to think of the poor innocents, and the birds and +the mice, and the green frogs, and our puppy, and our pug dog, and +our--and our--" Here she fairly stammered in her excitement. + +"Has a sudden illness attacked that large family?" said Mr. Delaney. +"Please, children, explain yourselves, for if you are not sleepy, I +am." + +"Yes, father," said Iris, "we can explain ourselves quite easily. The +thing is this--we don't want to go away." + +"To go away? My dear children, what do you mean?" But as Mr. Delaney +spoke he had a very uncomfortable memory of a letter which he had +posted with his own hands on the previous evening. + +"Yes," said Apollo; "we don't want to go away with her." + +"And we don't wish for no aunts about the place," said Diana, +clenching her little fist, and letting her big, black eyes flash. + +"Now I begin to see daylight," said Mr. Delaney. "So you don't like +poor Aunt Jane?" + +"Guess we don't," said Orion. "She comed in last night and she made an +awful fuss, and she didn't like me 'cos I'm Orion, and 'cos I'm a +giant, and 'cos sometimes I has got no eyes. Guess she's afraid of me. +I thought her a silly sort of a body." + +"She's an aunt, and that's enough," said Diana. "I don't like no +aunts; they are silly people. I want her to go." + +"Apollo and I brought the two younger children," continued Iris, +"because we thought it best for us all to come. It is not Aunt Jane +being here that is so dreadful to me, and so very, very terrible to +Apollo," she continued. "It's what she said, father, that we--we were +to go away, away from the house and the garden--the garden where +mother used to be, and the house where the angel came to fetch mother +away--and we are to live with her. She spoke, father, as if it was +settled; but it is not true, is it? Tell us, father, that it is not +true." + +"My poor little children!" said the father. His own ruddy and sunburnt +face turned absolutely pale; there was a look in his eyes which Diana +could not in the least understand, nor could Orion, and which even +Apollo only slightly fathomed; but one glance told Iris the truth. + +"When I am away you are to be a mother to the others," seemed at that +moment to echo her mother's own voice in her ear. She gulped down a +great sob in her throat, and stretching herself by her father's side +she put one soft arm round his neck. + +"Never mind if it is _really_ settled," she said. "I will try hard to +bear it." + +"You are about the bravest little darling in the world," said Mr. +Delaney. + +"What are you talking about, Iris?" cried Apollo, clutching his sister +by her long hair as she spoke. "You say that you will try and bear it, +and that father is not to mind? But father must mind. If I go to Aunt +Jane Dolman's, why--why, it will kill me." And the most beautiful of +all the heathen gods cast such a glance of scorn at his parent at that +moment that Mr. Delaney absolutely quailed. + +"For goodness' sake, Apollo, don't eat me up," he said. "The fact is +this, children; I may as well have the whole thing out. Aunt Jane came +last night and took me by surprise. I have been very lonely lately, +and you know, you poor little mites, you cannot be left to the care of +Fortune. She is a very good soul, but you want more than her to look +after you, and then Miss Stevenson--I never did think her up to much." + +"Father," said Apollo, "you have no right to abuse our spiritual +pastors and masters." + +Notwithstanding his heathenish name, it will be seen by this remark +that some of his time was occupied learning the church catechism. + +"I stand corrected, my son," said Mr. Delaney, "or, rather, at the +present moment, I lie corrected. Well, children, the truth must +out--Aunt Jane took me by surprise. She promises she will look after +you and be a mother to you." + +"We don't want no other mother, now that our own mother is gone, +except Iris," said Apollo. "We won't have Aunt Jane for a mother." + +"She is a howid old thing, and I hate aunts," said Diana. + +"Well, children, I am very sorry for you, but it is too late to do +anything now. The whole thing is arranged. I hope you will try to be +good, and also to be happy with Aunt Jane. You won't find her half bad +when you get to know her better, and of course I won't be very long +away, and when I come back again--" + +"Please don't say any more, father," interrupted Iris. She slipped off +the bed and stood very pale and still, looking at her father with eyes +which, notwithstanding all her efforts, were full of reproach. + +"Come, children," she said to the others, "let poor father have his +sleep out. It is quite early, father, and--and we understand now." + +"Do say you are not angry with me, you dear little kids. I would not +hurt you for the whole world." + +"Of course we are not angry, father," said Iris. She bent slowly +forward and kissed her father on his forehead. "Go to sleep, father; +we are sorry we woke you so early." + +"Yes, father, go to s'eep," echoed Diana. "I underland all 'bout it. +You won't have no hobgoblins now to dweam about, for I has got off +your knees. They was lovely and flat, and I didn't mind sitting on +them one bit." + +"All the same, Diana, I am obliged to you for getting off," said Mr. +Delaney, "for I was beginning to get quite a terrible cramp, to say +nothing of my sensations at having this giant Orion planting himself +on my chest. I will have a long talk with you all, darlings, in the +course of the day, and I do hope you won't be very unhappy with your +Aunt Jane Dolman." + +"We'll be mis'ble, but it can't be helped," said Diana. "I never did +like aunts, and I'm never going to, what's more. Come 'long now, +sildrens. It's a gweat nuisance getting up so early, particular when +father can't help hisself. Can you, father? Go to s'eep now, father. +Come 'long this minute, back to bed, sildrens." + +Diana looked really worthy of her distinguished name as she strode +down the passage and returned to the night-nursery. She and Orion +slipped into their respective little cots and lay down without waking +either Fortune or Susan, who slept in beds at the opposite side of the +room. Iris and Apollo also returned to their beds, and presently +Apollo dropped asleep, for, though he had an alarming temper, his fits +of passion never lasted long. But Iris did not close her bright brown +eyes again that morning. She lay awake, full of troubled +thoughts--thoughts far too old for her tender years. + +It was one of Fortune's fads never on any occasion to awaken a +sleeping child, and as the other children slept rather longer than +usual after their early waking, breakfast was in consequence full half +an hour late in the day-nursery that morning. At last, however, it was +finished. No special lessons had been attended to since mother had +gone away to the angels, and the children, snatching up their hats, +rushed off as fast as possible to the garden. When they got there they +all four breathed freely. This at least was their own domain--their +fairyland, their country of adventure. From here they could travel to +goodness only knew where--sometimes to the stars with bright Apollo +and brave Orion--sometimes to happy hunting fields with Diana, the +goddess of the chase, and sometimes they might even visit the rainbow, +with sweet Iris as their companion. + +There never were happier children than these four in that lovely, +lovely beyond words, garden. When the children went into it, it seemed +as if an additional ray of sunshine had come out to fill all the happy +world with light and love and beauty. The bees hummed more +industriously than ever, the flowers opened their sweet eyes and gazed +at the children, the animals came round them in a group. + +On this special morning, however, Diana's dear little face looked very +grave and full of business. + +"It's most 'citing," she said. "'Fore we does anything else we must +'tend to the funerals--there is such a lot of dead 'uns to bury this +morning. Come 'long to the dead-house at once, Iris." + +"I must smell the Scotch roses first," answered Iris. + +"You can do that afterwards, can't you? There's poor Rub-a-Dub. We has +to 'cide whether he is to have a public or a pwivate funeral, or +whether he is just to be sewn up in dock leaves, and put into the +gwound p'omisc's." + +Diana had a great facility for taking up long words, which she always +used in the most matter-of-fact style, not in the least caring how she +pronounced them. + +The other children could not help laughing at her now, and the four +hurried off as fast as they possibly could to the dead-house. + +This unpleasantly named abode was in reality a pretty little shed in +one corner of the old garden. It contained a door with lock and key, a +nice little window, and everything fitted up for the keeping of tools +and carpenters' implements. Long ago, however, the children decided +that here the dead animals of all sorts and species were to be kept +until the solemn moment of interment. + +Iris looked just as grave as the others when she unlocked the door of +the dead-house now, and they all entered. The dead 'uns were decently +laid out on a shelf, just in front of the public view. There was a +dead bee, and two butterflies; there were two dead worms and a dead +toad; also three or four beetles in different stages of decomposition, +and a terribly crushed spider--and solemnly lying in the midst of his +dead brethren lay Rub-a-Dub, the precious and dearly loved piebald +mouse. + +"They look beautiful, poor darlin's," said Diana; "they will most fill +up the cemetery. Now please, Iris, which is to have a public funeral?" + +"Of course Rub-a-Dub must," answered Iris. "As to the others--" + +"Don't you think that poor toad, Iris?" said Diana, wrinkling up her +brows, and gazing anxiously at her sister. "The toad seems to me to be +rather big to have only a pwivate funeral. We could scarcely get dock +leaves enough." + +"We must try," answered Iris; "the toad must be buried privately with +the others. We always make it a rule--don't you remember, Di--only to +give public funerals to our own special pets." + +"All wight," answered Diana. She was very easily brought round to +accept Iris' view. In her heart of hearts she considered Iris' verdict +like the laws of the Medes and Persians--something which could not +possibly be disputed. + +"Run, Orion!" she said; "be quick, and fetch as many dock leaves as +possible. I will thread a needle so as to sew up the poor dead 'uns in +their coffins. We must get through the pwivate funerals as quick as +possible this morning, and then we'll be weady for poor Rub-a-Dub." + +"Rub-a-Dub is to be buried exactly at eleven o'clock," said Iris. + +"We'll all wear mourning, course?" asked Diana. + +"Yes; black bows." + +"And are the dogs and the other animals to wear mourning?" + +"Black bows," repeated Iris. + +"That is most lovely and 'citing," said Diana. + +Orion left the dead-house, and presently returned with a great pile of +dock leaves. Then the children sat down on the floor and began to sew +coffins for the different dead 'uns. They were accustomed to the work +and did it expeditiously and well. When all the poor dead 'uns were +supplied with coffins they were carried in a tray across the garden +to the far-famed cemetery. Here they were laid in that part of the +ground apportioned to private funerals. Apollo made small holes with +his spade, and each dead 'un in his small coffin was returned to +mother earth. The ground was immediately covered over, and Apollo +trampled on it with his feet. He did this on the present occasion with +right good will. "I'll be rather glad when the funerals are over," he +said, looking at Iris as he spoke, "for I want to get on with my ship. +I have got hold of some canvas the gardener brought me from town, and +I really believe I may be able to make a funnel and a place for +boiling water. You would like to see my ship when it is afloat; would +you not, Iris?" + +"Yes; very much indeed," answered Iris. + +"I call ships stupid," said Diana. "I don't see no use in 'em. Now, do +let us hurry back. Poor Rub-a-Dub will be so lonely." + +"It's you who is silly now," said Orion. "You know Rub-a-Dub can't +feel; don't you, Di?" + +"I know nothing 'bout it," said Diana. "I want to hurry back to get +his beautiful public funeral weady. Now, look here, 'Rion; will you go +into the house to steal the cotton wool, or shall I?" + +"What is that I hear?" said a voice which seemed to come from right +over the children's heads. + +They all looked up in alarm, to see Aunt Jane Dolman and their father +standing close by. Mr. Delaney wore an amused, and Aunt Jane a scared +expression. + +"What were you saying, little girl?" she continued, taking Diana by +her arm and giving her a slight shake; "that you wished to _steal_ +something?" + +"Yes; some cotton wool," said Diana; "it's most 'portant; it's for a +public funeral." + +Mrs. Dolman turned her round black eyes on her brother. Horror was +expressed in each movement of her face. + +"My dear Jane," he said, _sotto voce_, "there are several things which +these children do which will astonish you very much. Don't you think +you had better give up the scheme?" + +"Not I, David," she replied. "The more I see of the poor neglected +mites the more I long to rescue them from evident destruction." + +He shook his head and looked with some pity at Iris. + +"Shall Orion go to steal the cotton wool?" repeated Diana, who looked +as if it was impossible for anyone in this world to terrify her in the +very least. + +"If it must be stolen, and if you ask me," said Mr. Delaney, "perhaps +Orion may as well be the thief as anyone else. In the old times of the +heathen deities I believe they did now and then stoop to that small +crime." + +"David, it is appalling to hear you speak," said Mrs. Dolman. "Orion, +I hate to pronounce your name, but listen to me, little boy. I forbid +you to go if you are bent on theft." + +"But I must go," said Orion. "Poor Rub-a-Dub must be buried, and I +must have a box for his coffin and cotton wool to lay him in." + +"See here, Orion," said the father; "where do you get the cotton +wool?" + +"We gen'ly get it from Fortune's box in the night-nursery," replied +Orion. + +"And you steal it?" + +"Oh, yes; she would make _such_ a fuss if we asked her for some. We +always steal it for public funerals." + +"Well, on this occasion, and to spare your aunt's feelings, tell +Fortune that I desire her to give you some. + +"Now, Jane," continued Mr. Delaney, "as you are here, and as I am +here, we may both of us as well witness this ceremony. The children +are fond of doing all honor to their pets, even after the supreme +moment of dissolution. Shall we witness this public funeral?" + +Mrs. Dolman looked wonderfully inclined to say "No," but as her object +now was to humor her brother as far as possible, she agreed very +unwillingly to wait. + +Accordingly he and she began to pace up and down the lovely garden, +and soon, in the interest which the sight of the unforgotten +playground of her youth excited within her, her brow cleared, and she +became pleasant and even talkative. The two were in the midst of a +very interesting conversation, and were pacing up and down not far +from the summer-house, when Orion's clear voice was heard. "The public +funeral is going to begin," he shouted, "so you had best come along if +you want to see it. If you don't, Diana and me, and Apollo and +Iris--why, we don't care." + +"Oh, we'll come, you rude little body," said his father, laughing and +chuckling as he spoke. "You mark my words, Jane," he continued, "you +will have a handful with those children." + +"Oh, I'll manage them," said Mrs. Dolman. "I have not lived my +thirty-five years for nothing; they certainly need managing, poor +little spoilt creatures." + +They both hurried to the cemetery, where Apollo was standing, having +dug a grave nearly a foot deep, and large enough to hold a square +cardboard box. He stood leaning on his spade now, his hat pushed off, +his handsome little face slightly flushed with the exercise, his eyes +full of a sort of gloomy defiance. But now the funeral procession was +coming on apace. Orion's mouth was much puffed out because he was +blowing vigorously on his Jew's harp, Diana followed him beating a +little drum, and Iris, with long black ribbons fastened to her flowing +chestnut locks, was walking behind, carrying the tiny coffin. Iris, as +she walked, rang an old dinner bell in a very impressive manner, and +also sang a little dirge to the accompaniment of the bell and the two +other children's music. These were the words Iris sang: + + "Ding-a-dong, Rub-a-Dub's dead; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub. + Sleep well in your little bed; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub. + + "We'll put a stone at your head and your feet; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub. + And you shall sleep very sound and sweet; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub. + And you'll never know fear any more; + Little dear; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub." + +Iris was a poet on occasions, and she had made up these impressive +lines in great haste while the other children were arranging minor +details of the funeral. + +As the mourning party approached the open grave, Apollo came forward +and dropped on his knees. The coffin was supplied with strings of +white satin ribbon, and was lowered with great solemnity into the +grave. Then the four mourners stood over it and each of them sang the +last words of Iris' poem: + + "And you'll never know fear any more, + Little dear; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub." + +The moment this was over flowers were strewn upon the box, and Apollo +with great vigor began to shovel in the earth. + +"Make a nice high mound," said Diana; "let it look as like a weal +gwave as possible." Then she turned eagerly to her sister. "When are +we to see about making the tombstone for the head and the feet?" she +asked. + +"We'll talk it over this evening," answered Iris. + +It may here be noted that none of the four mourners took the slightest +notice of Mr. Delaney or of Mrs. Dolman. To them it was as if these +two grown-up spectators did not exist--they were all lost in their own +intensely important world. + +"Well," said Mrs. Dolman, as she turned away with her brother, "of all +the heathenish and wicked nonsense that I was ever permitted to +witness, this beats everything. It is a right good thing--yes, I will +say it frankly, David--that you are going abroad, and that your +benighted children are handed over to me. When you come back in a year +or two--I assure you, my dear brother, I do not wish to hurry you--but +when you come back in a few years you will see, please Providence, +very different children waiting to welcome you." + +"Well, Jane," said David Delaney, "I have arranged to give the +children to you, and I hope to Heaven I am doing right; but do not +spoil them whatever you do, for to me and to their sainted mother +they were ever the sweetest little quartette that breathed the breath +of life." Mr. Delaney's eyes filled with sudden tears as he said these +words. "Good-by, Rub-a-Dub," he whispered as he left the garden. "Yes, +there are many good-bys in the air just now." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +BUT ANN COULD NOT HELP LETTING OUT NOW AND THEN. + + +The Rectory at Super-Ashton was a large, sunny, cheerful house. It was +filled with every modern convenience, and possessed plenty of rooms +papered with light, bright-looking papers, and painted also in +cheerful colors. The windows were large and let in every scrap of +sunshine; the passages and hall and stairs were broad and roomy; the +nurseries and the children's rooms were models of comfort; the +servants were all well behaved and thoroughly accustomed to their +duties; the meals were punctual to a moment; in fact, nothing was left +to chance at Super-Ashton Rectory. + +Mrs. Dolman was the life and soul of this extremely orderly English +home. She was one of the most active little women in the world. She +invariably got up, summer and winter, soon after six o'clock, and +might be seen bustling about the house, and bustling about the garden, +and bustling about the parish from that moment until she retired to +rest again, somewhere between ten and eleven at night. She was never +exactly cross, but she was very determined. She had strict ideas, and +made everyone in the parish not only respect her and look up to her, +but live up to her rule of life. She was, as a matter of fact, thought +a great deal more of by the parishioners than her husband, the +Reverend William Dolman, and the real Rector of Super-Ashton. + +Mr. Dolman was a very large man, tall in stature and broad. He was +also fat and loosely built. He had a kindly face and a good-humored +way of talking. He preached very fair sermons on Sundays, and attended +to his duties, but without any of the enthusiasm which his wife +displayed. + +When Mrs. Dolman wrote to her husband to say that she was returning +home with the four little Delaneys, it caused considerable excitement +at the breakfast table. Five little hearts beat considerably faster +than usual; but so great were the order and regularity of the +household that the five little faces to which the hearts belonged +remained apparently impassive. + +Miss Ramsay, the governess, was presiding at the head of the table. +The Dolman girls were neatly dressed in print frocks with white +pinafores; the boys wore holland blouses and knickerbockers. The boys +happened to be the two youngest of the family, and none of the +children had yet gone to school. The name and ages of the five were as +follows: First came Lucy, aged twelve; then Mary, aged ten; then Ann, +aged nine; then Philip and Conrad, aged respectively seven and a half +and six. The faces of the whole five bore a curious resemblance to +both father and mother, the eldest girl having the round, black eyes +of her mother, and the large, somewhat irregular features of the +father. Mary resembled Lucy in being fat and largely built, but her +eyes were blue instead of black; while little Ann had a small face, +with gray eyes and rather sensitive lips. The complexions of the three +were fair, and their good looks were rather above the average. They +were proper, neat-looking little girls, and, notwithstanding their +inward excitement, they ate their breakfast tidily, and took good care +not to express any emotion before Miss Ramsay or their good-natured +father. + +"Yes," said Mr. Dolman, looking at them, and pushing his spectacles up +on his forehead, "yes, that is the news. Your mother returns to-night, +and the four Delaneys with her. Let me see what else she says." He +replaced his spectacles on his nose and looked over his wife's letter +again. "These are the very words," he said; "Observe, Miss Ramsay, +that I read from the letter. 'I return by the train which reaches +Super-Ashton at six o'clock, and will bring the four Delaneys with +me.' Four, you see, Lucy; that is the number. But mamma does not +mention the sex of the children. How many boys or how many girls? I +really am quite out of date with regard to your cousins, my love." + +"But I know all about them, papa," burst from Ann's eager lips. + +"You forget your French, Ann," said Miss Ramsay, laying her hand on +the little girl's arm. "You will be punished if you speak English +again at meals." + +Ann colored and dropped her eyes. She began to eat her bread and +butter hastily; she longed beyond words to tell the others the +knowledge she had secretly acquired about her cousins the Delaneys. + +"'Please send the wagonette to the station,'" continued Mr. Dolman, +reading his wife's letter, and holding it close to his eyes, +"'and--yes, the cart for the luggage, as the children'--um, um, um, +that part is private, my dears." + +Mr. Dolman dropped his spectacles and nodded at the eager little group +round the table. + +"Well," he continued, "I am glad mamma is coming home. I have really +been quite bothered by the parishioners since she went away. There is +always a vast deal of work left undone when mamma is absent, eh, +children? eh, Miss Ramsay?" + +"I agree with you, Mr. Dolman," said Miss Ramsay. "Mrs. Dolman does +not spare herself; she will have her reward some day." + +"God grant it!" said Mr. Dolman, with a heavy sigh. "She certainly +will need rest whenever she does leave this world, for I never did +come across such an active woman." + +He left the room, hitching up his huge shoulders as he did so, and +slammed the door noisily behind him. + +"Papa would not do that if mamma were here," whispered Philip to Ann. + +Ann said "Hush!" in a frightened tone, and then Miss Ramsay folded her +hands as an intimation to the children that the meal was at an end, +and that one of them was to say grace. + +Immediately after breakfast they went upstairs to the schoolroom, and +lessons began, just as if no four little Delaneys were to arrive to +turn everything topsy-turvy that evening. + +Lessons proceeded without any interruption until twelve o'clock. Then +the three little girls retired to the neat bedroom which they shared +together, and put on their sun-bonnets, their white capes, and their +washing-gloves, and came back again to Miss Ramsay, equipped for their +walk. The boys, with straw hats sticking very far back on their heads, +were also waiting Miss Ramsay's pleasure in the hall downstairs. The +children and the governess went out walking solemnly two and two, Miss +Ramsay and Conrad in front, Lucy and Mary following, with Ann and +Philip behind. + +It was a hot day; but Miss Ramsay never excused the morning walk on +the dusty highroads. The children came in very much flushed and tired +at one o'clock for dinner. They assembled again in the big, cool +dining room and ate their roast mutton and peas and new potatoes, and +rice pudding and stewed fruit with the propriety of children who have +been thoroughly well brought up. + +At dinner French was again the only language allowed to be spoken. In +consequence there was a sad dearth of any conversation at that dinner +table. + +After dinner Mr. Dolman told Miss Ramsay that he had given orders +about the wagonette, and he supposed Simpson knew about the sleeping +arrangements, as he was given to understand that she had received a +letter from Mrs. Dolman. + +"I have spoken to Simpson," replied Miss Ramsay, dropping her eyes as +she made the remark, "and she fully understands what is expected of +her. The two girls are to have small rooms to themselves, and so is +the eldest boy, but the youngest will sleep in the nursery with Philip +and Conrad. Those are Mrs. Dolman's directions." + +"Quite right, quite right," said Mr. Dolman. "Anything Mrs. Dolman +wishes, of course. Miss Ramsay, I shall not be home to tea this +evening. I have to go to visit a sick parishioner at the other end of +the parish. Good-by, Lucy; good-by, the rest of you children. I hope +to see you all before bedtime; if not--" + +"But, father," burst from Ann, "the new children will be here about +six." + +"They cannot arrive before half-past six, my dear," replied Mr. +Dolman. + +"Ann, you have again spoken English," said Miss Ramsay; "I shall be +forced to punish you. You will have to stay in after the others this +afternoon, and learn ten lines of your French poetry." + +Poor little Ann colored and her lips trembled. She really felt +dreadfully excited, and it was terrible to have to bottle up all her +thoughts during the long, hot day. + +Immediately after dinner the children went up to the schoolroom, where +they lay down on the floor for half an hour to learn their lessons. + +At three o'clock the ordinary lessons began again, and went on without +interruption until five, when there was tea. After tea the children +were supposed to have the rest of the day to do what they liked in. +But on this occasion, Ann was kept in the schoolroom to learn her +French poetry as best she could. The ten lines were difficult, and the +little girl felt sleepy, cross, and dissatisfied. Soon her small, +curly head fell upon her plump arms, and sleep took possession of her +little soul. + +Miss Ramsay came in and found her in a state of heavy slumber. + +"Ann!" she cried; "Ann!" + +Little Ann raised herself with a start. + +"Oh, please, Miss Ramsay, won't you excuse the French poetry to-day," +she cried; "I am so--" + +"So what, Ann? I am surprised at you. What can be the matter?" + +"I am _so_ excited about the little Delaneys," answered Ann. "They are +coming so soon, and they are my own first cousins--I seem to see them +all the day--they come between me and--and my poetry. Please, Miss +Ramsay, if you'll only allow me I'll get up early to-morrow morning +and learn it perfectly. Do say I need not finish it this +afternoon--do, please." + +Miss Ramsay was astonished and annoyed at this rebellion on the part +of Ann. + +"You surprise me," she said. "You know that lessons have to be done +during lesson hours, and that rules are not to be broken. You know +what your mother would say if she heard you talking English at meals. +Twice to-day you broke through that rule. The first time I pardoned +you--the second time it was unpardonable. Now, my dear, apply yourself +to your task--get it well over, and you will doubtless be ready to +welcome your cousins when they arrive." + +Miss Ramsay left the room. Ann shed a few tears, and then, seeing +there was no help for it, applied herself with all her might and main +to learning her appointed task. She got her poetry by heart after a +fashion, and, hastily replacing the book in the bookcase, ran out of +the schoolroom. She saw Lucy and Mary pacing up and down the terrace +in front of the house. They were in clean white frocks, with sashes +round their waists, and their hair was very trimly brushed and curled +over their heads. Their faces shone from soap and water, and even at +that distance Ann could perceive that their hands were painfully, +terribly clean. In her heart of hearts Ann hated clean hands; they +meant so much that was unpleasant--they meant that there must be no +grubbing in the garden, no searching for dear little weeds and small +flowers, and all kinds of delicious, unexpected things in mother +earth. In her heart of hearts Ann had a spark of originality of her +own, but it had little chance of flourishing under the treatment so +carefully pursued at Super-Ashton. + +Philip and Conrad might also be seen on the terrace in their clean +linen blouses and fresh knickerbockers; their hands were also +carefully washed, their hair brushed back from their faces, the faces +themselves shining from soap and water. + +"Oh, dear! there's no help for it," thought little Ann, "I must go +into the nursery and let Simpson pull me about. How she will scrub me +and tug at my hair, and put on such a horrid starched dress, and it's +so hot to-night! Well, if I hurry I may be in time to tell Philip what +I know about their names. Oh, how delicious it will be! He'll be so +excited. Yes, I'll be as quick as possible." + +Ann ran down the long passage which led from the schoolroom to the +nursery, opened the door, and approached a prim old servant with a +somewhat cross face, who was busily engaged mending stockings. + +"Please, Simpson, here I am. Will you dress me?" said Ann, panting as +she spoke. + +Simpson laid down her work with deliberation. + +"Now, I wonder, Miss Ann," she said, "why I am to be put about for +you. I have just finished dressing all the other children. Why didn't +you come with the others? There, miss, you must just dress yourself, +for I can't and won't be worried; these stockings must be finished +before the mistress comes home." + +"All right," answered Ann, in a cheerful tone. "I can wash myself +beautifully. May I go into the night-nursery, please, Simpson, and do +my best?" + +"Yes, my dear. You'll find a white frock hanging in the wardrobe. I'll +fasten it for you after you have washed yourself and combed out your +hair. Now, do be quick. I would help you willingly, Miss Ann, only I +really have not a minute to spare; Master Philip and Master Conrad are +dreadful with their socks, and when the mistress comes with that fresh +family, goodness knows when I shall have a moment to see to your +clothes again." + +Ann dressed herself, and ran back to Simpson. + +"Simpson," she said, as that good woman was fastening the hooks and +eyes at the back of her frock, "I know it is wrong to be so much +excited, but I am. My heart beats awfully fast at the thought of their +coming." + +"Well, Miss Ann, it's more than my heart does. And now, miss, if +you'll take a word of advice from me, you'll keep your feelin's to +yourself, as far as your ma is concerned. Your ma don't wish any of +you to give way to excitement. She wants you to grow up steady, +well-conducted young ladies." + +"I hate being a well-conducted young lady," burst from little Ann. + +"Oh, dear me, miss! it's dreadful to hear you talk so unproper. Now +stand still and don't fidget." + +The frock was fastened, and Ann ran off to join her brothers and +sisters on the terrace. + +Lucy and Mary were little girls after their mother's own heart. They +never questioned her wishes, they never rebelled against her rules, +they were as good and well-behaved as any two little English maids of +the respective ages of twelve and ten could be. Now, as little Ann +approached, they looked at her as if they thought her quite beneath +their notice. + +"Oh, do go away, Ann!" said Lucy. "Mary and I are talking secrets, and +we don't want you." + +"You are always talking secrets," said Ann. "It's horrid unfair to +me." + +"We have got to talk things over. We can't confide in you; you're the +youngest. Please don't be disagreeable now. We are having a most +important talk. Please run away at once." + +Ann looked beseeching, but then, all of a sudden, her eyes fell upon +Philip. She turned, ran up to him, clutched him by the arm, and pulled +him away from Conrad. + +"Phil," she said, "I want to have you all to myself. I have something +terribly exciting to say." + +Philip looked from Conrad to Ann. + +"But you are always getting into hot water, Ann," he replied, "and Con +and I were talking about our fishes. We think if we are very careful +with our pocket-money we may have enough to buy some gold and silver +fish in the holidays." + +"Yes, yes," answered Ann impetuously; "buy any kind of fish you like. +Only, Con, like a dear, good boy, please go and walk at the other end +of the terrace for five minutes. I must speak to someone or I'll +burst." + +"How awfully vulgar you are, Ann!" said Lucy, who happened to pass by, +with Mary leaning on her arm, at that moment. + +But Philip felt flattered at Ann's evident anxiety to be alone with +him. + +"Go and do as you are told, Conrad," he said, in lofty tones; "go to +the other end of the terrace at once." + +"It's rather hard on me," said Conrad. "I like having secrets as well +as anybody else; the air is full of secrets to-day--why shouldn't I +have some?" + +"I'll have a secret with you by and by," said Ann, "if you'll only go +away now." + +The little boy looked at her, saw she was in earnest, and obeyed +somewhat unwillingly. + +"Now then, Ann," said Philip, "speak out; be as quick as ever you +can." + +"Philip," said Ann, in a solemn voice, "don't you want to know all +about the children who are coming to-night?" + +"Is that what the secret is about?" said Philip in disgust. "Do you +know, Ann, what I heard Miss Ramsay say to Simpson to-day. She said +that the new children would be awful bothers, and that _she_ for one +does not know if she is going to stay, and Simpson said she was sure +that she would give notice too. Miss Ramsay said it was an awful shame +bringing four children to the house, and Simpson threw up her hands. +You know how she looks when she throws up her hands. And she said, +'Them's my sentiments, Miss Ramsay.' Do you know what she meant by +'Them's my sentiments,' Ann, 'cos I don't? I never heard such funny +words before. Did you, Ann?" + +"No," said Ann; "but you ought not to have listened, Phil." + +"Oh, I often listen!" replied Philip calmly. "I get to know all kinds +of funny things that way, and they turn out no end useful. I know lots +of things about Miss Ramsay, and since I just let her know that I did, +she is not half so hard on me. That's how I find listening useful." + +"Well, it is not right," said Ann, "but I have no time to argue with +you now, Phil; I want to talk about the children. Whatever Simpson +says, and whatever Miss Ramsay says, I am delighted that they are +coming. I think it will be fun. In my heart, you know, Phil, I love +fun, and I want to be able to talk English sometimes, and Phil, would, +_would_ you like to know their names?" + +"Their names?" said Philip. "I suppose they have names, although I +never thought about them." + +"Well, of course they have, and I'll tell you what they are. They have +got lovely names; once I heard mother say that the whole four of them +were called after heathen idols. Isn't it awful and exciting to be +called after a heathen idol? Oh, Phil! they have such lovely names!" + +Philip was not much interested in heathen idols, but Ann's excited +face and her bright blue eyes did strike him as out of the common. + +"Well, you are in a state," he said. "What creatures girls are! You'll +catch it when mother comes home. You know she never can stand anybody +all jumpy, and jerky, and quivery, like you are now. Well, what are +the names? Out with them and get them over." + +"Iris is the name of the eldest girl," said Ann. "Then comes +Apollo--he is a boy." + +"I'll never be able to get hold of that name," said Philip. "Apollo! +how queer." + +"But it is not queer, really," said Ann, delighted at having roused +his real interest at last. "Of course, Apollo is very well known +indeed. He was a sort of beautiful god long ago." + +"But this boy is not a god--horrid little beggar," said Philip. "Well, +what are the names of the others?" + +"There is a girl called Diana." + +"Diana," repeated Philip. "There's nothing in that name. That name is +in the Bible. Miss Ramsay read the whole story aloud to us last +Sunday when the beastly rain kept dropping and dropping all day long. +'Great is Diana of the Ephesians.' I rather like the sound, but +there's nothing at all in a name of that sort, Ann." + +"Well, I didn't say there was," answered Ann. "I only think it awfully +pretty." + +"I don't think much of it for an ordinary girl. Well, now, what is the +other name? I'll call Conrad back, if you are not quick." + +"I'll tell it to you. Look here, Phil, I bet you never heard a name +like it." + +"You bet?" said Philip. "Oh, if mamma only heard you!" + +"For goodness' sake, don't tell her," said Ann. "I can't help letting +out sometimes, and it does relieve me so. The name of the other boy is +Orion, and he is called after a cluster of stars. I do know that much. +And oh, Phil! Phil! Phil! they are coming! they are coming!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE STRAW TOO MUCH. + + +The crunching of wheels was heard distinctly on the gravel, and the +next moment the wagonette swept into view. The horses drew up with a +nourish at the front door of the pretty Rectory, and the five little +Dolmans rushed forward. + +"Stand back, children, and allow your cousins to get comfortably out +of the carriage," called out Mrs. Dolman. "No excitement, I beg, from +any of you--I have had quite enough of that already. Stand quietly +just where you are. Lucy, where is Miss Ramsay?" + +"Up in her room, I think, mamma. Shall I call her?" + +"Not at present, although she ought to have been here. Now, Iris, get +out quietly--quietly, my dear. Apollo, give me your hand, you come +next; now, Diana--easy, little girl, easy--you will fall, if you jump +like that." + +"I think nothing of a little easy hop like that, aunt," replied Diana. +She sprang from the carriage, disdaining the use of the steps. When +she found herself on the gravel sweep she stood very firmly on her two +fat legs and looked her five cousins all over. + +"You aren't none of you much to boast," she said; "I'd wather have the +animals." Then she turned her back and gazed around her at the view. + +Meanwhile, Orion was being helped out of the carriage. He was also +very sturdy and independent, and felt half inclined to follow Diana's +spirited example; but Mrs. Dolman would not permit this. She took the +youngest of the little heathen gods firmly into her arms and deposited +him on the gravel. + +"There you are, little boy," she said, giving him a slight shake as +she did so, "and I do trust you will behave yourself." + +Orion ran up to Diana and took hold of her hand. Diana took no notice +of him, but continued to admire the view. + +Mrs. Dolman's face was quite red. She was very tired after her long +journey, and she had found the little Delaneys not the easiest +traveling companions in the world. It is true that Iris had been as +good as possible, but between whiles she had cried a good deal, and +her sad face, and somewhat reproachful expression, seemed to hurt Mrs. +Dolman even more than the really obstreperous, and at times violent, +behavior of her brothers and sister; for the fact is, the other three +little Delaneys had not yet got the slightest idea into their heads +that they were bound to obey Mrs. Dolman. Far from this; a sudden and +extreme naughtiness had taken possession of their unruly little +hearts. Even Iris' gentle words had no effect on them. They hated Aunt +Jane; considering her, in their heart of hearts, extremely cruel and +unworthy of affection. Had she not parted them at one blow from their +father, their home, their lovely garden, even from poor Fortune, who +was better than nobody, and, above all, from their darling, precious +pets? They had none of them been broken-hearted children when their +mother died, but they all, even Iris, felt broken-hearted now. But +this fact did not prevent their being extremely naughty and +rebellious, and when Diana felt Orion's hand clutching hers, she +whispered to him in an indignant voice: + +"Come 'long, 'Rion, let's have a wun--my legs is so stiff; and, Orion, +I has got the box, and we can open it when we is away by our own two +selves." + +"What are you talking about, little children?" questioned Mary Dolman. +"You mean to run away all by yourselves. But you must do nothing of +the sort. This is not the hour for running about in the open air. +There is supper ready for us all in the dining room, but I think mamma +would like you first to go upstairs and have your faces and hands +washed. If you will follow me, I'll show you where to go." + +"Thank you, Mary," said Mrs. Dolman, who had overheard her daughter. +"Ann, my dear, what are you staring at me for? Go and help your +cousins. Now, you four children, follow Lucy and Ann to your rooms, +where my servant, Simpson, will attend upon you. Go, children, at +once. If there is any naughtiness, remember I shall have to punish you +severely." + +"What do she mean by that?" said Diana, fixing her eyes on Mary's +face. "I never did like aunts. Is she your aunt?" + +"No; she is my mother," said Mary, "and you must not speak in that +tone of mamma." + +"I'll speak in any tone I p'ease," replied Diana. "Ise not going to be +fwightened. But what do she mean by punish? Who will she punish?" + +"She will punish you," replied Mary. "Were you never punished?" + +"Never. I don't know what it means. Is it nasty?" + +"Oh, isn't it!" said Philip, who came up at that moment. "What a lark +it will be to see you punished, Diana. I wonder when your first time +will come? I expect rather soon. You had best obey mamma, I can tell +you, and papa too; if you don't, you'll just catch it hot." + +"Boo!" replied Diana, "you is a silly boy." Then she turned to Mary. +"I is awfu' tired and s'eepy," she said. "I'd like to go stwaight to +bed." + +"You must have supper first. Did you not hear mamma say so? Now, come +along with me." + +Mary held out her hand, which Diana, after a momentary hesitation, +condescended to take. + +Meanwhile, Ann had gone up to Iris. + +"Would you not like me to show you your room, cousin?" she said; "and +please, I want to say how very glad I am that you have come." + +A faint tinge of delicate color came into Iris' sweet little face at +these words--they were the first attempt at a real welcome she had +received. She held out her hand to Ann without a word, and the +Delaneys and Dolmans entered the cheerful Rectory in a body. The four +little strangers, accompanied by Mary and Ann, went upstairs, where +Simpson was waiting for them. Simpson was feeling very cross at the +arrival of four additional children, but when she saw Diana's tired +face, and the tears on Iris' pale cheeks, and the defiant, and yet +baby look in Orion's bright eyes, something came over her which she +could not quite account for, and she suddenly became kind and +agreeable. + +"Come, my dears," she said; "why, you must all be dead tired, you poor +little mites. Come now--come in here. And what are your names?" + +"I am Iris," replied the eldest little girl in a sweet voice. + +"Iris!" repeated Simpson; "and what's your name, young master?" + +"Apollo," answered the little boy, flinging back his dark head and +fixing his handsome eyes upon the woman. + +"My word! that's a queer sort of name--outlandish, I call it!" +ejaculated Simpson. "And now, missy, I expect you are called Baby?" + +"No, I aren't," replied Diana. "I is the gweat Diana; I has got a bow +and arrow, and I'll shoot you if you is not kind." + +"Oh, lor'! Now, missy, you would not be so cruel as that?" + +"Yes, I would," replied Diana. "See this box in my hand? It's an awfu' +pwecious box--it has got spiders in it and two beetles. May I put the +poor darlin's loose in my room?" + +Now, if Simpson had a horror, it was of spiders and beetles. + +"You keep that box shut, miss," she said, "for if you dare to open it +in your bedroom I'll just go straight down and tell my mistress." + +"And then you'll get punished, Diana," said Mary, in her most annoying +voice. + +"Is you a cousin?" asked Diana, by way of reply. + +"Certainly I am." Mary opened her round eyes in some astonishment. + +"Is you my cousin?" + +"Yes; I am your first cousin." + +"First cousin," repeated Diana. She flung off her hat and threw it on +the floor. + +"Orion," she said, turning to her little brother, "you take good care +of our pwecious box. And what is you?" she continued, raising her eyes +to Simpson's face. + +"Well, my dear, at the present moment I am the nurse, and ready to +wash you and look after you, and make you comfortable." + +"Then I wishes to say something," remarked Diana. "I wishes to say it +bold, and I wishes to say it soon. I hate cousins, more 'specially +first, and I hate nurses. There, now, you can go downstairs, first +cousin, and tell aunt, and she can punish me. I don't care. You can +tell your mamma just what you p'ease." + +Diana strutted across the room, deposited her box on the +washhand-stand, and then, turning round once again, began to view the +company. What might have happened at that moment there is no saying, +if Iris had not come to the rescue. + +"Please don't mind her," she said; "she is only a very little child +and she has gone through great trouble, for our mother--our own +mother--she has left us, you know. Diana does not really mean to be +rude. Please let me talk to her. Di, darling, come to me, come to +Iris." + +It was impossible to resist Iris when she spoke in that tone, and when +she looked at Diana with her speaking dark eyes, and that gentle, +beautiful expression on her little face, it seemed to Diana then as if +the hard journey, and the pain of all the partings had never taken +place at all. She rushed up to her sister, clasped her fat arms round +her neck, and began to sob. + +"Poor little thing, she is dreadfully tired!" said Iris. "If I might +have a little bread and milk to give her, and then if she might be put +to bed, I know she would fall asleep immediately and be quite herself +in the morning." + +"Indeed, miss, I think you are right," said Simpson, who could not +help gazing at Iris with admiration. "I see you are a very kind little +sister, and of course no one ought to mind the words of a mere baby. +I'll take it upon me, miss, to do what you suggest, even though my +missus may be angry. Oh, my word! there's the supper gong. You must go +down at once, Miss Iris, you really must. I cannot answer for two of +you being absent, but I will speak to Mrs. Dolman afterwards, and tell +her that I just put Miss Diana straight to bed, for she was much too +sleepy to go downstairs again." + +"But I won't let you leave me, Iris," almost screamed Diana, +tightening her arms round her sister's neck. + +"Please let me stay here," said Iris. "I do not really want any +supper, and I know how to manage her. She has gone through a great +deal." + +"Well, miss, do you dare?" + +"Oh, I dare anything! I am quite positive certain Aunt Jane won't mind +when I tell her my own self what I have done." + +"I will tell mamma; she shan't mind," said little Ann suddenly. + +Iris looked up at her and smiled--Ann smiled back at her. The hearts +of the two little cousins were knit together in real love from that +moment. + +The gong sounded again downstairs, and this time in a distinctly angry +manner. The three Dolman girls and the two Delaney boys had to hurry +off as fast as they could, and then Iris undressed Diana and put her +into her snug little white bed. + +"I is drefful unhappy, Iris," said Diana, as she laid her head on her +pillow. + +"But you won't be in the morning, Diana. You'll feel brave and strong +and bright in the morning, just like the dear name mother gave you." + +"Oh, p'ease, p'ease, will you see that the spiders and beetles has +somethin' to eat? They is so far from home, poor darlin's, and they +has come a drefful long journey, and they may be deaded in the morning +if nothing's not done for 'em. P'ease see to 'em; won't you, Iris?" + +"Yes," replied Iris. + +"Very well. Now, I'll say my pwayers and go stwaight off to s'eep. +P'ease, God, b'ess Di, make her good girl. Amen. Good-night, Iris." + +The next moment the little girl had gone away into the world of happy +slumber and innocent dreams. She knew nothing whatever about what poor +Iris, to her dismay, soon discovered, namely, that Simpson had marched +off with the box which contained the spiders and beetles. That box, +with its contents, was never found again. It was the straw too much, +as Simpson expressed it afterwards. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER. + + +The next morning matters began by being a little better, and might +have gone on being so but for Diana. The four little Delaneys had +slept well, and were refreshed; and as the sun was shining brightly, +and there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Mrs. Dolman decided that all +the nine children might have a holiday in order to get acquainted with +one another. It did not seem so very dreadful to Iris and Apollo to +have cousins to walk about with and talk to. Philip and Conrad, too, +were fairly kind to little Orion; they took him round to see their +gardens and their several pets. Life was certainly prim at the Rectory +compared to what it had been at the Manor; but children will be +children all the world over, and when there is a bright sun in the +heavens, and flowers grow at their feet, and a gentle breeze is +blowing, it is almost impossible to be all sulks and tears and misery. +Even Diana was interested in what was going on. She had never been +away from home before, and she found it pleasant to watch the Dolman +children. As she expressed it, in her sturdy fashion, she did not +think much of any of them, but still it amused her to hear them speak, +and to take Ann's hand and allow her to lead her round the garden. + +Ann was extremely kind to her, but she only received a very qualified +measure of approval from the saucy little miss. Lucy and Mary she +could not bear, but as Ann showed her all her treasures, and as Ann +happened also to be very fond of animals, Diana began to chatter, and +presently became almost confidential. Suddenly, however, in the midst +of quite a merry game of play, the little girl was heard to utter a +shout. + +"Where is my darlin's that I brought from home?" she cried; "my three +spiders and my four beetles? I have not given none of 'em their +bwekfus. I must wun and fetch 'em. Iris promised to see to 'em last +night, so I know they isn't deaded; but I must go this very instant +minute to feed 'em, 'cos, of course, they wants their bwekfus, poor +dears. If you like I'll show 'em to you, Ann; you can see 'em while +they is eating." + +"Please, Diana, don't go!" called out Ann; but Diana did not hear her. +Putting wings to her sturdy little feet, she sped across the lawn, ran +helter-skelter into the house, and up to the room where she had slept. + +The room was empty, the windows were wide open, the little bed was +neatly made; there was not a sign of the precious box to be discovered +anywhere. + +"Where is that howid old nurse?" called Diana aloud. "She must know +where my pets is. Oh, they must be desp'te hungry, poor darlin's. I +say, nurse, where is 'oo? Nurse, come 'long, you howid old thing!" + +Simpson, who happened to be in the day-nursery not far away, heard +Diana's imperious little cry. The under-nurse was also standing in the +room. + +"Mrs. Simpson," she said, "I hear one of the strange little ladies +calling out for you." + +"Well, and so do I hear her," answered Mrs. Simpson, with a toss of +her head; "but she must learn to speak respectful before I take any +notice. I fully expect it's that pert little Miss Diana. They say she +is called after one of the heathen gods; no wonder she is so fiery +and--" + +But at that moment the fierce little face, the jet-black head and +sparkling eyes were seen peeping round the nursery door. + +"There you is, old Simpson; that's wight," said Diana, dancing up to +her. "Now, p'ease, tell me where you put my box." + +"What box, miss? I'll thank you, Miss Diana, not to call me old +Simpson. My name is Mrs. Simpson." + +"I only call you what you is," said Diana. "You is old, your hair is +gway; you is awfu' old, I 'spect. Now, where is my box? Where did you +put it, old--I mean, Mrs. Simpson?" + +"What box, miss?" said Simpson, beginning to temporize, for she really +was afraid of the burst of wrath which Diana might give way to when +she learned the truth. + +"You _is_ a stupid," said Diana. "It's the box what holds my pwecious +beetles and spiders. I want to feed 'em. I'm just going to catch flies +for my spiders. I know how to catch 'em quite well; and my dear little +bettles, too, must be fed on bits of sugar. Where did you put the box? +The woom I s'ept in is kite tidy. Where is the box? Speak, can't you?" + +"Well, then, Miss Diana, I must just tell you the simple truth. We +can't have no messing with horrid vermin in this house. I would not +stay here for an hour if I thought those odious beetles and spiders +were anywhere about." + +"Well, then, you can go," said Diana; "nobody wants you to stay; you +is of no cons'kence. I want my darlin' pets, my little home things +that comed from the lovely garden; my spiders and my dear beetles. +Where did you put 'em?" + +"The fact is, Miss Diana, you want a right good talking to," said +Simpson. "Well, then, this is the truth. I have put 'em away." + +"Away! Where?" + +"They are gone, miss; you'll never find 'em again." + +"Gone!" cried Diana, her face turning pale. "Gone! Did Iris let you +take 'em away?" + +"Your sister knew nothing about it, miss. I took the box last night +and threw it into the dust-hole. I hope the vermin inside are dead by +now--horrid, odious, disgusting things!" + +"Vermin!" cried Diana. Her great eyes leaped, a ray of pure fire +seemed to dart from them. She looked for a moment as if she meant to +strike Simpson, but then, thinking better of it, she turned and rushed +like a little fury from the room. Downstairs, with her heart choking, +her breath coming fast, her whole little body palpitating with the +most frantic passion, she ran. + +The first person she happened to meet was her uncle, Mr. Dolman. He +was coming sleepily in from the garden, for the day was getting +intensely hot. He meant to go to his study to begin to write his +sermon for next Sunday. He did not feel at all inclined to write his +sermon, but as it had to be got through somehow, he thought he would +devote an hour, or perhaps an hour and a half, to its composition this +morning. When he saw Diana, however, rushing madly through the hall, +with her eyes shining, her face white, and her whole little body +quivering with excitement, he could not help exclaiming under his +breath at her remarkable beauty. + +"What a handsome little spitfire!" he said aloud. + +"Spitfire, indeed!" said Diana; "it's you all who is spitfires; it's +not me. I want to say something to you, big man." + +"Very well, small girl," answered Mr. Dolman. "I am willing to listen +to you. What is the matter?" + +This was really much more diverting than sitting down to his sermon. + +"I want you to have that howid old woman upstairs put in pwison. I +want you to get the perlice, and have her hands tied, and have her +took away to pwison. She has done a murder--she has killed my--" But +here little Diana's voice suddenly failed; high as her spirit was, it +could not carry her any further. A sense of absolute loneliness came +over her, and her passion ended in a burst of frantic weeping. + +And now all might have been well, for Mr. Dolman was a kind-hearted +man, and the little child, in her black dress, would have appealed to +him, and he would have taken her in his arms and comforted her after a +fashion, and matters might never have been so sore and hard again for +little Diana, if at that moment Mrs. Dolman had not appeared. She was +walking hastily across the hall with her district-visiting hat on. +Mrs. Dolman's district-visiting hat was made in the shape of a very +large mushroom. It was simply adorned with a band of brown ribbon, and +was not either a becoming or fashionable headgear. + +Diana, who had a strong sense of the ludicrous, stopped her tears +where her aunt appeared. + +"What a poky old thing you is!" she said. + +These words enraged Mrs. Dolman. + +"William," she remarked, "what are you doing with that child? Why, you +have taken her in your arms; put her down this minute. Diana, you are +a very naughty little girl." + +"So is you a very naughty old woman," retorted Diana. "I's not going +away from this nice old man. I don't like you. I'm going to stay with +you, old man, so don't put me down out of your arms. You will send for +the perlice, won't you, and you'll have that howid puson upstairs put +in pwison. Go 'way, aunt. I never did like you, and I never will, and +you is awfu' poky in that bonnet. But I'll go with you, old man." Here +she flung her fat arms round her uncle's neck and gave him a hug. + +"You are not pwetty like faver," she said, "you are kite an ugly old +man, but all the same I like you;" and she kissed him, a slobbering, +wet kiss on his cheek. + +"Jane," said Mr. Dolman, "this poor little girl is in great trouble. I +cannot in the least make out why, but perhaps you had better let her +come with me into the library for a few minutes." + +"I'll allow nothing of the kind," answered Mrs. Dolman. "Diana Delaney +is an extremely naughty little child, and I am quite determined that +her spirit shall be broken. It was all very well for you to go on with +your tantrums at the Manor, miss, but now you are under my control, +and you shall do exactly what I wish. Come, Diana, none of this. What, +you'll kick me, will you? Then I shall have you whipped." + +"What's whipped?" questioned Diana. + +Mrs. Dolman stooped down and lifted her into her arms. She was a +stout and largely-made child, and the little woman found her somewhat +difficult to carry. She would not let her down, however, but conducted +her across the cool hall and into a room at the further end of the +passage. This room was nearly empty, matting covered the floor and a +round table stood in the center, while two or three high-backed +chairs, with hard seats, were placed at intervals round the walls. It +was a decidedly dreary room, and rendered all the more so because the +morning sun was pouring in through the dusty panes. + +This room was well known to all the little Dolmans, for it was called +the punishment chamber. In this room they had all of them shed bitter +tears in their time, and some of the spirit which had been given to +them at their birth was subdued and broken here, and here they learned +to fear mamma, although not to respect her. They were all accustomed +to this chamber, but little Diana Delaney had never in the whole +course of her spirited six years heard of anything in the least +resembling this odious and ugly apartment. + +"Here you stay until you beg my pardon," said Mrs. Dolman, "and if I +hear you daring to call me names again, or your uncle names, or doing +anything but just behaving like a proper little Christian child, I +shall have you whipped. I believe in not sparing the rod, and so the +child is not spoiled. What, you'll defy me, miss!" + +"I hate you," screamed Diana, "and I want you to go to pwison too, as +well as that awfu' old Simpson upstairs. She has gone and murdered all +my animals--she said they was vermin. Oh, I hate you, aunt!" + +"Hate me or not, you'll stay where you are until dinner-time," said +Mrs. Dolman, and she left the room, locking the door after her. + +Diana flew to it and kicked it furiously, but although she kicked and +screamed and shouted herself hoarse, no one heard her, and no one came +to the rescue. At last, worn out with her frantic grief, she threw +herself down in the middle of the floor and, babylike, forgot her +sorrows in profound slumber. + +The rest of the children were having a fairly happy morning, and Iris, +who was trying to make the best of things, did not miss her little +sister until the preparation gong for dinner sounded. The moment its +sonorous notes were heard pealing over the Rectory garden, little Ann +got up soberly, and Lucy and Mary also rose to their feet. + +"That is the first gong, Iris," said Ann; "we must go in to clean our +hands and have our hair brushed. Mamma would be very angry if we were +not all in the dining room when the second gong sounds. There is only +five minutes between the two gongs, so we had better go and get ready +at once." + +Iris was quite ready to accompany her cousins into the house. Now, for +the first time, however, she missed Diana. + +"Where is Di?" she said. "Apollo, have you seen her?" + +Apollo was coming up the lawn; Iris ran down to meet him. + +"Oh, there's Orion with Philip and Conrad," said Iris, "but where can +Di be? I thought she was with you, Apollo." + +"I have not seen her for the greater part of the morning," replied +Apollo. "Have you, Orion?" + +"Not I," answered Orion, giving himself a little shake. "I say, +Phil," he continued, "is it true that you can take me fishing with you +this afternoon?" + +"Yes; but pray don't talk so loud. I'll take you, if you won't split +about it." + +"What's 'split'?" questioned Orion. + +"Hush, you little beggar!" Philip drew Orion to one side and began to +whisper in his ear. Orion's face got very red. + +"Oh!" he said. "Well, I won't tell. What are you talking about, Iris?" + +"I want to find Diana," said Iris. + +"I have not seen her," said Orion. "I wish you would not bother me, +Iris. I am talking to Philip. Phil and I has got some secrets. Very +well, Phil; we'll walk on in front, if you like." + +"Yes, come along," said Philip; "you can come too, Conrad. Now, Orion, +if you are not going to be a silly goose and a tell-tale, I'll--" Here +he dropped his voice to a whisper, and Orion bent an attentive ear. + +Iris, in some bewilderment, turned to her girl cousins. + +"I must find Diana," she said. + +"She may be in the house," said Ann. "Perhaps she has gone to the +nurseries--perhaps she is with Simpson." + +The whole party entered the house, which was very cool and pleasant in +contrast to the hot outside world. They met Mr. Dolman striding across +the hall. + +"You had better be quick, children," he called out. "Mamma won't be +pleased unless you are all waiting and ready to sit down to table when +the second gong sounds." + +"Oh, please, Uncle William!" said Iris, "do you happen to know where +Diana is?" + +"Little Diana with the spirited black eyes?" questioned Mr. Dolman. + +"Yes; do you know anything about her?" + +He pushed his spectacles halfway up on his broad, bald forehead. + +"I am afraid little Diana has been very naughty," he said; "but, pray +don't say that I mentioned it. You had better question your aunt, my +dear. No, there is no use asking me. I vow, once for all, that I am +not going to interfere with you children--particularly with you little +Delaneys. I only know that Diana has been naughty. Ask your aunt--ask +your aunt, my dear." + +"Iris, do pray come upstairs," called out Mary; "we'll get into the +most dreadful scrape if we are late. Mamma is so terribly particular." + +"Oh, there is Aunt Jane!" said Iris, with a sigh of relief. "Aunt +Jane, please," she continued, running up to her aunt as she spoke, "I +can't find Diana anywhere. Do you happen to know where she is?" + +"I am afraid you won't find Diana, Iris," answered Mrs. Dolman, "for +the simple reason that she has been a very impertinent, naughty little +girl, and I have been obliged to lock her up." + +"You were obliged to lock her up?" said Iris, her face turning pale. +She gave Mrs. Dolman a look which reminded that lady of her brother. +Now, the little Delaneys' father could give very piercing glances out +of his dark eyes when he chose, and Mrs. Dolman had been known, in her +early days, to quail before them. For the same inexplicable reason she +quailed now before the look in Iris' brown eyes. "Please take me at +once to my sister," said the little girl, with dignity. + +Mrs. Dolman hesitated for a moment. + +"Very well, Iris, on this occasion I will take you," she said. "But +please first understand that you four children have got to bend your +wills to mine; and when you are naughty,--although I don't expect you +will ever be naughty, Iris,--I trust you, at least, will be an example +to the others,--but when any of you are naughty you will be most +certainly punished. I have brought you here with the intention of +disciplining you and making you good children." + +"Then," said Iris, very slowly, "do you really think, Aunt Jane, that +when mother was alive we were bad children?" + +"I have nothing to say on that point," answered Mrs. Dolman. She led +Iris across the cool hall, and, taking a key out of her pocket, opened +the door of the punishment chamber. She threw it wide open, and there, +in the center of the matting, lay Diana, curled up like a little dog, +very sound asleep. + +"Much she cares," said Mrs. Dolman. + +"Oh, Aunt Jane!" said Iris, tears springing to her eyes, "how could +you be cruel to her, and she is not long without mother, you know--how +could you be cruel to her, Aunt Jane?" + +"You are not to dare to speak to me in that tone, Iris," said Aunt +Jane. + +But at that moment the noise, or perhaps it was the draught of fresh +air, caused Diana to stir in her sleep. She raised her head and looked +around her. The first person her eyes met was Iris. + +"So you has come at last," she said. "I don't think much of you for a +mother. You made a lot of pwomises, and that's all you care. Has that +ugly old woman been sent to pwison? There's my darlin' pets gone and +got deaded, and she deaded 'em. Has she been put in pwison for murder? +Oh, there you is, too, old Aunt Jane! Well, I is not going to obey +you, so there! Now you know the twuf. I is Diana, the gweat Diana. I +isn't going to obey nobody!" + +"Iris," said Mrs. Dolman, "will you speak to this extremely naughty +little girl? If she will not repent and beg my pardon she shall have +no dinner. I will send her in some bread and water; and here she shall +stay until her naughty little spirit is broken." + +Mrs. Dolman left the room as she spoke, and Iris found herself alone +with her sister. + +"You isn't much of a mother," repeated Diana. She went over to the +window, and stood with her back to Iris. Her little bosom was heaving +up and down; she felt very forlorn, but still she hugged her misery to +her as a cloak. + +Iris gazed at her in perplexity. + +"Di," she said, "I never saw you like this before. What are you +turning away from me for? Come to me, Di; do come to me." + +Diana's little breast heaved more than ever, tears came into her eyes, +but she blinked them furiously away. + +"You can come to me, if you want; I shan't come to you. You isn't much +of a mother," she repeated. + +"But I did not know you were in trouble, darling. Do, do come to your +own Iris. Do tell me what is the matter." + +"Oh, Iris!" sobbed Diana. + +The first kind note utterly melted her little heart; she rushed to +her sister, flung herself upon her, and sobbed as if she would never +stop crying. + +"We can't stay in this howid place, Iris," she said; "all my darlin's +has gone and got deaded. That howid old woman upstairs said they was +wermin. She has killed 'em all. I can't stay here; I won't stay here. +Take me back to the beautiful garden. Do, Iris; do. I'se just so +mis'ble." + +Iris sat down on one of the hard-backed chairs. + +"Look here, Di," she said, "I have no time now to talk things over +with you. Of course, everything is altered, and our lives are +completely changed. When mother was dying, when I last saw her, she +told me that I must expect this. She said she knew that, when she went +away to the angels, we four children would have to go out into the +world and fight our battles. She said that everybody in the world has +got a battle to fight, and even little children have to fight theirs. +She said, too, that if we were brave and the kind of children she +wants us to be, we would follow the names she gave us and conquer our +enemies. Now, Di, you are called after Diana, the great Diana, who was +supposed to be a sort of goddess. Do you think she would have given +in? Don't you think she would have been brave?" + +"Yes, course," said the little nineteenth-century Diana. "She would +have shotted people down dead with her bow and arrows--I know kite +well she was a bwave sort of a lady. All wight, Iris, I'll copy her if +you wishes." + +"Indeed I do wish, darling. I think it would be splendid of you." + +"She was a very bwave lady," repeated Diana. "She had her bow and her +arrows; she was a gweat huntwess, and she shotted people. I don't +mind copying her one little bit." + +Diana dried away her tears and looked fixedly at her sister. + +"Then you really mean to be good and brave, Di?" + +"Certain sure, Iris." + +"And you won't call Aunt Jane any more names?" + +"I won't call her names--names don't si'nify, names don't kill +people." + +"And you'll go and beg her pardon now?" + +"What's that?" + +"You'll say you are sorry that you called her names." + +"Would she let me out of this woom, then? and could I do just what I +liked my own self?" + +"I expect so; I expect she is really sorry that she had to be hard on +you to-day; but you see she has got a different way of bringing up +children from our own mother." + +"Please, Iris, we won't talk much of our own mother--it makes me lumpy +in the trof," said Diana, with a little gulp. "I'll beg her pardon, if +it pleases her. I don't care--what's words? I'll go at once, and, +Iris, mind me that I'm like Diana. She was a bwave lady and she +shotted lots of people." + +"Well, then, come along, Di; you'll be allowed to come to dinner if +you beg Aunt Jane's pardon." + +Di gave her hand to Iris, who took her upstairs. Here Iris washed her +little sister's face and hands and brushed out her thick black hair, +and kissed her on her rosebud lips, and then said: + +"There is nothing I would not do, Di, to be a real little mother to +you." + +"All wight," answered Diana; "you just mind me now and then that I is +called after the bwave lady what lived long, long ago. Is that the +second gong? I'se desp'ate hungy. Let's wun downstairs, p'ease, Iris." + +Diana entered the dining room with her face all aglow with smiles, the +rich color back again in her cheeks, and her black eyes dancing. Even +Mr. Dolman gave a gasp of relief when he saw her. + +Even Mrs. Dolman felt a slight degree of satisfaction. She did not +intend to be hard on the children--in her heart of hearts she was +quite resolved to make them not only good, but also happy. + +"Well, my dear little girl," she said, drawing Diana to her side, "and +so you are sorry for what you said?" + +"Awfu' sossy," answered Diana, in a cheerful voice. + +"Then you beg my pardon, and you won't be naughty again?" + +"I begs yous pardon, Aunt Jane," said Diana. She looked very +attentively up and down her relation's figure as she spoke. + +"Poor Aunt Jane, she's awfu' stout," murmured Diana, under her breath. +"I must get a good sharp arrow--oh, yes! words is nothing." + +Mrs. Dolman drew out a chair near herself. + +"You shall sit near me, Diana, and I will help you to your dinner," +she said. "I hope in future you will really try to be a very good +little girl." + +Diana made no reply to this, but when her aunt piled her plate with +nourishing and wholesome food, she began to eat with appetite. Towards +the end of the meal she bent over towards Mrs. Dolman, and said in a +confiding voice: + +"Has you got woods wound here?" + +"Yes, my dear; there are some nice woods about a mile away." + +"I'd like to go there this afternoon, please, Aunt Jane. I has +'portant business to do in those woods." Diana looked round the table +very solemnly as she said these last words. Philip could not help +laughing. + +"Hush, Philip! I won't have Diana laughed at," said Mrs. Dolman, who +for some reason was now inclined to be specially kind to the little +girl. "If you would really like to spend the afternoon in the woods, +Diana, I see nothing against it," she remarked. "You are all having a +holiday, and as to-morrow lessons will of course be resumed, I do not +see why your wish should not be gratified. Miss Ramsay, you will of +course accompany the children, and, Lucy, my dear, you can have the +pony chaise, if you promise to be very careful. You can take turns to +sit in it, children. And what do you say to asking cook to put up a +few bottles of milk and some cake and bread and butter--then you need +not return home to tea?" + +"That would be delightful, mamma," said Lucy, in her prim voice. + +"Thank you, mamma," said Mary. + +"French, my dears; French!" said Miss Ramsay. + +"As it is a holiday, Miss Ramsay, the children are allowed to tender +their thanks to me in the English tongue," said Mrs. Dolman. + +Miss Ramsay bowed and slightly colored. + +"Is you going with us?" asked Diana, fixing her dark eyes full upon +the governess' face. + +"Yes, Diana; your aunt wishes it." + +"We don't want no g'own-ups." + +"Hush, Diana! you must not begin to be rude again," said Mrs. Dolman. +"Miss Ramsay certainly goes with you, please understand." + +"I underland--thank you, Aunt Jane," said Diana. + +She looked solemnly down at her empty plate. Her whole little mind was +full of her namesake--the great Diana of long ago. She wondered if in +the deep shade of the woods she might find a bow strong enough to +injure her enemies. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BOW AND ARROW. + + +Nothing interfered with the excursion to the pleasant woods near +Super-Ashton Rectory. The children all found themselves there soon +after four o'clock on this lovely summer afternoon. They could sit +under the shade of the beautiful trees, or run about and play to their +hearts' content. + +Miss Ramsay was a very severe governess during school hours, but when +there was a holiday she was as lax as she was particular on other +occasions. This afternoon she took a novel out of her pocket, seated +herself with her back to a great overspreading elm tree, and prepared +to enjoy herself. + +Lucy, Mary, and Ann surrounded Iris; Apollo marched away by himself, +and Philip and Conrad mysteriously disappeared with little Orion. +Diana thus found herself alone. For a time she was contented to lie +stretched out flat on the grass playing soldiers, and watching the +tricks of a snow-white rabbit who ran in and out of his hole close by. +Presently, however, she grew tired of this solitary entertainment, and +sprang to her feet, looking eagerly around her. + +"Punishment is a very good thing," she said to herself. "I's punished, +and I's lot better. It's now Aunt Jane's turn to be punished, and it's +Simpson's turn to be punished--it'll do them heaps of good. First time +I's only going to punish 'em, I isn't going to kill 'em down dead, +but I's going to pwick 'em. I is Diana, and mother said I was to live +just like the gweat Diana what lived long, long, _long_ ago." + +Diana began to trot eagerly up and down under the shade of the tall +forest trees. She looked about her to right and left, and presently +was fortunate enough to secure a pliant bough of a tree which was +lying on the ground. Having discovered this treasure, she sat down +contentedly and began to pull off the leaves and to strip the bark. +When she had got the long, supple bough quite bare, she whipped some +string out of her pocket, and converted it into the semblance of a +bow. It was certainly by no means a perfect bow, but it was a bow +after a fashion. + +The bow being made, the arrow must now be secured. Diana could not +possibly manage an arrow without a knife, and she was not allowed to +keep a knife of her own. Both bow and arrow must be a secret, for if +anyone saw her with them it might enter into the head of that person +not to consider it quite proper for her to punish Aunt Jane. + +"And Aunt Jane must be punished," muttered Diana. "I must make an +arrow, and I must pwick her with it. My bow is weally beautiful--it is +a little crooked, but what do that matter? I could shoot my arrow now +and pwick the twees, if only I could get one made. Oh, here's a +darlin' little stick--it would make a lovely arrow, if I had a knife +to sharpen the point with. Now, I do wonder what sort of a woman that +Miss Wamsay is." + +Diana fixed her coal-black eyes on the lady. + +"She looks sort of gentle now she's weading," whispered the little +girl to herself. "She looked howid this morning in the schoolroom, but +she looks sort of gentle now. I even seed her smile a minute back, +and I should not be a bit s'prised if she didn't hate Aunt Jane too. I +know what I'll do; I'll just go and ask her--there is nothing in all +the world like being plain-spoke. If Miss Wamsay hates Aunt Jane, why, +course, she'll help me to sharpen my arrow, when I tell her it is to +give Aunt Jane a little pwick." + +Accordingly Diana approached Miss Ramsay's side, and, as the governess +did not look up, she flung herself on the grass near by, uttering a +deep sigh as she did so. But Miss Ramsay was intent on her book, and +did not take the least notice of Diana's deep-drawn breath. The little +girl fidgeted, and tried further measures. She came close up to the +governess, and, stretching out one of her fat hands, laid it on one of +Miss Ramsay's. + +"Don't touch me, my dear," said the lady. "You are much too hot, and +your hand is very dirty." + +"I's sossy for that," said Diana. "I had to touch you 'cos you +wouldn't look up. I has something most 'portant to talk over." + +"Have you indeed?" replied Miss Ramsay. She closed her book. The part +she was reading was not specially interesting, and she could not help +being amused with such a very curious specimen of the genus child as +Diana Delaney. + +"Well, little girl, and what is it?" she asked. + +"I 'spects," said Diana, looking very solemnly into her face, "that +you and me, we has both got the same enemies." + +"The same enemies! My dear child, what do you mean?" asked Miss +Ramsay. + +"I 'spects I's wight," said Diana, tossing her black head. "I's not +often wrong. I wead your thoughts--I think that you has a desp'ate +hate, down deep in your heart, to Aunt Jane." + +"Good gracious!" cried the governess, "what does the child mean? Why +should I hate Mrs. Dolman?" + +"But why should not you?--that's the point," said Diana. + +"Well, I don't," said Miss Ramsay. + +Diana looked intently at her. Slowly, but surely, her big black eyes +filled with tears; the tears rolled down her cheeks; she did not +attempt to wipe them away. + +"What is the matter with you, you queer little creature?" said Miss +Ramsay. "What in the world are you crying about?" + +"I is so bitter dis'pointed," repeated Diana. + +"What, because I don't hate your Aunt Jane?" + +"I is bitter dis-pointed," repeated Diana. "I thought, course, you +hated her, 'cos I saw her look at you so smart like, and order you to +be k'ick this morning, and I thought, 'Miss Wamsay don't like that, +and course Miss Wamsay hates her, and if Miss Wamsay hates her, well, +she'll help me, 'cos I hates her awful.'" + +"But do you know that all this is very wrong?" said Miss Ramsay. + +"W'ong don't matter," answered Diana, sweeping her hand in a certain +direction, as if she were pushing wrong quite out of sight. "I hate +her, and I want to punish her. You ought to hate her, 'cos she told +you to be k'ick, and she looked at you with a kind of a fwown. Won't +you twy and begin? Do, p'ease." + +"I really never heard anything like this before in the whole course of +my life," said Miss Ramsay. "Mrs. Dolman did warn me to be prepared +for much, but I never heard a Christian child speak in the way you +are doing." + +"I isn't a Chwistian child," said Diana. "I is a heathen. Did you +never hear of Diana what lived long, long ago?--the beautiful, bwave +lady that shotted peoples whenever she p'eased with her bow and +arrows?" + +"Do you mean the heathen goddess?" said Miss Ramsay. + +"I don't know what you call her, but I is named after her, and I mean +to be like her. My beautiful mother said I was to be like her, and I'm +going to twy. See, now, here is the bow"--she held up the crooked bow +as she spoke--"and I only want the arrow. Will you help me to make the +arrow? I thought--oh, I did think--that if you hated Aunt Jane you +would help me to make the arrow. Here's the stick, and if you have a +knife in your pocket you can just sharpen it, and it will make the +most perfect arrow in all the world. I'll love you then. I'll help you +always. I'll do my lessons if you ask me, and I'll twy to be good to +you; 'cos you and me we'll both have our enemies, and p'w'aps, if I'm +not stwong enough to use the bow, p'w'aps you could use it, and we +might go about together and sting our enemies, and be weal fwiends. +Will you twy? Will you make me the little arrow, p'ease, p'ease?" + +"And what are you going to do with the arrow when it is made?" asked +Miss Ramsay. "I happen," she continued, without waiting for Diana's +reply, "to have a knife in my pocket, and I don't mind sharpening that +piece of wood for you. But bows and arrows are dangerous weapons for +little girls like you." + +"Course they is dangerous," said Diana. "What would be the use of +'em, if they wasn't? They is to pwick our enemies and p'w'aps kill +'em." + +"But look here, Diana, what do you want this special bow and arrow +for?" + +"I want to have Aunt Jane Dolman and Simpson shotted. I'll tell you +why I want 'em both to be shotted--'cos Simpson killed my spiders and +beetles, and Aunt Jane Dolman is a poky old thing and she shut me up +in a punishment woom. Now wouldn't you like to help me--and then we'll +both have deaded our enemies, and we'll be as happy as the day is +long." + +Miss Ramsay was so astounded at Diana's remarks that she slowly rose +from her seat and stared for nearly half a minute at the little girl. + +"Well," she said at last, "I have seen in my lifetime all sorts of +children. I have taught little girls and boys since I was eighteen +years of age. I have seen good children and naughty children, and +clever children, and stupid children, but I have never met anyone like +you, little Diana Delaney. Do you really know what you are saying? Do +you know that you are a very, very wicked little girl?" + +"Are I?" said Diana. "Well, then, I like being a wicked little girl. I +thought p'w'aps you would help me; but it don't matter, not one bit." + +Before Miss Ramsay could say another word Diana had turned abruptly +and flown, as if on the wings of the wind, right down through the +wood. + +The governess watched the little figure disappearing between the oaks +and elms until at last it quite vanished from view. She felt a +momentary inclination to go after the child, but her book was +interesting, and her seat under the overhanging elm extremely +comfortable. And this was a holiday, and she worked hard enough, poor +thing, on working days. And, after all, Diana was nothing but a silly +little child, and didn't mean half she said. + +"It would be folly to take the least notice of her remarks," thought +the governess. "I'll just go on treating her like the others. I expect +I shall have a good deal of work breaking in that interesting little +quartette, for, after all, if my salary is to be raised, I may as well +stay at the Rectory as anywhere else. The house is comfortable, and I +have got used to Mrs. Dolman's queer ways by this time." + +Accordingly Miss Ramsay reseated herself, and again took up her novel. +She turned the leaves, and soon got into a most interesting part of +the volume. Lost in the sorrows of her hero and heroine, she forgot +all about Diana Delaney and her bow and arrow. + +Meanwhile, Diana, walking rapidly away by herself, was reflecting +hard. + +"Miss Wamsay's a poor sort," she thought. "I aren't going to twouble +'bout anyone like her, but I must get that arrow made. The bow is +beautiful, but I can't do nothing 'cos I hasn't got an arrow." + +At this moment, to her great delight, she saw Apollo coming to meet +her. + +"There you is!" she shouted. + +"What do you want with me?" asked Apollo. + +"Look at my bow, 'Pollo! Aren't it beautiful? Aren't I just like the +weal Diana now?" + +"Did you make this bow all by yourself?" asked Apollo. + +"Yes; why shouldn't I?" + +"Well, it's awfully crooked." + +"Is it?" said Diana; "I thought it was beautiful. Can you stwaighten +it for me a little bit, 'Pollo?" + +"I think I can make you a better bow than this," answered Apollo. + +"Oh, can you? What a darlin' you is! And will you cut an arrow for me, +and will you make it very sharp? Will you make it awfu' sharp? The +kind that would pwick deep, you know, that would cut into things and +be like the arrow that the gweat Diana used." + +Apollo was finding his afternoon somewhat dull. He had made no friends +as yet with the little Dolman children. Orion had disappeared with +both the boys; Iris was with Ann, Lucy, and Mary; he had been thrown +for the last hour completely on his own resources. The sight, +therefore, of Diana, with her flushed face and bright eyes and +spirited manner, quite cheered the little fellow. He and Diana had +often been chums, and he thought it would be rather nice to be chummy +with his little sister to-day. + +"I may as well help you," he said, "but, of course, Di, you can't +expect me to do this sort of thing often. I shall most likely be very +soon going to school, and then I'll be with fellows, you know." + +"What's fellows?" asked Diana. + +"Oh, boys! Of course, when I get with boys, you can't expect me to be +much with you." + +"All wight," answered Diana. "I hope you won't get with no fellows +this afternoon, 'cos you is useful to me. Just sit down where you is, +and help me to make a bow and arrow." + +Apollo instantly seated himself on the grass, and Diana threw herself +on her face and hands by his side. She raised herself on her elbows +and fixed her bright black eyes on her brother's face. She stared +very hard at him, and he stared back at her. + +"Well," she said, "isn't you going to begin?" + +"Yes," he replied; "but what do you want the bow and arrow for?" + +"To get my enemies shotted." + +"Your enemies? What folly this is, Di. You have not got any enemies." + +"Haven't I? I know better. I won't talk to you about it, 'Pollo." + +"All right," replied Apollo; "you must tell me, or I won't help you." + +"There, now!" said Diana, "you's got a howid fwown between your bwows. +I don't like it; you's going to be obs'nate. I don't like obs'nate +boys." + +"I mean what I say," replied Apollo. "I know you of old, you monkey. +You are up to mischief, and I insist upon hearing all about it." + +Diana gazed at him solemnly. + +"Does you like Aunt Jane?" she said, after a pause. + +"I can't say that I do," replied Apollo. + +"Does you like that old thing in the nursery--Simpson, they calls +her?" + +"I can't say that I do," replied the boy again. + +"They is sort of enemies of yours, isn't they?" asked Diana. + +"Oh! I don't know that I go as far as that," replied Apollo. + +"But if Aunt Jane makes you do howid lessons all day, and if Simpson +is always fussing you and getting you to wash your face and hands, and +if you can't never go with _fellows_, and if you is kept in--and +if--and if--" + +"Oh! don't begin all that, Di," said Apollo. "Where is the use of +making the worst of things?" + +"Well, I want to make the best of things," said Diana. "I want to have +our enemies shotted wight off." + +"Do you mean to tell me," said Apollo, laughing, "that you wish to +shoot Aunt Jane and that old woman in the nursery?" + +"I wish to pwick 'em first time, and then, if they is naughty again, +to have 'em shotted down dead. Why not? Mother, who is up in the +heavens, called me after gweat Diana, and Diana always shotted her +enemies." + +"Oh, dear me, Di! I think you are the queerest little thing in the +world," said Apollo. "But now, look here," he added, "I am older than +you, and I know that what you are thinking about is very wrong. I +can't make you a bow and arrow to do that sort of thing." + +Diana looked bitterly disappointed. She could master, or she fancied +she could master, Aunt Jane, Simpson, and Miss Ramsay, but she knew +well, from past experience, that she could not master Apollo. + +"What is to be done?" she said. She thought for a long time. "Would +not you like a bow and arrow just all your own, to shoot at the twees +with?" she asked at last artfully. + +"Oh, I have no objection to that!" answered Apollo. "It seems right +that I should have one; does it not, Di? But of course I would never +do any mischief with it. Why, little thing, you have been talking the +most awful rot." + +"Well, you can make a bow and arrow for your very own self," said +Diana. + +"I don't see why I shouldn't, but you'll have to promise--" + +"Oh, I won't make pwomises!" said Diana. "Why should I make pwomises +about your bow and arrows? I'll help you to make 'em. Do let me, +Apollo!" + +Apollo seemed suddenly smitten with the idea. After all, it would be +fine to make a bow and arrow, and to try to shoot things in the wood. +How lovely it would be if he succeeded in shooting a rabbit; he would +certainly have a try. Accordingly, he rose and climbed into the lower +branches of an elm tree, and cut down a long, smooth young bough, and, +descending again to the ground, began to peel the bark off. When this +was done, Diana produced some more string out of her pocket, and a +very creditable bow was the result. + +"Now, the arrow," said the little girl. + +"We must get some strong wood for that," said Apollo, "something that +won't split. I'll just walk about and look around me." He did so, and +soon found a stick suitable for his purpose. He sat down again and +began whittling away. Very soon a fairly sharp arrow was the result. +"Of course it ought to be tipped," said Apollo, "but we have nothing +to tip it with. It is lucky that the wood is hard, and so it is really +sharp. Now, shall I have a few shots with it?" + +"Please do, Apollo. Oh, how 'licious it all is! Don't you feel just as +if you was a heathen god?" + +"I wish I were," said Apollo, throwing back his head. "Oh, Di, how hot +it is in the wood! What wouldn't I give to be back in the dear old +garden again?" + +"Maybe we'll go soon," said Diana; "maybe they won't want to keep us +if--" But here she shut up her little mouth firmly. + +Apollo was too much excited about the bow and arrows to think of +Diana's remarks. He stood up and began to practice shooting. + +"You is doing it beautiful," said Diana, applauding his extremely poor +efforts. "Now, twy again. Think that you has lived long, long ago, and +that you is shotting things for our dinner." + +The arrow went wide of the mark, the arrow went everywhere but where +it ought to. Diana clapped and laughed and shouted, and Apollo thought +himself the finest archer in the world. + +"Now, let me have a teeny turn," she said. + +"To be sure I will," he replied good-naturedly. He showed her how to +place the arrow, and she made one or two valiant attempts to send it +flying through the wood. + +"It is hard," she panted; "the arrow don't seem even to make the least +little pwick. Now, I want to shoot stwaight at that oak twee, or would +you mind awfu', Apollo, if I was to shoot at you?" + +"All right," replied Apollo; "you may aim at my hand, if you like." He +walked about a dozen yards away and held up his hand. + +Diana made valiant efforts, and grew crimson in the face, but the +arrow still went wide of the mark. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +JOG'APHY. + + +The next day lessons began with a vengeance. It was one thing for the +four Delaney children to work with Miss Stevenson at the old Manor +House. Lessons in mother's time were rather pleasant than otherwise; +as often as not they were conducted in the garden, and when the day +happened to be very hot, and the little people somewhat impatient of +restraint, Miss Stevenson gave them a certain amount of liberty; but +lessons at the Rectory were an altogether different matter. Miss +Ramsay, when she awoke the next day, had seemed emphatically to have +put on all her armor. During the holiday, neither Orion nor Diana, +neither Apollo nor Iris, thought Miss Ramsay of any special account. +They stared a good deal at Uncle Dolman, and they watched Aunt Jane +with anxious eyes, but Miss Ramsay did not matter, one way or the +other. The next day, however, they came to have a totally different +opinion with regard to her. + +At breakfast, on the following morning, whenever Diana opened her +rosebud lips, she was told that she must not speak unless she could do +so in the French tongue. Now, all that Diana could manage to say in +French was 'Oui' and 'Non,' nor was she very certain when to say +either of these very simple words. She hated being silent, for she was +a very talkative, cheery little body, except when she was angry. +Accordingly, the meal was a depressing one, and Diana began to yawn +and to look wearily out on the sunshiny garden before it was +half-finished. But, of course, there was no play in the garden for any +of the children that morning. Immediately after breakfast they all +went up to the schoolroom. Now, the schoolroom was a very pleasant +room, nicely and suitably furnished, but in summer it was hot, and on +very sunshiny days it was painfully hot; its single large bay window +faced due south, and the sun poured in relentlessly all during the +hours of morning school. Miss Ramsay, seated at the head of the +baize-covered table with her spectacles on, looked decidedly +formidable, and each of the children gazed at their governess with +anxious eyes. Mary and Lucy were always good little girls, but Philip +and Conrad were as idle as boys could possibly be, and did their +utmost to evade Miss Ramsay's endeavors to instill learning into their +small heads. Orion sat between his two little boy cousins, but for +some reason or other Orion did not look well that morning. His little +face, not unlike Diana's in appearance, was bloated, his eyes were +heavy, he had scarcely touched his breakfast, and he earnestly, most +earnestly longed to get out of the hot schoolroom. + +Miss Ramsay, when all the little people were seated round her, knocked +sharply on the table with her ruler, and proceeded to make a speech. +"My dear old pupils," she said, looking at the five little Dolmans as +she spoke, "on account of your cousins, who, I fear, are ignorant +little children, I mean on this occasion to speak to you in the +English tongue. I have now got nine pupils to instruct, and nine +pupils are a great many for one person to teach. Your mother, +however, has promised that the master from the village shall come up +to instruct you all in arithmetic, and your French master and your +music master will, of course, attend here as usual. I trust, +therefore, that by more attention on the part of my pupils I may be +able to continue the heavy task which I have undertaken. What I want +to impress upon you children"--here she turned abruptly to the little +Delaneys--"is that lessons are lessons, and play is play. During +lesson-time I allow _no_ wandering thoughts, I allow no attempts at +shirking your duties. The tasks I set you will be carefully chosen +according to your different abilities, and I can assure you beforehand +that learned they must be. If I find that they are not carefully +prepared I shall punish you. By being attentive, by making the best of +your time, you can easily get through the lessons appointed you, and +then when they are over I hope you will thoroughly enjoy your time of +play. Now, all of you sit quiet. We will begin with a lesson from +English history." + +Miss Ramsay then began to lecture in her usual style. She was really +an excellent teacher, and Iris found what she said very interesting. +She began to tell about the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and she made +that time quite live to the intelligent little girl. But Apollo had +not nearly come to the reign of Elizabeth in his English history. He, +consequently, could not follow the story, and soon began to look out +of the window, and to count the flies which were buzzing in the hot +sunshine on the window-panes. When Miss Ramsay addressed a sudden +question to him he was unable to reply. She passed it on to Ann, who +instantly gave the correct answer. But Apollo felt himself to be in +his governess' black books. As this was the first morning of lessons, +she was not going to be severe, and, telling the little boy to take +his history away to another table, desired him to read it all +carefully through. + +"I will question you to-morrow about what I told you to-day," she +said. "Now, remember, you must tell me the whole story of the Spanish +Armada to-morrow." + +"But I have not gone farther than the reign of John," said Apollo. + +"Don't answer me, Apollo," said Miss Ramsay; "you are to read this +part of your history book. Now, sit with your back to the others and +begin." + +Apollo shrugged his shoulders. For a short time he made an effort to +read his dull history, but then once again his eyes sought the +sunshine and the flies on the window panes. + +Meanwhile Diana, Orion, and the two little Dolman boys were in a class +by themselves, busily engaged over a geography lesson. + +Diana had not the smallest wish to become acquainted with any portion +of the globe where she was not herself residing. Her thoughts were all +full of the bow and arrow which Apollo had carefully hidden in a +little dell at the entrance of the wood, on the previous night. She +was wondering when she could run off to secure the prize, and when she +would have an opportunity of punishing her enemies. She began to think +that it would be really necessary to give Miss Ramsay a prick with the +fatal arrow. Miss Ramsay was turning out to be most disagreeable. + +Meanwhile, the heat of the room, and a curious giddy sensation in her +head, caused it to sink lower and lower, until finally it rested on +her book, and little Diana was off in the land of dreams. + +A sharp tap on her shoulders roused her with a start. Miss Ramsay was +standing over her, looking very angry. + +"Come, Diana! this will never do," she cried. "How dare you go to +sleep! Do you know your geography?" + +"P'ease, I doesn't know what jog-aphy is," said Diana. + +"What a very naughty little girl you are! Have not I been taking pains +to explain it all to you? You will have to stay in the schoolroom when +lessons are over for quite five minutes. Now, stand up on your chair, +hold your book in your hands, don't look out of the window, keep your +eyes fixed on your book, and then you will soon learn what is required +of you." + +Diana obeyed this mandate with a very grave face. + +In about ten minutes Miss Ramsay called her to her side. + +"Well, do you know your lesson?" she asked. + +"Kite perfect," replied Diana. + +"Well, let me hear you. What is the capital of England?" + +"Dublin Bay," replied Diana, with avidity. + +"You are a very naughty child. How can you tell me you know your +lesson? See, I will ask you one more question. What is the capital of +Scotland?" + +"Ireland," answered Diana, in an earnest voice. + +Miss Ramsay shut the book with a bang. Diana looked calmly at her. + +"I thought I knew it," she said. "I's sossy. I don't think I care to +go on learning jog-aphy; it don't suit me." She stretched herself, +gave utterance to a big yawn, and half turned her back on her +teacher. "You is getting in temper," she continued, "and that isn't +wight; I don't care to learn jog-aphy." + +What serious consequences might not have arisen at that moment it is +hard to tell, had not Orion caused a sudden diversion. He fell off his +chair in a heap on the floor. + +Iris sprang from her seat and ran to the rescue. + +"I'm drefful sick," said Orion; "I think it was the lollipops and +ginger-beer. Please let me go to bed." + +"Lollipops and ginger-beer!" cried Miss Ramsay in alarm. "What does +the child mean?" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A BABY'S HONOR. + + +When Miss Ramsay repeated Orion's words there was a dead silence for a +full half minute in the schoolroom. Had anyone noticed them, they +might have observed Philip and Conrad turn very pale; but all eyes +were directed to little Orion, who was lying on the floor, pressing +his hand to his stomach and moaning bitterly. + +"I'm drefful sick," he said; "I wish I had not taken that horrid +ginger-beer." + +"But where did you get ginger-beer?" said Miss Ramsay, finding her +voice at last. "Get up this minute, Orion, and come to me. + +"Really," continued the good lady to herself, "there must be something +uncanny in those outlandish names; I don't think I can manage these +children. Orion is as bad as Diana, and she is the greatest handful I +ever came across. + +"Come here, Orion," continued the governess, "and tell me what is the +matter with your stomach." + +"Pain," answered the little boy, "crampy pain. It's the ginger-beer. +I'm drefful sick; I can't do no more lessons." + +"Let me put him to bed," said Diana; "let me go nurse him. I'll sit on +his bed and talk to him. He is a very naughty boy, but I know how to +manage him. Come 'long, Orion; come 'long wid sister Di." She grasped +the little boy firmly with one of her own stout little hands, and +pulled him up on to his feet. + +"Diana, you are not to interfere," said Miss Ramsay. "Come, Orion; +come and explain what is the matter." + +"Lollipops," moaned Orion, "and ginger-beer. Oh, I did like the +lollipops, and I was so thirsty I thought I'd never leave off drinking +ginger-beer." + +"But where did you get lollipops and ginger-beer? Mrs. Dolman never +allows the children to take such unwholesome things. What can you +mean? Where did you get them?" + +To this question Orion refused to make any reply. Baby as he was, he +had a confused sort of idea of honor. Philip and Conrad had told him +that he was on no account whatever to mention the fact that they had +gone away fishing on the previous afternoon, that they had visited a +little shop and spent some of Orion's own money. Philip and Conrad had +no money of their own, but before he parted with the children, Mr. +Delaney had given the two elder ones five shillings apiece, and the +two younger ones half a crown, and Orion's half-crown had seemed great +wealth to Philip and Conrad, and had accordingly induced them to treat +the little fellow with marked consideration. The whole of the money +was now gone. How, Orion had not the slightest idea. He only knew that +his pockets were empty and that he felt very sick and very miserable. + +He shut up his little lips now and raised his eyes, with a sort of +scowl in their expression, to Miss Ramsay's face. + +"Where did you get the lollipops and ginger-beer?" repeated the +governess. + +"That's my own business," said Orion. "I'm drefful sick; I want to go +to bed." + +"You are a very naughty little boy," said Miss Ramsay. + +"I think him a brick," whispered Philip to Conrad. + +"Hush, for goodness' sake!" whispered back Conrad. + +"I want to go to bed," repeated Orion. "I'm drefful sick; I'm quite +tired of telling you. I have got a headache and a pain in my tumtum." +Again he pressed his hand to his stomach and looked imploringly around +him. + +"What's all this fuss?" here burst from Diana. "Why can't Orion go to +bed? New teacher, you has a very queer way of managing sildrens. When +we was at home we went to bed when we had pains. I can't underland +you, not one little bit." + +"Come with me this moment, Orion," said Miss Ramsay. "Diana, if you +speak a word except in the French tongue, you shall be kept in during +all the afternoon." + +Orion and Miss Ramsay left the room, and the other children stared at +one another. The three Dolman girls sat down to their books. Philip +and Conrad thought it best to follow their example. Iris and Apollo +looked wistfully from one to the other, but did not dare to speak; but +Diana, walking boldly over to the nearest window, amused herself by +touching each fly in turn with the tip of her small fat finger. + +"They don't like it, poor darlin's," she said to herself, "but I don't +mean to hurt 'em. I wonder now if I could get away to the wood and get +hold of my bow and arrow. Miss Wamsay must be shotted as well as the +others. It's awful what I has got to do." + +Apollo sank dejectedly down before the account of the Spanish Armada, +and Iris, with tears slowly rising to her eyes, turned over her lesson +books. At last the impulse to do something was more than she could +stand, and, rising from her seat, she edged her way to the door. Mary +called after her in French to know what she was going to do, but Iris +would make no reply. She reached the door, opened it, and then ran as +fast as she could to the nursery. + +There she found Simpson putting Orion to bed. The little boy was +crying bitterly. + +"As soon as ever you lie down, master, you have got to drink off this +medicine," said Simpson. + +"I won't touch it--horrid stuff!" said Orion. + +"But you must, sir. I'll allow no 'won'ts' in my nursery. Little boys +have got to do what they are told. If you make any fuss I'll just hold +your nose and then you'll be obliged to open your mouth, and down the +medicine will go. Come, come, sir, none of those tears. You have been +a very naughty little boy, and the pain is sent you as a punishment." + +"Oh, there you are, Iris!" said Orion. "Oh, Iris! I am so glad. Please +be a mother to me--please put your arms round me--please kiss me, +Iris." + +Iris flew to the little fellow, clasped him in her arms, and held his +hot little forehead against her cheek. + +"Simpson," she said, turning to the nurse, "I know quite well how to +manage him. Won't you let me do it?" + +"I am sure, Miss Iris, I'd be only too thankful," said the perplexed +woman. "There's Miss Ramsay and my mistress in no end of a state, and +Master Orion as obstinate as a boy can be. There's something gone +wrong in this house since you four children arrived, and I really +don't know how I am to stand it much longer. Not that I have any +special fault to find with you, Miss Iris, nor, indeed, for that +matter, with Master Apollo; but it's the two younger ones. They are +handfuls, and no mistake." + +"I like being a handfu' 'cept when I'm sick," said Orion. "I don't +want to be a handfu' to-day. Please, Iris, don't mek me take that +horrid medicine." + +"He must take it, Miss Iris; he won't be better till he do," said the +nurse, lifting up the glass as she spoke and stirring the contents +with a spoon. "Come, now, sir, be a brave boy. Just open your mouth +and get it down. Then you'll drop asleep, and when you wake you will +probably be quite well." + +Orion pressed his lips very tightly together. + +"You'll take the medicine for me, Orion?" said Iris. + +"No, I can't," he moaned. + +"Oh, but, darling! just try and think. Remember you are a giant--a +grand, great giant, with your girdle and your sword, and this medicine +is just an enemy that you have got to conquer. Here now; open your +mouth and get it down. Think of mother, Orion. She would like you to +take it." + +Orion still kept his mouth very firmly shut, but he opened his sweet, +dark eyes and looked full at his sister. + +"Would mother really like it?" he said at last, in a whisper. + +"Of course; it would make her ever so happy." + +"And will she know about it, Iris?" + +"I think she will. Maybe she is in the room with us just now." + +"Oh, lor'! what awful talk to say to the child," murmured Simpson to +herself. + +"If I really thought mother could see, and if I really thought--" +began the little boy. + +"Yes, yes, she can see!" said Iris, going on her knees and clasping +both the little fellow's hands in one of hers. "She can see, she does +know, and she wants her own brave giant to be a giant to the end. Now, +here is the enemy; open your mouth, conquer it at one gulp." + +"Well, to be sure," whispered Simpson. + +Orion, however, did not glance at Simpson. He gazed solemnly round the +room as if he really saw someone; then he fixed his brown eyes on his +sister's face, then he opened his mouth very wide. She instantly took +the cup and held it to the little lips. Orion drained off the nauseous +draught and lay back, panting, on his pillow. + +"It was a big thing to conquer. I am a fine giant," he said, when he +returned the empty cup to Iris. + +"Yes, you are a splendid old chap," she replied. + +At that moment Mrs. Dolman and Miss Ramsay entered the room. + +"Has Orion taken his medicine?" said Mrs. Dolman. "Iris, my dear, what +are you doing here?" + +"I am very sorry, Aunt Jane," replied Iris, "but I had to come. He +would never have taken his medicine but for me. I had to remind him--" + +"To remind him of his duty. He certainly wanted to be reminded. So he +has taken the medicine. I am glad of that; but all the same, Iris, you +did very wrong to leave the schoolroom." + +"Please forgive me this one time, Aunt Jane." + +"I really think Iris does try to be a good child," interrupted Miss +Ramsay. + +"And she certainly can manage her little brother, ma'am," said +Simpson, speaking for the first time. "He would not touch his medicine +for me--no, not for anything I could do; but he drank it off when Miss +Iris talked some gibberish, all about giants and belts and swords." + +"'Tisn't gibberish," said Orion, starting up from his pillow; "it's +the truest thing in all the world. I am a giant, and I has got a belt +and a sword. You can look up in the sky on starful nights and you can +see me. 'Tisn't gibberish." + +"Well, lie down now, child, and go to sleep. I am afraid he is a bit +feverish, ma'am." + +"No, that I aren't," said Orion. "Only I'm drefful sick," he added. + +"Listen to me, Orion," said Mrs. Dolman, seating herself on the edge +of the bed and gazing very sternly at the little fellow. "I intend to +wring a confession out of you." + +"What's to wring?" asked Orion. + +"I am going to get you to tell me where you got the lollipops and +ginger-beer." + +"I promised not to tell, and I aren't going to," answered Orion. + +"But you must. I insist." + +"Perhaps, Aunt Jane," said Iris, "I could get him to tell. You see he +is not accustomed to--not accustomed to----" Her little face turned +crimson. + +"What do you mean, Iris? Do you object to the way I speak to this +child?" + +"Mother never spoke to him like that," said Iris. + +"And oh! it is so hot, and he is not well, and I think I can manage +him. I may get him to tell me." + +"Yes, I'll tell you," said Orion, "'cos you'll be faithful." + +"Well, really," said Mrs. Dolman, "I am absolutely perplexed. I +suppose I must give in on this occasion, or that child will be really +ill, and I by no means wish to have the expense of a doctor. Miss +Ramsay, you and I had better leave that little pair together. You can +remain with Orion until dinner-time, Iris." + +"Thank you very much indeed, Aunt Jane," replied Iris. + +That day at dinner Iris looked very grave. Orion was better, but was +not present. Mrs. Dolman waited until the meal had come to an end, +then she called the little girl to her side. + +"Now, my dear Iris, what is all this mystery?" she asked. + +"Orion has told me all about it, Aunt Jane, but I don't think I'll +tell. Please don't ask me." + +"My dear. I insist upon knowing." + +"It was not his fault, Aunt Jane, and I am almost sure he will never +do it again; he is very sorry indeed. I think he will try to be good +in future." + +Mrs. Dolman was about to reply angrily, when a sudden memory came over +her. She recalled words her brother had used. + +"I will give you the children," he had said, "but you must try to be +gentle with them." + +She looked at Iris now, and did not speak for nearly a minute. + +"Very well," she said then; "you are a queer child, but I am inclined +to trust you. Only please understand that if ever there is any +misconduct in the future, I shall insist on knowing everything." + +"I am greatly obliged to you, Aunt Jane. I could love you for being so +kind. I will promise that Orion never does anything of that sort +again." + +The children all filed out of the dining room. They had now, according +to the rule of the day, to return to the schoolroom and lie down for +an hour. This part of the daily programme was intensely distasteful to +the little Dolmans, and certainly the Delaneys did not appreciate it a +bit better, but at long last the wearisome lessons were over, and the +little people were free. + +The moment they got into the garden Philip and Conrad might have been +seen scudding away as fast as their little feet could carry them. +Iris, however, had watched them disappearing. + +"I want to speak to the boys," she said to Ann. + +"Why?" asked Ann. + +"Please ask them to come to me, Ann; I have something most particular +to say to them." + +"I know what you mean," answered Ann, turning crimson; "it was Philip +and Conrad who got poor little Orion into mischief. Oh, Iris! it was +brave of you, and it was brave of Orion not to tell. I wondered how +you had the courage to defy mamma." + +"I did not defy her," answered Iris. "But please, Ann, I must speak to +the boys. Send them to me at once." + +"They are frightened, and are going to hide," said Ann; "but I'll soon +get them," she answered. "I know their ways." + +After a minute or two she returned, leading Philip and Conrad by the +hands. + +"Iris wants to talk to you," she said to them. + +"Yes," said Iris, "I want to say something to you by yourselves." + +Ann disappeared. + +"I love Iris," whispered little Ann Dolman to herself. "I think she is +beautiful; and how brave she is! I wish I were like her." + +"What do you want with us, Iris?" asked Philip, when he found himself +alone with his cousin. He raised defiant eyes, and put on an ugly +little scowl. + +"I want to tell you, Phil," said Iris, "that I know everything. Poor +little Orion would not confess, because you got him to promise not to +tell; but, of course, he told me the truth. Don't you think you +behaved very badly indeed?" + +"We don't want _you_ to lecture us," said Conrad. + +"All right," replied Iris with spirit. "But please remember that I +promised Orion I would not tell, only so long as you make me a promise +that you will not tempt him again. If ever I hear that you have led +Orion into mischief, I will tell everything." + +"I thought you looked like a tell-tale," said Conrad. + +"No, I am not, nor is Orion; you know better, both of you. Now, please +understand that I will not have Orion made miserable nor tempted to do +naughty things. Aunt Jane thinks you are good boys, and she thinks +Diana and Orion very bad little children; but neither Orion nor Diana +would do the sort of thing you both did yesterday. Neither of them +would think of _that_ sort of naughtiness. I call it mean." + +Iris walked away with her head in the air. The boys gazed after her +with a queer sinking of heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +BIRCH ROD. + + +Orion speedily recovered from his bad fit of indigestion, and matters +began to shake down a little in the schoolroom and nursery. No one +meant to be unkind to the little Delaneys; and although all things +were changed for them, in some ways both Iris and Apollo were all the +better for the strict and vigorous discipline they were now +undergoing. Iris really enjoyed her lessons, and when Apollo found +that he had no chance of going to school, and of being with "fellows," +as he expressed it, until he had conquered certain difficult tasks +which Miss Ramsay set him, he began, for his own sake, to apply +himself to his lessons. He was a bright, clever little chap, and when +he tried to understand his governess' method of teaching, he did his +work fairly well. But Diana and Orion were much too young for the +somewhat severe transplantation which had taken place in their little +lives. Had Iris been allowed to be with them matters might not have +grown quite so bad, but she was much occupied with her lessons, and +the younger children spent the greater part of their time alone. + +Philip and Conrad were afraid to make any further advances to Orion. +In consequence, he had no companion near his own age, except Diana, +and Diana's little heart, day by day, was growing fuller of +insubordinate and angry feelings. She was not at all by nature an +unforgiving little child, but the want of petting and the severe life +which she was obliged to lead began to tell on her high spirits. She +became defiant, and was always looking out for an opportunity to vent +her wrath upon the people whom she termed her enemies. Had Iris only +had a chance of talking to the little girl, she would soon have got to +the bottom of the matter, and things might not have turned out as they +did; but Iris did not even sleep in the room with Diana, and in her +sister's presence the little girl made a valiant effort to appear as +happy as usual. As a matter of fact, however, she and Orion spent most +of their playtime in perfecting their little scheme of revenge, and on +a certain hot day matters came to a crisis. + +It had been much more trying than usual in the schoolroom; the sun +seemed to beat in with fiercer rays; there were more flies on the +window-panes, and the air seemed more charged with that terrible +sleepiness which poor little Diana could not quite conquer. At last +she dropped so sound asleep that Miss Ramsay took pity on her, and +told her she might go and have a run in the garden. + +"Go into the Filbert walk," said the governess; "don't on any account +play where the sun is shining. You may stay out for half an hour. +There is a clock just by the stables, which you can see when you come +to the end of the walk; you will know then when the half-hour is out. +Run off now and enjoy yourself." + +Diana scarcely wasted any time in thanking Miss Ramsay. She flew from +the schoolroom as though she were herself a little arrow shot from a +bow, she tumbled rather than walked downstairs, and with no hat over +her thick, black curls, careered out wildly, shouting as she did so. +The prospect of the walk and the look of the sunshine were making the +little girl very happy, and she might not have thought of any special +revenge had not Mrs. Dolman at that moment caught sight of her. + +Mrs. Dolman was coming out of the kitchen garden. She had on her +invariable mushroom hat, her face was much flushed with exercise, and +she was by no means in the best of humors. + +"Diana," she said, "what are you doing? Come here this minute." + +"No, I won't," answered Diana. She backed before the good lady, +dancing and skipping and flinging her fat arms over her head. "Oh, +it's 'licious out!" she said: "I won't come. I has only got half an +hour; I hasn't any time; I won't come." + +Mrs. Dolman began to run after her, which fact excited the little girl +very much. She instantly raced away, and the stout lady had to follow +her, panting and puffing. + +"Diana, you are a dreadfully naughty little girl; if I catch you up, +won't I punish you!" panted Mrs. Dolman. + +"I don't care," called back Diana. "You can't catch me up; you is fat; +you can't wun. See, let's have a wace--let's find out who'll be at the +end of the walk first. Now then, one, two, three, and away! Go it, +Aunt Jane! Now, then, k'ick, Aunt Jane; k'ick!" + +Mrs. Dolman's rage at this great impertinence made her almost +speechless. She flew after Diana, but would have had little or no +chance of catching her, if the child had not suddenly tripped up +against a stone and measured her full length on the ground. Before +she could rise again Mrs. Dolman had caught her by the shoulder, and, +as a preliminary measure, began to shake her violently. + +"You are a bad little thing," she said. "Why didn't you come to me +when I called you?" + +"'Cos I didn't want to, Aunt Jane." + +"But do you know that you have got to obey me, miss? What would your +mother say?" + +"You isn't to dare to talk of mother to me," answered Diana. + +"Highty-tighty! I'm not to dare. Do you suppose, Diana, that I will +allow a little child like you to defy me in my own house?" + +"What's defy?" asked Diana. + +"You are defying me now; you are a very naughty little girl, and I +shall punish you." + +"I don't care," said Diana, tossing her head. "I was sent out by Miss +Wamsay 'cos I found the schoolroom too hot and I was sleepy. I can't +obey you and Miss Wamsay both at the same time, can I? I did not come +to you 'cos I don't like you." + +"That's a pretty thing to say to your own aunt. Come, miss, I shall +punish you immediately." + +"Oh, you's going to lock me up in the punishment woom. I don't care +one bit for that," said Diana. "I'll just lie on the floor and curl up +like a puppy and go to s'eep. I dweam beautiful when I s'eep. I dweam +that you is shotted, and that I is back again in the dear old garden +at home with all the pets; and that Rub-a-Dub is alive again. I dweam +that you is shotted down dead, and you can do no more harm, and----" + +But Diana could not proceed any further. Mrs. Dolman, in her wild +indignation, had lifted her in her arms, clapped her hand over her +mouth, and carried her bodily into the study, where Mr. Dolman was +preparing his sermon. + +"William," said his wife, "I am really very sorry to disturb you, but +I must ask you to come to my assistance." + +"In what way, Jane?" he said. He pushed his spectacles, as his +invariable habit was, high up on the middle of his forehead, and +looked from his wife to Diana, and from Diana back again to his wife. + +"Hi, Diana! is that you? Why, what is the matter, little one?" he +said. + +"You are not to speak to this very naughty little girl," said Mrs. +Dolman. "I am sorry to trouble you, William, but matters have come to +a crisis, and if you don't support your wife on this occasion, I +really do not know what will happen." + +"But, my dear Jane, do you mean to say that little Diana----" + +"Little Diana!" repeated Mrs. Dolman. "She is quite a monster, I can +tell you--a monster of ingratitude, wickedness, and rudeness, and I +don't see how we can keep her any longer with our own children." + +"But I am afraid, my dear wife, we cannot get David Delaney back now; +he must have reached the Himalayas by this time." + +"Poor fellow!" said Mrs. Dolman, "I pity him for being the father of +such a very bad little girl." + +"I aren't bad," cried Diana. "If you say any more, naughty woman, I'll +slap 'oo." + +Mrs. Dolman thought it best to let Diana slide down on the floor. + +The moment the little girl found her feet she rushed up to her Uncle +Dolman. + +"I like you, old man," she said; "you isn't half a bad sort. I'll stay +with you. P'ease, Aunt Jane, punish me by letting me stay with Uncle +William. I'll just sit on the floor curled up, and maybe I'll dwop +as'eep, and have my nice dweams about the time when you is shotted, +and I'm back again in the old garden with all my darlin', dear, sweet +pets. I'll dweam, p'waps, that we is having funerals in the garden and +we is awfu' happy, and you is shotted down dead. Let me stay with +Uncle William, Aunt Jane." + +"Now, you see what kind of child she is, William," said Mrs. Dolman. +"You have heard her with your own ears--she absolutely threatens _me_. +Oh, I cannot name what she says; it is so shocking. I never came +across such a terribly bad little girl. William, I must insist here +and now on your chastising her." + +"In what way?" said Mr. Dolman. "I am very busy, my dear Jane, over my +sermon. Could it not be postponed, or could not you, my dear?" + +"No, William, I could not, for the dark room is not bad enough for +this naughty little girl. She must be whipped, and you must do it. +Fetch the birch rod." + +"But really," said Mr. Dolman, looking terribly distressed, "you know +I don't approve of corporal punishment, my dear." + +"No more do I, except in extreme cases, but this is one. William, I +insist on your whipping this very bad little girl." + +"I don't care if you whip me," said Diana. She stood bolt upright now, +but her round, flushed little face began perceptibly to pale. + +Mr. Dolman looked at her attentively, then he glanced at his wife, and +then at the manuscript which lay on his desk. He always hated writing +his sermons, and, truth to tell, did not write at all good ones; but +on this special morning his ideas seemed to come a little more rapidly +than usual--now, of course, he had lost every thought, and the sermon +was ruined. Besides, he was a kind-hearted man. He thought Diana a +very handsome little fury, and was rather amused with her than +otherwise. Had she been left alone with him, he would not have taken +the least notice of her defiant words. He would have said to himself, +"She is but a baby, and if I take no notice she will soon cease to +talk in this very silly manner." + +But alas! there was little doubt that Uncle William was very much +afraid of Aunt Jane, and when Aunt Jane dared him to produce the birch +rod, there was nothing whatever for it but to comply. He rose and +walked slowly and very unwillingly across the room. He unlocked the +door of a big cupboard in the wall, and, poking in his large, soft, +flabby hand, presently produced what looked in Diana's eyes a very +terrible instrument. It was a rod, clean, slender, and with, as she +afterwards expressed it, _temper_ all over it. It flashed through her +little mind by and by that, if she could really secure this rod, it +might make a better bow even than the one which she and Apollo had +hidden in the wood, but she had little time to think of any future use +for the birch rod at this awful moment. The terrible instrument in +Uncle William's flabby hand was carried across the room. When she saw +it approaching her vicinity she uttered a piercing shriek and hid +herself under the table. + +"Come, come; none of this nonsense!" said Mrs. Dolman. "Punished you +shall be. You must be made to understand that you are to respect your +elders. Now, then, William, fetch that child out." + +"Diana, my dear, you are a very naughty little girl; come here," said +Mr. Dolman. + +Diana would not have minded in the least defying Aunt Jane, but there +was something in Uncle William's slow tones, particularly in a sort of +regret which seemed to tremble in his voice, and which Diana felt +without understanding, which forced her to obey. She scrambled slowly +out, her hair tumbled over her forehead, her lower lip drooping. + +"Suppose I have a little talk with her, Jane; suppose she says she is +sorry and never does it again," said Mr. Dolman. + +"Oh, yes, yes, Uncle William!" said Diana, really terrified for the +first time in her life. "Yes, I's sossy--I's awfu' sossy, Aunt Jane. +It's all wight now, Aunt Jane; Diana's sossy." + +"You shall be a great deal more sorry before I have done with you," +said Mrs. Dolman, who had no idea of letting the culprit off. "Now, +then, William, do your duty." + +"But it's all wight," said Diana, gazing with puzzled eyes up into her +aunt's face. "I's been a bad girl, but I's sossy; it's all wight, I +say. Naughty wod, go 'way, naughty wod." + +She tried to push the rod out of Mr. Dolman's hand. + +"Really, Jane, she is only five years old, and--and a poor little +orphan, you know." + +"Yes," said Diana eagerly, "I's a poor orphan, only a baby, five years +old, awfu' young, and I's sossy, and it's all wight now. Go 'way, Aunt +Jane; go 'way, naughty Aunt Jane; I's sossy." + +"William," said Mrs. Dolman, "if you refuse to give that child the +necessary punishment which is to make her a Christian character, I +shall simply wash my hands of her. Now, then, miss, get on my lap. +William, do your duty." + +Poor Mr. Dolman, pale to the very lips, was forced to comply. Down +went the rod on the fat little form--shriek after shriek uttered +Diana. At last, more from terror than pain, she lay quiet on Mrs. +Dolman's knee. The moment she did so, Mr. Dolman threw the rod on the +floor. + +"It's a horrid business," he said. "I hate corporal punishment. We +have hurt the child. Here, give her to me." + +"Nonsense, William! She is only pretending." + +But this was not the case. The fright, joined to the state of +excitement and heat which she had been previously in, proved too much +for the defiant little spirit, and Diana had really fainted. + +Mrs. Dolman was frightened now, and rushed for cold water. She bathed +the child's forehead, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing her +coming to again. + +There was not a word of defiance from Diana now, and not a single +utterance of reproach, but when she looked at Mrs. Dolman there was an +expression in her black eyes from which this lady absolutely recoiled. + +"Uncle William, I's hurted awfu'," whispered Diana. "Let me lie in +your arms, p'ease, Uncle William." + +And so she did for the rest of the morning, and the sermon never got +written. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DIANA'S REVENGE. + + +Diana had quite a nice time for the rest of the morning. Uncle William +had not the least idea of sending her back to the schoolroom. + +"It's very hot," he said, "and I feel sleepy. I dare say you do also." + +"I do awfu'," answered Diana. "You isn't a bad old man, not at all," +she continued. Here she raised her fat hand and stroked his flabby +cheek. "You hates writing sermons, don't you?" + +"Diana," he answered, "I would rather you did not speak about it." + +"Oh, I can keep secrets," replied Diana. + +"Well, in that case, to be quite frank with you, I do not care for +writing sermons." + +"And I don't care for learning lessons. You didn't mean to sting me so +bad with that howid wod, did you, Uncle William?" + +Mr. Dolman made no reply with his lips, for he did not like to defy +his wife's authority, but Diana read his thoughts in his rather dull +blue eyes. + +"You is a kind old man," she said; "that is, when you isn't tempted by +that naughty, howid woman. You is a kind old man by yourself, and you +shan't be shotted." + +"What do you mean by being shotted, Diana?" + +But here Diana pursed up her rosy lips and looked rather solemn. + +"That's a secret," she answered. "Uncle William, may I have a whole +holiday to-day?" + +"I think so, my dear little girl. I really think that can be managed. +It is too hot to work--at least, I find it so." + +"Then course I does also," answered Diana, clapping her hands. "Shall +we go out into the garding--what you say?" + +"Would you like to?" he asked. + +"Yes, more particular in fruit garding. We can eat cherries and +strawberries, and pelt each other. What you say?" + +Mr. Dolman looked out of the open window. He was pretty certain that +his wife by this time was absent in the village. The clock on the +mantelpiece pointed to half-past eleven; the early dinner would not be +ready until one o'clock. It would be cool and pleasant in the fruit +garden, and it would please poor little Diana, who, in his opinion, +had been very harshly treated. + +"All right," he answered, "but, you know, your aunt is not to be +told." + +He rose from his chair as he spoke, and, stretching out his long hand, +allowed Diana to curl her fingers round one of his. + +"I should wather think Aunt Jane isn't to know," replied Diana, +beginning to skip in her rapture. "I don't like aunts; I always said +so. I like uncles; they isn't half bad. You isn't bad, for an old man. +You is awfu' old, isn't you?" + +"Not so very old, Diana. I'm not forty yet." + +"Forty! What a ter'ble age!" said Diana. "You must 'member all the +kings and queens of England; don't you, Uncle William?" + +"Not quite all, Diana. Now, I'll just take you through the garden, for +I think a little fresh air will do you good." + +"And if I pop cherries into your mouf it 'll do you good," answered +Diana. "Oh, we'll have a lovely time!" + +So they did, and Mr. Dolman devoutly hoped that there was no one there +to see. For Diana rapidly recovered her spirits, and picked cherries +in quantities and pelted her uncle; and then she ran races and incited +him to follow her, and she picked strawberries, heaps and heaps, and +got him to sit down on a little bench near the strawberry beds, and +popped the delicious ripe berries into his mouth; and although he had +never played before in such a fashion with any little girl, he quite +enjoyed it, and presently entered the house with his lips suspiciously +red, and a confession deep down in his heart that he had spent quite a +pleasant morning. + +At dinner-time Diana and her uncle walked into the room, side by side. + +"Well, William," said Mrs. Dolman, "I hope you have finished your +sermon." + +"Not quite, my dear," he answered. + +"Not kite, my dear," echoed Diana. + +Mr. Dolman gave her a half-terrified glance, but she was stanch +enough, and had not the least idea of betraying the happy morning they +had spent together. + +Towards the end of the meal, her clear little voice might have been +heard calling to her uncle. + +"Uncle William, you wishes me to have a whole holiday; doesn't you? +You pwomised I is to have a whole holiday to-day." + +Now, Mrs. Dolman had felt very uncomfortable about Diana during her +hot walk to the village that morning. She had not at all minded +punishing her, but when she saw her lying white and unconscious in her +arms, she had certainly gone through a terrible moment, and had, +perhaps, in the whole course of her life, never felt so thankful as +when the black eyes opened wide, and the little voice sounded once +again. The look, too, that Diana had given her on this occasion she +could not quite efface from her recollection. On the whole, therefore, +she felt inclined to be gentle to the little girl, and when she +pleaded for a holiday Mrs. Dolman did not say a word to interfere. + +"It is a very hot day, and Diana was not quite well this morning," +said Mr. Dolman, glancing first at his wife and then at Miss Ramsay, +"so, all things considered, perhaps--" + +"Thank you, uncle," interrupted Diana, "it's kite settled, and you +isn't half a bad sort of old man. And now, p'ease, I want Orion to +have a holiday too." + +"Oh, that's another matter!" interrupted Miss Ramsay. "Orion is in +perfect health to-day, and as he is extremely backward for his age--" + +"But the heat of the day, and the child being so young," put in Mr. +Dolman. + +"I'd be much happier if I had Orion with me," continued Diana, "and +it's 'portant my being happy; isn't it, Uncle William? P'ease, Uncle +William, say that Orion may have a holiday." + +"I will give leave if your aunt and Miss Ramsay will," he replied. + +"Oh, don't ask me!" said Mrs. Dolman, rising hastily as she spoke. "I +wash my hands of the pair." + +"She washes her hands of the pair, so she don't count," said Diana. +"Is we to have a holiday, Uncle William? I is, but is Orion, too? +That's the 'portant part," she added. + +"I have no objection," said Miss Ramsay, who thought it best to close +this scene as quickly as possible. + +Orion uttered a shout of rapture, Diana rushed up to him, clutched him +round the neck, and pulled him from the room. + +Nearly wild with glee, they both ran helter-skelter out of the house, +into the cool shrubbery beyond. + +"Now, Orion," said Diana, the moment they found themselves alone, "you +must cool down and not 'cite yourself too much. We has a ter'ble lot +of work to do. I has got my holiday through awfu' suff'in'. I was +beated and killed, and I has come fresh to life again. Course I's in a +wage, and I's got a holiday for you and for me 'cos we must do our +work. Wun upstairs, Orion, and bwing down your big straw hat and mine, +and we'll go and find _them_." + +Orion knew perfectly well what "them" meant. He looked hard at Diana, +saw something in her eyes which she could not suppress, and, with a +sigh of mingled pleasure and alarm ran off to do her bidding. He +returned in less than a minute with his large sailor hat stuck on the +back of his head, and a white sun-bonnet for Diana. Diana's sun-bonnet +had a black bow at the back and black strings. + +"Howid, hot old thing," she said, "I won't wear it. Here, let's hide +it; I don't mind going with nothing." + +"But you must not do that," said Orion, "'cos, if they see you, +they'll catch you and bring you home. You had best sling it on your +arm, Di; and then, if they are seen coming, why, you can pop it on +your head." + +"Well, p'w'aps so," answered Diana. "We has an awfu' lot to do this +afternoon, Orion, 'cos Aunt Jane has got to be shotted, and I's +thinking of having Miss Wamsay shotted too." + +"But do you mean," said Orion, "that you'll really shoot 'em both?" + +"Yes," replied Diana. "It has to be done; it's ter'ble, but it must be +done. What would be the good if they wasn't shotted dead? Yes, they'll +be shotted, and they'll have a public funeral, and after that we'll +have a lovely time. Uncle William isn't half bad, and 'stead of doing +howid lessons every morning we'll just go into the garding and eat +stwawberries and cherries, and he'll play with us. He'll love to, for +he don't like writing sermins a bit, and we'll blindfold him and he'll +wun after us. He's k'ite a nice old man, and if Aunt Jane and Miss +Wamsay is shotted--why, we'll have a jolly time. Now, let's wun and +fetch the big bow and arrows." + +Orion had always a great respect for his younger sister Diana. "Well," +he said, "if you're a grand lady, don't forget that I'm a big giant, +and that I've got a belt and a sword. There's Simpson, you know; she's +rather a bother, and I can run my sword into her, if you really wish +it, Diana." + +"I'll think about it," answered Diana. "I don't want to have three +persons deaded wight off; it might be sort of troublesome. I'll think +what's best to be done with Simpson. Now, let's start at once." + +Mrs. Dolman was under the supposition that the children had gone to +play in the back garden. The greater part of that somewhat neglected +domain was laid out in shrubbery, and there were shady trees and +swings and see-saws, and other sources of amusement for the little +Dolmans during their brief hours of play. Miss Ramsay also thought +that Diana and Orion would go to the shrubbery. She went up, +therefore, to the schoolroom quite contented. Mr. Dolman retired to +his study, where he went to sleep, and Mrs. Dolman ordered the pony +chaise, and went off to see a distant parishioner, who was very ill. + +The house was wonderfully quiet, and nothing occurred to disturb Mr. +Dolman in his deep slumber. The manuscript pages which were to be +covered by his neatly written sermon lay in virgin purity before him. +In his sleep he dreamt of little Diana, and awoke presently with a +queer sense of uneasiness with regard to her. But he was by nature a +very lazy man, and it did not occur to him to inquire as to her +present whereabouts. "She's a fine little soul," he said to himself. +"I do wish Jane had not taken such a dislike to her. It is useless to +drive that sort of child; she must be led, and led gently. 'Pon my +word, I did have an entertaining morning with the little mite, and +what a lot of strawberries she made me eat! I wonder Jane did not +remark at dinner how poor my appetite was--I was dreadfully afraid she +would do so. Certainly Jane is an active woman, an excellent woman, +but just a little bit stern." + +Meanwhile Diana, holding Orion by the hand, had started running up the +long avenue. The little pair soon reached the lodge gates. Diana and +her brother went out through the postern door which was at the side, +and the next moment found themselves on the highroad. This road led in +the direction of the shady woods where Apollo had hidden the bow and +arrows a few weeks ago. It was a pretty road, a couple of miles in +length, and well shaded by trees, a kind of outgrowth of the forest +itself. As she was not likely to meet any of the Dolman family on the +road, Diana did not wear her sun-bonnet, but kept it hanging on her +arm. "It is nice to be out," she said, as she tripped along. "I love +hot sun; I love twees; I love blue sky; I love dust." + +"I don't," replied Orion; "this road is horrid dusty, and it gets into +my shoes. I have only my house shoes on, you know, Diana." + +"Oh, never mind!" answered Diana. "If you is a giant, you isn't going +to g'umble. What is the use of g'umbling? You be all wight soon. We'll +be in the wood soon, and we'll have got the bow and arrows, and then +we'll have to pwactice shooting. Oh, I say, there's a turnstile and a +path, and I believe the path leads stwaight to the wood. Let's leave +the woad and go to the wood that way." + +"All right," replied Orion. He always did say "all right" to every +single thing Diana asked him to do. + +The children now found themselves in a shady lane, between high +hedgerows. It was a pretty lane, only very sultry at this time of day; +but Diana, seeing butterflies flying about, began to give chase to +them. She also stopped many times to pick flowers. Orion shouted as he +ran, and neither of the little pair minded, for a time at least, the +fact that the sun was pouring on their heads, and that their small +faces were getting redder and redder. + +"I's stweaming down with hotness," said Diana, at last. "I must stop +a bit or I'll melt away. I don't want to melt till I has shotted my +enemies. Is you stweaming with hotness, Orion?" + +"Yes," said Orion. + +They stood still, took out their handkerchiefs, mopped their faces +vigorously, and then continued their walk. The time seemed to drag all +of a sudden; they were both very tired. How glad they were when they +finally reached the friendly shelter of the Super-Ashton woods. Here +it was deliciously cool, and here Diana, thoroughly exhausted, threw +herself on her face and hands, and, before Orion could say a word, had +dropped off into sound sleep. He thought she looked very comfortable, +and it occurred to him that he could not do better than follow her +example. Accordingly, he also stretched himself on the ground, and, +with his head resting on one of Diana's fat little legs, also visited +the land of dreams. For two hours the children slept. When they awoke +at last they found that the sun was no longer high in the heavens; it +was veering rapidly towards the west, and was sending slanting and +very beautiful rays of light through the wood. Diana rubbed her eyes +and looked around her. + +"I's awfu' hung'y," she said. "How does you feel, Orion?" + +"My tumtum's empty," answered Orion. + +"We'll pick berries in the wood," said Diana; "that'll sat'sfy us. +Berries is wight for wunaway sildrens. Do you 'member what we has come +here for, Orion?" + +"To amuse ourselves, I suppose," replied Orion. + +Diana gave him an angry flash from her black eyes. + +"What a silly little boy you is!" she said. "We has come for most +solemn, 'portant business. I is Diana--the gweat Diana what lived +years and years ago--and you is Orion. I is the gweatest huntwess in +all the world, and I's going to shoot Aunt Jane and Miss Wamsay. Now, +come 'long, Orion, and let's look for the bow and arrow." + +The children searched and searched, and after a long time did actually +discover the crooked and badly made bow and the blunt arrow. + +"Here they is, the darlin's!" cried Diana. "My own bow, my own +arrow--how I loves 'em! Now, Orion, I is going to shoot you--for +pwactice, you know, and then you shall shoot me for pwactice too. You +stand up there against the twee, and I'll make good shots. You don't +mind if I does hurt you a bit, does you?" + +"But I don't want to be shotted down dead," replied Orion. + +"No, I won't go as far as that. It's only Aunt Jane and Miss Wamsay +who is to be shotted dead; but you'll have to be shotted, 'cos I must +pwactice how to do it." + +"But couldn't you practice against the tree without me standing +there?" said Orion, who had no fancy to have even this very blunt +arrow directed at his face. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MOTHER RODESIA. + + +After some very slight persuasion Diana induced Orion to put his back +up against an oak tree and to allow her to shoot at him. He quickly +discovered that he had little or no cause for fear. Diana's arrows, +wielded with all the cunning she possessed, from the crooked bow, +never went anywhere near him. They fell on the grass and startled the +birds, and one little baby rabbit ran quite away, and some squirrels +looked down at the children through the thick trees; but Orion had +very little chance of getting hurt. + +"It's awfu' difficult," said Diana, whose face grew redder and redder +with her efforts. "If it don't shoot pwoper, Aunt Jane won't get +shotted to-night. What is to be done? Suppose you was to twy for a +bit, Orion?" + +Orion was only too anxious to accede to this proposition. He took the +bow and arrow and made valiant efforts, but in the course of his +endeavors to shoot properly, the badly made bow suddenly snapped in +two, and Diana, in her discomfiture, and the dashing to the ground of +her hopes, burst into tears. + +"You is bad boy," she cried. "See what you's done. Back we goes to +slav'ry--to Aunt Jane and Miss Wamsay. You is a bad, howid boy." + +"I aren't," said Orion, who had a very easily aroused temper. "It's +you that's a horrid little girl." + +"Come, children; what's all this noise about?" said a voice in their +ears. + +They turned abruptly, forgetting on the instant their own cause of +quarrel, and saw a tall, swarthy-looking woman coming towards them. By +this time it was beginning to get dark in the wood, but they could see +the figure of the woman quite distinctly. She came close to them, and +then, putting her arms akimbo, surveyed them both with a certain queer +expression on her face. + +"Well, my little dears," she said, "and what may you two be doing in +this part of the wood?" + +"We is pweparing to have our enemies shotted," answered Diana, in a +calm, but sturdy, voice. "What's your name, gweat big woman?" + +"Mother Rodesia Lee," replied the woman, "and I'm fond of little +children. I like to meet them in the wood. I often come into the wood, +and when I see little strange children I love 'em at once. I'm a sort +of mother to all little strangers who get into the woods without +leave." Here she flashed a pair of black eyes full into Diana's face. +But Diana met their gaze without a vestige of shrinking, with eyes as +black. + +"We has not come without leave," she said; "you is naughty to talk +that way. We has got a whole holiday to-day from our Uncle William. He +didn't say nothing 'bout not going into the woods, and we has been +here for lots of hours. We is going home now 'cos we is hung'y, and +'cos my bow has got bwoke. We is awfu' unhappy--we is mis'ble, but we +is going home. Good-night, woman; don't keep us talkin' any longer." + +"I aint going to keep you," said the woman; "only, p'r'aps, if you +two are so hungry, p'r'aps I could give you a bit of supper." + +"Oh, yes, Diana! Do let her," said Orion. + +"What sort of supper?" asked Diana, who never allowed herself to be +taken unawares. "Would it be stwawberries and k'eam, or would it be +cake and milk?" + +"Strawberries and cream, and milk and cake, plenty and plenty," said +the woman. "And what do you say to delicious soup and honey, p'r'aps? +Oh, come along, my little loves; I'll give you something fine to eat." + +"Do let's go," said Orion; "my tumtum's so empty it feels like a big +hole." + +"I know," said the woman, in a very sympathetic voice. "I have had it +myself like that at times. It's sort of painful when it's like that; +aint it?" + +"Yes," answered Orion. He went up to his sister, and took her hand. +"Come along, Di," he said. "Do let this nice woman give us our +supper." + +"You may be sure I won't give it," said the woman, "unless both you +little children ask me in a very perlite voice. You must say, 'Please, +Mother Rodesia.'" + +"I can't say that keer sort of name," said Diana. + +"Well, then, call me mother without anything else. They often does +that at home--often and often. All the little kids is desp'ate fond of +me. I dote so on little children. My heart runs over with love to +'em." + +"You would not let a little girl be beated?" said Diana. + +"Be beaten?" replied the woman. "No, that I wouldn't; it would be +downright cruel." + +"I was beated to-day," said Diana; "it was an enemy did it, and I'm +going to have her shotted." + +"Oh, I wouldn't do that!" said the woman. "You might be hanged up for +that." + +"What's being hanged up?" asked Diana. + +"It's something very bad--I need not tell you now; but there are laws +in this country, and if you shoot your enemies you are hanged up for +it. You are not allowed to do those sort of things in this country." + +"Yes, I are," answered Diana, "'cos I are the gweat Diana. You +underland, don't you?" + +"I don't know that I do; but, anyhow, I have no time to stand talking +now. Come along, and you can tell me afterwards. I have got such a +nice supper--plenty of strawberries and cream, plenty of milk and +cake." + +"Oh, my tumtum," said Orion, pressing his hand to that part of his +little body with great solemnity. + +"How soon will the supper be over? and how soon can we get back home?" +asked Diana. + +"That depends on where your home is, my pretty little dear," said +Mother Rodesia. + +"It's at Wectory, stoopid woman." + +"I don't know that place, miss." + +"Don't you know my Uncle William Dolman?" + +"What! the rector?" said the woman. "And so you come from the +_Rectory_?" She looked frightened for a moment, and her manner became +hesitating. "Are you one of the rector's children, my little love?" +she asked. + +"No; he's only an uncle; he belongs to an aunt. I hate aunts. He's not +a bad sort his own self; but I hate aunts!" + +"Then you wouldn't mind if you was to leave her?" + +"No. But I can't leave Uncle William, and I can't leave Iris, and I +can't leave Apollo. We would like some supper 'cos we is hung'y, and +it's past our tea hour; but then we must go stwaight home." + +"All right, my little love; everything can be managed to your +satisfaction. My son has got a pony and cart, and he'll drive you over +to the Rectory in a twinkling, after your appetites are satisfied. I +can't abear to see little children real hungry. You come along with me +this minute or the supper will be eat up." + +Diana hesitated no longer. She carried her broken bow on one arm, and +she slung her arrow, by a string, round her neck; then, taking one of +Mother Rodesia's large brown hands, and Orion taking the other, the +two children trotted deeper into the dark wood. They all three walked +for over a mile, and the wood seemed to get darker and denser, and the +children's little feet more and more tired. Orion also began to +complain that the hole inside him was getting bigger and bigger; but +Mother Rodesia, now that she had got them to go with her, said very +few words, and did not take the least notice of their complaints. At +last, when they suddenly felt that they could not go another step, so +great was their fatigue, they came out on an open clearing in the +wood, in the center of which a great big tent was pitched. Several +smaller tents were also to be seen in the neighborhood of the big one, +and a lot of children, very brown and ugly, and only half-dressed, +were lying about on the grass, squabbling and rolling over one +another. Some dogs also were with the children, and an old woman, a +good deal browner than Mother Rodesia, was sitting at the door of the +big tent. + +As soon as ever the children saw the little strangers, they scrambled +to their feet with a cry, and instantly surrounded Mother Rodesia and +Orion and Diana. + +"Back, all of you, you little rascallions," said Mother Rodesia; +"back, or I'll cuff you. Where's Mother Bridget? I want to speak to +her?" + +When Mother Rodesia said this the old woman at the door of the +principal tent rose slowly and came to meet them. + +"Well, Rodesia," she said, "and so you has found these little +strangers in the wood? What purty little dears!" + +"Yes, I have found them," said Mother Rodesia, "and I have brought +them home to supper. After supper we are to send them home. They hail +from the Rectory. Is Jack anywhere about?" + +"I saw him not half an hour back," said the old woman; "he had just +brought in a fat hare, and I popped it into the pot for supper. You +can smell it from here, little master," she said, stooping suddenly +down and letting her brown, wrinkled, aged face come within an inch or +two of Orion's. He started back, frightened. He had never seen anyone +so old nor so ugly before. Even the thought of the strawberries and +cream, and the milk and cake, could not compensate for the look on +Mother Bridget's face. + +Diana, however, was not easily alarmed. + +"The stuff in the pot smells vedy good," she said, sniffing. "I could +shoot lots of hares, 'cos I is the gweatest huntwess in all the world. +I is Diana. Did you ever hear of Diana, ugly old woman?" + +"You had best not call Mother Bridget names," said Mother Rodesia, +giving Diana a violent shake as she spoke. + +But the little girl leaped lightly away from her. + +"I always call peoples just what I think them," she said; "I wouldn't +be the gweat Diana if I didn't. I has not got one scwap of fear in me, +so you needn't think to come wound me that way. I do think she is +awfu' ugly. She's uglier than Aunt Jane, what I _used_ to think was +the ugliest person in the world. You had best not twy to fwighten me, +for it can't be done." + +"What a spirited little missy it is!" said Mother Bridget, gazing with +admiration at Diana. "Why, now, she is a fine little child. I'm sure, +dearie, I don't mind whether you call me ugly or not; it don't matter +the least bit in the world to me. And how old may you be, my little +love?" + +"I is five," answered Diana. "I's a well-grown girl, isn't I?" + +"That you are, missy, and hungry, too, I guess. You shall have some +beautiful hare soup." + +"I don't want hare soup," answered Diana; "I want what that woman +pwomised--stwawberries and k'eam, and milk and cake--and then, +perhaps, a _little_ soup. I don't want soup to begin." + +"Well," said the old woman, "we hasn't got no strawberries, nor no +milk, nor no cake--we are very poor folks here, missy. A little lady +must be content with what she can get, unless, my dear, you would like +to pay 'andsome for it." + +"I has nothing to pay with," answered Diana. "I would, if I had the +money, but I hasn't got none. I's sossy," she continued, looking full +at Mother Rodesia as she spoke, "that you big, big woman told such +awfu' lies. But, now that we has come, we'll take a little hare soup. +Orion, you stand near me, and don't any of you dirty peoples come up +too close, 'cos I can't abear dirty peoples. I is the gweatest shot +in all the world, and Orion, he's a giant." + +Two or three men had approached at that moment, and they all began to +laugh heartily when poor little pale Orion was called a giant. + +"You can see him in the sky sometimes on starful nights," continued +Diana, "and he has got a belt and a sword." + +"Well, to be sure, poor little thing," said Mother Rodesia, "she must +be a bit off her head, but she's a fine little spirited thing for all +that. I think she would just about do. You come along here for a +minute, Jack, and let me talk to you." + +The man called Jack moved a few steps away, and Mother Rodesia +followed him. They began to talk together in low and earnest voices. +At first the man shook his head as he listened to Mother Rodesia, but +by degrees he began to agree with some suggestion she was making, and +finally he nodded emphatically, and at last was heard to say: + +"It shall be done." + +Meanwhile Diana, with one arm clasped protectingly round Orion's +waist, was partaking of the soup which old Mother Bridget had ladled +into a little bowl. Orion was provided with a similar bowl of the very +excellent liquid. The soup contained meat and vegetables, pieces of +bread and quantities of good gravy, and, as Diana and Orion were very +hungry indeed, they ate up their portions, while the gypsy children +clustered round them, coming closer and closer each minute. Diana's +eyes, however, were as black as theirs, and her manner twice as +spirited. She would not allow them to approach too close. + +"You had best not take lib'ties," she said. "I is a gweat lady; I is +Diana, the biggest shot in all the world." + +"Oh, lawk! hark to her," cried one of the boys. "I wonder if you could +shoot me, little miss?" + +"Shoot you, boy?" cried Diana. "That I could. You would be shotted +down dead if I was to take up my bow and use my arrow." + +At last the children had finished the contents of their bowls, and +rose solemnly to their feet. + +"Now," said Diana, going up to Mother Bridget, "I are vedy obliged to +you; you has been kind; you has gived us good supper. We'll 'scuse +'bout the stwawberries and k'eam and the milk and cake, 'cos you +didn't know that the other big woman told lots of lies. And now, +p'ease, we are going home. We isn't glad to go home, but we is going. +P'ease tell the man to put pony to cart, and dwive us home as fast as +he can." + +"Yes, indeed, my little dear," said Mother Bridget; "there aint one +moment to be lost. You just come inside the tent, though, first for a +minute." + +"I don't want to go inside that dirty tent," said Diana; "I don't like +dirt. You had best not twy to take lib'ties. I is Diana, and this is +Orion, and we is both very big peoples indeed." + +At that moment Mother Rodesia came forward. + +"They need not go into the tent," she said to the old woman; "I can +manage better than that. Just you help lift 'em into the cart; it's a +dark night, and there'll be no stars, and we can get off as far +as----" Here she dropped her voice, and Diana could not hear the next +words. + +"I'm going with them," she continued, "and Jack will drive. They are +exactly the kind of children Ben wants. Now then, little missy, jump +in. Ah, here you are! You'll be glad of the drive, won't you?" + +"When will we get back to Wectory?" asked Diana. + +"In about an hour, missy." + +"Come 'long, Orion," said Diana, "you sit next me. Hold my hand, poor +little boy, case you is fwightened. Diana never was fwightened; that +isn't her." + +Orion scrambled also into the cart, and the two children huddled up +close together. Mother Rodesia got in with them, and sat down at the +opposite side, with her knees huddled up close to her chin. The man +called Jack mounted the driver's seat, whacked the pony with two or +three hard touches of his whip and away they bounded. + +The night was very dark, and the cart rattled roughly, and jolted and +banged the children about, but Orion felt comforted and contented +after his good supper, and Diana's fat little arm felt warm round his +neck, and soon his head rested on her shoulder and he was sound +asleep. Not so little Diana. She sat wide awake and gazed hard at the +woman, whose dark eyes were seen to flash now and then as the party +jolted over the roads. + +"Tell him to go k'icker," said Diana. "I must get home afore Uncle +William goes to bed. Aunt Jane might beat me again, and I don't want +to be beated. Tell him to go k'icker, Mother 'Odesia." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +UNCLE BEN. + + +Mother Rodesia was most kind and obliging. The pony was whipped up, +and now it seemed to Diana's excited fancy that they quite flew over +the road. She felt for her broken bow, which she had laid by her side, +then she cuddled up closer to Orion, and whispered to herself: + +"Mother 'Odesia's a good woman when all's said, done. She has gived us +supper and soon we'll be home; and Uncle William won't be in bed, and +he won't let c'uel Aunt Jane beat me. It's all wight; I may just as +well go to s'eep, 'cos I is drefful s'eepy, and it's late. I wonder if +the night will be starful, and if I'll see Orion up in the sky. +Anyhow, there's no stars at pwesent, and I had best go to s'eep." + +So the little girl cuddled herself up close to her brother, and soon +the big dark eyes were shut, and she was happy in the land of dreams. + +When this happened, Mother Rodesia softly and stealthily changed her +position. She stretched out her hand and touched Jack on his arm. This +seemed to have been an arranged signal, for he drew up the pony at +once. + +They were still under the shelter of the great woods which extended +for miles over that part of the country. + +"We had best begin to change their clothes now," said Mother Rodesia. +"They are both as sound as nails, and I don't want the clothes to be +seen by Ben, for he's safe to pawn 'em, and if he pawns 'em the police +may get 'em, and then the children may be traced, and we may get into +hot water." + +"But, mother," said Jack, "do you dare to disturb them now when they +are asleep? That young 'un with the black eyes is such a fury; seemed +to me as if she was never goin' off." + +"She's all right now," said Mother Rodesia. "She's just dead tired. Of +course, if I had had my way, I'd have put a little of that syrup into +their soup--Mother Winslow's Syrup--but Mother Bridget wouldn't have +it. She took quite a fancy to the little gal, and all on account of +her firing up and calling her names." + +Jack laughed. + +"I never seed sech a little 'un," he said, "sech a sparky little +piece. Ben's in rare luck. I'd like to keep her for a sort of little +sister of my own--she'd amuse me fine." + +"Well, well, you aint a-goin' to have her," said Mother Rodesia. "I'm +goin' to ask thirty shillin's for her and thirty shillin's for the +boy. That'll be three pund--not a bad night's work; eh, Jack?" + +"No," replied Jack; but then he continued after a pause, "You'll tell +him, won't you, mother, to be good to the children. I wouldn't like to +think that little 'un was treated cruel, and her sperit broke--she has +got a fine sperit, bless her; I wouldn't like it to be broke. I don't +care for the little boy. There's nothing in 'im." + +"Well, stop talking now," said Mother Rodesia. "They must be missed at +the Rectory by this time, and they'll be sendin' people out to look +for 'em. It's a rare stroke of luck that nobody knows that we are +camping in the Fairy Dell, for if they did they would be sure to come +straight to us, knowin' that poor gypsies is always _supposed_ to +kidnap children. Now, Jack, you just hold the pony as still as you +can, and I'll slip the clothes off the pair of 'em." + +Little Diana, in her deep sleep, was not at all disturbed when stout +hands lifted her away from Orion, and when she lay stretched out flat +on a large lap. One by one her clothes were untied and slipped off her +pretty little body, and some very ugly, sack-like garments substituted +in their place. Diana had only a dim feeling in her dreams that mother +was back again, and was undressing her, and that she was very glad to +get into bed. And when the same process of undressing took place on +little Orion, he was still sounder asleep and still more indifferent +to the fact that he was turned sometimes over on his face, and +sometimes on his back, and that his pretty, dainty clothes, which his +own mother had bought for him, were removed, never to be worn by him +again. + +"Now, then," said Mother Rodesia, when she had laid the two children +back again upon the straw, "when they awake, and if Ben is not there, +we must dye their faces with walnut juice; but we can't begin that +now, for they are sure to howl a good bit, and if folks are near, they +will hear them and come to the rescue. Jack, have you got that spade +'andy?" + +The man, without a word, lifted a portion of the straw in the cart, +and took out a spade. + +"That's right," said the woman. "You make a deep hole under that tree, +and put all the clothes in. Bury 'em well. I'll rescue 'em and pawn +'em myself when we go to the West of England in the winter, but for +the present they must stay under ground. See, I'll wrap 'em up in this +good piece of stout brown paper, and then perhaps they won't get much +spoiled." + +Jack took the little bundle (there were the soft, pretty socks, the +neat little shoes, even the ribbon with which Diana's hair was tied), +and twisted them all up into a bundle. Then his mother wrapped the +bundle in the piece of brown paper, and gave it to him to bury. + +This being done the pony was once more whipped up, and the cart +proceeded at a rapid rate. They were now on the highroad, and going in +the direction of a large town. The town was called Maplehurst. It was +fifteen miles away from the Rectory of Super-Ashton. + +Little Diana slept on and on, and the sun was beginning to send faint +rays of light into the eastern sky, when at last she opened her eyes. + +"Where is I?" she said with a gasp. + +"With me, my little dear; you are as safe as child can be," said +Mother Rodesia. "Don't you stir, my love; you are just as good as you +was in your little bed. See, let me lay this rug over you." + +She threw a piece of heavy tarpaulin, lined with cloth, over the child +as she spoke. + +Diana yawned in a comfortable manner. + +"Isn't we at Wectory yet?" she asked. + +"No, dear; the pony went lame, and we had to stop for a good bit on +the road; but if you like to go to sleep again, you'll be there when +next you wake." + +"I isn't s'eepy any longer," said Diana, sitting bolt upright in the +cart. "Oh, what a funny dwess I has on. Where is my nice b'ack dwess, +and my pinafore, and my shoes and socks?" + +"Well, dear," said Mother Rodesia, "you were so dead asleep, and the +pony got that lame we couldn't stir hand nor foot, so I thought it +best to put a little nightdress on you." + +"But what a funny one," said Diana, gazing with curious admiration at +the stout, sack-like garment. + +"It's the best poor Mother Rodesia has, my dear. I'm awful poor, you +know." + +"Is you?" asked Diana. + +"Yes, dear." + +"And does you mind?" asked Diana. + +"Yes, dear; 'cos when people are poor they can't get bread to eat, and +then they can't get nice clothes like you, little missy. You are a +very rich little gal; aint you, little dear?" + +"My faver's awfu' rich," said Diana. "We used to live in a most +beaut'ful house, and we had a beaut'ful garding to play in. We had +animals there--lots and lots. Woman, is you fond of animals--mices and +that sort?" + +"Love--I just adores 'em." + +"Then you _is_ a nice sort," answered Diana. She left her place by +Orion and crept up close to the woman. + +"May I sit on your lap?" she said. + +Mother Rodesia made a place for her at once. + +"Put your arm wound me, p'ease; I is still a teeny bit s'eepy." + +"You lay your head against my breast, little love, and you'll go off +into a beautiful sleep, and I'll keep you nice and warm, for hot as +the days are, it's chilly in the mornin's." + +"When my faver comes home I'll ask him to give you lots of money, +Mother 'Odesia," said Diana. + +She closed her eyes as she spoke, and in another moment was once again +slumbering peacefully. + +When little Diana next opened her eyes all was completely changed. She +was no longer in the funny cart with the straw. Her nightdress was +still on her, it is true, and there were neither shoes nor stockings +on her bare feet; but she and Orion found themselves in a dirty room +with a nasty smell. Both children looked at one another, and both felt +cold and frightened. The broad daylight was lighting up the room, and +Diana could perceive that there was scarcely any furniture in it. Her +bow was also gone, and her arrow no longer hung round her neck. She +clutched a firm hold of Orion's hand. + +"Don't you be afeared, Orion," she said. "Don't you forget you is a +big giant. Don't you forget you has got your belt and your sword." + +"But I haven't, that's just it," replied Orion. "Diana, I aren't a +giant, and I'm awfu' frightened." + +"Where can us be?" said Diana. "What a keer room! But there's one good +comfort; there isn't no aunts anywheres 'bout." + +"I can't remember nothing," said Orion. "Why aren't we in bed? It's +too early to get up. How have we got into this horrid little room?" + +"I don't know more nor you," said Diana, "only I do know that we has +got to be bwave. Don't you forget, Orion, that mother gived you your +name, and that you is a giant, whether you likes it or not. Don't you +forget that, and I won't forget that I is Diana, and that mother gived +me my name too, and that I is the bwavest huntwess in all the world." + +"But you haven't got a bow and arrow," said Orion. + +Diana was silent for a moment. + +"Anyhow," she said, with a little shake, "I isn't going to be +fwightened. Let's sit close together, and let's think." + +"Why can't we open that door and go out?" said Orion. "Why should we +stay in this horrid room?" + +"'Cos our foots is bare," said Diana. + +"But don't let's mind that," said Orion; "let's go to the door and +open it, and let's run back to Rectory. I'd rather have Aunt Jane and +Miss Ramsay than this horrid room--and oh, Diana! my tumtum has got a +big hole in it again." + +"And mine has too," answered Diana. "I could eat a whole loaf, that I +could." + +"Hush!" whispered Orion; "somebody's coming. Oh, come close to me, +Diana!" + +"Now, you isn't to be fwightened, little boy," said Diana. "I is near +you, and I isn't fwightened of nobody." + +At that moment the door was flung open, and Mother Rodesia, +accompanied by a tall, dark man, with a scowling face, came in. + +"Mornin', little dears," said Mother Rodesia. "Now I have got +something to say to you." + +"P'ease, where's Wectory?" asked Diana. + +"You are not going there just for the present, my dear. This man, Ben +is his name--you told me last night that you were fond of uncles--you +can call 'im Uncle Ben; he's very kind and very, very fond of +children." + +"Oh, yes! I'm very fond of children," said the man. He spoke in a +gruff voice which seemed to come right from the bottom of his chest. + +"And as you don't like aunts," continued Mother Rodesia, "I have +brought an uncle. You can call 'im Uncle Ben; and if you do just what +he says, why, you'll be as happy as the day is long." + +"Look here," said the man; "you stop your talk, Rodesia. Before I +makes myself an uncle to these kids I must see what sort they are. You +stand up along here, little gal, and let me examine you." + +Diana scrambled instantly to her feet and went straight up to the man. +She gave him a keen glance from her piercing black eyes. + +"What wight has you to speak to me in that sort of style?" she said. +"You isn't my uncle, and I isn't going to have nothing to do with +you." + +"There," said Mother Rodesia; "did I say one word too much for her?" + +The man burst into a loud laugh. + +"No, that you didn't," he said; "and aint you frightened of me, +missy?" + +"Fwightened?" replied Diana; "that aren't me." She turned her back and +strode back to Orion. + +"'Member you is a giant," she said, in a whisper; "and giants never is +fwightened." + +The man laughed again. + +"Well, they are a queer little pair," he said. "I tell you what it is, +Rodesia Lee; I'll give you a pund apiece for 'em. Come, now; not a +penny more." + +Diana stared very hard indeed when these words were uttered. She had +not the faintest idea what a "pund apiece" meant. Mother Rodesia +seemed to consider. + +"And you may think yourself in rare luck," continued the man; "for, +remember, if it is known--" Here he walked to the farthest end of the +room, and Mother Rodesia followed him. + +"You had best close up the bargain and be quick about it," he said; +"for not one penny more will you drag out of me. I'll give you a gold +sov. for each of 'em, and that's as much as I can manage. They will +take a sight of training, and then there's the risk." + +"Very well," said Mother Rodesia, "I suppose I had best do it; only +they are worth more. There's a fortune in that little gal, and +whenever you are tired of her, why, there's a rich father to fall back +on. I spect he would give a sight of money to have her back again. +Very well, we'll agree; only, if ever you do get a fortune out of that +child, Ben Holt, you might remember poor Rodesia Lee." + +The man laughed and patted Mother Rodesia on her shoulder. Then the +pair left the room, locking the door behind them. + +"What does it all mean?" said Orion. + +"I don't know," said Diana; "but I aren't fwightened; that aren't me." +Her little voice shook as she spoke, and she had great difficulty in +keeping the tears back from her big, black eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +GREASED LIGHTNING. + + +At the end of half an hour the door of the small room was again +unlocked, and a woman with a thin, pale face, and somewhat frightened +manner, appeared. She carried a tray in her hand, which contained two +little bowls of porridge, and a small jug of milk. "So you are the two +young 'uns," she said. "Well, you had best be quick and eat up your +breakfast. Uncle Ben is going to have a rehearsal, and he wants you to +see what they are all doing." + +"We hasn't got no Uncle Ben," said Diana; "don't be silly, woman. +What's your name?" she added. + +"I'm generally called Aunt Sarah," was the reply; "and now, look here, +you two little mites; I'll be good to you if you'll let me. I'm real +sorry you has come, and it's against my wish, you remember that. Now, +eat up your breakfasts, both of you. Uncle Ben, he don't know that I +have brought you porridge and milk; but children as young as you are +can't eat coarse food. Sup up your porridge, my dears." + +"Thank you very much indeed, Aunt Sawah," said Diana, slipping down +from her seat close to Orion on the bench, and preparing to attack her +breakfast. "P'w'aps," she continued, as she put great mouthfuls of +porridge into her mouth, "when we has finished this nice bekfus you'll +take us back to Wectory? You see, you isn't our aunt weally, not by no +manner of wights, and Uncle Ben isn't our uncle, and so we ought not +to stay here; and if we go back to Wectory, why, Uncle William, what's +our weal uncle, p'w'aps he would pay you money, if it's money you +wants." + +"Yes; it's true enough, it is money we want," replied the woman; "but, +my dear," she added, the tears springing to her eyes, "I can't take +you back to no Rectory. You have just got to stay here and to watch +Uncle Ben when he's going through his rehearsal, and then this +afternoon we are going on a very long journey, and you are coming with +us--and oh, I forgot to say that, when you have finished your +breakfast, I must put something on your faces." + +"Something on our faces?" said Diana. + +"Yes, my little love; it has to be done. But when we get to another +part of the country I'll wash the ugly stuff off again, and you'll +look as fair and pretty as you do now. It won't make much difference +after all to you, little missy," she added, gazing fixedly at Diana, +"'cos you are very dark by nature. Yes, I had a little kid of my own, +a little gal, and she wasn't unlike you--no, not by no means. I'll be +kind to you for her pretty sake, my little dear. Now, eat your +breakfast, and be quick, the pair of you." + +"Has your little girl what was like me got deaded?" asked Diana, in a +very thoughtful and earnest voice. + +"She is dead, my dear. Yes, yes, she is dead," replied the woman. "Eat +up your breakfast now; I have no time to answer questions." + +Orion did not need a second bidding; he had already plunged his spoon +into the porridge, and soon his little bowl was empty, and also the +jug of milk. Diana also finished her breakfast, but more thoughtfully. +She was a wonderfully wise little girl for her tender years, and at +the present moment she was dreadfully puzzled to know what to do. She +was quite shrewd enough to guess that Mother Rodesia was a bad sort of +woman, and that she, Diana, had done wrong ever to trust herself to +her. Uncle Ben, too, in spite of her brave words, terrified her more +or less. All things considered, therefore, she would not have been at +all sorry to find herself back again at the Rectory, with Miss Ramsay +to teach her, and Aunt Jane hovering in the background. "Isn't it +funny, we has got our nightdwesses on?" she said suddenly. "Woman, +it's not pwoper to have our bekfus in our nightdwesses; and these are +such keer nightdwesses, not at all what they ought to be. Our mother +would not like us to be dwessed in this sort of style. Can you get our +day dwesses, p'ease, for us to put on, Aunt Sawah?" + +"No; I can't get the dresses you wore yesterday," replied Aunt Sarah; +"but for all that you shall wear a very pretty little frock. I have +got a blue one for you with white wings. What do you say to that?" + +"B'ue, with white wings?" echoed Diana. "It sounds pwetty; but I must +have a b'ack bow, p'ease, woman, 'cos our mother has gone away to the +angels, you underland; and when mothers go to the angels little girls +wear b'ack bows--at least, that's what Iris says. Oh, I say, Orion," +suddenly concluded Diana; "what is we to do without Iris? She is our +little mother now. You underland what I mean; doesn't you, Orion?" + +The only answer Orion made was to fling himself flat down on the floor +and begin to howl with all his might. + +"You had best not do that, young sir," said Aunt Sarah, "for if Uncle +Ben hears he'll be awful angry. He is a terrible man when he's +angered. It's only right I should tell you the solemn truth, you poor +little kids." + +"We isn't kids; we is sildrens," said Diana. + +"Well, you poor little children, then. Now, young master, if you'll +take my advice, you'll do exactly what I tell you. I'm going to be a +friend to you and to your little sister. I'll give you, by hook or by +crook, the very best food I can get, and the prettiest dresses to +wear, and I'll see that my husband, Ben Holt, aint rough to you, and +I'll see, also, that Molly and Kitty and Susan, the circus girls, are +kind to you, and that Tom, the clown, behaves as he ought; but I can +do nothing if you won't obey me. And if you begin by angering Uncle +Ben, why, it'll be all up with you, my little dears." + +"I don't know what you mean by all up," answered Diana, her eyes +sparkling brightly; "and what's more, I don't care. But I'd like to +know if you has a weal live clown about, 'cos I like clowns and I love +pant'mimes. I went to a pant'mime 'fore mother was took to the +angels." + +"Our show is something like a pantomime, and yet it's different," +replied Aunt Sarah. "Now then, missy, stop talking, for we has no time +to waste. Come over here and let me put this nice stuff on your face. +It won't hurt you one little bit--it's just to make you look a little +browner than you do now, you and little master. Now, come along here, +and let me do it at once. Afterwards, I'll dress you in real pretty +things. You, little missy, shall wear some of my own child's +clothes--the little Rachel what died. My heart broke when she died, +missy, and if I didn't mean to be real kind to you I wouldn't put her +pretty little dress on you, that I wouldn't." + +Orion stepped back in some alarm when he saw the woman stirring +something very brown and ugly in a tin can. + +"I don't want that horrid stuff on my face," he said. + +"But you must have it, master; if you don't, Uncle Ben will use you +dreadful," said the woman. "Now, missy, tell your little brother to be +guided by me. If he don't do what I tell 'im he'll suffer, and I won't +be able to help either of you." + +"Don't be silly, Orion," said Diana. "What do a little bwown stuff +matter? And Aunt Sawah's wather a nice sort of woman. I'll do what you +wish, Aunt Sawah." She came up as she spoke, pushed her black, tangled +hair away from her charming little face, and allowed Aunt Sarah to +cover it with the walnut juice. "It's sort of sticky, and it don't +smell nice," said the little girl; "but I spects you can't help it. I +spects you is kind about your heart; isn't you?" + +"Yes, my little dear; I try to be," said the woman. "Now, call your +brother over, and let me dye his face and neck and little hands." + +"Come 'long, Orion," said Diana; "don't be silly." + +"You do look so ugly, Diana," answered Orion. + +"Well, what do it matter?" said Diana. "I has to p'ease Aunt Sawah; +she's a nice sort of a woman. I wather like her." + +Orion, who had always submitted to Diana, submitted again now as a +matter of course. The walnut dye was not pleasant; he felt quite +sticky and uncomfortable, but he allowed it to cover his little face +and his white neck and hands. + +The dye dried very quickly, and the children looked as like two +gypsies as possible when they surveyed one another. + +"Now, I'm going to fetch the clothes," said Aunt Sarah. + +She left the room, returning in a very few moments with a pretty +spangled suit of knickerbockers, which she put on Orion, and which +quite enchanted him. + +"If you are a good boy," she continued, "you won't dislike the life +with us. I wonder if you are fond of horses?" + +"Horses!" said Orion, his eyes sparkling. "Rather!" + +"Well, Uncle Ben will teach you to ride, and to jump, and to do all +kinds of things. Now, just stand back, and let me dress little missy, +for Ben is waiting to begin the rehearsal. Missy, you let me put on +your dress." + +Diana was only too willing to be attired in a flimsy skirt of white +tarlatan, which stuck out from her little figure; she also wore wings +on her shoulders, and her black hair was rendered gay with bows of +crimson ribbon. She felt quite excited and pleased with herself. + +"I spects I look awfu' pwetty," she said. "I'd like to see my own self +in a looking-glass. Has you got a looking-glass in your pocket, Aunt +Sawah?" + +"Yes, dear; a small one." + +Aunt Sarah whipped her hand into a deep pocket and took out a glass. +Diana surveyed herself critically in its depths. + +"I like my dwess," she said, "but I don't like this howid bwown stuff +on my face." + +"Never mind, dear; bear it for the present. When we get down to the +southwest of England it shall all be taken off; but up here Uncle Ben +thinks it best for you both to have it on." + +"Why?" asked Diana. + +Aunt Sarah was puzzled for a moment. + +"'Cos it's wholesome," she said at last. + +"And isn't it wholesome in the southwest of England?" asked Diana. + +Aunt Sarah was puzzled how to reply. Diana, who was gazing at her very +intently, burst into a clear, childish laugh. + +"Do you know you _is_ a humbug?" she said. "You know perfect well why +you is using that. You want to hide us, that's why. What a silly old +Aunt Sawah you is!" + +Before Aunt Sarah could make a suitable reply, the loud voice of Uncle +Ben was heard in the distance. + +"Come, Sarah," he called, "bring those kids along. I can't be kept +waiting another minute." + +"Now then, dears," said Aunt Sarah, "I'll take you to the circus." + +"The circus!" cried Diana. "Is we going to a circus? I love 'em!" + +"Well, my dear, you are not only going to _see_ a circus, but you are +going soon to be part of a circus. Uncle Ben owns one; it's a sort of +traveling circus. He takes it about with him from one part of the +country to another. You'll be part of the circus in the future, little +miss." + +"And may I wide horses?" asked Diana. + +"Surely, my dear, and perhaps other animals as well. Oh, never fear! +you'll be taught all kinds of queer things. You'll have quite a nice +time if you keep on the buttered side of Uncle Ben." + +"The buttered side! That must be g'easy," said Diana. + +"Well, you keep on it, miss. If he's kind to you, why, all will be +right, and, for my part, I'll see you want for nothing." + +"I do believe," said Diana, her eyes sparkling; she turned as she +spoke and clasped one of Orion's hands--"I do weally b'lieve this is +better nor aunt's. Do come 'long, Orion; I always did love circuses." + +Aunt Sarah led the children down a long, narrow passage, and then +across an open court, until presently they found themselves inside the +entrance of a huge circular tent. Here seats were arranged for a crowd +of people, all of which were, of course, empty at present; but the +whole of the center of the tent was occupied by a wide arena covered +with sand. In the middle of this space stood Uncle Ben. He had a big +whip in his hand, and looked very fierce and terrible. + +"There you are at last, Sarah!" he called out. "Oh, and there are the +kids!" He stepped forward as he spoke. "Now, little missy," he said, +looking full at Diana, "what would you say if I was to put you on top +of a horse's back? You wouldn't be frightened, would you?" + +"No," replied Diana. + +"I don't believe you would. I believe you are a plucky little girl. +Well, I'd just as lief give you a lesson straight away, for you'll +have to take your part in the show in a week from now. We'll let her +ride round the arena on Greased Lightning; eh, Sarah?" + +"Oh, I wouldn't! Not on that 'orse," said the woman. She clasped her +hands imploringly together. "Remember, Ben," she continued, speaking +in a timorous voice, and her color coming and going, "remember that +Greased Lightning is a very wicious sort of 'orse, and this is only a +little child. Has you ever been on a 'orse's back afore, little love?" + +"Sometimes," replied Diana. "And my faver said when I got older he +would give me a horse of my own to wide. He said I was too young yet, +you know; but I aren't fwightened," she added. "I don't mind a bit +sitting on the back of G'eased Lightning. But what a funny name!" + +"Right you are!" said the man. "You shall have your ride. I can see +that you have plenty of pluck, young 'un. Come along, then, little +missy. Tom, you go and bring out Greased Lightning this minute." + +A tall lad, with red hair and a cast in one eye, now made his +appearance in the arena of the circus. At Uncle Ben's words he turned +abruptly, disappeared through a curtain, and a moment later +re-entered, leading a very graceful chestnut horse by a bridle. The +creature pawed the ground as it walked, and arched its stately neck. + +"You had best have a saddle, guv'nor," said the boy. + +"None of your sauce, Tom. The young 'un must learn to ride bare-back, +and at once. I'll walk round with her the first time. Now then, +missy." + +Diana was clapping her hands; her eyes were blazing with excitement. + +"It's kite 'licious," she said, jumping up and down. "I aren't +fwightened," she continued; "that aren't me." + +The next moment she was lifted on to the back of Greased Lightning. In +all probability the horse which bore that title had never carried +such a feather-weight as little Diana before. Uncle Ben began to lead +him round and round the circus. Diana sat perfectly upright; she did +not attempt even to clutch a hair of his mane. Uncle Ben praised her. + +"You are a plucky little missy," he said. "Why, you'll do fine. Now, +do you think you can stand on the horse?" + +"Course," replied Diana. "What's foots for, you silly man, if not to +stand? You is silly, Uncle Ben." + +"I never!" said Uncle Ben, bursting out laughing. "Well, missy, if I +am silly, you has got a lot of sauce. 'What's good for the goose is +good for the gander.'" + +"That sounds howid vulgar, and I don't underland," answered Diana, in +a dignified tone. "I'll stand on my two foots if you'll hold G'eased +Lightning k'ite still." + +"Woe! stay quiet this minute," said the man to the horse. The pretty +creature instantly obeyed, and little Diana, nothing loath, scrambled +on to her small feet. The horse moved gently forward, and the little +child managed to keep her balance. She went the entire round of the +circus two or three times in this position, and then Uncle Ben, saying +that she was a very fine little creature, and would answer his +purposes to a nicety, lifted her down in the height of good humor. + +"Take care of her," he said, bringing her back to Aunt Sarah; "there's +a fortune in her, little mite that she is. She need not do any more +to-day. Why, I'll have her trained in no time when we get down to the +west of England. She'll do her work beautiful, and will take the house +by storm. Now then, master, it's your turn. We must have a pair of +you, you know--a boy and a girl. It's the very thing to draw crowds in +the west." + +But alas! Orion, notwithstanding his brave name, was made of very +different stuff from his sister. He felt fear, where Diana, in all +truth, did not know the meaning of the word. He shivered visibly when +he was lifted on to Greased Lightning's back. Diana called out to him +in an encouraging and cheery voice. + +"Don't forget you is a giant," she said. "Think, of yous sword and +yous belt. Now then, gee up! pretty horse; I only wishes I was widing +you." + +"Come, young master, don't clutch the mane so hard," said Holt. "Hands +off, I say! Greased Lightning won't stand that kind of treatment." + +But the more the manager spoke the tighter did Orion grasp the black +mane of the chestnut horse. Greased Lightning began to paw the ground +and to show many signs of discomfort; whereupon Orion uttered a +piercing cry and began slipping backwards, towards the tail of the +beast. + +"Come," said the man; "get back to your seat this minute. I have a +whip in my hand, and it can sting; come, young sir!" + +"Don't you dare to stwike my bwother!" said Diana, running across the +arena. + +Some girls, who had just come in, and several men, all burst out +laughing. + +"You had best come back, miss; you had best not anger him," said a +fair-haired girl, stretching out her hand to the little child as she +spoke. + +"Anger him?" said Diana. "I doesn't know what you mean. Does you think +I are going to let Orion be hurted? Listen to me, man. You had best +let Orion jump off this morning, 'cos he's tired. I'll talk to him all +about widing to-morrow. Let him get down now, p'ease, big man." + +"Not until he has been twice round the circus," said Uncle Ben. "You +stand aside, missy, or Greased Lightning may tread on you." + +But Diana was not to be so easily restrained. She now flew up to Uncle +Ben and tried to pull his big whip from his hand. + +"You don't dare to stwike my bwother!" she repeated, her eyes +flashing. Her determined attitude, the fearlessness of her whole +little nature induced Uncle Ben to yield to her for the nonce. This he +did more, particularly as he saw that the little boy was really +incapable of keeping his seat another moment. + +"Well, then, look here, little miss," he said; "you has behaved very +well indeed yourself, and so I'll let the little chap off this +morning. Now you know, sir, it is 'cos of your sister, for she's a +plucky 'un; so you may go back to my wife. Here, Sarah; take the pair +of 'em. You can go and sit on one of them chairs over there, children, +and see us as we go through our rehearsal." + +The rest of the morning was a truly exciting, not to say breathless, +time to Diana. She had not an instant to regret her absence from Iris +and Apollo. The exploits, the feats performed by the three circus +girls, and by Tom the clown, to say nothing of the advent of the +elephant and of the donkey who could perform numberless tricks, and +finally, the performances of the troop of dogs, who seemed more human +than most human beings, all fascinated the little girl. Even Orion +forgot his terrors as he looked on; his cheeks flamed through their +walnut dye, and his dark eyes grew brighter than ever. + +When the rehearsal was at last over, the whole party rushed back to +their rooms, where a hasty meal was served; and little Diana sat +between two of the circus girls and was petted, and laughed at, and +made much of, and Orion kept close to Aunt Sarah, who took care that +he should have as many tit-bits as she could manage to secure for him. + +At three o'clock there was a public performance, but now neither Diana +nor Orion was allowed to be present. They found themselves shut up +once more in the ugly little room, where Mother Rodesia had first +taken them. From this place they could hear as a sort of distant echo +the shouts of the men and women who were performing, and the cheers of +the people who were looking on. + +At six o'clock the performance came to an end, and then, indeed, began +a fearful bustle and excitement. People were running here, there, and +everywhere, and, two hours later, the great vans were all packed, the +animals properly secured, and the party, with the exception of Aunt +Sarah, Diana, and Orion, had started _en route_ for the west of +England. + +"Why isn't we going with the others?" asked Diana. + +"'Cos the train is faster, little miss," answered Aunt Sarah. "And now +the cab is at the door, and, if you will jump in at once we will be at +the station in no time." + +"I calls it lovely," said Diana, turning to secure Orion's approval. +"I like it miles better nor lessons with Miss Wamsay nor being beated +by Aunt Jane. Only, course," she added, in a meditative voice, "I's +twuly, twuly sossy for Uncle William and Iris and Apollo." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE HEART OF THE LITTLE MOTHER. + + +It may seem almost impossible to believe that two little children +could be kidnaped in the England of to-day. Nevertheless, such was the +case. Mother Rodesia had managed her theft with great skill. The +gypsies had appeared unexpectedly in the Fairy Dell--no one knew they +were there, therefore no one looked for them. Having kidnaped the +children, Mother Rodesia took care immediately to bury their clothes, +and then she sold them to Ben Holt, the great circus manager, who took +them within a few hours right away to the southwest of England. The +little children had not accompanied the _troupe_, but had gone with +Aunt Sarah by train. There had been little fuss and no apparent +attempt at hiding the pair, therefore no one thought of looking for +them in the large southwestern town where Holt established his great +circus. + +It was the most popular time of the year for performing shows of all +sorts, and Ben Holt expected to make a considerable sum of money out +of the pretty and vivacious little pair. + +Meanwhile, the police were on their track; advertisements about them +were scattered all over the country--considerable rewards were +offered, and there was more than one nearly broken heart in the pretty +Rectory of Super-Ashton. + +Even Aunt Jane felt by no means herself. She would not own to having +done anything wrong, but she became wonderfully gentle to Iris and +Apollo. She was unremitting, too, in her efforts to recover the lost +children, and began to look quite peaky about the face and lined round +the mouth. + +As to Uncle William, he preached nothing but old sermons, finding it +beyond his powers to devote his attention to anything fresh or new. He +hated the study window where little Diana had lain in his arms--he +hated the memory of the whip which he had used over her. On one +occasion he even went the length of saying to his wife: + +"Jane, it was your doing--she was too spirited a child for the +treatment you subjected her to. She ought never to have been whipped. +But for you she would not have run away." + +This was a very terrible moment for Aunt Jane, and she was too much +cowed and stricken to reply a single word to her husband. He could not +help, notwithstanding his great anxiety, having a momentary sense of +pleasure when he found that he had got the upper hand of his clever +wife; but Aunt Jane had it out with the servants and the parishioners +afterwards, and so revenged herself after a fashion. + +As to Iris, a very sad change came over her. She grew thin and very +pale; she scarcely ate anything, and scarcely ever spoke. Even Apollo, +even little Ann quite failed to comfort her. She did not complain, but +she went about with a drooping look, somewhat like a little flower +which wants water. + +"Iris is not well," Miss Ramsay said one morning to Mrs. Dolman. "She +does not eat her food, and when I went into her bedroom last night I +found that she was wide awake, and had evidently been silently crying. +I think she ought to see a doctor!" + +"Dear, dear!" replied Mrs. Dolman. "Do you know, Miss Ramsay, I am +almost sorry I undertook the charge of the little Delaneys. They +certainly have turned out, as their poor father expressed it, a +handful. If Iris is really ill, I had better see her. Send her to me. +You don't suppose she is--fretting?" + +"Yes; of course she is fretting dreadfully," replied Miss Ramsay. "And +no wonder, poor little girl! For my part, I consider it perfectly +awful to contemplate the fate of those poor lost children." + +"Oh, they will be found--they are likely to return here any day," +replied Mrs. Dolman. "It is just like you, Miss Ramsay, to go to the +fair with things, and to imagine the very worst. Why, for instance, +should not some very kind people have found the children? Why must +they, as a matter of course, have fallen into the hands of cruel and +unprincipled folk? Some of the very sharpest detectives in Scotland +Yard are on their track. For my part, I have not the slightest doubt +that they will soon be brought back." + +Miss Ramsay uttered a sigh. + +"I will send Iris down to speak to you," she said. + +This conversation occurred between three and four weeks after little +Orion and Diana had disappeared. Mrs. Dolman was in her study. It was +a very ugly room, sparsely furnished. There was a large, old-fashioned +desk in the center of the room, and she was seated in an armchair in +front of it, busily engaged making up her different tradesmen's books, +when the door was softly opened and Iris came in. + +Mrs. Dolman had not had any special conversation with Iris since the +mysterious disappearance of the two younger children, and now, as she +raised her eyes and looked at her attentively, she was startled at +the great change in her appearance. The child was reduced almost to a +shadow. She was dressed in her heavy black, without a touch of +relieving white. Her lovely hair hung over her shoulders, and was +pushed back from her low brow, bringing into greater contrast the +small, pinched, white face, and the great brown eyes, which looked now +too big for the little countenance to which they belonged. + +"Come here, Iris," said Mrs. Dolman. She had always liked Iris the +best of the children. "Come and tell me what is the matter." + +Iris came slowly forward. + +"Miss Ramsay says that you do not eat and do not sleep. If that is the +case, I must send for the doctor to see you," continued Aunt Jane. + +"Yes, Aunt Jane," answered Iris. + +She hung her head listlessly. Mrs. Dolman put her arm round the +slender waist and drew the child close to her side. Iris submitted to +this embrace without in any way returning it. + +"And when you see the doctor he will, of course, order you a tonic, +and perhaps tell us to take you to the seaside. If that is the case, +we must do so, Iris--we must do our duty by you, whatever happens. It +would never do for you to be ill, you understand." + +"Yes, Aunt Jane," answered Iris; "that's what I think myself--it would +never do." + +"Then you will try to get well, dear? You will do exactly what the +doctor says?" + +"Yes, Aunt Jane." + +Mrs. Dolman looked earnestly into her little niece's face. + +"You know," she said, in a brisk voice, "I am, for my part, quite +certain that we shall get tidings of the lost children either to-day +or to-morrow. We are not leaving a stone unturned to get them back." + +Iris raised her delicate brows, and for a moment there came a flashing +light of hope into her eyes; but then it died out. She lowered her +lashes and did not speak. + +"You are pale, and your hands are hot," said Mrs. Dolman. + +"I feel hot," answered Iris, "and I am thirsty," she added. + +"Oh, come! this will never do," said Aunt Jane. "I shall just take you +away this minute to see the doctor." + +She rose impatiently as she spoke. The apathy which was over Iris +irritated her more than she could express. If the child had only burst +into tears, or even defied her as little Diana used to do, she felt +that she could comprehend matters a great deal better. + +"If we are quick, we may see Dr. Kent before he goes on his rounds," +she said. "Run upstairs at once, Iris, and fetch your hat." + +Iris immediately left the room. + +"The child looks as if something had stunned her," thought Mrs. Dolman +to herself. "I never saw such a queer expression on any little girl's +face. Now, I am quite certain if Philip or Conrad had been kidnaped, +that Lucy and Mary would be a great deal too sensible to act in this +silly way. The worst of it is, too, that there is nothing really to +lay hold of, for the child does not even complain--she simply suffers. +What am I to do? How am I to tell the children's father that two of +them have disappeared, and the eldest, his favorite, too, is very +ill?" + +Iris re-entered the room, with her sun-bonnet hanging on her arm. + +"Put it on, my dear, put it on; and brisk up a little," said Mrs. +Dolman. "There is no good in giving way to your feelings." + +"I never give way to them, Aunt Jane. I try to be patient," answered +Iris. + +Mrs. Dolman tied on her own bonnet with her usual vigor. She then took +one of the hot little hands in hers, and, a few moments later, the +aunt and niece were standing outside Dr. Kent's door in the pretty +little village street. + +Dr. Kent was at home. He was a young man, and a clever doctor, and he +gave Iris a good overhauling. He listened to her lungs and heart, put +several questions to her, was kind in his manner, and did not express +the least surprise when he heard that the little girl could neither +eat nor sleep. + +"I perfectly understand," he said. "And now, my dear, I hope soon to +have you as right as a trivet; but, in the meantime, I should like to +have a little talk with your aunt. Can you find your way into my +dining room? You have only to turn to the left when you leave this +room." + +"Thank you," answered Iris. She went to the door, opened it, and shut +it behind her. + +"Now, what do you think about her?" said Aunt Jane. "Out with the +truth, please, Dr. Kent. You know I never can stand any beating about +the bush." + +"There is nothing of the ordinary nature the matter with your little +niece," began the doctor. + +Mrs. Dolman raised her brows in surprise and indignation. + +"How can you say that?" she remarked. "The child looks seriously ill." + +"Please allow me to finish my speech. There is nothing the matter with +the child in the form of organic or any other disease; but just at +present there is such a severe strain on her mind that, if it is not +completely relieved, she is very likely to die." + +"Doctor! What a terrible thing to say!" + +"It is true. The child needs rousing--she is losing all interest in +life. She has been subjected to a terrible shock." + +"Of course she has," replied Mrs. Dolman; "but the extraordinary thing +is that a child of ten years of age should feel it so much." + +"It is not extraordinary in that sort of child," replied the doctor. +"Can you not see for yourself that she has a very delicate and a very +nervous organism. She has lately, too, lost her mother, has she not?" + +"Yes; and I believe the child was very fond of her; but, indeed, I may +as well say that I never saw anyone more sensible than little Iris +about that. She scarcely seemed to grieve at all. Of course, I dare +say she was very sorry, but she did not show it." + +"All the worse for her," answered Dr. Kent. "If she had given way +about her mother, and allowed her grief to get the upper hand, she +would not be so ill as she is now. Then came the second blow--the +extraordinary loss of the children." + +"Then you really think her very ill?" said Mrs. Dolman. "I would do +anything to save her, doctor. These four children were put into my +care by their father." + +"Where is the father now?" asked Dr. Kent. + +"He must have nearly reached the Himalayas by this time." + +"Is it possible for you to communicate with him?" + +"To say the truth, I have hesitated to do so. He suffered terribly at +the death of his wife. It would be fearful for him to learn that two +of the children are missing, and one very ill. I have waited, hoping +for better news." + +"You did wrong. He ought to know of this calamity. Each day that does +not give you tidings of the missing children lessens the chance of +your ever recovering them. I must say their disappearance is most +mysterious." + +"So it is," answered Aunt Jane suddenly. "And in my heart of hearts," +she added, "I am greatly alarmed." + +"Well, if I were you, I would send a cablegram to the address most +likely to find Mr. Delaney." + +"If you think it right." + +"I do. It is the only thing to do. He ought to come home immediately. +That little girl ought to have her father with her." + +"Then your opinion is that Iris is very ill?" + +"She is on her way to be very ill. At the same time, if her mind is +relieved, she will be well in a week. Under existing circumstances, +however, there seems but small chance of that. You ought to +communicate with the father, and if I were you I would let the child +do something herself--even if that something is useless--to try to +recover her lost brother and sister." + +"What do you mean? It really is impossible for the child to go over +the country looking for Orion and Diana. Oh, what trouble I brought +upon myself when I undertook the care of my brother's family!" + +"I am very sorry for you, Mrs. Dolman, but I must give you my true +opinion. Please act on my suggestion; I am sure you will not regret +it. Communicate with the father in the quickest way possible, urge him +to return to London without fail, and give little Iris something to do +which will occupy and satisfy her mind. In the meantime I will order +her a tonic, but medicines are not what she needs. She requires mind +rest, and nothing else will make her well." + +Mrs. Dolman left Dr. Kent's house, feeling very uncomfortable. She +took Iris home, was wonderfully gentle to her during the walk, and +sent her up to the schoolroom with a message to Miss Ramsay to say +that she was not to do any more lessons that morning. Having got rid +of Iris, she went immediately to have an interview with her husband in +his study. + +"Well, William," she said, "I own myself beaten." + +"My dear Jane--beaten? In what way?" + +"Here's a pretty mess," continued Mrs. Dolman; "Orion and Diana cannot +be found, and Dr. Kent says that Iris is going to be very ill." + +"Iris going to be ill?" repeated Mr. Dolman. "Has she caught anything +taking. If so, Jane, it would be our duty to separate the children +immediately." + +"Oh, nonsense, William! Where would she take a catching complaint in a +wholesome, well-sanitated rectory like this? Have you never heard of +nerve troubles?" + +Mr. Dolman opened his sleepy eyes and stared full at his wife. + +"My dear," he said, "I often thought that _you_ had never heard of +them. So you really believe in them at last?" + +"I am forced to when that pretty child is dying from the effects of +them." + +Mrs. Dolman then repeated to her husband all that Dr. Kent had said. + +"I cannot stand the responsibility any longer," she said. "I will send +a cablegram to David this very day. What will he think of me? Of +course he will never forgive me. In the meantime, William, have you +anything to propose about little Iris?" + +"Yes," answered Mr. Dolman. "There may not be much in my suggestion; +but the fact is, I feel dreadfully restless, sitting here day after +day, doing nothing." + +"William, what do you mean?" answered his wife. "Sitting here day +after day, doing nothing! Have you not your parish to attend to?" + +"Oh, I don't mean that--you attend to the parish, my love." + +"Thank you, William, for acknowledging that fact at last." + +"I frankly acknowledge it. Then, too, we have no sick poor in the +parish, and everything is really in a prosperous condition; but the +fact is, I hate sitting down to my comfortable meals, and lying down +at night on my comfortable bed, not knowing in what part of the world +dear, spirited little Diana may be. I don't think half so much about +the boy as little Diana." + +"You are like all the rest of your sex, William; you are taken by a +child because it happens to be a girl and has a pair of black eyes. +For my part, I never could bear little Diana." + +"Please don't say that now." + +"Oh, it is not that I am not sorry for her; of course, I am dreadfully +sorry, and I acknowledge--I do acknowledge--that I have been more or +less to blame. But now, please, come to the point--you always were +such a man for going round and round a subject." + +"Well, then," said Mr. Dolman, "this is it. The doctor wishes Iris to +be roused. Let me take both her and Apollo, and let us begin to look +for the lost children." + +"And do you suppose," answered Mrs. Dolman, with a laugh, "that you +will be more likely to find the children than the clever detectives +who are on their track?" + +"We can go to London and take a detective with us. Iris will at once +feel happier if she is doing something. The fact is this: I am certain +the inaction is killing her." + +"It is an extraordinary plan," said Mrs. Dolman; "but after all, if it +is the only way to keep Iris alive, I suppose we must consider it. +But, William, I am the suitable one to take Iris and Apollo about. +Indeed, why should Apollo go at all? He at least is in perfect +health." + +"The person to consider is Iris," said Mr. Dolman. "She will confide +in Apollo when she will not confide in anyone else; and I think, +Jane," he added, looking very strong and determined, "that she would +rather go with me than with you." Mrs. Dolman flushed. "You know, +Jane," continued her husband, "you have been a little hard on these +children." + +"Perhaps so," answered Mrs. Dolman, "and when I have tried to do my +duty, too. But, of course, Evangeline's children were likely to be +unmanageable; they had such extraordinary training when they were +babies. However, as matters stand, I have not a word to say." + +"Then, my dear, we will consider the thing arranged. We can easily get +John Burroughs to lend us one of his curates for Sunday, and you will +do all the rest. Now, shall I see Iris and submit the plan to her?" + +"An extraordinary plan it is," answered Mrs. Dolman; "but perhaps you +are right, William. At any rate, I have proved myself so completely in +the wrong that I am willing on this occasion to be guided by you." + +She rose from her seat, left the room, and went up to the schoolroom. + +"Iris," she said to the little girl, "I want you and Apollo to come +downstairs immediately." + +Iris sprang to her feet; she grew white to her lips. + +"Have you heard anything?" she asked. + +"No, my dear, nothing--nothing whatever; only your uncle wishes to +speak to you. Now, come at once, for he is not the sort of man to be +kept waiting." + +Mrs. Dolman left the room and the children followed her. When they +reached the study, Iris went straight up to her uncle. + +"What do you want with me, Uncle William?" she asked. + +"The fact is this," he answered, scarcely looking at her, and speaking +with great eagerness and emphasis for him; "you and I, Iris, have got +to do something, and there is not a moment to delay." + +A great flood of color filled Iris' cheeks, a new light darted into +her eyes. + +"Oh, yes, Uncle William," she said, panting as she spoke, "we have +been doing nothing too long. It has nearly killed me, Uncle William," +she added. + +"Then, my dear, we will just be our own detectives--you and I and +Apollo. We will start this very afternoon; we will look for the +children ourselves. Why, what is the matter, my dear; what is the +matter? What are you doing?" + +For little Iris had fallen on her knees, had caught her uncle's hand +in both of hers, and was pressing it frantically to her lips. + +"Oh, Uncle William," she said, "how can I thank you? I promised mother +the day she died that I would be a little mother to the others, and I +have failed, I have failed dreadfully, and it is killing me, Uncle +William. But oh, if I can find them again, and if you will really help +me, and if we do start to-day--oh, if this is true, then I am happy +again." + +"You observe, my dear Jane," said Mr. Dolman, "that my proposal seems +to be correct. Now, run off, Iris, and get Simpson to pack some +clothes for you and Apollo. We will leave Super-Ashton by the three +o'clock train." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +"A PIGMY I CALL HIM." + + +The seaside town of Madersley was crowded to excess. It was the height +of the summer season, and Holt's circus was doing a roaring trade. +There were two exhibitions daily, and every available corner in the +great tent was crammed to excess. The spectators said that they came +principally to see the little dark-eyed girl ride. For Diana had taken +to the life almost as kindly as a young duck takes to the water. She +had learned her part quickly, and in a very short time she could ride +even the most spirited horse. She was really almost destitute of fear, +and was even seen to laugh when she was put upon the back of a +buck-jumper, who did his utmost to toss her off. There were always men +or women close by to catch her if she did fail to go through any of +the rings, the large paper balloons, or the other obstructions put in +her way. Her piquant little face, the bold expression of her eyes, her +fearless manner, and the unmistakable look of babyhood about her, +roused the spectators to a frenzy of admiration. + +But though Diana did well and delighted Ben Holt, Orion by no means +followed her example. Put to the test, poor little Orion had little of +the real giant about him. He was an ordinary little boy, with pretty +black eyes and a good-humored, somewhat touching expression of face, +but Diana was anything but an ordinary girl. + +Orion, having slipped once or twice from the back of Greased +Lightning, became terribly afraid of the beast, and always turned +white to his little lips when he was going through his exercises. As a +rule, Ben Holt always trained the novices himself, and although he was +kind to Diana, he soon began to have a thorough contempt for little +Orion. + +"He's a peaky little chap," he said to his wife. "Why, he aint even +worth the twenty shillin's I paid for 'im. Now the little 'un--the +gal--there's a fortune in her; but the boy--I have no patience with +the boy." + +Meanwhile, he began to use rough language and threats to the child, +and once or twice he even touched the little fellow with his great +whip. On this occasion Orion lost every scrap of nerve he possessed, +and fell flat down upon the sanded floor of the arena, shivering and +crying painfully. Diana did not happen to be present. When she was by, +small child that she was, Uncle Ben never showed at his worst, and +Orion, looking round now in vain for his sister, gave himself up for +lost. + +"Now listen to me, you young villain," said the tyrant; "I'll force +you to do what I want. You get on Greased Lightning's back this very +minute." + +Little Orion struggled painfully to his feet. A good-natured girl, who +stood near, tried to say a word in his favor. + +"Don't you forget that he's very young, Ben Holt," she said. "It will +be all the worse for you if you are too hard on the little kid." + +"I'll thank you not to give me any of your sauce, Susan Jenkins," was +the angry reply. + +Susan Jenkins, a pretty, slight, fair-haired girl, who went by the +graceful name of Ariel in the circus programme, did not venture to say +anything further, but in her heart she resolved to give Diana a hint +of the true state of the case. + +Orion was once more lifted on Greased Lightning's back, and the +manager cracking his whip, the beautiful horse began to trot round and +round the arena. At first the creature went fairly quietly, and Orion +managed to keep his seat. His piteous white face, the black shadows +under his eyes, his little trembling hands were noticed, however, by +Susan. She kept near on purpose and tried to encourage him by smiles +and nods. When he passed close to her he heard her hearty voice +saying, "Well done, little chap! You jest stick on and you'll be as +right as a trivet." + +A strangled sob by way of answer rose in Orion's throat. Alas! he knew +only too well that he could not stick on. Louder and faster grew the +crack of the manager's whip, and faster and fleeter trotted Greased +Lightning. It was impossible for Orion to keep his seat; he had +nothing to cling to, nothing to hold on to. + +"You will have to do all this before the company to-morrow," called +out the manager; "and now, no more of that easy sitting still. You +jest scramble to your feet and _stand_ on the 'orse's back." + +"I can't! I'll be killed!" cried the child, whose face was white to +his very lips. + +Crack went the great whip. + +"Stand up this minute, or you'll have a taste of this about your +legs," said the man, in a brutal tone. + +In deadly fear the little fellow struggled to his feet; he looked +wildly round him, the horse trotted forward, the child fell on his +face and hands and clutched hold of the black mane. This enraged the +spirited beast, who began to dance and curvet about, and the next +moment, but for the speedy interference of Susan Jenkins, little Orion +would have measured his length upon the floor. Even as it was he was +hurt and shaken, and lay weeping and trembling in her arms. + +"Now, Susan, you jest listen to me," said Holt, in an enraged voice. +"I aint a-goin' to stand this sort of thing. That little chap has got +to learn his lesson or he don't stay here; he is not a patch on his +sister, but he shall learn his part. I has it all arranged that them +two children is to appear in public to-morrow, and the boy must help +the gal. The gal will do her work right well, but the boy must help +her. It's the look of the two, and they so young, that I reckon on to +fill the house. I'm determined that a mite of that sort shan't beat +me. He could have stood on the horse's back if he had had a mind. He +has disobeyed me and he shall be punished. You take 'im and lock 'im +up in the black cage." + +The black cage was a terrible place, in which some of the fiercer +animals were put from time to time to train them. It really consisted +of a huge box without windows, but with one or two small ventilating +shafts in the door. On rare occasions, when thoroughly enraged, the +manager had been known to lock a refractory member of the troupe up +there; but such a punishment had never been given to a child before. + +"Oh, no, Ben Holt! You can't mean that," said Susan. "Why, it'll +frighten him awful, and it do smell so bad of the last leopard." + +But for this answer the poor girl only got a crack of the whip round +her ankles. + +What might have really happened at the end is not known; but suddenly +at this juncture the swing door was flung open and little Diana +marched in. She held her head well back, and trotted boldly into the +center of the arena. + +"Dear, dear, what's all this fuss?" she cried out in her frank, hearty +voice. "Uncle Ben, is anybody a-vexing of you?" + +"Yes, my dear; that little brother of yours. You jest tell him to do +his duty." + +"Oh, Diana, Diana! he's killing me!" sobbed little Orion. He struggled +out of Susan's arms, flew to his sister, flung the whole weight of his +little body against her, and gave way to a fresh agony of howling and +weeping. + +Diana's black eyes flashed. + +"You stay k'iet. Orion; 'member you is a giant," she said, speaking in +a whisper to the boy. "I's here, and I'll look after you. You stay +k'iet. Now, Uncle Ben, what's all this?" + +"Only that silly boy won't ride Greased Lightning. He won't even stand +on the 'orse, let alone leap through the rings and the balloons." + +"Is that all?" said Diana, her eyes gleaming. "But I can do all that; +I can do all that beautiful. _Dear_ G'eased Lightning!" She unclasped +Orion's arms from her neck and trotted across the stage. She ran up to +the great chestnut and began to stroke its nose. The creature licked +her little hand and looked affectionately down at her small figure. + +"Uncle Ben," she said suddenly, "I isn't going to have Orion punished; +you isn't to do it; give him to me. You can't do anything with a +little sild like that if you fwighten him. Give him to me, Uncle Ben; +I'll manage him." + +"But what are you but a little child yourself?" said Uncle Ben. + +"Yes, but I is made different. Nothing fwightens me. I aren't afeared +of nothing, and I aren't afeared of you, Uncle Ben, so don't you begin +to think I is." + +"Never seed sech a child," said Uncle Ben, once more restored to good +humor. "Jest notice that perfect demon of a 'orse, how 'e takes to +'er. Never seed anything like it afore. Well, missy, and if you can +manage your brother I'm sure I'll be only too pleased, but jest you +remember this--you are both to go before the footlights to-morrow for +the public to see. I has never had that young 'un on the stage yet, +but he's to ride with you to-morrow." + +"So he shall, Uncle Ben; course you will, won't you, Orion?" + +"With you, Di," sobbed Orion; "if you are close to me, Di." + +"Course I'll be close to you, Orion. I is the gweat Diana. Well, Uncle +Ben, you isn't going to punish him. If you punish him he can't wide, +'cos he'll be ill. He's a giant." + +"A pigmy I call him," said Uncle Ben. + +"You talk silly," replied Diana; "he's a giant, 'cos mother said he +was, and on starful nights you can see him shining in the sky." + +"Bless you, child, don't take up any more of my time talking that +gibberish." + +"Well, he's not to be punished, 'cos I say he isn't. He's coming with +me now to his dinner. Come 'long, Orion, this minute; I has come to +fetch you. Good-by, Uncle Ben." + +Uncle Ben did not utter a word. Orion and Diana left the arena, hand +in hand. + +"What about the black cage now, mister?" said the circus girl, with a +sneer. + +"Hang me, if I know what the world's coming to!" said Uncle Ben, +scratching his head. "I can do nothing agen that little gal--she's the +'cutest, sharpest, bravest little cuss I ever come across." + +"She's got the upper hand of you, leastways," said Susan, with a +laugh; "and, for my part," she added, "I am right glad. I don't want +that pore little kid to be used hard." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +"LET'S PERTEND," SAID DIANA. + + +The circus was crowded that evening, but neither Diana nor Orion put +in an appearance. They were to make their grand _debut_ together on +the following day, for hitherto only Diana had ridden in public. They +were left now in the little room, all alone, but as they were together +that did not matter at all to them. Orion's weary head rested against +his sister's shoulder. Her stout little arm was flung round his waist; +he was fast asleep, but there were traces of tears on his pale cheeks. +It seemed a very long time now to little Orion since all the world had +altered for him. From being a beautiful place, full of lovely gardens, +and lovely homes, and kind people--from being full of snug little beds +to sleep in, and nice food to eat, and loving services of all +sorts--it had suddenly turned and shown its black face to the tenderly +nurtured little boy. Rough words were now his portion; he had a hard +bed to lie on, very insufficient and very poor food to eat, and in +addition to these things, blows and kicks were measured out to him +with a very liberal hand. Besides these fearful things, he was +expected to do what terrified him into the very core of his somewhat +timorous heart. Until he had been kidnaped by Mother Rodesia he had +never known that he was really timid, but now this side of his nature +had come to the fore. Day by day he grew more and more frightened, +and for the last fortnight he really lost his appetite, and his health +began to fail. He refused to eat the coarse and insufficient food, and +when he slept his sleep was broken by bad dreams. Little Diana knew +that there was something very wrong the matter, but she could not +quite tell what. She had a very energetic little brain, however, and +it was working now hard in Orion's behalf. + +The noise and shouts made by the circus people were distinctly audible +to the two little children. Orion raised his head, looked around him +with a terrified glance, and began to cry feebly. + +"Is Uncle Ben coming? Have I got to ride Greased Lightning? Di, are +you there? are you close to me?" + +"Course I is," answered Diana. "Orion, don't you be such a silly; I is +with you. There's nothing going to happen." + +"Nothing? Are you certain sure?" asked the child. + +"K'ite. I is with you, Orion; don't you be fwightened; there's nothing +going to happen." + +Orion leaned comfortably back against the fat little shoulder. + +"P'w'aps you is a bit hung'y," said Diana. "There's bwead and milk on +the table; Aunt Sawah left it. Shall we eat our supper afore we +talks?" + +"I can't eat," replied Orion. "I'm not a scrap hungry; I am never +hungry now. I wonder you can eat, Diana." + +"Course I can eat," replied Diana; "I aren't a silly. I has got to +wide G'eased Lightning. I love G'eased Lightning. Don't know why you +is fwightened of him." + +"But I am to ride Pole Star, and he's worse than Greased Lightning," +replied Orion. + +"Well, you listen to me," said Diana, speaking in a very firm and +authoritative voice. "See, I am eating up my supper, and you had best +have some with me. I'll sit by you on the floor, if you like, and feed +you same as if you was a baby." + +"But you are younger nor me," said Orion, with a little laugh; "seems, +though, as if you were much older." + +"Can't help that," answered Diana; "can't help feelin' old, whether we +is nor not. You is almost a baby--I is k'ite a big girl. Now, open +your mouth; I am going to pop in some food. Here's a vedy nice piece +of bwead." + +Orion did what Diana wished, but he could scarcely eat. Tears came +suddenly into his eyes. + +"I wish I was dead, like poor Rub-a-Dub," he said, after a pause; "I +wish I was lying in the beautiful garden, in the cemetery part with +Rub-a-Dub." + +"Oh, don't be such a silly!" said Diana. "You has a lot to do afore +you is deaded. Don't forget that you is a star and a giant." + +"No, that I aren't," said the child. "Oh, Di! if mother was here she +would be disappointed, for I am not a star, nor yet a giant. I'm just +the frightenest little boy in the world." + +"I has thought of a plan," said Diana very calmly. "You shan't wide +Pole Star to-morrow; you shall wide G'eased Lightning." + +"But I am nearly as frightened of one horse as the other." + +"I know G'eased Lightning k'ite well by this time," continued Diana, +"and if I are there he'll be gentle. You shall wide him, and I'll wide +Pole Star." + +"But I heard Uncle Ben say that I was to have the other horse." + +"Never you mind that. What does that si'nify? I'll manage. I'm not +fwightened of any horse that ever walked. If I are there, and if I +look at G'eased Lightning, he'll be as good as good can be, and you +must just keep looking at me, Orion, and do the things that I do. When +you see me standing on Pole Star you must stand on your two foots on +G'eased Lightning, and when we fly faster and faster you must still +keep looking at me, and when I jump through the wings you must do the +same, and then, Orion, then, why, it will be over. Now, bend down; I'm +going to whisper something to you." + +Orion bent his ear with deep interest. + +"You don't mean it?" he said, when Diana had said some very energetic +words in a low voice. + +"Yes, I does. Does I say things I doesn't mean? I means it twuly, +twuly. You wide G'eased Lightning, and then--then it'll all be over." + +"Oh, I really think I can, if you are _quite_ sure," said Orion. His +little face brightened up, two fever spots came into his cheeks; his +eyes shone. + +"Are you quite sure, Di?" he said. + +"Pos'tive certain. Now, lie down if you like, and go to s'eep." + +"I could eat a bit more supper," said Orion. "I'm kind of hungry now +that you has told me you is positive, Di." + +"All wight," answered Diana. "There's a teeny dwop of milk left. +Course I was hungry and thirsty, and my trof was dry, but you shall +drink up the last dwop of milk. Here now, isn't you better?" + +"I am really, truly," said Orion; "but are you quite certain it's +true, Di?" + +"K'ite. Do you think I would tell a lie? I is the _gweat_ Diana. You +is sort of forgetting, Orion." + +"No, I aren't," said Orion. "Oh, I am happy now!" + +"Well, lie down. I'll make up your bed, and you shall go to s'eep. We +has a lot to do to-morrow, hasn't we?" + +"Yes, a lot," answered Orion, with a little laugh. "Oh, Di! will they +let us?" + +"Course they'll let us," said Diana. "I has it all settled beautiful. +Now, go to s'eep, p'ease, Orion." + +Orion did very soon enter the land of dreams, but little Diana lay +broad awake. She was thinking hard, and her thoughts were wonderfully +sensible for such a baby. + +The performance at the circus had turned out a great success. Diana +had already appeared once or twice on Greased Lightning's back, but +Ben Holt now kept her out of sight on purpose. He had caused rumors to +be spread about her wonderful riding; his aim was to make people very +anxious to see her again. He wanted the public to have a sort of +craving for her. He hoped that when she finally appeared, dressed as +the great Diana, with the bow and arrows, and when little Orion +accompanied her with his girdle round his waist, and a sword in his +hand, and when the two children rode round and round the circus on the +fleetest horses in the company, that they would in very truth bring +down the house--in short, that crowds would come to see them. + +Uncle Ben was full of hope with regard to Diana, but he was by no +means so sure as far as Orion was concerned. If Orion would not play +his part well, and look what he was--one of the prettiest boys in +England, and one of the very youngest who had ever appeared in a +circus--why, half the effect would be lost. He began to perceive, +however, that cruelty had little or no effect on the child, and he was +inclined to allow that little genius, Diana, to manage him in her own +way. + +That night when the entertainment had come to an end, and Uncle Ben +was seated at his cozy supper, he was much surprised when the door of +the room was pushed suddenly open and a small girl, clad in a little +white nightdress, made her appearance. + +"Is my dear Uncle Ben anywhere about?" called out the clear little +voice. + +"My word! if that aint little Diana," said the man. "Come here this +minute, you little romp, and get on my knee." + +Diana flew up to him, climbed on his knee, put her arms round his +neck, and kissed him. + +"You's sort o' fond of me, I'm thinking," she said. + +"Yes, that I be, missy," he answered; "you are the 'cutest little gal +I ever seed, and you are fond of poor Uncle Ben, eh?" + +"It all apends," replied Diana. + +"Now what do you mean by that, missy?" + +"It all apends," she repeated. + +"Wife, can you understand her?" questioned the man. + +"I think she means that it all depends, Ben." + +"Oh, depends--on what now, my dear?" + +"On whether you is good to my bwother or not." + +"Oh, is that all? Well, I'll be good to 'im." + +"He's awfu' fwightened of you." + +"Well, he needn't be. If you'll manage him I won't say a word." + +"Won't you twuly? Then I love you," said Diana. "Now, listen to me--I +has been a-talking to him." + +"That's right, missy. Have a sip of my stout, won't you?" + +"No; I don't like it; it's black, nasty stuff. Put it away; I won't +touch it. Well, now, listen to me, Uncle Ben. It apends altogether on +whether you is good to Orion to-morrow or not whether he wides well, +or whether he wides badly, and what I think is this--" + +"Well, missy, you are a very wise little miss for your age." + +"What I think is this," repeated Diana. "Let Orion wide G'eased +Lightning and let me wide Pole Star." + +"But you can do anything with Greased Lightning," said the man. "Why, +the 'orse fairly loves you, and Pole Star's a rare and wicious sort of +beast." + +"I aren't fwightened; that aren't me," said Diana, in her usual proud, +confident tone. "Orion isn't to wide a wicious sort of beast." + +She slipped down from the man's knees and stood before him. + +"It aren't me to be fwightened of any horse," she said. "I never was +and I never will be." + +"I believe yer, miss," said Uncle Ben, gazing at her with great +admiration. + +"But Orion he is--he is awfu' fwightened of Pole Star, and he sha'n't +wide him. Now, G'eased Lightning, he'll do anything for me, and so +what I say is this--let Orion wide him, and if he begins to dance +about and get sort of fidgety, why, I'll stwoke him down. You know I +could pwactice widing a little on Pole Star in the morning." + +"To be sure you could, missy." + +"Oh, my dear Ben," said Aunt Sarah at that moment, "you are never +a-going to let either of them little kids ride a 'orse like Pole +Star?" + +"You let me manage my own affairs," said the man, scowling angrily. + +"Well, I call it a shame," answered the woman. + +"Poor Aunt Sawah! you needn't be fwightened," said Diana. "I is never +fwightened; that aren't me. I'll wide Pole Star, and Orion, he'll wide +G'eased Lightning, _only_--now, Uncle Ben, is you listening?" + +"Yes, to be sure I am, missy," said Uncle Ben, taking another deep +draught from his big glass of stout. "What's the 'only,' little miss?" + +"Let's pertend," said Diana. + +"Pretend what, missy?" + +"That after Orion has done it, after he has wode G'eased Lightning, he +may go 'way." + +"Go away, missy?" + +"Yes, let's pertend it. If he thinks he's going away after he has done +it, why, there's nothing he won't twy to do, 'cos, you see, he's +longing to go. Let's say this to him: 'Orion, you's good boy, you's +darlin' boy, and when you has done what I want you to do, you shall go +way'--then he'll do it beaut'ful." + +"But he aint a-going," said the man, "he's my property. I has bought +him; I has bought you both. You are sort of slaves to me." + +"No, I aren't a slave to nobody," said Diana, whose fierce little +blood could not brook this word. + +"Well, you are a very good little gal, and so I am to pretend to Orion +that he's going away; but now, when I don't mean him to go, that seems +sort of cruel." + +"Oh, you leave it to me!" said Diana; "let him think he's going away +and I'll manage. Tell Susan to tell him, and tell Aunt Sawah to tell +him, and you tell him, and I'll tell him, and then he'll be as good as +good, and as bwave--as bwave as a big giant." + +"Well, my dear, manage it your own way," said Uncle Ben; "but, all the +same, it seems a shame. I aint what's called a very soft sort of man, +but it seems a shame to deceive a little kid; only you manage it your +own way, little missy." + +"I'll manage it my own way," echoed Diana. "I'm awfu' 'bliged." + +She tripped gayly out of the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +POLE STAR. + + +The next day, at an early hour, the different performers had a grand +rehearsal of their parts. It was a dress rehearsal. Holt was in high +spirits, and Aunt Sarah, who stood just in front of the circus, petted +and encouraged both Diana and Orion as much as possible. Orion felt +shaky and looked very white, but the delicious thought that, after he +had gone through those few minutes of agony, he might really be free +to run away, to leave the dreadful, terrible circus forever, sustained +him wonderfully. Diana had assured him that this could be managed. She +had told him that Uncle Ben had promised that if he was a brave boy +and sat well on Greased Lightning, and stood up when necessary, and, +in short, went through the ordeal set him to do, without a murmur, he +should be allowed to leave the circus that evening. It mattered +nothing at all to little Orion that he did not know where he was to +go, that he was a penniless and very small, very ignorant boy. The one +object on which all his hopes were centered was the desire to get away +from Uncle Ben and the terrible horses which he was forced to ride. + +"Now, 'member, you is to be bwave," said Diana; "you isn't to be +fwightened. If you's fwightened, Uncle Ben won't let you go. You just +be as bwave as possible, and never mind nobody. Now, then, it's your +turn. Come 'long." + +Orion looked charming in his pretty dress. He wore a little sky-blue +tunic, with small, tight knickers of white; his little legs and feet +were bare, round his waist was a crimson girdle, and at his side was +attached a toy sword. + +Diana wore a silk skirt and tights, her curling black hair fell partly +over her forehead; her bold, black eyes were full of a strange mixture +of frolic, affection, and defiance. She looked the personification of +healthy life and courageous fire. In her hand she held the bow of +Diana, and round her neck was slung a couple of arrows. She was a +wonderfully graceful child in all her movements, and looked charming +in her picturesque dress. + +The call for the children came, and the two bounded on the stage. The +moment they did so, Diana ran up to Uncle Ben and took hold of the +great whip which he carried. + +"You must let me do it my own way," she said; "you have pwomised. +Orion won't be bwave boy if I don't manage him. Give me that whip." + +"Oh, but I say, little missy----" + +"Give me that whip," repeated Diana, flashing her eyes up at the man. +"I is the gweat Diana and I order you. Give me the whip; I'll slash +it; I know how. Ah, here comes G'eased Lightning. Come 'long, you +beauty; come 'long, you darlin'." + +Diana ran fearlessly up to the horse, fondled its nose, and looked +into its eyes; the creature stood perfectly still, bent its graceful +head, and licked her little hand. + +"And it's a perfect brute to everyone else," thought Uncle Ben to +himself, but this time he did not utter a word. + +The horse stood perfectly motionless until little Orion was mounted on +its back. + +"Now, G'eased Lightning, you has got to be a good horse," said Diana, +speaking to him in a confiding voice. "You isn't to fwighten Orion; +'member he's a giant, and it's a gweat honor for you to carry him, +'cos most times he lives up in the stars." + +"Come, missy, we have no time for that sort of nonsense," said Uncle +Ben, who began to get impatient. "Give me back my whip." + +"No; I is going to slash the whip. Come, G'eased Lightning; twot, +twot, p'ease." + +The horse began to amble gently forward. Little Diana went and stood +by Uncle Ben's side. + +"I's managing," she said; "you shall have whip to-night; but I's +managing now." + +The other performers stood round in breathless silence. Orion kept his +seat manfully. Greased Lightning was as gentle as a lamb. + +"Good boy!" called out Diana; "vedy good little boy. Good horse, +G'eased Lightning! you is a vedy good horse. Now then, go faster." +Diana gave the whip a crack. + +The horse looked at her out of his big, intelligent eyes, and began to +trot, but still very gently, round and round the circus. + +"Good boy," repeated Diana; "good horse! Now then, Orion, get up on to +yous two foots; don't be fwightened. 'Member what will happen when +it's over. Get up on to yous foots this minute." + +Poor little Orion scrambled in deadly terror on to his small feet; but +the horse still went swift and smooth, neither budging nor turning to +the right or the left. Diana once again cracked her whip. He went +faster and faster. Orion began to lose his fear; he even laughed with +excitement; the rose bloom came out on his delicate little face. The +terrible hoops were brought, and the child made a manful effort to get +through them. Diana cracked her whip and called out and encouraged +him, and finally brought him successfully through the ordeal. He was +taken off the stage wet with perspiration, and trembling all over, but +at the same time he had a wild sort of triumph in his little heart. + +"I did it well; didn't I, Aunt Sarah?" he said. + +"You did it splendidly, my little love," said Aunt Sarah; "but I never +did see a little gal like your sister. Oh, merciful Heavens! that man +aint never a-going to let her ride Pole Star!" + +A black horse of immense strength and size was now brought upon the +stage. This horse seemed to paw the air as he walked; his eyes were +bloodshot and full of a dangerous light. + +"Remember it's your own fault, missy," said Uncle Ben; "this aint the +'orse I'd give you. I don't want any harm to come to you; but if you +insist on that little chap, that aint a patch on you, riding Greased +Lightning, why, there aint nothing for it but for you to ride Pole +Star." + +"You don't 'uppose I's fwightened of Pole Star? Why, he's a weal +beauty," said Diana. + +"He's the----" The man arrested the words on his lips. + +Diana had thrown down her whip and rushed across the stage. With just +the same fearless confidence as, half an hour before, she had gone up +to Greased Lightning--she now approached Pole Star. + +"You's pwetty, you's a darlin'," she said. She held out her tiny +brown hand. "Give me a bit of sugar, somebody," she demanded. + +A girl who stood near ran away to fetch a lump. The child offered it +to the horse. He looked at her, pawed the ground restlessly, and then, +stooping, licked the sugar off her hand as tenderly as if he were a +kitten. + +"Well, I never!" said Uncle Ben, breathing a great sigh of relief. + +"It's a beauty horse," repeated Diana; "I like it better nor G'eased +Lightning. Pole Star, I's going to wide you; you's a dear, good +horse." She stroked the creature's nose--the fierce eyes grew +gentle--a moment later the child was mounted on its back. + +"Now, gee up, gee up!" called Diana. "P'ease, Uncle Ben, don't cwack +your whip; I can manage Pole Star." She pulled at the reins, and the +creature began, at first gently and then more rapidly, to run round +and round the stage. After all, notwithstanding her bravery, it was an +ordeal, for Pole Star could run double as fast as Greased Lightning. +Soon, from running he seemed to take to flying, and little Diana +gasped and lost her breath; but she sat firm as a statue, and never +touched a hair of the creature's mane. + +"Now, Pole Star," she called out, when the horse had stopped for want +of breath; "I's going to stand on you, and you must be vedy good." She +patted the animal on its head; then she scrambled to her feet, and, +holding the reins taut, stood firm as an arrow, while the creature +once more flew round the stage. When her ride was over she had won the +applause of the whole house. + +After this Diana and Orion were taken away to rest until the evening. +They were given the best food and a great deal of petting from Aunt +Sarah. As to Diana, she was in excellent spirits. + +"Oh, please, Di; nothing will make you stop, nothing will make you +break your word?" said little Orion once to her. + +"What I pwomise I do," replied Diana, with dignity. + +And so the hours flew by, and at last the time arrived when the +children were to appear before the footlights. + +The huge circus tent was packed to the highest gallery. There was, in +short, not standing room in the audience part of the house. Uncle Ben, +in the highest spirits, was darting here and there behind the wings, +giving directions, gesticulating, ordering, rearranging. Little Diana +flew up to him and took his hand. + +"What is you 'cited about?" she asked. "Is you fwightened 'bout +anything?" + +"No, little gal, no--that is, provided you and your brother do your +parts well." + +"We has pwomised," said Diana, with great firmness; "you needn't be +fwightened; we has pwomised." + +The children were to appear as the last item of the first part of the +performance. Uncle Ben felt that on them really turned the success of +the evening. At last the crucial moment arrived. Two beautiful horses +were led into the circus, and immediately afterwards little Diana, +holding Orion by the hand, skipped on to the stage. She came lightly +forward, almost up to the footlights, dropped a somewhat pert little +courtesy, turned round, and, taking Orion's hand, danced up to where +the two horses were impatiently pawing the ground. Uncle Ben, with +his big whip in his hand, dressed in evening clothes, was standing at +one side. A man came forward to help Diana to mount Pole Star--another +gave his hand to Orion. + +"'Member, Orion, you has pwomised, and it all apends," said Diana, in +a low, but very clear, voice. + +The little fellow looked at her. Her spirited action, the splendid +color in her cheeks, the glow of excitement in her great big eyes, +inspired him. He would not ride for those horrid people who were +crowding all the seats in front, those horrid, terrible people who +seemed to rise from the floor to the ceiling. He did not care anything +about those faces, those cruel, staring eyes, those smiling lips; but +he did care for Diana. He would ride his best for her. + +"Steady, G'eased Lightning," said the little girl; "you's to be good +horse, 'member. Now, Pole Star, beauty, darlin', do just what Diana +wants." + +The horses began to canter forward, going briskly and swiftly side by +side. Greased Lightning's coal-black eye was fixed upon Diana as she +sat on Pole Star's back. Pole Star felt the feather-weight of the hot +hand on his mane, the touch of the little feet somewhere near his +neck. There was a magnetic current of sympathy between the horse and +the child. + +"Think you's a giant," she said once to Orion, as she shot past him in +the race. + +The crowd, speechless with astonishment and delight for the first +moment or two, now began to clap and cheer loudly. Crack went Uncle +Ben's whip. The circus girls in the wings, the men, the clown, all +watched the little pair with beating hearts. Diana they felt sure of, +but what of little Orion? And yet a change had come over the child. +His face was no longer pale; some of Diana's spirit seemed to have +entered into his soul. + +The signal came for the pair to stand upon the bare, backs of their +horses. Little Orion scrambled as quickly and nimbly to his feet as +Diana herself. He caught the reins; crack again went the whip; the +horses flew round and round. Now and then Diana said a soft word to +Greased Lightning; now and then she stamped her small foot on Pole +Star's neck. Each movement, each glance of the child, seemed to thrill +through the willing beast. Incomprehensible as it may seem, both these +wild, half-tamed creatures loved her. They kept straight, veering +neither to left nor right, for her sake. + +The first part of the performance went safely through, but now came +the more difficult and dangerous time. The children were now not only +to ride the horses standing, but they were obliged to ride holding one +foot in the air, then to keep on their steeds standing on tiptoe, and +finally they had to spring through great rings made of tissue paper, +and leap again upon the horses as they galloped through. Diana +performed her task with unfailing exactness, always reaching the +horse's back at the right moment, springing up, sitting down, standing +first on one foot, then on the other, being apparently on wires, +afraid of nothing, triumphant through all. Orion made a gallant effort +to follow her example. In two minutes now the whole thing would be +over. + +"Don't be fwightened, Orion; time's nearly up," whispered the gay, +brave little voice in his ear. + +The horses flew, the children moved as if they were puppets, and all +might now have been well if at that moment Diana herself--Diana the +fearless, the brave, the unconquerable--had not slipped, slipped at +the very moment when she was springing through one of the rings. The +horse galloped on without her, and she lay prone upon the floor of the +circus. Uncle Ben rushed madly to the rescue, and before Orion's horse +had reached the spot he had caught the child in his arms. She was +stunned by the fall, and lay white as death in his embrace. The house +thought the fall had killed her, and there was a horrified murmur; but +Diana was only stunned. In a moment she raised her cheery little +voice. + +"I's awfu' sossy; I's all wight now," she said. "Where's Pole Star?" + +"Nay, little gal," said Uncle Ben, knowing well the temper of the +house, "you must do no more to-night. The company, I know, will excuse +you." + +Seating the child on his shoulder, and patting her hand +affectionately, as if he were her father, he brought little Diana to +the front. + +"I hope, ladies and gentlemen," he called out, "that you will excuse +this great lady huntress to-night. But if you wish her to take another +turn round on the back of the great Pole Star, she is willing to +comply." + +"No!" shouted voice after voice in the gallery; "let little missy off. +We'll come to see little missy another night. Three cheers for little +missy!" + +The next moment Diana and Orion found themselves at the back of the +stage. + +"Is it true, Di?" gasped Orion. "Is it all over?" + +"Yes; it's all over," answered little Diana. She leaned against the +wall. "I's a bit giddy," she said; "but I'll be all wight by and by." + +Aunt Sarah, with tears in her eyes, brought the child a restorative. + +"Drink this, little love," she said; "you'll soon be much better, I'm +sure." + +The curtain had fallen on the first half of the performance, and Uncle +Ben came up in a huge good humor. + +"Missy, I hope you aint hurt," he said. + +"Hurt?" answered Diana. "What do a fall matter? I's as wight as wain. +Didn't Orion do well, Uncle Ben?" + +"Yes, all things considerin'," said Uncle Ben. "We has a full house, +missy, and I'm very much obliged to you. Now you had best go straight +to bed. Sarah, take the kids off and give them a good supper, for they +has earned it." + +Aunt Sarah took Diana's hand and led her to their bedroom. + +"But aren't we going away now?" said Orion. + +Aunt Sarah sat down at the foot of one of the beds with a white face. + +"Come to me, little missy," she said to Diana. + +The child went to her. + +"I's k'ite well," she said, "only a little giddy. Why, Aunt Sawah, +you's kying." + +"I thought you were dead for a minute, my little miss; you that is the +image of my Rachel, what the good God took from me. I thought you were +dead, and it 'most broke my 'eart--oh, little missy, little darlin'!" + +"But, Diana, aren't we going away?" Said Orion. "You promised, and you +never broke your word." + +"I pwomised, and I never break my word," said Diana. "Yes, Orion, yes; +we is going away." + +"I declare," said Aunt Sarah, "I believe it would be the right thing +to do. It would kill me if you was killed, missy--and them 'orses!" + +"They is darlin's," interrupted Diana. + +"Well, go to sleep now, and I'll fetch some supper," said Aunt Sarah. + +She shut the door behind the children, returning in a few minutes with +bowls of bread and milk. Diana sat listlessly down on the nearest +bench. + +"I's awfu' s'eepy," she said. + +She did not quite know what was the matter with her; it seemed as if +something had suddenly knocked all her spirit away. She did not know +herself without the brave spirit which God had put into her little +breast. Orion gazed at her anxiously. + +"You do look queer," he said; "your eyes are bigger than ever, and +they stare so. What's the matter, Di?" + +"Nothing," said Diana. + +"Aren't you going to eat your supper?" + +"I's wather sick," said Diana; "I don't want to eat. You had best eat +all you can, Orion." + +"Yes, I had best," answered Orion, "'cos I won't have strength to run +away if I hasn't plenty of food." + +He began to eat up his own basin of bread and milk, and, as it was not +too large, he thought he might attack Diana's also; then he gave her +an anxious glance. She was sitting strangely still, her hands lying +idly in her lap, her eyes staring straight at the opposite wall. + +"'Member we is going away, and that you promised," he said. "Isn't it +time for us to be off?" + +"Yes, Orion," she answered. + +"Well, drink off this teeny drop of milk; it will strengthen you." He +brought the bowl to Diana, who sipped of a few spoonfuls; but then she +shook her head. + +"I's sick," she said; "it aren't good to eat when you is sick." + +"Well, do come now," said Orion. "If you don't go at once they will +find us; and you promised, and you never broke your word yet." + +"I underland," said Diana; "I would not bweak my word; that would be +mean." + +"Well, let us go now." + +Diana slipped off the little bench on which she had seated herself. +She was still in her circus dress; her little bow was hung at her +side, her arrow slung round her neck. Orion was also in his pretty +dress, with his tiny sword and belt, his blue jacket and little white +knickers. + +"Let's put on our shoes," he said; "we can't go far in bare feet." + +"We can't go far in bare foots," echoed Diana, in a dreary sort of +voice. "I's s'eepy. Shall we wun away in the morning, Orion?" + +"No; to-night! to-night!" he said, in terror. "You'll break your +promise if we don't go to-night." + +"All wight," she answered. + +He brought her shoes, slipped them on her feet, buttoned them, and put +on his own; then he took her hand in his. They opened the door of +their bedroom and ran down a long passage, at the end of which was +another door; it was on the latch. Orion opened it, and the little +children found themselves at the back of the stage. There were no +people about to see them, even Aunt Sarah was far away in one of the +wings. + +"There! we is safe," said Orion. "We has runned away, and we are +safe." + +"We has wunned away and we is safe," echoed Diana, in that dreary +little voice. "But, Orion, I's drefful s'eepy." + +"Never mind," said Orion; "we'll sleep in the fields." + +"We'll s'eep in the fields," echoed Diana, in a vague manner. + +Orion took her hand; they ran as fast as they could down a shady lane, +for the great circus tent had been put outside the town. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE MILKMAN. + + +It was a lovely summer's night, and as the children ran, Orion looked +up at the stars. + +"Why, it's a starful night!" he cried, in a joyful voice, "and there's +me. Do look at me, Di! There I am up in the sky, ever so big and +'portant." + +"So you is," said Diana, laughing and then checking herself. "Is it +far to----" + +"To where, Di?" + +"To the garding," said Diana; "to the dead-house where Rub-a-Dub is. +Let's go and sit on the little bench and see the dead 'uns--let's +count 'em; I wonder how many there is!" She stopped suddenly and gazed +around her. + +"What do you mean?" said Orion, in some alarm. "We are nowhere near +the garden. Don't you know where we are, Diana?" + +"Yes, I do now, course," she answered, with a laugh. "I think I was +dweaming; it's my head; it's keer. I want to s'eep awfu'." + +"Well, here are the fields," said Orion; "here's a beautiful green +field, and the moon is shining on it. Oh, and there's a hole in the +hedge; let's creep in." + +"Let's k'eep in," said Diana. + +They pushed their way through the hole and found themselves in a +clover field. The clover, slightly wet with dew, felt very refreshing +to their hot little feet. + +"Isn't this 'licious?" said Diana. "Let's lie down on the g'een +g'ass; let's s'eep here; I's awfu' s'eepy." + +"It's very near the circus," said Orion. "I'm rather frightened for +fear Uncle Ben will find us." + +"No, he won't; it's all wight," said Diana. + +She allowed her little brother to lead her as far as the hedge, and +then nothing would persuade her to go any further. Down on the damp +grass she flung herself, and then next moment was fast asleep. + +Orion, aged six, did not think it wrong for Diana to sleep on the wet +grass. The moon shone all over her bare little legs. She folded her +arms when she lay down, and now there was not a stir, nor a movement +from her. + +Far away, or at least it seemed far away to little Orion, he could see +the blinking lights of the town, and when he stood on tiptoe he could +also see the lights of the merry-go-rounds and the other +accompaniments of the great circus. He knew that he was dreadfully +near his tyrants, and he longed beyond words to awaken Diana and make +her go farther away; but she was asleep--dead tired. He never could +master her. There was nothing, therefore, but for him to lie down +also, close to her. + +Accordingly, he flung himself on the grass, laid his head on her +shoulder, nestling up close to her for warmth and protection, and in a +few moments he had also forgotten his fears, and was calmly living in +the blessed land of dreams. The great Orion overhead looked down on +his tiny namesake, and the little boy dreamt that he was a giant in +very truth, and that he and Diana were fighting their way through the +world. + +The children slept, and presently the creatures of the night came +out--the owls, and the bats, and the night moths--and looked with +wonder at the queer little pair lying prone amongst the green clover. +Thousands of wonderful night noises also began to awaken in all +directions--the merry chirp of the cricket, the whir of the bat on its +circling flight, the hum of the moths--but the children heard nothing, +although the creatures of the night were curious about these strange +little beings who, by good rights, ought not to be sharing their +kingdom. + +At last, just when the first peep of dawn began to tinge the east, +little Orion opened his eyes and rubbed them hard. With a great rush +memory returned to him. He had run away; he had ridden Greased +Lightning and had not fallen from his back; his terrible life in the +circus was at an end. Uncle Ben was nowhere near to chide him. He and +Diana had got off; but it was true that they had not put a great +distance between themselves and Uncle Ben. Perhaps Uncle Ben, who had +promised that he might go away if he did his part well, might change +his mind in the morning. It was most important that he and his sister +should go farther away as quickly as possible. + +Accordingly, he proceeded to wake Diana. Diana was very sound asleep +indeed. He could see her face distinctly, for the first faint return +of day was spreading a tender glow over it. She did not look pale; +there was a hot spot on either cheek--a spot of vivid rose. + +"I am cold enough," thought the little fellow, "but Diana seems warm. +Wake up, Di; wake up!" he said. "We has runned away, but we has not +run far enough. Wake up, Di, and let's go on." + +Diana did not stir at all at his first summons. He spoke loudly, +looking around him as he did so in some terror. A night owl, +preparing to go home, was seated on a tree near by. The owl looked at +Orion and hooted in a very melancholy manner. His voice seemed to say: + +"I never saw two greater little fools than you children in all my +life." + +Orion felt rather afraid of the owl. Having failed to awaken Diana by +words, he proceeded to shake her. This device succeeded. She opened +her great, big, sleepy eyes and stared around her in bewilderment. + +"So you is our little mother now, Iris?" she said. "All wight; I's +coming." + +She sat up on her grassy bed and rubbed her eyes, then stared at Orion +and burst out laughing. + +"What are you laughing at?" said Orion. "We are in awful danger here. +Uncle Ben may catch us any minute." + +"Who's Uncle Ben?" asked Diana. + +"Why, Di! how very queer you are. Don't you remember Uncle Ben, the +awful man who has the circus?" + +"No, I don't," said Diana. "Is it true that Rub-a-Dub's dead?" + +"Oh, Di! Rub-a-Dub died weeks ago. What does it matter about a mouse? +I'm frightened about Uncle Ben. If he catches us he'll change his +mind, perhaps, and I cannot ride Greased Lightning again. Don't speak +so queer, Di. Do rouse yourself. We must get out of this as fast as we +can." + +"As fast as we can," echoed Diana. "All wight, Orion; I's k'ite +sati'fied." + +"Well, come, then," said Orion; "get up." + +"I don't think I care to." + +"But we can't run away if you are lying there." + +"No more we can," said Diana. She laughed again. "Isn't it fun?" she +said. "And so Rub-a-Dub isn't dead after all?" + +"Yes; of course he is." + +"Orion, look!" said the child; "look!" + +"Look at what?" answered the little fellow. "Oh, Diana! don't say it's +Uncle Ben!" + +"I don't know nothing 'bout no Uncle Ben; but didn't you see something +flash there?--something white, just over there? I know who it was; it +was mother. Mother has gone to the angels, but she has come back. +Mother! mother! come here! Call her, Orion; call her, call her!" + +"Mother! mother!" said the little boy; "mother, come here!" + +But there was no answer to this cry, which, on the part of Orion at +least, was full of agony. No answer either from the heaven above or +the earth beneath. + +"It was a mistake, I s'pect," said Diana. "Mother is in heaven; she's +a beautiful angel, singing loud. Well, let's come 'long." She +staggered to her feet, and, supported by Orion, began to walk across +the field. "Let's go into the garding," she said. + +Poor little Orion was quite in despair. + +"We are miles from the garden," he said. "I think you have gone +silly." + +"S'pect I has," said Diana. "What fun!" + +"And you have got such a queer look on your face." + +"A k'eer look on my face?" repeated Diana. + +"Yes; and your eyes, they are ever so big; they frighten me." + +"My eyes k'ite fwighten you, poor little boy," said Diana. "Well, +let's wun; let's get to the garding. Why, it's the day mother went +away to the angels, and we has got no lessons. Where's Iris? I want +Iris." + +"So do I," said Orion. "Oh, Di! what is to become of us? You frighten +me." + +"K'ite fwighten poor little boy," echoed Diana. "I's sossy, but I +can't help it. I's giddy in my head. Does this way lead to garding, +Orion?" + +"No. What are we to do?" said Orion. "Oh, I am so frightened!" He +really was. Diana's strange behavior was more than he could +understand. "Oh, I'm so bitter hungry!" he cried. He flung himself on +the grass. + +Diana stood and looked at him with a puzzled expression on her face. + +"Why, you is a poor little boy," she said. "Now, if you'll take my +hand we'll go indoors, and Fortune will give us a lovely bekfus. Come, +Orion; don't be fwightened, poor little boy." + +They walked across the field. By this time the sun was up and the +place felt warm and dry. Little Orion, shivering in his queer circus +dress, was glad of this, and a faint degree of returning courage came +into his heart. + +Diana did not seem to feel anything at all. She walked along, singing +as she walked. + +"We's going to the dead-house," she said. "Rub-a-Dub's dead." + + "You'll never know fear any more, + Little dear; + Good-by, Rub-a-Dub." + +"Oh, don't Di! You make me feel so frightened," said Orion. "Why do +you talk like that? Can't you 'member nothing?" + +"Course I 'member," said Diana. "Rub-a-Dub's dead." + + "Never know fear, + Little dear; + Rub-a-Dub's dead." + +"Come this way," said Orion, taking her hand. + +She was quite willing to follow him, although she did not in the least +know where she was going. + +"S'pect I aren't well," she said at last. "Don't be fwightened, poor +little boy. S'pect I aren't k'ite well." + +"I's so hungry," moaned Orion. + +"Well, let's go into the house; let's have bekfus. Where's Fortune? +Come 'long, Orion; come 'long." + +They had reached the highroad now, and were walking on, Orion's arm +flung round Diana's waist. Suddenly, rattling round a corner of the +country road, came a man with a milk cart. He was a very +cheery-looking man with a fat face. He had bright blue eyes and a +kindly mouth. + +"Hullo!" he said, when he saw the two little children coming to meet +him. "Well, I never! And what may you two be doing out at this hour?" + +Diana gazed up at him. + +"I's going to the garding," she said. "I's to meet Iris in garding. We +is to 'cide whether it's to be a pwivate or a public funeral." + +"Bless us and save us!" said the man. + +"Don't mind her," said Orion; "she's not well. She fell off a horse +last night, and there's something gone wrong inside her head. I s'pect +something's cracked there. She's talking a lot of nonsense. We has +runned away, and we is desperate hungry. Can you give us a drink of +milk?" + +"Well, to be sure," said the man, smacking his lips as he spoke. "I +never saw anything like this afore, and never heard anything like it, +neither. Why, it's like a page out of a printed book. And so you has +run away, and you belong to the circus, I guess. Why, you are in your +circus dresses." + +"See my bow and arrow," said Diana. "I is the gweat Diana; I is the +gweatest huntwess in all the world." + +"To be sure; to be sure!" said the man. + +"And I am Orion," said the boy, seeing that Diana's words were having +a good effect. "You can watch me up in the sky on starful nights. I am +a great giant, and this is my girdle, and this is my sword." + +"I never heard anything so like a fairy tale afore," said the man. +"Are you sure you are human, you two little mites?" + +Diana took no notice of this. + +"I want to get into the garding," she said. "I want to lie down in the +garding; I want Iris; I want mother. Man, do you know that my mother +has gone away to the angels? She is playing a gold harp and singing +ever so loud; and once we had a little mouse, and it was called +Rub-a-Dub, and it's deaded. We gived it a public funeral." + +"Oh, do let us have some milk, and don't mind her!" said Orion. + +The man jumped down off the cart, and, turning a tap in the great big +can, poured out a glass of foaming milk. He gave it to Orion, who +drank it all off at the first draught. He then filled out a second +measure, which he gave to Diana. She took it, raised it to her lips, +took one or two sips, and then gave it to Orion. + +"There's something sick inside of me," she said. "I don't know what's +the matter; I isn't well." + +"She had a bad fall last night at the circus," said Orion. "She fell +from one of the rings. I s'pect something's cracked inside her head." + +"I s'pect something's c'acked inside my head," echoed Diana, looking +up piteously. "I want to go to the garding; I want to lie down." + +"Well, look here," said the man; "this is more than I can understand. +You had best, both of you, go back to the circus, and let the people +who has the charge of you see what's the matter." + +"No!" screamed Orion; "never! never!" + +He suddenly put wings to his little feet, and began to fly down the +road, away from the milkman. + +Diana stood quite still. + +"Aren't he silly little boy?" she said. "But he mustn't go back to +circus, milkman; it would kill him. I isn't able to wide to-day, 'cos +I's c'acked inside my head; and he mustn't wide without me, 'cos it +would kill him. Couldn't we go to your house, milkman, and rest there +for a bit?" + +"Well, to be sure; I never thought of that," said the man. "So you +shall, and welcome. Jump up beside me on the cart, missy." + +"I can't, 'cos my head's c'acked," said Diana. + +"Then I'll lift you up. Here, you sit there and lean against the big +milk can. Now, we'll set Peggy going, and she will soon overtake +little master." + +Diana laughed gleefully. + +"Do you know, you's an awfu' nice man?" she said. + +"I am glad you think so, missy." + +The man took the reins and Peggy started forward. They soon overtook +little Orion, who was lifted also into the milk cart. Then the milkman +turned swiftly round and carried the children back to a small house on +the outskirts of the town. When he got there he called out in a lusty +voice: + +"Hi, Bessie! are you within?" + +A woman with a smiling face came to the door. + +"Now, what in the world is the matter with you, Jonathan?" she +answered. + +"Only this, wife. I met the queerest little pair in all the world on +the road. Can't you take them in and give them rest for a bit? I +believe the little miss is hurt awful." + +"I's c'acked inside my head, but it don't matter," said Diana. + +The woman stared from the children to the man; then something in +Diana's face went straight to her heart. + +"Why, you poor little mite," she said, "come along this minute. Why, +Jonathan, don't you know her? Course it's the little missy that we +both saw in the circus last night. Didn't I see her when she fell from +the ring? Oh, poor little dear! poor little love!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +FORTUNE. + + +Uncle William took the children straight up to London. They spent the +night at a great big hotel, and in the morning he went alone to have a +long consultation with one of the best detectives in New Scotland +Yard. When he returned after this interview, Iris came to meet him +with a wise look on her face. + +"I know what to do," she exclaimed. + +"Well, then, my dear, it's more than I do," replied Uncle William. + +"It's the only thing," repeated Iris. "Let's go straight home." + +"Home? Do you mean to the Rectory? Why, we have just come from there." + +"I don't mean the Rectory. I mean our real home," answered Iris. +"Let's get back at once to Delaney Manor." + +"I don't see much use in that," answered Uncle William. + +"It's all a feel I have inside of me," replied Iris. "Often and often +I get that feel, and whenever I obey it things come right. I have a +feel now that I shall be nearer to Diana and to Orion in the old +garden than anywhere else. I always try to obey my feel. Perhaps it's +silly, but I can't help it. Do you ever get that sort of feel inside +of you, Uncle William?" + +"If I did," replied Uncle William, "your Aunt Jane would say that I +was the silliest old man she had ever come across." + +"But you aren't, you know. You are a right good sort," answered +Apollo, in a patronizing tone. + +"I am glad you think so, my boy," replied Uncle William. "Well, now," +he added, "I always did hate London, and in the middle of summer it +seems to me that it is wanting in air. I once heard a countryman say +that he believed people only breathed turn about in London, and it +really seems something like that this morning. The place is so close +and so used-up that there is not a breath anywhere; so, Iris, if you +have got that feel, and if you will promise not to tell your Aunt Jane +that _that_ is your reason for returning to the Manor, why, we may +just as well do so--only, I suppose, the place is all shut up." + +"Fortune, at any rate, is there," replied Iris; "and if anybody can +help us to find Diana and Orion, it's Fortune; for she had them, you +know, Uncle William, from the moment the angel brought them down from +heaven. She had to do for them and nurse them, and tend them from that +moment until Aunt Jane took them away. Oh, yes!" continued Iris; "if +there is a person who will help us to find them, it's Fortune." + +"She partakes of the strange names which seem to run in your family," +answered Uncle William. "But there, it is as good an idea as any +other, and we shall at least each of us have our proper number of +breaths at Delaney Manor. That certainly is in favor of the scheme." + +Accordingly, that very afternoon, Uncle William, Iris, and Apollo took +the train into Devonshire. They arrived at the Manor in the evening. +Nobody expected them, and the place looked, to Uncle William, at +least, very dull and desolate. But when Iris saw the quaint old +gateway, and when Apollo felt his feet once again upon the well-known +avenue, the sadness of heart which had oppressed both children seemed +to lift itself as if it had wings and fly right away. + +"Let's go to the garden this very instant," exclaimed Iris, looking at +her brother. + +They clasped each other's hands and, flying along the well-remembered +haunts, soon reached their favorite garden. + +"Oh, Apollo! I live; I breathe again," said Iris, panting as she +spoke. "Oh, I am happy once more!" + +"Let us see if anything has been injured while we were away," said +Apollo. "Oh, I wonder if anybody has watered our pretty gardens. I +planted a lot of mignonette the day before I went away. I wonder if it +has come up." + +The children wandered about the garden. The dead-house was now empty; +the four little gardens looked sadly the worse for want of watering +and general looking after. The cemetery, however, looked much as +usual; so also did the greenswards of grass, the roses, the different +summer flowers; and finally Iris and Apollo visited the little +summer-house, and seated themselves on their own chairs. + +"The garden has not run away," said Apollo. "That's a comfort. I'm +real glad of that." + +"It's exactly like the garden of Eden," said Iris, panting as she +spoke. "I don't think anybody," she continued, "could be naughty in +this garden." + +Apollo kicked his legs in a somewhat impatient manner. + +"I feel dreadfully hungry, Iris," he said. "Suppose we go to the house +now and have some supper." + +"Who is that coming down the walk?" said Iris. + +It was dusk by this time, and in the little summer-house all was dark; +but Iris, as she spoke, sprang to her feet, and the next moment found +herself clasped in Fortune's motherly arms. + +"My darling!" said the woman. "Why, it drives me near mad to see you +again. And now, what in the world is up with the two of you, and where +are the others? There's an elderly gentleman--a clergyman--in the +house, and he said I was to look for you here, and that you were going +to spend the night. What does it mean, Iris? Oh, my dear! I can't see +your face, for it is too dark; but you are very light. Why, you are no +weight at all, my honey." + +"I expect I'm rather worn out," replied Iris, in her old-fashioned +tone. "You know, Fortune, when mother went away she told me to be a +mother to the others, and--oh, Fortune, Fortune! I have failed, I have +failed." + +Iris' little arms were clasped tightly round her old nurse's neck; her +face was hidden against her bosom; her heavy sobs came thick and fast. + +"Why, my poor dear, you are exactly like a feather," said Fortune; "it +aint to be expected that a young thing like you could be a mother. But +what's gone wrong, dearie? what's gone wrong?" + +"They are lost. That's what has gone wrong," said Iris. "Orion and +Diana are lost, Fortune." + +"Sakes alive, child! stand up and speak proper," said Fortune. "Your +little brother and sister lost! Impossible; you are joking me, Iris, +and that aint fair, seeing I was with you since you drew the breath +of life." + +"Do you think I could joke upon such a subject?" said Iris. "You say I +am like a feather--that is because I have all wasted away from--from +fretting, from--from misery. Yes, Fortune, they are lost, and I wish I +were dead. I feel it here so dreadfully." The child pressed both her +hands against her heart. "I have not been a mother," she continued. +"Oh, Fortune! what is to be done?" + +"You jest sit down on my lap and stop talking nonsense," said Fortune. +"Why, you are trembling like an aspen. You jest rest yourself a bit +alongside o' me. Now then, Master Apollo, tell me the whole truth, +from beginning to end. The two children lost? Now, I don't believe it, +and that's a fact." + +"You'll have to believe it, Fortune," said Apollo, "for it's true. +They went out one day about a month ago--we think they must have gone +to some woods not far from that horrid Rectory, but nobody seems to +know for certain--and they just never came back. We missed them at +tea-time, and we began to look for 'em, and we went on looking from +that minute until now, and we have never found either of 'em. That's +about all. They are both quite lost. What I think," continued the +little boy, speaking in a wise tone, "is that Diana must have met the +great Diana of long ago, and gone right away with her, and perhaps +Orion has been turned into one of the stars that he's called after. I +don't really know what else to think," continued Apollo. + +"Fudge!" said Fortune. "Don't you waste your time talking any more +such arrant nonsense. Now, the two of you are as cold and shivery as +can be, and I doubt not, as hungry also. Come straight away to the +house. This thing has got to be inquired into." + +"Oh, Fortune! can you do anything?" asked Iris. + +"Can I do anything?" said Fortune. "I have got to find those blessed +children, or my name's not Fortune Squeers. Did your mother bring me +all the way from America to be of no use in an emergency like the +present? You needn't fret any more, Iris; nor you either, Apollo. Just +come right along to the house and have your cozy, warm supper, the two +of you, and then let me undress you and put you into your old little +beds, and I'll sleep in the room alongside of you, and in the morning +we'll see about getting back those two children. Lost, is it? Not a +bit of it. They are mislaid, if you like, but lost they aint--not +while Fortune is above ground." + +Fortune's strong words were of the greatest possible comfort to Iris. +It is true that Aunt Jane had told her somewhat the same, day by +day--Aunt Jane was also sure that the children were certain to be +found--but, as far as Iris could gather, she only spoke, and never did +anything to aid their recovery; for Iris had no faith in detectives, +nor secret police, nor any of the known dignitaries of the law. But +she put the greatest possible faith in the strong, cheery words of her +old nurse, and she returned to the house clasping Fortune's hand, and +feeling as if the worst of her troubles were at an end. + +The greater part of Delaney Manor was shut up, and Fortune and two +other old servants were left in charge; but very soon a comfortable +meal was spread for the travelers, a room was provided for Uncle +William, and Iris and Apollo slept once more in the dear old nursery. + +How very sound Iris did sleep that night! How happy she felt once +more! + +Fortune had dragged in her bed, and laid it on the floor close to the +little girl's side, and the sound of Fortune's snores was the sweetest +music Iris had listened to for a long time. + +"Fortune will find the others, and I can be a real mother once more," +she whispered over and over to herself. + +And so she slept sweetly and dreamed happily, and awoke in the morning +with color in her cheeks and hope in her eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +ON THE TRAIL. + + +It was on the very evening that Orion and Diana had left the great +circus that Uncle William and the two children arrived at Delaney +Manor, for Delaney Manor was only five miles distant from the +prosperous seaside town of Madersley. + +Now, Uncle Ben had very little idea, when he brought the two children +to the southwest of England, that he was really taking them back to +their native country. These things, however, are ordered, and the +wisest man in the world cannot go against the leadings of Providence. +Uncle Ben thought to hide the children from their best friends, +whereas, in reality, he was taking them home once more. + +But two little circus children might wander about at their own sweet +will at Madersley, and be heard nothing whatever of at Delaney Manor, +and these little children might never have been found, and this story +might have had a totally different ending, but for Fortune. + +When Fortune, however, lay down on her mattress by Iris' side, she +thought a great deal before she went to sleep. She thought, as she +expressed it to herself, all round the subject, to the right of it, +and to the left of it. She thought of it in its breadth, and she +thought of it in its height, and, having finally settled the matter to +her own satisfaction, she went to sleep, and soothed little Iris with +the comforting music of her snores. + +On the following morning she had an interview with Mr. Dolman. + +"I want to ask you a straight question, sir," she said. "What is it +the police are doing? It seems a mighty strange thing to me that two +little children should be lost in the middle of a civilized country +like England." + +"It seems a stranger thing to me," replied Uncle William. "I am +dreadfully puzzled over the whole matter. We have now four detectives +at work, but up to the present they have not got the slightest clew to +the children's whereabouts." + +"As like as not," said Fortune, "these two have been stolen by +gypsies." + +"We thought of that at once," said Uncle William. + +"Yes," interrupted Fortune, "and then, when you couldn't make the +thing fit, or find your clew, you dropped it. Now let me tell you, +sir, that aint our way in America. When we get the faintest ghost of a +clew we cling on to it as if it were grim death, and we don't let it +go, not for nobody. It's my belief that gypsies are at the bottom of +the matter, and why have not you and your detectives looked in every +gypsy encampment in the length and breadth of England?" + +"There were some gypsies in our neighborhood, only we did not know it +the first day," continued Mr. Dolman, "and their camp was of course +thoroughly examined, but no little people in the least resembling the +children were found there." + +"Then of course it goes without saying," continued Fortune, "that the +gypsies passed on the little dears to other folk. Now the question is, +What sort of folk would be interested in a little pair like them? +They was both young, both lissom, both handsome, and Miss Diana was +the bravest child I ever come across--maybe they was sold to someone +to train 'em to walk on the tight rope." + +Uncle William smiled indulgently. + +"The detectives would certainly have found that out by this time," he +said. "Besides, there were no traveling companies of any sort within a +radius of quite fifteen miles." + +"Very well," said Fortune; "then, perhaps, sir, you'll allow me to +manage things my own way. I aint a detective, but I'm bent on +detective work for the time being. I'm going straight off to Madersley +this morning. I'm going to have descriptions of those children printed +in very big characters, and posted all over Madersley." + +"And why specially all over Madersley?" asked Mr. Dolman. + +"'Cos Madersley is, so to speak, their native town," answered Fortune. +"Why, there aint a person in Madersley who don't know Delaney Manor; +and strangers, when they come there, drive out to see Delaney Manor as +they would any other big place, and folks at this time of year travel +from far to stay at Madersley, because the place is bracing and the +coast good for bathing. So you see, Mr. Dolman, there'll be lots of +people who will read my descriptions, and when they read 'em they'll +begin to talk about the children, and there's no saying what may +happen." + +"It doesn't sound a bad idea," said Mr. Dolman. + +"Bad!" repeated Fortune. "It's a first-rate idea; it's an American +idea. In America we never let the grass grow under our feet. I'm off +to Madersley this minute to see after those posters. Why, we post up +everything in America, every single thing that is lost, let alone +children, and we do it in big type, as big as they make it, and we put +the posters on the walls, and wherever there's a scrap of available +space. By your leave, sir, I'm off to Madersley now." + +Fortune was as good as her word. She not only went to Madersley and +interviewed some of the best printers in the place, but she also +visited the police station, and told the police to be on the lookout. + +"For the two youngest little Delaneys are missing," she said, "and +found they must be, if heaven and earth are moved to accomplish the +job." + +The superintendent of police remembered that he had already had notice +of two children being missing somewhere in the North of England, but +as he thought it extremely unlikely that such children would come to +the southwest, he had not troubled himself much about them. Fortune's +words, however, stimulated his zeal, and he promised to keep a sharp +lookout. The printer also was full of enthusiasm, and agreed to print +posters which should even satisfy Fortune. He certainly did his best; +and a day or two later flaming posters, in red and black ink, were +pasted up all over the little town. In these, Fortune had given a most +accurate description of little black-eyed Diana and Orion. Their ages +were mentioned, their sizes, the color also of their eyes and hair. + +The immediate effect of these posters was to frighten Uncle Ben Holt +considerably. He had been in a dreadful rage when first he discovered +that Diana and Orion had taken him at his word and had decamped. He +had been very cruel to every member of the troupe, and in especial to +his poor wife. He vowed, and vowed, loudly, that he would not leave a +stone unturned to find the children, and he also informed his wife +that he would start off the following morning to acquaint the police +with the fact that two of his troupe were missing. + +"Why," he said, "there's a fortune in that little gal; I must have the +little gal. I don't think nothing at all of the boy. She was quite the +most sperited little 'un I ever come across. Fact is, I would not lose +her for a fifty-pund note." + +For two days Uncle Ben stormed, and the performances at the circus +went languidly; but when, on the third morning, he saw the posters +about the town, and when one happened to be pasted up exactly opposite +his own circus, he began to cool down and to change his mind. + +"Where are you, Sarah?" he called out. + +His wife flew to answer the fierce summons of her lord and master. + +"I'm here, Ben," she answered. + +"'I'm here, Ben,'" he retorted, mimicking her tone. "There you are, +Sarah, without the sperit of a mouse. Have you seen, or have you not, +what's up all over the town?" + +"Yes, to be sure," replied Sarah Holt; "and it's a faithful +description of the children. Why, they are as like what that +description says of 'em as two peas, Ben." + +"I'm not saying they aint," snapped Ben, in a very indignant voice; +"but what I do want to know is this--what's to be done if they are +found and we are discovered to have bought 'em? We had all our plans +arranged, and we have taken this field for a fortnight; but, bad as +the loss will be to ourselves, it'll be better than the perlice +discovering that we had anything to do with them children. The fact is +this, Sarah: I'm going to pack our traps and be off out of this, +to-night at the latest." + +"Perhaps you are right, Ben," said the woman, in a very sad tone; +"only," she added, with a sigh, "if we are really going, may not I run +up to Delaney Manor and just give 'em a hint? It seems so dreadful to +me if anything should happen to them little kids, more particular to +little Diana, who was the mortal image of my Rachel who died." + +"If you do anything of the kind I'll kill you," roared the man. "Do +you want to see me locked up in prison for kidnaping children? No; we +must be out of this to-night, and I must lose the ten pund I paid for +the use of the field." + +By this time the news of the posters had spread not only through the +whole town, but amongst the members of Ben Holt's troupe. The men and +women in the troupe were all interested and excited, and whenever they +had a spare moment they used to run out to read the poster which +Fortune had been clever enough to dictate. + +Meanwhile, that good woman herself was by no means idle. + +"I have done something," she said to Iris, "and what I have done at +Madersley ought to have been done before now all over the length and +breadth of England. But now, Miss Iris, having put the posters up, it +doesn't mean that we are to be idle. We have got to do more. I have my +eye on that circus. They says it's a very pretty circus indeed, and +there are a lot of entertaining spectacles to be viewed there. Now, +what do you say to you and me and Mr. Dolman, if he likes to come, and +Master Apollo going this afternoon to see the performance?" + +"I don't think I much care," answered Iris. "I don't seem to take any +interest in anything just now." + +"Well, all the same, dear, I would like you to go. The best of us can +but take steps, and when we has taken the steps that Providence seems +to indicate, there's no use a-fretting ourselves into our graves. +Folks are coming to Madersley now from the length and breadth of +England, being such a pretty and such a favorite seaside resort. Let's +go to the circus this afternoon, Miss Iris, and see what is to be +seen." + +Iris could not follow Fortune's reasonings, but she submitted to her +desire to pay a visit to the traveling circus, and, accordingly, that +afternoon, the very last of Holt's stay at Madersley, two other little +Delaneys entered the large tent and took their places in the front +row. The children were accompanied both by Uncle William and Fortune. +The curtain rose almost immediately after their entrance, and the +performance began. + +For some reason or other it was sadly lacking in spirit, and a +neighbor who sat not far from Fortune began to remark on the fact. + +"I wouldn't have paid three shillings for my seat if I had known the +thing was so poor," she said. "Why, my husband was here last week and +said it was downright splendid. But I suppose that was owing to the +performances of the children." + +"The children?" inquired Fortune. "I see no children about." + +"Oh, well, there were two the other night--a little girl and boy; and +they said the girl rode splendidly, and was the life of the whole +thing. She was simply wonderful; she----" + +But here the curtain rose and the performance began anew. Fortune +longed to question her loquacious neighbor, but when she turned +presently to speak to her she found that she had left the tent. + +"Ho, ho!" thought the American woman to herself; "they had a boy and a +girl here, had they, and they aren't here no longer. Now I wonder if I +can strike that trail? Being from America it would be hard if I +didn't, and also if I didn't succeed." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +FOUND! + + +When the performance came to an end Fortune suggested to Uncle William +that he should go to the best hotel in the place, and give Iris and +Apollo some tea. Iris was loath to leave Fortune's side, but Fortune +bent down and whispered to her to obey. + +"I am on the trail," she said, "and I don't want to be interrupted. I +don't mind telling you, Iris, that the tea is all an excuse. You get +your uncle to take you to the hotel, and keep him there until I join +him. Now, go off this minute, like a good girl." + +Iris looked into Fortune's small, but honest, eyes, and felt once +again that her feel was leading her in the right direction. + +"Uncle William, I should like some tea very much," she said. + +"Well, then, my dear, if you want tea you shall have it," replied +Uncle William. + +He hailed a fly, and took the children immediately to the best hotel +in the town. + +When Fortune found herself alone she turned round, and gazed to right +and left of her. The great tent was almost empty, for the spectators +had all departed; a few, however, were standing in little groups +talking to one another. Fortune edged near one of these. It consisted +of a good-looking young man and two pretty girls. They were standing +opposite the poster which gave such a lifelike account of little +Diana and Orion. + +"I see you are reading that poster," said Fortune, "and maybe you're +interested?" + +"Why, of course we are," said one of the girls, turning and looking at +Fortune. + +"Now, I wonder," continued Fortune Squeers, "if it lies anywhere in +your power to give me a bit of help? Fact is, I'm interested in the +children described in that poster, and as I was sitting inside the +circus, I heard a neighbor say that the children belonging to your +show were not present. Being an American, I never lose any clews, and +there may be just the ghost of a chance that the children who were not +at the performance to-day are the very identical same children that +are written about in that there poster. Maybe you has heard of those +children--that is, if you are Madersley folk?" + +"Yes, yes; we are Madersley folk," said the young man, now turning and +speaking eagerly to Fortune. + +"Well, sir, do you know anything about the children who were not in +the circus to-day?" + +"I have heard of them, of course," said the man. "Don't you remember, +Amelia," he added, "when I came home last Saturday night how I told +you we must go and see Holt's circus, for he had got a little girl who +was riding wonderfully? I could not manage it on Saturday, and to-day, +it seems, she's off." + +"And he had a boy as well, hadn't he?" said Fortune. + +"Yes, there was talk of a boy; but he didn't seem to have the spirit +of his sister. Anyhow, they are neither of them playing to-day, and, +for my part, I thought the performance lame." + +"Well, that's my opinion," said Fortune. "No American would go the +length of the road to see anything so poor and common. And so the +children are off--but the children were on. Now, I wish to goodness I +could see those children." + +"I don't suppose they have anything to do with the lost children who +are spoken of in these posters," said the man. "They say they were +brown as gypsies, that the boy was timid, and the girl rode +wonderfully. She must have been trained for some time to ride as well +as she did." + +Not being able to get anything more out of these folks, Fortune turned +on her heel and wandered in another direction. She crossed the +entrance to the great tent, and made for the exit at the opposite side +of the field. In doing this she ran right up against a fair-haired, +rather pretty circus girl. + +"My dear," said Fortune, "you'll excuse my stopping to speak to you, +but will you tell me if I can get into the town by the gate yonder?" + +"It's rather a roundabout way," answered the girl, "but you can go, of +course. You will have to walk quite a way down a country lane, then +turn to your left, and it will bring you to the other side of the +town." + +"Fact is," continued Fortune, "I'm anxious to see some more of those +posters. I'm mighty took with them. They seem to describe a most +elegant little pair of children." + +The girl uttered a sigh and changed color. + +"Maybe, miss," said Fortune, fixing her with her keen eyes, "you can +tell me something about 'em? Now, if you could, and would, it would be +worth your while." + +"Oh, I know nothing at all," said the girl, in alarm. "What should I +know?" + +"How is it," continued Fortune, "that the little children belonging to +your circus were not present this afternoon? It seems a sort of +cheating of the public." + +"The little children belonging to our circus?" repeated the girl. "But +we hasn't no children." She turned very white now, and suddenly +leaving Fortune, ran as fast as ever she could in the direction of the +tent. + +Fortune followed her with her eyes. She saw a dark man peeping out. + +"That girl is frightened; she's hiding something," thought the woman. +"There's no doubt the trail strengthens, and I, being an +American--well, well, 'taint likely I'm going to leave off now. Yes, +hot grows the trail." + +Fortune pursued her way. She had just reached the gate of the opposite +exit of the field when a light hand was laid on her arm. Turning +quickly, she saw the same girl. + +"For the love of God, madam," she said, "don't you tell on me--it's as +much as my place is worth--he would kill me, if he knew--but we had +two little kids here, and that poster in front of the circus gives +their very description to a hair. But they have run away--they ran +away some days ago, and God in heaven only knows where they are now." + +"What were their names?" asked Fortune. + +"Diana was the name of the girl----" + +"Diana!" cried Fortune. "You need not tell me any more; and so it was +_you_ who stole 'em?" + +"I!" said the girl; "I had nothing to do with it. I was kind to 'em +when I could, and nothing would ever frighten Diana. But oh, please, +promise you won't tell on me--you won't let out that I said anything?" + +"No, my dear; I won't injure you," said Fortune; "but I must know +this: When was it they ran away?" + +"Three nights ago, madam; and Ben Holt, he's fairly wild at losing the +girl. He doesn't think anything at all about the boy, but the little +girl--why, she won us all, she was so plucky and fearless. But they +ran away three nights back, and no one knows where they are." + +"Don't keep me," said Fortune. "I'm much obliged to you; but don't +keep me now." + +She left the field where the tent was, and began to walk rapidly down +the lane. + +"Now, am I an American or am I not?" she thought. "Do I, or do I not, +want the police to interfere in this matter? Do I, or do I not, want +to find those children my very own self? They were here three nights +ago, and they have run away. What can be the meaning of it?" + +Fortune pressed her hand to her forehead. + +"Well, if there's one thing more evident than another." she muttered +after a pause, "it's this: I must not leave Madersley at present. I'll +just go to the hotel and tell Mr. Dolman that I am on the trail, and +that not all the coaxing and all the worriting in the world will get +me off it until I have found those children." + +No sooner had this resolve formed itself in Fortune's stalwart mind +than she hailed a fly and desired the man to drive her to the +Madersley Arms. When she reached the big hotel she was shown at once +into Mr. Dolman's presence. + +"Now, sir," she said; "I hope you have all had a good tea and enjoyed +it." + +"Very much, thank you," replied Uncle William, who really, if the +truth must be known, was having quite a delightful time--no Aunt Jane +to pull him up, no sermons to write, and a vast amount of variety to +occupy his mind. "We have enjoyed our tea, all of us," he said; "and +now, Fortune, would not you like a cup? Iris, my dear, we'll ring the +bell for some more hot water." + +"Thank you, sir" replied Fortune; "but I have no time to eat nor drink +at present. I am on the trail, and no one can get me off it." + +"Do you really mean that you have had news of the children?" + +"I have had very positive news. Why, they belonged to the circus we +went to see to-day! I had my suspicions as soon as ever I heard that +woman talking and saying that the performance was miserably poor +without the children. At that very instant it came right over me that +it was our little Miss Di who had made things so sparkling and +lively." + +"Oh, Fortune! let me go to her," cried Iris. "Is she there? Please, +Fortune, take me to her at once." + +"Now, Iris, love, that's just what I can't do. Patience has to be +exercised always in the matter of trails," continued Fortune; "and +when we hurry or flurry ourselves we lose the scent, and then we are +nowhere. The children did belong to the circus, for I had it from the +lips of one of the circus girls. Poor innocent lambs, to think of them +having anything to do with such a defiling place! But there they +were, and there they would not stay, for three nights ago, Iris, they +ran away, and nobody in the wide world knows where they are at the +present moment." + +"Well, and what do you propose to do?" said Mr. Dolman. "For my part, +I think the police----" + +"Excuse me, sir, this is a matter for me, not the police. I propose, +sir, to stay at Madersley until I bring the children back. I hope to +bring them back to-night." + +"To-night!" cried Iris. "Oh, Fortune! do you mean it?" + +"Yes, my love. I am an American, and I generally do what I say. I mean +to bring the little dears back to their rightful home to-night. And +now I'm off, and please expect me when you see me." + +Fortune turned abruptly and left the hotel. She walked down the High +Street. + +"Now," she said to herself, "why should not I just go and pay a visit +to my old friend and neighbor, Matty Bell. I want a woman that is a +gossip just now, and if there is a gossip in the whole of Madersley, +it's Matty Bell. As a rule, I can't abear her, but there are times +when a gossiping woman comes in handy; and Matty's neither very low +nor very high up in the world, so she's acquainted with all that goes +on in both circles, the high and the low. Yes, I'll go to Matty this +very moment; and as there's not any time to lose, I'll take a fly and +drive there." + +Fortune hailed the first fly she came across, and was quickly borne to +the abode of her old neighbor, Matty Bell. + +Matty Bell was a woman of about sixty years of age. At one time she +had been a servant at Delaney Manor, but having married, and then lost +her husband, she had set up in the laundry line. In that interesting +trade she had done a thriving business, and kept a comfortable roof +over her head. She had never had children, and consequently had plenty +of time to attend to her neighbors' affairs. + +"Well, to be sure, Fortune, and what brings you here?" she said, when +Fortune alighted from the fly. "Dear heart! I didn't know that you +would care to leave Delaney Manor with all the troubles about." + +"And what troubles do you mean now, Matty Bell?" said Fortune, as she +paid a shilling to the driver, and then tripped lightly into Matty's +little front parlor. + +"Why, the death of the poor missus, Heaven bless her memory! and then +the master going off to the other end of nobody knows where, and all +them blessed little children took from their home and carried--oh, we +needn't go into that, Fortune--it's been a trouble to you, and I see +it writ on your face." + +"You are right there, Matty," said Fortune; "it has been a bitter +trouble to me, and there's more behind, for the lady who took the +children had no right to interfere, not having a mother's heart in her +breast, for all that Providence granted her five babes of her own to +manage. What do you think she went and did, Matty? Why, lost two of +our children." + +"Lost two of 'em? Sakes alive! you don't say so!" replied Matty. "Have +a cup of tea, Fortune, do; I have it brewing lovely on the hob." + +"No, thank you," replied Fortune. "I'm in no mood for tea." + +"Well, then, do go on with your story, for it's mighty interesting." + +"It's simple enough," replied Fortune. "Two of the children are lost, +and now I have traced 'em to a circus in the town." + +"A circus here--what, Holt's?" said the woman. + +"No less. Why, Matty; you look queer yourself. Do you know anything?" + +"I know nothing for certain," said Matty. "I can only tell you--but +there, perhaps I had better not say--only will you excuse me for a +minute or two, Fortune?" + +"I'll excuse you, Matty, if you are on the trail of the children, but +if you aren't, you had better stay here and let me talk matters over. +You always were a fearful one for gossip, and perhaps you have picked +up news. Yes, I see you have--you have got something at the back of +your head this blessed minute, Matty Bell." + +"That I have," replied Mrs. Bell. "But please don't ask me a word +more, only let me get on my bonnet and cloak." + +Mrs. Bell left the room, and quickly returned dressed in her widow's +weeds, for though Bell had been dead for over ten years, his widow was +still faithful to his memory; she slipped a thick crepe veil over her +face, and went out, looking the very essence of respectability. She +was not more than twenty minutes away, and when she came back she +looked much excited. On each of her smooth, pasty cheeks might even be +seen a little flush of color, and her dull blue eyes were brighter +than their wont. + +"Fortune," she cried, "as there's a heaven above me, I've found 'em!" + +"Bless you, Matty; but where--where?" + +"Why, at no less a place than Jonathan Darling's." + +"Jonathan Darling? Who may he be?" + +"He's as honest a fellow, Fortune, as you can find in the whole of +Madersley--he drives a milk cart. He found the two little dears three +mornings ago, wandering about in their circus dresses, and he took 'em +home." + +"Well," said Fortune, "well--then _that's_ all right. It was a +trouble, but it's over, thank the good God. I could fall on my knees +this moment and offer up a prayer; that I could, Matty Bell." + +Fortune's small, twinkling eyes were full of tears; she caught her +neighbor's hand and wrung it hard. + +"And I bless you, Matty," she continued, "for you have put me on the +right trail. I'll never blame a gossiping neighbor again, never as +long as I live." + +"But you haven't heard me out to the end," said Matty, "for one of the +little 'uns is very ill. You have found 'em, it is true; but it isn't +all beer and skittles, Fortune Squeers." + +"One of the children ill?" said Fortune. + +"Yes; little Miss Diana. You come along and see her at once. They say +she fell on her head out of a ring at the circus, and she must have +hurt herself rather bad. Anyhow, she don't know a word she is saying, +poor little dear." + +When Fortune heard this news she shut up her mouth very tight, tied +her bonnet-strings, and followed her neighbor out of the house. + +The Darlings' humble little domicile happened to be in the next +street, and in less than five minutes Fortune was standing over little +Diana's bed. The child was tossing from side to side, her big eyes +were wide open; she was gazing straight before her, talking eagerly +and incessantly. + +"Is it to be a pwivate funeral?" she said, when Fortune entered the +room, and, falling on her knees, clasped the hot little hands in hers. + +"Oh, my little darling!" said the good woman, "and have I really found +you at last?" + +She sank down by the child and burst into more bitter tears than she +had even shed when Mrs. Delaney went away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE LITTLE MOTHER TO THE RESCUE. + + +Yes, the lost children were found, but little Diana was very ill. The +blow she had received on her head had developed into inflammation of +the brain. She was highly feverish, and did not in the least know what +she was saying. Fortune immediately made up her mind not to leave her. +After standing by her bedside for a minute or two, she went into the +next room and asked Mrs. Darling if she would take a fly and go with +little Orion to Delaney Manor. + +"You are going to your own home, my poor little boy," said the nurse, +"and please tell your uncle and Iris and Apollo that I am staying here +to look after Diana." + +The little boy was so excited at the prospect of being home once more +that he forgot any small anxieties which he had experienced with +regard to Diana. He started off, therefore, with Mrs. Darling in the +highest spirits, and Fortune returned to the bedside of the sick +child. Within a couple of hours after Orion's departure, Mr. Dolman +arrived in person. When he saw Diana he immediately insisted on the +best doctor in the place being sent for to see her. + +The medical man arrived; but, when he did so, he shook his head. + +"The child is dangerously ill," he said. "I could not hear of her +being moved at present. She must have absolute quiet and good +nursing." + +"I'm going to nurse her," said Fortune. + +"A properly trained nurse would be best," said the doctor. + +"I and no other am going to nurse her," repeated Fortune. + +She had taken off her bonnet and mantle and was seated quietly by the +bedside. No one could look more capable, more determined, than the +American woman did on this occasion. The doctor saw that he must give +way. + +"Haven't I done for her from the blessed moment when she was sent from +heaven into her mother's arms?" continued Fortune. "I shall nurse her +now, whether it's the will of the Almighty that she lives or dies." + +At these words, little Diana opened her great, black eyes. + + "And you'll never know fear + Any more, little dear," + +she said in a voice of intense satisfaction. Then she looked up at +Fortune, and raised her brow in a puzzled manner. + +"I aren't fwightened of G'eased Lightning," she said. A smile broke +over her little face, then the light of reason once more faded, and +she entered the dark region of delirium and danger. + +The doctor did all he could and Fortune did all she could, and +presently Aunt Jane appeared on the scene, and insisted on seeing the +child, and shook her head over her and cried a little privately; but, +in spite of all their efforts to get her well again, little Diana +grew weaker, day by day. She did not know Fortune, except at very +rare intervals. Day and night she talked incessantly of her past life, +of the beautiful garden, of the animals, of Rub-a-Dub, and more +especially of Rub-a-Dub's public funeral. She also mentioned Greased +Lightning and Pole Star, and Uncle Ben and the circus; but when she +talked of them her voice changed; it grew high, eager, and excited, +and her little breath panted out of her weary body. She often ended +her delirious talk with a cry of distress. + +"Oh, I has fallen," she said, with a sob. "I has fallen from the +wing." Then she would clasp both her hot hands to her aching head, and +moan bitterly. + +The doctor was very anxious about her, and Fortune was very sad, and +so was Uncle William, and even Aunt Jane. + +The cablegram was sent to father, and they all earnestly hoped that he +was already on his homeward way. + +Meanwhile, at the Manor, Iris, Apollo, and Orion had a hard time. It +is true that they were no longer fettered or coerced in any way. Aunt +Jane took scarcely any notice of them, and Uncle William spent most of +his time alone. The three children could come in and out of the house +as they pleased; they could wander about the garden where four used to +play happily; they could visit the old haunts that four used to love; +but because the fourth was now absent, the joy and the mirth of the +old days seemed quite to have left the remaining three. + +As time went by, Iris grew whiter and whiter. Often she wandered away +by herself, and flinging herself on the ground, would moan out her +distress. + +"Mother, mother," she used to sob, "I have not done what you told me; +I have not been a little mother. Can you ever forgive me? Oh, if Diana +dies, I am certain that I shall never forgive myself." + +At last, when a fortnight had passed by, Iris had a dream. She never +told her dream to anyone, but she got up that morning with a very +determined expression on her small face. After breakfast she went +straight downstairs to the library, and spoke to Uncle William. + +"Uncle William," she said, "I want to say that I am going to see +Diana." + +"My dear," said Uncle William, who was furtively at that moment wiping +a tear from his eye, "I greatly fear that you cannot do so; we have +had bad news of little Diana this morning. I greatly fear, Iris, that +she will not be long with us; her strength is going, and there is +little chance of the fever abating. The doctor has but a small hope of +her recovery--in fact, I may almost say that he has no hope." + +"It is a fortnight since Diana was found, and you have never let me +see her yet," continued Iris; "but I am going to her to-day. I had a +dream last night," she continued, "and in my dream I--But I'm not +going to say anything more, only I must see Diana to-day." + +"I am afraid you cannot do so, Iris," replied Uncle William. + +"And why not, if the child has the wish?" remarked Aunt Jane suddenly. + +Until that moment Iris had no idea that Aunt Jane was in the room. She +started now when she heard her voice; but reading the expression on +her face, she ran up to her eagerly. + +"If you are for it, Aunt Jane, it will be all right," she cried. +"Please have a carriage ordered this minute and let me go." + +"I would not, if I were you, wife," said Uncle William. "You see how +delicate Iris is already, and the sight of her little sister would +shock her dreadfully." + +"She may just as well go," said Aunt Jane. "In my opinion, it would be +wrong to leave any stone unturned, and Iris always had a remarkable +influence over the other children. Besides, my dear William, when +David comes back, I should not like Iris to have to tell him that I +refused what, after all, is a very natural request." + +"Aunt Jane, I love you for those words," said Iris. + +Aunt Jane's face quite flushed when Iris said she loved her. She went +across the room and rang the bell. + +"Desire the pony carriage to be sent round directly," was her order to +the servant when he appeared. + +Accordingly, in less than half an hour, Iris and Aunt Jane were +driving into Madersley. They went straight to the humble house where +the Darlings lived. The greater part of the house was given up to +little Diana and her nurse. + +"Please, Aunt Jane," said Iris, as they approached the door; "may I go +into Diana's room by myself? I don't want anyone to be with me when I +see her." + +"You may have it your way, Iris," said Aunt Jane. "I interfered once, +and I believe I did wrong; now you shall have it your own way." + +"Thank you, Aunt Jane," answered Iris. She scarcely looked at her +aunt; all her thoughts were centered on the mission which she had +taken in hand. When the carriage drew up at the humble door, the +child ran straight into the house. + +"Who may you be, little miss?" said Bessie Darling, who had never seen +her before. + +"I am the sister of Diana; I am a mother to the others," said Iris. + +"Sakes alive!" exclaimed the woman. "You a mother? Why, you poor +little mite, you look as if you wanted a deal of mothering yourself." + +"Please tell me what room my sister is in," said Iris, removing her +hat as she spoke. + +Bessie Darling stared at her for a moment, then she pointed to a door. +Iris turned the handle and entered the room. + +It was a hot day, and the window was wide open; a green blind was down +to keep out the glare of the sun; there was a quantity of ice in a +great pail in one corner of the room, and, as Iris softly entered, +Fortune was in the act of putting a fresh cold cloth on the sick +child's forehead. + +Little Diana was murmuring her ceaseless refrain: + + "You'll never know fear, + Any more, little dear. + Good-by." + +"Why, Diana!" said Iris. + +Iris's voice was quite fresh. It had a different note in it from all +the voices which for weeks had sounded in little Diana's ears. She was +lying in a partial stupor, but now she opened her eyes very wide. + +"Iris," she said; "Iris." And a smile broke all over her face. + +Iris ran up to the bedside. She was always quiet in her manner; great +excitement only accentuated her quiet. She knelt down at once by the +sick child, and took both her hot hands in hers. + +"Darling," she said, "I am your little mother, and I have come back to +you." + +"That's beautiful," answered Diana. She uttered a very deep sigh. She +had been tossing restlessly about, but now her hot hands lay quiet in +Iris'. + +As to Fortune, she was so amazed that she did not utter a word. + +"Go to sleep, Di," said Iris, in a voice of authority; "I am your +little mother, and I wish you to go to sleep." + +"It's awfu' nice to be mothered again," said Diana. She opened her +eyes languidly, fixed them on Iris, smiled once more, and then the +thick lashes fell over the pale cheeks. In about five minutes she was +sound asleep. + +Little Diana had often slept during the past fortnight, but during all +that time she had had no sleep like this--so quiet, so restful. Iris, +kneeling by her side, never moved. + +"Let me give you a chair or you'll faint, my love," said Fortune, in a +low whisper. + +Iris shook her head. + +Soon afterwards Fortune softly left the room, and then there fell a +deep and solemn silence over the little house. + +Aunt Jane, Bessie Darling, and Fortune all sat in the outer room. The +heat grew greater; they opened both door and window, and a gentle +breeze now blew through the sick-room. The child slept on. The little +mother kneeling by her side remained as still as if she was carved in +marble. + +About four in the afternoon the doctor came in. + +"Who is this?" he whispered, looking at Iris. + +"It's the eldest little sister, sir," said Fortune; "she came down +here this morning quite unbidden, and she told the little one that she +was her mother, and the little one smiled and went off sound asleep +directly." + +The doctor, too, retreated into the outer room. + +"It is my belief that the little girl has saved the child's life," he +said. "Whatever you do, don't make a sound; my little patient has not +slept like this since the beginning of her illness. This sleep will +probably be the turning-point. I shall not be far off; send for me +whenever she awakens." + +The day wore on, the evening approached; and Iris still knelt by +Diana's side, and Diana still slept. The sick child had no dreams in +that healthful, beautiful, life-restoring slumber. Slowly, hour by +hour, the fret and the worry left the little face, the burning fever +departed, the little brow grew cool and calm; smiles--baby +smiles--came once more round the lips; the old child-look--the old +Diana-look--returned. + +Iris knelt on. Her knees ached, her arms ached, her head ached; she +grew stiff; she grew first hot and then cold; but never once did she +move or swerve from her original position. The great joy of her spirit +supported her through the terrible ordeal. At long, long last she was +really a little mother; she was saving Diana's life. + +Now and then Fortune approached to hold a cup of milk or other +restorative to Iris' pale lips. She feared that the child might faint +before Diana awoke. But great love enabled Iris to go through this +time of suffering. She neither fainted nor failed. + +The beautiful healing sleep lasted for nearly eight hours; then, when +faint, cool shadows had stolen across the sick room, little Diana +opened her eyes. She saw Iris still kneeling in the same position and +looking at her with a world of love in her face. Diana smiled back in +answer to the love. + +"I's k'ite well, Iris," she said. "I's had a beaut'ful s'eep, and +there's not going to be a pwivate nor yet a public funeral." + +"No, no, Di!" said Iris, sobbing now as she spoke. + +"I's hung'y," said little Diana. "I'd like my supper awfu' much." + + * * * * * + +The crisis was over, and Diana was to live. From that hour she +recovered, slowly but surely. Iris was allowed to be with her a good +deal, and the mere fact of Iris being in the room always seemed to +chase the irritation and the weakness of that long recovery away. At +the end of a fortnight the sick child was well enough to return to +Delaney Manor. Then, from being half well she became quite well, and +when the autumn really came, and the cool breezes blew in from the +sea, father returned to his home once more, and he and Aunt Jane had a +long talk, and it was finally arranged that the four children were to +remain in the old home, and were to play in the old garden, and that +father was to stay at home himself and look after them as best he +could. + +"They are not ordinary children, and I frankly confess I cannot manage +them," said Aunt Jane. "As to Iris, she is without exception the most +peculiar child I ever came across; I know, of course, she is a good +child--I would not say a word to disparage her, for I admire her +strength--but when a child considers that she has got a mission----" + +"I know all about that," said David Delaney. + +"Iris thinks that she is to be a little mother to the others--those +were Evangeline's last words to her. Well, Jane, it is a heavy burden +for such a little creature to carry, but the fact of her obeying her +mother's last injunction really saved little Diana's life." + + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Little Mother to the Others, by L. T. Meade + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MOTHER TO THE OTHERS *** + +***** This file should be named 17506.txt or 17506.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/5/0/17506/ + +Produced by Lenna Knox, Juliet Sutherland, Sankar +Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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