The Staying Guest - Carolyn Wells 3 стр.

Peeping in, she saw Martha staring in dismay at the empty bed.

Hello, Martha, she cried gaily, did you think I was lost? Ive been calling on my aunt; its such a lovely morning for visiting, you know. But Im as hungry as a bear, and now I think Ill get dressed and go to breakfast.

She jumped into the room, and with Marthas assistance her toilette was soon made; then she seized her dog and went dancing down-stairs.

After wandering through several of the large rooms she came to the dining-room, where the breakfast-table was laid; seeing nothing to eat, she went on to the kitchen.

Bridget looked at her with no kindly eye, for she resented any intrusion on the quiet of Primrose Hall as much as Miss Priscilla did.

But when Ladybird said wistfully, Im very hungry, the good-hearted old cook fell a victim at once to the irresistible charm of the strange child.

Are ye that, miss? And what would ye like now?

Oh, anything!  I dont care what; and if I go and sit at the table will you bring me something?

I will indeed, miss. Run along, thin, and set at the place forninst the side-board.

And so thats how it happened that when, a few minutes later, Miss Priscilla and Miss Dorinda came into the dining-room they found their guest ensconced at their table and apparently enjoying herself very much.

Good morning, aunties, she said smilingly. I ought to have waited for you, I know, but truly, I was so hungry I just couldnt. And Bridget brought me such lovely things! I never had strawberries and cream before. Do you always use these beautiful blue-and-white dishes? For if you dont, you neednt get them out just because Ive come.

We always use them, said Miss Priscilla; we have used them for forty years, and not a piece has ever been broken.

Is that so? said Ladybird, with great interest, quite unconscious that the remark was intended for a warning to herself, as her quick motions and unexpected gestures seemed to threaten the safety of anything in her vicinity.

Having finished her strawberries, she sat back, and throwing her little thin arms above her head, grasped the carved knobs of the high, old-fashioned chair.

Why, youre just like me, aunty, she said; I think thats the right way to do to use your best things every day. Its such a comfort to see them around; and you neednt break china or glass just because you use it. Why, Ill show you what can be done with them, and theres not the slightest danger if youre careful.

As the child spoke, she pushed away her plate, and ranged her cup, saucer, and glass in a row in front of her, and seized a spoon in one hand and a fork in the other. Then in a sweet, crooning voice she began to sing:

striking her glass lightly with her spoon at the accented notes, and beating an accompaniment alternately on her cup and saucer.

Miss Priscillas eyes grew almost as big as her precious and endangered saucers, but the dear old tune, sung in the pretty, childish voice, with its tinkling accompaniment, held her spellbound, and she said not a word.

As Ladybird finished the refrain she said eagerly:

Now well do it again, and you both tap your glasses and sing with me.

And would you believe it? Those two old ladies were so interested that they tapped on their glasses with their thin old silver spoons, and sang with their thin old voices for all they were worth.

That was very pretty, observed Ladybird, approvingly, when at last they all laid down their spoons. And now if youve finished your breakfast, Aunt Priscilla, will you take me out and show me round the garden?

But Miss Priscilla Flint had by no means lost her mind entirely, and she said:

You have no time to go round the garden,  you are to start back to Boston this morning, and from there to London as soon as possible.

Oh, am I? said Ladybird, with a wise smile, and an air as of one humoring a wayward child.

You are indeed, said her aunt, severely; and now, if you will come into the morning-room with us, we will ask you a few questions before you go.

All right, come on, said Ladybird; and she grasped Miss Priscillas hand in both her own, and danced along at the old ladys side.

Miss Dorinda followed, and she and her sister took their accustomed seats in the bay-window.

Then Ladybird placed a low ottoman at Miss Priscillas side and sat down upon it, and laid her head against her aunts knee.

Although Miss Dorinda might seem to a casual observer to be a softer, kinder nature than her elder sister, yet for some unaccountable reason Ladybird felt more attracted toward Miss Priscilla; and, too, the child could already see that Miss Priscillas word was law at Primrose Hall, and that Miss Dorinda merely acquiesced in her sisters decisions.

But it was no spirit of diplomacy that actuated Ladybird, and she caressed Miss Priscillas hand for the simple reason that she was beginning to love the stern old lady.

Now, said Miss Priscilla, glaring at her niece, will you tell me what your name is?

Ladybird Lovell, said the little girl, with a bewitching smile.

I mean your real name, not that absurd nickname.

It is my real name. I never had any other.

Nonsense! Your real name is Lavinia Lovell.

It is? All right Lavinia Lovell, then. I dont mind.

And how old are you?

Twelve years old.

You are not! You are fourteen.

Yes, m. Fourteen.

Ladybird began to treat her aunt as one would treat a harmless lunatic who must be humored, whatever she might say.

And why have you black eyes and straight black hair? Your father wrote, when you were a baby, that you had blue eyes and golden curls.

Did he write that? Why, how I have changed, havent I? Did you ever know a baby to change as much as that before?

No, I never did. And I dont say that I would have kept you here if you had had blue eyes and golden hair; but it might have influenced me if you had looked more like your mother,  and your father said you did. As it is, I cannot think of allowing you to stay here, and so when your trunks come this morning and I suppose Mr. Marks will bring them pretty soon I shall send them back, and you with them, to Boston. There my lawyer will meet you and start you back to London. Mr. Thomas J. Bond had no right to send you here uninvited, and he may burden some one else with you. I positively decline the honor.

Ladybird had paid polite attention at first, but toward the end of her aunts speech her mind began to wander, and as Miss Priscilla finished the child said:

Aunty, I can make poetry, can you?

Now the one ambition of Priscilla Flints early life had been to become a poetess.

Her favorite day-dream was of a beautiful volume, bound in blue and gold, that should contain poems like those of Mrs. Hemans. But though she had written many, many verses,  and indeed, had a little hair-trunk in the attic packed quite full of them,  yet she had never been able to summon sufficient courage to offer them to any publisher; and lately she had begun to think she never would, for poetry had changed since Mrs. Hemanss day, and she doubted if her efforts would stand the tests of modern editors or publishers.

But she said: Yes, child, I have written poetry. It is a talent that runs in our family. Have you written any?

But she said: Yes, child, I have written poetry. It is a talent that runs in our family. Have you written any?

Oh, no, I dont write it. I just say it. Like this, you know:

Thats the kind I make. Of course you have to use words that rhyme, whether the sense is very good or not. I made this one too:

Now tell me some of your poetry, aunty.

You wouldnt appreciate mine, child,  you couldnt understand it.

No, m; I spose not. But Id love to hear it.

Tell her The Sunset Star, sister, said Miss Dorinda.

Miss Priscilla simpered a little; then, folding her hands, she recited:

Why, aunty, thats lovely, exclaimed Ladybird: and I do understand it. I know the sunset star that comes out in the sky just as the sun goes down. Yours is more poetry than mine, but mine are funnier. Dont you think so?

Yes, child; but as you grow older youll see that poetry is more important than fun.

Yes; and then Ill learn to make verses like yours. Can you make poetry too, Aunt Dorinda?

No, said Miss Dorinda, simply; my talent is for painting.

Oh, is it? And do you paint pictures? And will you teach me how? Ive always wanted to learn to paint, and Im very industrious. I can play on the piano like a house afire.

Sister Lavinia used to play the piano very prettily, said Miss Dorinda; doubtless you have inherited her talent.

Yes, I think I have. Shall I play for you now?

No! said Miss Priscilla, decidedly; the piano has never been touched since your mother left us, and it never shall be opened again with my consent.

Aunty, did my mamma look like you? It seems funny, doesnt it? but Ive never seen a picture of my mamma, and papa never told me anything about her. I didnt know papa very well, either,  he was always going off on long journeys, and I stayed with nurse. What was my mamma like, aunty?

She was a beautiful blonde, with rosy, plump cheeks. You are not a bit like her.

No, I should say not, and Ladybird laughed merrily,  with my straight black hair and thin white face. Papa used to call me a black-and-white ghost. But after I live here awhile, I expect Ill get plump and rosy; though I dont suppose anything will ever make my hair curl.

But youre not going to live here; youre going away this morning.

Now, Aunt Priscilla, said Ladybird, with an air of being kind but firm, this joke has gone far enough. Im going to stay here because its my home, and I have no other. I belong to you and Aunt Dorinda, because I have no other relatives. I hope youll learn to like me; but if not, I have to stay here, all the same. People have to live where their homes are, and so well consider the matter settled.

Indeed, miss, well consider no such thing! What do you mean by defying me in my own house? I say you are to go, and go you shall. Here comes Mr. Marks up the road now, in his wagon. Get that worthless dog of yours, and prepare to go at once.

Miss Priscilla looked at the little girl with flashing eyes, and Ladybird, who had risen from her stool, looked back at her aunt, smiling and unalarmed.

Then the child gave a quick glance round the room. The windows were high from the ground, and there was but one door, which led to the hall.

Like a flash, Ladybird flew out through the door, shut it behind her, and turned the key in the lock, making the Misses Flint her prisoners.

She went out on the front veranda just as Mr. Marks drove up with her trunks in his wagon.

Good morning! she said brightly. Will you please set the boxes out on the porch? Oh, here is Matthew; he will help you. Now, if you please, will you carry them up-stairs? Ill show you where to put them.

She ran up the broad staircase; the men followed; and finally her three trunks were safely lodged in the room she had occupied the night before, and which she looked upon as her own.

How much is it, Mr. Marks? she said; and when he told she paid him from her little purse, and bade him good morning.

She watched until he was well out of sight, and then she went to unlock the door of the morning-room.

CHAPTER V

ANOTHER ATTEMPT

When the Misses Flint saw the door shut behind Ladybird, and heard the key click in the lock, they could believe neither their eyes nor their ears.

Miss Priscilla rose and walked majestically to the door and turned the knob, fully expecting the door would open. But it would not open, of course, being locked, and the good lady, almost stupefied with anger and amazement, uttered an explosive and exasperated Well! and dropped into the nearest chair.

Miss Dorinda responded with a terrified and apprehensive Well! and then the two sisters sat and stared blankly at each other.

Miss Dorinda spoke first, timidly.

Priscilla, dont you think perhaps it is our duty to give a home to Lavinias child?

Duty! exclaimed the elder sister, in a tense, restrained voice. Duty! To keep such a vixen as that in our house? No! I confess I had some such thought during the night; but now I have only one desire, and that is, to get rid of her.

Yes, said Miss Dorinda, sighing; of course she cant stay after this; but she seems very affectionate and loving.

Affectionate! Loving! Dorinda Flint, what are you talking about? Do you call it affectionate to lock us helplessly in this room?

No; but that was impulsive, and because she wants to stay here. I dont think she is really a vicious child.

Well, I dont want to think anything about her!

Miss Priscilla took up a newspaper and pretended to read, so desirous was she of not appearing defeated; and, indeed, she would have stayed quietly in that room all day rather than call for assistance, or in any way show that she was at the mercy of her erratic niece.

Miss Dorinda was as much perturbed as her sister, but she made no effort to hide it. She fluttered about the room, looked out of the window, tried the door-knob, and at last sat down in a big rocking-chair and began to rock violently.

Suddenly the door burst open and Ladybird came flying in.

Aunties, she cried, the house is on fire! What do you want to save most?

Mercy on us! cried Miss Priscilla, rushing from the room, let me get my Lady Washington geranium. The buds are just ready to open.

Where is it? Ill get it, said Ladybird, dancing around in great excitement.

Up-stairs, on a stand by the south-room window; but you cant go up youll be burned to death.

No, I wont, screamed Ladybird, already half-way up-stairs; Ill get it. What do you want, Aunt Dorinda?

I dont know,  everything! Oh, my lace handkerchief, called the distracted lady. And get some of your own things; and bring our fire-gowns.