to the bloom of youth, the freshness of health, the innocence of a
nature whose sweet maidenliness Mac felt but could not describe.
Gentle yet full of spirit, and all aglow with the earnestness that
suggests lovely possibilities and makes one hope that such human
flowers may have heaven’s purest air and warmest sunshine to
blossom in.
“Wait and see,” answered Rose; then, as her uncle’s voice was
heard in the hall, she held out her hand, adding pleasantly, “The
old times are to begin again, so come soon and tell me all your
doings and help me with mine just as you used to do.?
“You really mean it?” And Mac looked much pleased.
“I really do. You are so little altered, except to grow big, that I
don’t feel at all strange with you and want to begin where we left
off.?
“That will be capital. Good night, Cousin,” and to her great
amazement, he gave her a hearty kiss.
“Oh, but that is not the old way at all!” cried Rose, stepping back
in merry confusion while the audacious youth assumed an air of
mild surprise as he innocently asked: “Didn’t we always say good
night in that way? I had an impression that we did and were to
begin just as we left off.?
“Of course not. No power on earth would have bribed you to do it,
as you know well enough. I don’t mind the first night, but we are
too old for that sort of thing now.?
“I’ll remember. It was the force of habit, I suppose, for I’m sure I
must have done it in former times, it seemed so natural. Coming,
Father!” and Mac retired, evidently convinced he was right.
“Dear old thing! He is as much a boy as ever, and that is such a
comfort, for some of the others have grown up very fast,” said
Rose to herself, recalling Charlie’s sentimental airs and Archie’s
beatified expression while Phebe sang.
Chapter 2 OLD FRIENDS WITH NEW FACES
“It is so good to be home again! I wonder how we ever made up
our minds to go away!” exclaimed Rose as she went roaming about
the old house next morning, full of the satisfaction one feels at
revisiting familiar nooks and corners and finding them unchanged.
“That we might have the pleasure of coming back again,”
answered Phebe, walking down the hall beside her little mistress,
as happy as she.
“Everything seems just as we left it, even to the rose leaves we
used to tuck in here,” continued the younger girl, peeping into one
of the tall India jars that stood about the hall.
“Don’t you remember how Jamie and Pokey used to play Forty
Thieves with them, and how you tried to get into that blue one and
got stuck, and the other boys found us before I could pull you out?”
asked Phebe, laughing.
“Yes, indeed, and speaking of angels, one is apt to hear the rustling
of their wings,” added Rose, as a shrill whistle came up the avenue
accompanied by the clatter of hoofs.
“It is the circus!” cried Phebe gaily as they both recalled the red
cart and the charge of the clan.
There was only one boy now, alas, but he made noise enough for
half a dozen, and before Rose could run to the door, Jamie came
bouncing in with a “shining morning face,” a bat over his shoulder,
a red and white jockey cap on his head, one pocket bulging with a
big ball, the other overflowing with cookies, and his mouth full of
the apple he was just finishing off in hot haste.
“Morning! I just looked in to make sure you’d really come and see
that you were all right,” he observed, saluting with bat and doffing
the gay cap with one effective twitch.
“Good morning, dear. Yes, we really are here, and getting to rights
as fast as possible. But it seems to me you are rather gorgeous,
Jamie. What do you belong to a fire company or a jockey club?”
asked Rose, turning up the once chubby face, which now was
getting brown and square about the chin.