The Project Gutenberg EBook of Marjorie in Command, by Carolyn Wells This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: Marjorie in Command Author: Carolyn Wells Illustrator: Julie C. Pratt Release Date: November 19, 2017 [EBook #56009] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARJORIE IN COMMAND *** Produced by Mardi Desjardins, Waverley Dovey & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net MARJORIE IN COMMAND MARJORIE WAS WORKING AWAY AT HER “BIRTHDAY CAKE.” MARJORIE IN COMMAND BY CAROLYN WELLS AUTHOR OF THE “PATTY” BOOKS GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS NEW YORK Made in the United States of America Copyright, 1910, by DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY Published, September, 1910 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. A Family Confab 1 II. A Floral Welcome 15 III. The Lady Arrives 27 IV. The Ides of March 41 V. Remorseful Romans 54 VI. Letters and Cards 68 VII. A Jinks Party 81 VIII. Romps and Rhymes 95 IX. Willing Helpers 110 X. On the Way Home 121 XI. A Friend in Need 133 XII. The House on Spruce Street 146 XIII. A Birthday Plan 160 XIV. Henderson Palace 174 XV. A Fine Celebration 189 XVI. Window Boxes 203 XVII. Delightful Anticipations 216 XVIII. The Arbor Day Festival 230 XIX. The Contest 244 XX. A Spring Ramble 258 Transcriber’s Notes can be found at the end of this eBook. MARJORIE IN COMMAND CHAPTER I A FAMILY CONFAB “Well,” said Marjorie, “I think it’s too perfectly, awfully, horribly dreadful for anything in all this world!” “I do, too,” agreed King. “It’s a calamity, and a catastrophe and a cat,—a cata—cataclysm!” “Of course it is,” said Kitty, who was philosophical. “But as it’s all settled, and we’ve got to live through it, we may as well make the best of it.” “The best of it!” grumbled King; “there isn’t any best! It’s all outrageously horrid, and that’s all there is about it! I don’t see how we can stand it.” “S’pose we say we just won’t stand it,” suggested Marjorie; “do you think they’d stay home?” “No, indeedy!” declared King. “You know as well as I do, the tickets are bought, and everything is arranged for.” “Even us,” said Kitty, sadly. “Yes; even us,” repeated her brother. “And how are we arranged for? Left in charge of Larkin! Old Loony Larkin!” “Hush, King, that’s disrespectful,” said Marjorie, laughing in spite of herself. “Well, she is old; and she is Larkin; and I think she’s loony!” “But you mustn’t say so, if you do,” persisted Marjorie. “Indeed you mustn’t,” said Mrs. Maynard, coming into the living room where the three children were holding an indignation meeting. “I’m ashamed of you, King!” “Aw, Mother, forgive me this once, and I won’t ever say such a thing again till next time.” Kingdon sidled up to his mother, and nestled his cheek against hers in such a cajoling way, that Mrs. Maynard smiled, and forbore further reproof just then. “But, dearies all,” she went on, “you mustn’t take such an attitude toward Miss Larkin; she’s good and kind and will look after you nicely till I return.” 1 “Larkin, Larkin, All the time a-barkin’,” chanted King, pinching his mother’s lips together, so she couldn’t reprimand him. The whole tale of the Maynard children’s tribulations may be told in a few words. Mrs. Maynard’s health was not quite up to its usual standard, and her husband had decided to take her for a short Southern trip. They would be absent from home about six weeks, and Miss Larkin, a friend of Mrs. Maynard’s, was to come and take care of the household of four children. Now, though the little Maynards were perhaps more inclined to mischief than model children ought to be, they were a loving and affectionate little brood, and, moreover, they truly tried to correct their faults as pointed out to them by their parents. The fundamental principle of Mr. and Mrs. Maynard’s training was common-sense, and this, added to deep parental love, made their discipline both wise and kind. Mrs. Maynard, herself, had some doubts of Miss Larkin’s ability to manage the children tactfully, but there was no one else to ask to stay with them, and they could not be left entirely in charge of the servants, trusted and tried though they were. But it was only for six weeks, anyway, and as Mr. Maynard said, they couldn’t become thorough-going reprobates in that short time. Miss Larkin was delighted with the prospect. A quiet and rather lonely spinster, she welcomed the idea of a stay in a merry, lively home, where she should be the commanding spirit over both children and servants. And so, it was only the four small Maynards who raised objections. Though they didn’t actively dislike Miss Larkin, they felt she was not in sympathy with their childish affairs and they could not know that this arose from ignorance, not unwillingness on her part. It was a long time since Miss Larkin had been a child, and when she was, she was not like the children of to-day. She thought she understood young people, but her ideas were old-fashioned, and often quite contradictory to the Maynards’ views. However, as Kitty had said, the matter was settled. Mr. and Mrs. Maynard were going, Miss Larkin was coming, and all they had to do was to accept the situation and make the best of it. “And perhaps it won’t be so bad,” said Mother Maynard, as they talked it over. “When Miss Larkin is living here with you, she’ll be more chummy and jolly than when she just comes to call or to spend the day.” “I hope so,” sighed Marjorie; “you see, it’ll be the worst for me. King’s a boy, and he won’t have to have much to do with her; Kitty doesn’t seem to mind her so much, anyway; and, of course Rosy Posy is too little to care. But I shall have to entertain her, and go walking with her, and,—and, oh, Mother, how I shall miss you!” Marjorie fairly pulled King out of Mrs. Maynard’s arms, and flung herself into them, with one of her sudden bursts of demonstrative affection. “Take me with you, Mothery,” she wailed; “oh, do take me with you!” “Nonsense, Midget,” said Mrs. Maynard, knowing it was best to treat the matter lightly; “why, the family would all go to pieces if you weren’t here. As you just now implied you’re the most important member of the household, and you’re needed here to keep all running smoothly in my absence.” This was a new view of things, and Marjorie brightened up considerably. “Shall I be head of the house, Mother? May I sit at the head of the table?” Mrs. Maynard took a moment to think this over. Marjorie was only twelve, and she was sometimes a harum-scarum little girl; but, on the other hand, if she felt a sense of importance, she often acted with good sense and judgment beyond her years. At last Mrs. Maynard said: “Yes, Midget; I believe I will let you sit at the head of the table. Miss Larkin is really a guest, and I think it would be better for you to be hostess in my place. Kingdon will sit in his father’s place, and I shall trust you two to uphold the dignity and decorum of the Maynard household.” “Will Miss Larkin like that?” said Marjorie. “I think so; or I should not consent to the arrangement. Miss Larkin is, I know, more anxious to please you children, than you are to please her. And so, to please me, I want you all to be very good to her. Kind, polite, deferential, considerate, all the things that a host and hostess should be to their guest.” “H’m,” said Marjorie, considering; “p’raps she’d better be hostess, and let me be guest.” “No, Mopsy; that matter’s settled. You shall be the lady of the house; and Miss Larkin your honored guest for whose pleasure and comfort you must do all you can.” “Pooh,” said King, “if she’s only company, I don’t see why she need come at all.” “In return for your kindness to her, she will do much for you. She will really keep house, in the sense of giving orders, looking after your clothes and mending, and superintending the servants.” “Must we obey her, Mother?” “Well, that’s rather a delicate point, my boy. I hope there’ll be no very serious questions of obedience, for I trust you won’t want to do anything that Miss Larkin will think she ought to forbid.” “But if she does, must we obey?” persisted Kingdon. “Hello, hello! What’s all this about love, honor, and obey?” cried a voice in the doorway, and the Maynards looked up to see Mr. Maynard smiling at them as he entered the room. “Oh, Father!” cried Marjorie, making a spring at him; “do come and help us settle these awful questions. Must we obey Miss Larkin, while you and Mother are away?” “Me ’bey Miss Larky,” said Rosy Posy, as she toddled to her father and clasped him round the knees, nearly upsetting that genial gentleman. “Me goody gail; me ’bey Miss Larky booful.” “Kit’s good at it, too,” said King. “So let Kitty and Rosy Posy do the obeying, and Mops and I will count out.” “What direful deeds are you planning, in defiance of Miss Larkin’s orders?” asked Mr. Maynard, sitting down, and taking the baby up in his arms. “Not any,” said King; “but I hate to feel that I must do as she says, whether I want to or not.” “But,” said his father, “you always do as Mother says, whether you want to, or not.” “Yes, sir; but then, you see, I love Mother.” This simple explanation seemed to please Mr. Maynard, and he said: “Well, I wouldn’t bother much about this obedience matter. I doubt if Miss Larkin lays down very strict laws, anyway. Suppose you take this for a rule. Don’t do anything that you think Mother would forbid if she were at home.” “That’s ever so much better,” said King, with a sigh of relief. “I did hate to be tied to old Larky’s apron strings.” “Hold on, King, my boy. Stop right there. Obedience is one thing, respect another. You are, at my orders, to be respectful to Miss Larkin, both in speech and in spirit. Is that understood?” “Yes, sir,” said Kingdon, looking ashamed. “I understand, and I’ll obey; but, Father, we always call her Larky.” “But you won’t any more. I don’t think you realize what bad taste it is, for a child to speak so of an elder person. Call your school friends by nicknames, if you like, but show to grown-ups the civility and respect that good-breeding calls for.” “All right; I’ll call her the Honorable Miss Larkin; Dear Madam,” and King swept a magnificent bow nearly to the floor, in token of his great respect for the lady. “But do hurry home as soon as you can,” said Marjorie, as she squeezed her father’s coat sleeve with one hand, and with the other reached out to grasp a fold of her mother’s trailing gown. “We’ll be gone just six weeks, dearie,” said Mr. Maynard. “I can’t remain away longer than that. And I think that will be long enough to make the roses bloom once more on Mother’s wan cheeks.” Mrs. Maynard smiled. “I’m not really ill, Ed,” she said; “it’s more of a pleasure trip than a health trip, I think. And six weeks will be quite long enough to burden Miss Larkin with these four beautiful but not very manageable children.” “And, oh, Father,” cried Marjorie, “there’ll be an Ourday while you’re gone! What shall we do about that?” “Bless my stars!” said Mr. Maynard; “so there will. I hadn’t thought of that! Shall we give up the trip, Helen?” “No,” said Kitty, who always took things seriously; “we can have two Ourdays together when you come back.” “Bravo, Kitsie!” said her father; “you have a logical head. I think you had better take charge of the family while we’re gone.” “I’m not old enough,” said Kitty, practically. “But I’ll help all I can.” “I know you will,” said Mrs. Maynard, caressing her. “And you’ll all do the best you can. I know my quartette, and I can trust them to do right,—if they think in time.” “That’s just it,” said Mr. Maynard, his eyes twinkling. “I expect King or Midget will pull the house down around Miss Larkin’s ears, and then excuse themselves by saying they forgot it was mischievous until it was all over.” “All over Miss Larkin, I suppose you mean,” said Marjorie, chuckling at her own joke. “Oho!” laughed Kingdon; “Mopsy’s quite a wit, isn’t she? Give us another, Midget!” As he spoke, he affectionately pulled off Marjorie’s hair ribbon, and the mop of dark curls that gave her one of her nicknames came tumbling all over her laughing face. This was a favorite performance of King’s, and though it never teased Marjorie, there was, of course, but one reply to it. That was to tweak the end of King’s Windsor tie out of its neat bow, and, if possible, out from under his flat round white collar. But knowing what was coming, King sprang away and around the table before even quick-motioned Midget could catch him. Of course a race ensued. Round the room they went, knocking over a few chairs and light articles of furniture, until King paused and danced maddeningly up and down on one side of the large centre table, while Midget, at the other side, stood alert to spring after him should he run. “Mopsy, Midget, Midge, just come around the idge!” sang King, as he made a feint of going one way, then another. But even as he leaned over to smile teasingly in her face, Marjorie made a quick grab across the table, and just gripped the end of his tie enough to untie it. Then, of course, peace was declared, although a pile of books was knocked off the table, and a small vase upset. “My dear children,” sighed Mrs. Maynard, as Marjorie, flushed but smiling with victory, came back to her mother to have her hair retied, “why do you have to play so,—so emphatically?” “Why, I just had to catch him, you see,” was Midget’s plausible explanation, “’cause a hair-ribbon pull-off always means a necktie untie. Doesn’t it, King?” “Yep,” agreed her brother, who was adjusting his tie before a mirror, “always. If Miss Larkin pulls off my tie, I shall sure go for her hair-ribbon.” “I believe you would,” said Mrs. Maynard; “and the worst of it is, Miss Larkin will be so anxious to entertain and amuse you, that I’m sure she’ll try to enter into your childish games. If she does, do try to remember she’s a lady and not a member of the Jinks Club.” “She can be a member if she wants to,” said King, condescendingly; “only if she is, she must take what she gets.” “Well, she’ll be here pretty soon, and I’ll warn her,” said Mr. Maynard. “No,” said his wife, “she’s not coming to-night, after all. I expected her, but she telephoned to-day that she can’t come until to-morrow afternoon.” “And we leave to-morrow morning! Why, my dear, that’s too bad.” “Yes; I’m sorry, for there are lots of things I want to tell her. I’ll write a long note and leave it for her. And, Marjorie, I trust to you to welcome her properly, and in every way act like a gracious hostess.” “I think I’ll practise,” said Midget, jumping up. “Now, you be Miss Larkin, Father, and I’ll be me.” “Very well,” said Mr. Maynard, going out to the hall, and coming in again. “Why, how do you do, Marjorie?” he said, offering his hand in exact imitation but not caricature of Miss Larkin’s vivacious manner. Marjorie suppressed a giggle, and gave her hand, as she said: “How do you do, Miss Larkin? I hope you understand that we’re a very bad crowd of children. At least, King and I are. Kit and Rosy are angels.” “Indeed! I thought you were the angelic one.” “Oh, no; Miss Larkin. I’m awful bad; and King is even worse.” “Nothing of the sort,” put in King. “I’m bad, I know, but I can’t hold a candle to Mops for real lovely mischief.” “You come pretty near it,” said his mother, laughing; “and now scamper, all of you, and make yourselves tidy for dinner.” “Good-by, Miss Larkin,” said Marjorie, again shaking hands with her father. “You can’t say you haven’t been warned!” “They’ll lead the poor girl a dance,” said Mrs. Maynard, as she watched the four romp out of the room and up the stairs. “Oh, it will do her good,” replied Mr. Maynard. “And it will do them good too. Even if there are scenes, it will all be a new experience for Miss Larkin, and a shaking up will do her no harm. As to the children, they’ll live through it, and if they have some little troubles, it will help to develop their characters. And as for us, Helen, we’ll have a good vacation, and come home refreshed and strong to set right anything that has gone wrong in our absence.” “Very well,” said Mrs. Maynard, agreeing, as she usually did, with her clever, sensible husband. 15 CHAPTER II A FLORAL WELCOME Breakfast next morning was not the gay, cheery feast it usually was. Mrs. Maynard came to the table with her hat on, and the children seemed suddenly to realize afresh that their mother was going away. “Oh,” said Marjorie, “I wish I could go to sleep for six weeks, and then wake up the day you come home again.” “Oh, you have that farewell feeling now,” said Mr. Maynard; “but after we’re really gone, and you find out what fun it is to have no one to rule over you, you’ll begin to wish we would stay six months instead of six weeks.” Marjorie cast a look of reproach at her father. “Not much!” she said, emphatically. “I wish you’d only stay six days, or six hours.” “Or six minutes,” added Kitty. But at last the melancholy meal was over, and the good-bys really began. “Cut it short,” said Mr. Maynard, fearing the grief of the emotional children would affect his wife’s nerves. They clung alternately to either parent, now bewailing the coming separation, and again cheering up as Mr. Maynard made delightful promises of sending back letters, postcards, pictures and gifts from every stopping-place on their journey. “And be very good to Miss Larkin,” said Mrs. Maynard, by way of final injunction. “Cheer her up if she is lonely, and then you’ll forget that you’re lonely yourselves.” This was a novel idea. “Oho!” said King, “I guess she’d better cheer us up.” “Oh, the four of you can cheer each other,” said Mr. Maynard. “Come, Helen, the carriage is waiting—Good-by for the last time, chickadees. Now, brace up, and let your mother go away with a memory of four smiling faces.” This was a pretty big order, but the Maynard children were made of pretty good stuff after all, and in response to their father’s request they did show four smiling, though tearful faces, as Mrs. Maynard waved a good-by from the carriage window. But as the carriage passed through the gate and was lost to their sight, the four turned back to the house with doleful countenances indeed. Rosy Posy recovered first, and at an invitation from Nurse to come and cut paper-dolls, she went off smiling in her usual happy fashion. Not so the others. Kitty threw herself on the sofa and burying her face in a pillow sobbed as if her heart would break. This nearly unnerved King, who, being a boy, was specially determined not to cry. “Let up, Kit,” he said, with a sort of tender gruffness in his tone. “If you don’t you’ll have us all at it. I say, Mops, let’s play something.” “Don’t feel like it,” said Marjorie, who was digging at her eyes with a wet ball of a handkerchief. It was Saturday, so they couldn’t go to school, and there really seemed to be nothing to do. But reaction is bound to come, and after a time, Kitty’s sobs grew less frequent and less violent; King managed to keep his mouth up at the corners; and Marjorie shook out her wet handkerchief and hung it over a chair-back with some slight feeling of interest. “I think,” Midget began, “that the nicest thing to do this morning would be something that Mother would like to have us do. Something special, I mean.” “Such as what?” asked Kitty, between two of those choking after-sobs that follow a hard crying-spell. “I don’t know, exactly. Can’t you think of something, King? Maybe something for Miss Larkin.” “I’ll tell you,” said King; “let’s put flowers in her room! Mother would like us to do that.” “All right,” said Midget, but without enthusiasm; “only I meant something bigger. Something that would take us all the morning. We could put a bouquet of flowers up there in five minutes.” “But I don’t mean just a bouquet,” explained King. “I mean a lot of flowers—decorate it all up, you know.” Marjorie brightened, and Kitty displayed a cordial interest. “Wreaths and garlands,” went on King, drawing on his imagination, “and a ‘Welcome’ in big letters.” “Fine!” cried Kitty, who loved to decorate; “and festoons and streamers and flags.” “All right, come on!” said Midget. “Let’s give her a rousing good welcome. It’ll please her, and it will please Mother when we tell her.” “But what shall we make our wreaths and garlands of?” asked Kitty, who was always the first to see the practical side. “That’s so,” said King, “there isn’t a flower in the garden.” As it was only the second week in March, not many flowers could be expected to be in bloom. “Never mind,” said Marjorie, her ingenuity coming to the rescue, “there’s lots of evergreen and laurel leaves to make wreaths and things, and we can make paper flowers. Pink tissue paper roses are lovely.” “So they are,” agreed Kitty. “’Deed we will have enough to do to fill up the morning. You go and cut a lot of greens, King, and Mopsy and I will begin on the flowers.” “Haven’t any pink paper,” said Midget. “Let’s all go downtown and get that first, and then we can get some ice cream soda at the same time.” “That’s a go!” cried King. “Hurry up, girls.” In ten minutes the three were into their hats and coats, and arm in arm started for the village drug shop. In this convenient store, they found pink paper and equally pink ice cream soda. Having despatched the latter with just enough procrastination to appreciate its exquisite flavor and texture, they took their roll of tissue paper and hastened home. Then Marjorie and Kitty went to work in earnest, and it is astonishing how fast pink paper roses can grow under skilful little fingers. Their method was a simple one. A strip of paper was cut, about twelve inches long and two inches wide. This was folded in eight sections, and the folded tops cut in one round scallop. Thus, the paper when unfolded, showed eight large scallops. These were the rose petals, and were deftly curled a trifle at the edges, by the use of an ivory paper-knife. Then the strip was very loosely rolled round itself, the pretty petals touched into place, the stem end pinched up tight and wound with a bit of wire, which also formed a stem. Midge and Kitty had made these before, and were adept in the art. So when King came in, they had a good-sized waste-basket filled with their flowers. King brought not only evergreens, and laurel sprays, but some trailing vines that had kept green through the winter’s frost. “There!” he said, as he deposited his burden on the floor; “I guess that will decorate Larky’s room—I mean the Honorable Miss Larkin’s room—just about right. Jiminy, what a lot of flowers!” “Yes, aren’t they fine!” agreed Marjorie. “We have enough now, Kit, let’s take ’em up.” Upstairs they went, to the pretty guest room that had been appointed for Miss Larkin’s use, during her stay with the Maynards. Many hands make light work, and soon the room was transformed. From a dainty, well-appointed chamber, it changed to the appearance of a holiday bazaar of some sort. Garlands of greens, stuck full of pink roses, wreathed the mirrors and pictures. Wreaths or nosegays were pinned to the lace curtains, tied to the brass bedposts, and set around on bureau, tables, mantel, and wherever a place could be found. The Maynard children had no notion of moderation, and with them, to do anything at all, usually meant to overdo it, unless restrained by older heads and hands. “I think streamers are pretty,” said Marjorie. “Let’s tie our best sashes on these big bouquets.” “Oh, yes,” said Kitty, “and some hair-ribbons, too.” A hasty visit to their bedroom resulted in many ribbons and sashes, which were soon fluttering gracefully from wreaths, bedposts, and chair-backs. “We must have a ‘Welcome’ somewhere,” said King, as he stood, with his hands in his pockets, admiring the results of their labors. “There’s a great big ‘Welcome’ sign, up in the attic,” said Kitty; “the one we had for a transparency when the Governor came, you know.” “Oh, I know!” cried King. “That big white muslin thing, with black letters. I’ll get it.” He raced away to the attic, and soon came back with the big painted sign. As it was about ten feet long, it was nearly unmanageable, but at last they managed to fasten it up above the mantel, and it surely gave evidence of a hearty welcome to the coming guest. “I found this in the attic, too,” said King, unrolling a smaller strip of muslin. This bore the legend “We Mourn Our Loss,” and had been used many years before, beneath the portrait of a martyred President. “I thought,” he explained, “that it seemed too bad to make such a hullabaloo over Miss Larkin, and make no reference to Father and Mother.” “Oh, I think so, too,” cried Marjorie. “It will be lovely to put this up in memory of them. Shall we drape it in black?” “No, you goose!” said King. “They aren’t dead! We’ll put a little flag at each corner, like a Bon Voyage thing, or whatever you call it.” “Oh, yes; like the pillow Mother sent to Miss Barstow when she went to Europe. That had a flag in each corner, and Bon Voyage right across it, cattycorner. What does Bon Voyage mean, anyway?” “It means ‘hope you have a good time,’” said Kitty; “and I’m sure we hope Father and Mother will have a good time.” “Yes, I know,” said Midget, “but what has that got to do with Miss Larkin?” “Oh, well, we may as well do our decorating all in one room,” said sensible Kitty. “Come on, let’s hurry up and finish; I’m awful tired, and hungry, too.” “So’m I,” said both the others, and they finished up their decorating in short order. “Sarah,” called Marjorie, at last, to the good-natured and long-suffering waitress, “won’t you please come and clear away this mess; we’ve finished our work.” “For goodness’ sake, Miss Marjorie!” exclaimed Sarah, as she saw the guest room; “now, why did you do this? Your mother told me to put this room tidy for the lady, and I did, and now you’ve gone and cluttered it all up.” “You’re mistaken, Sarah,” said King. “We’ve decorated it in honor of the lady that’s coming. Now, you just take away the stuff on the floor, and sweep up a bit, and straighten the chairs, and smooth over the bed, and the room will look lovely.” “And perhaps you’d better put on fresh pillow-shams,” added Marjorie; “somehow those got all crumpled. And we broke the lampshade. Can’t you get one out of Mother’s room to replace it?” “Oh, yes,” said Sarah, half laughing, half grumbling; “of course I can do the room all over. It needs a thorough cleaning after all this mess.” “Well, thorough-clean it, then,” said Marjorie, patting Sarah’s arm. “But don’t touch our decorations! They’re to assure the lady of our welcome.” “I’ll not touch ’em, Miss Marjorie; but any lady’d get the nightmare to sleep in such a jungle as this.” “It is like a jungle, isn’t it?” said King. “I didn’t think of that before. Maybe Miss Larkin will think we mean she’s a wild beast.” “No,” said Kitty, with her usual air of settling a question. “It’s lovely, all of it. You just tidy up, Sarah, and it will be all right, and Miss Larkin will adore it. Is luncheon ready?” “Almost, Miss Kitty. It will be by when you’re ready yourselves.” The children gave one more admiring glance at their decorations, and then ran away to get ready for luncheon. “What time is she coming?” asked Kitty, as she and Midge tied each other’s hair-ribbons. “I don’t know, exactly. About four, Mother thought. She told me to show her to her room, and ask her if she’d like tea sent up.” “Doesn’t it make you feel grown up to do things like that?” asked Kitty, looking at her older sister with admiring eyes. “Yes—sort of. But I forget it right away again, and feel little-girlish. Come on, Kits, are you ready?” Luncheon was great fun. Marjorie at one end of the table, and King at the other, felt a wonderful sense of dignity and responsibility. Kitty and Rosy seemed to them very young and childish. “Will you have some cold beef, Marjorie,” said King, “or a little of the omelet?” “Both, thank you,” replied Midget, “and a lot of each.” “Ho! that doesn’t sound like Mother,” said King, grinning. “I don’t care,” said Marjorie. “Just because I sit in Mother’s place, I’m not going to eat as little as she does! I’d starve to death.” “All right, sister, you shall have all you want,” and King gave Sarah a well-filled plate for Midget’s delectation. “Isn’t it fun to be alone?” said Kitty, and then added hastily: “I don’t mean without Mother and Father, I mean without Miss Larkin.” “Yes,” agreed Marjorie. “I do feel glad that she didn’t come this morning, and we can lunch alone. It’s sort of like a party.” “I wish it was a party,” said Kitty, “’cause then we’d have ice cream.” “P’raps we’ll have ice cream a lot, when Miss Larkin gets here,” said Marjorie. “Mother left a letter for her, and it says for her to order everything nice to eat.” “Then I’m glad she’s coming,” declared Kitty, who loved good things to eat. After luncheon the hours dragged a little. The house seemed empty and forlorn, and the children didn’t know exactly what to do. “Why don’t you go over to see Delight?” Kitty asked of her sister; “and then, I’ll go to see Dorothy.” “I don’t feel like it,” answered Midget. “I feel all sort of lost, and I don’t want Delight, or anybody else—except Mother.” “Huh!” said King, “squealing already! Chuck it, Mops. Come on outdoors and play tag.” King’s suggestion proved a good one, for somehow a game of tag in the cool, bracing, outdoor air did them all good, and when at last it was time to dress for afternoon, and to receive Miss Larkin, it was a smiling group of children who awaited the coming guest. 27 CHAPTER III THE LADY ARRIVES It was about four o’clock when Miss Larkin arrived. Mindful of their newly-acquired dignity, the children awaited her in the drawing-room. But when Sarah opened the hall door for the guest, a great commotion was heard. “Yes,” said Miss Larkin’s high, shrill voice; “that trunk must be put in my bedroom; also these two suit-cases, and this hold-all. Oh, yes, and this travelling-bag. That other trunk may be put in your trunk-room if you have one—or attic, if you haven’t. I sha’n’t want it for several weeks yet. This basket, take to the kitchen—be careful with it—and these other things you may put anywhere for the present. Where are the babies? the dear babies?” “Oh, King, she’s fairly moving in!” said Marjorie, in a whisper, as she saw James, the coachman, carrying a rocking- chair through the hall, and Sarah’s arms piled with wraps and bundles. But encumbered as she was, Sarah managed to usher Miss Larkin into the drawing-room. “Oh, here you are, little dears!” exclaimed the visitor, as she rushed rapidly from one to another, and, disregarding their polite curtseys, kissed each child heartily on the cheek. “My poor, orphaned babies! Don’t grieve for your parents. I will be to you all that they could be. Come to me with your little troubles. I will soothe and comfort you.” “Yes, Miss Larkin,” said Marjorie, rather bewildered by this flood of conversation. “Mother said you would look after us. And now, would you like to go to your room, and have some tea sent up?” Miss Larkin stared at her in amazement. “Tea!” she said; “why, bless my soul, child, yes, of course, I should like tea; but I supposed I should order it myself. What do you know about tea, little one?” It suddenly dawned on Marjorie that Miss Larkin looked upon them all as helpless infants, and had no realization that they were not all of Rosy Posy’s age. She suppressed a smile, and said: “Why, Mother said you were to have it when you came; either down here, or in your room, as you wish.” Still Miss Larkin seemed unable to take it in. “Yes, dear,” she said, “I’ll have it upstairs, whilst I rest, and unpack some of my things. But I came here to be housekeeper for you, not to have you look after me.” “All right, Miss Larkin,” said King, pleasantly. “You can housekeep all you like. Midget isn’t very good at it. Now, if you’re going to your room, we’ll all go, too, and see how you like it.” “Ess, Miss Larky,” put in Rosy Posy. “Come on—see booful f’owers and pitty welcome flag.” “What’s a welcome flag?” inquired Miss Larkin, but her question was not answered, as the children were already leading the way upstairs. They were followed by two or three of the servants, who were carrying up the astonishing amount of luggage which the guest had brought. Marjorie thought they had never had a visitor with so many bags and boxes; but then their visitors didn’t often stay so long as six weeks. The children pranced into the room first, and waited in delighted impatience to hear Miss Larkin’s words of approval. “What are you doing here?” she inquired, pleasantly. “Having a fair of some sort? Is this your playroom?” “No, Miss Larkin,” explained Marjorie. “This is your room. We decorated it on purpose for you. We want you to feel welcome.” The lady looked around at the bewildering array of greens and pink flowers. It was a trying moment, for Miss Larkin’s tastes were inclined toward the Puritanical, and she liked a large room almost bare of furniture, and scrupulously prim and tidy. Had she followed her inclinations, she would have said to Sarah, “Sweep all this rubbish out”; but as she saw the children’s expectant faces, evidently waiting for her to express her appreciation, her tactfulness served her just in time. “For me!” she exclaimed; “you did all this for me! Why, you dear, dear children!” They capered round her in glee. It was a success, then, after all. “Yes,” cried Marjorie, “it’s all for you, and we’re so glad you like it. That is, the ‘Welcome’ is for you; the other sign, with the flags on it, is for Mother and Father—in their memory, you know.” “Yes,” said Miss Larkin, though her lips were twitching, “yes, I know.” “The ribbons, of course, we will take back,” explained careful Kitty; “for they’re our sashes and hair-ribbons. But they can stay all the time you’re here—unless we need some of them—and the flowers you can take home with you, if you like. They’re only paper, you see.” “Of course,” said Miss Larkin. “One couldn’t expect real roses at this time of year, and anyway paper ones are so much more lasting.” “Yes, and they smell good, too,” said Marjorie, “for I sprayed them with the cologne atomizer.” “Where are you going to put all your things?” asked Kingdon, with interest, as the servants continued to bring in luggage. “Well,” said Miss Larkin, thoughtfully, “I don’t know. I brought this rocking-chair, because I never go anywhere without it. It’s my favorite chair. But I thought we could take out one of your chairs to make room for it. I don’t like much furniture in my room.” “Of course,” said Marjorie, politely. “King, won’t you put that wicker rocker in Mother’s room? Then Miss Larkin’s chair can be by the window.” “Good boy,” said the visitor, with an approving smile, as King took away the wicker chair. “And now,” she went on, as he returned, “if you’ll just take away also that small table, and those two chairs over there, and that sewing-screen, and that large waste-basket, and that tabouret and jardiniere, I’ll be much obliged.” “Whew!” said King; “I think I’ll ask Thomas to come up and help me. Are you sure you want all those taken out, Miss Larkin?” “Yes, child. The room is too full of useless furniture. I can’t stand it.” “Well, Miss Larkin,” said Marjorie, “I’m sure Mother would like you to have things just as you want them. But I don’t believe we children can help you fix them. I think we’d better go downstairs and be out of your way. Then you tell Sarah and Thomas what you want, and they’ll do it.” “Very well,” said Miss Larkin, with a preoccupied air. She was trying her rocking-chair as she spoke, now at one window and now at another, and seemed scarcely to hear Marjorie’s words. Just then, Sarah appeared with the tea-tray, and so Midget told her to await Miss Larkin’s orders, and to call Thomas, if necessary, to help her move the furniture. Then the four children went downstairs, and after giving Rosamond over to the care of Nurse Nannie, they held a council of war. “She’s crazy,” said Marjorie, with an air of deep conviction. “I knew it!” declared King. “You know I called her Loony Larky. You needn’t frown at me, Midge; I’m not calling her that now. I’m just reminding you.” “Well, I believe she is. Did you ever hear of a guest cutting up so?” “I don’t believe she liked the decorations,” said Kitty, thoughtfully. “She said she did,” observed King. “Yes; but that was just so she wouldn’t hurt our feelings,” went on Kitty. “I saw her look when she first got into the room, and I thought she looked disgusted. Then, to be nice to us, she said they were lovely.” “Then she’s deceitful,” said Marjorie, “and that’s a horrid thing to be.” “’Most always it is,” argued patient Kitty; “but it’s sometimes ’scusable when you do it to be polite. She couldn’t very well tell us she hated our greens and roses—but I know she did.” “I know it, too,” said King, gloomily. “We had all that trouble for nothing.” “Well,” said Marjorie, after thinking a moment; “even if she didn’t like the welcome and garlands, she must have ’preciated the trouble we took, and she must have understood that we meant to please her.” “’Course she did,” said Kitty, “and that’s why she seemed pleased about it. Now, I think, we’d better go up and tell her that if she wants to, she can have all that stuff carted out.” “Oh, Kit!” cried Midge, reproachfully. “It’s so pretty, and we worked so hard over it.” “I know it, Mops, but if she doesn’t want it there, it’s a shame for her to have to have it.” “You’re right, old Kitsie,” said King; “you’re right quite sometimes often. Mops, she is right. Now let’s go up and inform the Larky lady—I mean Larkin lady, that we won’t feel hurt if she makes a bonfire of our decorations in her honor.” “I shall,” said Marjorie, pouting a little. “Oh, pshaw, Mops; don’t be a silly. A nice hostess you are, if you make a guest sleep in a jungle, when she likes a plain, bare room.” Marjorie’s brow cleared. A sense of responsibility always called out her better nature, and she agreed to go with the others to see Miss Larkin. Upstairs they tramped, King between his two sisters, and as the Maynards rarely did anything quietly, they sounded like a small army pounding up the steps. “What is the matter?” exclaimed Miss Larkin, flying to her door as they approached. “Why, we came to tell you,” began Marjorie, somewhat out of breath, “that—that⁠——” “That if you’d rather not have that racket of ‘Welcome’ stuff in your room, you can pitch it out,” continued King. “Just tell Thomas,” went on Kitty, in her soft, cooing way, “and he’ll carry it all away for you.” “But why shouldn’t I like it?” said Miss Larkin, who hadn’t quite grasped the rapid speech of the children. “Oh, ’cause it is trumpery,” said King. “And we think that you just hate it⁠——” “And that you said it was nice, so not to ’fend us,” went on Kitty, “and so, we’ll freely forgive you if you don’t want it. But we do want our ribbons back.” “And we may as well keep the ‘Welcome’ and the mournful signs,” added Marjorie; “for you see, our next guest might be of a more—more gay and festive nature.” “Oh, I’m gay and festive,” said Miss Larkin, with her funny little giggle, which somehow always irritated the children; “but since you insist, I believe I will have these greens taken away. The scent of evergreens is a little overpowering to my delicate nerves. I shouldn’t have dreamed of suggesting it, but since you have done so—ah, may I ring for Thomas at once?” Sarah answered Miss Larkin’s bell, and Thomas was sent for. Then the lady seemed to forget all about the children, and returned to her tea and bread-and-butter. Feeling themselves dismissed, they went downstairs again. “Goodness, gracious, sakes alive!” said King, slowly; “have we got to live six weeks with that?” “Don’t be disrespectful,” said Marjorie, remembering her father’s words, “but I do think she’s just about the worst ever.” “We’ve got to have her here,” said Kitty, “so we may as well make the best of it.” “Oh, Kittums,” groaned King, “you’d make the best of a lame caterpillar, I do believe.” “Well, you might as well,” protested Kitty, stoutly. She was used to being chaffed about her optimism, but still persisted in it, because it was innate with her. “All right,” said King, “let’s forget it. What do you say to ‘Still Pond; no moving’?” This was a game that greatly belied its name, for though supposed to be played in silence, it always developed into a noisy romp. But for this very reason it was a favorite with the Maynard children, and by way of cheering their flagging spirits, they now entered into it with unusual zest. “Do you s’pose Miss Larkin is playing this same game with Thomas and Sarah?” asked Marjorie, as during a lull in their own game they heard as much, if not more noise in the room above. “’Spect she’s still moving furniture,” said King, after listening a moment. “Hope she doesn’t take a fancy to my new chiffonier.” “We ought to have told her what time dinner is,” said Marjorie. “You’re a gay old hostess, aren’t you, Mops?” teased her brother. But Kitty said, “Oh, she’ll ask Sarah. Don’t let’s think any more about her till dinner time.” This was good advice, and was promptly acted upon. And so it was half-past six before the young Maynards saw their guest again. Miss Larkin had asked the dinner hour of Sarah, and promptly to the minute she came downstairs, attired in a black silk dress, quite stiff with jet ornaments. “I am your guest to-night, my dears,” she said, as she patted each one’s head in turn; “but to-morrow I shall myself take up the reins of government, and all household cares. I have a letter, left for me by your dear mother, in which she bids me do just as I think best in all matters. She tells me to order such things as I wish, and to command the servants as I choose. I’m sure I need not tell you I shall do my best to make you all comfortable and happy.” Miss Larkin beamed so pleasantly on the children, that it was impossible not to respond, so they all smiled back at her, while Marjorie said, “I’m sure you will, Miss Larkin.” “And now,” the lady went on, “I have here a little gift for each of you. I brought them to show my love and affection for you all.” Then she gave to each of the quartette a small box, and sat beaming benignantly as the children tore open the wrappings. Cries of delight followed, for the gifts were lovely, indeed. Marjorie’s was a narrow gold bangle, set all round with tiny half-pearls. Kitty’s was a gold ring, with a turquoise setting. King’s, a pair of pretty sleeve-links, and Rosy Posy’s a pair of little gold yoke pins. “Oh, Miss Larkin!” exclaimed Marjorie, over-whelmed by the beauty and unexpectedness of these gifts. “It’s just like Christmas,” declared King, and Kitty, too pleased for words, went slowly up to Miss Larkin and kissed her. The baby was scarcely old enough to be really appreciative, but the other three were delighted with their presents, and said so with enthusiasm. “I’m glad you like them,” said Miss Larkin, “and now let us go to dinner.” Marjorie felt a little shy as she took her place at the head of the table, and she asked Miss Larkin if she wished to sit there. “No, my dear; your mother wrote in her note that she wished you to have that seat. I shall, of course, exercise a supervision over your manners, and tell you wherein I think they may be improved.” This speech made Marjorie feel decidedly embarrassed, and she wondered why she liked Miss Larkin one minute and didn’t like her the next. Then she smiled to herself as she realized that she liked her when she presented pearl bracelets, and didn’t like her when she proposed discipline! This was a fine state of affairs, indeed! And so compunctious did it make Marjorie feel, that she said, “I hope you will correct me, when I need it, Miss Larkin; for my manners are not very good.” King and Kitty stared at this. What had come over wilful, headstrong Midget to make her talk like that? But Miss Larkin only smiled pleasantly, and made no comment on Marjorie’s manners as a hostess, all through dinner. As the two sisters were going to bed that night, Kitty said: “I can’t make her out. I think she’s real nice, and then the next minute she does something so queer, I don’t know what to make of it.” “I think she’s what they call eccentric,” said Marjorie. “And I do believe if we let her alone a good deal, she’ll let us alone. She seems awfully wrapped up in her own affairs. If she doesn’t interfere too much, I think we’ll get along all right. But I wish Mother was home.” “So do I. Oh, Mops, there isn’t one day gone yet! Out of forty-two!” “Well, skip into bed; the time flies faster when you’re asleep.” “So it does,” agreed Kitty; “good-night.” 41 CHAPTER IV THE IDES OF MARCH Somehow, the days managed to follow each other much at their usual rate of speed. Life held a great variety of interests for the little Maynards, and though at times they greatly missed their parents, yet at other times they were gaily absorbed in their work or play, and were happy and bright as usual. Miss Larkin proved to be rather an uncertain quantity. Sometimes she ruled the household with a rod of iron, laying down laws and issuing commands with great austerity. And then, again, she would seem to forget all about the Maynards and become absorbed in her own affairs, even neglecting to give orders for dinner! But the children didn’t care. So long as she left them free to pursue their own important occupations, she was welcome to amuse herself in any way she chose. And with good-natured, large-hearted Ellen in charge of the kitchen, there was no danger of any one going hungry for long. Instead of going to school, as King and Kitty did, Marjorie went every day across the street to Delight Spencer’s, where Miss Hart, Delight’s governess, taught both girls. Miss Hart’s methods of teaching were unusual, but exceedingly pleasant. Often the girls had no idea as to what lessons would be taught until they came to the schoolroom. And so, as Marjorie and Delight, with their arms about each other, came into Miss Hart’s presence one morning, they saw on the schoolroom wall a placard bearing this legend: “The Ides of March are come.” “What does that mean, Miss Hart?” asked Marjorie, always interested by something she did not understand. “That’s our subject for to-day,” said Miss Hart, smiling. “Have you no idea what it means?” “Not the leastest bit,” replied Marjorie. “Have you, Delight?” “No,” said Delight, shaking her golden head very positively. “Unless you meant ideas, Miss Hart, and spelled it wrong on purpose.” “No,” said Miss Hart, smiling; “that’s not the idea at all. Well, girlies, to begin with, here’s a little present for each of you.” Then Miss Hart handed them each a thin, flat volume, which proved to be a pretty edition of Shakespeare’s “Julius Cæsar.” Opening it, Marjorie was glad to see it contained many pictures, besides a lot of rather grown-up looking reading. “To begin with,” said Miss Hart, “the Ides of March are really come. To-day is the fifteenth, which, as I will explain to you, is what was called in the Roman Calendar, the Ides.” Then Miss Hart went on to explain how the Roman Calendar was originally made up, and how it has been modified for our present use, all of which, described in her interesting way, proved a pleasant lesson, and one which the girls always remembered. “Now,” Miss Hart went on, “we come to the consideration of our little book, which is one of Shakespeare’s greatest and most famous plays. In the very beginning of it, as you may see, on this page, a soothsayer bids Cæsar ‘Beware the Ides of March.’ Cæsar paid little attention to him at the time, but, as we will learn from our study of the play, the Ides of March was indeed a dread day for Cæsar, for on that day he was cruelly stabbed and killed.” “Oh!” cried Marjorie, who loved tragic tales, “may we read about it now?” “Yes; but first I will tell you a little of Julius Cæsar, himself.” Miss Hart then gave a short description of Cæsar and his time, and then they again turned to their books. “Before we begin to read,” she said, “note these lines in the first scene of Act II. You see, Brutus says, ‘Is not to- morrow the Ides of March?’ And he sends a boy to look in the Calendar and find out. What does the boy say when he returns?” Quick-sighted Marjorie had already looked up this, and read the boy’s answer, “Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.” “So you see,” went on Miss Hart, “it was the eve of the fatal day. And now turn to the first line of Act III.” Delight read this aloud: “The Ides of March are come.” “Yes, Cæsar said that himself, remembering the soothsayer’s warning.” “Did he really say it, Miss Hart?” “Well, you see, Delight, Shakespeare’s plays, though founded on historical facts, are not really history. And, then, we must remember that this play was written sixteen hundred years after the death of Cæsar, and though true, in part, to history and tradition, much of it is Shakespeare’s own fancy and...