diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20736-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 190314 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20736-h/20736-h.htm | 4992 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20736-h/images/001.jpg | bin | 0 -> 112897 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20736-page-images.zip | bin | 0 -> 7053631 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20736.txt | 5015 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20736.zip | bin | 0 -> 84803 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 10023 insertions, 0 deletions
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/20736-h.zip b/20736-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7909e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/20736-h.zip diff --git a/20736-h/20736-h.htm b/20736-h/20736-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..36e238c --- /dev/null +++ b/20736-h/20736-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4992 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Girl Scouts at Home, by Katherine Keene Galt</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; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Girl Scouts at Home, by Katherine Keene +Galt</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Girl Scouts at Home</p> +<p> or Rosanna's Beautiful Day</p> +<p>Author: Katherine Keene Galt</p> +<p>Release Date: March 3, 2007 [eBook #20736]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Bruce Albrecht, Paul Stephen,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net/c/">http://www.pgdp.net/c/</a>)<br /> + from material generously made available by<br /> + the Ruth Sawyer Collection of the College of Saint Catherine Libraries<br /> + (<a href="http://library.stkate.edu/spcoll/ruthsaw.html">http://library.stkate.edu/spcoll/ruthsaw.html</a>)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 407px;"> +<img src="images/001.jpg" width="407" height="600" alt="The little procession turned and made its way back to the lunch basket." title="The little procession turned and made its way back to the lunch basket." /> +<span class="caption">The little procession turned and made its way back to the lunch basket.</span> +<br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2><span class= "u"><i>Girl Scouts Series, Volume 1</i></span></h2> + +<h1>The Girl Scouts at Home</h1> + +<h4>or</h4> + +<h2>Rosanna's Beautiful Day</h2> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>Katherine Keene Galt</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h5>CHICAGO AKRON, OHIO NEW YORK</h5> + +<h5>MADE IN U. S. A.</h5> + + +<h5>Copyright, MCMXXI, by<br /> +THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY<br /><br /></h5> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h3>THE GIRL SCOUTS SERIES</h3> + +<h4>1 THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME</h4> + +<h4>2 THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY</h4> + +<h4>3 THE GIRL SCOUT'S TRIUMPH<br /><br /></h4> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="TOC"> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>CHAPTER XXI</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + + +<p>Little Rosanna Horton was a very poor little girl. When I tell you more +about her, you will think that was a very odd thing to say.</p> + +<p>She lived in one of the most beautiful homes in Louisville, a city full of +beautiful homes. And Rosanna's was one of the loveliest. It was a great, +rambling house of red brick with wide porches in the front and on either +side. On the right of the house was a wonderful garden. It covered half a +square, and was surrounded by a high stone wall. No one could look in to +see what she was doing. That was rather nice, but of course no one could +look out either to see what they were doing on the brick sidewalk, and that +does not seem so nice.</p> + +<p>At the back of the garden, facing on a clean bricked alley, was the garage, +big enough to hold four automobiles. The garage was covered with vines. +Otherwise, it would have been a queer looking building, with its one door +opening into the garden, and on that side not another door or window either +upstairs or down. The upstairs part was a really lovely little apartment +for the chauffeur to live in, but all the windows had been put on the side<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +or in front because old Mrs. Horton, Rosanna's grandmother, did not think +that chauffeurs' families were <i>ever</i> the sort who ought to look down into +the garden where Rosanna played and where she herself sat in state and had +tea served of an afternoon.</p> + +<p>At one side of the garden where the roses were wildest and the flowers grew +thickest was a little cottage, built to fit Rosanna. Grown people had to +stoop to get in and their heads almost scraped the ceilings. The furniture +all fitted Rosanna too, even to the tiny piano. This was Rosanna's +playhouse. She kept her dolls here, and there was a desk with all sorts of +writing paper that a maid sorted and put in order every morning before +Rosanna came out.</p> + +<p>This doesn't sound as though Rosanna was such a poor little girl, does it? +But just you wait.</p> + +<p>A good ways back of this playhouse was another small building that looked +like a little stable. It was a stable—a really truly stable built to fit +Rosanna's tiny pony. He had a little box stall, and at one side there was +space for the shiniest, prettiest cart.</p> + +<p>Rosanna did not go to school. There was a schoolroom in the house, but I +will tell you about that some other time. Rosanna disliked it very much: a +schoolroom with just one little girl in it! <i>You</i> wouldn't like it +yourself, would you?</p> + +<p>Rosanna's clothes were the prettiest ever; much prettier then than they are +now. And such stacks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> of them! There was a whole dresser full of ribbons +and trinkets and jewelry besides. (Poor little Rosanna!)</p> + +<p>She danced like a fairy, and every day she had a music lesson which was +given her, like a bad pill, by a severe lady in spectacles who ought never +to have tried to smile because it made her face look cracked all over and +you felt so much better when the smile was over. Oh, poor, poor, <i>poor</i> +little Rosanna!</p> + +<p>Do you begin to guess why?</p> + +<p>You have not heard me say a word about her dear loving mother and her big +joky father, have you? They were both dead! This is such a pitiful thing to +have come to any little girl that I can scarcely bear to tell you. Both +were dead, and Rosanna lived with her grandmother, who was a very proud and +important lady indeed. There was a young uncle who might have been good +friends with Rosanna and made things easier but she scarcely knew him. He +had been away to college and after that, three years in the army. Once a +week she wrote to him, in France; but her grandmother corrected the letters +and usually made her write them over, so they were not very long and +certainly were not interesting.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton was sure that her son's little daughter could never be worthy +of her name and family if she was allowed to "mix," as she put it, with +other children. So Rosanna was not allowed to <i>have</i> any other children for +friends, and Mrs. Horton was too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> blind with all her foolish family pride +to see that Rosanna was getting queer and vain and overbearing. Every day +they took a drive together, usually through the parks or out the river +road. Mrs. Horton did not like to drive down town. She did not like the +people who filled the streets. She said they were "frightfully ordinary." +It was a shameful thing to be ordinary in Mrs. Horton's opinion. She had +not looked it up in the dictionary or she would have chosen some other word +because being ordinary according to the dictionary is no crime at all. It +is not even a disgrace.</p> + +<p>Rosanna's books were always about flowers and fairies, or animals that +talked, or music that romped up and down the bars spelling little words. +There were never any people in them, and if any one sent her a book at +Christmas about some poor little girl who wore a pinafore and helped her +mother and lived in two rooms and was ever so happy, <i>that</i> book had a way +of getting itself changed for some other book about bees or flowers the +very night before Christmas.</p> + +<p>"She will know about those things soon enough," said Rosanna's grandmother.</p> + +<p>But every afternoon when they sat in the rose arbor in the middle of the +beautiful garden, Rosanna would get tired reading and she would stare up at +the clouds and see how many faces she could find.</p> + +<p>One day she startled and of course shocked her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> grandmother by saying in a +low voice, "Dean Harriman!"</p> + +<p>"Where?" said Mrs. Horton, staring down the walk.</p> + +<p>"In that littlest cloud," said Rosanna, unconscious of startling her +grandmother. "It is very good of him, only his nose is even funnier than it +is really. Sort of knobby, you know."</p> + +<p>"Please do not say 'sort of,'" said Mrs. Horton. "And if you are looking at +pictures in the clouds, I consider it a waste of time, Rosanna!"</p> + +<p>She struck a little bell, and the house boy came hurrying across the lawn. +Mrs. Horton turned to him.</p> + +<p>"Find Minnie," she said, "and tell her to send Miss Rosanna a volume of +<i>Classical Pictures for Young Eyes</i>."</p> + +<p>So Rosanna looked at <i>Classical Pictures</i>, and for that afternoon at least +kept her young eyes away from the clouds. And never again did she share her +pictures with her grandmother.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was not a spiritless child, but every day and all day her life +slipped on in its dull groove and she did not know how to get out.</p> + +<p>Poor little Rosanna! To the little girl behind it, a six-foot brick wall +looks as high as the sky. And the garden, as I have told you before, was a +very, <i>very</i> big garden indeed. Plenty large enough to be very lonesome in.</p> + +<p>One morning Mrs. Horton was not ready to drive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> at the appointed time. +Rosanna was ready, however, and was dancing around on the front porch when +the automobile rolled up. She ran toward it but drew back at the sight of a +strange chauffeur. He touched his cap and said "Good morning!" in a hearty, +friendly way, very different to the stiff manner of the man who had been +driving them. Rosanna went down to him.</p> + +<p>"Where is Albert?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"He does not work here now," said the man. "I have his place."</p> + +<p>"What is your name?" said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"John Culver," said the new chauffeur. "What is your name?"</p> + +<p>Rosanna frowned a little. She liked this new man with his crinkly, twinkly +blue eyes and white teeth. A deep scar creased his jaw, but it did not +spoil his friendly, keen face. But chauffeurs usually did not ask her name. +There had been so many going and coming during the war. She decided to walk +away but could not resist his friendly eyes.</p> + +<p>"I am Miss Rosanna," she said proudly.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said the man, and Rosanna had a feeling that he was amused. So she +went on speaking. "I will get in the car, if you please, and wait for my +grandmother."</p> + +<p>He opened the door of the limousine and before she could place her foot on +the step, he swung her lightly off her feet and into the car.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There you are, kiddie!" he said pleasantly, and Rosanna was too stunned to +say more than "Thank you!" as the door opened and her grandmother appeared, +the maid following, laden with the small dog.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton nodded to the new man and gave an order as he closed the door.</p> + +<p>"Our new man," said Mrs. Horton to Rosanna, then settled back in her corner +and took out a list which she commenced to check off with a gold pencil. +Rosanna, holding the dog, looked out the windows.</p> + +<p>There were children all along the street: little girls playing dolls on +front doorsteps and other little girls walking in happy groups or skipping +rope. Boys on bicycles circled everywhere and shouted to each other. They +made a short cut through one of the poor sections of the city. Here it was +the same: children everywhere, all having the best sort of time. They were +not so well dressed, that was all the difference. They had the same +carefree look in their eyes. Rosanna gazed out wistfully, longingly.</p> + +<p>And now you surely guess why Rosanna, with her beautiful home, her pony and +her playhouse, her lovely garden, and her room full of pretty things, still +was so very, very poor.</p> + +<p>Rosanna did not have a single friend.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + + +<p>John Culver brought them home and as they left the car Mrs. Horton +enquired, "Is your apartment comfortable, John?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly comfortable, thank you," said Culver.</p> + +<p>"You are married?" Mrs. Horton continued.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Culver.</p> + +<p>"Any children?"</p> + +<p>"One little girl," said Culver, glancing at Rosanna with a smile.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton saw the look. She said nothing, but when Rosanna sat before her +at the great round table, eating her luncheon, Mrs. Horton remarked, "Of +course, Rosanna, you will make no effort whatever to meet the child living +over the garage. Unless you make the opportunity, she will never see you, +thanks to the arrangement of the windows. She is a child that it would be +impossible for you to know."</p> + +<p>Rosanna did not reply.</p> + +<p>"Rosanna?" said her grandmother sharply.</p> + +<p>"Yes, grandmother," sighed poor Rosanna.</p> + +<p>After luncheon Mrs. Horton dressed and was driven away to a bridge party. +Rosanna practiced scales for half an hour, talked French with her +gov<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>erness for another long half, and then wandered out into the garden and +commenced to wonder about the child over the garage. How old was she? What +was she like? Rosanna wished she could see her. There was a rustic seat +near the garage and Rosanna went over and curled up on its rough lap. She +stared and stared at the garage, but the blank brick walls with their +curtains of vines gave her no hint.</p> + +<p>It seemed as though she had been sitting there for hours when she fancied a +small voice called, "Hello, Rosanna!"</p> + +<p>Rosanna sat perfectly still, staring at the brick wall.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Rosanna!" said the voice again softly. It was a strangely sweet, +gentle voice and seemed to come from the air. Rosanna cast a startled +glance above her.</p> + +<p>There was a little laugh. "Look in the tree," said the pleasant voice.</p> + +<p>Rosanna, mouth open, eyes popping, looked up.</p> + +<p>A big tree growing in the alley, close outside the brick wall, leaned its +biggest bough in a friendly fashion over Rosanna's garden. High up +something blue fluttered among the thick leaves. Then the branches parted, +and a face appeared. Rosanna continued to stare.</p> + +<p>The little girl in the tree waved her hand.</p> + +<p>"You don't know me, do you, Rosanna?" she teased. "But I know you. You are +Rosanna Hor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>ton, and you live in that lovely, lovely house and this is your +garden. Is that your playhouse over there? And oh, <i>is</i> there an +honest-for-truly pony in that little barn? Dad says there really is. Is +there?" She stopped for breath, and beamed down on Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"How did you get up there?" said Rosanna. <i>She</i> was not allowed to climb +trees.</p> + +<p>"Father made a little ladder and fastened it to the trunk with wires so it +won't hurt the wood. If Mrs. Horton doesn't mind, he is going to fix a +little platform up here. There is a splendid place for it. Then I can study +up here where it is all cool and breezy and whispery. Don't you like to +hear the leaves whisper? He is going to put a rail around it so we won't +fall off."</p> + +<p>"Who is <i>we</i>?" asked Rosanna. "Have you brothers and sisters?"</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't," said the little girl. "Mother says it is my greatest +misfortune. She says that I shall have to make a great many friends to make +up for it, and that if I don't I will grow selfish. Wouldn't you hate to be +selfish? I 'spect you have dozens and <i>dozens</i> of little girls to play +with. How happy you must make everybody with your lovely garden and things! +My mother says that is what things are for: to share with people. She says +it is just like having two big red apples. If you eat them both, why, you +don't feel good in your tummy; but if you give one to some one, you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> feel +good everywhere, and you have a good time while you are eating them and get +better acquainted, and it just does you good. Do little girls come to see +you every day?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Rosanna, "I don't know any little girls. My grandmother won't +let me."</p> + +<p>"Won't <i>let</i> you?" said the girl in the tree in a shocked tone. "Why won't +she let you?"</p> + +<p>"She says I would learn to speak bad grammar and use slang, and grow up to +be vulgar."</p> + +<p>"Goodness me!" said the stranger. She sat rocking on her bough for a few +minutes. Then: "Why would you have to learn bad things of other girls?" she +demanded. "I wouldn't let <i>anybody</i> teach me anything I didn't want to +know. I should think it would be nice to have you teach <i>them</i> good grammar +if you know it, and not to use slang, and all that. She must think you are +soft! My mother says if you are made of putty, you will get dented all over +and never be more than an unshapely lump, but if you are made of good +stone, you can be carved into something lovely and lasting. But that is +just your grandmother," said the girl. "Where is your mother? Is she off +visiting?"</p> + +<p>"She is dead," said Rosanna. A wave of unspeakable longing for the lost +young mother swept over her and her lip trembled as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor, poor Rosanna!" said the little tree girl softly. "Oh, Rosanna, I +feel so sorry! If you ever want to borrow mine, I wish you would. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> wish +you would! My mother says that when a woman has even just one child in her +heart, it grows so big that it can hold and love all the children in the +world. You borrow her any time you need her, Rosanna!" Then feeling that +perhaps the conversation ought to take a livelier strain, she did not wait +for Rosanna to answer, but continued, "I wish somebody hadn't built this +apartment over your garage so that none of the windows look out on your +garden. We are going to hate that, aren't we?"</p> + +<p>"Grandmother had it built that way so we would not see the people living +there," Rosanna explained.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said the tree girl. "Well, of course you know that <i>I</i> live there +now. We came two days ago, and my name is Helen Culver. We would love to +play together, wouldn't we?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, indeed we would!" said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"Well, then we will," said Helen joyfully. "I must go now. I think it is +practice time. I will see you after luncheon. Good-bye!" and she slid down +the tree and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Rosanna went skipping to the house. She was so happy. It was not her +practice time, but she was going to practice because Helen was so engaged. +Her mind was full of Helen as she sat doing finger exercises and scales. +How lovely and clean and bright she looked with her big, blue eyes and +blond docked hair! Her teeth were so white and pretty and her voice was so +soft and low. And she had a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> dimple! It was Rosanna's dream to have a +dimple in her thin little cheek.</p> + +<p>Rosanna commenced to play scales. She took the C scale—it was so easy that +she could think. She was so happy that she played it in a very prancy way, +up and down, up and down. Then it commenced to stumble and go ve-ry, +v-e-r-y slowly. Rosanna had had an awful thought. The same thought had +really been there all the time, but her heart was making such a happy noise +that she wouldn't let herself hear it. Now, however, it made such a racket +she just had to listen. Over and over with the scales it said loudly and +harshly, "Will your grandmother let you play with that little girl who +lives over the garage? Will your grandmother even let you <i>know</i> that +little girl who lives over the garage? Will she? Will she?"</p> + +<p>Rosanna Horton knew the answer perfectly well.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + + +<p>The only thing to do, Rosanna decided, was to talk to her grandmother after +luncheon when they usually sat in the rose arbor. Rosanna, playing scales, +felt quite brave. She would explain everything: how Helen Culver used the +best of grammar, and no slang, and climbed trees in rompers and did not +scream. Then when she had assured her grandmother of all this, she would +tell her quite firmly that she, Rosanna, needed a friend.</p> + +<p>It seemed simple and easy, but when luncheon was announced, she decided not +to speak until later and when finally they went out to the rose arbor, +Rosanna commenced to feel quite shaky and instead of talking she fell into +a deep silence.</p> + +<p>And then, that minute, that very identical second, something happened that +changed everything. A messenger boy came with a telegram. And if it hadn't +been for that messenger boy this story would never have happened. If he had +been a <i>slow</i> messenger boy, half an hour late ... but he just hurried +along on his bicycle and arrived that second. Oh, a dozen things might have +happened to delay the boy, but there he was just as Rosanna said, +"Grandmother!" in a small but firm voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rosanna said nothing more because her grandmother opened the telegram with +fingers that shook a little in spite of her iron will. But as she read it a +look of relief and joy lighted her proud face.</p> + +<p>"Good news, Rosanna," she said. "The best of news! Your Uncle Robert has +reached America!"</p> + +<p>"Won't he have to fight any more, grandmother?"</p> + +<p>"No; he will come home and be with us. But as I have told you, dear, he was +slightly wounded over there in Germany, and I think if I can arrange +everything for your comfort, I will go and meet him. He is in New York, and +I shall see for myself if he needs any doctoring or care that he could not +get here. Then perhaps we will stay at the seaside or in the mountains for +a week or so. Would you mind being left with the maids for that long? +Perhaps one of your little acquaintances would like to come and play with +you once or twice a week."</p> + +<p>This was a great privilege in her grandmother's eyes, as Rosanna knew, and +she said, "Thank you, grandmother," and started to tell her then and there +about Helen. But Mrs. Horton went right on talking.</p> + +<p>"Come to my room with me while I pack," she said, rising.</p> + +<p>Rosanna did not get a chance to say one word to her. She listened while her +grandmother called up an intimate friend who lived near by and arranged for +her to come in every day to see how Rosanna<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> was getting on. She called +John in and told him just where he could drive the car when Miss Rosanna +took her daily ride. "If she wants to take a little girl friend with her, +she is to do so, as I want her to have a good time," Mrs. Horton told him.</p> + +<p>When she woke the next morning, Rosanna lay for a long while thinking.</p> + +<p>So Uncle Robert had actually come home! And grandmother had gone to meet +him! She might be away a week or more. Then her thoughts flew to Helen. +Wasn't it too, <i>too</i> wonderful? Her grandmother had said quite clearly that +one of her little acquaintances might come and play with her.</p> + +<p>Usually Rosanna took forever to dress. She was really not at all nice about +it. Big girl as she was, Minnie always dressed her, and she would scriggle +her toes so her stockings wouldn't go on, and would hop up and down so the +buttons wouldn't button. It was very exasperating and she should have been +soundly spanked for it: but of course Minnie, who was paid generous wages, +only said, "Now, Miss Rosanna, don't you bother poor Minnie that-a way!"</p> + +<p>This morning, however, she was out of bed and into the cold plunge without +being pushed and she actually <i>helped</i> with her stockings. She was ready +for breakfast so soon that Minnie said, "Well, well, Miss Rosanna, looks +like it does you good to have your grandmother go 'way!"</p> + +<p>With one thing and another, she did not get a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> chance to go down to the +overhanging tree until after luncheon.</p> + +<p>She peered eagerly up.</p> + +<p>Helen was there, curled up on a big bough, a book in her lap and a gray +kitten playing around her.</p> + +<p>"Here I am!" said Rosanna, smiling.</p> + +<p>"And here am I," answered Helen, smiling back.</p> + +<p>"Did you expect me sooner?" asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"No; I was hoping you wouldn't come. I suppose you never have things to do, +but I am a very busy little girl. I help mother, and practice my music, and +she is teaching me to sew and cook. Of course we have cooking at school but +no one can cook like mother, and I want to be just like her. I told her +about you last night, and she said you could borrow her whenever you wanted +to."</p> + +<p>"I too have things to do," said Rosanna, who felt as though she ought to be +of some use since Helen was so industrious. "When I get through with my +bath mornings Minnie dresses me—"</p> + +<p>"<i>Dresses</i> you?" exclaimed Helen in astonishment. "Why, Rosanna, can't you +dress yourself?"</p> + +<p>Rosanna felt a queer sort of shame. "I never tried," she confessed, "but I +am sure I could."</p> + +<p>"Of course you could," said Helen briskly. "The buttons and things in the +back are hard, but my mother makes most of my things slip-on so I can +manage everything. Why don't you try to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> dress yourself, Rosanna? You +wouldn't want folks to know that you couldn't, would you? Of course you +don't mind my knowing, because I am your friend and I will never tell; but +you wouldn't want most people to know?"</p> + +<p>Rosanna had never thought about it at all, but now it seemed a very babyish +and helpless thing. She determined to dress herself in future. To change +the subject she said, "Why don't you come down into the garden? I want to +show you my playhouse and the pony."</p> + +<p>"I'd love to," said Helen, and slid rapidly down the tree and out of sight +behind the brick wall.</p> + +<p>Rosanna heard her light footsteps running up the stairs leading to the +apartment over the garage. She sat down on the rustic seat and waited as +patiently as she could. It seemed a long time before Helen appeared at the +little gate in the wall.</p> + +<p>"Mother thinks that you ought to ask your grandmother if she would like to +have me come and see you," she said, looking very grave.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right!" said Rosanna. "Grandmother has gone away, and she +said the very last thing that I could have somebody come and see me +whenever I wanted."</p> + +<p>"But did she say me?" Helen persisted. "My father drives for your +grandmother and perhaps she may think we are not rich and grand enough for +you."</p> + +<p>"Why, no, she didn't say <i>you</i>. She didn't say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> <i>any</i>body. She said I might +have anyone I like, and I like you. It is all right. You can ask Minnie; +she heard her say I could have company. She doesn't know you, you see, so +she <i>couldn't</i> say that you were the one to come. She told me 'some little +girl.'"</p> + +<p>"That sounds all right," said Helen. "I will go tell mother. She was not +sure I ought to come." She disappeared once more through the little gate, +and Rosanna waited. She was not happy. Her grandmother had certainly not +named any little girl, but Rosanna knew that she did not mean or intend +that Rosanna should entertain the little girl who lived over the garage. +Her grandmother thought every one was all right if they belonged to an old +family. The first thing she ever asked Rosanna about any little girl was +"What is her family?" or "Who are her people?"</p> + +<p>Rosanna, whose conscience was troubling her in a queer way, determined to +ask Helen about her family, although it seemed that was one of the things +that were not very nice to do. But perhaps Helen had a family. In that case +she could settle everything happily.</p> + +<p>The children joined hands and went skipping along the path toward the +playhouse, Helen's bobbed yellow locks shining in the sun and Rosanna's +long, heavy, dark hair swinging from side to side as she danced along.</p> + +<p>She led the way through the little door into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> little living-room of the +playhouse and stood aside as Helen cried out with wonder and pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, oh, Rosanna!" the little girl exclaimed. "Oh, it is too dear! May +I please look at everything, just as though it was in a picture book?"</p> + +<p>Helen moved from one place to another in a sort of daze. She tried the +little wicker chairs one after another. She sat at the tiny desk and +touched the pearl penholders and the pencils with Rosanna's name printed on +them in gold letters. All the letter paper said <i>Rosanna</i> in gold letters +at the top too; it was beautiful.</p> + +<p>The little piano was real. It played delightfully little tinkly notes +almost like hitting the rim of a glass with a lead pencil. Helen was +charmed. She could scarcely drag herself away to see the other wonders of +the playhouse. The little dining-room was built with a bay window, which +had a window seat, and a hanging basket of ferns. The little round table, +the sideboard and the chairs were all painted a soft cream color, and on +each chair back, and the sideboard drawers and doors sprays of tinty, tiny +flowers were painted.</p> + +<p>Helen hurried from these splendors to the kitchen. And it was a real +kitchen!</p> + +<p>"If our domestic science teacher could only see this!" groaned Helen.</p> + +<p>The room was larger than either of the others, and there was plenty of room +for two or three persons, at least for a couple of children and one grown<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +person if she was not so very large. There was a little gas stove complete +in every way, a cabinet, and a porcelain top table, as well as a white sink +and draining board. The floor was covered with blue and white linoleum, and +the walls were papered with blue and white tiled paper with a border of fat +little Dutch ships around the top. Little white Dutch curtains hung at the +windows.</p> + +<p>"Oh my! Oh my!" sighed Helen. "This is the best of all! The other rooms you +can only sit in and enjoy, but here you can really <i>do</i> things and learn to +be useful."</p> + +<p>She opened a little cupboard door and discovered all sorts of pans and +kettles made of white enamel with blue edges.</p> + +<p>"I never come out here at all," said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are afraid you will burn yourself," suggested Helen.</p> + +<p>"No, the stove is a safe kind, made specially for children's playhouses, +but I don't know how to cook, so I don't play in the kitchen at all. +Make-believe dinners are no fun."</p> + +<p>Helen gave a happy sigh.</p> + +<p>"Well, <i>I</i> can cook," she said, "and I will teach you how."</p> + +<p>"Won't that be fun!" said Rosanna. She suddenly threw her arms around +Helen's neck and kissed her. "Oh, Helen, I am so happy," she said.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + + +<p>After Helen had looked the wonderful kitchen over to her heart's content, +the children went back to the pretty living-room, where they examined the +books in the little bookcase, and then each carrying a comfy wicker chair, +went out on the wide porch. A big grass rug was spread there, and there was +a little porch swing and a wicker table.</p> + +<p>Rosanna commenced to tell Helen about herself. She told much more than she +intended, and by the time she had finished, Helen knew more about her new +friend than Rosanna's own grandmother had ever guessed.</p> + +<p>Helen herself was a very happy, busy little girl, with wise and loving +parents. They were poor, and Mr. Culver had very wisely taken the first +position that offered as soon as he came home from France and found that +the firm he had formerly worked for had given his position to some one +else, a man much less capable than Mr. Culver and who worked willingly for +wages that Mr. Culver did not feel like accepting. Yes, they were poor, but +as Mr. Culver said, "Just you wait, folkses; this will be fun to remember +some day." And Mrs. Culver called it "our school" and told Helen that they +must both strive to know the best and easiest way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> of doing everything +while they had to do all for themselves.</p> + +<p>Helen's eyes filled with tears when she heard of the death of Rosanna's +young father and mother in a railroad accident when she was such a little +thing that now she could scarcely remember them.</p> + +<p>"And then you came to live with your grandmother?" she said, struggling not +to go to Rosanna and hug her tight. A little girl without mother or father! +It was too dreadful.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she came to the hospital and as soon as I was well—I was just +scratched up a little—she brought me here."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Helen briskly, "it must be fine to have a grandmother. I +suppose grandmothers are 'most exactly as good as mothers," she went on, +trying to make light of Rosanna's misfortune. "I expect they cuddle you and +play with you and hold you 'most exactly like mothers."</p> + +<p>"Mine doesn't," said Rosanna sadly. "She kisses me good-night; at least she +holds her cheek so I can kiss <i>her</i>, but she never plays with anybody. And +she never holds me: she says I am too big to get on people's laps. But I +guess I must have been a big baby because she never did hold me even when I +was little. There must be different kinds of grandmothers."</p> + +<p>"A little girl I know has one, and my grandmother says that it is a +disgrace the way she spoils that child, and she says she wants me to grow +up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> to be an honor to our house. You see I am the only grandchild there is.</p> + +<p>"Grandmother had a daughter long ago, but she died when she was only two, +and grandmother was married twice and both her husbands died."</p> + +<p>"You seem to have quite a dying family," said Helen politely.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we have." Rosanna commenced to feel quite proud of the fact now that +Helen had mentioned it.</p> + +<p>"I have an uncle too, and he 'most died over in France but he is home now."</p> + +<p>"My father was there too," said Helen proudly. "He had to give up +everything to go, but mother wouldn't let him say that he had to stay home +and work for us so he went. Mother went to work typewriting and we lived in +three rooms, and I went to school and cooked our suppers at night. Mother +used to come home so tired. After the dishes were washed, we used to sit +and knit. I learned to knit without looking on, so I could knit and study +all at the same time. You are the only friend I have here in Louisville," +concluded Helen, "but of course when school begins I will have lots of +them."</p> + +<p>Rosanna was conscious of a jealous pang. She didn't want this bright-eyed +little girl who had just come into her life to have other friends.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you have to have other friends if you have me," she said. +"Why can't we play together all the time, and have good times? My<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +grandmother said I was to take you riding every day, and we can have such +fun. If you have a lot of other friends, Helen, you won't come here at +all."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I will, Rosanna! You will be my bestest friend of all. But +mother says we all need a number of people in our lives because if we don't +we will all get to thinking the same things and talking the same way, and +it is very bad for us."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't have any," said Rosanna hopelessly. "I told you that before. +I suppose if she hadn't had to go to New York, I would never have had you +for a friend. That is the way my grandmother is."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Helen, "when she gets back we will explain things to her, +and I am sure she will get to understand all about things. Why, you just +<i>have</i> to have friends, Rosanna, and I want you to have me if you think you +like me enough."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I do; indeed I do!" cried Rosanna. "I just can't stand it if she +doesn't let me have you! We will have such good times, Helen, and I can +learn to cook, and we can learn to play duets together and it will be such +fun."</p> + +<p>"I should say so!" said Helen happily. "And don't you think it would be fun +to see what all we can do for ourselves? I mean without asking Minnie. I am +sure mother would think it would make us sort of helpless. Of course she is +your maid, and if you would rather have her to do things for you—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No; let's do everything ourselves," said Rosanna, eager to please, and +with a feeling that with someone to enjoy it with her the task would be a +pleasure.</p> + +<p>"I tell you what, Helen, until school opens I can be your very best friend, +and you can play with me 'most all the time, and we will be so happy."</p> + +<p>Minnie watched them from a side window in the big house but they did not +see her. Minnie was pleased. She had heard what Mrs. Horton had said about +some child coming to play with Rosanna. Minnie being wiser than Rosanna and +grown up, knew very well that Mrs. Horton did not mean Helen Culver. But +Minnie had had one or two disastrous experiences with the children who went +to the very select dancing school with Rosanna, and the quiet, pretty, +well-behaved girl playing there in the garden seemed almost too good to be +true. She had never seen Rosanna look so well and so happy. She was glad to +see the chauffeur's child "makin' good" as she expressed it. Minnie's young +man had also returned from overseas and she was sewing every spare moment +on things for her own little house and for herself. If Rosanna had a chance +to play all day every day for a whole week, or as long as Mrs. Horton +stayed away—and Minnie piously wished her a long trip—why, she could be +ready for the young man and the little house just that much sooner.</p> + +<p>As soon as this most splendid thought found its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> way into Minnie's mind she +commenced to make plans to help the children, and as the first one occurred +to her she put her work in her pocket and hurried across to the playhouse, +where she fairly gasped at the sight of Rosanna awkwardly but cheerfully +sweeping leaves and stems off the porch while Helen shook the rugs.</p> + +<p>"Time for you to dress for the evening. Miss Rosanna," she said. "And +wouldn't you like to invite Miss Helen over to supper, and have it served +here on your own porch?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, wouldn't that be fun?" cried Rosanna "Wouldn't you like that, Helen?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I would!" said Helen. She jumped off the porch and looked to see if +the rug was straight. "I will go right home and ask my mother and if I +don't come straight back and tell you, you will know that I can come to +supper." She ran off, returning just at supper time.</p> + +<p>Minnie served the meal and it was all as delicious as a party. Even the +cook was glad to see Rosanna really happy. And after the last bit of the +dessert, a pink ice-cream, had been slowly eaten, the two little girls sat +talking in quite a grown-up manner.</p> + +<p>Presently Helen's bright eyes spied a lady at the other end of the garden.</p> + +<p>"Someone is coming!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"That is a friend of grandmother's. She is coming over every day to see how +I am getting along."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good-evening, Rosanna," said the lady. "I think this looks as though you +were having a very nice time indeed."</p> + +<p>"We are, Mrs. Hargrave," said Rosanna. "This is my friend, Helen Culver."</p> + +<p>Helen curtseyed.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, Helen," said Mrs. Hargrave. "The Culvers of Lee County, I +suppose. A fine old family, my dears. As good as yours, Rosanna. Well, +well, I am glad you are both having a nice time! If you want anything of +me, Rosanna, telephone me and I will be over every day. You little girls +must both come and have luncheon with me some day." She bade them +good-night and walked off, feeling that she had done her whole duty.</p> + +<p>"It is time for me to go home," said Helen. "I didn't practice my half hour +this evening, so I must go and do it now."</p> + +<p>"I didn't practice either," said Rosanna. "I want to work hard at my music +if we are to play duets. I don't want to be the one who always has to play +secondo. Besides, I have a bee-<i>u</i>-ti-ful secret for to-morrow."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + + +<p>When Rosanna went to bed that night she commenced by sitting down on the +floor and taking off her own socks and slippers. Then while Minnie stood +looking at her in pleased surprise, she carefully took off her hair ribbon +and folded it up!</p> + +<p>"Minnie," she said, "have you any little girls in your family?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Miss Rosanna, ever so many."</p> + +<p>"As little as me?" pursued Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"Some littler, and some just about like you, and some larger."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Rosanna, "do they most of them dress and undress themselves?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed yes!" said Minnie. "They would get good and spanked if they tried +any funny work with their mothers. Not that it's not all right, Miss +Rosanna, for you to be cared for, but land, my sisters are all too busy to +bother! And besides, those children have got to learn to do for themselves +sooner or later, and the sooner the better. And I will say, Miss Rosanna, +good wages nor anything will <i>ever</i> make me think it is a good thing to +have my babying you along as big as you are. I don't see why I can't earn +my money just as honest and give just as much work for it by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> learnin' you +to stand on your own feet, as you might say."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Rosanna wisely, "let's make a game of it, Minnie. While +grandmother is away, play you are working for <i>me</i> and teach me to be like +your little girls."</p> + +<p>"Bless your heart!" said Minnie tenderly. "I have feelings, you will find, +Miss Rosanna, if I <i>am</i> only a maid, and I certainly do think you are a +dear child. Whatever gets some of the queer ideas in your head I don't +know!"</p> + +<p>"Why, my little new friend Helen Culver dresses herself and combs her own +hair and everything. And all your little girls in your family fix +themselves, and when I told Helen that you dress me she looked sort of +funny. Then suppose you had to go away for awhile, what would I do? None of +the other maids know where my things are and, besides, I don't like to have +anyone but you fix me and button me up. You are real kind and soft when you +touch me, Minnie. I think you try to be a mother to me."</p> + +<p>To Rosanna's horror, Minnie burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the saints forgive me!" she sobbed. "To think you have thought of that +and me dressin' you half the time that rough and sudden! Oh, Miss Rosanna +dear, just you take notice of me after this!"</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't need to," said Rosanna. "You <i>are</i> good to me, and if you +will, just play you work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> for me and show me where my things are and how to +do things. Helen is going to teach me to cook if you will come sit in the +kitchen and I am going to see if Mrs. Culver will show me how to sew."</p> + +<p>Minnie sniffed. "If she can beat me sewin'," she said scornfully, "she's +beatin' me at my own game. I learned of the nuns in the convent school +where your stitches has to be that small you can't find 'em. You just let +me help with your sewin', dearie."</p> + +<p>"That will be fine," said Rosanna, dancing up and down. "Oh, I do wish +grandmother was going to stay away longer than a week! That's such a short +time to learn everything in, I don't see how I can do it all."</p> + +<p>"Nor I," said Minnie. "And I sure do wish the same for your grandmother, +that she will treat herself and Mr. Robert to a good long trip. She don't +stay away enough for her own good, I say. Well, wishing never does much +good. All we can do is just put in all the time we can, Miss Rosanna, and +we will do exactly what you say. We will make a play of it and I will start +this very minute. You will find your clean night dress in the left hand end +of the second drawer of your dresser."</p> + +<p>"Here it is," said Rosanna a moment later. "What a lot of them I have! Do I +need such a big pile, Minnie?"</p> + +<p>"Well, not really, Miss Rosanna. You outgrow them mostly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then we won't get any more for a long, long time," said Rosanna. "Minnie, +what do you think about my hair?"</p> + +<p>"I will have to comb that for you, dearie; it is so very long and thick."</p> + +<p>"I was thinking," said Rosanna slowly, "about docking it. It is a great +bother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my sufferin' soul!" cried Minnie, with a face of horror. "Oh me, oh +my! Don't you think of that ever again, Miss Rosanna! If anything in the +<i>world</i> happened to your hair, well, I don't want to think what your +grandmother would do to me. Your hair is her pride and glory. It is the +only thing I ever heard her brag about. 'You can tell Rosanna in a crowd as +far as you can see her,' says she, 'by her hair; just that dark color full +of streaks of gold like, and curls at that.' No, Miss Rosanna, you can +learn to sew and cook and take care of yourself, and not much harm done for +her to fret about, but for <i>mercy's</i> sake don't you go touching your hair."</p> + +<p>"Well, it <i>is</i> a bother," said Rosanna, "but we will let it alone for +awhile. Now you must come and wake me early, Minnie, and bring your sewing +so you can sit here and tell me when I don't do the right thing. After +breakfast, if cook will give us some things, I will get Helen and we will +do some baking. Won't that be fun? And in the afternoon I am going to give +Helen and you a surprise."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Me too? Do you mind if Minnie kisses you good-night, dearie?" she asked +softly.</p> + +<p>Rosanna sleepily held up her arms. "Oh, I wish you would, Minnie! It is so +nice to have somebody want to kiss me without my asking them to do it."</p> + +<p>Minnie kissed her tenderly. "Bless you, dearie, old Minnie will kiss you +good-night every night!"</p> + +<p>She turned out the light and snapped on the electric fan.</p> + +<p>And at once, it seemed to Rosanna, it was morning. There must have been +some time between, however, because Minnie went and looked over all her +things, and rejoiced to think what great progress she could make on her +wedding things in a week if she didn't have to wait on Rosanna all the +time, and after she had put everything back in the trunk and locked it up +as though it was the greatest treasure in the world, she went down to see +the cook. She told her all about what Rosanna had planned, and the cook +listened and sniffled and blew her nose hard several times and then got up +and brought out a big basket. This she set on the kitchen table and +commenced to fill with any number of things: salt and pepper and flour and +spices and baking powder and raisins, and all sorts of things. The next +morning when Rosanna went into the playhouse kitchen for a look on her way +to call Helen, there was everything any little girl would possibly need to +cook with, all arranged in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> rows on the shelves of the tiny cupboard. And +wonder of wonders, just inside the door was a little ice-chest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh! Where did that come from?" cried Rosanna, clapping her hands and +running to open it.</p> + +<p>"Cook found it in the store room," said Minnie, smiling. "It was the one +they used in your nursery when you were a baby. She cleaned it all out, and +I think you will find something in it besides ice."</p> + +<p>Sure enough there <i>was</i> something besides ice, but Rosanna took one little +glance and then ran like the wind for the kitchen, where she burst upon the +astonished cook, and reaching as far around her as her short arms would go, +hugged her hard. Then she ran to the brick wall and called Helen.</p> + +<p>It seemed about a second before the two children were in the playhouse +kitchen, aprons on, and hard at work.</p> + +<p>Minnie was made superintendent and sat sewing in a wicker chair beside the +table, where she could give advice. Helen was chief cook and Rosanna was +assistant—the most delighted and thrilled assistant that ever beat an egg +or stirred a batter. By eleven o'clock the cooking was done and every pot +and pan washed and put in its place. Helen said that was the rule in +domestic science school, so although they were both tired with their labors +and Rosanna wished in her heart that she could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> tell Minnie to clean up as +she usually did whenever a mess was made, they stuck to their task and it +did not take very long to finish the work and make the kitchen all spick +and span.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was conscious of a new feeling, a sort of glow, at her heart. Never +before in her life had she spent a really useful morning. She had learned +to cook several things, and had the best time she had ever had in her life.</p> + +<p>"What shall we have? A party?" asked Helen, sinking down in one of the +wicker chairs.</p> + +<p>Rosanna laughed. "Now I am going to tell my surprise, Minnie," she said. +"But when I made it up I didn't think we would help with it ourselves. No, +indeed; I thought you and cook would have to do it all, and we would just +sit around." She laughed. "I think it would be loads of fun to take our +cookies and the jello we made, and make some sandwiches of the cold meat +cook put in our ice-box, and pack the lunch hamper just as though we were +grown up, and fill the thermos bottles with milk, and go to Jacobs Park for +supper to-night."</p> + +<p>Helen gave a scream of delight. "Oh, splendid!" she cried, "I have not been +out there yet, and dad says it is perfectly beautiful—just like real +country."</p> + +<p>"Don't you suppose your mother would like to go, Helen?" asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"Of course she would!" said Helen promptly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> "but she has gone to +Jeffersonville and will not be back until to-morrow morning. It was nice of +you to think of her, Rosanna."</p> + +<p>When the hamper was packed to their satisfaction, they called Minnie back +to see if they had forgotten anything.</p> + +<p>"Why, who's going, Miss Rosanna?" asked Minnie, looking into the basket +with much surprise.</p> + +<p>"You and Mr. Culver and Helen and me," said Rosanna wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Well, dearie, whatever are you going to do with all these things to eat?" +said Minnie. "This basket holds enough for eight grown people, and you have +packed it full."</p> + +<p>"I think we can eat it by supper time," said Rosanna. "You have no idea how +good those cookies and things are. Do you think we have forgotten anything, +Minnie?"</p> + +<p>"Where is the corkscrew for your olive bottle?" said Minnie. "And what are +all those little bundles?"</p> + +<p>"Hard boiled eggs," said Helen.</p> + +<p>"Have you put in salt and pepper for 'em?"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe we have," said Rosanna. She ran to get some.</p> + +<p>"What is in that dish?" Minnie went on relentlessly.</p> + +<p>"Salad, and the other one has fruit jello."</p> + +<p>"They won't ride very well, I am fraid," said Minnie. Then seeing a look of +disappointment in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> the children's faces she hastened to add, "Well, I say +that is a grand supper, and cook never did a bit better for Mr. Robert when +he was home and used to give motoring parties. Now I have a plan myself. +Both you children go and take a nap. Please do that for Minnie, Miss +Rosanna."</p> + +<p>Rosanna was sure she could not sleep, but about one minute later she was +dreaming of dinner parties and kitchens. When she woke up it was three +o'clock and Minnie was shaking her gently.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was off the bed like a shot. She had just reached the porch when +Helen came running up, dressed plainly and sensibly in a plain dark gingham +and sandals.</p> + +<p>"The car is all ready," she said, "and daddy is driving it around to the +front door. And oh, he thinks he can't stay with us. He has so much +studying to do he is going to leave us there with you, Minnie, and come for +us whenever you say."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's all right," said Minnie. "Only now that makes three to eat +all that supper."</p> + +<p>Rosanna picked up her cape and a thermos bottle and skipped down the broad +steps after the house boy, who carried the heavy lunch hamper.</p> + +<p>"Never you mind, Minnie," she said. "Wouldn't you be s'prised to see us eat +every bit of it?"</p> + +<p>"No, I wouldn't," said Minnie firmly. "I'd be <i>scared</i>."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + + +<p>Driving through the winding roads of beautiful Iroquois Park, or Jacobs +Park as it is better known to the people of Louisville, they found a lovely +glade where the grass was smooth and where the trees grew close all about. +They were screened from the passersby, and it looked as though the little +place had just been waiting for a couple of little girls to come there and +enjoy a treat.</p> + +<p>For a long time they played while Minnie sat comfortably at the foot of a +tree and sewed on one of her doilies. Suddenly they were interrupted by the +sound of crying.</p> + +<p>Both girls stood motionless in amazement. Minnie put down her work. The +crying continued. It was no feeble wail, but a good hearty roar with a +running accompaniment of sobs in another key. Two children were being as +miserable and unhappy as they knew how. As they came close to the leafy +screen that protected Rosanna and Helen, the girls were able to see as well +as hear the sobbing pair.</p> + +<p>The most noise was made by a chubby, red-faced little fellow wearing a cap. +He was dragging an empty box by a string, like a little wagon, and his +roars did not prevent an air of lively interest in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> surroundings. His +face was tear streaked, and he cried with the air of one who never intends +to stop. A girl, rather smaller, followed. She clutched her brother firmly +by the back of the blouse and allowed him to drag her forward.</p> + +<p>Her eyes were screwed tight shut, her head was thrown back and she shuffled +along, the very picture of woe. Three other children completed the mournful +group. A larger girl, who staggered along under the weight of the fat baby +she was carrying, and another small boy who stalked along, scowling +unhappily, but with firm steps and squared shoulders as though he would not +let himself be overcome by misfortune.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, <i>oh</i>!" cried the little girl. "Oh, oh, <i>oh</i>!" It seemed all she +could say.</p> + +<p>"L—let l-loose of me!" roared the boy whose blouse she was clutching.</p> + +<p>"Please stop your crying," begged the older girl, setting the baby on his +feet and shifting him to the other arm. "The police will come if you +don't."</p> + +<p>"I don't care! Ow, ow, ow!" yelled the boy.</p> + +<p>Rosanna backed up to Minnie and stood there quite overcome. Not so with +Helen, however. After a good look, she pushed through the leafy screen, +jumped down the low bank and proceeded to ask questions. At the sound of +her voice the small girl opened her eyes and her sobs dwindled to a steady +sniffle. The boy stopped instantly. He looked ashamed. The big girl once +more put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> down the baby, setting it on the bank, and the boy who had not +cried stared off down the road, never giving Helen a glance. Presently the +girl sat down with the baby and Helen dropped down beside her. Rosanna was +filled with curiosity.</p> + +<p>"I am going down to see what it is all about," she said to Minnie.</p> + +<p>"Don't go too close, dearie; you might catch something," said Minnie, +intent on her cross-stitching and not caring much what the matter was.</p> + +<p>Rosanna slipped shyly down the bank and stood beside Helen.</p> + +<p>"She is telling me about it," said Helen, turning to Rosanna. "She earned +the carfare to bring them out here for the afternoon by digging weeds on +lawns. Go on!"</p> + +<p>"Well," said the strange girl, "we took the car, and got out here, and I +had to carry the baby and help Luella there, so I couldn't carry anything +else. And Tommy wanted to carry the supper because he said he was the +biggest, and he wouldn't let Myron even take hold of the basket. And when +we got off the car Luella fell down and bumped herself, and the car went +off, and then I asked Tommy where was the lunch, and he had left it on the +car! He always forgets everything. I oughtn't to have let him have it, but, +you see, I had the baby and had to help Luella. Tommy wanted to run after +the car, but it was 'most out of sight. He couldn't ever catch it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So that's all the trouble. They want their supper, and there isn't any. I +have a bottle of milk in my bag for the baby, but that is all there is +except carfare home, and I'm sorry but p'raps next time Tommy will think +how he leaves good suppers on street cars. We were going to have bread and +butter and doughnuts and three plums apiece."</p> + +<p>At the mention of the lost feast, Tommy burst out with even greater noise. +Luella's eyes closed and her sniffles changed to a low howl.</p> + +<p>"I'm hungry!" roared Tommy. "I didn't go to lose the supper. I gotta have +sumpin' to eat!"</p> + +<p>"No, you haven't either," said the girl. "You haven't got to have anything +to eat any more than Myron has. Why don't you act like Myron? I'd be +ashamed of myself, and you a whole year older!"</p> + +<p>"That's just it!" said Tommy, stopping long enough to talk. "Myron's +littler and thinner, and he don't need it so much."</p> + +<p>"Well, I bet he does!" said his sister. "Now you come along down to the +playgrounds, and you can each have a good big drink of water and then you +won't mind missing your supper."</p> + +<p>She stood up wearily and shouldered the baby. She was a sweet looking +little girl, but careworn as though she had carried the baby most of his +life. And so she had. The other children started down the road, Tommy and +Luella silent for the time. It had been a comfort to tell their troubles to +someone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good-by," said the strange girl, smiling over her shoulder. She kissed the +baby. "Shake a paddy good-by," she said, and a little dimpled hand wagged a +farewell at Rosanna and Helen.</p> + +<p>"We're very sorry," said Helen. "Good-by!"</p> + +<p>"Good-by!" echoed Rosanna.</p> + +<p>They scrambled up the bank and stopped, staring. In the middle of the +grassy lawn that they had chosen for their picnic ground stood the lunch +hamper. It looked as big as a house!</p> + +<p>"Bread and butter and three plums apiece," said Helen under her breath.</p> + +<p>"Bread and butter and three plums apiece," echoed Rosanna. "Helen," she +said solemnly, "this is the reason we packed such a lot of lunch. Come on!" +She turned and dashed down the bank and along the shady road. For the first +time in her life Rosanna was doing something that had not been suggested to +her; something that was out of the regular order of things. She did not ask +herself if the children belonged to nice families. She rather knew they had +no family at all in the sense her grandmother always used. She did not stop +to remember how shocked and horrified her grandmother would be if she could +see her racing along trying to overtake the grubby little group of poor +children. With Helen close behind, she skimmed around the first curve and +spied them ahead.</p> + +<p>Rosanna and Helen commenced to call and wave their arms. The girl heard and +once more set down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> the baby. Tommy heard and squeezed out a louder howl. +Luella opened her eyes. Myron glanced at them and again turned away and +stared down the road. Rosanna and Helen dashed up.</p> + +<p>"We want you to come and have supper with us," said Rosanna, with her sweet +smile. "We have a lovely supper and we cooked most of it ourselves, and we +brought a whole hamper full."</p> + +<p>Tommy shut up suddenly. This was something he could not afford to miss +hearing. Luella showed that her eyes could open and be very large and round +indeed.</p> + +<p>"I don't feel we had better," said the older girl slowly. She certainly +looked very tired.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, you must!" said Rosanna. "The basket holds just enough for eight +people—grown-up people at that; and there are only three of us. Minnie +thought we were crazy to pack so much, but the things looked so nice when +they filled the boxes cramful. <i>Please</i> do come!"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she said hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>Helen looked at her and made a sign that Rosanna did not see. Then "I +<i>thought</i> you were a Girl Scout," she said. "Now that makes it all right +for you to come to us because, as you see, I am a Girl Scout too, and you +know we must serve each other when in need."</p> + +<p>A look of pleasure lighted the girl's face.</p> + +<p>"Why, if you are sure there is enough," she said. "I am so tired carrying +the baby, it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> seem good just to sit down and rest awhile. But Tommy +eats a lot."</p> + +<p>"We don't mind that," said Rosanna. "I don't want a single bit of that +supper left to carry home."</p> + +<p>The little procession turned and made its joyful way back to the lunch +basket.</p> + +<p>Rosanna and Helen seated their little guests, and Minnie, her kind heart +touched by the tired face and drooping shoulders of the little girl who had +carried the heavy baby so far, took the child and commenced to play with +it.</p> + +<p>The girls spread the paper lunch cloth smoothly on the ground and commenced +putting the food on the table. Tommy stared with round eyes. Myron glanced +at the feast and then looked away while, to everyone's astonishment, Luella +commenced to cry.</p> + +<p>"My land of love, what's the matter now?" said Minnie, speaking over the +head of the baby, who nestled happily in her lap.</p> + +<p>Everybody looked at Luella who mumbled something and sobbed right along.</p> + +<p>"What does she say?" asked Helen.</p> + +<p>The older girl looked dreadfully embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"I'm so ashamed of her," she exclaimed in a low tone. "She does think up +such dreadful things! She is crying because those plums are green, and she +knows I won't let her eat any."</p> + +<p>"Plums?" said Helen and Rosanna together.</p> + +<p>"Over there," cried Luella, sniffling and pointing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>Both girls began to laugh, then stopped as they noticed the unhappy look on +the large girl's face.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder she thinks those are plums," said Helen. "I thought they +were plums when I was little and always called them plums long after I knew +they were olives. Here, Luella, you can eat one now if you wish, but I +don't believe you will like them at all. I didn't when I was little."</p> + +<p>Luella took the offered dainty and popped it into her mouth. She managed to +eat it, although she made awful faces. Tommy, watching her, did not ask for +a serving.</p> + +<p>"Can I help?" said the strange girl politely. "I wish you would let me. I +would feel better to do something when you are going to give us such a +perfectly lovely supper."</p> + +<p>"Please sit still and rest," said Rosanna, smiling. "You want to feel real +good and hungry when supper is ready, and I am sure you must be tired +nearly to death. And if you would tell us your name.... We know which is +Tommy, and Myron, and Luella, but we don't know the baby's name, nor +yours."</p> + +<p>"The baby is little Christopher," said the guest, reaching over to pat the +little hand, "and my name is Mary. You are Rosanna and you are Helen, and I +heard them call you Minnie."</p> + +<p>"Perfectly right," said Minnie. "Will it hurt the baby to crawl around on +the grass?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, indeed," said Mary. "He crawls all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> over. He gets some dreadful +tumbles but he never cries. He has fallen out of bed so many times that we +keep the floor all covered with pillows in front of the bed, and last week +he fell down the cellar stairs. Tommy forgot and left the door open."</p> + +<p>"My good land, didn't it kill the poor child?" asked Minnie.</p> + +<p>"No, there was a bushel basket partly full of potatoes on the landing, and +he fell into those and never hurt himself at all. He didn't even cry but a +minute. He is the best baby we have ever had."</p> + +<p>"My land, you poor chicken, you!" said Minnie. "You talk like you was the +mother of the whole bunch!"</p> + +<p>"I help a lot with them," said Mary simply, "and I guess they are 'most as +much mine as mother's. You see she works and somebody has to take care of +them. And it isn't such very hard work, especially since I joined the Girl +Scouts. All the girls are so good, and have such a lot of good times, and +oh, it makes everything different!"</p> + +<p>"What are Girl Scouts?" said Rosanna. Both girls looked at her in +amazement. "I know what Boy Scouts are," she said hastily, "but I never +heard of Girl Scouts."</p> + +<p>Helen patted her on the arm. "Well, Rosanna, some day I will tell you all +about them, but now we must hurry and get the rest of the things on the +table because I don't think Tommy will ever live if he has to wait much +longer."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know Myron is awfully hungry too," said Mary, smiling at her little +brother. "He never says a word, but I can tell what he thinks. Myron is +such a help to me. He is just as good at remembering things as Tommy is at +forgetting them."</p> + +<p>"He helped to forget the lunch," said Tommy.</p> + +<p>Myron spoke up in self-defence. "No, I didn't! I was helping Mary pick up +Luella and I thought you had it. You had it the last I saw."</p> + +<p>"I put it down after that," said Tommy as though that explained everything.</p> + +<p>"I think I will lay the baby down beside this tree and let him have his +bottle," said Mary. "That will keep him quiet all the time we eat."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute until we fix a nice place," said Minnie. She brought a +couple of auto robes and made a smooth, soft bed under the tree.</p> + +<p>"There he is!" she said. Mary, who had been unwrapping wads of newspapers, +produced a bottle of milk which she gave the baby. He settled down to a +quiet enjoyment of his meal, and Mary sighed as she sat down at the edge of +the tablecloth.</p> + +<p>"I <i>do</i> hope you won't mind if I look at everything," she said. "I never +<i>saw</i> so many <i>lovely</i> things in my life even in a delicatessen window."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + + +<p>The children, very, very solemn but oh so thrilled, seated themselves on +the grass and silently accepted the plates of good things that Helen and +Rosanna dished out for them. It is to be said for the everlasting credit of +the jello that it did <i>not</i> melt, and the salad <i>did</i> ride well, although +Minnie had gloomily expected it to be "all over the place" as she expressed +it.</p> + +<p>How those children did eat! Commencing with the ham sandwiches and the +lettuce and egg sandwiches, and the cold hard-boiled eggs, and crackers and +olives, and fruit salad, and very, <i>very</i> thin iced tea with lemon in it, +and jello for dessert!</p> + +<p>About half way through the smaller children commenced to thaw out and lose +their shyness, and talk. <i>How</i> they did talk! Myron said nothing (but that +was expected of Myron). When at last Rosanna was tipping up the second +thermos bottle to see if there was a drop of tea left, and they were all +eating the last cookies very, very slowly, partly to make them last and +partly because they were so full and comfortable, Rosanna happened to +notice Myron. She motioned to Helen to look. Myron had not eaten +everything. He had slyly lifted the tablecloth and had hidden under it a +ham<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> sandwich rather nibbled as to edge, a small pile of cookies (his +share) and his plate of jello, which he had slipped off on a paper napkin.</p> + +<p>"He couldn't eat all his supper, and he is afraid we won't like it," +whispered Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"I am going to ask him," said Helen. She stepped over to the boy, who was +sitting close to his little pile of goodies as though trying to hide it. +"Couldn't you eat all your supper?"</p> + +<p>Myron nodded.</p> + +<p>Mary glanced quickly at her brother, and said, "Why, Myron, <i>whatever</i> are +you trying to do?"</p> + +<p>Tommy piped up. "I guess he's going to take 'em home to eat on the way."</p> + +<p>"I am <i>not</i>!" said Myron hotly, stung into self-defence as usual by his +brother. "I am <i>not</i>! Going to take it home to mamma and Gwenny. I haven't +had a speck more'n my share. I counted every time, and everybody had four +cookies 'cept Tommy. He had six. And I saved my sandwich out, and the +jell!"</p> + +<p>Tears stood in Mary's eyes. "But it isn't polite, Myron, to take anything +away without asking and, anyway, I know mamma and Gwenny will be satisfied +to just hear about our good time, and they wouldn't want you to do such a +thing." She tried to put the cookies back on the table but Myron clung to +them stubbornly.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" he said. "They are <i>my</i> things! I went without 'em, and I want to +take them home<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> to mamma and Gwenny. Gwenny never had any cookies like +those. And the jell is so pretty. I put a egg in my pocket too." Myron's +lip trembled, but he did not cry although Tommy giggled openly.</p> + +<p>"Of course you shall take them home to your mother! Who is Gwenny—your +dog?" asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"Gwenny is my <i>sister</i>!" said Myron furiously.</p> + +<p>Rosanna felt that she always said the wrong thing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, excuse me, Myron," she said meekly.</p> + +<p>A shade of sorrow passed over Mary's bright little face as she said, +"Gwenny can never go anywhere with us. She is sick, and never goes +anywhere."</p> + +<p>"Sick in bed?" questioned Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"No, she has a wheel chair, and when her back doesn't hurt too much, she +can be wheeled around the house and sometimes out in the yard. But she +wouldn't want Myron to do anything like this, so rude."</p> + +<p>"But Gwenny never <i>had</i> any cookies as good as those, and the jell is so +pretty!" repeated Myron stubbornly.</p> + +<p>"I think it is so nice of you, Myron," said Rosanna. "I wish I had known +about Gwenny too so I could have saved her some of my cookies. Let me help +you do them up. You can take them to her just as you meant to, and I know +she will like them because her little brother went without to save<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> some +for her. And some day soon, Myron, we will bring her a whole picnic for +herself, and perhaps she will ask you to help her eat it."</p> + +<p>"I'll help her too," said Tommy, puffing up his chest. "I'd just as soon!"</p> + +<p>Minnie, bending over the hamper, whispered to Rosanna, "I'll bet he'll help +her! My, my, how I do want to fix that boy! I wish my third sister from the +oldest, Louisa Cordelia, had him for a while. I reckon one day with her +would make him feel different on a good many subjects. Little pig!" +Minnie's eyes snapped.</p> + +<p>Rosanna laughed. "I suppose he doesn't know any better, Minnie."</p> + +<p>"Know any better? Well, Miss Rosanna, Myron didn't need any help about +remembering his poor hard-worked mother and his sick sister. I don't doubt +Mary thought of 'em too, but she was too polite to say a word after all you +have done for them. But poor little Myron didn't know it wasn't polite, so +he just goes ahead and keeps part of his treat. If there are any cookies in +Master Tommy's pockets, they will never get as far as his house."</p> + +<p>"Well, I think he <i>is</i> selfish," said Rosanna regretfully. "But, Minnie, we +must take some good things to that Gwenny. I think grandmother would want +me to."</p> + +<p>After the supper things were all packed away in the hamper, everybody sat +around and wondered what to do next. Then Rosanna had a fine idea.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>She seated herself next the shy little Myron and suggested that everybody +should tell a story. Tommy and Myron looked rather wild. Rosanna saw the +look, and said that she thought they ought to commence with Helen, because +she looked as though she knew lots of stories.</p> + +<p>Helen said she didn't know so very many, but she was willing to try.</p> + +<p>"This is a really truly story about a little, little boy. He did not have +any brothers or sisters, and he was very lonely and unhappy although he had +nice clothes and plenty to eat. So he thought if he just had a little +kitten or a dog to play with and live with he would be a good deal happier, +and perhaps he would even get to be as happy as he could be. But his mother +did not like to have dogs or cats around because they tracked up things, so +she wouldn't let him have them. And somebody wanted to give him a canary +but his mother thought it would be a lot of trouble to feed. And once he +'most got a pair of white rats with his Fourth of July money, but they +simply wouldn't let him. So there he was; and he grew lonelier and lonelier +and he used to sit on the top step and stare down the street and wish he +might whistle at the dogs he saw, but he wouldn't for fear one of them +might be looking for a home and then it would be so disappointed after he +had patted it and been kind to it, if it had to go on again.</p> + +<p>"Well, one day there was a picnic down the river.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> The people went by boat +and then landed at the picnic grove, and spent the afternoon. The little +boy, whose name was Peter, went with his mother and aunt, and when they got +to the grove his mother said to his aunt, 'I don't see any reason why Peter +shouldn't walk around and amuse himself and play with some of those +children.' And his aunt said, 'Yes, if he doesn't fall into the river,' and +his mother said, 'Peter, you see to it that you don't go near the bank.'</p> + +<p>"Peter said 'yes, ma'am,' and really meant to mind. He walked off and +pretty soon—oh, yes, I forgot to say that his mother gave him ten cents to +spend for popcorn or on the merry-go-round. So pretty soon Peter saw a dog +walking around with his tail sort of down as though he didn't know anybody +and was not having a very nice time. Peter didn't call him, but he wished +he knew the dog, he was such a pretty collie with beautiful long hair and +such a nice face. Pretty soon the dog saw Peter, and quick as a wink he +knew that Peter was lonely too, so he came up to him. They got to be +friends in a minute and went walking off together, and Peter spent his ten +cents for popcorn and shared it with the dog.</p> + +<p>"So they went around liking each other more and more, and when it came time +for supper the dog lay right under Peter's chair, and Peter's mother said, +'Well, if you haven't picked up a dog! I declare that child beats all!'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"After supper Peter and the dog walked around some more, and Peter knew +that soon the boat would start and he would have to leave the dog and he +felt worse and worse about it until he almost couldn't bear it at all.</p> + +<p>"And he was thinking so hard that he forgot what his mother had told him, +and walked along the top of the bank by the river. It was a high bank and +crumbly; and all of a sudden a piece broke off and Peter slipped and slid +down, down into the river, and under he went. The next thing he knew he was +on the bank, and his mother was crying, and there was a lot of people, and +the dog was there wet as sop, and he was trying to lick Peter's face, and +Peter's mother was letting him do it. And a man said, 'Madame, if it hadn't +been for that dog, your son would have been drowned. I saw it all.'</p> + +<p>"Then Peter's mother kissed him, and patted the dog, and she said, 'Peter, +if that dog has no home we will take him for your dog, and if he has, we +will try to buy him.' But it turned out that the dog did not belong to +anyone, and so Peter took him home, and had him for his dog always."</p> + +<p>"Why, that's a perfectly beautiful story!" exclaimed Rosanna, and all the +children thought so too.</p> + +<p>"You ought to see <i>my</i> dog," said Tommy. "He's a fighter, he is!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How can you say that?" said Mary. "He is only three months old and can +scarcely walk straight."</p> + +<p>"Well, I bet he will fight when he gets bigger."</p> + +<p>"He's not your dog anyhow," said Myron. "He's Gwenny's."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Myron bought him for her at the Pet Shop with money he earned +himself. It is a toy poodle, so he won't ever be big."</p> + +<p>"Now who tells the next story?" asked Rosanna. "I think it is Tommy's +turn."</p> + +<p>"Don't know none," said Tommy.</p> + +<p>"Don't know <i>any</i>," his sister corrected him. "Go on and try, Tommy."</p> + +<p>Tommy breathed hard, then said rapidly:</p> + +<p>"Well, once over on the parkway two kids was playin', and a man came along +drivin' a race horse, and it had got scared at a nautomobile, and was +runnin' away, and the rein had broke, and the man he yelled, 'I'll give +anybuddy a million dollars to stop this horse,' and one of the kids 'bout +my size give a leap and grabbed the horse by the nose and stopped him. And +the man jumped right out and give the kid a million dollars."</p> + +<p>"The saints forgive him!" said Minnie. She did not say who.</p> + +<p>"Mercy me!" said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"What did he do with the money?" asked Helen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Spent it," said Tommy promptly. "Went right down town and spent it."</p> + +<p>"What could he spend such a lot for?" asked Helen.</p> + +<p>"Spent it for candy and ice-cream cones and sody and cake, and he went to +the circus and all the side shows, and Fontaine Ferry and bought a +nautomobile and sling shot and everything."</p> + +<p>"My sister Louisa Cordelia ought to know you," said Minnie.</p> + +<p>"Don't want to know any girls," said Tommy rudely.</p> + +<p>Rosanna felt that it was time to change the conversation. "Now who next?" +she asked pleasantly. "What story can Luella tell?"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe she can tell any story," said Mary, "but she knows some +little verses she learned in school. They have such a sweet young lady for +a teacher; mamma says she never saw anybody take such pains with the +children as she does." She turned to Luella who was wriggling in +embarrassment and biting her finger. "Speak something Miss Marie taught +you, Luella honey."</p> + +<p>"Miss Marie?" said Minnie. "Miss Marie? What is her other name?"</p> + +<p>"Corrigan," said Mary.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, that's my younger sister," said Minnie proudly. "She's a +teacher, and I <i>will</i> say she is a good one. Nothing would do but she must +go through normal school and teach. Seems like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> she was just made for it, +so patient and loving." She cast a glance at Tommy. "Not much like my +sister Louisa Cordelia, she isn't."</p> + +<p>"The children just love her to death," said Mary. "Go on, honey, and say +the little piece about the little bird."</p> + +<p>Luella arose, breathed hard, curtseyed, and very sweetly recited,</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Luellas' poem"> +<tr><td align='left'>A little bird sat on a tree,<br /> + He said, "This seems a pleasant day,<br /> +He bent his pretty little head,<br /> + He shook his pretty feathers out.<br /> +When all the leaves have fallen down<br /> + When snow is deep on dell and hill,<br /> +This would not be the place for me,"<br /> + "I know a land far, far away,<br /> +He waved a wing and winked an eye,<br /> + And waved his little wing at me.<br /> +I think perhaps I'll fly away."<br /> + "I don't see any worms," he said.<br /> +"It's growing cold without a doubt.<br /> + And all the trees are bare and brown,<br /> +And wintry winds are cold and chill,<br /> + He said, and teetered on his tree.<br /> +Where winter is as warm as May."<br /> + And off he flew, "Good-bye, good-bye!"</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + + +<p>All the children except Tommy clapped their hands when Luella finished. It +did indeed sound sweet and she spoke it very prettily, waving her hand and +winking her own eye at the end.</p> + +<p>Rosanna and Myron felt that their time had come. They looked at each other, +but Minnie settled the question.</p> + +<p>"Now it is Miss Rosanna's turn," she said, "and then Myron's. Ladies first. +Give us a real nice story, Miss Rosanna."</p> + +<p>"About robbers," said Tommy, chewing on a grass stem.</p> + +<p>"I don't know any about robbers," said Rosanna pleasantly, "but I do know +one about a cat, or a kitten rather, and it really happened. Helen told one +about a dog, and this is about a cat.</p> + +<p>"Once there were two little boys, Walter and Harold, and they were going a +long, long way to their new home in the West where they were going to live. +And they had a pet kitten that they wanted to take along so badly that +fin'ly their mother and father said they might take it if they would carry +it in its basket all the way and never ask anyone else to take care of it. +So they said they would, and by-and-by they had everything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> packed up and +ready, and when the time came, they started off and got on the train, +kitten and all.</p> + +<p>"They had things for it to eat and milk for it to drink, and when the +conductor was not in the car they used to take it out of its basket and pet +it and play with it. And the kitten didn't mind it a bit.</p> + +<p>"Well, when they had been on the train a couple of days they let the kitten +out, and Harold had it on his lap sound asleep.</p> + +<p>"But just when they were at a station and the train was standing still, +something awfully exciting happened outside the window, and both boys +forgot the kitten. She jumped down from Harold's lap and went along under +the seats toward the end of the car. She thought she was going to have a +nice little walk, but just then the brakeman came into the car and there +was a kitten under one of the seats. He thought of course it had hopped on +the car there at the station, so he took it up and put the poor little +thing off the train, and then that <i>very</i> minute the whistle blew and off +they went.</p> + +<p>"It was a vestibule train, and when Walter and Harold found out that their +kitten was gone they hunted every inch of the car over, and then hunted +through the next car, thinking that she might have gone across the +vestibule and into the other car. But she was not there. Just then along +came the brakeman again and when the boys asked him if he had seen a +kitten, he said, 'Why, sure! Was that <i>your</i> cat? I thought she had hopped +on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> train back there at the last station, and I took her and put her +off.'</p> + +<p>"Well, the boys felt so badly they didn't know what to <i>do</i>, and the +brakeman said they would not stop at any station for sixty miles. Walter +said he was going back to see if he could find her, but the brakeman said +she was most likely gone by this time or somebody had picked her up. He was +awfully sorry about it.</p> + +<p>"When they had gone the sixty miles the car stopped, but the boys didn't +care to look out or anything. They just sat and thought about their little +kittie, and Harold said, 'Seems as though I can hear her cry,' and Walter +said, 'Don't say that again,' and then he looked funny, because he thought +he could hear her himself!</p> + +<p>"Harold said, 'I suppose she is dead, and that is her ghost.' Walter said, +'No, it's not; even kitten ghosts don't make a noise. There it is again.'</p> + +<p>"And then they looked around very slowly, the way you do when you think +something is going to happen and you don't know just what it will be, and +there in the seat back of them was the brakeman and he was holding that +kitten!</p> + +<p>"When he opened the car door he found her squeezed up in a corner of the +top step, where she had ridden all that long way. When the brakeman tossed +her off she knew that the boys were on the train, so she climbed right +back, but she didn't get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> on quick enough to get into the vestibule before +the door was shut, so she had to hang on and ride outside. She was scared +nearly to death and jumped at every sound and trembled for days, but the +boys petted her and comforted her, and by-and-by she felt all right. And +there were lots of mice in the house they went to live in, and that took +her mind off herself. And that's all of that," said Rosanna, smiling.</p> + +<p>"That's a nice story," said Minnie. "Now let's hear what Myron has to +tell."</p> + +<p>Myron shook his head. "Oh, go on, Myron," said Helen. "Tell us a story, +please, even if it <i>is</i> short!"</p> + +<p>"Once there was a little boy," said Myron, without waiting to be teased. +"Once there was a little boy and he had a mamma and two brothers and three +sisters, and he grew up and made lots of money, and bought lots of nice +things for his mamma, and his two brothers and his three sisters and that's +all."</p> + +<p>"The dear lamb!" said Minnie. "That's the best story of the lot."</p> + +<p>"Mine was better," said Tommy. "Mine was a real feller."</p> + +<p>"Oh," murmured Minnie, "Louisa Cordelia has just <i>got</i> to get hold of you, +young man!"</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is my turn now," said Mary, "as long as you want to save +Minnie for the last. Could you let me say you a little poetry, or was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +Luella's enough? I think some poetry sort of mixes things up a little."</p> + +<p>"I think poetry is <i>lovely</i>," said Rosanna sweetly. "We loved Luella's +verses."</p> + +<p>"Well, then I will say some instead of a story." Mary cleared her throat +and, rising, made a little bow.</p> + +<h4>UNAFRAID</h4> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="UNAFRAID"> +<tr><td align='left'>The day I die, I'll quickly go<br /> + Past all the angels, row on row,<br /> +Straight up to God; I'll know His face<br /> + Even up there in that new place.<br /><br /> +In Sunday School, the way they teach,<br /> + God is almost too great to reach.<br /> +They act a little bit afraid;<br /> + Because the world and all He made.<br /><br /> +But if He made the heavens blue,<br /> + He made the sweet wild violets too;<br /> +And Oh, what careful work it took<br /> + To plan the small trout in the brook.<br /><br /> +I know He's just the very size<br /> + Of father; with most loving eyes.<br /> +Just big enough so one like me<br /> + Can safely lean against His knee.<br /><br /></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>"Those were lovely verses," said Minnie when Mary had finished. "I wonder +who wrote them."</p> + +<p>"My teacher wrote them," said Mary. "I think they are real nice."</p> + +<p>"I do think it is a waste of time for me to tell a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> story," said Minnie. +"First you know the machine will be here and then we will have to hurry +home."</p> + +<p>"I would like to hear you tell a story ever so much," said Mary. "I know it +would be a nice one, but I must be starting along pretty soon. It is a long +way from here to the car track, and I have to stop so often on account of +the baby being so heavy. It is so funny about babies, they seem to get so +heavy toward night."</p> + +<p>"Indeed they do after you have lugged them about all day," said Minnie. "I +say I know all about it, dearie."</p> + +<p>"We are not going to let you walk at all," said Rosanna. "We are going to +take you wherever you live right in the car."</p> + +<p>"Nautomobile ride! Nautomobile ride!" chanted Tommy, tossing his cap.</p> + +<p>"I think you are just too good," said Mary. "Will your automobile hold such +a lot?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, indeed, and more too!" said Rosanna, glad for once that she had a +big Pierce-Arrow.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + + +<p>"I hear the car coming," said Minnie. Everybody listened, and sure enough +the big car rounded the bend and drew up at the bank with a mighty blast of +the horn. Tommy yelled in reply and bolted for it, the others following, +loaded down with the empty hamper and rugs, and by no means least, the +baby, awake now and very happy after his sleep.</p> + +<p>Minnie marshalled them into their places, putting the two boys on the front +seat with Mr. Culver, and off they rolled. When they reached the little +house where the children lived, Mary thanked Rosanna and Helen and Minnie +and Mr. Culver again and she would have liked to thank the car too, and the +hamper. Even Tommy managed to say, "Much obliged!" before he rushed to the +house so he could have the fun of telling all about it before Mary could +get there.</p> + +<p>But Mary did not mind. This was something that would have to be told over +and over a dozen or twenty times. She stood with Luella and Myron, the baby +looped over her arm, and watched the car disappear with a feeling of +happiness and gratitude that filled her thin little frame to overflowing.</p> + +<p>When the car reached the great white steps of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> Rosanna's house, the two +little girls said good-night.</p> + +<p>"I never had such a nice, lovely, beautiful day in all my life, Rosanna," +she said. "And all because you were so good and kind."</p> + +<p>"You would have thought of it just the same," said Rosanna, blushing. "But +oh, Helen and Minnie, <i>wasn't</i> it lucky that we took such a lot of lunch?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it did turn out so," said Minnie.</p> + +<p>The car rolled away, and Rosanna and Minnie went into the big, cool hall.</p> + +<p>On the table was a letter addressed to Rosanna in her grandmother's stiff, +precise handwriting. Rosanna took it up with a sort of groan.</p> + +<p>"That's to tell when she is coming home, of course," she said. "I won't +read it until I am all undressed. Everything is going so beautifully and I +am learning such a lot and having such a lovely time that it doesn't seem +as though I could bear to have it come to an end."</p> + +<p>"I think you ought to read your letter, Rosanna," Minnie said. "I don't +believe in leaving things. You expect bad news in that letter and you are +having a horrid time all the time you are getting ready for bed. You +couldn't feel any worse if you opened it. And suppose there was good news +in it? Then you would wish you had found it out before, wouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," said Rosanna listlessly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>She sighed and, taking the letter, tore off the end of the envelope and +commenced to read. The second sentence caused her to cry out. She turned to +Minnie, hugged her, and cried, "Oh, Minnie, you are so wise! Just listen to +this!" The letter read:<br /><br /></p> + +<p>"My dear Granddaughter Rosanna:</p> + +<p>"What news I have had from home leads me to believe that you are well and +being nicely cared for.</p> + +<p>"Since this is the case, I feel that it will be possible for me to remain +here in the East for a few weeks with your Uncle Robert. He is not ill, you +understand, but is run down and nervous from the effects of his wound and +many trying experiences abroad. He is fussing because he has lost track of +a soldier friend of his, the man who saved his life. He is doing all he can +to trace him, as he feels—and of course so do I—that we could +never do enough to repay the debt we owe him.</p> + +<p>"About yourself, I hope you will have a good time. Do not forget to +practice. Mrs. Hargrave spoke of seeing a very interesting child at our +house. I am very glad you have found among your acquaintances one whom you +would like to make your friend. I can trust you, Rosanna, to choose wisely. +And I am glad to see that Mrs. Hargrave says that this Helen somebody comes +of an old Lee County family. I cannot read the name. Mrs. Hargrave is a +very careless penman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> Always write distinctly, Rosanna. It is one +of the many marks of good breeding.</p> + +<p>"Your Uncle Robert sends his love. He is anxious to see you.</p> + +<p style= "text-align: right">Your loving grandmother,</p> + +<p style= "text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Virginia Lee Horton.</span><br /></p> + + +<p>Rosanna read the letter twice.</p> + +<p>Then she turned and looked at Minnie. "It's good and bad too, isn't it, +Minnie? You know Helen is <i>not</i> one of the Culvers of Lee County, but she +is just as good and sweet as though she belonged to all the Lee County +Culvers in the world. Minnie, what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>"You must do what you think right, dearie," said Minnie, her kind, wise +eyes searching the girl's face. "I can't tell you what to do. You must +decide for yourself. It's one of the biggest things in the world to learn; +that is, to decide what is right and wrong without someone telling us."</p> + +<p>She kissed Rosanna good-night and left the room. A moment later she +returned. "Mrs. Hargrave just telephoned, dearie, that she wants you and +Helen to take luncheon with her to-morrow." Once more she bade the little +girl good-night, and Rosanna, tired out, fell asleep before the door was +closed.</p> + +<p>She did not see Helen the next day until time for luncheon, but when she +waked up she found a book lying beside her bed. Helen had sent it over to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +her. It was all about the Girl Scouts, and their rules and duties and +pleasures, and Rosanna found it hard work not to sit down and read instead +of taking her cold bath and dressing herself. Then after breakfast came the +history lesson and the music and dressing again, and when Helen, very crisp +and dainty, came in ready to go to Mrs. Hargrave's, she found that Rosanna +had not had time to read a single line.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave lived three houses away, and the children felt very important +and fine, especially Helen, who had never been asked to luncheon with a +grown-up lady before. Her eyes grew round when they entered the house. It +was so dim and cool and "old timey" as Helen put it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave always dressed in the latest fashion for old ladies, yet +somehow she always looked as though she belonged to another day and time. +When she drove about the city she scorned the modern automobile. She went +in the spickest and spannest little carriage drawn by an old, sleek and +still frisky roan horse with a gold mounted harness and her driver was a +colored man as haughty and aristocratic looking as Mrs. Hargrave herself; +perhaps a little more so.</p> + +<p>She advanced to meet the two little girls with a charming manner that made +them curtsey their very prettiest and caused them to feel more important +and grown up than ever.</p> + +<p>During luncheon Mrs. Hargrave said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Will your brother return to college now that the war is over, Helen?"</p> + +<p>Helen looked up in surprise. "I think you have me mixed up with some other +little girl, Mrs. Hargrave," she said. "I have no brother."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave stared at her guest. "Are you not Lucius Culver's youngest +child?" she questioned. "The Lee County Culvers?"</p> + +<p>"No, Mrs. Hargrave," said Helen. "I am John Culver's daughter."</p> + +<p>"Another family," said Mrs. Hargrave and changed the subject politely by +asking Rosanna what she had heard from her grandmother.</p> + +<p>Helen sat thinking. She was a straightforward, honest little girl, and +somehow she felt as though she was sailing under false colors as far as +Mrs. Hargrave went. She felt sure of Rosanna; Rosanna did not care whether +she was poor or rich, and it made no difference at all to her that Helen's +father worked for Mrs. Horton. But some people were different, Helen +reflected. Twice Mrs. Hargrave had spoken of Helen being one of the Culvers +of Lee County, and Helen wondered if it would make any difference to the +fine old lady sitting there in her soft, shimmery silks, with the long +string of real pearls about her neck if she thought the little girl sitting +there as her guest was living over a garage back of Mrs. Horton's elegant +home. It puzzled Helen and troubled her. But try as she might, not once did +the talk turn so she could bring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> in what she felt she wanted Mrs. Hargrave +to know. It just <i>wouldn't</i> come about.</p> + +<p>After luncheon was over Mrs. Hargrave took the children and showed them +some of the strange and curious things about the house.</p> + +<p>Then she had a delightful suggestion to make. She herself was obliged to go +down town to see her lawyer and she thought it would be very nice for the +girls to come for a little ride. To Rosanna, used only to automobiles, and +Helen who rode most of the time in street cars, the idea of riding along +after the proud gold-harnessed, frisky old horse in the spick-and-span +carriage was a treat and an adventure. Making themselves politely small and +quiet, sitting on either side of Mrs. Hargrave, they went trotting down +Third Street, turned by the big white library building, and continued down +Fourth Street where they eyed the crowds, read the giddy signs in front of +the movie houses and looked at the window displays.</p> + +<p>While Mrs. Hargrave talked to her lawyer, the girls sat in the carriage and +pretended that they were grown-up ladies.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Hargrave came out, they started up Fourth Street.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," said Mrs. Hargrave, "this is the first time in all my life +that any little girls have visited me without their mothers? And I have had +the <i>nicest</i> time I think I ever had. I want to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> remember it always." She +gave the signal to stop, and asked the children to get out.</p> + +<p>"There is something I want to get here," she said, and led the way into a +big jeweler's shop. The two girls stopped to look at the rings in the case +near the door, but Mrs. Hargrave called them. "I need a notebook and pencil +and I thought you would like to help me select it. I am a rather fussy and +very forgetful old lady."</p> + +<p>She did seem fussy over that notebook, but finally chose a dainty gold one +with a square in the center for initials. Attached by a tiny gold chain was +a slender pencil with a blue stone in the top.</p> + +<p>Then, to their amazement, the clerk laid two others exactly like it on the +counter. Three just alike!</p> + +<p>"I think it would be nice for us all to remember our pleasant day, don't +you?" asked Mrs. Hargrave, smiling. "I want to give you each one just like +this one that I am getting for myself. Then we will think of each other +whenever we use them."</p> + +<p>Helen lifted Mrs. Hargrave's delicate old hand and laid it against her +cheek.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mrs. Hargrave," she cried, "I will <i>never</i> forget you. I don't need +the notebook, but it is too lovely, and I will keep it as long as I live."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave's eyes filled with tears. "Bless your heart!" she said.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + + +<p>The very next day Mrs. Hargrave was called into the country to see a sick +cousin. She telephoned Minnie before she left and told her that she felt +that things were going along as well as anyone could possibly expect, and +that she was delighted with Rosanna and her little friend. This message +distressed Minnie for she was just about to go to see Mrs. Hargrave.</p> + +<p>Minnie was not happy. Silly and foolish as it was, she well knew that the +proud old Mrs. Horton would not be willing to accept as poor and simple a +child as Helen for Rosanna's closest friend, no matter how sweet and well +mannered she might be. Minnie, who knew real worth when she saw it, +despised Mrs. Horton for her overbearing ideas, but what to do she didn't +know. She feared a storm if she let things go until Mrs. Horton's return, +yet she dreaded a separation for the children, when they might enjoy each +other for two or three weeks longer.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was improving daily. Minnie was pleased and proud to see how she +continued to do for herself and learn in every way to be independent. Her +sewing was wonderful. She was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> working eagerly on a little dark blue dress +like Helen's for herself, and with Minnie's help was even putting a little +simple cross-stitching on the cuffs and yoke. Rosanna was prouder of that +dress than of anything she had ever had in her beautiful, crowded wardrobe.</p> + +<p>Minnie felt that she wanted to consult with someone, and the most sensible +person she knew was Mrs. Hargrave. But with Mrs. Hargrave away, all Minnie +could see to do was to let things go along, and "trust to luck" as she put +it. Minnie didn't like "trusting to luck" at all; and every time she saw +the two children playing together so happily and busily she shook her head +and sighed.</p> + +<p>Rosanna, too, in a dim way was feeling troubled, because she too knew her +grandmother, and remembered other times when she had been severely scolded +for trying to make friends with children whose parents did not measure up +to the standard set by Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>In fact, for all the seeming happiness, no one was wholly happy but Helen!</p> + +<p>Helen had been taught by her wise young mother that the most important +things in life are not to be measured as anything that money can buy. +According to Mrs. Culver, a little girl must be obedient and truthful and +well behaved and kind. She must have a low and pleasant voice and be able +to sit in the presence of her elders without trying to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> enter the +conversation unless asked to do so. These things she had taught Helen, and +her little girl had been a ready pupil. Mrs. Culver was justly proud of +her.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was just a bit afraid. And the fear caused her to go in a line that +was not <i>perfectly</i> straightforward. She was sorry enough for it +afterward—sorrier than she thought she could ever be. But that did not +mend things in the least.</p> + +<p>Because she did not know just how to turn around and explain everything to +her grandmother and still be sure of her happy time, to say nothing of +protecting her dear Helen from distress, when she answered her +grandmother's letter she wrote as follows:<br /><br /></p> + +<p>Dear Grandmother:</p> + +<p>"I was glad to get your letter, and I am glad Uncle Robert is home again. +Give my love to him, please. I am glad you are having a good time, and I +hope you will stay away as long as you like. I am having a very good time. +Oh, grandmother, I am having a lovely time. What do you think? Mrs. +Hargrave had Helen and me to luncheon with her, and she likes Helen as much +as I do, only she doesn't belong to the Lee family, and after luncheon Mrs. +Hargrave took us down town with her, and before we came home she bought +each of us a gold notebook with a gold pencil on a gold chain +fastened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> to it. She bought herself one too so we each have one just +like a secret society.</p> + +<p>"I am learning to cook and to sew. I am making myself a dress. It is very +pretty. I shall make a good many of my dresses after this. It saves a good +deal of money, Minnie says, and I can help the poor with it.</p> + +<p>"We went out to Jacobs Park for a picnic, and five poor little children had +lost their basket of supper. So I thought what you would do if you saw five +little children who had lost their supper, and I asked them to have supper +with us. There was enough, on account of our taking Uncle Robert's hamper, +and Uncle Robert always liking to be generous.</p> + +<p>"We have planned a great many things. If they don't all get done before you +come home, grandmother, perhaps you will enjoy doing them too.</p> + +<p>"I am learning a great deal about the Girl Scouts. I want to be one.</p> + +<p>"Did you know our cook has a little lame boy at home? I was glad to find it +out. It is one more person to be kind to. I have sent him all my set of +puzzle pictures.</p> + +<p>"Minnie is planning to get married. She has a trunk of things. When you +come home won't it be nice because we can go down town and buy something +for her. She will like something you have given her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She likes you very much, I am sure, because she always says, 'Well, all I +can say is there's not many like your grandmother in this world.'</p> + +<p>"I think it is so nice to be liked. I want to grow up to be liked. I think +being a Girl Scout will help. Helen says all sorts of girls belong, rich as +well as poor, and that it broadens you.</p> + +<p>"This is a long letter, grandmother, but I had a good deal to tell you. So +please have a good time, grandmother, and I am your loving little girl</p> + + +<p style= "text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Rosanna.</span><br /><br /></p> + + +<p>Minnie sent a letter too. It read:<br /><br /></p> + + +<p>"Mrs. Horton:</p> + +<p>"I wish to report that everything seems to be going smoothly. Mrs. +Hargrave has taken a great liking to Miss Rosanna, and her new friend +Miss Helen, and likes to have them with her. Miss Rosanna practices +and studies faithfully, and her music teacher says she never had such +a bright pupil. I have her take a rest in the middle of each day. The +day you left she broke her bottle of tonic, and I could not get more, +as you have the prescription. But I do not think she needs it. She has +gained two pounds since you left us. I give her hair a hundred strokes +each night. I think she wants to bob her hair, it is so very long and +heavy, but I tell her not for worlds, as you are so proud of it.</p> + +<p>"We are keeping to the routine you ordered ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>cept when Mrs. Hargrave +has made some slight change, but of course I know that is all right, +as you told me she might wish to do so.</p> + + +<p style= "text-align: right">Respectfully,<br /></p> + +<p style= "text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Minnie.</span>"<br /><br /></p> + +<p>And Mrs. Hargrave wrote from the country a letter full of praise for both +little girls and for Minnie.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton received all three letters the same day. She slipped them away +in her portfolio, thinking as she did so, with a smile, of Cousin Hendy's +trunks full of letters.</p> + +<p>One thing troubled her a little. It seemed as though she could see in all +the letters evidences that little Rosanna was undergoing some slight +changes in her way of thinking and acting. And Mrs. Horton did not care to +have Rosanna change in the least. She was perfectly satisfied the way she +was. It had not occurred to Mrs. Horton to wonder if poor little motherless +Rosanna was satisfied with her pampered, lonely life.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton had Rosanna's life all mapped out. However, she remembered the +high stone wall and reflected that the child could see very little of the +outside world if she was kept behind that.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + + +<p>How the time did fly! The days were not long enough for all the two girls +crowded into them.</p> + +<p>In a few weeks Helen would be going away to a Scout camp where dozens of +girls would live in tents and row and swim and fish and cook and listen to +wise and sympathetic talks from their leaders. Helen knew all about it from +past trips, and she spent hours while they sat working on their presents +for Mrs. Hargrave, whose birthday was rapidly approaching, telling Rosanna +all about their good times. Rosanna felt that she never could bear it if +she couldn't be a Girl Scout. Helen, not knowing Mrs. Horton, did not see +how any grown person could refuse such a request and she told Rosanna so.</p> + +<p>They had made a great many plans for Mrs. Hargrave's birthday. She was +coming to take dinner with them.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave never looked more beautiful nor more imposing than when she +arrived. The two girls were overcome with pride as they saw their guest +descend from her little carriage and, laying her hand on the arm of the old +colored man who attended her, walk slowly up the steps.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + +<p>When dinner was served, it was perfectly splendid to hear Mrs. Hargrave +exclaim over the flowers and the favors and everything.</p> + +<p>During the meal the children told Mrs. Hargrave what they hoped to be.</p> + +<p>Rosanna wanted to be an artist. Helen said she intended to grow up and +marry and be the mother of a family.</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul!" said Mrs. Hargrave, staring at her. "What put that in your +head?"</p> + +<p>"Something mother learned in college," said Helen simply. "She believes it, +and of course so do I. There was a teacher in college who was very wise, +mother says, and he warned them and warned them against what he called +popular complaints. He said they must always be careful before they joined +anything and promised to uphold it to understand <i>exactly</i> what it was and +how far it would lead them. He said it didn't matter whether they were +thinking of going into a nunnery or joining the Salvation Army or the +Suffragets or what else, they wanted to ask themselves could they lift +themselves and help humanity by doing that thing. And he said in this day +and age when there were so many dissatisfied people everywhere, he thought +the most important thing in the world was to teach everyone, and especially +children, the love of country."</p> + +<p>"Wise man," said Mrs. Hargrave, nodding. "What else?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He told them that love of country was not boasting about where you came +from, and telling everybody how high the corn grows in New York, or how +blue the grass is in Kentucky or things about places like that. He says +that is nothing but bragging. But he said what people needed was to love +all their country, east and west and south and north, to try to understand +one another and to pull together for the United States.</p> + +<p>"And he said that if every one of those girls who married and had children +would teach them this as hard as ever they could, some day the states would +really be united, and wiser laws would be made, and all the young Americans +would love their country and be willing to live for her. He said it is +harder to live faithfully for anything than to die for it because it takes +so much longer."</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul!" said Mrs. Hargrave again. "Go on!"</p> + +<p>"That's all," said Helen. "I don't see what else I can do except teach some +children of my own about it, do you, Mrs. Hargrave?"</p> + +<p>"I think that would be the finest thing you could do," said the childless +old lady. "Quite the finest! Are you going to college?"</p> + +<p>"I want to," said Helen, "if we can afford it. We are saving up for it all +the time."</p> + +<p>"How do you save?" asked Mrs. Hargrave. She was certainly a curious old +lady.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Helen, "I wear my hair docked,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> and that saves a lot in hair +ribbons, only this fall mother says I must let it grow. When mother takes +me to buy a coat, we look at <i>two</i> good ones that will last two winters, +but perhaps one has pretty braid or something on it, that makes it cost +more. Then if one of us looks as though we wanted it the other one +whispers, 'Rah rah rah, college ah,' which is our own college yell, and we +take the <i>plain</i> one.</p> + +<p>"Lots of ways it looks to be harder on mother than it is on me. I know she +goes without so many things she would love—lectures and concerts and all +that. I just <i>hate</i> that part!"</p> + +<p>"I am glad you do," said Mrs. Hargrave.</p> + +<p>"Helen and I are hoping that we can go to college together," said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"Rosanna is so dear," said Helen. "She wants to help me save, but of course +that won't do."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why not," said Rosanna. They had talked this over many times. +"Do you see, Mrs. Hargrave? I never spend my allowance."</p> + +<p>"No," said Mrs. Hargrave, "it wouldn't do at all. In the first place Helen +is earning her education in a lovely way, and your allowance is given you. +It is no effort for you to get it, so it does not benefit you, my little +dear. Helen must go on herself. Her help could only come from a fairy +godmother."</p> + +<p>"There are no fairy godmothers," said Rosanna bitterly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I was beginning to think there might be," said Mrs. Hargrave.</p> + +<p>"No," said Rosanna. "If there was a fairy godmother, just one in all the +world, she would come and make my grandmother let me go out of the garden +and know lots of little girls and go to school and be a Girl Scout."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave sat thinking as she tasted her ice. Then she asked, "What are +these Girl Scouts?"</p> + +<p>"I have all the books," said Helen eagerly. "May I bring them around to +show you? Then you can see just why Rosanna wants to be one. I am sure +Rosanna could not be hurt by knowing a lot of little girls and learning all +the things that are required of the Girl Scouts."</p> + +<p>"Why should she be hurt?" said Mrs. Hargrave.</p> + +<p>"Why, grandmother thinks I should not go out of my class."</p> + +<p>"Class is all right," said Mrs. Hargrave. "It is very necessary, but what +you want to look for, Rosanna, is <i>worth</i>. Suppose Helen here was not in +your own class. Suppose her father was a laboring man of some sort, and she +lived away from this part of town, that wouldn't change Helen."</p> + +<p>Helen looked up in amazement. "But my father is—"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave interrupted. "I will tell you what I will do, Rosanna, I will +talk to your grandmother myself if she makes any objections to your going +to school and all the rest." She rose as she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> spoke, and they wandered out +to the rose garden where coffee was served for Mrs. Hargrave and where the +children offered their gifts.</p> + +<p>When she went home at last, she put an arm around each child. "This is the +happiest birthday I have had. Good-night, and thank you! I will help you +all I can, Rosanna, and I feel very sure, Helen, that your savings or the +fairy godmother will take you to college with Rosanna. Two little girls as +nice and sweet and well-bred as you ought to be friends all your lives."</p> + +<p>She kissed them both and, carrying her presents, went down the steps +leaning on the arm of her servant.</p> + +<p>"I feel full of a happy sadness," Rosanna sighed. "I don't see why, do +you?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Helen, "only that she is so perfectly lovely. She is just as +though there was two parts to her. The outside pretty, but old and wrinkled +and kind of high and grand, while there is somebody just too sweet, and +real young and dancy and loving on the inside. And the inside one can never +grow old at all, but will go right on understanding how you feel, and when +the outside gets too old to last any longer, why, she will just go and be a +young, young angel."</p> + +<p>"I guess that's it," said Rosanna. "But what a fuss there is about class +and position and where you were born, isn't there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Helen. "When she was talking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> about workingmen I tried to tell +her about my father working for your grandmother."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she interrupted you," said Rosanna. "I don't see as it makes any +difference what he does. No matter what <i>any</i>body thinks, Helen, we are +going to be friends? You promised me that."</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Helen.</p> + +<p>"Well, it was a nice party, wasn't it, Helen? I think Mrs. Hargrave did +truly have a good time."</p> + +<p>When Helen went home that night she was very quiet. Her mother thought she +was tired, but Helen was thinking. She loved Mrs. Hargrave dearly, and she +wanted her to know some things that she evidently was all mixed up about.</p> + +<p>The following morning she did not go over to see Rosanna. Instead she +dressed with even greater care than usual and went slowly around to Mrs. +Hargrave's, where she found her in a bright little morning room, sitting +before a large desk.</p> + +<p>"I wanted to tell you something," said Helen, "and I am going to get it all +mixed up. I sort of have the feeling that <i>everything</i> is mixed up and that +I am doing something that is not quite right. So I came over to you. I +didn't even tell mother because I was afraid it would worry her. You see +<i>she</i> doesn't understand either."</p> + +<p>"Dear me, how mysterious!" said Mrs. Hargrave.</p> + +<p>"It is like this," said Helen, plunging into the middle. "You have been so +good to me that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> want to tell you that I am not one of the Culvers of Lee +County or any other county. I am just the plainest sort of a little girl. I +have the nicest father and mother in the whole world, but they are poor, +and my father does work. He works for Mrs. Horton; he is her chauffeur, and +we live in the apartment over the garage.</p> + +<p>"What will she say, Mrs. Hargrave, when she knows what a plain little girl +I am? I thought I would come and tell you about it. I don't see what +difference being poor makes if one tries to be nice inside, do you?"</p> + +<p>"No," cried Mrs. Hargrave. "It makes no difference at all. Don't let anyone +make you think that. And your coming to tell me this shows me just what +sort of a child you are," and she kissed Helen.</p> + +<p>"Now, let's get this thing all straight as far as you understand it, my +dear, and then I will tell you what I think about it."</p> + +<p>So for a long time they sat together, Helen's hand in Mrs. Hargrave's while +Helen told all about herself and her friendship with Rosanna, and Mrs. +Hargrave chuckled when she thought of her letters to Mrs. Horton and how +she had innocently misled her.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + + +<p>Rosanna had just finished her luncheon that very same day, when she heard +Minnie talking to someone over the telephone. Minnie, seeing Rosanna behind +her, merely said yes and no and hung up as soon as she could.</p> + +<p>"What are you planning to do, Miss Rosanna?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"This afternoon?" said Rosanna. "Well, Helen is coming over with her mother +and we are going to sit on the porch of the playhouse and sew. Helen and I +are going to make a couple of rompers for Baby Christopher. Helen and her +mother went over to see Gwenny the other day, and Mrs. Culver says that +baby actually has nothing to put on. And there is no money to buy anything +with because Gwenny has had to have a new brace that cost thirty dollars. +Oh, Minnie, will I be rich when I grow up?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will," said Minnie.</p> + +<p>"How much; millions?" wistfully.</p> + +<p>"A good lot anyhow," said Minnie.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am so glad!" said Rosanna. "I am going to make so many people happy +with it. There is such a lot of things you can do with money, Min<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>nie, to +help people. I was so sorry when I heard about that brace. I am going to +save more of my allowance after this and keep listening so I will hear when +somebody wants something like that. Only there are some things that you +can't buy with money. I couldn't buy Helen, could I? And I couldn't buy +Mrs. Hargrave."</p> + +<p>Minnie started.</p> + +<p>"No, dearie, you couldn't," she said. "And I have got to trot along now +because I have to go out this afternoon, and if Mrs. Culver and Helen are +coming over, I know you will be all right."</p> + +<p>Rosanna found her little workbasket and, taking a book to read until her +guests came, went over to the playhouse and commenced rocking in one of the +little wicker chairs.</p> + +<p>Minnie dressed carefully but plainly and went out. Rosanna would have been +much surprised if she had seen her hurry down the street and turn into Mrs. +Hargrave's big house.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave was waiting for her and after a kindly greeting she said: +"Minnie, I want you to tell me all about this Culver family, and how +Rosanna found Helen, and how they happen to be such good friends, and how +it is that you allowed it when you know just how Mrs. Horton feels about +family and all that."</p> + +<p>Minnie did not flinch.</p> + +<p>"I have been wanting to come and tell you all about it," she said, "but I +thought that you would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> find out things from the children. Mrs. Horton just +won't let Rosanna know <i>any</i> children at all. But I don't feel like saying +all I would like to say, seeing how I work for Mrs. Horton."</p> + +<p>"You would free your mind, I reckon, if you were at your own home, wouldn't +you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, I would!" said Minnie.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said Mrs. Hargrave, "suppose you and I talk as though we were +just a couple of human beings who want to do a kind turn for two little +girls. That Helen child was over here this morning, to tell me that she was +afraid I thought she belonged to some fine family like the Culvers of Lee +County. Lee County indeed! Those Culvers are scalawags, every man of them! +She is lucky she doesn't own one of them for a father.</p> + +<p>"And the honest little angel was afraid I would be disappointed when I +found out who she really is. Well, Minnie, I was never so pleased with a +child in my life! I am going to do something for her some day.</p> + +<p>"Now I want to hear from you just how this friendship started. It seems a +letter that I wrote to Mrs. Horton put the seal on it and I want to know +where we all stand."</p> + +<p>"Whatever we do there is going to be an awful fuss," said Minnie, sighing. +She sat on the edge of the chair facing Mrs. Hargrave and told that lady +more of Rosanna's lonely, friendless little life than Mrs. Hargrave had +ever guessed. She told her of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> the difference in Rosanna since Helen had +come, and her fears for the child if Mrs. Horton should come back and +forbid their friendship.</p> + +<p>"I shall just leave!" concluded Minnie.</p> + +<p>"Don't be an idiot!" said Mrs. Hargrave, frowning. "That would be a nice +thing to do with Rosanna heartbroken. Now, Minnie, all there is to this is +that Mrs. Horton years and years ago had a younger sister who eloped with a +no-account man whom she met when she visited his sister. They were really +very common people, and Mrs. Horton's little sister died of a broken heart.</p> + +<p>"When Mrs. Horton married, her children were boys, as you know, and she +carried her bitterness in her heart until her son's little orphan girl came +to live with her. She is making a great mistake with Rosanna and she must +somehow be made to see it before it is too late. But that is the reason for +her foolishness.</p> + +<p>"She adored her little sister, and she adores Rosanna. I am sorry the +affair is so mixed up, but you just leave it to me. In the meantime do just +as you are doing and give the girls all the chance you can to have a good +time. I will stand back of little Helen if I have to adopt her. I suppose +her parents are healthy?"</p> + +<p>Minnie giggled. "Yes, ma'am; healthy and real young."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, there must be some other way then," said Mrs. Hargrave, +smiling. "To start, I will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> write Mrs. Horton a letter just before she +returns, and I think a heart-to-heart talk will arrange things nicely."</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Mrs. Culver had helped the girls cut out two sets of dark, +comfortable rompers, and Rosanna had sewed them up on her little machine.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Culver was also making a romper for Baby Christopher. Hers was a +cunning one for Sunday, a little pink check with bands of plain pink, and +buttons nearly as big as tea saucers sewed on wherever a button would go.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Culver was a wise woman, and she knew that Baby Christopher, small as +he was, would have a good effect on his many brothers and sisters if he +could be made beautiful and dressy on the one day in the week when the busy +family had time to enjoy his cunning ways. So Christopher was to have three +rompers—good, new, beautiful rompers of his own.</p> + +<p>While Mrs. Culver sat thinking the two girls talked about the opening of +the Girl Scout troop in the school Helen was to enter in the fall.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + + +<p>One morning Mrs. Hargrave was called to the telephone to speak with Mrs. +Culver. Mrs. Culver wanted to know if Mrs. Hargrave thought it would be all +right to take the two girls to Fontaine Ferry for the afternoon, eat their +supper there, and return when the children had had a chance to see the +electrical display.</p> + +<p>"It is the sort of a place one always wants to see once, like Coney +Island," she said, "and I think the girls are about the right age to have a +good time there for a few hours without being disillusioned."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave agreed with her.</p> + +<p>"It will be a wild adventure for Rosanna," she said. "I have faith in Helen +keeping her head, but you must watch Rosanna. If she looks too feverish, +bring her home, please."</p> + +<p>"I will indeed," promised Mrs. Culver.</p> + +<p>"Of course you will; I am not afraid," said Mrs. Hargrave. "Send the +children around here before you start."</p> + +<p>Once more Uncle Robert's hamper was dragged out and stocked with good +things. They were to start at three o'clock. When they were ready they went +skipping down the street to Mrs. Hargrave's house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, Rosanna," she said, "I wonder what your grandmother will say to me +when she finds out that I have given you permission to go to Fontaine +Ferry? I know you will have a splendid time. I have never been there +myself, and I am sorry that I can't go today. I am obliged to take the six +o'clock train for the country. Cousin Hendy has sent for me post haste. She +says she is at the point of death. I suppose this time it is cucumbers. +They are about ripe now.</p> + +<p>"I want you both to remember everything you do, so you can tell me about +it. If I stay in the country for a few days, Rosanna, I will write a letter +to your grandmother telling her just what I think about a great many +things, and urging her to let you join the Girl Scouts.</p> + +<p>"And as long as I can't go and have a good time spending my money, I want +you children to take it and spend it for me. This is not for your +education, Helen. I want you to promise to spend it, every bit."</p> + +<p>They kissed her good-by and calling their thanks went dancing away.</p> + +<p>The car was waiting, and off they went on the pleasant ride through the +city and out Broadway. As there was plenty of time, they drove through +Shawnee Park and along the bluff overlooking the Ohio River creeping +sluggishly past. Then they turned, and went a short mile to the entrance to +the Ferry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>Parking the car, they went in, Mr. Culver bringing the hamper of supper. +The Ferry is a very large place and every foot of it is covered with +tan-bark, smooth and brown and springy. Rosanna felt as though she was +walking in a riding academy. Everything was exquisitely clean.</p> + +<p>As the children walked along, they commenced to hear music everywhere and +to see the merry-go-rounds whirling, the Ferris wheel spinning high in the +air, the squeals from the shute-the-shutes, and hundreds of other +fascinating noises. They found a place where they could check the hamper +and coats, and sat down on a bench for a little to look around.</p> + +<p>Presently Helen's father said, "Well, we will have to start if we want to +see everything. Shall we have a ride on the merry-go-round to start with?"</p> + +<p>Rosanna drew out her envelope.</p> + +<p>"We must spend our dollar," she said and tore it open. Helen did the same. +Each envelope held a clean new ten dollar bill. The children looked at them +in amazement.</p> + +<p>"And I can't use it for college!" Helen wailed. "She made me promise to +spend it."</p> + +<p>When they reached the merry-go-round, they chose the wildest looking horses +and mounted them in fear and trembling. When they had finished the +wonderful five minutes, they tried the chariots.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> Then there was a certain +camel that looked safe and steady, and Helen rode a lion.</p> + +<p>They wanted to ride all day, but Helen's father warned them that there were +other things to see. They walked along looking everywhere at once when +Rosanna gave a scream. She found herself looking into a mirror, clear and +bright; but what had it done to Rosanna? She was really a thin little girl +who had often had to take cod liver oil. In the mirror she gazed at a fat +chunk with Rosanna's features and hair and about ten times Rosanna's +breadth. It was quite terrifying. Then she heard an awed gasp from Helen +followed by a shriek of laughter, and ran over to see what was left of +Helen in a mirror that had drawn her out to the thickness of a needle. +Together the girls looked and laughed.</p> + +<p>After they had torn themselves away from this amusement, they came to a +booth where dozens of rings like embroidery hoops could be thrown over pegs +in the wall. Each peg had a prize hanging above it: gold watches, diamond +rings, wrist watches, gold and silver bracelets, and dozens of other +things. But most of the pegs had little bright tin tags or medals and you +had to get ten of those before you could exchange them for a near-gold +breast-pin.</p> + +<p>Helen and Rosanna were very much excited over this, and could have been +quite covered with medals. They would not throw the rings on any peg<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> that +was worth while. Finally they moved on in disgust, after paying the man +about a dollar apiece.</p> + +<p>On a corner were a group of little burros, the tiny Mexican donkeys and +children could ride along to the corner and back for ten cents. Nothing in +the whole world could make those donkeys go off a slow walk. They knew +perfectly well that it didn't pay to frisk up their heels and bolt, so they +simply wagged an ear or flirted a tail if the children slapped them.</p> + +<p>"I suppose they have traveled to that corner fifty million times," said +Helen, watching the solemn procession take its way with the donkey boys +following close on the donkeys' heels and shouting to them to "Giddap!"</p> + +<p>"Poor dears!" said Rosanna. "How tired of it all they must be!"</p> + +<p>It took a lot of argument before they decided to try the Ferris wheel, but +Rosanna wisely said that it would probably be the last chance <i>she</i> would +ever have to try it, and Helen said that she wouldn't want to come unless +Rosanna could, so the children seated themselves and were strapped in the +basket, and presently when all the little basket seats were full, off they +went. It was perfectly frightful when you have just been a simple human +being all your life and suddenly try sailing up and around all at the same +time! At the top there was a drop, a sort of launching out right into +space, and the girls clung to each other and shut their eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>After they had rested awhile they went along, threading their way through +the crowds until they came to the roller coaster.</p> + +<p>Here they sat in a little car which held four people, but Mrs. Culver still +refused to leave the ground. They embarked from a little platform, and were +in one car of a little train of four. On the other side of the platform +four other cars were filling up. When all the seats were taken, someone +gave a signal and off went the little trains down such a steep grade that +their rush carried them far up another incline. This was repeated over and +over until they had reached a great height. Here there was a sheer drop as +straight as it could be made without taking the cars off the rails, and +down they went, turning and twisting. All at once they were plunged into a +pitch black tunnel.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, <i>oh</i>!" cried Rosanna. It was the first time she had screamed, but +she did not hear herself because everyone else was screaming too.</p> + +<p>Then as suddenly as they had plunged into the dark, they came out into the +light again, gave a few more turns and drops for good measure, and stopped +at the very identical place where they started.</p> + +<p>They got out of their car, and staggered, rather than walked, over to Mrs. +Culver, who was laughing at them. Rosanna's long curls were blown every +which way around her small, dark face, and Helen's bobbed hair was sticking +straight up.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There is a Trip to the Moon right over here," said Mr. Culver. "Don't you +want to go?"</p> + +<p>"No, thank you," said Rosanna feebly, and Helen said, "Why, daddy, I +couldn't bear another thing today! Let's go back and ride those nice steady +wooden horses."</p> + +<p>They walked back to the merry-go-round, and spent a happy half hour riding +the menagerie. After that it was time to get supper. It always takes a long +time to eat a picnic supper, and dusk was close when at last they finished. +One by one the stars came out and then as though touched by a great spring, +Fontaine Ferry burst into a dazzling blaze of electric lights.</p> + +<p>Blazing, twinkling, winking, the lights hung or turned or whirled. White, +colored groups, and single stars, among the trees, down the wide +drive-ways, the Ferry had turned into fairyland.</p> + +<p>"This is the best of all," said Rosanna softly.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it?" answered Helen, her eyes wide. "How I wish Mrs. Hargrave could +see it! That <i>young</i> Mrs. Hargrave that is inside the old shell of a Mrs. +Hargrave would have all sorts of pretty thoughts about it. Don't you know +she would?"</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow you must come over real early," said Rosanna as they rode home, +squeezing Helen's hand. "And I owe grandmother a letter. It will be easy to +make a nice letter out of all we have seen. I wish Mrs. Hargrave would come +home to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The car drove up before the big house, and Ros<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>anna, tired out, but so +very, very happy, thanked Mr. and Mrs. Culver and ran up the steps. The car +waited, purring at the curb, to see that the door was promptly opened. +Rosanna heard the lock shoot back and the knob turn.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," she said, looking down at the car. With a wave and a +smile Mr. Culver drove off, and happy little Rosanna turned slowly, +speaking as she did so.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Minnie dear, I have had the bestest sort of a time!" she said. "I only +wish you—" She looked up. Her grandmother stood before her.</p> + +<p>"Why, grandmother, when did you get home?" said Rosanna with a smile, +lifting her face to be kissed.</p> + +<p>Her grandmother did not bend down. Instead she stood very stiff and +straight, looking at Rosanna with hard, cold, angry eyes that cut her like +swords.</p> + +<p>"Go to your room!" said Mrs. Horton in a dreadful voice.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + + +<p>Rosanna turned pale, but she looked steadily into her grandmother's cold +eyes.</p> + +<p>"I have done nothing wrong, grandmother," she said. "I—"</p> + +<p>"Go to your room!" repeated Mrs. Horton, pointing to the stairs. "I will +attend to you later."</p> + +<p>Rosanna slowly climbed the broad staircase, clinging to the handrail and +dragging her feet like a very tired old woman instead of a dear little +happy girl. She felt herself trembling. Over and over she thought of what +she had just said to Helen of her grandmother: "I am sure she means to be +kind." Yet here, without a word of explanation, she was ordered to her room +without a single greeting, as though she had indeed done something <i>very</i> +naughty. Reaching her room, she sat down on the side of her bed and tried +to think it out. What had she done? Where was Minnie?</p> + +<p>Minnie: where was she? <i>Minnie</i> could tell her what had come to pass to +make her grandmother so angry. She walked unsteadily over to the table and +pressed the electric button by which she always summoned Minnie when she +needed her.</p> + +<p>Almost at once the door opened; but it was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> Minnie. Mrs. Horton came in +and closed the door.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" she asked harshly.</p> + +<p>"I rang for Minnie," said Rosanna in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"You can get to bed as best you can," said Mrs. Horton. "Minnie will not be +allowed to see you. Minnie has been discharged. She is untrustworthy, and I +would have sent her packing to-night, but she insisted on her right to stay +under this roof until morning. So she is in her room where I have ordered +her to remain."</p> + +<p>"Can't I see her again ever, grandmother?" asked Rosanna, with trembling +lips.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!" said Mrs. Horton. "You are a bad, ungrateful child. Get to +bed as best you can! I cannot trust myself to talk to you to-night. +Tomorrow I will tell you what I think of the way you have acted in my +absence."</p> + +<p>"I have not been naughty," said Rosanna. "I did just as you told me I could +do. I saved your letter so I could show you if you said anything about it. +Oh, grandmother, please, I have not been naughty! I have been so happy."</p> + +<p>"<i>Happy!</i>" sneered Mrs. Horton. "<i>Happy!</i> There is a low streak in you. To +think of the way you have been acting—I will see you to-morrow after I +have seen Mrs. Hargrave, and when I can control myself."</p> + +<p>She swept from the room without saying good-night, and Rosanna remained +seated on the bed, her head whirling, her mouth dry and quivering.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rosanna did not try to undress. Warm as it was, she was chilled to the +bone. What would happen to Helen? And of course Mr. Culver would have to +go. An hour went by, and another. She heard her grandmother coming up the +stairs. Quick as thought she pressed the button and the room was pitch +dark. Her grandmother approached her door, opened it a crack and listened. +Hearing nothing, seeing nothing, she closed it and went on to her own room.</p> + +<p>Rosanna breathed freely again, and turned on the light. An overpowering +desire to see Minnie swept over her. She <i>must</i> see Minnie, must comfort +her and be comforted. She felt that she would go mad if she had to spend +the night alone. She looked at the little gold clock on her table. It was +eleven o'clock.</p> + +<p>She slipped off her shoes, and noticed for the first time that she was +still wearing her coat and hat. She tossed them aside, once more put out +the light, and tiptoed toward the door. She was going to Minnie.</p> + +<p>With the greatest care she turned the knob and opened the door a crack. She +opened the door wide and stepped into the blackness of the hall.</p> + +<p>Something soft and warm and human collided with her. Hands clutched her, +and a well-known voice whispered, "Dearie!"</p> + +<p>After the first moment of fright, Rosanna felt herself go limp. She clung +fast.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Minnie, Minnie!" she choked.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" whispered Minnie. She drew Rosanna into her own room, closed the +door, and switched on the light.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my precious lamb!" she said. "What did she do to you? Oh, why didn't I +come sooner? You look fit to die. Come, dearie, and let your Minnie do for +you to-night."</p> + +<p>She took Rosanna on her lap and tenderly undressed her. Then she folded a +warm kimono around the shivering, nervous child and, sitting down in a deep +chair, took her on her lap and held her tight.</p> + +<p>Rosanna stiffened and sat up. "Suppose she comes in?" she said.</p> + +<p>"No danger!" said Minnie. "I turned the key." She laughed. "If she wants to +see you again she will have to wait until to-morrow, no matter what. I +don't intend to see that look on your pretty dear face much longer. Now +tell your Minnie just what happened."</p> + +<p>"I don't seem to be able to remember much about it," said the tired and +frightened child; "only when I came home,—and oh, Minnie, we <i>did</i> have +such a good time!—there was grandmother at the door instead of you. And +she seems to think that I have done something that has disgraced her, and +she won't tell me anything at all until to-morrow, only she told me to come +to my room and go to bed if I could get to bed without you and she said you +were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> untrustworthy—and—and that she had sent you to your room to stay +until to-morrow, and then she is going to make you go, and oh, Minnie, +Minnie, what <i>shall</i> I ever do without you?"</p> + +<p>"There, there! Minnie will find some way of staying near you if she has to +wear a wig and make believe she is somebody else entirely."</p> + +<p>"What <i>have</i> I done?" asked Rosanna. "Was it all because we went to +Fontaine Ferry? Mrs. Hargrave said I might go."</p> + +<p>"A little of it is that," said Minnie, "but the worst of her madness is +because you have been playing with a little girl clean out of your own +class, as she puts it, and she blames everybody. Everybody that she can +discharge has got to go—and I guess that will be about everybody but you."</p> + +<p>"Then I might as well die," said Rosanna. "I can't go back and live the way +I used to live. You know I can't do it, Minnie. I can't; I just <i>can't</i>! +Oh, Minnie, it seems as though I had only been happy for three weeks in all +my life, and what shall I do? I do love Helen, and she is just as nice as I +am, and so are her mother and father. Oh, don't you suppose Uncle Robert +can fix it?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't come home with her," said Minnie. "When he does the mischief +will be done. It is just her sinful pride, if I do say it about your +grandmother, and sure as sure there will come a day and that soon, when her +pride will have a fall. I only wish I could run away with you, dearie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> But +you will have to be brave, and I will see you as soon as ever I can. You +know my telephone number, and if she ever goes out you just call me up."</p> + +<p>"I don't feel brave," whispered Rosanna, hiding her face on Minnie's +shoulder. "I don't see how I will ever bear to stay alone all night."</p> + +<p>"That you needn't if you would like your Minnie," said she. "Just you get +into your bed and be quiet, and I will be back in a minute." She tucked +Rosanna between the sheets, and hurried away as silent as a shadow.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes she returned, ready for the night. She drew a big couch +close beside Rosanna's little bed and lay down.</p> + +<p>"There we are!" she said, taking Rosanna's hand. "Now look here, Rosanna. +In the morning when your grandmother talks to you, don't try to talk back, +and whatever you do, <i>don't be afraid</i>. Just let her talk, and tell her to +see Mrs. Hargrave. She has seen me all she ever wants to, I guess, but Mrs. +Hargrave is not afraid of anybody. I wish she was here. Now you will +remember what I say, won't you, dear? Don't be afraid."</p> + +<p>"What will she do to Helen?" asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"Do to Helen?" said Minnie, sitting up. "Do to Helen? Well, she won't get +within shouting distance of Helen. I guess I have not been shut up in my +room all evening so as anyone would notice it. The Culvers are all +prepared, and Helen won't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> know anything about it until long after it is +all over."</p> + +<p>"That is good," sighed Rosanna. "I can't bear to have Helen unhappy as I +am. It does seem as though I have to be unhappy such a lot, don't you think +so, Minnie?"</p> + +<p>Minnie leaned over and kissed her.</p> + +<p>"Poor child!" she said softly. "Never you mind! I have a feeling that there +is something good coming out of this. I don't know what, but you must bear +whatever your grandmother says to you with that thought in mind, and +remember what I say."</p> + +<p>"I will try," promised Rosanna, and then because she was exhausted with the +shock of the evening after the tiresome but glorious day Rosanna, clasping +Minnie's hand tight, went to sleep immediately.</p> + +<p>When she awoke next day it was very late, and the sun was shining through +the flowered chintz curtains. She felt something queer and crackly in the +bed by her foot, and threw back the covers. There was a letter tied to her +ankle by a piece of ribbon. Rosanna could not help laughing, it was such a +funny place to put a letter.<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p>"Dearie," it read, "we slept like tops both of us, and now I must get out +of here before your grandmother wakes up. I am going to tie this to your +ankle because that is the only place she would never think to look if she +should come in while you are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> still asleep, and go to looking +through things, though the saints know there is nothing she is not welcome +to see as we have every button on, and not a rip anywhere.</p> + +<p>"I take this pencil in hand to tell you that I stayed all night and held +your hand. At any rate you were holding mine when I woke up not long ago.</p> + +<p>"Now I am going to leave right off, as I do not care to eat again under +this roof, things being as they are. I don't know about your going down to +breakfast. If you wake late enough, she will be over at Mrs. Hargrave's and +you could have your breakfast up here. Just ring the bell three times. I +will fix it with Hannah to bring you a tray as soon as ever you call.</p> + +<p>"Don't forget what I told you last night about being afraid. There is +nothing for you to be afraid of, and you can do for yourself now just as +nicely as though you were a grown-up young lady. And don't forget that just +as soon as your Minnie is married you can come to see me just as often as +you please, and I don't think it will hurt you to come and see your own +nursemaid in her own little house which is already being paid for in +instalments, and you can cook candy in my kitchen which is to be blue and +white in honor of the playhouse, and we will feel honored to have you, and +no one to object whatever you do.</p> + +<p>"I must go now. Oh, dear, I'll worry every sec<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>ond: but don't you +fret one mite, Rosanna dear, as there is nothing at all to worry about.</p> + +<p style= "text-align: right">Your Minnie.<br /><br /></p> + +<p>Her kind, good Minnie! There was one who loved her anyway. And she knew +Helen loved her.</p> + +<p>She determined to be brave. When she thought everything over, she could not +feel that she had done anything wrong in the least. But when her +grandmother talked to her, she always felt guilty of everything that her +grandmother wanted her to feel guilty about. She dreaded seeing Mrs. +Horton. There was a knock on the door and there was her breakfast, the best +that cook could send up.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was very hungry, and there was nothing left but plates and cups and +saucers when she finished and pressed the bell button. Hannah hurried up +and took the tray.</p> + +<p>"We think you had better not say anything about this until you see what +your grandmother is going to do," said Hannah and hurried off while Rosanna +settled herself to wait.</p> + +<p>Presently the door opened. Mrs. Horton, more pale and angry than ever, came +in. She was carrying a plate. There was a glass of water and a slice of +bread on it. She set it down hard on the table.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + + +<p>"There is your breakfast," said Mrs. Horton, looking at Rosanna with her +steely eyes. "Bread and water will be part of your punishment."</p> + +<p>"I am not hungry," said Rosanna in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"Then you may leave it there until you are," said her grandmother. "Bread +and water will be your fare until you have apologized to me and have proved +that you regret your disgraceful conduct while I was away."</p> + +<p>"I don't think that I did anything that was disgraceful, grandmother," said +Rosanna gently.</p> + +<p>"You will when I get through with you," said her grandmother grimly. "I +hope I may be able to bring you to your senses. I am only sorry you are too +big a girl to punish as I would like to punish you."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen Mrs. Hargrave?" asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"She is away. I suppose that is one reason that you went wild."</p> + +<p>"I did nothing without asking her if it would be all right," said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"That seems impossible," said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"It is true," asserted Rosanna.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Rosanna, be careful what you say!" exclaimed her grandmother angrily.</p> + +<p>Remembering what Minnie had advised, Rosanna said nothing.</p> + +<p>Her grandmother continued, "I have thought this all over and you know as +well as I do what you have done, and how you have offended me, and I see no +use in talking about it at all. You will stay here on a diet of bread and +water until you are in a different frame of mind. I don't need to have you +tell me how you feel, or what you think. A look at your face is quite +sufficient. You are stubborn and unrepentant. Perhaps after a week or two +spent thinking, you will see things in a different light. You will not be +allowed any privileges at all. You will not even have your lessons. When +your Uncle Robert comes home, you will not see him unless you have repented +enough to be allowed to come down to your meals. Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>Something queer and hard and grown-up came into Rosanna's soul. She looked +her angry grandmother straight in the eye.</p> + +<p>"Grandmother," she said very gently, "I hope you will not say anything that +you will be sorry for."</p> + +<p>"Don't be impertinent!" said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean to be," said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"You are!" said Mrs. Horton.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rosanna turned around. "Oh, grandmother!" she commenced, then stopped.</p> + +<p>"Oh, grandmother what?" asked Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"Nothing. Excuse me," said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"Then that's all," said Mrs. Horton. "You understand me?"</p> + +<p>"I think I do," said Rosanna. She did not look up, and Mrs. Horton, unable +to catch her eye, left the room.</p> + +<p>Lunch time came, and with it her grandmother with a fresh glass of water +and another slice of bread. Immediately after, Hannah appeared with a tray +of luncheon.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was really not hungry, but she was wise enough to know that it was +a very bad thing to go without eating, especially when one has decided on a +very serious and terrifying step. The afternoon dragged away.</p> + +<p>At five her grandmother came in and offered her still another glass of +water and slice of bread. Rosanna thanked her.</p> + +<p>"Have you anything to say to me?" asked Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"No, grandmother," replied Rosanna, "only that I am very sorry that you are +angry with me, and I hope some day you will be sorry too that you did not +love me when I was here to love."</p> + +<p>"Do you think of leaving?" said Mrs. Horton sneeringly. "You had better +tell me where you are going so I can send your clothes. I believe that is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +the way they do with the sort of people you have been making friends with."</p> + +<p>Rosanna did not reply:</p> + +<p>"Let me catch you leaving this room!" said Mrs. Horton. She went out and +closed the door. Rosanna nodded her head. Her mind was made up. She crossed +to the dainty dresser, and switching on the lights did something she had +never done in her life. Rosanna was not vain in the least, but if you could +have seen her then, turning this way and that, lifting her long, heavy +curls, wadding them on top of her head, or trying them in a long braid, you +would have said that she seemed to be a very vain little girl indeed.</p> + +<p>She appeared satisfied at last with what she saw in the glass, and noticed +that it was growing quite dark.</p> + +<p>She went over to her little bed, and knelt.</p> + +<p>"Please, dear Lord," she whispered, "I don't want to do anything wrong. +Please help me because I am so afraid. And now that Minnie is gone and +Helen, please give me somebody to love me. Amen."</p> + +<p>She felt better after that, and sat down by the window. It was almost +dark....</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Horton left Rosanna, she went down to the big, dim library and, +seating herself at her desk, commenced to write letters. She found it +difficult to collect her thoughts and there was a bad feeling in her heart, +as though she was wrong, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> though she was doing something unwise, unkind, +and perhaps really wicked. But she thrust it out of her thoughts because +she didn't think that she ever <i>could</i> do anything really wrong.</p> + +<p>Something pressed hard on her heart, and she grew very restless. Some +impulse led her to go to the telephone and call Mrs. Hargrave on the long +distance line.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave, who was very much bored by Cousin Hendy, was delighted to +hear her old friend's voice. She did not let Mrs. Horton get a word in +edgewise for the first two minutes. She seemed to think Mrs. Horton didn't +care how much that telephone call was going to cost. She asked how she was, +and how Robert was, and had he found his lost friend, and she certainly +hoped he had, and when had they returned, and oh, wasn't it too bad Robert +had been unable to come with his mother?</p> + +<p>Then like a person who saves the best to the last, she asked with a note of +triumph in her voice:</p> + +<p>"Well, how do you think your darling Rosanna looks? I suppose you know she +has gained five pounds while you were away. I think she is vastly improved. +And so happy! My dear, of course, it is hard for us to realize it, but I +think once in awhile it is a good thing to get right out and let the home +people do for themselves and learn to depend on themselves a little. Don't +you?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton smiled grimly. "It has certainly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> not worked out here to any +great advantage, during my absence," she said.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Mrs. Hargrave. "I don't believe I hear you."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton spoke into the telephone with careful distinctness. "If you do +not know what has happened during my absence," she said, "I will tell you +the state of affairs existing here in my home now, and you may be able to +guess that something serious has occurred. In the first place Rosanna is in +her room on a diet of bread and water. My chauffeur, with his pushing wife +and ordinary child, has been discharged, and told to vacate to-morrow. +Rosanna's maid, Minnie, had been discharged and is gone. All the servants +have had severe scoldings."</p> + +<p>There was a long silence, then Mrs. Hargrave said, "Are you crazy?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all!" said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"I will be home to-morrow morning," said Mrs. Hargrave. "I'll have to get +there as soon as I can to keep you from making more of your dreadful +mistakes. In the meantime, I am ashamed of you. Don't you go near Rosanna +with your cutting speeches until I see you. Oh, I can't talk to you! +Good-night!"</p> + +<p>She rang off and Mrs. Horton slowly replaced the receiver. No, she did not +intend to go near Rosanna. Rosanna was settled for the night so far as she +was concerned. On her way up to bed, she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> opened the door of Rosanna's +room, and listened. The child was sleeping so calmly that her grandmother +could not even hear her breathe. She could see the little mound that +Rosanna's body made on the bed, but she did not go into the room. She went +on to her own room and sat down to think. The light was dim; just one small +night light burning, and Mrs. Horton sat down in her favorite lounging +chair and gave herself up to her unhappy thoughts. She was conscious of a +feeling of wrongdoing yet she did not recognize it as such. Instead, she +was sure that she had been very deeply wronged. After all her teaching, +after all the years she had spent guarding Rosanna, on the first chance the +child had slipped away from all she had been told. She shuddered when she +thought of it, remembering her own young sister and her unhappy fate. She +did not realize that she was judging all humanity by the commonplace young +scamp her sister had unfortunately married. It did not occur to her to ask +herself if all the fine young men and women her son knew were also of that +type.</p> + +<p>The next thing she knew, the cold woke her. It was dawn, and she had slept +in her chair all night. She was chilled to the bone. She slowly undressed, +and feeling sore and stiff, took a hot bath and wrapped up in a warm +kimono. She was about to lie down and finish the night when she thought of +Rosanna.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton stepped into a pair of slippers and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> crossed the room. As she +passed her desk, she looked up full at the picture of her dead son and his +wife, Rosanna's father and mother. She stopped. Somehow those faces would +not let her pass. They held her with sad, questioning eyes.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing with our little child?" they seemed to say. "Have you +loved her, mother? Have you been tender with her? Have you tried to +understand her? Have you remembered that she is just a baby?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton thought of Rosanna in her beautiful, lonely room way down the +corridor. She commenced to have a very guilty feeling.</p> + +<p>"Have you loved her?" asked the two sad faces. "Have you been tender with +her, mother?"</p> + +<p>"I have done my duty by the child," answered Mrs. Horton. She went down the +corridor to Rosanna's room, her head held high. The cold, pallid light of +the hour just before day filled the house.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton opened Rosanna's door and went in. She looked long at the +little bed as though she could not believe her eyes. Then crossing, she +opened the bathroom door, and then the clothespress, calling Rosanna's name +sharply. There was no reply. The little dog followed her into the room and +went sniffing and whining about. Mrs. Horton rushed back to the bed and saw +that the little mound she had thought in the dark the night before was +Rosanna was only a neat pile of little dresses.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was gone!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton remembered that the child was very fond of a wide seat in the +library. She hurried down the broad stairs, expecting to find that the +lonely child had crept down there to sit awhile and, like herself, had +dropped to sleep, but the big room was empty. Mrs. Horton's heart commenced +to hammer in a very strange way. Of course Rosanna must be in the house +somewhere, and although she felt it was a very undignified thing to do, she +went from room to room making a close and careful search of every nook +where a child could hide. There was not a single sign of the little girl. +Mrs. Horton had hoped to find Rosanna without calling the servants, but as +she looked and looked, and the knowledge came to her that perhaps Rosanna +was not in the house at all, she was filled with terror. She commenced to +press the electric buttons frantically and, wide-eyed and half dressed, the +household commenced to gather from the servants' wing.</p> + +<p>She managed somehow to let them know that Rosanna had disappeared, and +everyone commenced a search that stretched to the playhouse, the pony +stable and the garden.</p> + +<p>She staggered up to her room and with shaking hands commenced to dress +herself. The two sad faces on the wall stared at her.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother, mother, where is our baby?" they asked.</p> + +<p>"Gone—gone—" said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p>Rosanna was gone.</p> + + +<p>When or where or how no one could tell. By eight o'clock on that dreadful +morning the neighborhood had been scoured, the alleys searched and the +police were talking darkly of kidnapers and of dragging the river.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton knew that no one could have entered the house, but she was at a +loss to see how Rosanna could have been taken out or have gone out without +being seen, even if she had not gone before dark. The neighborhood was full +of children, and no one, young or old, had seen Rosanna, who was well known +by sight by everyone on the block.</p> + +<p>At quarter past eight, to Mrs. Horton's surprise, Mrs. Hargrave walked in. +It was evident by her distressed look and trembling hands that she had +learned what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Well, Virginia, you have done it this time!" she said. "I have been +telling you for the last forty years that your unholy pride would get you +into trouble, and it has. If anything happens to hurt Rosanna—well, I just +won't tell you what I think; I reckon you know without my saying it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> Now +begin at the beginning and tell me in as few words as possible just what +you did to her. I don't want to know now what you thought <i>she</i> had done or +what you thought about it yourself. I want to know <i>what you did to +Rosanna</i>."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave seated herself on the edge of a chair as though she might fly +off at any moment. She listened intently while Mrs. Horton, still thinking +of the accusing eyes in the two pictures, told how she had punished +Rosanna.</p> + +<p>When she had finished, Mrs. Hargrave spoke. "I don't see how you will ever +forgive yourself."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't bear to have her grow up rough and coarse like so many of these +modern children. I wanted to keep her away from all lowering influences."</p> + +<p>"Fiddle-dee-<i>dee</i>!" said Mrs. Hargrave, beating a tiny hand on the arm of +her chair. "Fiddle-dee-dee and fiddle<i>sticks</i> with your 'lowering +influences'! What did you do but leave her to her own thoughts and no one +to talk to but a stiff old woman and a houseful of servants? Well, you have +done it! What are you doing to find her?"</p> + +<p>"I have put it in the hands of the police, and they have an extra shift of +detectives searching the city." Mrs. Horton trembled so she could scarcely +speak.</p> + +<p>"Detectives, yes!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "Walking around the alley, two and +two, looking for all the little girls with long, black curls. That's about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +all <i>that</i> will do for you. Have you called Minnie?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know where she lives," parried Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"Well, I <i>do</i>!" said Mrs. Hargrave.</p> + +<p>She hurried to the telephone, and after a moment returned. "She will be +right over," she said.</p> + +<p>"That does not seem necessary," said Mrs. Horton. She dreaded to see +Minnie.</p> + +<p>"It does to me," said Mrs. Hargrave. She softened a little. "Now, my dear," +she said, "you are not able to carry this thing through alone. A frightful +thing has happened, and it is likely that we may never see our little +Rosanna again." She choked back the tears. "Have you spoken to Mr. Culver?"</p> + +<p>"Who is he?" asked Mrs. Horton. "The name sounds familiar."</p> + +<p>"It ought to!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "A splendid fellow—your chauffeur."</p> + +<p>"I thought his name was Carver," said Mrs. Horton. "You all write so badly. +No, I have not seen him; he is the cause, or part of the cause of this +dreadful affair."</p> + +<p>"Not so much as I am if you are going to look at it like that," said Mrs. +Hargrave. "Next to Rosanna, his daughter is the nicest little girl I ever +saw. I am going to do something for her some day, and I will thank you, my +dear, not to abuse her. Now I want you to send for John. <i>I</i> want to see +him if you don't."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think the police captain saw him," said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"Shall I ring that bell or will you?" demanded her friend.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton rose.</p> + +<p>"Send for the chauffeur," she ordered the house boy.</p> + +<p>"I think they's gone, ma'am," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, you run as fast as ever you can and tell them not to go," said Mrs. +Hargrave. "Mrs. Horton wants to see both Mr. and Mrs. Culver."</p> + +<p>The house boy bolted.</p> + +<p>The Culvers came gravely in. Both looked pale and distressed. Mrs. Horton +studied Mrs. Culver with surprise. Well dressed, beautiful and refined, she +was not the woman Mrs. Horton had expected to see.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave took charge.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, my dears," she said. "There is just one thing for us all to +do now, and that is to put aside all personal feelings, just as you would +want your friends to do if something dreadful had happened to our dear +Helen, and all work together to see if we cannot save our little Rosanna +from whatever fate has overtaken her. I wondered if you have ever heard her +say anything that would lead you to think that if she did leave this house +of her own accord, she would go to any one person?"</p> + +<p>"Only Minnie," said Mrs. Culver in a voice as cultivated and low as Mrs. +Hargrave's own.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have sent for Minnie," said Mrs. Hargrave. "I talked to her over the +telephone and she knows nothing at all about Rosanna, but she is coming +over at once. I want you to tell us, Mrs. Culver, if you ever heard Rosanna +say anything that would lead you to think that she would run away."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Culver hesitated, then with a flush said:</p> + +<p>"I think it is only my duty to say that Rosanna was the loneliest child I +have ever seen. If she is found, I hope that something can be done to place +her among people who will give her not only care, but love."</p> + +<p>"How dare you say that I did not love her?" cried Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"I say it because I love Rosanna," said Mrs. Culver, "and I cannot help +thinking that if my child should be left motherless, I would rather wish +her dead than brought up as you are trying to bring her up, Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"Oh, why, <i>why</i> did you not let her have her friends? If you object to us +because we are simple people and poor, why did you not see to it that she +had friends in her 'own set' as you call it? And as for the friendship +between my child and Rosanna, we had your own letter for our permission."</p> + +<p>"We certainly did," said Mrs. Hargrave.</p> + +<p>"I cannot talk about this now," said Mrs. Horton. "Please leave me."</p> + +<p>"Don't you go a step farther than your own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> house, John," said Mrs. +Hargrave briskly. "I am going to give orders for awhile. Mrs. Horton, as +you see, is overcome. We need you. Take one of the cars and ride about and +see what you can see, John, and you, my dear, stand ready to do anything +that you can, like the fine girl that you are." She smiled and the two left +the room, tears streaming down the face of Mrs. Culver. As they went slowly +through the garden, Minnie burst through the gate, and rushed toward the +house. She did not even see them. She hurried to the library, and +hesitating for a second to pull herself together, knocked on the door and +entered as Mrs. Horton called, "Come!"</p> + +<p>Minnie bowed, and Mrs. Hargrave at once said: "Minnie, can you imagine +where Rosanna would go if she left home, when she was as unhappy as she was +last night?"</p> + +<p>"Only to my house," said Minnie. "If anybody abused her as I will say they +<i>did</i>, yet mentioning no names, and if anybody made a prisoner of her, and +spent most of their time year in and out making her unhappy, and with you +away, Mrs. Hargrave, I know if my darling Miss Rosanna was let to go +anywhere of her own free will, she would come to her Minnie who loves her. +That child needed to be cuddled and loved, Mrs. Hargrave, ma'am, and I was +the only person about here who ever held her on a lap, and I know she would +start for me. But you'll not find her for one long while. How she got<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> out +of the house I don't know. But why she went I can pretty well guess, and +what if a gang of robbers should meet Miss Rosanna going along all alone +and her so beautiful with her long curls and pretty dresses? What would +they do but pick her up right off, and carry her away and hold her for some +people who didn't appreciate her when they had her, to pay them a fortune +to get her back?" Here Minnie commenced to cry.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that!" said Mrs. Horton sharply. "I can't stand it!"</p> + +<p>Minnie turned to her.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Horton, now that the dear child is stolen and by this time probably +murdered and buried, and no one the wiser, I think it is only right to tell +you that it is all your fault. While I was working here and felt that I +could do for Miss Rosanna, I was careful to say nothing at all, and it can +never be laid to me that I said one word against you to your granddaughter. +No, ma'am, Mrs. Horton, I was true to the wages I earned. I never said one +word even to my young man about the way you froze all the happiness out of +that dear departed child. And what I could do I did. I tucked her in at +night and always kissed her, and when I found out how she wanted to be held +tight, I held her and told her fairy stories. And I found out all I could +about her father and mother from the other servants, and from cook who has +been here for forty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> years or so, and I told her all the funny things her +father did when he was a little boy, and she said it made her feel real +acquainted with 'em.</p> + +<p>"And she heard or read about putting candles and flowers in front of the +statues and paintings of the saints, and she wanted to do it with her +mother and father, but she knew she would be told not, so she used to put +little bunches of flowers back of the pictures between them and the wall, +and mercy knows if they have stained the wall paper. And when they was +faded I used to take them out, and oh dear, she was so sweet!"</p> + +<p>Minnie choked, Mrs. Hargrave cried quite openly, and Mrs. Horton, deadly +pale and dry-eyed, sat shaking like a leaf, her eyes fixed on the painting +of her son on the opposite wall.</p> + +<p>"And I think it was a <i>shame</i> and a <span class="smcap">SIN</span> and a CRIME," said Minnie hotly, +"that nobody but me did these things for her, Mrs. Hargrave, ma'am!</p> + +<p>"And now she's gone, and I'll say she's somewhere dead of a broken heart +just because she wasn't let to have a single friend and that Helen, the +nicest child I ever did see except Miss Rosanna, and what if she <i>was</i> +poor? And I don't know what good blood is if it don't show in nice manners +and pretty speech and pleasant thoughts and Helen Culver had nothing else.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I just feel we will never see Miss Rosanna again, and what did she +wear off?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Mrs. Horton, speaking for the first time.</p> + +<p>"You better find out!" said Minnie tartly.</p> + +<p>"The detectives know," said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mrs. Horton I sound hard on you, but it's all true, and I can't take +it back, and I'm not working here or I wouldn't have said it: but I wish +there was something I could do. What <i>can</i> I do? I'd like to pick up her +room if I might, please."</p> + +<p>"The detectives do not want it touched," said Mrs. Horton. "There is +nothing you can do."</p> + +<p>Minnie, wiping her eyes, vanished in the direction of the kitchen to see +the cook, and Mrs. Horton turned to Mrs. Hargrave.</p> + +<p>"Does it seem to you that these people have any right to attack me like +this?" she asked with dry lips. "I was not hard with Rosanna. I loaded her +with toys and pleasures, and I think they are all very hard on me."</p> + +<p>"What do you think about yourself?" asked Mrs. Hargrave gently. "Did you +ever hold her and laugh with her, and tell her stories?"</p> + +<p>"No; it was not my way," said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"But it was the way of a child," said Mrs. Hargrave. "The way of a tender +little motherless child! I do not want to be hard on you, but I have told +you for forty years that your pride would be your undoing."</p> + +<p>"The telephone!" said Mrs. Horton. She rushed to the instrument and talked +for a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> with a member of the police force, then she came dragging +back to the library.</p> + +<p>"They have finished searching the hospitals, and nowhere is there a child +answering to the description of Rosanna. I was actually hoping to find her +in one of the hospitals."</p> + +<p>Suddenly she buried her proud head in her hands and broke into hard sobs. +Mrs. Hargrave went over and put an arm around the bowed shoulders. +Presently Mrs. Horton said: "If we only get her back! I never meant to be +hard, but I did try so hard to bring her up so she would never have to live +and die as unhappily as my little sister, and I felt that if she could be +made unbending and proud she would never choose unworthy friends."</p> + +<p>"But you were wrong, my dear," said Mrs. Hargrave. "Don't you see it now? +There is nothing to be gained in this life by remaining narrow. We must +know life and our fellowmen in order to be able to choose wisely and well. +How can we tell the worthy from the unworthy unless we have known enough of +people to be able to recognize both the good and bad? Oh, Virginia! I feel +that Rosanna will come back to you, to us, and we must remember that we are +old women, and she is a child, and like calls to like. We must remember +that God expects us to love and guide her but she must have friends and +outside interests."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if she only, only comes back!" cried Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + + +<p>The dreadful day dragged to a close, while the detectives and the entire +police force scoured the city and the surrounding country.</p> + +<p>For the one day they had succeeded in keeping the disappearance out of the +papers, hoping that if Rosanna was actually in the hands of kidnapers they +would not be frightened into taking her away or harming her to insure their +own safety.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave went restlessly back and forth between her own house and Mrs. +Horton's, while Mrs. Horton walked endlessly up and down near the +telephone, listening and praying for news and imagining horrible things.</p> + +<p>Throwing her pride to the winds, Minnie settled herself at Mrs. Horton's, +determined to be on hand if her darling Miss Rosanna needed her. Minnie, +for all her dismal predictions, did not give up hope but the thought of +what might be happening to Rosanna almost drove her wild. She could not +keep out of Rosanna's room, yet she could not bear to touch a thing that +the delicate little hands had handled. She wouldn't dust. Rosanna's brush +and comb lay on the dresser, and Minnie looked at them tenderly, thinking +of the long curls and won<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>dering where and how that lovely head was +resting.</p> + +<p>Mr. Culver went down town to a friend of his and borrowed a small car. In +this he scoured the city, and penetrated the most disreputable portions +with carefully worded questions concerning a child that had strayed away. +At lunch time Helen asked him if he would take her over to see Mary and +Gwenny. Helen had been spending her money for Gwenny, and wanted to get her +purchases where she could not see them and have them remind her of Rosanna. +Poor Helen had cried herself almost sick. With all her broken, loving +little heart she had prayed that she might be of some help in finding +Rosanna, for she too was sure that she would be restored.</p> + +<p>Mr. Culver was glad to take Helen over to Gwenny's, so Helen did the things +up in a neat parcel and they started.</p> + +<p>"Don't you suppose if everyone knew that Rosanna was lost that they would +all help to look for her?" asked Helen.</p> + +<p>"It will all come out in to-morrow morning's paper," answered Mr. Culver. +"They were afraid of scaring the people who are holding her, if someone is +holding her. The police hoped to find her before the kidnapers were scared +into carrying her a long ways off, or hiding her perhaps in some of the +caves around here. You see, Helen, with a family as rich as the Hortons +are, a child is sometimes held for what they call ransom; that is, an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +immense sum of money which the parents are glad to pay rather than have the +child killed."</p> + +<p>Mary and Gwenny were greatly shocked at the news, and wanted to hear all +about it over and over. Mr. Culver went on an errand and Helen waited there +with the two girls.</p> + +<p>"Are they sure she wasn't hurt when she was trying to go somewhere?" asked +Mary.</p> + +<p>"Mary saw a little girl run over by an automobile last night," said Gwenny.</p> + +<p>"She wasn't really run over," corrected Mary, "but pretty near."</p> + +<p>"You don't think it was Rosanna?" cried Helen eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, it wasn't Rosanna," said Mary. "Rosanna never had on a dress like +that; it was just the kind of a dress I would wear and, besides, her hair +was cut short. And she wasn't pretty like Rosanna."</p> + +<p>"Did you see her close up?" asked Helen curiously.</p> + +<p>"Not very," confessed Mary. "She was all covered with dust where the +automobile had rolled her into the gutter, and her head was cut, and she +was unconscious: but she didn't look like Rosanna any more than I do. I was +just wondering if they had been to the hospitals."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they went through them all," said Helen. "There were lots of children +that had been hurt one way and another, and there was one little girl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> who +had been hurt on the head, and couldn't tell who she was, but she was not +Rosanna. The detectives took a picture of Rosanna along so they could be +sure."</p> + +<p>"That must have been the little girl I saw hurt," said Mary. "It was right +on Third Street, and they took her down to the Morton Memorial Hospital +right away. But it wasn't Rosanna."</p> + +<p>"No, of course not," sighed Helen.</p> + +<p>"Of course not!" echoed Mary.</p> + +<p>"I wish it <i>was</i> Rosanna," said Helen with a sob. "I wish it was!"</p> + +<p>Leaving these thoughts to worry Mary and Gwenny, Helen went off with her +father, and in the course of time reached home.</p> + +<p>There was a message from Mrs. Horton asking Helen to come to her as soon as +she could.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would go with me," said Helen wistfully to her mother.</p> + +<p>"I do not think I had better," said Mrs. Culver. "She asked particularly +for you. Don't get excited whatever is said. I trust you to act as though I +was at your side. You know, darling, that I always trust you."</p> + +<p>Helen burst into tears. "Oh, mother, dear, dear mother, think of poor, poor +Rosanna who has no mother at all to go to for advice!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Culver hugged her little girl tight, wondering if little Rosanna had +perhaps gone to the young mother she had lost so long ago.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Helen entered the library, she found that old Mrs. Horton had +collapsed, and was lying on the sofa covered with a blanket. There was a +chill in the large, dark room. Mrs. Hargrave, very sober and haggard +looking, drew Helen to her and kissed her. Then to Helen's amazement Mrs. +Horton kissed her too.</p> + +<p>"My dear little girl," she said feebly, "I want to tell you that I find I +have made a great mistake, and I am sorry for everything. When Rosanna +comes back, I want you two little girls to be the best of friends. And I +want you to ask your father to stay with me. Perhaps he will do it if you +ask him. Mrs. Hargrave says that he is working on an invention of some +sort. He will certainly have as much spare time to give to his studies here +as he could in any business I know of. I want you to tell him all this from +me."</p> + +<p>"Thank you so much," said Helen in her soft little voice. Then there being +nothing that she could think of to say, she stood waiting for Mrs. Horton +to speak. But Mrs. Horton wearily turned her gray face to the wall and +sighed.</p> + +<p>"Would you mind if I go up and speak to Minnie?" Helen asked timidly.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," answered Mrs. Horton. "It comforts me to know that there is a +child in the house. I think you will find Minnie in Rosanna's room. You +know the way."</p> + +<p>Again she turned to the wall as though she had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> parted with hope, and Helen +ran quietly up the broad stairs and down the corridor to Rosanna's room. +Minnie was there sitting in her little sewing chair, mending a dress of +Rosanna's. Her tears fell on it as she worked.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that, Minnie!" she said, throwing her arm around her. "I know we +will find Rosanna, and then everything will come out right."</p> + +<p>She sat down on Minnie's lap, and told her everything that her father had +said, and all that Mrs. Horton had said, and then all about her visit with +Mary and Gwenny.</p> + +<p>"As far as I go," said Minnie crossly, "the sooner they get all this in the +paper the better I will like it. Why, if there is one thing on earth more +than another that will stir folks up it is a lost child. All the people, +and the Boy Scouts and everybody will be hunting around everywhere."</p> + +<p>"And where do the Girl Scouts come in?" asked Helen hotly. "They will do +just as good work as the Boy Scouts will." She got up and commenced to walk +around the room. Minnie, having finished her sewing, arose too and after a +moment's thought produced from somewhere a silk duster, and began wiping +off the chairs and other furniture.</p> + +<p>Helen watched her idly as she moved about the room, then the two large +portraits caught her attention.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't Rosanna's mother beautiful?" she said, staring. "Her eyes seem to +look right at you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> as if she was trying to tell you something."</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt she is, the dear saint!" said Minnie. "You can't begin to +know what a heap Rosanna thinks of those pictures. She used to want to keep +flowers in front of each one the way they do in churches in front of the +saints; but she didn't dare because she knew her grandmother wouldn't let +her. So she used to pick posies and tie little bunches and slip them down +behind the picture next the wall. She asked me if I didn't think it would +mean just as much. And I know it did, the lamb, the dear, dear lamb! I told +her grandmother about it too, every word.</p> + +<p>"Why, the day you went to Fontaine Ferry—gracious, it seems a year +ago!—she fixed a little bit of a wreath of sweet peas and tucked it behind +the picture. It must be there yet all withered."</p> + +<p>Minnie went over to the picture, and taking the heavy frame in both hands +held the picture away from the wall a little.</p> + +<p>Something fell to the floor, but it was not the withered flowers.</p> + +<p>When Minnie looked down, she stared and stared and, still staring, crumpled +down on her knees, wild, round eyes on the object. Helen ran to her.</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, oh," moaned Minnie, "have I gone mad?"</p> + +<p>On the floor tied by a ribbon, was Rosanna's beautiful hair!</p> + +<p>For a space Minnie and Helen stood as though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> they had been frozen. Minnie +touched the long, soft locks and again moaned but all at once Helen +commenced to dance up and down.</p> + +<p>"Now we have her, now we have her!" she cried. "Come down and tell Mrs. +Horton, Minnie! We have found Rosanna! Come, come!"</p> + +<p>She tried to drag Minnie to the door, but Minnie pulled back.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you see?" cried Helen. "She cut it off because she didn't want +anybody to know who she was, and everyone always looked at her lovely hair. +She gave it to her mother. Oh, <i>don't</i> you see, Minnie? And then she +started for your house, and the automobile hit her, and I just <i>know</i> that +is our Rosanna in the hospital! Of course Mary was sure it was not Rosanna +on account of her hair. Oh, come, let's tell her grandmother. She does +truly and truly love Rosanna, Minnie. Come, let's tell her!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and then find out that it isn't Rosanna at all and break her heart +for sure," said the practical Minnie. "You go down and tell Mrs. Hargrave +will she please come up here a minute, and you see that she comes. She will +know what's best to do."</p> + +<p>Minnie bent over the long locks so carefully brushed and tied, and again +her tears flowed while Helen sped down the stairs on her errand.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave, who had plenty of common sense, followed at once, and her +shock and surprise when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> she saw the curls of dark hair equalled theirs.</p> + +<p>"Minnie is quite right," she said, nodding her head. "Mrs. Horton is in a +very bad condition. I feel as though the little girl in the hospital may be +Rosanna, but if we should find ourselves mistaken I don't know what the +effect on Mrs. Horton would be. Say good-by to Mrs. Horton, Helen, and go +tell your mother what we have found. Then ask your father to bring you +around to my house in the car. You, Minnie, slip out the back door and meet +me outside. Don't say one word until we see who this child is. I don't see +why they have not reported her if it is Rosanna. She must have been asked +to tell her name, and Rosanna is not grown up enough to think of making up +a name for the occasion. Besides she would be glad to come home. If it is +Rosanna—let me hurry!"</p> + +<p>One by one they carefully left the house. It was late, and Mrs. Horton +seemed to be dozing. Telling the cook to put off getting dinner until Mrs. +Horton had rested, Minnie slipped out, and reached Mrs. Hargrave's house +just as the car drove up. Mrs. Hargrave came briskly trotting along the +walk a moment later and was helped in.</p> + +<p>"It is a good thing that I am a trustee and director over at that +hospital," she remarked, "so they won't try to fuss about our seeing the +child, whoever she is. If it is only Rosanna—"</p> + +<p>It was a swift ride. Every heart was beating quickly. If it was only +Rosanna!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>Entering the hospital, Mrs. Hargrave went to the superintendent's office, +where a firm, stern looking woman met them.</p> + +<p>"A child was hurt by an automobile last night and brought here," she said +briefly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave interrupted her. "I want to see her," she said.</p> + +<p>"It is not the Horton child, if that is what you mean," said the +superintendent. "This was a short-haired child in a very ordinary dress. +She was struck on the head and was unconscious for hours. We are surprised +that no inquiry has been made."</p> + +<p>"I am making one now," said Mrs. Hargrave crisply. "I said I wanted to +<i>see</i> this child."</p> + +<p>"You know it is against the rules, Mrs. Hargrave," the superintendent +objected.</p> + +<p>"Fiddle-dee-dee!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "What ward is she in?"</p> + +<p>The superintendent gave up. She had known that she would. Mrs. Hargrave +always had her own way. She led them down to the elevator, where they +waited and waited with what patience they could gather until the car came +slowly down and took them up to the general wards.</p> + +<p>They tiptoed in. The little girl was bandaged and pale and sleeping +heavily; but oh, joy of joys, it <i>was</i> Rosanna!</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + + +<p>"And it was just like a fairy story," said Helen, telling her mother about +it afterwards, "because even while the nurse was telling how the little +girl had not spoken a word, or even looked at anybody, Rosanna just opened +those big eyes of hers, and said, 'Hello, Helen!' And I simply didn't know +what to say, so I just said 'Hello,' too."</p> + +<p>It was indeed Rosanna, and Rosanna was herself again, aside from a very +badly bumped head that had come near being a very seriously hurt head. She +was too weak and ill to seem to wonder why she was in a hospital room with +a couple of trained nurses feeling of her pulse, and dear Mrs. Hargrave +with the tears rolling down her faintly pink old cheeks.</p> + +<p>All Mrs. Hargrave said was, "We will be back in a minute, Rosanna," and +shooed everybody out into the hall, even the stern superintendent.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said Mrs. Hargrave with one peek back to see that the nurse +that had stayed was doing her full duty, "now the thing is, how are we +going to get her home?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she can't go home," said the superintendent in a shocked voice. "She +ought to stay here for three or four days anyway."</p> + +<p>"Fiddle-dee-<i>dee</i>!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "Home<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> is the place for her, and +besides I have reasons for wanting her to be under the care of her +grandmother right away."</p> + +<p>"I can't take the responsibility," said the superintendent stubbornly. "You +will have to see the house doctor, Mrs. Hargrave."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Mrs. Hargrave. She turned to a nurse passing. "Go get +Doctor Smith, my dear; tell him Mrs. Hargrave wants him at once."</p> + +<p>Doctor Smith came sooner than the superintendent hoped he would.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "if it is possible to get her home without jarring her, I +think it would be a good thing. Her head is not injured, but her nerves are +shaken, and if she can be at home in her own room she will regain her +strength very quickly. I want you to take a trained nurse with you, +however."</p> + +<p>"Of course!" said Mrs. Hargrave briskly, "Now how shall we take her? In an +ambulance, or can we manage in the car? It is very large."</p> + +<p>"Could one of you hold her?" said the doctor.</p> + +<p>"I can and will," said Minnie decidedly. "I know just how she likes to be +held, the lamb!"</p> + +<p>"Then she can go now if you like," said the doctor, and the superintendent +pursed up her mouth and stalked downstairs, scorning the elevator.</p> + +<p>How smoothly Mr. Culver drove that car! Not a jounce or bump disturbed the +pale little patient, and he "drove the car at a walk" as Mrs. Hargrave had +asked him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>When they reached home, Mrs. Hargrave asked Rosanna if she could be +comfortable there for a couple of minutes, and seeing her nod feebly, she +went briskly into the house. She looked into the library. Mrs. Horton, +exhausted by her regrets and sorrow, had fallen into a heavy sleep.</p> + +<p>Quickly Mrs. Hargrave went back and beckoned. Mr. Culver gathered Rosanna +up in his arms, and with Minnie leading the way, carried her to her pretty +room. She gave a sigh of happiness when she felt herself tucked into her +own soft, pleasant bed, and a tear squeezed itself from under her closed +lids, but it was a tear of joy.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave returned to the library and sat down. It was a half hour +before Mrs. Horton awoke.</p> + +<p>"No news?" she asked with a groan.</p> + +<p>"The best in the world!" said Mrs. Hargrave, patting her friend's hand. +"The best in the world, Virginia, and you must take it bravely."</p> + +<p>"Tell me quickly," begged Mrs. Horton. "They have found her? Where is my +child?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we have found her," said Mrs. Hargrave, "and she is in her own little +bed upstairs."</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Horton, covering her eyes.</p> + +<p>"She was nearly run over on Third Street, and has a pretty bad bump and a +cut on her head. We found her in the hospital. No one knew who she was +because she had cut off her curls, and she had on a dress I never saw +before. Helen thinks it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> one she bought to give that Mary child I told +you about. Now don't mind her hair, Virginia; it will grow, and <i>do</i> be +gentle with her."</p> + +<p>"Mind her hair—be gentle with her!" repeated Mrs. Horton indignantly. "I +will tell you what I am going to do from this time on, and just you try to +interfere if you dare! I am going to <i>spoil</i> Rosanna. I thought I was doing +the right thing, and you don't know how I wanted to pet her and love her +and play with her, but I was such a goose that I thought if I didn't keep +her at a distance she wouldn't respect me. Why, she cares a thousand times +more for you than she does for me this very minute! So you just watch me. I +am going to make her love me best! I am going to begin now." She rose and +started for the door.</p> + +<p>"Don't you want to fix your hair first?" asked Mrs. Hargrave in amazement. +"It is all tousled up, and your nose is red and shiny."</p> + +<p>"It can stay so!" said the elegant Mrs. Horton. "I don't mind at all +letting her see that I was breaking my heart for her. Perhaps it will help +her to believe that I have one."</p> + +<p>Followed by Mrs. Hargrave, Mrs. Horton mounted the stairs as lightly as a +girl. Minnie was just coming down.</p> + +<p>"Miss Rosanna keeps asking for you, Mrs. Horton," she said, "and the nurse +thought if you would mind coming in to see her she would drop off to +sleep."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I <i>am</i> coming!" said Mrs. Horton. She entered the room, and Mrs. Hargrave +again felt a keen pride in her friend. She approached the bed and, smiling +down brightly, bent and kissed the little girl softly on the cheek.</p> + +<p>"Well, darling," she said, "how are you feeling now?"</p> + +<p>Rosanna lifted her arms. "Oh, grandmother, I am so sorry I ran away and +made you so unhappy! I can see it in your face. Please forgive me! I will +be such a good little girl when I get well!"</p> + +<p>"You have always been a good little girl, my precious," said her +grandmother, kneeling by the bed and laying her arm over Rosanna. "Only we +didn't just understand each other, and now everything is going to be +different. I want you to go to sleep now, and we can talk about everything +when you are well again. And you must sleep all you can, because the very +first meal you can sit up for, Helen is coming over to have with you. A +party, you know, right up here. And Helen is very lonesome. Now go to +sleep. Minnie, your good Minnie, will stay right with you, and I will come +back soon." Once more she kissed Rosanna and silently left the room. +Outside the door she turned to Mrs. Hargrave and for a moment cried soft +and happy tears on her shoulder. Then the two old ladies kissed each other +tenderly.</p> + +<p>"It is going to be all right, Amanda," said Mrs. Horton.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indeed it is, Virginia," said Mrs. Hargrave. "I am more thankful than I +can say. And now I wonder when we are going to have anything to eat. I am +not sure when I had a meal last. Down at Cousin Hendy's, I believe, and as +she was just coming out of one of her attacks, that was mostly prepared +breakfast foods. I don't mind saying that I am starved. Do you suppose you +will have enough to eat here to-night to be any inducement for me to accept +your invitation for dinner when I get it?"</p> + +<p>Half an hour later just as they sat down to the table, in walked Mrs. +Horton's son Robert. Mrs. Hargrave shook her head when after the first +greetings he asked for Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"In bed," said Mrs. Horton. "I will have something to tell you about her +later, Robert, but now tell us what has happened since I left you."</p> + +<p>"The kiddie isn't in disgrace for anything, is she?" insisted Robert.</p> + +<p>"Not at all!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "Did you find your friend?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly did!" said the young man, smiling, "and it's a good thing too. +He was hurt worse than I was, and it is going to be a long time before he +will be able to do much of anything. He has a wife and a child or two, so I +thought the best thing to do was to get them all down on the stock farm. +That's what kept me. I went down to Lexington with them instead of coming +straight home. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> took one of the kiddies with him, and the others will +follow. That is a great little girl of his, mother. She told me some of the +greatest yarns about what she did in an organization called the Girl +Scouts. It certainly is interesting and a wonderful thing for girls. +Teaches them all sorts of things, you know. Why, that child was more +self-reliant than lots of the grown girls I know. You must be sure to have +Rosanna join it, mother. She needs it, I feel sure. I scarcely know +Rosanna, but her letters always had about as much originality as a sheet of +blank paper."</p> + +<p>"I don't think that was Rosanna's fault," said Mrs. Horton. "I think you +will find her changed greatly."</p> + +<p>"Well, however that may be, you let her join the Girl Scouts anyway. Why, +the fun they get out of it is worth everything. And in summer they camp and +put up jams and things, at least the group this youngster belonged to did, +and she is certainly great. Such a polite little thing."</p> + +<p>"Rosanna can invite her up here to see her," said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"I guess you would think she was not in Rosanna's class," he said, staring +at his mother.</p> + +<p>"Class?" said Mrs. Horton. "Class has nearly wrecked my life twice; now we +are going to pay some attention to worth and brains."</p> + +<p>They were sitting in the library a little later, when John Culver entered. +He did not see Robert<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> lounging on a divan in a dim corner of the big room +as he said, "Mrs. Horton, this check that you have given me to date is made +out to John Carver and of course I could not cash it."</p> + +<p>"Isn't that the way you spell your name?" asked Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"Culver: John Winston Culver," said Culver. "J. W. Culver will do, of +course."</p> + +<p>"John Winston Culver!" cried Robert, leaping from the divan in a manner you +wouldn't expect from a wounded soldier. "Not Culver, the inventor?"</p> + +<p>"A little that way," laughed Culver, "but scarcely enough to be called +<i>the</i> inventor. I wish I was!"</p> + +<p>Robert was shaking him by the hand.</p> + +<p>"Well, you are all right!" he said. "Why, our people in the foundry have +been looking for you all over the East. What are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"It is too long a story to tell you now," said Mr. Culver, "but I will be +more than glad to get in touch with the office if there is anything in it."</p> + +<p>"There is a fortune in it," said Robert, "just as soon as you get the +machine perfected! We must have it, and we will give you fine terms for a +right to its exclusive use. What are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"I am your mother's chauffeur," said Mr. Culver. "I wanted something to do +that would give me a good deal of leisure to work on the engine and after I +came back from France we were visiting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> my wife's people here and I saw +your mother's advertisement and took the place."</p> + +<p>"It is almost too good to be true!" said Robert. "If you agree, we'll work +the thing out together."</p> + +<p>Mr. Culver looked at Mrs. Horton, then at Mrs. Hargrave. "Stay; please +stay!" was the message he read in both pairs of eyes.</p> + +<p>"That will be fine," he said to Robert. "I need some help, and you are just +the one to put me in the way of getting it. See you to-morrow," he added +and went out, forgetting the check.</p> + +<p>"Well, I believe in fairies now," said Robert. "Half a dozen of the biggest +concerns in the country are after that young man. If I dared, I would lock +him up for safe keeping. To think that he is here right on the place! Talk +of luck! Why, he is worth a million dollars to us right now, with his +improved engine."</p> + +<p>"Luck; luck!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "Pretty poor luck, I call it for me!"</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing, nothing!" sighed Mrs. Hargrave. "Only I had it all planned to +do something nice for Helen."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + + +<p>Two days went by, during which Rosanna slept most of the time or tossed +about her pretty bed, unable to rest on account of the pain in her head.</p> + +<p>Rosanna learned then, for the first time, the lesson that it is never right +to run away from the duty that faces us. It came to her slowly but surely +in the hours of her recovery that no good ever comes to those who shirk. If +Rosanna had waited, she would have saved herself and many others a great +deal of unhappiness.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was a very little girl, yet she might have stood firm because she +knew in her heart that she was not to blame and that should have given her +courage. As she lay there and day by day learned from one and another the +terrible suffering her running away had brought on every one, Rosanna was +filled with shame and despair. How could any one, how could her grandmother +ever forgive her?</p> + +<p>And the worst of her punishment was that they would not let her talk. She +wanted to beg every one who came caring for her so tenderly to forgive her, +but the nurse simply would not let her say a word. No one was allowed to +stay with her for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> more than five minutes and then <i>they</i> did all the +talking.</p> + +<p>This did not go on long, of course. Came a day when the nurse smilingly +helped her into a big lounging chair and stood by looking on while a +hairdresser straightened and trimmed the haggled locks into a perfectly +docked hair cut. A bang almost covered the plasters on her temple and when +the task was completed, Rosanna felt very dressed up indeed.</p> + +<p>That afternoon she saw Uncle Robert—a jolly, affectionate Uncle Robert who +came to tell her a great piece of news. He had adopted a French orphan, a +lovely little girl belonging to a family that had been wiped out in the +war.</p> + +<p>"She made me remember that I had a little niece over here," said Uncle +Robert. "I used to tell her about you, and I know you will enjoy knowing +her."</p> + +<p>"Isn't she coming here to live?" asked Rosanna hopefully.</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet," said Uncle Robert, frowning. "You see I have not told a +soul yet excepting yourself. I don't know how that would strike mother. It +seems to me that it would give her a good deal of care. Two girls to bring +up, you know. Your Uncle Robert tackled a big problem when he adopted an +orphan, don't you think so, Rosanna?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," said Rosanna, smiling. "Orphans are real easy to keep, +Uncle Robert.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> You see there are not many bad ones like me."</p> + +<p>"I won't have you say that!" said Uncle Robert, giving the hand he was +holding a little shake. "I think you are a real easy orphan: easy to get +along with and easy to look at and easy to keep. I hope mine will be half +so good, and I hope I will love her a quarter as well as I do my niece +Rosanna."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, Uncle Robert!" sighed Rosanna. "I am so glad you are home. +I had forgotten how nice you are."</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert rose. "We have said so many nice things to each other that I +feel all good and happy inside," he laughed. "And before something happens +to make me feel otherwise, here goes your little Uncle Bobby downstairs to +talk the thing over with mother. She is in the library with Mrs. Hargrave. +The fact is, Rosanna, I was so glad to be at home again and so busy with +one thing and another, that I forgot all about Elise. That's her name; +Elise. This morning I had a letter from the Red Cross people, and they +expect to come over in a couple of weeks. So I must get busy. But honestly, +Rosanna, I do think it would be pretty hard for mother to take her in. I +could enter her in some good boarding-school in the city."</p> + +<p>"But they wouldn't <i>love</i> her!" cried Rosanna. "Little girls want to be +<i>loved</i>."</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert cleared his throat. "We will have to see to that part somehow, +won't we, Rosanna? Well, I will talk to mother, and as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> soon as we decide I +will come and tell you about it. At least I will if you will promise to +take a nap."</p> + +<p>"I will if you will promise to wake me up."</p> + +<p>"It's a go!" agreed Uncle Robert, and went off whistling.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton heard the whistle.</p> + +<p>"Robert has something on his mind," she said to Mrs. Hargrave. "He has +whistled just like that ever since he was a tiny boy whenever he was fussed +or worried or in mischief. He will come in here and tell me something; just +you see if he doesn't. Well, Robert," as the young man entered, "did you +find Rosanna looking pretty well?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly fine! That child is going to be a beauty some day, mother. I +never realized how pretty she is."</p> + +<p>"You have been gone three years, and that makes all the difference in the +world in a child her age," said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"That may be so," conceded Robert. Then he tumbled headlong into his story, +and Mrs. Horton looked at Mrs. Hargrave with an amused smile.</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, I want to 'fess up to something. I hope you will not pass +judgment until I have told you the whole story. Do you both care to +listen?"</p> + +<p>Both ladies assured him that they would be delighted.</p> + +<p>"For a couple of months I was billeted in a little French village near the +border. I was fortunate to find my quarters in a house which must have +been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> very fine at one time. It was very nearly a ruin when I arrived but +the owner, an old noblewoman, was still living in one corner and welcomed +me as though she was still a woman of leisure and fortune greeting an +expected and distinguished guest. She was certainly a dear old lady and we +were regular pals in no time.</p> + +<p>"She did all the work; of course there was no one to help her, except her +little niece, an orphan girl about the age of Rosanna. It must have been +Rosanna that made me notice her, and she was certainly a dainty little +thing. The aunt was miserably ill. I got one of our doctors after her case, +but he said there was no hope. She was simply burned out with the terrors +and hardships she had been through. And her heart was all to the bad.</p> + +<p>"She knew it, the plucky old dear. She was a gallant soldier, I can tell +you! One night she woke me groaning. I hurried in to her and told her she +must let me take care of her all I could. I told her I had a mother at home +and all that sort of thing, you know, to make her easy about having me wait +on her, and she was no end grateful—more than I deserved. But she worried. +She knew that she didn't have the strength to go through many attacks like +that, and how she did mourn over that niece. I didn't blame her, seeing the +way things are over there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It went along two weeks more, and one night I heard a gentle tapping on +the door of my room. It was Elise, the little girl. Her aunt was having +another attack. I hurried in, and as soon as I saw her I knew the poor old +lady was going where she would not have to slave and starve any more, and +going soon. She took my hand.</p> + +<p>"'Elise; oh, Elise!' she managed to gasp. Mother, honestly I just could +<i>not</i> help it! I said, 'Don't worry, madame! I have told you of my mother +and my home. I would esteem it so great a favor, such an honor, if you +would give Elise to me.'"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton's lip trembled. Mrs. Hargrave let two large tears slip +unnoticed down her pretty, faded pink cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Well, she died perfectly happy," continued Robert. "And there I was with a +little girl on my hands! I turned her over to some women I knew in the Red +Cross, and she has been well taken care of ever since. I saw her when I +stopped over in Paris on my way home. Food and a little care had made her +look like a different child.</p> + +<p>"Then I sailed, and she sort of slipped my mind until this morning. I have +a letter here telling me that the Red Cross friends are about to sail for +home and they are bringing Elise, of course. That was the first time I +really realized what I had let myself in for. I might have put her in a +convent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> over there if I had not promised the old lady that I would +personally look after her. But I did promise!</p> + +<p>"Now what I want is some advice. Remember, I am not asking you to have +Elise here. You have Rosanna and I think that is enough. But you both must +know of some nice place where she can be placed and where it would be +homelike. I told Rosanna about it when I was up there just now, and she +didn't want me to put her in a school. She said little girls wanted to be +loved."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton winced.</p> + +<p>"Did she suggest a place for her?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she did," said Robert.</p> + +<p>"Didn't she ask you to bring her here?" continued Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Virginia, wait; <i>please</i> wait!" cried Mrs. Hargrave suddenly. "Oh, +Virginia, you have Rosanna, and now Robert is home. You don't know how +lonely I am. Virginia, Robert dear, you have known me all your life but I +am not nearly, nearly as old as I look, and I can love. Give me your little +girl, Robert! She can be your ward just the same, but let me have her for +my little daughter. I am so lonely, and I will be so good to her!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave buried her face in her tiny handkerchief and sobbed. Robert +glanced at his mother. She nodded. Robert went over to Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> Hargrave and +folded his strong arms round the little old lady.</p> + +<p>"Dear old friend, how can I ever thank you?" he said. "Of course I know you +will be good to the child! Elise is yours!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + + +<p>An hour later Robert went up the stairs, wounds, shell shock and all, three +steps at a time! He wakened Rosanna by tickling her on the nose.</p> + +<p>"Well, Rosanna, me dear," said her uncle in a very small-boy and frivolous +manner, "there's news a plenty for you."</p> + +<p>"Well, honey, what's the good word?" he asked her when he had finished.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle Robert," said Rosanna, "I just never <i>would</i> believe that +anything so perfectly lovely could happen out of a book. Just to think of +it! What will Helen say? Of course you know, Uncle Robert, that I would +have loved to have Elise here, but I just know that Mrs. Hargrave will be +so happy. Her house is so big, and there are no noises in it. It always +seems as though the rooms are whispering to each other."</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean," said Robert, nodding. "I like 'em to shout; don't +you?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Rosanna wisely, "perhaps not quite shout, but it is nice when +they talk anyway. Mrs. Hargrave is always wanting to be a fairy godmother +to someone, and now she can be just plain really-truly mother, and that is +much nicer. I know she will love Elise, and she is so dear to lean<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> up +against. She is always so soft and silky feeling."</p> + +<p>"I never hoped for such luck!" said Uncle Robert. "We want to make a real +little American of Elise. We will do great things for her, even if she is +going to be Mrs. Hargrave's daughter. I want her to ride and swim, and do +all the things you do."</p> + +<p>"I don't swim, Uncle Robert," said Rosanna. "I wish I could! I will need to +know how if she decides to let me join the Girl Scouts."</p> + +<p>"I am no Girl Scout myself," said Uncle Robert, "but I have a medal or two +for long distance swimming, and we are going to turn you into a little fish +as soon and as painlessly as we can. So that's all of that! Riding, too. I +know you can ride that speck of a pony out there, but you must have a horse +now, a real <i>horse</i>. I meant to get each of you one but I suppose Mrs. +Hargrave will think that it is her privilege to get one for Elise."</p> + +<p>"Did you feel as though you wanted to spend as much money as two saddle +horses would cost?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly did," said Uncle Robert. "Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, if you do feel like that, wouldn't it be nice if Helen could have +that other one?"</p> + +<p>"Rosanna, you have got a brain," said Uncle Robert, patting her hand. "The +very thing! One more thing settled. Now about this Girl Scout business. +What is it, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you all about it myself," said Rosanna, "but the daughter of +a friend of grand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>mother's who is at the head of the troop we hope to join +is coming over soon to tell me all about it."</p> + +<p>"Another little girl?" asked Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>"No," said Rosanna, "she is a real grown-up young lady; quite old. About +twenty, I think, but Helen has met her, and she says she is just as nice as +she can be. And grandmother says so too; so it must be so."</p> + +<p>"It is if mother says so," said Uncle Robert, smiling. "She is hard to +please in the matter of 'quite old young ladies.' Well, go on."</p> + +<p>"There is a book on that table that tells you all about it," said Rosanna. +"Why, they learn to do <i>every</i>thing, Uncle Robert! And they camp out, and +have meetings!"</p> + +<p>"And passwords and secret signs and all that, I suppose," said Uncle +Robert, laughing.</p> + +<p>"You get to know lots and lots of other girls, too," said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you do, you poor starved little thing!" said Uncle Robert. +"Well, you are going to be one anyhow, for better or for worse, and we will +run Elise in. She will have a bad time at first getting used to American +children and their ways, but I want to knock off about ninety years from +her score. She is too old for any use. It's awful to see a kiddie so +settled and grown up."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Hargrave is just the one to have her then," said Rosanna, "because +Mrs. Hargrave isn't any age at all, really. She looks old on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> outside, +but she is just as young as Helen and me. She actually makes up things to +play! And she can dress paper dolls bea-<i>u</i>-ti-fully. Elise will love her +right off. Mrs. Hargrave said she wanted to be a Girl Scout herself, but +she thought she wouldn't try for it because she could have more fun just +visiting them at their meetings and driving out to camp with hampers of +goodies. I don't think I can ever tell you, Uncle Robert, how I have wanted +to join. Even now I can't feel that it will really come true. Suppose +grandmother should change her mind?"</p> + +<p>"She isn't a changeable person," said Uncle Robert, "and besides she loves +you so that she would give you anything in the world that you want except +perhaps an airplane."</p> + +<p>"There is the most beautiful young lady downstairs to see you, dearie," +Minnie said, as she came in and straightened Rosanna's coverlet. "She is +something in the Girl Scouts, and her name is Miss Marjorie Hooker."</p> + +<p>"That's the one!" said Rosanna, nodding to Uncle Robert. "Does grandmother +say for her to come up here?"</p> + +<p>"Just for a little while."</p> + +<p>"Please don't go, Uncle Robert," said Rosanna as he rose. "<i>Please</i> don't +go! I wouldn't know what to say to her."</p> + +<p>"Neither would I," remarked Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>"But I feel scared!" pleaded Rosanna.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So do I!" said Uncle Robert. "How do you expect me to talk to ferocious +young women Scouts? Does she look very strong, Minnie? Perhaps you noticed +if she was carrying a rope?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Rope?</i>" repeated Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said her uncle. "I believe it is a great stunt of the Boy Scouts to +learn to tie awfully hard knots and swing a lariat and all that. Perhaps +the Girl Scouts do these things too. She might want to show you how it is +done. I would just hate to have her tie <i>me</i> up!"</p> + +<p>"I won't let her," promised Rosanna stoutly. "I will take care of you, +Uncle Robert, no matter how big and strong she is. Bring her up, Minnie."</p> + +<p>"You don't want to be too awful scared, Mr. Robert and Miss Rosanna dear," +Minnie giggled. "For one of her size, she looks and acts real mild."</p> + +<p>"My!" said Rosanna. "I think I know just who Miss Marjorie Hooker is. She +lives round the corner on Fourth Street. She is a dark lady, and tall; +taller than you. She plays golf all the time. I see her starting out with +her clubs every day."</p> + +<p>"Getting her strength up," said Uncle Robert with a mock groan. "Rosanna, I +am a brave man to stay with you. What are the Girl Scouts, I'd like to +know, that I should stay here and be roped?"</p> + +<p>"Hush!" warned Rosanna. "Here they come!"</p> + +<p>Minnie opened the door and stood aside. Uncle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> Robert quickly rose, and +squared his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Miss Hooker to see you, Miss Rosanna," said Minnie with her queer smile.</p> + +<p>High heels clicked on the hardwood floor, and Miss Marjorie Hooker came in. +Uncle Robert suddenly grasped the back of a chair as though he was afraid +of falling down. Rosanna sat straight up in bed and stared with round eyes. +Miss Marjorie Hooker clicked across the big room and almost shyly took +Rosanna's hand.</p> + +<p>"How do you do?" she said in a silvery, small voice that fitted her tiny +self to perfection. "It is so good of you to see me!"</p> + +<p>"W-w-won't you sit down?" asked Rosanna feebly.</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker looked at Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>"This is my Uncle Robert Horton," said Rosanna prettily.</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker bowed and smiled, showing two fairy dimples. "I thought perhaps +you were the doctor," she tinkled. She sat down in the nearest chair. It +was ten times too big for her, but by sitting well toward the edge, her +little feet nearly touched the floor. Rosanna kept staring. Uncle Robert +seemed to grow very brave. He commenced to talk to the mite and managed to +treat her like a really grown-up person. Rosanna was proud of him. But was +it possible that this little lady, the smallest grown person she had ever +known, was really the Captain of the Girl Scouts?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So you are going to be a Girl Scout?" said Miss Hooker, turning her +dimples on Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"I <i>want</i> to be," said Rosanna. "Do you think they will accept me?"</p> + +<p>"I know they will be delighted to take you in; but you know that you have +certain things to learn and certain preparations to make before you become +a regular member."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Rosanna. "I have the manual here."</p> + +<p>"The best thing is for you to read it and then I will explain anything to +you that you do not understand. We <i>do</i> have such good times!"</p> + +<p>She smiled delightfully at Rosanna and at Uncle Robert, who looked really +cheered up and happy and showed no signs at all of leaving the room. +Rosanna wouldn't have minded if he had. She wanted a chance to talk alone +with this fairy-like creature in those ridiculously grown-up clothes.</p> + +<p>Miss Marjorie Hooker made it quite clear that she had not come to call on +Uncle Robert. She had come to see Rosanna. She made it so clear that +presently Uncle Robert, who did not want to go at all, spoke of a forgotten +engagement and said good-by. When he bent to kiss Rosanna, he whispered, "I +don't mind being roped at all, Rosanna!" but Rosanna did not understand.</p> + +<p>After he had gone, the fairy in the big chair seemed to grow less timid.</p> + +<p>"I just think it is fine that you are going to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> one of us," she said, +dimpling delightfully. "We do have the <i>best</i> times! Last summer we went +camping on our farm out toward Anchorage. We were in a grove back of the +house, and if you didn't have to go down to the house for the newspapers +and milk and things, you could imagine that we were miles from everyone. +Can you swim?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Rosanna, "but I mean to learn."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you must!" said Miss Hooker. "Everyone should know how."</p> + +<p>"Of course," agreed Rosanna. "And a great many people do know how, so I +suppose I will be able to learn. It seems very hard."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it!" trilled Miss Hooker. "I have several medals for long +distance swimming myself, and I taught myself when I was just a little +girl."</p> + +<p>"You are not so very large now, are you?" ventured Rosanna.</p> + +<p>"No, I am <i>not</i>," said Miss Hooker in what was for her quite a cross tone. +"Oh, Rosanna, how I would love to be tall! There is a girl round the corner +on Fourth Street, and she is about six feet tall, and I just <i>envy</i> her so! +Why, what are you laughing at?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you please must excuse me!" begged Rosanna, "but when Minnie told us +the young lady was coming to see me about the Girl Scouts, Uncle Robert and +I both made up our mind that you were that tall young lady. And Uncle +Robert said he was sure to be fearfully afraid of you. And in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>stead of +that, you are <i>you</i>, just as sweet and little! Uncle Robert needn't be +afraid a bit, need he?"</p> + +<p>"I am not at all sure," said Miss Marjorie Hooker. "Perhaps he will have to +be terribly afraid of me."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + + +<p>It was bedtime one night, and after Rosanna had been tucked in her +grandmother came up. She had been doing this ever since Rosanna came home +and the little girl had learned to long for the little talks they had +together. But this night Mrs. Horton sat down in the big chair, and told +Rosanna to come into her arms. Cuddled there on her grandmother's lap, +Rosanna rested while they had a talk that neither of them ever forgot. For +the first time Rosanna learned all about the little sister, and Mrs. Horton +in her turn came to know something of the thoughts and loneliness and +longings that go on in a little girl's mind. Rosanna told her grandmother +all about it, and if Mrs. Horton hugged her so tight that it almost hurt +and cried over her short hair, Rosanna felt all the happier for it.</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Horton forgot that she was a proud and haughty lady (indeed she +was really never that again) and told Rosanna how sorry she was that she +had been unloving because she had really never meant her cold manner. She +made Rosanna understand that she had always loved her but never, never so +deeply or so tenderly as now. And Rosanna begged her forgiveness for +running away, and for cutting off her hair. So by-and-by they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> commenced to +talk of happier things, feeling very near and dear to each other the while.</p> + +<p>It was such a wonderful talk that Rosanna felt that never again would she +be unhappy.</p> + +<p>Before her grandmother left, she told Rosanna that Helen was coming over +the following day to take luncheon with her. Minnie had a table set in the +broad bay window, and there the luncheon was spread. They scarcely ate at +first, they were so glad to see each other. Almost the first thing that +Rosanna asked was news of Gwenny. Helen had seen her often and her mother +thought that she was slowly growing worse. Helen had been to a meeting at +the Girl Scouts and had told them about Gwenny. Perhaps something would be +done a little later. Tommy was just as selfish as ever. Helen said it was +awfully hard not to dislike him.</p> + +<p>"I don't even <i>try</i> to like him," said Rosanna. "I don't see how you can be +as good and kind as you are, Helen."</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't like the feeling it gives me when I dislike people," said +Helen.</p> + +<p>"How do you feel?" asked Rosanna. "I never thought about how it makes <i>me</i> +feel."</p> + +<p>"I don't know as I can tell exactly," said Helen, thinking hard. "Sort of +as though you were walking over rough cobblestones. I just don't like it. +And I feel as though it does something to my color. Just as though I was +all lovely pink or blue, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> hating or disliking someone made me turn the +most horrid sort of plum color."</p> + +<p>"How funny you are, Helen! When are you going away on your Girl Scout +camping trip? Isn't it almost time?"</p> + +<p>Helen looked embarrassed. "I am not going," she said.</p> + +<p>"Not <i>going</i>?" echoed Rosanna. "Oh, Helen, how <i>awful</i>! And you have been +planning so long for that. Why are you going to give it up?"</p> + +<p>"I just changed my mind," she said.</p> + +<p>"You don't change it away from such a lovely trip if you can help it," +Rosanna persisted. "Helen, I believe—Helen, I want you to tell me the +truth now. I declare I believe you have given it up on account of <i>me</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Well, then I have," said Helen. "Indeed, Rosanna, I would not have a good +time at all off on that trip knowing that you were here just getting well +and perhaps missing me. I couldn't do it!"</p> + +<p>Rosanna could hardly speak.</p> + +<p>"I just think you are a real true friend, Helen!" she said finally. "I +don't think you ought to give up your good times and I can't thank you +enough."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't enjoy it without you," persisted Helen. "Aren't you thrilled +about your uncle's little orphan? And did you ever see anyone so happy as +Mrs. Hargrave?"</p> + +<p>"Never!" said Rosanna. "She has been telling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> me all about the room she is +having decorated. It must be <i>too</i> beautiful!"</p> + +<p>"It is," said Helen. "I went over there the other day and saw it. You never +saw anything so cunning in your life. All the furniture is enameled cream +color, with lovely little wreaths of flowers on it. Even her brush and comb +and those things are painted ivory. And the walls! In each corner is a +little cottage, right on the wall paper you know, Rosanna, and between just +woods that look as though you were seeing them through a mist—sort of +delicate and far away. And the rugs are a soft delicate green like the +grass in spring. I hope she is lovely enough for all the love Mrs. Hargrave +is going to give her."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Robert says she is as sweet as she can possibly be," Rosanna assured +her. "Well, you are just too good to stay at home with me, Helen. It won't +be long before we are both Girl Scouts. And I think you are just as good +and sweet as you can be. I can't think what I would have done without you. +But here you are actually giving up your camping for me."</p> + +<p>Rosanna leaned over and impulsively kissed her guest.</p> + +<p>"Dear Helen, I am <i>so</i> happy," she said, "because now I know that I am +really your <i>best</i> friend."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 20736-h.txt or 20736-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/7/3/20736">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/3/20736</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution.</p> + + + +<pre> +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license)</a>. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">http://www.gutenberg.org</a> + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/</a> + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/20736-h/images/001.jpg b/20736-h/images/001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5efa2fd --- /dev/null +++ b/20736-h/images/001.jpg diff --git a/20736-page-images.zip b/20736-page-images.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d872749 --- /dev/null +++ b/20736-page-images.zip diff --git a/20736.txt b/20736.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d1b4bb --- /dev/null +++ b/20736.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5015 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Girl Scouts at Home, by Katherine Keene +Galt + + +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: The Girl Scouts at Home + or Rosanna's Beautiful Day + + +Author: Katherine Keene Galt + + + +Release Date: March 3, 2007 [eBook #20736] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME*** + + +E-text prepared by Bruce Albrecht, Paul Stephen, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/c/) from +material generously made available by the Ruth Sawyer Collection of the +College of Saint Catherine Libraries +(http://library.stkate.edu/spcoll/ruthsaw.html) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 20736-h.htm or 20736-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/7/3/20736/20736-h/20736-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/7/3/20736/20736-h.zip) + + + + + +Girl Scouts Series, Volume 1 + +THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME + +or + +Rosanna's Beautiful Day + +by + +KATHERINE KEENE GALT + + + + + + + +[Illustration: The little procession turned and made its way back to the +lunch basket.] + + + + +The Saalfield Publishing Company +Chicago Akron, Ohio New York +Made in U. S. A. +Copyright, MCMXXI, by +The Saalfield Publishing Company + + + + +THE GIRL SCOUTS SERIES + +1 THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME + +2 THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY + +3 THE GIRL SCOUT'S TRIUMPH + + + + +THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME + +CHAPTER I + + +Little Rosanna Horton was a very poor little girl. When I tell you more +about her, you will think that was a very odd thing to say. + +She lived in one of the most beautiful homes in Louisville, a city full +of beautiful homes. And Rosanna's was one of the loveliest. It was a +great, rambling house of red brick with wide porches in the front and on +either side. On the right of the house was a wonderful garden. It +covered half a square, and was surrounded by a high stone wall. No one +could look in to see what she was doing. That was rather nice, but of +course no one could look out either to see what they were doing on the +brick sidewalk, and that does not seem so nice. + +At the back of the garden, facing on a clean bricked alley, was the +garage, big enough to hold four automobiles. The garage was covered with +vines. Otherwise, it would have been a queer looking building, with its +one door opening into the garden, and on that side not another door or +window either upstairs or down. The upstairs part was a really lovely +little apartment for the chauffeur to live in, but all the windows had +been put on the side or in front because old Mrs. Horton, Rosanna's +grandmother, did not think that chauffeurs' families were _ever_ the +sort who ought to look down into the garden where Rosanna played and +where she herself sat in state and had tea served of an afternoon. + +At one side of the garden where the roses were wildest and the flowers +grew thickest was a little cottage, built to fit Rosanna. Grown people +had to stoop to get in and their heads almost scraped the ceilings. The +furniture all fitted Rosanna too, even to the tiny piano. This was +Rosanna's playhouse. She kept her dolls here, and there was a desk with +all sorts of writing paper that a maid sorted and put in order every +morning before Rosanna came out. + +This doesn't sound as though Rosanna was such a poor little girl, does +it? But just you wait. + +A good ways back of this playhouse was another small building that +looked like a little stable. It was a stable--a really truly stable +built to fit Rosanna's tiny pony. He had a little box stall, and at one +side there was space for the shiniest, prettiest cart. + +Rosanna did not go to school. There was a schoolroom in the house, but I +will tell you about that some other time. Rosanna disliked it very much: +a schoolroom with just one little girl in it! _You_ wouldn't like it +yourself, would you? + +Rosanna's clothes were the prettiest ever; much prettier then than they +are now. And such stacks of them! There was a whole dresser full of +ribbons and trinkets and jewelry besides. (Poor little Rosanna!) + +She danced like a fairy, and every day she had a music lesson which was +given her, like a bad pill, by a severe lady in spectacles who ought +never to have tried to smile because it made her face look cracked all +over and you felt so much better when the smile was over. Oh, poor, +poor, _poor_ little Rosanna! + +Do you begin to guess why? + +You have not heard me say a word about her dear loving mother and her +big joky father, have you? They were both dead! This is such a pitiful +thing to have come to any little girl that I can scarcely bear to tell +you. Both were dead, and Rosanna lived with her grandmother, who was a +very proud and important lady indeed. There was a young uncle who might +have been good friends with Rosanna and made things easier but she +scarcely knew him. He had been away to college and after that, three +years in the army. Once a week she wrote to him, in France; but her +grandmother corrected the letters and usually made her write them over, +so they were not very long and certainly were not interesting. + +Mrs. Horton was sure that her son's little daughter could never be +worthy of her name and family if she was allowed to "mix," as she put +it, with other children. So Rosanna was not allowed to _have_ any other +children for friends, and Mrs. Horton was too blind with all her +foolish family pride to see that Rosanna was getting queer and vain and +overbearing. Every day they took a drive together, usually through the +parks or out the river road. Mrs. Horton did not like to drive down +town. She did not like the people who filled the streets. She said they +were "frightfully ordinary." It was a shameful thing to be ordinary in +Mrs. Horton's opinion. She had not looked it up in the dictionary or she +would have chosen some other word because being ordinary according to +the dictionary is no crime at all. It is not even a disgrace. + +Rosanna's books were always about flowers and fairies, or animals that +talked, or music that romped up and down the bars spelling little words. +There were never any people in them, and if any one sent her a book at +Christmas about some poor little girl who wore a pinafore and helped her +mother and lived in two rooms and was ever so happy, _that_ book had a +way of getting itself changed for some other book about bees or flowers +the very night before Christmas. + +"She will know about those things soon enough," said Rosanna's +grandmother. + +But every afternoon when they sat in the rose arbor in the middle of the +beautiful garden, Rosanna would get tired reading and she would stare up +at the clouds and see how many faces she could find. + +One day she startled and of course shocked her grandmother by saying in +a low voice, "Dean Harriman!" + +"Where?" said Mrs. Horton, staring down the walk. + +"In that littlest cloud," said Rosanna, unconscious of startling her +grandmother. "It is very good of him, only his nose is even funnier than +it is really. Sort of knobby, you know." + +"Please do not say 'sort of,'" said Mrs. Horton. "And if you are looking +at pictures in the clouds, I consider it a waste of time, Rosanna!" + +She struck a little bell, and the house boy came hurrying across the +lawn. Mrs. Horton turned to him. + +"Find Minnie," she said, "and tell her to send Miss Rosanna a volume of +_Classical Pictures for Young Eyes_." + +So Rosanna looked at _Classical Pictures_, and for that afternoon at +least kept her young eyes away from the clouds. And never again did she +share her pictures with her grandmother. + +Rosanna was not a spiritless child, but every day and all day her life +slipped on in its dull groove and she did not know how to get out. + +Poor little Rosanna! To the little girl behind it, a six-foot brick wall +looks as high as the sky. And the garden, as I have told you before, was +a very, _very_ big garden indeed. Plenty large enough to be very +lonesome in. + +One morning Mrs. Horton was not ready to drive at the appointed time. +Rosanna was ready, however, and was dancing around on the front porch +when the automobile rolled up. She ran toward it but drew back at the +sight of a strange chauffeur. He touched his cap and said "Good +morning!" in a hearty, friendly way, very different to the stiff manner +of the man who had been driving them. Rosanna went down to him. + +"Where is Albert?" she asked. + +"He does not work here now," said the man. "I have his place." + +"What is your name?" said Rosanna. + +"John Culver," said the new chauffeur. "What is your name?" + +Rosanna frowned a little. She liked this new man with his crinkly, +twinkly blue eyes and white teeth. A deep scar creased his jaw, but it +did not spoil his friendly, keen face. But chauffeurs usually did not +ask her name. There had been so many going and coming during the war. +She decided to walk away but could not resist his friendly eyes. + +"I am Miss Rosanna," she said proudly. + +"Oh!" said the man, and Rosanna had a feeling that he was amused. So she +went on speaking. "I will get in the car, if you please, and wait for my +grandmother." + +He opened the door of the limousine and before she could place her foot +on the step, he swung her lightly off her feet and into the car. + +"There you are, kiddie!" he said pleasantly, and Rosanna was too stunned +to say more than "Thank you!" as the door opened and her grandmother +appeared, the maid following, laden with the small dog. + +Mrs. Horton nodded to the new man and gave an order as he closed the +door. + +"Our new man," said Mrs. Horton to Rosanna, then settled back in her +corner and took out a list which she commenced to check off with a gold +pencil. Rosanna, holding the dog, looked out the windows. + +There were children all along the street: little girls playing dolls on +front doorsteps and other little girls walking in happy groups or +skipping rope. Boys on bicycles circled everywhere and shouted to each +other. They made a short cut through one of the poor sections of the +city. Here it was the same: children everywhere, all having the best +sort of time. They were not so well dressed, that was all the +difference. They had the same carefree look in their eyes. Rosanna gazed +out wistfully, longingly. + +And now you surely guess why Rosanna, with her beautiful home, her pony +and her playhouse, her lovely garden, and her room full of pretty +things, still was so very, very poor. + +Rosanna did not have a single friend. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +John Culver brought them home and as they left the car Mrs. Horton +enquired, "Is your apartment comfortable, John?" + +"Perfectly comfortable, thank you," said Culver. + +"You are married?" Mrs. Horton continued. + +"Yes," replied Culver. + +"Any children?" + +"One little girl," said Culver, glancing at Rosanna with a smile. + +Mrs. Horton saw the look. She said nothing, but when Rosanna sat before +her at the great round table, eating her luncheon, Mrs. Horton remarked, +"Of course, Rosanna, you will make no effort whatever to meet the child +living over the garage. Unless you make the opportunity, she will never +see you, thanks to the arrangement of the windows. She is a child that +it would be impossible for you to know." + +Rosanna did not reply. + +"Rosanna?" said her grandmother sharply. + +"Yes, grandmother," sighed poor Rosanna. + +After luncheon Mrs. Horton dressed and was driven away to a bridge +party. Rosanna practiced scales for half an hour, talked French with her +governess for another long half, and then wandered out into the garden +and commenced to wonder about the child over the garage. How old was +she? What was she like? Rosanna wished she could see her. There was a +rustic seat near the garage and Rosanna went over and curled up on its +rough lap. She stared and stared at the garage, but the blank brick +walls with their curtains of vines gave her no hint. + +It seemed as though she had been sitting there for hours when she +fancied a small voice called, "Hello, Rosanna!" + +Rosanna sat perfectly still, staring at the brick wall. + +"Hello, Rosanna!" said the voice again softly. It was a strangely sweet, +gentle voice and seemed to come from the air. Rosanna cast a startled +glance above her. + +There was a little laugh. "Look in the tree," said the pleasant voice. + +Rosanna, mouth open, eyes popping, looked up. + +A big tree growing in the alley, close outside the brick wall, leaned +its biggest bough in a friendly fashion over Rosanna's garden. High up +something blue fluttered among the thick leaves. Then the branches +parted, and a face appeared. Rosanna continued to stare. + +The little girl in the tree waved her hand. + +"You don't know me, do you, Rosanna?" she teased. "But I know you. You +are Rosanna Horton, and you live in that lovely, lovely house and this +is your garden. Is that your playhouse over there? And oh, _is_ there an +honest-for-truly pony in that little barn? Dad says there really is. Is +there?" She stopped for breath, and beamed down on Rosanna. + +"How did you get up there?" said Rosanna. _She_ was not allowed to climb +trees. + +"Father made a little ladder and fastened it to the trunk with wires so +it won't hurt the wood. If Mrs. Horton doesn't mind, he is going to fix +a little platform up here. There is a splendid place for it. Then I can +study up here where it is all cool and breezy and whispery. Don't you +like to hear the leaves whisper? He is going to put a rail around it so +we won't fall off." + +"Who is _we_?" asked Rosanna. "Have you brothers and sisters?" + +"No, I haven't," said the little girl. "Mother says it is my greatest +misfortune. She says that I shall have to make a great many friends to +make up for it, and that if I don't I will grow selfish. Wouldn't you +hate to be selfish? I 'spect you have dozens and _dozens_ of little +girls to play with. How happy you must make everybody with your lovely +garden and things! My mother says that is what things are for: to share +with people. She says it is just like having two big red apples. If you +eat them both, why, you don't feel good in your tummy; but if you give +one to some one, you feel good everywhere, and you have a good time +while you are eating them and get better acquainted, and it just does +you good. Do little girls come to see you every day?" + +"No," said Rosanna, "I don't know any little girls. My grandmother won't +let me." + +"Won't _let_ you?" said the girl in the tree in a shocked tone. "Why +won't she let you?" + +"She says I would learn to speak bad grammar and use slang, and grow up +to be vulgar." + +"Goodness me!" said the stranger. She sat rocking on her bough for a few +minutes. Then: "Why would you have to learn bad things of other girls?" +she demanded. "I wouldn't let _anybody_ teach me anything I didn't want +to know. I should think it would be nice to have you teach _them_ good +grammar if you know it, and not to use slang, and all that. She must +think you are soft! My mother says if you are made of putty, you will +get dented all over and never be more than an unshapely lump, but if you +are made of good stone, you can be carved into something lovely and +lasting. But that is just your grandmother," said the girl. "Where is +your mother? Is she off visiting?" + +"She is dead," said Rosanna. A wave of unspeakable longing for the lost +young mother swept over her and her lip trembled as she spoke. + +"Oh, poor, poor Rosanna!" said the little tree girl softly. "Oh, +Rosanna, I feel so sorry! If you ever want to borrow mine, I wish you +would. I wish you would! My mother says that when a woman has even just +one child in her heart, it grows so big that it can hold and love all +the children in the world. You borrow her any time you need her, +Rosanna!" Then feeling that perhaps the conversation ought to take a +livelier strain, she did not wait for Rosanna to answer, but continued, +"I wish somebody hadn't built this apartment over your garage so that +none of the windows look out on your garden. We are going to hate that, +aren't we?" + +"Grandmother had it built that way so we would not see the people living +there," Rosanna explained. + +"Oh!" said the tree girl. "Well, of course you know that _I_ live there +now. We came two days ago, and my name is Helen Culver. We would love to +play together, wouldn't we?" + +"Oh, indeed we would!" said Rosanna. + +"Well, then we will," said Helen joyfully. "I must go now. I think it is +practice time. I will see you after luncheon. Good-bye!" and she slid +down the tree and disappeared. + +Rosanna went skipping to the house. She was so happy. It was not her +practice time, but she was going to practice because Helen was so +engaged. Her mind was full of Helen as she sat doing finger exercises +and scales. How lovely and clean and bright she looked with her big, +blue eyes and blond docked hair! Her teeth were so white and pretty and +her voice was so soft and low. And she had a dimple! It was Rosanna's +dream to have a dimple in her thin little cheek. + +Rosanna commenced to play scales. She took the C scale--it was so easy +that she could think. She was so happy that she played it in a very +prancy way, up and down, up and down. Then it commenced to stumble and +go ve-ry, v-e-r-y slowly. Rosanna had had an awful thought. The same +thought had really been there all the time, but her heart was making +such a happy noise that she wouldn't let herself hear it. Now, however, +it made such a racket she just had to listen. Over and over with the +scales it said loudly and harshly, "Will your grandmother let you play +with that little girl who lives over the garage? Will your grandmother +even let you _know_ that little girl who lives over the garage? Will +she? Will she?" + +Rosanna Horton knew the answer perfectly well. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +The only thing to do, Rosanna decided, was to talk to her grandmother +after luncheon when they usually sat in the rose arbor. Rosanna, playing +scales, felt quite brave. She would explain everything: how Helen Culver +used the best of grammar, and no slang, and climbed trees in rompers and +did not scream. Then when she had assured her grandmother of all this, +she would tell her quite firmly that she, Rosanna, needed a friend. + +It seemed simple and easy, but when luncheon was announced, she decided +not to speak until later and when finally they went out to the rose +arbor, Rosanna commenced to feel quite shaky and instead of talking she +fell into a deep silence. + +And then, that minute, that very identical second, something happened +that changed everything. A messenger boy came with a telegram. And if it +hadn't been for that messenger boy this story would never have happened. +If he had been a _slow_ messenger boy, half an hour late...but he just +hurried along on his bicycle and arrived that second. Oh, a dozen things +might have happened to delay the boy, but there he was just as Rosanna +said, "Grandmother!" in a small but firm voice. + +Rosanna said nothing more because her grandmother opened the telegram +with fingers that shook a little in spite of her iron will. But as she +read it a look of relief and joy lighted her proud face. + +"Good news, Rosanna," she said. "The best of news! Your Uncle Robert has +reached America!" + +"Won't he have to fight any more, grandmother?" + +"No; he will come home and be with us. But as I have told you, dear, he +was slightly wounded over there in Germany, and I think if I can arrange +everything for your comfort, I will go and meet him. He is in New York, +and I shall see for myself if he needs any doctoring or care that he +could not get here. Then perhaps we will stay at the seaside or in the +mountains for a week or so. Would you mind being left with the maids for +that long? Perhaps one of your little acquaintances would like to come +and play with you once or twice a week." + +This was a great privilege in her grandmother's eyes, as Rosanna knew, +and she said, "Thank you, grandmother," and started to tell her then and +there about Helen. But Mrs. Horton went right on talking. + +"Come to my room with me while I pack," she said, rising. + +Rosanna did not get a chance to say one word to her. She listened while +her grandmother called up an intimate friend who lived near by and +arranged for her to come in every day to see how Rosanna was getting +on. She called John in and told him just where he could drive the car +when Miss Rosanna took her daily ride. "If she wants to take a little +girl friend with her, she is to do so, as I want her to have a good +time," Mrs. Horton told him. + +When she woke the next morning, Rosanna lay for a long while thinking. + +So Uncle Robert had actually come home! And grandmother had gone to meet +him! She might be away a week or more. Then her thoughts flew to Helen. +Wasn't it too, _too_ wonderful? Her grandmother had said quite clearly +that one of her little acquaintances might come and play with her. + +Usually Rosanna took forever to dress. She was really not at all nice +about it. Big girl as she was, Minnie always dressed her, and she would +scriggle her toes so her stockings wouldn't go on, and would hop up and +down so the buttons wouldn't button. It was very exasperating and she +should have been soundly spanked for it: but of course Minnie, who was +paid generous wages, only said, "Now, Miss Rosanna, don't you bother +poor Minnie that-a way!" + +This morning, however, she was out of bed and into the cold plunge +without being pushed and she actually _helped_ with her stockings. She +was ready for breakfast so soon that Minnie said, "Well, well, Miss +Rosanna, looks like it does you good to have your grandmother go 'way!" + +With one thing and another, she did not get a chance to go down to the +overhanging tree until after luncheon. + +She peered eagerly up. + +Helen was there, curled up on a big bough, a book in her lap and a gray +kitten playing around her. + +"Here I am!" said Rosanna, smiling. + +"And here am I," answered Helen, smiling back. + +"Did you expect me sooner?" asked Rosanna. + +"No; I was hoping you wouldn't come. I suppose you never have things to +do, but I am a very busy little girl. I help mother, and practice my +music, and she is teaching me to sew and cook. Of course we have cooking +at school but no one can cook like mother, and I want to be just like +her. I told her about you last night, and she said you could borrow her +whenever you wanted to." + +"I too have things to do," said Rosanna, who felt as though she ought to +be of some use since Helen was so industrious. "When I get through with +my bath mornings Minnie dresses me--" + +"_Dresses_ you?" exclaimed Helen in astonishment. "Why, Rosanna, can't +you dress yourself?" + +Rosanna felt a queer sort of shame. "I never tried," she confessed, "but +I am sure I could." + +"Of course you could," said Helen briskly. "The buttons and things in +the back are hard, but my mother makes most of my things slip-on so I +can manage everything. Why don't you try to dress yourself, Rosanna? +You wouldn't want folks to know that you couldn't, would you? Of course +you don't mind my knowing, because I am your friend and I will never +tell; but you wouldn't want most people to know?" + +Rosanna had never thought about it at all, but now it seemed a very +babyish and helpless thing. She determined to dress herself in future. +To change the subject she said, "Why don't you come down into the +garden? I want to show you my playhouse and the pony." + +"I'd love to," said Helen, and slid rapidly down the tree and out of +sight behind the brick wall. + +Rosanna heard her light footsteps running up the stairs leading to the +apartment over the garage. She sat down on the rustic seat and waited as +patiently as she could. It seemed a long time before Helen appeared at +the little gate in the wall. + +"Mother thinks that you ought to ask your grandmother if she would like +to have me come and see you," she said, looking very grave. + +"Oh, that's all right!" said Rosanna. "Grandmother has gone away, and +she said the very last thing that I could have somebody come and see me +whenever I wanted." + +"But did she say me?" Helen persisted. "My father drives for your +grandmother and perhaps she may think we are not rich and grand enough +for you." + +"Why, no, she didn't say _you_. She didn't say _any_body. She said I +might have anyone I like, and I like you. It is all right. You can ask +Minnie; she heard her say I could have company. She doesn't know you, +you see, so she _couldn't_ say that you were the one to come. She told +me 'some little girl.'" + +"That sounds all right," said Helen. "I will go tell mother. She was not +sure I ought to come." She disappeared once more through the little +gate, and Rosanna waited. She was not happy. Her grandmother had +certainly not named any little girl, but Rosanna knew that she did not +mean or intend that Rosanna should entertain the little girl who lived +over the garage. Her grandmother thought every one was all right if they +belonged to an old family. The first thing she ever asked Rosanna about +any little girl was "What is her family?" or "Who are her people?" + +Rosanna, whose conscience was troubling her in a queer way, determined +to ask Helen about her family, although it seemed that was one of the +things that were not very nice to do. But perhaps Helen had a family. In +that case she could settle everything happily. + +The children joined hands and went skipping along the path toward the +playhouse, Helen's bobbed yellow locks shining in the sun and Rosanna's +long, heavy, dark hair swinging from side to side as she danced along. + +She led the way through the little door into the little living-room of +the playhouse and stood aside as Helen cried out with wonder and +pleasure. + +"Oh, oh, oh, Rosanna!" the little girl exclaimed. "Oh, it is too dear! +May I please look at everything, just as though it was in a picture +book?" + +Helen moved from one place to another in a sort of daze. She tried the +little wicker chairs one after another. She sat at the tiny desk and +touched the pearl penholders and the pencils with Rosanna's name printed +on them in gold letters. All the letter paper said _Rosanna_ in gold +letters at the top too; it was beautiful. + +The little piano was real. It played delightfully little tinkly notes +almost like hitting the rim of a glass with a lead pencil. Helen was +charmed. She could scarcely drag herself away to see the other wonders +of the playhouse. The little dining-room was built with a bay window, +which had a window seat, and a hanging basket of ferns. The little round +table, the sideboard and the chairs were all painted a soft cream color, +and on each chair back, and the sideboard drawers and doors sprays of +tinty, tiny flowers were painted. + +Helen hurried from these splendors to the kitchen. And it was a real +kitchen! + +"If our domestic science teacher could only see this!" groaned Helen. + +The room was larger than either of the others, and there was plenty of +room for two or three persons, at least for a couple of children and one +grown person if she was not so very large. There was a little gas stove +complete in every way, a cabinet, and a porcelain top table, as well as +a white sink and draining board. The floor was covered with blue and +white linoleum, and the walls were papered with blue and white tiled +paper with a border of fat little Dutch ships around the top. Little +white Dutch curtains hung at the windows. + +"Oh my! Oh my!" sighed Helen. "This is the best of all! The other rooms +you can only sit in and enjoy, but here you can really _do_ things and +learn to be useful." + +She opened a little cupboard door and discovered all sorts of pans and +kettles made of white enamel with blue edges. + +"I never come out here at all," said Rosanna. + +"Perhaps they are afraid you will burn yourself," suggested Helen. + +"No, the stove is a safe kind, made specially for children's playhouses, +but I don't know how to cook, so I don't play in the kitchen at all. +Make-believe dinners are no fun." + +Helen gave a happy sigh. + +"Well, _I_ can cook," she said, "and I will teach you how." + +"Won't that be fun!" said Rosanna. She suddenly threw her arms around +Helen's neck and kissed her. "Oh, Helen, I am so happy," she said. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +After Helen had looked the wonderful kitchen over to her heart's +content, the children went back to the pretty living-room, where they +examined the books in the little bookcase, and then each carrying a +comfy wicker chair, went out on the wide porch. A big grass rug was +spread there, and there was a little porch swing and a wicker table. + +Rosanna commenced to tell Helen about herself. She told much more than +she intended, and by the time she had finished, Helen knew more about +her new friend than Rosanna's own grandmother had ever guessed. + +Helen herself was a very happy, busy little girl, with wise and loving +parents. They were poor, and Mr. Culver had very wisely taken the first +position that offered as soon as he came home from France and found that +the firm he had formerly worked for had given his position to some one +else, a man much less capable than Mr. Culver and who worked willingly +for wages that Mr. Culver did not feel like accepting. Yes, they were +poor, but as Mr. Culver said, "Just you wait, folkses; this will be fun +to remember some day." And Mrs. Culver called it "our school" and told +Helen that they must both strive to know the best and easiest way of +doing everything while they had to do all for themselves. + +Helen's eyes filled with tears when she heard of the death of Rosanna's +young father and mother in a railroad accident when she was such a +little thing that now she could scarcely remember them. + +"And then you came to live with your grandmother?" she said, struggling +not to go to Rosanna and hug her tight. A little girl without mother or +father! It was too dreadful. + +"Yes, she came to the hospital and as soon as I was well--I was just +scratched up a little--she brought me here." + +"Well," said Helen briskly, "it must be fine to have a grandmother. I +suppose grandmothers are 'most exactly as good as mothers," she went on, +trying to make light of Rosanna's misfortune. "I expect they cuddle you +and play with you and hold you 'most exactly like mothers." + +"Mine doesn't," said Rosanna sadly. "She kisses me good-night; at least +she holds her cheek so I can kiss _her_, but she never plays with +anybody. And she never holds me: she says I am too big to get on +people's laps. But I guess I must have been a big baby because she never +did hold me even when I was little. There must be different kinds of +grandmothers." + +"A little girl I know has one, and my grandmother says that it is a +disgrace the way she spoils that child, and she says she wants me to +grow up to be an honor to our house. You see I am the only grandchild +there is. + +"Grandmother had a daughter long ago, but she died when she was only +two, and grandmother was married twice and both her husbands died." + +"You seem to have quite a dying family," said Helen politely. + +"Yes, we have." Rosanna commenced to feel quite proud of the fact now +that Helen had mentioned it. + +"I have an uncle too, and he 'most died over in France but he is home +now." + +"My father was there too," said Helen proudly. "He had to give up +everything to go, but mother wouldn't let him say that he had to stay +home and work for us so he went. Mother went to work typewriting and we +lived in three rooms, and I went to school and cooked our suppers at +night. Mother used to come home so tired. After the dishes were washed, +we used to sit and knit. I learned to knit without looking on, so I +could knit and study all at the same time. You are the only friend I +have here in Louisville," concluded Helen, "but of course when school +begins I will have lots of them." + +Rosanna was conscious of a jealous pang. She didn't want this +bright-eyed little girl who had just come into her life to have other +friends. + +"I don't see why you have to have other friends if you have me," she +said. "Why can't we play together all the time, and have good times? My +grandmother said I was to take you riding every day, and we can have +such fun. If you have a lot of other friends, Helen, you won't come here +at all." + +"Why, yes, I will, Rosanna! You will be my bestest friend of all. But +mother says we all need a number of people in our lives because if we +don't we will all get to thinking the same things and talking the same +way, and it is very bad for us." + +"Well, I can't have any," said Rosanna hopelessly. "I told you that +before. I suppose if she hadn't had to go to New York, I would never +have had you for a friend. That is the way my grandmother is." + +"Oh, well," said Helen, "when she gets back we will explain things to +her, and I am sure she will get to understand all about things. Why, you +just _have_ to have friends, Rosanna, and I want you to have me if you +think you like me enough." + +"Oh, I do; indeed I do!" cried Rosanna. "I just can't stand it if she +doesn't let me have you! We will have such good times, Helen, and I can +learn to cook, and we can learn to play duets together and it will be +such fun." + +"I should say so!" said Helen happily. "And don't you think it would be +fun to see what all we can do for ourselves? I mean without asking +Minnie. I am sure mother would think it would make us sort of helpless. +Of course she is your maid, and if you would rather have her to do +things for you--" + +"No; let's do everything ourselves," said Rosanna, eager to please, and +with a feeling that with someone to enjoy it with her the task would be +a pleasure. + +"I tell you what, Helen, until school opens I can be your very best +friend, and you can play with me 'most all the time, and we will be so +happy." + +Minnie watched them from a side window in the big house but they did not +see her. Minnie was pleased. She had heard what Mrs. Horton had said +about some child coming to play with Rosanna. Minnie being wiser than +Rosanna and grown up, knew very well that Mrs. Horton did not mean Helen +Culver. But Minnie had had one or two disastrous experiences with the +children who went to the very select dancing school with Rosanna, and +the quiet, pretty, well-behaved girl playing there in the garden seemed +almost too good to be true. She had never seen Rosanna look so well and +so happy. She was glad to see the chauffeur's child "makin' good" as she +expressed it. Minnie's young man had also returned from overseas and she +was sewing every spare moment on things for her own little house and for +herself. If Rosanna had a chance to play all day every day for a whole +week, or as long as Mrs. Horton stayed away--and Minnie piously wished +her a long trip--why, she could be ready for the young man and the +little house just that much sooner. + +As soon as this most splendid thought found its way into Minnie's mind +she commenced to make plans to help the children, and as the first one +occurred to her she put her work in her pocket and hurried across to the +playhouse, where she fairly gasped at the sight of Rosanna awkwardly but +cheerfully sweeping leaves and stems off the porch while Helen shook the +rugs. + +"Time for you to dress for the evening. Miss Rosanna," she said. "And +wouldn't you like to invite Miss Helen over to supper, and have it +served here on your own porch?" + +"Oh, wouldn't that be fun?" cried Rosanna "Wouldn't you like that, +Helen?" + +"Indeed I would!" said Helen. She jumped off the porch and looked to see +if the rug was straight. "I will go right home and ask my mother and if +I don't come straight back and tell you, you will know that I can come +to supper." She ran off, returning just at supper time. + +Minnie served the meal and it was all as delicious as a party. Even the +cook was glad to see Rosanna really happy. And after the last bit of the +dessert, a pink ice-cream, had been slowly eaten, the two little girls +sat talking in quite a grown-up manner. + +Presently Helen's bright eyes spied a lady at the other end of the +garden. + +"Someone is coming!" she exclaimed. + +"That is a friend of grandmother's. She is coming over every day to see +how I am getting along." + +"Good-evening, Rosanna," said the lady. "I think this looks as though +you were having a very nice time indeed." + +"We are, Mrs. Hargrave," said Rosanna. "This is my friend, Helen +Culver." + +Helen curtseyed. + +"How do you do, Helen," said Mrs. Hargrave. "The Culvers of Lee County, +I suppose. A fine old family, my dears. As good as yours, Rosanna. Well, +well, I am glad you are both having a nice time! If you want anything of +me, Rosanna, telephone me and I will be over every day. You little girls +must both come and have luncheon with me some day." She bade them +good-night and walked off, feeling that she had done her whole duty. + +"It is time for me to go home," said Helen. "I didn't practice my half +hour this evening, so I must go and do it now." + +"I didn't practice either," said Rosanna. "I want to work hard at my +music if we are to play duets. I don't want to be the one who always has +to play secondo. Besides, I have a bee-_u_-ti-ful secret for +to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +When Rosanna went to bed that night she commenced by sitting down on the +floor and taking off her own socks and slippers. Then while Minnie stood +looking at her in pleased surprise, she carefully took off her hair +ribbon and folded it up! + +"Minnie," she said, "have you any little girls in your family?" + +"Yes, Miss Rosanna, ever so many." + +"As little as me?" pursued Rosanna. + +"Some littler, and some just about like you, and some larger." + +"Well," said Rosanna, "do they most of them dress and undress +themselves?" + +"Indeed yes!" said Minnie. "They would get good and spanked if they +tried any funny work with their mothers. Not that it's not all right, +Miss Rosanna, for you to be cared for, but land, my sisters are all too +busy to bother! And besides, those children have got to learn to do for +themselves sooner or later, and the sooner the better. And I will say, +Miss Rosanna, good wages nor anything will _ever_ make me think it is a +good thing to have my babying you along as big as you are. I don't see +why I can't earn my money just as honest and give just as much work for +it by learnin' you to stand on your own feet, as you might say." + +"Well," said Rosanna wisely, "let's make a game of it, Minnie. While +grandmother is away, play you are working for _me_ and teach me to be +like your little girls." + +"Bless your heart!" said Minnie tenderly. "I have feelings, you will +find, Miss Rosanna, if I _am_ only a maid, and I certainly do think you +are a dear child. Whatever gets some of the queer ideas in your head I +don't know!" + +"Why, my little new friend Helen Culver dresses herself and combs her +own hair and everything. And all your little girls in your family fix +themselves, and when I told Helen that you dress me she looked sort of +funny. Then suppose you had to go away for awhile, what would I do? None +of the other maids know where my things are and, besides, I don't like +to have anyone but you fix me and button me up. You are real kind and +soft when you touch me, Minnie. I think you try to be a mother to me." + +To Rosanna's horror, Minnie burst into tears. + +"Oh, the saints forgive me!" she sobbed. "To think you have thought of +that and me dressin' you half the time that rough and sudden! Oh, Miss +Rosanna dear, just you take notice of me after this!" + +"Why, I don't need to," said Rosanna. "You _are_ good to me, and if you +will, just play you work for me and show me where my things are and how +to do things. Helen is going to teach me to cook if you will come sit in +the kitchen and I am going to see if Mrs. Culver will show me how to +sew." + +Minnie sniffed. "If she can beat me sewin'," she said scornfully, "she's +beatin' me at my own game. I learned of the nuns in the convent school +where your stitches has to be that small you can't find 'em. You just +let me help with your sewin', dearie." + +"That will be fine," said Rosanna, dancing up and down. "Oh, I do wish +grandmother was going to stay away longer than a week! That's such a +short time to learn everything in, I don't see how I can do it all." + +"Nor I," said Minnie. "And I sure do wish the same for your grandmother, +that she will treat herself and Mr. Robert to a good long trip. She +don't stay away enough for her own good, I say. Well, wishing never does +much good. All we can do is just put in all the time we can, Miss +Rosanna, and we will do exactly what you say. We will make a play of it +and I will start this very minute. You will find your clean night dress +in the left hand end of the second drawer of your dresser." + +"Here it is," said Rosanna a moment later. "What a lot of them I have! +Do I need such a big pile, Minnie?" + +"Well, not really, Miss Rosanna. You outgrow them mostly." + +"Then we won't get any more for a long, long time," said Rosanna. +"Minnie, what do you think about my hair?" + +"I will have to comb that for you, dearie; it is so very long and +thick." + +"I was thinking," said Rosanna slowly, "about docking it. It is a great +bother." + +"Oh, my sufferin' soul!" cried Minnie, with a face of horror. "Oh me, oh +my! Don't you think of that ever again, Miss Rosanna! If anything in the +_world_ happened to your hair, well, I don't want to think what your +grandmother would do to me. Your hair is her pride and glory. It is the +only thing I ever heard her brag about. 'You can tell Rosanna in a crowd +as far as you can see her,' says she, 'by her hair; just that dark color +full of streaks of gold like, and curls at that.' No, Miss Rosanna, you +can learn to sew and cook and take care of yourself, and not much harm +done for her to fret about, but for _mercy's_ sake don't you go touching +your hair." + +"Well, it _is_ a bother," said Rosanna, "but we will let it alone for +awhile. Now you must come and wake me early, Minnie, and bring your +sewing so you can sit here and tell me when I don't do the right thing. +After breakfast, if cook will give us some things, I will get Helen and +we will do some baking. Won't that be fun? And in the afternoon I am +going to give Helen and you a surprise." + +"Me too? Do you mind if Minnie kisses you good-night, dearie?" she asked +softly. + +Rosanna sleepily held up her arms. "Oh, I wish you would, Minnie! It is +so nice to have somebody want to kiss me without my asking them to do +it." + +Minnie kissed her tenderly. "Bless you, dearie, old Minnie will kiss you +good-night every night!" + +She turned out the light and snapped on the electric fan. + +And at once, it seemed to Rosanna, it was morning. There must have been +some time between, however, because Minnie went and looked over all her +things, and rejoiced to think what great progress she could make on her +wedding things in a week if she didn't have to wait on Rosanna all the +time, and after she had put everything back in the trunk and locked it +up as though it was the greatest treasure in the world, she went down to +see the cook. She told her all about what Rosanna had planned, and the +cook listened and sniffled and blew her nose hard several times and then +got up and brought out a big basket. This she set on the kitchen table +and commenced to fill with any number of things: salt and pepper and +flour and spices and baking powder and raisins, and all sorts of things. +The next morning when Rosanna went into the playhouse kitchen for a look +on her way to call Helen, there was everything any little girl would +possibly need to cook with, all arranged in rows on the shelves of the +tiny cupboard. And wonder of wonders, just inside the door was a little +ice-chest. + +"Oh, oh! Where did that come from?" cried Rosanna, clapping her hands +and running to open it. + +"Cook found it in the store room," said Minnie, smiling. "It was the one +they used in your nursery when you were a baby. She cleaned it all out, +and I think you will find something in it besides ice." + +Sure enough there _was_ something besides ice, but Rosanna took one +little glance and then ran like the wind for the kitchen, where she +burst upon the astonished cook, and reaching as far around her as her +short arms would go, hugged her hard. Then she ran to the brick wall and +called Helen. + +It seemed about a second before the two children were in the playhouse +kitchen, aprons on, and hard at work. + +Minnie was made superintendent and sat sewing in a wicker chair beside +the table, where she could give advice. Helen was chief cook and Rosanna +was assistant--the most delighted and thrilled assistant that ever beat +an egg or stirred a batter. By eleven o'clock the cooking was done and +every pot and pan washed and put in its place. Helen said that was the +rule in domestic science school, so although they were both tired with +their labors and Rosanna wished in her heart that she could tell Minnie +to clean up as she usually did whenever a mess was made, they stuck to +their task and it did not take very long to finish the work and make the +kitchen all spick and span. + +Rosanna was conscious of a new feeling, a sort of glow, at her heart. +Never before in her life had she spent a really useful morning. She had +learned to cook several things, and had the best time she had ever had +in her life. + +"What shall we have? A party?" asked Helen, sinking down in one of the +wicker chairs. + +Rosanna laughed. "Now I am going to tell my surprise, Minnie," she said. +"But when I made it up I didn't think we would help with it ourselves. +No, indeed; I thought you and cook would have to do it all, and we would +just sit around." She laughed. "I think it would be loads of fun to take +our cookies and the jello we made, and make some sandwiches of the cold +meat cook put in our ice-box, and pack the lunch hamper just as though +we were grown up, and fill the thermos bottles with milk, and go to +Jacobs Park for supper to-night." + +Helen gave a scream of delight. "Oh, splendid!" she cried, "I have not +been out there yet, and dad says it is perfectly beautiful--just like +real country." + +"Don't you suppose your mother would like to go, Helen?" asked Rosanna. + +"Of course she would!" said Helen promptly, "but she has gone to +Jeffersonville and will not be back until to-morrow morning. It was nice +of you to think of her, Rosanna." + +When the hamper was packed to their satisfaction, they called Minnie +back to see if they had forgotten anything. + +"Why, who's going, Miss Rosanna?" asked Minnie, looking into the basket +with much surprise. + +"You and Mr. Culver and Helen and me," said Rosanna wonderingly. + +"Well, dearie, whatever are you going to do with all these things to +eat?" said Minnie. "This basket holds enough for eight grown people, and +you have packed it full." + +"I think we can eat it by supper time," said Rosanna. "You have no idea +how good those cookies and things are. Do you think we have forgotten +anything, Minnie?" + +"Where is the corkscrew for your olive bottle?" said Minnie. "And what +are all those little bundles?" + +"Hard boiled eggs," said Helen. + +"Have you put in salt and pepper for 'em?" + +"I don't believe we have," said Rosanna. She ran to get some. + +"What is in that dish?" Minnie went on relentlessly. + +"Salad, and the other one has fruit jello." + +"They won't ride very well, I am fraid," said Minnie. Then seeing a look +of disappointment in the children's faces she hastened to add, "Well, I +say that is a grand supper, and cook never did a bit better for Mr. +Robert when he was home and used to give motoring parties. Now I have a +plan myself. Both you children go and take a nap. Please do that for +Minnie, Miss Rosanna." + +Rosanna was sure she could not sleep, but about one minute later she was +dreaming of dinner parties and kitchens. When she woke up it was three +o'clock and Minnie was shaking her gently. + +Rosanna was off the bed like a shot. She had just reached the porch when +Helen came running up, dressed plainly and sensibly in a plain dark +gingham and sandals. + +"The car is all ready," she said, "and daddy is driving it around to the +front door. And oh, he thinks he can't stay with us. He has so much +studying to do he is going to leave us there with you, Minnie, and come +for us whenever you say." + +"Well, that's all right," said Minnie. "Only now that makes three to eat +all that supper." + +Rosanna picked up her cape and a thermos bottle and skipped down the +broad steps after the house boy, who carried the heavy lunch hamper. + +"Never you mind, Minnie," she said. "Wouldn't you be s'prised to see us +eat every bit of it?" + +"No, I wouldn't," said Minnie firmly. "I'd be _scared_." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Driving through the winding roads of beautiful Iroquois Park, or Jacobs +Park as it is better known to the people of Louisville, they found a +lovely glade where the grass was smooth and where the trees grew close +all about. They were screened from the passersby, and it looked as +though the little place had just been waiting for a couple of little +girls to come there and enjoy a treat. + +For a long time they played while Minnie sat comfortably at the foot of +a tree and sewed on one of her doilies. Suddenly they were interrupted +by the sound of crying. + +Both girls stood motionless in amazement. Minnie put down her work. The +crying continued. It was no feeble wail, but a good hearty roar with a +running accompaniment of sobs in another key. Two children were being as +miserable and unhappy as they knew how. As they came close to the leafy +screen that protected Rosanna and Helen, the girls were able to see as +well as hear the sobbing pair. + +The most noise was made by a chubby, red-faced little fellow wearing a +cap. He was dragging an empty box by a string, like a little wagon, and +his roars did not prevent an air of lively interest in his +surroundings. His face was tear streaked, and he cried with the air of +one who never intends to stop. A girl, rather smaller, followed. She +clutched her brother firmly by the back of the blouse and allowed him to +drag her forward. + +Her eyes were screwed tight shut, her head was thrown back and she +shuffled along, the very picture of woe. Three other children completed +the mournful group. A larger girl, who staggered along under the weight +of the fat baby she was carrying, and another small boy who stalked +along, scowling unhappily, but with firm steps and squared shoulders as +though he would not let himself be overcome by misfortune. + +"Oh, oh, _oh_!" cried the little girl. "Oh, oh, _oh_!" It seemed all she +could say. + +"L--let l-loose of me!" roared the boy whose blouse she was clutching. + +"Please stop your crying," begged the older girl, setting the baby on +his feet and shifting him to the other arm. "The police will come if you +don't." + +"I don't care! Ow, ow, ow!" yelled the boy. + +Rosanna backed up to Minnie and stood there quite overcome. Not so with +Helen, however. After a good look, she pushed through the leafy screen, +jumped down the low bank and proceeded to ask questions. At the sound of +her voice the small girl opened her eyes and her sobs dwindled to a +steady sniffle. The boy stopped instantly. He looked ashamed. The big +girl once more put down the baby, setting it on the bank, and the boy +who had not cried stared off down the road, never giving Helen a glance. +Presently the girl sat down with the baby and Helen dropped down beside +her. Rosanna was filled with curiosity. + +"I am going down to see what it is all about," she said to Minnie. + +"Don't go too close, dearie; you might catch something," said Minnie, +intent on her cross-stitching and not caring much what the matter was. + +Rosanna slipped shyly down the bank and stood beside Helen. + +"She is telling me about it," said Helen, turning to Rosanna. "She +earned the carfare to bring them out here for the afternoon by digging +weeds on lawns. Go on!" + +"Well," said the strange girl, "we took the car, and got out here, and I +had to carry the baby and help Luella there, so I couldn't carry +anything else. And Tommy wanted to carry the supper because he said he +was the biggest, and he wouldn't let Myron even take hold of the basket. +And when we got off the car Luella fell down and bumped herself, and the +car went off, and then I asked Tommy where was the lunch, and he had +left it on the car! He always forgets everything. I oughtn't to have let +him have it, but, you see, I had the baby and had to help Luella. Tommy +wanted to run after the car, but it was 'most out of sight. He couldn't +ever catch it." + +"So that's all the trouble. They want their supper, and there isn't any. +I have a bottle of milk in my bag for the baby, but that is all there is +except carfare home, and I'm sorry but p'raps next time Tommy will think +how he leaves good suppers on street cars. We were going to have bread +and butter and doughnuts and three plums apiece." + +At the mention of the lost feast, Tommy burst out with even greater +noise. Luella's eyes closed and her sniffles changed to a low howl. + +"I'm hungry!" roared Tommy. "I didn't go to lose the supper. I gotta +have sumpin' to eat!" + +"No, you haven't either," said the girl. "You haven't got to have +anything to eat any more than Myron has. Why don't you act like Myron? +I'd be ashamed of myself, and you a whole year older!" + +"That's just it!" said Tommy, stopping long enough to talk. "Myron's +littler and thinner, and he don't need it so much." + +"Well, I bet he does!" said his sister. "Now you come along down to the +playgrounds, and you can each have a good big drink of water and then +you won't mind missing your supper." + +She stood up wearily and shouldered the baby. She was a sweet looking +little girl, but careworn as though she had carried the baby most of his +life. And so she had. The other children started down the road, Tommy +and Luella silent for the time. It had been a comfort to tell their +troubles to someone. + +"Good-by," said the strange girl, smiling over her shoulder. She kissed +the baby. "Shake a paddy good-by," she said, and a little dimpled hand +wagged a farewell at Rosanna and Helen. + +"We're very sorry," said Helen. "Good-by!" + +"Good-by!" echoed Rosanna. + +They scrambled up the bank and stopped, staring. In the middle of the +grassy lawn that they had chosen for their picnic ground stood the lunch +hamper. It looked as big as a house! + +"Bread and butter and three plums apiece," said Helen under her breath. + +"Bread and butter and three plums apiece," echoed Rosanna. "Helen," she +said solemnly, "this is the reason we packed such a lot of lunch. Come +on!" She turned and dashed down the bank and along the shady road. For +the first time in her life Rosanna was doing something that had not been +suggested to her; something that was out of the regular order of things. +She did not ask herself if the children belonged to nice families. She +rather knew they had no family at all in the sense her grandmother +always used. She did not stop to remember how shocked and horrified her +grandmother would be if she could see her racing along trying to +overtake the grubby little group of poor children. With Helen close +behind, she skimmed around the first curve and spied them ahead. + +Rosanna and Helen commenced to call and wave their arms. The girl heard +and once more set down the baby. Tommy heard and squeezed out a louder +howl. Luella opened her eyes. Myron glanced at them and again turned +away and stared down the road. Rosanna and Helen dashed up. + +"We want you to come and have supper with us," said Rosanna, with her +sweet smile. "We have a lovely supper and we cooked most of it +ourselves, and we brought a whole hamper full." + +Tommy shut up suddenly. This was something he could not afford to miss +hearing. Luella showed that her eyes could open and be very large and +round indeed. + +"I don't feel we had better," said the older girl slowly. She certainly +looked very tired. + +"Oh yes, you must!" said Rosanna. "The basket holds just enough for +eight people--grown-up people at that; and there are only three of us. +Minnie thought we were crazy to pack so much, but the things looked so +nice when they filled the boxes cramful. _Please_ do come!" + +"I don't know," she said hesitatingly. + +Helen looked at her and made a sign that Rosanna did not see. Then "I +_thought_ you were a Girl Scout," she said. "Now that makes it all right +for you to come to us because, as you see, I am a Girl Scout too, and +you know we must serve each other when in need." + +A look of pleasure lighted the girl's face. + +"Why, if you are sure there is enough," she said. "I am so tired +carrying the baby, it would seem good just to sit down and rest awhile. +But Tommy eats a lot." + +"We don't mind that," said Rosanna. "I don't want a single bit of that +supper left to carry home." + +The little procession turned and made its joyful way back to the lunch +basket. + +Rosanna and Helen seated their little guests, and Minnie, her kind heart +touched by the tired face and drooping shoulders of the little girl who +had carried the heavy baby so far, took the child and commenced to play +with it. + +The girls spread the paper lunch cloth smoothly on the ground and +commenced putting the food on the table. Tommy stared with round eyes. +Myron glanced at the feast and then looked away while, to everyone's +astonishment, Luella commenced to cry. + +"My land of love, what's the matter now?" said Minnie, speaking over the +head of the baby, who nestled happily in her lap. + +Everybody looked at Luella who mumbled something and sobbed right along. + +"What does she say?" asked Helen. + +The older girl looked dreadfully embarrassed. + +"I'm so ashamed of her," she exclaimed in a low tone. "She does think up +such dreadful things! She is crying because those plums are green, and +she knows I won't let her eat any." + +"Plums?" said Helen and Rosanna together. + +"Over there," cried Luella, sniffling and pointing. + +Both girls began to laugh, then stopped as they noticed the unhappy look +on the large girl's face. + +"I don't wonder she thinks those are plums," said Helen. "I thought they +were plums when I was little and always called them plums long after I +knew they were olives. Here, Luella, you can eat one now if you wish, +but I don't believe you will like them at all. I didn't when I was +little." + +Luella took the offered dainty and popped it into her mouth. She managed +to eat it, although she made awful faces. Tommy, watching her, did not +ask for a serving. + +"Can I help?" said the strange girl politely. "I wish you would let me. +I would feel better to do something when you are going to give us such a +perfectly lovely supper." + +"Please sit still and rest," said Rosanna, smiling. "You want to feel +real good and hungry when supper is ready, and I am sure you must be +tired nearly to death. And if you would tell us your name.... We know +which is Tommy, and Myron, and Luella, but we don't know the baby's +name, nor yours." + +"The baby is little Christopher," said the guest, reaching over to pat +the little hand, "and my name is Mary. You are Rosanna and you are +Helen, and I heard them call you Minnie." + +"Perfectly right," said Minnie. "Will it hurt the baby to crawl around +on the grass?" + +"Oh, no, indeed," said Mary. "He crawls all over. He gets some dreadful +tumbles but he never cries. He has fallen out of bed so many times that +we keep the floor all covered with pillows in front of the bed, and last +week he fell down the cellar stairs. Tommy forgot and left the door +open." + +"My good land, didn't it kill the poor child?" asked Minnie. + +"No, there was a bushel basket partly full of potatoes on the landing, +and he fell into those and never hurt himself at all. He didn't even cry +but a minute. He is the best baby we have ever had." + +"My land, you poor chicken, you!" said Minnie. "You talk like you was +the mother of the whole bunch!" + +"I help a lot with them," said Mary simply, "and I guess they are 'most +as much mine as mother's. You see she works and somebody has to take +care of them. And it isn't such very hard work, especially since I +joined the Girl Scouts. All the girls are so good, and have such a lot +of good times, and oh, it makes everything different!" + +"What are Girl Scouts?" said Rosanna. Both girls looked at her in +amazement. "I know what Boy Scouts are," she said hastily, "but I never +heard of Girl Scouts." + +Helen patted her on the arm. "Well, Rosanna, some day I will tell you +all about them, but now we must hurry and get the rest of the things on +the table because I don't think Tommy will ever live if he has to wait +much longer." + +"I know Myron is awfully hungry too," said Mary, smiling at her little +brother. "He never says a word, but I can tell what he thinks. Myron is +such a help to me. He is just as good at remembering things as Tommy is +at forgetting them." + +"He helped to forget the lunch," said Tommy. + +Myron spoke up in self-defence. "No, I didn't! I was helping Mary pick +up Luella and I thought you had it. You had it the last I saw." + +"I put it down after that," said Tommy as though that explained +everything. + +"I think I will lay the baby down beside this tree and let him have his +bottle," said Mary. "That will keep him quiet all the time we eat." + +"Wait a minute until we fix a nice place," said Minnie. She brought a +couple of auto robes and made a smooth, soft bed under the tree. + +"There he is!" she said. Mary, who had been unwrapping wads of +newspapers, produced a bottle of milk which she gave the baby. He +settled down to a quiet enjoyment of his meal, and Mary sighed as she +sat down at the edge of the tablecloth. + +"I _do_ hope you won't mind if I look at everything," she said. "I never +_saw_ so many _lovely_ things in my life even in a delicatessen +window." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The children, very, very solemn but oh so thrilled, seated themselves on +the grass and silently accepted the plates of good things that Helen and +Rosanna dished out for them. It is to be said for the everlasting credit +of the jello that it did _not_ melt, and the salad _did_ ride well, +although Minnie had gloomily expected it to be "all over the place" as +she expressed it. + +How those children did eat! Commencing with the ham sandwiches and the +lettuce and egg sandwiches, and the cold hard-boiled eggs, and crackers +and olives, and fruit salad, and very, _very_ thin iced tea with lemon +in it, and jello for dessert! + +About half way through the smaller children commenced to thaw out and +lose their shyness, and talk. _How_ they did talk! Myron said nothing +(but that was expected of Myron). When at last Rosanna was tipping up +the second thermos bottle to see if there was a drop of tea left, and +they were all eating the last cookies very, very slowly, partly to make +them last and partly because they were so full and comfortable, Rosanna +happened to notice Myron. She motioned to Helen to look. Myron had not +eaten everything. He had slyly lifted the tablecloth and had hidden +under it a ham sandwich rather nibbled as to edge, a small pile of +cookies (his share) and his plate of jello, which he had slipped off on +a paper napkin. + +"He couldn't eat all his supper, and he is afraid we won't like it," +whispered Rosanna. + +"I am going to ask him," said Helen. She stepped over to the boy, who +was sitting close to his little pile of goodies as though trying to hide +it. "Couldn't you eat all your supper?" + +Myron nodded. + +Mary glanced quickly at her brother, and said, "Why, Myron, _whatever_ +are you trying to do?" + +Tommy piped up. "I guess he's going to take 'em home to eat on the way." + +"I am _not_!" said Myron hotly, stung into self-defence as usual by his +brother. "I am _not_! Going to take it home to mamma and Gwenny. I +haven't had a speck more'n my share. I counted every time, and everybody +had four cookies 'cept Tommy. He had six. And I saved my sandwich out, +and the jell!" + +Tears stood in Mary's eyes. "But it isn't polite, Myron, to take +anything away without asking and, anyway, I know mamma and Gwenny will +be satisfied to just hear about our good time, and they wouldn't want +you to do such a thing." She tried to put the cookies back on the table +but Myron clung to them stubbornly. + +"No, no!" he said. "They are _my_ things! I went without 'em, and I want +to take them home to mamma and Gwenny. Gwenny never had any cookies +like those. And the jell is so pretty. I put a egg in my pocket too." +Myron's lip trembled, but he did not cry although Tommy giggled openly. + +"Of course you shall take them home to your mother! Who is Gwenny--your +dog?" asked Rosanna. + +"Gwenny is my _sister_!" said Myron furiously. + +Rosanna felt that she always said the wrong thing. + +"Oh, excuse me, Myron," she said meekly. + +A shade of sorrow passed over Mary's bright little face as she said, +"Gwenny can never go anywhere with us. She is sick, and never goes +anywhere." + +"Sick in bed?" questioned Rosanna. + +"No, she has a wheel chair, and when her back doesn't hurt too much, she +can be wheeled around the house and sometimes out in the yard. But she +wouldn't want Myron to do anything like this, so rude." + +"But Gwenny never _had_ any cookies as good as those, and the jell is so +pretty!" repeated Myron stubbornly. + +"I think it is so nice of you, Myron," said Rosanna. "I wish I had known +about Gwenny too so I could have saved her some of my cookies. Let me +help you do them up. You can take them to her just as you meant to, and +I know she will like them because her little brother went without to +save some for her. And some day soon, Myron, we will bring her a whole +picnic for herself, and perhaps she will ask you to help her eat it." + +"I'll help her too," said Tommy, puffing up his chest. "I'd just as +soon!" + +Minnie, bending over the hamper, whispered to Rosanna, "I'll bet he'll +help her! My, my, how I do want to fix that boy! I wish my third sister +from the oldest, Louisa Cordelia, had him for a while. I reckon one day +with her would make him feel different on a good many subjects. Little +pig!" Minnie's eyes snapped. + +Rosanna laughed. "I suppose he doesn't know any better, Minnie." + +"Know any better? Well, Miss Rosanna, Myron didn't need any help about +remembering his poor hard-worked mother and his sick sister. I don't +doubt Mary thought of 'em too, but she was too polite to say a word +after all you have done for them. But poor little Myron didn't know it +wasn't polite, so he just goes ahead and keeps part of his treat. If +there are any cookies in Master Tommy's pockets, they will never get as +far as his house." + +"Well, I think he _is_ selfish," said Rosanna regretfully. "But, Minnie, +we must take some good things to that Gwenny. I think grandmother would +want me to." + +After the supper things were all packed away in the hamper, everybody +sat around and wondered what to do next. Then Rosanna had a fine idea. + +She seated herself next the shy little Myron and suggested that +everybody should tell a story. Tommy and Myron looked rather wild. +Rosanna saw the look, and said that she thought they ought to commence +with Helen, because she looked as though she knew lots of stories. + +Helen said she didn't know so very many, but she was willing to try. + +"This is a really truly story about a little, little boy. He did not +have any brothers or sisters, and he was very lonely and unhappy +although he had nice clothes and plenty to eat. So he thought if he just +had a little kitten or a dog to play with and live with he would be a +good deal happier, and perhaps he would even get to be as happy as he +could be. But his mother did not like to have dogs or cats around +because they tracked up things, so she wouldn't let him have them. And +somebody wanted to give him a canary but his mother thought it would be +a lot of trouble to feed. And once he 'most got a pair of white rats +with his Fourth of July money, but they simply wouldn't let him. So +there he was; and he grew lonelier and lonelier and he used to sit on +the top step and stare down the street and wish he might whistle at the +dogs he saw, but he wouldn't for fear one of them might be looking for a +home and then it would be so disappointed after he had patted it and +been kind to it, if it had to go on again. + +"Well, one day there was a picnic down the river. The people went by +boat and then landed at the picnic grove, and spent the afternoon. The +little boy, whose name was Peter, went with his mother and aunt, and +when they got to the grove his mother said to his aunt, 'I don't see any +reason why Peter shouldn't walk around and amuse himself and play with +some of those children.' And his aunt said, 'Yes, if he doesn't fall +into the river,' and his mother said, 'Peter, you see to it that you +don't go near the bank.' + +"Peter said 'yes, ma'am,' and really meant to mind. He walked off and +pretty soon--oh, yes, I forgot to say that his mother gave him ten cents +to spend for popcorn or on the merry-go-round. So pretty soon Peter saw +a dog walking around with his tail sort of down as though he didn't know +anybody and was not having a very nice time. Peter didn't call him, but +he wished he knew the dog, he was such a pretty collie with beautiful +long hair and such a nice face. Pretty soon the dog saw Peter, and quick +as a wink he knew that Peter was lonely too, so he came up to him. They +got to be friends in a minute and went walking off together, and Peter +spent his ten cents for popcorn and shared it with the dog. + +"So they went around liking each other more and more, and when it came +time for supper the dog lay right under Peter's chair, and Peter's +mother said, 'Well, if you haven't picked up a dog! I declare that child +beats all!' + +"After supper Peter and the dog walked around some more, and Peter knew +that soon the boat would start and he would have to leave the dog and he +felt worse and worse about it until he almost couldn't bear it at all. + +"And he was thinking so hard that he forgot what his mother had told +him, and walked along the top of the bank by the river. It was a high +bank and crumbly; and all of a sudden a piece broke off and Peter +slipped and slid down, down into the river, and under he went. The next +thing he knew he was on the bank, and his mother was crying, and there +was a lot of people, and the dog was there wet as sop, and he was trying +to lick Peter's face, and Peter's mother was letting him do it. And a +man said, 'Madame, if it hadn't been for that dog, your son would have +been drowned. I saw it all.' + +"Then Peter's mother kissed him, and patted the dog, and she said, +'Peter, if that dog has no home we will take him for your dog, and if he +has, we will try to buy him.' But it turned out that the dog did not +belong to anyone, and so Peter took him home, and had him for his dog +always." + +"Why, that's a perfectly beautiful story!" exclaimed Rosanna, and all +the children thought so too. + +"You ought to see _my_ dog," said Tommy. "He's a fighter, he is!" + +"How can you say that?" said Mary. "He is only three months old and can +scarcely walk straight." + +"Well, I bet he will fight when he gets bigger." + +"He's not your dog anyhow," said Myron. "He's Gwenny's." + +"Yes, and Myron bought him for her at the Pet Shop with money he earned +himself. It is a toy poodle, so he won't ever be big." + +"Now who tells the next story?" asked Rosanna. "I think it is Tommy's +turn." + +"Don't know none," said Tommy. + +"Don't know _any_," his sister corrected him. "Go on and try, Tommy." + +Tommy breathed hard, then said rapidly: + +"Well, once over on the parkway two kids was playin', and a man came +along drivin' a race horse, and it had got scared at a nautomobile, and +was runnin' away, and the rein had broke, and the man he yelled, 'I'll +give anybuddy a million dollars to stop this horse,' and one of the kids +'bout my size give a leap and grabbed the horse by the nose and stopped +him. And the man jumped right out and give the kid a million dollars." + +"The saints forgive him!" said Minnie. She did not say who. + +"Mercy me!" said Rosanna. + +"What did he do with the money?" asked Helen. + +"Spent it," said Tommy promptly. "Went right down town and spent it." + +"What could he spend such a lot for?" asked Helen. + +"Spent it for candy and ice-cream cones and sody and cake, and he went +to the circus and all the side shows, and Fontaine Ferry and bought a +nautomobile and sling shot and everything." + +"My sister Louisa Cordelia ought to know you," said Minnie. + +"Don't want to know any girls," said Tommy rudely. + +Rosanna felt that it was time to change the conversation. "Now who +next?" she asked pleasantly. "What story can Luella tell?" + +"I don't believe she can tell any story," said Mary, "but she knows some +little verses she learned in school. They have such a sweet young lady +for a teacher; mamma says she never saw anybody take such pains with the +children as she does." She turned to Luella who was wriggling in +embarrassment and biting her finger. "Speak something Miss Marie taught +you, Luella honey." + +"Miss Marie?" said Minnie. "Miss Marie? What is her other name?" + +"Corrigan," said Mary. + +"Well, then, that's my younger sister," said Minnie proudly. "She's a +teacher, and I _will_ say she is a good one. Nothing would do but she +must go through normal school and teach. Seems like she was just made +for it, so patient and loving." She cast a glance at Tommy. "Not much +like my sister Louisa Cordelia, she isn't." + +"The children just love her to death," said Mary. "Go on, honey, and say +the little piece about the little bird." + +Luella arose, breathed hard, curtseyed, and very sweetly recited, + + +A little bird sat on a tree, + And waved his little wing at me. +He said, "This seems a pleasant day, + I think perhaps I'll fly away." +He bent his pretty little head, + "I don't see any worms," he said. +He shook his pretty feathers out. + "It's growing cold without a doubt. +When all the leaves have fallen down + And all the trees are bare and brown, +When snow is deep on dell and hill, + And wintry winds are cold and chill, +This would not be the place for me," + He said, and teetered on his tree. +"I know a land far, far away, + Where winter is as warm as May." +He waved a wing and winked an eye, + And off he flew, "Good-bye, good-bye!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +All the children except Tommy clapped their hands when Luella finished. +It did indeed sound sweet and she spoke it very prettily, waving her +hand and winking her own eye at the end. + +Rosanna and Myron felt that their time had come. They looked at each +other, but Minnie settled the question. + +"Now it is Miss Rosanna's turn," she said, "and then Myron's. Ladies +first. Give us a real nice story, Miss Rosanna." + +"About robbers," said Tommy, chewing on a grass stem. + +"I don't know any about robbers," said Rosanna pleasantly, "but I do +know one about a cat, or a kitten rather, and it really happened. Helen +told one about a dog, and this is about a cat. + +"Once there were two little boys, Walter and Harold, and they were going +a long, long way to their new home in the West where they were going to +live. And they had a pet kitten that they wanted to take along so badly +that fin'ly their mother and father said they might take it if they +would carry it in its basket all the way and never ask anyone else to +take care of it. So they said they would, and by-and-by they had +everything packed up and ready, and when the time came, they started +off and got on the train, kitten and all. + +"They had things for it to eat and milk for it to drink, and when the +conductor was not in the car they used to take it out of its basket and +pet it and play with it. And the kitten didn't mind it a bit. + +"Well, when they had been on the train a couple of days they let the +kitten out, and Harold had it on his lap sound asleep. + +"But just when they were at a station and the train was standing still, +something awfully exciting happened outside the window, and both boys +forgot the kitten. She jumped down from Harold's lap and went along +under the seats toward the end of the car. She thought she was going to +have a nice little walk, but just then the brakeman came into the car +and there was a kitten under one of the seats. He thought of course it +had hopped on the car there at the station, so he took it up and put the +poor little thing off the train, and then that _very_ minute the whistle +blew and off they went. + +"It was a vestibule train, and when Walter and Harold found out that +their kitten was gone they hunted every inch of the car over, and then +hunted through the next car, thinking that she might have gone across +the vestibule and into the other car. But she was not there. Just then +along came the brakeman again and when the boys asked him if he had seen +a kitten, he said, 'Why, sure! Was that _your_ cat? I thought she had +hopped on the train back there at the last station, and I took her and +put her off.' + +"Well, the boys felt so badly they didn't know what to _do_, and the +brakeman said they would not stop at any station for sixty miles. Walter +said he was going back to see if he could find her, but the brakeman +said she was most likely gone by this time or somebody had picked her +up. He was awfully sorry about it. + +"When they had gone the sixty miles the car stopped, but the boys didn't +care to look out or anything. They just sat and thought about their +little kittie, and Harold said, 'Seems as though I can hear her cry,' +and Walter said, 'Don't say that again,' and then he looked funny, +because he thought he could hear her himself! + +"Harold said, 'I suppose she is dead, and that is her ghost.' Walter +said, 'No, it's not; even kitten ghosts don't make a noise. There it is +again.' + +"And then they looked around very slowly, the way you do when you think +something is going to happen and you don't know just what it will be, +and there in the seat back of them was the brakeman and he was holding +that kitten! + +"When he opened the car door he found her squeezed up in a corner of the +top step, where she had ridden all that long way. When the brakeman +tossed her off she knew that the boys were on the train, so she climbed +right back, but she didn't get on quick enough to get into the +vestibule before the door was shut, so she had to hang on and ride +outside. She was scared nearly to death and jumped at every sound and +trembled for days, but the boys petted her and comforted her, and +by-and-by she felt all right. And there were lots of mice in the house +they went to live in, and that took her mind off herself. And that's all +of that," said Rosanna, smiling. + +"That's a nice story," said Minnie. "Now let's hear what Myron has to +tell." + +Myron shook his head. "Oh, go on, Myron," said Helen. "Tell us a story, +please, even if it _is_ short!" + +"Once there was a little boy," said Myron, without waiting to be teased. +"Once there was a little boy and he had a mamma and two brothers and +three sisters, and he grew up and made lots of money, and bought lots of +nice things for his mamma, and his two brothers and his three sisters +and that's all." + +"The dear lamb!" said Minnie. "That's the best story of the lot." + +"Mine was better," said Tommy. "Mine was a real feller." + +"Oh," murmured Minnie, "Louisa Cordelia has just _got_ to get hold of +you, young man!" + +"I suppose it is my turn now," said Mary, "as long as you want to save +Minnie for the last. Could you let me say you a little poetry, or was +Luella's enough? I think some poetry sort of mixes things up a little." + +"I think poetry is _lovely_," said Rosanna sweetly. "We loved Luella's +verses." + +"Well, then I will say some instead of a story." Mary cleared her throat +and, rising, made a little bow. + +UNAFRAID + +The day I die, I'll quickly go + Past all the angels, row on row, +Straight up to God; I'll know His face + Even up there in that new place. + +In Sunday School, the way they teach, + God is almost too great to reach. +They act a little bit afraid; + Because the world and all He made. + +But if He made the heavens blue, + He made the sweet wild violets too; +And Oh, what careful work it took + To plan the small trout in the brook. + +I know He's just the very size + Of father; with most loving eyes. +Just big enough so one like me + Can safely lean against His knee. + +"Those were lovely verses," said Minnie when Mary had finished. "I +wonder who wrote them." + +"My teacher wrote them," said Mary. "I think they are real nice." + +"I do think it is a waste of time for me to tell a story," said Minnie. +"First you know the machine will be here and then we will have to hurry +home." + +"I would like to hear you tell a story ever so much," said Mary. "I know +it would be a nice one, but I must be starting along pretty soon. It is +a long way from here to the car track, and I have to stop so often on +account of the baby being so heavy. It is so funny about babies, they +seem to get so heavy toward night." + +"Indeed they do after you have lugged them about all day," said Minnie. +"I say I know all about it, dearie." + +"We are not going to let you walk at all," said Rosanna. "We are going +to take you wherever you live right in the car." + +"Nautomobile ride! Nautomobile ride!" chanted Tommy, tossing his cap. + +"I think you are just too good," said Mary. "Will your automobile hold +such a lot?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed, and more too!" said Rosanna, glad for once that she +had a big Pierce-Arrow. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +"I hear the car coming," said Minnie. Everybody listened, and sure +enough the big car rounded the bend and drew up at the bank with a +mighty blast of the horn. Tommy yelled in reply and bolted for it, the +others following, loaded down with the empty hamper and rugs, and by no +means least, the baby, awake now and very happy after his sleep. + +Minnie marshalled them into their places, putting the two boys on the +front seat with Mr. Culver, and off they rolled. When they reached the +little house where the children lived, Mary thanked Rosanna and Helen +and Minnie and Mr. Culver again and she would have liked to thank the +car too, and the hamper. Even Tommy managed to say, "Much obliged!" +before he rushed to the house so he could have the fun of telling all +about it before Mary could get there. + +But Mary did not mind. This was something that would have to be told +over and over a dozen or twenty times. She stood with Luella and Myron, +the baby looped over her arm, and watched the car disappear with a +feeling of happiness and gratitude that filled her thin little frame to +overflowing. + +When the car reached the great white steps of Rosanna's house, the two +little girls said good-night. + +"I never had such a nice, lovely, beautiful day in all my life, +Rosanna," she said. "And all because you were so good and kind." + +"You would have thought of it just the same," said Rosanna, blushing. +"But oh, Helen and Minnie, _wasn't_ it lucky that we took such a lot of +lunch?" + +"Well, it did turn out so," said Minnie. + +The car rolled away, and Rosanna and Minnie went into the big, cool +hall. + +On the table was a letter addressed to Rosanna in her grandmother's +stiff, precise handwriting. Rosanna took it up with a sort of groan. + +"That's to tell when she is coming home, of course," she said. "I won't +read it until I am all undressed. Everything is going so beautifully and +I am learning such a lot and having such a lovely time that it doesn't +seem as though I could bear to have it come to an end." + +"I think you ought to read your letter, Rosanna," Minnie said. "I don't +believe in leaving things. You expect bad news in that letter and you +are having a horrid time all the time you are getting ready for bed. You +couldn't feel any worse if you opened it. And suppose there was good +news in it? Then you would wish you had found it out before, wouldn't +you?" + +"I suppose so," said Rosanna listlessly. + +She sighed and, taking the letter, tore off the end of the envelope and +commenced to read. The second sentence caused her to cry out. She turned +to Minnie, hugged her, and cried, "Oh, Minnie, you are so wise! Just +listen to this!" The letter read: + + +"My dear Granddaughter Rosanna: + +"What news I have had from home leads me to believe that you are well +and being nicely cared for. + +"Since this is the case, I feel that it will be possible for me to +remain here in the East for a few weeks with your Uncle Robert. He is +not ill, you understand, but is run down and nervous from the effects of +his wound and many trying experiences abroad. He is fussing because he +has lost track of a soldier friend of his, the man who saved his life. +He is doing all he can to trace him, as he feels--and of course so do +I--that we could never do enough to repay the debt we owe him. + +"About yourself, I hope you will have a good time. Do not forget to +practice. Mrs. Hargrave spoke of seeing a very interesting child at our +house. I am very glad you have found among your acquaintances one whom +you would like to make your friend. I can trust you, Rosanna, to choose +wisely. And I am glad to see that Mrs. Hargrave says that this Helen +somebody comes of an old Lee County family. I cannot read the name. Mrs. +Hargrave is a very careless penman. Always write distinctly, Rosanna. +It is one of the many marks of good breeding. + +"Your Uncle Robert sends his love. He is anxious to see you. + +"Your loving grandmother, + +"VIRGINIA LEE HORTON." + + +Rosanna read the letter twice. + +Then she turned and looked at Minnie. "It's good and bad too, isn't it, +Minnie? You know Helen is _not_ one of the Culvers of Lee County, but +she is just as good and sweet as though she belonged to all the Lee +County Culvers in the world. Minnie, what shall I do?" + +"You must do what you think right, dearie," said Minnie, her kind, wise +eyes searching the girl's face. "I can't tell you what to do. You must +decide for yourself. It's one of the biggest things in the world to +learn; that is, to decide what is right and wrong without someone +telling us." + +She kissed Rosanna good-night and left the room. A moment later she +returned. "Mrs. Hargrave just telephoned, dearie, that she wants you and +Helen to take luncheon with her to-morrow." Once more she bade the +little girl good-night, and Rosanna, tired out, fell asleep before the +door was closed. + +She did not see Helen the next day until time for luncheon, but when she +waked up she found a book lying beside her bed. Helen had sent it over +to her. It was all about the Girl Scouts, and their rules and duties +and pleasures, and Rosanna found it hard work not to sit down and read +instead of taking her cold bath and dressing herself. Then after +breakfast came the history lesson and the music and dressing again, and +when Helen, very crisp and dainty, came in ready to go to Mrs. +Hargrave's, she found that Rosanna had not had time to read a single +line. + +Mrs. Hargrave lived three houses away, and the children felt very +important and fine, especially Helen, who had never been asked to +luncheon with a grown-up lady before. Her eyes grew round when they +entered the house. It was so dim and cool and "old timey" as Helen put +it. + +Mrs. Hargrave always dressed in the latest fashion for old ladies, yet +somehow she always looked as though she belonged to another day and +time. When she drove about the city she scorned the modern automobile. +She went in the spickest and spannest little carriage drawn by an old, +sleek and still frisky roan horse with a gold mounted harness and her +driver was a colored man as haughty and aristocratic looking as Mrs. +Hargrave herself; perhaps a little more so. + +She advanced to meet the two little girls with a charming manner that +made them curtsey their very prettiest and caused them to feel more +important and grown up than ever. + +During luncheon Mrs. Hargrave said: + +"Will your brother return to college now that the war is over, Helen?" + +Helen looked up in surprise. "I think you have me mixed up with some +other little girl, Mrs. Hargrave," she said. "I have no brother." + +Mrs. Hargrave stared at her guest. "Are you not Lucius Culver's youngest +child?" she questioned. "The Lee County Culvers?" + +"No, Mrs. Hargrave," said Helen. "I am John Culver's daughter." + +"Another family," said Mrs. Hargrave and changed the subject politely by +asking Rosanna what she had heard from her grandmother. + +Helen sat thinking. She was a straightforward, honest little girl, and +somehow she felt as though she was sailing under false colors as far as +Mrs. Hargrave went. She felt sure of Rosanna; Rosanna did not care +whether she was poor or rich, and it made no difference at all to her +that Helen's father worked for Mrs. Horton. But some people were +different, Helen reflected. Twice Mrs. Hargrave had spoken of Helen +being one of the Culvers of Lee County, and Helen wondered if it would +make any difference to the fine old lady sitting there in her soft, +shimmery silks, with the long string of real pearls about her neck if +she thought the little girl sitting there as her guest was living over a +garage back of Mrs. Horton's elegant home. It puzzled Helen and troubled +her. But try as she might, not once did the talk turn so she could +bring in what she felt she wanted Mrs. Hargrave to know. It just +_wouldn't_ come about. + +After luncheon was over Mrs. Hargrave took the children and showed them +some of the strange and curious things about the house. + +Then she had a delightful suggestion to make. She herself was obliged to +go down town to see her lawyer and she thought it would be very nice for +the girls to come for a little ride. To Rosanna, used only to +automobiles, and Helen who rode most of the time in street cars, the +idea of riding along after the proud gold-harnessed, frisky old horse in +the spick-and-span carriage was a treat and an adventure. Making +themselves politely small and quiet, sitting on either side of Mrs. +Hargrave, they went trotting down Third Street, turned by the big white +library building, and continued down Fourth Street where they eyed the +crowds, read the giddy signs in front of the movie houses and looked at +the window displays. + +While Mrs. Hargrave talked to her lawyer, the girls sat in the carriage +and pretended that they were grown-up ladies. + +When Mrs. Hargrave came out, they started up Fourth Street. + +"Do you know," said Mrs. Hargrave, "this is the first time in all my +life that any little girls have visited me without their mothers? And I +have had the _nicest_ time I think I ever had. I want to remember it +always." She gave the signal to stop, and asked the children to get out. + +"There is something I want to get here," she said, and led the way into +a big jeweler's shop. The two girls stopped to look at the rings in the +case near the door, but Mrs. Hargrave called them. "I need a notebook +and pencil and I thought you would like to help me select it. I am a +rather fussy and very forgetful old lady." + +She did seem fussy over that notebook, but finally chose a dainty gold +one with a square in the center for initials. Attached by a tiny gold +chain was a slender pencil with a blue stone in the top. + +Then, to their amazement, the clerk laid two others exactly like it on +the counter. Three just alike! + +"I think it would be nice for us all to remember our pleasant day, don't +you?" asked Mrs. Hargrave, smiling. "I want to give you each one just +like this one that I am getting for myself. Then we will think of each +other whenever we use them." + +Helen lifted Mrs. Hargrave's delicate old hand and laid it against her +cheek. + +"Oh, Mrs. Hargrave," she cried, "I will _never_ forget you. I don't need +the notebook, but it is too lovely, and I will keep it as long as I +live." + +Mrs. Hargrave's eyes filled with tears. "Bless your heart!" she said. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +The very next day Mrs. Hargrave was called into the country to see a +sick cousin. She telephoned Minnie before she left and told her that she +felt that things were going along as well as anyone could possibly +expect, and that she was delighted with Rosanna and her little friend. +This message distressed Minnie for she was just about to go to see Mrs. +Hargrave. + +Minnie was not happy. Silly and foolish as it was, she well knew that +the proud old Mrs. Horton would not be willing to accept as poor and +simple a child as Helen for Rosanna's closest friend, no matter how +sweet and well mannered she might be. Minnie, who knew real worth when +she saw it, despised Mrs. Horton for her overbearing ideas, but what to +do she didn't know. She feared a storm if she let things go until Mrs. +Horton's return, yet she dreaded a separation for the children, when +they might enjoy each other for two or three weeks longer. + +Rosanna was improving daily. Minnie was pleased and proud to see how she +continued to do for herself and learn in every way to be independent. +Her sewing was wonderful. She was working eagerly on a little dark blue +dress like Helen's for herself, and with Minnie's help was even putting +a little simple cross-stitching on the cuffs and yoke. Rosanna was +prouder of that dress than of anything she had ever had in her +beautiful, crowded wardrobe. + +Minnie felt that she wanted to consult with someone, and the most +sensible person she knew was Mrs. Hargrave. But with Mrs. Hargrave away, +all Minnie could see to do was to let things go along, and "trust to +luck" as she put it. Minnie didn't like "trusting to luck" at all; and +every time she saw the two children playing together so happily and +busily she shook her head and sighed. + +Rosanna, too, in a dim way was feeling troubled, because she too knew +her grandmother, and remembered other times when she had been severely +scolded for trying to make friends with children whose parents did not +measure up to the standard set by Mrs. Horton. + +In fact, for all the seeming happiness, no one was wholly happy but +Helen! + +Helen had been taught by her wise young mother that the most important +things in life are not to be measured as anything that money can buy. +According to Mrs. Culver, a little girl must be obedient and truthful +and well behaved and kind. She must have a low and pleasant voice and be +able to sit in the presence of her elders without trying to enter the +conversation unless asked to do so. These things she had taught Helen, +and her little girl had been a ready pupil. Mrs. Culver was justly proud +of her. + +Rosanna was just a bit afraid. And the fear caused her to go in a line +that was not _perfectly_ straightforward. She was sorry enough for it +afterward--sorrier than she thought she could ever be. But that did not +mend things in the least. + +Because she did not know just how to turn around and explain everything +to her grandmother and still be sure of her happy time, to say nothing +of protecting her dear Helen from distress, when she answered her +grandmother's letter she wrote as follows: + + +Dear Grandmother: + +"I was glad to get your letter, and I am glad Uncle Robert is home +again. Give my love to him, please. I am glad you are having a good +time, and I hope you will stay away as long as you like. I am having a +very good time. Oh, grandmother, I am having a lovely time. What do you +think? Mrs. Hargrave had Helen and me to luncheon with her, and she +likes Helen as much as I do, only she doesn't belong to the Lee family, +and after luncheon Mrs. Hargrave took us down town with her, and before +we came home she bought each of us a gold notebook with a gold pencil on +a gold chain fastened to it. She bought herself one too so we each have +one just like a secret society. + +"I am learning to cook and to sew. I am making myself a dress. It is +very pretty. I shall make a good many of my dresses after this. It saves +a good deal of money, Minnie says, and I can help the poor with it. + +"We went out to Jacobs Park for a picnic, and five poor little children +had lost their basket of supper. So I thought what you would do if you +saw five little children who had lost their supper, and I asked them to +have supper with us. There was enough, on account of our taking Uncle +Robert's hamper, and Uncle Robert always liking to be generous. + +"We have planned a great many things. If they don't all get done before +you come home, grandmother, perhaps you will enjoy doing them too. + +"I am learning a great deal about the Girl Scouts. I want to be one. + +"Did you know our cook has a little lame boy at home? I was glad to find +it out. It is one more person to be kind to. I have sent him all my set +of puzzle pictures. + +"Minnie is planning to get married. She has a trunk of things. When you +come home won't it be nice because we can go down town and buy something +for her. She will like something you have given her. + +"She likes you very much, I am sure, because she always says, 'Well, all +I can say is there's not many like your grandmother in this world.' + +"I think it is so nice to be liked. I want to grow up to be liked. I +think being a Girl Scout will help. Helen says all sorts of girls +belong, rich as well as poor, and that it broadens you. + +"This is a long letter, grandmother, but I had a good deal to tell you. +So please have a good time, grandmother, and I am your loving little +girl + +"ROSANNA." + + +Minnie sent a letter too. It read: + + +"Mrs. Horton: + +"I wish to report that everything seems to be going smoothly. Mrs. +Hargrave has taken a great liking to Miss Rosanna, and her new friend +Miss Helen, and likes to have them with her. Miss Rosanna practices and +studies faithfully, and her music teacher says she never had such a +bright pupil. I have her take a rest in the middle of each day. The day +you left she broke her bottle of tonic, and I could not get more, as you +have the prescription. But I do not think she needs it. She has gained +two pounds since you left us. I give her hair a hundred strokes each +night. I think she wants to bob her hair, it is so very long and heavy, +but I tell her not for worlds, as you are so proud of it. + +"We are keeping to the routine you ordered except when Mrs. Hargrave +has made some slight change, but of course I know that is all right, as +you told me she might wish to do so. + +"Respectfully, + +"MINNIE." + + +And Mrs. Hargrave wrote from the country a letter full of praise for +both little girls and for Minnie. + +Mrs. Horton received all three letters the same day. She slipped them +away in her portfolio, thinking as she did so, with a smile, of Cousin +Hendy's trunks full of letters. + +One thing troubled her a little. It seemed as though she could see in +all the letters evidences that little Rosanna was undergoing some slight +changes in her way of thinking and acting. And Mrs. Horton did not care +to have Rosanna change in the least. She was perfectly satisfied the way +she was. It had not occurred to Mrs. Horton to wonder if poor little +motherless Rosanna was satisfied with her pampered, lonely life. + +Mrs. Horton had Rosanna's life all mapped out. However, she remembered +the high stone wall and reflected that the child could see very little +of the outside world if she was kept behind that. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +How the time did fly! The days were not long enough for all the two +girls crowded into them. + +In a few weeks Helen would be going away to a Scout camp where dozens of +girls would live in tents and row and swim and fish and cook and listen +to wise and sympathetic talks from their leaders. Helen knew all about +it from past trips, and she spent hours while they sat working on their +presents for Mrs. Hargrave, whose birthday was rapidly approaching, +telling Rosanna all about their good times. Rosanna felt that she never +could bear it if she couldn't be a Girl Scout. Helen, not knowing Mrs. +Horton, did not see how any grown person could refuse such a request and +she told Rosanna so. + +They had made a great many plans for Mrs. Hargrave's birthday. She was +coming to take dinner with them. + +Mrs. Hargrave never looked more beautiful nor more imposing than when +she arrived. The two girls were overcome with pride as they saw their +guest descend from her little carriage and, laying her hand on the arm +of the old colored man who attended her, walk slowly up the steps. + +When dinner was served, it was perfectly splendid to hear Mrs. Hargrave +exclaim over the flowers and the favors and everything. + +During the meal the children told Mrs. Hargrave what they hoped to be. + +Rosanna wanted to be an artist. Helen said she intended to grow up and +marry and be the mother of a family. + +"Bless my soul!" said Mrs. Hargrave, staring at her. "What put that in +your head?" + +"Something mother learned in college," said Helen simply. "She believes +it, and of course so do I. There was a teacher in college who was very +wise, mother says, and he warned them and warned them against what he +called popular complaints. He said they must always be careful before +they joined anything and promised to uphold it to understand _exactly_ +what it was and how far it would lead them. He said it didn't matter +whether they were thinking of going into a nunnery or joining the +Salvation Army or the Suffragets or what else, they wanted to ask +themselves could they lift themselves and help humanity by doing that +thing. And he said in this day and age when there were so many +dissatisfied people everywhere, he thought the most important thing in +the world was to teach everyone, and especially children, the love of +country." + +"Wise man," said Mrs. Hargrave, nodding. "What else?" + +"He told them that love of country was not boasting about where you came +from, and telling everybody how high the corn grows in New York, or how +blue the grass is in Kentucky or things about places like that. He says +that is nothing but bragging. But he said what people needed was to love +all their country, east and west and south and north, to try to +understand one another and to pull together for the United States. + +"And he said that if every one of those girls who married and had +children would teach them this as hard as ever they could, some day the +states would really be united, and wiser laws would be made, and all the +young Americans would love their country and be willing to live for her. +He said it is harder to live faithfully for anything than to die for it +because it takes so much longer." + +"Bless my soul!" said Mrs. Hargrave again. "Go on!" + +"That's all," said Helen. "I don't see what else I can do except teach +some children of my own about it, do you, Mrs. Hargrave?" + +"I think that would be the finest thing you could do," said the +childless old lady. "Quite the finest! Are you going to college?" + +"I want to," said Helen, "if we can afford it. We are saving up for it +all the time." + +"How do you save?" asked Mrs. Hargrave. She was certainly a curious old +lady. + +"Well," said Helen, "I wear my hair docked, and that saves a lot in +hair ribbons, only this fall mother says I must let it grow. When mother +takes me to buy a coat, we look at _two_ good ones that will last two +winters, but perhaps one has pretty braid or something on it, that makes +it cost more. Then if one of us looks as though we wanted it the other +one whispers, 'Rah rah rah, college ah,' which is our own college yell, +and we take the _plain_ one. + +"Lots of ways it looks to be harder on mother than it is on me. I know +she goes without so many things she would love--lectures and concerts +and all that. I just _hate_ that part!" + +"I am glad you do," said Mrs. Hargrave. + +"Helen and I are hoping that we can go to college together," said +Rosanna. + +"Rosanna is so dear," said Helen. "She wants to help me save, but of +course that won't do." + +"I don't see why not," said Rosanna. They had talked this over many +times. "Do you see, Mrs. Hargrave? I never spend my allowance." + +"No," said Mrs. Hargrave, "it wouldn't do at all. In the first place +Helen is earning her education in a lovely way, and your allowance is +given you. It is no effort for you to get it, so it does not benefit +you, my little dear. Helen must go on herself. Her help could only come +from a fairy godmother." + +"There are no fairy godmothers," said Rosanna bitterly. + +"I was beginning to think there might be," said Mrs. Hargrave. + +"No," said Rosanna. "If there was a fairy godmother, just one in all the +world, she would come and make my grandmother let me go out of the +garden and know lots of little girls and go to school and be a Girl +Scout." + +Mrs. Hargrave sat thinking as she tasted her ice. Then she asked, "What +are these Girl Scouts?" + +"I have all the books," said Helen eagerly. "May I bring them around to +show you? Then you can see just why Rosanna wants to be one. I am sure +Rosanna could not be hurt by knowing a lot of little girls and learning +all the things that are required of the Girl Scouts." + +"Why should she be hurt?" said Mrs. Hargrave. + +"Why, grandmother thinks I should not go out of my class." + +"Class is all right," said Mrs. Hargrave. "It is very necessary, but +what you want to look for, Rosanna, is _worth_. Suppose Helen here was +not in your own class. Suppose her father was a laboring man of some +sort, and she lived away from this part of town, that wouldn't change +Helen." + +Helen looked up in amazement. "But my father is--" + +Mrs. Hargrave interrupted. "I will tell you what I will do, Rosanna, I +will talk to your grandmother myself if she makes any objections to your +going to school and all the rest." She rose as she spoke, and they +wandered out to the rose garden where coffee was served for Mrs. +Hargrave and where the children offered their gifts. + +When she went home at last, she put an arm around each child. "This is +the happiest birthday I have had. Good-night, and thank you! I will help +you all I can, Rosanna, and I feel very sure, Helen, that your savings +or the fairy godmother will take you to college with Rosanna. Two little +girls as nice and sweet and well-bred as you ought to be friends all +your lives." + +She kissed them both and, carrying her presents, went down the steps +leaning on the arm of her servant. + +"I feel full of a happy sadness," Rosanna sighed. "I don't see why, do +you?" + +"No," said Helen, "only that she is so perfectly lovely. She is just as +though there was two parts to her. The outside pretty, but old and +wrinkled and kind of high and grand, while there is somebody just too +sweet, and real young and dancy and loving on the inside. And the inside +one can never grow old at all, but will go right on understanding how +you feel, and when the outside gets too old to last any longer, why, she +will just go and be a young, young angel." + +"I guess that's it," said Rosanna. "But what a fuss there is about class +and position and where you were born, isn't there?" + +"Yes," said Helen. "When she was talking about workingmen I tried to +tell her about my father working for your grandmother." + +"Yes, she interrupted you," said Rosanna. "I don't see as it makes any +difference what he does. No matter what _any_body thinks, Helen, we are +going to be friends? You promised me that." + +"Of course," said Helen. + +"Well, it was a nice party, wasn't it, Helen? I think Mrs. Hargrave did +truly have a good time." + +When Helen went home that night she was very quiet. Her mother thought +she was tired, but Helen was thinking. She loved Mrs. Hargrave dearly, +and she wanted her to know some things that she evidently was all mixed +up about. + +The following morning she did not go over to see Rosanna. Instead she +dressed with even greater care than usual and went slowly around to Mrs. +Hargrave's, where she found her in a bright little morning room, sitting +before a large desk. + +"I wanted to tell you something," said Helen, "and I am going to get it +all mixed up. I sort of have the feeling that _everything_ is mixed up +and that I am doing something that is not quite right. So I came over to +you. I didn't even tell mother because I was afraid it would worry her. +You see _she_ doesn't understand either." + +"Dear me, how mysterious!" said Mrs. Hargrave. + +"It is like this," said Helen, plunging into the middle. "You have been +so good to me that I want to tell you that I am not one of the Culvers +of Lee County or any other county. I am just the plainest sort of a +little girl. I have the nicest father and mother in the whole world, but +they are poor, and my father does work. He works for Mrs. Horton; he is +her chauffeur, and we live in the apartment over the garage. + +"What will she say, Mrs. Hargrave, when she knows what a plain little +girl I am? I thought I would come and tell you about it. I don't see +what difference being poor makes if one tries to be nice inside, do +you?" + +"No," cried Mrs. Hargrave. "It makes no difference at all. Don't let +anyone make you think that. And your coming to tell me this shows me +just what sort of a child you are," and she kissed Helen. + +"Now, let's get this thing all straight as far as you understand it, my +dear, and then I will tell you what I think about it." + +So for a long time they sat together, Helen's hand in Mrs. Hargrave's +while Helen told all about herself and her friendship with Rosanna, and +Mrs. Hargrave chuckled when she thought of her letters to Mrs. Horton +and how she had innocently misled her. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Rosanna had just finished her luncheon that very same day, when she +heard Minnie talking to someone over the telephone. Minnie, seeing +Rosanna behind her, merely said yes and no and hung up as soon as she +could. + +"What are you planning to do, Miss Rosanna?" she asked. + +"This afternoon?" said Rosanna. "Well, Helen is coming over with her +mother and we are going to sit on the porch of the playhouse and sew. +Helen and I are going to make a couple of rompers for Baby Christopher. +Helen and her mother went over to see Gwenny the other day, and Mrs. +Culver says that baby actually has nothing to put on. And there is no +money to buy anything with because Gwenny has had to have a new brace +that cost thirty dollars. Oh, Minnie, will I be rich when I grow up?" + +"Yes, you will," said Minnie. + +"How much; millions?" wistfully. + +"A good lot anyhow," said Minnie. + +"Oh, I am so glad!" said Rosanna. "I am going to make so many people +happy with it. There is such a lot of things you can do with money, +Minnie, to help people. I was so sorry when I heard about that brace. I +am going to save more of my allowance after this and keep listening so I +will hear when somebody wants something like that. Only there are some +things that you can't buy with money. I couldn't buy Helen, could I? And +I couldn't buy Mrs. Hargrave." + +Minnie started. + +"No, dearie, you couldn't," she said. "And I have got to trot along now +because I have to go out this afternoon, and if Mrs. Culver and Helen +are coming over, I know you will be all right." + +Rosanna found her little workbasket and, taking a book to read until her +guests came, went over to the playhouse and commenced rocking in one of +the little wicker chairs. + +Minnie dressed carefully but plainly and went out. Rosanna would have +been much surprised if she had seen her hurry down the street and turn +into Mrs. Hargrave's big house. + +Mrs. Hargrave was waiting for her and after a kindly greeting she said: +"Minnie, I want you to tell me all about this Culver family, and how +Rosanna found Helen, and how they happen to be such good friends, and +how it is that you allowed it when you know just how Mrs. Horton feels +about family and all that." + +Minnie did not flinch. + +"I have been wanting to come and tell you all about it," she said, "but +I thought that you would find out things from the children. Mrs. Horton +just won't let Rosanna know _any_ children at all. But I don't feel like +saying all I would like to say, seeing how I work for Mrs. Horton." + +"You would free your mind, I reckon, if you were at your own home, +wouldn't you?" + +"Yes, ma'am, I would!" said Minnie. + +"Well, then," said Mrs. Hargrave, "suppose you and I talk as though we +were just a couple of human beings who want to do a kind turn for two +little girls. That Helen child was over here this morning, to tell me +that she was afraid I thought she belonged to some fine family like the +Culvers of Lee County. Lee County indeed! Those Culvers are scalawags, +every man of them! She is lucky she doesn't own one of them for a +father. + +"And the honest little angel was afraid I would be disappointed when I +found out who she really is. Well, Minnie, I was never so pleased with a +child in my life! I am going to do something for her some day. + +"Now I want to hear from you just how this friendship started. It seems +a letter that I wrote to Mrs. Horton put the seal on it and I want to +know where we all stand." + +"Whatever we do there is going to be an awful fuss," said Minnie, +sighing. She sat on the edge of the chair facing Mrs. Hargrave and told +that lady more of Rosanna's lonely, friendless little life than Mrs. +Hargrave had ever guessed. She told her of the difference in Rosanna +since Helen had come, and her fears for the child if Mrs. Horton should +come back and forbid their friendship. + +"I shall just leave!" concluded Minnie. + +"Don't be an idiot!" said Mrs. Hargrave, frowning. "That would be a nice +thing to do with Rosanna heartbroken. Now, Minnie, all there is to this +is that Mrs. Horton years and years ago had a younger sister who eloped +with a no-account man whom she met when she visited his sister. They +were really very common people, and Mrs. Horton's little sister died of +a broken heart. + +"When Mrs. Horton married, her children were boys, as you know, and she +carried her bitterness in her heart until her son's little orphan girl +came to live with her. She is making a great mistake with Rosanna and +she must somehow be made to see it before it is too late. But that is +the reason for her foolishness. + +"She adored her little sister, and she adores Rosanna. I am sorry the +affair is so mixed up, but you just leave it to me. In the meantime do +just as you are doing and give the girls all the chance you can to have +a good time. I will stand back of little Helen if I have to adopt her. I +suppose her parents are healthy?" + +Minnie giggled. "Yes, ma'am; healthy and real young." + +"Well, well, there must be some other way then," said Mrs. Hargrave, +smiling. "To start, I will write Mrs. Horton a letter just before she +returns, and I think a heart-to-heart talk will arrange things nicely." + +In the meantime, Mrs. Culver had helped the girls cut out two sets of +dark, comfortable rompers, and Rosanna had sewed them up on her little +machine. + +Mrs. Culver was also making a romper for Baby Christopher. Hers was a +cunning one for Sunday, a little pink check with bands of plain pink, +and buttons nearly as big as tea saucers sewed on wherever a button +would go. + +Mrs. Culver was a wise woman, and she knew that Baby Christopher, small +as he was, would have a good effect on his many brothers and sisters if +he could be made beautiful and dressy on the one day in the week when +the busy family had time to enjoy his cunning ways. So Christopher was +to have three rompers--good, new, beautiful rompers of his own. + +While Mrs. Culver sat thinking the two girls talked about the opening +of the Girl Scout troop in the school Helen was to enter in the fall. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +One morning Mrs. Hargrave was called to the telephone to speak with Mrs. +Culver. Mrs. Culver wanted to know if Mrs. Hargrave thought it would be +all right to take the two girls to Fontaine Ferry for the afternoon, eat +their supper there, and return when the children had had a chance to see +the electrical display. + +"It is the sort of a place one always wants to see once, like Coney +Island," she said, "and I think the girls are about the right age to +have a good time there for a few hours without being disillusioned." + +Mrs. Hargrave agreed with her. + +"It will be a wild adventure for Rosanna," she said. "I have faith in +Helen keeping her head, but you must watch Rosanna. If she looks too +feverish, bring her home, please." + +"I will indeed," promised Mrs. Culver. + +"Of course you will; I am not afraid," said Mrs. Hargrave. "Send the +children around here before you start." + +Once more Uncle Robert's hamper was dragged out and stocked with good +things. They were to start at three o'clock. When they were ready they +went skipping down the street to Mrs. Hargrave's house. + +"Well, Rosanna," she said, "I wonder what your grandmother will say to +me when she finds out that I have given you permission to go to Fontaine +Ferry? I know you will have a splendid time. I have never been there +myself, and I am sorry that I can't go today. I am obliged to take the +six o'clock train for the country. Cousin Hendy has sent for me post +haste. She says she is at the point of death. I suppose this time it is +cucumbers. They are about ripe now. + +"I want you both to remember everything you do, so you can tell me about +it. If I stay in the country for a few days, Rosanna, I will write a +letter to your grandmother telling her just what I think about a great +many things, and urging her to let you join the Girl Scouts. + +"And as long as I can't go and have a good time spending my money, I +want you children to take it and spend it for me. This is not for your +education, Helen. I want you to promise to spend it, every bit." + +They kissed her good-by and calling their thanks went dancing away. + +The car was waiting, and off they went on the pleasant ride through the +city and out Broadway. As there was plenty of time, they drove through +Shawnee Park and along the bluff overlooking the Ohio River creeping +sluggishly past. Then they turned, and went a short mile to the entrance +to the Ferry. + +Parking the car, they went in, Mr. Culver bringing the hamper of supper. +The Ferry is a very large place and every foot of it is covered with +tan-bark, smooth and brown and springy. Rosanna felt as though she was +walking in a riding academy. Everything was exquisitely clean. + +As the children walked along, they commenced to hear music everywhere +and to see the merry-go-rounds whirling, the Ferris wheel spinning high +in the air, the squeals from the shute-the-shutes, and hundreds of other +fascinating noises. They found a place where they could check the hamper +and coats, and sat down on a bench for a little to look around. + +Presently Helen's father said, "Well, we will have to start if we want +to see everything. Shall we have a ride on the merry-go-round to start +with?" + +Rosanna drew out her envelope. + +"We must spend our dollar," she said and tore it open. Helen did the +same. Each envelope held a clean new ten dollar bill. The children +looked at them in amazement. + +"And I can't use it for college!" Helen wailed. "She made me promise to +spend it." + +When they reached the merry-go-round, they chose the wildest looking +horses and mounted them in fear and trembling. When they had finished +the wonderful five minutes, they tried the chariots. Then there was a +certain camel that looked safe and steady, and Helen rode a lion. + +They wanted to ride all day, but Helen's father warned them that there +were other things to see. They walked along looking everywhere at once +when Rosanna gave a scream. She found herself looking into a mirror, +clear and bright; but what had it done to Rosanna? She was really a thin +little girl who had often had to take cod liver oil. In the mirror she +gazed at a fat chunk with Rosanna's features and hair and about ten +times Rosanna's breadth. It was quite terrifying. Then she heard an awed +gasp from Helen followed by a shriek of laughter, and ran over to see +what was left of Helen in a mirror that had drawn her out to the +thickness of a needle. Together the girls looked and laughed. + +After they had torn themselves away from this amusement, they came to a +booth where dozens of rings like embroidery hoops could be thrown over +pegs in the wall. Each peg had a prize hanging above it: gold watches, +diamond rings, wrist watches, gold and silver bracelets, and dozens of +other things. But most of the pegs had little bright tin tags or medals +and you had to get ten of those before you could exchange them for a +near-gold breast-pin. + +Helen and Rosanna were very much excited over this, and could have been +quite covered with medals. They would not throw the rings on any peg +that was worth while. Finally they moved on in disgust, after paying the +man about a dollar apiece. + +On a corner were a group of little burros, the tiny Mexican donkeys and +children could ride along to the corner and back for ten cents. Nothing +in the whole world could make those donkeys go off a slow walk. They +knew perfectly well that it didn't pay to frisk up their heels and bolt, +so they simply wagged an ear or flirted a tail if the children slapped +them. + +"I suppose they have traveled to that corner fifty million times," said +Helen, watching the solemn procession take its way with the donkey boys +following close on the donkeys' heels and shouting to them to "Giddap!" + +"Poor dears!" said Rosanna. "How tired of it all they must be!" + +It took a lot of argument before they decided to try the Ferris wheel, +but Rosanna wisely said that it would probably be the last chance _she_ +would ever have to try it, and Helen said that she wouldn't want to come +unless Rosanna could, so the children seated themselves and were +strapped in the basket, and presently when all the little basket seats +were full, off they went. It was perfectly frightful when you have just +been a simple human being all your life and suddenly try sailing up and +around all at the same time! At the top there was a drop, a sort of +launching out right into space, and the girls clung to each other and +shut their eyes. + +After they had rested awhile they went along, threading their way +through the crowds until they came to the roller coaster. + +Here they sat in a little car which held four people, but Mrs. Culver +still refused to leave the ground. They embarked from a little platform, +and were in one car of a little train of four. On the other side of the +platform four other cars were filling up. When all the seats were taken, +someone gave a signal and off went the little trains down such a steep +grade that their rush carried them far up another incline. This was +repeated over and over until they had reached a great height. Here there +was a sheer drop as straight as it could be made without taking the cars +off the rails, and down they went, turning and twisting. All at once +they were plunged into a pitch black tunnel. + +"Oh, oh, _oh_!" cried Rosanna. It was the first time she had screamed, +but she did not hear herself because everyone else was screaming too. + +Then as suddenly as they had plunged into the dark, they came out into +the light again, gave a few more turns and drops for good measure, and +stopped at the very identical place where they started. + +They got out of their car, and staggered, rather than walked, over to +Mrs. Culver, who was laughing at them. Rosanna's long curls were blown +every which way around her small, dark face, and Helen's bobbed hair was +sticking straight up. + +"There is a Trip to the Moon right over here," said Mr. Culver. "Don't +you want to go?" + +"No, thank you," said Rosanna feebly, and Helen said, "Why, daddy, I +couldn't bear another thing today! Let's go back and ride those nice +steady wooden horses." + +They walked back to the merry-go-round, and spent a happy half hour +riding the menagerie. After that it was time to get supper. It always +takes a long time to eat a picnic supper, and dusk was close when at +last they finished. One by one the stars came out and then as though +touched by a great spring, Fontaine Ferry burst into a dazzling blaze of +electric lights. + +Blazing, twinkling, winking, the lights hung or turned or whirled. +White, colored groups, and single stars, among the trees, down the wide +drive-ways, the Ferry had turned into fairyland. + +"This is the best of all," said Rosanna softly. + +"Isn't it?" answered Helen, her eyes wide. "How I wish Mrs. Hargrave +could see it! That _young_ Mrs. Hargrave that is inside the old shell of +a Mrs. Hargrave would have all sorts of pretty thoughts about it. Don't +you know she would?" + +"Tomorrow you must come over real early," said Rosanna as they rode +home, squeezing Helen's hand. "And I owe grandmother a letter. It will +be easy to make a nice letter out of all we have seen. I wish Mrs. +Hargrave would come home to-morrow." + +The car drove up before the big house, and Rosanna, tired out, but so +very, very happy, thanked Mr. and Mrs. Culver and ran up the steps. The +car waited, purring at the curb, to see that the door was promptly +opened. Rosanna heard the lock shoot back and the knob turn. + +"It's all right," she said, looking down at the car. With a wave and a +smile Mr. Culver drove off, and happy little Rosanna turned slowly, +speaking as she did so. + +"Oh, Minnie dear, I have had the bestest sort of a time!" she said. "I +only wish you--" She looked up. Her grandmother stood before her. + +"Why, grandmother, when did you get home?" said Rosanna with a smile, +lifting her face to be kissed. + +Her grandmother did not bend down. Instead she stood very stiff and +straight, looking at Rosanna with hard, cold, angry eyes that cut her +like swords. + +"Go to your room!" said Mrs. Horton in a dreadful voice. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Rosanna turned pale, but she looked steadily into her grandmother's cold +eyes. + +"I have done nothing wrong, grandmother," she said. "I--" + +"Go to your room!" repeated Mrs. Horton, pointing to the stairs. "I will +attend to you later." + +Rosanna slowly climbed the broad staircase, clinging to the handrail and +dragging her feet like a very tired old woman instead of a dear little +happy girl. She felt herself trembling. Over and over she thought of +what she had just said to Helen of her grandmother: "I am sure she means +to be kind." Yet here, without a word of explanation, she was ordered to +her room without a single greeting, as though she had indeed done +something _very_ naughty. Reaching her room, she sat down on the side of +her bed and tried to think it out. What had she done? Where was Minnie? + +Minnie: where was she? _Minnie_ could tell her what had come to pass to +make her grandmother so angry. She walked unsteadily over to the table +and pressed the electric button by which she always summoned Minnie when +she needed her. + +Almost at once the door opened; but it was not Minnie. Mrs. Horton came +in and closed the door. + +"What do you want?" she asked harshly. + +"I rang for Minnie," said Rosanna in a low voice. + +"You can get to bed as best you can," said Mrs. Horton. "Minnie will not +be allowed to see you. Minnie has been discharged. She is untrustworthy, +and I would have sent her packing to-night, but she insisted on her +right to stay under this roof until morning. So she is in her room where +I have ordered her to remain." + +"Can't I see her again ever, grandmother?" asked Rosanna, with trembling +lips. + +"Certainly not!" said Mrs. Horton. "You are a bad, ungrateful child. Get +to bed as best you can! I cannot trust myself to talk to you to-night. +Tomorrow I will tell you what I think of the way you have acted in my +absence." + +"I have not been naughty," said Rosanna. "I did just as you told me I +could do. I saved your letter so I could show you if you said anything +about it. Oh, grandmother, please, I have not been naughty! I have been +so happy." + +"_Happy!_" sneered Mrs. Horton. "_Happy!_ There is a low streak in you. +To think of the way you have been acting--I will see you to-morrow after +I have seen Mrs. Hargrave, and when I can control myself." + +She swept from the room without saying good-night, and Rosanna remained +seated on the bed, her head whirling, her mouth dry and quivering. + +Rosanna did not try to undress. Warm as it was, she was chilled to the +bone. What would happen to Helen? And of course Mr. Culver would have to +go. An hour went by, and another. She heard her grandmother coming up +the stairs. Quick as thought she pressed the button and the room was +pitch dark. Her grandmother approached her door, opened it a crack and +listened. Hearing nothing, seeing nothing, she closed it and went on to +her own room. + +Rosanna breathed freely again, and turned on the light. An overpowering +desire to see Minnie swept over her. She _must_ see Minnie, must comfort +her and be comforted. She felt that she would go mad if she had to spend +the night alone. She looked at the little gold clock on her table. It +was eleven o'clock. + +She slipped off her shoes, and noticed for the first time that she was +still wearing her coat and hat. She tossed them aside, once more put out +the light, and tiptoed toward the door. She was going to Minnie. + +With the greatest care she turned the knob and opened the door a crack. +She opened the door wide and stepped into the blackness of the hall. + +Something soft and warm and human collided with her. Hands clutched her, +and a well-known voice whispered, "Dearie!" + +After the first moment of fright, Rosanna felt herself go limp. She +clung fast. + +"Oh, Minnie, Minnie!" she choked. + +"Hush!" whispered Minnie. She drew Rosanna into her own room, closed the +door, and switched on the light. + +"Oh, my precious lamb!" she said. "What did she do to you? Oh, why +didn't I come sooner? You look fit to die. Come, dearie, and let your +Minnie do for you to-night." + +She took Rosanna on her lap and tenderly undressed her. Then she folded +a warm kimono around the shivering, nervous child and, sitting down in a +deep chair, took her on her lap and held her tight. + +Rosanna stiffened and sat up. "Suppose she comes in?" she said. + +"No danger!" said Minnie. "I turned the key." She laughed. "If she wants +to see you again she will have to wait until to-morrow, no matter what. +I don't intend to see that look on your pretty dear face much longer. +Now tell your Minnie just what happened." + +"I don't seem to be able to remember much about it," said the tired and +frightened child; "only when I came home,--and oh, Minnie, we _did_ have +such a good time!--there was grandmother at the door instead of you. And +she seems to think that I have done something that has disgraced her, +and she won't tell me anything at all until to-morrow, only she told me +to come to my room and go to bed if I could get to bed without you and +she said you were untrustworthy--and--and that she had sent you to your +room to stay until to-morrow, and then she is going to make you go, and +oh, Minnie, Minnie, what _shall_ I ever do without you?" + +"There, there! Minnie will find some way of staying near you if she has +to wear a wig and make believe she is somebody else entirely." + +"What _have_ I done?" asked Rosanna. "Was it all because we went to +Fontaine Ferry? Mrs. Hargrave said I might go." + +"A little of it is that," said Minnie, "but the worst of her madness is +because you have been playing with a little girl clean out of your own +class, as she puts it, and she blames everybody. Everybody that she can +discharge has got to go--and I guess that will be about everybody but +you." + +"Then I might as well die," said Rosanna. "I can't go back and live the +way I used to live. You know I can't do it, Minnie. I can't; I just +_can't_! Oh, Minnie, it seems as though I had only been happy for three +weeks in all my life, and what shall I do? I do love Helen, and she is +just as nice as I am, and so are her mother and father. Oh, don't you +suppose Uncle Robert can fix it?" + +"He didn't come home with her," said Minnie. "When he does the mischief +will be done. It is just her sinful pride, if I do say it about your +grandmother, and sure as sure there will come a day and that soon, when +her pride will have a fall. I only wish I could run away with you, +dearie. But you will have to be brave, and I will see you as soon as +ever I can. You know my telephone number, and if she ever goes out you +just call me up." + +"I don't feel brave," whispered Rosanna, hiding her face on Minnie's +shoulder. "I don't see how I will ever bear to stay alone all night." + +"That you needn't if you would like your Minnie," said she. "Just you +get into your bed and be quiet, and I will be back in a minute." She +tucked Rosanna between the sheets, and hurried away as silent as a +shadow. + +In a few minutes she returned, ready for the night. She drew a big couch +close beside Rosanna's little bed and lay down. + +"There we are!" she said, taking Rosanna's hand. "Now look here, +Rosanna. In the morning when your grandmother talks to you, don't try to +talk back, and whatever you do, _don't be afraid_. Just let her talk, +and tell her to see Mrs. Hargrave. She has seen me all she ever wants +to, I guess, but Mrs. Hargrave is not afraid of anybody. I wish she was +here. Now you will remember what I say, won't you, dear? Don't be +afraid." + +"What will she do to Helen?" asked Rosanna. + +"Do to Helen?" said Minnie, sitting up. "Do to Helen? Well, she won't +get within shouting distance of Helen. I guess I have not been shut up +in my room all evening so as anyone would notice it. The Culvers are all +prepared, and Helen won't know anything about it until long after it is +all over." + +"That is good," sighed Rosanna. "I can't bear to have Helen unhappy as I +am. It does seem as though I have to be unhappy such a lot, don't you +think so, Minnie?" + +Minnie leaned over and kissed her. + +"Poor child!" she said softly. "Never you mind! I have a feeling that +there is something good coming out of this. I don't know what, but you +must bear whatever your grandmother says to you with that thought in +mind, and remember what I say." + +"I will try," promised Rosanna, and then because she was exhausted with +the shock of the evening after the tiresome but glorious day Rosanna, +clasping Minnie's hand tight, went to sleep immediately. + +When she awoke next day it was very late, and the sun was shining +through the flowered chintz curtains. She felt something queer and +crackly in the bed by her foot, and threw back the covers. There was a +letter tied to her ankle by a piece of ribbon. Rosanna could not help +laughing, it was such a funny place to put a letter. + +"Dearie," it read, "we slept like tops both of us, and now I must get +out of here before your grandmother wakes up. I am going to tie this to +your ankle because that is the only place she would never think to look +if she should come in while you are still asleep, and go to looking +through things, though the saints know there is nothing she is not +welcome to see as we have every button on, and not a rip anywhere. + +"I take this pencil in hand to tell you that I stayed all night and held +your hand. At any rate you were holding mine when I woke up not long +ago. + +"Now I am going to leave right off, as I do not care to eat again under +this roof, things being as they are. I don't know about your going down +to breakfast. If you wake late enough, she will be over at Mrs. +Hargrave's and you could have your breakfast up here. Just ring the bell +three times. I will fix it with Hannah to bring you a tray as soon as +ever you call. + +"Don't forget what I told you last night about being afraid. There is +nothing for you to be afraid of, and you can do for yourself now just as +nicely as though you were a grown-up young lady. And don't forget that +just as soon as your Minnie is married you can come to see me just as +often as you please, and I don't think it will hurt you to come and see +your own nursemaid in her own little house which is already being paid +for in instalments, and you can cook candy in my kitchen which is to be +blue and white in honor of the playhouse, and we will feel honored to +have you, and no one to object whatever you do. + +"I must go now. Oh, dear, I'll worry every second: but don't you fret +one mite, Rosanna dear, as there is nothing at all to worry about. + +"Your Minnie." + +Her kind, good Minnie! There was one who loved her anyway. And she knew +Helen loved her. + +She determined to be brave. When she thought everything over, she could +not feel that she had done anything wrong in the least. But when her +grandmother talked to her, she always felt guilty of everything that her +grandmother wanted her to feel guilty about. She dreaded seeing Mrs. +Horton. There was a knock on the door and there was her breakfast, the +best that cook could send up. + +Rosanna was very hungry, and there was nothing left but plates and cups +and saucers when she finished and pressed the bell button. Hannah +hurried up and took the tray. + +"We think you had better not say anything about this until you see what +your grandmother is going to do," said Hannah and hurried off while +Rosanna settled herself to wait. + +Presently the door opened. Mrs. Horton, more pale and angry than ever, +came in. She was carrying a plate. There was a glass of water and a +slice of bread on it. She set it down hard on the table. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +"There is your breakfast," said Mrs. Horton, looking at Rosanna with her +steely eyes. "Bread and water will be part of your punishment." + +"I am not hungry," said Rosanna in a low tone. + +"Then you may leave it there until you are," said her grandmother. +"Bread and water will be your fare until you have apologized to me and +have proved that you regret your disgraceful conduct while I was away." + +"I don't think that I did anything that was disgraceful, grandmother," +said Rosanna gently. + +"You will when I get through with you," said her grandmother grimly. "I +hope I may be able to bring you to your senses. I am only sorry you are +too big a girl to punish as I would like to punish you." + +"Have you seen Mrs. Hargrave?" asked Rosanna. + +"She is away. I suppose that is one reason that you went wild." + +"I did nothing without asking her if it would be all right," said +Rosanna. + +"That seems impossible," said Mrs. Horton. + +"It is true," asserted Rosanna. + +"Rosanna, be careful what you say!" exclaimed her grandmother angrily. + +Remembering what Minnie had advised, Rosanna said nothing. + +Her grandmother continued, "I have thought this all over and you know as +well as I do what you have done, and how you have offended me, and I see +no use in talking about it at all. You will stay here on a diet of bread +and water until you are in a different frame of mind. I don't need to +have you tell me how you feel, or what you think. A look at your face is +quite sufficient. You are stubborn and unrepentant. Perhaps after a week +or two spent thinking, you will see things in a different light. You +will not be allowed any privileges at all. You will not even have your +lessons. When your Uncle Robert comes home, you will not see him unless +you have repented enough to be allowed to come down to your meals. Do +you understand?" + +Something queer and hard and grown-up came into Rosanna's soul. She +looked her angry grandmother straight in the eye. + +"Grandmother," she said very gently, "I hope you will not say anything +that you will be sorry for." + +"Don't be impertinent!" said Mrs. Horton. + +"I don't mean to be," said Rosanna. + +"You are!" said Mrs. Horton. + +Rosanna turned around. "Oh, grandmother!" she commenced, then stopped. + +"Oh, grandmother what?" asked Mrs. Horton. + +"Nothing. Excuse me," said Rosanna. + +"Then that's all," said Mrs. Horton. "You understand me?" + +"I think I do," said Rosanna. She did not look up, and Mrs. Horton, +unable to catch her eye, left the room. + +Lunch time came, and with it her grandmother with a fresh glass of water +and another slice of bread. Immediately after, Hannah appeared with a +tray of luncheon. + +Rosanna was really not hungry, but she was wise enough to know that it +was a very bad thing to go without eating, especially when one has +decided on a very serious and terrifying step. The afternoon dragged +away. + +At five her grandmother came in and offered her still another glass of +water and slice of bread. Rosanna thanked her. + +"Have you anything to say to me?" asked Mrs. Horton. + +"No, grandmother," replied Rosanna, "only that I am very sorry that you +are angry with me, and I hope some day you will be sorry too that you +did not love me when I was here to love." + +"Do you think of leaving?" said Mrs. Horton sneeringly. "You had better +tell me where you are going so I can send your clothes. I believe that +is the way they do with the sort of people you have been making friends +with." + +Rosanna did not reply: + +"Let me catch you leaving this room!" said Mrs. Horton. She went out and +closed the door. Rosanna nodded her head. Her mind was made up. She +crossed to the dainty dresser, and switching on the lights did something +she had never done in her life. Rosanna was not vain in the least, but +if you could have seen her then, turning this way and that, lifting her +long, heavy curls, wadding them on top of her head, or trying them in a +long braid, you would have said that she seemed to be a very vain little +girl indeed. + +She appeared satisfied at last with what she saw in the glass, and +noticed that it was growing quite dark. + +She went over to her little bed, and knelt. + +"Please, dear Lord," she whispered, "I don't want to do anything wrong. +Please help me because I am so afraid. And now that Minnie is gone and +Helen, please give me somebody to love me. Amen." + +She felt better after that, and sat down by the window. It was almost +dark.... + +When Mrs. Horton left Rosanna, she went down to the big, dim library +and, seating herself at her desk, commenced to write letters. She found +it difficult to collect her thoughts and there was a bad feeling in her +heart, as though she was wrong, as though she was doing something +unwise, unkind, and perhaps really wicked. But she thrust it out of her +thoughts because she didn't think that she ever _could_ do anything +really wrong. + +Something pressed hard on her heart, and she grew very restless. Some +impulse led her to go to the telephone and call Mrs. Hargrave on the +long distance line. + +Mrs. Hargrave, who was very much bored by Cousin Hendy, was delighted to +hear her old friend's voice. She did not let Mrs. Horton get a word in +edgewise for the first two minutes. She seemed to think Mrs. Horton +didn't care how much that telephone call was going to cost. She asked +how she was, and how Robert was, and had he found his lost friend, and +she certainly hoped he had, and when had they returned, and oh, wasn't +it too bad Robert had been unable to come with his mother? + +Then like a person who saves the best to the last, she asked with a note +of triumph in her voice: + +"Well, how do you think your darling Rosanna looks? I suppose you know +she has gained five pounds while you were away. I think she is vastly +improved. And so happy! My dear, of course, it is hard for us to realize +it, but I think once in awhile it is a good thing to get right out and +let the home people do for themselves and learn to depend on themselves +a little. Don't you?" + +Mrs. Horton smiled grimly. "It has certainly not worked out here to any +great advantage, during my absence," she said. + +"What?" asked Mrs. Hargrave. "I don't believe I hear you." + +Mrs. Horton spoke into the telephone with careful distinctness. "If you +do not know what has happened during my absence," she said, "I will tell +you the state of affairs existing here in my home now, and you may be +able to guess that something serious has occurred. In the first place +Rosanna is in her room on a diet of bread and water. My chauffeur, with +his pushing wife and ordinary child, has been discharged, and told to +vacate to-morrow. Rosanna's maid, Minnie, had been discharged and is +gone. All the servants have had severe scoldings." + +There was a long silence, then Mrs. Hargrave said, "Are you crazy?" + +"Not at all!" said Mrs. Horton. + +"I will be home to-morrow morning," said Mrs. Hargrave. "I'll have to +get there as soon as I can to keep you from making more of your dreadful +mistakes. In the meantime, I am ashamed of you. Don't you go near +Rosanna with your cutting speeches until I see you. Oh, I can't talk to +you! Good-night!" + +She rang off and Mrs. Horton slowly replaced the receiver. No, she did +not intend to go near Rosanna. Rosanna was settled for the night so far +as she was concerned. On her way up to bed, she opened the door of +Rosanna's room, and listened. The child was sleeping so calmly that her +grandmother could not even hear her breathe. She could see the little +mound that Rosanna's body made on the bed, but she did not go into the +room. She went on to her own room and sat down to think. The light was +dim; just one small night light burning, and Mrs. Horton sat down in her +favorite lounging chair and gave herself up to her unhappy thoughts. She +was conscious of a feeling of wrongdoing yet she did not recognize it as +such. Instead, she was sure that she had been very deeply wronged. After +all her teaching, after all the years she had spent guarding Rosanna, on +the first chance the child had slipped away from all she had been told. +She shuddered when she thought of it, remembering her own young sister +and her unhappy fate. She did not realize that she was judging all +humanity by the commonplace young scamp her sister had unfortunately +married. It did not occur to her to ask herself if all the fine young +men and women her son knew were also of that type. + +The next thing she knew, the cold woke her. It was dawn, and she had +slept in her chair all night. She was chilled to the bone. She slowly +undressed, and feeling sore and stiff, took a hot bath and wrapped up in +a warm kimono. She was about to lie down and finish the night when she +thought of Rosanna. + +Mrs. Horton stepped into a pair of slippers and crossed the room. As +she passed her desk, she looked up full at the picture of her dead son +and his wife, Rosanna's father and mother. She stopped. Somehow those +faces would not let her pass. They held her with sad, questioning eyes. + +"What are you doing with our little child?" they seemed to say. "Have +you loved her, mother? Have you been tender with her? Have you tried to +understand her? Have you remembered that she is just a baby?" + +Mrs. Horton thought of Rosanna in her beautiful, lonely room way down +the corridor. She commenced to have a very guilty feeling. + +"Have you loved her?" asked the two sad faces. "Have you been tender +with her, mother?" + +"I have done my duty by the child," answered Mrs. Horton. She went down +the corridor to Rosanna's room, her head held high. The cold, pallid +light of the hour just before day filled the house. + +Mrs. Horton opened Rosanna's door and went in. She looked long at the +little bed as though she could not believe her eyes. Then crossing, she +opened the bathroom door, and then the clothespress, calling Rosanna's +name sharply. There was no reply. The little dog followed her into the +room and went sniffing and whining about. Mrs. Horton rushed back to the +bed and saw that the little mound she had thought in the dark the night +before was Rosanna was only a neat pile of little dresses. + +Rosanna was gone! + +Mrs. Horton remembered that the child was very fond of a wide seat in +the library. She hurried down the broad stairs, expecting to find that +the lonely child had crept down there to sit awhile and, like herself, +had dropped to sleep, but the big room was empty. Mrs. Horton's heart +commenced to hammer in a very strange way. Of course Rosanna must be in +the house somewhere, and although she felt it was a very undignified +thing to do, she went from room to room making a close and careful +search of every nook where a child could hide. There was not a single +sign of the little girl. Mrs. Horton had hoped to find Rosanna without +calling the servants, but as she looked and looked, and the knowledge +came to her that perhaps Rosanna was not in the house at all, she was +filled with terror. She commenced to press the electric buttons +frantically and, wide-eyed and half dressed, the household commenced to +gather from the servants' wing. + +She managed somehow to let them know that Rosanna had disappeared, and +everyone commenced a search that stretched to the playhouse, the pony +stable and the garden. + +She staggered up to her room and with shaking hands commenced to dress +herself. The two sad faces on the wall stared at her. + +"Oh, mother, mother, where is our baby?" they asked. + +"Gone--gone--" said Mrs. Horton. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Rosanna was gone. +When or where or how no one could tell. By eight o'clock on that +dreadful morning the neighborhood had been scoured, the alleys searched +and the police were talking darkly of kidnapers and of dragging the +river. + +Mrs. Horton knew that no one could have entered the house, but she was +at a loss to see how Rosanna could have been taken out or have gone out +without being seen, even if she had not gone before dark. The +neighborhood was full of children, and no one, young or old, had seen +Rosanna, who was well known by sight by everyone on the block. + +At quarter past eight, to Mrs. Horton's surprise, Mrs. Hargrave walked +in. It was evident by her distressed look and trembling hands that she +had learned what had happened. + +"Well, Virginia, you have done it this time!" she said. "I have been +telling you for the last forty years that your unholy pride would get +you into trouble, and it has. If anything happens to hurt Rosanna--well, +I just won't tell you what I think; I reckon you know without my saying +it. Now begin at the beginning and tell me in as few words as possible +just what you did to her. I don't want to know now what you thought +_she_ had done or what you thought about it yourself. I want to know +_what you did to Rosanna_." + +Mrs. Hargrave seated herself on the edge of a chair as though she might +fly off at any moment. She listened intently while Mrs. Horton, still +thinking of the accusing eyes in the two pictures, told how she had +punished Rosanna. + +When she had finished, Mrs. Hargrave spoke. "I don't see how you will +ever forgive yourself." + +"I couldn't bear to have her grow up rough and coarse like so many of +these modern children. I wanted to keep her away from all lowering +influences." + +"Fiddle-dee-_dee_!" said Mrs. Hargrave, beating a tiny hand on the arm +of her chair. "Fiddle-dee-dee and fiddle_sticks_ with your 'lowering +influences'! What did you do but leave her to her own thoughts and no +one to talk to but a stiff old woman and a houseful of servants? Well, +you have done it! What are you doing to find her?" + +"I have put it in the hands of the police, and they have an extra shift +of detectives searching the city." Mrs. Horton trembled so she could +scarcely speak. + +"Detectives, yes!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "Walking around the alley, two +and two, looking for all the little girls with long, black curls. That's +about all _that_ will do for you. Have you called Minnie?" + +"I don't know where she lives," parried Mrs. Horton. + +"Well, I _do_!" said Mrs. Hargrave. + +She hurried to the telephone, and after a moment returned. "She will be +right over," she said. + +"That does not seem necessary," said Mrs. Horton. She dreaded to see +Minnie. + +"It does to me," said Mrs. Hargrave. She softened a little. "Now, my +dear," she said, "you are not able to carry this thing through alone. A +frightful thing has happened, and it is likely that we may never see our +little Rosanna again." She choked back the tears. "Have you spoken to +Mr. Culver?" + +"Who is he?" asked Mrs. Horton. "The name sounds familiar." + +"It ought to!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "A splendid fellow--your chauffeur." + +"I thought his name was Carver," said Mrs. Horton. "You all write so +badly. No, I have not seen him; he is the cause, or part of the cause of +this dreadful affair." + +"Not so much as I am if you are going to look at it like that," said +Mrs. Hargrave. "Next to Rosanna, his daughter is the nicest little girl +I ever saw. I am going to do something for her some day, and I will +thank you, my dear, not to abuse her. Now I want you to send for John. +_I_ want to see him if you don't." + +"I think the police captain saw him," said Mrs. Horton. + +"Shall I ring that bell or will you?" demanded her friend. + +Mrs. Horton rose. + +"Send for the chauffeur," she ordered the house boy. + +"I think they's gone, ma'am," he said. + +"Well, you run as fast as ever you can and tell them not to go," said +Mrs. Hargrave. "Mrs. Horton wants to see both Mr. and Mrs. Culver." + +The house boy bolted. + +The Culvers came gravely in. Both looked pale and distressed. Mrs. +Horton studied Mrs. Culver with surprise. Well dressed, beautiful and +refined, she was not the woman Mrs. Horton had expected to see. + +Mrs. Hargrave took charge. + +"Good-morning, my dears," she said. "There is just one thing for us all +to do now, and that is to put aside all personal feelings, just as you +would want your friends to do if something dreadful had happened to our +dear Helen, and all work together to see if we cannot save our little +Rosanna from whatever fate has overtaken her. I wondered if you have +ever heard her say anything that would lead you to think that if she did +leave this house of her own accord, she would go to any one person?" + +"Only Minnie," said Mrs. Culver in a voice as cultivated and low as Mrs. +Hargrave's own. + +"I have sent for Minnie," said Mrs. Hargrave. "I talked to her over the +telephone and she knows nothing at all about Rosanna, but she is coming +over at once. I want you to tell us, Mrs. Culver, if you ever heard +Rosanna say anything that would lead you to think that she would run +away." + +Mrs. Culver hesitated, then with a flush said: + +"I think it is only my duty to say that Rosanna was the loneliest child +I have ever seen. If she is found, I hope that something can be done to +place her among people who will give her not only care, but love." + +"How dare you say that I did not love her?" cried Mrs. Horton. + +"I say it because I love Rosanna," said Mrs. Culver, "and I cannot help +thinking that if my child should be left motherless, I would rather wish +her dead than brought up as you are trying to bring her up, Mrs. Horton. + +"Oh, why, _why_ did you not let her have her friends? If you object to +us because we are simple people and poor, why did you not see to it that +she had friends in her 'own set' as you call it? And as for the +friendship between my child and Rosanna, we had your own letter for our +permission." + +"We certainly did," said Mrs. Hargrave. + +"I cannot talk about this now," said Mrs. Horton. "Please leave me." + +"Don't you go a step farther than your own house, John," said Mrs. +Hargrave briskly. "I am going to give orders for awhile. Mrs. Horton, as +you see, is overcome. We need you. Take one of the cars and ride about +and see what you can see, John, and you, my dear, stand ready to do +anything that you can, like the fine girl that you are." She smiled and +the two left the room, tears streaming down the face of Mrs. Culver. As +they went slowly through the garden, Minnie burst through the gate, and +rushed toward the house. She did not even see them. She hurried to the +library, and hesitating for a second to pull herself together, knocked +on the door and entered as Mrs. Horton called, "Come!" + +Minnie bowed, and Mrs. Hargrave at once said: "Minnie, can you imagine +where Rosanna would go if she left home, when she was as unhappy as she +was last night?" + +"Only to my house," said Minnie. "If anybody abused her as I will say +they _did_, yet mentioning no names, and if anybody made a prisoner of +her, and spent most of their time year in and out making her unhappy, +and with you away, Mrs. Hargrave, I know if my darling Miss Rosanna was +let to go anywhere of her own free will, she would come to her Minnie +who loves her. That child needed to be cuddled and loved, Mrs. Hargrave, +ma'am, and I was the only person about here who ever held her on a lap, +and I know she would start for me. But you'll not find her for one long +while. How she got out of the house I don't know. But why she went I +can pretty well guess, and what if a gang of robbers should meet Miss +Rosanna going along all alone and her so beautiful with her long curls +and pretty dresses? What would they do but pick her up right off, and +carry her away and hold her for some people who didn't appreciate her +when they had her, to pay them a fortune to get her back?" Here Minnie +commenced to cry. + +"Don't do that!" said Mrs. Horton sharply. "I can't stand it!" + +Minnie turned to her. + +"Mrs. Horton, now that the dear child is stolen and by this time +probably murdered and buried, and no one the wiser, I think it is only +right to tell you that it is all your fault. While I was working here +and felt that I could do for Miss Rosanna, I was careful to say nothing +at all, and it can never be laid to me that I said one word against you +to your granddaughter. No, ma'am, Mrs. Horton, I was true to the wages I +earned. I never said one word even to my young man about the way you +froze all the happiness out of that dear departed child. And what I +could do I did. I tucked her in at night and always kissed her, and when +I found out how she wanted to be held tight, I held her and told her +fairy stories. And I found out all I could about her father and mother +from the other servants, and from cook who has been here for forty +years or so, and I told her all the funny things her father did when he +was a little boy, and she said it made her feel real acquainted with +'em. + +"And she heard or read about putting candles and flowers in front of the +statues and paintings of the saints, and she wanted to do it with her +mother and father, but she knew she would be told not, so she used to +put little bunches of flowers back of the pictures between them and the +wall, and mercy knows if they have stained the wall paper. And when they +was faded I used to take them out, and oh dear, she was so sweet!" + +Minnie choked, Mrs. Hargrave cried quite openly, and Mrs. Horton, deadly +pale and dry-eyed, sat shaking like a leaf, her eyes fixed on the +painting of her son on the opposite wall. + +"And I think it was a _shame_ and a SIN and a CRIME," said Minnie hotly, +"that nobody but me did these things for her, Mrs. Hargrave, ma'am! + +"And now she's gone, and I'll say she's somewhere dead of a broken heart +just because she wasn't let to have a single friend and that Helen, the +nicest child I ever did see except Miss Rosanna, and what if she _was_ +poor? And I don't know what good blood is if it don't show in nice +manners and pretty speech and pleasant thoughts and Helen Culver had +nothing else. + +"Oh, I just feel we will never see Miss Rosanna again, and what did she +wear off?" + +"I don't know," said Mrs. Horton, speaking for the first time. + +"You better find out!" said Minnie tartly. + +"The detectives know," said Mrs. Horton. + +"Oh, Mrs. Horton I sound hard on you, but it's all true, and I can't +take it back, and I'm not working here or I wouldn't have said it: but I +wish there was something I could do. What _can_ I do? I'd like to pick +up her room if I might, please." + +"The detectives do not want it touched," said Mrs. Horton. "There is +nothing you can do." + +Minnie, wiping her eyes, vanished in the direction of the kitchen to see +the cook, and Mrs. Horton turned to Mrs. Hargrave. + +"Does it seem to you that these people have any right to attack me like +this?" she asked with dry lips. "I was not hard with Rosanna. I loaded +her with toys and pleasures, and I think they are all very hard on me." + +"What do you think about yourself?" asked Mrs. Hargrave gently. "Did you +ever hold her and laugh with her, and tell her stories?" + +"No; it was not my way," said Mrs. Horton. + +"But it was the way of a child," said Mrs. Hargrave. "The way of a +tender little motherless child! I do not want to be hard on you, but I +have told you for forty years that your pride would be your undoing." + +"The telephone!" said Mrs. Horton. She rushed to the instrument and +talked for a little with a member of the police force, then she came +dragging back to the library. + +"They have finished searching the hospitals, and nowhere is there a +child answering to the description of Rosanna. I was actually hoping to +find her in one of the hospitals." + +Suddenly she buried her proud head in her hands and broke into hard +sobs. Mrs. Hargrave went over and put an arm around the bowed shoulders. +Presently Mrs. Horton said: "If we only get her back! I never meant to +be hard, but I did try so hard to bring her up so she would never have +to live and die as unhappily as my little sister, and I felt that if she +could be made unbending and proud she would never choose unworthy +friends." + +"But you were wrong, my dear," said Mrs. Hargrave. "Don't you see it +now? There is nothing to be gained in this life by remaining narrow. We +must know life and our fellowmen in order to be able to choose wisely +and well. How can we tell the worthy from the unworthy unless we have +known enough of people to be able to recognize both the good and bad? +Oh, Virginia! I feel that Rosanna will come back to you, to us, and we +must remember that we are old women, and she is a child, and like calls +to like. We must remember that God expects us to love and guide her but +she must have friends and outside interests." + +"Oh, if she only, only comes back!" cried Mrs. Horton. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +The dreadful day dragged to a close, while the detectives and the entire +police force scoured the city and the surrounding country. + +For the one day they had succeeded in keeping the disappearance out of +the papers, hoping that if Rosanna was actually in the hands of +kidnapers they would not be frightened into taking her away or harming +her to insure their own safety. + +Mrs. Hargrave went restlessly back and forth between her own house and +Mrs. Horton's, while Mrs. Horton walked endlessly up and down near the +telephone, listening and praying for news and imagining horrible things. + +Throwing her pride to the winds, Minnie settled herself at Mrs. +Horton's, determined to be on hand if her darling Miss Rosanna needed +her. Minnie, for all her dismal predictions, did not give up hope but +the thought of what might be happening to Rosanna almost drove her wild. +She could not keep out of Rosanna's room, yet she could not bear to +touch a thing that the delicate little hands had handled. She wouldn't +dust. Rosanna's brush and comb lay on the dresser, and Minnie looked at +them tenderly, thinking of the long curls and wondering where and how +that lovely head was resting. + +Mr. Culver went down town to a friend of his and borrowed a small car. +In this he scoured the city, and penetrated the most disreputable +portions with carefully worded questions concerning a child that had +strayed away. At lunch time Helen asked him if he would take her over to +see Mary and Gwenny. Helen had been spending her money for Gwenny, and +wanted to get her purchases where she could not see them and have them +remind her of Rosanna. Poor Helen had cried herself almost sick. With +all her broken, loving little heart she had prayed that she might be of +some help in finding Rosanna, for she too was sure that she would be +restored. + +Mr. Culver was glad to take Helen over to Gwenny's, so Helen did the +things up in a neat parcel and they started. + +"Don't you suppose if everyone knew that Rosanna was lost that they +would all help to look for her?" asked Helen. + +"It will all come out in to-morrow morning's paper," answered Mr. +Culver. "They were afraid of scaring the people who are holding her, if +someone is holding her. The police hoped to find her before the +kidnapers were scared into carrying her a long ways off, or hiding her +perhaps in some of the caves around here. You see, Helen, with a family +as rich as the Hortons are, a child is sometimes held for what they call +ransom; that is, an immense sum of money which the parents are glad to +pay rather than have the child killed." + +Mary and Gwenny were greatly shocked at the news, and wanted to hear all +about it over and over. Mr. Culver went on an errand and Helen waited +there with the two girls. + +"Are they sure she wasn't hurt when she was trying to go somewhere?" +asked Mary. + +"Mary saw a little girl run over by an automobile last night," said +Gwenny. + +"She wasn't really run over," corrected Mary, "but pretty near." + +"You don't think it was Rosanna?" cried Helen eagerly. + +"Oh, no, it wasn't Rosanna," said Mary. "Rosanna never had on a dress +like that; it was just the kind of a dress I would wear and, besides, +her hair was cut short. And she wasn't pretty like Rosanna." + +"Did you see her close up?" asked Helen curiously. + +"Not very," confessed Mary. "She was all covered with dust where the +automobile had rolled her into the gutter, and her head was cut, and she +was unconscious: but she didn't look like Rosanna any more than I do. I +was just wondering if they had been to the hospitals." + +"Yes, they went through them all," said Helen. "There were lots of +children that had been hurt one way and another, and there was one +little girl who had been hurt on the head, and couldn't tell who she +was, but she was not Rosanna. The detectives took a picture of Rosanna +along so they could be sure." + +"That must have been the little girl I saw hurt," said Mary. "It was +right on Third Street, and they took her down to the Morton Memorial +Hospital right away. But it wasn't Rosanna." + +"No, of course not," sighed Helen. + +"Of course not!" echoed Mary. + +"I wish it _was_ Rosanna," said Helen with a sob. "I wish it was!" + +Leaving these thoughts to worry Mary and Gwenny, Helen went off with her +father, and in the course of time reached home. + +There was a message from Mrs. Horton asking Helen to come to her as soon +as she could. + +"I wish you would go with me," said Helen wistfully to her mother. + +"I do not think I had better," said Mrs. Culver. "She asked particularly +for you. Don't get excited whatever is said. I trust you to act as +though I was at your side. You know, darling, that I always trust you." + +Helen burst into tears. "Oh, mother, dear, dear mother, think of poor, +poor Rosanna who has no mother at all to go to for advice!" + +Mrs. Culver hugged her little girl tight, wondering if little Rosanna +had perhaps gone to the young mother she had lost so long ago. + +When Helen entered the library, she found that old Mrs. Horton had +collapsed, and was lying on the sofa covered with a blanket. There was a +chill in the large, dark room. Mrs. Hargrave, very sober and haggard +looking, drew Helen to her and kissed her. Then to Helen's amazement +Mrs. Horton kissed her too. + +"My dear little girl," she said feebly, "I want to tell you that I find +I have made a great mistake, and I am sorry for everything. When Rosanna +comes back, I want you two little girls to be the best of friends. And I +want you to ask your father to stay with me. Perhaps he will do it if +you ask him. Mrs. Hargrave says that he is working on an invention of +some sort. He will certainly have as much spare time to give to his +studies here as he could in any business I know of. I want you to tell +him all this from me." + +"Thank you so much," said Helen in her soft little voice. Then there +being nothing that she could think of to say, she stood waiting for Mrs. +Horton to speak. But Mrs. Horton wearily turned her gray face to the +wall and sighed. + +"Would you mind if I go up and speak to Minnie?" Helen asked timidly. + +"Not at all," answered Mrs. Horton. "It comforts me to know that there +is a child in the house. I think you will find Minnie in Rosanna's room. +You know the way." + +Again she turned to the wall as though she had parted with hope, and +Helen ran quietly up the broad stairs and down the corridor to Rosanna's +room. Minnie was there sitting in her little sewing chair, mending a +dress of Rosanna's. Her tears fell on it as she worked. + +"Don't do that, Minnie!" she said, throwing her arm around her. "I know +we will find Rosanna, and then everything will come out right." + +She sat down on Minnie's lap, and told her everything that her father +had said, and all that Mrs. Horton had said, and then all about her +visit with Mary and Gwenny. + +"As far as I go," said Minnie crossly, "the sooner they get all this in +the paper the better I will like it. Why, if there is one thing on earth +more than another that will stir folks up it is a lost child. All the +people, and the Boy Scouts and everybody will be hunting around +everywhere." + +"And where do the Girl Scouts come in?" asked Helen hotly. "They will do +just as good work as the Boy Scouts will." She got up and commenced to +walk around the room. Minnie, having finished her sewing, arose too and +after a moment's thought produced from somewhere a silk duster, and +began wiping off the chairs and other furniture. + +Helen watched her idly as she moved about the room, then the two large +portraits caught her attention. + +"Wasn't Rosanna's mother beautiful?" she said, staring. "Her eyes seem +to look right at you as if she was trying to tell you something." + +"I don't doubt she is, the dear saint!" said Minnie. "You can't begin to +know what a heap Rosanna thinks of those pictures. She used to want to +keep flowers in front of each one the way they do in churches in front +of the saints; but she didn't dare because she knew her grandmother +wouldn't let her. So she used to pick posies and tie little bunches and +slip them down behind the picture next the wall. She asked me if I +didn't think it would mean just as much. And I know it did, the lamb, +the dear, dear lamb! I told her grandmother about it too, every word. + +"Why, the day you went to Fontaine Ferry--gracious, it seems a year +ago!--she fixed a little bit of a wreath of sweet peas and tucked it +behind the picture. It must be there yet all withered." + +Minnie went over to the picture, and taking the heavy frame in both +hands held the picture away from the wall a little. + +Something fell to the floor, but it was not the withered flowers. + +When Minnie looked down, she stared and stared and, still staring, +crumpled down on her knees, wild, round eyes on the object. Helen ran to +her. + +"Oh, oh, oh," moaned Minnie, "have I gone mad?" + +On the floor tied by a ribbon, was Rosanna's beautiful hair! + +For a space Minnie and Helen stood as though they had been frozen. +Minnie touched the long, soft locks and again moaned but all at once +Helen commenced to dance up and down. + +"Now we have her, now we have her!" she cried. "Come down and tell Mrs. +Horton, Minnie! We have found Rosanna! Come, come!" + +She tried to drag Minnie to the door, but Minnie pulled back. + +"What do you mean?" she demanded. + +"Why, don't you see?" cried Helen. "She cut it off because she didn't +want anybody to know who she was, and everyone always looked at her +lovely hair. She gave it to her mother. Oh, _don't_ you see, Minnie? And +then she started for your house, and the automobile hit her, and I just +_know_ that is our Rosanna in the hospital! Of course Mary was sure it +was not Rosanna on account of her hair. Oh, come, let's tell her +grandmother. She does truly and truly love Rosanna, Minnie. Come, let's +tell her!" + +"Yes, and then find out that it isn't Rosanna at all and break her heart +for sure," said the practical Minnie. "You go down and tell Mrs. +Hargrave will she please come up here a minute, and you see that she +comes. She will know what's best to do." + +Minnie bent over the long locks so carefully brushed and tied, and again +her tears flowed while Helen sped down the stairs on her errand. + +Mrs. Hargrave, who had plenty of common sense, followed at once, and her +shock and surprise when she saw the curls of dark hair equalled theirs. + +"Minnie is quite right," she said, nodding her head. "Mrs. Horton is in +a very bad condition. I feel as though the little girl in the hospital +may be Rosanna, but if we should find ourselves mistaken I don't know +what the effect on Mrs. Horton would be. Say good-by to Mrs. Horton, +Helen, and go tell your mother what we have found. Then ask your father +to bring you around to my house in the car. You, Minnie, slip out the +back door and meet me outside. Don't say one word until we see who this +child is. I don't see why they have not reported her if it is Rosanna. +She must have been asked to tell her name, and Rosanna is not grown up +enough to think of making up a name for the occasion. Besides she would +be glad to come home. If it is Rosanna--let me hurry!" + +One by one they carefully left the house. It was late, and Mrs. Horton +seemed to be dozing. Telling the cook to put off getting dinner until +Mrs. Horton had rested, Minnie slipped out, and reached Mrs. Hargrave's +house just as the car drove up. Mrs. Hargrave came briskly trotting +along the walk a moment later and was helped in. + +"It is a good thing that I am a trustee and director over at that +hospital," she remarked, "so they won't try to fuss about our seeing the +child, whoever she is. If it is only Rosanna--" + +It was a swift ride. Every heart was beating quickly. If it was only +Rosanna! + +Entering the hospital, Mrs. Hargrave went to the superintendent's +office, where a firm, stern looking woman met them. + +"A child was hurt by an automobile last night and brought here," she +said briefly. + +Mrs. Hargrave interrupted her. "I want to see her," she said. + +"It is not the Horton child, if that is what you mean," said the +superintendent. "This was a short-haired child in a very ordinary dress. +She was struck on the head and was unconscious for hours. We are +surprised that no inquiry has been made." + +"I am making one now," said Mrs. Hargrave crisply. "I said I wanted to +_see_ this child." + +"You know it is against the rules, Mrs. Hargrave," the superintendent +objected. + +"Fiddle-dee-dee!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "What ward is she in?" + +The superintendent gave up. She had known that she would. Mrs. Hargrave +always had her own way. She led them down to the elevator, where they +waited and waited with what patience they could gather until the car +came slowly down and took them up to the general wards. + +They tiptoed in. The little girl was bandaged and pale and sleeping +heavily; but oh, joy of joys, it _was_ Rosanna! + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +"And it was just like a fairy story," said Helen, telling her mother +about it afterwards, "because even while the nurse was telling how the +little girl had not spoken a word, or even looked at anybody, Rosanna +just opened those big eyes of hers, and said, 'Hello, Helen!' And I +simply didn't know what to say, so I just said 'Hello,' too." + +It was indeed Rosanna, and Rosanna was herself again, aside from a very +badly bumped head that had come near being a very seriously hurt head. +She was too weak and ill to seem to wonder why she was in a hospital +room with a couple of trained nurses feeling of her pulse, and dear Mrs. +Hargrave with the tears rolling down her faintly pink old cheeks. + +All Mrs. Hargrave said was, "We will be back in a minute, Rosanna," and +shooed everybody out into the hall, even the stern superintendent. + +"Now then," said Mrs. Hargrave with one peek back to see that the nurse +that had stayed was doing her full duty, "now the thing is, how are we +going to get her home?" + +"Oh, she can't go home," said the superintendent in a shocked voice. +"She ought to stay here for three or four days anyway." + +"Fiddle-dee-_dee_!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "Home is the place for her, and +besides I have reasons for wanting her to be under the care of her +grandmother right away." + +"I can't take the responsibility," said the superintendent stubbornly. +"You will have to see the house doctor, Mrs. Hargrave." + +"Very well," said Mrs. Hargrave. She turned to a nurse passing. "Go get +Doctor Smith, my dear; tell him Mrs. Hargrave wants him at once." + +Doctor Smith came sooner than the superintendent hoped he would. + +"Well," he said, "if it is possible to get her home without jarring her, +I think it would be a good thing. Her head is not injured, but her +nerves are shaken, and if she can be at home in her own room she will +regain her strength very quickly. I want you to take a trained nurse +with you, however." + +"Of course!" said Mrs. Hargrave briskly, "Now how shall we take her? In +an ambulance, or can we manage in the car? It is very large." + +"Could one of you hold her?" said the doctor. + +"I can and will," said Minnie decidedly. "I know just how she likes to +be held, the lamb!" + +"Then she can go now if you like," said the doctor, and the +superintendent pursed up her mouth and stalked downstairs, scorning the +elevator. + +How smoothly Mr. Culver drove that car! Not a jounce or bump disturbed +the pale little patient, and he "drove the car at a walk" as Mrs. +Hargrave had asked him. + +When they reached home, Mrs. Hargrave asked Rosanna if she could be +comfortable there for a couple of minutes, and seeing her nod feebly, +she went briskly into the house. She looked into the library. Mrs. +Horton, exhausted by her regrets and sorrow, had fallen into a heavy +sleep. + +Quickly Mrs. Hargrave went back and beckoned. Mr. Culver gathered +Rosanna up in his arms, and with Minnie leading the way, carried her to +her pretty room. She gave a sigh of happiness when she felt herself +tucked into her own soft, pleasant bed, and a tear squeezed itself from +under her closed lids, but it was a tear of joy. + +Mrs. Hargrave returned to the library and sat down. It was a half hour +before Mrs. Horton awoke. + +"No news?" she asked with a groan. + +"The best in the world!" said Mrs. Hargrave, patting her friend's hand. +"The best in the world, Virginia, and you must take it bravely." + +"Tell me quickly," begged Mrs. Horton. "They have found her? Where is my +child?" + +"Yes, we have found her," said Mrs. Hargrave, "and she is in her own +little bed upstairs." + +"Oh, oh!" cried Mrs. Horton, covering her eyes. + +"She was nearly run over on Third Street, and has a pretty bad bump and +a cut on her head. We found her in the hospital. No one knew who she was +because she had cut off her curls, and she had on a dress I never saw +before. Helen thinks it is one she bought to give that Mary child I +told you about. Now don't mind her hair, Virginia; it will grow, and +_do_ be gentle with her." + +"Mind her hair--be gentle with her!" repeated Mrs. Horton indignantly. +"I will tell you what I am going to do from this time on, and just you +try to interfere if you dare! I am going to _spoil_ Rosanna. I thought I +was doing the right thing, and you don't know how I wanted to pet her +and love her and play with her, but I was such a goose that I thought if +I didn't keep her at a distance she wouldn't respect me. Why, she cares +a thousand times more for you than she does for me this very minute! So +you just watch me. I am going to make her love me best! I am going to +begin now." She rose and started for the door. + +"Don't you want to fix your hair first?" asked Mrs. Hargrave in +amazement. "It is all tousled up, and your nose is red and shiny." + +"It can stay so!" said the elegant Mrs. Horton. "I don't mind at all +letting her see that I was breaking my heart for her. Perhaps it will +help her to believe that I have one." + +Followed by Mrs. Hargrave, Mrs. Horton mounted the stairs as lightly as +a girl. Minnie was just coming down. + +"Miss Rosanna keeps asking for you, Mrs. Horton," she said, "and the +nurse thought if you would mind coming in to see her she would drop off +to sleep." + +"I _am_ coming!" said Mrs. Horton. She entered the room, and Mrs. +Hargrave again felt a keen pride in her friend. She approached the bed +and, smiling down brightly, bent and kissed the little girl softly on +the cheek. + +"Well, darling," she said, "how are you feeling now?" + +Rosanna lifted her arms. "Oh, grandmother, I am so sorry I ran away and +made you so unhappy! I can see it in your face. Please forgive me! I +will be such a good little girl when I get well!" + +"You have always been a good little girl, my precious," said her +grandmother, kneeling by the bed and laying her arm over Rosanna. "Only +we didn't just understand each other, and now everything is going to be +different. I want you to go to sleep now, and we can talk about +everything when you are well again. And you must sleep all you can, +because the very first meal you can sit up for, Helen is coming over to +have with you. A party, you know, right up here. And Helen is very +lonesome. Now go to sleep. Minnie, your good Minnie, will stay right +with you, and I will come back soon." Once more she kissed Rosanna and +silently left the room. Outside the door she turned to Mrs. Hargrave and +for a moment cried soft and happy tears on her shoulder. Then the two +old ladies kissed each other tenderly. + +"It is going to be all right, Amanda," said Mrs. Horton. + +"Indeed it is, Virginia," said Mrs. Hargrave. "I am more thankful than I +can say. And now I wonder when we are going to have anything to eat. I +am not sure when I had a meal last. Down at Cousin Hendy's, I believe, +and as she was just coming out of one of her attacks, that was mostly +prepared breakfast foods. I don't mind saying that I am starved. Do you +suppose you will have enough to eat here to-night to be any inducement +for me to accept your invitation for dinner when I get it?" + +Half an hour later just as they sat down to the table, in walked Mrs. +Horton's son Robert. Mrs. Hargrave shook her head when after the first +greetings he asked for Rosanna. + +"In bed," said Mrs. Horton. "I will have something to tell you about her +later, Robert, but now tell us what has happened since I left you." + +"The kiddie isn't in disgrace for anything, is she?" insisted Robert. + +"Not at all!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "Did you find your friend?" + +"I certainly did!" said the young man, smiling, "and it's a good thing +too. He was hurt worse than I was, and it is going to be a long time +before he will be able to do much of anything. He has a wife and a child +or two, so I thought the best thing to do was to get them all down on +the stock farm. That's what kept me. I went down to Lexington with them +instead of coming straight home. He took one of the kiddies with him, +and the others will follow. That is a great little girl of his, mother. +She told me some of the greatest yarns about what she did in an +organization called the Girl Scouts. It certainly is interesting and a +wonderful thing for girls. Teaches them all sorts of things, you know. +Why, that child was more self-reliant than lots of the grown girls I +know. You must be sure to have Rosanna join it, mother. She needs it, I +feel sure. I scarcely know Rosanna, but her letters always had about as +much originality as a sheet of blank paper." + +"I don't think that was Rosanna's fault," said Mrs. Horton. "I think you +will find her changed greatly." + +"Well, however that may be, you let her join the Girl Scouts anyway. +Why, the fun they get out of it is worth everything. And in summer they +camp and put up jams and things, at least the group this youngster +belonged to did, and she is certainly great. Such a polite little +thing." + +"Rosanna can invite her up here to see her," said Mrs. Horton. + +"I guess you would think she was not in Rosanna's class," he said, +staring at his mother. + +"Class?" said Mrs. Horton. "Class has nearly wrecked my life twice; now +we are going to pay some attention to worth and brains." + +They were sitting in the library a little later, when John Culver +entered. He did not see Robert lounging on a divan in a dim corner of +the big room as he said, "Mrs. Horton, this check that you have given me +to date is made out to John Carver and of course I could not cash it." + +"Isn't that the way you spell your name?" asked Mrs. Horton. + +"Culver: John Winston Culver," said Culver. "J. W. Culver will do, of +course." + +"John Winston Culver!" cried Robert, leaping from the divan in a manner +you wouldn't expect from a wounded soldier. "Not Culver, the inventor?" + +"A little that way," laughed Culver, "but scarcely enough to be called +_the_ inventor. I wish I was!" + +Robert was shaking him by the hand. + +"Well, you are all right!" he said. "Why, our people in the foundry have +been looking for you all over the East. What are you doing here?" + +"It is too long a story to tell you now," said Mr. Culver, "but I will +be more than glad to get in touch with the office if there is anything +in it." + +"There is a fortune in it," said Robert, "just as soon as you get the +machine perfected! We must have it, and we will give you fine terms for +a right to its exclusive use. What are you doing here?" + +"I am your mother's chauffeur," said Mr. Culver. "I wanted something to +do that would give me a good deal of leisure to work on the engine and +after I came back from France we were visiting my wife's people here +and I saw your mother's advertisement and took the place." + +"It is almost too good to be true!" said Robert. "If you agree, we'll +work the thing out together." + +Mr. Culver looked at Mrs. Horton, then at Mrs. Hargrave. "Stay; please +stay!" was the message he read in both pairs of eyes. + +"That will be fine," he said to Robert. "I need some help, and you are +just the one to put me in the way of getting it. See you to-morrow," he +added and went out, forgetting the check. + +"Well, I believe in fairies now," said Robert. "Half a dozen of the +biggest concerns in the country are after that young man. If I dared, I +would lock him up for safe keeping. To think that he is here right on +the place! Talk of luck! Why, he is worth a million dollars to us right +now, with his improved engine." + +"Luck; luck!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "Pretty poor luck, I call it for me!" + +"Why?" asked Mrs. Horton. + +"Oh, nothing, nothing!" sighed Mrs. Hargrave. "Only I had it all planned +to do something nice for Helen." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Two days went by, during which Rosanna slept most of the time or tossed +about her pretty bed, unable to rest on account of the pain in her head. + +Rosanna learned then, for the first time, the lesson that it is never +right to run away from the duty that faces us. It came to her slowly but +surely in the hours of her recovery that no good ever comes to those who +shirk. If Rosanna had waited, she would have saved herself and many +others a great deal of unhappiness. + +Rosanna was a very little girl, yet she might have stood firm because +she knew in her heart that she was not to blame and that should have +given her courage. As she lay there and day by day learned from one and +another the terrible suffering her running away had brought on every +one, Rosanna was filled with shame and despair. How could any one, how +could her grandmother ever forgive her? + +And the worst of her punishment was that they would not let her talk. +She wanted to beg every one who came caring for her so tenderly to +forgive her, but the nurse simply would not let her say a word. No one +was allowed to stay with her for more than five minutes and then _they_ +did all the talking. + +This did not go on long, of course. Came a day when the nurse smilingly +helped her into a big lounging chair and stood by looking on while a +hairdresser straightened and trimmed the haggled locks into a perfectly +docked hair cut. A bang almost covered the plasters on her temple and +when the task was completed, Rosanna felt very dressed up indeed. + +That afternoon she saw Uncle Robert--a jolly, affectionate Uncle Robert +who came to tell her a great piece of news. He had adopted a French +orphan, a lovely little girl belonging to a family that had been wiped +out in the war. + +"She made me remember that I had a little niece over here," said Uncle +Robert. "I used to tell her about you, and I know you will enjoy knowing +her." + +"Isn't she coming here to live?" asked Rosanna hopefully. + +"I don't know yet," said Uncle Robert, frowning. "You see I have not +told a soul yet excepting yourself. I don't know how that would strike +mother. It seems to me that it would give her a good deal of care. Two +girls to bring up, you know. Your Uncle Robert tackled a big problem +when he adopted an orphan, don't you think so, Rosanna?" + +"I don't think so," said Rosanna, smiling. "Orphans are real easy to +keep, Uncle Robert. You see there are not many bad ones like me." + +"I won't have you say that!" said Uncle Robert, giving the hand he was +holding a little shake. "I think you are a real easy orphan: easy to get +along with and easy to look at and easy to keep. I hope mine will be +half so good, and I hope I will love her a quarter as well as I do my +niece Rosanna." + +"Oh, thank you, Uncle Robert!" sighed Rosanna. "I am so glad you are +home. I had forgotten how nice you are." + +Uncle Robert rose. "We have said so many nice things to each other that +I feel all good and happy inside," he laughed. "And before something +happens to make me feel otherwise, here goes your little Uncle Bobby +downstairs to talk the thing over with mother. She is in the library +with Mrs. Hargrave. The fact is, Rosanna, I was so glad to be at home +again and so busy with one thing and another, that I forgot all about +Elise. That's her name; Elise. This morning I had a letter from the Red +Cross people, and they expect to come over in a couple of weeks. So I +must get busy. But honestly, Rosanna, I do think it would be pretty hard +for mother to take her in. I could enter her in some good +boarding-school in the city." + +"But they wouldn't _love_ her!" cried Rosanna. "Little girls want to be +_loved_." + +Uncle Robert cleared his throat. "We will have to see to that part +somehow, won't we, Rosanna? Well, I will talk to mother, and as soon as +we decide I will come and tell you about it. At least I will if you will +promise to take a nap." + +"I will if you will promise to wake me up." + +"It's a go!" agreed Uncle Robert, and went off whistling. + +Mrs. Horton heard the whistle. + +"Robert has something on his mind," she said to Mrs. Hargrave. "He has +whistled just like that ever since he was a tiny boy whenever he was +fussed or worried or in mischief. He will come in here and tell me +something; just you see if he doesn't. Well, Robert," as the young man +entered, "did you find Rosanna looking pretty well?" + +"Perfectly fine! That child is going to be a beauty some day, mother. I +never realized how pretty she is." + +"You have been gone three years, and that makes all the difference in +the world in a child her age," said Mrs. Horton. + +"That may be so," conceded Robert. Then he tumbled headlong into his +story, and Mrs. Horton looked at Mrs. Hargrave with an amused smile. + +"Well, mother, I want to 'fess up to something. I hope you will not pass +judgment until I have told you the whole story. Do you both care to +listen?" + +Both ladies assured him that they would be delighted. + +"For a couple of months I was billeted in a little French village near +the border. I was fortunate to find my quarters in a house which must +have been very fine at one time. It was very nearly a ruin when I +arrived but the owner, an old noblewoman, was still living in one corner +and welcomed me as though she was still a woman of leisure and fortune +greeting an expected and distinguished guest. She was certainly a dear +old lady and we were regular pals in no time. + +"She did all the work; of course there was no one to help her, except +her little niece, an orphan girl about the age of Rosanna. It must have +been Rosanna that made me notice her, and she was certainly a dainty +little thing. The aunt was miserably ill. I got one of our doctors after +her case, but he said there was no hope. She was simply burned out with +the terrors and hardships she had been through. And her heart was all to +the bad. + +"She knew it, the plucky old dear. She was a gallant soldier, I can tell +you! One night she woke me groaning. I hurried in to her and told her +she must let me take care of her all I could. I told her I had a mother +at home and all that sort of thing, you know, to make her easy about +having me wait on her, and she was no end grateful--more than I +deserved. But she worried. She knew that she didn't have the strength to +go through many attacks like that, and how she did mourn over that +niece. I didn't blame her, seeing the way things are over there. + +"It went along two weeks more, and one night I heard a gentle tapping on +the door of my room. It was Elise, the little girl. Her aunt was having +another attack. I hurried in, and as soon as I saw her I knew the poor +old lady was going where she would not have to slave and starve any +more, and going soon. She took my hand. + +"'Elise; oh, Elise!' she managed to gasp. Mother, honestly I just could +_not_ help it! I said, 'Don't worry, madame! I have told you of my +mother and my home. I would esteem it so great a favor, such an honor, +if you would give Elise to me.'" + +Mrs. Horton's lip trembled. Mrs. Hargrave let two large tears slip +unnoticed down her pretty, faded pink cheeks. + +"Well, she died perfectly happy," continued Robert. "And there I was +with a little girl on my hands! I turned her over to some women I knew +in the Red Cross, and she has been well taken care of ever since. I saw +her when I stopped over in Paris on my way home. Food and a little care +had made her look like a different child. + +"Then I sailed, and she sort of slipped my mind until this morning. I +have a letter here telling me that the Red Cross friends are about to +sail for home and they are bringing Elise, of course. That was the first +time I really realized what I had let myself in for. I might have put +her in a convent over there if I had not promised the old lady that I +would personally look after her. But I did promise! + +"Now what I want is some advice. Remember, I am not asking you to have +Elise here. You have Rosanna and I think that is enough. But you both +must know of some nice place where she can be placed and where it would +be homelike. I told Rosanna about it when I was up there just now, and +she didn't want me to put her in a school. She said little girls wanted +to be loved." + +Mrs. Horton winced. + +"Did she suggest a place for her?" she asked. + +"Yes, she did," said Robert. + +"Didn't she ask you to bring her here?" continued Mrs. Horton. + +"Oh, Virginia, wait; _please_ wait!" cried Mrs. Hargrave suddenly. "Oh, +Virginia, you have Rosanna, and now Robert is home. You don't know how +lonely I am. Virginia, Robert dear, you have known me all your life but +I am not nearly, nearly as old as I look, and I can love. Give me your +little girl, Robert! She can be your ward just the same, but let me have +her for my little daughter. I am so lonely, and I will be so good to +her!" + +Mrs. Hargrave buried her face in her tiny handkerchief and sobbed. +Robert glanced at his mother. She nodded. Robert went over to Mrs. +Hargrave and folded his strong arms round the little old lady. + +"Dear old friend, how can I ever thank you?" he said. "Of course I know +you will be good to the child! Elise is yours!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +An hour later Robert went up the stairs, wounds, shell shock and all, +three steps at a time! He wakened Rosanna by tickling her on the nose. + +"Well, Rosanna, me dear," said her uncle in a very small-boy and +frivolous manner, "there's news a plenty for you." + +"Well, honey, what's the good word?" he asked her when he had finished. + +"Oh, Uncle Robert," said Rosanna, "I just never _would_ believe that +anything so perfectly lovely could happen out of a book. Just to think +of it! What will Helen say? Of course you know, Uncle Robert, that I +would have loved to have Elise here, but I just know that Mrs. Hargrave +will be so happy. Her house is so big, and there are no noises in it. It +always seems as though the rooms are whispering to each other." + +"I know what you mean," said Robert, nodding. "I like 'em to shout; +don't you?" + +"Well," said Rosanna wisely, "perhaps not quite shout, but it is nice +when they talk anyway. Mrs. Hargrave is always wanting to be a fairy +godmother to someone, and now she can be just plain really-truly mother, +and that is much nicer. I know she will love Elise, and she is so dear +to lean up against. She is always so soft and silky feeling." + +"I never hoped for such luck!" said Uncle Robert. "We want to make a +real little American of Elise. We will do great things for her, even if +she is going to be Mrs. Hargrave's daughter. I want her to ride and +swim, and do all the things you do." + +"I don't swim, Uncle Robert," said Rosanna. "I wish I could! I will need +to know how if she decides to let me join the Girl Scouts." + +"I am no Girl Scout myself," said Uncle Robert, "but I have a medal or +two for long distance swimming, and we are going to turn you into a +little fish as soon and as painlessly as we can. So that's all of that! +Riding, too. I know you can ride that speck of a pony out there, but you +must have a horse now, a real _horse_. I meant to get each of you one +but I suppose Mrs. Hargrave will think that it is her privilege to get +one for Elise." + +"Did you feel as though you wanted to spend as much money as two saddle +horses would cost?" + +"I certainly did," said Uncle Robert. "Why?" + +"Well, if you do feel like that, wouldn't it be nice if Helen could have +that other one?" + +"Rosanna, you have got a brain," said Uncle Robert, patting her hand. +"The very thing! One more thing settled. Now about this Girl Scout +business. What is it, anyway?" + +"I can't tell you all about it myself," said Rosanna, "but the daughter +of a friend of grandmother's who is at the head of the troop we hope to +join is coming over soon to tell me all about it." + +"Another little girl?" asked Uncle Robert. + +"No," said Rosanna, "she is a real grown-up young lady; quite old. About +twenty, I think, but Helen has met her, and she says she is just as nice +as she can be. And grandmother says so too; so it must be so." + +"It is if mother says so," said Uncle Robert, smiling. "She is hard to +please in the matter of 'quite old young ladies.' Well, go on." + +"There is a book on that table that tells you all about it," said +Rosanna. "Why, they learn to do _every_thing, Uncle Robert! And they +camp out, and have meetings!" + +"And passwords and secret signs and all that, I suppose," said Uncle +Robert, laughing. + +"You get to know lots and lots of other girls, too," said Rosanna. + +"I suppose you do, you poor starved little thing!" said Uncle Robert. +"Well, you are going to be one anyhow, for better or for worse, and we +will run Elise in. She will have a bad time at first getting used to +American children and their ways, but I want to knock off about ninety +years from her score. She is too old for any use. It's awful to see a +kiddie so settled and grown up." + +"Mrs. Hargrave is just the one to have her then," said Rosanna, "because +Mrs. Hargrave isn't any age at all, really. She looks old on the +outside, but she is just as young as Helen and me. She actually makes up +things to play! And she can dress paper dolls bea-_u_-ti-fully. Elise +will love her right off. Mrs. Hargrave said she wanted to be a Girl +Scout herself, but she thought she wouldn't try for it because she could +have more fun just visiting them at their meetings and driving out to +camp with hampers of goodies. I don't think I can ever tell you, Uncle +Robert, how I have wanted to join. Even now I can't feel that it will +really come true. Suppose grandmother should change her mind?" + +"She isn't a changeable person," said Uncle Robert, "and besides she +loves you so that she would give you anything in the world that you want +except perhaps an airplane." + +"There is the most beautiful young lady downstairs to see you, dearie," +Minnie said, as she came in and straightened Rosanna's coverlet. "She is +something in the Girl Scouts, and her name is Miss Marjorie Hooker." + +"That's the one!" said Rosanna, nodding to Uncle Robert. "Does +grandmother say for her to come up here?" + +"Just for a little while." + +"Please don't go, Uncle Robert," said Rosanna as he rose. "_Please_ +don't go! I wouldn't know what to say to her." + +"Neither would I," remarked Uncle Robert. + +"But I feel scared!" pleaded Rosanna. + +"So do I!" said Uncle Robert. "How do you expect me to talk to ferocious +young women Scouts? Does she look very strong, Minnie? Perhaps you +noticed if she was carrying a rope?" + +"_Rope?_" repeated Rosanna. + +"Yes," said her uncle. "I believe it is a great stunt of the Boy Scouts +to learn to tie awfully hard knots and swing a lariat and all that. +Perhaps the Girl Scouts do these things too. She might want to show you +how it is done. I would just hate to have her tie _me_ up!" + +"I won't let her," promised Rosanna stoutly. "I will take care of you, +Uncle Robert, no matter how big and strong she is. Bring her up, +Minnie." + +"You don't want to be too awful scared, Mr. Robert and Miss Rosanna +dear," Minnie giggled. "For one of her size, she looks and acts real +mild." + +"My!" said Rosanna. "I think I know just who Miss Marjorie Hooker is. +She lives round the corner on Fourth Street. She is a dark lady, and +tall; taller than you. She plays golf all the time. I see her starting +out with her clubs every day." + +"Getting her strength up," said Uncle Robert with a mock groan. +"Rosanna, I am a brave man to stay with you. What are the Girl Scouts, +I'd like to know, that I should stay here and be roped?" + +"Hush!" warned Rosanna. "Here they come!" + +Minnie opened the door and stood aside. Uncle Robert quickly rose, and +squared his shoulders. + +"Miss Hooker to see you, Miss Rosanna," said Minnie with her queer +smile. + +High heels clicked on the hardwood floor, and Miss Marjorie Hooker came +in. Uncle Robert suddenly grasped the back of a chair as though he was +afraid of falling down. Rosanna sat straight up in bed and stared with +round eyes. Miss Marjorie Hooker clicked across the big room and almost +shyly took Rosanna's hand. + +"How do you do?" she said in a silvery, small voice that fitted her tiny +self to perfection. "It is so good of you to see me!" + +"W-w-won't you sit down?" asked Rosanna feebly. + +Miss Hooker looked at Uncle Robert. + +"This is my Uncle Robert Horton," said Rosanna prettily. + +Miss Hooker bowed and smiled, showing two fairy dimples. "I thought +perhaps you were the doctor," she tinkled. She sat down in the nearest +chair. It was ten times too big for her, but by sitting well toward the +edge, her little feet nearly touched the floor. Rosanna kept staring. +Uncle Robert seemed to grow very brave. He commenced to talk to the mite +and managed to treat her like a really grown-up person. Rosanna was +proud of him. But was it possible that this little lady, the smallest +grown person she had ever known, was really the Captain of the Girl +Scouts? + +"So you are going to be a Girl Scout?" said Miss Hooker, turning her +dimples on Rosanna. + +"I _want_ to be," said Rosanna. "Do you think they will accept me?" + +"I know they will be delighted to take you in; but you know that you +have certain things to learn and certain preparations to make before you +become a regular member." + +"Yes," said Rosanna. "I have the manual here." + +"The best thing is for you to read it and then I will explain anything +to you that you do not understand. We _do_ have such good times!" + +She smiled delightfully at Rosanna and at Uncle Robert, who looked +really cheered up and happy and showed no signs at all of leaving the +room. Rosanna wouldn't have minded if he had. She wanted a chance to +talk alone with this fairy-like creature in those ridiculously grown-up +clothes. + +Miss Marjorie Hooker made it quite clear that she had not come to call +on Uncle Robert. She had come to see Rosanna. She made it so clear that +presently Uncle Robert, who did not want to go at all, spoke of a +forgotten engagement and said good-by. When he bent to kiss Rosanna, he +whispered, "I don't mind being roped at all, Rosanna!" but Rosanna did +not understand. + +After he had gone, the fairy in the big chair seemed to grow less timid. + +"I just think it is fine that you are going to be one of us," she said, +dimpling delightfully. "We do have the _best_ times! Last summer we went +camping on our farm out toward Anchorage. We were in a grove back of the +house, and if you didn't have to go down to the house for the newspapers +and milk and things, you could imagine that we were miles from everyone. +Can you swim?" + +"No," answered Rosanna, "but I mean to learn." + +"Oh, you must!" said Miss Hooker. "Everyone should know how." + +"Of course," agreed Rosanna. "And a great many people do know how, so I +suppose I will be able to learn. It seems very hard." + +"Not a bit of it!" trilled Miss Hooker. "I have several medals for long +distance swimming myself, and I taught myself when I was just a little +girl." + +"You are not so very large now, are you?" ventured Rosanna. + +"No, I am _not_," said Miss Hooker in what was for her quite a cross +tone. "Oh, Rosanna, how I would love to be tall! There is a girl round +the corner on Fourth Street, and she is about six feet tall, and I just +_envy_ her so! Why, what are you laughing at?" + +"Oh, you please must excuse me!" begged Rosanna, "but when Minnie told +us the young lady was coming to see me about the Girl Scouts, Uncle +Robert and I both made up our mind that you were that tall young lady. +And Uncle Robert said he was sure to be fearfully afraid of you. And +instead of that, you are _you_, just as sweet and little! Uncle Robert +needn't be afraid a bit, need he?" + +"I am not at all sure," said Miss Marjorie Hooker. "Perhaps he will have +to be terribly afraid of me." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +It was bedtime one night, and after Rosanna had been tucked in her +grandmother came up. She had been doing this ever since Rosanna came +home and the little girl had learned to long for the little talks they +had together. But this night Mrs. Horton sat down in the big chair, and +told Rosanna to come into her arms. Cuddled there on her grandmother's +lap, Rosanna rested while they had a talk that neither of them ever +forgot. For the first time Rosanna learned all about the little sister, +and Mrs. Horton in her turn came to know something of the thoughts and +loneliness and longings that go on in a little girl's mind. Rosanna told +her grandmother all about it, and if Mrs. Horton hugged her so tight +that it almost hurt and cried over her short hair, Rosanna felt all the +happier for it. + +And Mrs. Horton forgot that she was a proud and haughty lady (indeed she +was really never that again) and told Rosanna how sorry she was that she +had been unloving because she had really never meant her cold manner. +She made Rosanna understand that she had always loved her but never, +never so deeply or so tenderly as now. And Rosanna begged her +forgiveness for running away, and for cutting off her hair. So by-and-by +they commenced to talk of happier things, feeling very near and dear to +each other the while. + +It was such a wonderful talk that Rosanna felt that never again would +she be unhappy. + +Before her grandmother left, she told Rosanna that Helen was coming over +the following day to take luncheon with her. Minnie had a table set in +the broad bay window, and there the luncheon was spread. They scarcely +ate at first, they were so glad to see each other. Almost the first +thing that Rosanna asked was news of Gwenny. Helen had seen her often +and her mother thought that she was slowly growing worse. Helen had been +to a meeting at the Girl Scouts and had told them about Gwenny. Perhaps +something would be done a little later. Tommy was just as selfish as +ever. Helen said it was awfully hard not to dislike him. + +"I don't even _try_ to like him," said Rosanna. "I don't see how you can +be as good and kind as you are, Helen." + +"Why, I don't like the feeling it gives me when I dislike people," said +Helen. + +"How do you feel?" asked Rosanna. "I never thought about how it makes +_me_ feel." + +"I don't know as I can tell exactly," said Helen, thinking hard. "Sort +of as though you were walking over rough cobblestones. I just don't like +it. And I feel as though it does something to my color. Just as though I +was all lovely pink or blue, and hating or disliking someone made me +turn the most horrid sort of plum color." + +"How funny you are, Helen! When are you going away on your Girl Scout +camping trip? Isn't it almost time?" + +Helen looked embarrassed. "I am not going," she said. + +"Not _going_?" echoed Rosanna. "Oh, Helen, how _awful_! And you have +been planning so long for that. Why are you going to give it up?" + +"I just changed my mind," she said. + +"You don't change it away from such a lovely trip if you can help it," +Rosanna persisted. "Helen, I believe--Helen, I want you to tell me the +truth now. I declare I believe you have given it up on account of _me_!" + +"Well, then I have," said Helen. "Indeed, Rosanna, I would not have a +good time at all off on that trip knowing that you were here just +getting well and perhaps missing me. I couldn't do it!" + +Rosanna could hardly speak. + +"I just think you are a real true friend, Helen!" she said finally. "I +don't think you ought to give up your good times and I can't thank you +enough." + +"I wouldn't enjoy it without you," persisted Helen. "Aren't you thrilled +about your uncle's little orphan? And did you ever see anyone so happy +as Mrs. Hargrave?" + +"Never!" said Rosanna. "She has been telling me all about the room she +is having decorated. It must be _too_ beautiful!" + +"It is," said Helen. "I went over there the other day and saw it. You +never saw anything so cunning in your life. All the furniture is +enameled cream color, with lovely little wreaths of flowers on it. Even +her brush and comb and those things are painted ivory. And the walls! In +each corner is a little cottage, right on the wall paper you know, +Rosanna, and between just woods that look as though you were seeing them +through a mist--sort of delicate and far away. And the rugs are a soft +delicate green like the grass in spring. I hope she is lovely enough for +all the love Mrs. Hargrave is going to give her." + +"Uncle Robert says she is as sweet as she can possibly be," Rosanna +assured her. "Well, you are just too good to stay at home with me, +Helen. It won't be long before we are both Girl Scouts. And I think you +are just as good and sweet as you can be. I can't think what I would +have done without you. But here you are actually giving up your camping +for me." + +Rosanna leaned over and impulsively kissed her guest. + +"Dear Helen, I am _so_ happy," she said, "because now I know that I am +really your _best_ friend." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME*** + + +******* This file should be named 20736.txt or 20736.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/7/3/20736 + + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/20736.zip b/20736.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7de157 --- /dev/null +++ b/20736.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f6e8d22 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #20736 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20736) |
