|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 58
Four delightful days followed. Katy flung herself into all Clover's plans
with the full warmth of sisterly interest; and though the Hopes and other
kind friends made many hospitable overtures, and would gladly have turned
her short visit into a continuous _f�te_, she persisted in keeping the
main part of her time free. She must see a little of St. Helen's, she
declared, so as to be able to tell her father about it, and she must help
Clover to get to housekeeping,--these were the important things, and
nothing else must interfere with them.
Most effectual assistance did she render in the way of unpacking and
arranging. More than that, one day, when Clover, rather to her own
disgust, had been made to go with Polly and Amy to Denver while Katy
stayed behind, lo! on her return, a transformation had taken place, and
the ugly paper in the parlor of No. 13 was found replaced with one of
warm, sunny gold-brown.
"Oh, why did you?" cried Clover. "It's only for a few months, and the
other would have answered perfectly well. Why did you, Katy?"
"I suppose it _was_ foolish," Katy admitted; "but somehow I couldn't bear
to have you sitting opposite that deplorable mustard-colored thing all
winter long. And really and truly it hardly cost anything. It was a
remnant reduced to ten cents a roll,--the whole thing was less than four
dollars. You can call it your Christmas present from me, if you like, and
I shall 'play' besides that the other paper had arsenic in it; I'm sure it
looked as if it had, and corrosive sublimate, too."
Clover laughed outright. It was so funny to hear Katy's fertility of
excuse.
"You dear, ridiculous darling!" she said, giving her sister a good hug;
"it was just like you, and though I scold I am perfectly delighted. I did
hate that paper with all my heart, and this is lovely. It makes the room
look like a different thing."
Other benefactions followed. Polly, it appeared, had bought more Indian
curiosities in Denver than she knew what to do with, and begged permission
to leave a big bear-skin and two wolf-skins with Clover for the winter,
and a splendid striped Navajo blanket as a porti�re to keep off draughts
from the entry. Katy had set herself up in California blankets while they
were in San Francisco, and she now insisted on leaving a pair behind, and
loaning Clover besides one of two beautiful Japanese silk pictures which
Ned had given her, and which made a fine spot of color on the pretty new
wall. There were presents in her trunks for all at home, and Ned had sent
Clover a beautiful lacquered box.
Somehow Clover seemed like a new and doubly-interesting Clover to Katy.
She was struck by the self-reliance which had grown upon her, by her
bright ways and the capacity and judgment which all her arrangements
exhibited; and she listened with delight to Mrs. Hope's praises of her
sister.
"She really is a wonderful little creature; so wise and judgmatical, and
yet so pretty and full of fun. People are quite cracked about her out
here. I don't think you'll ever get her back at the East again, Mrs.
Worthington. There seems a strong determination on the part of several
persons to keep her here."
"What do you mean?"
But Mrs. Hope, who believed in the old proverb about not addling eggs by
meddling with them prematurely, refused to say another word. Clover, when
questioned, "could not imagine what Mrs. Hope meant;" and Katy had to go
away with her curiosity unsatisfied. Clarence came in once while she was
there, but she did not see Mr. Templestowe.
Katy's last gift to Clover was a pretty tea-pot of Japanese ware. "I meant
it for Cecy," she explained. "But as you have none I'll give it to you
instead, and take her the fan I meant for you. It seems more appropriate."
Phil and Clover moved into No. 13 the day before the Eastern party left,
so as to be able to celebrate the occasion by having them all to an
impromptu house-warming. There was not much to eat, and things were still
a little unsettled; but Clover scrambled some eggs on her little blazer
for them, the newly-lit fire burned cheerfully, and a good deal of quiet
fun went on about it. Amy was so charmed with the minute establishment
that she declared she meant to have one exactly like it for Mabel whenever
she got married.
"And a spirit-lamp, too, just like Clover's, and a cunning, teeny-weeny
kitchen and a stove to boil things on. Mamma, when shall I be old enough
to have a house all of my own?"
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|