CHAPTER XVI
AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR
"I'll bring you some coral beads, Anne," Amos promised as he saidgood-bye, and started back for the wharf. Frederick went with him, andlistened admiringly to Amos's plans of all he meant to see and do.Frederick began to think that it would be better to go to sea than tobuild ships. He watched the "Sea Gull's" sails as they caught the wind,and his eyes followed the little vessel until it looked not unlike thewhite-winged bird whose name it bore.
As he entered the yard Rose came down the path to meet him. She had asmall package in her hand.
"I want you to do something for me, Fred," she said, "and I don't wantany one, especially Anne and Millicent, to know anything about it."
This sounded interesting to Frederick, and he looked up hopefully.Perhaps there was some message to be carried from Boston to theAmerican troops in New York, and that he, Frederick Freeman, had beenselected to carry it. Probably it was wrapped up in that package whichRose held so carefully. Why, it would be a greater adventure than anyAmos Cary would encounter on the "Sea Gull."
"Is it in that package, Rose?" he asked eagerly.
"How did you guess?" and Rose looked at her small brother in surprise.
"Come on out to the carriage-house, and tell me when you want me tostart," and Frederick grasped Rose's arm and hurried her along. "When doyou want me to start?" he asked.
"Why, right away," answered Rose in rather a puzzled tone.
The brother and sister entered the carriage-house, and Frederick led theway to the corner where his work-bench stood, and they sat down.
"Nobody will hear us here," said Frederick in a mysterious whisper,looking sharply about the room.
"Oh, Fred! I do believe that you are making believe that you are a Toryspy in danger of capture," laughed Rose.
"Indeed I'm not! I wouldn't make believe be a spy," responded the boyscornfully. "I'm a loyal messenger, ready to carry news to GeneralWashington!"
"Here is the message," and Rose handed her brother the package.
Frederick took it with shining eyes, and held it closely.
"Oh, Rose, is it truly? And where am I to take it?" he asked.
"Why, Fred, you 'pretend' splendidly," said his sister. "I suppose you'dreally like to be messenger for Washington, but that isn't it, you know.Just unroll that package and tell me how good a doll you can make."
"Make a doll!" Fred flung the little bundle to the floor and lookedready to cry. "I suppose you think it's funny to make me believe I coulddo something to help Washington, when you really just had an old woodendoll to show me."
"Now, Fred," and Rose put her hand on her brother's shoulder, "own upthat I didn't say a word to make you imagine such a thing. You know Ididn't! I asked you if you would do something for me, and not let anyone know."
"Well, I might have known nothing interesting would happen to me," saidFrederick. "Nothing ever does," and he regarded poor "Martha Stoddard"with scornful eyes.
"I want you to make a wooden doll as nearly like this one as you can,"said Rose. "Millicent has taken possession of this one, and it's theonly doll Anne has, and I'm sure that she doesn't want Millicent to haveit. I thought if you could make one just like it that Millicent wouldlike the new one better, and then Anne could have her own."
"All right," but Fred's voice was a little surly.
"And as for nothing happening to you, Fred, you ought to be thankfulthat nothing does happen, and that we are all safe and well. Suppose theBritish had won the battles at Concord and Lexington and Bunker Hill,"and Rose looked at her small brother more sternly than ever before. "Icould tell you of something very pleasant that is going to happen toyou," she concluded.
"What is it, Rose?" and Fred was again eager and hopeful.
But Rose shook her head. "You just wait and see. Make the wooden doll.I'll tell you when the doll is finished," and she picked "Martha" upfrom the floor where Frederick had dropped her.
"Can't I keep her for a pattern?" asked Frederick.
"Yes. Anne and Millicent are making paper dolls, and they won't miss herfor a little while, but bring her in before supper time."
"All right," and Frederick nodded cheerfully. He was already lookingover his stock of wood for suitable pieces for the new doll, andwondering what the pleasant surprise would be.
Millicent could cut out very queer little dolls, and she and Anne werequite happy together under the big horse-chestnut tree until Anne said:"Where is my wooden doll, Millicent?"
"It's mine; my Anne Rose," said little Millicent placidly. "I don't knowwhere she is. I guess she's lost," and Millicent carefully folded apiece of paper to cut another doll.
"Lost!" Anne repeated.
"Yes," agreed Millicent, indifferently. "I guess she is; p'raps sheisn't, though."
Anne remembered Caroline's story of elves, and was quite sure that herhead was filled with them, for she felt as if she wanted to shakeMillicent, and at the thought that her dear "Martha" was really lostAnne began to cry.
Millicent put down the scissors and paper, and looked at Anne withstartled eyes, and then she began to cry. Rose came running out from thecarriage-house.
"What is the matter, dear?" and she kneeled down beside her littlesister. But Millicent sobbed on.
"Tell me, Anne," and she turned toward her little visitor.
"Millicent has lost 'Martha Stoddard,'" Anne managed to reply, wipingher eyes, and feeling very much ashamed that Rose should have seen hercry.
"Nonsense! The doll isn't lost. I saw it a minute ago. Come, Millicent;I'll go with you and Anne for a little walk toward King's Chapel," andRose held out a hand to each of the girls.
"Rose," exclaimed Anne suddenly, "I know that you think I'm selfishabout 'Martha Stoddard,' but Rose, listen!" and Anne looked uppleadingly into her friend's face. "When I was a little girl, not aslarge as Millicent, and my mother had died, and my father and I wereall alone, he made me that wooden doll! I never had anything else toplay with until I went to live with Aunt Martha. It isn't just a doll,Rose; it's--why, it's most like a real person," and Anne's voice soundedas if it was hard work to keep back the tears.
"You ought to have told me before," replied Rose kindly. "You see,Millicent is too little to understand, and we all love her and don'tlike to make her unhappy. 'Martha' is all right, and you shall have hersafely back, dear," and Rose's voice was even more kind and friendlythan usual as she told Anne of the new doll that Fred was making forMillicent.
"A new doll!" exclaimed Millicent happily, and could hardly wait for thetime when Fred would finish it.
"So there goes my great secret!" laughed Rose. Anne was looking quiteher happy self again, and Millicent was skipping along quite forgettingthat she had ever wanted the wooden doll from Province Town.
"I don't believe I like secrets anyway," continued Rose; "let's go backto the carriage-house and watch Fred make the new doll, and I'll bringout the clothes I have made to dress it."
Frederick looked up from his work in surprise when the girls entered thecarriage-house. "Thought it was a secret!" he exclaimed.
"No more secrets in this family," declared Rose.
"Glad to hear it. Now I can know what's going to happen to me,"responded Fred.
"Of course you can. Father has to go to Salem next week and he is goingto take you with him."
"Nothing will happen in driving to Salem in the morning and back atnight," said Frederick, a little scornfully.
"Wait and see!" and Rose nodded so hopefully that Frederick wondered tohimself if she had really told him all she knew about his father'splans.
While the children were in the carriage-house they heard the clatter ofhorses' hoofs on the driveway.
"Look!" exclaimed Frederick. "There's a man and a woman riding into ouryard. Why, the woman is riding that black colt that brought you home."
But Rose and Anne had not waited for the end of Frederick's exclamation.Looking out they had seen the pretty black colt, and on its back aslight f
igure in a brown dress sitting very straight indeed, and wearinga hat of plaited straw with a brown ribbon--a hat exactly like the oneAnne was so proud of.
There was a chorus of "Aunt Anne Rose! Aunt Anne Rose!" in whichMillicent and Frederick joined, as the children ran out to welcome theunexpected visitors.
"I am here, too!" said Mr. Pierce laughingly.
The visitors were warmly welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Freeman.
"I couldn't be satisfied, after this fine saddle came, until I had takena journey," declared Aunt Anne Rose, with a happy little laugh. "And myboys were sure that they could keep house without us, so Silas and Istarted off. Having nieces to visit I felt as if I must come."
"Anne Rose has never been in Boston before, and she thinks it must be aslarge as London itself," said Mr. Pierce.
"There are indeed many places to see," said Mrs. Freeman, "and it willbe a great pleasure for us to show them to Mrs. Pierce."
"There is Mistress Mason's shop," suggested Anne.
"And Governor Hancock's fine house," added Rose.
"And the wharves and shipyards," said Frederick.
As they talked the little party moved toward the house. Rose ran to thekitchen to help Caroline prepare an early supper, and Mrs. Freeman sentAnne to show the visitors to the big spare chamber.
"I wear my fine hat every day," said Anne, as she and Aunt Anne Rosewent up the stairs together.
"I really think that we must take Anne back to Scituate with us," saidMr. Pierce. "What do you say, Anne?"
"My father's ship may come any day now," answered the little girl, "andthen we must go home to Province Town."
It seemed to Anne as if Mrs. Pierce's face grew very grave, and shewondered to herself if Aunt Anne Rose would really like to have her livewith them.
"Your cheeks are just as red, and your eyes shine; you look just like agirl, Aunt Anne Rose," she said admiringly, as Mrs. Pierce took off herhat and brushed her pretty black hair, that waved back from her face.
"It's because I'm on a visit," declared Mrs. Pierce, "and a visit toBoston. I've always wanted to come, and here I am! Everybody looks youngand pretty when she is happy, Anne. But I'm not young. I'm past forty,and I never was pretty," and the dark-eyed little woman smiledradiantly, as if everything in life was planned just right.
The Pierces declared that they could stay only two days, so that eveningmany plans were made that they should fill the time with as muchpleasure as possible. Mr. Pierce had some business to attend to withvarious merchants, and Anne and Rose were eager to show Mrs. Pierce theshops, the fine houses and churches; and directly after breakfast thenext morning Mrs. Freeman sent them all off. Millicent was quite happyto stay with Frederick and watch him finish the wooden doll, while Roseand Anne, with Aunt Anne Rose between them, started off to visitMistress Mason's shop, where Mrs. Pierce insisted on buying the largestof the fine dolls as a present for little Millicent, a pink silk sashfor Anne and a lace collar for Rose.
"I want you girls to think often of your new aunt," she said. "And I amhoping that when Anne's father comes he will decide to bring her tovisit us. I have written a letter to him, Anne, and I will give it toyou. You must hand it to him, and tell him that you would like to come."
"Yes, ma'am," answered the little girl, but not very eagerly. For Annewas now counting the hours until the "Yankee Hero" should reach Bostonharbor, and when she and her dear father could sail off to Province Townand tell Aunt Martha all about the wonderful visit, and give Amanda theblue silk sash. She almost wished that Aunt Anne Rose had not told herabout the letter.