CHAPTER XI
FATHER AT HOME
"Father coming home?" cries Betty, as Mrs. Langdale folds up the letter,from which she has just read an extract, "O mother, how beautiful,coming home the day after to-morrow!"
"How jolly!" shouts Bob. "Three cheers for father!" "Jolly, jolly, threecheers!" echo the younger children; and mother says:--
"Well, it _is_ good news. Such a dreadful time it has been. I declareI've not felt quite myself one single minute since he went away. And,then, the money, too; not that he'll be well enough to go on with hiswork for months to come."
To Betty, however, the one joyful fact is enough.
"But to have father home again! It seems almost years since that nightwhen he lay on the couch, so white and still. I say, mother, do let usgive him a real welcome home--do let us make him see how glad we allare!"
"Why, Betty, what a girl you are! You really should think before youspeak. You know very well that we haven't a penny to spend on anything."
"Of course, I know. But, mother, that isn't what I mean. Couldn't we_do_ something? For instance, I'm sure dear father likes to see thingsneat and nice. Couldn't we have a real big, spring-clean all over thehouse?"
"A 'spring' clean in summer, you silly child!"
"Well, you know what I mean. Let's have the curtains down, and thecarpets up, and polish the furniture all over."
"That's a jolly good idea of yours, Betty," cries Bob, enthusiastically."And I tell you what, you've helped me ever so much lately, now I'lljust turn round and help _you_. I'm off to get the small pincers fromfather's tool chest. Won't I have the carpets up in no time! If we allwork together we shall soon get the job done."
Betty gives her brother a grateful look, but mother says:--
"I don't think your father will care a bit whether the house is tidy ornot. He has never said a word to me about the place all the years we'velived here."
"Oh, but think! Coming straight from the hospital. We must makeeverything bright and cheerful. Poor father! Mother, do you feel wellenough to wash and iron the curtains?"
"Yes, I'll do them; and Clara must clean the windows. But, really, Idon't see the use of all this fuss and upset."
"I'll wash all the ornaments and clean the pictures," says quiet Lucy.
"O Betty, may we darn up the holes in the chair-covers?" cry Jennie andPollie, mindful of their work as Dorcas and her neighbours.
"I'll black everybody's boots," volunteers Harry. There is a generallaugh at this, but Bob calls out that he needs Harry's help with thestair-carpets immediately.
So Betty has a houseful of volunteer helpers, and pretty difficult shefinds it to manage them all. But she is blessed with a clear head, and,as every one is working for love, and really tries to do his or herbest, a great deal of work is got through in the course of the day.
Clara comes out splendidly. "Master coming home? O miss, that _is_news! Brighten up the house? I should think we would brighten it up,just as neat as a new pin all over."
What a topsy-turvy house it is all the rest of the day! Bob and Harrybeating carpets in the back-yard as though their lives depended on it;Lucy perpetually polishing glass, and washing china. Jennie and Polliebusy with their needles; mother ironing in the kitchen; Clara sweeping,scrubbing, and black-leading; Betty all over the house, encouraging,directing, and doing a bit of everything by turns.
Bread and cheese for dinner, and a cup of tea at tea-time, taken in thestuffy little kitchen. Yet not a single grumble from any one--even fromBob, who _is_ a trifle particular about his meals, as a general rule!
How utterly tired out Betty is when at last she gets to bed! Tired out,but happier in her home than perhaps she has ever been before. Bustle,confusion, dust, hard work, yes; but brothers and sisters all helpingeach other, all working together, all eagerly looking forward to seeingdear father.
The same thing goes on all the next day, but now the confusion is fastchanging into order, and when the following morning arrives--themorning of the eventful day that is to see father's return--the house iscleaner and fresher than Betty ever remembers to have seen it.
It is four o'clock in the afternoon. Bob, his hands in his pockets, isgoing from room to room, surveying his share in the work with greatpride. Lucy is arranging a few cheap flowers in a glass, the childrenare all on tiptoe with excitement. Betty has gone to the hospital tofetch father home!
"There they are, mother. Quick, here's father!"
Father; crutches under his arms, one foot held away from the ground by along sling passing over his shoulders; but father, for all that; hiseyes shining with love, as his noisy boys and girls rush towards him,followed by Mrs. Langdale.
"Gently, gently, young folks, or you'll tumble father right over."
"Well, it's good to be at home again. Why, mother, how cosy everythinglooks. One needs to be away from home for a time, I suppose, just tofind out how good it is!"
"It was all Betty's doing," cries Bob. "We all worked at thecleaning-up, but she started it."
Father sinks into the low couch. His leg is still very stiff andpainful; but he smiles happily, and gazes all round with such acontented look in his kind eyes that even Mrs. Langdale is struck withit.
"Well, I declare, I do believe you were right after all. Your fatherdoes seem quite pleased with everything, and I thought he never noticedhow the house looked at all!"