CHAPTER XIII
AUNT NINE
Of course that was the explanation. Mrs. Hampden was a wealthy youngwidow who had just came to Heatherton to live. The Dana ladies did notknow her, and probably never would have known her had it not been forthe twins’ escapade.
For lively little Mrs. Hampden belonged to a gay, modern set that hadlittle in common with the Dana ladies’ older and more conservativecircle of friends. Also, she was not at all like the Mrs. Hampton onwhom Miss Rachel and Miss Abbie were calling, and where the twins wereexpected to meet them.
But as the real fault lay at the aunties’ door, inasmuch as they had notgiven the twins sufficiently explicit directions, it did not seem fairto blame Dick and Dolly.
And after hearing the story the twins told, Miss Rachel and Miss Abbiesaw that it was their duty to call on Mrs. Hampden, and apologise forthe trouble the children had made for her.
This was not a pleasant or an easy thing to do, but as it turned out,Mrs. Hampden was so flattered at having the Dana ladies call on her thatshe willingly forgave the children’s escapade, and begged that theymight be allowed to come to see her again.
This was not promised, for Miss Rachel Dana of Dana Dene was verycareful about making new acquaintances, and considered her presentvisiting list quite long enough. The children themselves had no wish togo again to the house where they had met with such an untoward accident,and so the incident was closed, and the aunts trusted that Mrs. Hampdenwould not return their call.
“But I do think,” said Aunt Abbie, as they discussed the matter at home,“that you two children ought to be reproved for spilling that icecream.”
“I think so, too,” said Dick, cheerfully, “but ’course you know, auntie,that we didn’t mean to do it.”
“Certainly,” said Aunt Abbie, with some asperity, “I don’t suppose youpoured it down on the people purposely. But you are quite old enough toknow better than to walk about with saucers of food in your hands.”
“So we are!” said Dolly, as if surprised at the fact. “Aunt Abbie, I dobelieve we’re ’ceedingly bad children!”
“Not exactly that,” said Aunt Abbie, smiling in spite of herself, “butyou are exceedingly thoughtless, and I want you to strive to correctthat fault.”
“Yes’m,” said Dick, earnestly, “we’ll strive like fury. Honest, we will,Aunt Abbie. Won’t we, Doll?”
“Yes, indeedy!” agreed Dolly, with a very affirmative wagging of herhead. “And now, if you’re all through scolding, Aunt Abbie, may we kissyou?”
Then, without waiting for the requested permission, both childrentumbled themselves upon Miss Abbie, and gave her the soft answer thatturneth away wrath. For who could continue to reprove two affectionatesmall persons, whose chubby arms flew about in wild caresses, and whoseinsistent kisses fell just wherever they happened to land? But MissAbbie Dana was determined to instil some sense of decorum into her youngcharges, so when released from their embraces, she began again:
“Now that’s another thing, children; I want you to love me, of course.But it seems to me you needn’t be so—so——”
“Rampageous?” volunteered Dick. “That’s what Pat says we are.”
“We can’t help it, auntie,” said Dolly, fixing her big brown eyessolemnly on her aunt. “You see, we’re so ’thusiastic that when we loveanybody we love ’em fearful! And we just ’dore you and Aunt Rachel.Don’t we, Dick?”
“Well, I guess!” and then Miss Abbie had to stand another series of patsand kisses, which, in view of the recent conversation, the twins made alittle less boisterous.
“Well, you’re dear little twinsies,” said Aunt Abbie, as at last theyran away.
“And,” she added to herself, “I think I can make them improve theirmanners by just keeping at it.”
Poor Miss Abbie wanted to bring the children up rightly, but the workwas so new to her she didn’t know exactly how to conduct it.
As for Miss Rachel, she vibrated between over-indulgence andover-severity, an occasion of one being conscientiously followed by theother.
So the twins nearly always had their own sweet way, and as, thoughsometimes thoughtless, they were not mischievous children, Dana Dene wasbrighter and happier for their presence.
One Monday the aunties were getting ready for the Reading Circle, whichwas to meet at Dana Dene in the afternoon. It was very inconvenient forall the members that the club should meet on washdays, but as it alwayshad done so, of course that couldn’t be changed.
Some ladies had the washing put off till Tuesday, but life at Dana Denewas far too methodical for that.
So when the club was expected, Delia tried to get her wash all hung outby noon, and so be ready to help in the afternoon. For, though the clubdidn’t assemble until three o’clock, and tea was served at five, therewas much to be done in the way of prinking up the house for theoccasion. The twins were allowed to help, and Dolly dusted, and broughtwater for the flower vases, and helped adjust fresh pillow-shams andbureau covers, until Aunt Rachel declared she didn’t know how she evergot ready for Reading Circle without Dolly’s help. And Dick’s as well;for he cut flowers, and ran lots of errands, and did lots of usefulthings.
And when, at about eleven o’clock, he saw the telegram boy coming with ayellow envelope, he took it and flew to Aunt Rachel with it faster thanany one else could have done.
“For gracious goodness’ sake!” exclaimed Miss Rachel as she read it;“Aunt Nine is coming to dinner to-day!”
“To-day!” said Miss Abbie in a tone positively tragic, as she sank downin a big chair. “Why, she can’t, Rachel! It’s after eleven now, and theReading Circle coming at three, and nothing but cold beef for dinner!”
“It doesn’t matter whether she can or not; she’s coming,” and MissRachel, who had turned fairly white with dismay, sat down opposite hersister.
“Who’s Aunt Nine? What a funny name!” cried Dick, dancing around inexcited curiosity.
Dolly picked up the telegram, which had fluttered to the floor.
“‘Will arrive at twelve-thirty,’” she read; “‘meet me at the station.’”
“Why, it’s signed ‘P. Dana,’” said Dick. “How can P. Dana be Aunt Nine?How can it, Aunt Abbie?” He squeezed into the big chair beside MissAbbie, and patted her cheek to attract her attention. “How can it? Howdoes P. stand for Nine? Or do you mean nine aunts are coming? Oh, Doll,wouldn’t that be fun?”
“Tell me,” urged Dolly, squeezing herself into Aunt Rachel’s lap, “tellme first, auntie, ’fore Dick knows. Quick, tell me! Who’s Aunt Nine?What does it mean?”
“Oh, Dolly, for mercy’s sake don’t bother me now! She’s Aunt Penninah,your great-aunt, of course. We always call her Aunt Nine. And she’s themost particular, fussy, pernicketty old lady in the world!”
“Oh, she’s dreadful!” sighed Aunt Abbie. “We always spend weeks gettingready for her. She never came so unexpectedly before.”
“But the house is all in order,” suggested Dolly, anxious to becomforting.
“Yes, for the Reading Circle. But not for Aunt Penninah. She looks intoevery cupboard and storeroom, and, besides, we’ve nothing for dinner.”
“I’ll go get something,” offered Dick. “What do you want?”
“Oh, I don’t know! I don’t know!” groaned Miss Rachel. “Go and sendHannah here. And it’s wash-day, too! And the Reading Club! Oh, what canwe do?”
But after the first surprise and bewilderment were over, the Dana ladiesrose to the occasion, and did the best they could.
Michael was sent to town for supplies, Hannah was instructed to set thetable with special elaboration, and Aunt Abbie herself went into thekitchen and whisked up a pudding.
Delia was still at her washing, and Pat was putting finishing touches tothe lawn and flower-beds so they could not be disturbed.
The twins flew about in earnest endeavours to help, but after theirbreaking a cut-glass vase, and upse
tting a small table of bric-à-brac,Aunt Rachel lost patience.
“Dick and Dolly,” she said, “you go upstairs and stay either in your ownrooms or in your playroom until dinner is served at one o’clock! Do youunderstand? No; I’m not scolding, but I’m so put about that you twosimply drive me distracted! Now obey me exactly, for that’s all you cando to help. Come down to the library at five minutes to one,—not aminute before. And see that you’re spandy clean, and very nicelydressed. Put on your blue lawn, Dolly, and tie your hair ribbonscarefully.”
“Yes’m; Dick’ll tie ’em for me. He does it just lovely.”
Subdued by Aunt Rachel’s desperate manner, the twins crept away,resolved to be very good, and do exactly as they were told.
“It isn’t twelve yet,” said Dick; “no use dressing now. We’d only getall rumpled up. Let’s go up in the playroom.”
So up they went, and began to play with Lady Eliza.
“Hello, ’Liza!” cried Dick, shaking her wax hand cordially. “I haven’tseen you in some time. Are you well?”
“Pretty well,” said Dolly in a squeaky voice. It was part of their playthat, whenever either twin spoke to Lady Eliza, the other twin was toanswer for her.
“Pretty well. But I’m tired of this old frock,—I want a change.”
“All right,” said Dick; “we’ll fix you up. Let’s rig her up gay, Doll,and we’ll show her off to Aunt Nine.”
“All right,” and Dolly flew to the trunk that contained Lady Eliza’swardrobe.
They selected an old-fashioned blue silk dress that Aunt Rachel hadgiven them, and proceeded to array Eliza in it. Then Dolly dressed herhair. She loved to do this, for Eliza’s hair was very profuse, if not ofvery fine texture, and soon Dolly had built a fine array of puffs andcurls, with a fancy ornament of blue and silver tucked in at the side.
Then, desiring to make her very grand, Dolly put a necklace of her ownround Eliza’s neck, and added several long strings of beads, hung withvarious trinkets.
“How do I look?” said Dolly in the squeaky voice that always representedLady Eliza’s talking.
“You look gay,” said Dick. “Perhaps this afternoon you’ll meet a grandlady, Miss Nine Dana. I hope you’ll behave properly.”
“Oh, I’ll behave lovely,” squeaked Eliza, and then the twins ran away todress for dinner. By quarter of one they were all ready.
Dolly looked very sweet and demure in her frilly blue lawn, and herbeautiful hair was tied with a big white bow which Dick had skilfullyarranged. By practice his deft little fingers had conquered the scienceof tying bows, so Dolly’s hair ribbons were always marvels of correctproportions.
They had promised not to go to the library until five minutes of one,and the ten minutes intervening seemed interminable. They drifted backto the playroom to say good-by to Eliza, when Dick had an inspiration.
“Let’s take her down,” he said, “and put her in the dining-room to greetAunt Nine when we all go out to dinner.”
“Let’s!” cried Dolly, and in a jiffy they were carrying the Lady ElizaDusenbury silently down the back stairs. By good luck they didn’tencounter Hannah or the aunties, and they reached the dining-room insafety.
“Where shall we stand her?” said Dick. “In the bay window?”
“No,” said Dolly. “Let’s sit her at the table.”
“She won’t sit.”
“Well, we’ll sort of slide her under; if we put her in Aunt Rachel’s bigchair she’ll be all right.”
They propped Eliza into the chair, and though she seemed to be fallingbackward in a swoon, her bright eyes and pink cheeks betokened goodhealth. Her elaborate costume looked fine at the prettily set table, andDick moved her arms about until they seemed extended in welcome.
“That’s fine!” said Dolly, nodding admiringly at the tableau.
“This is finer!” cried Dick, and taking the large carving-knife from thetable, he thrust it into Eliza’s outstretched hand. This was easily doneby sticking the knife handle partly up her long tight sleeve, and hereffect, as she brandished the glittering steel, was now ferocious.
“Gay!” cried Dolly; “won’t they be s’prised! Come on, Dick, it’s fiveminutes to one.”
The twins, hand in hand, went into the library, and with their bestcurtseys were presented to Aunt Penninah.
“These are the children, Aunt Nine,” said Miss Rachel, and Dick andDolly saw, sitting an a big armchair, the most imposing-lookingpersonage they had ever met.
Miss Penninah Dana was a large and very tall woman, with white hair, andlarge, piercing black eyes that seemed to see everything.
“H’m; twins, are you?” she said, looking at them over her eyeglasses.“You seem very demure. Are you always so quiet?”
Dick rolled his eyes toward Aunt Rachel.
“Shall we show her?” he whispered, quite ready to pounce on the new auntif desired.
“Mercy, no!” said Miss Rachel. “Do behave, if you can.”
“Well,” said Dick, answering Aunt Nine’s question, “we’re _not_ alwaysso quiet. But to-day we’re trying to be good because you’re here, andthe Reading Circle is coming.”
“But sometimes we’re good when there isn’t company, too,” put in Dolly,not wanting to be misjudged.
“I’m surprised at that!” said Aunt Nine, but there was a merry gleam inher eye, and somehow the twins began to think they were going to likeher in spite of her majestic appearance.
Then dinner was announced, and, as the guest arose, the children wereimpressed afresh with her evident importance.
She walked like a duchess, and seemed to expect everybody to danceattendance upon her.
Aunt Rachel picked up her handkerchief, and Aunt Abbie her vinaigrette,for she dropped them both as she rose.
The twins, greatly interested, walked behind, and they all startedtoward the dining-room.
As they neared the door, the hostesses stepped back and Aunt Penninahstalked stiffly into the room.
Perhaps it was not to be wondered at, for the figure at the table wascertainly startling to look at, and the glittering carving knife wasaimed straight at her, but Aunt Penninah threw up both her hands, gave afearful shriek, and fainted dead away!