CHAPTER XIV
A CORONATION
“Oh, Aunt Nine, what _is_ the matter?” cried Miss Rachel, bending overher, while Miss Abbie fluttered around distractedly.
They had not yet seen Lady Eliza, as they were so engrossed with theirstricken guest.
Nor did it occur to Dick and Dolly, at first, that it was their belovedEliza that had caused the trouble.
Aunt Penninah began to revive, as Miss Rachel sprinkled water in herface, and Miss Abbie held her strong smelling-salts to her nose.
“Who is it?” she asked, faintly, sitting up on the floor, and pointingto the dangerous-looking person with the carving knife.
“Oh,” cried Dolly, “if she wasn’t scared at Lady Eliza! Why, that’snobody, Aunt Nine! Only just a wax doll.”
“Take that thing away!” said Miss Rachel, sternly, as she realised whathad happened.
Dick and Dolly fairly jumped. Aunt Rachel had never spoken to them inthat tone before, and they suddenly realised that it had been naughty toput Eliza at the table, though they had thought it only a joke.Silently, the twins began to lift Eliza from her chair, when Aunt Ninescreamed out:
“Come away, children! You’ll be killed! Oh, Rachel, who is she?”
“Nobody, Aunt Nine. It’s a doll, a wax dummy that belongs to thechildren. They put her there for fun, I suppose.”
“Fun!” roared Aunt Penninah, glaring at the twins. “Do you call it _fun_to frighten me out of my senses?”
As her speech and manner nearly frightened the twins out of _their_senses, they were pretty nearly even, but apparently the old lady waswaiting for an answer.
“We _thought_ it would be fun,” said Dolly, truthfully. “You see, wedidn’t know how easily you scared.”
“Easily scared, indeed! Who wouldn’t be scared to come into a room andfind a strange woman brandishing a carving knife in my very face! A nicepair of children you are! Leave the room at once,—or else I shall!”
Dick and Dolly were bewildered by this tornado of wrath, and began toedge toward the hall door, keeping out of reach of the irate lady.
But Miss Rachel, though deeply mortified and seriously annoyed at thetwins’ mischief, was a strong stickler for justice, and she well knew,Dick and Dolly had meant only a harmless joke.
“Now, Aunt Nine,” she said; “don’t take this so seriously. The childrenmeant no harm, they wanted to amuse you; and had it not been for thecarving knife, I daresay you would have found the Lady Eliza very funnyindeed.”
“Funny! that horrible thing with her staring eyes! Take her away so Ican eat my dinner!”
At a gesture from Aunt Abbie, Hannah and Dick removed the offendingEliza, and returned the carving knife to the sideboard. As Eliza was agreat friend of both Hannah and Delia, she was allowed to stand in thebutler’s pantry all through dinner time.
“Well, what do you say, Aunt Nine?” said Aunt Abbie, “may the twins sitat table, or would you rather have them sent from the room?”
“Oh, let them stay,” said the old lady, not very graciously. “I’ve nodesire to be too severe, but that awful sight shocked my nerves, and Imay never get over it.”
This awful outlook grieved Dolly’s tender heart, and she flew to the oldlady and clasped her hand, while she said:
“I’m _so_ sorry, Aunt Nine! I didn’t know you had nerves, and I thoughtyou’d be ’mused to see Lady Eliza sitting there. I don’t know _how_ wehappened to give her the carving knife. But we ’most always put_something_ in her hand. I wish we’d thought of a fan! That would havebeen pretty, and it wouldn’t have hurt your nervousness,—would it?”
“Perhaps not,” said Aunt Penninah, grimly, but she couldn’t help smilingat pretty little Dolly, who was caressing her be-ringed old hand, andlooking imploringly up into her face.
Then she turned to Dick.
“And how about you, sir?” she said. “Did you think it amusing tothreaten a guest with a carving-knife?”
Dick came over and looked at her with his straightforward eyes.
“I didn’t mean to threaten you, of course,” he said. “But it _was_naughty, and I’m sorry,—we’re both sorry,—and can we do _anything_ tomake you forgive us?”
“No, you can’t,” said Aunt Penninah, “but when you look at me likethat,—with your father’s very eyes,—there is no question offorgiveness. You’re all Dana—both of you!”
And then the strange old lady kissed both the twins and peace wasrestored all around.
Dinner went on smoothly. Miss Abbie and Miss Rachel were secretlyimpatient, because there was much yet to be done before the ReadingCircle came, but Miss Penninah’s presence admitted of no scanting ofceremony.
Hannah’s service was more punctilious than the twins had ever beforeknown it, for Hannah had been at Dana Dene many years, and knew theexactions and demands of a visit from Miss Penninah.
But at last the lengthy meal reached its close.
“Will you go to your room for a rest, Aunt Nine?” said Miss Abbie,hopefully, as they rose from the table.
“No, I won’t; I’m not tired at all. I’ll make the further acquaintanceof these very astonishing young relatives of mine.”
“Oh, do, Aunt Nine! Do come and play with us!” cried Dick, with suchunmistakable sincerity that the old lady was greatly pleased.
“Yes, come out and see our gardens,” said Dolly, dancing by her side,and to the great relief of the other two aunties, Miss Penninah walkedoff with the twins.
Then Hannah and the two ladies flew ’round like mad. They put leaves inthe table until it was as long as possible; they set it with all thebest china and glass and silver for the Reading Circle’s tea. For thefeast was not a tea at all, but a most elaborate supper, and Aunt Nine’scoming had sadly delayed the preparations.
Meantime, that elderly dame was walking round the children’s playground.She was greatly pleased with their gardens, and was surprised to learnthat they tilled and weeded them all themselves.
“You’re really very smart little people,” she said, “and quite worthy tobear the Dana name.”
The twins were flattered, for they well knew how highly all their auntsthought of the Dana name, and, too, they had already begun to like thepeculiar old lady who had scolded them so harshly at the very beginningof their acquaintance.
When it was nearly time for the ladies of the Reading Circle to arrive,Aunt Rachel told the twins they must go out to their playground and staythere all the afternoon.
“For,” she said, “I cannot run the risk of having some ridiculous thinghappen during our programme. You don’t mean to do wrong, but you’re justas likely as not to stand Lady Eliza up beside our President when she’smaking her address. So take Eliza with you, and go out to the garden,and stay there until Delia rings the bell, or Hannah comes to call you.”
“All right,” said Dick, “and if any of the boys or girls come over, mayHannah send them out there to us?”
“Yes, I’ll tell her. Now, run along.”
They ran along, though slowly, because of Lady Eliza’s difficulttransportation. But at last they reached the playground, and stood Elizain a corner, ready for action when they needed her.
“Jiminy Crickets!” remarked Dick, “but Aunt Nine’s the funny old lady,isn’t she, Doll?”
“Yep; but I sort of like her. After she got through blowing us up, shewas real jolly.”
“Yes, and wasn’t Auntie Rachel the brick to stand up for us at dinnertime?”
“She was so. I wonder how long Aunt Nine is going to stay.”
“I dunno. A week, I guess. Hello, here comes Pinkie. Hello, Pinkie!”
“Hello!” she returned, and then almost before she and Dolly had said“Hello!” Jack Fuller came.
This quartette were almost always together on pleasant afternoons, andas Dana Dene had attractions that the other homes didn’t possess, theyplayed there oftener than elsewhere.
“Hello, Lady Eliza D
usenbury,” said Jack, shaking hands with that silentpartner.
Of course, all the boys and girls knew Lady Eliza now, and indeed thecitizens of the village had ceased to be surprised when the twins rodeto town in the farm wagon, with Eliza accompanying them.
The servants at Dana Dene took her as a matter of course, and Michaelwas fond of bowing politely, and saying, “The top of the mornin’ to ye,ma’am!”
“Let’s build a throne and crown Eliza queen,” suggested Jack, and therest at once agreed.
“What shall we make the throne of?” asked Dolly.
“I’ll ask Michael,” said Dick, “he always helps us out.”
But Michael was busy with some extra work connected with the visit ofthe Reading Circle, and had no time for bothering with youngsters.
“Throne, is it?” he said; “I’ve no time to be buildin’ ye royal palaces!Take the wheelbarry fer a throne, shure!”
It was a chance suggestion, but it served, and Dick returned to thewaiting group, trundling the wheelbarrow.
“We can’t bother Michael much,” he said, “’cause he has to run thatReading Circle thing. But I guess we can fix up this wheelbarrow withflowers and greens and make it do. Hello, Maddy; Hello, Cliff!”
Madeleine and Clifford Lester had arrived during Dick’s absence, butgreetings were soon spoken, and the more the merrier.
Then the half dozen went to work with a will, using both heads and handsto devise ingenious plans for the coronation of Eliza.
“She ought to be dressed in white,” said Dolly, looking disapprovinglyon Eliza’s blue dress; “but she hasn’t a white frock to her name.”
“Hasn’t your aunt any?” asked Pinkie, realising the real need of white.
“I can’t bother her to-day,” said Dolly, decidedly; “she’s got theReading Circle and Aunt Nine both at once; and she told me to keep out.”
“Couldn’t you get a big white apron from Delia,” suggested Maddy Lester.
“No; queens don’t wear aprons.”
Then Dolly’s eye lighted on the clothes line, full of the Monday wash,which busy Delia had not yet taken in, though it was thoroughly dry.
“I might get something there!” she cried. “Come on, girls!”
The three girls ran to the big, sunny bleaching ground, where three longlines of white clothes waved in the breeze.
LADY DUSENBURY’S PARTY (Page 288)]
“They’re all too little,” said Pinkie, as she viewed Dolly’s own dressesand petticoats.
“No, here’s Aunt Rachel’s nightgown! This will do!” cried Dolly, and ina jiffy she had the clothespins pulled off, and the voluminous, ruffledgarment in her arms.
“Just the thing!” cried Maddy, and they raced back to the playground.
It made a beautiful white robe for Eliza, and when belted with a largebath-towel, also brought from the clothes line, Eliza looked like anOriental princess.
“Get another towel and make a turban,” said Clifford, and this gavetheir queen a still more foreign look.
“The throne thing ought to be white, too,” said Pinkie, who had an eyefor color effect. “It’ll be a lot prettier to pin the flowers and greenson, if it’s white first. Let’s get sheets,—shall we, Dolly?”
“I don’t care,” said Dolly, absorbed in making Eliza’s turban stay onher head.
So Pinkie and Madeleine flew for the sheets, and stripped theclothesline of all there were there.
“Now!” they exclaimed, coming back triumphantly, with their arms full ofbillows of white linen.
“Now!” cried Dick, and they fell to work, and draped and twisted thesheets, until the wheelbarrow was a lovely white throne. This theydecked with their flower garlands, and then lifted Queen Eliza up on it.As she, too, had been decked with blossoms and garlands, it was really apretty sight, and the children clapped their hands and danced about inglee at their own success.
“Now, we’ll crown her,” said Dick, “but I say, Dollums, we all ought tobe in white, too!”
“That’s easy,” said Dolly, recklessly; “there’s lots of things on theclothesline yet.”
Back there they all ran, and chose costumes to please their varyingtastes.
The three girls chose more ruffled nightgowns like Eliza’s and loopedthem up with flowers on either side, like fancy overskirts.
The boys selected lace-ruffled petticoats that belonged variously to theaunts or to Hannah and Delia, and round their shoulders they drapedtablecloths or pillowshams in toga fashion.
Some table centrepieces and carving-scarfs formed fine head-gear, and bythe time all the costumes were completed, the clotheslines looked as ifthe wash had been taken in after all.
The white-garbed half dozen pranced back to the queen on her throne, andthe ceremonies began.
“First, we sing a dirge,” said Jack Fuller.
“Not a dirge,” said Dolly. “Don’t you mean a chant?”
“Well, some waily kind of a thing, anyway.”
So they all droned an inharmonious series of wailings that might havebeen imitative of Chinese tom-toms, only it wasn’t meant to be.
“Now we must have a speech,” said Pinkie; “you make it, Dick; you’regood at that.”
“All right,” said Dick, and stepping forward, while his tablecloth togatrailed in the dust, he began:
“Oh, Queen Eliza Dusenbury, we beg you to accept this crown. We want youfor our beloved queen, and we will obey all your rules and reggilations.We bow our hominage——”
“Homage,” corrected Jack.
“’Taint, it’s hominage! bow, anyway!”
So they all bowed in token of homage to their queen.
“Now we have to back away,” said Maddy; “they always do at court.”
The six backed away from the queen’s throne, but as backing with longtrailing robes is not to be neatly done without practice, they one andall tripped over their trains and togas and went tumbling around on theground.
“Get up, all of you!” cried Dick, who had scrambled to his feet. “Now wemust sing.”
“What shall we sing?”
“I don’t care—‘John Brown’s Body,’ I guess.”
So they all sang “John Brown’s Body” with great gusto, and then thecoronation ceremonies were declared over.
And none too soon, for just then they saw Michael coming with a hugetrayful of good things, which he placed on the table in the arbour.
“Fer the land’s sake!” he exclaimed as the children crowded round.“Whativer have yez been up to now! The clean clo’es from the line, asI’m a sinner! Arrah, but ye’ll catch it, ye bad babies!”
“Wow! they did get dirty, didn’t they?” exclaimed Jack, realising forthe first time how they had tumbled about on the ground.
“Yes, they’re all dirt and grass stains. Will your aunts mind, Dolly?”
“I don’t know,” said Dolly, “but anyway it isn’t your fault, any of you.Let’s take ’em off and eat supper now.”
It was characteristic of Dolly to spare her guests’ feelings, though shehad herself a sudden uneasy sense of naughtiness at having taken theclean clothes to play with. But it was also her nature to put off anevil hour, if possible, so the children gaily scrambled out of theirwhite raiment and sat down to the feast with good appetites.
“The girls is waitin’ on the Readin’ ladies,” said Michael, as he cameout with a second trayful, “so ye’re to wait on yerselves with thesethings.”
Then Dolly and Pinkie arranged the table, and soon the group were eatingsandwiches and cakes and strawberries and ice cream, and all the goodthings that went to make up a Reading Circle feast.
“The little raskills!” said Michael, as he gathered up the sheets andgarments they had thrown off. “Whativer is the rayson, I dunno, but MissDolly and Masther Dick is just the baddest little shpalpeens I iver saw,an’ yet I love ’em, ivery breath they draws!”