CHAPTER XX.
After tea, when all were together upon the front veranda, Grandma Elsiein a reclining chair, the others grouped about her, the talk turned uponthe approaching Christmas and how it should be celebrated--what giftsprepared for friends and servants.
Various plans were suggested, various gifts spoken of, but nothingsettled.
The little girls took a deep interest in the subject, and when theyseparated for the night each one's thoughts were full of it; Lulu'sperhaps even more so than those of any other, not of what she mightreceive, but what she would like to give.
"Papa," she said, when he came into her room to bid her good-night, "Ido so want to make some pretty things to give at Christmas time. Please,won't you let me?" and look and tone were very coaxing.
"My dear little daughter," he replied, taking possession of aneasy-chair and drawing her to a seat upon his knee, "it would give memuch pleasure to indulge you in this, but you have lost a good deal oftime from your studies of late, and I know very well that to allow youto engage in the manufacture of Christmas gifts would have the effectof taking your mind off your lessons in a way to prevent you from makingmuch, if any, progress with them."
"Then you won't let me, papa?"
"No, my child. If you choose you may use your pocket-money, and somemore that I will give you, to buy what you please, that will not makeany work for you. Your studies must be faithfully attended to, and thegreater part of your remaining time I wish you to spend in out-of-dooramusements which will, I hope, both give you much pleasure and keep youin vigorous health.
"I could not bear to see my dear eldest daughter growing pale and thin,or failing to improve her mind and talents so that she may in due timebecome a noble, useful woman, capable of doing with her might whateverwork her heavenly Father may be pleased to give her."
A wofully ill-used, discontented look had come over Lulu's expressivecountenance as her father began what he had to say, but before he hadfinished it was replaced by a much sweeter one of contentment with hisdecision, and confiding filial love.
"Papa, dear, I did at first very much want you to say yes to mypetition, but now I see that you know best and am quite content to do asyou have said you want me to," she returned, putting her arm about hisneck and laying her cheek to his in her accustomed fashion when herheart was swelling with daughterly affection.
"My dear child, your ready acquiescence in your father's decision makesyou dearer than ever to him, if that be possible," he said, holding herclose with many a fond caress.
Meanwhile Rosie and Evelyn, occupying adjoining rooms, were chattinggaily of what they should make for one and another of those they loved.
Suddenly Evelyn paused, a very thoughtful look overspreading herexpressive face.
"Well, what is it?" asked Rosie in a bantering tone; and Evelynanswered, "I was just thinking that all this, should we undertake it,will be apt to take our minds from our lessons, which are certainly offar greater importance."
"And that Captain Raymond may veto it on that account?" asked Rosie,with a twinkle of fun in her eye.
"Possibly he may; and if he does, I, for one, shall certainly obey him,"replied Evelyn, speaking in a sober, earnest way that said plainly shewas far from being in jest.
"Well, I make no rash promises," laughed Rosie; "and I'm not very muchafraid of that brother-in-law of mine, stern as he can look when itsuits him."
"But you will want to please your dear mother?" returned Evelyn, in atone between assertion and inquiry.
"Yes," replied Rosie, sobering down at once; "I could refuse nothing todear mamma. I would do anything and everything in my power to add to herhappiness. Oh, how glad and thankful I am that she has been spared tous!"
"I, too," said Evelyn. "I think I could hardly love her better if shewere really my very near relative."
A moment of silence followed, presently broken by Rosie. "Well, Isuppose," she said with a return to her jesting tone, "it may be ourwisest plan to consult his lordship--Captain Raymond--in regard to thematter just now under discussion--whether we--his prospectivepupils--may or may not engage in the work of preparing Christmas giftsfor other folk."
"I, at least, certainly intend doing so," replied Evelyn. "Obedience tohis wishes--to say nothing of orders--it strikes me will be the veryleast we can do in return for his great kindness in taking the troubleto instruct us."
"There, you are right!" said Rosie. "I hadn't thought of that before. Itis very good in him and I shall really try to show him that I am one ofthe best and most tractable of pupils."
"Suppose we join him and Lu to-morrow in their morning walk, as we didto-day, and then and there improve the opportunity to discuss thismomentous question," suggested Evelyn laughingly.
"I am strongly in favor of so doing, provided I wake in season,"returned Rosie, and with that they separated for the night.
They carried out their plan, had a pleasant little morning ramble andchat with the captain and Lulu, and finding that such was his wish,promised to do but little in the way of making Christmas gifts, in orderthat their time and attention might be the more fully occupied withtheir studies, which they were all to take up again on the followingMonday.
"And this being Friday, we have only to-day and to-morrow for play. Itlooks like rain, too," sighed Rosie disconsolately, glancing up at thesky as she spoke; "so we are not likely to have much out-of-door sport."
"Ah, well, little sister, we must not grumble about the rain, for it isneeded; and there are the verandas for you young folks to sport upon,"returned the captain.
"Besides, your big brother is not intending to be so hard upon you as toallow no diversion after lessons are resumed. I hope you will all havemany an hour for romping, riding, driving, boating, and walking."
"Pleasant chats, too, and interesting books to read; music, and gamesbesides," remarked Evelyn. "Oh, we are not likely to suffer from lackof diversion when we have been good and industrious enough to deserveit," she added, with a smiling look at the captain.
"As I have little doubt that you will be always," he returned, smilingkindly upon her.
By the time breakfast and family worship were over a gentle rain wasfalling, and instead of seeking out-of-door amusement, the whole familygathered upon the veranda at the front of the house.
Just then a pretty well-filled mail-bag made its appearance, andpresently nearly everybody had one or more letters in hand.
Noticing that her father had several, Lulu presently drew near him andasked, "Mayn't I help you answer those, papa?"
"Thank you, dear child," he returned, smiling fondly upon her, "you mayif you wish, but I have plenty of time to do the work myself thismorning, and would be sorry to deprive you of the pleasure you might betaking with your mates."
"I'll have time enough for that afterward, papa, and would very muchrather do a little to help you--if it will be a help, instead of atrouble to you to have me use my machine in that way," she said, with alook up into his eyes that showed plainly how anxious she was to haveher offer accepted.
"Then you shall, my darling," he returned, and taking her hand led herinto the library, seated her before her typewriter, supplied paper andenvelopes, and began dictating to her as on the two former occasions.
"It grieves me to rob my dear little girl of any of her holiday time,"he remarked, as the first letter was completed, laying his handcaressingly on her head. "Your father loves to see you enjoyingyourself."
"Yes, dear papa, I know that," she replied, with a pleased loving lookup into his face, "but there is nothing I enjoy more than feeling that Ican be of a little help and comfort to you."
"Well, it will not take us long to answer these letters--there are butfew to-day--and perhaps you may enjoy your sports all the moreafterward," he replied, handing her a fresh sheet of paper.
"This, from our dear Max, is the only one left now," he remarkedpresently; "and he, I know, would rather have his reply in papa's ownhandwriting; but, shall I read this to you,
daughter?"
"Oh, I should like to hear it, papa!" was her eager response. "Please,may I sit on your knee while I listen?"
"Indeed you may," he answered, drawing her to the coveted seat andputting his arm about her waist. "Maxie does write such good,interesting letters, and I'm so much obliged to you for reading this oneto me, papa," she said, when he had finished.
"You are very welcome, daughter; and now you may go back to your mateswhile I write my reply."
On the veranda family letters had been read and discussed, meanwhile,and when Lulu joined the group they were again talking of theapproaching Christmas and what gifts should be prepared for relatives,near and dear friends, and servants.
Grandma Elsie, seated in their midst, was looking quite her oldself--very bright, beautiful, and sweet.
"With the housekeeping given in charge to Vi," she was saying, as Luludrew near, "I shall have abundance of spare time and hope to preparemany gifts for----"
"No," interrupted her father, "you are to do nothing of the kind; butmust devote yourself to the business of gaining strength as fast aspossible."
She laughed pleasantly at that, saying, "My vacation has been a long onealready, papa, for I have really done nothing worth speaking of since wereturned home from the North."
"And what of that, daughter?" he responded. "You have never been anidler, but it seems to be time now for you to begin. Let your vacationgo on till next spring. That is my prescription for you."
"Ah, ha, mamma!" laughed Rosie, "the captain forbids Christmas-giftmaking for us younger ones, and I'm mighty glad grandpa forbids it toyou. 'Misery loves company,' you know."
"I hope my Rosie may never be called upon to share any worse misery,"was the smiling rejoinder. "Also that she will show herself as obedientto the captain as I intend to be to her kind, loving grandpa--sotenderly careful of his daughter," with a fond look up into the face ofher father, standing by her side.
"As he may well be, for she is a treasure worth guarding," he said,returning her look of love. "Rosie, when does the captain proposebeginning his labors as tutor?"
"Next Monday morning, grandpa; so we want to crowd all the fun anddiversion we can into to-day and to-morrow."
"Ah, we must select a schoolroom and furnish it with whatever may benecessary!" exclaimed Violet.
"Yes," her mother said; "the room used for that purpose when you were avery little girl will answer nicely. Its desks were sent to the atticwhen no longer needed. You might order them brought down to-day, theroom swept and dusted, and whatever else done that is necessary ordesirable, so that it will be quite ready for occupation on Monday."
"Thank you, mamma; I will have it attended to at once," Violet replied,and hastened away, Rosie running after her with a "Come girls, let us goand see the room and find out whether it has a closet for the captain toshut us up in when we misbehave."
"I don't believe he'll use it if it has," laughed Lulu, rather enjoyingRosie's fun, "for he has never punished any of us--his own children--inthat way."
"Still there is no knowing but he may take a new departure, now, whenhe's going to have so distinguished a pupil as myself," pursued Rosie,dancing down the hall with the others close in her rear.
They followed Violet to the room Grandma Elsie had spoken of, and foundit large and airy, with windows down to the floor,--opening out upon theveranda on that side of the house,--the walls prettily papered andadorned with good pictures, handsomely framed; the floor covered withfine matting, furniture handsome, a pretty clock and vases on themantel. On one side of that was a door to which Rosie flew and, throwingit wide open, brought to view a large closet.
"There!" she exclaimed, "didn't I tell you, girls and Walter?" for hewas in the company by that time, "here's the place of incarceration forthose who shall dare to disobey Captain Raymond. I for one shallcertainly try to behave my prettiest, for I wouldn't like to be shut upin the dark."
"Well, it appears to me that you are more likely to come to it than anyof the rest of us," observed Walter quietly, as he turned on his heeland walked away.
"Did you ever hear the like?" cried Rosie, opening her eyes very wide inpretended astonishment.
"What's all this?" asked a familiar voice at the door, and turning atthe sound they saw Captain Raymond standing there, looking very graveand slightly reproving, but with a perceptible twinkle of fun in hiseyes.
"We were just looking at the closet you are going to use for theincarceration of the naughty ones, for this is to be your schoolroom,you see, sir," returned Rosie demurely.
"And you expect to enjoy a sojourn there?" he queried, coming forwardand himself taking a survey of the interior. "It strikes me it wouldsuit better as a receptacle for school-books and the like."
"So it would," she said, with a sigh of pretended relief; "and we, yourpupils that are to be will venture to hope that you will see best todevote it to that use."
"A hope in which you will not be disappointed, I trust," he replied, ina kindly tone, and laying a hand lightly upon her shoulder.
"There girls!" she exclaimed, "you may thank me for extracting such apromise beforehand. I do really believe his honor intends to treat uswell if we are reasonably well behaved."
"And the rest of us are quite sure of it," added Evelyn, with a brightlook up into the captain's face.
"Thank you for your confidence, my dear," he returned. "I have littledoubt that we will have pleasant times together in this very pleasantroom."
A little more time was spent in examining the room and commenting uponits beauties and conveniences; then they went back to the veranda tofind that the sun had begun to peep through the clouds.
So carriages were ordered and all took a drive through the beautifulwoods.
The afternoon was spent in boating and fishing, the evening in theveranda, where they were joined by their relatives from Magnolia Halland the parsonage.
The manner in which they would spend the approaching Christmas and NewYear's Day was the principal subject of conversation, and the youngfolks were particularly interested in listening to the plans made orsuggested, and well satisfied with the proposed arrangement that thecousins should spend the first at Viamede, all gather at Magnolia Hallfor their New Year's dinner, and pass the evening of that day at theparsonage.
Lulu had a talk with her father in her own room at bedtime, that madeher feel very happy and entirely content with his prohibition of themaking of gifts.
He told her that she and Grace might each make out a list of thearticles they would like to buy to present to others, and that some one,probably Mr. Embury--Cousin Millie's husband--who was intending to pay avisit of a few days to New Orleans, would kindly make the purchases forthem.
"Oh, that will do nicely, papa!" she exclaimed delightedly, "and Gracieand I might make out our lists to-morrow with a little help from ourdear father," smiling up into his eyes.
"Yes, dear child, I will gladly give you both all the assistance in mypower," he replied, softly smoothing her hair, for she was--as usual atsuch times--sitting upon his knee; "and not with advice only," hecontinued, "but also by adding something to your means for carrying outyour wishes."
"Oh, you dear papa, you are just the kindest father that ever wasmade!" she cried, in an ecstasy of delight, and hugging him with all herstrength.
"Ah, but if you choke me to death," he said laughingly, "I can donothing for you."
"Oh, papa, please excuse me!" she exclaimed, relaxing her hold. "Did Ihurt you? oh, I am very, very sorry!"
"Not much; I could stand it very well," he returned, giving her a hugand kiss. "But now I must leave you to go to bed and to sleep."