CHAPTER XIX
A VISIT FROM GLADYS
Gladys came Friday afternoon and Marjorie welcomed her with open arms,truly happy to see her friend again.
"Tell me all about your new home, Glad," said Midge, as the two settledthemselves on either end of the sofa for a chat.
"Oh, it's just lovely, Mops. It's like summer all the time. And theflowers are in bloom all about, and the birds sing in the trees, andeverybody wears white dresses and summer hats even in February."
"That _is_ lovely. And is your father getting better?"
"Yes, some better. He just _had_ to come to New York on some business,but the doctor said he must not stay but a few days. So we have to startback on Tuesday."
"It's a shame. I wish you could stay longer."
"So do I. But I'm glad to go back, too. I go to a lovely school there,and I know the nicest girls and boys."
"Nicer than Rockwell children?"
"Oh, I don't know. Yes, I guess so. My most intimate friend is a lovelygirl. Her name is Florence Lawton. Isn't that a pretty name?"
"Why, Gladys Fulton! I'm your most intimate friend! Do you like herbetter than me?"
Gladys' eyes opened wide.
"Midget Maynard," she said, "what do you mean? Of course you were my bestfriend here, but when I'm out there don't you s'pose I've got to havesomebody else to play with and to tell secrets to?"
Somehow this idea made Midget's heart lighter. It justified her in takingDelight as a chum in Gladys' place.
"Yes, of course," she responded. "Our letters don't seem to amount tomuch, do they, Glad?"
"No, I'm no good at all at writing letters. Don't you have any chum in myplace, Mopsy?"
"Why, yes, I s'pose I do," said Marjorie, slowly, for it was justbeginning to dawn on her that Delight _had_ taken Gladys' place. "I'mawfully good friends with Delight Spencer, who lives in the house youused to live in."
"Delight! what a pretty name."
"Yes, and she's an awfully pretty girl. You'll see her while you're here,of course."
Very soon the first strangeness of the reunion was over, and the two werechatting away as gaily as if they had never been separated.
Then Delight came over. She had promised Marjorie she'd come over to seeGladys, but she came rather unwillingly. The truth is, she felt a littlejealous of Marjorie's older friend, and was not prepared to like her.
Delight was dressed in some of her prettiest clothes, and the big blackvelvet hat on her fair golden hair made a lovely picture.
Gladys thought she was beautiful, and welcomed her warmly, but Delight,when introduced, seemed to shrink back into herself and sat stiffly onthe edge of a chair, holding her muff and saying nothing.
"Oh, Delight," cried Midget, "don't act like that. Take off your things,and let's play."
"No, I can't stay but a few minutes," said Delight, primly.
She sat there, looking very uncomfortable, and though Midge and Gladystried to make her more chummy, they didn't succeed.
Finally, Delight rose to go, and as Gladys didn't care much for such aspoil sport, she said nothing to detain her. Midget went to the door withher, and as Delight went out she turned to Midge, with her eyes full oftears, and said: "You like her better than you do me, so I'll go."
"Go on, then," said Marjorie, utterly exasperated by such foolishness, asshe considered it.
"What ails her?" said Gladys, as Marjorie returned.
"Why, I suppose it's because you're here. She never acted that waybefore. You see, she's a spoiled child, and she always wants everythingher own way. It's awfully funny, Gladys, but I thought maybe you wouldn'tlike her and here it's the other way about!"
"Oh, I like her, or at least I would if she'd let me. I think she's theprettiest girl I ever saw. Don't you?"
"Yes, I do. And she's awfully nice, too, if she didn't have this tantrumabout you."
"Oh, well, she'll get over it," returned Gladys; "I shan't be here long,anyway."
The day after Gladys' arrival was the first Saturday in March.
First Saturdays were usually "Ourdays," when Mr. Maynard took a whole dayfrom his business and devoted it to the entertainment of his children.
It was King's turn to choose how the day should be spent, but, as a partyin honor of Gladys had been arranged for the afternoon, there was onlythe morning to choose for.
They were all discussing the matter the night before, and King kindlyoffered to give his turn to one of the girls, that they might choosesomething to please Gladys.
"No, indeed," said Midget. "We like boys' fun as well as girls' fun; soyou choose ahead, King."
"All right, then. If you girls agree, I'd like to build a snow fort. Thisis a jolly deep snow, the best we've had this winter, and likely the lastwe'll have. Father's a jim dandy at snow games, and we could have anout-of-door frolic in the morning, and then Glad's party in the house inthe afternoon."
"Goody! I say yes to that," cried Midget.
"I too," said Gladys. "We don't have any snow in California, and I don'tknow when I'll see any again."
"I'm satisfied," said Kitty, "can I ask Dorothy over?"
"Yes," said Mr. Maynard; "ask anybody you choose."
So next morning, soon after breakfast, the children put on all thewarmest wraps they could find, and in tam o'shanter caps, tippets,mittens and leggings, started out for their Ourday fun.
The snow was more than a foot deep all over the great lawn, and Mr.Maynard selected a fine place for a fort. He taught the boys,--for Kinghad asked Flip to come over,--how to cut and pack great blocks of solidsnow, and the girls he showed how to make balls and cones for decoration.
Once Midget caught sight of Delight peeping across at them from behind acurtain. "I'm going over to ask her to come," she said; "I didn't ask herbefore, because I thought she wouldn't come. But, I believe she will."
So Midge scampered across the street and rang the Spencer's door bell.
"Won't you come over?" she said, as soon as she saw Delight. "It's anOurday, and we're having such fun!"
"No, thank you," said Delight; "you don't need me when you have Gladys."
"Don't be silly!" said Midget. "What's the reason I can't play with youboth? Come on."
"Oh, I don't want to come," said Delight pettishly. "Go on back."
So Marjorie went back, alone, walking slowly, for she couldn't understandDelight's behavior.
But once again in the fun of the snow play, she forgot all about herill-natured little neighbor.
They built a grand fort, with a flag waving from its summit, and thenwith soft snowballs for ammunition, they chose sides and had the merriestkind of a battle. Afterward they built a snow man and a snow woman.
These were of heroic size, so big that Mr. Maynard had to climb astep-ladder to put their heads in place.
The man, according to the time-honored tradition of all snow men, wore abattered old high hat, and had a pipe in his mouth, while the old womanwore a sun bonnet and checked apron.
They were comical figures, indeed, and when they were completed it wastime to go in to luncheon, and Dorothy and Flip scampered for theirhomes.
"Now, gentlemen of the jury," said Mr. Maynard, at the lunch table, "aswe have still two good hours before it's time to array ourselves inpurple and fine linen for the party, suppose we continue our outdoorsports and go for a sleigh ride? It's up to you, King."
"Fine!" agreed King. "If it suits the ladies of the castle."
"It do," said Kitty; "the ladies fair would fain go for a sleigh ride.May I ask Dorothy?"
"Not this time, Kittums," said her father. "I've ordered a big doublesleigh, and we'll just fill it comfortably."
And so they did, with Mr. and Mrs. Maynard on the wide back seat and RosyPosy between, them; Midget, Gladys, and Kitty facing them, and King up onthe box with the driver.
A span of big powerful horses took them flying over the snow, and thecrisp, keen air made their cheeks rosy and their eyes bright.
I
t was a fine sleigh ride, and the jingling bells made a merryaccompaniment to the children's chatter and laughter.
"Ice cream, Kitty?" asked her father as they entered a small town, anddrew up before the funny little inn that was its principal hostelry--
"No, sir!" said Kitty, whose teeth were chattering, "it's too cold!"
"Well, I never expected to live long enough to hear Kitty say no to icecream!" exclaimed Mrs. Maynard in surprise.
"It's a cold day when that happens, isn't it Kit?" asked her father."Well, jump out then, and stamp your toes, and thaw your ears."
They all went into the little inn, and warmed themselves by the fire, andhad a drink of hot milk or hot soup, as they preferred, and then bundledback into the sleigh for the homeward ride.
"I'm not cold now," said Kitty, cuddling into the fur robes.
The horses dashed back again over the snow, and soon after three o'clockthey were at home.
The party was at four, so there was ample time to get ready.
"What kind of a party is it to be father?" asked Midge. "Any specialkind?"
"Special kind?" said Mr. Maynard; "I should say so! It's an animal party,to be sure!"
"An animal party?" said Gladys, to Midge, as they went upstairs to dress;"what does he mean?"
"I don't know. You never can tell what Father's going to do. Especiallyon an Ourday. He always gets up lovely things for Ourdays."
"He's a jolly man," said Gladys; "I never saw anybody like him."
"Nor I either," agreed Midge; "I think he's just perfect."
The little girls all wore white dresses, each with a different coloredribbon, and were all ready, and sitting in state, at ten minutes beforethe hour appointed for the party.
"Isn't Delight coming, Mopsy?" asked Mrs. Maynard.
"No, mother; I just telephoned her, and she won't come. She's acting upfoolish about Glad, you know."
"Indeed it _is_ foolish," said Mrs. Maynard, looking annoyed; "I thinkI'll run over there and see what I can do."
"Oh, do, Mother; you always make everything come out all right."
"But I don't know whether I can make a silly little girl come out allright; however, I'll try."
Mrs. Maynard threw on some wraps and went over to the house across thestreet.
What arguments she used, or what she said to Delight, Marjorie neverknew, but she returned, after a time, bringing both Delight and Miss Hartwith her.
Delight made a beautiful picture in a filmy, lacy white frock, and a bigblue bow on her golden curls.
"Hello, Flossy Flouncy!" cried King, and this broke the ice, and made iteasier for Delight than a more formal greeting would have done.
"Hello, Old King Cole!" she responded, and then a number of other peoplecame, and a general hubbub of conversation ensued.
"This is an animal party," said Mr. Maynard, when all the guests hadarrived. "Now where were the most animals ever gathered together?"
"In the circus!" cried one boy, and another said, "In the menagerie."
"Try again," said Mr. Maynard; "not right yet!"
"Hippodrome," shouted somebody, and "zoo!" cried somebody else, but toeach Mr. Maynard shook his head.
"Go farther back," he said; "what was the first collection of animals inthe world?"
And then Delight thought what he meant, and cried out, "Noah's Ark!"
"Of course!" said Mr. Maynard. "That's the place I meant. Well, then,here's an ark for each of you, and you can each play you're Noah."
He whisked a table cover off of a table by his side, and there was agreat pile of toy Noah's arks. King and Flip distributed them, untileverybody had one.
"Why, they're empty?" cried Midge, looking into hers.
"They won't be long," said her father. "Now, young people, scatter, andfill your arks with animals. Pretend you're hunting in the jungle, orwhatever you like, but capture all the animals you can find for yourarks. There are hundreds in these two rooms and the halls."
"Hidden?" asked Kitty.
"Yes, hidden and in plain sight, both. But wait; there's a schedule."
Mr. Maynard unfolded a paper, and read:
"Elephants count five, tigers ten, lions fifteen, bears five, kangaroosfive, cats five; all two-legged animals or birds two, fishes one, camelstwenty-five, and zebras fifty. After your arks are filled, we'll countthem up according to schedule, and award prizes. Now, scoot!" Theyscooted, and spent a merry half hour hunting the animals. They found themin all sorts of places,--tucked in behind curtains, under sofa-pillows,between books, and round among the bric-a-brac on mantels and tables.They were the little wooden animals that belonged in the arks, and thechildren were greatly amused when they discovered, also, the small, queerlittle people that represent Noah and his family.
"I s'pose as these are two-legged animals they count as birds," saidKing.
"Yes," said Mr. Maynard, "all bipeds count alike."
As Marjorie made a dive for a tiger which she saw in the lower part ofthe hall hatrack, somebody else dived for it at the very same moment.
It was Delight, and both girls sat suddenly down on the floor, laughingat their bumped heads.
But when Delight saw that it was Midget, she stopped laughing and lookedsober, and even sour.
"Don't, Delight," said Marjorie, gently, and putting her arms round herfriend, she kissed her lovingly.
This melted Delight's foolish little heart, and she whispered, "Oh,Midge, you do like me best, don't you?"
But Midge was in no mood for emotional demonstration down under thehatrack, so she scrambled up, saying, "I shan't if you act as foolish asyou have done. You behave decently to Gladys and to me, and then seewhat'll happen."
With this Midge calmly walked away and collected more animals, whileDelight, rather stunned by this summary advice, jumped up and went afteranimals, too.
At last the collecting was over and the children brought their arks toMr. Maynard. With Miss Hart to help him, it didn't take very long tofigure out the schedule value of each ark-full, and prizes were given tothose three whose score was highest.
Flip Henderson had first prize, and Delight had second, while the thirdwent to Harry Frost. Delight was greatly pleased, and Marjorie was glad,too, for she thought it might make her more amiable.
But that wasn't the reason; the real reason was because Midge had kissedher, and then had scolded her roundly. This combination of treatmentaffected the strange little heart of Delight, and she began at once to benice and pleasant to Gladys and to everybody.
The next game was like Jackstraws, but it wasn't Jackstraws.
All the ark-fulls of animals were emptied out into a heap on the table,and the children sat round. Each was given a teaspoon, and with this theymust remove as many animals as possible without moving any other than theone touched. They might use either end of the teaspoon, but must not usetheir fingers.
The animals counted as in the former schedule and as each was picked fromthe pile it was given to Miss Hart, and she credited it to the player whotook it.
Of course, as in Jackstraws, if one made a mis-play it was the nextplayer's turn. This game was great fun, and they watched each otherbreathlessly, though careful not to joggle anybody.
"Now, Flossy Flouncy," cried King, "it's your turn. In you go! Catch acamel first thing!"
Delight was a little embarrassed at King's raillery, but she was boundshe wouldn't show it, and her slim little white fingers grasped theteaspoon firmly.
She only took off a few, for the excitement of it made her nervous andher hand shook. But she was glad she didn't win a prize in that game, fornobody likes to win two prizes at the same party.
CHAPTER XX
CHESSY CATS
After that game they played several other animal games, some quiet andsome noisy, and then Mr. Maynard announced that they would play "ChessyCats."
"What in the world is that?" said Gladys to King. "I never heard of it."
"Nor I," he responded; "probably Father made it up. Well
, we'll soonsee."
Mr. Maynard chose two captains, one being Gladys, as it was really herparty, and the other Flip Henderson.
These two captains were asked to stand opposite each other at the end ofthe room, and to "choose sides."
"You must each," said Mr. Maynard, "choose the girls or boys who seem toyou most like Chessy Cats."
This advice was not very intelligible, but as it was Gladys' turn tochoose first, she chose King.
Then Flip chose Marjorie, as it seemed to him polite to take his hostess.
Then in a burst of good feeling Gladys chose Delight, and though shewanted to refuse, she stifled her ill-nature and stood up next to King.
Then the choosing went on until all were taken, and the two long linesstood on either side of the room.
"You see," said Mr. Maynard, "this is a contest of happiness. I want tosee which line of children represents the greater amount of merriment.Will you all please smile?"
Every face broke into a grin, and Mr. Maynard looked at themthoughtfully.
"You all seem happy," he said; "a fine lot of Chessy Cats. You knowChessy Cats are remarkable for their wide grins. But as I have a prizefor the side that shows most grin, I have to be careful of my decision.Miss Hart, if you will help me, I think we'll have to find out _exactly_which row of Chessy Cats grins the widest."
Miss Hart, smiling like a Chessy Cat herself, came forward with a lot ofshort strips of white paper in her hand. She gave half of these to Mr.Maynard, and then the fun began.
They actually measured each child's grin, marking on the paper with apencil the exact length of each mouth from corner to corner as it wasstretched in a smile. Of course a fresh paper was used for each, and wideindeed was the grin when the grinner realized the absurdity of having hissmile measured!
Then, of course, each tried to grin his very widest, for the success ofhis line and the glory of his captain. Delight's little rosebud mouthcouldn't make a very wide grin, but she stretched it as wide as possible,showing her pretty white teeth, and held it motionless while it wasmeasured.
It was astonishing how wide some of them could stretch their smilingmouths, and how absurd they looked while standing stock still to bemeasured. Their ridiculous grimaces caused shouts of laughter from theChessy Cats who were not being measured at the moment.
"Midget! she's the one that counts!" cried King. "She's got a smile likean earthquake! Flossy Flouncy, here, she won't count half as much!"
Marjorie only laughed at King's comment, and spread her rosy lips in adesperate effort to beat the record.
At last all were measured, and taking a pair of scissors, Miss Hartclipped the ends off the papers where the mark was, and thus each paperrepresented the exact width of a smile.
The papers of each side were then placed end to end, and the whole lengthmeasured. The result was fifty-four inches of smile for Flip's side, andfifty-two for Gladys'.
"Hooray, Mopsy!" cried King. "I knew your mouth was two inches biggerthan Delight's!"
"Oh, no, brother," rejoined Midge, "it's because your mouth is so tinyyou can't smile very well!"
But whatever the reason, there was a good two inches difference in theaggregate, so Flip Henderson's side was the winner.
"As all the Chessy Cats grinned nobly, you must all have prizes," saidMr. Maynard, and so to the winning side were given boxes of candy with afunny figure of a grinning Chessy Cat on top. Both boxes and cats werebright red, and gay little prizes they were.
"But as the other side were too sad and solemn to grin broadly, we'llgive them black cats," said Mr. Maynard, and all of Gladys' line receivedprizes exactly like the others, except that the cats were black. Ofcourse, they were equally pretty and desirable, and were really souvenirsof the party instead of prizes.
Then they all went to the dining-room for supper. Miss Hart played amerry march on the piano, and King, escorting Gladys, went first,Marjorie and Flip followed, and then all the children came, two by two.
To carry out the idea of an "animal party," the table had been cleverlyarranged to represent a farmyard. All the middle part of it was enclosedby a little fence that ran along just inside the plates, and in theenclosure were toy animals of all sorts. Downy yellow chickens, furrycats, woolly sheep, and comical roosters stood about in gay array. Alsothere were Teddy Bears, and possums and even lions and tigers, whichthough not usually found in farmyards, seemed amicably disposed enough. Adelightful feast was eaten, and then, for dessert, Sarah brought in agreat platter of ice cream in forms of animals. And with these animalscrackers were served, and many merry jests were made as the children bitoff the heads of ferocious wild beasts, or stabbed the ice cream animalswith their spoons. As they left the table, each guest was invited to takeone animal from the "farmyard," to carry away.
Rosy Posy announced frankly, "Don't anybuddy take de Teddy Bear, 'causeme wants it."
They all laughed, and needless to say, the bear was left for the baby,whose turn came last.
Delight chose a little white kitten, with a blue ribbon round its neck,and Gladys took a fierce-looking tiger.
Everybody agreed they had never attended a jollier party, and the smiles,as they said good-bye, were indeed of the Chessy Cat variety.
"Ourday isn't over yet, Father," said Midge, after the last guest hadgone.
"Oho, I think it's time little Chessy Cats went to bed," said Mr.Maynard.
"No, indeed! the party was from four to seven, and though they staid alittle later, it's only half-past seven now. And Ourday nights we alwaysstay up till half-past eight."
"My stars! a whole hour more of Chessy Cats! That's enough to make anyone grin. All right Midgety, what do you want me to do?"
"It's King's choose," said Marjorie; "it's his Ourday, you know."
So King chose "Twenty Questions," a game of which he never tired, and ajolly hour they all spent in playing it.
Then bedtime was definitely announced, and it was a lot of rather tiredChessy Cats who climbed the stairs, after many and repeated good-nights.
As Gladys' visit was to be such a short one Mrs. Maynard advised Midgetnot to go to lessons during her stay.
Marjorie was a little disappointed at this, but she couldn't very well gooff and leave Gladys, and it would have been awkward to take her, so shestaid away herself. The two girls had good times, and both Mr. and Mrs.Maynard planned many pleasant things for their enjoyment, but stillMarjorie was not altogether sorry when on Tuesday Gladys took herdeparture.
"What's this fuss about Gladys and Delight?" asked Mr. Maynard, as theyall sat chatting Tuesday evening.
"Oh, Father, it's so silly!" said Marjorie; "I don't know what to make ofDelight. It isn't a bit Glad's fault. She was as sweet as pie; butDelight was as sour as buttermilk."
"She's jealous, I suppose."
"Yes, I suppose that's it. But, you see, Father, she's a different girlfrom us."
"Different how?"
"Oh, I don't know exactly. But she's sort of a spoiled child, you know,and whatever she has, she hates to have any one else touch it."
"Even you."
"Yes, even me. I like Delight an awful lot, but I like Gladys too."
"Of course you do. Now, Midget, listen to your old and wise Father.Forget all this foolishness. Gladys is gone now, and Delight is your verygood friend, your best friend in Rockwell. Just keep on being friendswith her, and do all you can to be a good friend. Don't discuss Gladyswith her, don't discuss her actions, or her jealousy, or whateverfoolishness is in her pretty little noddle. You are both too young totake these things seriously. But if you are a kind, loyal little friendto her, she will soon learn to be the same to you."
"But, Father, she wants me all to herself. She doesn't like to have me befriends with the other girls in Rockwell even."
"That you mustn't stand. Just go on in your own way. Be friendly withwhom you choose, but always be kind and considerate of Delight'sfeelings. Of course, you two having your lessons alone together islargely responsible for
this state of things. School would be better foryou both in many ways. But you like the present arrangement, and MissHart is a blessing to you both. I think she can help you in persuadingDelight to be a little less exacting."
"Yes, Father, she does; she understands the case, and she's always tryingto make Delight less selfish."
"And perhaps,--I hate to suggest it,--but _possibly_ Miss Mopsy Maynard_might_ have some little tiny speck of a fault,--just a microscopic flawin her character--"
"Now, Father, don't tease! I know I have! I'm a bad, impulsive,mischievous old thing, and I never think in time,--then the first thing Iknow I've done something awful! Delight's not a bit like that."
"Oh, you needn't give yourself such a dreadful character. I know youpretty well, and I'm quite pleased, on the whole, with my eldestdaughter. But I do want you to learn to be a little less heedless; youknow heedlessness is, after all, a sort of selfishness,--a disregard ofothers' convenience."
"I'm going to try, Father. I'll try real hard, and if I don't succeed,I'll try, try again."
"That's my good little Mopsy. Now, skip to bed, and don't let theseserious matters keep you awake. Forget them, and dream of fairies andprincesses dressed in pearls and roses and all sorts of lovely things."
"And blue velvet robes trimmed with ermine?"
"Yes, and golden sceptres, and swanboats to ride in on lakes where pondlilies bloom."
"And golden chariots, with milk white steeds, garlanded with flowers."
"Yes,--and that's about all; good-night."
"And enchanted carpets that carry you in a minute to India and Arabia."
"Yes, and upstairs to bed! Good-night."
"And knights in armor, with glittering spears--"
"Good-night, Marjorie Maynard!"
"Good-night, Father. And rose-gardens with fountains and singing birds--"
"Skip, you rascal! Scamper, fly, scoot! Good-night for the last time!"
"Good-night," called Marjorie, half way up-stairs, "good-night, Fatherdear."
"Good-night, Midget, good-night."
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