VII.
_THE BLACK CAT._
"NELLIE, dear," said Mrs. Ransom's gentle voice at the store-room door.
"Yes, mamma," answered Nellie, from the top of a row of drawers whereshe had climbed to reach some jars from a shelf above her head.
"I think you have worked long enough, my daughter; and I do not wishyou to take down those jars. Hannah is at leisure now, and she may comeand attend to the rest of the things."
"Oh! but mamma," pleaded Nellie, "if you would just let me do it allmyself. It would be so nice to tell papa that I cleared out thestore-room entirely, except the very heavy things; and Hannah might bedoing something else that would be a help to you."
"It would be no help to me to have you make yourself ill, dear; andpapa would not think it at all nice to come home and find you tired andoverworked. And it is dangerous for you to be reaching up so high. Ihad rather you would leave the rest to the servants."
Nellie was very sorry to stop; and for a moment she felt a littlevexed. But it was only a fleeting cloud that passed over her face, andalmost before her mother could mark it, it was gone. If she wantedto be a real help to mamma, she must do as mamma wished, even thoughit did not seem just the best thing to herself. It would have beendelightful, she would have been proud to tell papa she had done as muchin the store-room as mamma herself could have done if she had been welland strong; but it would not prove a real service if she troubled hermother, or made her feel anxious. Nellie did not herself think that sheran any danger of injury; but since mamma did, there was but one thingthat was right to do.
"Very well, mamma," she said cheerfully, "I'll come down," and takingthe hand her mother offered for her assistance, she descended from herperch.
Still it was with a little sigh that she left her task, as she thought,incomplete, and Mrs. Ransom could not help seeing that it was adisappointment to her.
"You look warm and tired now, dearie," she said, pushing back the haircaressingly from her little daughter's flushed face, "go upstairs andbe washed and dressed. Then if there is nothing else you prefer to do Ishould very much enjoy hearing you read from one of your new books. Ifeel tired, and should like to lie on the sofa and listen to you."
Nellie brightened immediately, inwardly as well as outwardly. She couldbe useful to mamma still, if she must leave the store-room; and sheran away to remove the traces of her late toil, and make herself neatand nice.
She was in her own room, washing her face, when she heard a short,quick step running along the hall. She thought it was Carrie's, andcalled aloud, meaning to tell her she was going to read to her mother,and to ask if she would like to hear the story.
"Carrie!" she called from out of the folds of the towel where she hadjust buried her face.
No answer; but the step paused for a moment, then ran on.
"Carrie!" this time louder and clearer, for her voice was no longersmothered in the towel.
Still no answer; but Nellie heard the door at the foot of the garretsteps softly closed.
"Why! how queer," she said to herself, "what can Carrie be going up tothe garret all alone for? I don't believe it was Carrie, it must havebeen Johnny going up to his printing-press or something."
For Johnny was the only one of the family who much frequented thegarret, he having a printing-press, carpenter's tools and otherpossessions up there.
Nellie did what she could for herself; then went into the nursery tohave her dress fastened, and sash tied.
"Would you stop a minute and mind baby while I call Carrie to bedressed?" said the nurse; "I might as well do it now, for there's Daisyto be dressed afterwards, and I suppose they'll both have to be huntedup."
"Daisy is playing somewhere with Frankie Bradford," said Nellie; "but Ithought I heard Carrie go up to the garret a few moments ago. But I'mnot sure."
"I thought I heard her run along the entry, too," said the nurse.
She went to the foot of the garret-stairs, and opening the door, calledCarrie three or four times. But no answer came, and closing the dooragain, she went away downstairs to look for her.
Baby was just beginning to take notice, and as it lay in the cradle,followed with its eyes the bright-colored worsted ball which Nelliedangled in front of them, cooing softly in reply to the gentle, playfultones of its sister's voice, as she talked "baby" to it.
But this did not prevent Nellie from presently hearing again theclosing of the garret door, closed very softly as by a hand which didnot wish that the sound should be heard. Nellie was a little startled,and it was in a tone of some trepidation that she called again.
"Johnny! Carrie! who is that? Do speak."
A step along the hall, and Carrie appeared at the open door of thenursery.
"Where did you come from? was that you went upstairs?" questionedNellie, looking with surprise at Carrie's crimson, rather troubled face.
"Yes, I went upstairs," answered Carrie.
"And didn't you hear Ruth calling you?" asked Nellie.
"I'm not going to be screeched all over the house by the servants. Ishould think I was big enough to go where I chose," muttered Carrie,turning away.
"You needn't go away. Ruth wants to dress you," said Nellie. "She'lljust bring you back. Just see how cunning the baby is," for she sawCarrie was out of humor, and would have tried to soothe and interesther.
"I want Daisy to be dressed first," said Carrie, who was evidentlyanxious to be away. "I'm going to see if she can't."
"Daisy is with Frankie, and mamma won't make her come," said Nellie. "Iwouldn't bother mamma about it, Carrie, she's lying down."
"Oh, yes, Daisy always has to have every thing _she_ wants," saidCarrie, coming reluctantly into the room, but keeping away on the otherside, "and I shan't have _you_ telling me all the time what to do andwhat not to do. I haven't got to mind you."
The parti-colored ball remained motionless in Nellie's fingers, as shegazed in surprise at her sister, who walking to the window, plantedher elbow on the sill, and her chin in her hand; the very picture of asulky, ill-humored child.
Nellie could not think what she meant by her ugly speech. She hadspoken very gently to Carrie, and without any undue authority, eitherof tone or manner, meaning only to suggest, not to command. But perhapsCarrie thought she had taken too much upon herself in the store-room.That was unreasonable, for she had come there of her own accord,begging that she might be allowed to help, and seeming quite ready toput herself under Nellie's orders. Yes, that must be it, and Nellieherself felt a little resentment at her sister's behavior.
But it was not Nellie's way to speak when she was angry; she waitedtill she could do so without temper, and then said gently.
"But, Carrie, dear, you know some one had to--" give orders shewas about to say, but wise little woman that she was, changed theobnoxious word--"had to say what was to be done, and mamma put me incharge there 'cause I am her housekeeper now. I had to tell you what todo with every thing."
Nellie could not help--what little girl could have helped?--a slightconsciousness of authority and satisfaction in her position as mamma'sright hand woman; but Carrie did not notice that so much as her words,which brought fresh cause for uneasiness to her guilty conscience. What"things" did Nellie mean? The mice?
"Is Johnny upstairs?" asked Nellie, receiving no answer to her lastspeech, but still wishing to make peace.
"I should think you'd know he hadn't come home from school," snappedCarrie.
"I forgot; I really don't know at all what time it is," said Nellie."What were you doing upstairs then?"
"Let me be," was the answer Carrie gave to this; and Nellie was silent,feeling, indeed, that in such a mood she was best let alone.
Little she guessed of the cause of all this ill-temper, however.
For what had Carrie been doing upstairs? Can you imagine?
Watching her opportunity when she thought no one was observing her, shehad run to the wood-closet, seized the box containing the mice; and hadactually been naughty enough
to bring it upstairs, carry it away to thegarret, and there hide it behind some old furniture.
But now what was she to do with the mice? How was she to tame them, nowthat she had them? What pleasure or good could they be to her?
How she wished that she had done as Nellie told her, and taken the boxat once to Catherine. Now she was afraid to do it.
And yet she tried to persuade herself that there was no reason sheshould not have the mice as long as she kept them out of mamma's way;that she had as much right to decide what was to be done with them asNellie; that it was not fair that Daisy should keep her pets any morethan herself.
But why, if all this were true, did Carrie fear to betray her secret;why was she so guilty and miserable?
Presently Ruth returned, rather incensed at finding Carrie in thenursery, and at having had "so much trouble for nothing."
Neither nurse nor child being in a very good humor, the process ofdressing Carrie was not likely to be a very pleasant one; and seeingthis, and that baby was growing restless, Nellie thought she had betterwait till it was accomplished.
There was need for the children to be helpful and obliging in Mrs.Ransom's nursery. Pour little girls, one a young infant, who allrequired more or less care, to say nothing of the occasional calls oftheir brothers, gave enough to do; and as their now invalid mother wasable to assist but little, it was necessary that the older ones shouldlearn to help themselves and one another.
Daisy, in spite of the floods of tears which had been so frequentuntil within the last few days since she had taken so much painsto check them, was, as Ruth said, "the blessedest child to have todo with," giving no trouble beyond what her tender age required;patient, obliging, and winsome. Nellie was generally ready to give anyassistance that was needed, to tend baby awhile, put Daisy to bed, orany other little office not too hard for her; and few little girls ofher age do as much for themselves as she was accustomed to do. Andsince she had resolved to give all the help she could to mamma, she didall this pleasantly and cheerfully; often, as in the present case, notwaiting to be asked, but taking up the small duty of her own free will.
"She's the wisest head of her age ever I saw, has Miss Nellie," theadmiring nurse would say to Mrs. Ransom, when some little thoughtfulact had lightened her labors, or put aside the necessity of callingupon her feeble mistress.
But poor Carrie had neither Nellie's gentle consideration, nor Daisy'ssunny temper, and when, as now, she was not in a good humor, she was asore trial to the nurse; and seeing that there was every probabilityof a stormy time, Nellie decided to stay and amuse the baby till Ruthshould be at leisure to take it. Mamma would rather wait for her thanto be called upstairs by baby's cries.
It was as she had feared. In three minutes a battle royal was ragingbetween Carrie and the nurse.
It did not call Mrs. Ransom up to the nursery, as Nellie feared itwould; but it brought her to the foot of the stairs, whence she calledto Carrie in a tone of more sadness than severity; and Carrie did lookand feel ashamed, when Ruth remarked,--
"See there now, how you're worrying your mother. Daisy wouldn't dothat."
But although she now submitted to be dressed, it was still with poutinglooks, and much pettish twisting and wriggling, making Ruth's taskno light one, and taking far more time than it would have done ifCarrie had been patient and amiable. But how could she be patient andgood-humored with that uncomfortable secret weighing on her mind?
Presently, Daisy came running up to the nursery.
"Where's Frankie?" asked Nellie, seeing that she was alone.
"Gone home. Jane came for him," answered Daisy, "and mamma told Janeto ask Maggie's and Bessie's mamma to let them come and play with youthis afternoon; and Frankie said he'd just as lieve come back too; andmamma said he could. But, O Nellie! what do you fink? a great big,ugly, black cat came in the garden-house, and she was so saucy she waslooking at my white mice."
"Was she? Oh, dear!" said Nellie. "Is she there now, Daisy?"
"No, no," said Daisy, "we wouldn't let her stay. Frankie shu'ed her wayfar off, and chased her wif a stick, and she put up her back at him,and was mad at him; but he wasn't 'f'aid of her, not a bit. Nellie, doblack cats eat white mice?"
"I don't know," said Nellie looking uneasy. "Do they, Ruth?"
"You may trust any cat to do that, if she gets the chance," said Ruth."Daisy, my pet, did you shut the door of the garden-house after you?"
"Yes, always I shut it, 'fear mamma might some way see the mice,"answered Daisy. "But the black cat's gone quite, quite away, Nellie."
"She might come back if she has seen the mice, and try to come atthem," said Nellie in a low tone to the nurse.
"It is what I was thinking," said Ruth.
"I'm going to take baby out for a bit when I have these two dressed,and I'll just walk down that way and see that all's right. It wouldjust break that lamb's heart if aught happened to her mice. I'll getalong nicely now if you want to go, Miss Nellie. Daisy's no trouble."
Baby delighted in Daisy as a playmate, and was now crowing in the mostsatisfied manner as she danced back and forth before her; clappingher hands and exclaiming, "Jackins and forwis, jackins and forwis."The interpretation of these mysterious words being, "backwards andforwards."
Nellie went downstairs, and explained to her mother why she haddelayed, without making any complaint of Carrie. She told her also ofthe black cat, and said she felt uneasy about Daisy's white mice, andthought she would go and see that the creature had not returned.
Mrs. Ransom herself was disturbed when she heard of the unwelcomeintruder upon the premises, for she, too, feared danger to Daisy's pets.
Her anxiety and Nellie's proved too well founded; for when the latterreached the garden-house, she discovered the black cat forcing herway under the door, there being quite an open space between thatand the ground, as the little building was old and somewhat out ofrepair. Nellie drove the cat away once more, and put a board againstthe aperture; but she could not but feel that Daisy's pets were inmuch danger, and she could not bear to think of her distress if such aterrible fate befel them.
"I think the mice had better be brought up to the house, Nellie," saidMrs. Ransom, when Nellie returned and made her report.
Carrie heard, for she had come downstairs, meanwhile, and freshjealousy of Daisy took possession of her.
"Mamma don't care if Daisy has _her_ mice in the house," she said toherself, "so I might just as well have mine upstairs. One is no worsethan the other."
Carrie was doing her best to drown her remorseful feelings, and topersuade herself that she was doing nothing wrong and undutiful, tryingrather to feel injured and martyr-like; but it was up-hill work withher own conscience. For although she was a little apt to be jealousof the other children, and fretful at times, she was very seldomdisobedient or regardless of her mother's wishes, and she had nothad one easy moment since she had hidden the mice. But for all that,she was determined to think herself hardly used, and Daisy preferredto herself. And it seemed to her as if Nellie must know and meant toreproach her, when she said in answer to her mother's last words,--
"Oh, no, mamma! it would never do to have the mice brought into thehouse, and you made uncomfortable. I am sure Daisy would never wish todo that, no matter what became of the white mice."
"But I can't have the poor creatures destroyed by that cat," said Mrs.Ransom, uneasily.
"No," said Nellie, "but perhaps we could--" she hesitated, not knowingwhat plan to advise.
"As soon as the boys come home we will see if they can find any way tomake the garden-house secure," said her mother.
Ten minutes later, when Nellie had settled down to her reading, butwith thoughts which would wander away to the garden-house, white miceand black cat, the boys came in from school, and were speedily madeacquainted with the facts of the case.
This was nuts for Johnny and Bob; and true to that aversion with whichevery well regulated boy-mind must regard all animals of her species,away they rushed in se
arch of the black cat, intending to take thedirest vengeance upon her, if they caught her again threatening Daisy'sdarlings.
And there she was once more, this time forcing her way beneath the wallof the slight structure, which, never very strong even in its bestdays, was now fast tumbling into decay, and presented many an apertureand crack passable to cats, or other small animals.
She saw the boys, however, before they could catch her; and, eitherknowing that she was trespassing, or instinctively aware of what wouldbefall her if she fell into their hands, she fled before them, and waspresently out of their reach.
Bob and Johnny soon came to the conclusion that the garden-house wasno longer a safe shelter for the white mice. Although it did present apretty appearance from the outside, covered as it was with floweringvines, it was so thoroughly ruinous that they found it would take atleast two or three days to make it at all secure against a determinedand greedy pussy. They might watch and keep her away in the daytime;but what was to be done at night?
No, Daisy's pets could no longer be left there, if they were to besaved from pussy's clutches.
The boys went back to the house and reported; asking their mother whatthey should do, for there seemed to be no other proper or convenientplace for the white mice.
"I'll think about it," said Mrs. Ransom, who was trying to make up hermind to allow the mice to be brought into the house, "and will tellyou what to do after dinner. Will they be safe till then, do you think?"
"Yes, mamma," answered Johnny, "for we set Rover to watch there, andhe'll see after that old beast if she comes around again, but we can'tkeep him there all day, and she's sure to do it some time, if we leavethe mice there."
"Don't trouble Daisy about it," said Mrs. Ransom, "there is no need totell her just now."