The Staying Guest

  CHAPTER III A GUEST FOR THE NIGHT

  As no one else seemed able to make any reply to this astoundingannouncement, old Matthew said:

  "Well, if so be 's you've come to stay, I might as well lock the doorbehind you."

  And he proceeded to do so, while the small visitor followed his movementswith her laughing eyes.

  Then she turned, still smiling, to the four women who stood watching herwith various expressions of surprise, consternation, admiration, anddismay.

  The mite gave a quick, comprehensive look at each one, and then,intuitively judging by the superior cap-ruffles rather than by anyappearance of friendly welcome, she pointed a tiny forefinger at the twoFlint ladies in turn, and said:

  "I think you're my aunts, and I hope you're glad to see me."

  Then Miss Priscilla found her voice.

  "Your aunts!" she almost screamed. "Who are you, child, and what are youdoing here?"

  "I'm Ladybird," answered the mite--"Ladybird Lovell. My father is dead,and you're my aunts, you know, so I've come to live with you. Mr. Bondsays my mother used to be your sister," she went on in an explanatorytone; "but she's dead too: she died long ago, so I'm all alone, exceptCloppy."

  In the hollow of her little bent arm was what seemed to be a gray muffwith a blue bow on it, but as she shook it out and held it up it provedto be a dog.

  "This is Cloppy," she said; "he's my dog, and he's such a dear, thoughhe's a lot of trouble. Do you like dogs?"

  Now Miss Priscilla Flint did _not_ like dogs, but that was a matter ofsmall importance compared with the dire calamity which threatened herquiet household. Her very cap-bows shook with the vehement decision ofher tone as she answered:

  "No, I do _not_ like dogs, and still less do I like visitors. I cannotturn you from my door in the middle of the night, but nevertheless youmust go away as soon as I can arrange it, for you cannot live here."

  Then Ladybird laughed again--such a gay, merry, mirthsome laugh.

  "Why, aunty," she said, "I'm not company; I'm one of the family. And I'mnot visiting you; I've come to live here forever and ever. This is myhome, and I haven't any other. And you'll learn to love Cloppy, too, he'sso soft and cuddly. Just hold him once."

  She put the blinking Skye terrier into Miss Priscilla's arms, whichpromptly unfolded and let the dog drop to the floor.

  Then Ladybird laughed again.

  "Oh, you funny aunty," she cried, and turning to Miss Dorinda saidbrightly, "Don't you like dogs, either?"

  "Not very much," said Miss Dorinda, looking at her new-found relativewith a sort of fascination.

  "Well, never mind," said Ladybird, cheerfully, as she took Cloppy up andthrew him over her arm like a folded shawl, "I won't let him bother youany. And now shall we go to bed?"

  This suggestion, though timely, gave Miss Priscilla another shock. Nopreparations had been made for such hospitality, and at Primrose Hallnothing was ever done without preparation.

  "Come on, then," said the guest, interpreting the silence to meanconsent; and taking the candle that Martha had set down, she darted upthe wide, old-fashioned staircase. At the first turn she paused.

  "Where is my room, aunty?" she inquired, looking back at her hostess.

  As she stood there on the great square landing, with one foot on thestair above, and the candle held high above her head, she looked so whiteand eerie, so like a small wraith, that Miss Priscilla could scarcelybelieve she was real, and indulged in a vague hope that the vision woulddisappear as suddenly as it had come.

  But Martha felt that it was her turn now, and she said:

  "Shall I make up the spare-chamber bed, ma'am?"

  "Yes," said Miss Priscilla, catching gladly at a temporary solution ofthe problem; "take her there, and put her to bed. I'll make no plansuntil morning." And shutting her teeth together with a snap, MissPriscilla went to her room and was seen no more that night.

  Miss Dorinda did likewise, and Martha said:

  "Now, if you'll come with me, little miss, I'll try to make youcomfortable."

  Ladybird, still holding her dog, followed Martha to the great sparebed-chamber.

  "Is this my room?" she said wonderingly, looking at the massive mahoganyfurniture and old-fashioned decorations.

  "It is for to-night, miss, whatever happens to-morrow."

  "Oh, I like it," said the child, contentedly; "only, it seems so big. Butit's very pleasant, and when my things come, I can stack them all away inthese big bureaus and chests of drawers. But what a funny bed! It's likea queen's bed. I'll play I'm a queen, and you be my lady in waiting, willyou, Martha?"

  "Yes, miss," said the good-natured Martha, smiling at the strange littlegirl, who had already won her heart. "And where's your bag, miss, withyour night-clothes?"

  "Why, do you know, I forgot it and left it on the train. I came alonefrom Boston, and when the man said 'All out for Plainville,' I justjumped out and forgot everything. But you can lend me a nightie, can'tyou? and to-morrow I think my boxes will come."

  So Martha provided her new charge from her own wardrobe; and the childlaughed gleefully when, in a night-dress far too long for her, and aruffled night-cap tied under her chin, she found herself ready to climbinto the four-poster bed.

  There was a wide dimity ruffle all around the top, and a dimity valancebelow, and long dimity curtains all around. These were looped back at oneside with huge rosettes, and with Martha's assistance the little girlstepped on a chair, and so up on the high feather bed. As she sank downinto it, and it nearly closed over her, she laughed merrily.

  "It is like drowning in the sea," she said; "the billows are high on bothsides of me. Where's Cloppy, Martha?"

  "Here he is, miss. Shall I put him in the cellar?"

  "Cellar? No, indeed; put him at the foot of the bed, please; and I hopehe won't smother. Oh, how good these sheets smell! Why do they?"

  "That's lavender, miss; we always keep it between the fresh linen."

  "Well, it's just lovely. Good night, Martha."

  "Good night, miss," and Martha took the candle and went away, andLadybird was asleep in ten seconds.