Ben Pepper

  XXI

  THE POSTPONED CHRISTMAS MORNING

  Well, the next day, what a Christmas it was to be sure! Jasper was tocome down in the morning to see all the fun of the last preparations, goupstairs after luncheon to be a prisoner in his room and rest for thegrand dinner and tree in the evening!

  All the boys in his set crowded in, pretty soon after breakfast, to thebig library.

  "O me!" cried Alexia, running in and raising her long hands, "what _did_make you come so early--the very idea!"

  "Well, it seems you are here, Alexia," said Pickering, coolly, loungingin one of the big easy-chairs.

  "Oh, that's quite different," said Alexia, nowise abashed, "and you knowit, Pickering. Why, Polly needs me!"

  "Does she?" said Pickering.

  "Yes, of course; so I had to come."

  Whereat Clare laughed, and one or two of the other boys joining in,Alexia turned on them. "You've no idea how much work girls have to do.Now, you boys don't lift a finger at any such a time as this."

  "Don't we?" exclaimed Pickering. "Well, that's a fine thing to say."

  "When we've been over here, at least Pick has, every day for a week, andthe rest of us ever so many times, helping Polly," cried Clare, in adudgeon.

  "Oh, well, that was such a tiny little bit you could do, anyway," saidAlexia, airily, and tossing her long light braids. "The important partsall have to be done by us girls. Boys are in the way!"

  "Indeed! Well, why don't you go back and help Polly," retorted Clare,"instead of staying here with us."

  "Oh, I'm going," said Alexia. "I only came in to see what did make youall come so early. Why, it's hardly after breakfast."

  "Pick--oh, you here," Ben hurried in, and gave the long figure sprawlingin the easy-chair a clap on the back. "You're the very one Polly and Iwant; and come on, you chaps," addressing the other boys, "there's a jobwaiting for you all."

  Pickering got out of his chair with a little laugh, while the other boysroared.

  "What's the matter?" asked Ben, in a puzzle.

  "Oh, nothing," said Pickering, as he went out, "only Alexia is glad tosee us set to work."

  "Yes, I am," said Alexia. Then she laughed, and ran ahead to get firstto Polly.

  "There is always one good thing about her," said Clare, as the wholegroup of boys tumbled promiscuously after, "she never minds when thejoke is against her."

  "That's so," they nodded.

  There, sure enough, was quite sufficient to do for all the hands thatappeared, as they soon found when they reached the busy playroom, wherethe tree, all shrouded in white, was awaiting them. And pretty soon thehappy babel of voices kept time to the swift fingers as each boy took upthe piece of work that Ben or Polly gave to him.

  Alexia seemed to be quite busy flying here and there, doing a little ofeverything. "I'm glad you did come so early, Clare, after all," shecondescended to say, coming up to him in one of those flights, as he wastying an extra rope of laurel.

  "Thanks," said Clare. "Well, now, don't you suppose, seeing that you arehere, that you can hold that other end for me? 'Twould be a sight easierto tie the thing."

  "The very idea!" exclaimed Alexia, backing off. "Now that's just like aboy. Why don't I ask you to come and help me tie laurel strips?"

  "Because you never tie them, I've observed," said Clare, composedly.

  "Well, it's because I have so many more important things to do," saidAlexia. "Anybody can tie a laurel string."

  "Can they?" said Clare, laboring away slowly.

  "Yes, indeed," and Alexia skipped off, turned, and flew back. "O dear,do give me that old rope," seized the end, and flounced down on thewindow-seat beside Clare.

  "You needn't if you don't want to, Alexia," yet his face brightened. Ifthere was anything Clare hated to do it was to tie festoons.

  "Oh, yes, I will," said Alexia. "You boys do anything without asking thegirls to help. Here, let me tie for a while, and you hold."

  "Oh, you don't want to do that," said Clare, in amazement.

  "Yes, I do; it's stupid to hang on to an old rope and sit still.Besides, I can tie ever so much better than you," said Alexia,possessing herself of Clare's handful.

  "I don't doubt it," said Clare, bursting into a laugh, "though I neversaw you tie one in my life."

  "Oh, that's because we have to leave something for you boys to do," saidAlexia, nowise put out, but tying away at a great rate. "Polly and Ihave much more important things to do, as I've always told you. Here,why don't you bunch for me?"

  "But I've seen Polly tie wreaths and ropes ever so many times--oh, ahundred, I guess," said Clare, beginning to bunch for the long fingers.

  "Oh, well, Polly does everything," said Alexia, easily. "O dear me!Here's Cathie--and--all the other girls!" With that down went the greenfestoon to the floor, while she rushed to the door.

  Clare picked up the dangling thing, made a grimace, and set to workagain, while the bustle and happy hum of voices became quite a babel.

  "Now isn't that fine that you have come!" cried Polly, affectionately,and flying around the bevy of girls. "You see we've got to hurry so muchbecause we want to get the new wreaths and festoons up before Jaspercomes down."

  "So we'd better set about it," said Ben, in his practical fashion. "Nowthen, Cathie, suppose you help Polly, she's--"

  "Oh, no, I'm going to help Polly," cried Alexia, edging up between thetwo girls.

  "Why, I thought you were helping Clare a minute ago, and he hasn'tfinished," said Ben, in surprise.

  "Oh, that stupid boy," cried Alexia, running her arm through Polly's,"he never will be done."

  "Well, that's all the more reason why you should help him out then,"said Ben, with a laugh. "Now, Cathie, you're to help Polly," hefinished, just as if the most agreeable thing were being said for allhands.

  Alexia gave him a long look, then drew her arm slowly away from Polly'sand went back to Clare.

  "I don't see how Ben Pepper always makes us do what he wants us to," shegrumbled, throwing herself into a seat beside Clare. "Do give me thathorrid old thing and let's get through with it."

  "Oh, are you back again?" said Clare.

  "Yes, but I shouldn't be," declared Alexia, positively, and beginning tobunch furiously, "if Ben hadn't made me. You are so stupid and slow,Clare."

  "Thanks," said Clare, tying slowly. "Well, don't throw the bunches atme, they get all mixed up that way."

  "And you are so cross," said Alexia, breaking off little twigs of thelaurel with nervous fingers, "that I can't suit you any way, and here Iam working my fingers to the bone for you."

  "Would you rather tie?" asked Clare, trying not to laugh at her face.

  Alexia eyed the long festoon with a dubious gaze. "No, I shouldn't. Oh,I'll keep on at this if it kills me."

  "Oh, Jasper!" It was Ben who shouted it, and sprang to welcome him. Andthen, for the space of a minute, there was no more work done, whileeverybody crowded around to see Jasper fixed in a big easy-chair at theside of the long room, where he could get the best view of everything.Suddenly a small figure emerged from a heap of greens in the corner,where some thin little fingers had been picking out sprigs for the busyhands to weave into wreaths.

  "Hullo, Pip!" cried Jasper, putting out a warm hand, as Pip sidled up,"now that's good to see you," throwing his arm around the thinshoulders. "Having a good time, Pip?" and he bent his head for thereply.

  "Yes," said Pip, "I am."

  "Now that's fine," declared Jasper, again. "Well, fly back to work," andhe gave him a pat on the back.

  Pip sidled off again and lost himself in the pile of greens.

  "Miss Polly, they've come," announced Jane, opening the playroom door,and advancing to Polly.

  "Who?" asked Polly, holding a wreath for Ben to nail up over the littlewindow--"not that way, a little more this other side," she said, as Benplaced the nail in. "Who, Jane?"

  "Why, those poor children at Mrs. Van Ruypen's," said Jane.

  "What? Oh, you don't
mean they've come this morning!" exclaimed Polly,quite aghast, and dropping the wreath.

  "Now something has happened," cried Alexia, dropping the little bunch oflaurel. "I must see what it is," and she sprang off.

  "Polly, don't look so," she begged. "What is it?"

  Ben sat down on the step-ladder, having heard Polly's exclamation, butmissing Jane's words. "What is it?" he asked.

  "Oh, Ben, those dreadful children have come over this morning," criedPolly, aghast and quite swept along, "to spoil all our fun."

  Ben stepped down quickly. "Is that so, Jane?" he asked.

  "They shan't come in," cried Alexia, vindictively, and running over toslam the playroom door.

  "Alexia," called Ben, "come right straight back here."

  "Well, Polly doesn't want them," grumbled Alexia, yet she came back.

  "Never mind if they do come in," said Ben, laying a soothing hand onPolly's shoulder. "What harm will they do, Polly?"

  "They'll spoil every bit of our fun," said Polly, with flashing browneyes--"every single bit; you know they will, Ben, and that Elvira--oh,they _can't_ come in!"

  "There, you see," said Alexia, beginning to wring her hands. "You'd muchbetter let me shut the door and keep them out, Ben Pepper."

  "Polly," said Ben, and he turned her off to a quiet corner, "perhapsthey have never seen a Christmas tree. Why, what am I talking about?--we_know_ they haven't."

  "Well, they are coming to it to-night," said Polly, the flash dying downa bit, "and that's enough, I'm sure," she added obstinately.

  "But the fun of getting ready! Oh, Polly, supposing--supposing somebodyhad come into the little brown house and asked us to come to help get atree ready. Just think, Polly!"

  Polly dug the toe of her shoe into a heap of greens, then she suddenlythrew her arms around Ben's neck. "Oh, I'm a selfish pig, Ben," shecried. "Do let them come in."

  Ben gave her an approving pat. "Now you're fine!" he said. "Come on,we'll call them in," taking her hand.

  "Oh, now you've gone and made Polly let those dreadful children in,"cried Alexia, nervously, envious that she was not to go too, as they ranby her.

  "Jasper," said Ben, as they passed his chair, "it's the mountainchildren; they're waiting outside now. We're going to have them in tohelp us."

  "Whew!" whistled Jasper. Then he added in delight, "The very thing Iwanted most of all was to see those mountain children. Do hurry andfetch them."

  Which urging was not in the least necessary as soon appeared--Elvira, inher smart blue gown, clear in advance of either Polly or Ben. She pushedher straight locks out of her eyes and gazed around, wholly unabashed.

  "Hulloa, Viry!" called Joel, in delight, from the other end of the room.But she paid no attention to him, as she had not completed her gaze tosuit her.

  "I'm awful glad you've come," said Joel, springing off the chair onwhich he was standing, holding a festoon for Pickering to nail in place.

  "Here, come back, you beggar," cried Pickering.

  "We're having awful fun," announced Joel, coming up to her and stickingout a grimy little paw, all resin and pitch from the branches of pine hehad been breaking. His face was smeared as well.

  "You're awful dirty," said Elvira, picking the blue gown away as if shefeared contamination.

  "Well, it's fun, I tell you," said Joel, not a whit nonplussed. "Come onwith me," attempting to draw her off to Pickering and the desertedchair.

  "I ain't a-goin'," said Elvira, twitching off. "An' I'll slap you if youdon't go 'way."

  Meantime Ben had charge of the two boys. Matthew wore his overcoat andbeloved red tippet (which Madam Van Ruypen had hard work to make himdiscard in the house) wound around his head and ears. "Now, Jasper," andBen led them up to the big easy-chair, "this is Matthew and this is MarkHansell."

  "Oh, how do you do?" said Jasper, sociably. "I'm glad to see you."

  Matthew bobbed his head, bound up in the red tippet, solemnly, but Markwas too far gone in amazement at the scene before him to do anything butstare.

  "Now, Elvira," said Polly, going up to her, where she stood glaring atJoel, who still persisted in his sociable advances, "you come with me,"and she put out her hand.

  "I ain't a-goin' to," declared Elvira, stubbornly, and putting her handsback of her.

  "Oh, you bad, wicked, awful girl!" cried Alexia, hovering near.

  "Elvira," said Polly, and there was a little white line coming aroundher mouth, "you will come with me, or else you must go home."

  "Not to stay with that great big lady," said Elvira, in dismay, herhands falling to her side and her face filling with terror.

  "Yes, you surely must," said Polly, decidedly, "go right back and staywith Madam Van Ruypen, unless you do as I say."

  "Oh, then I'll go with you." Elvira slipped her hand into Polly's, madea final grimace at Joel, who, dreadfully disappointed, went back aloneto Pickering.

  "So this is Elvira," said Jasper, looking at her kindly. She didn't seemto see the hand he put forth.

  "What you sittin' there for?" she demanded abruptly.

  "Oh--well--they make me," said Jasper, with a little laugh.

  "He's been sick, Elvira," Polly made haste to say. "Now come, child, youcan help me."

  "I don't want to. I'm goin' to stay here," said Elvira, laying a hand onJasper's chair.

  "Elvira!" Polly got no further, but it really wasn't necessary, for shewent without further words.

  "Polly, make her come over and help me," called Joel, from his chair.

  "No, she is going to stay with me," said Polly, but she gave a sigh.

  Pip, who had raised his head at entrance of the visitors, ducked itbehind the pile of greens at sight of Elvira. And now he shivered as herthin, high voice piped out, "Where's that other boy?"

  "The boys are all here," said Polly, absently, as indeed they were, evenlittle Dick, who was happy with Phronsie in a quiet corner, tying littlewreaths for one of her doll houses.

  "Oh, I don't mean these boys," said Elvira, waving her thin armsscornfully around the roomful. "They're no good. Where's that other boythat was at supper last night?" she craned her neck to catch the sightshe desired.

  "She means Pip," said Alexia. Pip, at hearing his name, unguardedlyraised his head.

  "There he is! There he is!" exclaimed Elvira, joyfully. And, desertingPolly, she rushed over to the pile of greens. "I'm goin' to play withyou," she said.

  But Pip slipped nimbly out and was over by the step-ladder andscrambling up.

  "Take her away," he howled, burrowing up to Ben. "Ow! Take her away!"

  Polly rushed over to the pile of greens.

  "He ran away," cried Elvira, with flashing eyes, "an' I had come to playwith him."

  "Elvira," said Polly, getting down on her knees to look into the angryeyes, "what did I tell you? Either you will mind what I say or Ben willtake you right over to Madam Van Ruypen's. Which shall it be?"

  For answer Elvira seized Polly's brown gown with both hands and sniffledinto it, "Oh, don't send me to that big old woman. Don't, don't, don't!"

  "Then will you let Pip alone?" said Polly, sternly.

  "Yes, yes," mumbled Elvira.

  "Very well, then come back with me," and Polly led her over to the workwith Ben.

  But as Pip would not come down from the step-ladder unless Ben broughthim, and even then he had eyes of terror for Elvira, there was somedelay before the wreath over the lattice window could be hung up.Meantime, Jasper was getting on famously with Matthew and Mark, who weresoon tying wreaths, one on either side of him.

  "You'd better take off your tippet, Matthew," said Jasper at length,seeing the drops of perspiration roll down the red cheeks.

  "Oh, I ain't hot," said Matthew, pulling the green string tight withstrong fingers.

  "Dear me," said a voice, strong-lunged and hearty, "this looks verycomfortable."

  "Oh, she's come!" Elvira dropped a green sprig she was holding for Pollyand seized her gown. There stood Madam Van Ruypen surve
ying the roomfulwith an air of the greatest satisfaction on her face.

  "Get her a chair, Ben," cried Polly. "Elvira," shaking herself free, "ifyou don't behave, you remember," and she hurried off to greet thevisitor.

  "Well, this is quite comfortable," repeated the old lady, first going upto speak to Jasper, and then sitting down in the chair that Ben brought,wiping it off carefully on the way.

  "She looks like a big polar bear," said Alexia, in a whisper to Clare,to whom she had flown up again, and was now bunching rapidly. "Dear me,I don't see how she can stand so many furs and things."

  "Well, she's taking them off, now," said Clare. "See, Ben's helpingher."

  "She thinks there's nobody like Ben," said Alexia, diving on the floorfor a specially nice green bit.

  "Well, there isn't," said Clare, holding up his festoon to squint alongits outline. "I do believe this is almost done, Alexia."

  "Well, I should think it was quite time," said Alexia, stretching herlong arms restfully back of her head. "You've been so awfully slow overit, Clare."

  "Yes, I do believe it is," repeated Clare, in a joyous tone.

  "And if that old woman is going to stay here all the morning," saidAlexia, "I shall just die. 'Twould be too awful for anything, Clare."

  "She wouldn't hurt you," said Clare, tying away with redoubled vigor atthe delightful prospect of soon having it through; "and if Polly and Bencan stand it, I guess you and I can."

  "Well, I'm going to turn my back on her," said Alexia, whirling aroundso that her light braids flew out, "then I shan't have to see her everyminute."

  "Yes," Madam Van Ruypen was saying, "I thought I'd bring over a fewthings that were forgotten for the tree, you know," pointing to itswhite shrouded outline with her long black glove. "They're out in thecarriage, Ben. Will you tell Carson to bring them in?"

  "What's she saying? Oh, what's she saying?" cried Alexia, wildly, andwhirling about again till her braids flew out the other way like pumphandles.

  "I thought you didn't want to see her," Clare burst out into a laugh.

  "Oh, this is different; she's telling something, and she doesn't sit uplike a great, stiff I-don't-know-what," said Alexia. Then she hopped upfrom her seat and ran over to the old lady's chair.

  "Yes, and I have something I'm going to bring over to-night," Madam VanRuypen was announcing, as Ben and Carson, the coachman, came in, theirarms laden with bundles of all shapes and sizes, all carefully wrappedfrom curious eyes.

  "Ow!" howled Joel, taking a flying leap from his chair. "Come on, Pip,she's got things!"

  "I sent for that minister, Mr. What's-his-name--oh, St. John," the oldlady was saying. "It will be a good thing for him to have a bit of citylife, and he can help to manage these children," she waved her blackgloves over to the two boys, but gave the most attention to Elvira afterall, "till I get a little accustomed to them. And he's to get here thisafternoon; so I'll bring him over to the tree to-night, Ben."