CHAPTER XXIV
The Statue from India
ALL the shops in Lakeville wore a holiday air, for money was plentifuland trade was unusually brisk. The windows were gay with wreaths ofholly and glittering strings of Christmas-tree ornaments. Clerks werebusy and smiling. Customers, alert for bargains, crowded about thecounters and parted cheerfully from their cash. Persons in the streets,laden with parcels of every shape, size and color, pushed eagerlythrough the doors or hurried along the busy thoroughfares. All worean air of eager expectancy, for two weeks of December were gone andChristmas was fairly scrambling into sight.
The five girls had money to spend. Very little of it, to be sure,belonged to the Cottagers; but Henrietta had a great deal, and,as they all went together on their shopping expeditions, it didn'tmatter very much, as far as enjoyment went, who did the purchasing.Bettie said that it was quite as much fun to help Henrietta pick outa five-dollar scarf pin for Simmons, the butler, as it was to chooseten-cent paper weights for Bob and Dick. Besides, no one was obligedto go home empty-handed, because it took all five to carry Henrietta'spurchases.
All five were making things besides. Sometimes they sewed at Jean's,sometimes at Henrietta's, occasionally at Marjory's and once in awhile at Mabel's. They liked least of all to go to Marjory's becauseAunty Jane, who was a wonderfully particular housekeeper, objectedto their walking on her hardwood floors and seemed equally averseto having them step on the rugs. As they couldn't very well use theceiling or feel entirely comfortable under the battery of Aunty Jane'sdisapproving glances, they liked to go where they were more warmlywelcomed. Perhaps Henrietta's once-dreaded home was the most popularplace, though in that fascinating abode they could not accomplish agreat deal in the sewing line because Henrietta invariably producedsuch a bewildering array of unusual belongings to show them that theireyes kept busier than their fingers. In another way, however, theyaccomplished a great deal. Henrietta, who was really very clever withher needle, had started at one time or another a great many differentarticles. These, in their half-finished condition--the changeablegirl was much better at beginning things than at completing them--shelavishly bestowed on her friends. Lovely flowered ribbons, dainty bitsof silk and lace, curious scraps of Japanese and Chinese embroidery,embossed leather and rich brocades, all these found their way into theCottagers' work-bags.
Out of these fascinating odds and ends they fashioned gifts for Mrs.Crane, Anne Halliday's mother, their out-of-town relatives, theirparents and their school-teachers. They wanted, of course, to buy everytoy that ever was made for Rosa Marie, little Anne Halliday, PeterTucker and the Marcotte twins; but Mr. Black, meeting them in thetoy-shop one day, implored them to leave just a few things in the shopsfor him to buy, particularly for Rosa Marie and little Peter Tucker,his namesake.
And now, Mabel was immensely pleased with Henrietta; for, one day, RosaMarie, cured of her cold, had been dressed in her cunning little Indiancostume for the new girl's benefit. Rosa Marie had looked so very muchmore attractive than when she had had a cold that Henrietta had beengreatly taken with her. As the way to Mabel's affections was throughapproval of Rosa Marie, Henrietta quickly found it, so the threatenedbreach was healed.
"Oh, Mrs. Crane," Henrietta had cried, on beholding the little brownperson in buckskin and feathers, "do let me telephone for James tobring the carriage so I can take Rosa Marie to our house and show herto my Grandmother. I'll take the very best of care of her. And all fourof the girls can come with her, so she won't be afraid."
"Oh, _do_," pleaded the others.
"Well, it's mild out to-day," returned Mrs. Crane, glancing out thewindow, "and a little fresh air won't hurt her. I guess her coat willgo on right over these fixings and I can tie a veil over her head.You'll find a telephone in the library, on Mr. Black's desk."
Half an hour later, the six youngsters, carefully tucked betweensplendid fur robes, were on their way to Mrs. Slater's.
"I have a perfectly heavenly plan," said Henrietta, her black eyessparkling with impishness. "Want to hear it?"
"Of course we do," encouraged the Cottagers.
"You see," explained Henrietta, "a large box came from Father thismorning. It hasn't been opened yet; but Greta and Simmons don't knowthat. I'm going to make them think that Rosa Marie is what came in thatbox--it's time I cheered them up a little, for Simmons has lost somemoney he had in the bank and Greta is homesick for the old country.Will you help?"
"Ye-es," promised Jean, doubtfully, "if you're not going to hurtanybody's feelings."
"Shan't even scratch one," assured Henrietta. "Now, when we reach thehouse, I'll slip around to the basement door with Rosa Marie--the cookwill let us in--and you must ring the front-door bell because that willtake Simmons out of the way while I get up the back stairs. Ask forGrandmother, and I'll come down and get you when I'm ready."
So the girls asked for Mrs. Slater--every one of them now liked theentertaining old lady very much indeed--and chatted with her merrilyuntil Henrietta came running down the stairs.
"Grannie," asked the lively girl, pressing her warm red cheek againstMrs. Slater's much paler one, "would you like to be amused? Would youlike to be a black conspirator and humble your most haughty servitor tothe dust? Then you must ascend to my haunted den and not say a singleword for at least five minutes. Come on, girls."
In Henrietta's oddly furnished room there were two large East Indiangods and one heathen goddess. Henrietta had managed to group theseinteresting, Oriental figures in one corner of the spacious chamber,with appropriate drapings behind them. Near them she had placed anempty packing case, oblong in shape and plastered with curious, foreignlabels. It looked as if it were waiting to be carried away to thefurnace room or some such place.
Darkening her bedroom and her dressing room, she placed her obliginggrandmother and her four friends behind the heavy portieres.
"You can peek round the edges," said she, "but you mustn't be seen orheard or even suspected."
Then, fun-loving Henrietta brought Rosa Marie from another room,removed her wraps, concealed them from sight and placed the stolidchild in a sitting posture on a large tabouret near one of the richlycolored statues. Next she rang for Greta, and ran downstairs in personto ask Simmons to come at once to remove the heavy packing case.
Simmons obeyed immediately and just as the pair reached Henrietta'sdoor, Greta, who had been in her own room, joined them. All threeentered together.
"Don't you want to see my lovely new statue?" asked Henrietta. "There,with the rest of my heathen friends."
"Ho," said Simmons, leaning closer to look. "_That's_ wot came in that'eavy box. Another 'eathen god from Hindia."
"ANOTHER 'EATHEN GOD FROM HINDIA."]
"He ees very pretty god-lady, Miss Henrietta," approved Greta. "Looksmost like real."
Rosa Marie, awed by her strange surroundings, played her part mostbeautifully. For a long moment she sat perfectly still. But, just asSimmons leaned forward to take a better look at her, Rosa Marie, whohad suddenly caught a whiff of pungent smoke from the joss-sticksthat Henrietta had lighted to create a proper atmosphere for her godsand goddesses, gave a sudden sneeze. The effect was all that could bedesired. Simmons leaped backward and Greta, who was excitable, gave apiercing shriek.
The hidden girls restrained their giggles, but only with difficulty;and Bettie said afterwards that she could feel Mrs. Slater shaking withhelpless laughter.
"My heye!" exclaimed Simmons, "wot'll they be mykin' next! Look!Hit's movin' 'is 'ead."
Rosa Marie proceeded deliberately to move more than her head. Puttingboth hands on the tabouret, she managed somehow to lift herselfclumsily to all-fours, balancing uncertainly for several moments inthat ungainly attitude. Then she rose to her feet, and, stiffly, likesome mechanical toy, stretched out her arms toward Henrietta. Gretabacked hastily through the doorway; but Simmons eyed the swayingyoungster with enlightened eyes.
"Hit's a real biby, from Hindia," said he, "but think of hit comin'hall th
at wy in that there box. But them Indoos 'ave a lot of queertricks and Hi suppose they drugged 'im, mide a bloomin' mummy of 'imand sent directions for bringin' of 'im to."
"Take the box downstairs, please," said Henrietta, succeeding in thedifficult task of keeping her face straight. "This is a little NorthIndian from Lakeville, Simmons, not an East Indian from India, and itwas only some things that I'm not to look at till Christmas that camein the box."
"Hi _thought_ hit was mighty stringe," returned Simmons, looking verymuch relieved and not at all resentful. "Hit seemed sort of hawful,Miss 'Enrietta, to think as 'ow 'uman bein's could tike such chanceswith heven their hown hoffsprings. But, just the sime, Miss 'Enrietta,Hi've 'eard of them 'Indoos doing mighty queer things, and Hi, for one,don't trust 'em."