XIII
A PIECE OF NEWS
"Collect the whole bunch of Peppers and send them into my writing-room,Marian." Old Mr. King mounting the stairs, turned to see that hiscommand was heard.
"You want Mother Pepper too, I presume?" said Mrs. Whitney, pausing atthe foot.
"Mother Pepper? No, indeed; the last person in the world I wish tosee," cried her father irritably. "The bunch of Pepper children, Iwant, and at once; see that they all report to me directly." With thathe redoubled his efforts and was soon at the top of the long oakensteps.
Polly and Ben closely followed by Joel, David and Phronsie soon rushedover the same ascending thoroughfare, and presented themselves, flushedand panting, at the writing-room door.
"Come in," called Mr. King from within.
"Here we are, sir," said Ben, spokesman by virtue of being the eldest.
"Yes, yes," said Mr. King nervously, and turning away from some papershe was fumbling to occupy the waiting moments. "Well, do sit down, allof you. I sent for you to have a talk about something that you--thatyou--well, do sit down."
So all the Peppers deposited themselves in various resting-places; allbut Joel. He immediately marched up to the old gentleman's chair.
"If it's good news," he said abruptly, "please let us have it rightthis minute. But if it's bad, why," a gathering alarm stole over hischubby countenance, as he scanned the face before him, "I'm goingout-doors."
"It's good or bad news according as you take it," said the oldgentleman. "It ought to be good. But there," pushing back his chair tolook at the row of anxious figures the other side of the table, "do sitdown with the rest, Joe, and stop staring me out of countenance."
Polly at that, pushed a chair over toward Joel, who persuading himselfinto it, sat uncomfortably perched on its edge, where he stared harderthan ever.
"Hum! well, children, now you are all remarkably sensible boys andgirls. Remarkably sensible. I've always said so, and I see no reason tochange my opinion of you now. And so, although at first my news may notbe quite to your liking, why, you'll quickly make it so, and be veryhappy about it in the end. Hem! well, did you ever think that--thatyour mother might possibly marry again?"
The last words were brought out so abruptly, that to the five pairs ofears strained to catch their import, it seemed as if the news had shotby harmlessly. But after a breathing space the dreadful "marry," and"your mother," came back to them, bringing the several owners of theears out of their chairs at one bound.
"Our mother!" Ben hoarsely exclaimed.
"Oh! how can you?" cried Polly passionately, a little white lineshowing around her mouth, "say such perfectly dreadful things, sir!"
Phronsie clasped her hands in silent terror, and raised big eyes to hisface. David began to walk helplessly down the apartment. "See here!"said Joel, turning to the others, "wait a minute, and hold on. Perhapsit's you, sir," whirling back to question, with piercing eyes, the oldgentleman, "who's going to marry our mother. Then it's all right!"
"Me!" roared the old gentleman. "Oh! bless my soul, what should I wantto marry for at my time of life? Oh! my goodness me."
His distress was now so frightful to see, that it brought the Peppersin a measure out of theirs; and they began at once to endeavor tosoothe him.
"Don't--oh! don't," they cried, and a common trouble overwhelming them,they rushed around the table, seized his hands, and patted hisshoulders and hair. "Oh! this is very dreadful," gasped Polly, "butdon't you feel badly, dear, dear Grandpapa."
"I should think it was," said Mr. King. "Phronsie, here, child, getinto my lap. I'll come to myself then. There, now, that's somethinglike," as Phronsie, with a low cry, hopped into her usual nest. "Nowperhaps I can communicate the rest of my news, when I get my breath."
The Peppers held theirs, and he began once more. "Now, children, itisn't in the course of nature for such a fine bright woman as yourmother to remain single the rest of her life; somebody would be sure tocome and carry her off. I'm glad it's to be in my lifetime, for now Ican be easy in my mind, and feel that you have a protector when I amgone. There, there, we won't talk about that," as the young facesturned dark with sudden pain, while Joel rushed convulsively to thewindow, "you can see how I feel about it."
"Are you glad?" cried Ben hoarsely. Polly for her life could not speak.The whole world seemed turning round, and sinking beneath her feet.
"Yes, I am," said the old gentleman, "and it won't alter the existingstate of things, for he will live here with us, and things will be justthe same, if only you children will take it rightly. But I've no doubtyou will in the end; no doubt at all," he added, brightening up, "foryou are very sensible young people. I've always said so."
"Who is he?" The dreadful question trembled on all the lips; but no oneasked it. Seeing this, Mr. King broke out, "Well, now of course youwant to know who is going to marry your mother, that is, if you arewilling. For she won't have him unless you are to be happy about it.Would you like Dr. Fisher for a father?"
Joel broke away from the window with a howl, while Polly tumultuouslythrew herself within the kind arms encircling Phronsie.
"Next to you," cried the boy, "why, he's a brick, Dr. Fisher is!"
"Why didn't you tell us before that it was he?" sobbed Polly, withjoyful tears running over her face. Davie, coming out of his gloomywalk, turned a happy face towards the old man's chair, while Ben saidsomething to himself that sounded like "Thank God!"
Phronsie alone remained unmoved. "What is Dr. Fisher going to do?" sheasked presently, amid the chatter that now broke forth.
"He's going to live here," said old Mr. King, looking down at her, andsmoothing her yellow hair. "Won't that be nice, Phronsie?"
"Yes," said Phronsie, "it will. And he'll bring his funny old gig,won't he, and Ill drive sometimes, I suppose?" she added with greatsatisfaction.
"Yes; you will," said the old gentleman, winking furiously to keep backthe excited flow of information that now threatened the child. "Well,Phronsie, you love Dr. Fisher, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," said the child, folding her hands in her lap, "love himvery much indeed."
"Well, he's going to be your father," communicated Mr. King, cautiouslywatching her face at each syllable.
"Oh, no!" cried Phronsie, "he couldn't be; he's Dr. Fisher." Shelaughed softly at the idea. "Why, Grandpapa, he couldn't be my father."
"Listen, Phronsie," and Mr. King took both her hands in his, "and I'lltell you about it so that you will understand. Dr. Fisher loves yourmother; he has loved her for many years--all those years when she wasstruggling on in the little brown house. But he couldn't tell her so,because he had others depending on him for support. They don't need himnow, and as soon as he is free, he comes and tells your mother and me,like a noble good man as he is, all about it. He's a gentleman,children," he declared, turning to the others, "and you will be glad tocall him father."
"I don't know what you mean," said Phronsie, with puzzled eyes. "DearGrandpapa, please tell me."
"Why, he is going to marry your mother, child, and we are all to livehere together just the same, and everything is going to be just ashappy as possible."
Phronsie gave a sharp and sudden cry of distress. "But Mamsie, myMamsie will be gone!" and then she hid her face in the old gentleman'sbreast.
"O dear, dear! get a glass of water, Polly," cried Mr. King. "One ofyou run and open the window. Phronsie, Phronsie--there, child, look upand let me tell you." But Phronsie burrowed yet deeper in theprotecting nest, regardless of his spotless linen.
"Polly, speak to her," he cried in despair; "where is she? gone for thewater? O dear! Here, Ben, you try. Dear, dear, what a blunderer I am."
"Phronsie," said Ben, leaning over the shaking figure, "you are makingGrandpapa sick."
Up came Phronsie's yellow head. "Oh, Grandpapa!" she wailed, puttingout an unsteady little hand, "I didn't mean to, dear Grandpapa,only--only Mamsie will be gone now."
"Bless your heart, you'll have Mamsie mor
e than ever," cried Mr. Kingheartily. "Here, you children, tell her. Polly, we don't want the waternow, she's come to," as Polly came rushing in with a glassful. "Makeher understand; I can't."
So Polly, setting down her glass, the others crowding around, took upthe task of making the piece of news as delightful as possible, andpresently Phronsie came out of her despair, to ask questions.
"Are you really and truly very glad, Polly?" she asked.
"Really and truly I am so glad I don't know what to do," said Polly,kneeling down by the chair-side. "Don't you see we are so much thericher, Phronsie? We have lost nothing, and we gain Dr. Fisher. Dearsplendid Dr. Fisher!"
"You've always wanted to repay Dr. Fisher for his kindness," said Mr.King, "and now's your chance, Polly."
"I guess he'll get his pay back for his stove," cried Joel in a burst;"Polly will wait on him, and kill herself doing things for him."
"And for your new eyes," sang Phronsie in a pleased way. "Oh, Polly!"She jumped out of the old gentleman's lap, and began to dance aroundthe room, softly clapping her hands and exclaiming, "Oh, Polly!"
"Well, now, children," said Mr. King, as the excitement ran low, "youjust run and tell your mother, every one of you, how happy she willmake you by bringing Dr. Fisher here as your father. Scamper, now!"
No need to urge them. On the wings of the wind ran the five Peppers upinto Mamsie's own room. Mrs. Pepper for once turning aside from theclaim of her pressing duties, was standing by the work table. Herestood the mending basket before her, piled to the brim with the weeklyinstallment of stockings big and little, clamoring for attention. Butthe usually busy needle lay idle, and the busier hands were folded, asthe mother-heart went over the words she knew were being rehearseddownstairs by the kind friend who had made a home for them. He waspleading her cause with her children.
"They shall be happy, anyway," she said softly to herself, "bless theirhearts!" as they burst in.
"Mother," said Ben--How the boy's cheek glowed! And what a world of joyrang in the usually quiet tones!--"we want to thank you for giving usDr. Fisher for a father."
"Mamsie," Polly hid her happy face on the dear neck, "I've always lovedhim, you know; oh! I'm so glad."
Joel whooped out something incoherent, but his face told the words,while Davie clasped one of the firm, closely folded hands.
"If you'll take me in your lap as much as ever," said Phronsiedeliberately, and patting the other hand, "why I shall be really andtruly glad, Mamsie."
"Bless your dear heart!" cried Mother Pepper, clasping her tightly,"and you children, all of you," and she drew them all within her arms."Now I want you to understand, once for all, that it isn't to be unlessyou all wish it. You are sure Mr. King hasn't persuaded you to like it?"
"Look at us," cried Ben, throwing back his head to see her eyes. "Do weact as if we had been talked over?"
At that, Polly burst into a merry laugh; and the others joining, MotherPepper laughing as heartily as the rest, the big room became thejolliest place imaginable.
"No, I don't really think you do," said Mrs. Pepper, wiping her eyes.
"Dear me!" cried Jasper, putting his head in the doorway, "what goodfun is going on? I'm not going to be left out."
"Come in, Jasper," they all called.
"And we've a piece of news that will make your hair stand on end," saidJoel gaily.
"Joe, don't announce it so," cried Polly in dismay, who dearly enjoyedbeing elegant. "Ben must tell it; he is the oldest."
"No, no; let Polly," protested Ben.
"Polly shall," said Jasper, hurrying in to stand the picture ofpatience before the group. "Hurry, do, for I must say my curiosity ishard to keep within bounds."
So Polly was gently pushed into the center of the circle. "Go on," saidJoel, "and hurry up, or I shall tell myself."
"Jasper," said Polly, her breath coming fast, "oh! you can't think; weare so glad"--But she got no further, for Phronsie, rushing out ofMother Pepper's arms, piped out suddenly:
"Dr. Fisher is coming here to live always and forever, and I'm going toride in his gig, and Mamsie likes him, and I'm going to call himfather; now, Jasper, I told you!"
"I should think you did," exclaimed Ben.
"Whew!" cried Jasper, "that is a piece of news all in one breath. Well,Mrs. Pepper, I'm glad of it, too. I congratulate you." With that, hemarched up to her, Phronsie hanging to his arm, and shook her handheartily.
And in two days everybody in the King set knew that the mother of thefive little Peppers was going to be married.
"I should think you'd want to be condoled with, Ben," said PickeringDodge, clapping him on the shoulder as he rushed down the aisle of thestore occupied by Cabot & Van Meter.
"Halloo!" said Ben, "can't stop," rushing past.
"I suppose not," said Pickering carelessly, and striding after, "soI'll whisper my gentle congratulations in your ear 'on the wing.' ButI'm awfully sorry for you, Ben," he added, as he came up to him.
"You needn't be," said Ben brightly, "we are all as glad as can be."
"Sweet innocent, you don't know a stepfather," said Pickeringlugubriously.
"I know Dr. Fisher," said Ben, "that's enough."
"Well, when you want comfort, come to me," said Pickering, "or youruncle!"
"Don't you fill Ben's ears with your foolishness," said the SeniorPartner, coming out of the counting-room. "Take yourself off,Pickering; you're hindering Ben."
Pickering laughed. "I'm caught in the very act. Now, Ben, remember I'myour friend when you get into trouble with your dear pa. Good-by,Uncle," with a bright nod, and a lazy shake of his long figure. "Tradealways demoralizes me. I'll get back to my books," and he vanished asquickly as he came.
"Back to your books," said his uncle grimly, "hum, I wish you would.See here, Ben," he put a controlling hand on the boy's shoulder, "oneword with you," marching him into the private office of the firm."Don't you follow Pickering too closely, my boy," he said abruptly;"he's a good lad in the main, but if he is my nephew, I must give youwarning. He's losing ground."
Ben lifted his head in sudden alarm. "Oh! I hope not, sir," he said.
"It's a fact. Master Nelson says he could be first scholar in thegrammar, but for the last six months he's failed steadily. There's noparticular reason, only ambition's gone. And when you say that, youmean there's a general collapse of all my hopes concerning him."
"Oh! no, sir," Ben kept on protesting, his ruddy cheek losing itscolor. "He'll take hold by and by and give a pull at his books again."
"It isn't a pull now and then that gets a man up hill," observed Mr.Cabot, leaning back in his revolving chair to look into the blue eyes,"that you know as well as I. Now, Ben, I'm not going to see you throwaway your prospects, too. Don't let him influence you in the wrong way.He's bright and attractive, but don't pay attention to his ridicule ofgood things."
"I've a mother," said Ben proudly, "and I don't believe any boy couldsay much to me, that I'd think of twice, if she didn't like it."
"You always tell her everything, do you, Ben?" asked Mr. Cabot with acurious glance.
"I should think so, sir," said Ben, with a short laugh.
"You'll do, then," said Mr. Cabot, bringing his palm down on a pile ofunread letters awaiting him. "Go ahead. I don't promise anything, but Iwill say this. If you work on as you have done these two years sinceyou came in here as errand boy, Ben, I'll make you a power in thehouse. Understand I don't expect you to do brilliant things; that isn'tin your line. You will be a success only as a steady, faithful worker.But keep at it, and hang on to Cabot & Van Meter, and we'll hang on toyou."