Part 2 (1/2)

”Well done, my little Republican!” cried Uncle George.

”What is that?” said Rea.

”I know,” said Jusy. ”It is a person that does not wish to have any king. There were Republicans in Italy; very bad men. Papa said they ought to be killed. Why do you call Rea by that name, Uncle George?” and Jusy straightened himself up like a soldier, and looked fierce.

Mr. Connor could hardly keep his face straight as he replied to Jusy: ”My dear boy the word does not mean anything bad in America; we are all Republicans here. You know we do not have any king. We do not think that is the best way to take care of a country.”

”My papa thought it was the best way,” haughtily answered Jusy. ”I shall think always as papa did.”

”All right, my man,” laughed Uncle George. ”Perhaps you will. You can think and say what you like while you live in America, and n.o.body will put you in prison for your thoughts or your words, as they might if you lived in Italy.”

It was near night when they reached the house. As they drove slowly up the long hill, the Chinamen were just going, on the same road, to their supper. When they heard the sound of the wheels, they stepped off the road, and formed themselves into a line to let the carriage pa.s.s, and to get a peep at the children. They all knew about their coming, and were curious to see them.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”The Chinamen were just going to their supper, and they formed themselves into a line.”--PAGE 60.]

When Rea caught sight of them, she screamed aloud, and shook with terror, and hid her face on her uncle's shoulder.

”Are those the savages?” she cried. ”Oh, don't let them kill Fairy;” and she nearly smothered the little dog, crowding her down out of sight on the seat between herself and her uncle.

Jusy did not say a word, but he turned pale; he also thought these must be the savages of which they had heard.

Mr. Connor could hardly speak for laughing. ”Who ever put such an idea as that into your head?” he cried. ”Those are men from China; those are my workmen; they live at Connorloa all the time. They are very good men; they would not hurt anybody. There are not any savages here.”

”Caterina said America was all full of savages,” sobbed Rea,--”savages and wild beasts, such as lions and wolves.”

”That girl was a fool,” exclaimed Jim. ”It was a good thing, Mr. George, you told me not to bring her over.”

”I should say so,” replied Mr. Connor. ”The idea of her trying to frighten these children in that way. It was abominable.”

”She did nothing of the kind,” cried Jusy, his face very red. ”She was talking to her cousin; and she thought we were asleep; and Rea and I listened; and I told Rea it was good enough for us to get so frightened because we had listened. But I did not believe it so much as Rea did.”

The Chinamen were all bowing and bending, and smiling in the gladness of their hearts. Mr. Connor was a good master to them; and they knew it would be to him great pleasure to have these little children in the house.

While driving by he spoke to several of them by name, and they replied.

Jusy and Rea listened and looked.

”What are their heads made of, Uncle George?” whispered Rea. ”Will they break if they hit them?”

At first, Mr. Connor could not understand what she meant; then in a moment he shouted with laughter.

Chinamen have their heads shorn of all hair, except one little lock at the top; this is braided in a tight braid, like a whiplash, and hangs down their backs, sometimes almost to the very ground. The longer this queer little braid is, the prouder the Chinaman feels. All the rest of his head is bare and s.h.i.+ning smooth. They looked to Rea like the heads of porcelain baby dolls she had had; and that those would break, she knew by sad experience.

How pleased Rea and Jusy were with their beautiful rooms, and with everything in their Uncle George's house, there are no words to tell.

They would have been very unreasonable and ungrateful children, if they had not been; for Mr. Connor had not forgotten one thing which could add to their comfort or happiness: books, toys, everything he could think of, or anybody could suggest to him, he had bought. And when he led little Rea into her bedroom, there stood a sweet-faced young Mexican girl, to be her nurse.

”Anita,” he said, ”here is your young lady.”

”I am very glad to see you, senorita,” said the girl, coming forward to take off Rea's hat; on which Rea exclaimed,--

”Why, she is Italian! That is what Caterina called me. And Caterina had a sister whose name was Anita. How did you get over here?”