Part 11 (2/2)
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”I CAMED DOWN WHEN I WAS A BABY.”]
”That's what makes your hair so _goldy_,” said Bennie. ”Mother, did you ever see such eyes? Say, did you ever? So soft, and kinder s.h.i.+ny, too.”
”Children, don't stare at her; it makes her uneasy.”
”_I_ can't stare at her,” said Maria, bitterly. ”I suppose you don't mean me, mother.”
Mrs. Brooks only answered her poor daughter by a kiss.
”Well, little Katie, after you were born in _Nindiana_, you came to New York. When did you come?”
”One of these other days I camed here with Hollis.”
”Who's Hollis?”
”He's my own brother. Got a new cap. Had his hair cut.”
”Who did you come to New York to see?” ”My auntie.”
”Her auntie! A great deal of satisfaction we are likely to get out of this child,” said Mr. Brooks, laughing. He had not laughed before for a week.
”What's your auntie's name?”
”Aunt Madge.”
”Is she married?”
”O, yes; and so's Uncle 'Gustus. Married together, and live together, just the same.”
”Uncle 'Gustus who? Now we'll come at it!”
”Alling,” replied Fly, her quick eyes roving about the room, for she was tired of these questions.
”Allen, Augustus Allen!” said Mr. Brooks, in surprise; ”I wonder if there can be two of them. Tell me, child, how does he look?”
”Don't look like you,” replied Fly, after a keen survey of Mr. Brooks.
”Your face is pulled away down long, like that;” (stretching her hand out straight) ”Uncle 'Gustus's face is squeezed up short” (doubling her hand into a ball)
”I'll warrant it is the colonel himself,” said Mrs. Brooks, smiling at the description.
”Yes, that's the name of him; the 'kernil's' the name of him.”
”Is it possible!” said Mr. Brooks, looking very much pleased.
”Uncle 'Gustus has curly hair on his cheeks, on his mouf, all round.
_Not_ little p.r.i.c.kles, sticking out like needles.”
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