Part 26 (2/2)
”But you can sit by me,” returned Meg; ”and father-Jem has a secret for you.”
”Has he?” asked d.i.c.kie, looking interested.
”Did you not hear him hammering and planeing in the other room?”
d.i.c.kie nodded. ”Were that the secret?”
”I think so; would you not like to be dressed and see?”
Cherry stood looking on, and now added her persuasions; and d.i.c.kie, in hopes of finding out ”the secret,” allowed himself to be arrayed in his clothes, which, under Mrs. Seymour's soap and water and skilful fingers, could hardly be recognized for the same old garments which he had left off.
Cherry too had been busy, and with Mrs. Seymour's direction had made him two brown holland pinafores which covered patches with clean neatness.
”Oh, d.i.c.kie!” exclaimed his sister, kissing him impulsively, ”I never did see you look so nice since before mother was ill.”
”That he does,” said Meg, smiling. ”Now brush his hair, dear, and then he can sit on your lap till I am ready.”
It was a mild, suns.h.i.+ny day in April when Meg first walked into her sitting-room.
Cherry had been busy making everything as cosy as she could devise, and Meg looked round with satisfaction.
”You have been clever, Cherry,” she said.
”Mrs. Seymour says I shall be very useful if I take pains,” answered Cherry, ”and I have been trying very hard to, mother-Meg, because I do eat so much.”
Cherry said this with compunction, and Meg laughed a little.
”Never mind that, dear. While I have been lying still I've been thinking of a lot of things you might do to get a little living.”
”Have you?” asked Cherry, sitting down by the fire with d.i.c.kie on her knee.
”Yes; you might help mother with her was.h.i.+ng sometimes; or you could learn to do nice needle-work. I mean to write to Mrs. MacDonald and ask her if she wants any done.”
”I did learn to work when I was at school,” said Cherry.
”You see, Cherry,” pursued Meg, ”it is not that we would not keep you altogether if you needed it, or it were right; but it will be much better and happier for you to have something to do; and then if you could earn enough to get some neat clothes and put a little by, how nice that would be.”
d.i.c.kie grew tired of this talk, and asked if his secret was going to be told.
Meg took him on her lap, and as he nestled his soft curls against her, she explained to him that they must wait till father-Jem came home.
Just as she was saying this the doctor's quick rap was heard at their door, and he entered at once.
”I am late, Mrs. Seymour,” he said; ”but I waited till the pressure of my work was over, because I want to have a good look at this little fellow's eyes. Does he never try to use them?”
”No,” answered Meg; ”he seems to dread the light so much.”
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