Part 6 (1/2)

Robinson wants to see you, ma'am.' So aunt put on her best collar, and a little lace cap, and down she went.

”'My!' said Loulou, 'I should like to see him, too.'

”'So should I,' said Bolton, whose pet name is 'Pepper.'

”'Dear me! I, too,' cried Anna, whose pet name is 'Tot.'

”'And me! me! me!' said little Walter, jumping up and down.

”So Loulou, in a great state of delight, rushed up to the washstand and washed her face and hands; then she took Pepper and scrubbed him well--rubbing his nose almost off to get his face dry--and dressed him in all his best Sunday clothes, and told him to sit down in his little chair, perfectly stiff and straight, till the rest were ready; and down little Pepper sat, and hardly dared to wink, for fear of getting his clothes tumbled.

”Then she took little Tot, and polished her face, and brushed her hair as hard as she could, and Tot never cried the least bit, when Loulou accidentally turned the brush round and gave her a thump with the back of it; but just sat down by Pepper when her dressing was over, and kept as still and looked as grave as if she were in church.

”And now Loulou took dear little Walter in hands, and made him as fine as you please; and then they all marched down stairs on tip-toe, trembling with expectation.

”They opened the parlor door and entered very softly, and stared with all their eyes. But where was he?

”There was n.o.body there but their mamma, and a very quiet-looking gentleman in a plain black coat, and a pair of spectacles, set on the very end of his nose, who appeared to be showing her some curious coins.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROBINSON CRUSOE.]

”The children stood perfectly still for a moment. They seemed to be struck dumb. Then Loulou exclaimed:

”'Why, _mamma_, we have come down on purpose to see ROBINSON CRUSOE!!