Part 19 (1/2)

But she gave her little sister's hand an affectionate squeeze, which satisfied the hungry and exacting heart of its small owner for the present.

Meanwhile the enormous wreath progressed well, and presently took upon important position over the house doorway. As the daylight was getting dim, and as it would, in the estimation of the children, be the cruellest thing possible if the full glories of the wreath were not visible to the eyes of the strangers when they approached Sleepy Hollow, lamps were cunningly placed in positions where their full light could fall on the large ”Welcome,” which was almost the unaided work of the twins and their small brothers.

But now six o'clock was drawing near, and Polly and Firefly joined the rest of the children in the hall. The whole house was in perfect order; an excellent supper would be ready at any moment, and there was little doubt that when the strangers did appear they would receive a most hearty welcome.

”Wheels at last!” said Bunny, turning a somersault in the air.

”Hurrah! Three cheers for the barbarians!” sang out Firefly.

”I do hope Virginia will be beautiful,” whispered Polly, under her breath.

Helen went and stood on the doorsteps. Polly suddenly raised a colored lamp, and waved it above her head.

”Welcome” smiled down from the enormous wreath, and shone on the features of each Maybright as the Doctor opened the door of the carriage, and helped a tall, slender girl, and a little boy in a black velvet suit, to get out.

”Our travelers are very hungry, Polly,” he said, ”and--and--very tired. Yes, I see you have prepared things nicely for them. But first of all they must have supper, and after that I shall prescribe bed.

Welcome, my dear children, to Sleepy Hollow! May it be a happy home to you both.”

”Thank you,” said the girl.

She had a pale face, a quant.i.ty of long light hair, and dreamy, sleepy eyes; the boy, on the contrary, had an alert and watchful expression; he clung to his sister, and looked in her face when she spoke.

”Do tell us what you are called,” said Polly. ”We are all just dying to know. Oh! I trust, I do trust that you are really Paul and Virginia. How perfectly lovely it would be if those were your real names.”

The tall girl looked full into Polly's eyes, a strange, sweet, wistful light filled her own, her words came out musically.

”I am Flower,” she said, ”and this is David. I am thirteen years old, and David is eight. Father sent us away because after mother died there was no one to take care of us.”

A sigh of intense interest and sympathy fell from the lips of all the young Maybrights.

”Come upstairs, Flower; we know quite well how to be sorry for you,”

said Helen.

She took the strange girl's hand, and led her up the broad staircase.

”I'll stay below,” said David. ”I'm not the least tired, and my hands don't want was.h.i.+ng. Who's the jolliest here? Couldn't we have a game of ball? I haven't played ball since I left Ballarat. Flower wouldn't let me. She said I might when I came here. She spoke about coming here all the time, and she always wanted to see your mother. She cried the whole of last night because your mother was dead. Now has n.o.body got a ball, and won't the jolliest begin?”

”I'll play with you, David,” said Polly. ”Now catch; there! once, twice, thrice. Aren't you starving? I want my tea, if you don't.”

”Flower said I wasn't to ask for anything to eat now that your mother is dead,” responded David. ”She said it wasn't likely we'd stay, but that while we did I was to be on my good behavior. I hate being on my good behavior; but Flower's an awful mistress. Yes, of course, I'm starving.”

”Well, come in to tea, then,” said Polly, laughing. ”Perhaps you will stay, and anyhow we are glad to have you for a little. Children, please don't stare so hard.”

”I don't mind,” said David. ”They may stare if it pleases them; I rather like it.”

”Like being stared at!” repeated Firefly, whose own sensitive little nature resented the most transient glance.

”Yes,” responded David, calmly; ”it shows that I'm admired; and I know that I'm a very handsome boy.”