Part 21 (1/2)

”They're doing both. Katy said it was such a good chance, having Papa away, that she would have both the carpets taken up at once. There isn't going to be any dinner today, only just bread and b.u.t.ter, and milk, and cold ham, up in Katy's room, because Debby is helping too, so as to get through and save Papa all the fuss. And see,” exhibiting her sewing, ”Katy's making a new cover for Papa's pincus.h.i.+on, and I'm hemming the ruffle to go round it.”

”How nicely you hem!” said Elsie. ”I wish I had something for Papa's room too. There's my washstand mats--but the one for the soap-dish isn't finished. Do you suppose, if Katy would excuse me from the rest of my practising, I could get it done? I've a great mind to go and ask her.”

”There's her bell!” said Clover, as a little tinkle sounded up stairs; ”I'll ask her, if you like.”

”No, let me go. I'll see what she wants.” But Clover was already half-way across the hall, and the two girls ran up side by side. There was often a little strife between them as to which should answer Katy's bell. Both liked to wait on her so much.

Katy came to meet them as they entered. Not on her feet: that, alas! was still only a far-off possibility; but in a chair with large wheels, with which she was rolling herself across the room. This chair was a great comfort to her. Sitting in it, she could get to her closet and her bureau-drawers, and help herself to what she wanted without troubling anybody. It was only lately that she had been able to use it. Dr. Carr considered her doing so as a hopeful sign, but he had never told Katy this. She had grown accustomed to her invalid life at last, and was cheerful in it, and he thought it unwise to make her restless, by exciting hopes which might after all end in fresh disappointment.

She met the girls with a bright smile as they came in, and said:

”Oh, Clovy, it was you I rang for! I am troubled for fear Bridget will meddle with the things on Papa's table. You know he likes them to be left just so. Will you please go and remind her that she is not to touch them at all? After the carpet is put down, I want you to dust the table, so as to be sure that everything is put back in the same place.

Will you?”

”Of course I will!” said Clover, who was a born housewife, and dearly loved to act as Katy's prime minister.

”Sha'n't I fetch you the pincus.h.i.+on too, while I'm there?”

”Oh yes, please do! I want to measure.”

”Katy,” said Elsie, ”those mats of mine are most done, and I would like to finish them and put them on Papa's washstand before he comes back.

Mayn't I stop practising now, and bring my crochet up here instead?”

”Will there be plenty of time to learn the new exercise before Miss Phillips comes, if you do?”

”I think so, plenty. She doesn't come till Friday, you know.”

”Well, then it seems to me that you might just as well as not. And Elsie, dear, run into papa's room first, and bring me the drawer out of his table. I want to put that in order myself.”

Elsie went cheerfully. She laid the drawer across Katy's lap, and Katy began to dust and arrange the contents. Pretty soon Clover joined them.

”Here's the cus.h.i.+on,” she said. ”Now we'll have a nice quiet time all by ourselves, won't we? I like this sort of day, when n.o.body comes in to interrupt us.”

Somebody tapped at the door, as she spoke. Katy called out, ”Come!” And in marched a tall, broad-shouldered lad, with a solemn, sensible face, and a little clock carried carefully in both his hands. This was Dorry.

He has grown and improved very much since we saw him last, and is turning out clever in several ways. Among the rest, he has developed a strong turn for mechanics.

”Here's your clock, Katy,” he said. ”I've got it fixed so that it strikes all right. Only you must be careful not to hit the striker when you start the pendulum.”

”Have you, really?” said Katy. ”Why, Dorry, you're a genius! I'm ever so much obliged.”

”It's four minutes to eleven now,” went on Dorry. ”So it'll strike pretty soon. I guess I'd better stay and hear it, so as to be sure that it is right. That is,” he added politely, ”unless you're busy, and would rather not.”

”I'm never too busy to want you, old fellow,” said Katy, stroking his arm. ”Here, this drawer is arranged now. Don't you want to carry it into Papa's room and put it back into the table? Your hands are stronger than Elsie's.”

Dorry looked gratified. When he came back the clock was just beginning to strike.

”There!” he exclaimed; ”that's splendid, isn't it?”

But alas! the clock did not stop at eleven. It went on--Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen!