Part 55 (1/2)

”Where are the folks?” he asked, without paying the least attention to my asking him over and over what was in the box.

”May and Candace are killing every snake in the driftwood behind the barn, Sh.e.l.ley and mother are down in the orchard, and father and the boys are hauling corn.”

”Go tell the boys to come quickly and keep quiet,” he said. ”But don't let any one else know I'm here.”

That was so exciting I almost fell over my feet running, and all three of them came quite as fast. I stood back and watched, and I just danced a steady hop from one foot to the other while those men got the big box off the wagon and opened it. On the side I spelled Piano, so of course it was for Sh.e.l.ley. It was so heavy it took all six of them, father and the three boys, the driver and another very stylish looking man to carry it. They put it in the parlour, screwed a leg on each corner, and a queer harp in the middle, then they lifted it up and set it on its feet, under the whatnot, and it seemed as if it filled half the room. Then Frank spread a beauteous wine coloured cover all embroidered in pink roses with green leaves over it, and the stylish man opened a lid, sat down and spread out his hands. Frank said: ”Soft pedal! Mighty soft!” So he smothered it down, and tried only enough to find that it had not been hurt coming, and then he went away on the wagon. Father and the boys gathered up every sc.r.a.p, swept the walk, and put all the things they had used back where they got them, like we always did.

Then Frank took a card from his pocket and tied it to the music rack, and it read: ”For Sh.e.l.ley, from her brothers in fact, and in law.” To a corner of the cover he pinned another card that read: ”From Peter.”

”What is that?” asked father.

”That's from Peter,” said Frank. ”Peter is great on finis.h.i.+ng touches.

He had to outdo the rest of us that much or bust. Fact is, none of us thought of a cover except him.”

”How about this?” asked father, staring at it as if it were an animal that would bite.

”Well,” said Frank, ”it was apparent that practising her fingers to the bone wouldn't do Sh.e.l.ley much good unless she could keep it up in summer, and you and mother always have done so much for the rest of us, and now mother isn't so strong and the expenses go on the same with these youngsters; we know you were figuring on it, but we beat you.

Put yours in the bank, and try the feel of a surplus once more.

Haven't had much lately, have you, father?”

”Well, not to speak of,” said father.

”Now let's shut everything up, ring the bell to call them, and get Sh.e.l.ley in here and surprise her.”

”She's not very well,” said father. ”Mother thinks she worked too hard.”

”She's all right now, father,” I said. ”She is getting pink again and rounder, and this will fix her grand.”

Wouldn't it though! There wasn't one anywhere, short of the city.

Even the Princess had none. Father hunted up a song book, opened it and set it on the rack. Then all of us went out.

”We'll write to the boys, mother and I, and Sh.e.l.ley also,” said father.

”I can't express myself just now. This is a fine thing for all of you to do.”

Frank seemed to think so too, and looked rather puffed up, until Leon began telling about his horse. When Frank found out that Laddie, who had not yet branched out for himself, had given Leon much more than any one of them had Sh.e.l.ley, he looked a little disappointed. He explained how the piano cost eight hundred dollars, but by paying cash all at once, the man took seven hundred and fifty, so it only cost them one hundred and fifty a piece, and none of them felt it at all.

”Sometimes the clouds loom up pretty black, and mother and I scarcely know how to go on, save for the help of the Lord, but we certainly are blest with good children, children we can be proud of. Your mother will like that instrument as well as Sh.e.l.ley, son,” said father.

Frank went out and rang the bell, tolled it, and made a big noise like he always did when he came unexpectedly, and then sat on the back fence until he saw them coming, and went to meet them. He walked between mother and Sh.e.l.ley, with an arm around each one. If he thought Sh.e.l.ley looked badly, he didn't mention it. What he did say was that he was starved, and to fly around and get supper. I thought I'd burst. They began to cook, and the boys went to feed and see Leon's horse, and then we had supper. I just sat and stared at Frank and grinned. I couldn't eat.

”Do finish your supper,” said mother. ”I never saw anything take your appet.i.te like seeing your brother. You'll be wanting a piece before bedtime.”

I didn't say a word, because I was afraid to, but I kept looking at Leon and he smiled back, and we had great fun. Secrets are lovely.

Mother couldn't have eaten a bite if she'd known about that great s.h.i.+ning thing, all full of wonderful sound, standing in our parlour.

When the last slow person had finished, father said: ”Sh.e.l.ley, won't you step into the front room and bring me that book I borrowed from Frank on 'Taxation.' I want to talk over a few points.”

All of us heard her little breathless cry, and mother said, ”There!” as if she'd been listening for something, and she beat all of us to the door. Then she cried out too, and such a time as we did have. At last after all of us had grown sensible enough to behave, Sh.e.l.ley sat on the stool, spread her fingers over the keys and played at the place father had selected, and all of us sang as hard as we could: ”Be it ever so humble, There's no place like home;” and there WAS no place like ours, of THAT I'm quite sure.