The afternoon was spent in rehearsing tableaux, the evening in playing
games, and acting charades.
For awhile Grace seemed to enjoy the fun, but an hour before the others
were ready to give it up, her father perceived that she was growing
weary and carried her off to bed.
“Shall I go with you, Gracie?” Lulu asked, glancing up from the game
she was playing.
“No, Lu; you’re having such a nice time; and papa and Agnes will ’tend
to me,” Grace answered, giving her sister a sweet, affectionate smile.
So Lulu went on with her game; but it was finished presently, and then
she stole quietly from the room and up-stairs to Grace’s bedroom.
“So you did come!” said Grace, who had just laid her head on her
pillow. “I like to have you, but oughtn’t you to stay with your
company?”
“I just want to speak to papa, and then I’ll go back to them,” answered
Lulu, going to his side.
He had seated himself by the bed, meaning to have a little loving chat
with Grace before leaving her for the night.
“Well, daughter, what is it?” he asked, putting an arm about Lulu and
stroking her hair caressingly with the other hand.
“I was thinking, papa, that I won’t have a chance for the least little
bit of a good-night-talk with you, because there’ll be company down
stairs to see and hear every thing, and you won’t want to come into my
room to say good-night as you most always do when we’re alone, because
of Lena and Eva being with me there.”
“But you are going to occupy the couch in your sitting-room, and when
you hear me coming you can shut the door between that and your bedroom.
So what is to hinder us from having a bit of private chat as usual?”
“Oh, yes; that will do nicely!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up
with pleasure, “but will you come, papa?”
“Yes,” he said, giving her a kiss. “Now run back to your mates and
enjoy yourself as much as you can till your bedtime comes.”
The three little girls came up to their rooms in gayest spirits, saying
to each other that they had been having a lovely time, but were careful
to move and talk quietly for fear of disturbing Grace and Rose Lacy who
was now asleep by her side.
“It’s quite too bad for us to turn you out of your bed, Lu,” said
Evelyn; “let me take the couch.”
“Or me,” said Lora; “you two are such great friends that I know you’d
like to sleep together.”
“Thank you both,” returned Lulu, “but you must have the bed; and you
needn’t pity me for having to sleep on the couch, for it is every
bit as comfortable. Besides papa is coming up presently to bid me
good-night—and you won’t care to see him; so I’ll shut the door between
the rooms and have him all to myself.”
“How nice of him!” exclaimed Lora. “My father never does that; I don’t
believe it ever so much as entered his head that he might; but mother
does.”
“Yes, I know it’s nice,” said Evelyn; “I remember how sweet it was to
have papa come to me in that way. I’m glad for you, Lu, that you have
such a father. I know if he were mine I should love him as dearly as
you do.”
“There, I hear his step!” cried Lulu; “so good-night, girls. Pleasant
dreams,” and she hurried into the next room, closing the door after her.
Her father entered by another at the same moment. “Are you quite ready
for me?” he asked.
“Yes, papa; I’m all ready for bed. I’ve put this warm dressing-gown on
over my nightdress, and the nice warm slippers you bought for me, on
my feet; so I’ll not take cold; and mayn’t I sit on your knee a few
minutes?”
“It is exactly what I want you to do,” he said, taking an easy chair
beside the grate, and drawing her into his arms. He held her close for
a moment, then lifted her to the desired seat, saying: “There, hold out
your feet to the fire and get them well warmed while we talk. Have you
any thing particular to say to me?”
“Yes, papa; I wanted to ask you if I mayn’t be the Peri to-morrow
evening?”
He did not answer immediately, and putting her arm round his neck and
looking coaxingly into his face, she repeated, “mayn’t I?”
He stroked her hair and kissed her before he spoke.
“I think,” he said at last, “that here is an opportunity for my little
girl to put in practice her good resolution to deny herself for the
sake of others.”
“I don’t like to,” she said in a half jesting tone, and with an arch
look and smile, “I wasn’t born good, and I’d rather please myself.”
“Yes, daughter, that is the way with us all; none of us were born good,
and we all love self-indulgence.”
“Papa,” she exclaimed in her vehement way, “I don’t believe you do! not
one bit! you’re always doing kindnesses to others, and I think you’re
just as unselfish as possible!”
He was musing again and seemed scarcely to notice what she said.
“Do you suppose my oldest daughter might be safely trusted to keep a
secret?” he asked presently.
“I hope so, papa; will you try me?”
“Yes; it is merely a suspicion of mine that I don’t want to trust to
any ears but yours. I think—indeed feel certain—that your Aunt Zoe
desires, as strongly as you do to be the Peri.”
“Then of course there isn’t any chance at all for me!” pouted Lulu, an
ugly frown on her downcast face.
“I hoped my little daughter would be generous enough to prefer
another’s pleasure to her own,” the captain remarked with a slight sigh.
“Don’t sigh, papa, don’t feel badly about it,” she entreated, hugging
him tight. “I will try to be good about it; I won’t say a word to
let any body know I’d care to be the Peri; and I’ll do my best to be
cheerful and pleasant, and to make them all enjoy themselves.”
“That is my own dear child,” he said, caressing her; “it is all I could
ask of you.”
“And now that I think about it, I’m sure Aunt Zoe has the best right,
because ’twas she who suggested having a magic cave and a Peri,” Lulu
said in her ordinarily pleasant tone; “beside, she has always been
kind to Max and Gracie, and ’most always to me too.”
“Perhaps always when you were deserving of it.”
“Yes, papa, I suppose so.”
“Well, daughter, it is high time you were in bed, so unless you have
something more to ask or to say, I will kiss you good-night and leave
you to your rest.”
“That’s all now, thank you, papa, only—do you think I’ve been a pretty
good girl to-day?” she asked with a wistful, longing look into his eyes.
“I do,” he said; “you gave up very nicely about the sleeping
arrangements. I have no fault at all to find with your conduct to-day,
and am very glad to be able to say so.”
Her face lighted up with joy. “Papa,” she said, her arm round his neck,
her cheek laid to his, “I’m just the happiest girl in the world when
you’re pleased with me.”
“And it gives me great happiness to be able to commend you,” he
returned. “Now, my darling, good-night. Go to bed and to sleep as soon
as you can.”
The magic cave was to be a surprise to most of the young guests,
and those who were in the secret guarded it carefully. The doors of
the parlor opening into the conservatory were found locked the next
morning, while amusements of various kinds, suited to the differing
ages and tastes, were provided in other parts of the mansion.
Before breakfast the captain called Lulu into his dressing-room and
told her it had been settled the previous evening that Zoe was to be
the Peri, Edward and Lester Leland the Genii, the turbaned figures
at the entrance to the conservatory would be Herbert and Harold, the
unseen musicians Aunt Elsie Leland and Mamma Vi.
“I’m satisfied, papa,” she said, “and I think it’s very good in them
all to be willing to help.”
“Yes,” he returned, “but I think, too, that they will enjoy the sport.
And I hope, daughter, that you also will get a great deal of enjoyment
out of it.”
“Oh, I haven’t a doubt but I shall, papa!” she responded. “I think it
will be splendid fun, and I’ve given up wanting to be the Peri.”
“I am glad to hear it!” he returned, “and I really think you will find
it more amusing to be one of the outside throng; you will see and hear
more of what is done and said than you could from the inside.
“Beside, as hostess you should be where you can give attention to your
guests, seeing that each one has as large a share of the fun as you can
secure for her, and that no one’s comfort is neglected.”
“That’s work I shall like, papa,” Lulu said, her eyes sparkling with
pleasure. “And I suppose it’ll be my business to find amusement for
them all while Mamma Vi and Aunt Zoe and the others are trimming the
conservatory and the magic cave?”
“Yes; and I expect to give you some help in that.”
“Will you, papa? Oh, I’m glad! All the girls say that you helped us to
have a great deal nicer time yesterday than we could have had without
you.”
“Ah! I feel quite complimented,” he said laughingly, stroking her hair
and giving her a hug, for she stood by his side with his arm about her
waist.
There was a light tap on the door, and Max’s voice asked, “May I come
in?”
“Yes,” said his father, and he entered with a cheery “Good morning,
papa. Good morning, Lu. I want to talk a little about the fun for
to-night. I’ve been thinking somebody should resist being blindfolded
and led into the cave, like that Mrs. Cecil did (in the story, you
know; I’ve been reading that chapter). It would make more fun.”
“Oh yes,” said Lulu; “of course it would! But who shall do it?”
“You, perhaps,” returned Max in a sportive tone; “you have about as
much talent in that line as any body of my acquaintance; there aren’t
many folks who’d dare resist papa’s authority for instance, as—”
“Max, Max! don’t tease your sister,” interrupted their father gravely;
for Lulu’s eyes were downcast and her cheeks hot with blushes. “She has
been very good and obedient of late, and I am sure has no intention of
resisting lawful authority in the future.”
“I beg your pardon, Lu,” Max said with hearty good-will. “I really
don’t think you have more or worse faults than I have myself.”
“Yes, I have, Maxie; you’re a thousand times better than I am,” sighed
Lulu, nestling closer in her father’s embrace; “I get dreadfully
discouraged with myself sometimes, and I do believe I’d give up trying
to be good if I didn’t know that papa loves me in spite of my badness.”
“Papa does indeed, dear child!” the captain said in tender tones.
“And he knows by experience how hard a fight it takes to rule a fiery
temper.”
“And perhaps there are other folks beside papa that care a little bit
for you, Lu,” said Max with an arch look and smile. “But say now, shall
you or I play Madam Cecil’s part?”
“You can if you want to,” she said, adding laughingly, quite restored
to good humor and cheerfulness, “I do believe you can be stubborn, too,
if you choose.”
“I hope so,” said their father; “a strong will is a very good thing if
used aright. It would grieve me to think my boy lacked firmness and
decision of character, for they will often be needed to keep him from
yielding to temptation to step aside from the paths of rectitude.”
A great variety of amusements had been provided, and all seemed to find
the day pass quickly and pleasantly.
On leaving the tea-table every one repaired, by invitation, to the
large parlor adjoining the conservatory, and many were the exclamations
of delight as they caught a glimpse of the interior of the latter.
Rare and beautiful plants and shrubs were massed on each side of the
central alley, their branches hung with myriads of tiny colored lamps,
and other glittering objects, including the fairies made by the ladies
and Lulu; and at the farther end could be seen the magic cave, also
hung with fairy lamps and jewels, in the midst the Peri arrayed in a
rich oriental costume, and with her attendant genii, one on each side,
while two turbaned figures stood guard in front of the glass doors
opening from the parlor, and soft strains of sweet music issuing from
some unseen quarter lent an added charm to the witchery of the scene.
“Can we go in? oh can we go in?” asked a chorus of eager young voices.
“Yes; one or two at a time,” answered the captain, opening the door,
and motioning to Maud Dinsmore, who happened to stand nearest, to pass
in.
She did so and was caught by the hand by one of the turbaned figures,
who bowed low and waved her on toward the cave, while a voice sang to
the accompaniment of the unseen musical instrument:
“Hush! the Peri’s cave is near.
No one enters scathless here;
Lightly tread and lowly bend,
Win the Peri for your friend.”
At the same time a muslin bandage was thrown over her eyes from behind,
her other hand taken, she felt herself led onward toward the cave, and
as she and her conductors paused at its entrance a whistle sounded long
and loud at her back.
She turned hastily round, but it rang out again behind her, again and
again, always behind her, turn which way she would; while the singer
repeated;
“Bend, bend, lowly bend,
Win the Peri for your friend.”
She obeyed with ready grace. A voice said:
“Homage done, you may be
Of this merry company,”
and with another blast of the whistle the bandage was taken from her
eyes, and a string which seemed to have been made fast to her sash put
into her hand, to which she gave a jerk, expecting to find the whistle
attached to it; but instead there was a golden scarf-pin of delicate
workmanship.
“Oh, how pretty!” she exclaimed. “Am I to keep it!”
But only the song answered:
“Away, away,
In the cave no longer stay,
Others come to share our play,”
and one of the attendant genii drew her aside to make room for the next
blindfolded victim, who was already being introduced in like manner as
she had been.
All, old and young alike, took part in the sport, going through the
same ceremonies, and they had a very merry time; indeed, the older
people seemed to feel almost as young as the children for the time
being.
Max carried out his plan of pretended reluctance, and in a way that
added a good deal to the fun; the gifts, too, were a source of much
mirth and jocularity. Most of them were pretty and valuable, but some
of little worth except for the sport occasioned by the incongruity of
their bestowal.
Old Mr. Dinsmore received a baby’s rattle; his son a lady’s head-dress,
while whistles and tops, and other articles equally inappropriate to
the age and sex of the receiver, were given to their wives and the
other ladies.
Zoe received the ring she had admired, and bestowed the uncomplimentary
pen-wiper she had made upon one of her young brothers-in-law.
Beautiful watch charms, from their father, fell to the lot of Lulu and
Grace. They were much pleased, and the captain equally so with their
presents to him.
A few tableaux closed the entertainment for the evening.
The curtain rose first on a wedding scene: Lester Leland and his
Elsie in bridal attire; in the foreground, Calhoun Conly, dressed as
a minister, an attendant group of boys and girls gathered about them,
making altogether a very pretty picture.
In the second tableau there were but two figures: Edward Travilla, with
his Zoe on his arm looking very lovely and bride-like in white satin,
veil and orange blossoms.
She had always regretted that the peculiar circumstances of their
marriage had precluded the possibility of thus arraying herself for her
bridal.
“What a lovely bride she makes!” and other similar remarks, reaching
her ear, sent a rich color into her cheek, and an unusual sparkle into
her always bright eyes; but she did not move a muscle, and the curtain
fell amid loud and prolonged applause.
It rose again in a very few moments on another and even handsomer pair:
Captain Raymond and Violet, also in wedding dress.
It was a surprise to his children, who were all now among the
spectators. They gazed eagerly and with intense interest, Lulu almost
holding her breath in her excitement.
“How sweet mamma looks!” murmured Grace, close at her side.
“And how handsome papa is!” said Max, who stood near enough to hear the
remark.
“He always is the very handsomest man in the world!” said Lulu.
“It’s ’most like being at their wedding,” remarked Grace. “I wonder if
mamma wore that very dress.”
“Yes,” answered Rosie, “that is her wedding dress, not altered at all.
And the one sister Elsie wore was hers.”
“It’s nice that they’ve kept them,” said Sydney Dinsmore. “I may live
and die an old maid, but if ever I do get married, I mean to keep my
wedding dress for my children and grandchildren to see.”
They all had their eyes on the tableau while they talked.
But now the curtain fell, shutting out the sight.
“Oh, why didn’t they let it last a little longer?” murmured several
young voices. “It was such a lovely picture!”
“I’d have liked to look longer,” said Gracie, “but I s’pose mamma would
have been tired standing so still. Besides, I guess it’s bedtime; I
feel as if it must be,” pulling out the dainty little watch which was
papa’s Christmas gift.
“Yes, it is past my bedtime. But I’m not much tired, and I hope papa
will let me stay up a little longer.”
“Oh, see!” cried Lora, as a door opened, “here they all come, the
brides still in their wedding dresses. They’re going to wear them for
the rest of the evening, I suppose. I like that.”
But nobody listened to what she was saying; they had all risen to their
feet and were crowding around the brides and bridegrooms with merry
congratulations and good wishes.
Lulu and Grace presently made their way to their father’s side. He was
laughing and talking with some of the other grown people, but when he
felt the small hands clasping his, he glanced smilingly down at his
darlings, then stooped and kissed them both.
“I fear my feeble little Gracie is very much fatigued by this time,” he
said. “Do you want papa to carry you up to bed now, pet?”
“I’m not so very tired, papa, and if you’re willing, I’d like ever so
much to stay up a wee bit longer,” she returned, coaxingly. “It’s so
nice to be at your wedding, you know; it seems as if it’s your wedding
and mamma’s.”
“Does it?” he laughed. “I wish I could have had my children at the real
one. Yes, you may stay up a little longer and have some ice cream. We
are going out to the dining-room now for refreshments.”