A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE
THREE weeks had passed, and as nearly every day had been fair, the
guests at the Cleverton had lived out of doors, appearing at the hotel
at meal-time, and at night.
Other wild flowers beside the bluebells were blossoming gaily, peeping
up from the grass as if offering a welcome to all who looked at them;
and even great rocks and ledges held tiny blossoming plants in their
crevices.
The pony, Romeo, had come to the mountains with the family, and seemed
to enjoy the outing.
Every morning Dorothy and Nancy went for a drive, and Romeo tossed his
mane, and pranced as if to show his delight.
One morning the pony was standing at the porch, waiting for his little
mistress, who soon came running down the stairs.
Floretta was standing in the hall, spinning a top.
A sign on the wall plainly stated that children must not play in the
hall, but that did not disturb Floretta.
Deftly she wound the string, and the great top fell to the floor, where
it hummed and spun as rapidly as if a boy's hand had flung it.
She picked it up, and again wound it, this time throwing it with even
greater force.
"Look! Look!" she cried. "I b'lieve it spins faster every time I throw
it!"
Dorothy looked over the baluster at the humming top, but said nothing.
She knew that Floretta had seen the notice; indeed a number of the
children had stood in the hall when it had been tacked up.
Looking up at Dorothy, Floretta noticed the whip in her hand.
"Riding?" she asked.
"Yes, for a little while," said Dorothy. "It's a lovely morning, and I
mean to see how quickly Romeo will take me to the 'Spring.'"
"I wouldn't care to ride horseback," said Floretta, rudely.
"You won't care to spin tops in this hall if Matson catches you," cried
a shrill voice, from an upper hall.
"Pooh! I'm not afraid of Matson," Floretta said, boldly, looking up at
the boy who had tried to frighten her.
"Oh, aren't you?" said the boy in a teasing voice. "Well, he manages
this hotel, and he'll _make_ you stop if he catches you!"
"You stop, Jack Tiverton!" cried Floretta.
"You'll be the one to stop!" said Jack, with a loud laugh.
Dorothy crossed the hall, stepping around Floretta, who stood exactly in
the way.
Looking back, she saw Floretta show the tip of her tongue to Jack, while
Jack, not to be outdone, made a most outrageous face.
"I wish they weren't so horrid!" Dorothy said to herself, as she left
the hall.
Having mounted Romeo, with the groom's aid, she rode off down the
lovely, shady road, the man on his horse, following at a respectful
distance.
She touched the pony lightly with her whip, and he responded by breaking
into a gentle gallop.
Dorothy's bright curls flew back from her flushed face, and she laughed
as she flew over the road.
The groom watched her admiringly, and marvelled that so small a girl
could be such a perfect little equestrienne.
The ride had brightened her eyes, and she always looked smaller than she
really was when mounted upon Romeo.
He was a handsome animal, with flowing mane and tail, and the groom
spoke truthfully when he muttered:
"Them two makes a high-bred pair. Miss Dorothy is a girl 'ristycrat, an'
the little hoss is a hoss 'ristycrat, if ever there was one."
The groom had been in the service of the Dainty family but a few
months, but in that time he had become devoted to the little daughter of
the house. All the servants loved Dorothy, and were almost as fond of
Nancy Ferris.
The young groom had heard Nancy's story, and he felt a deep interest in
the little girl, who once had been a waif.
Now, his pleasant face wore a smile as he followed Dorothy, and saw how
firmly the little figure stuck to the saddle, and rode as if girl and
pony were one and inseparable.
They reached the "Spring," a spot whose beauty drew all travellers to
it, and artists lingered there to paint, and thus perpetuate its charm.
Romeo looked down at the clear stream that reflected his figure so
perfectly.
"He wants a drink," said Dorothy; "lead him to a good place, Thomas,
please."
He helped her to dismount, and then led the pony to a shady spot where
he could drink, and enjoy the cool, clear water.
Dorothy at once commenced to gather some of the lovely wild flowers that
grew near the water's edge, but farther up the stream.
"These are different from any that I've ever found here," she thought.
Her hands were nearly filled with the lovely blossoms, and she was
reaching out to grasp an especially pretty one, when a strangely
familiar voice, just behind her, said:
"I think I see some one I've _often_ seen before!"
Dorothy turned, and a little cry of surprise and pleasure escaped her
lips.
There were Mrs. Barnet and dear little Flossie coming toward her, while
very near her was the owner of the voice, Flossie's handsome,
merry-hearted Uncle Harry! Just behind him was his lovely young wife,
and the baby in charge of a maid.
"Oh, I _am_ glad, _so_ glad to see you!" cried Dorothy. "And Flossie
Barnet, did you know you were coming up here, when I said 'good-by' to
you and Molly Merton at Merrivale?"
"I didn't know _surely_, but I _almost_ knew," Flossie admitted, "but
Uncle Harry said, 'Don't tell 'til you _know_,' and I didn't _truly_
know until after you were gone."
"Well, it's fine to have you here," said Dorothy, "but I do truly
b'lieve it's almost nicer to be surprised, and have you;" and she threw
her arm around Flossie, as she walked beside her.
Tall, handsome Uncle Harry thought he saw a chance for a bit of a joke.
"I wonder why some one isn't surprised to see _me_?" he said.
"Oh, I am," said Dorothy, "and glad, too."
"Well, thank you," said Uncle Harry; then with a face that he tried to
make sad, he said:
"But I know you aren't as glad as you were to see Flossie, because,--you
didn't put your arm around _my_ waist!"
He had tried to look very glum, but his blue eyes were laughing.
Big, handsome Uncle Harry could not look woebegone, and the two little
girls laughed at his attempt.
"The barge is taking our party over to the 'Cleverton,' and I see you
have the pony, Dorothy," said Uncle Harry. "Will you run a race with the
barge?"
"Oh, yes, yes!" cried Dorothy, "and Romeo will come in ahead!"
"If he does," said Uncle Harry, "I'll surely decorate him with a blue
ribbon!"
With many a laugh and jest, and much guessing as to which would be the
winner, the merry party clambered into the barge; Dorothy mounted Romeo,
and they were off over the road, on the way to the hotel.
The horses, like the average barge horses, were not beauties, but they
saw the pony rush forward, and they made an effort at speed. They
plunged forward, at what, to them, seemed a reckless pace, but the fine,
handsome Romeo shot past them, his nostrils dilated, and his eyes
bright with excitement. Dorothy's gay laugh rang out as she passed them,
and Uncle Harry, as he looked after the flying figure, exclaimed:
"The little fairy! I believe no other child could ride so fearlessly as
that!"
Often she looked back, as she sped over the road. Try as they would, the
old horses could not overtake her.
As soon as the barge appeared in sight between the trees, she touched
Romeo lightly with her whip-stock, and then she laughed gaily as he
plunged forward, the old barge rattling along far behind.
She did not permit Romeo to again slacken his pace, and thus arrived at
the Cleverton before the barge was in sight, so slow had been its
progress.
"Oh, Nancy!" she cried, "Who _do_ you think has come?"
[Illustration: OFTEN SHE LOOKED BACK, AS SHE SPED OVER THE ROAD.--_Page
31._]
"Who has come?" Nancy asked. "Where are they?"
"I mean you can't guess who is coming, and there they come now, Nancy,
just look!"
Nancy did look, saw the barge swinging around the curve of the road, saw
a tiny handkerchief waving, and then a sweet little face looked out to
smile at her.
"Oh, it's Flossie Barnet!" cried Nancy, joyfully, "and her mamma,
and,--why, yes it _is_! It's Flossie's Uncle Harry!"
He heard the cry, and heard the welcome in her voice.
"Yes, it's Flossie's Uncle Harry, and all the other little girls' Uncle
Harry who care to claim him for an uncle," he said, with a laugh, as he
lifted his little niece down from the barge.
"Oh, I'm _so_ glad he came, too," said Dorothy, upon hearing which, he
turned and lifting his hat, bowed, thus acknowledging the compliment
that she had paid him. His eyes twinkled with pleasure, for he loved
children, and he valued their regard. He was a big, manly fellow, with a
warm heart, as loving, and as merry as that of a child.
The Barnet party added much to the pleasure of little events and
entertainments at the Hotel Cleverton. Flossie became, at once, a
favorite with the other children, and her charming mother was deservedly
popular with all.
Uncle Harry, who possessed a fine voice, willingly sang whenever a
musical program was arranged for an evening, while his lovely young
wife, who was an accomplished pianist, played his accompaniments, or
rendered solos, thus generously adding to the pleasure of the other
guests.
* * * * *
"I tell you what it is," said old Mr. Cunningham, "that big bank of
clouds hanging over that mountain means rain, and plenty of it, I
believe."
"I think you are right," said Uncle Harry, "and if we _do_ have a three
days' rain, as we sometimes do, we shall have to use every effort to
keep things humming, and so forget the storm."
They had been sitting on the piazza, and talking of the days of
uninterrupted sunshine that they had enjoyed, when, in a few minutes,
the blue sky had been hidden, as if by a thin, pearly veil, while
hanging over the mountain was the mass of leaden clouds that had seemed
to prophesy rain.
"Oh, _I_ don't want it to rain," wailed Floretta, who stood near them,
her pretty face puckered into a most unpleasant frown.
"I'm afraid the weather can't be arranged especially for you," said Mr.
Cunningham.
He, like all the guests, was very tired of the child who was either
whining, or boisterously, rudely gay. Just at this point, Mrs. Paxton
came out on the piazza, a small note-book and pencil in her hand.
She hastened toward the two gentlemen, and smiled as if she were
conferring a favor.
"With the chance of a stormy evening, we are trying to arrange a program
that will give us a pleasant evening indoors," she said. "I am sure you
will help me."
She had smiled at both, and old Mr. Cunningham, who heartily disliked
her, was only too glad to reply.
"I'm not musical, madam," he said, "but I'll whistle 'Hail Columbia' for
you, if you will promise not to reprimand me if I get off the key."
"Dear, dear!" she cried. "You are always so amusing. One never knows if
you are joking, or serious."
"It would be very serious, and no joke, I assure you, if you were
actually obliged to listen to my whistling," was the curt reply, and he
turned once more to scan the sky and the distant mountains.
Uncle Harry, of course, agreed to sing, his wife promised to play, and
Mrs. Paxton moved toward where Mrs. Dainty and her companion, Aunt
Charlotte, were sitting, with Dorothy and Nancy near them.
"Will your little daughter sing for us this evening?" she asked. "We
are eager to have quite a fine program."
"Dorothy shall sing for you, surely," Mrs. Dainty said, "and Nancy, I am
sure, will give a little solo."
"Oh, does Nancy sing or play?" Mrs. Paxton asked, in surprise, for thus
far Nancy had not exhibited her talent, whatever it might be.
"She will give you a solo that shall be neither singing nor playing,"
Mrs. Dainty replied, with a quiet smile.
"How very interesting!" said Mrs. Paxton. She had invited Dorothy to
sing because other guests had expressed the wish to hear her.
Here was a _second_ child with talent of _some_ kind! Well, Floretta's
imitations of other people would certainly eclipse the efforts of the
other little girls! Mrs. Paxton's sole idea in arranging the
entertainment was for the purpose of showing Floretta's mimicry.
A small figure paused a moment in the doorway, then stepped back, and
peeped out, scanning the groups upon the piazza.
"She isn't there!" he whispered. "She's backed out, an' she _said_ she'd
do it!"
He drew back into the shadow, and waited, hoping that when he looked
again he might see her.
A second peep at the guests on the piazza showed that Floretta was not
among them.
"She didn't _try_ to do it!" he muttered.
He held something in his hand, which he kept behind his back.
He was about to peep again when a light hand touched his shoulder.
He turned, and there stood Floretta, looking prettier than usual in her
short white frock, white shoes, and pink hair ribbons.
"Did you get one?" whispered Jack.
"Look!" said Floretta, and from behind her back she produced a long
corn-cob. "I took mine from the table at noon, when ma wasn't looking,
and ran from the dining-room, and hid it in our room," said Floretta.
"How did you get yours?"
"I asked the head waiter to get mine for me," said Jack, "and he acted
as if he thought me a ninny. He gave it to me all the same, and asked
what I was up to. I didn't tell him, though."
They giggled softly.
"Ready?" whispered Jack, softly.
"Yes," whispered Floretta, and then, with corn-cobs held to their
mouths, and their fingers working as if playing upon flutes, they
marched out on to the piazza, loudly singing, "Hail Columbia."
Some of the guests laughed, none so loudly as Mrs. Paxton, who declared
that it taxed her intellect to imagine what put such outrageously funny
notions into children's heads.
"I can answer that, madam, and without trying very hard, either. It's
Satan, madam, Satan, who from watching their actions, takes them to be
his near relatives," said Mr. Cunningham.
Meanwhile the little procession of two, encouraged by the laughter,
marched in and out between the groups of guests, until unlucky Floretta
let her corn-cob slip from her fingers, the moist, sticky thing falling
upon the light silk skirt of a lady who sat near Mrs. Paxton.
"There, there, Floretta, never mind," said Mrs. Paxton; then turning to
the wearer of the gown, she said, "I don't think it will stain it in the
least. Children will be children, and must have their fun!"