THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS
MOUSEY could not help feeling a little low-spirited when the end of
the term arrived, and she said good-bye to her school-fellows. They
were full of plans for spending the holidays in various enjoyable
ways, and condoled with Mousey because she was to remain at home.
"I wish you were coming with us to the seaside," Nellie Thomas said,
as she and Mousey lingered over their farewells. "I can't bear to
think you will be shut up in that dull old house whilst the boys and I
will most likely be building castles in the sand, and fishing and
boating, and having such a good time!"
"Never mind," Mousey responded, trying to speak cheerfully. "I hope
you will enjoy the holidays as much as ever you can; and I shall not
be shut up in the house. Cousin Robert doesn't mind my going out by
myself now I know my way about."
"But I'm sure you'll be dreadfully dull! How shall you amuse yourself
all day?"
"Oh, in different ways. You know I never had sisters or brothers, so I
don't mind being alone as much as you would. I suppose we must say
good-bye now. You'll give my love to Mrs. Thomas, won't you?"
"Yes, I will. Mind, you must come to see us as soon as ever we return.
Good-bye, Mousey."
"Good-bye," Mousey answered.
So they parted. Mousey pursued her homeward road with a very sober
face, thinking how much she would miss her kind little friend, and
wishing that it was the end instead of the commencement of the
holidays.
However, the time did not hang so heavily on her hands as she had
anticipated, for the morning following the one on which Mrs. Downing's
school had broken up, Mr. Harding informed Mousey he wished her to go
out every day, and suggested that she might go to the park, where she
would be perfectly safe. In the park she found Miss Longley with the
twins, and spent a very happy hour in playing with the children. The
next day Mrs. Downing was there in place of her sister, and seemed
very pleased with Mousey's company. She encouraged the little girl
to talk to her whilst the twins amused themselves. The two, thus drawn
together, found they had much in common; and, though Mousey liked Miss
Longley too, there was little doubt but that the elder sister held the
first place in her heart, perhaps on account of a look which often
crossed Mrs. Downing's face which reminded the child of her dead
mother.
One afternoon when Mousey was in the kitchen with Maria she heard Mr.
Harding call to her, and running into the parlour, found Mrs. Downing
there. Mr. Harding was rubbing his hands, and was evidently in his
most amiable frame of mind.
"Mrs. Downing has been giving me a first-rate report of your progress
at school, my dear," he said. "I am pleased and gratified to hear you
have been a good girl, and have done your best."
Not only had Mrs. Downing given Mr. Harding an excellent report of his
little cousin, but she had paid him several pounds on account of her
husband's debt, thus reducing it more than the old man had expected,
and strengthening the favourable opinion he had formed of her; and as
nothing pleased him better than to receive money, he was accordingly
in high good humour.
"Mrs. Downing is so kind as to wish to take you back to her house
to tea," he continued; "I need scarcely ask if you would like to go!"
Mousey's glowing face answered for her; and when Mr. Harding told her
to run away and fetch her hat, she obeyed him with alacrity. Before
going upstairs, however, she returned to the kitchen, and informed
Maria that she had been invited out to tea. Maria good-naturedly
followed her to her bedroom, brushed her hair, and assisted her with
her hasty toilette.
Mrs. Downing and Mr. Harding seemed to be getting on capitally
together, for when Mousey returned to the parlour she heard her cousin
saying—
"I am sure you will make your school pay. I consider you have done
wonders already. There was a crying need for a middle-class school
such as you have started in Haughton."
"I am glad to hear you think so," Mrs. Downing answered. "I shall do
my best, and I hope my efforts may be crowned with success."
She rose as Mousey came into the room, and held out her hand to the
old man in farewell, a pleasant smile lighting up her face. His manner
to her was most courteous, and he thanked her heartily for her
kindness to his little cousin.
Mousey thoroughly enjoyed the short walk which followed, during which
she talked unreservedly to her companion. Arrived at their
destination, the little girl was seized upon by the twins, who bore
her off to their nursery, where they showed her all their toys, and
soon persuaded her to join them in a good romping game. Then followed
tea, which was a pleasant meal made merry by Dolly and Dick, who
insisted on sitting one on each side of their visitor, whom they
appeared to regard as especially their own. About seven o'clock John
Monday arrived to take Mousey home, and she said good-bye to her
friends with many expressions of grateful thanks, which touched Mrs.
Downing's kind heart, and prompted her to give the little girl
a motherly kiss, and a promise that she should come again.
Mousey tried to amuse her companion with an account of the happy time
she had spent, as she tripped lightly homewards by his side; but the
boy appeared moody, and disinclined for conversation. He only made one
remark all the way, and that was: "Mr. Harding had a long letter from
your Aunt Eliza by the evening's post."
"I wonder why she has written to Cousin Robert, and not to me, as she
usually does," she thought. "I hope nothing is wrong!"
Nothing was wrong, as Mousey was soon to learn. She found Mr. Harding
in the parlour on her return, reading the newspaper. He turned to her
as she entered, and inquired how she had got on at Mrs. Downing's. She
was too curious to know the contents of her aunt's letter to give him
a lengthy account of her visit, but she curbed her impatience as much
as she could, and replied that she had spent a most enjoyable time.
"I've had a letter from Cousin Eliza," he next remarked. "She enclosed
a note for you. Here it is."
"Oh!" Mousey exclaimed joyfully. "John Monday said you had heard from
Aunt Eliza. Thank you, Cousin Robert," she said, as she took the note
from his hand.
She read it at once, her face alternately flushing and paling as she
grasped its meaning. It ran as follows:—
"MY DEAR MOUSEY,"
"I have been writing to Cousin Robert to ask him to allow you
to pay us a visit for a few weeks, as it is your holidays now,
and your uncle and I both think it would do you good to have
a change of air and scene. I need not tell you how glad we shall
be if Cousin Robert permits you to come, and how we are all
longing to see you once more. Dear Mousey, I went to look at your
mother and father's grave yesterday, and you will like to know
that the grass is growing nicely on it, and that your uncle keeps
it tidy."
"I can picture you at Haughton better since your uncle was there,
for he gave me a full account of everything on his return; but I
want to see for myself how you are looking, and then I shall feel
more satisfied. The children send their love and say: 'Tell Mousey
to come as soon as ever she can!' Good-bye, my dear. Hoping to see
you very shortly,"
"I remain,"
"Your affectionate aunt,"
"ELIZA DAWSON."
Mousey looked up from her letter to find Mr. Harding's eyes fixed upon
her face.
"Well, child?" he questioned.
"Oh, Cousin Robert!" was all she could say.
"Do you wish to go?" he inquired.
Her animated countenance, flushed with excitement, gave the answer
to his question. The old man sighed a trifle sadly.
"Perhaps you won't want to come back again?" he said, watching her
intently.
"Oh, yes, I shall!" she replied. "Why, Cousin Robert, what makes you
think that?"
There was such evident surprise in her face that his fear was
disarmed, and he said kindly, almost tenderly—
"I don't want to lose you altogether. Of course, it's quite natural
you should wish to visit your aunt and uncle, and I shall be very glad
for you to do so."
"Do you mean I am to go?" Mousey cried.
"Certainly. I will write to your aunt to-morrow, and tell her when she
may expect you."
"Oh, Cousin Robert, thank you, thank you! Oh, how good you are to me!"
and the little girl threw herself impulsively into the old man's arms,
and covered his face with kisses.
"There, there, child, that will do! You're half smothering me! Why,
what have I done to be treated like this? There, run away, and tell
Maria she must overlook your wardrobe to-morrow, and see what you want
in the way of new clothes."
So Mousey rushed off to pour into Maria's ears the wonderful news that
she was going to pay Aunt Eliza and Uncle Dick a visit. The holidays
were not proving so dull and uneventful, after all.