THE HORTON BOYS DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES.
The three young people are just leaving the room, all deploring the
protracted absence of the furniture vans, which the men had solemnly
declared to Honor would be there by ten o'clock, if not sooner (it
being now between twelve and one), when they are suddenly startled by
a tremendous commotion outside in the garden, and rushing down the
steps they hear a series of "chuck-a-chucks" in every key and style,
coming from round the other side of the house. Hastening to that
part of the garden they rush right into the midst of a panting group
of boys, whose heated countenances denote excitement in the highest
degree. Alick is leaning, flushed with victory, against the wall of
the chicken-house, a pendent hen in each hand, which, notwithstanding
the disadvantages of an inverted position, still give utterance now
and then to mildly remonstrating "chuck-a-chucks." Ted is at the
same moment engaged in gravely dodging a fine duck, which appears
anxious to betake itself to the flower-garden; and just as Hugh and
the girls are all opening their mouths together to speak, Regy
appears from behind the chicken-house also the triumphant captor of
two indignant hens. They all look at one another, and then burst out
laughing simultaneously, and Regy, not stopping to explain matters,
says:
"We've got them all now, I think, Alick, except the second speckled
hen--hang her! She's got right out into the road again, with Dick,
hatless, in hot pursuit. I can't do anything with that old rooster!
He seems to have some extraordinary aversion to the henhouse, and
shows a distinct preference for the pig-sty; these hens got in there
too, but I routed them all out; but old Pincher, not to be done, flew
up to the top of the sty, and there he is now, standing on one leg
and crowing with all his might. Here, Ted, out of the road! Let's
get these beggars shut up; and then, perhaps, with our united
exertions we may capture Mr. Pincher. O, here's Dick! You've caught
her then; hold her tight while I open the door again. I declare
there are enough feathers flying about to stuff a bed almost."
Then they all set to, and after an animated chase succeed in
capturing and housing the "old rooster." Honor and Molly are quick
in their efforts to thank the boys for this kindness, but nothing
will induce them to listen; and some words that Honor lets drop
leading them to infer that she and Molly have come to the house
prepared with some temporary refreshment, Alick, Ted, and Dick
instantly make for the kitchen, where the others, following, find
them busily engaged in emptying a hamper of its contents.
"You'll have to make shift without chairs and tables, ladies and
gentlemen," remarks Alick, diving into the hamper again and
reappearing with a large, tempting-looking pie in his hands.
"Nonsense!" cries Dick. "Why should we, when there's a comfortably
furnished room with a large fire upstairs?"
"Indeed, you boys are not going to have the run of _that_ room,"
Molly puts in hastily, and Honor adds:
"No, certainly not! And just think, what a litter we would make
having our lunch up there. This will do very well; only I _wish_ we
had something to sit down upon."
Hugh, suddenly appearing to be inspired with some grand idea, darts
across the kitchen and begins vigorously pulling at the dresser
drawers.
"Stop a bit!" he cries. "I've got an idea; here, Regy, lend a hand!"
And in a trice they have got out two of the drawers and have seated
the two girls on them with grave politeness; Molly's being placed
sideways, propped against the wall, in consideration of the extra
length of her legs; while Honor's is turned upside down, and makes
quite a comfortable seat.
"If you don't feel comfortable you can change with us, you know,"
says Regy, as he and Hugh seat themselves on the wide window-sill.
"The rest of you must dispose yourselves on the dresser and the
hamper--Ted's the lightest, so he'd better have the hamper."
Then follows an impromptu sort of picnic, which gives complete
satisfaction to all, especially as to the fare; for kind Mrs. Trent
has not forgotten that boys and girls, especially when working hard,
are apt to get hungry, and rightly thinking that it would probably be
a long time before anyone had leisure to think about cooking, she has
included many useful things, with an eye to future needs.
"O, I say!" cries Alick, suddenly laying down his knife and fork;
"isn't there anything to drink?"
"Pump, out there," briefly explains Molly, waving a jam tart in the
direction of the garden.
"Oh, yes! so there is. Let's go and get a drink all round; I'm
awfully thirsty too." And Dick scrambles down from the dresser to
the floor, and then pauses, "We've nothing in the world to drink out
of!" he says ruefully. This proves only too true, for though Mrs.
Trent and her cook have had the forethought to pack a few small
plates and knives and forks, anything in the shape of a drinking
vessel has been utterly forgotten.
"Wouldn't a flower-pot do?" mildly inquires Ted, doubtful as to how
his brilliant suggestion will be received.
"Why, you muff!" replies Alick scornfully, "what about the hole? But
try it yourself by all means if you like, unless you'd rather have a
sieve."
But here Honor, who has been roaming about in hopes of finding
something to answer their purpose, rushes into their midst
triumphantly flourishing a tin can above her head.
"Look!" she cries. "I found this on the copper; it is what old Mrs.
Evans brought her beer in, I expect, and I suppose she forgot to take
it back when she went to her dinner. Will it do, do you think?"
But to Honor's dismay a chorus of groans greets her.
"_Honor!_" exclaims Molly indignantly, "a nasty beery thing like
that! And most likely the old woman has been drinking out of it!"
"Well, and if she has; there's plenty of hot water. We can wash it,
I suppose! At any rate I can't think of anything else," concludes
poor Honor, looking rather sat upon, "but the inkstand in our room
upstairs. Will _that_ do?"
But Regy is already at work washing and rinsing the tin can, and as
he has heroically promised to take first drink and report thereon,
they all troop out to the pump in a body. While there engaged old
Mrs. Evans, who has been hired to scrub the floors and make herself
generally useful, arrives simultaneously with the furniture. Hugh,
equal to the occasion, gravely hands back the tin can to its owner,
and thanks her so politely, and with such a courtly bow, for the
service she has rendered them in leaving it behind, that the old
woman is thrown into a perfect frenzy of curtsies, accompanied by
assurances of being honoured, and proud, &c. &c.
Hard work begins in earnest now for all, it being two o'clock, and
everything yet to be done. The men are at first inclined to be
independent, thinking doubtless that with only these young people to
direct matters they can do pretty much as they like. They soon find
out their mistake, however, and are not a little impressed with the
quiet persistence with which Honor asserts her will and gets her own
way in everything from first to last. The men appear to have a
rooted objection to put up the bedsteads until the last thing, but
they are soon overruled by Honor, who stands over them, so to speak,
until every bed is in its place. By six o'clock everything is
brought into the house, and Hugh and Regy, who have packed off the
younger boys by an earlier train, are taking a general look round
after having seen the men safely off the premises. They have tried
all the bolts and bars and put up the shutters outside, and Molly
having declared for the twentieth time that if Honor is afraid she is
not, the two youths take their departure, promising to come again the
next morning to help get things straight before the arrival of Mrs.
Merivale with Doris and Daisy, who are expected the day after.