Five Little Peppers Midway | Page 5

house."
"On the contrary," said Mrs. Whitney with a little laugh, "I did

everything I could to further the plan that father wisely made."
"Wisely!" cried Mrs. Chatterton in scorn. "Oh, you silly child! don't
you see what it will all tend to?"
"I see that it has made us all very happy for five years," said Mrs.
Whitney, preserving her composure, "so I presume the future doesn't
hold much to dread on that score."
"The future is all you have to dread," declared Mrs. Chatterton harshly.
"The present may be well enough; though I should think existence with
that low, underbred family here, would be a"?
"You may pause just where you are, Mrs. Chatterton," said Marian, still
with the gentlest of accents, but with a determination that made the
other look down at her in astonishment, "not another word shall you
utter in that strain, nor will I listen to it." And with fine temper
undisturbed in her blue eyes, she regarded her relative.
"Dear me, Marian! I begin to notice your age more now. You shouldn't
fly into such rages; they wear on one fearfully; and especially for a
stranger too, and against your own people--how can you?"
Mrs. Chatterton drew out a vinaigrette, then a fan from a silken bag,
with clasps that she was always glad to reflect were heirlooms. "It's
trying, I must confess," she declared, alternately applying the
invigorating salts and waving the combination of gauze and
sandalwood, "to come home to such a reception. But," and a heavy sigh,
"I must bear it."
"You ought to see father," cried Mrs. Whitney, rising. "I must go at
once and tell him of your arrival."
"Oh! I don't know that I care about seeing Cousin Horatio yet," said
Mrs. Chatterton carelessly. "He will probably fall into one of his rages,
and my nerves have been upset quite enough by you. I think I'll go
directly to my apartments." She rose also.
"Father must at once be informed of your arrival," repeated Marian
quietly. "I'll send him in to see you."
"And I shall go to my apartments," declared Mrs. Chatterton
determinedly.
"Hoity-toity!" exclaimed Mr. King's voice, and in he came, with
Phronsie, fresh from the kitchen, clinging to his hand.

II

COUSIN EUNICE CHATTERTON
Phronsie dropped one small hand by her side, and stood quite still
regarding the visitor.
"Oh, my goodness me," ejaculated Mrs. Chatterton, startled out of her
elegance, and not pausing to adjust the glass, but using her two good
eyes to the best advantage.
"Hoity-toity! So you are back again!" exclaimed Mr. King by way of
welcome. "Well, and if I may ask, what brought you now, Eunice?"
Mrs. Chatterton gathered herself up and smiled in a superior way.
"Never mind my reasons, Cousin Horatio. What a fine child you have
there;" now the glass came into play; "pray tell me all about her."
"You have well said," observed Mr. King, seating himself with the
utmost deliberateness, and drawing Phronsie to her accustomed place
on his knee, where she nestled, regardless of his immaculate linen and
fine waistcoat, "Phronsie Pepper is indeed a fine child; a very fine child,
Madam."
"Oh, my, and Oh, my!" cried Mrs. Chatterton, holding up her hands, "to
think that you can so demean yourself; why, she's actually mussing
your shirt-front with her dirty little hands!"
"Phronsie Pepper's hands are never dirty, Madam," said the old
gentleman gravely. "Sit still, child," as Phronsie in a state of alarm
struggled to slip down from his lap, thrusting the two members thus
referred to, well out before her.
Mrs. Chatterton burst into a loud laugh. "To think I have come to see
Horatio King in such a state! Jasper Horatio King!" she repeated
scornfully. "I heard about it through the Bascombs' letters, but I
wouldn't believe it till I used my eyes. It's positively dreadful!"
Mr. King put back his head and laughed also; so heartily, that Phronsie
ceased to struggle, and turned to regard him in silent astonishment; and
Mrs. Whitney, charmed that the rage usually produced by conversation
with Cousin Algernon's wife was not forthcoming, began to laugh, too,
so that the amusement of the tall lady was quenched in the general
hilarity.
"What you can find in my words to cause such an unseemly outburst, I
cannot see," she cried in a passion.
"I'm under the impression that you led off the amusement yourself,"
said Mr. King, wiping his eyes. "Phronsie, it's all very funny, isn't it?"

looking down into the little wondering face.
"Is it really funny?" asked Phronsie. "Does the lady like it?"
"Not particularly, I suspect," said Mr. King carelessly.
"And that you can talk with that chit, ignoring me, your cousin's wife,
is insufferable." Mrs. Chatterton now arose speedily from the divan,