Prudy Keeping House | Page 2

him Nat, though he was a very sober youth, with velvety hair, and a green neck-tie, as stiff as a cactus.
Nat only replied by handing Mrs. Allen a letter, with a hesitating air, as if he would much rather not do it.
"A despatch!" cried Mrs. Allen, turning rather pale.
Dotty Dimple and Flyaway crowded close to her, and overwhelmed her with questions.
"O, what is it?" said one. "Who wroted it? And why didn't Hollis bring the camphor bottle athout my asking?" said the other.
But the older children knew better than to speak just then. As soon as Mrs. Allen could get her breath, she said,--
"Don't be frightened, dears. It is only a message from your Uncle Augustus. He can't come home to-night, as we expected. He says, 'One of my old attacks. Nothing serious. Can you come?'"
"O, is that all?" said Dotty, and ceased fanning her auntie with a book-cover.
"O, is that all?" echoed Fly, and left off patting her cheek with a pencil.
"But, children," said Horace, "don't you understand Uncle Augustus is sick--wants auntie to go and take care of him?"
"Why, he can't have her."
"Indeed, Miss Dot, and why not?"
"She's got company, you know."
"There, little sister! I wouldn't think that of you? Poor Uncle Augustus!"
"But he says he isn't serious," said Dotty, looking ashamed. "Auntie, you don't think he's serious--do you?"
"No, dear; he's suffering very much, but I am not in the least alarmed. He has had just such attacks as this ever since he came out of the army. He is at a hotel in Trenton, New Jersey, and needs some one to wait upon him, who knows just what to do. I am very sorry to go and leave my company, Dotty, but--"
"O, auntie, you ought to go," cried Dotty.
"I dislike particularly not to be polite."
"O, auntie, you will be 'tic'ly polite," cried little Echo. "Please let me go, too; I won't make no noise."
"How long do you think you'll have to stay, auntie?" said Prudy.
"I cannot tell, dear. These attacks are usually short, and I think quite likely your uncle can come home to-morrow night; but he may not be able till next day."
"How he'll feel if he can't be here to Christmas!" said Dotty; "and so much greens and things in the windows!"
"Yes; and how we shall both feel to know our little friends are keeping house by themselves!"
"Keeping house? O, may we keep house!" exclaimed Prudy, her eyes suddenly brightening.
"Why, yes, my child; you may be the lady of the mansion, if that is what you mean, and Horace the lord."
"But may I cook the dinners, and not ask Mrs. Fixfax? Because I really do know a great deal, Aunt Madge. You'd be surprised! I can cook cake, and pie, and biscuit, and three kinds of pudding. Please, this once, let me manage things just as I want to."
"Just as we want, you mean," said Dotty. "I can make gingerbread as well as you can."
"And I shaked a table-cloth once," put in the youngest. "Only I shan't be here if my auntie tookens me off."
"Yes, auntie," said Horace; "let the girls manage. They'll get up queer messes, but 'twill be good fun."
"Do you believe it?" said auntie, thoughtfully. And there entered her brain, at that moment, a singular scheme, which, to almost any other woman, would have seemed absurd.
"Poor little souls? Their visit has been a failure. I've a great mind to make an arrangement with Mrs. Fixfax to have them keep house in her room." (Mrs. Fixfax was Mrs. Allen's housekeeper.) "The novelty will amuse them. Of course they will waste flour and sugar, but not very much, probably, and Mrs. Fixfax will be on the watch to see that they don't get too hungry. It will tax her severely, but I can pay her for her trouble. Really, the more I think of it, the more I'm inclined to try it. They say I'm foolishly indulgent to children. Perhaps so; but I do want them happy when they come to my house visiting."
"Have you thinked it all up?" asked Fly, peeping into her auntie's face; "I won't 'sturb Uncle 'Gustus."
"Yes, chickie; I've thinked of talking to Mrs. Fixfax about letting you all keep house; that is, if she won't consider it too much trouble."
"Trouble?" said Prudy; "why, I should think it would be a real help, auntie. She has so much care, you know. And if I got the meals for us four, the cook could rest, too."
Aunt Madge only smiled at this.
There were five servants in all: John, the coachman; Nat, the waiting-man; Mrs. Fixfax, the housekeeper; Rachel Fixfax, the chambermaid; and Patty Diggles, the cook. They were all remarkably faithful, except pretty Rachel, the housekeeper's daughter, who was rather gay and flighty, and had been something of a trial to her