The Pillars of the House, vol 1 | Page 6

exclaimed Mamma.
'Yes, I should like that better than anything, please,' said the boy. 'All
our fellows say they would be the prettiest girls in all Bexley, if they
were properly dressed; and those horrid girls at Miss Pearson's lead
them a life about those old black hats.'
'Poor dears! I have found Alda crying when she was dressing for
church,' mused Mrs. Underwood; 'and though I have scolded her, I
could have cried too, to think how unlike their girlhood is to mine.'
'And if you went to fetch them home from school, you would know
how bad it is, Mamma,' said Felix. 'Wilmet does not mind it, but Alda
cries, and the sneaking girls do it the more; and they are girls; so one
can't lick them; and they have not all got brothers.'
'To be licked instead!' said Mr. Underwood, unable to help being
amused.
'Well, yes, Papa; and so you see it would be no end of a comfort to
make them look like the rest.'
'By all means, Felix. The ladies can tell how far your benefaction will
go; but as far as it can accomplish, the twins shall be resplendent. Now
then, back to your anxious clients. Only tell me first how my kind old
friend the Admiral is.'
'Here's his letter, Father; I quite forgot to read it.'
'Some day, I hope, you will know him enough to care for him
personally. Now you may be off.--Nay, Enid, love, your daughters
could not have lived much longer without clothes to their backs.'

'Oh, yes, it must have been done,' sighed the poor mother; 'but I fancied
Felix would have thought of you first.'
'He thought of troubles much more felt than any of mine. Poor children!
the hard apprenticeship will serve them all their lives.'
Meantime Felix returned with the words, 'Hurrah! we are to have the
sovereign just as usual; and all the rest is to go to turn out Wilmet and
Alda like respectable young females.--Hollo, now!'
For Alda had precipitated herself downstairs, to throttle him with her
embraces; while Cherry cried out, 'That's right! Oh, do get those dear
white hats you told me about;' but the public, even there a many-headed
monster thing, was less content.
'What, all in girls' trumpery?' 'That's the stupidest sell I ever heard of!'
'Oh, I did so want a pony!' were the cries of the boys.
Even Robina was so far infected as to cry, 'I wanted a ride.'
And Wilmet reproachfully exclaimed, 'O Felix, you should have got
something for Papa. Don't you know, Mr. Rugg said he ought to have a
respirator. It is a great shame.'
'I don't think he would have let me, Wilmet,' said Felix, looking up;
'and I never thought of it. Besides, I can't have those girls making asses
of themselves at you.'
'Oh no, don't listen to Wilmet!' cried Alda. 'You are the very best
brother in all the world! Now we shall be fit to be seen at the break up.
I don't think I could have played my piece if I knew every one was
looking at my horrid old alpaca.'
'And there'll be hats for Cherry and Bobbie too!' entreated Wilmet.
'Oh, don't put it into their heads!' gasped Alda.
'No, I'll have you two fit to be seen first, said Felix.
'Well, it's a horrid shame,' grumbled Fulbert; 'we have always all gone
shares in Felix's Birthday tip.'
'So you do now,' said Felix; 'there's the pound all the same as usual.'
That pound was always being spent in imagination; and the voices
broke out again.
'Oh, then Papa can have the respirator!'
'Felix, the rocking-horse!'
'Felix, do get us three little cannon to make a jolly row every birthday!'
'Felix, do you know that Charlie Froggatt says he would sell that big
Newfoundland for a pound? and that would be among us all.'

'Nonsense, Fulbert! a big dog is always eating; but there is a concertina
at Lake's.'
'Tina--tina--concertina! But, I say, Fee, there's Whiteheart been wishing
her heart out all the time for a real good paint-box.'
'Oh, never mind that, Ed; no one would care for one but you and me,
and the little ones would spoil all the paints.'
'Yes, resumed Wilmet, from her throne,--'it would be the worry of one's
life to keep the little ones off them; and baby would be poisoned to a
dead certainty. Now the respirator--'
'Now the concertina--'
'Now Punch--'
'Now the dog--'
'Now the rocking-horse--'
'Now the cannon--'
'I'll tell you what,' said Felix, 'I've settled how it is to be. We'll get John
Harper's van, and all go out to the Castle, with a jolly cold dinner--yes,
you, Cherry, and all; Ed and I will carry you--and dine on the grass,