The Story of the Big Front Door | Page 8

caught in the trees, but a careful jerk sent it free, and at last it was safe.
"Three cheers for Bess! It was her plan," called Ikey from above.
"It really worked very well," Carl acknowledged.
"I knew all the time it would," added Louise, as they went inside to finish their work.
The watcher in the Brown house window returned reluctantly to the book she had been reading, as though she found the bit of real life more entertaining.
When all was done it was pronounced a success. Even though you could not hear so very distinctly, at least the bells fastened at each end tinkled most realistically when the line was pulled.
As they came out of the side door at the Fords' after inspecting Ikey's end of the telephone, Louise catching sight of a ball which lay on the grass made a spring for it. The others rushed after her, there was a scramble that would have shocked Aunt Marcia beyond expression, and Carl getting possession tossed it with all his might--he did not stop to think where. Alas! it went over into the next yard and a crash of broken glass told the tale. They looked at each other in consternation, and Ikey ran and peeped through the fence.
"You have broken one of the Brown house windows," he reported.
"It wasn't all his fault, it was partly mine," said Louise, who always stood by her friends in trouble.
"Oh, dear!" sighed Bess. "Just when we were going to be so good! What will Aunt Zélie say?"
"I'll have to go and tell them I did it, and that I'll have the glass put in," said Carl.
Louise at once volunteered to go with him, and Bess suggested, "Let's all go."
Ikey did not like the plan exactly, but he would not have objected for the world. Louise tossed back her long braids and put on her hat, and the solemn little party started out.
"Whom shall I ask for?" Carl suddenly demanded, as they marched up the newly reddened walk.
"Dear me! We don't know the name," gasped Bess, feeling inclined to turn and run.
"Never mind, just ask for the lady of the house," said Louise, her courage rising to the occasion. "It sounds beggarish, but you can't help it."
Bess and Ikey retreated a little when the door was opened by a woman who asked somewhat gruffly what they wanted.
Carl hesitated, so Louise in her politest manner inquired for the lady of the house.
"What do you want with her?" said the woman, eying them sharply.
"We want to see her," was the emphatic reply.
"Well, you can't, then," and the door would have been shut in their faces if a voice from inside had not called "Mary!"
She disappeared for a moment, then returning asked them in.
Bess held Ikey's hand tightly as they followed the others along the hall. To think of being inside the Brown house!
Before they had time to consider what they were to do or say, they found themselves in a quaint room with dim old portraits on the wall; but all the children saw was a lady with white hair and bright eyes, seated in an invalid's chair by the window. As Louise advanced timidly, followed by the others, this lady held out her hand, saying:
"You wish to speak to me, Mary says; I am very glad to see you."
They all felt reassured by her pleasant tone, and Louise found her voice.
"We came to tell you that, while we were playing, Carl threw his ball and broke your window. It was partly my fault too, and we thought we would all come and tell you."
"I am very sorry about it, and I will have a new pane put in," Carl added.
"I am sure it was an accident," said the lady, smiling; "you must not feel badly. I shall be glad of it if it helps me to make the acquaintance of some of my new neighbors. Won't you tell me your names?"
Louise's dimples at once began to show themselves, for she was always ready to make friends, and she gave her plump little hand, saying:
"I am Louise Hazeltine, and this is my brother Carl and my sister Bess, and Ikey Ford who lives next door."
"We are much obliged to you for not minding about the window," Bess added, forgetting her shyness.
"Won't you sit down and talk to me for a while? I am Miss Brown."
The children smiled at each other. "We have always called this the Brown house," Carl explained.
"Then you won't have to change. It is much simpler than if I had happened to be named Green or Black, isn't it?" said their new friend, laughing. "And now I am sure you can't guess what I call your house."
Of course they couldn't, so she told them that she had named it the house with the Big Front