The Story of the White-Rock Cove | Page 5

of which was perfectly unanswerable. But as old George put on his
spectacles in conclusion, I knew he meant to consider the subject with
attention; and I therefore remained quietly at his side, sending flat
stones skimming along the water, or throwing in a stick for Frisk to
fetch out again, until, as I expected, he signified to me that he had
thought of what would do.
He said that the light arch which supported the central lamp over the
gate might be very easily decked with evergreens for the occasion, and
the word welcome, traced in flowers, put up so as to appear very pretty
with the green background; whilst the flag-staff at the top of the hill,
just by the shrubbery, should display all the flags that our establishment
could boast of.
Groves' scheme, though not quite so extensive as those which had
floated through my childish imagination, was sufficiently attractive to
be very welcome; and I eagerly insisted upon our immediately
returning to the lodge, where George took certain measurements of the
arch which impressed me wonderfully with a sense of his superiority,
and wisdom.
By which time Mrs. Groves looked out to say that her husband's dinner

would be spoiled by waiting, or eaten by the dog, "which there was no
driving off." And I, thus reminded of the time, settled the difficulty
about Frisk by taking him up bodily in my arms, and, hurrying off,
reached home only just in time to get ready for dinner before the gong
sounded.
CHAPTER II.
ALECK'S WELCOME.
It is almost unnecessary to remark that the fortnight preceding my
cousin's arrival was one of the longest I had ever spent--even longer
than those preceding birth-days or Christmas. However, the long
looked-for Thursday came at last.
I pleaded hard for a whole holiday, but my mother would not be
persuaded; so I had to do my morning lessons as usual, and confessed,
after they were over, that the hours had passed much faster than I at all
expected.
In consideration of the travellers having, in all probability, had but little
time for refreshment, dinner was to be rather earlier than usual; and
Aleck and I were to have it, for once, with the elders of the party.
Luncheon was also early; and not having the time to go down to the
lodge before it, I went out into the garden with my mother to help in
gathering a nosegay for my aunt's room.
How fresh and beautiful everything looked that morning, as we stood
there amongst the flowers, my mother selecting the materials for the
nosegay, and I holding the basket, and handing her the scissors as she
wanted them, or executing at intervals little by-plays with Frisk. I
remember feeling a kind of intense thrill of happiness, which to this
day is vividly recalled by the scent of those particular roses and
geraniums; and also a sort of dim wonder about the unhappiness which
I had heard and read of as the fate of some--pondering in my own mind
how it felt to be so very unhappy, and whether people couldn't help it if
they would only go out into the fresh air and warm sunshine, and enjoy
themselves as I did. From which speculations I was recalled by my

mother saying,--
"I think we have enough flowers, Willie; perhaps just one creeper for
the outside of the vase. There--we shall do now."
Then we went in by the school-room window, and I fetched the large
vase from the east bed-room, and stood by my mother whilst tastefully
and daintily she arranged the flowers as I thought none but she could
arrange them. She had nearly completed her task when my father came
into the school-room.
"I am sending the carriage early, dear," he said to her; "for although I
think they cannot arrive until the 4.50 train, there is just the chance of
their catching the one before. Have you any messages for Rickson?"
"None, dear," answered my mother. "But you must stay for a moment
and look at my flowers. Are they not sweet and pretty?"
"Very sweet and very pretty," replied my father. But I thought he
looked at her more than at the flowers when he said so; and she laughed,
although, after all, there was nothing to laugh at.
"Willie and I have been gathering them," she said; "and now we are
going to put them in Bessie's room."
"I know who remembers everything that can give pleasure to others,"
observed my father, whose hand was on my shoulder by this time.
"Willie, I hope you will grow up like your mamma."
Not quite seeing the force of this observation, I replied that, being a
boy, I thought I had better grow up like him. And