The Story of the White-Rock Cove | Page 8

fair-haired boy sitting in
the furthest corner of the carriage opposite to my aunt, whom I just
mustered courage to look at. "You'll have to make your best bow and a
very grand speech, to return thanks for such an honour."
"Master didn't expect you so soon, sir," proceeded George; "he thought
you'd be coming by the next train; that's how it is that Master Willie
was down here."
"Then I think the best thing we can do with Master Willie is to carry
him up to the house with us," said my uncle. And accordingly I was
lifted over from my step into the midst of the party in the carriage, and
seated down between my uncle and aunt.
The coachman was compelled to rein in the horses a minute longer,
whilst they all looked at and admired the arch, and then we bowled off
rapidly up the avenue. I sometimes think we remember our life in
pictures: certainly the very frontispiece of my acquaintance with my
cousin Aleck always is, and will be, a distinct mind's eye picture of that
party in the carriage, with myself in their midst.
Uncle Gordon sitting in the right hand corner with his arm round me,
keeping me very close to himself, so that I might not crowd my aunt,

who was leaning back on the other side of me, as though weary with
the long journey. Opposite my uncle my aunt's maid, with a green
bonnet decorated with a bow of red velvet of angular construction in
the centre of the front, to which the parting of her hair seemed to lead
up like a broad white road; she was grasping, as though her life
depended upon her keeping them safely, a sort of family fagot of
umbrellas in one hand, whilst with the other she kept a leather-covered
dressing-case steady on her lap. In the fourth corner was my cousin, in
full Highland kilt, such as I had hitherto seen only in toy-books of the
costumes of all nations or other pictures, and which inspired me with a
wonderful amount of curiosity. Lastly, myself in blue and white sailor's
dress, looking, no doubt, as if I had been captured from a man-of-war;
conscious of tumbled hair, and doubtful hands, and retribution in store
for me in the shape of a talking-to from nurse, who had still unlimited
jurisdiction over my wardrobe, for having been surprised in a state she
would designate as "not fit to be seen."
Aleck and I found our eyes wandering to each other momentarily as we
drove along. When they met, we took them off again, and pretended to
look out at opposite sides of the carriage; but this happened so often,
that at last we both laughed, and--the ice broke. I was quite on chatty
terms before we reached the house.
"There are papa and mamma!" I exclaimed, as we came in sight of the
entrance. They had heard the carriage, and were at the door to welcome
their guests.
"See, I have brought you two boys instead of one," said my uncle,
lifting me out first, and then proceeding to help out my aunt, as if she
were a delicate piece of china, and "With care" labelled outside her.
When the greetings were over, my mother declared a rest on the sofa in
her room and a cup of tea indispensable for my aunt's refreshment. My
uncle took my father's arm and disappeared into the study; and we two
boys were left to take care of each other until dinner-time.
I proposed going round the garden, and Frisk being of the party,
proceeded to show off his accomplishments. This led to an animated

description of my cousin's dog, Cæsar, and a comparison of the ways
and habits of Cæsar the Big with those of Frisk the Little, on the
strength of which we became very intimate.
Afterwards we returned to the house, and having shown Aleck his room,
I took him into mine, where we were found seated on the floor
surrounded by "my things," which I had been exhibiting in detail to my
cousin, when nurse came, a little before six o'clock, to see that we were
ready for dinner.
"Aleck, tell me one thing," I had just said to my cousin; "are they really
your knees or leather?"
Aleck stared, "Leather! why, of course not; what made you think such
an odd question?"
"I didn't think they could be leather after the first minute," I replied,
doubtfully; "but I couldn't know--"
CHAPTER III.
A WHOLE HOLIDAY.
To what boy or girl does not the promise of a whole holiday convey a
sort of Fortunatus' purse of anticipated enjoyment! I used to wonder--I
remember wondering that very day after Aleck's arrival, when I had the