CHAPTER II
A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE
THREE weeks had passed, and as nearly every day had been fair, the guests at the Cleverton had lived out of doors, appearing at the hotel at meal-time, and at night.
Other wild flowers beside the bluebells were blossoming gaily, peeping up from the grass as if offering a welcome to all who looked at them; and even great rocks and ledges held tiny blossoming plants in their crevices.
The pony, Romeo, had come to the mountains with the family, and seemed to enjoy the outing.
Every morning Dorothy and Nancy went for a drive, and Romeo tossed his mane, and pranced as if to show his delight.
One morning the pony was standing at the porch, waiting for his little mistress, who soon came running down the stairs.
Floretta was standing in the hall, spinning a top.
A sign on the wall plainly stated that children must not play in the hall, but that did not disturb Floretta.
Deftly she wound the string, and the great top fell to the floor, where it hummed and spun as rapidly as if a boy's hand had flung it.
She picked it up, and again wound it, this time throwing it with even greater force.
"Look! Look!" she cried. "I b'lieve it spins faster every time I throw it!"
Dorothy looked over the baluster at the humming top, but said nothing.
She knew that Floretta had seen the notice; indeed a number of the children had stood in the hall when it had been tacked up.
Looking up at Dorothy, Floretta noticed the whip in her hand.
"Riding?" she asked.
"Yes, for a little while," said Dorothy. "It's a lovely morning, and I mean to see how quickly Romeo will take me to the 'Spring.'"
"I wouldn't care to ride horseback," said Floretta, rudely.
"You won't care to spin tops in this hall if Matson catches you," cried a shrill voice, from an upper hall.
"Pooh! I'm not afraid of Matson," Floretta said, boldly, looking up at the boy who had tried to frighten her.
"Oh, aren't you?" said the boy in a teasing voice. "Well, he manages this hotel, and he'll make you stop if he catches you!"
"You stop, Jack Tiverton!" cried Floretta.
"You'll be the one to stop!" said Jack, with a loud laugh.
Dorothy crossed the hall, stepping around Floretta, who stood exactly in the way.
Looking back, she saw Floretta show the tip of her tongue to Jack, while Jack, not to be outdone, made a most outrageous face.
"I wish they weren't so horrid!" Dorothy said to herself, as she left the hall.
Having mounted Romeo, with the groom's aid, she rode off down the lovely, shady road, the man on his horse, following at a respectful distance.
She touched the pony lightly with her whip, and he responded by breaking into a gentle gallop.
Dorothy's bright curls flew back from her flushed face, and she laughed as she flew over the road.
The groom watched her admiringly, and marvelled that so small a girl could be such a perfect little equestrienne.
The ride had brightened her eyes, and she always looked smaller than she really was when mounted upon Romeo.
He was a handsome animal, with flowing mane and tail, and the groom spoke truthfully when he muttered:
"Them two makes a high-bred pair. Miss Dorothy is a girl 'ristycrat, an' the little hoss is a hoss 'ristycrat, if ever there was one."
The groom had been in the service of the Dainty family but a few months, but in that time he had become devoted to the little daughter of the house. All the servants loved Dorothy, and were almost as fond of Nancy Ferris.
The young groom had heard Nancy's story, and he felt a deep interest in the little girl, who once had been a waif.
Now, his pleasant face wore a smile as he followed Dorothy, and saw how firmly the little figure stuck to the saddle, and rode as if girl and pony were one and inseparable.
They reached the "Spring," a spot whose beauty drew all travellers to it, and artists lingered there to paint, and thus perpetuate its charm.
Romeo looked down at the clear stream that reflected his figure so perfectly.
"He wants a drink," said Dorothy; "lead him to a good place, Thomas, please."
He helped her to dismount, and then led the pony to a shady spot where he could drink, and enjoy the cool, clear water.
Dorothy at once commenced to gather some of the lovely wild flowers that grew near the water's edge, but farther up the stream.
"These are different from any that I've ever found here," she thought.
Her hands were nearly filled with the lovely blossoms, and she was reaching out to grasp an especially pretty one, when a strangely familiar voice, just behind her, said:
"I think I see some one I've often seen before!"
Dorothy turned, and a little cry of surprise and pleasure escaped her lips.
There were Mrs. Barnet and dear little Flossie coming toward her, while very near her was the owner of the voice, Flossie's handsome, merry-hearted Uncle Harry! Just behind him was his lovely young wife, and the baby in charge of a maid.
"Oh, I am glad, so glad to see you!" cried Dorothy. "And Flossie Barnet, did you know you were coming up here, when I said 'good-by' to you and Molly Merton at Merrivale?"
"I didn't know surely, but I almost knew," Flossie admitted, "but Uncle Harry said, 'Don't tell 'til you know,' and I didn't truly know until after you were gone."
"Well, it's fine to have you here," said Dorothy, "but I do truly b'lieve it's almost nicer to be surprised, and have you;" and she threw her arm around Flossie, as she walked beside her.
Tall, handsome Uncle Harry thought he saw a chance for a bit of a joke.
"I wonder why some one isn't surprised to see me?" he said.
"Oh, I am," said Dorothy, "and glad, too."
"Well, thank you," said Uncle Harry; then with a face that he tried to make sad, he said:
"But I know you aren't as glad as you were to see Flossie, because,—you didn't put your arm around my waist!"
He had tried to look very glum, but his blue eyes were laughing.
Big, handsome Uncle Harry could not look woebegone, and the two little girls laughed at his attempt.
"The barge is taking our party over to the 'Cleverton,' and I see you have the pony, Dorothy," said Uncle Harry. "Will you run a race with the barge?"
"Oh, yes, yes!" cried Dorothy, "and Romeo will come in ahead!"
"If he does," said Uncle Harry, "I'll surely decorate him with a blue ribbon!"
With many a laugh and jest, and much guessing as to which would be the winner, the merry party clambered into the barge; Dorothy mounted Romeo, and they were off over the road, on the way to the hotel.
The horses, like the average barge horses, were not beauties, but they saw the pony rush forward, and they made an effort at speed. They plunged forward, at what, to them, seemed a reckless pace, but the fine, handsome Romeo shot past them, his nostrils dilated, and his eyes bright with excitement. Dorothy's gay laugh rang out as she passed them, and Uncle Harry, as he looked after the flying figure, exclaimed:
"The little fairy! I believe no other child could ride so fearlessly as that!"
Often she looked back, as she sped over the road. Try as they would, the old horses could not overtake her.
As soon as the barge appeared in sight between the trees, she touched Romeo lightly with her whip-stock, and then she laughed gaily as he plunged forward, the old barge rattling along far behind.
She did not permit Romeo to again slacken his pace, and thus arrived at the Cleverton before the barge was in sight, so slow had been its progress.
"Oh, Nancy!" she cried, "Who do you think has come?"
Often she looked back, as she sped over the road.—[Page 31.]
"Who has come?" Nancy asked. "Where are they?"
"I mean you can't guess who is coming, and there they come now, Nancy, just look!"
Nancy did look, saw the barge swinging around the curve of the road, saw a tiny handkerchief waving, and then a sweet little face looked out to smile at her.
"Oh, it's Flossie Barnet!" cried Nancy, joyfully, "and her mamma, and,—why, yes it is! It's Flossie's Uncle Harry!"
He heard the cry, and heard the welcome in her voice.
"Yes, it's Flossie's Uncle Harry, and all the other little girls' Uncle Harry who care to claim him for an uncle," he said, with a laugh, as he lifted his little niece down from the barge.
"Oh, I'm so glad he came, too," said Dorothy, upon hearing which, he turned and lifting his hat, bowed, thus acknowledging the compliment that she had paid him. His eyes twinkled with pleasure, for he loved children, and he valued their regard. He was a big, manly fellow, with a warm heart, as loving, and as merry as that of a child.
The Barnet party added much to the pleasure of little events and entertainments at the Hotel Cleverton. Flossie became, at once, a favorite with the other children, and her charming mother was deservedly popular with all.
Uncle Harry, who possessed a fine voice, willingly sang whenever a musical program was arranged for an evening, while his lovely young wife, who was an accomplished pianist, played his accompaniments, or rendered solos, thus generously adding to the pleasure of the other guests.
"I tell you what it is," said old Mr. Cunningham, "that big bank of clouds hanging over that mountain means rain, and plenty of it, I believe."
"I think you are right," said Uncle Harry, "and if we do have a three days' rain, as we sometimes do, we shall have to use every effort to keep things humming, and so forget the storm."
They had been sitting on the piazza, and talking of the days of uninterrupted sunshine that they had enjoyed, when, in a few minutes, the blue sky had been hidden, as if by a thin, pearly veil, while hanging over the mountain was the mass of leaden clouds that had seemed to prophesy rain.
"Oh, I don't want it to rain," wailed Floretta, who stood near them, her pretty face puckered into a most unpleasant frown.
"I'm afraid the weather can't be arranged especially for you," said Mr. Cunningham.
He, like all the guests, was very tired of the child who was either whining, or boisterously, rudely gay. Just at this point, Mrs. Paxton came out on the piazza, a small note-book and pencil in her hand.
She hastened toward the two gentlemen, and smiled as if she were conferring a favor.
"With the chance of a stormy evening, we are trying to arrange a program that will give us a pleasant evening indoors," she said. "I am sure you will help me."
She had smiled at both, and old Mr. Cunningham, who heartily disliked her, was only too glad to reply.
"I'm not musical, madam," he said, "but I'll whistle 'Hail Columbia' for you, if you will promise not to reprimand me if I get off the key."
"Dear, dear!" she cried. "You are always so amusing. One never knows if you are joking, or serious."
"It would be very serious, and no joke, I assure you, if you were actually obliged to listen to my whistling," was the curt reply, and he turned once more to scan the sky and the distant mountains.
Uncle Harry, of course, agreed to sing, his wife promised to play, and Mrs. Paxton moved toward where Mrs. Dainty and her companion, Aunt Charlotte, were sitting, with Dorothy and Nancy near them.
"Will your little daughter sing for us this evening?" she asked. "We are eager to have quite a fine program."
"Dorothy shall sing for you, surely," Mrs. Dainty said, "and Nancy, I am sure, will give a little solo."
"Oh, does Nancy sing or play?" Mrs. Paxton asked, in surprise, for thus far Nancy had not exhibited her talent, whatever it might be.
"She will give you a solo that shall be neither singing nor playing," Mrs. Dainty replied, with a quiet smile.
"How very interesting!" said Mrs. Paxton. She had invited Dorothy to sing because other guests had expressed the wish to hear her.
Here was a second child with talent of some kind! Well, Floretta's imitations of other people would certainly eclipse the efforts of the other little girls! Mrs. Paxton's sole idea in arranging the entertainment was for the purpose of showing Floretta's mimicry.
A small figure paused a moment in the doorway, then stepped back, and peeped out, scanning the groups upon the piazza.
"She isn't there!" he whispered. "She's backed out, an' she said she'd do it!"
He drew back into the shadow, and waited, hoping that when he looked again he might see her.
A second peep at the guests on the piazza showed that Floretta was not among them.
"She didn't try to do it!" he muttered.
He held something in his hand, which he kept behind his back.
He was about to peep again when a light hand touched his shoulder.
He turned, and there stood Floretta, looking prettier than usual in her short white frock, white shoes, and pink hair ribbons.
"Did you get one?" whispered Jack.
"Look!" said Floretta, and from behind her back she produced a long corn-cob. "I took mine from the table at noon, when ma wasn't looking, and ran from the dining-room, and hid it in our room," said Floretta. "How did you get yours?"
"I asked the head waiter to get mine for me," said Jack, "and he acted as if he thought me a ninny. He gave it to me all the same, and asked what I was up to. I didn't tell him, though."
They giggled softly.
"Ready?" whispered Jack, softly.
"Yes," whispered Floretta, and then, with corn-cobs held to their mouths, and their fingers working as if playing upon flutes, they marched out on to the piazza, loudly singing, "Hail Columbia."
Some of the guests laughed, none so loudly as Mrs. Paxton, who declared that it taxed her intellect to imagine what put such outrageously funny notions into children's heads.
"I can answer that, madam, and without trying very hard, either. It's Satan, madam, Satan, who from watching their actions, takes them to be his near relatives," said Mr. Cunningham.
Meanwhile the little procession of two, encouraged by the laughter, marched in and out between the groups of guests, until unlucky Floretta let her corn-cob slip from her fingers, the moist, sticky thing falling upon the light silk skirt of a lady who sat near Mrs. Paxton.
"There, there, Floretta, never mind," said Mrs. Paxton; then turning to the wearer of the gown, she said, "I don't think it will stain it in the least. Children will be children, and must have their fun!"