The moment Smith’s carriage drove off, Boyce took authority on himself, and summoned James to action.
“Come along here and help put up the shutters. Haul them baskets inside, and don’t stuff your pockets full of cranberries, while you’re a doing it. I know yer tricks, old feller, so look sharp, if you want me to hold my tongue.”
James had just seen his sister come forth in her soft white raiment, and fresh flowers, on her way to the party, and felt some resentment at the disparaging remarks Boyce made about her. But he knew well enough that words would be of no avail with the young tyrant, and obeyed him in angry silence.
In a few minutes the shutters were closed, and even the coal-bin, which projected on the side-walk, was safely fastened. When this was done, Boyce led the way up stairs, and met Kate Gorman at the landing, with her shawl and bonnet on.
“They’re asleep at last,” she said, “all but Jerusha Maria; she holds out like a trooper, for the sight of that red dress just drove her wild, and she keeps snatching at the yeller feather yet. I gave her a double dose of paregoric, and got her under a little; but she’s wide awake yet.”
“Just in time,” Boyce broke in. “We shall have a good look at the whole crowd. Jimmy will take care that the young ones don’t fall out of bed. Just you go in there, old feller, and see that you stick to your post, and hold that precious little girl in your arms till she crows herself to sleep. It’s just the work for you.”
“I’ll go in, of course, because some one must take care of her,” said James; “but it’s too early to close up, and you have no business to go out so soon.”
“So soon,” cried Kate Gorman, tying her bonnet with an angry jerk. “Look at the clock.”
James did look at the little time-piece, in its square mahogany case, and was astonished to see that it only wanted a few minutes of ten o’clock.
Kate gave Boyce a knowing wink, and made a swift motion with her fingers, as if turning the pointers of a clock, which he understood, and answered with an approving nod.