“But what about the dolls’ dresses?” Elsa asked, eager as she was for the “show.”
“Bless the dear child!” said Mrs. Holt, putting her arm around the slight, black-gowned figure. “Miss Warren and I will sew fast enough to do your share and Betty’s.” She gazed intently into Elsa’s face as if she would like to question the child about something.
“O, thank you,” Elsa said, gratefully. “Why, that picture is just like one my grandmother has in her room,” she exclaimed, catching sight of an oil-painting of a large, gable-windowed house.
As Ruth Warren saw Mrs. Holt’s face grow crimson and then suddenly very pale, some faint, puzzling resemblance flashed through her mind and was gone as quickly.
Before Mrs. Holt had any time to answer, Ben ran toward her and laid his hand coaxingly upon her shoulder: “Now, mother of mine, I have brought the ‘show’ things down from the garret, and the pink gauze curtain; and please can we use the red light?”
“Yes, my boy. What shows are you going to have?” Mrs. Holt’s voice was not quite steady, but she had regained her composure.
“You will see in just a little while, mother of mine,” said Ben, with the air of one who speaks to an over-eager child.
Then, while Mrs. Holt explained to Miss Ruth and Elsa that the pink cheese-cloth curtain was used to make the show-figures look more beautiful, and that the red light, which made them even more beautiful, was brought out only on great occasions like birthdays or holidays, Elsa forgot all about the oil-painting; and very soon after, Ben called her to join Betty and him in the parlour, which opened off the hall, at the foot of the stairs. “Turn your backs, please,” cried Ben; “you mustn’t see what is going to happen.”
“Ben is such a manly little fellow,” said Miss Ruth, rising to change her position.
Quick tears sprang into Mrs. Holt’s blue eyes. “He tries to take care of me,” she replied, with a little tremble in her voice; “my dear little boy,” she added, half under her breath. “He is a great help in the gardening we do, winter and summer, although I have a good man to take the principal care. But I am sorry to have the children away from their father. We hope it will not be very long before he can come back to us, or we go to him.”