“Alas! They aren’t going to light! And we’ve nothing to do but walk around after them and await their good pleasure!” cried Bonny, in disgust, after a half-hour’s loss of time.
“Pooh! I hate bees, anyway! An’ I guess I’ll give up the business!”
“‘Humpty-Dumpty’! Leave poor Bonny all alone?”
“Wull, wull, a body can’t work hisself to death, can he? Here I have to go ridin’ round all every other day with the ’spress wagon. Roland thinks he can’t get nothin’ done if I don’t go to hold the horse an’ pick up parcels, an’—an’—I’ll quit.”
“Pooh! your own self. You couldn’t be hired to let that cart go out of the grounds without your small highness perched up in front. And if I had nothing to do but drive around the country three times a week and a little studying on the off days, I should think I was a lucky boy. Besides— There they go! Up with you! Softly, now! Oh dear! I wish I could climb as fast as you, and had as great a gift with bugs and things!” cried the sister, enviously.
Robert paused half-way up the trunk of the tree he was ascending, and cast an inquiring glance Bonnyward, but, seeing that she was really sincere in her admiration, he condescended to proceed on his way. At last, in the “bee business” there did appear to be a fitting field for the restless boy’s energy. Thus far he had been very faithful to his part of the work, the watching over the apiary—as they called their few hives of bees—during Beatrice’s absence at Mr. Brook’s; and the lesson he had learned by having his poultry taken away from him seemed fruitful of good results.
It was an hour later that the two young apiarists entered the dining-room and sat down to the delayed supper for which their appetites had been ready long before.
“Why, Motherkin! Strawberries? Where did you get them?”
“A gift, my dears! I saved them till you two came in, that we might eat them all together. Another gift from the generous, gruff Mr. Dolloway. He offered them in the oddest way. Said he had been to Newburgh to order some things for Miss Joanna, which could not be left for Roland’s trip to-morrow, and saw these early berries in the market. He ‘didn’t know why we shouldn’t eat strawberries early in the season as well as anybody else!’ and more to the same point. I wish I knew what was the matter with him, and he must indeed be very fond of some of us, if he continues to lavish kindnesses upon us, even while he believes he has reason to be offended. The strange, poor old man!”
They had none of them perceived a face looking in at the open window, for the lighted lamp upon their table left them illuminated while causing the world outside the window to remain in darkness; but, finally, a scraping Ahem! brought every glance about, and Robert paused with a spoonful of berries half raised toward his mouth.