XV.
“OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
They all bathed on the little beach near home that morning; and, as soon as they had gone back to the house, Maggie called Bessie and Belle, and they went together to mamma’s room to unfold Maggie’s plan and ask her consent to it.
What a pretty room that was! Mrs. Rush had taken a fancy to call it the “Lily Room,” and to furnish it accordingly. The carpet was green, and the furniture painted the same color, and ornamented with water-lilies wherever they could be put,—on the head and foot boards of the bed, on each drawer of the dressing bureaus, on the panels of the wardrobe and the backs of the chairs, in short, wherever there was room for them. Over the mantelpiece hung an oil-painting of the same lovely flowers; and now the room was filled with the natural blossoms brought in by the little girls that morning.
Mamma lay upon the couch,—this was covered with chintz printed with water-lilies, too,—resting after her salt-water bath. Her long hair was spread over the cushions to dry; and Maggie and Bessie were busy at it in a moment: it was their great delight to comb it and thread their fingers through it; and dearly mamma loved to feel their little hands twisting it into all manner of fantastic braids and loops.
Maggie told her story about the water-lily boy and girl, and then, saying that she thought there must be a good deal of “glove money” due the little box at home, asked her mother if she did not think it would be a “reasonable charity” to pay for Johnny’s schooling next winter.
Bessie looked surprised at this; but Belle clapped her hands, saying,—
“You’ll let me help too, won’t you?”