“Besides, it’s so sad to get old and know you’ve got to be grown-ups in just a few New Years more,” sighed Viva, so mournfully that the others shouted, for at seven there hardly seems to be immediate necessity for grieving over the approach of age.
“I wonder if there isn’t anything interesting we could do, something we never do, to begin the year with a rush, and cheer us up,” said Jan, characteristically, casting about for something to cheer her, even while inadvertently admitting that she needed cheering.
Jerry uttered a wail, and Gwen swooped down on Jack, who was tormenting her. “Let Jerry alone, you trying boy!” she cried. “What is the matter with you this morning?”
“He got out of bed the wrong way,” said Sydney, who was lolling in the window. “I had to trounce him for bothering Drom while I was getting dressed.” Drom, who was quite recovered, save for a slight stiffness in the leg which had been broken, wagged his tail at the mention of his name, as if corroborating Sydney.
“There isn’t anything to do, Jan,” said Gwen, replying at last to Jan’s suggestion. “We might get up something with the girls this afternoon—if they’re not all off somewhere.”
“I think we are enough to have fun among ourselves,” said Jan, with an eye on Sydney, who looked so glum that she longed to shake him out of his thoughts and not let him go off to find amusement outside.
“Let’s play house!” exclaimed Jerry hopefully, a suggestion hailed with a laugh from her sisters and a hug from Jan.
“See that little Italian boy with the violin,” cried Gladys. “Let’s get him in to play for us to dance.”
“Oh, dancing in the morning!” said Sydney scornfully, but Gwen and Jan fairly tore to the door without waiting to discuss the question—they both would dance at any time of the day or night, and all day and night, apparently.
The Italian came wonderingly, but smilingly, at their summons. He could not speak English, and at first he thought that they wanted to order him on, and eagerly protested with eloquently outspread palms that he would not play within their hearing; that he was but beginning his day’s work having been to the cathedral for mass.