The voice of Mrs. MacCall from the deep pantry interrupted.
Hi, Tess! Hi, Dot! she called. Where ha ye been? Come ye here the noo, and be for me waukrife minnie.
What in the world does she mean? asked Agnes, for sometimes, well versed as she was in the Scotch of the housekeeper, there were new words and phrases that needed translating. Especially as it seemed to the girls that more and more Mrs. MacCall was falling back into her childhood speech as she grew older a speech she had dropped during her younger life except in moments of excitement.
This time, however, it was beyond even the ken of Ruth, who rather prided herself on her Highland knowledge. But Mrs. MacCall herself had heard the question. Out she came from the pantry, smiling broadly.
Ye no ken waukrife minnie? she asked. Ah, tis a pretty little verse o Rabbie Burns. Ill call it oer the noo.
Then she gave them, with all the burring of which her tongue was capable:
Hi, Tess! Hi, Dot! Come ye here, and be for me the lassies thatll gang to the store.
Are Tess and Dot there? asked Ruth. Ive been wondering where they had disappeared to.
They be coming the noo, answered Mrs. MacCall. Laden in their arms wi all sorts of the trash. And then she sang again:
Their arms were filled with blossoms of the woods and fields, and without more ado they tossed them to a cleared place on the table, whence Linda had removed some of the pans and dishes.
Oh, what a lovely lot of flowers! cried Ruth. Its just darling of you to get them for me. Now do you want to help me put them into vases in the library?
Dot shook her head.
Why not? asked Ruth gently.
I promised my Alice-doll to take her down by the brook, and I just have to do it, answered Dot. And Tess is going to help me; arent you, Tess? she added.
Yes, was the answer. Im going to take Almira.
Then you must take her kittens, too! insisted Dot. Shell feel bad if you dont.
I wont take em all Ill take one kitten, compromised Tess. There she is, now! And Tess darted from the room to pounce on the cat, which did not seem to mind very much being mauled by the children.
Will ye gang awa to the store the noo? asked Mrs. MacCall, with a warm smile as she came from the pantry. Theres muckle we need an
Ill go if you give me a cookie, promised Dot.
Soll I, chimed in Tess, coming in on the tribute. We can take Almira and your Alice-doll when we come back, she confided to her sister.
Yes, I think theyll wait. I know Alice-doll will, but Im not so sure about Almira, and Dot seemed rather
in doubt. She may take a notion to carry her kittens up in the bedroom
Dont dare suggest such a thing! cried Ruth.
Im to have company this afternoon, and if that cat and her kittens appear on the scene
Oh, I wasnt going to carry them in! interrupted Dot, with an air of injured innocence. Theyre Almiras kittens, and she can do what she likes with them, I suppose, she added as an afterthought. Only I know that every once in a while she takes a notion to plant them in a new place. Once Uncle Rufus found them in his rubber boots, and they scratched him like anything when he put his foot inside.
Well, if you have to go to the store for Mrs. MacCall you wont have any time to help me arrange the flowers, observed Ruth, anxious to put an end to the discussion about the family cat and kittens, for she knew Dot had a fund of stories concerning them.
Yes, traipse along now, my bonnie bairns, advised the Scotch housekeeper, and, bribed by two cookies each, a special good measure on Saturday, Dot and Tess were soon on their way, or at least it was so supposed.
Linda was helping Mrs. MacCall clear away the baking utensils, and Ruth and Agnes were in the parlor and library, tastefully arranging the wild flowers that Dot and Tess had gathered.
Isnt Dot queer to cling still to her dolls? remarked Agnes, as she stepped back to get the effect of a bunch of red flowers against a dark brown background in one corner of the room.
Yes, she is a strange child. And poor Almira! Really I dont see how that cat stands it here, the way Tess and Dot maul her.
They arent as bad as Sammy Pinkney. Actually I caught him yesterday tying the poor creature to the back of Billy Bumps!
Not on the goats back! cried Ruth.
Really, he was. I sent him flying, though!
What was his idea?
Oh, he said hed heard Neale tell how, in a circus, a little dog rode on a ponys back and Sammy didnt see why a cat couldnt ride on a goat.
Well, if he put it that way I suppose she could, assented Ruth. But Almira seems to take herself very seriously with all those kittens. We really must get rid of them. Vacation will soon be here, and with Tess and Dot around the house all day, instead of just Saturdays, I dont know what we shall do.