But now the memory of the blizzard days spent in the old Lodge were forgotten. For summer had come, bringing with it new problems, not the least of which was to find a place where vacation days might be spent.
Ruth proposed to speak of that when her guardian called this Saturday afternoon. As she had hinted to Agnes, Ruth had invited a number of girl friends to luncheon. It was the plan to form a sort of young peoples Civic Club, to take up several town matters, and Ruth was the moving spirit in this, for she loved to work toward some definite end.
This Saturday was no exception in being a busy one at the Corner House.
In pursuance of her plans she had enlisted the whole household in preparing for the event, from Mrs. MacCall, who looked after matters in general, Linda, who helped with the baking, Uncle Rufus, who was cleaning the lawn, down to Dot and Tess, who had been sent for flowers.
And then had come the bribing of Dot and Tess to go to the store and, following that, the crash.
What can it be? murmured Ruth, as she and Agnes hastened on. Some one surely must be hurt.
I hope not, half whispered Agnes.
From the side porch came the sound of childish anguish.
Shes all flatted out, thats what she is! Shes all flatted out, my Alice-doll is, and its all your fault, Tess Kenway! Why didnt you hold the barrel?
I couldnt, I told you! It just rolled and it rolled. Its a good thing it didnt roll on Almira!
Gracious! did you hear that? cried Agnes. What can they have been doing?
The two older sisters reached the porch together, there to find Mrs. MacCall holding to Tess, whom she was brushing off and murmuring to in a low voice, filled with much Scotch burring.
Dot stood
at the foot of the steps holding a rather crushed doll out at arms length, for all who would to view. And stalking off over the lawn was Almira, the cat, carrying in her mouth a wee kitten. Uncle Rufus was hobbling toward the scene of the excitement as fast as his rheumatism would allow. Scattered on the ground at the foot of the steps was a collection of odds and ends trash Uncle Rufus called it. The trash had come from an overturned barrel, and it was this barrel rolling down the steps and off the porch that had caused the noise.
What happened? demanded Ruth, breathing more easily when she saw that the casualty list was confined to the doll.
It was Tess, declared Dot. She tipped the barrel over and it rolled on my Alice-doll and now look at her.
Dot referred to the doll, not to her sister, though Tess was rather a sight, for she was covered with feathers from an old pillow that had been thrown into the barrel and had burst open during the progress of the accident.
At first Tess had been rather inclined to cry, but finding, to her great relief, that she was unhurt, she changed her threatened tears into laughter and said:
Aint I funny looking? Just like a duck!
What were you trying to do, children? asked Ruth, trying to speak rather severely in her capacity as mother.
I was trying to put Almira and one of her kittens into the barrel, explained Tess, now that Mrs. MacCall had got off most of the feathers. I leaned over to put Almira in the barrel, soft and easy like, down on the other pillow, and it upset I mean the barrel did. It began to roll, and I couldnt stop it and it rolled right off the porch and
Right over my Alice-doll it rolled, and shes all squashed! voiced Dot.
Oh, be quiet! She isnt hurt a bit, cried Tess. Her nose was flat, anyhow.
Did the barrel roll over you? asked Agnes, smiling now.
Almost, said Tess. But I got out of the way in time, and Almira grabbed up her kitten and ran. Where is she? she asked.
Never mind the cat, advised Ruth. Shes caused enough excitement for one Saturday morning. Why were you putting her in the barrel, anyhow, Tess?
So Id know where she was when I came back. I wanted her and one kitten to play with if Dot is going to play with her Alice-doll when we get back from the store. But I guess I leaned too far over.
I guess you did, assented Ruth. Well, Im glad it was no worse. Is your doll much damaged, Dot?
Maybe I can put a little more sawdust or some rags in her and stuff her out. But shes awful flat. And look at her nose!
Her nose was flat, anyhow, before the barrel rolled over her, said Tess. But Im sorry it happened. I guess Almira was scared.
We were all frightened, said Ruth. It was a terrible racket. Now let the poor cat alone, and run along to the store. Oh, what a mess this is, and she looked at the refuse scattered from the trash barrel. And just when I want things to look nice for the girls. It always seems to happen that way!
Uncle Rufus shuffled along.
Doan you-all worry now, honey, he said, speaking to all the girls as one. Ill clean up dish yeah trash in no time. I done got de lawn like a billiard table, an Ill pick up dish yeah trash. De ash man ought to have been along early dis mawnin fo to get it. I set it dar fo him.
That explained the presence on the side porch of the barrel of odds and ends collected for the ash man to remove. He had not called, and seeing the receptacle there, with an old feather pillow among the other refuse, Tess thought she had her opportunity.