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Besides, Ruth had to give some attention to Mr. Bob Buckham. She could allow no guest to be neglected. The old farmer, however, would not stay to dinner.
That would never do that would never do! he declared, when Ruth proposed it. What would Marm do without me at table? No, sir. I just wanted to see these folks Aggie has taken such a shine to, right to this old Corner House. And say, Ruthie!
Yes, sir? was the girls response.
I dont know nothin about who they be. Nor do you, nor Aggie. So have a care.
Why, they must be all right, Mr. Buckham, cried Ruth. Neale knows them. They are from his uncles circus.
Eh? Neale knows em? Wal mebbe so, mebbe so, grunted Mr. Buckham. Just the same, I know lots of folks I wouldnt make too free with. Wait and try em out, advised the old farmer.
If Ruth had had any doubts about the trapeze artist and her father, she was at once disarmed when Barnabetta came down to dinner. And Agnes, forgetting her first unpleasant introduction to the strollers in the woods, was delighted with her protégé.
Barnabetta was a dark, glowing beauty. Her curly hair, which made her look so boyish before, framed her thin, striking features most becomingly. Her figure was lithe without being lean.
The little girls, who had not seen Barnabetta arrive in her boys apparel, were taken with the trapeze artist at once. Agnes had told them what Barnabetta did in the circus, and of course Dot was extremely interested.
Oh, my! she said, her eyes shining and her cheeks flushed. Do do you climb way up on those trapezers at the circus and turn inside outside, just as we saw once? Oh! that must be just heaveningly mustnt it, Tess?
Tess was quite as excited over the guest herself, and overlooked Dots new rendering of certain words for the sake of asking:
Doesnt it make your head go round and round like a whirligig, to turn over on the trapeze? It does mine, though Neale showed me how to do it on the bar he set up in our garret.
The simple kindness and cordiality of the Corner House girls was a distinct surprise to Barnabetta. At first she showed something of her doubt of this reception she was accorded by such complete strangers. They were all so completely different from her, and their manner of life so entirely strange to her.
The dining room service, the soft lights, the pleasant officiousness of Unc Rufus, and the girls own gay conversation, was all a revelation to the circus performer. Even Aunt Sarah Maltbys grim magnificence at her end of the table helped to tame the wildness of Barnabetta Scruggs.
If Mrs. MacCall did not altogether approve of these circus people, she said nothing and did nothing to show such disapproval. Barnabetta began to see that these good folk were very simple and kindly, and wished only to see her at her ease and desired to make her feel at home.
She went back to the clown after dinner, to find that he had been served with a great tray of food by Linda, and lay back among his pillows, happy and content.
Mrs. MacCall had insisted upon looking at his ankle. She bandaged it and anointed it with balsam.
These folks are mighty good people, Barnabetta, said Asa Scruggs. I never knowed there were such good folks outside the circus business.
I dont know what to make of em, confessed the girl.
Dont have to make nothin of em, said her father, with a sigh of content. This is somethin to be mighty thankful for. Feel the warm air comin from that open register, Barnabetta? And I thought wed haf to scrouge down over a whisp of fire to-night in the open. Oh, my! and he gave an ecstatic wriggle under the bed clothes.
He seemed ready for sleep, and the girl tiptoed out of the room after turning the gas low. It was while she was in
the hall, and before opening the door of her own room, that she heard a sudden subdued hullabaloo below stairs. Listen! what had happened?
Startled, Barnabetta crept along the hall to the front stairway. Somebody had entered by the door from the side porch, bringing in a great breath of keen air that drifted up the stairway to her. The Corner House girls were conducting this new arrival into the sitting room.
Oh, Neale! you mean thing! cried Agnes voice. Where have you been? Come in and tell us all about it!
And what have you done with that old album Agnes let you take? was Ruths anxious question.
Barnabetta strained her ears to distinguish the boys reply.
CHAPTER XVII AT CROSS PURPOSES
Ee-yow! ee-yow! ee-yow! That was the way in which Sammy himself usually announced his coming to the old Corner House, and Tess had learned it from him.
Then Mrs. Pinkney would come to the side door to speak to the little girl.
How is Sammy to-night, Mrs. Pinkney? Tess would query. We hope hes better.
And Mrs. Pinkney would tell her. In the morning on her way to school, Tess would repeat the inquiry. For a week the reports were very grave indeed. Sammy knew nobody not even his father and mother. The poor little pirate was quite delirious; his temperature was very high; and Dr. Forsyth could give the parents little encouragement.