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Clover was now eighteen. She was a very small Clover still, but it would have been hard to find anywhere a prettier little maiden than she had grown to be. Her skin was so exquisitely fair that her arms and wrists and shoulders, which were round and dimpled like a babys, seemed cut out of daisies or white rose leaves. Her thick, brown hair waved and coiled gracefully about her head. Her smile was peculiarly sweet; and the eyes, always Clovers chief beauty, had still that pathetic look which made them irresistible to tender-hearted people.
Elsie, who adored Clover, considered her as beautiful as girls in books, and was proud to be permitted to hem ruffles for the dress in which she was to burst upon the world. Though, as for that, not much bursting was possible in Burnet, where tea-parties of a middle-aged description, and now and then a mild little dance, represented gaiety and society. Girls came out very much, as the sun comes out in the morningby slow degrees and gradual approaches, with no particular one moment which could be fixed upon as having been the crisis of the joyful event.
There, said Elsie, adding another ruffle to the pile on the bed, theres the fifth done. Its going to be ever so pretty, I think. Im glad you had it all white; its a great deal nicer.
Cecy wanted me to have a blue bodice and sash, said Clover, but I wouldnt. Then she tried to persuade me to get a long spray of pink roses for the skirt.
Im so glad you didnt! Cecy was always crazy about pink roses. I only wonder she didnt wear them when she was married!
Yes; the excellent Cecy, who at thirteen had announced her intention to devote her whole life to teaching Sunday School, visiting the poor, and setting a good example to her more worldly contemporaries, had actually forgotten these fine resolutions, and before she was twenty had become the wife of Sylvester Slack, a young lawyer in a neighboring town! Cecys wedding and wedding-clothes, and Cecys house-furnishing had been the great excitement of the preceding year in Burnet; and a fresh excitement had come since in the shape of Cecys baby, now about two months old, and named Katherine Clover, after her two friends. This made it natural that Cecy and her affairs should still be of interest in the Carr household; and Johnnie, at the time we write of, was making her a weeks visit.
She was rather wedded to them, went on Clover, pursuing the subject of the pink roses. She was almost vexed when I wouldnt buy the spray. But it cost lots, and I didnt want it in the least, so I stood firm. Besides, I always said that my first party dress should be plain white. Girls in novels always wear white to their first balls; and fresh flowers are a great deal prettier, any way, than artificial. Katy says shell give me some violets to wear.
Oh, will she? That will be lovely! cried the adoring Elsie. Violets look just like you, somehow. Oh, Clover, what sort of a dress do you think I shall have when I grow up and go to parties and things? Wont it be awfully interesting when you and I go out to choose it?
Just then the noise of some one running upstairs quickly made the sisters look up from their work. Footsteps are very significant at times, and these footsteps suggested haste and excitement.
Another moment, the door opened, and Katy dashed in, calling out, Papa! Elsie, Clover, wheres Papa?
He went over the river to see that son of Mr. Whites who broke his leg. Why, whats the matter? asked Clover.
Is somebody hurt? inquired Elsie, startled at Katys agitated looks.
No, not hurt, but poor Mrs. Ashe is in such trouble.
Mrs. Ashe, it should be explained, was a widow who had come to Burnet some months previously, and had taken a pleasant house not far from the Carrs. She was a pretty, lady-like woman, with a particularly graceful, appealing manner, and very fond of her one child, a little girl. Katy and Papa both took a fancy to her at once; and the families had grown neighborly and intimate in a short time, as people occasionally do when circumstances are favorable.
Ill tell you all about it in a minute, went on Katy. But first I must find Alexander, and send him off to meet Papa and beg him to hurry home. She went to the head of the stairs as she spoke, and called Debby! Debby! Debby answered. Katy gave her direction, and then came back again to the room where the other two were sitting.
Now, she said, speaking more collectedly, I must explain as fast as I can, for I have got to go back. You know that Mrs. Ashes little nephew is here for a visit, dont you?
Yes, he came on Saturday.
Well, he was ailing all day yesterday, and today he is worse, and she is afraid it is scarlet-fever. Luckily, Amy was spending the day with the Uphams yesterday, so she scarcely saw the boy at all; and as soon as her mother became alarmed, she sent her out into the garden to play, and hasnt let her come indoors since, so she cant have been exposed to any particular danger yet. I went by the house on my way down street, and there sat the poor little thing all alone in the arbor, with her dolly in her lap, looking so disconsolate. I spoke to her over the fence, and Mrs. Ashe heard my voice, and opened the upstairs window and called to me. She said Amy had never had the fever, and that the very idea of her having it frightened her to death. She is such a delicate child, you know.
Oh, poor Mrs. Ashe! cried Clover; I am so sorry for her! Well, Katy, what did you do?
I hope I didnt do wrong, but I offered to bring Amy here. Papa wont object, I am almost sure.
Why, of course he wont. Well?
I am going back now to fetch Amy. Mrs. Ashe is to let Ellen, who hasnt been in the room with the little boy, pack a bagful of clothes and put it out on the steps, and I shall send Alexander for it by and by. You cant think how troubled poor Mrs. Ashe was. She couldnt help crying when she said that Amy was all she had left in the world. And I nearly cried too, I was so sorry for her. She was so relieved when I said that we would take Amy. You know she has a great deal of confidence in Papa.
Yes, and in you too. Where will you put Amy to sleep, Katy?
What do you think would be best? In Dorrys room?
I think shed better come in here with you, and Ill go into Dorrys room. She is used to sleeping with her mother, you know, and she would be lonely if she were left to herself.
Perhaps that will be better, only it is a great bother for you, Clovy dear.
I dont mind, responded Clover, cheerfully. I rather like to change about and try a new room once in a while. Its as good as going on a journeyalmost.
She pushed aside the half-finished dress as she spoke, opened a drawer, took out its contents, and began to carry them across the entry to Dorrys room, doing everything with the orderly deliberation that was characteristic of whatever Clover did. Her preparations were almost complete before Katy returned, bringing with her little Amy Ashe.
Amy was a tall child of eight, with a frank, happy face, and long light hair hanging down her back. She looked like the pictures of Alice in Wonderland; but just at that moment it was a very woeful little Alice indeed that she resembled, for her cheeks were stained with tears and her eyes swollen with recent crying.
Why, what is the matter? cried kind little Clover, taking Amy in her arms, and giving her a great hug. Arent you glad that you are coming to make us a visit? We are.