"It's perfect," she announced from the garden gate. "Oh, Janet, do
love me so that I can stay here always. There's a real sundial!
Auntie Mogs, do look. Tommy, you never told me about it. And what
ducky little white flowers!"
In the hall she was equally enthusiastic over the grandfather's clock
and the big brass warming pan.
Martha met them at the door, arrayed in a stiff white apron, her face
shiny with soap applied vigorously.
Before she had a chance to speak, Phyllis was shaking her hand.
"You're Martha," she said. "I'm awfully glad to know you."
Martha turned to Miss Carter. "She said that like Master Tom," she
said.
Aunt Mog smiled. "Yes, she is very like her father," she said. "I
see it so often. It's queer, isn't it! Janet is more like her
mother."
"She is, indeed, ma'm, even in her ways." Martha spoke proudly, and
she looked at Janet affectionately.
"Won't you be coming up to your room? You must be tired."
They all followed her upstairs, Phyllis leading the way and once more
carrying her cat.
Tom brought up the rear, carrying the bags, which had arrived a few
minutes before from the station.
"I must change my dress before I see grandmother," Phyllis said as
she opened a big suitcase, "but I won't be a minute, so stay and talk
to me while I wash in this adorable basin," she said to Janet.
Aunt Mog took off her hat and with a smile, which neither of the
girls noticed, she slipped from the room and joined Tom at the foot
of the stairs.
"It's quite perfect, as Phyllis says," she laughed, "and now suppose
I go in and say 'how do you do' to Mrs. Page."
When the girls came down a few minutes later they heard voices and
Tom's hearty laugh. Janet sighed with relief and opened the door
softly.
"Grandmother," she said in the hushed voice she always used in that
room, "here is Phyllis."
Before Mrs. Page had had time really to look at her other
granddaughter, Phyllis had kissed her warmly on both cheeks and was
rattling on in her joyful way.
"Grandmother, isn't this fun!" she demanded. "I'm so glad to see
you. Why, only just imagine, I never knew you existed until Tom came
out of the skies and told me about you and Janet. You can imagine,
can't you, how surprised I was, and of course I've been simply crazy
to see you ever since."
"Phyllis dearest, be careful; I'm afraid you'll tire your grandmother
with so much chattering," Aunt Mog admonished gently.
"Let the child alone, Marjorie," Mrs. Page snapped.
"Oh, but I'm sorry," Phyllis was contrite at once, "I always forget,
and you know you don't look a bit sick, grandmother, even though you
are in bed. Here, let me shake up your pillows for you. They don't
look half puffy enough to be really comfortable." She suited the
action to the word, and in the twinkling of an eye the pillows were
re-arranged to her satisfaction.
"Keep still a minute, child," Mrs. Page said not unkindly; "I want to
look at you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account