Chapter XIX: The Commencement of the Summer Holidays

MOUSEY could not help feeling a little low-spirited when the end of the term arrived, and she said good-bye to her school-fellows. They were full of plans for spending the holidays in various enjoyable ways, and condoled with Mousey because she was to remain at home.

"I wish you were coming with us to the seaside," Nellie Thomas said, as she and Mousey lingered over their farewells. "I can't bear to think you will be shut up in that dull old house whilst the boys and I will most likely be building castles in the sand, and fishing and boating, and having such a good time!"

"Never mind," Mousey responded, trying to speak cheerfully. "I hope you will enjoy the holidays as much as ever you can; and I shall not be shut up in the house. Cousin Robert doesn't mind my going out by myself now I know my way about."

"But I'm sure you'll be dreadfully dull! How shall you amuse yourself all day?"

"Oh, in different ways. You know I never had sisters or brothers, so I don't mind being alone as much as you would. I suppose we must say good-bye now. You'll give my love to Mrs. Thomas, won't you?"

"Yes, I will. Mind, you must come to see us as soon as ever we return. Good-bye, Mousey."

"Good-bye," Mousey answered.

So they parted. Mousey pursued her homeward road with a very sober face, thinking how much she would miss her kind little friend, and wishing that it was the end instead of the commencement of the holidays.

However, the time did not hang so heavily on her hands as she had anticipated, for the morning following the one on which Mrs. Downing's school had broken up, Mr. Harding informed Mousey he wished her to go out every day, and suggested that she might go to the park, where she would be perfectly safe. In the park she found Miss Longley with the twins, and spent a very happy hour in playing with the children. The next day Mrs. Downing was there in place of her sister, and seemed very pleased with Mousey's company. She encouraged the little girl to talk to her whilst the twins amused themselves. The two, thus drawn together, found they had much in common; and, though Mousey liked Miss Longley too, there was little doubt but that the elder sister held the first place in her heart, perhaps on account of a look which often crossed Mrs. Downing's face which reminded the child of her dead mother.

One afternoon when Mousey was in the kitchen with Maria she heard Mr. Harding call to her, and running into the parlour, found Mrs. Downing there. Mr. Harding was rubbing his hands, and was evidently in his most amiable frame of mind.

"Mrs. Downing has been giving me a first-rate report of your progress at school, my dear," he said. "I am pleased and gratified to hear you have been a good girl, and have done your best."

Not only had Mrs. Downing given Mr. Harding an excellent report of his little cousin, but she had paid him several pounds on account of her husband's debt, thus reducing it more than the old man had expected, and strengthening the favourable opinion he had formed of her; and as nothing pleased him better than to receive money, he was accordingly in high good humour.

"Mrs. Downing is so kind as to wish to take you back to her house to tea," he continued; "I need scarcely ask if you would like to go!"

Mousey's glowing face answered for her; and when Mr. Harding told her to run away and fetch her hat, she obeyed him with alacrity. Before going upstairs, however, she returned to the kitchen, and informed Maria that she had been invited out to tea. Maria good-naturedly followed her to her bedroom, brushed her hair, and assisted her with her hasty toilette.

Mrs. Downing and Mr. Harding seemed to be getting on capitally together, for when Mousey returned to the parlour she heard her cousin saying—

"I am sure you will make your school pay. I consider you have done wonders already. There was a crying need for a middle-class school such as you have started in Haughton."

"I am glad to hear you think so," Mrs. Downing answered. "I shall do my best, and I hope my efforts may be crowned with success."

She rose as Mousey came into the room, and held out her hand to the old man in farewell, a pleasant smile lighting up her face. His manner to her was most courteous, and he thanked her heartily for her kindness to his little cousin.

Mousey thoroughly enjoyed the short walk which followed, during which she talked unreservedly to her companion. Arrived at their destination, the little girl was seized upon by the twins, who bore her off to their nursery, where they showed her all their toys, and soon persuaded her to join them in a good romping game. Then followed tea, which was a pleasant meal made merry by Dolly and Dick, who insisted on sitting one on each side of their visitor, whom they appeared to regard as especially their own. About seven o'clock John Monday arrived to take Mousey home, and she said good-bye to her friends with many expressions of grateful thanks, which touched Mrs. Downing's kind heart, and prompted her to give the little girl a motherly kiss, and a promise that she should come again.

Mousey tried to amuse her companion with an account of the happy time she had spent, as she tripped lightly homewards by his side; but the boy appeared moody, and disinclined for conversation. He only made one remark all the way, and that was: "Mr. Harding had a long letter from your Aunt Eliza by the evening's post."

"I wonder why she has written to Cousin Robert, and not to me, as she usually does," she thought. "I hope nothing is wrong!"

Nothing was wrong, as Mousey was soon to learn. She found Mr. Harding in the parlour on her return, reading the newspaper. He turned to her as she entered, and inquired how she had got on at Mrs. Downing's. She was too curious to know the contents of her aunt's letter to give him a lengthy account of her visit, but she curbed her impatience as much as she could, and replied that she had spent a most enjoyable time.

"I've had a letter from Cousin Eliza," he next remarked. "She enclosed a note for you. Here it is."

"Oh!" Mousey exclaimed joyfully. "John Monday said you had heard from Aunt Eliza. Thank you, Cousin Robert," she said, as she took the note from his hand.

She read it at once, her face alternately flushing and paling as she grasped its meaning. It ran as follows:—

"MY DEAR MOUSEY,"

"I have been writing to Cousin Robert to ask him to allow you to pay us a visit for a few weeks, as it is your holidays now, and your uncle and I both think it would do you good to have a change of air and scene. I need not tell you how glad we shall be if Cousin Robert permits you to come, and how we are all longing to see you once more. Dear Mousey, I went to look at your mother and father's grave yesterday, and you will like to know that the grass is growing nicely on it, and that your uncle keeps it tidy."

"I can picture you at Haughton better since your uncle was there, for he gave me a full account of everything on his return; but I want to see for myself how you are looking, and then I shall feel more satisfied. The children send their love and say: 'Tell Mousey to come as soon as ever she can!' Good-bye, my dear. Hoping to see you very shortly,"

"I remain," "Your affectionate aunt," "ELIZA DAWSON."

Mousey looked up from her letter to find Mr. Harding's eyes fixed upon her face.

"Well, child?" he questioned.

"Oh, Cousin Robert!" was all she could say.

"Do you wish to go?" he inquired.

Her animated countenance, flushed with excitement, gave the answer to his question. The old man sighed a trifle sadly.

"Perhaps you won't want to come back again?" he said, watching her intently.

"Oh, yes, I shall!" she replied. "Why, Cousin Robert, what makes you think that?"

There was such evident surprise in her face that his fear was disarmed, and he said kindly, almost tenderly—

"I don't want to lose you altogether. Of course, it's quite natural you should wish to visit your aunt and uncle, and I shall be very glad for you to do so."

"Do you mean I am to go?" Mousey cried.

"Certainly. I will write to your aunt to-morrow, and tell her when she may expect you."

"Oh, Cousin Robert, thank you, thank you! Oh, how good you are to me!" and the little girl threw herself impulsively into the old man's arms, and covered his face with kisses.

"There, there, child, that will do! You're half smothering me! Why, what have I done to be treated like this? There, run away, and tell Maria she must overlook your wardrobe to-morrow, and see what you want in the way of new clothes."

So Mousey rushed off to pour into Maria's ears the wonderful news that she was going to pay Aunt Eliza and Uncle Dick a visit. The holidays were not proving so dull and uneventful, after all.