Prudy Keeping House | Page 2

have the doctor look at her eyes."
"Of course they'll come," said Horace; "who ever heard of brooks
minding the weather? Rain water agrees with 'em."
"If you please, Mrs. Allen," said Nathaniel, appearing at the door, "I--"
"O, they've come--have they, Nat?" asked Horace. Horace was already
well acquainted with the waiting man, and called him Nat, though he
was a very sober youth, with velvety hair, and a green neck-tie, as stiff
as a cactus.
Nat only replied by handing Mrs. Allen a letter, with a hesitating air, as
if he would much rather not do it.
"A despatch!" cried Mrs. Allen, turning rather pale.
Dotty Dimple and Flyaway crowded close to her, and overwhelmed her
with questions.
"O, what is it?" said one. "Who wroted it? And why didn't Hollis bring
the camphor bottle athout my asking?" said the other.
But the older children knew better than to speak just then. As soon as
Mrs. Allen could get her breath, she said,--
"Don't be frightened, dears. It is only a message from your Uncle
Augustus. He can't come home to-night, as we expected. He says, 'One

of my old attacks. Nothing serious. Can you come?'"
"O, is that all?" said Dotty, and ceased fanning her auntie with a
book-cover.
"O, is that all?" echoed Fly, and left off patting her cheek with a pencil.
"But, children," said Horace, "don't you understand Uncle Augustus is
sick--wants auntie to go and take care of him?"
"Why, he can't have her."
"Indeed, Miss Dot, and why not?"
"She's got company, you know."
"There, little sister! I wouldn't think that of you? Poor Uncle
Augustus!"
"But he says he isn't serious," said Dotty, looking ashamed. "Auntie,
you don't think he's serious--do you?"
"No, dear; he's suffering very much, but I am not in the least alarmed.
He has had just such attacks as this ever since he came out of the army.
He is at a hotel in Trenton, New Jersey, and needs some one to wait
upon him, who knows just what to do. I am very sorry to go and leave
my company, Dotty, but--"
"O, auntie, you ought to go," cried Dotty.
"I dislike particularly not to be polite."
"O, auntie, you will be 'tic'ly polite," cried little Echo. "Please let me go,
too; I won't make no noise."
"How long do you think you'll have to stay, auntie?" said Prudy.
"I cannot tell, dear. These attacks are usually short, and I think quite
likely your uncle can come home to-morrow night; but he may not be

able till next day."
"How he'll feel if he can't be here to Christmas!" said Dotty; "and so
much greens and things in the windows!"
"Yes; and how we shall both feel to know our little friends are keeping
house by themselves!"
"Keeping house? O, may we keep house!" exclaimed Prudy, her eyes
suddenly brightening.
"Why, yes, my child; you may be the lady of the mansion, if that is
what you mean, and Horace the lord."
"But may I cook the dinners, and not ask Mrs. Fixfax? Because I really
do know a great deal, Aunt Madge. You'd be surprised! I can cook cake,
and pie, and biscuit, and three kinds of pudding. Please, this once, let
me manage things just as I want to."
"Just as we want, you mean," said Dotty. "I can make gingerbread as
well as you can."
"And I shaked a table-cloth once," put in the youngest. "Only I shan't
be here if my auntie tookens me off."
"Yes, auntie," said Horace; "let the girls manage. They'll get up queer
messes, but 'twill be good fun."
"Do you believe it?" said auntie, thoughtfully. And there entered her
brain, at that moment, a singular scheme, which, to almost any other
woman, would have seemed absurd.
"Poor little souls? Their visit has been a failure. I've a great mind to
make an arrangement with Mrs. Fixfax to have them keep house in her
room." (Mrs. Fixfax was Mrs. Allen's housekeeper.) "The novelty will
amuse them. Of course they will waste flour and sugar, but not very
much, probably, and Mrs. Fixfax will be on the watch to see that they
don't get too hungry. It will tax her severely, but I can pay her for her

trouble. Really, the more I think of it, the more I'm inclined to try it.
They say I'm foolishly indulgent to children. Perhaps so; but I do want
them happy when they come to my house visiting."
"Have you thinked it all up?" asked Fly, peeping into her auntie's face;
"I won't 'sturb Uncle 'Gustus."
"Yes, chickie; I've thinked of talking to Mrs. Fixfax about letting you
all keep house; that is, if she won't consider it too much trouble."
"Trouble?" said Prudy; "why,