第71章

Jones.'' And in the character of a hospitable matron she advanced graciously toward the new neighbor.``Why, my dear Mrs.SMITH, come right IN! I THOUGHT you'd call this morning.I want to tell you about my lovely little daughter.

She's only ten years old, an' says the brightest THINGS! You really must--''

But here Jane interrupted herself abruptly, and, hopping behind the residential bush, peeped over it, not at Mrs.Smith, but at a boy of ten or eleven who was passing along the sidewalk.

Her expression was gravely interested, somewhat complacent; and Mrs.Smith was not so lacking in perception that she failed to understand how completely--for the time being, at least--calling was suspended.

The boy whistled briskly, ``My country, 'tis of thee,'' and though his knowledge of the air failed him when he finished the second line, he was not disheartened, but began at the beginning again, continuing repeatedly after this fashion to offset monotony by patriotism.He whistled loudly; he walked with ostentatious intent to be at some heavy affair in the distance;

his ears were red.He looked neither to the right nor to the left.

That is, he looked neither to the right nor to the left until he had passed the Baxters' fence.

But when he had gone as far as the upper corner of the fence beyond, he turned his head and looked back, without any expression--except that of a whistler--at Jane.And thus, still whistling ``My country, 'tis of thee,'' and with blank pink face over his shoulder, he proceeded until he was out of sight.

``Who was that boy?'' the new neighbor then inquired.

``It's Freddie,'' said Jane, placidly.``He's in our Sunday-school.He's in love of me.''

``JANE!''

Again the outraged and ink-stained countenance glared down from the window.

``What you want?'' Jane asked.

``What you MEAN talking about such things?''

William demanded.``In all my life I never heard anything as disgusting! Shame on you!''

The little girl from across the street looked upward thoughtfully.``He's mad,'' she remarked, and, regardless of Jane's previous information, ``It IS your papa, isn't it?'' she insisted.

``No!'' said Jane, testily.``I told you five times it's my brother Willie.''

``Oh!'' said the little girl, and, grasping the fact that William's position was, in dignity and authority, negligible, compared with that which she had persisted in imagining, she felt it safe to tint her upward gaze with disfavor.``He acts kind of crazy,'' she murmured.

``He's in love of Miss Pratt,'' said Jane.

``She's goin' away to-day.She said she'd go before, but to-day she IS! Mr.Parcher, where she visits, he's almost dead, she's stayed so long.

She's awful, I think.''

William, to whom all was audible, shouted, hoarsely, ``I'll see to YOU!'' and disappeared from the window.

``Will he come down here?'' the little girl asked, taking a step toward the gate.

``No.He's just gone to call mamma.All she'll do' ll be to tell us to go play somewheres else.Then we can go talk to Genesis.''

``Who?''

``Genesis.He's puttin' a load of coal in the cellar window with a shovel.He's nice.''

``What's he put the coal in the window for?''

``He's a colored man,'' said Jane.

``Shall we go talk to him now?''

``No,'' Jane said, thoughtfully.``Let's be playin' callers when mamma comes to tell us to go 'way.What was your name?''

``Rannie.''

``No, it wasn't.''

``It is too, Rannie,'' the little girl insisted.

``My whole name's Mary Randolph Kirsted, but my short name's Rannie.''

Jane laughed.``What a funny name!'' she said.``I didn't mean your real name; I meant your callers' name.One of us was Mrs.Jones, and one was--''

``I want to be Mrs.Jones,'' said Rannie.

``Oh, my DEAR Mrs.Jones,'' Jane began at once, ``I want to tell you about my lovely chuldren.I have two, one only seven years old, and the other--''

``Jane!'' called Mrs.Baxter from William's window.

``Yes'm?''

``You must go somewhere else to play.Willie's trying to work at his studies up here, and he says you've disturbed him very much.''

``Yes'm.''

The obedient Jane and her friend turned to go, and as they went, Miss Mary Randolph Kirsted allowed her uplifted eyes to linger with increased disfavor upon William, who appeared beside Mrs.Baxter at the window.

``I tell you what let's do,'' Rannie suggested in a lowered voice.``He got so fresh with us, an'

made your mother come, an' all, let's--let's--''

She hesitated.

``Let's what?'' Jane urged her, in an eager whisper.

``Let's think up somep'n he won't like--an'

DO it!''

They disappeared round a corner of the house, their heads close together.