Chapter 2—The Clan

gsomemysteriousorder,whichwassopromptlyobeyedthat,beforeRosecouldgetoutofthecarriage,theboyshadcaughtholdofthepoleandrattledheroutofthebarn,roundtheovalanduptothefrontdoorwithacheerthatbroughttwocapstoanupperwindow,andcausedDebbytocryaloudfromthebackporch, “Themharum-scarumboyswillcertainlybethedeathofthatdelicatelittlecreter!” Butthe“delicatelittlecreter”seemedallthebetterforhertrip,andranupthestepslookingrosy,gay,anddishevelled,tobereceivedwithlamentationbyAuntPlenty,whobeggedhertogoandliedownatonce. “Oh,pleasedon't!Wehavecometoteawithourcousin,andwe'llbeasgoodasgoldifyou'llletusstay,auntie,”clamouredtheboys,whonotonlyapprovedof“ourcousin”buthadnomindtolosetheirtea,forAuntPlenty'snamebutfeeblyexpressedherbountifulnature. “Well,dears,youcanonlybequiet,andletRosegoandtakeherironandbemadetidy,andthenwewillseewhatwecanfindforsupper,”saidtheoldladyasshetrottedaway,followedbyavolleyofdirectionsfortheapproachingfeast. “Marmaladeforme,auntie.” “Plentyofplum-cake,please.” “TellDebbytotrotoutthebakedpears.” “I'myourmanforlemon-pie,ma'am.” “DohavefrittersRosewilllike'em.” “She'dratherhavetarts,Iknow.” WhenRosecamedown,fifteenminuteslater,witheverycurlsmoothedandhermostberuffledapronon,shefoundtheboysloafingaboutthelonghall,andpausedonthehalf-waylandingtotakeanobservation,fortillnowshehadnotreallyexaminedhernew-foundcousins. Therewasastrongfamilyresemblanceamongthem,thoughsomeoftheyellowheadsweredarkerthanothers,someofthecheeksbrowninsteadofrosy,andtheagesvariedallthewayfromsixteen-year-oldArchietoJamie,whowastenyearsyounger.NoneofthemwereespeciallycomelybutthePrince,yetallwerehearty,happy-lookinglads,andRosedecidedthatboyswerenotasdreadfulasshehadexpectedtofindthem. Theywereallsocharacteristicallyemployedthatshecouldnothelpsmilingasshelooked.ArchieandCharlie,evidentlygreatcronies,werepacingupanddown,shouldertoshoulder,whistling“BonnieDundee”Macwasreadinginacorner,withhisbookclosetohisnear-sightedeyesDandywasarranginghishairbeforetheovalglassinthehat-standGeordieandWillinvestigatingtheinternaleconomyofthemoon-facedclockandJamielaykickinguphisheelsonthematatthefootofthestairs,bentondemandinghissweetiestheinstantRoseappeared. Sheguessedhisintention,andforestalledhisdemandbydroppingahandfulofsugar-plumsdownuponhim. Athiscryofrapturetheotherladslookedupandsmiledinvoluntarily,forthelittlekinswomanstandingthereabovewasawinsomesightwithhershy,softeyes,brighthair,andlaughingface.Theblackfrockremindedthemofherloss,andfilledtheboyishheartswithakindlydesiretobegoodto“ourcousin,”whohadnolongeranyhomebutthis. “Theresheis,asfineasyouplease,”criedSteve,kissingh