Chapter 6—Uncle Alec's Room

sheisalwayspokingthatmiteofanoseintoeverythingandasPaulPrydidnotsuit,theboysfelltocallingherPokey.Notaprettyname,butveryexpressive.” Itcertainlywas,for,havingexaminedtheshells,thebusytotlaidholdofeverythingshecouldfind,andcontinuedherresearchestillArchiecaughthersuckinghiscarvedivorychessmentoseeiftheywerenotbarleysugar.Ricepaperpictureswerealsodiscoveredcrumpledupinhertinypocket,andshenearlysmashedWill'sostricheggbytryingtosituponit. “Here,Jim,takeherawayshe'sworsethanthepuppies,andwecan'thaveherround,”commandedtheelderbrother,pickingherupandhandingherovertothelittlefellow,whoreceivedherwithopenarmsandthewarningremark, “You'dbettermindwhatyoudo,forI'mgoingto'doptPokeylikeRosedidPhebe,andthenyou'llhavetobeverygoodtoher,youbigfellows.” “'Doptaway,baby,andI'llgiveyouacagetokeepherin,oryouwon'thaveherlong,forsheisgettingworsethanamonkey”andArchiewentbacktohismates,whileAuntJessie,foreseeingacrisis,proposedthatJamieshouldtakehisdollyhome,asshewasborrowed,anditwastimehervisitended. “Mydollyisbetterthanyours,isn'tshe?'causeshecanwalkandtalkandsinganddance,andyourscan'tdoanything,canshe?”askedJamiewithpride,asheregardedhisPokey,whojustthenhadbeenmovedtoexecuteafunnylittlejigandwarblethewell-knowncouplet, “'Puss-tat,puss-tat,whereyoubeen?' 'IbeenLunnin,tosawaTween.”' Afterwhichsuperbdisplaysheretired,escortedbyJamie,bothmakingafearfuldinblowingonconchshells. “Wemusttearourselvesaway,Rose,becauseIwanttogetyouhomebeforesunset.Willyoucomeforadrive,Jessie?”saidDr.Alec,asthemusicdiedawayinthedistance. “No,thankyoubutIseetheboyswantascamper,so,ifyoudon'tmind,theymayescortyouhome,butnotgoin.Thatisonlyallowedonholidays.” ThewordswerehardlyoutofAuntJessie'smouthwhenArchiesaid,inatoneofcommand, “Passtheword,lads.Bootandsaddle,andbequickaboutit.” “Allright!”Andinamomentnotavestigeofboyremainedbutthelitteronthefloor. ThecavalcadewentdownthehillatapacethatmadeRoseclingtoheruncle'sarm,forthefatoldhorsesgotexcitedbytheanticsoftheponiescareeringallaboutthem,andwentasfastastheycouldpelt,withthegaydog-cartrattlinginfront,forArchieandCharliescornedsheltiessincethismagnificentequipagehadbeensetup.Benenjoyedthefun,andtheladscutupcaperstillRosedeclaredthat“circus”wasthepropernameforthemafterall. Whentheyreachedthehousetheydismounted,andstood,threeoneachsidethesteps,inmartialattitudes,whileherladyshipwashandedoutwithgreatelegancebyUncleAlec.ThentheClansaluted,mountedatwordofcommand,andwithawildwhooptoredowntheavenueinwhattheyconsideredthetrueArabstyle. “Thatwassplendid,nowitissafelyended,”saidRo