Chapter 13—Cosey Corner

iendsatoncewiththeotherchildren,whofilledtheirarmswithchickensandkittens,anddidthehonourshandsomely. Thetootofahorncalledalltosupper,andagoodlyparty,includingsixchildrenbesidestheCamp-bells,assembledinthelongdining-room,armedwithmountainappetitesandthegayestspirits.Itwasimpossibleforanyonetobeshyorsober,forsuchgalesofmerrimentarosetheyblewthestarchoutofthestiffest,andmadethesaddestjolly.MotherAtkinson,asallcalledtheirhostess,wasthemerriestthere,andthebusiestforshekeptflyinguptowaitonthechildren,tobringoutsomenewdish,ortobanishthelivestock,whowereofsuchasocialturnthatthecoltcameintotheentryanddemandedsugarthecatssataboutinpeople'slaps,winkingsuggestivelyatthefoodandspeckledhensclearedthekitchenfloorofcrumbs,astheyjoinedinthechatwithacheerfulclucking. Everybodyturnedoutafterteatowatchthesunsettillallthelovelyredwasgone,andmosquitoeswoundtheirshrillhornstosoundtheretreat.Themusicofanorgansurprisedthenew-comers,andintheparlortheyfoundFatherAtkinsonplayingsweetlyonthelittleinstrumentmadebyhimself.Allthechildrengatheredabouthim,and,ledbythetunefulsisters,sangprettilytillPokeyfellasleepbehindthedoor,andJamiegapedaudiblyrightinthemiddleofhisfavourite, “Coo,”saidthelittledoves:“Coo,”saidshe, “Allinthetopoftheoldpine-tree.” Theoldertravellers,beingtired,wentto“byelow”atthesametime,andsleptliketopsinhome-spunsheets,onhuskmattressesmadebyMotherAtkinson,whoseemedtohaveputsomesoothingpowderamongthem,sodeepandsweetwastheslumberthatcame. Nextdaybeganthewholesomeout-of-doorlife,whichworkssuchwonderswithtiredmindsandfeeblebodies.Theweatherwasperfect,andthemountainairmadethechildrenasfriskyasyounglambswhiletheelderswentaboutsmilingatoneanother,andsaying,“Isn'titsplendid?”EvenMac,the“slowcoach,”wasseentoleapoverafenceasifhereallycouldnothelpitandwhenRoseranafterhimwithhisbroad-brimmedhat,hemadethespiritedproposaltogointothewoodsandhuntforacatamount. JamieandPokeywereatonceenrol