Chapter VIII. Merry and Molly

astrailingaboutthekitchen,withherheadpinnedupinalittleplaidshawl,wassosurprisedbythedemandforapanofhotwaterandfourcleantowels,thatshenearlydroppedhersnuff-box,chiefcomfortofherlazysoul. “Whatnewwhimseynow?Generally,thedishesstandroundtillIhavetimetopick'emup,andyouareoffcoastingorcareeringsomewhere.Well,thistidyfitwon'tlastlong,soImayaswellmakethemostofit,”saidMissBat,asshehandedouttherequiredarticles,andthenpushedherspectaclesfromthetipofhersharpnosetohersharperblackeyesforagoodlookatthegirlwhostoodprimlybeforeher,withacleanaprononandherhairbraidedupinsteadofflyingwildlyabouthershoulders. “Umph!”wasallthecommentthatMissBatmadeonthisunusualneatness,andshewentonscrapinghersaucepans,whileMollyreturnedtoherwork,verywellpleasedwiththeeffectofherfirststep,forshefeltthatthebewildermentofMissBatwouldbeaconstantinspirationtofreshefforts. Anhourofhardworkproducedanagreeablechangeintheabodeofthenative,forthetablewascleared,roomsweptanddusted,firebrightened,andtheholesinthesofa-coveringwerepinneduptilltimecouldbefoundtomendthem.Tobesure,rollsoflintlayincorners,smearsofasheswereonthestovehearth,andduststilllurkedonchairroundsandtablelegs.Buttoomuchmustnotbeexpectedofanewconvert,sotheyoungmissionarysatdowntorest,wellpleasedandreadyforanotherattemptassoonasshecoulddecideinwhatdirectionitshouldbemade.ShequailedbeforeBooasshelookedattheunconsciousinnocentpeacefullyplayingwiththespotteddog,nowbereftofhistail,andthelonesausagewithwhichhewasattemptingtofeedthehungryanimal,whoseredmouthalwaysgapedformore. “Itwillbeanawfuljob,andheissohappyIwon'tplaguehimyet.GuessI'llgoandputmyroomtorightsfirst,andpickupsomecleanclothestoputonhim,ifheisaliveafterIgetthroughwithhim,”thoughtMolly,foreseeingastormypassagefortheboy,whohatedabathasmuchassomepeoplehateatripacrosstheAtlantic. Upshewent,andfindingthefireoutfeltdiscouraged,thoughtshewouldrestalittlemore,soretiredundertheblanketstoreadoneoftheChristmasbooks.Thedinner-bellrangwhileshewasstillwanderinghappilyin“Nelly'sSilverMine,”andsherandowntofindthatBoohadlaidoutarailroadallacrossherneatroom,usingbitsofcoalforsleepersandbooksforrails,overwhichhewasdraggingtheyellowsledladenwithadismayedkitten,thetaillessdog,andtheremainsofthesausage,evidentlyonitswaytothetomb,forBootookbitesatitnowandthen,nootherlunchbeingofferedhim. “Ohdear!whycan'tboysplaywithoutmakingsuchamess,”sighedMolly,pickingupthefeathersfromthedusterwithwhichBoohadbeentryingtomakea“cocky-doo”ofthehaplessdog.“I'llwashhimrightafterdinner,andthatwillkeephimoutofmischiefforawhile,”shethought,astheyoungengineerunsuspiciouslyproceededtoornamenthisalreadycrockycountenancewithsquash,cranberrysauce,andgravy,tillhelookedmorelikeaFijichiefinfullwar-paintthanaChristianboy. “Iwanttwopailsofhotwater,please,MissBat,andthebigtub,”saidMolly,astheancienthandmaidemptiedherfourthcupoftea,forshedinedwiththefamily,andenjoyedherowngoodcookinginitsprime. “Whatareyougoingtowashnow?” “Boo—I'msureheneedsitenough”andMollycouldnothelplaughingasthevictimaddedtohisbrilliantappearancebysmearingthecolorsalltogetherwitharuboftwogrimyhands,makingafine“Turner”ofhimself. “Now,MariaLouisaBemis,youain'tgoingtocutupnocaperswiththatchild!Theideaofahotbathinthemiddleoftheday,andhimfullofdinner,andcroupyintothebargain!Wetacornerofatowelatthekettle-spoutandpolishhimoffifyoulike,butyouwon'triskhislifeinnobath-tubsthiscoldday.” MissBat'swordwaslawinsomethings,soMollyhadtosubmit,andtookBooaway,saying,loftily,asshelefttheroom,— “Ishallaskfather,anddoitto-night,forIwillnothavemybrotherlooklikeapig.” “Mypatience!howtheSiamesedoleavetheirthingsround,”sheexclaimed,asshesurveyedherroomaftermakingupthefireandpolishingoffBoo.“I'llputthingsinorder,andthenmendupmyrags,ifIcanfindmythimble.Now,letmesee”andshewenttoexploringhercloset,bureau,andtable,findingsuchdisordereverywherethathercouragenearlygaveout. Shehadclothesenough,butallneededcareevenherbestdresshadtwobuttonsoff,andher