The Tapestry Room: A Child's Romance

guinea-pig alw

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was small, this one was really rather trying. But Jeanne's cousin Hugh was a very patient little boy. His life, since his parents' death, had not been a very happy one, and he had learnt to bear troubles without complaining. And now that he was on his way to the kind c

for a little milk for his "pet." The pet, which had travelled on his knees all the way from England-comfortably nestled up in hay and cotton wool in its cage, which looked something like a big mouse-trap-much better off in its way certainly than its poor little master. B

ld manage, to be told that at last they had arrived. This was the town where his friends lived, and a "monsieur," the conductor added, was inquiring for him-Jea

nding before her, she could not speak. How was it? He was not quite what she had expected; he looked paler and quieter than any boys she had seen, and-was he not glad to see her?-glad to have come?-she asked herself with a little misgiving. She looked a

red, my cousin?"

ded, glancing at a side-table where a little supper had been laid out for him. "I am n

pleasure when, through the bars, she caught sight of the guinea-pig's soft nose, poking out, saying as p

d not-at least papa and mamma could not-read what he was. And have you brought him all the way, my cousin, and do you love him

ice was broken any way, and when, an hour or two later, Jeanne's mother told her she might take Hugh up

of patronising. "It is not very far from mine, and mamma says we can

eaking. "What was that name you called me jus

ought for

was 'chéri.' I cannot say your name-I have tried all these d

he funniest shape as she tried to manage

ousin' or any name, because, do you know," he added, dropping his voice a little, "I rem

t the greatest risk to the equilibrium of the whole party, including the guinea-pig-"Chéri! I shal

Hugh, from the b

FUNNY ROOM,

Chéri, that the tapestry room-that's the room you're going to have-is full of fai

" he added, as a sudden recollection struck him, "is it like what that queen long

all. It's just long strips of linen with queer-shaped horses and things worked on. Not at all pretty. A

dor. Hugh followed his little cousin into the room, and stood gazing round him with curious surprise and pleasure. The walls were well lighte

have seen this room before. I seem to know the pictures on the walls. Oh, how nice they are! I didn't th

shook h

I am very glad my room is not like this. I don't think I should like to see all these funny creature

his blue eye

ghtened at them. They are so nice and funny. Just

ill shook

can't bear those peacocks. But I'

to sleep at all. I would lie awake watching all the pictures. I dare say they l

ight is the time to see them best. It makes the colours look quite fresh again. Mademoiselle

"You must call me some night when it's very

eanne for dreaming of such a thing as running about the house in the middle of the night to admire th

e, where is he to sleep, M

d rather d

ort of balcony there was outside my window. But there isn't any balco

Marcelline,

not mind if we put him in the cupboard in the

, and his cage can be in one corner. He wouldn't be nearly so lonely, and to-morrow I'll tell

oupet?" s

ken-house with the two other little chickens. O Chéri," she added, glancing round, and seeing that Marcelline had left the r

opened both the tapestry room and Jeanne's room at the other end, through a small sort of anteroom, and then-for though they were upstairs, the garde

azed about him with de

ed, "how pretty it is!

rt in her progress

matter-of-fact tone. "Do you

too, but I mean the tre

the tonnelle was a kind of arbour-a long covered passage made by trees at each side, whose boughs had been trained to meet and interlace overhead. And now, with their fair

ight it would be prettier still, for then we c

t the end makes it look so nice-like as if it was a fairy door

ee the tonnelle in summer. It is pretty then, with all the leaves on. But we must run

s' house was in a little courtyard just a few steps from the tonnelle, and guided by Jeanne's voice in front as much as by the faint glimpses of her figure, dark against the snow, Hugh soon found

the chickens. Hadn't we better wait till to-morrow, and put

" she went on, "there is a very, very little light from the kitchen window after all, when the door is opened. Look, Chéri, up in that corner

hty dogs about-nothing like tha

leave Houpet here if there were? I'll call to Houpe

besides, how would he know

tly, "we've brought a little cochon de Barbarie to sleep in your house. You must be very kind to him-do you hear, H

had tried to persuade her cousin that the chickens were to be seen, and delighted

show that he's heard me. Now put down the cage, Chéri-oh, you have put it down-and let's run in again. You

got it, turned to go. But she stopped to pu

come into your house. If he tries to, you

were running back to the house tog

gry." For right before them on the path stood the old raven, on one leg as usual, though this it was too dark to see clearl

ith surprise. "Why, what fu

e lau

m. To tell you the truth, Chéri, I'm rather fri

impressed, but no

lly, Jeanne

o. At least I think Grignan is enchanted, and that Dudu is the

wonder if what you think is true," he added r

, you know, turn us into something-two little mice,

e, if he would turn us back again. We could get into such

laughing when they ran against Marcelline at the doo

and Mademoiselle Jeanne! Where have you been?

o the warm fire, however, and carefully examined their fee

es on the old nurse in surprise. "At home, grandmamma's maid

's neck, and giving her a kiss first on one cheek then on

remembers that when she was a little girl

you, Marcelline?" said Jeanne. "I believe you wer

aughed, but

at last. "If he is a

ked up her

elieve you do know something about Du

was to be got out

im to tuck him into bed, and make him feel at home the first night. There was no lam

Chéri?" said little Jeanne in a moth

s there to be frigh

"Those peacocks look just as if th

e the peacocks give a party some night, Jeanne, and we'll invite Dudu and Grignan, and Hou

lapped h

And you'll ask me and let me hea

So Jeanne skipped off