The House That Grew

st that another strange thing happ

ostman a good deal out of his way to come down to the Hut, so it had been arra

she was reading it. But I had not noticed anything about Taisy's, and when a queer kind of little gasp made me look round at her, my first t

I think, for Taisy was as white as the tablecloth,

her in a low voice without being overheard. 'Is it-oh, is it, anything wrong with pap

back Taisy's p

ady the colour was coming back to her cheeks, for she was not a nervous or delicate girl at all.

made me feel all the more puzzled as to what was the matter with Taisy when I heard her reply to mamma's question, 'Ha

er peculiar manner. She herse

risen,' she remarked, 'though I suppose i

glance across the table, I saw that Esmé's mouth was wide open, and that she was star

y this time. Mamma t

You have just time for a little blow be

Esmé, 'I want to s

he had not time to finish the sentence before she at last noticed Taisy; the tears were really starting by now, and her breath came

have been as puzzled as any one, for he had no idea of course what the letters contained. But he contented himself with a kind of reassuring nod

fairly sobbed. Mamma got

to do with your grandmother's letter, I can see. Do you dislike this

. 'It isn't that at all. It's-it's about the gypsy-the saying it like a prophecy-it wasn't right.

ther, as if we thought Taisy was losing her wits

you say, dear,' mamma repeated

y no

d it, I see. But please do not be

mamma exclaimed, as if sh

, he was Esmé, I suppose. That was why

lping me to dress up, and we thought the best way to keep her quiet was for her to join in it. But, auntie-I was going to tell you all about it to-day-yo

ind if not carried too far. The only thing is-Why did you not unmask yourself at once? Pe

o her telling what was untrue. Last night when you were pitying the child-who was not my son or grandson'-

d you, then

ooms here, as the sea-air and pine-wood air would be so good for her. I meant to have made her very pertinacious, and very funny, and I wanted you to get quite cross with her, auntie dear,' and Taisy could not help a little sigh of regret. 'That was why the gypsy foretold that you were going to have another unexpected v

id mamma; 'but do not g

a moment or two and seem

have come aga

hook he

e second time-for of course she would have begun giggling if she

ind that made me so sorry for the boy. But about the whole affair-well, yes, Taisy dear. Perhaps it was scarcely right-n

' said Taisy v

ttle explanation to Esmé. And don't get it into your head that the coincidence of a real visitor being proposed

forget what I felt when I opened Grann

no sort of idea that the th

replied. 'You see it has happe

cing again at her lette

holidays with us when his aunt, Miss Merry, was with Granny. He is a very nice bo

me to hear all about the contents of the

'Is it some one else coming to stay

egan to

. 'It's another snail-some one w

ing over the new proposal, whatever it was, rather se

he boy's father was in India, so he sometimes, though not always, spent his holidays with his aunt. And this spring something had happened-I forget wha

comes this thunderbolt in the shape of a great hobbledehoy of a boy, who would be utterly out of his element with two elderly ladies and sure to get

ing in his power, like a big brother, to help mamma with the younger ones. But the fun of the thing was, that he would bring his room with him! There would be no difficulty about the expense of it. His father was rich and Rolf an only child, and his aunt was free to spend whatever she thought right upon him, and being a very energe

'was such a help; there had not seemed half so much to do since she came. And the weather was getting so nice and mild, we would scarcely need fires at all soon, except perhaps 'a little bit, of an evening i

tification which had been confided to her. And I believe, at the bottom of her heart, she thought that somehow or other T

nting pleasantly to Rolf's joining us, provided he promised, or they for

y the time, or rather long before, the letters were written. 'Any boy would be

lighted at the idea of a companion of his own standing, so to say, which he had never had. But Dods was a queer boy in some respects. He is less so now on the w

the habit of looking to him and even asking his opinion as if he were much older than he really was. And then he was so devoted to Taisy; he looked upon himself as a sort of knight to her, I do believe, for down below his matter-of-factness

oked with him too. I did not see after all, I thought to myself, why he should mind Rolf's coming, any more than I minded Taisy. For though Taisy was our own cousin

with us a short time. There was far less chance

not often set straight

acters and ways and feelings-that put

e were no sort of relation to each other, and yet in some ways they were very alike. I never did know, and I am sure I never shall know, any one with such a thoroughly straightforwar

shooting down upon us as she had done, for we knew exactly what train he was coming by, and everything. And it was not so

te small point at the top, as I had imagined all tents do. But it was partly made of stretched canvas, with iron rods and bars, and the men who put it up told us

it all, from the makers, had instructions to set it up wherever we thought best. It almost re

ampment. We made it a sort of match, on the other side, to Taisy's waggon, though, as it was much prettier t

anted for camping out, for I don't think the people had understood that only an additional bedroom was

e put about now if anything goes wrong with the kitchen fire, as has been at the back of my mind now and then. Maste

'he'd think it the best of fun and

nd hanging presses and bookshelves all made to fold up into next to no compass; a squashy bath, which I did not envy, as I was sure it would topple over and all the water be spilt. And there was a lovely red carpet, or strips of it, so thick and firm,

nice. And I am glad it has all come the day before. It makes it seem more li

l with her mouth wide open, as was her way when very much inte

very-termenj

urprise did come with Rolf,