The Staying Guest
ird's future, old Matthew was wandering
mself. "Now I'll wager me dinner that she's hidi
tthew tramped up and down the orchard, peeri
arled apple-tree, he heard what seemed
d, b
ybi
lled an
never
own, ye rascally baby. Yer aunts is afthe
I don't heed," came ba
rnestly. "Yer aunts is clean daft. C
y well, Matthew, that if I come down my aunts
ay up in the tre
nt. I don't think it's going to
ow ye do talk! And are ye going
o sleep somewhere. And say,
Well, thin, come d
ily; "but do you, O good Matthew, go to
hat dratted
princess; you are my henchman.
s that
at you must do just as I te
, mi
o put up some supper in a baske
ye come down an
Henchmen do as they're
d man shuffled away, followed by a
bringing a fair-sized basket
own, lit
dybird, "you're mighty spry.
d Matthew; "sure, ye
ly. "It seems to me we shall be great fr
b up with it to y
rd, who was already uncoi
, she carefully let the string down thr
umbling, "It's as much as me place is worth," tied the baske
he way of knots and twigs, the savory basket-load rea
reflectively, "that Bridget
iss," said Matt
and quite uncertain what course to pursue. He could not see the child, though between the
e heard her
u'll get rheumatism. You may go now. I shall stay
ish now; come down; let
ight, M
aunts is th
ight, M
n, "it does be awful cold here after da
ight, M
f duty was dulled. He well knew he ought to tell the Flint ladies where the child was; and yet
nt pale with real anxiety concerning their niece, he felt i
'am; I do know
cilla, mistaking the cause of his hes
down t
She's up in the tiptopmost branch of the old Bell-flower apple-tree, and
Miss Priscilla. "How ridiculou
down with something to
said Matthew, hi
ith a dogged, do-or-die air, "and then Matthew can sh
bbons," thought Matthew to himself, as he r
a wool crocheted cloud, and black worsted gloves; for without s
ha," said Miss Priscilla,
s is as dry as a bone
rain, ma'am,"
tha," said Mi
and in a few moments the two aunts were following old
d designated. But though the old ladies peered anxious
ss Priscilla, in a c
ans
ain, and still no sound
ies of the occasion, made what was perhaps the
graciously; and a little voic
is it,
e, Miss Priscilla, having gained her poin
ernly, "come down at
said La
you to," said
said La
Miss Priscilla, with a shade m
with two shades more
with us," whispered Miss Dorin
re that a suggestion from her sister to do the thing
ressing the top of the tree, "because I com
n I'll stay up here and be naughty. It will make
ster," urged
lf," said Miss P
ded no seco
wn, dearie. You are going to stay with
'm going to
and I told
, in her croonin
aid Miss Priscilla, whose p
bird, gently, bu
udden burst of whole-hearted welcome. "Because I want you
Ladybird, gathering up her basket of fragments, began to scrambl