Violet"s eyes filled with tears. "Poor thing!" she said. "I have always travelled about so much, and enjoyed it greatly. I wonder why it is I have so many more pleasures and blessings than other people."
"I hope they may never be fewer," Mary said, caressing her. "But isn"t it nice that now I can give poor Amy Fletcher--for that is her name--two or three weeks here at the sea-sh.o.r.e?"
"Yes, indeed! But you haven"t told me how it happens."
In reply to this Mary went on to say that a married friend who had rented the cottage she had spoken of for the year, now found that he must take his family away for a short time, mountain air being recommended for his wife, who was in poor health, and as it would cost no more to have the cottage occupied in their absence than to leave it empty, he had offered her the use of it rent free.
"He saw father and mother last week," she added in conclusion, "and talked it over with them, and they have written me to accept his offer by all means, and stay as long at the sh.o.r.e as I can."
"But you are to visit us, you know."
"Yes, afterward, if that will do. I don"t intend to miss that pleasure if I can help it," Mary answered gleefully. "Now about my other friend, Ella Neff. She is not an invalid, but she teaches for her support, and I know such a change would do her a world of good. She wanted to come with me, but couldn"t afford it; yet I"m sure she can in this way: for beside the difference of board there will not be the same necessity for fine dress."
"I should never have thought of that," said Vi.
"No, of course not, you fortunate little la.s.sie; you have never known anything about the pinchings of poverty--or the pleasures of economy,"
she added merrily, "for I do a.s.sure you there is often real enjoyment in finding how nicely you can contrive to make one dollar do the work of two--or "auld claes look amaist as weel"s the new." But oh, don"t you think it will be fun to keep house, do our own cooking and all?"
"Yes," Violet said; "yes, indeed."
"And you"ll stay, won"t you? Don"t you think you"d enjoy it?"
"Oh, ever so much! but I don"t believe I can wait any longer than till to-morrow to see mamma. Besides, I don"t know whether she would approve."
"Well, if you should spend a day at home and get her consent to come back; how would that do?"
Vi thought that plan might answer, if Edward were willing to make one of the party at the cottage.
"We must consult the lads at once," said Mary. "Let me help you dress, and we"ll go in search of them."
Vi sprang up, and with her cousin"s a.s.sistance made a rapid toilet.
They found Edward and Charlie in the summer-house, just across the road, waiting for the call to dinner. Fortunately no one was within hearing, and Mary quickly unfolded her plan.
It was heard with delight. "Splendid! Capital! Of course we"ll be glad to accept your invitation," they said: Edward, however, putting in the provision, "If mamma sees no objection."
"Or grandpa," added Violet.
"All the same," said Edward; "mamma never approves of anything that he does not."
"Where is the cottage? Can we look at it?" asked Charles.
"Yes; the family left this morning, and I have the key," Mary answered.
"We could take possession to-night if we chose; but I must lay in some provisions first."
"Let"s walk up (or down, whichever it is) after dinner and look at it."
"Yes, Charlie, if Edward and Vi are agreed. It is up, on this street, about two blocks from here."
"Directly in front of the ocean? That"s all right."
"Or the ocean directly in front of it," Mary returned laughingly.
"All the same; don"t be too critical, Miss Keith," said Charlie.
They did not linger long over dinner or dessert, but made haste to the cottage, eager to see what accommodations it afforded.
It was small, the rooms few in number, and mere boxes compared to those Edward and Violet had been accustomed to at Ion and Viamede; and very much more contracted than those of the cottage their mother was occupying, yet all four were quite satisfied to take up their residence in it for a season.
"Four bedrooms," remarked Mary reflectively: "two will do for the lads and two for the la.s.ses. Parlor and dining-room are not very s.p.a.cious, but will hold us all when necessary; I don"t suppose we"ll spend much of the daytime within doors. By the way, I think we must add Don Keith to our party--if he"ll come."
The boys said "By all means," and Vi raised no objection.
"When do you expect Ella and Amy?" asked Charles, who was well acquainted with both.
"I telegraphed to mother at once to invite them, and shall expect to see them about day after to-morrow."
"What sort of provisions do you propose to lay in, Miss Keith?" inquired Charlie. "I am personally interested in that."
"I do not doubt that in the least, Mr. Perrine," she answered demurely.
"I intend to buy some of the best flour and groceries that I can find."
"Flour? can"t you buy bread here?"
"Yes, but perhaps I may choose to exhibit my skill in its manufacture; also in that of cake and pastry."
"Ah! Well, no objection to that except that we don"t want you shut up in the kitchen when the rest of us are off pleasuring. What about other supplies?"
"I see you have some idea of what is necessary in housekeeping, Charlie, and I"ll give you a good recommendation to--the first nice girl who asks me if you"ll make a good husband," Mary returned, looking at her cousin with laughing eyes.
"Am I to have an answer to my question, Miss Keith?" he inquired with dignity.
"Yes, when I see fit to give it. The Marstons were, of course, served with b.u.t.ter, eggs, milk and cream, fish, flesh, and fowl, and Mr.
Marston told me he had spoken to the persons thus serving him and his to do likewise by me and mine: does this explanation relieve your mind, Mr.
Perrine?"
"Entirely. I am satisfied that we are not invited to share starving rations, which I am morally certain would give me the dyspepsia."
"I think we are very fortunate," Mary remarked, resuming her ordinary tone; "they have left us bedding, table and kitchen furniture, and we have nothing whatever to provide except our food, drink and clothing."
"I shall order a carriage for an early hour to-morrow morning," said Edward, "and drive over to see my mother. Vi will, of course, go along, and I wish, Cousin Mary, that you and Charlie would go too."
"Thank you very much," Mary said. "I should enjoy it extremely, but there are some few arrangements to be made here. The girls may come to-morrow evening, and I must be here and ready to receive them."
Then Charlie decided that he must stay and take care of Mary; so it was finally arranged that Edward and Violet should go alone, and the former attend to the ordering of the groceries, and anything else he could think of that was desirable and did not require to be fresh.
When the carriage containing Edward and Violet drove up to their mother"s door, nearly all the family and their guests were out upon the beach.