Queensland Cousins Part 15

"We didn't look under the beds," said Nesta.

"Silly," said Eustace. "As if a black-fellow would have stopped to be looked for under a bed."

"Yes--that's no go," said Robertson; and just at that moment there came such a strange sound from under the very bed they were standing by that every one jumped--a sound that brought Mrs. Orban back to her senses far quicker than any of good Mrs. Robertson's restoratives, for it was the voice of Becky herself.

"Good gracious!" exclaimed all the women, after the first shock of surprise was over.

"My patience," said Robertson, and down they all went on their hands and knees like a party of kangaroos, peering under the bed.

There lay Becky, rosy with sleep, safe and sound, with puckered face and plaintive voice, evidently wondering what all the fuss was about.

They hauled her from under the bed, and placed her on her mother's knee, where she sat blinking at the light like a young owl.

"Why," said Nesta, "she must have tumbled out of bed in her sleep, and rolled over underneath."

"So she must," agreed every one.

"That was the noise Peter heard," Eustace said.

"Of course it was," said every one except Mrs. Orban; and she said, as she bent her face over the baby in her arms,--

"Oh, you dreadful children! Have you a conspiracy amongst you to frighten me out of my wits? Or are you trying to harden my nerves?

I begin to wish your father would come home."

She laughed a little, and it sounded much more like sobbing. So kind Mrs. Robertson hurried every one off to bed, because she said Mrs. Orban must be quite worn out.

Eustace was so upset by his mother's words that he could not get to sleep for hours. They seemed to hold a reproach specially for himself--for had he not been the first to terrify his mother? It was not a good record to present to his father; and he had meant to be such a stand-by and comfort. With all his heart he echoed Mrs.

Orban's wish. He had dreaded his father's going away; he longed for his return.

The very next day the wish was fulfilled. News came up the hill that the plantation schooner had been sighted the evening before; she was in the bay. By midday the travellers had arrived, and the climax of the great excitement was reached.

Every one had wondered a hundred times and more what that first greeting would be like--what words would be said. As a matter of fact, when the time really came, n.o.body said anything at all except Mr. Orban, who exclaimed when he caught sight of his wife, "Darling, what is the matter? You are looking ill."

But Mrs. Orban stopped him with the promise to tell him everything later on. Meanwhile she nearly wept for joy over the meeting with Aunt Dorothy, and was far too happy to remember or speak of the distresses of the past week or so.

The children hung back shyly and stared at the new-comer--a tall, slender girl, dressed, Nesta afterwards commented, just like a person in a story book, so dainty was she.

Dorothy Chase was not at all like Mrs. Orban. She was certainly pretty, but the most remarkable thing about her was her expression, so vivacious was it, so keenly interested and alert. She was a great contrast to the people amongst whom she had come, for tropical heat saps a good deal of the enthusiasm of life out of people--even the children were subject to la.s.situde.

They looked a quiet enough set as Miss Chase cast a quick searching glance around her after greeting her sister, and there flashed through her mind a contrast between them and the nephew and niece she had left but a few weeks ago in England--the children of another sister, orphans who lived with their grandparents in the old home.

"Well, chicks," said Aunt Dorothy, with a laugh, "who is going to speak to me first?"

They were standing, all in an untidy row, Becky, with one finger in her mouth, hanging on to Nesta's skirt.

To the new-comer they looked pasty-faced, spiritless beings. The prints that the girls were dressed in were rather washed out; Peter had outgrown his suit. They were ill-clad, shy, and awkward.

Eustace flushed with an uncomfortable feeling that they were not behaving very courteously, and came forward the instant Miss Chase spoke. Nesta followed, and then Peter, all as stiff as pokers in their shyness. But Becky Miss Chase picked up with a playful little shake, and kissed her heartily.

"Oh, you dear, funny wee soul," she said, "how glad I am to see you. I've brought out a Kodak and I've promised to take all your photos almost every other day, for certainly no one at home could guess the least little bit what you are like."

Becky did not resent the unceremonious treatment at all, but took it quite placidly in her own particular way. This gave Peter confidence.

"Have you brought lots of boxes?" he asked, with an interested stare up into his young aunt's face.

Eustace pulled his sleeve.

"Shut up," he whispered. "Don't ask questions; it's rude."

Eustace felt uncomfortable. He knew quite well whither his small brother's questions were trending. Peter was wondering what would be in those boxes for himself.

"A good many," answered Miss Chase; but she was allowed time to say no more, because she was hurried into the house to rest and refresh.

At tea the children sat round as solemn as owls and listened to all the questions and answers about the home folk. They picked up sc.r.a.ps of information most interesting to themselves, especially about the English cousins, Herbert, who was sixteen, and Brenda, who was a month or so older than the twins. From time to time they had heard of these cousins in letters, but it made them seem much more real when they were talked about by some one who had just come away from them.

"Herbert is a very big fellow," Miss Chase said. "He is doing famously at Winchester."

"Lucky chap," thought Eustace, who never read a school story without longing to go to a big English school.

"And what about Brenda?" questioned Mrs. Orban.

"You shall see a photo that was taken of her the other day," was the answer. "Most people think her very pretty."

"Does she go to school too?" said Mrs. Orban, asking the very question Nesta was bursting to put.

"Oh yes, Brenda is a regular schoolgirl. You see it would be so lonely for her to have lessons at home with a governess."

"Lucky girl," thought Nesta, and sighed.

"She was quite green with envy when she heard I was coming out here," Miss Chase said, "and threatened to have all sorts of illnesses, necessitating change of air for recovery, so that she might come with me."

"Oh, I wish she had," Nesta said impulsively.

"I don't think her grannie would agree with you," laughed Miss Chase. "She can hardly bear to part with her every term. If you want to see her, I think your best plan is to have an illness yourself, and let me take you back with me for change of air."

"That would be better and better," Nesta exclaimed, "only I should want mother and every one else to come too."

"Well, why not?" asked Miss Chase gaily. "Let's make up a party and all go back together. I am only allowed to stay two months, and then I must be off again. I will willingly pack you all up in my boxes and take you with me."

"What did I tell you?" said a deep voice from the window, and there stood Bob Cochrane on the veranda. "I said she would bewitch you and spirit you all away."

"You did, you did," said Peter, who had been drinking in every word; "you said you wouldn't like her."

"Oh, come, no tales out of school," said Bob, as he crossed the threshold and came forward to be introduced; "you are giving me a bad start, you know."

"I am sorry to have made such a bad impression at the outset," Miss Chase responded merrily as she shook hands. "Would it appease you at all if I offered to pack you with the rest?"

"I wouldn't if I were you, Dorothy," said Mr. Orban. "He would take such a fearful amount of room, even if you doubled him up."