Part 88

“And see--see!” cried the little Whitneys, pointing with jubilant fingers to their papa, “see what she brought!”

Jasper turned around at that--and then rushed forward.

“Oh, brother Mason!”

“Well, Jasper,” said Mr. Whitney, a whole wealth of affection beaming on the boy, “how you have stretched up in six months!”

“Haven't I?” said Jasper, laughing, and drawing himself up to his fullest height.

“He's a-standin' on tip-toe,” said Joel critically, who was hovering near. “I most know he is!” and he bent down to examine the position of Jasper's heels.

“Not a bit of it, Joe!” cried Jasper, with a merry laugh, and setting both feet with a convincing thud on the floor.

“Well, anyway, I'll be just as big,” cried Joel, “when I'm thirteen, so!”

Just then a loud and quick rap on the table made all the children skip, and stopped everybody's tongue. It came from Mr. King.

“Phronsie,” said he, “come here, child. I can't do anything without you,” and held out his hand. Phronsie immediately left Ben, who was hanging over Polly as if he never meant to let her go out of his sight again, and went directly over to the old gentleman's side.

“Now, then!” He swung her upon his shoulder, where she perched like a little bird, gravely surveying the whole group. One little hand stole around the old gentleman's neck, and patted his cheek softly, which so pleased him that for a minute or two he stood perfectly still so that everybody might see it.

“Now, Phronsie, you must tell all these children so that they'll understand--say everything just as I tell you, mind!”

“I will,” said Phronsie, shaking her small head wisely, “every single thing.”

“Well, then, now begin--”

“Well, then, now begin,” said Phronsie, looking down on the faces with an air as much like Mr. King's as was possible, and finishing up with two or three little nods.

“Oh, no, dear, that isn't it,” cried the old gentleman, “I'll tell you. Say, Phronsie, 'you are all cousins--every one.'”

“You are all cousins--every one,” repeated little Phronsie, simply, shaking her yellow head into the very middle of the group.

“Does she mean it, grandpapa? Does she mean it?” cried Percy, in the greatest excitement.

“As true as everything?” demanded Joel, crowding in between them.

“As true as--truth!” said the old gentleman solemnly, patting the child's little fat hand. “So make the most of it.”

“Oh!” said Polly, with a long sigh. And then Jasper and she took hold of hands and had a good spin!

Joel turned around with two big eyes on Percy.

“We're cousins!” he said.

“I know it,” said Percy, “and so's Van!”

“Yes,” said Van, flying up, “and I'm cousin to Polly, too--that's best!”

“Can't I be a Cousin?” cried little Dick, crowding up, with two red cheeks. “Isn't anybody going to be a cousin to me, too?”

“Everybody but Jasper,” said the old gentleman, laughing heartily at them. “You and I, my boy,” he turned to his son, “are left out in the cold.”

At this a scream, loud and terrible to hear, struck upon them all, as Joel flung himself flat on the floor.