Dickory Dock by L. T. Meade (summer beach reads txt) 📗

‘My husband has gone to the nearest police-station, sir.  Poor mites, and Flossy’s not so strong in her chest.  They’re safe to be back by to-night, Mr Martin.  And perhaps you’d like some one to help you with your packing, sir?’

‘H’m!  I’ll consider it,’ said Mr Martin.  ‘I’m—I’m not such a young man as I was, Mrs Franklin.’

‘Oh, I’m sure, sir.  Well, we’re none of us that, are we?  I should take you, p. 60sir, begging your pardon, to be but a very little way on the wrong side of forty.’

Mr Martin chuckled, and then grew grave.

‘On the wrong side of sixty,’ he said.  ‘Now, now, no humbugging, I beg.’

‘Well, sir, about the packing.  My head is all in a muddle, it is true, but any help that I can give’—

‘What do you say to a baize door?’ replied Mr Martin, rather irrelevantly.

‘I—I beg your pardon, sir?’

‘And a very thick curtain inside my room door?  It is true I have heard it remarked that the wails of an infant when teething will penetrate through any obstacles.  Still, a baize door inside your nursery door, and thick curtains inside mine would soften the disturbance—yes, would soften it.  I was going to say that I would provide them.’

p. 61‘Then you will stay after all, sir?’

‘Well, well, do you agree with me? do you think my plan will make matters easier?’

‘Oh, won’t they just!’ said Mrs Franklin, tears now brimming over in her eyes.  ‘You’re a good man, Mr Martin, and God will bless you, sir.’

* * * * *

‘Mother,’ said Flossy, when at last she got home, ‘it’s all right about Dickory.  We took her to the lady what cried.’

Mrs Franklin had Flossy in her arms when she made this remark.  Now she pressed her close with one arm, and with the other drew Peter to her side.

‘Tell me the whole story, my darlings,’ she said.

Which they did, Mr Martin himself coming into the kitchen and listening to them.

p. 62‘Why, I know Mrs Ross,’ he said suddenly.  ‘It’s a splendid chance for the infant, a splendid chance.  Miles better than a baize door and thick curtains.  Only you won’t forget that I made you the offer, Mrs Franklin?’

‘No, sir.  I’m never likely to forget that.’

‘It’s a splendid chance,’ repeated Mr Martin.  ‘The Rosses are wealthy, and she’s just that eccentric, generous, impulsive creature who would be sure to take to a child brought to her so.  I consider you a very clever little girl, Flossy Franklin.’

But Peter put his head down upon the table, and began to cry, for his heart was very sore for Dickory.

* * * * *

However, in the end even Peter was comforted.  When next the children saw Dickory she was beautifully dressed, she p. 63had a grand nurse all to herself, and two splendid nurseries entirely at her own disposal.  The grand nurse said that she was a most refined baby, that she must have very good blood in her veins, for she had such a ‘haristocratic way.’

The grand nurse felt rather inclined to look down upon Peter and Flossy Franklin, but not so Dickory herself.  Out went her baby arms, dimples came into her baby face, and with a crow of rapture she nestled up into Peter’s embrace.

‘Eh, but she’s a ’cute young ’un,’ he said with his slow smile.

And somehow after that he was comforted.  He felt that it would have been wrong of him to stand in the way of such a brilliant lot for his darling.

Flossy and he went back to the attic, which was no longer at all a cheerful apartment.  They did not, however, spend p. 64so much of their time there as formerly, for Mr Martin had taken a fancy to the children, and they often now spent their evenings with him.

On these occasions he was often seen to regard them both with a puzzled look on his somewhat testy but still kind-hearted face.

‘The cleverest little girl in the world,’ he would say, signifying Flossy by a motion of his hand.  ‘For it is my private belief that even curtains and a baize door would not have softened the piercing sound.  Yes, Flossy got me out of my dilemma in a wonderful way.’

THE END.

Edinburgh:
Printed by W. & R. Chambers, Limited.