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