go over—with you,” he said, when Jack proposed their departure, saying that they counted on staying in the house that night, living camp fashion until they had a chance to get the necessities. For an hour, René had been asleep on the horse-hair sofa, and Priscilla’s head kept nodding.
“They’re tired, poor dears,” said Madam Lovemore compassionately, as she helped Desiré put their wraps on.
When they went outside, they discovered that the world had completely changed its appearance. A thin layer of snow made the roads look like strips of white cloth; each dried weed, seed pod, and knot of grass had a spotless cap; and the outstretched arms of the firs held their light burden so tenderly that not a flake was shaken off.
The judge was to drive over in the Ford, Madam Lovemore holding the still sleeping René in her lap.
“He’ll be awful mad tomorrow,” volunteered Priscilla, who was now fully awake, “when he hears that he’s been riding in an automobile and didn’t know anything about it.”
The judge laughed, a sudden explosion, over almost before it began.
“In that case—you’d better come in here too; so you can tell him—what it felt like.”
The little girl’s wistful look and tone had not been unnoticed by the judge; and though they were somewhat crowded, both he and his housekeeper gladly put up with the slight discomfort of an additional passenger.
“Prissy is thrilled to death,” said Desiré to Jack, as they followed the Ford with as much speed as the tired horses were able to make.
“Yes, but I wish you could have had a ride, too. You’ve always wanted one.”
“Oh, some day I shall.”
The headlights of the judge’s car, which had just turned off the main road into the lane leading to the Godet house, revealed the fact that all underbrush had been cleared away, and the road filled in. So occupied were they with the unexpected improvement, that not until they had stopped in front of the cabin did they notice that it was lighted.
CHAPTER XXI
A SURPRISE
The judge, with René in his arms, ushered them inside.
“Welcome—to Wolfville!” he cried, “and to the old Godet house.”
Jack and Desiré stood quite speechless, and even the generally talkative Priscilla could find no words. They could only look while the judge and his housekeeper watched them smilingly, though very close to tears themselves.
René broke the spell.
“Oh—o—o!” he wailed, digging his fists into his eyes, still half asleep.
“What’s the matter—young fellow?” demanded the judge, who still held him.
“I didn’t finish my piece of cake!” wailed the child. He had dozed off at the table, before finishing his supper.
They all laughed, while Madam Lovemore consoled René by promising him another piece the next day. Then the young Wistmores inspected their home.
Partitions separated the cabin into three rooms: a large one, across one end, which was to do duty as a general living room, with a place for cooking at one end; and two small ones as sleeping quarters. The partitions and floors were painted a soft blue, which was relieved by the dark logs of the side walls and the beamed roof. Rag rugs lay upon the floor, a table occupied the centre of the living room, and around it were four ladder-back chairs. Beside the stone fireplace was a low wooden rocker and a high-backed upholstered one. Each bedroom had a fully furnished double wooden bed, and a wash stand. There was a bright fire in the fireplace; simple muslin curtains were hung at the windows; and a few pots of geraniums on a small stand added to the homelikeness of the place.
“But—the furniture—” began Desiré, when she was able to put her thoughts into words. Jack was still too dazed to speak.
“Gifts from the people of Wolfville to the children of the ancient Acadians,” replied the judge pompously.
“We can never repay them,” faltered Jack.
“Don’t want you to. They were glad—to do it. Liked idea—descendants to occupy old house—deserted for so long.”
“Such a welcome I never dreamed of,” murmured Desiré. “I don’t see why people are so kind to us.”
The judge and his good housekeeper exchanged smiles at her naive remark.
“Why, don’t you want them to be?” demanded Priscilla in astonishment.
“Of course,” answered her sister, attempting unsuccessfully to draw the child to her side; but Priscilla was too bent on inspecting article by article in her new home to have any time for cuddling just then.
“Now you folks—had better—get to bed,” said the judge, preparing for departure. “You’ve had a hard day—lots of excitement. I’ll lead the team back with me. Will they follow—the Ford—do you think?”
“I imagine so,” replied Jack. “They’re very gentle.”
He followed the judge outside to help him with the horses, while Madam Lovemore bade an affectionate goodnight to her new friends.
“Just run over any time anything bothers you, my dear,” she said to Desiré.
“’N’ not no other time?” asked René, fearful of such an agreement working to his disadvantage.
“Whenever you like—” began the housekeeper.
“Don’t tell him that,” advised Desiré, “or you may see him oftener than you wish.”
Meanwhile Jack was saying to the judge, “Of course I know that you are really the one to be thanked for all that,” waving his arm at the cozy, lighted cabin.
“Not at all,” asserted the man stoutly. “The neighbors all helped. Liked it. Lots of fun.”
“Yet they never would have known about us, or our needs, if you had not told them, and made suggestions. I just can’t express my very deep gratitude, especially on account of my little sisters. René can rough it, but I hate to have the girls deprived of ordinary comforts. Sometimes I wonder if I have done the right thing—”
“One always wonders that—no matter what one does. Go in, boy,—and send my housekeeper out. Want to get home.”
Housekeeping in the new home was a delight and a novelty, after the many weeks of camp life; and the Wistmores were very happy. Jack took Priscilla into Wolfville the second day after they arrived, and made arrangements for her to attend school, much to her chagrin, for she had hoped for a longer holiday.
“No sense in her running about for days, and missing something which will cause trouble for her later,” Jack had said, when discussing the matter with Desiré. “While it is still pleasant, she can walk back and forth morning and afternoon, and carry her lunch. In winter, we’ll try to make some different arrangements.”
After
