CHAPTER VI
A DIFFICULT DAY
Aunt Deborah did not linger to talk with her little niece, for it was apart of her belief that idle talk was unwise. The door had hardly closedbehind her when Winifred's head appeared from under the chintz valanceof the bed, and she looked cautiously about.
"Has she gone?" she asked in a cautious whisper.
Ruth nodded, and Winifred now crawled out from her hiding-place.
"I'm glad she didn't see me, Ruth. For when I came to the door thismorning she said you could not see any one to-day; so I thought you werebeing punished, and I was bound to see you. Oh, Ruth! are you to havenothing but porridge?" and Winifred looked at Ruth's tray as if shethought such a dinner would be punishment enough for a much greateroffense.
"I chose it! I said I would eat only porridge," responded Ruth,beginning to think that perhaps she had been more severe with herselfthan had been really necessary; and she wondered, with a littleregretful sigh, if Aunt Deborah was having stewed oysters for dinner;for Ruth was sure that nothing could taste better than oysters.
"I had to see you, Ruth; and it was Gilbert who thought of the ladder.He has written a play, and you are to take part in it, and so am I,"continued Winifred, who had nearly forgotten her own important news inlistening to Ruth's surprising story.
"'A play'?" echoed Ruth questioningly, hardly understanding her friend'smeaning.
"Yes! Yes! Don't you know that the English soldiers give plays in theSouthward Theater? They dress up and make believe, just as you did lastnight," Winifred explained, "and Gilbert's play is like that."
"Then I don't want to," Ruth declared. "It's horrid pretending to besomebody besides yourself."
"Oh, Ruth! This isn't like what you did. It's all about Washington andLafayette," Winifred explained eagerly, "and our pony is to be in it,and so is Hero. It's splendid; truly it is, Ruth; and Gilbert wants youto come and rehearse this afternoon, in our stable. If you are punishingyourself you can come if you wish to."
Ruth shook her head.
"No, I can't. Don't you see I can't, Winifred? I promised just as muchas if somebody else had made me. I'll have to stay in this room all day,because I told Aunt Deborah that I would."
Winifred jumped up quickly. "Then I must go right home, for Gilbert saidthat if you couldn't take part we'd try and get Betty Hastings. She'solder and taller than you, anyway, so she'd look more like Lafayette,"she said, moving toward the door.
Betty Hastings lived just around the corner on Chestnut Street. She wastwelve years old. She was tall for her age, and her hair was brown andvery curly. She did not often play with the younger girls.
"Lafayette? Was I to be Lafayette in the play?" asked Ruth. "Oh, Winifred!Ask Gilbert to wait. I'll come over first thing to-morrowmorning. You tell him I _have_ to stay up here to-day. Don't askBetty!" she pleaded, and Winifred finally agreed to try and persuade herbrother to wait until the following morning before asking Betty.
"You see, it's to be a birthday surprise for Mother; and her birthday isa week from to-day, so there isn't much time," Winifred explained, as shestarted toward the door.
"Winifred! Where are you going?" Ruth whispered in alarm; and Winifredlaughed at her friend's surprise to see her about to walk boldly fromthe room.
"I can go down-stairs so your aunt won't know it, and open the frontdoor just as easy, and walk right out. She is in the kitchen and won'thear me," Winifred answered; and with a warning word to be sure and beat the stable at nine o'clock the next morning, the little girl openedthe door cautiously and disappeared.
After Winifred had gone Ruth ate her porridge. She began to think ofGilbert's play, and of the fun it would be to take the part of the braveyoung Frenchman. She walked about the room, looked at Cecilia and thehalf-finished chair, and sighed deeply at the thought that she might berehearsing with Winifred and Gilbert, the pony and Hero, instead ofstaying alone in her room.
At last she remembered her knitting, and took it up rather reluctantly."I do wish I hadn't worn Mother's dress," she thought. And she wasconscious of a little uncomfortable feeling as to Winifred's visit afterAunt Deborah's refusal to admit her.
"But I didn't ask her to come, or help her," she finally decided;although she began to wish that her friend had waited to tell her thegreat news until the next day and so avoided deceiving Aunt Deborah.
But at last the long afternoon ended; and when the clock struck sixthere was a joyous bark just outside Ruth's door, and Aunt Deborahopened it for Hero to come bounding in. He had so much to tell hislittle mistress, with barks and jumps, and faithful pleading eyes, thatit was some little time before Aunt Deborah found a chance to speak.
"Thee had best come down to the dining-room and have supper with me.There are creamed oysters and toast and a bit of jelly. I think theedoes not need porridge for another meal to-day," she said smilingly.
"I know I'll remember about Mother's dress. It has been hard to stay uphere all day," Ruth answered, glad indeed that her time of punishmentwas over.
"But Aunt Deborah doesn't know just how hard it was," she thought as shefollowed her aunt down the stairs, with Hero close beside her, thinkingover Winifred's great news.
As she took her usual place at the table she was glad that she had nottaken Winifred's suggestion to shorten her hours of solitude. Thesteaming oysters sent out an appetizing odor, the toast was crisp andgolden, and the tumbler of amber-colored jelly seemed to reflect thelight of the candles in their tall brass candlesticks which stood ateach end of the table.
"I have good news for thee, Ruth," said Aunt Deborah, smiling at heracross the table. "I have word that thy mother will return early thecoming week."
Ruth gave an exclamation of delight.
"Oh, Aunt Deborah! What a lot of nice things happen all together," shesaid. "You won't go back to Barren Hill when she comes, will you?" ForRuth began to realize that, even with her dear mother safe at home oncemore, she would miss the kind aunt who had been so unfailingly patient.
It was evident that Aunt Deborah was greatly pleased. Her brown eyesshone, and Ruth suddenly discovered the amazing fact that there was adimple in Aunt Deborah's right cheek.
"'Tis indeed pleasant that thou should wish me to stay; but I fear myhouse at Barren Hill needs its mistress. To-morrow is the first ofApril, and I must see about planting my garden as soon as possible.Perhaps thy mother will let thee come for a visit before long," sheresponded. "That is, if the English General will take such a great riskas to give a small maid permission to leave the city," for no one couldleave Philadelphia at that time without a written permission from anEnglish officer.
Ruth was quite sure that she should like to visit Barren Hill. She knewit was half-way to Valley Forge, where the American soldiers had passeda dreary winter, suffering from cold and hunger, while their enemies hadenjoyed the comforts of American homes in Philadelphia. But now thatspring had come the American people were more hopeful; they were suretheir army would soon drive the enemy from the city.
The people of little settlements like Barren Hill managed to carry foodand clothing to the American soldiers. Aunt Deborah, just before comingto Philadelphia, had carried a treasured store of honey to Washington'sheadquarters, as well as clothing and food for Ruth's father.
Although Aunt Deborah was a Quaker she was sure of the righteousness ofAmerica's war against oppression.
"Perhaps I could see my father if I go to visit you, Aunt Deborah," saidRuth hopefully.
But Aunt Deborah could give no assurance as to this. She knew that anyday might see Washington's army moving from its winter quarters.
"Thee could help me with the garden," she responded. "The bees will soonbe about their work now; and there are many things in the country for asmall maid to find pleasure in."
"Did you ever see Lafayette, Aunt Deborah?" Ruth asked.
"Why, child! Did not thy mother tell thee? He stopped at my door oneday. He was on horseback, and only two soldiers with him. They hadridden out fr
om camp to make sure no English spies were about, and hestopped to ask for a cup of water. He was pleased to take milk instead.Thee shall see the very cup from which he drank, Ruth. It was one of thepink luster cups, and I put it apart from the others. Some day theeshall have it for thy own," said Aunt Deborah, smiling at Ruth's evidentdelight.
As Ruth listened she resolved that nothing should prevent her fromvisiting Aunt Deborah. Perhaps she might see Lafayette as well as herdear father. Perhaps the young Frenchman might again call at AuntDeborah's door, and she, Ruth Pernell, hand him the pink luster cupfilled with milk.
Aunt Deborah's voice interrupted these pleasant day-dreams.
"Now, Ruth, thee may help me wash the dishes; and we will make sure thatHero is safely indoors," she said.
"Yes, indeed. Oh! Aunt Deborah, this has been a splendid day, afterall," the little girl responded, thinking of Hero safe at home, ofWinifred's visit, and of the pink luster cup that some day would be herown.
A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia Page 7