PAGE 13
Dickory Dock
by
‘Tell me the whole story, my darlings,’ she said.
Which they did, Mr Martin himself coming into the kitchen and listening to them.
‘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 had 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 so 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.’