Pine Needles.

by Susan Bogert Warner.

CHAPTER I.

The Franklins were coming to Mosswood.

This might have happened, Maggie thought, a good while ago; but, however, the view had not been shared by Mrs. Candlish; and a whole year had pa.s.sed away since the joyful coming home of the family to their old possessions. The winter was spent at Mosswood in quiet gladness and gradual strength-gaining; the spring brought a return to all the favourite out-door amus.e.m.e.nts and occupations of the family. Summer was the proper time for company, and the house had been filled till the end of September. Then Mrs. Candlish declared she was tired and must run away, or she would be obliged to entertain people till November; and she joined her husband in a trip to California, which, half for business and half for pleasure, Mr. Candlish had resolved upon taking. At that juncture the children begged for the Franklins; and their mother was willing. "As I cannot be here," she said, "it will not be necessary to extend the invitation to Mrs. Franklin. You may have the others, and do what you will with them."

"I should think," remarked Maggie, "if Meredith and Flora heard what mamma said, they wouldn't like it much."

However, they did not hear it, and if they guessed at the substance of it I don't know; but Flora had too much curiosity, and Meredith too much affection engaged, to be over scrupulous. So they came, and were welcomed, I was going to say, uproariously. It just fell short of that.

For even Esther privately declared to her sister that "n.o.body was so nice as Meredith Franklin."

Now, after seeing them, the next thing was to make them see Mosswood; and many were the consultations Maggie and Esther had already held over plans and means. Nothing could be settled after all till the guests came. And when they came, the whole first evening was spent in joyous talk and recollections. But the next morning before breakfast Maggie and Meredith met at the house door. Meredith had been out walking.

"How do you like it?" she asked daringly, clasping his hand, while her eyes looked love and pleasure hard into his face.

"It is the most beautiful place I ever saw in my life!"

"And it is such a nice day," said Maggie gleefully. "What shall we do to-day?"

"Let us be out of doors!"

"Oh yes, we'll be out of doors," said Maggie; "but where shall we go?"

"Nowhere out of Mosswood--if you ask me. I don't want anything else."

"Well, Mosswood is pretty good," said Maggie, "because, when you are at Mosswood you have the hills and the river and all, _besides_ Mosswood, you know--O Meredith! I have thought of something!"

"I dare say," Meredith answered smiling. "That is quite in your way."

"This is something nice. Suppose we go out and have dinner in the woods?"

"I should say it was a capital plan."

"We used to do that in old times, before ever we went away. And we have got a nice little cart, Meredith, to carry our dinner, and whatever we want; and--Oh, it's nice! it's nice!" exclaimed Maggie, jumping on her toes for delight. "I'm _so_ glad you're here! and I'm _so_ glad to go into the woods again to dinner."

"We want only one thing," said Meredith.

"What's that?"

"Mr. Murray."

"Uncle Eden! I'll write to him."

"Let us all write to him. Every one put in something. That will bring him, maybe."

"Yes, that will bring him!" Maggie echoed; and I do not believe that for the rest of the morning she took another flat step. On her toes, was the only way that her spirits could go. The first thing after breakfast was the Round Robin to Uncle Eden. Maggie began it, as the youngest.

"DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--Flora and Meredith are here while mamma and papa are gone to California. We are going out in the woods to dinner; and we all want you. Do please come, if you can get away from Bay House. We want you as much as anybody can be wanted.

"MAGGIE."

Then Esther wrote--

"DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--It is quite true. We do all want you very much.

Fenton is coming, and I am afraid n.o.body will keep him in order, if you are not here.

"ESTHER."

Then Flora--

"I think we would all be very glad to see Mr. Murray. I am sure one sincerely glad would be

"FLORA FRANKLIN."

Last, Meredith--

"DEAR MR. MURRAY,--You know how true is all the foregoing. And yet, though I cannot suppose I should be gladder to see you than everybody else, it does seem to me that I _want_ to see you more than any of the rest can--because I have so many questions to ask, and feel that I need so much advice. I hope you may find that you can comply with our joint earnest desire.

"MEREDITH FRANKLIN."

After all were done, Maggie begged for the paper, to add a word that n.o.body else must see. This was what she said--

"DEAR UNCLE EDEN,--I want to say a _private_ word to you. I feel somehow as if it was not just exactly respectful to Meredith and Flora that they should be here with n.o.body but just us. Don't you think so? But if you could come, it would be all right. We are going in the woods to dinner to-day--Oh, I wish you were here!

"MAGGIE."

This joint epistle finished and sealed, and some other despatches for Leeds got ready, it was time to see about making preparations for the woods. Where should they go? Question the first.

"To the old Fort."

"To the Happy Valley."

"No, to the Lookout rock."

"Not to-day, Esther. Let's keep that for Uncle Eden.

Suppose--suppose"----

"The Plateau."

"It seems to be an _embarras de richesses_," said Meredith laughing, "and I do not wonder. Let me help you. Suppose we go up on this height just east of us; isn't the view pretty from there?"

"The South Pitch! Oh, it's _lovely_ up there!" cried Maggie. "You look down on the house, and you look down the river, and it's shady and nice.

It's just lovely! That is best for to-day. Then, other days, we'll take the other places. Now, we must get ready."