“LITTLE BOO.”

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 139, 16 May 1925, Page 9

“LITTLE BOO.”

Chapter 13,

“A HOLIDAY TRIP.”

Some months passed and tho schools had closed again for the long Christinas vacittion. During the first week of the holidays Mr Maddock called unexpectedly early one evening. lie sauntered in tho buck way, bareheaded, and found Aunt Roberta, washing the dishes, with the three girls helping her. “Oh!” squealed Little 800, rapturously, its soon as she caught sight of him. She threw the towel and ran across the kitchen. Maud and Joan simply stared in speechless surprise. Amit Roberta withdrew her hands in great haste from the water in the dish, and began wiping them on her apron. “Come in, come in, Mr Maddock,” she stammered.

' “I seo 1 have taken you all by surprise ! Please, don’t let me interrupt you,” lie begged. The deep tones of his voice had scarcely died away before Rodney and John appeared on the back doorstep, all eyes and grins. Each member of the household was experiencing a thrill of excited anticipation as to what his presence might signify. Yes, even Aunt Roberta, for she was not very much older in spirit than her children. Beulah will look after me until you have finished your task,” Mr Maddock continued, a glint of humour showing in his tragic eves. Little 800 took his hand and led him. to the dinirig-room, the boys following. She carefully placed hint in the most comfortable arm-chair, her face beaming with delight. Then t>he drew up another chair close beside—and perched herself upon it. “Give Mr Maddock a chance to breathe!” Rodney cried. “You’re like aa old hen fussing with its chickens.” But their friend rested Ids hund lightly on the little head, and said: “.Leave her alone. I like being fussed over. It is quite a new experience.” When Aunt Roberta and the two girls came into the room, Mr Maddock lost no time in making known the reason of Lain call. It transpired that he owned a sheep station in the Wairoa district. liis manage' had written stating that certain matters needed his personal attention, and he had decided to make a trip there almost immediately by car. lie thought itwouty be very nice tor the children to spend their holidays in the country, and that the experience would be quite a novel one fur them. Of course Aunt Roberta and Mrs Morrison could not possibly be left behind, to he suggested that the two households should join forces, and, for the time being, become one family. Mr Maddock managed to convey the impression that Aunt Roberta would bo conferring a very great favour on a lonely man by accepting the invitation, so that she had not a moment’s hesitation in gratefully giving her sanction “You’re a sport ,!” Rodney cried, springing forward and grasping Mr Maddock by the hand. Mr Maddock smiled across at Maud: “Well, Miss Happy Face, what do you gay?” he enquired. There was an ecstatic expression on her face which pleased him. “It’s —it’s simply wonderful 1” sho said in a hushed way. Joan took a few steps forward. “It s just what John and I have longed for she cried shrilly in her excitement. “You see, when we grow up we are going to buy a station, with everything—a cow, liorses and sheep and chickens—and e. garden, and ” she broke off. quite overcome.

“That is very interesting news,” and Mr Maddock looked at John, who gulped hard twice, and said, “Well, that’s my ambition, sir.” “Then Little Miss Muffet arose and took the house by storm” —to quote the words of Rodney, as lie afterwards descriood the hnppen’ng. Little 800, carried away by her great joy, threw her arms around Mr M addoek’s neck, and pressed ardent kisses on hie face. lie went quite white, his dark evea glittering. Aunt Roberta could not tell whether his emotion was pleasurable or otherwise. She unloosened Little Boo's clasp, and drew the child away. There was a constrained silence broken by the innocent 800 herself: “What will you do with the Baby Zoo ?” , “Yes, what shall we do with i»; Mr Maddock repeated. .... • , “Let’s take it with us.” Little Boocried. “The horse an’ pony an’ donkey an’ ernu could run along behind us.” _ “How nice for the smirking countryside,” he murmured under his breath, and then explained to Boo: “We couldn t do that. They would get tired very soon and it is a long, long way ’.ve have to go. I shall have to arrange for .someone to look after them while we are away. “Couldn’t 1 just take Miko? He s so little, an’ he wouldn’t be any trouble, 800 asked. . ... ... , Mr Maddock said “Certainly, although he had grave doubts about t.iie monkey not being any trouble. It was definitely arranged that they were to make the trip the day alter Xmas in a big ■ motor oar that would carry everyone , The children accompanied t.ieir menu half-way up the hill, where they bade him a reluctant good-bye, standing to watch the tall thin form striding up towards the solitary house at the top. “I just adore Mr Haddock: ! Joan cried with fervour. Suddenly Little 800 broke away, flying after the receding figure, and calling to it to wait. ~ “I’ve somethin’ to tell you to tell you, she panted, as she caught up to hnn. She craned her neck, ’ peering up into thought of the Dancing Lady—who will look after her? What will: she do?” 6he asked in a plaintive key. The man gave a violent start. i he— Dancing—Ladv,” he repeated inechainca..ly. “Yes, the Dancing Lady who lives ui vour lovely, white fairyland j'oom*—lind-sr the {pound,” and Little 800 pointed downwards. . , . . ~, He stared at the child, aghist, <.nd then cried in a furious burst, tqat Little 800 to shrink back a few steps. “>ho s—she’s only a picture !” She regarded him in silence for a few seconds, abashed, but frankly curious. Then gathering courage, she insisted, with

n sob in her voice: “She gets down out of her frame —sometimes, and she talked to me, so she must be alive. I cannot bear to think of her not havin’ anythin’ to cat —and no one to take cure of her.’’ Mr Muddock did not look at her. His gaze was directed towards the distant hills, over which night had drawn her shroud. “You were forbidden to mention this — this —,” he hesitated, at a loss for a fitting word. “You are to forget! Do hear me?” ho cried in another furious burst. Suddenly the fire went out: “I’ll —I'll see to it that she won’t be lonely. Run away home. I’ll see to it,” he muttered brokenlv. He turned —and ran up the hill, leaving Little 800 open mouthed with wonder. But to all the questionings of her brothers and sisters, 800 replied: “I am not going to tell you, so there!” Siie possessed a fineness of soul that was amazing in a child of her years. She knew intuitively that it would not be “nice” to mention Mr Maddock's peculiur behaviour to anyone. (To he continued).