Christmas-Tree Land Page 8

  CHAPTER VIII.

  THE SQUIRREL FAMILY.

  'How extremely pretty! Won't you jump again?'

  _Child-World._

  ----Godmother was no longer there. She and the carriage and the ponieshad completely disappeared. Maia opened her eyes and mouth withamazement, and stood staring. Waldo and Silva and Rollo too could nothelp bursting out laughing; she looked so funny. Maia felt a littleoffended.

  'I don't see what there is to laugh at,' she said; 'especially for_you_, Rollo. Aren't you astonished too?'

  'I don't think I should ever be astonished at anything about godmother,'said Rollo. 'Besides, I saw her drive off while you were kissing Silva.She certainly went like the wind.'

  'And where are we?' asked Maia, looking round her for the first time;'and what are we going to do, Silva?'

  'We are going to pay a visit,' said Silva. 'Waldo and I had alreadypromised we would when we got the message that you were coming, sogodmother said she would go back and fetch you.'

  'But who brought you a message that we were coming?' asked Maia.

  'One of godmother's carrier-pigeons. Ah, I forgot, you haven't seen themyet!'

  'And _where_ are we going?'

  'To spend the afternoon with the squirrel family. It's close to here,but we must be quick. They will have been expecting us for some time.You show us the way, Waldo; you know it best.'

  It was dark in the wood, but not so dark as it had been when they weredriving with godmother, for a few steps brought them out into a littleclearing, something like the one where the cottage stood, but smaller.The mossy grass here was particularly beautiful, so bright and green andsoft that Maia stooped down to feel it with her hand.

  'I suppose no one ever comes this way?' she said. 'Is it because no oneever tramples on it that the moss is so lovely?'

  'Nobody but us and the squirrels,' said Silva. 'Sometimes we play withthem out here, but to-day we are going to see them in their house.Sometimes they have parties, when they invite their cousins from theother side of the wood. But I don't think any of them are comingto-day.'

  Silva spoke so simply that Maia could not think she was making fun ofher, and yet it was very odd to speak of squirrels as if they were_people_. Maia could not, however, ask any more, for suddenly Waldocalled out:

  'Here we are! Silva, you are going too far.'

  Rollo and Maia looked round, but they saw nothing except the trees.Waldo was standing just in front of one, and as the others came up tohim he tapped gently on the trunk.

  'Three times,' said Silva.

  'I know,' he replied. Then he tapped twice again, Rollo and Maia lookingon with all their eyes. But it was their ears that first gave themnotice of an answer to Waldo's summons. A quick pattering sound, likethe rush of many little feet, was heard inside the trunk, then with akind of squeak, as if the hinges were somewhat rusty, a door, socleverly made that no one could have guessed it was there, for it wascovered with bark like the rest of the trunk, slowly opened from theinside, showing a dark hollow about large enough for one child at a timeto creep into on hands and knees.

  'Who will go first?' said Waldo, lifting his little red cap as he lookedat Maia.

  'What nice manners he has,' she thought to herself. 'I think you hadbetter go first, please,' she said aloud. For though she would not ownit, the appearance of the dark hole rather alarmed her.

  'But we can't _all_ get in there,' said Rollo.

  'Oh, yes,' replied Waldo. 'I'll go first, and when I call out "allright," one of you can come after me. The passage gets wider directly,or--any way there's lots of room--you'll see,' and, ducking down, hecrept very cleverly into the hollow, and after a moment his voice washeard, though in rather muffled tones, calling out 'all right.' Rollo,not liking to seem backward, went next, and Maia, who was secretlytrembling, was much comforted by hearing him exclaim, 'Oh, howbeautiful!' and when Silva asked her to go next, saying 'Maia might liketo know she was behind her,' she plunged valiantly into the dark hole.She groped with her hands for a moment or two, till the boys' voices alittle way above her led her to a short flight of steps, which sheeasily climbed up, and then a soft light broke on her eyes, and sheunderstood why Rollo had called out, 'Oh, how beautiful!'

  They stood at the entrance of a long passage, quite wide enough for twoto walk abreast comfortably. It was entirely lined and carpeted withmoss, and the light came from the roof, though _how_ one could not tell,for it too was trellised over with another kind of creeping plant,growing too thickly for one to see between. The moss had a sweet freshfragrance that reminded the children of the scent of their other worldflowers, and it was, besides, deliciously soft and yet springy to walkupon.

  Waldo and Rollo came running back to meet the little girls, for Silvahad quickly followed Maia.

  'Isn't this a nice place?' said Rollo, jumping up and down as he spoke.'We might run races here all the afternoon.'

  'Yes; but we must hasten on,' said Silva. 'They're expecting us, youknow. But we can run races all the same, for we've a good way along hereto go. You and Waldo start first, and then Maia and I.'

  So they did, and never was there a race pleasanter to run. They felt asif they had wings on their feet, they went so fast and were so untired.The moss gallery resounded with their laughter and merry cries, thoughtheir footfalls made no sound on the floor.

  'What was the pattering we heard after Waldo knocked?' asked Maiasuddenly.

  'It was the squirrels overhead. They all have to run together to pullopen the door,' said Silva. 'The rope goes up to their hall. But youwill see it all for yourself now. This is the end of the gallery.'

  'This' was a circular room, moss-lined like the passage, with a wideround hole in the roof, from which, as the children stood waiting,descended a basket, fitted with moss cushions, and big enough to holdall of them at once. In they got, and immediately the basket rose upagain and stopped at what, in a proper house, one would call the nextfloor. And even before it stopped a whole mass of brown heads were to beseen eagerly watching for it, and numbers of little brown paws wereextended to help the visitors to step out.

  'Good-day, good-day,' squeaked a multitude of shrill voices; 'welcome toSquirrel-Land. We have been watching for you ever so long, since thepigeon brought the news. And the supper is all ready. The acorn cakessmelling so good and the chestnut pasties done to a turn.'

  'Thank you, thank you, Mrs. Bushy!' said Silva. 'I am sure they will beexcellent. But first, I must introduce our friends and you to eachother. Maia and Rollo, this is Mrs. Bushy,' and as she said so thefattest and fussiest of the squirrels made a duck with its head and aflourish with its tail, which were meant for the most graceful ofcurtsies. 'Mr. Bushy----' she stopped and looked round.

  'Alas! my dear husband is very lame with his gout to-day,' said Mrs.Bushy. 'He took too much exercise yesterday. I'm sure if he went once tothe top of the tree he went twenty times--he is _so_ active, you know;so he's resting in the supper-room; but you'll see him presently. Andhere are my dear children, Miss Silva. Stand forward, my dears, you havenothing to be ashamed of. _Do_ look at their tails--though I say it thatshouldn't, _did_ you ever see such tails?' and Mrs. Bushy's bright eyessparkled with maternal pride. 'There they are, all nine of them: Nibble,Scramble, Bunchy, Friskit, and Whiff, my dear boys; and Clamberina,Fluffy, Tossie, and sweet little Curletta, my no less beloveddaughters.'

  Whereupon each one of the nine, who had collected in a row, made thesame duck with its head and flourish with its tail as Mrs. Bushy,though, of course, with somewhat less perfection of style and finishthan their dear mamma.

  'Such manners, such sweet manners!' she murmured confidentially to Silvaand Maia.

  Maia was by this time nearly choking with laughter--'Though I say itthat shouldn't say it, I am sure you young ladies must be pleased withtheir sweet manners.'

  'Very pleased, dear Mrs. Bushy,' said Silva; 'I'm sure they've learnedto duck their heads and wave their tails beautifully.'

  'Beautifully,' sai
d Maia, at which Mrs. Bushy looked much gratified.

  'And shall we proceed to supper, then?' she said. 'I am sure you must behungry.'

  'Yes, I think we are,' said Waldo; 'and I know your chestnut cakes arevery good, Mrs. Bushy.'

  Rollo and Maia looked at each other. _Chestnuts_ were very nice, butwhat would chestnut cakes be like? Besides, it wasn't the season forchestnuts; they must be very old and stale.

  'How can you have chestnuts now?' asked Maia. Mrs. Bushy looked at herpatronisingly.

  'Ah, to be sure,' she said, 'the young lady does not know all about ourmagic preserving cupboards, and all the newest improvements. To be sure,it is her first visit to Squirrel-Land,' she added encouragingly; 'wecan make allowance. Now, lead the way, my dears, lead the way,' she saidto her nine treasures, who thereupon set off with a rush, jumping andfrisking and scuttering along, till Maia could hardly help bursting outlaughing again, while she and Silva and Rollo and Waldo followed theminto the supper-room, where, at the end of a long narrow table, coveredwith all sorts of queer-looking dishes, decorated with fern leaves, PapaBushy, in a moss arm-chair, his tail comfortably waving over him like anumbrella, was already installed.

  'I beg your pardon, my dear young friends,' he began, in a ratherdeeper, though still squeaky voice, 'for receiving you like this. Mrs.Bushy will have made my apologies. This unfortunate attack of gout! Iam, I fear, too actively inclined, and have knocked myself up!'

  'Ah, yes,' said Mrs. Bushy, shaking her head; 'I'm sure if Mr. Bushygoes once a day to the top of the tree, he goes twenty times.'

  'But what does he go for if it makes him ill?' exclaimed Maia.

  Mrs. Bushy looked at her and gasped, Mr. Bushy shut his eyes and wavedhis paws about as if to say, 'We must excuse her, she knows no better,'and all the young Bushys ducked their heads and squeakedfaintly,--evidently Maia had said something very startling. At last,when she had to some extent recovered her self-control, Mrs. Bushy saidfaintly, looking round her for sympathy:

  'Poor child! Such deplorable ignorance; but we must excuse it. Imagineher not knowing--imagine _any one_ not knowing what would happen if Mr.Bushy did not go to the top of the tree!'

  'What _would_ happen?' said Maia, not sure if she felt snubbed or not,but not inclined to give in all at once.

  'My poor child,' said Mrs. Bushy, in the most solemn tone her squeakyvoice was capable of, '_the world would stop_!'

  Maia stared at her, but what she was going to say I cannot tell you, forSilva managed to give her a little pinch, as a sign that she had bettermake no more remarks, and Mrs. Bushy, feeling that she had done herduty, requested everybody to take their places at table. The dishesplaced before them were so comical-looking that Rollo and Maia did notknow what to reply when asked what they would have.

  'An apple, if you please!' said Maia, catching sight at last ofsomething she knew the name of. But when Mrs. Bushy pressed her to try achestnut cake she did not like to refuse, and seeing that Waldo andSilva were careful to eat like the squirrels, holding up both handstogether like paws to their mouths, she and Rollo did the same, whichevidently gave the Bushy family a better opinion of the way in whichthey had been brought up. The chestnut cakes were rather nice, but poorRollo, having ventured on some fried acorns which smelt good, could nothelp pulling a very wry face. Supper, however, was soon over, and thenWaldo and Silva asked leave very politely to go 'up the tree,' which insquirrel language was much the same as if they had asked to go out tothe garden, and Mrs. Bushy, with many excuses for not accompanying themon account of her household cares, and Mr. Bushy, pleading his gout,told her nine darlings to escort the visitors upstairs.

  Now began the real fun of the afternoon. A short flight of steps, like alittle ladder, led them to the outside of the tree. The nine Bushysscampered and rushed along, squeaking and chattering with the greatestgood-nature, followed more slowly by the four children. For a moment ortwo, when Rollo and Maia found themselves standing on a branch very nearthe top of the tree, though, strange to say, they found it wide enoughto hold them quite comfortably, they felt rather giddy and frightened.

  'How dreadfully high up we seem!' said Maia. 'Rollo, I'm _sure_ we musthave grown smaller. The trees never looked so big as this before. Itmakes me giddy to look either up or down.'

  'You'll get used to it in a minute,' said Waldo. 'Silva and I don't mindit the least now. Look at the Bushys, Maia, isn't it fun to see them?'

  And Maia forgot her fears in watching the nine young squirrels. Had Mrs.Bushy been with them, her maternal vanity would have been gratified bythe admiration their exploits drew forth. It really was the funniestand prettiest sight in the world to see them at their gambols. Nodancers on the tight-rope were ever half so clever. They swungthemselves up by the branches to the very top of the tree, and then in aninstant--flash!--there they were ever so far below where the childrenwere standing. And in another instant, like a brown streak, up theywere again, darting hither, there, and everywhere, so that one felt asif the whole tree were alive. When they had a little worked off theirspirits they squeaked to the children to join them; Waldo and Silva didso at once, for they were used to these eccentric gymnastics, and toRollo and Maia they looked nearly as clever as the squirrels themselves,as, holding on by their companions' paws and tails, they jumped andclambered and slid up and down. So in a little while the new-comers tootook courage and found the performances, like many other things, nothalf so hard as they looked. And oh, how they all laughed and screamed,and how the squirrels squeaked with enjoyment! I don't think everchildren before had such fun. Fancy the pleasure of swaying in a branchever so far overhead quite safe, for there were the nine in a circleready to catch you if you slipped, and then hand in hand, or rather handin paw, dancing round the trunk by hopping two and two from branch tobranch, nine squirrels and four children--a merry baker's dozen. Thenthe sliding down the tree, like a climber on a May-pole, was great funtoo, for the Bushys had a way of twisting themselves round it so as toavoid the sticking-out branches that was really very clever. So thatwhen suddenly, in the middle of it all, a little silvery tinkling bellwas heard to ring, and they all stood still looking at each other, Rolloand Maia felt quite vexed at the interruption.

  I don't think ever children before had such fun.]

  'Go on,' said Maia, 'what are you all stopping for?'

  'The summons,' said Waldo and Silva together. 'We must go. Good-night,all of you,' to the squirrels. Had their mother been there, I fancy theywould have addressed Clamberina and her brothers and sisters moreceremoniously. 'Good-bye, and thank you for all the fun.'

  'Good-bye, and thank you,' said Rollo and Maia, rather at a loss as towhether they should offer to shake paws, or if that was not squirrelfashion. But before they had time to consider, 'Quick,' said a voicebehind them, which they were not slow to recognise, 'slide down thetree,' and down they slid, all four, though, giving one glance upwards,they caught sight of the nine squirrels all seated in a row on a branch,each with their pocket-handkerchief at their eyes, weeping copiously.

  'Poor things,' said Maia, 'how tender-hearted they are!'

  'They always do that when we come away,' said Waldo; 'it's part oftheir manners. But they are very good-natured.'

  'And where's godmother,' said Maia, when they found themselves onterra-firma again. 'Wasn't it her voice that spoke to us up on the tree,and told us to come down?'

  'Yes,' said Silva; 'but she called up through a speaking-trumpet. Idon't know where she is herself. She may be a good way off. But thatdoesn't matter. We can tell what to do. Lay your ear to the ground,Waldo.'

  Waldo did so.

  'Are they coming,' asked Silva.

  'Yes,' said Waldo, getting up; 'they'll be here directly;' and almostbefore he had left off speaking the pretty sound of tinkling bells washeard approaching, nearer and nearer every second, till the children, totheir delight, caught sight of the little carriage and the tiny piebaldponies, which came dancing up to them all of themselves, and stoodwaiting for them to
get in.

  'But where's godmother?' exclaimed Maia; 'how can we get home withouther?'

  'All right,' said Waldo; 'she often lends Silva and me her ponies. I candrive you home quite safely, you'll see. Get in, Maia and Silvabehind--Rollo and I will go in front.'

  And off they set. It was not quite such a harum-scarum drive as it hadbeen coming. Waldo did not take any flying leaps--indeed, I think nobodybut godmother herself could have managed that! but it was verydelightful all the same.

  'Oh, Silva,' exclaimed Maia, 'I do so wish we need not go back to thewhite castle and Lady Venelda and our lessons! I do so wish we mightlive in the cottage with you and Waldo, _always_.'

  Silva looked a little sorry when Maia spoke thus.

  'Don't say that, Maia,' she said. 'Godmother wouldn't like it. We wantto make you happy while you're here--not to make you impatient. If youand Rollo were always at the cottage, you wouldn't like it half so muchas you do now, coming sometimes. You would soon get tired of it, unlessyou worked hard like Waldo and me.'

  'Do you work hard?' said Maia, with some surprise.

  'Yes, of course we do. You only see us at our play-time. Waldo goes offto the forester's at the other side of the wood every morning at six,and I take him his dinner every day, and then I stay there and work inthe dairy till we come home together in the evening.'

  'But you sometimes have holidays,' said Maia.

  'Yes, of course we do,' said Silva, smiling. 'Godmother sees to that.'

  'How?' asked Maia. 'Does she know the forester and his wife? Does she goand ask them to give you a holiday?'

  'Not exactly,' said Silva, smiling. 'I can't tell you how she does it.She has her own ways for doing everything. How does she get you _your_holidays?'

  'Does _she_ get us them?' said Maia, astonished. 'Why, Lady Veneldanever speaks of her. Do you think she knows her?'

  'I can't tell you,' said Silva, again smiling in the same rather strangeway as before, and somehow when she smiled like that she reminded Maiaof godmother herself; 'but she does know _somebody_ at the white castle,and somebody there knows her.'

  'The old doctor!' exclaimed Maia, clapping her hands. 'I'm _sure_ youmean the old doctor. Ah! that's how it is, is it? Godmother sends to theold doctor or writes to him, or--or--I don't know what--and then hefinds out we need a holiday, and--oh, he manages it somehow, I suppose!'

  'Yes,' said Silva; 'but as long as you get your holiday it's all right.When godmother tells us of anything we're to do, or that she hassettled for us, we're quite pleased without asking her all the littlebits about it.'

  'I see,' said Maia; 'but then, Silva, you're different from me.'

  'Of course I am,' said Silva; 'but it wouldn't be at all nice ifeverybody was the same. That's one of the things godmother always says.'

  'Yes, like what she says about how stupid it would be if we kneweverything, and if there was nothing more to puzzle and wonder about. It_is_ nice to wonder and puzzle sometimes, but not always. Just now Idon't mind about anything except about the fun of going so fast, withthose dear little ponies' bells tinkling all the way. I shall be sosorry to get to the cottage, for we shan't have time to go in, Silva. Weshall have to hurry home not to be too late for supper.'

  Just as she spoke Waldo pulled up sharply.

  'What's the matter?' called out Maia. She had been talking so much toSilva that she had not noticed the way they were going. Now she lookedabout her, and it seemed to her that she recognised the look of thetrees, which were much less close and thick than in the middle of theforest. But before she had time to think more about it a voice close athand made both her and Rollo start.

  'Well, young people,' it said, 'you have had, I hope, a pleasant day?You, too, Waldo and Silva? It is some time since I have seen you, mychildren.'

  It was, of course, the voice of the doctor. All the four jumped out ofthe little carriage and ran forward to their old friend, for to Rollo'sand Maia's surprise, the two forest children seemed to know him quite aswell as they did themselves.

  He seemed delighted to see them all, and his kind old face shone withpleasure as he patted the curly heads of the boys and Maia, and strokedgently Silva's pretty, smooth hair.

  'But you must go home,' he said to Waldo and Silva. 'Good-night, mychildren;' and quickly bidding their little friends farewell, thebrother and sister sprang up again into the tiny carriage, and inanother moment the more and more faintly-tinkling bells were all left ofthem, as Rollo and Maia stood a little sadly, gazing in the direction inwhich they had disappeared.

  'And you have been happy?' said the old doctor.

  '_Very_ happy,' both replied together. 'We have had such fun.' Butbefore they had time to tell their old friend anything more heinterrupted them.

  'You, too, must hurry home,' he said. 'You see where you are? Up thepath to the right and you will come out at the usual place just behindthe castle wall at the back.'

  Rollo and Maia hastened to obey him.

  'How queer he is!' said Maia. 'He doesn't seem to care to hear whatwe've been doing--he never asks anything but if we've been happy.'

  'Well, what does it matter?' said Rollo. 'I like only to talk toourselves of the queer things we see when we're with Waldo and Silva. Iwonder what they will show us or where they will take us the next time?'

  'So do I,' said Maia.

  'Waldo said something about the eagles that live up in the high rocks atthe edge of the forest,' said Rollo. 'He did not exactly say so, but hespoke as if he had been there. Wouldn't you like to see an eagles' nest,Maia?'

  'I should think so, indeed!' replied Maia eagerly. 'But I don't thinkthat's what they call it, Rollo; there's another name.'

  'Yes, I think there is, but I can't remember it,' he answered. 'Butnever mind, Maia, here we are at the gate. We must run in and get readyfor supper.'