“Her eyes brightened as they fell upon a glass ofrosy laurel and delicate maidenhair fern.”—Frontispiece.
MOUNTAIN-LAUREL
AND
MAIDENHAIR
BY
LOUISA M. ALCOTT
AUTHOR OF "LITTLE MEN," "LITTLE WOMEN," "MAY
FLOWERS," "POPPIES AND WHEAT," ETC.
Illustrated
BOSTON
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY
Copyright, 1887,
By Louisa M. Alcott.
Copyright, 1903,
By John S. P. Alcott.
University Press
John Wilson and Son, Cambridge, U.S.A.
MOUNTAIN-LAUREL AND
MAIDENHAIR
"Here's your breakfast, miss. I hope it'sright. Your mother showed me how to fix it,and said I'd find a cup up here."
"Take that blue one. I have not much appetite,and can't eat if things are not nice andpretty. I like the flowers. I've been longingfor some ever since I saw them last night."
The first speaker was a red-haired, freckled-facedgirl, in a brown calico dress and whiteapron, with a tray in her hands and an air oftimid hospitality in her manner; the second apale, pretty creature, in a white wrapper andblue net, sitting in a large chair, looking abouther with the languid interest of an invalid in anew place. Her eyes brightened as they fellupon a glass of rosy laurel and delicate maidenhairfern that stood among the toast and eggs,strawberries and cream, on the tray.
"Our laurel is jest in blow, and I'm real gladyou come in time to see it. I'll bring you a lot,as soon's ever I get time to go for it."
As she spoke, the plain girl replaced the uglycrockery cup and saucer with the pretty chinaones pointed out to her, arranged the dishes, andwaited to see if anything else was needed.
"What is your name, please?" asked thepretty girl, refreshing herself with a draught ofnew milk.
"Rebecca. Mother thought I'd better waiton you; the little girls are so noisy and apt toforget. Wouldn't you like a piller to your back?you look so kind of feeble seems as if you wantedto be propped up a mite."
There was so much compassion and good-willin the face and voice, that Emily accepted theoffer, and let Rebecca arrange a cushion behindher; then, while the one ate daintily, and theother stirred about an inner room, the talk wenton,—for two girls are seldom long silent whentogether.
"I think the air is going to suit me, for Islept all night and never woke till Mamma hadbeen up ever so long and got things all nicelysettled," said Emily, graciously, when the freshstrawberries had been enjoyed, and the bread andbutter began to vanish.
"I'm real glad you like it: most folks do, ifthey don't mind it being plain and quiet up here.[Pg 3]It's gayer down at the hotel, but the air ain'thalf so good,