Archie came first , and , leaning over the chair-back , observed in a paternal tone , `` I 'm glad you 've come , cousin , and I hope you 'll find the Aunt-hill pretty jolly . '' `` I think I shall . '' Mac shook his hair out of his eyes , stumbled over a stool , and asked abruptly , `` Did you bring any books with you ? '' `` Four boxes full . They are in the library . '' Mac vanished from the room , and Steve , striking an attitude which displayed his costume effectively , said with an affable smile , `` We were sorry not to see you last Wednesday . I hope your cold is better . '' `` Yes , thank you . '' And a smile began to dimple about Rose 's mouth , as she remembered her retreat under the bed-cover . Feeling that he had been received with distinguished marks of attention , Steve strolled away with his topknot higher than ever , and Prince Charlie pranced across the room , saying in a free and easy tone , `` Mamma sent her love and hopes you will be well enough to come over for a day next week . It must be desperately dull here for a little thing like you . '' `` I 'm thirteen and a half , though I do look small , '' cried Rose , forgetting her shyness in indignation at this insult to her newly acquired teens . `` Beg pardon , ma'am ; never should have guessed it . '' And Charlie went off with a laugh , glad to have struck a spark out of his meek cousin . Geordie and Will came together , two sturdy eleven and twelve year olders , and , fixing their round blue eyes on Rose , fired off a question apiece , as if it was a shooting match and she the target . `` Did you bring your monkey ? '' `` No ; he is dead . '' `` Are you going to have a boat ? '' `` I hope not . '' Here the two , with a right-about-face movement , abruptly marched away , and little Jamie demanded with childish frankness , `` Did you bring me anything nice ? ''
`` Yes , lots of candy , '' answered Rose , whereupon XXXXX ascended into her lap with a sounding kiss and the announcement that he liked her very much .
Aunt-hill Charlie Geordie Jamie Mac Rose Steve bed-cover first olders