Muffins were forgotten , and towing their cousin like two fussy little tugs with a fine merchantman , the children returned to the parlour , where Emil kissed all the women and shook hands with all the men except his uncle ; him he embraced in the good old German style , to the great delight of the observers . ` Did n't think I could get off today , but found I could , and steered straight for old Plum . Not a soul there , so I luffed and bore away for Parnassus , and here is every man Jack of you . Bless your hearts , how glad I am to see you all ! ' exclaimed the sailor boy , beaming at them , as he stood with his legs apart as if he still felt the rocking deck under his feet . ` You ought to `` shiver your timbers '' , not `` bless our hearts '' , Emil ; it 's not nautical at all . Oh , how nice and shippy and tarry you do smell ! ' said Josie , sniffing at him with great enjoyment of the fresh sea odours he brought with him . This was her favourite cousin , and she was his pet ; so she knew that the bulging pockets of the blue jacket contained treasures for her at least . ` Avast , my hearty , and let me take soundings before you dive , ' laughed Emil , understanding her affectionate caresses , and holding her off with one hand while with the other he rummaged out sundry foreign little boxes and parcels marked with different names , and handed them round with appropriate remarks , which caused much laughter ; for Emil was a wag . ` There 's a hawser that will hold our little cock-boat still about five minutes , ' he said , throwing a necklace of pretty pink coral over Josie 's head ; ` and here 's something the mermaids sent to Undine , ' he added , handing Bess a string of pearly shells on a silver chain . I thought Daisy would like a fiddle , and Nat can find her a beau , ' continued the sailor , with a laugh , as he undid a dainty filigree brooch in the shape of a violin . ' I know she will , and I 'll take it to her , ' answered Nat , as he vanished , glad of an errand , and sure that he could find Daisy though Emil had missed her . Emil chuckled , and handed out a quaintly carved bear whose head opened , showing a capacious ink-stand . This he presented , with a scrape , to Aunt Jo . ` Knowing your fondness for these fine animals , I brought this one to your pen . ' ` Very good , Commodore ! Try again , ' said Mrs Jo , much pleased with her gift , which caused the Professor to prophesy ` works of Shakespeare ' from its depths , so great would be the inspiration of the beloved bruin . ` As Aunt Meg will wear caps , in spite of her youth , I got Ludmilla to get me some bits of lace . Hope you 'll like 'em ' ; and out of a soft paper came some filmy things , one of which soon lay like a net of snowflakes on Mrs Meg 's pretty hair . '
I could n't find anything swell enough for Aunt Amy , because she has everything she wants , so I brought a little picture that always makes me think of her when XXXXX was a baby ' ; and he handed her an oval ivory locket , on which was painted a goldenhaired Madonna , with a rosy child folded in her blue mantle .
Avast Bess Daisy Jo Ludmilla Professor Undine brooch minutes tugs