Hildegarde's Neighbors Read online

  "Oh, little Sally Waters, sitting in the sun, Crying, weeping, for your young man; Rise, Sally, rise, wipe your weeping eyes," etc.

  Martha Skeat was the first Sally; she chose Susan Aurora, andSusan Aurora chose Hildegarde. Down went Hildegarde on the floor,and wept and wrung her hands so dramatically that the childrenpaused in alarm, fearing that some real calamity had occurred.

  "Oh! oh!" moaned Hildegarde; "my young man! Go on, children. Whyare you stopping? Oh, where IS my young man?" she sobbed; and thechildren, reassured by a twinkling smile, shrieked with delight."What shall I do?" sobbed the girl. "I--haven't--got--any youngman! Now, children, you MUST say 'Rise, Sally,' or my foot will besound asleep, and then I couldn't get up at all, and what wouldbecome of your supper?"

  Aghast at this suggestion, the children began to chant, hastily,--

  "Rise, Sally, rise, Wipe your weeping eyes; Turn to the east, Turn to the west, Turn to the one that you love the best!"

  Hildegarde sprang to her feet, whirled to the east, with her handsclasped in entreaty; turned to the west, holding out her arms witha gesture of intense longing; turned to the south,--and saw astranger standing and gazing at her with a look of intenseamusement.

  For once Hildegarde thought that her wits were gone; she stoodstill, her arms dropped to her side, and she returned thestranger's gaze with a look of such simple, absolute dismay thathe could hardly keep his countenance. Hastily advancing, he liftedhis hat. "Miss Grahame," he said, "I beg your pardon for breakingin in this way. My sister--I am Roger Merryweather, I ought to sayfirst--Bell wanted to know at what time she should come over, andas none of the boys were at hand, I ventured to come over with themessage."

  His eyes,--they were kind eyes, as Hildegarde noticed in herdistress,--his eyes seemed to say, "I wish you would not mind mein the least, my child! Have I not sisters of my own, and don't Iknow all about Sally Waters?" It almost seemed as if the wordswere spoken, and Hildegarde recovered her composure, and cameforward, with a burning blush, it is true, but holding out herhand with her own sweet cordiality.

  "I am very glad to see you, Mr. Merryweather. You are very goodnot to laugh at poor Sally's distresses. Tell Bell that thechildren are all here, and the sooner she comes the better. But--will you not come in, Mr. Merryweather? My mother will bedelighted to see you. We have heard so much of you from all thechildren."

  Roger Merryweather excused himself on the ground of letters thatmust be written, but promised himself the pleasure of an earlycall; and so, with another kind, sensible look, and a smile and afriendly word to the children, he withdrew, and Hildegarde saw himleap lightly over the fence,--a tall, well-knit figure, springyand light as Gerald's own.

  The girl drew a long breath of dismay, but it quavered, andfinally ended in a hearty laugh.

  "And how PERFECTLY he behaved!" she said aloud. "If one had tomake a spectacle of one's self,--and apparently it is to be myfate through life,--surely no one could choose a kinder lookingspectator."

  Here she became aware of the children, standing at gaze, andevidently waiting for her next word.

  "Why, what am I thinking about?" she cried, merrily. "Do you thinkwe have had enough of 'Sally,' children? I--I think perhaps Ihave. And what shall we play next? I fear it is too hot still for'I Spy;' we must keep that till after tea. What are you saying,Martha? Speak out, dear, and don't be afraid to say just what youwould like best. This is your own party, you see, and it is to bethe kind of party you all think pleasantest."

  Martha murmured inaudibly several times, but spurred by digs inthe ribs with several pairs of sharp elbows, finally spoke aloudwith a sudden yelp. "Oh, PLEASE!--Susan Aurora Bulger, I'll goright and tell your mother this minute!--please, 'The HighlandGates to Die.'"

  "What?" asked Hildegarde, in amazement. "Say it again, Martha,please. The Highland--what?"

  "Gates to Die!" said Martha Skeat, and all the children took upthe chorus. "'The Highland Gates to Die,' please, Teacher!"

  Hildegarde repeated the words to herself, but no light came. "Idon't understand," she said. "You will have to show me how toplay, for I never heard of the game. Highland Gates--well, I shalllearn it quickly, I hope. Euleta, will you take the lead?"

  Euleta, a sheep-faced child, with six whitey-brown pigtails,motioned to the others, who at once joined hands in a circle. Thenshe began to pace slowly round the circle, and all the childrenbroke out into a wild chant:

  "Go round and round the level, Go round and round the level, Go round and round the level, The Highland Gates to die."

  Now the arms were lifted, and the leader wove her mystic paces inand out among the children, while the words changed.