United States or Guyana ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Yes, she's the funniest thing you ever saw," Laura answered, her eyes beginning to twinkle at the memory of some of Mrs. Gilligan's escapades. "Why, one April Fool's Day she set the clock back an hour and Mr. Gilligan got up grumbling that it was awfully dark for six o'clock. Then when he was all ready and was starting out to work she told him about it."
Gilligan," she added, with a hysterical giggle, "has the broom and Laura has the poker." "Maybe we'd better stop on the way and gather up a few bedposts," suggested Ferd, as they took the last flight of stairs on a run and landed in the lower hall. "Hello, did you find anything?" sang out Chet, as the girls, looking scared but valiant, came out to meet them. "Where's Mrs. Gilligan?"
Gilligan bringing up the rear to make sure they did not stop half way, and then turned to each other with a queer expression, half of amusement, half of uneasiness, on their faces. "Well, we always wanted an adventure," said Laura, as they turned back to the open door, feeling an instinctive need of getting out of the house, "and now we're having one."
Pat Gilligan had suffered for some such offence, and it was but just that she and he and they should suffer also. But the three might have to suffer, also, in their turns, if they consented to subject themselves to so bloody an aristocracy. And therefore they stalked forth at night and went up to Kerrycullion, at the heels of the other party, and saw it all.
After a few opening remarks, he dropped into the reminiscential. He talked of the old times in Texas. He told in thrilling terms of the Alamo and of Goliad. There was not a dry eye in earshot. Then he grew personal. "I see Tom Gilligan over yonder. A braver man never lived than Tom Gilligan. He fought by my side at San Jacinto. Together we buried poor Bill Holman.
"Goodness, it makes you feel like the 'Little Princess' when she found all the good things in her room." "Sure enough, it has been made fresh," said Mrs. Gilligan, as she wonderingly turned down a somewhat dusty spread and disclosed snowy sheets beneath. "Somebody's been keeping house anyway," said Laura. "Here's room for two of you girls," said Mrs. Gilligan.
"Where did you get that?" the girls cried in chorus. "It's Mr. Rat, the piano player," said Mrs. Gilligan, adding as she pushed past them and ran to the door: "Did you hear that awful noise outside, girls?" "Did we hear it?" they cried, following her. "Oh, Mrs. Gilligan, what do you suppose it was?" asked Violet, pressing close to her.
Gilligan, we'll promise on our word of honor not to so much as even smile." "Get out with your promises," said Mrs. Gilligan, relapsing into her brogue. "I do be knowing you better. I'll try it to-night," she added graciously, "and if it doesn't work I'll tell you about it in the morning."
"And she came down with a thump that shook the chandeliers," Laura went on, ignoring the interruption, "and when Mr. Gilligan you know he weighs only a hundred and fifty and is about half her size " "Now I know she weighs three hundred," interposed Billie again. "It's just a matter of arithmetic."
"Then we'd have to sleep four in a bed," said Billie, with a chuckle. "But come on, let's see if some kind fairy hasn't prepared for you too, Mrs. Gilligan." Laughing, the girls pushed out into the hall and looked for the next doorway. They no longer glanced fearfully in the corners for something they were afraid to see.
Word Of The Day