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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tzhfsh6" data-source="post: 11441467" data-attributes="member: 380662">〈Eight Cousins〉Serial•The Clan-1Rose scrambled into the china-closet as rapidly as possible, andthere refreshed herself by making faces at Debby, while she settledher plumage and screwed up her courage. Then she crept softlydown the hall and peeped into the parlor. No one appeared, and allwas so still she felt sure the company was upstairs. <a href="http://www.cheapoakleysoutlet.org/" target="_blank">Oakley sunglasses</a>.So she skippedboldly through the half-open folding-doors, to behold on the otherside a sight that nearly took her breath away.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Seven boys stood in a row all ages, all sizes, all yellow-haired andblue-eyed, all in full Scotch costume, and all smiling, nodding, andsaying as with one voice, "How are you, <a href="http://www.cheapoakleysoutlet.org/" target="_blank">cheap Oakley sunglasses</a>,cousin?"Rose gave a little gasp, and looked wildly about her as if ready tofly, for fear magnified the seven and the room seemed full of boys.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Before she could run, however, the tallest lad stepped out of theline, saying pleasantly"Don't be frightened. This is the Clan come to welcome you; andI'm the chief, Archie, at your service."He held out his hand as he spoke, and Rose timidly put her owninto a brown paw, which closed over the white morsel and held itas the chief continued his introductions.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"We came in full rig, for we always turn out in style on grandoccasions. Hope you like it. Now I'll tell you who these chaps are,and then we shall be all right. This big one is Prince Charlie, AuntClara's boy. <a href="http://www.cheapoakleysoutlet.org/" target="_blank">cheap Oakleys</a>,She has but one, so he is an extra good one. This oldfellow is Mac, the bookworm, called Worm for short. This sweetcreature is Steve the Dandy. Look at his gloves and top-knot, if youplease. They are Aunt Jane's lads, and a precious pair you'd betterbelieve. These are the Brats, my brothers, Geordie and Will, andJamie the Baby. Now, my men, step out and show your manners."At this command, to Rose's great dismay, six more hands wereoffered, and it was evident that she was expected to shake themall. It was a trying moment to the bashful child; but, rememberingthat they were her kinsmen come to welcome her, she tried herbest to return the greeting cordially.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]This impressive ceremony being over, the Clan broke ranks, andboth rooms instantly appeared to be pervaded with boys. <a href="http://www.cheapoakleysoutlet.org/" target="_blank">Oakley sunglasses cheap</a>,Rosehastily retired to the shelter of a big chair and sat there watchingthe invaders and wondering when her aunt would come and rescueher.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]As if bound to do their duty manfully, yet rather oppressed by it,each lad paused beside her chair in his wanderings, <a href="http://www.cheapoakleysoutlet.org/" target="_blank">cheap Oakley sunglasses for sale</a>,made a briefremark, received a still briefer answer, and then sheered off with arelieved expression.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Archie came first, and, leaning over the chair-back, observed in apaternal tone"I'm glad you've come, cousin, and I hope you'll find the Aunt-hillpretty jolly.""I think I shall."Mac shook his hair out of his eyes, stumbled over a stool, andasked abruptly"Did you bring any books with you?""Four boxes full. <a href="http://www.cheapoakleysoutlet.org/" target="_blank">cheap Oakley sunglasses for men</a>,They are in the library."Mac vanished from the room, and Steve, striking an attitude whichdisplayed his costume effectively, said with an affable smile"We were sorry not to see you last Wednesday. I hope your cold isbetter.""Yes, thank you." And a smile began to dimple about Rose'smouth, as she remembered her retreat under the bed-cover.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Feeling that he had been received with distinguished marks ofattention, Steve strolled away with his topknot higher than ever,and Prince Charlie pranced across the room, <a href="http://www.cheapoakleysoutlet.org/" target="_blank">cheap oakley sunglasses china</a>,saying in a free andeasy tone"Mamma sent her love and hopes you will be well enough to comeover for a day next week. It must be desperately dull here for alittle 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 newlyacquired teens.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Beg pardon, ma'am; never should have guessed it." And Charliewent off with a laugh, glad to have struck a spark out of his meekcousin.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Geordie and Will came together, two sturdy eleven and twelveyear olders, and, fixing their round blue eyes on Rose, fired off aquestion apiece, as if it was a shooting match and she the target.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"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 marchedaway, and little Jamie demanded with childish frankness"Did you bring me anything nice?""Yes, lots of candy," answered Rose, whereupon Jamie ascendedinto her lap with a sounding kiss and the announcement that heliked her very much.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]This proceeding rather startled Rose, for the other lads looked andlaughed, and in her confusion she said hastily to the young usurper"Did you see the circus go by?""When? Where?" cried all the boys in great excitement at once.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Just before you came. At least I thought it was a circus, for I sawa red and black sort of cart and ever so many little ponies, and "She got no farther,[FONT=宋体] [/FONT]<a href="http://www.cheapoakleysoutlet.org/" target="_blank">Oakley sunglasses</a>, for a general shout made her pause suddenly, asArchie explained the joke by saying in the middle of his laugh"It was our new dog-cart and the Shetland ponies. You'll neverhear the last of your circus, cousin.""But there were so many, and they went so fast, and the cart was sovery red," began Rose, trying to explain her mistake.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Come and see them all!" cried the Prince. And before she knewwhat was happening, she was borne away to the barn andtumultuously introduced to three shaggy ponies and the gay newdog-cart.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]She had never visited these regions before, and had her doubts asto the propriety of her being there now, but when she suggestedthat "Auntie might not like it," there was a general cry of"She told us to amuse you, and we can do it ever so much betterout here than poking round in the house.""I'm afraid I shall get cold without my sacque," began Rose, whowanted to stay, but felt rather out of her element.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"No, you won't! We'll fix you," cried the lads, as one clapped hiscap on her head, another tied a rough jacket round her neck by thesleeves, a third neatly smothered her in a carriage blanket, and afourth threw open the door of the old barouche that stood there,saying with a flourish"Step in, ma'am, and make yourself comfortable while we showyou some fun."So Rose sat in state enjoying herself very much, for the ladsproceeded to dance a Highland Fling with a spirit and skill thatmade her clap her hands and laugh as she had not done for weeks.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"How is that, my lassie?" asked the Prince, coming up all flushedand breathless when the ballet was over.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"It was splendid! I never went to the theatre but once, and thedancing was not half so pretty as this. What clever boys you mustbe!" said Rose, smiling upon her kinsmen like a little queen uponher subjects.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Ah, we're a fine lot, and that is only the beginning of our larks.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]We haven't got the pipes here or we'd'Sing for you, play for youA dulcy melody."'[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]answered Charlie, looking much elated at her praise.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"I did not know we were Scotch; papa never said anything about it,or seemed to care about Scotland, except to have me sing the oldballads," said Rose, beginning to feel as if she had left Americabehind her somewhere.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Neither did we till lately. We've been reading Scott's novels, andall of a sudden we remembered that our grandfather was aScotchman. So we hunted up the old stories, got a bagpipe, put onour plaids, and went in, heart and soul, for the glory of the Clan.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]We've been at it some time now, and it's great fun. Our people likeit, and I think we are a pretty canny set."Archie said this from the other coach-step, where he had perched,while the rest climbed up before and behind to join in the chat asthey rested.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"I'm Fitzjames and he's Roderick Dhu, and we'll give you thebroadsword combat some day. It's a great thing, you'd betterbelieve," added the Prince.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Yes, and you should hear Steve play the pipes. He makes 'em skirllike a good one," cried Will from the box, eager to air theaccomplishments of his race.</blockquote>

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