Маленькие мужчины / Little men. Уровень 4

In the room on the left a long supper-table was seen, with great pitchers of new milk, piles of brown and white bread. A flavor of toast was in the air, also suggestions of baked apples.

The hall, however, was the most inviting prospect of all. One landing was devoted to marbles, the other to checkers, while the stairs were occupied by a boy reading, a girl singing a lullaby to her doll, two puppies, and a kitten.

One very lively boy came down so swiftly that he could not stop himself and fell off the banisters, with a crash.

“Hello!” returned Nat.

“What’s your name?”

“Nat Blake.”

“Mine’s Tommy Bangs. Demi, here’s a new one. Come here.”

At his call, the boy reading on the stairs looked up with a pair of big brown eyes, and after an instant’s pause, he put the book under his arm, and came soberly down to greet the newcomer.

“Have you seen Aunt Jo?” he asked.

“I haven’t seen anybody yet but you boys; I’m waiting,” answered Nat.

“Did Uncle Laurie send you?” proceeded Demi, politely, but gravely.

“Mr. Laurence did.”

“He is Uncle Laurie; and he always sends nice boys.”

Nat smiled. He did not know what to say next. A little girl came up with her doll in her arms. “This is my sister, Daisy,” announced Demi.

The children nodded to one another; and the little girl’s face dimpled with pleasure, as she said affably:

“I hope you’ll stay.

“Of course, we do.”

“It seems a very nice place indeed,” observed Nat.

“It’s the nicest place in the world, isn’t it, Demi?” said Daisy.

“No, I think Greenland, where the icebergs and seals are, is more interesting. But I’m fond of Plumfield, and it is a very nice place as well,” said Demi.

The servant returned and said,

“All right; you will stay here.”

“I’m glad; now come to Aunt Jo,” Daisy took him by the hand.

Demi returned to his beloved book, while his sister led the newcomer into a back room, where a stout gentleman was frolicking with two little boys on the sofa, and a thin lady was just finishing the letter.

“Here he is, aunty!” cried Daisy.

“So this is my new boy? I am glad to see you, my dear, and hope you’ll be happy here,” said the lady.

She was not at all handsome, but she was merry.