Eight cousins : or, The aunt-hill

"114 EIGHT COUSINS.ing left for the little maid to do but sit alone in herbalcony and watch the gay rockets whizz up fromisland, hill, and city, while bands played and boatsladen with happy people went to and fro in the fitfullight.Then it must be confessed that a tear or two dimmedthe blue eyes, and once, Avhen a very brilliantilluminated theshe saw the tents,displayisland for a moment, and she fanciedthe curly head went down on therailing, and a wide-awake nasturtium heard a littlewhisper, —" I hope some one wishes I was there!The tears were all gone, hoAvever, and she waswatching the hill and island answer each other withwhat Jamie called " whizzers, whirligigs, and busters,"and smiling as she thought how hard the boys mustbe working to keep up such a steady fire, when UncleMac came walking in ujoon her, saying hurriedly, —" Come, child, put on your tippet, pelisse, or whateveryou call it, and run off with me. I came to get"Phebe, but aunt says she is gone, so I want you. I 'vegot Fun down in the boat, and I want you to go withus and see my fire-works. Got them up for you, andyou must n't miss them, or I shall be disappointed."" But, uncle," began Rose, feeling as if she ought 'torefuse even a glimpse of bliss, " perhaps — "" I know, my dear, I know ; aunt told me ; but noone needs you now so much as I do, and I insist onyour coming," said Uncle Mac, who seemed in a greathurry to be off, yet was unusually kind.So Rose went and found the little Chinaman witha funny lantern waiting to help her in and convulse