10 Uncle Laurie’sVisit

CHAPTER 10 Uncle Laurie's Visit Dan spent an entire week recovering. He moved from sofa to bed and rested even though he longed to be outside in the warm summer weather. The doctor came by late the next Sunday afternoon and said, "The foot is doing much better than I expected. Give the lad a crutch and

let him move around a little." Everyone was very glad, and after dinner the entire house stood together to watch Dan walk with the crutch up and down the hallway. He tired after a few steps, so he settled on the porch with the boys at his feet. He was pleased by the attention and smiled as the girls fussed over his pillows. Little Teddy even dragged out a stool for him to rest his foot on. A large group of people was already gathered outside the house when a carriage drove up and an arm waved from the gate. Rob cried out, "Uncle Laurie!" and ran down the drive as fast as his small legs would take him. The rest of the boys (except Dan, of course) followed close behind. They raced to see who could open the gate first. Uncle Laurie just laughed and bounced his daughter, Bess, on his knee. He shouted in good fun, "Hey, ho! Let a man get down!"

Jo stood with her hands on her hips and a big smile on her face. "How goes it, Laurie?" "All right, Jo." They shook hands and Laurie handed Bess over to Jo. He said, "Bessy wanted to see her aunt so much that we raced right over. We've decided to play with the boys for an hour or so... if they don't have any other plans." "I'm so glad," Jo said. "Do play away, but don't get into mischief." The warning was, of course, for the boys, who crowded around sweet Bess with her long, golden hair, dainty dress, and lofty ways. They called her "princess" and did her bidding at all times. Bess wished to see Daisy's little kitchen, so off they went upstairs. The older boys went out into the garden to make sure everything was tiptop, as Laurie always had a good look around. Standing on the steps, Laurie said to Dan, "Jo told me all about your accident. How is the foot?"

"It's much better, sir." "Getting tired of the house?" Laurie asked.

Dan let his eyes wander over to the green hills and answered, "I guess I am!" "Why don't we take a quick ride in the carriage? The fresh air will do you good." Laurie asked Demi to get another cushion and a jacket for Dan. "Are you sure Mother Jo won't mind?" the boy asked. "Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine," Laurie said. "Trust me." In a few minutes Dan was settled in the carriage, his foot tucked in so it wouldn't get hurt. Demi, Nat, and Laurie all climbed aboard, and they were well on their way before the older gentleman took a funny little stone from his pocket to show the boys. "Look here," he said, "it's a beetle that's thousands of years old." "How did it get like this?" Nat marveled as he turned the gray stone over in his hand.

"Why, it's a mummy," Laurie answered. He went on to tell the boys stories of the Egyptians and their tombs with all the great treasures to be found within. Laurie had just returned from a trip to Egypt. He was full of the adventure, and the boys hung on his every word. Soon, Nat, Dan, and Demi were pulling objects out of their pockets, showing them to one another and telling stories. "You know," Laurie said, "I think it's a good idea for you boys to have a museum of your own —a place to keep all your treasures so you can always show them to one another." "But there's no room at Plumfield," Demi said. "Where would we set it up?" "Ah, I've already thought about that," Laurie answered. "Father Bhaer and I are going to fix up the old carriage house for you. Won't that be grand?" The three boys all agreed that it absolutely would. They had arrived back at Plumfield by