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diff --git a/22737-h/22737-h.htm b/22737-h/22737-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f6156e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/22737-h/22737-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13623 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of John Gayther's Garden And The Stories Told Therein, by Frank R. Stockton. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 25%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 88%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + a {text-decoration: none;} + big { font-size: 1.3em; } + .chaptertitle { + margin-top: 8em; + margin-bottom: 8em; + line-height: 2em; + } + + .caption {font-weight: normal; font-size: 0.9em; } + + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + + #toc, #toi { width: 65%; border: none; margin: 2em auto 2em auto; } + #toc td.page, #toi td.page { text-align: right; width: 2%; font-style: italic; vertical-align:bottom; font-size: 1.2em; } + #toc td.roman { text-align: right; width: 2%; padding-top: 0.8em; font-style: italic; vertical-align:top; font-size: 1.2em; } + #toc td.told { text-align: left; padding-left: 2em; font-style: italic; font-size: 0.9em; } + #toc td.title, #toi td.title { text-align: left; padding-left: 1.5em; text-indent: -1.3em; padding-top: 0.8em; font-style: italic; font-size: 1.2em; } + #toi td.indent { text-indent: -1em; } + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of John Gayther's Garden and the Stories Told +Therein, by Frank R. Stockton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: John Gayther's Garden and the Stories Told Therein + +Author: Frank R. Stockton + +Release Date: September 23, 2007 [EBook #22737] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN GAYTHER'S GARDEN *** + + + + +Produced by Alexander Bauer, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 376px; margin-top: 4em;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="376" height="600" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> + + +<h1 style="margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom:4em;">John Gayther's Garden and<br /> +the Stories Told Therein</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 436px;"> +<a name="Frontispiece" id="Frontispiece"><img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="436" height="600" alt="" title="" /></a> +<div class="caption">"Are you going to ask me to marry your husband if you +should happen to die?"</div> +</div> + + + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 2.5em;"><span style="text-align:justify;">John Gayther's Garden and<br /> +the Stories Told Therein<br /> +By Frank R. Stockton</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 1.5em; margin-top:4em;"><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 1.5em; margin-top:7em;">Charles Scribner's Sons</p> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 1.5em;">New York 1902</p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top:7em;">Copyright, 1902, by<br /> +Charles Scribner's Sons</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Published November, 1902</i></p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top:7em; margin-bottom:7em;">THE DEVINNE PRESS</p> + + + + +<p style="margin-top: 4em;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="Content" id="toc"> +<tr><td colspan="2"></td><td style="font-size: 0.8em; text-align: right;">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="title" style="padding-left: 2.5em; padding-top: 0.2em;">John Gayther's Garden</td><td class="page"><a href="#JOHN_GAYTHERS_GARDEN">3</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="roman">I</td><td class="title">What I Found in the Sea</td><td class="page"><a href="#I">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by John Gayther</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman">II</td><td class="title">The Bushwhacker Nurse</td><td class="page"><a href="#II">39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by the Daughter of the House</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman">III</td><td class="title">The Lady in the Box</td><td class="page"><a href="#III">71</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by John Gayther</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman">IV</td><td class="title">The Cot and the Rill</td><td class="page"><a href="#IV">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by the Mistress of the House</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman">V</td><td class="title">The Gilded Idol and the King +Conch-shell</td><td class="page"><a href="#V">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by the Master of the House</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman">VI</td><td class="title">My Balloon Hunt</td><td class="page"><a href="#VI">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by the Frenchman</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman">VII</td><td class="title">The Foreign Prince and the Hermit's +Daughter</td><td class="page"><a href="#VII">223</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by Pomona and Jonas</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>VIII</td><td class="title">The Conscious Amanda</td><td class="page"><a href="#VIII">249</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by the Daughter of the House</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman">IX</td><td class="title">My Translatophone</td><td class="page"><a href="#IX">279</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by the Old Professor</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman">X</td><td class="title">The Vice-consort</td><td class="page"><a href="#X">307</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by the Next Neighbor</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="roman">XI</td><td class="title">Blackgum ag'in' Thunder</td><td class="page"><a href="#XI">341</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td colspan="2" class="told">Told by John Gayther</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p style="margin-top: 4em;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<table summary="Illustrations" id="toi"> +<tr><td class="title">"Are you going to ask me to marry your husband +if you should happen to die?"</td><td class="page"><a href="#Frontispiece">Frontispiece</a></td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td style="font-size: 0.8em; padding-top: 0.8em; text-align: right;">FACING PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="title indent" style="padding-top: 0.2em;">The gardener began promptly</td><td class="page"><a href="#image_p74">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="title">"I made him dig up whole beds of things"</td><td class="page"><a href="#image_p148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="title indent">The great beast was drawing up his hind legs +and was climbing into the car</td><td class="page"><a href="#image_p214">214</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="title indent">Miss Amanda listened with the most eager and +overpowering attention</td><td class="page"><a href="#image_p258">258</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="title indent">And dreamed waking dreams of blessedness</td><td class="page"><a href="#image_p294">294</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="title">"Do you mean," I cried, "that you would make +him a better wife than I do?"</td><td class="page"><a href="#image_p336">336</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="title">"Abner, did you ever hear about the eggs of the +great auk?"</td><td class="page"><a href="#image_p356">356</a></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p style="margin-top: 4em;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="JOHN_GAYTHERS_GARDEN" id="JOHN_GAYTHERS_GARDEN">JOHN GAYTHER'S GARDEN</a></h2> + + +<p>The garden did not belong to John Gayther; he +merely had charge of it. At certain busy seasons he +had some men to help him in his work, but for the +greater part of the year he preferred doing everything +himself.</p> + +<p>It was a very fine garden over which John Gayther +had charge. It extended this way and that for long +distances. It was difficult to see how far it did extend, +there were so many old-fashioned box hedges; +so many paths overshadowed by venerable grape-arbors; +and so many far-stretching rows of peach, plum, +and pear trees. Fruit, bushes, and vines there were +of which the roll need not be called; and flowers grew +everywhere. It was one of the fancies of the Mistress +of the House—and she inherited it from her mother—to +have flowers in great abundance, so that wherever +she might walk through the garden she would +always find them.</p> + +<p>Often when she found them massed too thickly she +would go in among them and thin them out with apparent +recklessness, pulling them up by the roots and +throwing them on the path, where John Gayther +would come and find them and take them away. This +heroic action on the part of the Mistress of the House +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +pleased John very much. He respected the fearless +spirit which did not hesitate to make sacrifices for the +greater good, no matter how many beautiful blossoms +she scattered on the garden path. John Gayther +might have thinned out all this superfluous growth +himself, but he knew the Mistress liked to do it, and +he left for her gloved hands many tangled jungles of +luxuriant bloom.</p> + +<p>The garden was old, and rich, and aristocratic. It +acted generously in the way of fruit, flowers, and +vegetables, as if that were something it was expected +to do, an action to which it was obliged by its nobility. +It would be impossible for it to forget that it belonged +to a fine old house and a fine old family.</p> + +<p>John Gayther could not boast of lines of long descent, +as could the garden and the family. He was +comparatively a new-comer, and had not lived in that +garden more than seven or eight years; but in that +time he had so identified himself with the place, and +all who dwelt upon it, that there were times when a +stranger might have supposed him to be the common +ancestor to the whole estate.</p> + +<p>John understood well the mysterious problems of +the tillable earth, and he knew, as well as anybody +could know, what answers to expect when he consulted +the oracles of nature. He was an elderly man, +and the gentle exercises of the garden were suited to +the disposition of his mind and body. In days gone +by he had been a sailor, a soldier, a miner, a ranchman, +and a good many other things besides. In those earlier +days, according to his own account, John had had +many surprising adventures and experiences; but in +these later times his memory was by far the most +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +active and vigorous of all his moving forces. This +memory was like a hazel wand in the hands of a man +who is searching for hidden springs of water. Whenever +he wished it to turn and point in any particular +place or direction, it so turned and pointed.</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>JOHN GAYTHER</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>WHAT I FOUND IN THE SEA</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="I" id="I">I</a><br /> +WHAT I FOUND IN THE SEA</h2> + + +<p>It was on a morning in June that John Gayther +was hoeing peas, drawing the fine earth up about +their tender little stems as a mother would tuck the +clothes about her little sleeping baby, when, happening +to glance across several beds, and rows of box, he +saw approaching the Daughter of the House. Probably +she was looking for him, but he did not think +she had yet seen him. He put down his hoe, feeling, +as he did, that this June morning was getting very +warm; and he gathered up an armful of pea-sticks +which were lying near by. With these he made his +way toward a little house almost in the middle of the +garden, which was his fortress, his palace, his studio, +or his workshop, as the case might be.</p> + +<p>It was a low building with a far-outreaching roof, +and under the shade of this roof, outside of the little +building, John liked to do his rainy-day and very-hot-weather +work. From the cool interior came a +smell of dried plants and herbs and bulbs and potted +earth.</p> + +<p>When John reached this garden-house, the young +lady was already there. She was not tall; her face +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +was very white, but not pale; and her light hair fluffed +itself all about her head, under her wide hat. She +wore gold spectacles which greatly enhanced the +effect of her large blue eyes. John thought she was +the prettiest flower which had ever showed itself in +that garden.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, John," she said. "I came here to +ask you about plants suitable for goldfishes in a vase. +My fishes do not seem to be satisfied with the knowledge +that the plants through which they swim were +put there to purify the water; they are all the time +trying to eat them. Now it strikes me that there +ought to be some plants which would be purifiers and +yet good for the poor things to eat."</p> + +<p>John put down his bundle of pea-sticks by the side +of a small stool. "Won't you sit down, miss?" pointing +to a garden-bench near by, "and I will see what I +can do for you." Then he seated himself upon the +stool, took out his knife, and picked up a pea-stick.</p> + +<p>"The best thing for me to do," he said, "is to look +over a book I have which will tell me just the kind +of water plants which your goldfish ought to have. +I will do that this evening, and then I will see to it +that you shall have those plants, whatever they may +be. I do not pretend to be much of a water gardener +myself, but it's easy for me to find out what other +people know." John now began to trim some of the +lower twigs from a pea-stick.</p> + +<p>"Talking about water gardens, miss," he said, "I +wish you could have seen some of the beautiful ones +that I have come across!—more beautiful and lovely +than anything on the top of the earth; you may be +sure of that. I was reminded of them the moment +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +you spoke to me about your goldfish and their +plants."</p> + +<p>"Where were those gardens?" asked the young +lady; "and what were they like?"</p> + +<p>"They were all on the bottom of the sea, in the +tropics," said John Gayther, "where the water is so +clear that with a little help you can see everything +just as if it were out in the open air—bushes and +vines and hedges; all sorts of tender waving plants, +all made of seaweed and coral, growing in the white +sand; and instead of birds flying about among their +branches there were little fishes of every color: canary-colored +fishes, fishes like robin-redbreasts, and others +which you might have thought were blue jays if they +had been up in the air instead of down in the water."</p> + +<p>"Where did you say all this is to be seen?" asked +the Daughter of the House, who loved all lovely things.</p> + +<p>"Oh, in a good many places in warm climates," said +John. "But, now I come to think of it, there was one +place where I saw more beautiful sights, more grand +and wonderful sights, under the water than I believe +anybody ever saw before! Would you like me to tell +you about it?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed—I—would!" said she, taking off her hat.</p> + +<p>John now began to sharpen the end of his pea-stick. +"It was a good many years ago," said he, "more than +twenty—and I was then a seafaring man. I was on +board a brig, cruising in the West Indies, and we +were off Porto Rico, about twenty miles northward, +I should say, when we ran into something in the night,—we +never could find out what it was,—and we stove +a big hole in that brig which soon began to let in a +good deal more water than we could pump out. The +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +captain he was a man that knew all about that part +of the world, and he told us all that we must work as +hard as we could at the pumps, and if we could keep +her afloat until he could run her ashore on a little +sandy island he knew of not far from St. Thomas, we +might be saved. There was a fresh breeze from the +west, and he thought he could make the island before +we sank.</p> + +<p>"I was mighty glad to hear him say this, for I had +always been nervous when I was cruising off Porto +Rico. Do you know, miss, that those waters are the +very deepest in the whole world?"</p> + +<p>"No," said she; "I never heard that."</p> + +<p>"Well, they are," said John. "If you should take +the very tallest mountain there is in any part of the +earth and put it down north of Porto Rico, so that +the bottom of it shall rest on the bottom of the sea, +the top of that mountain would be sunk clean out of +sight, so that ships could sail over it just as safely as +they sail in any part of the ocean.</p> + +<p>"Of course a man would drown just as easily in a +couple of fathoms of water as in this deep place; but +it is perfectly horrible to think of sinking down, +down, down into the very deepest water-hole on the +face of the whole earth."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you have any boats?" asked the young +lady.</p> + +<p>"We hadn't any," said John. "We had sold all of +them about two months before to a British merchantman +who had lost her boats in a cyclone. One of the +things our captain wanted to get to St. Thomas for +was to buy some more boats. He heard he could get +some cheap ones there.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>"Well, we pumped and sailed as well as we could, +but we hadn't got anywhere near that sandy island +the captain was making for, when, one morning after +breakfast, our brig, which was pretty low in the water +by this time, gave a little hitch and a grind, and stuck +fast on something; and if we hadn't been lively in +taking in all sail there would have been trouble. But +the weather was fine, and the sea was smooth, and +when we had time to think about what had happened +we were resting on the surface of the sea, just as quiet +and tranquil as if we had been a toy ship in a shop-window.</p> + +<p>"What we had stuck on was a puzzle indeed! As +I said before, our captain knew all about that part of +the sea, and, although he knew we were in shallow +soundings, he was certain that there wasn't any shoal +or rock thereabout that we could get stuck on.</p> + +<p>"We sounded all around the brig, and found lots of +water at the stern, but not so much forward. We +were stuck fast on something, but nobody could imagine +what it was. However, we were not sinking any +deeper, and that was a comfort; and the captain he +believed that if we had had boats we could row to +St. Thomas; but we didn't have any boats, so we had +to make the best of it. He put up a flag of distress, +and waited till some craft should come along and take +us off.</p> + +<p>"The captain and the crew didn't seem to be much +troubled about what had happened, for so long as the +sea did not get up they could make themselves very +comfortable as they were. But there were two men +on board who didn't take things easy. They wanted +to know what had happened, and they wanted to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +know what was likely to happen next. I was one of +these men, and a stock-broker from New York was the +other. He was an awful nervous, fidgety, meddling +sort of a man, who was on this cruise for the benefit +of his health, which must have been pretty well worn +out with howling, and yelling, and trying to catch +profits like a lively boy catches flies. He was always +poking his nose into all sorts of things that didn't +concern him, and spent about half of his time trying +to talk the captain into selling his brig and putting +the money into Pacific Lard—or it might have been +Mexican Balloon stock, as well as I remember. This +man was tingling all over with anxiety to find out +what we had stuck on; but as he could not stick his +nose into the water and find out, and as there was +nobody to tell him, he had to keep on tingling.</p> + +<p>"I was just as wild to know what it was the brig +was resting on as the stock-broker was; but I had the +advantage of him, for I believed that I could find out, +and, at any rate, I determined to try. Did you ever +hear of a water-glass, miss?"</p> + +<p>"No, I never did," said the Daughter of the House, +who was listening with great interest.</p> + +<p>"Well, I will try to describe one to you," said John +Gayther. "You make a light box about twenty +inches high and a foot square, and with both ends +open. Then you get a pane of glass and fasten it securely +in one end of this box. Then you've got your +water-glass—a tall box with a glass bottom.</p> + +<p>"The way that you use it is this: You get in a boat, +and put the box in the water, glass bottom down. +Then you lean over and put your head into the open +end, and if you will lay something over the back of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +your head as a man does when he is taking photographs, +so as to keep out the light from above, it will +be all the better. Then, miss, you'd be perfectly +amazed at what you could see through that glass at +the bottom of the box! Even in northern regions, +where the water is heavy and murky, you can see a +good way down; but all about the tropics, where the +water is often so thin and clear that you can see the +bottom in some places with nothing but your naked +eyes, it is perfectly amazing what you can see with a +water-glass! It doesn't seem a bit as if you were +looking down into the sea; it is just like gazing about +in the upper air. If it isn't too deep, things on the +bottom—fishes swimming about, everything—is just as +plain and distinct as if there wasn't any water under +you and you were just looking down from the top of +a house.</p> + +<p>"Well, I made up my mind that the only way for +me to find out what it was that was under the brig +was to make a water-glass and look down into the sea; +and so I made one, taking care not to let the stock-broker +know anything about it, for I didn't want +any of his meddling in my business. I had to tell the +captain, but he said he would keep his mouth shut, +for he didn't like the stock-broker any more than +I did.</p> + +<p>"Well, miss, I made that water-glass. And when +the stock-broker was taking a nap, for he was clean +tired out poking about and asking questions and trying +to find out what he might get out of the business +if he helped to save the brig, the captain and I, with +a few men, quietly let down into the water the aft +hatch, one of those big doors they cover the hatchways +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +with, and when that was resting on the water it +made a very good raft for one man. And I got down +on it, with my water-glass and an oar.</p> + +<p>"The first thing I did, of course, was to paddle +around the brig to the place where she had been +stove in. She wasn't leaking any more, because the +water inside of her was just as high as the water outside; +so, if we could do anything, this was the time to +do it. I looked down into the water on our starboard +bow, and I soon found the place where the brig had +been stove in, probably by some water-logged piece +of wreckage. I located the hole exactly, and I reported +to the captain, who was leaning over the side. +Then I paddled around the brig to see if I could find +out what we were resting on.</p> + +<p>"When I had sunk my water-glass well into the +water, and had got my head into the top of it, I looked +down on a scene which seemed like fairyland. The +corals and water plants of different colors, and the +white glistening sand, and the fishes, big and little, +red, yellow, pink, and blue, swimming about among +the branches just as if they had wings instead of fins, +that I told you of just now, were all there; and the +light down under the water seemed so clear and bright +that I could see everything under me that was as big +as a pea."</p> + +<p>"That must have been an entrancing vision!" said +the Daughter of the House.</p> + +<p>"Indeed it was," replied John Gayther. "But, +would you believe me, miss? I didn't look at it for +more than half a minute; for when I turned my +water-glass so that I could look under the brig, I +could not give a thought to anything else in the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +world except the astonishing objects our brig was +resting on.</p> + +<p>"At first I could not believe my eyes. I paddled +around and around, and I put down my water-glass, +and I stared and I stared, until I felt as if my eyes +were coming out of my head! At last I had to believe +what I saw. There was no use trying to think +that my eyes had made a mistake. It was all just as +plain to me as you are now.</p> + +<p>"Down in the water, resting on the bottom of this +shallow part of the sea, were two great ships—ships of +the olden time, with enormously high poops, which +were the stern part of old-fashioned vessels, built 'way +up high like a four-story house. These two antiquated +vessels were lying side by side and close together, with +their tall poops reaching far up toward the surface of +the sea; and right on top of them, resting partly on +one ship and partly on the other, was our brig, just +as firmly fixed as if she had been on the stocks in a +shipyard!</p> + +<p>"The whole thing was so wonderful that it nearly +took away my breath. I got around to the stern of +the brig, and then I stared down at the two vessels +under her until I forgot there was anything else in +this whole world than those two great old-fashioned +ships and myself. The more I looked the more certain +I became that no such vessels had floated on the +top of the sea for at least two hundred years. From +what I had read about old-time ships, and from the +pictures I had seen of them, I made up my mind that +one of those vessels was an old Spanish galleon; and +the other one looked to me very much as if it were an +English-built ship."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>"And how did they ever happen to be wrecked +there, side by side?" almost gasped the young lady.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they had been fighting," said John. "There +could be no mistake about that. They had been fighting +each other to the death, and they had gone down +together, side by side. And there was our brig, two +hundred years afterwards, resting quietly on top of +both of them.</p> + +<p>"I was still wrapped up, body and soul, in this wonderful +discovery, when I heard a hail from the stern +of the brig, and there was that stock-broker, shouting +to me to know what I was looking at. Of course that +put an end to my observations, and I paddled to the +side and got on board.</p> + +<p>"'Lend me that box,' said the stock-broker, 'and let +me get down on your raft. What is it you've been +looking at, and what did you see in that box?'</p> + +<p>"But he had got hold of the wrong man. 'No, sir,' +said I. 'Find a box for yourself, if you want one.' +And I held mine so that he could not see that the bottom +of it was glass. Then the captain came along and +told him not to try to get down on that hatch, for if he +did he would topple into the water and get himself +drowned, which would have been certain to happen, +for he could not swim. Then the hatch was hauled +on deck, and I went below with the captain to his +cabin to tell him what I had seen. The stock-broker +tried awfully hard to come with us, but we wouldn't +let him.</p> + +<p>"When the captain had heard all I had to tell him, +he wasn't struck sentimentally the least bit, as I had +been. It did not make any more difference to him +whether those two ships had been down there two +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +hundred years or two years; but there was another +part to the affair that was very interesting to him.</p> + +<p>"'Gayther,' said he, 'it's ten to one that them ships +has got treasure aboard, and what we've got to do is +to form a company and go to work and get it.'</p> + +<p>"'And how would you do that?' said I.</p> + +<p>"The captain was from Provincetown, Cape Cod, +and it didn't take him two seconds to work out his +whole plan.</p> + +<p>"'It's this way,' said he. 'The first thing to do is +to form a company. I am president and you can be +the other officers. When that is all fixed we can go +to work, and we'll mend that hole in our bow. Now +if you know just where it is, we'll work day and night +in that hold, water or no water, and we'll stop it up. +Then we'll pump the brig out, and I believe she'll +float. Then we'll mark this place with a buoy, and +we'll sail away as fast as we can, with our company +all formed and everything fixed and settled. Then +we'll come back with the vessels and machines, and +we'll get out that treasure. We'll divide it into +three parts. One part will be mine; one part will +be yours; and the other part will go to the crew.'</p> + +<p>"'And how about the stock-broker?' said I. 'Going +to let him in the company?'</p> + +<p>"'No, sir,' said the captain, bringing his fist down on +the table. 'Whatever else happens, he is to be kept out.'</p> + +<p>"This was a very fine plan, but it didn't altogether +suit me. I didn't want to sail away from that spot +and perhaps never see those two ships again. There +was no knowing what more I might find out with my +water-glass if that stock-broker could be kept from +bothering me.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>"I told the captain this, and he looked hard at me +and he said: 'It will take a couple of days to mend +that leak and to pump out the brig. If this fine +weather keeps on I think we can do it in that time. +And if while we are working at it you choose to try +to find out more about them two ships, you can do it.'</p> + +<p>"'And how can I do it?' said I.</p> + +<p>"'If you can go down in a diver's suit you can do +it,' said he. 'I don't know whether you know anything +about that business, but if you want to try, I +have got a whole kit on board, air-pump, armor, and +everything. It belongs to a diver that was out with +me about a year ago in the Gulf of Mexico. He had +to go North to attend to some business, and he told +me he would let me know when he would come back +and get his diving-kit. But he hasn't come back +yet, and the whole business is stowed away here on +board. Do you know anything about going down in +a diving-suit?'</p> + +<p>"Now I had never done anything in the way of +diving, but I had heard a good deal about it, and I +had seen divers at work, and my whole soul was so +jumping and shouting inside of me at the very idea of +going down and searching into the secrets of those +two old ships that I told the captain I was ready to +undertake the diving business just the minute he +could get things in shape.</p> + +<p>"Well, miss, early the next morning—and I can +tell you I didn't sleep much that night—everything +was ready for me to go down, and two of the crew +who had done that sort of thing before were detailed +to attend to the air-pumps and all the other business. +The stock-broker he was like a bee on a window-pane; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +he was buzzing, and kicking, and bumping his +head trying to find out what we expected to do. But +the captain wouldn't tell him anything; you may be +sure I wouldn't; and nobody else knew.</p> + +<p>"As soon as we could get things straightened out I +was lowered over the side of the brig, and sunk out +of sight into the water. The captain and all the crew, +except the men who were attending to me, then went +to work to mend the hole in the side of the brig. And +the last thing I heard as I went under the water was +the stock-broker howling and yelling and rampaging +around the deck.</p> + +<p>"As I told you before, miss, I had never been down +in a diving-suit; but I paid the greatest attention to +everything I knew, and I got down to the bottom all +right, having a hard time to keep from being scratched +to pieces by the barnacles on the sterns of the big +ships.</p> + +<p>"I clumped about for a while on the sandy bottom +so as to get familiar with the air-tubes, signal-cords, +and all that, and then I signalled to be hauled up a +bit; and, after a good deal of trouble, I got on board +the vessel which I was sure was a Spanish galleon. +As I stood on her upper deck, looking around, I felt +as if I was in a world of wonders. There was water +everywhere, of course—in and around and about +everything. But I could see so plainly that I forgot +that I was not moving about in the open air.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you, miss, everything I saw on that +great ship, for it would take too long; but as soon as +I could, I set to work to see if I could find the treasure +that I hoped was on board of her. Here and there +about the decks I saw swords and pistols and old +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +cannon, but not a sign of any of the brave fellows that +had fought the ship, for the fish had eaten them up +long ago, bones and all.</p> + +<p>"While hunting about, and being careful to keep +my air-tube from fouling, I looked into a cabin with +the door open; and you will believe me, miss, when I +tell you that a cold chill ran down my back when I +saw something moving inside, just as if it was a man +getting up to see what I wanted. It turned out to be +a big fish, about half my size, and he did not ask any +questions, but just swam through the open door, almost +brushing me, and went his way."</p> + +<p>"I wonder you weren't frightened to death!" said +the Daughter of the House.</p> + +<p>"It would be hard to kill me with fright," said John +Gayther, "and I'll prove that to you, miss. As I +moved on, still looking for the treasure, I came to the +door of another cabin, and this was shut and bolted +on the outside. I had a hatchet with me, and with +this I knocked back the bolts and forced open the +door; and there I saw something to make anybody +jump. Sitting on a locker, right in front of the door, +was the skeleton of a man. The room had been shut +up so tight that no fish big enough to eat bones could +get in; but the little things that live in the water and +can get through any crack had eaten all of that man +except his bones, his gold buttons, that were lying +about on the floor, the golden embroidery of his uniform, +that was still hanging about on his skeleton, and +the iron fetters on his hands and feet. He was most +likely a prisoner of rank who was being taken back +to Spain, and he had been shut up there through all +the fight.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>"The first thought that came into my mind when +I looked at him was that he might be Columbus, and +that the Spaniards had made up the story about their +really getting him back to Spain at the time when he +was to be brought home in irons. But thinking more +about it, I knew that this could not be true, and so I +shut the door so as to keep the poor fellow from any +intrusions so long as he might happen to stay there.</p> + +<p>"Then I went to work in real earnest to find the +treasure, and I tell you, miss, I did find it."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed the Daughter of the House. +"You really found the treasure on that Spanish galleon?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I did," replied John Gayther. "It was in +boxes stowed away in a big room in the stern. I +smashed the door, and there were the boxes. I went +to work at one of them with my hatchet; and I had +just forced up one corner of the lid, and had seen that +it was filled with big gold pieces, when I felt a pull +on my signal-rope, and knew that they wanted me to +come up. So I put my fingers into the crack and got +out a few of the coins. I could not take a whole box; +it would have been too heavy. And then I went out +of that room, and signalled that I was ready to go up. +It was time, I can tell you, miss, for I was getting +mighty nervous and excited, and I needed rest and +something to eat.</p> + +<p>"When I was safe on the deck of the brig, I found +everybody gathered there, waiting to hear what I had +to tell. They had stopped work for dinner, and that +is the reason I had been signalled.</p> + +<p>"But I didn't say anything to anybody. As soon +as my helmet was unscrewed and I was out of my +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +diving-suit I went below with the captain; and although +the stock-broker followed us close and nearly +pushed himself into the cabin, we shut the door on +him and kept him out. Then I told the captain +everything, and I showed him the three gold coins, +which I had kept all the time tightly clinched in my +right hand. I can tell you the eyes of both of us were +wide open when we looked at those coins. Two of +them were dated sixteen hundred and something, and +one of them fifteen hundred. They were big fellows, +worth about ten dollars apiece. The captain took +them and locked them up.</p> + +<p>"'Now,' said he, 'do you think you will be able to +go down again to-day? If you want to see what's in +the other ship you've got to be lively about it, for I +think we can get the brig pumped out in twenty-four +hours; and if a stiff breeze should spring up to-morrow +afternoon—and I am inclined to think it will—we +don't want to be caught here. If the other ship's +a treasure-ship,' he went on to say, 'you know it would +be a good deal better for our company; and so it +might be well to find out.'</p> + +<p>"I didn't need any spurring to make me go down +again, for I was all on fire to know what was on board +the other ship, which I was sure was English, having +had a good opportunity of looking at it while I was +down there.</p> + +<p>"So as soon as I had taken a rest and had had my +dinner, I went on deck to get ready for another diving +expedition. There was the stock-broker, watching +me like a snake watching a bird. He didn't stamp +around and ask any more questions: he just kept his +venomous eye on me as if he would like to kill me +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +because I knew more than he did. But I didn't +concern myself about him, and down I went, and this +time I got myself aboard the English vessel just as +soon as I could.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't as interesting as the old Spanish vessel, +but still I saw enough to fill up a book if I had time +to tell it. There were more signs of fighting than +there had been on the other ship. Muskets and swords +were scattered about everywhere, and, although she +was plainly a merchant-vessel, she had a lot of the +small cannon used in those days.</p> + +<p>"I looked about a great deal, and it struck me that +she had been a merchantman trading with the West +Indies, but glad enough to fight a Spanish treasure-ship +if she happened to come across one. It was more +than likely that her crew had been a regular set of +half-buccaneers, willing to trade if there was trade, +and fight if there was any fighting on hand. Anyway, +the two vessels had had a tough time of it, and +each of them had met her match. I could see the +grappling-irons which had fastened them together. +They had blown so many holes in each other's sides +that they had gone to the bottom as peaceably as a +pair of twins holding each other by the hands.</p> + +<p>"I worked hard on that English ship, and I went +everywhere where I dared to go, but I couldn't find +any signs that she had carried treasure. I hadn't the +least doubt that she was on an outward voyage, and +that the Spaniard was homeward bound.</p> + +<p>"At last I got down into the hold, and there I found +a great number of big hogsheads, that were packed in +so well under the deck that they had never moved in +all these years. Of course I wanted to know what +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +was in them, for, although it would not be gold or +silver, it might be something almost as precious if it +happened to be spirits of the olden time.</p> + +<p>"After banging and working for some time I got +out the bung of one of these hogsheads, and immediately +air began to bubble up, and I could hear the +water running in. It was plain the hogshead was +empty, and I clapped the bung in again as quick as +I could. I wasn't accustomed to sounding barrels or +hogsheads under water, but as I knew this was an +empty one I sounded it with my hatchet; and then I +went around and got the same kind of a sound from +each of the others that I hammered on. They were +all empty, every blessed one of them.</p> + +<p>"Now I was certain that this vessel had been outward +bound; she had been taking out empty hogsheads, +and had expected to carry them back full of +West Indian rum, which was a mighty profitable +article of commerce in those days. But she had fallen +into temptation, and had gone to the bottom; and +here were her hogsheads just as tight and just as empty +as on the day she set sail from England.</p> + +<p>"As I stood looking at the great wall of empty +hogsheads in front of me, wondering if it would not +be better to give up searching any more on this vessel, +which evidently had not been laden with anything +valuable, and go again on board the Spanish ship and +make some sort of a plan for fastening lines to those +treasure-boxes so that they might be hauled up on +board the brig, I began to feel a sort of trouble with +my breath, as if I might suffocate if I did not get out +soon. I knew, of course, that something was the matter +with my air-supply, and I signalled for them to pump +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +lively. But it was of no use; my supply of fresh air +seemed to be cut off. I began to gasp. I was terribly +frightened, you may be sure; for, with air gone and +no answer to my signals, I must perish. I jerked +savagely at my signal-cord to let them know that I +wanted to be pulled up,—it was possible that I might +reach the surface before being suffocated,—but the +cord offered no resistance; I pulled it toward me as +I jerked. It had been cut or broken.</p> + +<p>"Then I took hold of my air-tube and pulled it. +It, too, was unattached at the other end; it had no +connection with the air-pump.</p> + +<p>"Breathing with great difficulty, and with my legs +trembling under me, a thought flashed through my +mind. As rapidly as possible I drew in the india-rubber +air-tube. Presently I had the loose end of it +in my hand. Then I caught hold of the bung of the +hogshead which I had opened and which was just in +front of me, and the instant I pulled it out I thrust in +the end of the air-tube. To my great delight, it fitted +tightly in the bung-hole. And now in an instant I +felt as if I was sitting upon the pinnacles of Paradise. +Air, fresh air, came to me through the tube! Not in +abundance, not freely, for there was some water in +the tube and there was a good deal of gurgling. But +it was air, fresh air; and every time an exhaled breath +escaped through the valve in my helmet, a little air +from the hogshead came in to take its place.</p> + +<p>"I stood for a while, weak with happiness. I did +not know what had happened; I did not care. I could +breathe; that was everything in the world to me.</p> + +<p>"By gradually raising the tube a few feet at a time +I managed to empty the water it contained into the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +hogshead, and then I breathed more easily. As I did +not wish to wait until the air in the hogshead had +been exhausted, I went to work on the bung in the +next one, and soon transferred the end of my tube to +that, which would probably last me a good while, for +it was almost entirely free from water.</p> + +<p>"Now I began to cogitate and wonder. I pulled in +the end of the signal-cord, and I found it had not been +rubbed and torn by barnacles; the end of it had been +clean cut with a knife. I remembered that this was +the case with the air-tube; as I placed it into the +bung-hole of the first hogshead I had noticed how +smoothly it had been severed.</p> + +<p>"Now I felt a tug at the rope by which I was raised +and lowered. I didn't like this. If I should be +pulled up I might be jerked away from my air-supply +and suffocate before I got to the surface. So I took a +turn of the rope around a stick of timber near by, and +they might pull as much as they chose without disturbing +me. There I stood, and thought, and wondered. +But, above everything, I could not help feeling +all the time how good that air was! It seemed to go +through every part of me. It was better than wine; +it was better than anything I had ever breathed or +tasted. A little while ago I was on the point of perishing. +Now before me there were tiers of hogsheads +full of air! If it had not been that I would be obliged +to eat, I might have stayed down there as long as I +pleased.</p> + +<p>"I had stayed a long time, and I was at work on +the air in a third hogshead—not having half used up +the contents of the other two—before I really made +up my mind as to what had happened. I was sure +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +that there had been foul play, and I felt quite as sure +that the stock-broker was at the bottom of it. Except +that man, there was no one on board the brig who +would wish to do me a harm. The stock-broker he +hated me; I had seen that in his face as plainly as if +it had been painted on a sign-board. I knew something +which he did not know; I was trying to get +something which was to be kept a secret from him. +If I could be put out of the way he probably thought +he might have some sort of a chance. I could not +fathom the man's mind, but that's the way it looked +to me.</p> + +<p>"I had been down there a long time, and it must +have been getting toward the end of the afternoon; +so I prepared to leave my watery retirement. I had +made a plan, and it worked very well. I placed the +end of my air-tube far into the bung-hole of the hogshead, +so that I might not accidentally pull it out; I +loosened myself from the bit of timber; and then I +made my way to the bow of the vessel on which I was. +Looking upward, I found that our brig, which was +resting on the tall poops of the two sunken vessels, +was so suspended above me that her fore chains, which +ran under her bowsprit, were almost over my head.</p> + +<p>"Now I stood and took some long, deep breaths; +then, having made everything ready, I jerked myself +out of that diving-suit in a very few seconds, and, +standing free, I gave a great leap upward, and went +straight to the surface. I am a good swimmer, and +with a few strokes I caught the chains. Stealthily I +clambered up, making not the least noise, and peeped +over the rail. There was nobody forward. The whole +ship's company seemed to be crowded aft, where there +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +was a great stir and confusion. I slipped quietly over +the rail and, without being seen by anybody, made +my way into the forecastle. I hurried to my sea-chest. +I took off my wet things and dressed myself in an almost +new suit of shore clothes which I had never worn +on the brig. I did not lose any more time than I +could help, but I took unusual care in dressing myself. +I put on a new pair of yellow shoes, and turned up the +bottom of my trousers so as to show my red socks. I +had a big felt hat which I had bought in Mexico, with +a little feather in it; and this I put on, pulling it rakishly +over on one side. I put around my neck a long +blue silk cravat with white spots, which I tied in the +biggest bow I could make. Then, feeling that I ought +to have something in my hands, I picked up a capstan-bar, +and laying it across my arm after the manner of +a cutlass, I went boldly on deck.</p> + +<p>"Making as much noise as possible, and advancing +with what you might call a majestic tread, I strode to +the stern of that brig. At first my approach was not +noticed, for there was still a great hubbub, and everybody +seemed to be shouting or swearing or shaking +his fist. The stock-broker stood on one side, and his +tongue was going as fast as anybody's; but I noticed +that his hands were tied behind him, and there was a +rope around his neck.</p> + +<p>"The captain was the first to see me. He gave me +just one look; he turned pale; and then, with a sort +of a scared grunt, down he went on his knees.</p> + +<p>"When the rest of the men laid eyes on me, you +never saw such a scared lot in your life. Their mouths +and their eyes went open, and their swarthy faces +were as white as you could wash a dirty sail. Some +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +of them shook so that their caps fell off, and one or +two began to pray.</p> + +<p>"As to the stock-broker, he at first seemed greatly +startled; but he recovered himself in a moment. +There was nothing superstitious about him, and he +knew well enough that I was no spirit risen from the +deep, but a living man.</p> + +<p>"'Ha, ha!' he shouted. 'Here you are, after trying +to rob and cheat us, and making believe to be dead, +you water thief!—hiding safe and sound on deck while +such a row is being raised here about your death, and +all sorts of threats being made against me on account +of it. Look at him, my brave men!' said he, turning +to the crew; 'look at the fellow who has been trying +to rob us! And he is the man you ought to hang to +the yard-arm!'</p> + +<p>"Then he turned again to me. 'You are a fool of +a thief, anyway. After you had gone down under +this vessel I found your box with the glass in the +bottom of it. I got down close to the water and I +watched you. I saw you going about in that big +sunken ship looking after treasure, and, no doubt, +finding it; filling your pockets with gold and telling +nobody. I didn't want to kill you when I cut your +air-tube, as I have told these good sailors; but I +wanted to make you stop stealing and come up, and I +did it. The treasure under this vessel belongs to us +all, and you have no right to make a secret business +out of it, and keep it for yourself and the captain. +Now, my good men,' he shouted to the crew, 'there +is the fellow you ought to hang! Look at him, dressed +up in fine clothes, while you thought he was soaked +and dead at the bottom of the sea! Hang him up, I +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +say! Then we'll get the treasure, and we'll divide +it among us fair and even.'</p> + +<p>"This was a dangerous moment for me. The men +had recovered from their fright. They saw I was no +spirit, and they believed that I had been trying to deceive +and defraud them. A good many of them drew +their knives and came toward me, the stock-broker +urging them on. The captain tried to restrain the +men who were near him, but they pushed him +aside.</p> + +<p>"I now stepped forward; I pulled my great hat still +further over my face; I glared at the men before me; +and I brought my capstan-bar with a tremendous +thump upon the deck.</p> + +<p>"'Sirrah, varlets!' I roared. 'What mean ye? +Stop where ye are, and if one man of ye comes nearer +I'll cleave him to the chine! Caitiffs! varlets! +hounds! dare ye threaten me? Ods-bodikins, I like +it well! By our lady, ye are a merry set of mariners +who draw your blades upon a man who is come +upon this deck to tell ye how to fill your pockets with +old gold! Back there, every man of ye, and put up +your knives, ere I split your heads and toss ye into +the sea!'</p> + +<p>"As I spoke these words my voice and tones were +so loud and terrible that I almost frightened myself. +The crew fell back as I advanced a step or two, and +every man of them sheathed his knife. Even the +stock-broker seemed to be overawed by my tremendous +voice and my fierce appearance."</p> + +<p>"John Gayther," said the Daughter of the House, +who had been listening very eagerly, "what made +you talk like that, and strut about, and pound the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +deck? That's not like you. I would not have supposed +that you ever could have acted so."</p> + +<p>"You will understand it all, miss," said the gardener, +"when you remember that for nearly two hours +I had been breathing the atmosphere of the sixteenth +century. That atmosphere was the air which for two +hundred years had been fastened up in those empty +hogsheads. I had drawn it into my lungs; it had gone +into my blood, my nerves, my brain. I was as a man +who swash-buckles—a reckless mariner of the olden +time. I longed to take my cutlass in my teeth and +board a Spaniard. As I looked upon the villainous +stock-broker before me, I felt as if I could take him +by the throat, plunge down with him to the deck of +the Spanish galleon, and shut him up fast and tight +in the room with that manacled Spaniard who could +not have been Columbus. I thrilled with a fierce +longing for combat. It was the air of the sixteenth +century which had permeated my every pore.</p> + +<p>"Now I fixed upon the stock-broker a terrible glare +and stepped toward him. 'Money miscreant!' I +yelled, 'you it was who tried first to murder me, and +then to turn the hearts of all these good men against +me!' I raised my capstan-bar in the air. 'Aroint +thee, fiend!' I yelled. 'Get thee below; and if anon I +see thee I will break thy dastardly skull!'</p> + +<p>"At this the stock-broker, frightened nearly out of +his wits, and with his hands still tied and the rope +around his neck, made a dive for the companionway, +and disappeared below. I stood up very bold; I +threw out my chest, and gazed around in triumph. +The air of the sixteenth century had saved me! +Those men would have no more dared to attack me, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +as I stood roaring out my defiance and my threat, +than they would have ventured to give battle to the +boldest and the blackest of all bloody buccaneers.</p> + +<p>"I now called the men around me, and I told them +all my story. You may imagine that they opened +their eyes and mouths so wide that I thought some of +them would never get them shut again. But the +captain—he was from Provincetown, Cape Cod, and +he went straight to business.</p> + +<p>"'We've mended the leak,' said he, 'and we'll +pump all night, and it may be to-morrow we shall +float free. Then we'll form a company for the recovery +of the treasure on that Spanish galleon. I will +take one third of it; Mr. Gayther shall have one third; +and one third shall be divided among the crew. Then +we'll anchor a buoy near this spot and sail away, to +come back again as soon as may be.'</p> + +<p>"Everybody agreed to this, and we all went to +supper. Early the next morning a breeze blew very +fresh from the southwest; then it increased to a gale; +and before ten o'clock the waves began to run so high +that one of them lifted the brig clean off the sunken +ships on which she had been resting, and we were +afloat. In ten seconds more we were lying broadside +to the wind. Then indeed we had to skip around +lively, get up some sails, and put her properly on the +wind. Before we had time to draw an easy breath +we were scudding along, far from the spot which we +had intended to mark with an anchored buoy. There +was a good deal of water in the hold, but the brig +went merrily on as if glad to get away from those two +old sea spectres of the past with which she had been +keeping such close company.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>"Of course it was impossible to beat up against such +a wind, and so we kept on toward St. Thomas. The +captain had carefully taken the longitude and latitude +of the spot where we had been stranded on the ancient +ships, and he was sure he could find the place +again by sounding in fair weather.</p> + +<p>"Before we reached port, he came on deck with +the three gold pieces which I had brought up from +the Spanish galleon. One of these he put into his own +pocket; one he gave to me; and the other he gave +to the crew to be changed into small coin and divided. +The stock-broker got nothing, and I saw him no more +on that voyage. I had sworn to break his head if my +eyes ever fell upon him, and he was wise enough to +keep out of my sight."</p> + +<p>"And that is all the money you ever got from the +galleon?" asked the Daughter of the House.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said John Gayther, "that was all. I have +the ancient gold piece in my room now, and some day +I will show it to you.</p> + +<p>"As soon as we could do it, we all went with the +captain to New York, and there we organized our +company, and sold a lot of stock, and chartered a good +steamer with derricks and everything necessary for +raising sunken treasure. But, although the weather +was fair, and we sounded and sounded day after day at +the very point of longitude and latitude where we +had left the two great ships of the olden time, we +never could find them.</p> + +<p>"One day, just before we had concluded to give up +the search, we saw another vessel not far away, also +sounding. This we afterwards heard belonged to the +stock-broker. He had chartered a steamer, and he had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +on board of her a president, a secretary, a treasurer, +a board of trustees, and four derricks. We steamed +away and soon left him, and I am very sure that if +his company had ever declared any dividends I should +have heard of it."</p> + +<p>"And that is the end of your story, John Gayther?" +said the Daughter of the House, as she rose from her +seat.</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss; that is the end of it," replied the gardener.</p> + +<p>The young lady said no more, but walked away in +quiet reflection, while John Gayther picked up the +only pea-stick on which he had been at work that +morning.</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>THE DAUGHTER OF THE HOUSE</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>THE BUSHWHACKER NURSE</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II">II</a><br /> +THE BUSHWHACKER NURSE</h2> + + +<p>The Daughter of the House, her fair cheeks a +little flushed, walked rapidly down the broad +centre path of the garden, looking for John Gayther, +the gardener. She soon saw him at work in a bed of +tomato-plants.</p> + +<p>"John," said she, "I have just finished composing a +story, and I came out to tell it to you before I write +it. I want to do this because you compose stories +yourself which in some ways are a good deal like this +of mine. But I can't tell it to you out here in the +sun. Isn't there something you can do in your little +house? Haven't you some pea-sticks to sharpen?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, miss," said John Gayther, with great +alacrity; "and if you will go and make yourself +comfortable under the shed I will be there in a few +minutes."</p> + +<p>It was rather difficult for John Gayther to find any +pea-sticks which had not already been stuck into the +ground or which wanted sharpening, but he succeeded +in getting a small armful of them, and with these he +came to where the young lady was seated. He drew +up a stool and took out a big knife.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>"Now," said she, gazing through her gold-rimmed +spectacles far out into the sunlit garden, "this is the +story of a girl."</p> + +<p>John Gayther nodded approvingly. The story of +a girl was exactly what he would like to hear, provided +it was told by the young lady who sat in front +of him.</p> + +<p>"She was of an independent turn of mind," said the +Daughter of the House, "and there were a great many +things in this world which bored her, not because they +were uninteresting in themselves, but because she +could not enjoy them in the way which suited her. +She had thought of hundreds of things she would like +to do if she only could do them in her own way and +without control by other people. She was very anxious +to perform deeds, noble deeds if possible, but +she could not endure the everlasting control which +seems to be thought necessary in this world—at least, +for girls. The consequence of this was that she spent +a great deal of her time in doing things which made +no imprint whatever upon the progress of the world +or upon the elevation of her own character.</p> + +<p>"Now it happened that at the time of my story +there was a war in the land, and a great many people +with whom my heroine was acquainted went forth to +do battle for their country and their principles, or to +act patriotically in some other way than fighting. I +forgot to say that my heroine is named Almia—"</p> + +<p>"De Ponsett, I suppose," interrupted John Gayther. +"Almia de Ponsett is the name of a beautiful new +white tea-rose."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said the young lady, drawing her eyebrows +slightly together; "there is no 'de Ponsett' +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +about it, and her name has nothing to do with tea-roses. +It is simply Almia. She grew more and more +dissatisfied every day the war went on. Everybody +who was worth anything was doing something, and +here she was doing nothing. What was there she +could do? This became the great question of her life. +If I were about to write out this story I would say +something here about the workings of her mind; but +that is not necessary now. But her mind worked a +great deal, and the end of it was that she determined +to be a nurse. Nursing, indeed, is the only thing a +young woman can do in a war.</p> + +<p>"But when she began to make inquiries about army +nurses—what they ought to do, how they ought to do +it, and all that—she ran up against that terrible bugbear +of control. Everywhere was control, control, +control; and she really began to despair. There were +examinations, and training, and applications to the +surgeon-general, and to the assistant surgeon, and to +special heads of departments and districts and States +and counties, for all I know. There was positively no +end to the things she would have to do to get a regular +appointment to go forth and do her duty to her +country. So she threw up the whole business of regular +army nursing, and made up her mind to go out +into the field of duty to which she had appointed herself, +and do the things she ought to do in the way she +thought they ought to be done. She likened herself +to the knights of old who used to go forth to fight for +their ladies and for the upholding of chivalry. She +wanted to be a sort of a free-lance, but she did not +want to hire herself to anybody. She did not fancy +being anything like a guerilla, and then it suddenly +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +struck her that if she did just as she wanted to do she +would resemble a bushwhacker more than anything +else. A bushwhacker is an honest man. When there +is no war he whacks bushes, that is, he cuts them +down; and when there is a war—"</p> + +<p>"He whacks the enemy," suggested John Gayther.</p> + +<p>The Daughter of the House smiled a little. "Yes," +she said; "he tries to do that. But he is entirely independent; +he is under nobody; and that suited Almia. +A bushwhacker nurse was exactly what she wanted to +be, and as soon as this was settled she made all her +preparations to go to the war."</p> + +<p>"Of course," said John Gayther, "the young lady's +parents—or perhaps she did not have any parents?"</p> + +<p>The Daughter of the House frowned. "Now, John," +said she, "I don't want anything said about parents. +There were no parents in this case, at least none to be +considered. I don't say whether they were dead or +not, but the story has nothing to do with them. Parents +would be very embarrassing, and I don't want to +stop to bother with them."</p> + +<p>John Gayther nodded his head as if he thought she +was quite right, and she went on:</p> + +<p>"The first thing Almia did was to fit herself out +after the fashion she thought best adapted to a bushwhacker +nurse. She wore heavy boots, and a bicycle-skirt +which just came to the top of the boots; and in +this skirt she put ever so many pockets. She wore a +little cap with a strap to go under the chin; and from +her belt on the left side she hung a very little cask, +which she happened to have, something like those +carried by the St. Bernard dogs in Switzerland when +they go to look for lost travellers; and this she filled +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +with brandy. In her pockets she put every kind of +thing that wounded men might want: adhesive plaster, +raw cotton, bandages, some pieces of heavy pasteboard +to make splints, needles and fine silk for sewing up +cuts, and a good many other things suitable for +wounded people. And in the right-hand pocket of +her skirt she carried a pistol with five barrels."</p> + +<p>"My conscience!" exclaimed John Gayther, "that +was dangerous. And then, you know, nurses hardly +ever carry pistols."</p> + +<p>"But this was necessary," said she, "as you will see +as the story goes on. Then, when she put on a long +waterproof cloak which covered everything, she was +ready to go to the war."</p> + +<p>John Gayther looked at the Daughter of the House +steadfastly and wondered if the Almia of the story +had cut off her beautiful hair. He was sure she had +had an abundance of light silvery-golden hair which +fluffed itself all about her head under her wide hat, +and it would be a sort of shock to think of its being +cut off. But he asked no questions; he did not want +to interrupt too much.</p> + +<p>"Almia knew by the papers," continued the Daughter +of the House, "that a great battle was expected to +take place not far from a town at some distance from +her home; and she went to this town by rail, carrying +only a small hand-bag in addition to the things she +wore under her waterproof. She took lodgings at a +hotel, and, after an early breakfast the next morning, +she hired a cab to take her out to the battle-field. The +cabman drove her several miles into the country, but +when he heard the booming of the preliminary cannon +with which the battle was then opening, he refused +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +to go any farther, and she was obliged to get out at +the corner of a lane and the highroad. She paid the +man his fare and gave him five dollars extra, and then +she engaged him to call at that place for her at eight +o'clock that evening. She was sure the battle would +be over by that time, as it would be beginning to get +dark. The cabman was sorry to leave her there to +walk the rest of the way, but his horse was afraid of +cannon, and he did not dare to go any farther.</p> + +<p>"Almia took off her waterproof and left it in the +cab, and the cabman was a good deal astonished when +he saw her without it. He said he supposed she was +a reporter and that the little cask was full of ink; +he had driven lady reporters about before this. But +Almia told him she was a nurse, and that he must not +fail to call for her at the time appointed. Then he +drove away; and she walked rapidly along the lane, +which seemed to lead toward the battle-field. The +lane soon began to curve, and she left it and walked +across several fields. Soon she came to some outposts, +where the sentries wanted to know where she was +going. Of course the sentries behind an army are +not as strict as those in front of it, and so when she +informed them she was a nurse they told her how to +get to the field-hospital, which was a mile or more +away.</p> + +<p>"But Almia did not intend to go to any hospital. +She knew if she did she would immediately be put +under orders; and now her blood was up, and she +could stand no orders. She thought she perceived a +faint smell of powder in the air. This made her feel +wonderfully independent, and she strode onward with +a light and fearless step. But when she came to a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +bosky copse which concealed her from the sentries, +she turned away from the direction of the hospital, +and pressed onward toward the point from which came +the heaviest sound of cannon.</p> + +<p>"Now you must understand, John Gayther," remarked +the Daughter of the House, taking off her +broad hat, that the breeze might more freely blow +through the masses of her silvery-golden hair, "that +when people who are really in earnest, especially +people in fiction, go forth to find things they want, +they generally find them. And if it is highly desirable +that these things should be out of the common +they are out of the common. A great deal of what +happens in real life, and almost everything in literature, +depends on this principle. You, of course, comprehend +this, because you compose stories yourself."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said the gardener; "I comprehend it +perfectly."</p> + +<p>"I say all this on account of what is about to happen +in this story, and also because I don't want you +to make any objection in your mind on account of its +not being exactly according to present usages. Almia +was pushing steadily through the clump of bushes +when she heard, not far away, the clash of arms. +Greatly excited, she silently moved on, and peeping +out from behind some foliage, she saw in a small open +space in the woods two men engaged in single combat. +How her heart did beat! She was frightened nearly +to death. But she did not think of flight; her eyes +were glued upon the fascinating spectacle before her. +Often had she heard of two brave swordsmen fighting +each other to the bitter end, and often had she +dreamed of these noble contests; but her eyes were +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +all unfamiliar with such inspiring sights. This truly +was war.</p> + +<p>"The combatants were both moderately young men, +athletic and active, one with brown hair and the other +with black. They had thrown aside their coats and +vests, and each wore a broad leathern belt. Fiercely +and swiftly their long swords clashed. Sparks flew, +and the ring of the steel sounded far into the woods; +but there was none to hear save Almia only, and her +soul tingled with admiration and terror as the bright +blades flashed against the background of semi-gloom +which pervaded the woods. She scarcely breathed. +Her whole soul was in her eyes."</p> + +<p>"I have seen it there before," thought John Gayther, +but he said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Now there was a tremendous onset from each +swordsman, and the ground echoed beneath their rapid +footfalls as they stamped around. Then there was a +lunge and a sharp nerve-tingling scrape as one blade +ran along the other; and then, without a groan, down +fell one of these brave warriors flat upon his back +upon the grass, the wild flowers, and bits of bark. +Instantly the impulses of a woman flashed through +every vein and nerve of that onlooking girl. Scarcely +had the tall form of the soldier touched the sod when +she became a nurse. Springing out from her leafy +concealment, she knelt beside the vanquished form of +the fallen man. The other soldier, who was about to +rest himself by leaning on his sword, sprang back; it +seemed as though there had suddenly appeared before +him a being from another world."</p> + +<p>"Where they wear bicycle-skirts," thought John +Gayther.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>"Every trace of enthusiastic excitement had passed +away from Almia, who now had something in this +world to do, and who set about doing it without loss +of a second. The man was only wounded, for he +opened his eyes and said so, and drawing up his shirt-sleeve +he showed Almia that the cut was in the lower +part of his left arm. Instantly despatching the other +soldier to a neighboring spring for water, she cleansed +the wound, and, finding it was not very deep, she drew +the edges of the cut together and held them in place +with strips of adhesive plaster. When this had been +done she wrapped the arm in several folds of bandage, +and the man having risen to a sitting posture, she +gave him a small draught of brandy from her cask.</p> + +<p>"Almia now explained how she happened to appear +upon the scene, and, addressing the wounded man, she +said she hoped she could soon find some way of conveying +him to a hospital. 'Hospital!' he cried, springing +to his feet under the revivifying influence of the +brandy. 'No hospital for me! I can walk as well as +anybody. And now, sir,' he said, speaking to his +former opponent, 'am I to consider myself vanquished, +and am I to go with you as your prisoner?' The +other regarded him without answering, and for the +moment Almia, too, was lost in reflection."</p> + +<p>At this point John Gayther, who had been in wars, +began to wonder, even if soldiers in these days should +engage in single combat with long swords, how one of +them could be wounded in the left arm; but he did +not interrupt the story.</p> + +<p>"The first thing that shaped itself clearly in Almia's +mind was the fear of being left alone in these woods. +Now that she was so near the edge of the battle, there +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +was no knowing what she might meet with next. The +soldier who had conquered now spoke. 'Yes, sir,' +said he; 'you are my prisoner, and it is my duty to +take you to my regiment and deliver you to my officers. +I am sorry to do so, but such are the laws of +war.' The other soldier bowed his head, simply remarking, +'Proceed; I will follow you.'"</p> + +<p>"If I should take a prisoner," thought John Gayther, +"I should make him walk in front of me."</p> + +<p>"Then Almia stepped forward; she had made up +her mind, and she was very resolute. 'Gentlemen,' +said she, 'this cannot be. We are nearing the contending +forces; there may be stragglers; and I do not +wish to be left alone. You are both my prisoners.' +The two soldiers looked at her in utter amazement. +'Yes,' said Almia, firmly; 'I mean what I say. I am, +it is true, a nurse; but I am a bushwhacker nurse, perfectly +independent, and free to act according to the +dictates of my judgment. You are my prisoners; and +if one of you attempts to escape it will be the duty of +the other to assist in arresting his enemy. Do not +smile; I am armed.' And with this she took from her +pocket the pistol with the five barrels. The two soldiers +stopped smiling. 'Yes,' continued Almia; 'I +would not wish to do anything of the kind, but if +either of you attempts to escape I will call upon him +to halt, and if he does not do it I will fire upon his +legs while the other soldier attacks him with his +sword. You are enemies, and each one of you is bound +by his soldiery oaths to prevent the escape of the +other. I am absolutely impartial. If either of you +should be wounded I would dress his wounds and nurse +him carefully without asking to which side he belongs. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +But if either of you attempts to escape I will, as I said, +fire at his legs without asking to which side he belongs.'</p> + +<p>"The soldier with the brown hair looked at the one +with the black hair. 'If I should attempt to escape,' +said he, 'would you assist this lady in restraining me?' +'I would,' answered the other. 'Then I would do the +same by you,' said the first speaker. 'Miss, I am your +prisoner.' 'And I also,' said the black-haired soldier."</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said John Gayther, who had not cut +a pea-stick for the last fifteen minutes; "I suppose +you could not tell by their uniforms which one of them +belonged to your side—I mean the young lady could +not tell?"</p> + +<p>"Almia had no side," replied the Daughter of the +House, "and the soldiers wore no coats, for they had +thrown them aside in the heat of the combat; and she +purposely took no note whatever of their trousers. +She was determined to be absolutely impartial. 'Now, +then,' said Almia to her prisoners, 'I am going to get +just as close to the battle as I can. I am delighted to +have you with me, not only because you can remove +wounded prisoners to shady places where I can nurse +them, but because you will be a protection to me. +Should an unruly soldier appear from either army he +will always be met by an enemy and by me.'</p> + +<p>"The three now pressed on, for there was no time to +lose. The roar of the battle was increasing; reports +of musketry as well as cannon rent the air, and the +sharp whistling of rifle-balls could frequently be heard. +Reaching a wood road, they followed this for some +distance, Almia in advance, when suddenly they came +upon a man sitting on the trunk of a fallen tree. He +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +had a little blank-book in his hand, and apparently +he was making calculations in it with a lead-pencil. +At the sound of approaching footsteps he rose to his +feet, still holding the open book in his hand. He was +a moderately tall man, a little round-shouldered, and +about fifty years old. He wore a soldier's hat and +coat, but his clothes were so covered with dust it was +impossible to perceive to which army he belonged. +He had a bushy beard, and that was also very dusty. +He wore spectacles, and had a very pleasant smile, +and looked from one to the other of the new-comers +with much interest. 'I hope,' said he, speaking to +the soldiers, 'that this young woman is not your prisoner.' +'No, sir,' said Almia, before the others had +time to reply; 'they are my prisoners.' The dusty +man looked at her in amazement. 'Yes,' said the +man with the black hair; 'she speaks the truth. We +are her prisoners.'</p> + +<p>"Rapidly Almia explained the situation, and when +she had finished, the stranger nodded his head three +or four times, and put his blank-book in his pocket. +'Well, well, well,' said he, 'this is what might be expected +from the tendency of the times! There are +sixteen thousand two hundred and forty more women +than men in this State, and many of them are single +and have to do something. But a bushwhacker nurse! +Truly I never thought of anything like that!'</p> + +<p>"'And you?' asked Almia. 'I think it is right that +you should give some account of yourself. I do not +ask your name, nor do I wish to know which cause +you have espoused. But as you appear to be a soldier +I am curious to know how you happen to be sitting by +the roadside making calculations.' 'I am a soldier,' +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +answered the dusty man, 'but, under the circumstances,'—regarding +very closely the trousers of Almia's +two companions,—'I am very glad you do not +want to know to which side I belong. The facts of +the case are these: I am an Exceptional Pedestrian. +I am also a very earnest student of social aspects +considered in their relation to topography. Yesterday, +when my army halted at noon, I set out to make +some investigations in connection with my favorite +research, and when I returned, much later than I expected, +my army had gone on, and I have not yet been +able to come up to it, although I have walked a great +many miles.'</p> + +<p>"'I should say,' remarked the soldier with the black +hair, 'that you are a deserter.' 'No,' replied the Exceptional +Pedestrian, 'I did not desert my army; it +deserted me. And now I wish to say that I have become +very much interested in you all, and, if there is +no objection, I should like to join your company for +the present.' 'I have no objection myself,' said Almia, +'but what do you say?' she asked, addressing the two +soldiers. 'I am afraid, miss,' replied the man with +the brown hair, who had recognized some peculiarities +in the fashion of the stranger's dusty clothes, 'that if +he attempted to leave us I would be obliged to shoot +him as a deserter.' 'And I,' said the other, 'would be +obliged to do the same thing, because he is my enemy.' +'Under these circumstances,' said the Exceptional +Pedestrian, 'I beg to insist that I be allowed to attach +myself to your party.'</p> + +<p>"Almia felt she had reason to be proud. Here were +three military men who were in her power, and who +could not get away from her. They were like three +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +mice tied together by the tails, each pulling in a different +direction and all remaining in the place where +they had been dropped.</p> + +<p>"The party now pushed forward toward the battle's +edge. 'If glory is your object,' said the Exceptional +Pedestrian to Almia, 'it would have been better if you +had joined a regular corps of nurses. Then any meritorious +action on your part would have been noted +and reported to the authorities, and your good conduct +would have been recognized. But now you can +expect nothing of the kind.' 'I did not come for the +sake of glory,' said Almia, flushing slightly; 'I came +to succor the suffering, and to do it without trammels.'</p> + +<p>"'Trammels are often very desirable,' said he; 'they +enable us to proceed to a greater distance along the +path of duty than we would be apt to go if we could +wander as we please from side to side.'</p> + +<p>"Almia was about to reply somewhat sharply to +this remark when, suddenly, they heard a sound which +made their nerves tingle. It was the clang of sabres +and the thunder of countless hoofs. They were in a +mass of tangled underbrush, and they peeped out into +a wide roadway and beheld the approach of a regiment +of cavalry. On came this tidal wave of noble +horsemen; it reached the spot where Almia's burning +eyes glowed through the crevices of the foliage. +Wildly galloping, cavalryman after cavalryman passed +her by. The eyes of the horses flashed fire, and their +nostrils were widely distended as if they smelt the +battle from afar. Their powerful necks were curved; +their hoofs spurned the echoing earth; and their riders, +with flashing blades waved high above their heads, +shouted aloud their battle-cry, while their tall plumes +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +floated madly in the surging air. And, above the +thunder of the hoofs, and the clinking and the clanking +of the bits and chains, and the creaking of their +leathern saddles, rose high the clarion voice of their +leader, urging them on to victory or to death.</p> + +<p>"Almia had never been so excited in her life; she +could scarcely breathe. This was the grandeur of +glorious war! Oh, how willingly would she have +mounted a fleet steed and have followed those valiant +horsemen as they thundered away into the distance!"</p> + +<p>John Gayther had seen many a body of cavalry on +the march, but he had never beheld anything like +this.</p> + +<p>"After her excitement Almia felt somewhat weak; +she needed food; and when they had crossed the roadway +they stopped to rest under the shade of a spreading +oak. Unfortunately the soldiers had brought no +rations with them, and Almia had only some Albert +biscuit, which she did not wish to eat because she had +brought them to relieve the faintness of some wounded +soldier. 'If you will permit us,' said the soldier with +the black hair, 'we two will go out and forage. Each +of us will see to it that the other returns.'</p> + +<p>"While they were gone the Exceptional Pedestrian +conversed with Almia. 'During my investigations of +the social aspects of this region,' he said, 'I put many +miles between myself and the army to which I belong, +but by closely adhering to certain geological and topographical +principles I knew I should eventually find +it. In fact, when you met with me I was making +some final calculations which would not fail to show +me where I should find my comrades. There is no +better way to discover the position of an army than +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +by observing the inclination of the geological strata. +In this section, for instance, the general trend of the +beds of limestone and quartz indicates the direction of +the running streams, and these naturally flow into the +valleys and plains, and the land, being well watered, +is more fertile; consequently it was soonest cleared by +the settlers, while the higher ground surrounding it +is still encumbered by timber growth. An army naturally +desires open ground for its operations, for large +bodies of cavalry and artillery cannot deploy to advantage +through wooded districts. Therefore, if we +follow this roadway, which, as you see, slightly descends +to the northeast, we shall soon come within +sight of the opposing forces.'</p> + +<p>"'But,' said Almia, 'the roar of the battle comes +over from that way, which must be the northwest.'</p> + +<p>"'That may be,' said the Exceptional Pedestrian, +'but the principle remains.'</p> + +<p>"The two soldiers now returned, bearing two large +apple-pies resting upon two palm-leaf fans. 'These +were all we could procure,' said the brown-haired +soldier, 'and the woman would not sell her plates.' +The pies were rapidly divided into quarters, and the +hungry party began to eat. 'It is true,' said the Exceptional +Pedestrian, 'that the character of the apple +indicates the elevation above sea-level of the soil in +which it grew. The people who grew these apples +would have done much better if they had devoted +themselves to the cultivation of the huckleberry. +These they could have sold, and then have bought +much better apples grown in the plains. I also notice +that the flour of which this pastry is made was ground +from the wheat of this region, which is always largely +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +mixed with cockle. If the people would give up +growing wheat for three or four years, cockle would +probably disappear, and they would then have flour +of a much higher grade.' Almia and the two soldiers +could not help smiling when they perceived that +while the Exceptional Pedestrian was making these +criticisms he ate three quarters of a pie, which was +more than his share.</p> + +<p>"When the pies had been consumed the little party +pressed forward, but not to the northeast, for the two +soldiers insisted that the battle raged in the northwest, +and they would not go in any other direction, +although the Exceptional Pedestrian endeavored to +overwhelm them with arguments to prove that he +was right. The din of the battle, however, soon proved +that he was wrong. Penetrating an extensive thicket, +they reached its outer edge, and there gazed upon a +far-stretching battle-field.</p> + +<p>"Now this would be the place," said the Daughter +of the House, "for a fine description, not only of the +battle-field, but of the battle which was raging upon +it; and, if I ever write this story, I shall tell how one +army was posted on one side of a wide valley, while +the other army was posted on the other, and how +regiments and battalions and detachments from each +side came down into the beautiful plain and fought +and fired and struggled until the grass was stained +with blood; and how the cannon roared from the hills +and mowed down whole battalions of infantry below; +how brave soldiers fell on every side, wounded and +dead, while men with stretchers hurried to carry them +away from beneath the hoofs of the charging cavalry. +I would tell how the carnage increased every moment; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +how the yells of fury grew louder; and how the roar +of the cannon became more and more terrible.</p> + +<p>"But all I can say now is that it was a spectacle to +freeze the blood. Poor Almia could scarcely retain +consciousness as she gazed upon the awful scenes of +woe and suffering which spread out beneath her. And +she could do nothing! Her labors would be useful +only in cases of isolated woundings. If she were to +mingle in the fray she would perish in the general +slaughter; and if she were to go and offer assistance +in the hospitals she would find herself but as a drop +in the bucket, her efforts unrecognized, even if she +were not driven away as an interloper. Besides, she +did not know where the hospitals were.</p> + +<p>"As she gazed upon this scene of horror she perceived +an officer, mounted upon a noble charger and +followed by several horsemen, take a position upon a +hillock not far from the spot where she and her companions +were concealed. From this point of vantage +the officer, who was evidently a general, could perceive +the whole battle-field."</p> + +<p>"And get himself picked off by a sharp-shooter," +thought John Gayther, but he did not interrupt.</p> + +<p>"The brown-haired soldier trembled with emotion, +and whispered to Almia, 'That is my Commander-in-Chief.' +Even without this information Almia would +have known that the stalwart figure upon the pawing +steed was an officer in high command; for, after speaking +a few words to one of his companions, the latter +galloped away into the valley toward the right, and +very soon the battle raged more fiercely in that direction, +and the booming of the cannon and the cracking +of the rifles was more continuous. Then another +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +officer was sent galloping to the left, and in this direction, +too, the battle grew fiercer and the carnage increased. +Courier after courier was sent away, here +and there, until, at last, the commander remained +with but one faithful adherent. Since his arrival +upon the hillock the horrors of the bloody contest +had doubled, and Almia could scarcely endure to look +into the valley.</p> + +<p>"'Is there no way,' she said in a gasping whisper, +'of stopping this? These two armies are like hordes +of demons! Humanity should not permit it!'</p> + +<p>"'Humanity has nothing to do with it,' said the +Exceptional Pedestrian. 'A declaration of war eliminates +humanity as a social factor. Such is the usage +of nations.'</p> + +<p>"'I don't care for the usage of nations,' said Almia. +'It is vile!'</p> + +<p>"Now something very important happened in the +battle-field. The Commander-in-Chief rose in his stirrups +and peered afar. Then, suddenly turning, he +sent his only remaining follower with clattering hoofs +to carry a message. 'He is making it worse!' declared +Almia. 'Now more brave men will fall; more blood +will flow.'</p> + +<p>"'Of course,' said the Exceptional Pedestrian. 'He +gives no thought to the falling of brave men or the +flowing of blood. Upon his commands depends the +fate of the battle!'</p> + +<p>"'And without his commands?' asked Almia, +trembling in every fibre.</p> + +<p>"The Exceptional Pedestrian shrugged his shoulders +and slightly smiled. 'Without them,' he said, 'there +would soon be an end to the battle. He is the soul, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +the directing spirit, of his army. Unless he directs, +the contest cannot be carried on.'</p> + +<p>"Almia sprang to her feet, not caring whether she +was seen or not. She looked over the battle-field, +and her heart was sick within her. Not only did she +see the carnage which desecrated the beautiful plain, +but she saw, far, far away, the mothers and sisters of +those who were dead, dying, and wounded; she saw +the whiteness of their faces when their feverish eyes +should scan the list of dead and wounded; she saw +them groan and fall senseless when they read the +names of loved ones. She could bear no more.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly she turned. 'Gentlemen,' she said, 'follow me.' +And without another word she stepped out +into the open field and walked rapidly toward the +Commander-in-Chief, whose eyes were fixed so steadfastly +on the battle that he did not notice her approach. +The three soldiers gazed at her in amazement, +and then they followed her. They could not understand +her mad action, but they could not desert her.</p> + +<p>"Almia stopped at the horse's head. With her left +hand she seized his bridle, and in a clear, loud voice +she exclaimed, 'Commander-in-Chief, you are my +prisoner!' There was no trembling, no nervousness +now; body and soul, she was as hard as steel. The +general looked down upon her in petrified bewilderment. +He gazed at the three soldiers, and again +looked down at her. 'Girl!' he thundered, 'what do +you mean? Let go my horse!' As he said these +words he gave his bridle a jerk; but the noble steed +paid no attention to his master. He was not afraid +of girls. In former days he had learned to like them; +to him a girl meant sugar and savory clover-tops. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +He bent his head toward Almia, and instantly her +hand was in her pocket and she drew forth an Albert +biscuit. The horse, which had not tasted food since +morning, eagerly took it from her hand, and crunched +it in delight.</p> + +<p>"The Commander-in-Chief now became furious, and +his hand sought the hilt of his sword. If Almia had +been a man he would have cut her down. 'Girl!' he +cried, 'what do you mean? Are you insane? You +men, remove her instantly.'</p> + +<p>"Then Almia spoke up bravely, never loosening her +hold upon the bridle of the horse. 'I am not insane,' +she said. 'I am a nurse, but not a common one; I am +a bushwhacker nurse, and that means I am entirely +independent. These men are under my control. +They are from the opposing armies, and compel each +other to obey my commands. I have determined to +stop this blood and slaughter. If you do not quietly +surrender to me I will fire at one of your legs, and +call upon the soldier who is your enemy to attack +you with his sword. His duty to his country will +compel him to do so.'</p> + +<p>"The general, who was now so infuriated he could +not speak, jerked savagely at the reins; but Almia had +just given the noble animal another biscuit, and his +nose was seeking the pocket from which it came. The +horse was conquered!</p> + +<p>"At this moment a rifle-ball shrieked wildly overhead. +The enemy had perceived the little party +upon the hillock. The three soldiers, who stood a +little below, shouted to Almia to come down or she +would be killed. She instantly obeyed this warning, +but she did not release her hold upon the general's +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +bridle. She started down the hillock away from the +battle, and the horse, who willingly subjected himself +to her guidance, trotted beside her. The general did +not attempt to restrain him, for he had been startled +by the rifle-shots.</p> + +<p>"A little below the edge of the hill Almia stopped, +and, turning toward the Commander-in-Chief, she +said, 'You might as well surrender. I do not wish to +injure you, but if you compel me to do so, I must.' +And with this she drew the pistol from her pocket.</p> + +<p>"'Is that thing loaded?' exclaimed the general.</p> + +<p>"'It is,' answered Almia, 'and with five balls.'</p> + +<p>"'Please put it back in your pocket,' said the officer, +who, for the first time during the terrible battle, +showed signs of fear. 'A girl with a pistol,' said he, +'makes me shudder. Why do you stand there?' he +shouted to the three men. 'Come here and take her +away.'</p> + +<p>"But they did not obey, and the black-haired soldier +stepped forward. 'You are my enemy, sir,' he said, +'and I am bound to assist in your capture if I can. +There are two of your own men here, but only one of +them is armed.'</p> + +<p>"As he spoke these words a great shell struck the +top of the hillock and blew the earth and little stones +in every direction. Without a word the whole party +retired rapidly to an open space behind a large overhanging +rock. The general was very much disturbed. +The enemy must be getting nearer. He almost forgot +Almia.</p> + +<p>"'Look here,' he cried to the brown-haired soldier; +'creep back to the top of the hillock and tell me how +the battle goes.' With furrowed brows he waited, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +while Almia fed his horse. The brown-haired soldier +came quickly back. 'Tell me,' cried the general, +without waiting for the other to speak, 'has my cavalry +made its grand charge, and cut off the approach +of the left wing of the enemy?'</p> + +<p>"'No, sir,' replied the soldier, touching his cap; 'it +did not charge in time, and it is now all mixed up +with the artillery, which is rapidly retiring.'</p> + +<p>"'What!' cried the general, 'retiring?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, sir,' said the soldier; 'I am sorry to say that +our whole army is retreating, pell-mell, as fast as it can +go. The enemy is in active pursuit, and its left wing +is now advancing up this side of the valley. In less +than twenty minutes the retreat of our cavalry and +artillery will be cut off by the hills, and the infantry +is already scattering itself far and wide.'</p> + +<p>"'I must go!' shouted the general, drawing his sword +from its scabbard. 'I must rally my forces! I must—'</p> + +<p>"'No, general,' said the brown-haired soldier; 'that +is impossible. If you were now to attempt to approach +our army you would throw yourself into the +ranks of the enemy.'</p> + +<p>"The Commander-in-Chief dropped the bridle from +his listless hands, and bowed his head. 'Lost!' he +murmured. 'Lost! And this was the decisive battle +of the war! If I had been able to order my cavalry +to charge, the enemy's left wing would have been cut +from their main body. But for you,' he continued, +fixing his eyes upon Almia with a look of unutterable +sadness, 'I should have done it. You have caused me +to lose this battle.'</p> + +<p>"Almia drew herself up, her heart swelling with +emotion. This was the proudest moment of her life—prouder +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +by far than she had ever expected any moment +of her existence to be. 'Yes,' she said; 'that is +what I did. And if this was the decisive battle of the +war, then will follow peace; blood will cease to flow, +widows and orphans will cease to suffer, and men who +have been fighting one another like tigers without +really understanding why they sought one another's +lives will again meet as friends.'</p> + +<p>"'There is a great deal of sense in what you say,' +exclaimed the Exceptional Pedestrian. 'I admit I +am a soldier, but I do not approve of war. The statistics +of social aspects prove—'</p> + +<p>"He was interrupted by the brown-haired soldier, +who remarked: 'It would be well for us to retire, for +doubtless the enemy will soon occupy the ridge.'</p> + +<p>"The general took no notice; apparently he was +lost in thought.</p> + +<p>"'Excuse me, sir,' said the brown-haired man, 'but +you must seek a place of safety.'</p> + +<p>"The general raised his head. 'Is there a road to +the west?' he asked. 'I must take a roundabout way, +and join my army, and share its fortunes, whatever +they may be.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, sir,' said the Exceptional Pedestrian; 'if you +skirt these woods, and follow the upward trend of the +limestone- and quartz-beds, and then keep along the +crest of the mountain for about eight miles, you will +come to the village of Kirksville, where our retreating +army will no doubt halt for the night.'</p> + +<p>"The general said no more. He turned his horse, +whose bridle Almia had now released, and, casting +another look of sadness upon the erect form of the +bushwhacker nurse, he sped away.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>"I will not say anything more of the general, except +that after following for half an hour the directions +given to him by the Exceptional Pedestrian, he +rode at full speed into the ranks of the enemy, and +was obliged to surrender. No evil happened to him, +however, for the war was soon ended, and he was +released.</p> + +<p>"'Now,' said the Exceptional Pedestrian, who was +in no way a traitor, but only a person accustomed to +making mistakes, 'the day is drawing to a close, and +we must hurry away.'</p> + +<p>"No one objected, and the three soldiers accompanied +Almia back over the way she had taken when +she walked to the battle-field. A little after eight +o'clock they arrived at the main road, and there +Almia found her cab waiting for her.</p> + +<p>"'I will probably not see you again,' said the Exceptional +Pedestrian, shaking her very cordially by +the hand; 'for as the war is now practically over, and +my regiment probably scattered, I shall go West. +There are many features of our social aspects out +there which I wish to study. But before I leave you, +miss, I wish to thank you for having made yourself +so highly instrumental in bringing this terrible and +inhuman war to a close.'</p> + +<p>"'Good-by,' said Almia. 'But I think it may be +said that it was an Albert biscuit which gave us peace. +If that horse had not been used to being fed by girls, +my efforts might have come to nothing.'</p> + +<p>"When the two younger soldiers bade good-by to +Almia they did not say much, but it seemed to her +they felt a good deal. At any rate, she knew she felt +a good deal. She had known them but a little while, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +but they had come into her life in such a strange way; +for a time she had ruled their destinies, and they had +been so good to her! They had stood by her, regardless +of everything but her wishes; and then, they +were both so handsome, such gallant soldiers. She +took their hands, she gazed into their honest faces, a +few words of farewell were spoken, and then they +helped her into the cab, the door was shut, and she +drove away.</p> + +<p>"As she turned and looked out of the little window +in the back of the cab she saw one of them gazing +after her; but the dusk of the evening had come on +so rapidly she could not be certain which one of them +it was. At a turn in the road she sank into her seat. +She was tired; she was faint; and, instinctively thrusting +her hand into her pocket, she found there one +Albert biscuit which had been left. She drew it out, +but when she looked at it, it seemed to her as though +it would be a sacrilege to eat it; its companions had +done so much for humanity. But she did eat it, and +felt stronger.</p> + +<p>"For the rest of the drive she sat and wondered and +wondered which it was who had looked back, the +brown-haired soldier or the black-haired one. Then +she tried to think which she would like it to be, but +she could not make up her mind.</p> + +<p>"Before parting with the soldiers Almia had exchanged +cards with them, and they had assured her +they would let her know how fortune should treat +them. Day after day she watched and waited for the +letter-carrier; but a fortnight passed, and he brought +her nothing—at least, nothing she cared for.</p> + +<p>"At last a letter came. It was from one of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +soldiers; she knew that by the address and its general +appearance, but of course she did not know the handwriting. +She held it in her hand and gazed upon it, +and her heart beat fast as she asked herself the question, +'Which one has written first?'</p> + +<p>"Presently she opened it. It was from the brown-haired +soldier. Her face flushed and her heart said +to her, 'This is right; this is what you hoped for.' +Then she read the letter, which was long. It told of +many things; and, among others, it informed Almia +how grateful were the writer's wife and two little girls +for the kindness she had shown the husband and +father. She had dressed his wounds; she had saved +him from being made a prisoner. For the rest of +their lives they would never forget her.</p> + +<p>"The letter dropped from Almia's hand; she had +received a shock, and for a time she could not recover +from it. She sat still, looking out into the nothingness +of the distant sky. Then her face flushed again, +and her heart told her it had made a mistake. She +was well pleased that this was the one who had written +that he was married.</p> + +<p>"Hour after hour and day after day Almia became +more and more convinced that she was right. It was +the black-haired soldier on whom her thoughts were +constantly fixed. And no wonder. In the first place, +he was the better soldier of the two. She hated war; +but, if men must fight, it is glorious to conquer, and +she had seen his quick and practised blade lay low his +enemy. The thought of his power made her heart +swell. Moreover, he had stood by her in the moment +of greatest peril; he it was who had said to the Commander-in-Chief, +armed and mounted though he was, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +that he would attack him if her commands were not +obeyed. Then, too, he was a little taller than the +other, and handsomer; his chest was broad, he stood +erect.</p> + +<p>"Day after day she watched and waited, but no +letter came. At last, however, there was a ring at the +bell, and the black-haired soldier was announced. By +a supreme effort Almia controlled herself; she bade +her heart be still, and she went down to meet him. +She was dressed in white; there were flowers in her +hair and in her belt. She could not help wondering +what he would think of the difference between her +and the girl he had known as a bushwhacker nurse.</p> + +<p>"When her eyes fell upon him and their hands +met she was the one who had the right to be the more +amazed. She had thought him handsome before; he +was glorious now. Arrayed in fashionable, well-fitting +clothes, wearing only a mustache, and with his +hair properly cut, he was a vision of manly beauty. +Instantly, without any volition on her part, her heart +went out to him; she knew that it belonged to him.</p> + +<p>"For twenty minutes, perhaps a little longer, Almia +sat with the man she loved; and as she listened to him, +saying but little herself, colder and colder grew the +heart she had given him. Soon she discovered that +he looked upon her as a young lady in whom he took +an interest on account of the adventures they had +had together, but still as a chance acquaintance. He +had come to see her because he had happened to be +in the town in which she lived. When he went away +she did not ask him to come again, and it was plain +that he did not expect such an invitation. The few +remarks he made about his future plans precluded +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +the supposition that they might meet again. He was +pleasant, he was polite, he was even kind; but when +he departed he left her with a heart of stone. There +was now nothing in the world for which she cared to +live. She despised herself for such a feeling, but existence +was a blank. She had loved; perhaps, unwittingly, +she had shown her love; and now by day and +by night she moaned and mourned that the bushwhacker +nurse had ever met the two brave soldiers +with their glittering swords—that she had not passed +them by and gone out into the battle-field to be laid +low by some chance bullet."</p> + +<p>For some little time the Daughter of the House had +been speaking in a voice which grew lower and lower, +and now she stopped. There were tears in her eyes, +brought there by the story she herself was telling. +John Gayther dropped his pea-stick and leaned forward.</p> + +<p>"Now miss," said he, "I really think your story is +not quite right. You must have forgotten something—a +good many things. Think it over, and I am sure +you will agree with me that that is not the true +ending."</p> + +<p>She looked at him in surprise. "What do you +mean?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I mean this," replied the gardener. "If you will +put your mind to it, and seriously consider the whole +situation, I believe you will see, just as well as I do, +that it really turned out very differently from the +way you have just told it. That black-haired soldier +did not go away in twenty minutes. It must have +been somebody else at some other time who went +away so soon. It would have been simply impossible +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +for him to have done it. The longer he sat and looked +at Miss Almia, the more he gazed into her beautiful +eyes, the more fervently he must have thought that +if it depended upon him he would never leave her, +never, never again. And she, as she gazed into his +handsome features, thrilling with the emotion he +could not hide, must have known what was passing +in his heart. It did not even need the words he soon +spoke to make her understand she was the one thing +in the world he loved, and that, in spite of sickness +and obstacles of all sorts, he had come that day to tell +her so. And when they had sat together for hours, +and at last he was obliged to go, and they stood together, +his impassioned eyes looking down into her +orbs of heavenly blue, you know what must have +happened, miss, now, don't you, really? And isn't +this the true, true end of the story?"</p> + +<p>The eyes of the Daughter of the House were sparkling; +a little flush had come upon her cheeks, and +a smile upon her lips.</p> + +<p>"I do really believe that is the true ending, John," +said she; "but how did you ever come to know so +much about such things?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you that, miss," said the gardener; "but +sometimes I notice things I cannot see, as when I +look upon a flower bud not yet open and know exactly +what is inside of it."</p> + +<p>With the smile still on her lips and the flush still +on her cheeks, the Daughter of the House walked +away through the garden. She had determined to +make her story end sadly, but John Gayther had +known her heart better than she knew it herself.</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>JOHN GAYTHER</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>THE LADY IN THE BOX</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III">III</a><br /> +THE LADY IN THE BOX</h2> + + +<p>John Gayther was busy putting the finishing +touches to a bed in which he intended to sow his +latest planting of bush-beans, or string-beans, or snaps, +as they are called in different parts of the country. +These were very choice seeds which had been sent +to him by a friend abroad, and, consequently, John +wanted to get them into the ground as soon as possible. +But when he saw entering the garden not only the +Daughter of the House but also her mother, the +Mistress of the House, a sudden conviction shot +through him that there would be no beans planted +that morning.</p> + +<p>The elder of these two ladies was not very elderly, +and she was handsomer than her daughter. She was +pleasant to look upon and pleasant to talk to, but she +had a mind of her own; John Gayther had found that +out long before. She was very fond of flowers, and +there were many beds of them which were planted +and treated according to her directions and fancies. +These beds did not, in fact, form part of the gardener's +garden; they belonged to her, and nobody else had +anything to say about them. Many things grew there +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +which were not often found in gardens: weeds, for instance, +from foreign countries, and some from near-by +regions, which the Mistress of the House thought +might be made to grow into comely blossoms if they +were given the chance. Here she picked and planted, +and put in and pulled out, according to her own will; +and her pulling out was often done after a fashion +which would have discouraged any other gardener +but John Gayther, who had long since learned that +the Mistress of the House knew what she wanted, and +that it would be entirely useless for him to trouble +himself about her methods.</p> + +<p>The gardener was not altogether happy when he +saw these two ladies coming toward him. He felt sure +that they were coming for a story, for when the elder +lady came to the garden it was not her habit to bring +her daughter with her; and neither of them was likely, +on ordinary occasions, to walk along in a straightforward +way, loitering neither here nor there. Their +manner and their pace denoted a purpose.</p> + +<p>John Gayther had never dug into a garden-bed as +earnestly and anxiously as he now dug into his mind. +These ladies were coming for a story. The younger +one had doubtless told her mother that there had +been stories told in the garden, and now another one +was wanted, and it was more than likely that he was +expected to tell it. But he did not feel at all easy +about telling a story to the Mistress of the House. +He knew her so well, and the habits of her mind, that +he was fully assured if his fancies should blossom too +luxuriantly she would ruthlessly pull them up and +throw them on the path. Still he believed she would +like fancies, and highly colored ones; but he must be +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +very careful about them. They must be harmonious; +they must not interfere with each other; they might +be rare and wonderful, but he must not give them long +Latin names which meant nothing.</p> + +<p>One thing which troubled him was the difficulty of +using the first person when telling a story to the Mistress +of the House. He could tell his stories best in +that fashion, but he did not believe that this hearer +would be satisfied with them; she would not be likely +to give them enough belief to make them interesting. +He had a story all ready to tell to the Daughter of the +House, for he had been sure she would want one some +day soon, and this one, told in a manner which would +please him, he thought would please her; but it was +very different with her mother. He must be careful.</p> + +<p>When the two ladies came to the bed where the +beans were to be planted, the gardener found that he +had not mistaken their errand.</p> + +<p>"John," said the Mistress of the House, "I hear you +tell a very good story, and I want you to tell me one. +Let us find a shady place."</p> + +<p>There was a pretty summer-house on the upper +terrace, a shady place where the air was cool and the +view was fine; and there they went: but there was +no need of John Gayther's making any pretence of +trimming up pea-sticks this time.</p> + +<p>"I have a story," said he, his stool at a respectful +distance from the two ladies, who were seated on a +bench outside the little house.</p> + +<p>"Is it about yourself?" asked the Daughter of the +House.</p> + +<p>"No, miss, not this time," he answered.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for that," she said, "for I like to think +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +of people doing the things they tell about. But I +suppose we can't have that every time."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said her mother; "and if John has an +interesting story about anybody else, let him tell it."</p> + +<p>The gardener began promptly. "The name of this +story is 'The Lady in the Box,'" said he, "and, with +the exception of the lady, the principal personage in +it was a young man who lived in Florence toward the +end of the last century."</p> + +<p>"And how did you come to know the story?" asked +the Daughter of the House. "Has it ever been told +before?"</p> + +<p>Now there was need to assert himself, if John Gayther +did not wish to lose grace with his hearers, and +he was equal to the occasion. "It has never been +printed," said he, quietly but boldly. "It came to me +in the most straightforward way, step by step."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said the Mistress of the House; "I +like a story to come in that way."</p> + +<p>"The young man, whose name was Jaqui," continued +John Gayther, "was of good parts, but not in +very good circumstances. He was a student of medicine, +and was the assistant of a doctor, which means +that he did all the hard work, such as attending to +the shop, mixing the drugs, and even going out to see +very poor patients in bad weather. Jaqui's employer—master, +in fact—was Dr. Torquino, an elderly man +of much reputation in his town. The doctor expected +Jaqui to be his successor, and as the years went on +the younger man began to visit patients in good circumstances +who fell sick in fine weather. At last Dr. Torquino +made a bargain with Jaqui by which the +latter was to pay certain sums of money to the old +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +man's heirs, and then the stock and good-will of the +establishment were formally made over to him; and, +shortly afterwards, the old doctor died. But before +his death he told Jaqui everything that it was necessary +for him to know in regard to the property and +the business to which he had succeeded.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 416px;"> +<a name="image_p74" id="image_p74"><img src="images/image_p74.jpg" width="416" height="600" alt="" title="" /></a> +<div class="caption">The gardener began promptly.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Torquino's house was a very good one, consisting +of three floors. On the ground floor were the shop, +the private office, and the living-rooms. The old +doctor and Jaqui lodged on the third floor. The +second floor was very handsomely furnished, but was +not then occupied—at least, not in the ordinary way. +It belonged to Dr. Paltravi, the old doctor's former +partner; a somewhat younger man, and married. He +had been greatly attached to his wife, and had furnished +these rooms to suit her fancy. He was a scientific +man, and much more devoted to making curious +experiments than he was to the ordinary practice of +medicine and surgery. In a small room on this floor, +at the very back of the house, was Donna Paltravi, in +a box."</p> + +<p>"Was she dead?" exclaimed the Daughter of the +House.</p> + +<p>"It was believed by Dr. Torquino that she was not, +but he could not be sure of it."</p> + +<p>"And her husband?" asked the elder lady. "Was +he dead?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the gardener; "at least, there was no +reason to suppose so. About forty years before the +time of this story he had left Florence, and this was +the way of it: Donna Paltravi was a young and handsome +woman, but her health was not as satisfactory as +it might have been, for she had a tendency to fall into +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +swoons, and to remain in them, sometimes for many +hours, coming out of a trance as lively as before she +went into it. Now this disposition had a powerful +effect upon her husband, and he studied her very +closely, with an interest which almost devoured the +other powers of his mind. He experimented upon +her, and became so expert that he not only could bring +her out of her trances whenever he chose, but he could +keep her in them; and this he did, sometimes as long +as a week, in order to prove to himself that he could +do it."</p> + +<p>"Shame upon him!" exclaimed the Daughter of the +House.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said her mother; "let John go on."</p> + +<p>"Well," continued the gardener, "the old doctor +told Jaqui a great many things about Paltravi and +his wife, and how she came to be at that time in the +box. Paltravi had conceived a great scheme, one +which he had believed might have immense influence +on the happiness of the world. He determined that +when his wife next went into a trance he would try to +keep her so for fifty years, and then revive her, in +the midst of her youth and beauty, to enjoy the world +as she should find it."</p> + +<p>"There was nothing new about that," said the Mistress +of the House. "That is a very old story, and +the thing has been written about again and again +and again."</p> + +<p>"That is very true, madam," answered John Gayther, +"and Dr. Paltravi had heard many such stories, +but most of them were founded upon traditions and +myths and the vaguest kind of hearsay, and some +were no more than the fancies of story-tellers. But +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +the doctor wanted to work on solid and substantial +ground, and he believed that his wife's exceptional +opportunities should not be sacrificed."</p> + +<p>"Sacrificed!" exclaimed the Daughter of the House. +"I like that!"</p> + +<p>"Of course I will not attempt to explain the doctor's +motives, or try to excuse him," said the gardener. +"I can only tell what he did. He protracted one of +his wife's trances, and when it had continued for a +month he determined to keep it up for half a century, +if it could be done; and he went earnestly to work +for the purpose. The old doctor had not altogether +approved of his partner's action, but I don't believe +he disapproved very much, for he also possessed a +good deal of the spirit of scientific investigation. +When everything had been arranged, and the lady +had been placed in a large and handsome box which +had been designed with great care by her husband +and constructed under his careful supervision, she was +carried into the little room which had been her boudoir; +and there her husband watched and guarded +her for nearly a year. In all that time there was not +the slightest change in her so far as mortal eye could +see, but there came a change over her husband. He +grew uneasy and restless, and could not sleep at night; +and, at last, he told Dr. Torquino he would have to go +away; he could not stay any longer and see his beautiful +wife lying motionless before him. The desire to +revive her had become so great he found it impossible +to withstand it, and therefore, in the interest of +science and for the advantage of the world, he must +put it out of his power to interfere with the success of +his own great experiment.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>"He wrote down on parchment everything that was +necessary for the person to know who had charge of +this great treasure, and he made Dr. Torquino swear +to guard and to protect Donna Paltravi for forty-nine +years, if he should live so long, and, if he did not, that +he would deliver his charge into the hands of some +worthy and reliable person. If, at the end of the +lady's half-century of inanimation, Paltravi should +not make his appearance, on account of having died, +(for nothing else would keep him away), then the +person in charge of the lady was to animate her in the +manner which was fully and minutely described on +the parchment. Paltravi then departed, and since +that time nothing had been heard of him.</p> + +<p>"When Jaqui came into possession of Dr. Torquino's +house, he felt he owned the contents of only two floors, +and that the second floor, especially the little room +in the rear, was a great responsibility which he did +not desire at all, and of which he would have rid +himself if Dr. Torquino had not made him swear that +he would guard it sacredly for the ten years which +still remained of the intended period of inanimation.</p> + +<p>"He had seen the lady in the box, for the old doctor +had taken him into her room, and they had removed +the top of the box and had looked at her through the +great plate of glass which covered her. She was very +beautiful and richly dressed, and seemed as if she were +merely asleep. But, in spite of her beauty and the +interest which attached to her, he wished very much +somebody else had her to take care of. Such thoughts, +however, were of no use; she went with the business +and the property, and he had nothing to say about it.</p> + +<p>"Jaqui did not have a very good time after the old +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +doctor's death," continued John Gayther. "It was +not even as good as he had expected it to be. For +nearly fifteen years he had been living in that house +with Dr. Torquino, and in all that time the lady in +the box had never troubled him; but now she did +trouble him. Various legal persons came to attend +to the transfer of the property, and, although they +found everything all straight and right so far as the +old doctor's possessions were concerned, they were not +so well satisfied in regard to the contents of the second +floor, some of them thinking the government should +have something to say in regard to the property of a +man who had been away for forty years; but as Paltravi +had made Torquino his heir when he left Florence, +and Jaqui had the papers to show, this matter +was settled. But, for all that, Jaqui was troubled, and +it was about the box of the lady. It was such a peculiar-looking +box that several questions were asked +as to its contents; and when Jaqui boldly asserted that +it contained anatomical preparations, he was asked +why it happened to be in that handsome little room. +But by the help of money and his generally good +reputation Jaqui got rid of the legal people.</p> + +<p>"But after this he had to face the neighbors. These +heard of the box, and it revived memories, in the +minds of some of the elders, of strange stories about +Dr. Paltravi. His wife had died several times, according +to some of them, and she had at last been +carried to her native town in Lombardy for burial. +But nobody knew the name of that town, and there +were one or two persons who said she never had been +buried, but that her husband had preserved her skeleton, +and had had it gilded, he was so very fond of her. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +Jaqui had a good deal of trouble with these people, +who had never dared to trouble old Dr. Torquino with +their idle curiosity, for he was a man with a high +temper and would stand no meddling.</p> + +<p>"But when the neighbors had ceased to talk, at +least to him, there came a third class of troublers, +worse than either of the others. These were some +scientific people who long ago had heard of the experiment +Dr. Paltravi had been making with his wife. +Several of these wrote to Jaqui, and two of them came +to see him. These insisted on looking at the lady in +the box, and Jaqui was obliged to show her. The two +scientists were very much interested—extremely so; +but they did not in the least believe the lady was +alive. They considered the beautiful figure the most +admirable specimen of the preservation of the human +body after death that they had ever seen, and that +Paltravi was entitled to the greatest credit for the +success of his experiment. They were anxious to be +informed of the methods by which this wonderful result +had been obtained. But this, Jaqui firmly informed +them, was now his secret and his property, +and he would not divulge it. The scientists acknowledged +the justice of this position, and did not urge +their point; but each of them, when he went away, +resolved that in the course of a few years he would +come back, and if the body of the lady was still in +good preservation, he would buy it if he could. Jaqui +might be poor by that time, or dead.</p> + +<p>"Jaqui now thought his troubles were over; but he +was mistaken. A new persecutor appeared, who belonged +to a fourth class, fortunately not a very large +one. This person was a young man who was not only +a fool but a poet."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>"Unfortunate creature!" exclaimed the Mistress of +the House.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, madam," said John Gayther. "He +was very happy. It was the people with whom he +associated in this world who were unfortunate. This +young man, whose name was Florino, lived in Milan, +and it would have been much better for Jaqui if he +had lived in Patagonia. By great bad luck he had +overheard one of the scientists who had visited Jaqui +talking about what he had seen at his house, and the +poet instantly became greatly interested in the story. +He plied the learned man with all manner of questions, +and very soon made up his mind that he would +go to Florence to see the lady in the box. He believed +she would make a most admirable subject for +a poem from his pen.</p> + +<p>"When Florino presented himself to Jaqui he came +as the general of an army who settles down before a +town to invest it and capture it, if he shall live long +enough. At first Jaqui tried to turn him away in the +usual manner; but the poet was not to be turned away. +He had no feelings which could be hurt, and Jaqui +was afraid to hurt his body on account of the police. +The young man begged, he argued, he insisted, he +persisted. All he wanted was to see, just once, the +face of the beautiful lady who had been so wonderfully +preserved. He visited the unfortunate Jaqui +by day and by night; and at last, when Florino solemnly +promised that if he should be given one opportunity +of seeing the lady he would go away and +never trouble Dr. Jaqui any more, the latter concluded +that to agree to this proposition would be the +best way to get rid of the youth, and so consented to +allow him to gaze upon the face which forty years +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +before had been animated by the soul of Donna Paltravi.</p> + +<p>"When the upper part of the lid of the box had +been removed and the face of the lady appeared under +the plate of glass, the soul of the young poet who +tremblingly bent over it was filled with rapturous +delight. Never in his life had he seen anything so +beautiful, and, more than this, he declared he had +never dreamed of features so lovely. For a time it +interested Jaqui to listen to the rhapsodies and observe +the exaltation of the fool-poet, but he soon had +enough of this amorous insanity, and prepared to close +the box. Then Florino burst into wild entreaties—only +ten minutes more, five minutes, three minutes, anything! +So it went on until the poet had been feasting +his eyes on the lady for nearly half an hour. Then +Jaqui forcibly put him out of the room, closed the +box, and locked the door.</p> + +<p>"Florino had no more idea of keeping his word +than he had of becoming a blacksmith. He persecuted +Jaqui more than he had before, and when his solicitations +to see the lady again were refused he went so far +as to attempt to climb up to her window. Of course +Jaqui could have called in the aid of the police, but +it would have made it very unpleasant for him to +bring the whole affair into court, and Florino knew +this as well as he did. After a short time the poet +tried a new line of tactics, and endeavored to persuade +Jaqui that it was his duty to revive the lady; when +this idea once got well into the head of the young man +he became a worse lunatic than before. Jaqui attempted +to reason with him; but Florino would listen +to nothing he had to say, and went on being a fool, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +and a poet, and a lover, at the same time; and Jaqui +began to be afraid that some day he would get into +the room by foul means, break open the box, seize +upon the sealed parchment which lay under the lid, +and try to revive the lady himself.</p> + +<p>"It is quite possible this might have happened had +not something very unexpected occurred. Dr. Paltravi +came back to his old home. Jaqui recognized +him immediately from the description which Torquino +had given of him. He was now nearly seventy years +old, but he was in good health and vigor; his tall form +was still upright, and the dark eyes, which the old +doctor had particularly described, were as bright and +as piercing as ever they had been.</p> + +<p>"He told Jaqui he had hoped to postpone the revival +of his wife until the expiration of the fifty years, +but that of late his resolution had been weakening. +It had become very hard for him to think he must +wait ten years more before he came back to his home +and his wife. Science was a great thing, but the love +of a man for a woman such as he loved was still +greater; and when he heard of the death of Dr. Torquino +he had instantly made up his mind he would not +leave his wife in the custody of any one but his old +friend and partner. So here he was, fully resolved to +lose no time in reviving his wife and in spending his +life here with her in their old home so long as they +might survive.</p> + +<p>"Jaqui was now a happy man. Here was the +owner of the lady, ready to take her off his hands +and relieve him of all the perplexing responsibility +and misery which her possession had caused +him. As he looked at the stalwart figure of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +returned husband it made him laugh to think of the +fool-poet.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Paltravi and Jaqui were both practical men, +and that evening they laid out the whole plan for the +revivification of the lady in the box. Jaqui was so +glad to be rid of her that he willingly undertook to +do anything to assist Paltravi in starting out on his +new career of domestic happiness.</p> + +<p>"It was agreed that it was most important that +when she woke again to life Donna Paltravi should +not be too much surprised, and her husband did everything +he could to prevent anything of the kind. He +had her old bedroom swept and garnished and made +to look as much as possible as it had been when she +last saw it. Then he went out into the town, and was +fortunate enough to engage as maid a young girl who +was the daughter of the woman who had been his +wife's maid forty years before. Then it was decided +that this girl, having been well instructed as to what +was expected of her, should be the first to see the +lady when she should revive; and that after that, +when it should be deemed a suitable moment, Jaqui +should have an interview with her in the capacity of +physician, and explain the state of affairs so that she +should not be too greatly excited and shocked by the +change in the appearance of her husband. Then, +when everything had been made plain, Paltravi was +to go to her."</p> + +<p>"Those two were a couple of brave men," remarked +the Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p>"They were very fortunate men, I think," said her +daughter. "What would I not give to be the first to +talk to a woman who had slept for forty years!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>"Perhaps she is going to sleep indefinitely," answered +the Mistress of the House. "But we will let +John go on with his story."</p> + +<p>"All these plans were carried out," continued John +Gayther. "The next day the lady was taken out of +the box, removed to her own chamber, and placed +upon a couch. The garments she wore were just as +fresh and well preserved as she was, and as Dr. Paltravi +stood and looked at her, his heart swelling with +emotion, he could see no reason why she should not +imagine she had fallen asleep forty minutes before +instead of forty years. The two doctors went to +work, speaking seldom and in whispers, their faces +pale and their hearts scarcely beating, so intense +was their anxiety regarding the result of this +great experiment. Jaqui was almost as much +affected as Dr. Paltravi, and, in fact, his fears were +greater, for he was not supported by the faith of +the other. He could not help thinking of what +would follow if everything did not turn out all +right.</p> + +<p>"But there was no need of anxiety. In a little while +respiration was established; the heart began to beat +gently; the blood slowly circulated; there was a little +quiver about the lips—Donna Paltravi was alive! +Her husband, on his knees beside her, lifted his eyes +to heaven, and then, his head falling forward, he sank +upon the floor."</p> + +<p>"Oh," ejaculated the Daughter of the House, "I +hope he did not die. That would have been good +tragedy, but how dreadful!"</p> + +<p>"No," answered the gardener, "he did not die; and +Jaqui, his excitement giving him the strength of a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +giant, took the insensible man in his arms and carried +him out of the room."</p> + +<p>The Mistress of the House gave a little sigh of relief. +"I am so glad he did," said she; "I was actually beginning +to be afraid. I really do not want to be +present when she first sees him."</p> + +<p>John Gayther perfectly understood this remark, +and took it to heart. It implied a little lack of faith +in his dramatic powers, but it made things a great +deal easier for him.</p> + +<p>"Without reëntering the room," continued he, +"Jaqui partly closed the door, and gazed at the lady +through a little crack."</p> + +<p>"I do not know about that," said the Mistress of +the House; "he should have gone in boldly."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said John Gayther, "but I think not. +This was a very important moment. Nobody knew +what would happen. She must not be shocked by +seeing a stranger. At the same time, the eye of a +professional man was absolutely necessary. Donna +Paltravi slightly moved and sighed; then she opened +her eyes and gazed for a few minutes at the ceiling; +after which she turned her head upon the cushion of +the couch, and in a clear, soft voice called out, 'Rita!' +This was the name of the girl now in waiting, as it had +been the name of her mother, and she instantly appeared +from the adjoining room. She had seen all +that had happened, and was trembling so much she +could scarcely stand; but she was a girl of nerve, and +approached and stood by her mistress. 'Rita,' said +the lady, without looking at her, 'I am hungry; bring +me some wine and a few of those cakes you bought +yesterday.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>"Dr. Paltravi had remembered everything that had +pleased his wife; he had thought of the little cakes, +and had scoured the town early in the morning to get +some which resembled them; he knew her favorite +wine, and had given Rita her instructions. Without +delay the maid brought the refreshments, and in a +few minutes the lady was sitting on the couch, a glass +of wine in her hand. 'Rita,' said she, after eating +and drinking a little, 'you are dressed very awkwardly +this morning. Have you been trying to make your +own clothes?'</p> + +<p>"The doctor had searched diligently in his wife's +closets for some garments belonging to her former +maid, and he had thought he had succeeded in getting +Rita to dress as her mother had dressed; but he did +not remember these things as accurately as his wife +remembered them. 'You know I do not like carelessness +in dress,' continued Donna Paltravi, 'and now +that I look at you more closely—'</p> + +<p>"'She is truly alive,' said Jaqui, 'and in full possession +of her senses.' And with this he closed the door.</p> + +<p>"When the doctor recovered, both he and Jaqui +were very glad to take some wine, for they had been +under a dreadful strain."</p> + +<p>"<em>Had been!</em>" exclaimed the Mistress of the House, +who understood the heart of woman, and knew very +well that the great strain had not yet come. "But +what happened next, John?"</p> + +<p>"The next thing happened too soon," replied the +gardener. "In less than fifteen minutes the maid +came to the two doctors and told them her lady demanded +to see her husband; and if he were not in the +house he must be sent for immediately. This greatly +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +disturbed Jaqui, and he turned pale again. If he +could have had his own way at that moment he would +have put the lady back in her box and locked the +door of the little room. He did not feel ready to tell +the story he had to tell; but there was no help for it: +he must do it, and that immediately. 'Go in, Jaqui,' +said Dr. Paltravi; 'prepare her mind as well as you +can, and then I will see her.'</p> + +<p>"'Hurry, please, sir,' said the maid; 'she is very +impatient, and I cannot explain to her.'</p> + +<p>"Thus reassured, Jaqui followed the maid."</p> + +<p>"The quick temper of Donna Paltravi reminds me +of Edmond About's story of 'The Man with the Broken +Ear,'" said the Mistress of the House. "The hero of +that story was a soldier who had been preserved in a +dried condition for many years, and who proved to +be a very bad subject when he had been dampened +and revived."</p> + +<p>"I have read that novel," said John Gayther, +considerably to the surprise of both his hearers, "and +it belongs to the same class as mine,—of course you +know all stories are arranged in classes,—but the one I +am telling you is much more natural and true to life +than the one written by the Frenchman."</p> + +<p>"I am quite ready to believe that," said the Mistress +of the House. "Now please go on."</p> + +<p>The Daughter of the House did not say anything, +but she looked very earnestly at the gardener; the +conviction was forcing itself upon her that John Gayther +himself had a story, and she hoped that some day +she might hear it.</p> + +<p>"Jaqui was very much surprised when he saw Donna +Paltravi. He had seen her face so often that he was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +perfectly familiar with it, but now he found it had +changed. In color it was not as lifelike as it had been +in the box. She was pale, and somewhat excited. +'My maid tells me you are a doctor, sir,' said she. +'But why do you come to me? If I need a doctor, +and my husband is away, why is not Dr. Torquino +here?'</p> + +<p>"'Madam,' said Jaqui, his voice faltering a little, +'you will excuse the intrusion of a stranger when I +tell you that Dr. Torquino is dead.'"</p> + +<p>"Rather abrupt," said the Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p>"He could not help it, madam," said John Gayther; +"it popped out of his head. But it did not matter; +Donna Paltravi had a quick perception. 'Oh,' she +exclaimed, 'and I not know it!' Then she stopped +and looked steadfastly at Jaqui. 'I see,' she said +slowly; 'I have been in one of my trances.' Then she +grew still paler. 'But my husband, he is not dead? +Tell me he is not dead!' she cried.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' exclaimed Jaqui; 'he is alive and well, +and will be with you very soon.' Donna Paltravi's face +lighted with an expression of great happiness; her color +returned; and she looked almost as handsome as when +she had been lying in the box. 'Blessed be the holy +Mary!' said she. 'If he is well it does not matter +what has happened. How long have I been in a +trance?'</p> + +<p>"'I cannot say exactly,' replied Jaqui, very much +afraid to speak the truth; 'in fact, I was not here +when you went into it: but—'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, never mind, never mind!' she exclaimed. +'My husband will tell me everything. I would much +rather he should do so. But what ugly-fashioned +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +clothes you are wearing, sir! Does everybody dress +in that way now, or is it only doctors? I am sure I +must have been asleep for a good while, and that I +shall see some wonderful things. It is quite delightful +to think of it. I can scarcely wait until my husband +comes. I want him to tell me everything.'</p> + +<p>"When the greatly relieved Jaqui returned with +this news he threw Dr. Paltravi into a state of rapture. +His wife knew what had happened; she had +not been shocked; she understood; and, above +everything else, she longed to see him! After all +these forty years he was now—this minute—to be +with her again! She was longing to see him! With +all the vigor of youth he bounded up the stairs.</p> + +<p>"Now," said John Gayther, "we will pass over an +interval of time."</p> + +<p>"I think that will be very well indeed!" the Mistress +of the House said approvingly.</p> + +<p>"Not a long one, I hope," said her daughter, "for +this is a breathless point in the story. I have worked +it out in my own mind in three different ways already."</p> + +<p>The gardener smiled with pleasure. He had a high +regard for the mind of the Daughter of the House.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "the interval is very short; it is +really not more than twenty minutes. At the end of +that brief space of time Jaqui was surprised to see Dr. Paltravi +reënter the room he had so recently left in +all the wild excitement of an expectant lover. But +what a changed man he was! Pale, haggard, wild-eyed, +aged, he sank into a chair and covered his face +with his hands."</p> + +<p>"I was afraid of that! I was afraid of that!" exclaimed +the Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>"And I, too," said her daughter, with tears in her +eyes; "that was one of the ways in which I worked +it out. But it is too dreadful. John Gayther, don't +you think you have made a mistake? If you were +to consider it all carefully don't you really believe it +could not be that, at least not quite that?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," said the gardener, "but I am sure +this story could not have happened in any other way, +and I think if you will wait until it is finished you +will agree with me.</p> + +<p>"For a few minutes the distressed husband could +not speak, and then in faltering tones he told Jaqui +what had happened. His wife had been so shocked +and horrified at his appearance that she had come +near fainting. What made it worse was that it was +evident she did not regard him as some strange old +man. She had recognized him instantly. His form, +his features, his carriage were perfectly familiar to +her. She had known them all in her young dark-haired +husband of forty years before; and here was +that same husband gray-headed, gray-bearded, and +repulsively old! She had turned away her head; +she would not look at him. As soon as she could +speak she had demanded to know how long she had +been in her trance, and when the matter was explained +her anger was unbounded.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Paltravi never told Jaqui all that she said, but +she must have used very severe language. She declared +he had used her shamefully and wickedly in +keeping her asleep for so long, and then wakening +her to be the wife of a miserable old man just ready +to totter into the grave. But she would not be his +wife. She vowed she would have nothing to do with +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +him. He had deserted her; he had treated her +cruelly; and the holy father, the Pope, would look +upon it in that light, and would separate her from +him. With bitter reproaches she had told him to go +away, and never to let her see him again."</p> + +<p>"She ought to have been ashamed of herself," said +the Daughter of the House. "I have no sympathy +with her. Instead of upbraiding him she ought to +have been grateful to him for the wonderful opportunities +he had given her."</p> + +<p>"But, John," said the Mistress of the House, "I do +not believe the Pope could have separated them. +The Roman Catholic Church does not sanction divorce."</p> + +<p>"Not as a rule, madam," replied the gardener; "but +I will touch on this point again. There was a good +deal to be said on her side, it is true; but I am not +going to take sides with any of the persons in my story. +She had driven away the poor doctor, and declared +she would have nothing to do with him; and so the +unhappy man told Jaqui he was going back to Milan, +where he had been living, and would trouble his wife +no more. Then up jumped Jaqui in a terrible state +of mind. Was he never to get rid of this lady? He +declared to Paltravi he could not accept the responsibility. +When she had been in the box it had been +bad enough, but now it was impossible. He would go +away to some place unknown. He would depart +utterly and leave everything behind him.</p> + +<p>"But on his knees Dr. Paltravi implored Jaqui to +stay where he was, and to protect his wife for a time +at least. He would send money, he would do everything +he could, and perhaps, after a time, some arrangement +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +could be made; but now he must go. He +had been ordered to leave, and he must do so. It had +not been two days since Paltravi and Jaqui had met, +but already it seemed to them that they were old +friends. Strange circumstances had bound them +together, and Jaqui now found he could not refuse +the charge which was thrust upon him; and Dr. Paltravi +departed.</p> + +<p>"Donna Paltravi did not allow her anger to deprive +her of her opportunities. There were so many +new things she wanted to see that she set about seeing +them with great earnestness and industry, and she +enjoyed her new world very much indeed. The news +of her revivification spread abroad rapidly, for such +a thing could not be concealed; and many people +came to see her. She was beautiful and popular, and +adopted new fashions as soon as she learned them. +Jaqui had nothing to say to all this; he had no right +now to keep people from seeing her.</p> + +<p>"Very soon there came to her the fool-poet. Now +Jaqui began to hope. He had been assured by his +priest that, under the circumstances, the church would +dissolve this young lady's marriage with Paltravi, and +if Florino would marry her Jaqui might look forward +to a peaceful life. Now whether the priest had a +right to say this I will not take it on myself to say; +but he did say it: and so Jaqui did not feel called +upon to interfere with the courtship of the fool-poet. +He decided that as soon as possible he would go away +from that house. He had a dislike for houses with +three floors, and his next habitation should be carefully +selected; if so much as a preserved bug or a +butterfly in a box should be found on the premises, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +that symbol of evil should be burned and its ashes +scattered afar.</p> + +<p>"Jaqui had every reason to hope. Florino literally +threw himself at the feet of the fair Donna Paltravi; +and she was delighted with him. He was somewhat +younger than she was, but that had been the case with +her first lover, and she had not objected. The two +young people got on famously together, although +there was now a duenna as well as a maid on the second +floor. Jaqui was greatly comforted. He spent a +good deal of his spare time going about Florence +looking for a desirable house with two floors. The +courtship went on merrily, and there was talk of the +wedding; and, while Jaqui could not help pitying the +poor old man in Milan, he could not altogether blame +the gay young woman in Florence, who was now generally +looked upon as a lady who had lost her husband.</p> + +<p>"It was nearly three weeks after the lady had come +out of her box when a strange thing happened: four +days elapsed without Florino coming to the house! +Jaqui was greatly disturbed and nervous. Suppose +the young man had found some other lady to love, or +suppose his parents had shut him up! Such suspicions +were very disquieting, and Jaqui went to see +Florino. He found the fool-poet in a fit of the doleful +dumps. At first the young man refused to talk: but, +when Jaqui pressed him, he admitted that he had not +quarrelled with the lady; that she did not know why +he was staying away; that he had received several +notes from her, and that he had not answered them. +Then Jaqui grew very angry and half drew his sword. +This was a matter in which he was concerned. The +lady's husband had placed her in his charge, and he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +would not stand tamely by and see her deserted by +her lover, who had given everybody reason to believe +that he intended to make her his own.</p> + +<p>"But Jaqui put back his sword, for the fool-poet +showed no signs of fight, and then he used argument. +Just as earnestly as he had formerly tried to keep +these two apart did he now endeavor to bring them +together. But Florino would listen to no reason, and +at last, when driven to bay, he declared he would not +marry an old woman—that Donna Paltravi had dozens +of gray hairs on each temple, and there were several +wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. He was a young +man, and wanted a young woman for his wife.</p> + +<p>"Jaqui was utterly astounded by what he heard. +His mind was suddenly permeated by a conviction +which rendered him speechless. He rose, and without +another word he hurried home. As soon as he could +he made a visit to Donna Paltravi. He had not seen +her for a week or more, and the moment his eyes fell +upon her he saw that Florino was right. She was +growing old! He spent some time with her, but as +she did not allude to any change in herself, of course +he did not; but just as he was leaving he made a casual +remark about Florino. 'Oh, he has not been here for +some time,' said the lady. 'I missed him at first, but +now I am glad he does not come. He is very frivolous, +and I have a small opinion of his poetry. I think +most of it is copied, and he shows poor judgment in +his selections.'</p> + +<p>"That evening, sitting in his private room, Jaqui +thought he saw through everything. Up-stairs on the +second floor was a lady who was actually seventy-one +years old! Her natural development had been arrested +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +by artificial influences, but as these influences +had ceased to operate, there could be no reason to +doubt that nature was resuming her authority over +the lady, and that she was doing her best to make up +for lost time. Donna Paltravi appeared now to be +about forty-five years old."</p> + +<p>"This is getting to be very curious, John," said the +Mistress of the House. "I have often heard of bodies +which, on being exhumed, after they have been buried +a long time, presented a perfectly natural appearance, +but which crumbled into dust when exposed to the +air and the light. Would not this lady's apparent +youth have crumbled into dust all at once when it +was exposed to light and air?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot say, madam," said the gardener, respectfully, +"what might have happened in other cases, but +in this instance the life of youth remained for a good +while, and when it did begin to depart the change +was gradual."</p> + +<p>"You forget, mamma," said the younger lady, "that +this is real life, and that it is a story with one thing +coming after another, like steps."</p> + +<p>"I did forget," said the other, "and I beg your pardon, +John."</p> + +<p>The gardener bowed his head a little, and went on: +"Jaqui was greatly interested in this new development. +He made frequent visits to Donna Paltravi, +and found, to his surprise, that she was not the vain +and frivolous woman he had supposed her to be, but +was, in reality, very sensible and intelligent. She +talked very well about many things, and even took an +interest in science. Jaqui lost all desire to put her +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +back in her box, and spent the greater part of his +leisure time in her company."</p> + +<p>At this the Mistress of the House smiled, but her +daughter frowned.</p> + +<p>"Of course," continued the gardener, "he soon fell +in love with her."</p> + +<p>"Which was natural enough," said the Mistress of +the House.</p> + +<p>"Whether it was natural enough or not," cried her +daughter, "it was not right."</p> + +<p>John Gayther looked upon her with pride. He +knew that in her fair young mind that which ought +to be rose high above thoughts of what was likely to +be, which came into the more experienced mind of +her mother.</p> + +<p>"But you see, miss," said John Gayther, "Jaqui was +human. Here was a lady very near his own age, still +beautiful, very intelligent, living in the same house +with him, glad to see him whenever he chose to visit +her. It was all as clear as daylight, and it was not +long before he was in such a state of mind that he +would have fallen upon Florino with a drawn sword +if the fool-poet had dared to renew his addresses to +Donna Paltravi."</p> + +<p>"I must say," remarked the Mistress of the House, +"that although his action was natural enough, he was +in great danger of becoming a prose-fool."</p> + +<p>"You are right, madam," said the gardener, "and +Jaqui had some ideas of that kind himself. But it +was of no use. She was an uncommonly attractive +lady now that her mind came to the aid of her body. +He knew that nature was still working hard to make +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +this blooming middle-aged lady look like the old +woman she really was. But love is a powerful antidote +to reason, and this was the first time Jaqui had +ever been in love. When he thought of it at all, he +persuaded himself that it did not matter how old this +lady might come to be; he would love her all the +same. In fact, he was sure that if she were to turn +young again and become frivolous and beautiful, his +love would not change. It was getting stronger and +stronger every time he saw her."</p> + +<p>"What I am thinking about," exclaimed the Daughter +of the House, "is that poor old gentleman in Milan. +No matter what the others were doing, or what they +were thinking, they were treating him shamefully, +and Jaqui was not his friend at all."</p> + +<p>"You may be right," said her mother; "but, don't +you see, this is real life. You must not forget that, +my dear."</p> + +<p>John Gayther smiled and went on, and the young +lady listened, although she did not approve. "Jaqui +was a handsome man, and could make himself very +agreeable; and it is not surprising that Donna Paltravi +became very much attached to him. He could not +fail to see this, and as he was a man of method, he +declared to himself one day that upon the next day, +at the first moment he could find the lady alone, he +would propose marriage to her. He had ceased to +think about increase in age and all that. He was +perfectly satisfied with her as she was, and he troubled +his mind about nothing else.</p> + +<p>"But early the next day, before he had a chance to +carry out his plans, he received a letter from Dr. Paltravi +urging him to come immediately to Milan. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +The poor gentleman was sick in his bed, and greatly +longed to see his friend Jaqui. The letter concluded +with the earnest request that Jaqui should not tell +Donna Paltravi where he was going, or that he had +heard from the unfortunate writer. Jaqui set off at +once, for fear he should not find his friend alive, and +on the way his emotions were extremely conflicting."</p> + +<p>"And very wicked, I have no doubt," said the +Daughter of the House. "He hoped that old man +would die."</p> + +<p>"There is some truth in what you say, miss," answered +John Gayther, with a proud glance at the Mistress +of the House, who was not ashamed to return it, +"for Jaqui could not help thinking that if old Dr. Paltravi, +who could not expect any further happiness +in this life, and who must die before very long anyhow, +owing to his age and misfortunes, should choose +to leave the world at this time, it would not only be +a good thing for him, but it would make matters a +great deal easier for some people he would leave behind +him. In real life you cannot help such thoughts +as this, miss, unless you are very, very good, far above +the average.</p> + +<p>"Jaqui found the old doctor very sick indeed, and +he immediately set about doing everything he could +to make him feel better; but Dr. Paltravi did not care +anything about medical treatment. It was not for +that he had sent for Jaqui. What he desired was to +make arrangements for the future of Donna Paltravi, +and he wanted Jaqui to carry out his wishes. In the +first place, he asked him to take charge of the lady's +fortune and administer it to her advantage; and secondly, +he desired that he would marry her. 'If I die +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +knowing that the dear woman who was once my wife +is to marry you,' said the sick man, 'and thus be protected +and cared for, I shall leave this world grateful +and happy. I can never do anything for her myself; +but if you will take my place, my friend,—and I am +sure Donna Paltravi will easily learn to like you,—that +will be the next best thing. Now will you promise +me?' Jaqui knelt by the side of the bed, took his +friend's hand, and promised. There were tears in his +eyes, but whether they were tears of joy or of sorrow +it is not for me to say."</p> + +<p>"It is for me, though," said the Daughter of the +House, very severely. "I know that man thoroughly."</p> + +<p>The gardener went on with his story: "Jaqui remained +several days with Dr. Paltravi, but he could +not do his poor friend any good. The sick man was +nervous and anxious; he was afraid that some one else +might get ahead of Jaqui and marry Donna Paltravi; +and he urged his friend not to stay with him, where +he could be of no service, but to go back to Florence +and prepare to marry Donna Paltravi when she should +become a widow. As Jaqui was also getting nervous, +being possessed of the same fears, he at last consented +to carry out the old doctor's wishes,—and his own at +the same time,—and he returned to Florence.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime Donna Paltravi had been somewhat +anxious about Jaqui. She had conceived a high +regard for him, and she could think of no satisfactory +reason why he should go away without saying anything +to her, and stay away without writing. She +hoped nothing had occurred which would interfere +with the very agreeable sentiments which appeared +to be springing up between them. This disturbed +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +state of mind was very bad for a lady in the physical +condition of Donna Paltravi. If I may use the simile +of a clock in connection with her apparent age, I +should say that worrying conjecture, had caused some +cogs to slip, and that the clock of her age had struck +a good many years since Jaqui's absence.</p> + +<p>"When he met her she greeted him warmly, plainly +delighted to see him; but for a moment he was startled. +This lady was really very much older than when he +had left her; her hair was nearly gray."</p> + +<p>"Served him right!" said the Daughter of the +House.</p> + +<p>"But when he began to talk to her," continued +John Gayther, "his former feelings for her returned. +She was charming, and he forgot about her hair. +Her conversation greatly interested him; and now +that his conscience came to the assistance of his affection +(for he was doing exactly what Dr. Paltravi desired +him to do), he was quite happy and spent a +pleasant evening. But in the morning, as he looked +at himself in the mirror, he remembered her gray +hair."</p> + +<p>At the word "conscience" an indication of a sneer +had appeared on the face of the young lady, but she +did not interrupt.</p> + +<p>"It was about a week after this that Donna Paltravi +sat alone in the little room on the second floor, +and Dr. Jaqui sat alone in the little room on the first +floor. She was waiting for him to come to her, and +he was not intending to go. He believed, with reason, +that she was expecting him to propose marriage to +her, and he did not intend to offer himself. He was +very willing to marry a middle-aged lady, but he did +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +not wish to espouse an old one—at least, an old one +who looked her age; and that Donna Paltravi was +going to look her full age in a very short time Jaqui +had now no doubt whatever. Her face was beginning +to show a great many wrinkles, and her hair was not +only gray but white in some places. But these +changes did not in the least interfere with her good +looks, for in some ways she was growing more handsome +and stately than she had been before; but our +good friend Jaqui—"</p> + +<p>"Not my good friend Jaqui, please," interrupted +the Daughter of the House.</p> + +<p>"Said to himself," continued John Gayther, "that +he did not want a mother, but a wife. A few weeks +before he would have supposed such a thing impossible, +but now a certain sympathy for Florino rose in +his heart. So he did not go up-stairs that evening, +and the lady was very much disturbed and did not +sleep well.</p> + +<p>"In a few days Jaqui got ready to go away again, +and this time he went to bid the lady good-by. She +had heard he was about to take a journey, and as he +greeted her he saw she had been weeping but was +quite composed now. 'Farewell, my friend,' said she. +'I know what is happening to me, and I know what +is happening to you. It will be well for you to stay +away for a time, and when you return you will see +that we are to be very good friends, greatly interested +in the progress of science and civilization.' Then she +smiled and shook hands with him.</p> + +<p>"Jaqui went to Rome and to Naples, wandering +about in an objectless sort of way. He dreaded to go +to Milan, because he had not heard that Dr. Paltravi +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +was dead, and it would have been very hard for him +to have to explain to the sick man why he had decided +not to carry out his wishes. Apart from the +disappointment he would feel when he heard that +Donna Paltravi was not to have the kind guardianship +he had planned for her, the old doctor would be +grieved to the soul when he heard his wife had lost +the youth he had taken from her, but which he had +expected to return in full measure. What made it +worse for Jaqui was that he could administer no comfort +with the news. He could not sacrifice himself to +please the old man; promise or no promise, this was +impossible. He had not consented to marry an old +lady. Again, from the very bottom of his heart, did +Jaqui wish there never had been a lady in a box.</p> + +<p>"At last, when he could put it off no longer, he +went to Milan; and there he found Dr. Paltravi still +alive, but very low and very much troubled because +he had not heard from Jaqui. The latter soon perceived +it would be utterly useless to try to deceive +or in any way to mislead the old man, who, although +in sad bodily condition, still preserved his acuteness +of mind. Jaqui had to tell him everything, and he +began with Florino and ended with himself, not omitting +to tell how the lady had recognized the situation, +and what she had said. Then, fearing the consequences +of this revelation, he put his hand into his +leathern bag to take out a bottle of cordial. But Dr. Paltravi +waved away medicine, and sat up in bed.</p> + +<p>"'Did you say,' he cried, 'she is growing old, and +that you believe she will continue to do so until she +appears to be the lady of threescore and ten she +really is?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>"'Yes,' said Jaqui; 'that is what I said, and that is +what I believe.'</p> + +<p>"'Then, by all the holy angels,' cried Dr. Paltravi, +jumping out of bed, 'she shall be my wife, and nobody +else need concern himself about her.'"</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried the Daughter of the House, involuntarily +springing to her feet. "I was so afraid +you would not come to that."</p> + +<p>"I was bound to come to that, miss," said John +Gayther.</p> + +<p>"And did they really marry again?" asked the +Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p>"No," was the reply; "they did not. There was no +need of it. The priests assured them most emphatically +that there was not the slightest need of it. And +so they came together again after this long interval, +which had been forty years to him, but which she had +lived in forty days. If they had been together all +the time they could not have loved each other more +than they did now. To her eyes, so suddenly matured, +there appeared a handsome, stately old gentleman +seventy years of age; to his eyes, from which +the visions of youth had been so suddenly removed, +there appeared a beautiful, stately old lady seventy-one +years of age. It was just as natural as if one of +them had slept all day while the other had remained +awake; it was all the same to them both in the +evening.</p> + +<p>"She soon ceased to think how cruelly she had sent +him away from her, for she had been so young when +she did it. And he now gave no thought to what she +had done, remembering how young she was when she +did it. They were as happy as though she had had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +all the past that rightfully belonged to her, for he had +had enough for both of them."</p> + +<p>"And Jaqui?" asked the Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jaqui was the happiest of the three of them, +happy himself, and happy in their happiness. Never +again did he wish the lady in her box. He looked no +further for a smaller house which should contain but +two floors; he was as glad to stay where he was as +they were to have him. They were three very happy +people, all of them greatly interested in the progress +of scientific investigation."</p> + +<p>"And not one of them deserved to be happy," said +the Daughter of the House.</p> + +<p>"But you must remember, miss, this is a story about +realities," said the gardener.</p> + +<p>She sighed a little sigh; she knew that where realities +are concerned this sort of thing generally happens.</p> + +<p>"That is a very good story, John," said the Mistress +of the House, rising from her seat; "but it seems to +me that while you were talking you sometimes thought +of yourself as Jaqui."</p> + +<p>"There is something in that, madam," answered +the gardener; "it may have been that during the +story I sometimes did think that I myself might have +been Jaqui."</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said the Daughter of the House, as the +two walked out of the garden, "don't you think that +John Gayther is very intelligent?"</p> + +<p>"I have always thought him remarkably intelligent," +her mother replied. "I have noticed that gardeners +generally are a thoughtful, intelligent race of +men."</p> + +<p>"I don't think it is so much the garden as because +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +he has travelled so much," said the young lady, "and +I have a strange feeling that he has a story of his own +in the past. I wonder if he will ever tell it to me."</p> + +<p>"If he has such a story," said the elder lady, "he +will never tell it to you."</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>THE MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>THE COT AND THE RILL</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV">IV</a><br /> +THE COT AND THE RILL</h2> + + +<p>A week or so later the Daughter of the House came +skipping down one of the broad paths. John +Gayther stood still and looked at her, glad to see her +coming, as he always was, no matter on what errand +she came.</p> + +<p>"John," she cried, before she reached him, "you are +to stop work!" Then, as she came up to him, she +continued: "Yes; there is to be story-telling this +morning. We have told papa about it, and he is +coming to what he calls the story-telling place with +us, and mamma feels inspired to tell the story. So you +may take that troubled look out of your face. Please +put the big easy garden-chair in the shade of the summer-house. +Papa does so like to be comfortable. And +the view from there is so fine, you know—a beautiful +land view. Papa must be tired of sea views and shore +views, and here he will enjoy the mountains!"</p> + +<p>Having delivered all this very volubly, the Daughter +of the House skipped away. And as John Gayther +busied himself in making the "story-telling place" attractive +he felt glad that there were others besides +himself who liked to tell stories. There was such a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +thing as overworking a mine. He was that rare +thing, a story-teller who is also a good listener. Moreover, +John felt very diffident about telling one of his +stories before the Master of the House, who was a +man prone to speak his mind. Not that John disliked +the Master of the House. Far from it. He, +with the family, was pleased when the Master of the +House returned from a long cruise and proceeded +immediately to make himself very much at home. +For the Master of the House was a captain in the +navy, and as hearty, bluff, and good-natured as a +captain should be.</p> + +<p>The captain had been at home some days, and had +been in the garden several times, and now John Gayther +was filled with admiration as he saw this fine, +sturdy figure, clad all in white, approach the summer-house. +With an air of supreme content this figure +partly stretched itself in the big garden-chair, while +the two ladies seated themselves on the bench. John +Gayther stood respectfully until the Master of the +House motioned to him to sit on his stool.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, John," he cried heartily. "We've +piped all hands to yarns. I have heard what you can +do in this line, and we shall call upon you before long. +This time you are privileged to listen. You can let +somebody else cut your asparagus and dig your potatoes +this morning."</p> + +<p>"Papa," said his daughter, "it is too late for asparagus +and too early for potatoes. I am afraid you +forget about these things when you are at sea."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said her father. "On shipboard we +cut our asparagus at any time of the year. The +steward does it with a big knife, which he jabs through +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +the covers of the tin cans. As for potatoes, they are +always with us."</p> + +<p>The Mistress of the House was now prepared to tell +her story.</p> + +<p>"I am going to tell my story in the first person," +she began.</p> + +<p>"There is no better person," interrupted the Master +of the House.</p> + +<p>"I do not intend to describe my hero who is to tell +the story," continued his wife. "I will only say that +he is moderately young and moderately handsome. +Various other things about him you will find out as +the story goes on. Now, then, he begins thus: I was +driving my wife in a buggy in a mountainous region, +and when we reached the top of a little rise in the +road, Anita put her hand on my arm. 'Stop,' she +said; 'look down there! That is what I like! It is +a cot and a rill. You see that cot—not much of a +house, to be sure, but it would do. And there, just +near enough for the water to tumble over rocks and +gurgle over stones to soothe one to sleep on summer +nights, is the rill—not much of a rill, perhaps, but I +think it could be arranged with a shovel. And then, +all the rest is enchanting. I had been looking at it +for some time before I spoke. There is a smooth +meadow stretching away to a forest, and behind that +there are hills, and in the distance you can just see +the mountains. Now this is the place where I should +like to live. Isn't there any way of making those +horses stand still for a minute?'</p> + +<p>"I tried my persuasive powers on the animals, and +succeeded moderately. 'To live?' I asked. 'And for +how long?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>"'Until about the 3d of August,' she replied. 'That +will be about three weeks.'</p> + +<p>"'You mean,' I said in surprise, 'something like +this.'</p> + +<p>"'I do not,' answered Anita. 'I mean this very +spot. To find something like it would require months. +What I want, as I have told you over and over again, +is a real cot with a real rill, to which we can go now +and live for a little while that unsophisticated life for +which my soul is longing.'</p> + +<p>"Anita and I were taking a summer outing together, +and were trying to get into free nature, away +from people we knew, and had been several days at a +mountain hotel, and were driving about the country. +My black cobs now declined to stand any longer.</p> + +<p>"'Drive them down into the valley. There must +be a road to that house,' said Anita.</p> + +<p>"I drove on for a short distance, and soon came to +a wagon-track which descended to the little house. +'Anita,' said I, 'I cannot go down that road; it is +too rough and rocky, and we should break something. +But why do you want to go down there, anyhow? +You are not in earnest about living in such a place as +that?'</p> + +<p>"'But I am in earnest,' she answered sweetly but +decisively. 'I want to stay in this region and explore +it. We both of us hate hotels, and I could be very +happy in a cot like that (a little arranged, perhaps) +until the 3d of August, when we have to go North. +But I won't ask you to go down that road, of course. +Suppose we come again to-morrow with some quieter +horses.'</p> + +<p>"'I am sorry,' said I, 'but I cannot do that. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +Mr. Baxter comes to-morrow. You know it was planned +that he should always come Tuesdays.'</p> + +<p>"She sighed. 'I suppose everything must give +way to business,' she said, 'and I shall have to wait +until Wednesday. But one thing must certainly be +agreed upon: when we get to that cot there must be +no more Mr. Baxter; you can certainly plan for that, +can't you?'</p> + +<p>"I made no immediate reply, because I was busy +turning the horses in rather an awkward place; but +when we were on the smooth highway and were trotting +gayly back to the hotel, I discussed the matter +more fully with Anita, and I found that what she had +been talking about was not a mere fancy. Before +coming to this picturesque mountain region she had +set her heart upon some sort of camping out in the +midst of real nature, and this cot-and-rill business +seemed to suit her exactly.</p> + +<p>"'I want to go there and live,' she said; 'but I do +not mean any Marie Antoinette business, with milk-pails +decked with ribbons, and dainty little straw +hats. I want to live in a cot like a cotter—that is, +for us to live like two cotters. As for myself, I need +it; my moral and physical natures demand it. I must +have a change, an absolute change, and this is just +what I want. I would shut out entirely the world I +live in, and it is only in a real and true cot that this +can be done as I want to do it.'</p> + +<p>"She talked a great deal more on the same subject, +and then I told her that if it suited her it suited me, +and that on the day after to-morrow we would drive +out again and examine the cot. For the rest of the +day and the greater part of the evening Anita talked +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +of nothing but her projected life in the valley; and +before I went to sleep I was quite as much in love +with it as she was. The next day it rained, but Mr. Baxter +came all the same; weather never interfered +with him."</p> + +<p>"Who in the name of common sense is Mr. Baxter?" +asked the Master of the House. "I like to know who +people are when I am being told what they do."</p> + +<p>"I had hoped," said the Mistress of the House, +"that I should be able to tell my story so you would +find out for yourselves all about the characters, just +as in real life if you see a man working in a garden +you know he is a gardener."</p> + +<p>"But he may not be," said her husband; "he may +be a coachman pulling carrots for his horses."</p> + +<p>"But, as you wish it," continued the Mistress of the +House, "I do not mind telling you that Mr. Baxter +was my hero's right-hand man and business manager. +And now he will go on:</p> + +<p>"After Baxter and I had finished our business I +told him about the cot, for if we carried out Anita's +plan it would be necessary for him to know where we +were. Then, putting on waterproof coats, we rode +over to the place which had excited my wife's desire +to become a cotter. We found the house small but in +good order, with four rooms and an adjunct at one +end. There were vines growing over it, and at the +side of it a garden—a garden with an irregular hedge +around two sides; it was a poor sort of a garden, +mostly weeds, I thought, as I glanced at it. The +stream of water was a pretty little brook, and Baxter, +who rode to the head of it, said he thought it could +be made much better.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>"The house was the home of a widow with a +grown-up daughter and a son about fifteen. We +talked to them, asking a great many questions about +the surrounding country, and then retired to consult. +We did not consider long; in less than ten minutes +I had ordered Baxter to buy the house and everything +in it, if the people were willing to sell; and +then to purchase as much land around it as would be +necessary to carry out my plans, which I then and +there imparted to him in a general way, leaving him +to attend to the details."</p> + +<p>"Your nameless hero," said the Master of the +House, "must have been in very comfortable circumstances."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see that my story is explaining itself," +remarked his wife, and she continued:</p> + +<p>"Baxter looked serious for a moment, and said it +was a big piece of work; but he did not decline it. +Baxter never declined anything.</p> + +<p>"'How much time can you give me?' he asked.</p> + +<p>"'My wife will want to look at the place to-morrow,' +I replied; 'that is, if it does not rain: for she +says she does not want to see it first in bad weather.'</p> + +<p>"'That's a help,' said Baxter. 'The Weather Bureau +promises east winds and rains for to-morrow and +perhaps the next day. And, anyway, I know now +what you want. I will go back to town by the one-o'clock +train and start things going.'</p> + +<p>"'There is one thing I object to,' said I, when we +were on the country road from which Anita had +first seen the cot and the rill: 'the house is in full +view from this road. Before we know it we will be +making ourselves spectacles to parties from the hotel +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +who happen to discover us and drive out to see how +we are getting on.'</p> + +<p>"Baxter reflected. 'Oh, I can arrange that,' said +he. 'I know this road; it turns again into the highway +not far below here. It is really a private road +for the benefit of this house and two others nearly a +mile farther on. I will include those places in the +purchase, and close up the road. Then I will make +it a private entrance to this place, with a locked gate. +Will that do?'</p> + +<p>"'Very well,' said I, laughing. 'But I suppose +people could cut across the country and come in at +the other end of the road if they really wanted to +look into the valley?'</p> + +<p>"'Not after I have finished the job,' said Baxter; +and I asked no further questions."</p> + +<p>"May I inquire," said the captain, "if that Mr. Baxter +is in want of a position?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid, papa," said the Daughter of the +House, "that you would have to own a navy before +you could employ him."</p> + +<p>The gardener smiled. A story built upon these +lines interested him. The Mistress of the House went +on without regard to the interruptions:</p> + +<p>"I found Anita in earnest consultation with her +maid Maria and the mistress of the hotel, and it was +at least an hour before she could see me. When I +told her I had secured the cot, or at least arranged to +do so, she was pleased and grateful, especially as I +had had to go out into the rain to do it. 'I knew, +of course,' she said, 'that Baxter would settle that all +right, and so I have been making my arrangements. +But there is one favor I want you to grant me: I +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +don't want you to ask me anything about how I am +going to manage matters. I don't want to deceive +you in any possible way, and so if you do not ask me +any questions it will make it easier for me.'</p> + +<p>"'Very good,' I replied; 'and I shall ask a similar +favor of you.'</p> + +<p>"'All right,' said Anita. 'And now that matter is +settled.'</p> + +<p>"The prophecies of the weather were correct. The +next day, Wednesday, it rained, and it also rained on +Thursday and Friday; but on Saturday it looked as if +it might clear in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>"'I am not going to-day,' said Anita. 'I have +been working very hard lately, and to-morrow I will +take a good rest, and we will start in on Monday.'</p> + +<p>"Baxter was very glad of the four days of delay +occasioned by the stormy weather, and said that without +working on Sunday he could finish everything to +his satisfaction. I went down to the cot the next day +to see how he was getting on; but Anita asked me no +questions, and I asked none of her. I had never known +her to be so continuously occupied. As I stood with +Baxter in front of the cottage, where there was a fine +view of the surrounding country, I asked him how +much land he had thought it desirable to purchase.</p> + +<p>"'Over there,' he said, 'I bought just beyond that +range of trees, about half a mile, I should say. But to +the west a little more, just skirting the highroad. To +the north I bought to the river, which is three quarters +of a mile. But over there to the south I included +that stretch of forest-land which extends to the foot-hills +of the mountains; the line must be about a mile +from here.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>"'That is a very large tract,' said I. 'How did +you manage to buy it so quickly?'</p> + +<p>"'I had nine real-estate agents here on Thursday +morning,' he replied, 'and the sales were all consummated +this morning. They all went to work at once, +each on a separate owner. We bought for cash, and +no one knew his neighbor was selling.'</p> + +<p>"I laughed, and asked him how he was going to +keep this big estate private for our use. 'We want to +wander free, you know, anywhere and everywhere.'</p> + +<p>"'That is what I thought,' said he, 'and that is +why I took in such a variety of scenery. Nobody +will interfere with you. There will be no inhabited +house on the place except your own, and I am putting +up a fence of chicken-yard wire around the whole +estate. There is nothing like chicken-yard wire. It +is six feet high and very difficult to climb over, and +it is also troublesome to cut.'</p> + +<p>"I exclaimed in amazement: 'That will take a long +time!'</p> + +<p>"'I have contracted to have it done by Saturday +morning,' replied Baxter. 'The train with the wire +fence and posts is scheduled to arrive here at eleven +o'clock to-night, and work will begin immediately. +Paulo Montani, the Italian boss who has worked for +me before, has taken this contract, and will put twelve +hundred men on.'</p> + +<p>"'The train will arrive here?' said I. 'What do +you mean?'</p> + +<p>"'The M. B. & T. line runs within a mile and a +half of this place, and my trains will all be switched +off at a convenient place near here.'</p> + +<p>"'I would not have supposed there was a side-track +there,' I remarked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>"'Oh, no,' he replied, 'there was none; but I am +now having two built. All the different gangs of men +will sleep on the freight-cars, which have been fitted +up with bunks. The wood-cutters and the landscape-men, +hedgers, sodders, and all that arrived about an +hour ago, and I am expecting the mechanics' train +late this afternoon. The gardeners will not arrive +until to-morrow; but if it keeps on raining, that will +give them time enough. They want wet weather for +their work.'"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said the Master of the House, who +had now finished his cigar and was sitting upright in +his chair, "but didn't you omit to state that your +hero was the King of Siam?"</p> + +<p>"I have nothing of the kind to state," answered +his wife. "He is merely an American gentleman.</p> + +<p>"When I heard of the great works that were going +on, I exclaimed: 'Look here, Baxter, you must be careful +about what you are doing. If you make this place +look like a vast cemetery, all laid out in smooth grass +and gravelled driveways, my wife won't like it. She +wants to live in a cot, and she wants everything to be +cottish and naturally rural.'</p> + +<p>"'That is just what I am going to make it,' said +he. 'The highest grade of true naturalism is what I +am aiming at in house and grounds. To-morrow +afternoon you can look at the house. Everything +will be done then, and the furniture will all be in +place, and if you want any change there will be time +enough.'</p> + +<p>"The next day I went to the cot; but before I +reached it I stopped. 'Baxter,' I said, 'you have +done very well with this rill; it is quite a roaring +little torrent.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>"'Yes,' said he; 'and down below they are working +on some waterfalls, but they are not quite finished.'</p> + +<p>"When I reached the house I did not exactly comprehend +what I saw; it was the same house, and yet +it was entirely different. It seemed to have grown +fifty years older than it was when I first saw it. Its +color was that of wood beautifully stained by age. +There was a low piazza I had not noticed, which was +covered with vines. Bright-colored old-fashioned +flowers were growing in beds close to the house, and +there was a pathway, bordered by box bushes, which +led from the front door to a gateway in a stone wall +which partly surrounded the green little yard. I had +not noticed before the gateway or the stone wall, on +which grew bitter-sweet vines and Virginia creeper.</p> + +<p>"'Now, you see,' said Baxter, 'this grass here is +not smooth green turf, fresh from the lawn-mower. +It is natural grass, with wild flowers in it here and +there. Nearly all of it was brought from a meadow +about a mile away from here. But now step inside a +minute. Everything there is of the period of 1849: +horsehair, you see, lots of black walnut, color all toned +down, and all the ornaments covered with netting to +keep the flies off.'</p> + +<p>"I was interested and amused; but I told Baxter I +did not want to see everything now; I wished to +enjoy the place with my wife when we should come +to it. He was doing admirably, and I would leave +everything to him. As I stood on the little portico +and looked over the valley, I saw what seemed to be +a regiment of men coming out of the woods and crossing +a field.</p> + +<p>"'That is the first division of the wire-fence men,' +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +said Baxter, 'going to supper. They are divided into +three sections, and one gang relieves another, so that +the work is kept going all night by torchlight.'</p> + +<p>"As I went away Baxter called my attention to +the gate at the entrance of our road. It was of light +iron, and it could be opened into a clump of bushes +where it was not likely to be noticed. 'If this gate +is locked,' said I, 'it might make trouble; it may be +necessary for some one to go in or out.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh,' said Baxter, 'I have provided for all that. +You know Baldwin, who used to superintend your +Lake George gardens? I have put him in charge of +this gate, and have lodged him in a tent over there in +the woods. He will know who to let in.'</p> + +<p>"On Monday morning Anita rose very early, and +was dressed and ready for breakfast before I woke. +The day was a fine one, and her spirits were high. +'You have not the slightest idea,' she said, 'how I +am going to surprise you when we get to the cot.' I +told her I had no doubt her surprise would be very +pleasant, and there I let the matter drop. Soon after +breakfast we drove over to the cot, this time with a +coachman on the box. When we arrived at the gate, +which was open and out of sight, I proposed to Anita +that she should send the carriage back and walk to +the cot.</p> + +<p>"'Good,' said she; 'I do not want to see a carriage +for two weeks.'</p> + +<p>"I have not time to speak of Anita's delight at +everything she saw. She was amazed that plain +people such as I had told her owned the house should +have lived in such a simple, natural way. 'Everything +exactly suits everything else,' she said. 'And +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +it is all so cheap and plain. There is absolutely nothing +that does not suit a cot.' She was wild with excitement, +and ran about like a girl; and when I followed +her into the garden, which I had not seen, I +found her in one of the box-bordered paths, clapping +her hands. The place was indeed very pretty, filled +with old-fashioned flowers and herbs and hop-poles, +and all sorts of country plants and blossoms.</p> + +<p>"At last we returned to the house. 'Now, Anita,' +said I, 'we are here in our little cot—'</p> + +<p>"'Where we are going to be as happy as two kittens,' +she interrupted.</p> + +<p>"'And as I want everything to suit you,' I continued, +'I am going to leave the whole matter of the +domestic arrangements in your hands. You have +seen the house, and you will know what will be necessary +to do. Mention what servants you want, and I +will send for them.'</p> + +<p>"'First tell me,' said Anita, 'what you did with +the people who were here? You said there were +three of them.'</p> + +<p>"I could not very well answer this question, for I +did not know exactly what Baxter had done with +them. I was inclined to think, however, that he had +sent them to the hotel until arrangements could be +made for them to go somewhere else. But I was able +to assure Anita that they had gone away.</p> + +<p>"'Good,' said she. 'I have been thinking about +them, and I was afraid they might find some reason +or other to stay about the place, and that would interfere +with my plans. And now I will tell you what +servants I want. I don't want any. I am going to +do the work of this house myself. Now don't open +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +your mouth so wide. There is nothing to frighten +you in what I have said. I am thirty-two years old, +and although I am not very large, I am perfectly +strong and healthy, and I cannot imagine anything in +this world that would give me more pleasure than to +live in this cot with you for two weeks, and to cook +our meals and do everything that is necessary to be +done. There are thousands and hundreds of thousands +of women who do all that and are just as happy +as they can be. That is the kind of happiness I have +never had, and I want it now.'</p> + +<p>"I sat upright in my slippery horsehair chair and +spoke no word. Surely Anita had astonished me more +than I could possibly astonish her! Before me sat +my beautiful wife: the mistress of my great house in +town, with its butlers and footmen, its maids and its +men, its horses, its carriages, its grand company, and +its stately hospitality; the lady of my famous country +estate, with more butlers and footmen and gardeners +and stewards and maids and men and stables +and carriages and herds and flocks, its house-parties +of distinguished guests—here was this wife of mine, +so well known in so many fashionable centres; a social +star at home and abroad; a delicately reared being, +always surrounded by servitors of every grade, who +had never found it necessary to stoop to pick up so +much as a handkerchief or a rosebud; and here was +this superfine lady of high degree, who had just announced +to me that she intended to cook our meals, +to pare our potatoes, to wash our dishes, and, probably, +to sweep our floors. No wonder I opened my +mouth.</p> + +<p>"'I hope, now,' said Anita, putting her feet out in +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +front of her to keep herself from slipping off the horsehair +sofa, 'that you thoroughly understand. I do not +want any assistance while we are in this cot. I have +sent away Maria, who has gone to visit her parents, +and no woman in service is to come on this place +while I am here. I have been studying hard with +Mrs. Parker at the hotel, who seems to be an excellent +housekeeper and accustomed to homely fare, and +I have learned how to make and to cook a great many +things which are simple and nutritious; I have had +appropriate dresses made, and Maria has gone to town +and bought me a great variety of household linen, all +good and plain, for our damask table-cloths would +look perfectly ridiculous here. I have also laid in +a great many other things which you will see from +time to time.'"</p> + +<p>"What a wonderful moment this would have been +for a great slump in stocks!" remarked the Master of +the House. "Everything swept away but the cot and +the rill and the dear little wife with her coarse linen +and her determination to keep no servant. The husband +of your Anita would have been the luckiest +fellow on Wall Street. If I were working on this +story I would have the blackest of Black Fridays just +here."</p> + +<p>"'Now, Harold,' said Anita, 'I do not in the least +intend to impose upon you. Because I choose to +work is no reason why you should be compelled to +do so.'</p> + +<p>"'I am glad to hear that,' said I.</p> + +<p>"'I knew you would be,' continued Anita. 'But +of course neither of us will want very much done for +us if we live a cotter's life with these simple surroundings, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +and so I think one man will be quite +enough to do for you all you will want done. But of +course if you think it necessary to have two I shall +not object.'</p> + +<p>"'One will be enough,' said I, 'and I will see about +sending for him this afternoon.'</p> + +<p>"'I am so glad,' said Anita, 'that you have not got +him now, for we can have our first meal in the cot +all by ourselves. I'll run up-stairs and dress, and +then I will come down and do my first cooking.'</p> + +<p>"In a very short time Anita appeared in a neat +dress of coarse blue stuff, a little short in the skirts, +with a white apron over it.</p> + +<p>"'Come, now,' said she, gayly, 'let us go into the +kitchen and see what we shall have for dinner. Shall +it be dinner or lunch? Cotters dine about noon.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, make it lunch,' said I. 'I am hungry, and +I do not want to wait to get up a dinner.' Anita +agreed to this, and we went to work to take the lid +off a hamper which she told me had been packed by +Mrs. Parker and contained everything we should want +for several days.</p> + +<p>"'Besides,' she said, 'that widow woman has left no +end of things, all in boxes and cans, labelled. She +must have been a very thrifty person, and it was an +excellent piece of business to buy the house just as it +stood, with everything in it.'</p> + +<p>"Anita found it difficult to make a choice of what +she should cook for luncheon. 'Suppose we have some +tea?'</p> + +<p>"'Very good,' said I, for I knew that was easy to +make.</p> + +<p>"'Then,' said she, on her knees beside the hamper, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +with her forefinger against her lips, 'suppose—suppose +we have some croquettes. I know how to make +some very plain and simple croquettes out of—'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, don't let us do that,' said I; 'they will take +too long, and I am hungry.'</p> + +<p>"'Very well, then,' said Anita. 'Let us have some +boiled eggs; they are quick.'</p> + +<p>"I agreed to this.</p> + +<p>"'The next thing,' said Anita, 'is bread and butter. +Would you like some hot soda-biscuit?'</p> + +<p>"'No,' said I; 'you would have to make some +dough and find the soda, and—isn't there anything +ready baked?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, yes,' she answered; 'we have Albert biscuit +and—'</p> + +<p>"'Albert biscuit will do,' I interrupted.</p> + +<p>"'Now,' said she, 'we will soon have our first meal +in the cot.'</p> + +<p>"'This is a very unassuming lunch,' she said, when +we were at last seated at the table, 'but I am going +to give you a nice dinner. If you want more than +three eggs I will cook you some in a few minutes. I +put another stick of wood in the fire so as to keep the +water hot.'</p> + +<p>"I was in considerable doubt as to what sort of +man it would be best for us to have. I would have +been very glad to have my special valet, because he +was an extremely handy man in many ways; but I +thought it better to consider a little before sending +for him: he might be incongruous. I had plenty of +time to consider, for Anita occupied nearly the whole +afternoon in getting up our dinner. She was very +enthusiastic about it, and did not want me to help her +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +at all, except to make a fire in the stove. After that, +she said, everything would be easy. The wood was +all in small pieces and piled up conveniently near. +As I glanced around the kitchen I saw that Baxter +had had this little room fitted up with every possible +culinary requirement.</p> + +<p>"We had dinner a little before eight. Anita sat +down, hot, red, but radiant with happiness.</p> + +<p>"'Now, then,' said she, 'you will find I have prepared +for you a high-grade cotter's dinner; by which +I mean that it is a meal which all farmers or country +people might have every day if they only knew +enough, or were willing to learn. I have looked +over several books on the subject, and Mrs. Parker +told me a great deal. Maria told me a great many +things also. They were both poor in early life, and +knew what they were talking about. First we will +have soup—a plain vegetable soup. I went into the +garden and picked the vegetables myself.'</p> + +<p>"'I wish you had asked me to do that,' said I.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' she answered; 'I do not intend to be +inferior to any countrywoman. Then there is roast +chicken. After that a lettuce salad with mayonnaise +dressing; I do not believe cotters have mayonnaise +dressing, nor shall we every day; but this is an exceptional +meal. For the next course I have made a +pie, and then we shall have black coffee. If you +want wine you can get a bottle from the wine-hamper; +but I shall not take any: I intend to live consistently +through the whole of this experience.'</p> + +<p>"There was something a little odd about the soup: +it tasted as if a variety of vegetables had been washed +in it and then the vegetables thrown away. I removed +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +the soup-plates while Anita went out to get +the next course. When she put the dish on the table +she said something had given way while the fowl was +cooking, and it had immediately stuck its legs high in +the air. 'It looks funny,' she remarked, 'but in carving +you can cut the legs off first.'</p> + +<p>"I found one side of the fowl much better cooked +than the other,—in fact, I should have called it kiln-dried,—and +the other side had certainly been warmed. +The mayonnaise was very peculiar and made me think +of the probable necessity of filling the lamps, and I +hoped Baxter had had this attended to. The pie was +made of gooseberry jam, the easiest pie in the world +to make, Anita told me. 'You take the jam just as +it is, and put it between two layers of dough, and then +bake it.' The coffee was very like black writing-ink, +and, having been made for a long time, was barely +tepid.</p> + +<p>"Strange as it may appear, however, I ate a hearty +dinner. I was very hungry.</p> + +<p>"'Now,' said Anita, as she folded her napkin, 'I +do not believe you have enjoyed this dinner half as +much as I enjoyed the cooking of it, and I am not +going to wash up anything, for I will not deprive +myself of the pleasure of sitting with you while you +smoke your after-dinner cigar on the front porch. +These dishes will not be wanted until to-morrow, and +if you will take hold of one end of the table we will +set it against the wall. There is a smaller table which +will do for our breakfast.'</p> + +<p>"I drank several glasses of wine as I smoked, but +I did not feel any better. If I had known what was +going to happen I should have preferred to go hungry. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +I did not tell Anita I was not feeling well, for that +would have made her suffer in mind more than I was +suffering in body; but when I had finished my smoke, +and she had gone into the house to light the parlor +lamp, I hurried over to the barn, where Baxter had +had a telephone put up, and I called him up in town, +and told him to send me a chef who could hoe and +dig a little in the garden.</p> + +<p>"'I thought you would want a man of that kind,' +Baxter telephoned. 'Will Isadore do? He is at +your town house now, and can leave by the ten-o'clock +train.'</p> + +<p>"I knew Isadore. He was the second chef in my +town house, a man of much experience, and good-natured. +I told Baxter to make him understand +what sort of place he was coming to, and to send him +on without delay.</p> + +<p>"'Do you want him to live in the house?' asked +Baxter. And I replied that I did not.</p> + +<p>"'Very good,' said he; 'I will have a tent put up +for him near Baldwin's.'</p> + +<p>"When I went to the house I told Anita I had +engaged a man.</p> + +<p>"'I am glad,' said she; 'but I have just thought +of something: I cannot possibly cook for a man.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, you won't have to do that,' I answered. 'He +will live near here, just the other side of the road.'</p> + +<p>"'That will do very well,' said she. 'I do not mind +being your servant, Harold, but I cannot be a servant's +servant.'"</p> + +<p>"Do you know," said the Master of the House, "as +this story goes on I feel poorer and poorer every +minute—I suppose by comparison. In fact, I do not +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +know that I can afford to light another cigar. But +one thought comforts me," he continued: "if I had +been living in that cot with my wife I would not have +had the stomach-ache; so that balances things somewhat."</p> + +<p>The lady smiled.</p> + +<p>"The next morning a little after eight o'clock I +came down to open the house, and there, standing by +the porch, hat in hand, I saw Isadore. He was a +middle-aged man, large and solid, with very flat feet +and a smoothly shaven face, twinkling eyes, and a +benevolent smile. I was very glad to see him, especially +before breakfast. I took him away from the +house, so that Anita might not overhear our conversation, +and then I laid the whole case before him. +He was an Alsatian, but his English was perfectly +easy to understand.</p> + +<p>"'I know precisely what it is that is wanted,' said +he, 'and Mr. Baxter has made the arrangements with +me. It is that madame shall not suppose anything, +but that what she wishes to be done shall be done.'</p> + +<p>"'That is the idea,' said I. 'Don't interfere with +her, but have everything done all right.'</p> + +<p>"'And I am to be man of all work. I like that. +You shall see that I am charmed. Now I will go and +change my clothes.' And this well-dressed man +turned away toward Baldwin's tent.</p> + +<p>"When Anita came down the servant I had engaged +was at the kitchen door waiting for orders. He +was a plainly dressed man, his whole appearance neat +but humble. 'He looks like a foreigner,' said Anita.</p> + +<p>"'You are right,' I replied; 'he is an Alsatian.'</p> + +<p>"'And his name?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>"I was about to tell her Isadore, but I stopped myself. +It was barely possible that she might have +heard the name of the man who for two years had +composed the peculiar and delicious ices of which she +was so fond; she might even have seen him, and the +name might call up some recollection. 'Did you say +your name was Isaac?' I called out to the man.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, sir,' he answered; 'it is that. I am Isaac.'</p> + +<p>"'I am going to get breakfast,' said Anita. 'Do +you suppose he can build a fire?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, yes,' I replied; 'that is what he is engaged +for—to be the man of all work.'</p> + +<p>"Prompted by curiosity, I shortly afterwards looked +in at the kitchen door. 'While you prepare the +table, madame,' the man of all work was saying, 'shall +I arrange the coffee for the hot water?'</p> + +<p>"'Do you know how to do it?' she asked.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, yes, madame,' the good Isaac replied. 'In +a little hut in Alsace, where I was born, I was obliged +to learn to do all things. My father and my mother +had no daughter, and I had to be their daughter as +well as their son. I learn to cook the simple food. +I milk the cow, I rub the horse, I dig in the garden, +I pick the berries in the woods.' As he talked Isaac +was not idle; he was busy with the coffee.</p> + +<p>"'That is very interesting,' said Anita to me; +'where there are no daughters among the poor the +sons must learn a great deal.'</p> + +<p>"I remained at the kitchen door to see what would +happen next. There was a piece of dough upon a +floury board, and when Anita went to lay the table +the Alsatian fairly flew upon the dough. It was +astonishing to see with what rapidity he manipulated +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +it. When Anita came back she took the dough and +divided it into four portions. 'There will be two +rolls apiece for us,' she said. 'And now, Isaac, will +you put them into the stove? The back part is where +we bake things. We are going to have some lamb +chops and an omelet,' she said to me as she approached +the hamper.</p> + +<p>"'Ah, madame,' cried the Alsatian, 'allow me to lift +the chops. The raw meat will make your fingers smell.'</p> + +<p>"'That is true,' said Anita; 'you may take them +out.' And then she went back to the dining-room.</p> + +<p>"Isaac knelt by the hamper. Then he lifted his +eyes to the skies and involuntarily exclaimed: '<em lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Oh, +tonnerre!</em> They were not put by the ice.' And he +gave a melancholy sniff. 'But they will be all right,' +he said, turning to me. 'Have trust.' The man of +all work handled the chops, and offered to beat the +omelet; but Anita would not let him do this: she made +it herself, a book open beside her as she did so. Then +she told Isaac to put it on the stove, and asked if I +were ready for breakfast. As she turned to leave the +room I saw her assistant whip her omelet off the stove +and slip on it another one. When or where he had +made it I had no idea; it must have been while she +was looking for the sugar.</p> + +<p>"'A most excellent breakfast,' said I, when the +meal was over; and I spoke the exact truth.</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' said Anita; 'but I think I shall do better +after I have had more practice. I wonder if that +man really can wash dishes.' On being questioned, +Isaac declared that in the humble cot in which he +was born he had been obliged to wash dishes; there +were no daughters, and his mother was infirm.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>"'That is good; and if any of the plates need a +little rubbing up afterwards I can do them,' said +Anita. 'Now we will take a walk over the place, +which we have not done yet.'</p> + +<p>"When we returned Isaac was working in the garden. +Anita went into the house, and then the man of all +work approached me; he had in his hand a little piece +of red earthenware, which he held up before me in +one hand and touched his cap with the other. 'Sir,' +said he, 'is it all pots? Grass, bushes, everything?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' said I. 'What is the matter?'</p> + +<p>"'Excuse me,' said he, 'but everywhere I work +in the garden I strike pots, and I broke this one. +But I will be more careful; I will not rub so deep.'</p> + +<p>"For two or three days Anita and I enjoyed ourselves +greatly. We walked, we sat in the shade, we +lay in hammocks, we read novels. 'That man,' said +Anita, 'is of the greatest possible assistance to me. +The fact is that, having been taught to do all sorts of +things in his infancy, he does the hard work of the +kitchen, and all that is necessary for me to do is to +give the finishing touches.'</p> + +<p>"That afternoon, when I saw the well-known chef +Isadore—for some years head cook to the Duke of +Oxminster, and willing to accept a second place in the +culinary department of my town house only on account +of extraordinary privileges and emoluments—when +I saw this man of genius coming down the hill +carrying a heavy basket which probably contained +meats packed in ice, I began to wonder about two +things: in the first place, I wondered what exceptional +remuneration in addition to his regular salary +Baxter had offered Monsieur Isadore in return for his +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +exceptional services in our cot; and in the second +place, I wondered if it were exactly fair to practise +such a variety of deceptions upon Anita. But I +quieted my conscience by assuring it that I was doing +everything for her benefit and happiness, particularly +in regard to this man of all work, who was probably +saving us from chronic dyspepsia. Besides, it was +perfectly fair play, for if she had told me she was +going to do all my cooking I never would have come +to this cot.</p> + +<p>"It was that evening, when we were both in a good +humor after a good dinner, that my wife somewhat +disturbed my peace of mind. 'Everything is going +on so smoothly and in such a pastoral and delightful +way,' said she, 'that I want some of our friends to +visit us. I want them to see for themselves how enjoyable +such a life as this is. I do not believe any of +them know anything about it.'</p> + +<p>"'Friends!' I exclaimed. 'We do not want people +here. We cannot entertain them. Such a thing was +never contemplated by either of us, I am sure.'</p> + +<p>"'That is true,' said Anita; 'but things are different +from what I expected. They are ever and ever so +much better. And we can entertain people. We +have a guest-room which is fitted up and furnished +as well as ours is. If we are satisfied, I am sure anybody +ought to be. I tell you who will be a good person +to invite for the first one—Mr. Rounders.'</p> + +<p>"'Rounders!' I exclaimed. 'He is the last man in +the world for a guest in this cot.'</p> + +<p>"'No, he is not,' answered Anita. 'He would +like it very much indeed. He would be perfectly +willing and glad to do anything you do, and to live +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +in any way you live. Besides, he told me, not very +long ago, that he often thought of the joys of an +humble life, without care, without anxiety, enough, +no more, and a peaceful mind.'</p> + +<p>"'Very well,' said I; 'this is your picnic, and we +will have Rounders and his wife.'</p> + +<p>"'No, indeed,' said Anita, very emphatically. 'She +cannot come anyway, because she is in Europe. But +I would not have her if she were here. If he comes, +he is to come alone. Shall I write him a note, or will +you? There is no time to waste.'</p> + +<p>"She wrote the note, and when it was finished +Isaac carried it to Baldwin and told him to have it +mailed.</p> + +<p>"The more I thought about this invitation the +more interested I became in it. No one could be +more unsuited to a cotter's life than Godfrey Rounders. +He was a rich man of middle age, but he was +different from any other rich man with whom I was +acquainted. It was impossible to talk to him or even +to be with him for five minutes without perceiving +that he was completely controlled by the money habit. +He knew this, but he could not help it. In business +resorts, in society, and in the clubs he met great capitalists, +millionaires, and men of wealth of all degrees, +who were gentlemen, scholars, kind and deferential +in manner, and unobtrusive in dress, and not to be +distinguished, so far as conversation or appearance +could serve as guides, from those high types of gentlemen +which are recognized all over the world. Rounders +longed to be like one of these, but he found it to +be impossible. He was too old to reform, and the +money habit had such a hold over him that I believe +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +even when he slept he was conscious of his wealth. +He was not a coarse, vulgar Dives: he had the instincts +of a gentleman; but these were powerless. The +consciousness of money showed itself on him like a +perspiration; wipe his brows as he might, it always +reappeared.</p> + +<p>"He had not been poor in his early life; his father +was a man of moderate means, and Rounders had +never known privations and hardships; but, in his +intense desire to make people think that his character +had not been affected by his money, he sometimes +alluded to straits and difficulties he had known in +early days, of which he was not now in the least +ashamed. But he was so careful to keep these incidents +free from any suspicion of real hardships or +poverty that he always failed to make the impression +he desired. I have seen him quite downcast after an +interview with strangers, and I was well aware what +was the matter with him. He knew that, in spite of +his attempts to conceal the domination of his enslaving +habit, these people had discovered it. Considering +all this, I came to believe it would please +Rounders very much to come to stay a few days with +us. Life in a cot, without any people to wait upon +him, would be a great thing for him to talk about; it +might help to make some people believe that he was +getting the better of his money habit.</p> + +<p>"In the middle of the night I happened to wake, +then I happened to think of Rounders, then I happened +to think of a story Baxter had told me, and +then I burst out into a loud laugh. Fortunately +Anita did not awake; she merely talked in her sleep, +and turned over. The story Baxter had told me was +this: In the past winter I had given a grand dinner, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +and Rounders was one of the guests. Isadore's specialty +was ices, pastry, salads, and all sorts of delicate +preparations, and he had excelled himself on this +occasion, especially in the matter of sweets. At an +unhappy moment Rounders had said to his neighbor +that if she could taste the sort of thing she was eating +as his cook made it she would know what it really +ought to be. An obliging butler carried this remark +to Monsieur Isadore as he was sipping his wine in his +dressing-gown and slippers. The interesting part of +this anecdote was Baxter's description of Isadore's +rage. The furious cook took a cab and drove directly +to Baxter's hotel. The wording of Monsieur Isadore's +volcanic remarks I cannot state, but he butchered, +cut up, roasted, carved, peppered, and salted +Rounders's moral and social character in such a masterly +way that Baxter laughed himself hoarse. The +fiery cook would have left my service then and there +if Baxter had not assured him that if the gilded reptile +ever dined with him again Isadore should be informed +beforehand, that he might have nothing to do +with anything that went on the table. In consequence +of this promise, Monsieur Isadore, having +withdrawn a deposit of several thousand dollars from +one of the trust companies with which Rounders was +connected, consented to remain in my household.</p> + +<p>"'Now, then,' I asked myself, 'how are we going +to get along with Rounders and my man of all work +Isaac?' But the invitation had gone, and there was +no help for it. I concluded, and I think wisely, that +it would be unkind to trouble Anita by telling her +anything about this complication, but I would prepare +the mind of the good Isaac.</p> + +<p>"I went into the garden the next morning, where +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +our man of all work was gathering vegetables, and +when I told him that Mr. Godfrey Rounders was coming +to spend a few days with us the face of Isadore—for +it was impossible at that moment to think of him +as Isaac—was a wonderful sight to see: his brows contracted, +his countenance darkened, and his eyes flashed +as though they were about to shoot out lightning. +Then all color, even his natural ruddiness, departed +from his face. He bowed gravely.</p> + +<p>"'I have heard it said you have taken some sort of +dislike to Mr. Rounders,' said I; 'and while I have +nothing to do with it, and do not want to know anything +about it, I do not wish to force you into an unpleasant +position, and if you would rather go away +while Mr. Rounders is here, I will have some one +sent to take your place until he leaves. Then we +shall want you back again. In this unusual position +you have acquitted yourself most admirably.'</p> + +<p>"While I was speaking Isadore had been thinking +hard and fast; it was easy to see this by the varied +expressions which swept over his face. When I had +finished he spoke quite blandly:</p> + +<p>"'It is that it would be beneath me, sir, to allow +any of the dislike of mine to interfere with the comfort +or the pleasure of yourself and madame. I beg +that you will not believe that I will permit myself +even to think of such a thing. I remain so long as it +is that you wish me. Is it that you intend that your +visitor shall know my position in your town house?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' said I; 'as I have not told my wife, of +course I shall not tell him. I am much obliged to +you for your willingness to stay. It would be very +awkward if you should go.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>"'I understand that, sir,' said Isaac, 'and I would +do not one thing to discompose madame or yourself.'</p> + +<p>"Rounders arrived according to schedule, and I +met him at the gate, and explained that my wife insisted +it would be incongruous for a carriage to drive +up to the cot. 'I like that!' exclaimed Rounders. +'I like to walk a little.' I took up one of his valises, +the good Isaac carried the two larger ones, while +Rounders, with an apologetic look from right to left, +as if there might be some person present to whom +this action should be explained, took up some canes +and umbrellas wrapped in a rug, and we all went +down to the cot, where Anita was waiting to receive us.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, I like this,' said Rounders, quite cheerfully. +'I do not know when I have gone anywhere without +some of my people. But I assure you I like it. +At the bottom of our hearts we all like this sort of +thing.'</p> + +<p>"Anita showed him everything, and probably +bored him dreadfully; but our guest was determined +to be pleased, and never ceased to say how much he +liked everything. There was no foolish pride about +him, he said; he believed in coming close to nature; +and although a great many of the peaceful joys of +humanity were denied the man of affairs, still, when +the opportunity came, how gladly our inward natures +rose up to welcome it! 'Your wife tells me,' said he, +'that she is cook, housekeeper, everything. This is +charming! It must be a joy to you to know she is +capable of it. But, my dear friend,' he said, putting +his hand on my shoulder, 'you must not let her overwork +herself. She will be very apt to do it; the +temptation is great. I am sure if I were she the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +temptation to overwork in these new spheres would +be very great.'</p> + +<p>"Rounders certainly did overwork himself, and +this was in the line of trying to make us believe that +he thoroughly liked this plan of ours of living in a +cot by a rill, and that he was quite capable of forgetting +his ordinary life of affluence and luxury in the +simple joys of our rural household. He would have +produced an impression on both Anita and me if he +had not said so much about it; but I knew what he +was trying to do, and made all the necessary allowances +for him.</p> + +<p>"But, say what he might, I knew he was not satisfied. +I could see that he missed his 'people,' by whom +he was accustomed to be surrounded and served; +and I soon found out that his meals did not suit him. +Anita visited the kitchen much more frequently than +she had done just before Rounders arrived, and she +talked a great deal about the dishes which were served +to us; but, so far as I could judge, she had no more to +do with their preparation than she had previously had. +I was thoroughly well satisfied with everything; and, +although Rounders was not, it was impossible for him +to say so when he sat opposite the lady who told him +two or three times at every meal that she presided in +the kitchen. Of course I would have done everything +in my power to give Rounders things to eat that he +liked, but I did not know what to do. Our table was +just as good, though not as varied, as it was when we +were in town; and that Rounders was accustomed to +living better than we did I could not for one moment +believe. I came to the conclusion that, in spite of +his efforts to subdue his dominating habit, he could +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +not resist the temptation to let us know that he was +not used to humble life, or even the appearance of it.</p> + +<p>"So I enjoyed our three good meals a day,—Anita +would not allow us any more,—which were prepared +by one of the best cooks on the continent from the +choicest materials furnished regularly under Baxter's +orders; and if Rounders chose to think that what was +good enough for me was not good enough for him, he +must go his own way and suffer accordingly. In fortune +and in station I was so immeasurably superior to +him that it nettled me a little to see him put on airs +at the table to which I had invited him. But Rounders +was Rounders, and I did not allow my irritation +to continue.</p> + +<p>"In two or three days our visitor's overwork began +to show on him: his naturally plump cheeks hung +down, his eyes drooped, and, although he drank a +great deal of wine, he was seldom in good spirits. On +the fourth day of his visit, after the morning mail had +been brought to us by Isaac, Rounders came to me +and told me he had just received a letter which would +make it necessary for him to go home that afternoon. +I expressed my regret, but did not urge him to stay, +for it was obvious that he wanted to go. 'I have +had a most delightful time,' he said, as he took leave +of Anita; 'but business is business, and I cannot put +it aside.'</p> + +<p>"I believed both these statements to be incorrect: +I knew that at that season he was not likely to be +called away on business, and he had given me no +reason to suppose he was enjoying himself; and as I +walked with him to the gate I am afraid I was only +stiffly polite. Our spirits rose after his departure. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +Anita said she had found him an incongruity, and I +was tired of the spectacle of a purse-proud man trying +to appear like other people. But if I were harsh in +my judgment of him I was speedily punished. On +the third day after he left I received a message from +Baxter, who wanted to see me at Baldwin's tent. He +was not allowed to come into the grounds, for Anita +said that would look too much like business.</p> + +<p>"I found that Baxter's errand was indeed urgent, +and that he was fully warranted in disturbing our +privacy. The members of an English syndicate were +coming down from Canada to make final arrangements +with me for the purchase of a great tract of mining +land, and as my presence and signature were absolutely +necessary in the concluding stages of the transaction, +I would be obliged to be in New York on the +next day but one.</p> + +<p>"I was greatly annoyed by this intelligence. The +weather was particularly fine, Anita was reading me +a most interesting novel, and I was settling myself +down to a thorough enjoyment of our cottage life, +which I did not wish interfered with by anybody or +anything, and I growlingly asked why the syndicate +had chosen such an unsuitable time of the year to +come down from Canada. But Baxter did not know. +I continued to growl, but there was no way out of it. +I must go to New York. For the sake of perhaps +half a million dollars, which would not alter our ordinary +manner of living, which would not give us any +pleasures, privileges, or advantages of any kind which +we did not now possess, we must break up our delightful +life at the cot and rill, and go back to the +humdrum of ordinary society.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>"Baxter tried to console me. He said we could +easily return when this business had been settled. +But I knew that going away would break the charm; +I thoroughly understood Anita's nature, and I was +sure if she left the cot for a time she would not want +to go back to it. But when I told her Baxter's business, +and that she would have to have some one come +and pack up for her, she flatly declared that no one +should do anything of the kind. She would stay +where she was.</p> + +<p>"'You can't stay here by yourself!' I cried.</p> + +<p>"'Of course not,' she said. 'Who could imagine +such an absurdity? But I shall not be alone. I was +thinking this very morning of Fanny Ransmore and +her mother. I want some women guests this time, +and they would be delightful after Mr. Rounders. +Fanny is as lively as a cricket, and Mrs. Ransmore +could take care of anybody. You can tell Baxter to +have some one to patrol the grounds at night, and we +shall get along beautifully. I am sure you will not +be away long.'</p> + +<p>"'But can you get the Ransmores?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'Certainly,' said she. 'They are at Newport now; +but I will telegraph immediately, and they can start +to-night and get here to-morrow afternoon. You +need not be afraid they cannot come. They would +give up any engagement on earth to be our only +guests.'</p> + +<p>"The matter was settled according to Anita's plan, +and I was more willing to go to New York when I +reflected that after the Ransmores came Anita would +not be able to read aloud to me."</p> + +<p>"At this point," said the Master of the House, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +"your hero makes me angry. Why should he think +he could not go away and leave his wife for three +days, when I leave my wife, and daughter too, for +three years? His Anita is not worth one twentieth +as much as either my wife or daughter. Then again, +if I were in his place, I would not allow a disadvantageous +half-million to take me away from you two. +It is only the absolutely necessary thousands that +make me leave you as I do."</p> + +<p>"Your sentiments are just as nice as they can be, +papa," said the Daughter of the House; "but don't +you see if the gentleman did what you would do it +would spoil the story?"</p> + +<p>John Gayther smiled with pleasure. Here was a +young lady who never forgot the principle of the +thing, whatever the thing might be.</p> + +<p>"That is true!" exclaimed the captain, stretching +himself at full length in his chair. "I did not think +of that. Madam, please proceed; let the King of +Siam recommence his performances."</p> + +<p>"I will merely remark," said the Mistress of the +House, "that if the King of Siam undertook to emulate +my hero in all his performances, it would be a +pretty hard thing for his already overtaxed subjects.</p> + +<p>"The Ransmores arrived on time, and were as delighted +with the invitation as Anita had said they +would be. According to her orders, neither of them +brought a maid, which must have been pretty hard +on the old lady; but they declared that the fun of +waiting on themselves would be greater than anything +Newport could possibly offer them.</p> + +<p>"I went to New York, attended to my business, +which occupied me for three days, and then I thought +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +this would be a good opportunity to take a trip to +Philadelphia to look at a large steam-yacht which +was in course of construction at the shipyards there. +I did not feel in such a hurry to go back to the cot +now that the Ransmores were there, and I was sure +also that Anita would like to hear about the new +yacht, in which we hoped to make a Mediterranean +voyage during the winter. But early in the forenoon +of my second day in Philadelphia, while I was engaged +in a consultation concerning some of the interior +fittings of the yacht, I received a telegram from +Baxter informing me that my wife had returned from +the cot on the previous evening, and was now at our +town house. At this surprising intelligence I dropped +the business in hand and went to New York by the +first train.</p> + +<p>"'Of course,' said Anita, when we were alone, 'I +will tell you why I left that precious cot. We had +a very good time after you left, and I showed the +Ransmores everything. The next day Fanny and I +determined to go fishing, leaving Mrs. Ransmore to +read novels in a hammock, an occupation she adores. +Isaac was just as good as he could be all the time; he +got rods for us, and made us some beautiful bait out +of raw beef, for of course we did not want to handle +worms; and we started for the river. We had just +reached a place where we could see the water, when +Fanny called out that somebody had a chicken-yard +there, and that we would have to go around it. We +walked ever and ever so far, over all sorts of stones +and bushes, until we made up our minds we were inside +a chicken-yard and not outside, and so we could +not get around it. I was very much put out, and did +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +not like it a bit because we could not reach the river; +but Fanny saw through it all, and said she was sure +the fence had been put there to keep all sorts of +things from disturbing us; and then she proposed fishing +in the rill.</p> + +<p>"'We tried this a long time, but not a bite could +we get; and then Fanny went wandering up the stream +to see if she could find a spring, because she said she +had heard that trout were often found in cold streams. +After a while she came running back, and said she +had found the spring, and what on earth did I think +it was? She had soon come to what seemed to be +the upper end of the rill, and went down on her hands +and knees and looked under the edge of a great flat +rock, and there she saw the end of an iron pipe +through which the water was running. When I +heard this I threw down my fishing-rod and would +have nothing to do with an artificial rill. I remembered +then that I had thought, two or three times, it +had improved very much since I had first seen it; and +when I asked Mr. Baxter about it last night, he said +the original rill had not water enough in it for the +little cataracts and ponds, and all that, and so he had +brought down water from some other stream about +half a mile away.</p> + +<p>"'When we went back to the cot Fanny seemed +to have her suspicions excited, and she pried into +everything, and soon told me that the furniture and +all the things in the cot were only imitation of the +things plain country people use, and were, in reality, +of the best materials and wonderfully well made, and +that it must have cost a lot of money to buy all these +imitations of old-fashioned, poor-folksy things. Then +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +she went into the garden and peered about, and told +Isaac, who was working there, that she had never +seen so many different kinds of vegetables all ripe at +the same time. He touched his cap, and said that +was a compliment to his gardening. But pretty soon +she saw the edge of a flower-pot sticking above the +ground, and showed it to me. I made him dig up +whole beds of things, and there was nothing but pots +and pots, in which everything was growing.</p> + +<p>"'I went back to the house and looked about a +good deal more, with Fanny at my elbow to tell me +how poor people would never have this or that or the +other thing. Then I was very angry with myself for +not being able to see things without having them +pointed out to me by that Fanny Ransmore, who was +not invited to pry about and make herself disagreeable +in that way.'</p> + +<p>"'And were you angry with me?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' she answered; 'for a little while. But +when I remembered the plans I had made I thought +we were about square, and that I had concealed as +much from you as you had from me. I was not angry, +but I was determined I would not stay in that mock-cot +any longer. I could not bear the sight of anything +I looked at. I thought the quickest way of settling +the matter was to get rid of the whole business +at once, and I told Isaac to put a crowbar under +the kitchen stove, which was full of burning wood, +and turn it over. But he was horrified, and said he +might be arrested and put in prison for doing that; +and, besides, it would be such a shame to waste so +many beautiful things. Fanny and her mother +thought so, too. And I asked Isaac where the family +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +lived who used to own the cot, and he said they were +still at the hotel, not being able to find any suitable +quarters. So I sent for the widow and her daughter +and son, and I told them to take the cot just as it was, +and to keep it forever, and I would have Mr. Maxwell +make out the law papers. They went about shouting +with delight at everything they saw, very different +from that Fanny! So it was really a very nice thing +to do, and I feel a great deal better. And here I am, +and you will find Fanny and her mother somewhere +in the house whenever you want to see them. After +this I think it will be better for us both not to try +any affectionate frauds on each other.'</p> + +<p>"I was very glad the investigating Fanny had not +discovered all my affectionate frauds, and that I was +able myself to reveal to Anita the identity of the +useful Isaac. This did amaze her, and for a moment +I thought she was going to cry; but she was not in +the habit of doing much of that sort of thing, and +presently she laughed. 'Monsieur Isadore,' she +exclaimed, 'working in the garden and washing +pots and pans! Why, don't you know some people +think he is almost as good as our head chef +Leonard?'</p> + +<p>"'As good!' I cried. 'He is infinitely better. +Leonard could never have done for us what our +good Isaac did. And now I must tell you a story +about Isadore that Baxter related to me this morning +as we drove up from the station.' I then told her +the story of Isadore alias Isaac—of his dislike for Mr. Rounders, +and of the noble manner in which he had +determined to stand by us when he heard that gentleman +was about to visit us. 'After Rounders's arrival,' +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +I remarked, 'things went on apparently as +well as before—'</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 379px;"> +<a name="image_p148" id="image_p148"><img src="images/image_p148.jpg" width="379" height="600" alt="" title="" /></a> +<div class="caption">"I made him dig up whole beds of things."</div> +</div> + +<p>"'Apparently!' Anita interrupted. 'They went +on better than before. I let Isaac, as we called him, +do a great deal more of the cooking than he did before +Mr. Rounders came. I thought our meals were +remarkably good, and if Mr. Rounders did not like +them, as I sometimes thought he did not, I believed +it was because he could not help putting on airs even +to us.'</p> + +<p>"I laughed. 'Well,' said I, 'the state of the case +was this: during the whole time Rounders stayed with +us, Isadore did not cook one particle of food for him.'</p> + +<p>"'That was impossible,' cried Anita. 'I noticed +nothing of the kind, and, besides, Mr. Rounders would +have found it out immediately.'</p> + +<p>"'Of course neither of us noticed it,' said I, 'for +Isadore did not serve us with any of the things he +gave to Rounders. And as for the latter discovering +that he was eating his food raw, he had no idea that +such was the case. He supposed he was eating what +we ate, and therefore did not like to say anything +about it.'</p> + +<p>"'But I do not understand!' cried Anita. 'How +could any one eat things and not know they were uncooked?'</p> + +<p>"'You do not understand,' said I, 'because you +do not comprehend the deep and wonderful art of +Isadore. Baxter tried to explain some of it to me as +he heard it from the lips of the chef himself, but I do +not know enough of kitchen magic to understand it. +As Isadore waited on us, he was able to bring us well-prepared +food, and to give Mr. Rounders something +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +very different, but which looked just like that we +had. Even his coffee was served in a cup heated hot +in the oven, while the coffee itself had merely been +warmed. I cannot explain all these uncooked meals, +and if you want to know more you must ask +Isadore himself. But Baxter told me that spices and +condiments must have been used with wonderful +effect, and that the poor man must have lived mostly +on biscuits. Isadore said that all his life he would +laugh when he thought of Mr. Rounders trying to eat a +chicken croquette the inside of which was perfectly +raw, while the outside smoked, and looking at the +same time with astonishment at you and me as we +quietly ate what seemed to be exactly like the thing +he had on his plate.'</p> + +<p>"'But, Harold,' said Anita, 'that was a shameful +way to treat our guest!'</p> + +<p>"'That is what Baxter said to Isadore; but the +cook excused himself by stating that all this happened +in a cot, in a dear little cot, where everything was +different from everything else in the world, and where +he had tried to make you and me happy, and where +he himself had been so happy, especially when he saw +Mr. Rounders trying to eat chicken croquettes. He +was also so pleased with the life at the cot that he is +going to have one of his own when he goes back to +Alsace, which will be shortly, as he has made enough +to satisfy his wants, and he intends to retire there and +be happy in a cot.'</p> + +<p>"Anita reflected for a few moments, and then she +said: 'I think life in a cot might be very happy indeed—for +Isaac.'"</p> + +<p>With this the Mistress of the House rose from her +chair.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>"Is that at all?" exclaimed her daughter. "There +are several things I want to know."</p> + +<p>"That is all," replied the story-teller. "Like the +good King of Siam, I consider my already overtaxed +subjects." And with this she went into the house.</p> + +<p>"Do either of you suppose," remarked the Master +of the House, "that that Anita woman gave the whole +of that great estate to the widow and her two children? +How much land do you think, John Gayther, +was enclosed inside that chicken wire?"</p> + +<p>"I have been calculating it in my head," replied +the gardener, "and it must have been over a thousand +acres. And for my part, sir, I don't believe it was +all given to the widow. When Mr. Baxter came to +attend to the papers I think he made over the cot and +about seven acres of land, which was quite enough +to be attended to by a half-grown boy."</p> + +<p>"That is my opinion, too," said the Daughter of +the House, "and I think that the opulent owner of +that great estate made a deer-park of the rest of it, +with reindeer, fallow deer, red deer, stags, and all +sorts of deer, and not one of them able to jump over +the wire."</p> + +<p>"Ah, me!" said the captain, rising and folding his +arms as he leaned his broad back against a pillar of +the summer-house, "these great volcanoes of wealth, +always in eruption, always squirting out town houses, +country houses, butlers, chefs, under-chefs, diamonds, +lady's-maids, horses, carriages, seaside gardens, thousand-acre +poultry-yards, private sidewalks, and clouds +of money which obscure the sun, daze my eyes and +amaze my soul! John Gayther, I wish you would +send me one of your turnip-hoers; I want him to take +my second-best shoes to be mended."</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>THE GILDED IDOL AND THE<br /> +KING CONCH-SHELL</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V">V</a><br /> +THE GILDED IDOL AND THE +KING CONCH-SHELL</h2> + + +<p>The rose-vines were running riot over the old garden +wall, and as it was now midsummer and the +season of their full bloom had passed, John Gayther +set to work one morning to prune and train them. +The idea of doing this was forcibly impressed upon +his mind that day by the fact that the Mistress of the +House had returned the evening before, and he knew +that she would notice the untidy appearance of the +rose-vines as soon as it should please her to come into +the garden. The family had been at the sea-shore for +nearly two weeks, and the gardener had missed them +sorely, especially the Daughter of the House. They +had now all returned, and the butler had told him +that they had brought with them a visitor, a Frenchman. +John Gayther, whose mind was always full of +the Daughter of the House, immediately inquired if +he was young; but the butler's answer was unsatisfactory, +as he said the gentleman was neither young nor +old, and talked queer English. As the butler himself—who +was English—talked what seemed to the gardener +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +queer English, John did not lay much stress +upon that statement.</p> + +<p>He was soon to make his own observations, however, +for a sweet voice he knew well called out to him: +"We are all back, John, in the dear old garden!"</p> + +<p>John turned, and found four persons had come up +quietly and were watching his work. He returned +the cordial greetings of the family, and then the Master +of the House informally introduced their companion. +"We have a foreign gentleman with us, +John; he belongs to the same nation as your great +hero Lafayette, and therefore I know you will be +pleased to have him join our story-telling party. For +it has been decided by the ruling power in this house +that a story is to be told this morning; so leave your +vines, and come with us."</p> + +<p>John was obliged to follow as the party took the +path to the summer-house, but he went unwillingly. +Lafayette was a great and good man, but it did not +follow that all his countrymen were of that sort; +and, in fact, John knew but little about Frenchmen. +He immediately conceived a dislike to this one as he +saw him walking by the side of the Daughter of the +House and evidently pleased with her company. He +greatly disliked the idea of telling a story to this +stranger, and determined it should not be made +interesting.</p> + +<p>There was nothing in the Frenchman's appearance +to excite this dislike. There was nothing striking +about him. He was a good-looking man verging on +middle age perhaps, with a rather short little figure +and an airy walk.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the Master of the House, when the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +party were all disposed to the best advantage, and the +Frenchman had gone into an ecstasy over the view +from the summer-house, "John Gayther, you are to +listen carefully to this story, for I am going to tell it +myself, being moved thereto by the story my wife +told here."</p> + +<p>John, greatly relieved by this announcement, signified +his cordial approbation, and the captain began +his relation:</p> + +<p>"Captain Abner Budlong was a retired sailorman. +He was rather small of stature, with mild blue eyes, +and a little gold ring in each of his ears. He was in +the prime of life, and had been so often wet with +salted water and dried by salted winds that he looked +as though he might last forever.</p> + +<p>"He had ceased to sail in ships, because his last +vessel, of which he had been part-owner, had positively +declined to sail any longer under him. When +this misguided craft decided to go to the bottom of +the sea, Captain Abner, in a little boat, accompanied +by his crew, betook himself to the surface of the land, +and there he determined to stay for the rest of his life. +His home was on the sea-shore. In the summer-time +he fished and took people out to sail in his boat; and +in the cold weather he generally devoted himself to +putting things into his house, or arranging or rearranging +the things already there. He himself was +his family, and therefore there was no difference of +opinion as to the ordering of that household.</p> + +<p>"The house was divided through the middle by a +narrow hallway; that part to the right as one entered +the front door was called by Captain Abner the +'bachelor side,' while the portion to the left he designated +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +as the 'married side.' The right half might +have suggested a forecastle, and was neat and clean, +with sanded floors and everything coiled up and +stowed away in true shipshape fashion. But the +other half was viewed by Captain Abner as something +in the quarter-deck style. Exactly half the hall was +carpeted, and the little parlor opening from it was +also carpeted, painted, and papered, and filled with a +great variety of furniture and ornaments which the +captain had picked up by sea and land. Everything +was very pretty and tasteful, according to the captain's +ideas of taste and art, and everything was sacred; +no collector could have bought anything out of +that little parlor, no matter how much money he +might offer.</p> + +<p>"This parlor and the room above had been furnished, +decorated, and ornamented for the future +mistress of Captain Abner's household, and he was +ready to dedicate them to her services whenever he +should be so lucky as to find her. So far, as he sometimes +expressed himself, he had not had a chance to +sing out, 'There she blows!'</p> + +<p>"One afternoon, when Captain Abner was engaged +in dusting the ornaments in the parlor, his good +friend Samuel Twitty stood in the doorway and accosted +him. Sam Twitty had been mate to Captain +Abner, and as he had always been accustomed to +stand by his captain, he stood by him when he left +the sea for the land; although they did not live +in the same house, they were great cronies, and were +always ready to stand by each other, no matter what +happened. Sam's face and figure were distinguished +by a pleasant plumpness; he was two or three years +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +the junior of Captain Abner, and his slippered feet +were very flat upon the ground. He held his pipe +behind his back in such a position that it hung over +the uncarpeted part of the hallway. A pipe in the +married part of the house was never allowed.</p> + +<p>"'Sam,' said Captain Abner, 'you've hove in sight +jes at the right minute, for I'm kind o' puzzled. Here's +this conch-shell, which is the biggest I ever seed, and +a king conch-shell at that, and I can't make up my +mind whether she'd like it here in the middle of the +mantelpiece, or whether she'd like to have the gilded +idol here, where it would be the fust thing she'd see +when she came into the room. Sometimes I'm inclined +in the way of the heathen idol, and sometimes +in the way of the king conch-shell. And how am I to +know which she likes? What do you think about it?'</p> + +<p>"'Well, now, Cap'n Abner,' said Sam, his head +cocked a little to one side, 'that's a pretty hard +question to answer, considerin' I don't know who she +is and what kind o' taste she's got. But I'll tell you +what I'd do if I was you. I'd put that king conch-shell +on the mantelpiece, or I would put the gilded +idol there, it wouldn't matter much which, and then +I'd put the other one handy, so that when she fust +come in, and you could see she didn't like whatever it +was that was in the middle of the mantelpiece, you +could whip it off and put the other thing there almost +afore she knowed it.'</p> + +<p>"'Sam,' said Captain Abner, 'that's a real good rule +to go by, and it looks to me as if it might fit other +things besides gilded idols and conch-shells. And now +that you're here I'd like you to stay and take supper +with me. I've got something to tell you.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>"After the evening meal, which was prepared by +Captain Abner and his guest, who were both expert +maritime cooks and housekeepers, these two old +friends sat down to smoke their pipes, the parlor +door having been carefully shut.</p> + +<p>"'Sam,' said the captain, 'I've got everything ready +for her that I can think of. There isn't anything +more she'd be likely to want. So now I'm goin' after +her, and I'm goin' to start on Monday mornin'.'</p> + +<p>"Sam Twitty was astonished. He had had an idea +that Captain Abner would go on preparing for her to +the end of his days, and it was a shock to him to hear +that the work of preparation, in which he had been +interested for so many years, and in which he had so +frequently assisted, should now be brought suddenly +to a close.</p> + +<p>"'Ready!' he ejaculated. 'I wouldn't have believed +it if ye hadn't told me yourself. And yet, +come to think of it, I can't see for the life of me what +else you can do for her.'</p> + +<p>"'There ain't nothin' else,' said Abner, 'and on +Monday mornin' I'm settin' out to look for her.'</p> + +<p>"'Do you go by land or by water?' asked Sam.</p> + +<p>"'Land,' was the answer. 'There ain't no chance +of runnin' across her by sea.'</p> + +<p>"'And how are you goin'? Walkin'?'</p> + +<p>"'No, sir,' said Abner. 'I'm goin' to hire a horse +and a buggy. That's how I'm goin'.'</p> + +<p>"'And where are you goin' to steer fust?' asked +Sam.</p> + +<p>"'I'm goin' fust to Thompsontown, and after I've +took my observations there I'll fetch a compass and +sail every which way, if need be. There's lots of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +people of all sorts in Thompsontown, and I don't see +why she shouldn't be one of them.'</p> + +<p>"'No more do I,' said Sam Twitty. 'I think it's +more'n likely she'll be one of them.'</p> + +<p>"Very early the next morning, almost before the +first streaks of dawn, Captain Abner was awakened +by a voice under his window.</p> + +<p>"'Shipmate ahoy!' said the voice, which was Sam +Twitty's. In a moment Abner's head was out of the +window.</p> + +<p>"'Cap'n Abner,' said Sam, 'I'm goin' with you.'</p> + +<p>"Abner did not immediately answer, but presently +he replied: 'Look here, Sam Twitty; you come around +after breakfast and tell me that ag'in.'</p> + +<p>"Promptly after breakfast Sam appeared.</p> + +<p>"'Look a' here,' said Captain Abner, when they had +lighted their morning pipes, 'that ain't a bad notion +of yours. Somethin' might turn up when I'd want +advice, and you might give me some like you gave +me about the king conch-shell and the gilded idol. +It ain't a bad idea, and, as you say so, I'd like you to +come along.'</p> + +<p>"Sam did not reply with the alacrity that might +have been expected of him. He puffed silently at +his pipe and gazed upon the ground. 'You said you +was a-goin' in a buggy,' he remarked.</p> + +<p>"'Yes; that's what I'm expectin' to do.'</p> + +<p>"'Then how am I to get back?' inquired Sam.</p> + +<p>"'That's so,' said Abner. 'I never thought of that.'</p> + +<p>"'Look a' here, cap'n,' said Abner; 'what do you +say to a spring-wagon with seats for four, two in front, +and two behind?'</p> + +<p>"This suited Captain Abner, and Sam went on to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +say: 'There'll be another good thing about that; if +you get her and bring her back—'</p> + +<p>"'Which is what I'm goin' for and intend to do.'</p> + +<p>"'Then,' continued Sam, 'you two could sit on the +back seat, and I could sit in front and drive.'</p> + +<p>"'Did you ever drive, Sam?' asked Captain Abner.</p> + +<p>"'Not yet; but I wouldn't mind l'arnin'.'</p> + +<p>"'But you won't l'arn with me and her,' said Captain +Abner.</p> + +<p>"'How are you goin' to manage it, then?' asked +Sam. 'You won't want me and her to sit on the +back seat, and it wouldn't look jes right for you an' +her to be in front, and me behind all by myself, as if +I was company.'</p> + +<p>"'Don't know,' said Captain Abner. 'We'll get +her fust, and then let her sit where she wants to.'</p> + +<p>"'There's one thing I wouldn't like to see,' said +Sam Twitty, 'and that's you and me sittin' behind, and +her a-drivin'.'</p> + +<p>"'There won't be none of that,' said Captain Abner; +'that ain't my way.'"</p> + +<p>"Is that a good beginning?" asked the Master of +the House, suddenly addressing his wife.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied, "very good; and I see this is to +be a real man's story."</p> + +<p>"And so it should be, mamma," said the Daughter of +the House. "Men know more about men than they +do about women."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure of that," said her father. "But +no matter. The two friends started out on Monday +morning after breakfast for Thompsontown. Considerable +delay was occasioned at the livery-stable by +certain pieces of advice which Sam Twitty offered +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +to Captain Abner. In the first place, he objected to +a good black horse which had been attached to the +wagon, giving it as his opinion that that looked too +much like a funeral, and that a cheerful-colored horse +would be much better adapted to a matrimonial expedition. +A gray horse, slower than the black one, +was substituted, and Sam was quite satisfied. Then +a great many things in the way of provisions and +conveniences came into his mind which he thought +would be well to take on the voyage, and he even +insisted upon rigging up an extension at the back of +the wagon on which her trunk could be carried on +the home journey.</p> + +<p>"At last they got away, and as they drove slowly +out of the little village not one of the inhabitants +thereof knew anything about their intended journey, +except that they were going to Thompsontown; for +Captain Abner and Sam Twitty would have as soon +thought of boring a hole in the bottom of a boat in +which they were to sail as of telling their neighbors +they were going to look for her and to bring her back +in that spring-wagon.</p> + +<p>"The old gray horse jogged very comfortably over +the smooth road until a toll-gate was perceived near by.</p> + +<p>"'Now, then, cap'n,' said Sam, as they drew up in +front of the little house by the roadside, 'whatever +you pay here you ought to charge to the expense of +gettin' her.'</p> + +<p>"'That's so,' said his companion; 'but if she's all +right I ain't goin' to mind no tolls.'</p> + +<p>"A pleasant-faced woman now came to the door of +the little house and stood expectant, while Captain +Abner thrust his hand into his pocket.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>"'How much is it?' said he.</p> + +<p>"'It's ten cents,' said she.</p> + +<p>"Then Sam Twitty, who did not wish to sit silent, +remarked that it was a fine day, and the toll-gate +woman said that indeed it was. Captain Abner was +now looking at some small change in the palm of his +hand.</p> + +<p>"'I ain't got ten cents,' said he. 'Here's only six, +and I can't scrape up another copper. Sam, can you +lend me four cents?'</p> + +<p>"Sam searched his pockets. 'Haven't got it,' said +he. 'Them little things we bought jes afore we +started cleaned me out of change.'</p> + +<p>"'The same thing's happened to me, too,' said Abner; +'and, madam, I'll have to ask you to change a five-dollar +note, which is the smallest I've got.'</p> + +<p>"The toll-gate woman said she was very sorry, but +indeed she had not five dollars in change, either at +the toll-gate or in the house where she lived just behind +in a little garden. The day before she had had +a good deal of change, but she had paid it all into the +company.</p> + +<p>"'Then what are we goin' to do?' asked Sam. 'I +suppose you won't let us go through without +payin'?'</p> + +<p>"The woman smiled and shook her head. 'I +couldn't do that; it's against the rules. Sometimes +when people come along and find they have nothin' +to pay toll with they go back and get the money +somewhere. It's our rules, and if I broke them I +might lose my place.'</p> + +<p>"'Which we wouldn't think of makin' you do,' +remarked Sam.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>"'But that's one thing I can't do,' said Captain +Abner. 'I can't turn round and go back. If the +folks knew I was turned back because I couldn't pay +toll I'd never hear the end of it.'</p> + +<p>"'That's so,' agreed Sam. 'It would never do to +go back.'</p> + +<p>"The toll woman stood and looked at them and +smiled. She was a pleasant personage, not inclined +to worry over the misfortunes of her fellow-beings.</p> + +<p>"'Isn't there a place somewhere near here where I +could get a note changed?' asked Abner.</p> + +<p>"'I can't say,' answered the toll woman. 'I don't +believe any of the houses along the road has got five +dollars in change inside of them, and even if you went +across the country to any of the farm-houses, you +wouldn't be likely to find that much. But if you +are not in a hurry and wouldn't mind waitin', it's as +like as not that somebody will be along that's got five +dollars in change. You don't seem to know this part +of the country,' she added.</p> + +<p>"'No,' said Abner; 'when me and my mate travels +we generally take the public conveyances. This is +the fust time we've druv on this road.'</p> + +<p>"Then up spoke Sam Twitty: 'Does you and your +husband live here and keep the toll-gate, ma'am?'</p> + +<p>"The woman looked as though she thought the +plump person a little inquisitive, but she smiled and +answered, 'My husband used to keep the toll-gate, +but since he died I've kept it.'</p> + +<p>"Captain Abner looked troubled. 'I don't mind +so much waitin' myself,' said he, 'but it's the horse +I'm thinkin' about. I promised I'd have him fed at +twelve o'clock sharp every day I have him. He's +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +used to it, and I don't want him givin' out afore I'm +through with him.'</p> + +<p>"'When horses is used to bein' fed at regular times,' +said the toll-gate woman, 'they do show it if they +don't get fed. But, if you don't mind, I've got a little +stable back there, and some corn, and if you choose to +drive your horse into the yard and give him a feed +I'll charge you jes what anybody else would. And +while he's a-feedin' most likely somebody'll come +along that's got five dollars in change.'</p> + +<p>"For some minutes Sam Twitty had not said a word, +but now he most earnestly advised his friend to accept +this offer, and, jumping to the ground, he hurried +to open the gate so that Captain Abner might drive +in. Abner had not yet made up his mind upon the +subject, but, as Sam stood there by the open gate, he +drove in.</p> + +<p>"'Look a' here!' said Sam, as they stood by the +stable door. 'This is a jolly good go! Did you take +notice of that toll-gate woman? She's tiptop to +look at. Did you see how clean she is, and what a +nice way of smilin', an' a good deal of red in her +cheeks, too, and jes about old enough, I should say, +if I was called upon. And, more than that, I should +say, judgin' from what I've seen of her, she's as likely +to be as accommodatin' as any person I ever did see +that I had seed for so short a time. I jes put her +into my mind a-goin' into your parlor and sayin' that +conch-shells was jes what she liked on mantelpieces. +And I could put her in jes as well with the gilded idol.'</p> + +<p>"'You seem to do a lot of thinkin' in a mighty short +time,' said Abner. 'But what's all that got to do with +anything?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>"'Do!' exclaimed Sam. 'It's got lots to do. Why +wouldn't she be a good one for <em>her</em>? I don't believe +you'd find a better one in Thompsontown.'</p> + +<p>"'Sam Twitty!' exclaimed Abner, rather testily, +'what are you talkin' about? Do you suppose I'd +paint and paper and clean up and furnish one side of +my house for her, and then start out on a week's cruise +to look for her, and then take and put in her place +and give everything I've been gettin' for her for so +many years to the fust woman I meet, and she a toll-gate +woman at that?'"</p> + +<p>The Frenchman, who had been listening with great +apparent interest, now looked so inquiringly at the +Master of the House that he paused in his story.</p> + +<p>"Excuse my interrupt," he said apologetically; +"but what is toll-gate woman?"</p> + +<p>"My conscience!" exclaimed the captain, "you +haven't understood a word of my story!" He then +proceeded to explain a toll-gate and its office and +emoluments; but it was at once evident that the +Frenchman knew all about the thing—he did not +know the English words which expressed it; and he +had a clear comprehension of the narrative.</p> + +<p>"Those two men pull two ways," he said gleefully; +"ought to make a good story."</p> + +<p>"It is a good story if my papa tells it," spoke up +the Daughter of the House. And John Gayther was +pleased to note a sharpness in her voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss; that is just what I say—a very much +good story. I long for the end to come."</p> + +<p>"Not exactly the compliment intended," remarked +the Mistress of the House, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"How do you think it will end?" asked the Daughter +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +of the House, impulsively, addressing the Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"It is not polite to imagine," he replied.</p> + +<p>"But I want to know," she persisted. "It is not +impolite to guess."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, miss, he marry nobody. Too many +women in that Villa Thompson. But we sadly interrupt! +Beg pardon, captain."</p> + +<p>"The captain I am telling about in my story," said +the Master of the House, resuming his narrative, +"could not silence Sam Twitty.</p> + +<p>"'Now I tell you, cap'n,' he said, as he assisted in +taking the horse out of the wagon, 'don't you go and +miss a chance. Here's a fust-rate woman, with red +cheeks and mighty pretty hair, and a widow, too. +Even if you don't take her now, it's my advice that +you look at her sharp with the idea that if things +don't turn out in Thompsontown as you'd like them +to, it would be mighty comfortin' to you to pick her +up on your way back.'</p> + +<p>"When Captain Abner and Sam returned from the +stable they looked up and down the far-stretching +road, and then, at the invitation of the toll-gate woman, +they seated themselves on a bench at the back of the +toll-house.</p> + +<p>"''Tisn't a very good time for people to be passin',' +said she. 'Not many folks is on the road between +twelve and one. They're generally feedin' themselves +and their horses. But if you can make yourselves +comfortable here in the shade, I don't think you'll +have to wait very long. I'll jes step in and see if +my dinner ain't cooked. There ain't nobody in sight.'</p> + +<p>"Sam Twitty rubbed his hands together. 'In my +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +opinion,' said he, 'that woman is a fust-class housekeeper.'</p> + +<p>"In a very few minutes she returned. 'If you gentlemen +don't mind,' said she, 'I can give you your +dinner here at the same price you'd have to pay anywhere +else. I always cook a lot on Mondays, so's I +can have something cold for the rest of the week. +It's on the table now, and you can go in and wait on +yourselves.'</p> + +<p>"Sam gave a quick glance at Abner. 'You go in +with her,' said he, 'and eat your dinner. I'm not +hungry, and I'll wait out here and keep the toll-gate. +Afterwards I'll get a bite.'</p> + +<p>"The toll-gate woman smiled. 'Perhaps it would +be better for me to go in and wait on one of you at a +time; but I don't think it's likely there'll be anybody +passin'.'</p> + +<p>"Abner did not object—he was hungry; and he +followed the toll-gate woman into her house. Sam +Twitty made a motion as if he would dance a little in +his slippered feet.</p> + +<p>"'That's jes like runnin' across a dead whale what's +jes expired of too much fat. All you've got to do is +to cut it up and try it down. The fust thing Cap'n +Abner does is to run into a widow woman that'll suit +him, I believe, better than anybody he'll meet, if he +cruises around Thompsontown for a week.'</p> + +<p>"Sam sat down on the bench and pictured things in +his mind: he took the toll-gate woman all over Captain +Abner's house, even into the unmarried part, and +everywhere he saw her the same bright-cheeked, +pleasantly smiling woman she was here in her own +house. The picture pleased him so much that he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +withdrew his senses from the consideration of everything +else, and therefore it was he did not hear wheels +on the road, and was awakened from his pleasant +dreams by a voice outside the door. He bounced to +his slippered feet, and entered the toll-house.</p> + +<p>"On the roadway was a buggy and a horse, and in +the buggy sat a smiling young woman. Why she +smiled Sam could not imagine; but then, he could not +see the comical expression on his own face on being +thus suddenly aroused to a sense of his duty.</p> + +<p>"'How much is the toll?' said the young woman, +still smiling.</p> + +<p>"Sam looked at her; she was a good-looking young +person, and he liked her smile, for it betokened a +sense of humor, and that pleased him. 'How much?' +he repeated. 'A vehicle, a man, and a horse—'</p> + +<p>"'But this is a girl and a mare,' she interrupted. +'How much is that?'</p> + +<p>"Sam looked up and smiled. This young person +certainly had a sense of humor. 'I wonder how much +that would be,' he said. 'I guess I'll have to get a +pencil and paper and work it out.'</p> + +<p>"The girl laughed. 'You are not the toll-gate +keeper?' she asked.</p> + +<p>"'No,' replied Sam. 'I'm keepin' it for her. She's +eatin' her dinner. Don't you know the toll yourself? +You've paid it before, haven't you?'</p> + +<p>"'No, I haven't,' she replied. 'I am visiting in the +neighborhood. But I won't haggle about being a +girl. I'll pay the price for a man, if you will let me +know what it is.'</p> + +<p>"An idea came suddenly into Sam Twitty's head: +this was a very bright girl, a very attractive girl, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +who was visiting in the neighborhood, and he determined +to keep her at the toll-gate a few minutes if +he could.</p> + +<p>"'I don't want to make any mistake,' he said +quickly. 'I'll jes pop into the house and see what +the toll really'll be for you.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, you needn't do that,' said the young woman. +'Of course it is the same—'</p> + +<p>"But Sam was gone; and she laughed and said to +herself that the deputy toll-gate keeper was a very +funny person. Sam ran to the house, panting. He +beckoned to Captain Abner to step outside.</p> + +<p>"'Look a' here,' he said; 'you hurry out to the gate +and take a good long look at the girl that's there. +She's a-visitin' in the neighborhood. Now mind +you take a good look at her, and I'll be there in a +minute.'</p> + +<p>"Without exactly understanding the reason for this +earnest injunction, Abner went to the gate. He was +accustomed to taking Sam's advice if he saw no good +reason against it.</p> + +<p>"The toll-gate woman was on her feet, but Sam +detained her, and said something about the relation +between sex and toll.</p> + +<p>"'Well, well,' said the woman, 'she must be a queer +one. I'll go out to her.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' cried Sam. 'Sit here and finish your +dinner. He's comin' right back, and I'll collect the +toll.' Half-way to the toll-house Sam met Abner. +'What do you think of her?' he asked hurriedly. +'Did you take a good look at her?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, I did,' replied his friend, 'and I don't think +nothin' of her. What is there to think about her?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>"'Go back to your dinner,' cried Sam. 'I've got to +collect her toll.'</p> + +<p>"'I want you to tell me,' said the girl, not smiling +now, 'do you keep a detective here? Do you think +I want to cheat the road out of its toll? I am ready +to pay the charge, whatever it is.'</p> + +<p>"'Detective!' exclaimed Sam.</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' said she; 'that little brown man who came +out here and looked at me as if he were determined +to know me the next time he saw me.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, him!' said Sam. 'That's a friend of mine, +Cap'n Abner Budlong. He's no detective, nor nothin' +like one. He jes came out to see who was passin' +while I was findin' out about the toll. He's always +fond of seein' people.'</p> + +<p>"'I should think he was,' said the young woman. +'In fact, I think you are a funny lot, toll-gate woman +and all. Now here is a quarter; please take the toll +and give me the change, that is, if you know how to +calculate.'</p> + +<p>"Sam took the money, but he did not immediately +make the change. 'I don't want you to think hard +of any of us,' said he, 'on account of your bein' kept +here a little longer than common. But specially I +don't want you to think hard of my friend Cap'n +Abner Budlong, the gentleman who stepped out here +to see who was passin'. Bless your soul, he's no detective! +He's one of the finest fellows I know, and +you jes ought to see his house at Shamrick. It's filled +with more things that's nice to look at and things +that's comfortable to use than any other house in +that region. Everything's jes as clean and shipshape—'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>"'He must have a good wife,' the young woman +interrupted.</p> + +<p>"'He hasn't got no wife at all,' said Sam, delighted +to get in this piece of information. 'Never had one.'</p> + +<p>"The girl looked at him, and then she laughed +merrily. 'I really must go on,' she said. 'You truly +are a funny lot, all of you.' And as she drove on she +looked back, still laughing.</p> + +<p>"Sam Twitty rubbed his hands together quite cheerfully, +and went into the house to get his dinner.</p> + +<p>"'Did that woman change your five-dollar note?' +asked the keeper of the toll-gate.</p> + +<p>"'Bless my soul!' exclaimed Sam. 'I never +thought to ask her.'</p> + +<p>"'What did you ask her?' cried the woman. 'She +was out there for the longest time, and I thought of +course you was gettin' your note changed.'</p> + +<p>"Sam smiled. 'She was very interesting,' said he."</p> + +<p>"What a treasure Sam Twitty would be in a matrimonial +bureau!" exclaimed the Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p>"Provided he exercised a little more caution in the +selection of his specimens," suggested John Gayther, +respectfully. "Some might be too green and some +the other way, you know; he didn't seem over-particular."</p> + +<p>"Three travellers passed through," continued the +Master of the House, "but not one of them could +change a five-dollar note; and Abner chafed at the +delay.</p> + +<p>"'I don't like wastin' time like this,' said he to +Sam, as the two smoked their after-dinner pipes.</p> + +<p>"'Wastin'!' exclaimed Sam. 'I don't call this +wastin' time. We didn't start till late this mornin', +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +and here we've got sight of two of her a'ready. +Here's this one, as red-cheeked and sociable as anybody +could expect, and then there's that gal in the +buggy.'</p> + +<p>"'Gal in the buggy!' exclaimed Abner. 'What on +earth are you talkin' about her for?'</p> + +<p>"'Why shouldn't I?' asked Sam. 'I tell you, +Cap'n Abner, she's the prettiest and the liveliest +young woman you'd be likely to meet if you cruised +for a year, and she's visitin' right in the neighborhood, +and can't be far from Shamrick.'</p> + +<p>"'Codwollops!' said Abner, contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"In the course of an hour old Joshua Asbury drove +up in his farm-wagon, and changed the five-dollar +note, and was glad to do it, for he did not like to +carry so much inconvenient silver and copper in his +pocket. The two friends now made ready to depart.</p> + +<p>"'Let's hurry up,' said Sam. 'We've done fust-rate +so far, and maybe we'll sight one or two more afore +bedtime.'</p> + +<p>"'When you come back,' said the woman, 'I'd be +glad to have you stop and rest, and give your horse a +feed if you want to.'</p> + +<p>"Sam Twitty assured her most earnestly that they +certainly would stop, whether they wanted rest and a +feed or not; and he thanked her warmly as he paid for +the kind entertainment she had given them.</p> + +<p>"'Sam,' said Abner, when they were on the road, +'the trouble with you is, you're too quick. If you +was at the tiller you'd run into the fust port you come +to, and there wouldn't be no v'yage at all.'</p> + +<p>"'There's no knowin' when a fellow may want to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +run into port,' replied Sam, 'and it's a good thing to +find out all about them as you're coastin' along.'</p> + +<p>"A few miles from the toll-gate they came to the +bottom of a long hill, and half-way up it they saw, +going in the same direction as themselves, a man +walking vigorously.</p> + +<p>"'By the general cut of his clothes,' said Sam, 'I'd +say he is a minister.'</p> + +<p>"'I expect you're right,' said Abner. 'Most likely +fillin' some fishin' minister's pulpit Sunday, and +walkin' home Monday.'</p> + +<p>"The pedestrian clergyman walked more slowly as +he neared the top of the hill, and the gray horse +gradually overhauled him.</p> + +<p>"'Look a' here,' said Sam, nudging his companion, +'let's give him a lift. He must be dreadfully hot. +And then, by George, Cap'n Abner, jes think what a +jolly thing it'll be—goin' after her, and takin' a +minister along, sittin' comfortable on the back seat! +That's like holdin' a landin'-net ready to scoop her +up the minute you get her to the top of the water.'</p> + +<p>"They stopped and asked the clergyman if he were +going to Thompsontown, and when he said he was, +they invited him to get in and take the unoccupied +seat. He proved to be an agreeable companion; he +was young and very grateful. Sam soon fell into a +very friendly conversation with him, and two or three +times, when Abner thought that his friend was on the +point of saying something that bore too directly on +the object of their journey, he pressed his port boot +gently upon Sam's starboard slipper.</p> + +<p>"Toward the middle of the afternoon they reached +Thompsontown, where the young clergyman said he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +was going to stop for the night, and go on by train +the next day. Sam Twitty was glad to hear this, and +advised him to stop at the Spinnaker Boom, where he +and Captain Abner intended to stay until they finished +the business which brought them to Thompsontown.</p> + +<p>"Thompsontown was a seaside resort, and rather a +lively place in the season. There was a large hotel +for summer visitors who could afford to pay good +prices, and several smaller houses of entertainment, +such as the Spinnaker Boom, where people of moderate +means were made very comfortable.</p> + +<p>"It was much too early for supper, and Captain +Abner and Sam took a long walk on the beach, and +at their invitation the young clergyman joined them. +This gentleman, who did not seem to know any one in +Thompsontown, proved to be a thorough landsman; +but as he was chatty and glad to acquire knowledge, +it gave Captain Abner and Sam a great deal of pleasure +to talk to him on nautical points and thereby +improve his mind. On their return, Sam stopped +with a start, and almost dropped his pipe.</p> + +<p>"'What's the matter?' cried Captain Abner. 'Did +you see her spout?'</p> + +<p>"Sam made no answer, but stood with his mouth +open. He had remarkably good vision. The clergyman +stopped and looked at him inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"'They are coming, both of them!' said Sam.</p> + +<p>"'Both of who?' asked Abner.</p> + +<p>"'The gal in the buggy, and the toll-gate woman.'"</p> + +<p>"If I were telling this story," here interrupted the +Daughter of the House, excitedly, "I really do not +know which one I would marry to Captain Abner!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>"Thank you for the compliment, my dear," said her +father.</p> + +<p>"Well, there they both were: side by side they +were walking along the smooth beach and approaching +our three men. Sam's eyes sparkled. The toll-gate +woman appeared much more comely and attractive +than when engaged in her professional duties +earlier in the day. She was now attired in fresh-looking +summer clothes, and wore a pretty straw hat. +As for the girl of the buggy, she was quite another +person. It would have been impossible for any one +who had merely seen her within the limited confines +of a small vehicle to form any idea of the +buoyant air and the lively step of this handsome +young woman.</p> + +<p>"'Upon my word!' exclaimed Sam Twitty, advancing +toward them. 'Who would have expected to +meet you two here!'</p> + +<p>"At this meeting all our characters were variously +affected. The toll-gate woman beamed with pleasure; +the young woman of the buggy looked as if she were +about to laugh; the young minister looked very much +interested, although he could have given no good +reason why he should be; the countenance of Captain +Abner Budlong betrayed no interest whatever; and +Sam Twitty was in a glow of delight.</p> + +<p>"'I suppose you are surprised to meet me here,' +said the toll-gate woman, 'but this is the way of it: +a neighbor and his wife came along soon after you +left, and offered to bring me to Thompsontown; and +of course I jumped at the chance, and left the toll-gate +in charge of my brother, who lives hard by. And in +the town, at the house of a friend, I met this young +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +lady, and—' glancing at her companion, she added: 'I +really did not catch the name.'</p> + +<p>"'Miss Denby,' stated the young person referred to.</p> + +<p>"The three men here bowed to Miss Denby; then, +stepping nearer to Sam, the toll-gate woman asked in +a low voice, 'Who is the minister?'</p> + +<p>"'I don't know his name,' said Sam, 'but I'll find +out in a minute.' And then he approached the girl +of the buggy. 'I am so glad to see you,' he said.</p> + +<p>"She laughed outright. 'It is awfully funny,' answered +she, 'that you care whether you see me or not.'</p> + +<p>"'I don't think it's funny at all,' said Sam. 'But +jes let me ask you one thing: what's the name of the +toll-gate woman?'</p> + +<p>"'Well, I declare!' she exclaimed. 'From the way +she talked about you I thought you were old friends. +Her name is Mrs. Sickles.'</p> + +<p>"Sam skipped over to the young clergyman and +put his question: 'Mr-r-r.?'</p> + +<p>"'Rippledean,' said the young man.</p> + +<p>"In an instant the quick-slippered Sam had joined +the party in the bonds of conventional acquaintanceship, +having added to the rest of his information the +fact that he was Samuel Twitty of Shamrick.</p> + +<p>"'You are the funniest people I ever met,' exclaimed +the lively Denby girl. 'None of you seems to +know the rest.'</p> + +<p>"'It is very pleasant to know each other, I am +sure,' remarked the toll-gate woman; 'and if I had +anything to say about what would be agreeable on +such a breezy afternoon as this, now that there's a +party of us, I would say it would be to get a boat and +take a sail on this sparkling water.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>"'A sail!' cried Sam. 'Why, that will be the best +thing in the world, and if you'll wait ten minutes I'll +get a boat. Cap'n Silas Peck is a friend of mine, and +has got two boats that ain't likely to be out. I'll run +down and get one, and have it here in no time.'</p> + +<p>"In less than a quarter of an hour the party was +seated in Captain Peck's sail-boat, Captain Abner at +the tiller, and Sam Twitty in charge of the sheet. +They decided to sail out to an island about three +miles from shore. A stiff breeze was blowing, and +Captain Abner was in his glory. The wind was much +too high for ordinary pleasure-boats, and there were +no other sails upon the bay; but summer visitors and +seafaring men stood along the beach and watched +the admirable manner in which that little craft was +handled. Word was passed from one to another that +it was Captain Abner Budlong of Shamrick who +was at the tiller; many of the watchers had heard of +Captain Abner and what he had done in days gone +by, and they were proud to see what their neighbor +of Shamrick was doing now.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Sickles sat beaming, both hands grasping the +rail and her feet firmly braced, but with an expression +of perfect trust, as she gazed from Captain Abner +to Sam Twitty, which would have been edifying to +any one of weak habits of faith. The younger woman's +hat was off, and her hair was flying like a streamer +from a masthead. She drank in the salt breeze with +delight, and her eyes sparkled as the boat dipped at +the turn of Captain Abner's tiller until the rail cut +under the surface of the water as if it were skimming +a pan of milk. She looked upon the bright-eyed +sailor at the helm as though he were some sort of a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +salt-water deity whom it was suitable to worship. It +was better than sparkling wine to her to dash over +the sparkling water.</p> + +<p>"The island shore drew near; the little boat bore +bravely down upon it, and then with a beautiful sweep +fell into the wind; her great wing dropped and hung +listless, and her keel gently grazed the sand."</p> + +<p>"Very beautiful! Oh, so fine a turn to words!" +exclaimed the Frenchman, who was very intent upon +the story.</p> + +<p>"My papa is a sailor," said the Daughter of the +House, proudly. "You should see him bring around +a great vessel with a grand sweep, so quietly and so +gracefully!"</p> + +<p>"You never saw me do anything of the kind," said +her father, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"I have never seen you," she admitted reluctantly, +"but I know just how you would do it."</p> + +<p>Her father smiled and laid a hand on her head.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear," he said, "what Sam Twitty told +the inmates of the boat was this: 'If there was an +egg-shell 'twixt her bow and the beach, Cap'n Abner +wouldn't have smashed it.'</p> + +<p>"The captain stemmed the praises which now +poured upon him, with a jerk of the head. 'That's +all very well,' said he, 'but I'm goin' to give Sam +Twitty a chance; he'll sail you back.'</p> + +<p>"When the party was on shore and the boat safely +moored, Sam Twitty began to jump about like a collie +dog in charge of a flock of sheep. He had said little +in the boat, but his mind had been busily at work +with the contemplation of great possibilities. There +was much to be done, and but little time to do it in, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +but Sam's soul warmed up to its work. Casting a +rapid glance around, he singled out Captain Abner, +and, dashing into the little party, cut him off from +his companions, and drove him out of ear-shot.</p> + +<p>"'Now, Cap'n Abner,' said he, 'your time's come, +and the quicker you get to work the better.'</p> + +<p>"'Work!' cried Abner. 'What work have I got +to do!'</p> + +<p>"'Do!' exclaimed Sam. 'You've got lots to do. +Look at that sun. It's settin' jes as steady as if it +was bein' towed into port, and you'll never get another +chance like this. Here's two women to pop +your question to; here is a minister on hand; here's +me and the young woman what don't get chosen, for +witnesses; here's all them white caps skippin' over the +water; and here's this clean stretch of sand. There +couldn't be a better place for a sailor to be married in +than jes here.'</p> + +<p>"'But I tell you, Sam,' said Abner, a little querulously, +'I didn't come here to marry one of them +women. I didn't start on this trip to make fast to +the fust female person I might fall in with. I set out +on a week's cruise, and I want to see a lot of them +afore I make a ch'ice.'</p> + +<p>"'I tell you, cap'n,' said Sam, very earnestly, 'it +won't do. You might hang round Thompsontown for +a year, and you wouldn't find any two such women as +them two. Here they are, two kinds to pick from: +one of them as ripe as a peach, and the other like a +cross between a cricket and a blossom. And you've +got no time to fool away. When the sun goes down +you've got to sail back to Thompsontown, and then +one will go one way and the other another, and where +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +the minister will go to, nobody knows. They'll all be +scattered and out of sight, and this glorious chance +you've got might as well be at the bottom of the sea. +Now, cap'n, I tell you, this thing that's right afore you +is what you come for. Jes you listen to what I say +to you: you go to that Mrs. Sickles and let her see +how you're standin' and what your course is. She's +no fool, and she can see the sense of gettin' over a sandbar +at high tide jes as well as you can.'</p> + +<p>"Captain Abner hesitated a moment. 'She's a +mighty fine woman, Sam,' said he, 'but if I go and set +the case afore her, and she agrees to ship with me, +then I can't ask the other one, and there might as well +be no other one; and she's as pert a little clipper +as ever I seed, Sam, and she likes sailin', that she does.'</p> + +<p>"'Now don't you worry about that,' said Sam. +'You jes say all you've got to say to her, and hear all +she's got to say, but don't sign no papers and take +her aboard until you talk to that other girl. Now +hurry up, and walk along the beach a little further +off.'</p> + +<p>"Without waiting for an answer, Sam Twitty galloped +away, or that was what he would have done +had he been a sheep-dog. He darted in between Mrs. Sickles +and her companions; he turned her down the +beach; he talked to her in rapid snaps about the sea, +the sky, the sand, and before she knew it he had +driven her alongside of Captain Abner. Then, with +what might have been compared to a bark of satisfaction, +he bounced away to join the others, who were +looking for shells.</p> + +<p>"In about ten minutes Sam Twitty's port eye told +him that Captain Abner and the toll-gate woman +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +were approaching, but in Abner there were signs +of a disposition to fall back. In an instant he had +bounded between them and was showing shells to the +widow. Then, letting her go on by herself, he turned +sharply upon Abner.</p> + +<p>"'Well,' said he, their heads close together, 'what +did she say? Is she all right?'</p> + +<p>"Captain Abner threw a glance over the water as if +his soul were yearning for the fancied possibilities of +Thompsontown. 'Oh, it's all right enough, so far as +she counts,' said he. 'I went straight at it, and put +the whole thing afore her. I told her about the house +and the two parts to it and what they was for, and +she said that was charmin'. And I told her about +the king conch-shell and the gilded idol, and she said +she thought either one of them would be jes lovely, +and nothin', she thought, could be better on mantelpieces +than gilded idols and king conch-shells. And +everything else was jes as slick and smooth as if she +was slidin' off the stocks. She's good-lookin' enough, +Sam, but she ain't got no mind, and I didn't fix up +that house, and bother myself year in and year out +a-gettin' it all right, to take it and give it to a woman +what's got no mind. She'd be jes as well satisfied to +see me a-settin' up on the mantelpiece as if the gilded +idol or the king conch-shell was there.'</p> + +<p>"'And she don't suit you?' asked Sam, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"'No, sir,' replied the other; 'she don't suit.'</p> + +<p>"'All right!' exclaimed the ever-ready Sam; 'jes +you wait where you are one minute.' In less than that +time the agile Sam had rounded up Miss Denby and +had her walking along the beach by the side of Captain +Abner, and whether she thought that skilful +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +skipper was going to show her some rare seaweed or +the state of his mind, Sam considered not for one +minute. He had brought the two together, and that +was all he cared about.</p> + +<p>"The good Mrs. Sickles was standing alone, reflectively +gazing upon the little waves, so Sam had no +trouble in carrying off the minister to a little distance +for confidential remarks.</p> + +<p>"'I want you to tell me, sir,' said he, 'if there is +any law ag'in' your marryin' a party on the sea-shore, +especially when one of them is a sailor?'</p> + +<p>"Mr. Rippledean laughed. 'As I am a regularly ordained +minister, I can perform a marriage anywhere,' +said he, 'provided the parties are of legal age, and +there are no objections. But what are you talking +about? Who wants to be married?'</p> + +<p>"'I can't say jes now,' answered Sam; 'matters +isn't settled yet: but everything is goin' ahead lively +with a stiff breeze, and I guess we'll get into soundin's +pretty soon. I only spoke to you to know if you'd +be all right when the couple's ready.'</p> + +<p>"'There is nothing the matter with me,' said the +young man; 'but I would like to know—'</p> + +<p>"'Jes you lay to for a while,' said Sam, 'and I'll +tell you all about it.' And then, noticing that Mrs. Sickles +was glancing toward the captain and his companion +as if she thought to join them, he dashed out +upon her to cut her off.</p> + +<p>"Meanwhile Miss Denby, with glowing eyes, was +saying: 'Yes, I do love to sail, and to sail in a small +boat, close to the water, almost as if I were in it, skimming +like a bird with my wings dipping. Oh, it is +grand! And you have a sail-boat?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>"And the captain answered: 'Indeed I have, and +there's none better, either for sailing on the wind, or +before the wind, or with next to no wind at all.'</p> + +<p>"'How wonderfully you must sail it! I could not +keep my eyes off you as you brought us over here. +It was grand! You made her do anything you +pleased.'</p> + +<p>"The captain smiled and nodded. 'But I think of +my house as much as I do of my boat, miss,' said he. +'I've got a mighty nice parlor that's as good as any +ship's cabin. And now let me put this p'int to you: +if you had a big king conch-shell, the prettiest you +ever seed, and it was on the middle of the mantelpiece, +and you had a gilded idol in another place, +would you put the idol where the conch-shell was, +and the conch-shell where the idol was, or would you +leave 'em both jes where they was afore?'</p> + +<p>"The young woman laughed merrily. 'What kind +of an idol would it be?' she asked. 'A beautiful +piece of carving?'</p> + +<p>"''Tain't that,' said Captain Abner; 'it's jes a piece +of wood whittled out by a heathen; but it used to be +in a temple, and it's gilded all over.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, dear!' said she, 'I don't think much of that +sort of an idol. I might like to be a gilded idol myself, +if I had the right person to worship me. But as +for a wooden idol, I wouldn't put that on the mantelpiece, +and I am of the same opinion as to the conch-shell.'</p> + +<p>"'But it's a king conch-shell,' said the captain.</p> + +<p>"'I don't care,' said she; 'king or queen, it would be +all the same to me. But if I were you I think I'd be +most of the time in the boat. What is a house, no +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +matter what it has in it, compared to a boat dancing +over the waves and speeding before the wind?'</p> + +<p>"Captain Abner looked at her. 'I expect you'd +like to learn to steer, wouldn't you?'</p> + +<p>"'Indeed I would,' she answered. 'There is nothing +I would like better.'</p> + +<p>"Captain Abner put his hands into his pockets and +gently whistled, and, leaving him, Miss Denby ran to +join the toll-gate woman. Down swooped Sam Twitty.</p> + +<p>"'Is it all right?' he whispered to Abner.</p> + +<p>"'All up,' the other answered, 'and I'm glad of it. +She don't want no gilded idol, and she don't want +no king conch-shell. She wants her hand on the +tiller, that's what she wants. She's got too much +mind for me. After I've been workin' year in and +year out a-gettin' my affairs the way I wants them, +I don't fancy anybody comin' down on me and takin' +the tiller out of my hands.'</p> + +<p>"Sam made two or three steps forward, and then +he stood gazing in the direction of the setting sun. +Resting on one slippered foot and extending the other +before him, he folded his arms and remained a few +moments wrapped in thought. Suddenly he turned.</p> + +<p>"'Cap'n Abner,' he cried, 'it won't do to sink this +chance! It'll never pop up ag'in. You must have +spoke pretty plain to that toll-gate woman, considerin' +the way she's been turnin' it over in her +mind.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, I did,' said Captain Abner, 'and that's the +way I found out what she was. But I didn't ask her +to ship with me.'</p> + +<p>"'And you don't want her to?' said Sam.</p> + +<p>"'No, I don't.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>"'And you don't want the other one, nuther?'</p> + +<p>"'No, I don't,' replied Captain Abner, doggedly. +'I don't want nuther of 'em. And I say, Sam, the +sun's gettin' down and it's about time for us to be +settin' sail.'</p> + +<p>"'There's a good stretch of sky under that sun yet,' +said Sam, 'and jes you wait a bit, cap'n.'</p> + +<p>"Sam Twitty walked slowly along the sandy beach; +he looked as a sheep-dog might look who was wondering +within himself whether or not he had brought +back from the fields as many sheep as he had taken +out. He stopped, and looked about at the party. +Captain Abner was walking toward the boat; the +minister and the Denby girl were standing together, +comparing shells; the toll-gate woman was strolling +by herself a little higher up the beach, still in a reflective +mood. Sam gazed from his companions to +the sky, the water, the beautiful glistening sands.</p> + +<p>"'It's a shame to lose all this,' he said to himself; +'it's a burnin' shame to sink it all.' Then suddenly, +as if his master had whistled, he sped to the side of +Mrs. Sickles. Backward and forward these two +walked, Sam talking earnestly and the toll-gate +woman listening with great interest. Captain Abner +now and then gave them an impatient glance, but +the other couple did not regard them at all.</p> + +<p>"'But, Mr. Twitty,' said Mrs. Sickles, 'this is so unexpected. +I had an idea of the kind about Cap'n +Abner, for I could not help it, but you—really! I've +heard of you often, Mr. Twitty, but I never saw you +until to-day.'</p> + +<p>"'Now, Mrs. Sickles,' said Sam, 'you couldn't have +had a better day to see me in, if you'd waited a year; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +and a-speakin' quick and sharp as I've got to do, for +the sun's keepin' on goin' down, there couldn't be a +better day to marry me in.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, Mr. Twitty!' cried Mrs. Sickles, with flushed +face.</p> + +<p>"'There couldn't be a better time or a better place,' +said Sam, 'and a minister right here, and two witnesses.'</p> + +<p>"'But, Mr. Twitty,' said she, 'I really thought that +Cap'n Budlong—and from what he told me about his +house and his things—'</p> + +<p>"'Cap'n Abner is one of the finest men in this +world,' interrupted Sam, 'and he's got a fust-class +house, and I ain't got none, and he's got all sorts of +things from all parts of the world that he's put in it. +But I can get a house and things to put in it, and I +can do without gilded idols and king conch-shells, +and, what's still more to the p'int, Mrs. Sickles, I +wants you, and he don't.'</p> + +<p>"'There's something in that,' said the toll-gate +woman, and then she added: 'but as to marryin' you +here and now, Mr. Twitty, it's not to be thought of.'</p> + +<p>"Sam walked slowly away; one might have thought +his head drooped under a rebuke. He approached +the young minister and the girl of the buggy.</p> + +<p>"'Look a' here,' said he to the former; 'you don't +mean to say, sir, that you'd back out of marryin' a +couple right here and now, that was growed up and +of full age, and nothin' to hinder.'</p> + +<p>"'Marry!' cried Miss Denby. 'A wedding right +here on this beautiful island! Oh, that would be +glorious! Who wants to be married?'</p> + +<p>"'I do,' said Sam.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>"They both laughed. 'But the other person?' +asked Mr. Rippledean. 'There must be a bride if +you want a wedding.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, the bride'll be Mrs. Sickles,' said Sam. 'But +the trouble is she ain't altogether willin'.'</p> + +<p>"'I told you,' said the merry Miss Denby—'you +know I told you that you are the funniest people I +ever met, and you truly are. People generally come +to an agreement between themselves before they speak +to the clergyman.'</p> + +<p>"'Mr. Twitty,' said the clergyman, 'I strongly +advise you to give up your present notions of immediate +matrimony, and wait at least until all parties +agree upon time and place and upon the other circumstances +of this union for which you seem so impatient.'</p> + +<p>"'Hello, Sam!' shouted Captain Abner from the +water's edge, 'ain't you comin' along?'</p> + +<p>"Sam made no answer to any one. He walked +silently down toward the boat. Everything seemed +to be breaking loose from him, and slipping away. +His old friend, who had so long wanted her, and who +had prepared his house for her, and had set out to +look for her, had declined to take her when he saw +her; and he, Sam, who had so thoroughly understood +the opportunities which had been spread before the +little party that afternoon, and who knew what would +happen if these opportunities were allowed to slip out +of sight, had been set aside by one woman, laughed at +by another, had been advised by a clergyman, and +had been scolded by Captain Abner. His soul resented +all this, and he saw that the edge of the sun +was nearly touching the rim of the distant sea. With +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +a great slap upon his thigh, he sprang to the side of +the boat, and turned and faced the others, all of +whom were now approaching him.</p> + +<p>"'I am to sail this boat back to Thompsontown,' he +cried. 'It's been agreed I'm to do it, and I'm goin' +to do it; but one thing I'll tell you—the sun can go +down, the night can come on, and you can all stay +here till mornin' if you like, but this boat don't leave +this island with me at the helm till I'm a married +man!' With this he skipped on board, sat down in +the stern, and clapped his broad hands on the tiller.</p> + +<p>"There was a burst of astonishment from the rest +of the party as Sam thus seated himself at bay. Even +the girl of the buggy did not laugh.</p> + +<p>"'But I must go home,' she cried, 'before it is any +later. My friends will be waiting supper for me.'</p> + +<p>"'Don't matter,' said Sam. 'Supper can wait.'</p> + +<p>"'Look a' here,' said Captain Abner.</p> + +<p>"'I don't want to look a' here,' said Sam. 'I'm +a-lookin' a different way, and it's Mrs. Sickles I'm +lookin' at. And you needn't none of you look cross +at me. I'm to steer this boat home, that's settled, +and I don't steer her an inch till I'm a married man.'</p> + +<p>"The others gathered together on the beach and +gazed with varied emotions upon the determined +figure of Sam as he sat in the stern, his arm resting +upon the tiller and one leg crossed leisurely over the +other, his protruding slipper lighted up by the rays +of the setting sun.</p> + +<p>"'What is the matter with him?' asked Mr. Rippledean. +'Is he crazy? Does he really think of +forcing us to remain here until he shall be married? +I never heard anything—'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>"'So delightfully absurd,' interrupted Miss Denby.</p> + +<p>"'There's nothin' crazy about Sam Twitty,' said +Captain Abner. 'He's as sound as a nut, body and +soul. But when Sam makes up his mind he sticks to +it. Now sometimes when I make up my mind I don't +stick to it. He's a good man all around, and he's got +enough to live on, though he never was a cap'n; but +you couldn't find a better fust mate than him, or a +better sailor, except perhaps somebody what's had a +leetle more experience. Sam made up his mind that +we was all comin' out here for a weddin', everything +fallin' together exactly to suit, wind and tide and +everything else. But Sam ain't goin' to force nobody +to do nothin'; he ain't that kind. All he's goin' to +do is to stay here till he's married.'</p> + +<p>"The girl of the buggy clapped her hands. 'Oh, +that is fine!' she cried. 'It is like lifting you up on a +horse and dashing away with you. Oh, dear Mrs. Sickles, +take pity on him and on all of us. If you do +not, I shall have to talk to him myself and see if I—'</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Sickles was not inclined to give attention to +any such idle words as these, and she stepped up to +Captain Abner.</p> + +<p>"'You seem to think very well of Mr. Twitty, sir,' +she said.</p> + +<p>"'Indeed I do,' he answered. 'There ain't nobody +I think more of, on watch or below, in storm or fine +weather, take him as you find him, than I do of him.'</p> + +<p>"Sam Twitty had not heard any of the remarks +which had been made on shore; he had been communing +with himself: but now his active mind would +no longer permit him to sit still. Springing to his +feet, he stepped forward and stood up in the bow of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +the boat, and cast his eye over the little party in +front of him. Then he spoke:</p> + +<p>"'Mrs. Sickles, I want to put a p'int to you that's +been put to you afore, but I want to put it a little +different. If there was a gilded idol and a king +conch-shell that you knowed of, and you was asked +which of them you would like to have for your own, +and you only could have one—'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, dear!' exclaimed Miss Denby, 'here is that +delightful gilded idol and conch-shell again! I wonder +what they will do now!'</p> + +<p>"The toll-gate woman was paling and flushing, and +these changes of countenance, combined with her becoming +summer dress and her straw hat, made her +very attractive to the eye. Without waiting for Sam +to finish his remarks, she spoke:</p> + +<p>"'I am very sure, Mr. Twitty, that both the things +you mention, from what I have heard of them, would +be very nice and pleasant; but you see, Mr. Twitty, +I don't—'</p> + +<p>"Sam suddenly stepped upon the rail, steadying +himself by the mast. 'Mrs. Sickles,' he cried, 'I'll +put it plainer to you: supposing you couldn't get +the gilded idol?'</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Sickles now saw very clearly that there was +no more time for hesitation. She stepped a little forward.</p> + +<p>"'In that case,' she said, 'I'd take the conch-shell.'</p> + +<p>"With a bound, Sam Twitty sprang from the shore, +and the next moment he had seized the blushing Mrs. Sickles +by the hand. For a moment he gazed proudly +around, the sunset light casting a ruddy glow upon +his countenance which made it almost as rosy as that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +of his companion. Then he tucked her under his +arm and turned toward the minister.</p> + +<p>"'Please step this way, Mr. Rippledean,' he said. +'That little bluff there, with grass on it, is the place +I've picked out for the ceremony. And, Cap'n Abner, +I'll ask you and that young woman to follow along +after us and stand up for witnesses.'</p> + +<p>"Just as the upper edge of the sun disappeared +beneath the glowing sea, the name of Sickles departed +from observation and recognition on that line of +longitude. But in the glow upon the faces of Mr. +and Mrs. Twitty there was nothing to remind one of +a sunset sky. It might have been supposed, rather, +that they were gazing eastward, and that the morn +was glorious.</p> + +<p>"Having gravely saluted his bride, Sam lifted up +his voice. He was used to that sort of thing, for he +had been a boatswain. 'Cap'n Abner Budlong,' he +exclaimed, 'step aft and kiss the bride!'</p> + +<p>"When this command had been obeyed with urbane +alacrity, Sam called out again, very much as if he +were piping all hands to osculation: 'Rev. Mr. Rippledean, +step aft and kiss the bride!'</p> + +<p>"When the minister had retired from the performance +of his duty, Sam cast a speaking glance in the +direction of Miss Denby. He looked as if he would +say that on this occasion it was a great pity that +any one should be left out. The girl of the buggy +understood his glance, and lifted up her voice in +laughter.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no, Mr. Twitty,' said she, 'it is not the custom +to kiss witnesses.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' answered Mrs. Twitty, in tones of approbation; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +and these were the first words she spoke after +she had ceased to be Sickles.</p> + +<p>"As that boat of blissfulness sped across the bay, +speeding along under a strong breeze from the west, +under a sky full of orange-colored clouds, Sam +Twitty's strong hand grasped the tiller with an +energy which would have been sufficient for the +guidance of a ship of the line. As the thin sheets of +water curled over the lee scuppers of the boat, the +right hand which held Sam's left never trembled +nor tightened its hold; and when the clergyman, sitting +by Miss Denby, asked her if she felt at all afraid, +she cheerily replied:</p> + +<p>"'Not with the gilded idol and the king conch-shell +both on board—no, not I!'</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"The honeymoon of Mr. and Mrs. Twitty was spent +in Thompsontown, and lasted three days; for at the +end of that time the bride's brother demanded to be +released from the care of the toll-gate, having other +duties which were incumbent upon him. But when +Sam and his wife spoke of leaving the Spinnaker +Boom, Captain Abner was perfectly willing to go with +them. His face bore an expression of contented resignation.</p> + +<p>"'I will drive you two back, Sam,' said he. +''Tain't no more use for me to stay here. I don't +believe I'll find her, and I give it up.'</p> + +<p>"On the way home the happy Mr. Twitty burst out +laughing. 'It do seem awful comical, Cap'n Abner,' +said he, 'that, after all we said about comin' home, +that me and her should be a-settin' on the back seat +and you a-drivin' in front alone.' And when this +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +remark was explained to Mrs. Twitty she laughed +very heartily indeed.</p> + +<p>"Sam did not go directly back to Shamrick. His +wife had a good house, and could not, without due +notice, give up her public office, and so he determined +to remain, for the present, in the very pleasant quarters +thus afforded him. But he vowed with considerable +vehemence that Mrs. Twitty should keep the +toll-gate no more; this duty, so long as it had to be +performed, he would take upon himself, and he found +it a most congenial and interesting occupation.</p> + +<p>"'Like it!' he exclaimed to his wife, after his first +day's experience. 'It's as interestin' as readin' the +weekly paper. Everybody that comes along seems +ready for some different kind of chat. And when +that young woman with the buggy happens to be +drivin' this way, she don't pay no toll. I'll pay for +her myself, every time, on account of her services as +witness.'</p> + +<p>"'No, you don't, Sam Twitty,' remarked his consort; +'that young woman pays her own toll, every time. +While I'm here I don't want no changes in the customs +of this toll-gate.'</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"It was about a fortnight after Sam Twitty's wedding +that that well-satisfied individual, being called +to the gate by the sound of wheels, beheld a buggy, +and Miss Denby sitting therein. In answer to Sam's +cheerful greeting, she did not laugh, nor even smile.</p> + +<p>"'I saw your friend Captain Abner about a week +ago,' she said, 'as I drove through Shamrick, and he +looked dreadfully solemn. I think his disappointment +is wearing on him. It is a great pity that a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +man who can sail a boat as he can should have a +moment's sorrow on this earth. It almost made me +feel sorry he found out I wanted to learn to steer. +I think that was the only barrier between us. +And he would have taken me out sailing every fine +day!'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no, no,' said Sam; 'that would never have +done. You could never have kept your hands off the +tiller. If he had known what was good for him he +would have married her.' These words he spoke in +a confidential tone, and pointed with his thumb behind +him. 'But he had the chance, and he didn't +take it, and now I don't wonder he's doleful.'</p> + +<p>"'You ought to go and try to cheer him up,' said +Miss Denby, gathering up the reins. 'Do you expect +to go on keeping this toll-gate, Mr. Twitty?'</p> + +<p>"'I'd like to,' said Sam, 'if you're goin' to keep on +travellin' this way.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh!' said Miss Denby, with a reproving smile.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, indeed,' said Sam; 'for it reminds me of such +a happy day.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh!' said Miss Denby, as she drove away with her +nose in the air.</p> + +<p>"A few days after this Sam did go to Shamrick, +and walking on the street he met Captain Abner; but, +to his surprise, that individual did not look at all +doleful. There was a half-smile on his lips, and his +step was buoyant. The two old friends clasped hands +with much heartiness.</p> + +<p>"'You are as gay as a pot of red paint,' said Sam. +'You must be feelin' well.'</p> + +<p>"'I should say so,' said Abner; and then, after a +portentous pause, he added: 'I've got her.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>"'Got her!' exclaimed Sam, in amazement. 'Where +did you get her?'</p> + +<p>"'Got her here.'</p> + +<p>"'And who is it you've got?'</p> + +<p>"'Susan Shellbark.'</p> + +<p>"'Susan Shellbark!' cried Sam. 'You don't mean +to say that!'</p> + +<p>"'It's Susan Shellbark, and I do mean to say that.'</p> + +<p>"'Why, you've known her all your life,' said Sam.</p> + +<p>"'All my life,' was the answer.</p> + +<p>"'Then why didn't you take her afore?' asked his +friend.</p> + +<p>"'Because I hadn't been to Thompsontown to see +what I could get there. Of course I didn't want to +take anybody here until I found out what there was +in Thompsontown. Now I know there ain't nothin' +for me there.'</p> + +<p>"'And so you take Susan Shellbark!' interrupted +Sam.</p> + +<p>"'And so I take Susan Shellbark.'</p> + +<p>"Sam looked at his friend for a moment, and then +burst out laughing. 'Give me your hand,' he cried. +'I'm mighty glad you've got Susan Shellbark, and +I'm mighty glad you went to Thompsontown.'</p> + +<p>"'So am I,' said Captain Abner. 'If I hadn't gone +to Thompsontown I'd never have got Susan Shellbark.'</p> + +<p>"'That's so,' cried Sam. 'And if you hadn't made +up your mind to go to Thompsontown, you and me'd +never got stuck at the toll-gate with nothin' but a +five-dollar note. I'm mighty glad we was stuck, +Cap'n Abner; I'm mighty glad we was stuck!'</p> + +<p>"Thereupon the two friends shook hands again.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>"'But there is one thing I want to ask,' said Sam. +'What about the gilded idol and the king conch-shell?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, that's all right,' said Captain Abner; 'they're +both to go on to the mantelpiece, one on one end, +and t'other on the other. That's to be the way with +everything we've got. You've knowed Susan Shellbark +as long as I have, Sam, and you know she'll stick +to that bargain.'</p> + +<p>"'That's so,' said Sam; 'she'll stick to that bargain. +Both of you'll be on the mantelpiece, one on one end, +and the other on t'other.'"</p> + +<p>"And what became of the girl in the buggy?" asked +the Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p>"Her later history is unknown to me," said the +Master of the House.</p> + +<p>"I have not made up my mind about that story, +papa," said the Daughter of the House. "It is not +altogether satisfactory."</p> + +<p>"But very much what usually happens," said John +Gayther, in an undertone.</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>THE FRENCHMAN</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>MY BALLOON HUNT</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI">VI</a><br /> +MY BALLOON HUNT</h2> + + +<p>The next morning, after breakfast, the Mistress +of the House and John Gayther were walking +through the garden together, for her quick eye had +detected much that needed attention. Some things +she had already decided upon, but there were others +in which she thought it best to ask John's advice. +They did not always agree; in fact, they were seldom +in exact accord: but both were sensible, and he reasoned +that, as mistress, she ought to do as she pleased; +and she reasoned that, as he had learned the business +and she had not, it was just to him and to herself that +he should, on many points, be allowed his own way.</p> + +<p>The orchard was really a continuation of the lower +terrace of the garden, but the Mistress had not been +there for some time. "A great many pears, John," +she commented as they strolled under the trees; "a +fair show of apples: but there are no plums at all."</p> + +<p>"Plums have their seasons," said John, sententiously. +"They are not always falling in one's way; and these +are choice plums and don't come promiscuous—sorter +scattered like."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if John means that for philosophy," +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +thought the Mistress. Then aloud: "My daughter +brought me a luscious one yesterday, and, really, it +looks as if she had gathered the only one."</p> + +<p>"Bless her heart!" said John, fervently, "I hope +she's goin' to pick them up all along the way she +goes."</p> + +<p>"That is too much to hope for any one, John," said +the Mistress, as they turned to go up into the garden; +but in her heart she had the very same hope.</p> + +<p>They walked through two terraces filled with luxuriant +vegetables and bordered by small fruits, now +out of season; then on to the third terrace, bordered +by currant-bushes, beautiful now to look upon, hung +as they were with a profusion of red tassels. And +here there came to them an almost overpowering fragrance; +for on the terrace above were great beds of +lilies, now in their glory—lilies from many climes, +lilies of many hues: great white spikes, small pink +clusters, spotted, striped, variegated, white with borders +of all colors, even black (or purple so dark it +looked black), all standing proudly in the sunshine, +and sending to heaven their incense of gratitude.</p> + +<p>It was a gorgeous sight, and the two looked at it +with delight and a good deal of pride, for it was the +design and the handiwork of both.</p> + +<p>Then they saw, behind all this glory, a group of +people disposed in various comfortable positions about +the little summer-house on the upper terrace, where +the view was finest.</p> + +<p>There was the Master of the House in the big garden-chair; +there was the Frenchman, seated on a low +grassy knoll; there was the Daughter of the House on +the bench she liked; and beside her was the Next +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +Neighbor, who was an intimate friend of the Daughter +of the House, and, therefore, a frequent visitor. +The nearest house was not in sight, but it could be +reached in a moderate walk. Its mistress was a young +married woman, very pretty to look at and of a lively +turn of mind. She waved her hand to the Mistress, +while the Master called out: "Come up here, you +two! We are waiting for you." When the two +complied with the command, the Master continued: +"Now make yourselves comfortable and listen to a +story our guest has promised us."</p> + +<p>The Mistress of the House willingly took the rustic +chair the Frenchman brought forward, but John Gayther +had no wish to hear the Frenchman's story. He +had no fancy for the man, and he did not believe he +would fancy his story. "Excuse me," he said to the +Master of the House, "but I see that boy Jacob coming +through the gate, and I must go with him to weed +the melon-bed."</p> + +<p>"You will do nothing of the kind," said the Master +of the House; "let the boy weed it alone."</p> + +<p>"Never!" cried John, in horror. "He will trample +on all the vines!"</p> + +<p>"Then tell him to do something else." And, without +waiting for John to give the order, he called out: +"Ahoy, there, boy! Clear out of this garden!"</p> + +<p>The boy vanished with celerity, and John Gayther +sank upon his stool with an air of resignation. But +no sooner had the Frenchman uttered a few sentences +than he brightened up, and not only listened attentively +but put aside the disagreeable feeling he had +had for him. The beginning of the narrative lifted a +load from his mind.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>The Frenchman, having again betaken himself to +the grassy mound, began in an easy, airy way:</p> + +<p>"I am a sportsman as well as a Frenchman. It +seems hardly necessary to mention both of these +things at once, for in my mind they naturally go +together. I am expert in many kinds of sports, and +it pleases me much, when engaged in such recreations, +to employ my mind as well as my body, and in so +doing I frequently devise methods of pursuing my +favorite sports which are never made use of by ordinary +and unimaginative persons.</p> + +<p>"My Irene—she is my wife—is also addicted to +sport. It was partly for this reason that I married +her. It is not always by sharing my dangers and my +glories that my dear Irene shows her passion for the +outdoor sports which are so fascinating to me; it is +often that she does this merely by sympathy. She +can remain at home and think of me in the field or +on the stream, and be happy. When I return she +welcomes, she appreciates. If I overstay my time I +do not give myself worry—I know that she will +understand that there are contingencies. When she +greets me there are no reproaches. She is the wife +for a sportsman!</p> + +<p>"But it is not always that I rely simply upon the +sympathy of my Irene. It was not so when I went in +a balloon to hunt tigers. She was then at my side, +for there was no other place where she would have +been satisfied, or where I would have had her. There +are vicissitudes which should be faced together by +those who love.</p> + +<p>"I had long wished to hunt tigers, and it had come +into my head that it would be a grand and novel idea, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +and also extremely practicable, to shoot at these savage +creatures from a balloon. This would be an exhilarating +sensation, and it would be safe. In no +other way would I take my Irene with me when +tiger-hunting; and in no other way, I freely admit, +would I be very desirous of going myself.</p> + +<p>"I have heard that one of my countrymen had +himself shut up in a stout cage and conveyed to a +region infested by tigers. There, with his rifle, he +sat comfortably in a chair, with a lantern on a table +near by. When, at night, the tigers crowded round +his cage, he shot them. But this would not have +suited me. Suppose a bar of the cage should have +been broken!</p> + +<p>"But in a balloon it would be different. Poised in +the air a moderate distance above the ground, I +could shoot at tigers beneath me and laugh at their +efforts to reach my height. Therefore it was that I +determined to hunt my tigers in a balloon. Irene +screamed when I mentioned this plan, but she did +not refuse to go with me. She had been in balloons, +but she had never seen an unrestricted tiger. Now +she could enjoy these two pleasures at once, and be +with me.</p> + +<p>"This happened in French Tonkin. We were in +a little outlying town where there was a garrison, and +some engineers who made military observations in a +balloon. This was a captive balloon not employed for +independent ascensions, and from some of the officers, +who were my friends, I procured it for my projected +tiger hunt. They were all much interested in my +expedition, for if it succeeded there would be a new +variety of sport in this monotonous region.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>"The balloon was supplied with gas sufficient to +carry myself and my Irene, with rifles, provisions, and +various necessities, and its lifting power was so proportioned +to the weight it carried as to keep it at the +height of an ordinary church steeple above the earth.</p> + +<p>"About ten miles from the town there was a long +stretch of desert and barren land, extending for +about a quarter of a mile from a jungle and forest to +a river; and here, I was told, tigers were often to be +found, sometimes crossing the open country to slake +their thirst at the stream, but more frequently to +prevent antelopes and other tender animals from +slaking their thirst. There could be no better spot +than this for my experiment.</p> + +<p>"Our journey to the hunting-ground was most delightful. +Seating ourselves in the commodious car +which hung beneath the balloon, we rose to the height +of the rope which restrained its ascent. The lower +end of this rope was then seized by natives, active +and strong, who ran along, pulling the balloon above +them. It was the most comfortable method of progression +that I had ever known. There were no jars, +scarcely any sense of motion. The great overhanging +balloon sheltered us from the sun; we leaned over +the side of the car, surveyed the landscape, and +breathed the fresh morning air. Then we breakfasted +and smoked our cigarettes. I was happy; my Irene +was happy. We could have journeyed thus for days.</p> + +<p>"But when we came to the appointed place we prepared +for business. We had with us a machine for +anchoring the balloon, and the natives immediately +went to work to drive this deeply into the soil, about +half-way between the water and the jungle, so that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +we might be moored at a proper distance above the +ground. There was no wind; the balloon hung almost +motionless. It had been arranged that when +it should be properly attached the natives should +leave us, and return in the evening to pull us back to +the town, and to carry away the skins of the tigers we +had killed.</p> + +<p>"It was truly luxurious hunting! The rifle of my +Irene was light and suitable for a lady; mine was of +the most improved pattern. We had another one in +case of emergencies. We sat and looked down upon +the men, urging them to hasten their work and be +gone; we were longing for our sport.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly there was a cry from one of the natives. +Gazing toward the jungle, he yelled: 'A tiger! a +tiger!' Instantly our hearts stopped beating and +our eyes were turned toward the jungle. There, +against the matted leaves and stalks, was a mass of +yellow and black—half a tiger. In the bright sunlight +we could see it plainly. It had been roused by +the noise of the pounding, and was gazing out to see +what was the matter. With one united scream, the +natives shot away. They scattered; they disappeared +utterly and at once. Where they went I know not. +We never saw them again. We did not even think +of them. Our eyes were set fast upon the black and +yellow stripes and the great head. Without volition +I grasped my rifle. Irene put her hand upon her +weapon, but I whispered to her not to move.</p> + +<p>"The tiger came slowly out of the jungle so that +we could see him clearly; then he walked toward us. +I clutched my rifle still more tightly.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly Irene whispered to me: 'We are not +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +fastened; those men did not attach the rope; and we +may drift away from him, perhaps across the river, +and so lose him. Is it too far for a shot?'</p> + +<p>"'Entirely, entirely,' I answered; 'we must wait: +and if we do drift across the river we may find some +other game there. Be quiet!'</p> + +<p>"So we both were quiet; but the balloon did not +drift: there was no wind.</p> + +<p>"The tiger moved gently toward us; it was dreadful +to remain thus motionless and see him come on. He +had paid no attention to the escaping natives: he +was giving his mind entirely to our balloon. He +looked up at us, and he looked down at the end of the +rope, a yard or two of which was moving about like a +snake as the balloon veered a little this way and that.</p> + +<p>"This seemed to interest the tiger. He stopped +for a few moments and looked at it. He was now +near enough for us to observe him closely. We did +so with breathless interest. He was a long tiger, and +very thin; his flabby flanks seemed to indicate that +he was hungry. Suddenly he gave a quick bound; +he ceased to regard the balloon; his eyes were fixed +upon the end of the rope. With great leaps he +reached it. He arched his back and looked at it as +it moved, then he put one paw upon it. We leaned +over the edge of the car and watched him.</p> + +<p>"The rope was so attached that by putting out her +arm Irene could reach it. She seized it and made +the lower end of it move more quickly on the ground. +The tiger gave a jump, with his eyes on the rope. +Then he leaped forward, and over and over again he +put his foot upon it and quickly jerked it away.</p> + +<p>"'What are you doing?' I whispered. 'Are you +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +mad? You may enrage him. Do not touch the +rope! Do not touch it again!' Oh, the recklessness, +the unthinking playfulness of woman! How can we +guard against it? How can we be safe from it?</p> + +<p>"The rope was now still for a moment. It ceased +to interest the tiger, and he looked upward. Suddenly +an idea came into his head. He seized the +rope in his great jaws, and gave a powerful jump +backward. Oh, what a jerk, what a shock! It was +worse than an earthquake. It was like a great throb +from the heart of the tiger to the heart of the man. +I must have turned pale. Did he intend to haul us +down? This fearsome thought vented itself in smothered +ejaculations, and Irene turned to me and spoke +in her usual voice:</p> + +<p>"'He cannot do that, for it is impossible for him to +haul us down hand over hand or paw over paw. He +is only playing. The rope amuses him. And we +need not speak in whispers; even if he hears us he +cannot understand us. Is it not time to shoot?'</p> + +<p>"She is so precipitate, my Irene. I love her, but +she lacks that prudent hesitancy which so often gives +a man his power over circumstances.</p> + +<p>"Still I considered the case: if I were going to +shoot at all, this was surely a good time. Everything +had come so suddenly that I had not had time to collect +myself, to prepare for action.</p> + +<p>"I looked steadfastly down at the beast, and so did +my Irene. I was becoming calmer. He looked up at +us with an air of concentration; he paid no more attention +to the rope.</p> + +<p>"I lifted my rifle; I scrutinized its every portion; +it was in order. Then I leaned over the edge of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +car and pointed it downward. I aimed it between +his great, earnest eyes, into the very middle of his +thoughtful and observant countenance. I pulled the +trigger; the explosion shook the car.</p> + +<p>"Up from the ground there came a sudden, startling +roar. At first I could not see the tiger, but when the +smoke moved away I found myself gazing down into +his savage, blazing eyes. Roar after roar came up; +he sprang from side to side; his tail stiffened and +curled, and when he opened his vast mouth, showing +the cavern of his throat, his red tongue, and his long +white teeth, a shiver ran through me. Instinctively +I grasped my Irene by the arm.</p> + +<p>"'I do not believe you hit him,' said she. 'See how +he bounds! He cannot be hurt. It must be difficult +to aim directly downward, but let me try.'</p> + +<p>"I did not forbid her. Even by chance she might +strike that awful beast in some vital part. She took +a long, deliberate aim, and as she fired the tiger gave +a veritable scream.</p> + +<p>"'Ah, ha!' I cried, 'you hit him. Truly, my Irene, +you hit him.'</p> + +<p>"'But it was only in the toe,' she said. 'See how +he has stopped to lick it with his tongue. I think it +is his littlest toe. It is not much.'</p> + +<p>"Large toe or small one, that tiger was now an +angry beast. Hopping backward a little way, he +now crouched to the ground, and then gave a wild +spring upward. It was heart-sickening as his great +form, with its yellow skin and black stripes, his blazing +eyes, his flashing teeth, and his outspread claws, +rose toward us through the air. Of course he could +not hurt us; we were too high up. Irene's face +flushed. 'That was a great leap,' she said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>"I took up my rifle again. It comforted me to see +what a small jump the beast had made compared to +our distance from the ground. Again I fired, and +this time also I did not hit him. I had never practised +shooting at things almost beneath me; the slightest +motion of Irene disturbed my aim. The report +seemed to infuriate the tiger until he was on the verge +of madness. He jumped from side to side, he roared, +he gnashed his teeth, and it seemed to me that I could +smell his horrid breath coming up toward us.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly he ceased all motion; he crouched upon +the ground; he made no sound; he shut his mouth; +he partly shut his eyes, but they were fixed upon me +immovably, and they were green as emerald.</p> + +<p>"'Now,' said Irene, 'is a good time to take another +shot. Shall I try?'</p> + +<p>"I raised my hand that she might not move. There +was a change coming over the sun. At first I thought +my sight was affected and I did not see well, but it +was not that. Instinctively I gazed upward. A wandering +cloud was slowly moving under the sun. Then +I looked down. The tiger's yellow was not so bright, +his black stripes were not so clear and sharp-cut, and, +more than that, he was coming nearer. The balloon +was slowly descending. The truth flashed upon me. +Deprived of the direct rays of the sun, the gas was +condensing. We were going down, down, slowly but +surely down!</p> + +<p>"A chill ran through me, an awful premonitory +chill. I knew what to do, but there was little I +could do. We carried no ballast, for this was a captive +balloon. What could I throw out? The extra rifle! +Out it went, and fell not far from the tiger; but he +did not move; with his green eyes fixed upon the car, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +he watched it slowly descend. The rifle had relieved +it of a little of its weight, but the middle of the cloud +was thicker than its edge. The gas was still condensing, +the balloon was slowly descending. I became +almost frantic. If my Irene had been any one +else I believe I would have thrown her out. But I +could not throw out my Irene. Besides, she was so +vigorous.</p> + +<p>"It was awful, this steady, this merciless descent. +It was like entering a tomb with a red tongue and +flashing teeth waiting within. The green eyes +gleamed with the malice of a waiting devil biding +his time and knowing that it was drawing near.</p> + +<p>"Down, down we went, and the smell of his horrid +breath came up like the forerunner of a cruel death. +Now a tremor ran through the whole body of the +crouching beast; even his tail trembled like a feather +in the wind. He seemed to press himself nearer and +nearer to the earth. His eyes were fixed steadily +upon the car.</p> + +<p>"I knew what this meant. He was about to spring. +The moment that we should descend sufficiently low, +he would hurl himself into the car; he would not +wait for it to touch the ground.</p> + +<p>"My thoughts raced through my brain. If anything +could be done, it must be done in the next half-minute. +I spoke quickly to Irene.</p> + +<p>"'Do not lose a second,' I said. 'Get out on the +outside of the car; rest lightly upon its edge; hold by +the ropes. I will do the same. At the moment I give +the word you must jump. Both together; do not +hesitate. It will not be much of a fall. We cannot +stay here and have him—'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>"At this instant the tiger gave a tremendous bound +upward, his fore paws, bristling with claws, stretched +over the edge of the car. In that instant I jumped!</p> + +<p>"It was a great leap, and as my feet struck the +ground and my eyes glanced rapidly about me a feeling +of great joy filled my breast. I was on the earth +again, master of myself, and the tiger was not there. +I looked upward. The great beast was drawing up +his hind legs and was climbing into the car, and there +was Irene, my Irene, outside of the car, sitting on +the edge and holding on to the ropes. I had forgotten +to give her the word! How my heart sank! It +was terrible!</p> + +<p>"I now perceived something that almost paralyzed +my every faculty. That balloon was rising. I was a +large man and I was heavier than the tiger; with +its reduced weight the balloon was slowly going upward. +I clasped my hands, I gasped for breath. If +I should call to Irene to jump now she would be +dashed to pieces, the car was already so high. And +then the great truth flashed upon me: 'What matters +it? If she leaps she will be killed; if she does not +leap—' I could not think of it!</p> + +<p>"To be sure, I might seize the rope and pull her +down low enough so that she might safely drop; but +if I did that the tiger might also jump. Oh, what a +position to be in, for one who loves!</p> + +<p>"It was now absolutely impossible for either of +them safely to leap from the car unless I pulled it +down, and my mind was not capable of even considering +such an alternative. To meet him here upon the +ground, in this awful solitude! To die together, but +not in each other's arms; to perish from this bright +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +earth; to reach out to my Irene; to call to her as she +reached out and called to me, when the terrible monster— It +was too much!</p> + +<p>"But even in my despair I remembered to be humane. +I seized the end of the rope. I would not let +my Irene float away altogether. I could not. The +soul of the husband asserted itself. The cloud had +now passed from the face of the sun. The balloon +was rising with considerable force, but I could hold +it; I was very heavy. I would not desert my Irene.</p> + +<p>"As I stood thus, looking upward and holding fast +to all that was dear to me in life, I saw Irene, still +sitting on the edge of the car, raise one hand and put +it to her head. I could see that she was feeling faint; +the strain of her position was beginning to tell upon +her; at any moment she might fall. Then my quick +glance sought the tiger. He was in the car, his great +head and two front paws hanging over the edge; his +green eyes were steadily fixed on me. Just then +Irene, evidently unable to hold any longer to the +ropes, gave herself a dexterous twist, and in an instant +she was inside the car, her head sinking down +out of sight. Oh, noble, most beloved Irene! Sooner +than let herself drop and fall at my feet a mangled +corpse, she would do anything. She well understood +my too sensitive soul, this dear Irene!</p> + +<p>"In spite of my emotion I still held firmly to the +rope, and the tiger still glared down upon me. It +was too far for him to jump; he knew that if he did +he would be dashed to pieces. This gave me strength +and courage.</p> + +<p>"Irene now raised herself and looked over the edge +of the car; the tiger by her side did not regard her. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +I have often read of wild animals, of different kinds +and degrees of fierceness, who, having fallen into a +pit together, did not attack each other, but remained +as gentle as sheep, being cowed by their fear. Plainly +this tiger was cowed. He had never been so far above +the earth; he knew that he would die if he leaped; +but he kept his sinister green eyes steadily fixed on me.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 417px;"> +<a name="image_p214" id="image_p214"><img src="images/image_p214.jpg" width="417" height="600" alt="" title="" /></a> +<div class="caption">The great beast was drawing up his hind legs and was +climbing into the car.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Now Irene called down to me. I could not hear +what she said, I was in such terrible agitation. And +besides, I think she was afraid to speak too loudly, +for fear she might startle the black-and-yellow beast. +How I longed to hear her dear words, perhaps her +last! Mayhap she was bidding me a fond farewell; +perhaps she was trying to encourage me and uphold +my heart in this terrible trial. It would be like +her; she knows my love for her, my dear Irene!</p> + +<p>"And then, ah yes! it might be that she was asking +my permission to throw herself from the car: that she +was beseeching me to turn away my head that she +might leap to the ground, and thus end her anxieties +and her miseries—I might say our miseries; for if the +tiger should follow her he, too, would be killed. I +should be left to weep over my dearest, the joy of +my life and my heart. The tiger would be dead. +In her last breath Irene would know that I was safe. +That would be like Irene, my dear Irene! But I +would not suffer it. I could not speak, but I shook +my head.</p> + +<p>"She did not try to say anything more, but she +looked down upon me, and so did the tiger. The two +heads were not far from each other; they were both +regarding me. I grew almost crazy. Never was man +placed in more terrible straits than this.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>"Suddenly a thought struck me. I seized more +tightly the end of the rope, and I ran. I ran to the +river. I plunged, I bounded, I made such great haste +that sometimes I stumbled over obstacles, and sometimes +the balloon seemed to lift me from the ground; +but on, on I went, on to the river!</p> + +<p>"When I reached the edge of the water I took +courage to stop and look up. They were both still +gazing over the edge of the car, both with their eyes +strained upon me.</p> + +<p>"Then boldly and fearlessly I walked into the river. +I walked until the water was up to my knees; until +it reached my waist. I walked until the surface of +the water lapped my shoulders. I was not afraid; I +am a good swimmer. Irene now called down to me. +It was plain she was becoming reckless; she would +know what I was going to do, no matter what effect +her words would have upon the tiger. If she thought +I was about to commit suicide, not daring to bear up +under her coming fate, she would dissuade me. It +would be like her, that dear Irene!</p> + +<p>"'What are you going to do?' she cried. And as +I looked upward her eyes and those of the tiger were +steadily fixed on me.</p> + +<p>"'You must get on the outside of the car again,' I +cried. 'Do it quickly, without disturbing him. Then +I will pull you down, down, a little at a time. When +you are far enough down—and I will be the judge of +that—I will give you the word; then you must jump. +It will not hurt you; the water will break your fall, +and I will save you. Think of nothing else but your +trust in me, and jump. The moment you leave the +car I let go the rope; then it will instantly be too far +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +for him to jump. Quick! Be ready when I give the +word.' And as I spoke I hauled steadily upon the +rope.</p> + +<p>"Irene looked at me for an instant, and then she +stood up in the car. I saw her put one foot upon +the seat which surrounds it; then quickly appeared +the other foot upon the edge of the car. She raised +both arms and joined her hands above her head; she +pushed herself between the ropes and leaped. It was +all the work of a second.</p> + +<p>"She came down beautifully, head foremost. It +was a splendid dive. Relieved of her weight, the +balloon gave a great jerk, and I let go the rope.</p> + +<p>"Irene went down into the water as cleanly and +smoothly as if she had been a diving duck. She +scarcely made a splash. She was a magnificent +swimmer.</p> + +<p>"As my dear Irene disappeared beneath the surface +of the water I made use of the rapid moments in +which I could not expect to see her in glancing upward. +The tiger was rising rapidly. His head was +stretched out over the edge of the car; I could see +his wild and frightened eyes. He was afraid to jump.</p> + +<p>"Then I turned to the water. The head of Irene +had risen above it; she was striking out bravely for +the shore. She did not need my help. She is a +grand woman! In a few moments we stood beside +each other on the shore. I would have thrown myself +into her arms; I would have embraced this dear +one, now my own again: but she was so wet; I was so +wet. We seized each other by the hands. It is impossible +to say whether she wept or not, her face was +so wet.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>"Then by a sudden instinct we looked upward. +The balloon was high above us, rising steadily. We +could see the head of the tiger projecting from the +car—now such a little head, but I knew that he was +gazing at me. Then we heard a sound which came +down from above. It was the tiger's roar, but it was +such a little roar! I clasped more tightly the hand +of my Irene; we did not speak, but gazed steadily +upward at the balloon, which had reached a current +of air which was carrying it across the country. The +sun was now very hot; the gas was expanding; the +balloon was rising higher and higher and higher.</p> + +<p>"We stood holding each other's hands and gazing. +At last there was but a little black spot in the sky; +then it faded and shivered, and was gone. Side by +side we moved away. We were very wet, but the +sun was hot.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly I spoke. I could not restrain my burning +desire to look deep into the soul of Irene. I +owed it to my love of her to know the extent of her +love for me. Those words which she called down +from the car, which might have been her last words +on earth, what were they? I asked her.</p> + +<p>"'I said,' she answered, 'that if you would pick up +that rifle you threw out, and stand ready, I would +jerk open the safety-valve. I would then take up +my rifle, and when the car came down we would both +shoot him. But you shook your head, and I said no +more.'</p> + +<p>"I did not answer, but in my heart I said: 'O +woman! What art thou, and of what strange feelings +art thou made! Thou hast the beauty of the flower +and the intellect of the leaf. To let that awful black-and-yellow +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +fiend descend to the earth! To call up +to a cruel death and ask it to come down-stairs and +meet you on the lowest step! Skies! How can the +mind of man conceive of it?'</p> + +<p>"And leaving the shores of the river, we toiled +homeward over the dreary wastes."</p> + +<p>The company were all much interested in this narrative—almost +painfully interested. They said as +much to the Frenchman, and he was pleased at the +impression he had felt sure he would make, and which +he always did make, when he told that story. They +talked of hunts and wild beasts, but there were no +comments upon the story itself. Each one had his or +her own thought, however. The Master of the House +thought: "What a clever woman!" The Mistress of +the House thought: "Just like a Frenchman!" The +Next Neighbor wished she had been in the balloon to +pitch the tiger on him. The Daughter of the House +was fascinated at the idea of the vicinity of the beautiful, +ferocious tiger. And John Gayther thought, as +he looked wistfully at the Daughter of the House: "I +am glad he has a wife!"</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>POMONA AND JONAS</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>THE FOREIGN PRINCE AND THE<br /> +HERMIT'S DAUGHTER</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII">VII</a><br /> +THE FOREIGN PRINCE AND THE +HERMIT'S DAUGHTER</h2> + + +<p>The Frenchman went away; and after him there +was a succession of visitors to the house who +were not interested in gardens and were therefore not +introduced within the sacred precincts of the summer-house +on the upper terrace. The young people took +a fancy to a pretty rustic arbor in a secluded spot; +but whether it was because they especially admired +that part of the garden did not transpire.</p> + +<p>But the guests left, one after another; and finally +there came to visit the family Euphemia and her +Husband. They were old and intimate friends of the +family, and the very morning after their arrival they +all repaired to the summer-house which overlooked +the garden. There was some conversation about the +garden,—its beautiful things, and its useful products, +and its antiquity,—for Euphemia loved the old garden +and its traditions.</p> + +<p>The two gentlemen, provided with comfortable +chairs, smoked their cigars in peacefulness and content, +and the Daughter of the House seemed absorbed +in some fancy work. But after some time the Master +of the House, turning suddenly to Euphemia's Husband, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +asked: "What has become of Jonas and Pomona?"</p> + +<p>"Here they are to answer for themselves!" cried +the Daughter of the House, springing up, as John +Gayther ushered into the garden the Next Neighbor, +followed by Pomona and Jonas. The Next Neighbor +was also on intimate terms with Euphemia and her +Husband, and a devoted and rapturous admirer of +Pomona. The couple had descended upon her the +night before in a most unexpected fashion, but she +gave them a hearty welcome, and rejoiced in them, +even after she discovered that she owed the visit to a +desire on the part of her guests to see Euphemia's +Husband. They knew where he was visiting, but had +thought it wiser to go to the Next Neighbor to pay +their little visit. And so the explanation of this apparently +strange meeting of so many old friends was +simple enough.</p> + +<p>Chairs and benches were found, and John Gayther +brought his stool unasked and joined the party. He +had no idea of missing that conversation.</p> + +<p>It was soon evident that, while Jonas was as tranquil +as usual, Pomona had something on her mind—that +she had come with a purpose; and as soon as the +inquiries and explanations were over, she addressed +the Husband of Euphemia with great earnestness:</p> + +<p>"Jone and me came to see you, sir, about something +particular; and as we are all friends here, I may as +well say it right out."</p> + +<p>"The more you say the better we shall be pleased!" +the Master of the House exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Pomona nodded to him, but turned again to the +Husband of Euphemia.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>"We've been told, sir, that some editors have been +asking you to get us to enter fiction again; and what +we want to say is that we don't want to enter it no +more. What we did when we was in it was all very +well, but that's past and gone, although I've said +to Jone a good many more times than once that if I +had to do this or that thing now, that's set down in +the book, I'd do it different. But then he always +answers that if I'd done that I'd have spoiled the +story, and so there was no more to say on that subject. +What we've done we gladly did, and we're more +than glad we did it for you, sir. But as for doing it +again, we can't do it, for it ain't in us. Even if we +tried to do the best we could for you, all you'd get +would be something like skim-milk—good enough for +cottage cheese and bonnyclabber, but nothing like +good fresh milk with the cream on it."</p> + +<p>"I think you are perfectly right," said Euphemia. +"If you don't want to go into fiction again you ought +not to be made to do it."</p> + +<p>"I would not do such a wicked thing as to put anybody +in fiction who did not want to go there," gravely +replied the Husband of Euphemia.</p> + +<p>At these words the load that was on Pomona's mind +dropped from it entirely.</p> + +<p>"Now, sir," said she, "we've got another thing to +say; and it will seem queer to you after what we've +said already. We do want to go into fiction, but not +the way we was in it before. The fact is that between +us we've written a story, and we've brought it +with us, hoping you wouldn't mind letting Jone read +it to you. Of course we was expecting to read it to +only two; but as we've got to go back to-day, if the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +rest of the folks don't mind, Jone can read it anyway."</p> + +<p>"I should like it above all things!" exclaimed the +Next Neighbor.</p> + +<p>"We will not let you go away until it is read," said +the Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I do want to hear it!" cried the Daughter of +the House.</p> + +<p>"Of course Jonas must read it," was Euphemia's +quiet comment.</p> + +<p>"Heave ahead!" called out the Master of the +House.</p> + +<p>Pomona smiled gratefully. "It isn't a very long +story, but we've been a long time working at it, and +we wouldn't think of such a thing as calling it finished +until our friends has heard it."</p> + +<p>The quiet and good-natured Jonas now drew a +manuscript from his pocket and began.</p> + +<p>"The name of my story," said he, "is 'The Foreign +Prince and the Hermit's Daughter.'"</p> + +<p>"We thought of a good many other names for it," +said Pomona, "and I wanted to call it 'The Groundless +Prince'; but Jone he said that groundless applies +to things there is no reason for, and as so many princes +are of that kind, somebody's feelings might be hurt. +And so I gave in."</p> + +<p>"Now this is the way the story begins," said Jonas. +"In that period of time which is not modern, and +yet is not too far back, and in which a great many +out-of-the-way things have happened, a certain young +Prince went travelling in foreign parts of the world +with the general purpose of broadening his mind. +He wanted to study the manners and customs of other +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +nations in order that he might better know how to +govern his own people.</p> + +<p>"But when, after several years' absence, he came +back to the place of his nativity, he found that neighboring +nations had made war upon his country—that +they had conquered his army and subjugated his +people, and had partitioned his principality among +themselves. Consequently he found himself in a +strange position: he had gone forth to visit foreign +lands, and now he returned to find himself a foreigner +on the very spot where he was born. In fact, his nationality +had been swept away; his country had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"But he was still a prince. Nothing could deprive +him of his noble birth. But to all the world, save to +one person, he was an alien prince, and must always +so continue. The exception was a Single Adherent, +who had followed him when he began his travels, and +whose loyal spirit would not suffer him to leave his +master now.</p> + +<p>"Slowly, with crossed arms and head bent low, the +Prince strode away from the place that had once +been his home, his Single Adherent following his +footsteps.</p> + +<p>"After a long day's journey they came to a little +valley chiefly remarkable for streams and rocks. +Here, at the entrance of a commodious cave, he beheld +an elderly hermit seated upon a stone, calmly +surveying the sunset sky. The hermit looked up +with a pleasant smile, for it had been long since a +traveller had passed that way; and, perceiving that +the stranger was not only well-bred but tired, invited +him to take a seat upon a stone near by his own, at +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +the same time motioning the Adherent to a smaller +stone at a little distance.</p> + +<p>"In reply to the numerous questions of the hermit, +the Prince soon told his story.</p> + +<p>"'Well, well!' exclaimed the hermit. 'Then you +are the Prince Ferrando. I might have known it, +for you so closely resemble your father.'</p> + +<p>"'You knew him, then?' inquired the Prince.</p> + +<p>"'I have often seen him,' the hermit replied. 'The +likeness is wonderful. And so you have come back to +find that your principality does not exist. It is a +strange condition of things; but believe me—I mingled +a great deal with the world before I came to +this cave, and I know what I am talking about—when +I tell you that there are many potentates who +would be glad to come back from a journey and to +find that their dominions had ceased to exist, and +that with them had disappeared all the trials, responsibilities, +and dangers of sovereignty.'</p> + +<p>"'But I am not that sort of person,' said Ferrando. +'I do not allow care to oppress me; I do not shrink +from responsibility; I am not afraid of danger. I +travelled far to broaden my mind; I came back prepared +to reign wisely over my subjects. But I have +no subjects, and therefore I cannot exercise that enlightened +rule for which I have, with so much toil +and study, prepared myself. Wherever I go I must +always be an absolute alien, and as such I must try to +learn to consider myself.'</p> + +<p>"'Cheer up, my friend,' said the hermit. 'You are +too young to give up things in that way. And now +allow me, sir, to introduce you to my daughter.'</p> + +<p>"Ferrando sprang up quickly, and beheld standing +near him a very handsome young woman carrying a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +large basket filled with water-cress. The Prince +bowed low. 'It is very unusual, I think,' said he, +'for a hermit to have a daughter.'</p> + +<p>"The hermit smiled. 'Yes,' said he; 'it is rather +out of the common; but when I came here to seek +rest and peace within these rocky walls, my daughter +could not be dissuaded from accompanying me.'</p> + +<p>"'It is plain that she possesses a noble soul,' said +the Prince, again bowing low.</p> + +<p>"'I wonder if he ever thinks that of me?' the Single +Adherent asked himself, as he stood respectfully by +his low stone.</p> + +<p>"When the hermit's daughter had been made aware +of Ferrando's former station and his misfortunes, she +went away to prepare supper. The meal was soon +ready, and consisted of cress fresh from the spring, +fried cress, and toasted cress, with cress tea, and also +freshly drawn water from a spring."</p> + +<p>"Poor young man!" exclaimed the Next Neighbor. +"So tired and hungry! Was that all they had to +give him?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," explained Pomona; "hermits never +eat anything but water-cress."</p> + +<p>"After supper," continued Jonas, "the hermit filled +a pipe with dried water-cress, and offered another to +his guest, and the three sat at the entrance of the +cave and discussed the Prince's affairs, in which the +hermit and his daughter seemed to take a lively interest. +At a little distance on the small stone sat the +Single Adherent, also smoking a pipe of water-cress, +and his inability to enjoy this novel sensation was +plainly evident in the radiant beams of the full moon. +In the course of an hour the Prince and his Adherent +retired to a guest-cave near by; but the hermit and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +his daughter sat up far into the night discussing the +Prince and the peculiar circumstances in which he +found himself.</p> + +<p>"The next morning after breakfast, the principal +dish of which was a salmi of water-cress, the hermit, +his daughter, and their guest held council together; +while the Adherent stood at a respectful distance, and +listened with earnest attention to all that was said.</p> + +<p>"'My daughter and I,' said the hermit, 'agree that +it is a lamentable thing that a prince such as yourself, +so eminently qualified to rule, should have no opportunity +to exercise his abilities for sovereignty; therefore +we think the best thing you can do is to rent a +principality for a term of years. In some ways this +would be better than inheriting one, for if you do not +like it you can give it up at the end of the term.'</p> + +<p>"'But where could I find a principality to let?' exclaimed +the Prince. 'I never heard of anything like +that!'</p> + +<p>"'Very likely,' said the hermit; 'but if you were to +look around I think you might find something to suit +you which the reigning potentate might be willing to +lease.'</p> + +<p>"'I am of my father's opinion,' said the hermit's +daughter; 'and if you will take my advice you will +investigate the country north of this valley. There +are several principalities in that direction, and it +would not at all surprise me if, before the end of a +day's journey, you were to find something that could +be rented.'</p> + +<p>"The Prince was very much pleased with the interest +taken in his affairs by the hermit and his daughter, +and he decided to follow their advice. As he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +and his Single Adherent were about to depart, the +hermit said to him: 'I shall be very glad to hear from +you, and, if you should succeed in renting a principality, +I will willingly give you any advice and assistance +in my power. When I mingled with the general +world I saw a great deal of governing and all that +sort of thing, and it may be I can give you some +points which will be of advantage to you.'</p> + +<p>"The Prince accepted with thankfulness the kind +offer of his host, and when he approached the daughter +to take leave of her, she graciously stuck a sprig +of water-cress in his buttonhole.</p> + +<p>"After walking a few miles the Prince and his Adherent +stopped at a roadside inn, where they ate an +abnormal breakfast, and then, with invigorated bodies, +they continued their journey.</p> + +<p>"Late in the afternoon the Prince became a little +tired, and suggested that they stop at a farm-house +which stood near the road, and sojourn there for the +night. The Adherent, however, was of the opinion +that they should go on until they reached the crest +of a hill before them; they would then be able to +survey the country. He placed a high opinion on the +statement of the hermit's daughter that they would +be likely to find what they wanted before nightfall.</p> + +<p>"When they reached the crest of the hill they were +delighted to see before them, at no great distance, a +small city. When they had approached it nearer +they perceived by the side of the great gate a sign-board +which bore the inscription:</p> + +<p class="center bbox" style="width:19em; margin:auto; padding:5px;">PRINCIPALITY TO LET—FURNISHED<br /> +APPLY TO DOWAGER AT THE PALACE</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>"The Single Adherent nodded his head as he said +to himself: 'This is just about what I expected.'</p> + +<p>"'That hermit's daughter,' said the Prince, 'is a +remarkable young woman, and her suppositions should +not be disregarded.'</p> + +<p>"After passing the night at an inn near the gate, +the Prince and his Single Adherent repaired to the +palace to make inquiries regarding the principality.</p> + +<p>"The Dowager was a middle-aged woman dressed +in rusty black, with a quick eye and an eager expression. +Having demanded references of Ferrando, she +declared herself perfectly satisfied with his statements, +for she had met his father, and the likeness +was unmistakable. She told him she would be very +much pleased to have him for a tenant, and that she +was quite sure the principality would suit him exactly. +She then showed him all over the palace, the Adherent +following and taking notice of everything.</p> + +<p>"The furniture and appointments of the princely +mansion were somewhat time-worn and shabby, and +the Dowager, noticing the scrutinizing glances of the +Adherent, thought it wise to state that during the life +of her late husband everything in the palace had been +kept in the most admirable order; but of course it +could not be supposed that she, by herself, could go +to the expense of new carpets and furniture-coverings. +She assured the Prince, however, that a very little +expenditure of money would make the palace look as +bright and clean as if it had been recently furnished.</p> + +<p>"'Of course you have an army,' remarked the +Prince.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, yes,' said the Dowager; 'an excellent army—that +is, considering the size of my principality. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +The infantry is very good indeed. In fact, I heard +my late husband say, on an occasion when the infantry +corps had just been furnished with new uniforms, +that he never saw a finer-looking set of men. +The cavalry is also in excellent condition. Of course +in time of peace it is not necessary to keep these men +supplied with horses, but in an agricultural country +it is not difficult to obtain horses whenever they are +really needed.'</p> + +<p>"'And the artillery?' inquired the Prince.</p> + +<p>"'I am sorry to say,' replied the Dowager, 'that the +artillery is not yet supplied with cannon. It was the +intention of my late husband to furnish them with +the necessary cannon, ammunition, horses, and all +that, but he never did so. And of course, being a +woman, I could not be expected to attend to such +things. But I have no doubt whatever that you +can easily and inexpensively put this branch of the +army on a proper footing; that is, if you care for +artillery.'</p> + +<p>"The Prince asked no further questions about the +army, but inquired if the principality was furnished +with a navy.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' said the Dowager; 'we have no waterfront, +and my late husband used often to say that +this impossibility of having a navy saved him a great +deal of expense, to say nothing of the trouble warships +might get him into when they are out of sight +in distant parts of the world.'</p> + +<p>"At this point the Dowager was called out by a +servant, who in a whisper asked her if the visitors +were going to stay to dinner. The Adherent seized +this opportunity to say in a low voice:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>"'If your Royal Highness will excuse me, I will +suggest that you ask if there is a legislative body, and +a judiciary.'</p> + +<p>"The Dowager, having shaken her head at the +servant, returned to the Prince.</p> + +<p>"'Have you a legislature?' asked the Prince.</p> + +<p>"'Certainly,' she said. 'I cannot say that I think +it is a very good one, for I have more trouble with it +than with anything else in the principality; but it +has now less than a year to run, and my advice would +be that you should not convene it again. My experience +has taught me that one can get along a great +deal better without a legislative body than with one. +For my part, I do not approve of them at all.'</p> + +<p>"'And a judiciary?' remarked the Prince. 'I suppose +you have that.'</p> + +<p>"The Dowager hesitated a moment as if she did +not exactly understand; but she recovered herself, +and answered quickly: 'Oh, yes, we have one; but I +have so little to do with it that for the moment I +forgot it. It has been a very good one indeed, but it +has been little used of late, and it may be out of order. +I have found that plain, straightforward decrees from +the throne are a great deal cheaper and a great deal +quicker in their operation than a judicial decision. +But if you desire a regularly organized judiciary, it +will not cost you much to establish one, if you do not +employ your judges by the month or year. I find +piece-work a great deal more satisfactory, and you +can get so much law for nothing in this country that +it is not worth while giving much for it when you +have to pay.'</p> + +<p>"The countenance of the Single Adherent had been +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +growing darker and darker, and he now stepped up +to the Prince.</p> + +<p>"'Your Royal Highness,' said he, 'it might be well +to speak of the rent.'</p> + +<p>"When the Prince asked the Dowager how much +she wanted per year for her principality, she did not +immediately answer, but reflected, with her chin in +her hand; and then, turning to the Prince, she stated +the amount.</p> + +<p>"'You must understand,' she added, 'that I would +not rent this principality to every one for such a +sum as that; but as I know you to be a regular +prince who will appreciate the advantages and responsibilities +of a place like this, and, as you are +unmarried, without encumbrances of any sort, I +presume, I would much prefer to let it to you, +even at a lower price, than to rent it to a perfect +stranger.'</p> + +<p>"When the Adherent heard the sum mentioned by +the Dowager his countenance grew almost black, and +Prince Ferrando stood in silent amazement.</p> + +<p>"'It would be impossible for me to pay such a sum +as that,' he said at last. 'I have studied political +economy, and am familiar with the principles of internal +revenue, and the income to be derived from +ordinary taxes and imposts in a principality of this +size would not enable me to pay that sum.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, you are very much mistaken!' cried the +Dowager. 'Of course, as a woman, I have not been +able to make the principality pay me what it ought +to; but my late husband received a very good revenue +from it, and I am sure you could do the same, if not +a great deal better: for my late husband was not a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +good business man; he thought too much of other +people and not enough of his family.'</p> + +<p>"The Prince looked at his Adherent, and the latter +shook his head violently.</p> + +<p>"'It is impossible,' said Prince Ferrando; 'I cannot +pay such a sum as that'; and he rose to go.</p> + +<p>"'Of course,' said the Dowager, hastily, 'if you +think that is too much, and that you would not be +able to pay it, I might take off something in your +case. I would not do this for everybody, but as it is +you, I will take off one per cent. of the amount I have +named.'</p> + +<p>"For a moment Ferrando stood undecided. He +greatly wanted the principality; he would be homeless +and forlorn without one; and yet this Dowager +was asking him a most outrageous price.</p> + +<p>"'I will consider this matter,' said he, 'and if you +will give me the refusal of the principality for twenty-four +hours I will see you again to-morrow.'</p> + +<p>"The Dowager considered this request as favorable +to her interests, and, fearing that she had asked him +too little, she added: 'Of course, in case of a reduction +like this, it must be stipulated in the lease that I +reserve some rooms in the palace where I shall board +at your expense. You cannot expect me to accept a +reduced rent, and to be turned out of my house besides.'</p> + +<p>"The Prince bowed; and, without reply, he and his +Adherent left the palace, followed by the eager, wistful +glances of the Dowager. When they reached the +inn the Prince said to his Single Adherent:</p> + +<p>"'I am greatly troubled, and I wish I had the +advice of that good hermit. I will write a letter to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +him, and you shall take it. But you must not walk +that long distance; to-morrow you will hire a vehicle +and go to the hermit.'</p> + +<p>"The Prince wrote his letter, and the Adherent +took it to the hermit. The good man and his daughter +read it with the greatest interest, and retired to +the back of the cave to consider it. Presently the +hermit approached the Single Adherent. 'Is there +room in your vehicle for three persons?' said he. +Receiving an affirmative answer, he continued: 'Then +my daughter and I will go back with you. We think +the Prince is in danger of making a very bad bargain; +and as we know a great deal about these things, we +believe that our presence and advice will be of great +advantage to him.'</p> + +<p>"So, after the horse had all the water-cress it could +eat, the little party started back to the city."</p> + +<p>"They must have been the first real-estate agents," +remarked the Master of the House.</p> + +<p>Pomona was about to reply, but Jonas gave no time:</p> + +<p>"When the Prince heard the sound of the wheels, +and came down to the door of the inn, he was amazed +and delighted to see the hermit and his daughter, and +welcomed them with unusual ardor.</p> + +<p>"'Of all the people in the world,' he exclaimed, 'I +am most happy to see you! I am in great trouble +and difficulty, and I want your advice and counsel.'</p> + +<p>"'Which is what we came to give you,' said the +good hermit, as he warmly pressed the hand of the +Prince.</p> + +<p>"After supper the Prince and his guests retired to +an inner room for consultation, while the Adherent +stood in the background. After some discussion it +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +was decided that early in the morning the Prince +should go to the palace, and should agree to lease the +principality for five years, provided the Dowager +would accept one half the sum she had originally +asked; and that he should also absolutely refuse to +board the Dowager, or to allow her to reserve any +part of the palace for her own use. He would promise +to pay one quarter's rent in advance if these terms +were agreed upon on the spot.</p> + +<p>"It was nearly high noon on the following day that +the Dowager left the palace, taking with her all her +belongings. As she departed she turned and cast a +black look at the Adherent.</p> + +<p>"'It is to his advice,' she said to herself, 'that I +owe this very bad bargain that I have made. If that +young fellow had been left to himself he would have +agreed to everything I demanded.'</p> + +<p>"For an hour or two before she left the Prince had +been wandering around the premises, impatiently +waiting for her departure. As soon as she was gone, +he called to his Adherent, and sent him to the inn to +summon the hermit and his daughter to his presence. +He wished to be grateful to these good friends, but, +as he had a respect to appearances, he did not desire +the Dowager to know that these humble persons were +to be his first guests in the palace.</p> + +<p>"When the hermit and his daughter arrived at the +palace they received a princely welcome, and Ferrando +informed them that he wished them to make +him a visit of at least a week.</p> + +<p>"'You have been so good to me that I wish to do +the best for you; and so I have arranged that you +shall occupy the state suite in the right wing.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>"'We are thankful for this great honor,' said the +hermit; 'but, if it would please your Royal Highness, +we should prefer the corresponding rooms in the left +wing. We think they will suit us better.'</p> + +<p>"The Prince raised his eyebrows in surprise, but he +gave orders that his guests' wishes should be gratified. +The Adherent, who was standing in the background, +raised his eyebrows also; but he was not surprised.</p> + +<p>"In about half an hour the hermit and his daughter +rejoined the Prince in the grand hall. To his utter +amazement, Ferrando beheld his guests dressed in rich +and handsome garments.</p> + +<p>"'Did they bring any trunks with them?' he whispered +to his Adherent, as they approached.</p> + +<p>"'No, your Royal Highness,' was the answer. 'They +brought nothing but a basket of water-cress, which +the lady said had been freshly picked and ought not +to be wasted.'</p> + +<p>"With great dignity the hermit advanced to the +Prince, and by his side walked his daughter, who was +so beautiful in her silks and laces that the Prince +found it impossible to remove his eyes from her.</p> + +<p>"'In order to explain this change in our appearance,' +said the hermit, 'I will state that the Dowager +from whom you rented this principality is my brother's +widow. Before he died he arranged that the Dowager +should reign over the principality as long as she +lived, and that my daughter should then succeed her. +At the same time, knowing that his wife did not +understand the governing of principalities, he appointed +me Assistant Prince, with a salary. This +seemed like a very good plan, but it did not work. +The Dowager soon showed such a disposition to meddle +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +with everything that was going on that my position +gradually became so intolerable that I determined +to retire to a hermit's cell, to which my daughter +accompanied me.'</p> + +<p>"With his mind scarcely able to grasp the situation, +the Prince gazed from the one to the other of his +guests. 'Can it be possible,' he said presently, 'that +in renting this principality I have interfered with +your prospects?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, not at all, not at all,' replied the hermit. 'In +the first place, you have given us the great honor of +visiting you and of occupying our old suite of apartments. +I cannot describe to your Royal Highness the +pleasure I felt when I saw my dressing-gown hanging +on its accustomed hook, with my favorite slippers beneath +it.'</p> + +<p>"'I take back my invitation for a week!' cried the +Prince. 'Now that I know who you are, you must +stay with me for a long time. I wish you could stay +always,' he added, his eyes still fixed upon the beautiful +young woman. Then, as if to explain this outburst +of interest, he said: 'You know, I rely so much +on your advice and counsel, and there is no knowing +what that Dowager may do next.'</p> + +<p>"'You are right,' said the ex-hermit; 'there is no +possible way of knowing. But a plan has suggested +itself to me which I think may relieve you of any +possible annoyance or molestation. My idea is that +you shall marry my daughter. Then, in virtue of +your lease, you will reign over the principality, and +she will be your consort. After a time, when the +Dowager departs this life, my daughter, by virtue of +inheritance, will reign over the principality, and you +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +will be her consort. Thus you see the Dowager will +have no show at all.'</p> + +<p>"The countenance of the Prince shone like the sun. +'A heaven-born plan!' he cried. 'From the moment +I saw your daughter with the basket of water-cress, +I loved her. By your permission, I will embrace +her.'</p> + +<p>"The permission was given, and he embraced her. +She might have said that, from the moment she had +understood the peculiar circumstances in which the +Prince had found himself, her heart had gone out to +him like a dove seeking the nest of its partner; but +she did not think it needful to occupy the time with +unnecessary statements.</p> + +<p>"'Your Royal Highness,' said the Adherent, approaching +with a bow, 'I think it is only right to +inform you that the Dowager, when she left, said to +me that she would return early in the afternoon to +superintend the removal of her parrots.'</p> + +<p>"'What!' cried the Prince. 'Haven't those beastly +birds gone yet? Send them after her without the +loss of a minute. I don't want to see her back here +again.'</p> + +<p>"The ex-hermit, who had drawn his daughter aside +for a few words of consultation, now advanced with +uplifted hands. 'Nay,' said he; 'if you will excuse +me, I think I can suggest a better plan than that. +The old lady is bound to come back, and the sooner +she comes and goes, the better; but we should be prepared +for her. I suggest that a priest be summoned, +and that you and my daughter be married immediately. +Our position in the palace will then be assured, +and the Dowager will have nothing to say, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +either about our presence here or about anything +else. How does my plan suit your Royal Highness?'</p> + +<p>"Ferrando did not answer, but, turning to the Adherent, +he ordered him to summon a priest without +delay, and to order the assemblage in the great hall +of all the courtiers and servants who could be found. +The Adherent sped away on his errand, and as he did +so he smiled and said to himself: 'She is a better +manager than the old woman! And her views are +broader!'</p> + +<p>"When the marriage ceremony had been concluded, +the Prince ordered a sumptuous wedding-feast to be +spread. But he was soon informed that there was +nothing to eat in the house, for the Dowager had not +thought it at all incumbent upon her to provide eatables +for her tenant.</p> + +<p>"'It matters not!' cried the ex-hermit, his face +glowing with pleasure. 'There will be time enough +to provide a good supper. And, in the meantime, +what could be more appropriate for a wedding-repast +than the basket of cress which my daughter brought +with her?'</p> + +<p>"A table was spread, with a great dish of water-cress +in the centre. And it may be remarked that +the Prince was so wild with delight that if this had +been suddenly changed to one containing fried chicken +with cream gravy he would not have perceived the +difference.</p> + +<p>"Early in the afternoon the Dowager returned to +the palace to superintend the removal of her parrots. +As she entered the great hall she perceived the wedding-party +waiting to receive her; and her amazement +was such that her toes turned upward and she +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +sat down with great suddenness in a chair which the +Adherent thoughtfully placed behind her.</p> + +<p>"'How do you do, my dear sister-in-law?' said the +ex-hermit. 'I do not wonder you are surprised to +see us here, and in order to relieve your mind I will +instantly explain the state of affairs.' Whereupon +he explained them.</p> + +<p>"The Dowager then found her voice and her +strength. Springing to her feet, she cried: 'This is +a plot! I have been deceived, and the lease is void. +Not one of you has any right in this palace, and I +hereby order you out.'</p> + +<p>"The ex-hermit smiled, and drew a paper from his +pocket. 'Before we obey your orders, my dear sister-in-law,' +he remarked, 'I wish to call your attention +to a little business matter. You will remember that +when I was here with you, acting as your assistant, +you found great difficulty in paying me my salary. +The first year you told me to take it out of the customs +duties. The sum I received was not equal to the +amount due me, but I made no complaint. The second +year I was obliged to rely on the taxes on internal +production; but as you required most of the income +from this source, I found myself very short of money +at the end of the year. The third year I was obliged +to rely upon the taxes on pew-rents; and that, as you +are aware, yielded me almost nothing. After that +you paid me no salary at all. Here is my bill for the +money due me. But if you cannot conveniently pay +me, I will agree, in the presence of these good friends, +to postpone the settlement until the next time I lay +my eyes upon you. If you do not then pay me, I +shall then levy upon your personal possessions.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>"The Dowager glared at the Princess Ferrando, +and, having shaken her long forefinger at that +beautiful young lady, she departed, and was never seen in +the palace again."</p> + +<p>Here Jonas folded the paper.</p> + +<p>"Is that the end?" asked the Daughter of the +House.</p> + +<p>"That is all there is of it," said Jonas, sententiously.</p> + +<p>"I thought," said the Daughter of the House, "that +the story would tell how he governed his rented +principality, and if he ever got his own. I worked it out +in my mind like a flash that he would govern so well +that his own people would go to him and beg him to +govern them."</p> + +<p>"I think," said the Next Neighbor, "that if that +principality was governed at all, it was by that +scheming wife."</p> + +<p>"There's two ways of ending a story," said Pomona. +"One is to wind it up, and the other is to let it run +down. Now when a story is running down as if it was +a clock, it's often a good deal longer than you think +before it stops; so we thought we would wind this one +up right there."</p> + +<p>Euphemia laughed. "But if you wind it up," she +said, "you help it to keep on going."</p> + +<p>For a moment Pomona looked embarrassed; but +she quickly recovered herself. "I don't mean to wind +it up like a clock," she said, "but to wind it up like +an old-fashioned clothes-line which isn't wanted again +until you have some more things to hang on it."</p> + +<p>The Husband of Euphemia stated it as his opinion +that that was an excellent way to stop a story; but +Euphemia did not agree with him. "I think," she +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +said, "that a story of that kind ought to end with a +moral. They nearly always do."</p> + +<p>Pomona now looked at Jonas, and Jonas looked at +Pomona.</p> + +<p>"Several times, when we was writing the story," +said Pomona, "I had a notion that Jone was trying to +squeeze a moral into it here and there; but he didn't +say nothing about it, and I didn't ask him, and if +there's anything more to say about it, it's for him to +do it."</p> + +<p>Jonas smiled. "My opinion about morals to stories +is that the people who read them ought to work them +out for themselves," said he. "Some people work +out one kind of moral, and others work out another +kind. It was a pretty big job to write that story, +which I had to do the most of, and I don't think I +ought to be called on to put in any moral, which is a +good deal like being asked to make bread for the man +who buys my wheat."</p> + +<p>Pomona looked down at the ground, then up to the +sky, and then she remarked:</p> + +<p>"If you wouldn't mind hearing a little bit of a story, +I'd like to tell you one." No one had any wish to +object, and she began: "Once there was a young married +man who went to his business in a canoe; every +morning he paddled himself down to his business, and +every afternoon he paddled himself back. About +half-way down the beautiful stream on which he lived +there was a little point of rocks projecting out into +the water, and the young man was obliged to paddle +his canoe very near the opposite shore in order to get +out of the way. This was troublesome, and after a +while he got tired of it. It would be very much +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +pleasanter, he thought, if he could paddle along the +middle of the stream, without thinking about the +rocks. So when, one morning, he was in a great hurry, +he said to himself that he would steer his canoe right +straight against that point of rocks and break it off. +After that he would have a clear passage up and +down the stream. So as soon as he got near enough +he carried out his plan. That young man did not go +to his office that morning, and the fragments of his +canoe was picked up by a poor family and used for +kindling-wood. Now," she added, looking deliberately +at Jonas, "if you can find a good moral to that story +we'd be glad to hear it."</p> + +<p>It was very evident to the listeners that Pomona +had given a shrewd guess as to the moral of the story +Jonas had read, if, indeed, he had had in his mind any +moral at all—and that her own was an offset to it, or +so intended. So the Next Neighbor came to the +rescue.</p> + +<p>"I have a great dislike," she announced, "to morals +of all sorts. I prefer never to think of morals. They +are very perplexing, and often worse than useless. +But if there are any morals to those two stories, I +should say that the first story has something to do +with women who manage too much; and the second, +in some occult manner, deals with men who try to +reform their wives."</p> + +<p>Here every one laughed. And then there followed +a lively criticism of the story Jonas had read; but +they all agreed that it was worthy of Pomona and +Jonas, and should be published. When they had +reached this conclusion they were summoned to +luncheon.</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>THE DAUGHTER OF THE HOUSE</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>THE CONSCIOUS AMANDA</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII">VIII</a><br /> +THE CONSCIOUS AMANDA</h2> + + +<p>One morning, as John Gayther was working in +the melon-bed, the Daughter of the House came +to him, and greeted him with such a glow on her face +that John knew she had something pleasant to tell +him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, miss," John replied to her greeting; "it is a +beautiful morning, and I know of something more +beautiful than the morning."</p> + +<p>"I do not see any very great beauty in muskmelons," +said the Daughter of the House, demurely.</p> + +<p>"Muskmelons are not in my mind at this minute," +John replied, letting the hoe fall upon the ground +as he looked at her pretty face, all aglow.</p> + +<p>"I have something in my mind, John—a very original +story. Papa said yesterday I must tell a story, +and I have one all ready. I do not believe you ever +heard one like it. Come to the summer-house; +mamma and papa are already there."</p> + +<p>She tripped away, and John followed her, stopping +on the way to pick up a basket of seed-pods. He +had just established himself on his stool, facing the +family group, and had taken some pods to shell as he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +listened, when his hand was arrested and all the party +silenced by a burst of song from the tall lilac-bushes +near the hedge. They could not see the bird, but it +was evident that he was enjoying his own melody. +Such pure, sweet notes—now rippling softly, now with +a gay little quiver of joy, now a tender prolonged +note, now a succession of trills, high and low, that set +the air throbbing, and every now and then a great +burst of seraphic music, as if his little heart was so +full of happiness he was compelled to pour it forth to +all who chose to listen. Our party would gladly have +listened for a long time, and have omitted the story +altogether; but after some minutes of delicious song +the strains suddenly ceased, and a little whirring noise +in the lilacs indicated that the bird had flown away.</p> + +<p>The Daughter of the House gave a deep sigh. "I +was afraid to breathe," she said, "lest he might fly +away."</p> + +<p>"I have heard nothing like that this summer," said +the Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p>"It is the red thrush," said John Gayther, who had +listened rapturously. "A pair of them were here in +the early spring. I wonder why this one has come +back."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said the Daughter of the House, "it is +one of the young ones come back to visit his birthplace. +I am afraid, after that ravishing performance, +that my story will sound tame enough."</p> + +<p>"It will be a different sort of melody," said the +Mistress of the House, looking fondly at her daughter.</p> + +<p>"My heroine," began the young lady, "cannot appear +in the first person, as if she were telling the story; +nor in the second person, as if she were listening to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +one; nor in the third person, as if she were somewhere +else; for, in fact, she was not anywhere. And +as there is no such thing as a fourth person in grammar, +she cannot be put into any class at all."</p> + +<p>The captain turned and looked at his daughter. +"There seems to be something very foggy about this +statement," said he. "I hope the weather will soon +clear up, so we can get our bearings."</p> + +<p>"We shall see about that," said the young lady. +"This heroine of mine, Miss Amanda, never went to +sleep. To be sure, she sank into slumber about as +often as most people; but when she spoke of having +done so she always said she had 'lost consciousness.' +She was very methodical about going to sleep and +waking up; and at night, just as she was about to +lose consciousness, she always said to herself, 'Seven +o'clock, seven o'clock, seven o'clock,' over and over +again until she was really asleep; and in the morning +she woke up at seven precisely. She was not married, +and so she was able to live her own life much more +independently than if the case had been different. +She liked to be independent; and she liked to +know as much as she could about everything. In +these two things she was generally very successful. +But you must not think she was prying or too inquisitive; +she was really a very good woman, and very +fond of her family, which was composed entirely of +brothers and sisters and nephews and nieces.</p> + +<p>"She was a very active person, but she was not +very strong; and when she was nearly forty years old +something happened to her lungs, and her health +gave way more and more, until at last there was no +hope for her, and she knew she must die."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span>"Oh, this is an awful way to begin a story!" said +the captain. "I don't like it. You ought not to kill +your heroine just as you begin."</p> + +<p>"If you want to make any remarks about this story, +papa," said the Daughter of the House, "which shall +be worth anything, you ought to wait until you hear +more of it and begin to understand it. When Miss +Amanda found she had a very little while to live, she +composed herself comfortably, and began to repeat to +herself the words, 'Fifty years, fifty years, fifty years,' +over and over again. This she did until at last she +died; and then there was her funeral; and she was +buried; and there was a stone put up over her head +with her name on it."</p> + +<p>John Gayther smiled with approbation. He felt +sure he was going to hear a story to his liking. The +captain smoked steadily. As he had been advised, he +would wait until he felt firm ground beneath him before +he made any further remarks. As for the Mistress +of the House, she looked at her daughter, and +wondered. The story continued:</p> + +<p>"All this happened a few years before the middle +of a century, and a few years before the end of a century +Miss Amanda regained consciousness. That is +to say, she woke up at the end of fifty years, exactly +as she had been in the habit of waking up at seven +o'clock in the morning. But although she was conscious +she did not understand how it was possible she +should be so. She did not see; she did not hear; she +did not feel. She had no body; no hands or feet; no +eyes or ears: she had nothing; and she knew she had +nothing. She simply was conscious, and that was all +there was about it. She was not surprised; she seemed +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +to take her state and condition as a matter of course, +and, to a certain degree, she comprehended it. She +remembered perfectly well that she had lost consciousness +as she was saying 'Fifty years, fifty years, +fifty years' over and over again; and now she knew +that, as she had regained consciousness, the fifty years +must have passed; so, instead of wondering how +things had come to be as they were, she, or rather her +consciousness, set itself to work to observe everything +around it and about it. This had always been Miss +Amanda's habit of mind.</p> + +<p>"Now I want to explain," said the young lady, +"that in one way it will be troublesome for me to +express myself exactly as I tell this story. Of course +Miss Amanda did not exist; it was only her consciousness +which observed things: but I think it will be a +great deal less awkward for me if I speak of that consciousness +as Miss Amanda. None of us really understands +consciousnesses with their outsides all hulled off +as John is doing with those seeds which he drops into +the basin. Each one of those little seeds has within +it a power which we do not understand. And that is +the way with Miss Amanda's consciousness."</p> + +<p>"There," said the captain; "I agree with you. +Nobody can object to that."</p> + +<p>"The first thing of which Miss Amanda became +conscious was the smell of sweet peas. She had always +been very fond of these flowers. The air was +soft and warm, and that, too, was pleasant to her. +She observed a good many other things, such as trees +and grass; but she did not know where she was, and +she did not see anything she could recognize. You +must not forget that when I say she saw anything, I +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +mean she became conscious of it. Presently, however, +she did perceive something that was familiar, and if +such a thing had been possible her face would have +flushed with pleasure. This familiar object was a +sun-dial in the middle of a wide grass-mound. The +sun-dial was of brass. It was very old, and some of +the figures on the round plate were nearly obliterated +by time and weather; but Miss Amanda recognized +it. It was the same sun-dial she had always known +in the home where she had been born. But it was +not mounted on a round brick pillar, as when she had +known it: now it rested on a handsome stone pedestal; +but it was the same sun-dial. She could see the +place where the upright part had been mended after +her nephew John, then only fourteen, had thrown a +stone at it, being jealous of it because it would never +do any work in bad weather, whereas he had to go to +school, rain or shine.</p> + +<p>"'Now,' thought Miss Amanda, 'if this is the old +sun-dial, and if this is the mound in front of our +house, although it is so much smaller than I remember +it, the dear old house must be just behind it.' But +when she became conscious in that direction, the dear +old house was not there. There was a house, but it +looked new and handsome. It had marble steps, with +railings and a portico, but it was another house altogether, +and everything seemed to be something else +except the sun-dial, and even that did not rest on the +old brick pillar with projections at the bottom, on +which she used to stand, when she was a little girl, +in order to see what time it was.</p> + +<p>"Now Miss Amanda felt lonely, and a little frightened. +She had never been accustomed to finding herself +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +in places entirely strange to her. She felt, too, +that she was there in that place, and could not be anywhere +else even if she wanted to, and this produced +in her a condition which, half a century before, would +have been nervousness. But suddenly she perceived +something which, although strange, was very pleasant. +It was a young girl upon a bicycle coming swiftly +toward her over a wide, smooth driveway. Miss +Amanda had never been conscious of a bicycle; and +as the girl swept rapidly on, it seemed as if she were +skimming over the earth without support. At the +foot of the marble steps the girl stopped and seemed +to fall to the ground; but she had not fallen: she had +only stepped lightly from the machine, which she +leaned against a post, and then walked rapidly toward +the place where the sweet peas grew.</p> + +<p>"Miss Amanda greatly admired this girl. She was +dressed in an extremely pretty fashion, with a straw +hat and short skirts, something like the peasants in +southern Europe. She began to pick the sweet-pea +blossoms, and soon had a large bunch of them. Now +steps were heard coming round the house, and the +girl, turning her head, called out: 'Oh, grandpa, wait +a minute. I am picking these flowers for you.' From +around one end of the house, which was a large +one, Miss Amanda saw approaching an elderly gentleman +who was small, with short gray hair and a round, +ruddy face. He walked briskly, and with a light +switch, which he carried in his hand, he made strokes +at the heads of a few fluffy dandelions which appeared +here and there; but he never hit any of them.</p> + +<p>"Instantly Miss Amanda knew him: it was her +nephew John—the same boy who had broken the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +sun-dial! No matter what his age might happen to +be, he had the same bright eyes, and the same habit +of striking at things without hitting them. Yes, it +was John. There could be no possible mistake about +it. It was that harum-scarum young scapegrace John. +If Miss Amanda had had a heart, it would have gone +out to that dear old boy; if she had had eyes they +would have been filled with tears of affection as she +gazed on him. Of all her family he had been most +dear to her, although, as he had often told her, there +was no one in the world who found so much fault with +him.</p> + +<p>"The old gentleman sat down on a rustic seat beneath +a walnut-tree, and his granddaughter came +running to him, filling the air with the odor of sweet +peas. She seated herself at the other end of the bench, +and let the flowers drop into her lap. 'Grandpa,' +said she, 'these are for you, but I am only going to +give you one of them now for your buttonhole. The +rest I will put in a vase in your study. But I wanted +you to stop here anyway, for I have something to tell +you.'</p> + +<p>"'Tell on,' said he, when the girl had put a spray +bearing three blossoms into his buttonhole. 'Is it +anything you want me to do this afternoon?'</p> + +<p>"'It isn't anything I want you to do ever,' she +said. 'It is about something I must do, and it is just +this: grandpa, there are two gentlemen who are +about to propose to me, and I think they will do it +very soon.'</p> + +<p>"'How in the world do you know that?' he exclaimed. +'Have they sent you printed notices?'</p> + +<p>"'How is it that anybody knows such a thing?' she +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +answered. 'We feel it, and we can't be expected to +explain it. You must have felt such things when you +were young, for I have been told you were often in +love.'</p> + +<p>"'Never in my life,' said her grandfather, 'have I +felt that a young woman was about to propose to me.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, nonsense!' said the girl, laughing. 'But you +could feel that she would like you to propose to her. +That's the way it would be in your case.'</p> + +<p>"Miss Amanda listened with the most eager and +overpowering attention. Often in love! That young +scapegrace John! But she had no doubt of it. When +she had last known him he was not yet eighteen, and +he had had several love-scrapes. Of course he must +have married, for here was his granddaughter; and +who in the world could he have taken to wife? Could +it have been that Rebecca Hendricks—that bold, +black-eyed girl, who, as everybody knew, had tried +so hard to get him? With all the strength of her +consciousness Miss Amanda hoped it had not been +Rebecca. There was another girl, Mildred Winchester, +a sweet young thing, and in every way desirable, +whom Miss Amanda had picked out for him when he +should be old enough to think about such things, +which at that time he wasn't. Rebecca Hendricks +ought to have been ashamed of herself. Now she did +hope most earnestly that she would hear something +which would let her know he had married Mildred +Winchester.</p> + +<p>"'Well,' said the old gentleman, 'if they do propose, +as you seem to have some occult reason for suspecting, +have you made up your mind which of them you are +going to take?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span>"'That is the trouble,' said the girl, a very serious +look coming over her face. 'I have not made up my +mind what I ought to do. I know I ought to be prepared +to give the proper answer to the one who speaks +first, whichever one he may be; but I cannot come +to a decision which satisfies me, and that is the reason, +grandpa, I wanted to talk to you about it. Of course +you know who they are—George and Mr. Berkeley.'</p> + +<p>"'My dear Mildred,' said the old gentleman, turning +quickly around so that he could face her, 'just +listen to me.'</p> + +<p>"'Mildred, Mildred!' thought Miss Amanda, and +her consciousness was pervaded by a joyful thankfulness +which knew no limits. 'She must have been +named after her grandmother. He surely married +Mildred.' And Miss Amanda gazed on the scapegrace +John with more affection than she had ever known +before. But in the midst of her joy she could not +help wondering who it was that that Rebecca Hendricks +had finally succeeded in getting. That she got +somebody Miss Amanda had not the slightest doubt.</p> + +<p>"'Mildred,' said the old gentleman, 'just listen to +me. This is a most important thing you have told +me, and I have only this to say about it: if you can't +make up your mind which one of those young men +you will take when they propose, make up your mind +now, this minute, not to have either of them. If you +love either one of them as you ought to love the man +who shall be your husband, you will have no difficulty +in deciding. Therefore, if you have a difficulty, +you do not really love either of them.'</p> + +<p>"For a few minutes the girl sat quietly looking +down at the flowers in her lap, and then she said: +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +'But, grandpa, suppose I do not understand myself +properly? Perhaps after a while I might come to a—'</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 405px;"> +<a name="image_p258" id="image_p258"><img src="images/image_p258.jpg" width="405" height="600" alt="" title="" /></a> +<div class="caption">Miss Amanda listened with the most eager and +overpowering attention.</div> +</div> + +<p>"'After a while,' interrupted her grandfather. +'That will not do. You want to understand yourself +before a lover proposes to you, not afterwards.'"</p> + +<p>The captain sat up straight in his chair. "Now +look here," he said; but he addressed the Mistress of +the House, not the story-teller. "How does this +daughter of ours come to know all these things about +lovers, and the weather-signs which indicate proposals +of marriage, and all that? Has she been going about +in society, making investigations into the rudiments +of matrimony, during my last cruise? And would +you mind telling me if any young men have been +giving her lessons in love-affairs? John Gayther, +have you seen any stray lovers prowling about your +garden of late?"</p> + +<p>The gardener smiled, and said he had seen no such +persons. But he said nothing about a very true friend +of the Daughter of the House, who lived in a small +house in the garden, and who would have been very +well pleased to break the head of any stray lover who +should wander into his precincts.</p> + +<p>"You don't know girls, my dear," said the Mistress +of the House, "and you don't know what comes to +them naturally, and how much they have to learn. +So please let the story go on."</p> + +<p>"'Of course,' said the old gentleman, 'I know who +they are. Considering how often they have been +here of late, I could not well make a mistake about +that; and although I am not in favor of anything of +the sort, and feel very much inclined to put up a sign, +"No lovering on these premises," still, I am a reasonable +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +person' ('You must have changed very much if +you are, you dear boy!' thought Miss Amanda), 'and +know what is due to young people, and I am obliged +to admit that these young men are good enough as +young men go. But the making a choice! That is +what I object to. I would advise you, my dear, not +to think anything more about it until the time shall +come when you feel there is no need of making a +choice because the thing has settled itself.'</p> + +<p>"'But, grandpa,' she said, 'what am I to say if they +ask me? I am bound to say something.'</p> + +<p>"The old gentleman did not reply, but began switching +at some invisible dandelions. 'What you tell me,' +he said presently, 'reminds me of my Aunt Amanda. +She was a fine woman, and she had two lovers.' ('You +little round-faced scamp!' thought Miss Amanda. +'Are you going to tell that child all my love-affairs? +And what do you know about them, anyway? I +never confided in you. You were nothing but a boy, +although you were a very inquisitive one, always +wanting to know things, and what you have found +out is beyond me to imagine.')</p> + +<p>"'Your Aunt Amanda,' said Mildred. 'That's the +one in the oval frame in the parlor. She must have +been very pretty.'</p> + +<p>"'Indeed she was,' said the old gentleman. 'That +portrait was painted when she was quite a young girl; +but she was pretty until the day of her death. I used +to be very fond of her, and thought her the most beautiful +being on earth. She always dressed well, and +wore curls. Even when she was scolding me I used +to sit and look at her, and think that if such a lady, +a little bit younger perhaps, but not much, were shut +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +up in a castle with a window to it, I would be delighted +to be a knight in armor, and to fight with retainers +at the door of that castle until I got her out +and rode away with her sitting on the crupper of my +saddle, the horse being always, as I well remember, a +gray one dappled with dark spots, with powerful +haunches and a black tail.' ('You dear boy,' murmured +Miss Amanda, 'if I had known that I could +not have scolded!') 'Well, as I said before, she had +two lovers. One was a handsome young fellow named +Garrett Bridges.'</p> + +<p>"'It seems to me I have heard that name,' said +Mildred.</p> + +<p>"'Very likely, very likely,' said her grandfather. +'It has been mentioned a great many times in our +family. Garrett had been intended for the army, but +he did not get through West Point, and at the time +he was making love to my Aunt Amanda his only +business was that of expecting an inheritance. But +he was so brave and gay and self-confident, and was +so handsome and dashing, that everybody said he +would be sure to get along, no matter what line +of life he undertook.' ('I wonder,' thought Miss +Amanda, 'what he did do, after all. I hope I shall +hear that.') 'Her other lover,' said the old gentleman, +'was Randolph Castine, a very different sort of +young man.' ('You unmitigated little story-teller!' +ejaculated Miss Amanda. 'He never made love to +me for one minute in his whole life. I wish I could +speak to John—oh, I wish I could speak to John!') +'So, then,' continued the old gentleman, 'here were +the two young men, both loving my Aunt Amanda; +and here was I, intensely jealous of them both.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span>"'Oh, grandfather,' laughed Mildred, 'how could +you be that?'</p> + +<p>"'Easily enough,' said he. 'I was very impressionable +and of a very affectionate turn of mind.' ('You +had very queer ways of showing it, you young scamp!' +said Miss Amanda.) 'And I remember, when I was +about ten years old, I once asked my mother if it +were wicked to marry aunts; and when she told me it +would not do, I said I was very sorry, for I would like +to marry Aunt Amanda. I liked her better than anybody +else except my mother, and I was sure there was +no other person who would take more from me, and +slap back less, than Aunt Amanda.' ('I remember +that very well,' thought the happy consciousness; +'and when your mother told me about it, how we both +laughed!')</p> + +<p>"'Well, the better I liked my Aunt Amanda, the +less I liked anybody who made love to her; and one +night, as I was sitting on the edge of my bed,—it must +have been nearly eleven o'clock,—I vowed a vow, +which I vowed I would never break, that no presumptuous +interloper, especially Garrett Bridges, should +ever marry my Aunt Amanda. As to Randolph Castine +or any other suitor, I did not think them really +worthy of consideration. Garrett Bridges was the +dangerous man. He was at our house nearly every +day, and, apart from his special obnoxiousness as a +suitor to my Aunt Amanda, I hated him on my own +account, for he treated me as if I were nothing but a +boy.' ('And why shouldn't he?' murmured Miss +Amanda. 'You were nearly grown up at that time, +but you really behaved more like a boy than a man, +and that was one reason I was so fond of you.')</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span>"'I had a good many plans for freeing my Aunt +Amanda from the clutches of Mr. Bridges; but the +best of them, and the one I finally determined upon, +pleased me very much because it was romantic and +adventurous. It seemed to me the best way to prevent +Mr. Bridges from marrying my Aunt Amanda +was to make him marry some one else, and I thought +I could do this. There was a girl named Rebecca +Hendricks, who lived about a mile from our house, +with whom I was very well acquainted. She was a +first-class girl in many ways.' ('I would like to know +what they were!' exclaimed Miss Amanda. 'I think +she was about sixth-class, no matter how you looked +at her.') 'For one thing, she was very plucky, and +ready for any kind of fun. I knew she liked Mr. Bridges, +because I had heard her say so, and her praise +of him had frequently annoyed me very much; for I +did not want a friend of mine, as she professed to be, +to think favorably in any way of such a man as Garrett +Bridges. But things were now getting serious, +and I did not hesitate to sacrifice my feelings for the +sake of my Aunt Amanda. I was always ready to +do that.' ('Not always, my boy,' thought Miss +Amanda; 'not always, I am afraid.') 'So I resolved +to get up a match between Rebecca and Garrett +Bridges. As I thought over the matter, it seemed to +me that they were exactly suited to each other.' +('That's queer!' thought Miss Amanda. 'I always +supposed you thought she was exactly suited to you.') +'Of course I could not say anything to Bridges about +the matter, but I went over to Rebecca, and told her +the whole plan. She laughed at me, and said it was +all pure nonsense, and that if she were going to marry +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +at all she would a great deal rather marry me than +Mr. Bridges. But I told her seriously it was of no use +to think of me. In the first place, I was four years +younger than she was; and then, I had made up my +mind never to marry, no, never, as long as my Aunt +Amanda lived. I was going to take care of her when +she grew elderly, and I wanted nobody to interfere +with that purpose.' ('You dear boy!' said Miss +Amanda, with a sort of choke in her affectionate consciousness. +'That is so like you—so like you! And +yet I thought you were in love with that Rebecca.') +'Of course I did not give up my plan because she +talked in that way,' continued the old gentleman. 'I +knew her; I had studied her carefully. Like most +boys of my age, I was a deep-minded student of human +nature, and could see through and through people.'</p> + +<p>"'Of course,' laughed Mildred. 'I have known +boys just like that.'</p> + +<p>"'But I was about right in regard to Rebecca,' said +her grandfather. 'I kept on talking to her, and it +was not long before she agreed to let me bring Mr. Bridges +to see her—they were not acquainted. I had +no trouble with him, for he was always glad to know +pretty girls, and he had seen Rebecca. There never +was a piece of match-making which succeeded better +than that, and it delighted me to act as prompter of +the play, while those two were the actors, and I was +also the author of the piece.'</p> + +<p>"'Grandpa,' said Mildred, 'don't you think all that +was rather wrong?'</p> + +<p>"'I did not think so then,' he answered, 'and I am +not sure I think so now; for really they were very +well suited to each other, and there did seem to be +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +danger that the man might marry my Aunt Amanda, +and that, as it seemed to me then, and seems to me +now, would have been a deplorable thing.' ('If you +had known a little more, you scheming youngster,' +said Miss Amanda, 'you would have understood that +there was not the least danger of anything of the kind—that +is to say, I am not <em>sure</em> there was any danger.') +'It was not long after these two people became acquainted +before I had additional cause for congratulating +myself that I had done a wise and prudent +thing. Bridges came to see my Aunt Amanda every +afternoon, just the same as he had been in the habit +of doing, and yet he spent nearly every evening with +Rebecca; and that proved to me he was not a fit lover +for my Aunt Amanda, no matter how you looked at it.'</p> + +<p>"'But the young girl,' said Mildred. 'Didn't you +think he was also too fickle for her?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' said the old gentleman; 'I was quite +positive that Rebecca could manage him when she +got him. She would make him walk straight. I +knew her; she was a great girl. Every morning I +went to see her to inquire how things were coming +on, and she told me one day that Mr. Bridges had +proposed to her, and that she had accepted him, and +that it was of no use to say anything about it to her +father, because he would be sure to be dead set against +it. Her mother was not living, and she kept house +for her father, who was a doctor, and he had often +said he would not let her marry anybody who would +not come there and live with him; and, judging from +what she had heard him say of Garrett Bridges on +one or two occasions, she did not feel encouraged to +propose this arrangement for him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span>"'So the plan they agreed upon—which, in fact, I +suggested, although Rebecca would never have admitted +it—was to go off quietly and get married. +Then she could write to her father and tell him all +about it, and when his anger had cooled down they +could make him a visit, and it would depend on him +what they should do next. I worked out the whole +plan of operation, which Rebecca afterwards laid before +Mr. Bridges as the result of her own ingenuity, +for which he commended her very much. They both +agreed—and you may be sure I did not disagree with +them—that the sooner they were married the better. +The equinoctial storms were expected before very +long, and then a wedding-trip would be unpleasant +and sloppy. So they fixed on a certain Wednesday, +which suited me very well because my father and +mother would then be away from home on a visit, and +that would make it easier for me to do my part.' +('You little schemer!' said Miss Amanda. 'Of course +you suggested that Wednesday.')</p> + +<p>"'This place was quite in the country then, and +eight miles from a station, and there was only one +train to town, at seven o'clock in the morning. If +they could get to the village where the station was at +quarter-past six, they would have time to get married +before the train came. Old Mr. Lawrence, the Methodist +minister, was always up at six o'clock, and he +could easily marry them in twenty minutes, and that +would give them lots of time to catch the train. I +would furnish the conveyance to take them to the +village, and would also attend to Rebecca's baggage. +Mr. Bridges could have his trunk taken to the station +without exciting suspicion. At five o'clock in the +morning, I told Rebecca, I would have a horse and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +buggy tied to a tree by the roadside at a little distance +from the doctor's house where the lovers were +to meet.</p> + +<p>"'The night before, Rebecca was to put all the +clothes she wanted to take with her in a pillow-case, +which she was to carry to a woodshed near the house. +Soon after they started in the buggy I would arrive +with a spring-wagon and an empty trunk. I would +then get the pillow-case, put it into the trunk, and +drive to the station by another road.</p> + +<p>"'Mr. Bridges approved of this plan, and thought +she was very clever to devise it. So everything was +settled, and I went to the stable the day before, and +told Peter I wanted him to get up very early the +next morning, and put old Ripstaver in the buggy, +and drive him over to Dr. Hendricks's. I told him +he must be there before five o'clock, and that he was +to tie the horse to a maple-tree this side of the front +yard. I said one of the doctor's family had to get to +the village very early because there were some things +to be done before the train came, and it had been +agreed we should lend our buggy. Peter was not +quite pleased with the arrangement, and asked why +we did not send the old mare—we only kept two +horses; but I said she was too slow, and it had been +specially arranged that the buggy, with Ripstaver, +should be sent. Peter was a great friend of mine, so +he agreed to do what I asked, and said he did not +mind walking back.' ('I never would have believed,' +said Miss Amanda, 'that the boy had such a mind. +If I had only known what he was planning to do! If +I had only known! But even if I had, it is so hard +to tell what is right.')</p> + +<p>"'My Aunt Amanda was not in the habit of meddling +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +with anything about the barn or stable; but +that afternoon—and I never knew why—she went to +the barn, and found Peter dusting off the buggy. He +told me she asked if anybody was going to use the +buggy that evening, and he replied he was getting it +ready to take over to the Hendrickses' in the morning, +as some one there wanted to go to the village before +the train started for the city. Then she asked +what horse he was going to put to it, and he told her +old Ripstaver. Then she said she did not think that +was a good plan, because Ripstaver was hard to drive, +and it would be a great deal better to send the old +mare. Peter agreed to this, and so it happened that +when I went to the barn the next morning, as soon as +I had seen Peter drive away in the buggy, I found the +only horse in the stable was old Ripstaver. I was +mad enough, I can tell you; for if Rebecca made any +noise and woke her father he could overtake that old +mare long before she could get to the village. I +never did understand how my Aunt Amanda happened +to meddle that afternoon.'</p> + +<p>"('Of course you couldn't,' said Miss Amanda. +'You were a fine little manager; but when I looked +out of my window that afternoon and saw a boy carrying +a trunk to the barn I was very likely to suspect +something; and when I went down to the barn myself +and found Peter getting the buggy ready to go away +early the next morning, I suspected a great deal +more. I did not know what to do, for I did not want +to make a scandal by letting Peter know anything was +out of the way, and all I could think of was to have +a slow horse put in the buggy instead of a fast one. +I thought that might help, anyway.')</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span>"'Well,' continued the old gentleman, 'there was +nothing for me to do but to take Ripstaver and the +spring-wagon and go after Rebecca's baggage. When +I reached the doctor's house, and found the buggy had +gone, I got the pillow-case, put it into the trunk, and +started off on a back road which joined the turnpike +a couple of miles farther on. Near the junction of +the two roads was a high hill from which I hoped I +might be able to see the buggy, and, if so, I would +follow it at a safe distance. As soon as I got to the +top of this hill I did see the buggy; but I saw more +than that—I saw another buggy not far behind it. +There was a roan horse in this one which I knew to +belong to the doctor. Bridges was whipping our old +mare like everything, and she was doing her best, +and galloping; but the doctor's roan was a good one, +and he was gaining on them very fast. It was a beautiful +race, and I felt like clapping and cheering the +doctor, for, although he was spoiling my game, it was +a splendid thing to see him driving his roan so fast +and so steadily, never letting him break out of a regular +trot, and I hated Bridges so much I was glad to +see anybody getting the better of him.</p> + +<p>"'It was not long before the doctor's buggy caught +up with the other one, and then they both stopped; +everybody got out, and there must have been a grand +talk, but of course I could not hear any of it. The +doctor shook his fist, and I could see they were having +a lively time. After a bit they stopped talking, the +doctor took Rebecca into his buggy and drove back, +and Garrett Bridges got into our buggy and went +slowly toward the station—to see about his trunk, I +suppose. I did not lose any time after that, but +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +drove to the doctor's as fast as old Ripstaver could +travel, and I had Rebecca's pillow-case in the woodshed +before the doctor arrived. Now I never was +able to imagine how the doctor found out that Rebecca +had gone. She did not know herself. She said +she got out of the house without making any more +noise than a cat; and as for her father waking up +at the sound of wheels in the public road, that was +ridiculous; if he had heard them he would not have +paid any attention to them. That was one of the +queer things neither of us ever found out.'</p> + +<p>"Miss Amanda was amused. ('Of course you +didn't; it was not intended that you should. How +could you know that, being greatly troubled, I woke +up very early that morning, and when I found you +were not in your room I put on my overshoes and +walked across the fields to Dr. Hendricks's. I did +not get there as soon as I hoped I would; but when +I rang the door-bell, and the doctor himself came to +the door, and I told him I did not want to see him +but Rebecca, and he went to look for her and found +her gone, and I confided to him as a great secret what +I was sure had happened, it did not take him long to +get his horse and buggy and go after her. And how +glad I was she had our old mare, and not Ripstaver! +But I thought all the time it was you she had run +away with, and I never knew until now that it wasn't. +The doctor told me afterwards that he and his daughter +had agreed not to say anything about it, and he +advised me to do the same; but the sly old fellow +never told me it was Mr. Bridges and not you. But +if I had only known who really was running away +with her, I would not have walked across those wet +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +pasture-fields that chilly morning—that is, I do not +think I would have done it.')</p> + +<p>"'But one thing I did know,' said the old gentleman, +'which I often regretted; and that was that if +my Aunt Amanda had not meddled with the horses +and so spoiled my plan, Rebecca Hendricks would +have married Mr. Bridges, and several evil consequences +would have been avoided.' ('I wonder what +they were?' thought Miss Amanda.) 'Well, things +went on pretty much as they had been going on, and +that Garrett Bridges came every day, just as bold as +brass, to see my Aunt Amanda, who, of course, knew +nothing of his trying to run away with Rebecca. +Sometimes I thought of telling her, but that would +have made a dreadful mess, and I was bound in honor +not to say a word about Rebecca.</p> + +<p>"'Mr. Randolph Castine sometimes came to our +house, but not often, and I began to wish he would +court my Aunt Amanda and marry her. If she had +to marry, he would be a thousand times better than +Garrett Bridges, and I thought I could go to his +house—which was a beautiful one, with hunting and +fishing—to see her, and perhaps make long stays in +the summer-time, which would have been utterly +impossible in the case of Garrett Bridges.' ('You +would have been welcome enough in any home of +mine,' said Miss Amanda. 'But you are utterly mistaken +about Mr. Castine. Alas! he was no lover at +all.') 'But although Mr. Castine was a splendid man +in every way, he was not a bold lover like Garrett +Bridges, and after a while he seemed to get tired and +went off to travel. Not very long after that Bridges +went off, too. I think perhaps he had received part +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +of the inheritance he was expecting; but I am not +sure about that. Anyway, he went. And then my +Aunt Amanda had no lover but me.</p> + +<p>"'Very soon her health began to fail, and this +went on for some time, and nothing did her any good. +At last she took to her bed. It seemed to me the +weaker and thinner she got the more beautiful she +became, and I did everything I could for her, which, +of course, was not any good. I remember very well +that at this time she never lectured me about anything; +but she sometimes mentioned Rebecca Hendricks, +always to the effect that she was a very strange +girl, and that she could not help thinking her husband, +if she ever got one, would be a man who ought +to be pitied. I think she was afraid I might marry +her; but she need not have worried herself about +that—I never had the slightest idea of any such nonsense.' +('But I had every reason to suppose you had +such an idea,' said Miss Amanda, 'considering I thought +you had tried to run away with her.')</p> + +<p>"'Well,' said the old gentleman, 'there is not much +more of the story. My Aunt Amanda died, and our +family was in great grief for a long time; but none of +them grieved as much as I did.' (If Miss Amanda +could have embraced her dear nephew John, she +would have done so that minute.) 'Then, greatly to +our surprise, Randolph Castine suddenly came home. +He had heard of my Aunt Amanda's dangerous condition, +and he had hurried back to see her and to tell +her something before she died. He told my mother, +to whom he confided everything, that he had been +passionately in love with my Aunt Amanda for a long +time, but that he had been so sure she was going to +marry Mr. Bridges that he had never given her any +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +reason to suppose he cared for her, which I said then, +and I say now, was a very poor way of managing love +business. If he had spoken, everything would have +been all right, and my Aunt Amanda might have +been living now; there are plenty of people who live +to be ninety. I am positively sure, now, that she was +just as much in love with him as he was with her.'</p> + +<p>"Miss Amanda now suffered a great and sudden +pain: she seemed to exist only in her memory of her +great love for Randolph Castine, and in this present +knowledge that he had loved her. Oh, why had she +been told that in life she had been dreaming, and that +only now she had come to know what had been real! +Nothing that was said, nothing that was visible, +impressed her consciousness just then; but presently +some words of her nephew John forced themselves +upon her attention.</p> + +<p>"'So she never knew, and he never knew, and two +lives were ruined; and she died,' the old gentleman +continued, 'my mother thought, as much from disappointed +love as from anything else.'</p> + +<p>"'And what became of Mr. Castine?' asked Mildred, +who had been listening with tears in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"'He went away again,' said her grandfather, 'and +stayed away a long time; and at last he married a +very pleasant lady because he thought it was his duty, +having such a fine estate, which ought to be lived on +and enjoyed.'</p> + +<p>"'Did he have any children?' asked Mildred.</p> + +<p>"'Yes; one daughter, who married a Mr. Berkeley +of Queen Mary County. It was considered a good +match.'</p> + +<p>"'Berkeley!' exclaimed the young girl, moving so +suddenly toward her grandfather that all the sweet +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +peas in her lap fell suddenly to the ground. 'Berkeley! +Why, Arthur Berkeley comes from Queen Mary +County! Do you mean he is the grandson of Mr. Castine?'</p> + +<p>"'Exactly; that is who he is,' said the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Mildred sat for a few minutes without saying a +word, looking at the ground. 'Grandpa,' she said +presently, 'do you know I believe all the time my +mind was made up, and I did not know it. And after +what you have told me of Arthur Berkeley, grandpa, +and your Aunt Amanda, I really think I know myself +a great deal better than I did before; and if Arthur +should ask me—that is, if he ever does—'</p> + +<p>"'And he surely will,' said her grandfather, 'for he +came to me this morning, like the honorable fellow +he is, and obtained permission to do so.'</p> + +<p>"'Grandpa!' exclaimed Mildred; and as she looked +up at him there was no beauty in any sweet-pea blossom, +or in any other flower on earth, which could +equal the brightness and the beauty of her face.</p> + +<p>"The pain faded out of the consciousness of Miss +Amanda. 'And this is the way it ends!' she murmured. +'This is the way it ends. John's granddaughter +and his grandson.' And now it was not pain, but +a quiet happiness, which pervaded her consciousness.</p> + +<p>"The grandfather and granddaughter rose from the +rustic bench and walked slowly toward the house. +Miss Amanda looked after them, and blessed them; +then she gazed upon the sweet peas on the ground; +then she looked once more upon the old dial, still +bravely marking each sunny hour; and then, slowly +and gradually, Miss Amanda lost consciousness, without +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +saying to herself, 'Seven o'clock' or 'Fifty years' +or any other period of time.</p> + +<p>"That is the end," said the young lady.</p> + +<p>"And quite time!" exclaimed the Master of the +House. "Madam," he said, turning to his wife, "did +you know of all this knowledge of which your daughter +seems possessed—of boy's nature, and woman's +love, and the human heart, and all the rest of it? I +can't fathom her with my longest line!"</p> + +<p>"You may as well give up all idea of that sort of +sounding," said the Mistress of the House. "There is +no line long enough to fathom the human heart."</p> + +<p>"I am thinking," said John Gayther, as he rattled +the seeds in the pan, "whether it was worth while for +Amanda to become conscious for so short a time, and +just to hear a tale like that."</p> + +<p>"Was it worth while to learn that the man she had +wanted to love her had really loved her?" asked the +Daughter of the House, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem the sort of love to wait fifty years +to hear about," said John. "I don't like the way +they have in novels of making folks keep back things +that men and women couldn't help telling."</p> + +<p>"Then you don't like my story, John," said the +Daughter of the House, in a disappointed tone.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, but I do, miss," he replied quickly. "As +a story it is just perfect; but as real doings it doesn't +pan out square. But then, it is meant for a story, +and it couldn't be better or more unlike other stories +told here. Nobody could have thought that out that +hadn't a deep mind."</p> + +<p>The young lady looked critically at John, but she +saw he really meant what he said, and she was satisfied.</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>THE OLD PROFESSOR</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>MY TRANSLATOPHONE</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX">IX</a><br /> +MY TRANSLATOPHONE</h2> + + +<p>The Professor was very old, but he was well preserved—always +spoken of as "hale and hearty." +He still held his position in his college, and still took +a good part in teaching mathematics, but he had an +assistant who did the heavy work. He had been principal +of the school where the Mistress of the House +received her education, and she was much attached +to him, and he always spent some part of his summer +vacation at her house. The Master of the House, of +course, was not there every summer, and so this season +the Old Professor had a special treat, for there were +many things he liked to talk about in which he knew +the two ladies could take no interest.</p> + +<p>It rained for two days after his arrival at the house, +but the third morning was bright and clear, and the +Master of the House conducted his visitor to the +favorite resort of the family—a spot the Old Professor +knew well and loved. They conversed for a while on +some deep subjects, and then they were joined by the +two ladies and the Next Neighbor, and the serious +discourse changed into light talk; and John Gayther +coming up to pay his respects to the Old Professor, +the Next Neighbor was seized with an inspiration.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span>"John," she said, "you must tell us a story. Sit +right down and begin 'Once upon a time—' +know I haven't heard a story for a long time."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said John, respectfully, "I always do +what the ladies tell me to do; and I am more sorry +than I can say, but I have to know beforehand when +I am to tell a story, and indeed I haven't one ready."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are clever and can make up as you go +along, as the children say."</p> + +<p>"John never tells an impromptu story," said the +Mistress of the House. "But, my dear Professor," and +she turned to the old gentleman, "we are all friends +here, and I should so like you to tell us how you got +your wife. You once told it to me, and I should like +to know what this company will think of the way you +won her."</p> + +<p>The Old Professor smiled. "I know what you think +about it, and I know what I think about it; and, as +you say, we are all old friends, and I am rather curious +to know what this company will think about it. I +will tell my little story." When they were all ready, +he began in a clear voice:</p> + +<p>"If my Mary were living this story would never +have been told; but she has been a blessed spirit now +these many years, and has doubtless long known it, +and has judged my conduct righteously. Such is my +belief." Here he made a reverent pause, and then +began again:</p> + +<p>"In my early youth I left, for some two or three +years, the beaten track—so to speak—of mathematics; +or, more properly, mechanics. For I interested myself +in inventing, with more or less success, certain +scientific machines.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span>"One of the most successful of these various contrivances, +and the one, indeed, in which I was most +deeply interested, was a small machine very much +resembling in appearance the tube, with a mouth-piece +at one end and an ear-piece at the other, frequently +used by deaf persons, but very different in its +construction and action. In the ordinary instrument +the words spoken into the mouth-piece are carried +through the tube to the ear, and are then heard exactly +as they are spoken. When I used my instrument +the person spoke into the mouth-piece exactly +as if it were an ordinary tube, but the result was very +different, for the great feature of my invention was +that, no matter what language was spoken by the +person at the mouth-piece, be it Greek, Choctaw, or +Chinese, the words came to the ear in perfect English.</p> + +<p>"This translation was accomplished by means of +certain delicate machinery contained in the end of +the mouth-piece, which was longer and larger than +that of the ordinary ear-tube, but the outward appearance +of which did not indicate that it held anything +extraordinary. It would take too long to +explain this mechanism to you, and you would not +be interested; nor is it necessary to my story.</p> + +<p>"When, after countless experiments and disappointments, +and days and nights of hard study and hard +work, I finished my little machine, which I called a +translatophone, I was naturally anxious to see how it +would work with some other person than myself at +the mouth-piece. In the course of its construction I +had frequently tried the machine by putting the ear-piece +into my ear and speaking into the mouth-piece +such scraps of foreign languages as I was able to command. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +These experiments were generally satisfactory, +but I could not be satisfied that the machine +was a success until some one else should speak into +it in some foreign tongue of which I knew positively +nothing, so that it would be impossible for me to +translate it unconsciously.</p> + +<p>"This was not an easy thing, and I had determined +I would not explain my invention to the public until +I had assured myself that it worked perfectly, and +until I had had my property in the invention secured +to me by patent right. To go to a foreigner and ask +him to speak into my instrument, using a language +he could readily assure himself I did not speak or +understand, would be the same thing as an avowal of +what the translatophone was intended to do. I +thought of several plans, but none suited me. I did +not want to pretend to be deaf, and, even if I did so, +I could not explain why I wished to be spoken to in +a language I did not use myself.</p> + +<p>"In the midst of my cogitations and uncertainties, +I received a note from Mary Armat which, for a time, +drove from my mind all thought of translatophone +and everything concerning it.</p> + +<p>"Miss Mary Armat and I had been friends since +the days in which we went to school together. I had +always liked her above the other girls of my acquaintance, +and about three years previous to the +time of this story I had almost made up my mind +that I was in love with her, and that I would tell her +so. This, however, I had not done. At that time I +had become intensely interested in some of my inventions, +and, although my feelings toward Mary +Armat had not in the least changed, I did not visit +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +her as often as had been my custom, and when I did +see her I am afraid I told her more about mechanical +combinations than she cared to hear. But so engrossed +was I that I stupidly failed to notice this, +and I did not perceive that I had been neglecting the +most favorable opportunities of declaring the state of +my affections until she informed me, not in a private +interview, but in the midst of her family circle, that +she had made up her mind to become a missionary +and go to India to work among the heathen. +I was greatly shocked, but I could say nothing +then, and afterwards had no opportunity to say +anything.</p> + +<p>"I did not write to Mary, because she was a most +independent and high-spirited girl, and I knew it +must be spoken words and not written ones which +would satisfy her that I had had good reasons for +postponing a declaration of love to her until she had +left the country.</p> + +<p>"So she went to Burma. I frequently heard of her, +but we did not correspond. She had gone into her +new work with great zeal. She had learned the Burmese +tongue, and had even translated a little English +book into that language. For some time she had +seemed well satisfied; but I heard through her family +that she was getting tired of her Eastern life. The +rainy seasons were disagreeable to her, the dry seasons +did not agree with her; her school duties were becoming +very monotonous; and she had found out that +in her heart she did not care for the heathen, especially +for heathen children. Therefore she had resigned +her position and was on her way home. The +note I received from her informed me that she had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +arrived in New York the day before, and that she +would be very glad if I would come to see her."</p> + +<p>"<em>She</em> did a sensible thing, anyway," commented the +Master of the House.</p> + +<p>The Daughter of the House opened her mouth to +say: "I do not like her. She had no enthusiasm, or +real goodness, to give up her work so soon and for +such reasons." But she suddenly reflected that Mary +had been the speaker's wife, and she shut her mouth +with a little vicious snap.</p> + +<p>"I went to the Armat house that evening, and I +found there a very lively girl awaiting me. Her +parents and her two sisters had gone out, and we had +the parlor to ourselves. Life in Burma may not have +suited Mary Armat, but it certainly had improved +her, for she was much more charming than when I +had last seen her. Moreover, she was so very friendly, +and without doubt so glad to see me, she was so +bright and full of high spirits, that it might have +been supposed she had arranged matters so that we +could have the evening to ourselves, and was eminently +pleased with her success.</p> + +<p>"I admired her more and more every time I looked +at her, and I determined that, as soon as the proper +time should come, I would make earnest love to her, +and tell her what, perhaps, I should have told her +long ago. But just now I had other matters on my +mind.</p> + +<p>"Above all things I wanted Mary to talk into my +translatophone, and to speak in Burmese. I knew +nothing whatever of that language, and if she should +speak it, and the words should come to my ears in +pure English, then no further experiment would be +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +necessary, no doubts could possibly exist. But until +I had made this test I did not want her to know what +the instrument was intended to do; it was barely +possible she might play a trick on me and speak in +English. But if the thing succeeded I would tell her +everything. We two should be the sole owners of +the secret of my great invention—an invention which +would not only benefit the English-speaking world, +but which might be adapted to the language of any +nation, and which would make us rich beyond all +ordinary probabilities.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I had the opportunity I began to speak +of the work I had been engaged upon during Mary's +absence; and when I approached the subject I thought +I saw on her face an expression which seemed to say, +'Oh, dear! are you going to begin on that tiresome +business again?' But I was not to be turned from +my purpose. Such an opportunity as this was too +valuable, too important, to be slighted or set aside for +anything else. In a few minutes I might discover +whether this invention of mine was a success or a +failure. I took my translatophone from my pocket, +and laid it on the table beside us.</p> + +<p>"'What's that?' she exclaimed. 'You don't mean +to tell me you have become hard of hearing?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' said I; 'my hearing is just as good as it +ever was.'</p> + +<p>"'But that is a thing deaf people use,' she said.</p> + +<p>"'Well, yes,' I answered; 'it could be used by deaf +people, I suppose, although I have never tried it in +that way. It is my latest and, I think, my most +important invention. It would take too long to explain +its mechanism just now—'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>"'Indeed it would,' she interrupted quickly.</p> + +<p>"'But what I want to do,' I continued, 'is to make +a little trial of it with you.'</p> + +<p>"'If you mean you want me to speak into that +thing,' she said, 'I do not want to do it. I should +hate to think you are deaf and needed anything of +the sort. Please put it away; I do not even like the +looks of it.'</p> + +<p>"But I persisted; I told her that I greatly desired +that she should speak a few sentences in Burmese +into my instrument. I had a certain reason for this +which I would explain afterwards.</p> + +<p>"'But you do not understand Burmese,' she said in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"'Not a word of it,' I answered. 'I do not know +how it sounds when it is spoken, nor how it looks +when it is written. But there are certain tones and +chords, and all that sort of thing, in the foreign languages +which are very interesting, no matter whether +you understand the language or not.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, it is a sort of musical thing, then,' she said.</p> + +<p>"'I will not say it is exactly that,' I replied. 'But +if you will simply speak to me in Burmese for a minute +or two, that is all I ask of you, and afterwards we +can talk about its construction and object.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, I do not want to talk any more about it,' said +she; 'but if it will satisfy you, I will say a few words +to you in Burmese. Do you speak into this hole?' +she said as she took up the instrument.</p> + +<p>"I arranged the ear-piece very carefully, and +covered my other ear with my hand. Immediately +she began to speak to me, and every word came to +me in clear and beautiful English! But I knew, as +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +well as I knew that I lived, that the words she spoke +were Burmese, or belonged to some other language +which she knew I did not understand. The proof of +this was in the words themselves.</p> + +<p>"'I think you are perfectly horrid,' she said, 'and +I am glad to have an opportunity to tell you so, even +though you do not understand me. I cannot imagine +how anybody can be so stupid as to want to talk about +horrible ear-trumpets the first time he meets a girl +whom he has not seen for years, and who used to like +him so much, and who likes him still in spite of his +cruel stupidity. I wonder why you thought I wanted +to see you the minute I got home? I am awfully disappointed +in you, for I did think you would talk to +me in a very different way the first time you saw me. +And now I am going to tell you something—and I +would rather cut my tongue out than say it in English, +but it gives me a wicked delight to say it in Burmese: +I love you, John Howard. I have loved you +for a long time; and that is the reason I went to +Burma; and now that I have come back I am obliged +to say that I love you still. If you could invent some +sort of a tube that would make you see better with +your eyes and understand better with your mind, it +would be a great deal more suitable than this horrid, +snake-like thing for your ear. I do not suppose you +will ever hear me speak this way in English, but I +tell you again, John Howard, that I love you, and it +makes me sick to think what a goose you are.'</p> + +<p>"'Now, then,' she said, putting down the tube, 'was +there anything peculiar in the tones and chords of +that bit of foreign language?'</p> + +<p>"Fortunately the only light in the room was behind +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +me, and therefore I had reason to hope that she did +not observe the expression of my countenance. Moreover, +as soon as she had finished speaking she had +turned her face away from me, and was now leaning +back in her chair, her mouth tightly shut and her +wide-open eyes directed on the opposite wall. She +looked like a woman who had taken a peculiar revenge, +and who, in the taking of it, had aroused her +soul in its utmost recesses.</p> + +<p>"For some moments I did not answer her question. +In fact, I could not speak at all. My thoughts were +in a mad whirl. Not only had I discovered that my +invention, the hope of my life, was an absolute success, +but I was most powerfully impressed by the conviction +that now I could never tell Mary what my +invention was intended to do, for then she would +know what it had done.</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' I answered, speaking slowly; 'there was a +sort of accord, a kind of—'</p> + +<p>"I was interrupted in what would have been a +very labored sentence by the ringing of the door-bell. +Mary instantly rose. It was plain she was laboring +under suppressed excitement, for there was no other +reason why she should have jumped up in that way. +She looked as if she were anxious to see some one, no +matter who it was. I, too, felt relieved by the interruption. +In my state of wildly conflicting emotions +any third person would be a relief.</p> + +<p>"The door opened, and Miss Sarah Castle walked +in. 'Oh, Mary,' she exclaimed, 'I am so glad to find +you at home! As it isn't late and the moon is so +bright, I thought I would run over to see you for a +few minutes. Oh, Mr. Howard!'</p> + +<p>"Sarah Castle was a young woman for whom I had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +no fancy. Active in mind and body, and apparently +constructed of thoroughly well-seasoned material, she +was quick to notice, eager to know, and ready at all +times to display an interest in the affairs of her +friends, with which, in most cases, said friends would +willingly have dispensed. As she took a seat she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"'You don't mean to say, Mary, that you went +deaf in Burma?'</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately I had forgotten to put my translatophone +into my pocket, and it was lying in full view +on the table. Mary gave a scornful glance toward +the innocent tube.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, that?' she said. 'That is not mine. It belongs +to Mr. Howard.'</p> + +<p>"The words 'Mr. Howard' grated upon my nerves. +Up to this moment, except through the translatophone, +she had not addressed me by my name in any +form; and every tentative lover knows that when his +lady addresses him as though he had no name it +means that she does not wish to use his formal title +and that the time has not arrived for her to call him +by his Christian name.</p> + +<p>"'You deaf?' cried Sarah, turning to me. 'I have +never heard anything of that. When did it come on? +It must have been very recent.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, he isn't deaf,' said Mary, impatiently. 'It is +only one of his inventions. But tell me something of +your brothers. I have not heard a word about them +yet.'</p> + +<p>"But the knowledge-loving Sarah was not to be +bluffed off in this way.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, they are all right,' said she. 'They are both +in college now. But Mr. Howard deaf! I am truly +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +amazed. Do you have to talk to him through this, +Mary?'</p> + +<p>"Mary Armat was not an ill-natured girl, but, as I +said before, she was a high-spirited one, and was at +the time in a state of justifiable irritation.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, bother that thing!' she answered. 'I told +you it is only one of his inventions, and I wish he +would put it in his pocket.'</p> + +<p>"'Not just yet,' said Sarah. 'I am really anxious +to know about it. Why do you use it, Mr. Howard, +if you are not deaf?'</p> + +<p>"My face must have displayed my extreme embarrassment +at this unanswerable question, for Mary +came to my relief.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, it is a kind of musical instrument,' she said. +'But don't let us talk any more about it. This is +the second time I have seen you, but we have not +really had a good chance to say anything to each +other.'</p> + +<p>"I took advantage of this very strong hint, and rose.</p> + +<p>"'Musical!' exclaimed the irrepressible Sarah. +'Oh, Mr. Howard, please play on it just the least +little bit!'</p> + +<p>"Mary allowed herself an expression of extreme +disgust. 'Please not while I am present,' she said; 'I +could not abide it.'</p> + +<p>"I now advanced to take my leave.</p> + +<p>"'Do not go just now,' said Sarah; 'I merely ran +over for a minute to ask Mary about the Wilmer +reception; but as you are going, Mr. Howard, you +might as well see me home. It is later now.'</p> + +<p>"I retired to a book-table at the other end of the +parlor, and it was a good deal later when the two +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +young ladies had finished talking about the Wilmer +reception.</p> + +<p>"'I do not understand it at all,' said Miss Castle, +when we were on the sidewalk. 'You are not deaf, +Mr. Howard, and yet you use an ear-trumpet. What +does it mean?'</p> + +<p>"Of course I did not know what to say, but I had +to say something, and, moreover, that something must +not be wholly inconsistent with my explanation to +Mary.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, it is a thing,' I answered, 'that is intended to +be used in connection with foreign languages.' Then +I made a bold stroke: 'It shows the difference in their +resonant rhythms.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, I am sure I do not understand that,' said +Miss Castle. 'But what is the good of it? Does it +make them any pleasanter to listen to?'</p> + +<p>"I admitted that it did.</p> + +<p>"'Whether you understand them or not?' she +asked.</p> + +<p>"If this young woman had at this moment fallen +down a coal-hole I cannot truthfully say that I should +have regretted it.</p> + +<p>"'I cannot explain that, Miss Castle,' I said, 'for it +would take a long time, and here we are at your +door.'</p> + +<p>"'Come in and let me try it,' said Sarah.</p> + +<p>"'Thank you very much,' I replied, 'but I really +cannot. I have an engagement at my club. In fact, +I was just going to take leave of Miss Armat when +you came in.'</p> + +<p>"She looked at me scrutinizingly. 'You used to +call her Mary Armat when you spoke of her,' said she, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +'but I suppose her having been a missionary makes +a difference in that way. I do not believe much in +club engagements, but of course we have to recognize +them. And if you cannot come in now I wish you +would call on me soon. If your invention has anything +to do with foreign languages I truly want to try +it. I am studying German now, and if it will put any +resonant rhythm into that language it will be very +interesting.'</p> + +<p>"I made a hasty and indefinite promise, and gladly +saw the front door shut behind Miss Sarah Castle.</p> + +<p>"That night I did not sleep; in fact, I did not go to +bed. The words Mary Armat had spoken to me in +Burmese should have completely engrossed my every +thought, but they did not. For one moment my mind +was filled with rapture by the knowledge that I was +loved by this lovely girl; and in the next I was overwhelmed +by anxiety as to what should be done to +make it impossible for her to know that I knew she +had spoken those words. But whether my thoughts +made me happy or distressed me, there seemed to +be but one way out of my troubles; I must be content +with Mary's love, that is, if I should be so fortunate +as to secure it. There might be doubts about this; +women are fickle creatures, and Mary had been very +much provoked with me when I parted from her."</p> + +<p>"I see what is coming," here interrupted the Next +Neighbor, "and I don't approve of it at all!"</p> + +<p>"It would be hard," continued the Old Professor, +after pausing for further remarks, "to turn my back +upon the golden future which my invention would +give to Mary and me; but I must win her, golden +future or not. I sat before my study fire, and planned +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +out my future actions. As soon as I could see Mary +alone I would tell her my love, and I would explain +to her why I had not spoken when I first saw her. +But in order to do this I should have to be very careful. +I would say nothing but the truth, but I would +be very guarded in telling that truth. She must not +imagine that anything she had said had made me +speak. She must not imagine that I thought she expected +me to speak.</p> + +<p>"I would begin by asking her pardon for worrying +her with my invention when I knew she disliked +problematic mechanics. Then I would tell her, in as +few words as possible, that I had expected this little +instrument to give me fame and fortune, and therefore +I wanted her to know all about it; and then, before +she could ask me why I wanted her to know this, I +would tell her it was because I wished to lay that fame +and fortune at her feet. After that, in the best way +my ardent feelings should dictate, I would offer myself +to her without fortune, without fame, just the +plain John Howard who loved her with all his heart. +If she accepted me, I would tell her that the invention +had not worked as I had intended it should, and +therefore I should put it behind me forever."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" cried the Next Neighbor. "I knew +it was coming!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe it didn't," said the Master of the House.</p> + +<p>"Having come to a decision," the Old Professor +went on, with more animation, "upon this most important +matter, my mind grew easier and I became +happier. What was anything a black tube could do +for me—what, indeed, was anything in the world—compared +to the love of that dear girl? And so I sat +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +and gazed into the fire, and dreamed waking dreams +of blessedness.</p> + +<p>"After a time, however, it came to me that I must +make up my mind what I was going to do about the +translatophone. I might as well take it apart and +throw it into the fire at once, and then there would +be an end to that danger to the future of which I had +been dreaming. Yes; there would be an end to that. +But there would also be an end to the great boon I +was about to bestow upon the world, a boon the value +of which I had not half understood. It truly was a +wonderful thing—a most wonderful thing. An American +or an Englishman, or any one speaking English, +could take with him a translatophone and travel +around the world, understanding the language of +every nation, of every people—the polished tongues +of civilization, the speech of the scholars of the Orient, +and even the jabber of the wild savages of Africa. +To be sure, he could not expect to answer those who +spoke to him, but what of that? He would not wish +to speak; he would merely desire to hear. All he +would have to do would be to pretend that he was +deaf and dumb, and my simple translatophone might +put him into communication with the minds of every +grade and variety of humanity.</p> + +<p>"Then a new thought flashed into my mind. Why +only humanity? If I should attach a wide mouth-piece +to my instrument, why should I not gather in +the songs and cries of the birds? Why should I not +hear in plain English what they say to each other? +Why should not all creation speak to me so that I +could understand? Why should I not know what the +dog says when he barks—what words the hen addresses +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +to her chicks when she clucks to them to +follow? Why should I not know the secrets of what +is now to us a tongue-tied world of nature?</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 396px;"> +<a name="image_p294" id="image_p294"><img src="images/image_p294.jpg" width="396" height="600" alt="" title="" /></a> +<div class="caption">And dreamed waking dreams of blessedness.</div> +</div> + +<p>"Then I had another idea, that made me jump from +my chair and walk the floor. I might know what the +monkeys say when they chatter to each other! What +discovery in all natural history could be so great as +this? The thought that these little creatures, so +nearly allied to man, might disclose to me their dispositions, +their hopes, their ambitions, their hates, +their reflections upon mankind, had such a sudden +and powerful influence on me that I felt like seizing +my translatophone and rushing off to the Zoölogical +Gardens. It was now daybreak. I might obtain +admission!</p> + +<p>"But I speedily dismissed this idea. If I should +ever hear in English what the monkeys might say to +me, I must give up Mary. I should be the slave of +my discovery. It would be impossible then to destroy +the translatophone. I sat down again before the fire. +'Shall I put an end to it now?' I said to myself. +Nothing would be easier than to take its delicate +movements and smash them on the hearth. Now a +prudent thought came to me: suppose Mary should +not accept me? Then, with this great invention lost,—for +I never should have the heart to make another,—I +should have nothing left in the world. No; I +would be cautious, lest in every way my future life +should be overcast with disappointment. The sun +had risen, and I felt I must go out; I must have air. +Before I opened the front door, however, I said to +myself, 'Remember it is all settled. It is Mary you +must have—that is, if you can get her.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span>"Of all things in this world, the mind of man is the +most independent, the most headstrong. It will work +at your bidding as long as it pleases, and then it will +strike out at its own pace and go where it chooses. +During a walk of a couple of miles I thought nearly +all the time of what the monkeys might say to me if +I should attach a wide mouth-piece to my translatophone +and place it against the bars of their cage. +Over and over again I stopped these thoughts and +said to myself: 'But all this is nothing to me. I must +consider Mary and nothing else.' Then in a very few +minutes I was wondering if the monkeys would ask +me questions—if they have as strong a desire to know +about us as we have to know about them. From +such questions how much I might learn in regard to +the mental distance between us and them! But again +I put all this away from me and began to plan anew +what I should say to Mary. And then again it was +not very long before I found myself thinking how +intensely interesting it would be to know what the +tree-toads say, and what the frogs talk about when +they sit calling to each other all night. It might be +a little difficult to get near enough to tree-toads and +frogs, but I believed I could manage it.</p> + +<p>"However, when I returned home I was thinking +of Mary.</p> + +<p>"It was early in the afternoon, and I was trying to +decide what would be the best time to visit the Armat +house. The monkeys had not ceased to worry me +dreadfully, and I had begun to think that when bees +buzz around their hives they must certainly say something +interesting to each other. Then a note was +brought to me from Mary. I tore it open and read:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"'I want you to come to see me this afternoon. If you +possibly can, come about four o'clock, and bring that +speaking-tube with you. Miss Castle has been here +nearly all the morning, and some things she has said to +me have worried me very much. Please come, and do +not forget the ear-trumpet.'</p></div> + +<p>"This she signed merely with her initials.</p> + +<p>"Mary's note drove to the winds monkeys, bees, +and the rest of the world. What had that wretched +mischief-maker, that Castle girl, been saying to her? +I did not believe that the mind of Mary Armat was +capable of originating an unfounded suspicion of me; +but the mind of Sarah Castle was capable of originating +anything. She had doubtless suspected that there +must be some extraordinary reason for my desire to +have people talk to me through a tube in a language +I did not understand. She had been too impatient +to wait until she could try her German upon me, and +she had gone to Mary and had filled her mind with +horrible conjectures. One thing was certain: no +matter what else happened, I must not take that +translatophone to Mary. After what Sarah had said +to her there could be no doubt that she would make +me speak to her in a foreign language through the +tube. It would be easy enough: she could give me a +French book and tell me to read a few pages. No +matter how badly I should pronounce the words, they +would reach her ears in pure English!</p> + +<p>"And then!</p> + +<p>"I took my translatophone from the cabinet in +which I kept it. The easiest way to destroy it was +to throw it at once into the fire; but that would fill +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +the house with the smell of burning rubber. No; it +was only necessary to destroy the internal movements. +I unscrewed the long mouth-piece, and gently withdrew +from it the little membrane-covered cylinder, +not six inches in length, which formed the soul of my +invention. I took it in my hand and gazed upon it. +Through its thin, flexible, and almost transparent +outer envelope I could see, as I held it to the light, +its framework, fine as the thread-like bones of a fish, +its elastic chords, its quivering diaphragms, and all +the delicate organs of its inner life. It seemed as if +I could feel the palpitations of its heart as I breathed +upon it. For how many days and months had I been +working on this subtle invention—working, and thinking, +and dreaming! Here it lay, perfect, finished, +ready to tell me more than any man ever has known—a +thing almost of life, and ready to be brought to +life by the voice of man or beast or bird, or perhaps +of any living thing. Could I have the heart to destroy +it? Could I have the heart to turn my back +upon the gate of the world of wonders which was just +opening to me?</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' said I to myself; 'I have the heart to do +anything that will prevent my losing the love of Mary +Armat.'</p> + +<p>"Then an evil thought came to me, and tempted +me: 'If you choose you can hear the monkeys talk +and have Mary too. Everything you want is in your +own hands. Don't put that little machine back into +the tube. Lock it up safely out of sight, and then go +to Mary with your instrument, and you can talk into +it and she can listen, and she may talk and you may +listen. Yes, you may have your Mary—and she need +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +never know that you understand what the monkeys +may say to you, or what she has said to you.'</p> + +<p>"I am proud that I entertained this evil thought +for but a very short time. I turned upon it and stormed +at it. 'No!' I exclaimed. 'I shall never win Mary +by cheating her! Whether I get her or not, I will +be worthy of her.'</p> + +<p>"Then there came another thought, apparently +innocent and certainly persuasive. 'Do not destroy +the translatophone. Then, if things do not turn out +well between you and Mary, you will still have the +monkeys.'</p> + +<p>"'No,' I said to myself; 'I must have Mary. I will +have nothing to fall back upon. I will allow nothing +to exist that might draw me back.'</p> + +<p>"There was another thing I might do: I might take +my translatophone to her, and explain everything. +But would there be any possibility, even if she did +not fly from me in shame and never see me again, that +I could make her believe in a love which had been so +spurred on, even aroused, as she might well imagine +mine had been? No; that would never do. Apart +from anything else, it would be impossible for me to +be so cruel as to let Mary know I had understood the +Burmese words she had spoken to me.</p> + +<p>"I looked at the clock; it was half-past three. +Whatever was to be done must be done now. I +cast one more look of longing affection upon the +quivering, throbbing little creature, which to me was +as much alive as if it had been a tired bird panting +in my hand; and then I gently laid it on the hearth. +I lifted my left foot and let it hang for an instant +over the hopes, the fears, the anxieties, the happy +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +day-dreams those early years of my life had given +me, and then, with relentless cruelty, not only to +that quivering object but to myself, I brought down +my foot with all my strength!</p> + +<p>"There was a slight struggle for an instant, during +which there came to me quick, muffled sounds, which +to my agitated brain sounded like the moans of despair +from that vast world of animal intelligence +which does not speak to man. From my own heart +there came a groan. All was over! From the mysterious +inner courts of the animal kingdom no revelations +would ever come to me! The thick curtain +between the intelligence of man and the intelligence +of beast and bird which I had raised for a brief moment +had now been dropped forever! I should never +make another translatophone.</p> + +<p>"I cast no glance upon the hearth, but put on my +hat and coat and went to Mary. As I walked there +rose behind me a cloud of misty disappointment, +while before me there was nothing but dark uncertainty. +What would Mary have to say to me? And +how should I explain what would seem to her to be a +cowardly evasion of her plainly expressed request?</p> + +<p>"When I entered the Armat parlor I found Mary +alone. This encouraged me a little. I had feared +that the yearningly inquisitive Sarah might also be +there. In that case how might I hope to preserve +one atom of my secret?</p> + +<p>"Mary came forward with a smile, and held out her +hand; I was so astonished I could not speak.</p> + +<p>"'Now don't be cross,' said she. 'As I told you in +my note, Sarah Castle was here this morning, and +she greatly troubled my mind about you. She told +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +me I was actually snappish with you when she was +here last night. She had never heard me speak to +any one in such an ill-natured way. She knew very +well that I do not care for inventions and machines, +but she did not consider this any reason for my treating +you in such a manner. She said I ought to have +known that your whole soul is wrapped up in the +queer things you invent, and that I should have made +some allowance for you, even if I did not care about +such things myself. Now when she told me this I +knew that every word was true, and I was utterly +ashamed of myself; and as soon as she left I sent you +that note because I wanted you to let me beg your +pardon—which you may consider has been done. +And now please let me see your speaking-tube. I +want you to explain it to me; I want to know how it +is made, and what is its object. For I know very +well that even if your inventions are not successful +they always have very good objects. Please forgive +me, and let us sit on the sofa and have a nice talk +together such as we should have had last night.'</p> + +<p>"My soul shouted with joy within me, and I said to +myself: 'We shall have the nice talk we should have +had last night, but it shall be the talk you wanted +then, and not the one you ask for now.'</p> + +<p>"'Now, then,' said she, when we had seated ourselves, +'let us go to work to make experiments with +your tube. I am so glad you do not feel about it as +I thought you would.'</p> + +<p>"'I did not bring it,' I said.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, what a pity!' interrupted Mary.</p> + +<p>"'No,' said I; 'it is not a pity. It did not work +as I expected it would, and there is no use in talking +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +any more about it. I placed great hopes in it, and I +had a particular reason for wanting to tell you all +about it.' Then I began and bravely told her all +about it, that is, all that justice and kindness would +permit me to tell. In the conversation which ensued, +which was a very happy exchange of sentiment, it +was wonderful how that translatophone was put into +the background.</p> + +<p>"A great deal of what Mary said in answer to my +passionate avowals she had already said to me in Burmese. +But the fact that those straightforward, honest +words, fresh from a true woman's heart, and spoken +only for the satisfaction of her own frank and impetuous +nature, had come to me before in plain English +she did not imagine, nor did I ever allow her +to imagine. This secret of her soul I always regarded +as something that came to me in involuntary +confidence, and I always respected that confidence."</p> + +<p>"Were you never sorry?" asked the Daughter of +the House, when the Old Professor ceased.</p> + +<p>"No," he said thoughtfully; "I have never been +sorry for what I did. I had a very happy life with +my Mary—a life far happier than any wonder-exciting +invention could have given me."</p> + +<p>"Was it fair to the world to destroy an instrument +that might have been of great advantage to science?" +ventured John Gayther, hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"It is not easy," said the Old Professor, "to decide +between what we owe to the world and science, and +what we owe to ourselves. You see, I decided in +favor of myself. Possibly another man would have +decided in favor of the invention."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span>"Not if he were desperately in love," said the +Master of the House.</p> + +<p>"All those fine-spun feelings were unnecessary," said +the Next Neighbor. "If you had not confused your +mind with them you would have seen clearly enough +that the first idea which came into your head was the +proper one to act upon. It would have been no terrible +deception if you had taken the instrument to +Mary without the little machine and talked English +with her. Later you could have told her you had the +invention and you could use it. By that time she +would have forgotten that she ever had made that Burmese +speech, and would have been glad of the fame +and fortune the machine would surely have brought."</p> + +<p>The Old Professor looked pained. "I do not deny +that some such after-thoughts troubled my mind occasionally +for some years. But who can say anything +of the 'might have been'? The instrument might +have failed, after all; or the information gained have +proved not worth the hearing; or—"</p> + +<p>Here there was an unlooked-for interruption. The +red thrush suddenly burst into song from the midst of +the lilac-bushes, and the whole company listened spellbound +with delight while the little creature filled the +air with melody and sweetness.</p> + +<p>When the song ceased, the Professor remarked: +"My translatophone would have been worse than +useless here. If I could have heard those words I +should have lost that delicious melody. Doubtless +the words were commonplace enough, but the melody +was divine. And it was easy to interpret the spirit +of it. It was a song of joy for all that is pleasant, and +bright, and happy in this world."</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>THE NEXT NEIGHBOR</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>THE VICE-CONSORT</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X" id="X">X</a><br /> +THE VICE-CONSORT</h2> + + +<p>The red thrush seemed now to be part of the +pleasantness of the garden. Whether he was +drawn to the lilac-bushes by the sweet memory of his +former home, or whether he was keeping a tryst with +his mate of the nesting season and was calling her to +come to him, or whether his coming was pure caprice, +of course John Gayther could not know. But every +day he came; and when the sky was clear he sang his +merry song; and even when the clouds were overshadowing +he could not help uttering little trills of +melody. After a time he would fly away; but he left +a note of gladness in John's heart that stayed there +all day.</p> + +<p>The bird did not seem in the least disturbed by +the talk on the terrace. If the sound of the voices +reached him at all it must have been as a low murmur, +and perhaps he liked it. The family now timed +their visits to the summer-house, when they were +able to go there, by the red thrush; and he seldom +disappointed them. It so happened, however, one +morning when they were all there, that the lilacs +gave forth no sound. They waited for the accustomed +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +music, and a hush fell upon them. They were +silent for some time, and then the Old Professor +spoke:</p> + +<p>"I see John Gayther below the terrace. Can't we +have a story, if we cannot have a song?"</p> + +<p>John was called up at once, and the Next Neighbor +accosted him gayly: "If you had known that I am +going to tell a story you would have walked faster."</p> + +<p>John answered her with a pleasant smile. He +liked the Next Neighbor. He liked the kind of mind +she had, for it was thoroughly imbued with an anxious +desire to do her duty in this world in the manner in +which that duty showed itself to her. He liked her +because she was fond of the Daughter of the House. +He liked her because she considered her husband to +be the handsomest, best, and cleverest man in the +world. Perhaps John would have liked this trait best +of all if he had not clearly seen that she held in reserve +an opinion that this husband would move on a +still higher plane if he would place more value on her +opinions and statements.</p> + +<p>"This is the first time you have favored us," he said +courteously.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, "I knew the time would come +when I would be called upon, and I could tell many +a story about things that have happened to me. +I am not exactly the heroine of this tale, but I am +intimately concerned in its happenings, and shall tell +it in my own way.</p> + +<p>"Before I was married I used to feel that all we +have to do in this world is to grow up like grass or +clover-blossoms, and to perform our parts by being +just as green or as sweet-smelling as our natures allow. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +But I do not think that way now. Along comes a +cow, and our careers are ended. Of course we cannot +get out of the way of our fate any more than grass +can get out of the way of a cow; but it often happens +that we can accommodate ourselves to our misfortunes. +We can be content to being nibbled close; we can +spring up again from the roots; or we can patiently +wait until we blossom again the next summer.</p> + +<p>"It was about a year after I was married that I +began to think about such things. We were spending +a fortnight at the country house of one of my old +friends, Mrs. Cheston; and although Bernard, my husband, +was away most of the time, fishing with Mr. Cheston, +we were enjoying ourselves very much. +There was a village not far away where there were +some very nice people, so that we had a good deal of +pleasant social life, and it was not long before I became +quite well acquainted with some of the village +families.</p> + +<p>"One day Mrs. Cheston gave me a luncheon, to +which she invited a good many of the village ladies; +and, after they were all gone, we two sat on the piazza +and talked about them. Two or three of our guests +I had not met before, and in the course of our talk +Emily mentioned the name of Margaret Temple.</p> + +<p>"'Temple?' said I. 'Which one was that? I do +not recall her.'</p> + +<p>"'You were talking to her some time,' she replied. +'I think she was telling you about the mountains.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, yes,' said I; 'she was pointing out those +passes through which people go into the next county. +She sat at the other end of the table, didn't she? +She was dressed in black.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span>"'Oh, no,' said Emily, 'she was not dressed in black. +She never wears black. I think she wore a brown +dress with some sort of light trimming.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, well,' said I, 'I did not notice her dress, and +when I do not notice people's clothes I nearly always +think they dress in black. Is she nice?'</p> + +<p>"'She is very nice indeed,' said Emily; 'everybody +thinks that.'</p> + +<p>"'I wish I had seen more of her,' said I.</p> + +<p>"Emily did not answer this remark, but a smile +came on her face which presently grew into a little +laugh. I looked at her in surprise.</p> + +<p>"'What is there funny about Miss Temple?' I +asked.</p> + +<p>"'Really there is nothing funny about her,' she +replied, 'but I often laugh to myself when I think of +her.'</p> + +<p>"I suddenly became very much interested in Miss +Temple. 'Tell me why you do that,' I said. 'I +always like to know why people laugh at other +people.'</p> + +<p>"Emily now became very sober. 'You must not +think,' she said, 'that there is anything ridiculous +about Margaret Temple. There is not a finer woman +to be found anywhere, and I do not believe there is +anybody who laughs at her except myself. You +know I am very apt to see the funny side of things.'</p> + +<p>"'And so am I!' I exclaimed. 'Do tell me about +Miss Temple. It is so seldom there is anything amusing +about a really nice person.'</p> + +<p>"Emily was silent for a moment, and then she said: +'Well, I do not know that there is any real harm in +telling you what makes me laugh. A good many +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +people know all about it; but I would not, for the +world, have Margaret Temple find out that I told you.'</p> + +<p>"I assured her with great earnestness that if she +would tell me, I would never breathe it to any living +soul.</p> + +<p>"'Very well,' said Emily; 'I will trust you. As I +said, it really isn't funny, but it is just this. It is a +positive fact that five married ladies (I am certain of +this number, and it may be more) have gone to Margaret +Temple, during the past few years, and each one +has asked her to become her husband's second wife in +case she should die.'</p> + +<p>"I did not laugh; I exclaimed in amazement: +'Why did they all ask her? I did not notice anything +particularly attractive about her.'</p> + +<p>"'I think that is the point,' said Emily. 'I do not +think a woman is likely to want her husband to take +an attractive woman for his second wife. If she had +the chance to choose her successor, she would like +her husband to have a really nice person, good in +every way, but not one with whom he would be likely +to fall violently in love. Don't you see the point of +that?'</p> + +<p>"I replied that it was easy enough to see the point, +but that there was another one. 'You must remember,' +said I, 'that husbands are generally very particular; +if one has had a young and handsome wife he +would not be likely to be satisfied with anything less.'</p> + +<p>"Emily shook her head. 'I am older than you, +Rosa, and have had more opportunities of noticing +widowers. There are a great many things for them +to think about when they marry a second time: their +children, their positions, and all that. I believe that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> +if a man and his wife discussed it, which they would +not be likely to do, they would be very apt to be of +the same mind in regard to the sort of person who +ought to come in as number two. For my part, I do +not wonder at all that so many women have cast their +eyes on Margaret Temple as a person they would like +to have take their places when they are gone. For +one thing, you know they would not be jealous of her; +this is very important. Then, they would be as certain +as anything can be certain in this world that +their children, if they had any, as well as their husbands, +would be in most excellent hands. Often, when +I have been thinking about her, I have called Margaret +Temple the Vice-consort; but I have never told +any one this. Please remember.'</p> + +<p>"So far I had not seen a thing to laugh at, but I +was deeply interested. 'How came all this to be +known?' I asked. 'Has Miss Temple gone about +telling people?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no, indeed; she is not that sort of person. A +good many of the village ladies know it, and I think +they always have heard it from those prudent ladies +who were providing for their husbands' futures. +People talk about it, of course, but they are very +careful that nothing they say shall reach Margaret +Temple's ears.'</p> + +<p>"'Tell me about some of the people,' I said, 'who +want to secure Miss Temple as a successor. Do +they all feel as though they are likely to die?'</p> + +<p>"'Not all of them,' answered Emily. 'There is +Mrs. Hendrickson, who was obliged to go to Arizona +on account of her father's property. He was very +rich, and died not long ago. Her husband has to stay +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +at home to attend to his business, and she could not +take her little baby; and although she is just as +healthy as anybody, she knew all the dangers of railroad +travelling, and all sorts of things in that far-away +place; and, before she packed her trunk, she went to +Margaret Temple and asked her to promise that if +she died out there, she, Margaret, would marry Mr. Hendrickson. +This I know for certain, for Mrs. Hendrickson +told me herself.'</p> + +<p>"'Did Miss Temple promise?'</p> + +<p>"'That I did not hear,' replied Emily. 'Mrs. Hendrickson +was in a great hurry, and perhaps she did not +intend to tell me, anyway. But I do not believe +Margaret absolutely refused; at least, it would not +have been prudent for her to do so. The Hendricksons +are rich, and he is a fine man. There would be +nothing in the way of such a match.'</p> + +<p>"'Except the return of the wife,' I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Emily smiled. 'And then there was poor Mrs. Windham,' +she continued. 'Everybody knew she +asked Margaret. She left a son about eight years old +who is very delicate. The poor woman has not been +dead long enough for anything to come of that, but I +do not believe anything ever will. There are people +who say that Mr. Windham drinks; but I have seen +no signs of it. Then there is another one—and no +matter what you may hear people say about these +things, you must never mention that I told you this. +Mrs. Barnes, the rector's wife, has spoken to Margaret +on the subject. She looks very well, so far as I can +judge; but there is consumption in her family. +She is almost bigoted in regard to the duties of a +rector's wife. She tries just as hard as she can to fill +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +the position properly herself, and she knows Mr. Barnes +would never be satisfied with any one who +did not agree with him as she does about the responsibilities +of a rector's wife.'</p> + +<p>"'Does Margaret Temple agree with him?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'I do not know, for I never talked with her on +the subject,' replied Emily, 'but she is very apt to +think what is right. Besides, it is believed that Mrs. Barnes +has not only spoken to Margaret, but to the +rector himself; and if he had not thought the plan a +good one, Mrs. Barnes would have dropped it; and, +from things I have heard her say, I know she has not +dropped it.'</p> + +<p>"Emily looked as though she were about to rise, +and I quickly exclaimed: 'But that is only three. +Who are the others?'</p> + +<p>"'One of them,' said she, 'is Mrs. Clinton. There +is nothing the matter with her physically, but she is +very rich, and is prudent and careful about everything +that belongs to her, while her husband is not a +business man at all and never has anything to do +with money matters of importance. There are three +children, and she has reason to feel anxious about +them should they and their property be left in the +charge of Mr. Clinton, or to the tender mercies of +some woman who would marry him for the sake of +his wealth. You can see for yourself that it is no +wonder she casts her eyes upon Margaret. I believe +Mrs. Clinton could die happy if she could see her husband +and Margaret Temple promise themselves to +each other at her bedside.'</p> + +<p>"'That seems to me to be horrid,' said I; 'but of course +it would be extremely sensible. And the other one?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span>"'Oh, that matter does not amount to much,' said +Emily. 'Old Mrs. Gloucester lives at the other end +of the village, and she does not visit much, so you +have not seen her. Her husband is old enough, dear +knows, but not quite so old as she is. She is very +much afraid that she will die and leave him with nobody +to take care of him, for they have no children. +They are very well off, and I dare say she thinks it +would be a good thing for Margaret as well as for the +old gentleman.'</p> + +<p>"'That is shameful,' said I; 'it would be the same +thing as engaging a trained nurse.'</p> + +<p>"Emily laughed. 'I never heard how Margaret +received this remarkable proposition,' she said, 'but +I hope she was angry.'</p> + +<p>"'But, at any rate, it could never come to anything,' +said I.</p> + +<p>"'Of course not,' answered Mrs. Cheston.</p> + +<p>"It is not surprising that after this conversation I +took a great interest in Margaret Temple; and when +she called the next morning I had a long and undisturbed +talk with her, Mrs. Cheston being out. I am +very fond of analyzing human character, and I often +do it while I am riding in the street-cars; and it was +not long before I had made up my mind as to what +sort of woman Margaret Temple was. I set her down +as what may be called a balanced person. In fact, I +thought at the time she was a little too well balanced; +if some of her characteristics had been a little more +pronounced I think she would have been more interesting. +But I liked her very much, and I remember +I was almost as well pleased when she was talking +to me as when she was listening, and I am sure there +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +are very few persons, men or women, of whom I can +say this."</p> + +<p>Here a smile came upon the faces of the company, +but they were too polite to make any comment on +what had called forth the smile. The Master of the +House asked permission to light a cigar, and the Old +Professor, who never smoked, remarked: "There is +deep philosophy in all this."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about the philosophy," said the +Next Neighbor, "but it is absolute truth. Well, after +a time I began to wish that Miss Temple lived near +our home, because she would be such an admirable +person for a friend and neighbor. Then, suddenly, +without any warning, there flashed through me the +strangest feeling I ever had in my life. I must have +turned pale, for Miss Temple asked me if I did not +feel ill. I soon recovered from the effects of this +strange feeling, and went on talking; but I was very +glad when Mrs. Cheston came home, and took the +conversation out of my hands.</p> + +<p>"For two or three days after this my mind was +very much troubled, and Bernard thought that the +air of that part of the country did not agree with +me, and that we ought to go to the sea-shore. But +this I positively refused to consider. There could be +no sea-shore for me until a good many things had been +settled. It was at this time that I first began to think +that we cannot grow up fresh and green and blossom +undisturbed, and that we must consider untimely +cows coming along.</p> + +<p>"To make the state of my mind clearly understood, +I must say that there is an hereditary disease in my +family. I had never thought anything about it, for +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +there had been no reason why I should; but now I +did think about it, and there did seem to be reason. +My grandfather had had this disease, and had died of +it. To be sure, he was very old; but that did not +matter: he died of it, all the same. It never troubled +my father, but this made no difference, so far as I +was concerned, for I have always heard that hereditary +diseases are apt to skip a generation, and if this +one had skipped, there was nobody for it to skip to +but me; for I have no brothers or sisters.</p> + +<p>"The more I thought on this subject, the more +troubled my mind became, and at last I believed it +to be my duty to speak to Bernard, although I did +not tell him all my thoughts; for I had had a good +many that were not necessarily connected with hereditary +diseases. I was positively amazed at the way +my husband received what I told him. I had expected +that perhaps he might pooh-pooh the whole +thing, but he did nothing of the kind. He became +very serious, and talked to me in the most earnest +way.</p> + +<p>"'Now, Rosa,' said he, 'I am glad you told me +about this, and I want to impress it upon your mind +that you must be very careful. In the first place, you +must totally give up hot spirits and water. You must +not drink more than two glasses of wine, or three at +the utmost, at any of your meals. When you get up +in the morning you must totally abstain from drinking +those mixtures that are taken by some people to +give appetite for breakfast. At night you must try +to do without any sort of punch or toddy to make +you sleep. If you will take this advice, and restrict +yourself to water and milk, and not over-rich food, I +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +think you may reasonably expect to live longer than +your grandfather did, although I cannot imagine why +any one should want to live that long.'</p> + +<p>"Of course I was angry at all this, for I saw then +that he was making fun of me; and I said no more to +him, for he was not in the right frame of mind to +listen to me. But I did not stop thinking.</p> + +<p>"I now became very intimate with Miss Temple. +I began to like her very much, and I think she liked +me. I continued to study her, and I became convinced +that she was a woman to whom a very fastidious man +might be attracted—I do not mean that he would fall +in love with her, but that he would be perfectly satisfied +with her. In fact, I summed up her character +by assuring myself that in every way she was perfectly +satisfactory. I have known other women who +were more charming, but they all had faults; and I +do not see how any one could have found fault with +Miss Temple.</p> + +<p>"One day we had taken a long walk, and were on +our way home when I began to talk to her about my +own affairs. I thought I knew her so well in a general +way that the time had come for me to find out +some things more definitely. I began in an offhand +but cautious manner to talk about Bernard. I alluded +to his love of outdoor sports, and mentioned that I +thought it my duty frequently to speak to him in regard +to the terrible consequences which might follow +a false step when he was out fishing, and that I thought +it necessary to repeat this advice very often, for it was +my opinion he paid very little attention to it. I also +made several other allusions to his indisposition to +take care of himself, and remarked how very necessary +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +it was for me to look after his health. I mentioned +his great carelessness in regard to flannel, and +told her that it was often quite late in the autumn +before he would make any change in his clothing.</p> + +<p>"Then I spoke of his domestic habits; and, as I saw +Miss Temple seemed much interested, I talked a good +deal about them. He was the most loving husband +in the world, I said, and was always anxious to know +what he could do for me more than he was already +doing; but when we were in the city he did like to +go out in the evenings, and I thought he went to his +club too often. Of course, I said, I did not say anything +to him about it, for I would not want him to +think that I desired him to deny himself the company +of other gentlemen; but the habit of club attendance +was one that might grow on a man, especially a young +one, and there were a good many other things that +might result from it, such as excessive smoking. So I +had thought it well to offer him additional inducements +for spending his evenings at home, and I had +begun a regular system of reading aloud. It had proved +very beneficial to both of us, for I chose good, standard +books; and although he sometimes went to sleep, that +was to be expected, for Bernard was a hard-working +man. As for myself, I liked this reading aloud very +much, although at first it was rather tiresome, as I +had never been used to it. Then I asked her if she +liked reading aloud—it is such a good way of giving +pleasure to others at the same time that you are pleasing +yourself. She smiled, and said she was very fond +of reading aloud.</p> + +<p>"Then I changed the subject to churches and +preachers, for I did not want her to think I was saying +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +too much about my husband, and asked her who +was the best preacher in the village. When she said +it was Mr. Barnes, I asked her if she went to his church. +She answered that she did, and then I told her that +I was also an Episcopalian, but that Bernard's parents +were Methodists. I did not think, however, that +this would make much difference, for when he began +to go regularly to church, I was sure he would +rather go with me than to travel off somewhere by +himself.</p> + +<p>"I did not suppose that Miss Temple would care so +much about what I was saying, but she did seem to +care, and listened attentively to every word.</p> + +<p>"'You must not think I am talking too much about +my family affairs,' I remarked, 'but doesn't it strike +you that a really good wife ought to try just as hard +as she can to be on good terms with her husband's +family, no matter how queer they may be? I mean +the women in it; for they are more likely to be queer +than the men. For if she does not do this,' I continued, +'the worst of the trouble, if there is any, will come on +him. He will have to take sides either with his wife +or his sisters,—and mother too, if he happens to have +one,—and that would be sure to make him unhappy +if he is a good-hearted man, such as Bernard is.'</p> + +<p>"At this Miss Temple burst out laughing, and it +was the first time I had ever heard her laugh so +heartily. As soon as she could speak she exclaimed: +'Are you going to ask me to marry your husband if +you should happen to die?'</p> + +<p>"I must have turned as red as the most scarlet +poppy, for I felt my face burn. I hesitated a little, +but I was obliged to tell the truth, and so I stammered +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +out that I had been thinking of something of +the kind.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, please don't look so troubled,' said she. +'Several persons have spoken to me on the same subject; +but I never should have dreamed that such an +idea would come into your head. I think it is the +funniest thing in the world!' And then she laughed +again.</p> + +<p>"I was greatly embarrassed, and all I could say was +that I hoped I had not offended her.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, not in the least,' she said. 'I am getting used +to this sort of thing, and I can bear it.'</p> + +<p>"This remark helped me very much, for I resented +it. 'I do not see what there is to bear,' I said. 'Such +a man as Bernard—and then I have special reasons—'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, yes,' she interrupted quickly; 'each one has a +special reason. But there is one general reason that +is common to all. Now tell me, my dear,'—and as +she spoke she took both my hands and looked steadily +into my face,—'were you not about to ask me to +marry your husband, in case of your death, because +you could think of it without being jealous of me, and +because you are afraid he might marry some one of +whom you would probably be jealous if you knew +of it?'</p> + +<p>"She looked at me in such a kind, strong way that +I was obliged to confess that this was my reason for +speaking to her about Bernard. 'I cannot exactly +explain,' I added, and my face burned again, 'why I +should think about you in this way; but I hope you +will not imagine—'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, I shall not imagine anything that will be disagreeable +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +to you,' she said; and she looked just as +good-humored as possible."</p> + +<p>"Does that lady live in any place where my wife +can get at her?" asked the Master of the House, as +the Next Neighbor paused to take breath.</p> + +<p>"I have not yet developed a disease," said the +Mistress of the House.</p> + +<p>"Well, when you do, please find that woman. She +is a very good sort."</p> + +<p>"I shall have an opinion on that subject, papa," +said the Daughter of the House.</p> + +<p>"You little minx!" he replied. "I shall see that +you are provided for before that."</p> + +<p>"It is not well to joke about so serious a matter," +said the Next Neighbor, "as you will see when I finish +my story.</p> + +<p>"For a little while Miss Temple walked on in +silence, and I tried hard to think of what would be +proper for me to say next, when suddenly she stopped.</p> + +<p>"'We are not far from the house now,' she said, +'and before we get there I want to set your mind at +rest by telling you that if you should die before your +husband, and if nothing should happen at any time or +in any way to interfere with such a plan, I will marry +your Bernard and take good care of him. I have +never made such a positive promise to any one, but I +do not mind making it to you. I am sure I need not +ask you to say nothing about this compact to your +husband.'</p> + +<p>"I was stunned, but I managed to stammer: 'Oh, +no, indeed!'</p> + +<p>"Fortunately for me, Miss Temple did not stay to +supper. I do not think I could have borne to see her +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +and Bernard together. It was bad enough as it was. +I felt greatly humiliated; I could not understand how +I could have done such a thing. It was worse than +selling a birthright—it was giving away the dearest +thing on earth. I trembled from head to foot when +Bernard came home from fishing. I do not believe I +ever before greeted him so affectionately. My emotion +troubled him, and he asked me if I were ill, and +if I had been lonely and bored while he was away. +He was just as good as good could be, and began to +talk again about going to the sea-shore. I did not +object this time, for I could not know what would be +best to do.</p> + +<p>"In the evening, after every one else had gone indoors, +I begged him to sit longer on the piazza, and +to smoke another cigar. He was quite surprised, +because, as he said, I had never asked him to do such +a thing before, but had rather discouraged his smoking. +But I declared I wanted to sit with him in the +moonlight all by ourselves. And so we did until his +cigar was finished.</p> + +<p>"For the first hour of that night I did not sleep a +wink, my mind was so troubled. I felt as though I +were not really Bernard's wife, but some sort of a +guardian angel who was watching over him to see +that somebody else made him happy. After I had +thus been in the depths of grief for a long while, I +became angry.</p> + +<p>"'She shall never have him!' I said to myself. 'I +will make it the object of my life to live longer than +he does. My grandfather lived to be much older than +ordinary men, and why should not I have as long a +life? Perhaps it was the things he ate and drank, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> +and his jovial disposition, that gave him such longevity. +If I were sure of this I would be willing to take +hot drinks at night, and wine at dinner. No; Bernard +must not be left behind.' It was while making +up my mind very firmly about this that I fell asleep.</p> + +<p>"The next morning I was possessed with an overwhelming +desire to go to see Miss Temple. Why I +should do so I could not tell myself. I certainly did +not want to see her; I did not wish to speak to her; +I did not want her to say anything to me: but I felt +that I must go; and I went. She received me very +pleasantly, and did not say one word about our conversation +of the day before. There were a good many +things I should have liked to say, but I did not know +how, unless she gave me the opportunity. But she did +not, and so it happened that we talked only about +something she was sewing—I do not know whether it +was a shirt-waist or an army blanket. In fact, I did not +hear one word she said about her stupid work, whatever +it was, I was so busy re-studying her face, her +character, and everything about her. I now found she +was much more than satisfactory—she was really good-looking. +Her eyes were not very large, but they were +soft and dark. Her voice was clear and sweet. I had +noticed this before, but, until now, I had not thought +of it as an objection. There were a good many other +things that might be very effective to a man, especially +to one with half-healed sorrows. I acknowledged to +myself that I had been mistaken in her, and I did not +doubt she had deceived a good many other people in +that neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"When I rose to leave, she stood for a moment, +looking at me as though she expected me to say something +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> +on the subject which was certainly interesting +to her as well as to me. But now I did not want to +talk, and I gave her no chance to say anything. I +walked rapidly home, feeling as jealous of Margaret +Temple as any woman could feel of another.</p> + +<p>"I was glad that day that Bernard liked to go fishing, +for my mind was in such a condition that I did +not think of anything that might happen to him—at +least, anything but just one thing, and that was awful. +Emily Cheston supposed I had a headache, and I let +her think so, for it gave me more time to myself. I +looked at the thing that threatened to crush all my +happiness, on every possible side. Early in the morning +a ray of relief had come to my troubled mind, and +this was that I did not believe he would have her, +anyway. But I had seen her since, and no such ray +comforted me now.</p> + +<p>"I knew, as I had not known before, what a power +she might have over a man. Widowers, I thought, +are generally ready enough to marry again; but, no +matter what they think about it, they mostly wait a +good while, for the sake of appearances. But this +would be different. When a man knows that his wife +had selected some one as her successor—and he would +be sure to know this, the woman would see to that—he +would not feel it necessary to wait. He would be +carrying out his dead wife's wishes, and of course in +this there should be no delay. Oh, horrible! When +I thought of myself as Bernard's dead wife, and that +woman living, I actually kicked the stool my feet +were resting on. I vowed in my mind the thing +should never be. I felt better after I had made this +vow, although I had not thought of any way by which +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +I could carry it out. Certainly I was not going to +say anything to Bernard about it, one way or another."</p> + +<p>Here the Next Neighbor paused again. And at that +moment the red thrush gave a little low trill, as much +as to say: "Listen to me now." Then he twittered +and chirped in a tentative way as if he had not made +up his mind about singing, and the party on the terrace +felt like clapping to encourage him.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he knows he has an audience," said the +Daughter of the House, in a very low tone.</p> + +<p>"He knows it is impolite to interrupt the story," +said her father. "No; there he goes!"</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, the bird, having decided that on +the whole it would help matters in whatever direction +he wished them to be helped, sang out, clear and +loud, what seemed to his audience the most delightful +song he had yet given them.</p> + +<p>When he had finished, the Next Neighbor said: +"That was so full of soul I hate to go on with my very +material story."</p> + +<p>"It strikes me," said the Old Professor, "that there +is a good deal of soul in your story."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said the Next Neighbor, as she again +took up the thread of her narrative.</p> + +<p>"That evening, prompted by a sudden impulse, I +went up to Bernard, and, looking into his face, I declared +that I would never leave him.</p> + +<p>"'What!' he exclaimed. 'Has any one been asking +you to leave me?'</p> + +<p>"'Of course not,' said I, a little irritated—he has +such queer ways of taking what I say. 'I mean I am +not going to die before you do. I am not going to +leave you in this world to take care of yourself.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span>"He looked at me as though he did not understand +me, and I do not suppose he did, although he only said: +'I am delighted to hear that, my dear girl. But +how are you going to manage it? How about that +hereditary disease you were talking of the other +day?'</p> + +<p>"'I have nothing to say about that,' I answered; +'but if I live as long as my grandfather did, I do not +believe that your being a little older than I am would—I +mean that you would not be left alone. Don't +you understand?'</p> + +<p>"Bernard did not laugh. 'You are the dearest +little woman in the world,' he said, 'and I believe you +would do anything to make me happy—you would +even be willing to survive me, so that I should never +lose you. But don't let us talk any more about such +doleful things. We are both going to live to be a +great deal older than your grandfather. Now I will +tell you something pleasant: I had a letter this morning, +just as I was starting out. I put it in my pocket, +and did not have time to open it until we were eating +our lunch. It is from my brother George, who is +going to England next month, you know; and as he +wants to see something of us before he starts, he intends +to spend a few days in the village, so that he +can be with us. He is coming to-morrow.'</p> + +<p>"A ray of hope shot into my heart so bright that I +could almost feel it burn.</p> + +<p>"'Well,' said Bernard, 'what have you to say to +this? Aren't you glad that George is coming?'</p> + +<p>"'Glad!' I replied. 'I am more than delighted.'</p> + +<p>"Bernard looked as though he did not understand +this extraordinary ecstasy; but as he was used to not +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> +understanding me, I do not suppose he thought it +worth while to bother himself about it.</p> + +<p>"George was a fine young fellow, and, next to Bernard, +I thought he was the best man in the world. +It will be remembered that I had no brother, and +George was always as kind and brotherly as he could +be. I was fond of him even before I was married; +in fact, I knew him quite well before I became acquainted +with Bernard; and I was always glad to see +him. But I had never been so delighted to think he +was coming as I was then. My face must have shown +this, for Bernard laughingly said:</p> + +<p>"'You must be awfully glad to see George.'</p> + +<p>"'I am glad,' I answered; and as I spoke I thought +that if he knew everything he would understand why +my eyes glistened, as I am sure they did.</p> + +<p>"The reason of my great joy was that a plan had +suddenly come into my mind. George had spoken to +me several times about marrying, and he had told +me just what kind of a wife he wanted; and now, as +I remembered what he had said on the subject, it +seemed to me he had been describing Margaret +Temple. He wanted a wife who was good-looking +but not a belle, and she must be sensible and practical, +a good housekeeper, and a charming hostess. +Besides, she must be intellectual, and fond of books, +and appreciate art, and all that. Moreover, he had +said he would like her to be just about a year older +than himself, because he thought that was a good +proportion in a young couple. It was apt to make +the man look up to his wife a little, which might not +be the case if he were the elder. I remembered this, +because when he told me I wished very much that I +were a year older than Bernard.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span>"Now, as I said before, all this seemed as though he +had been talking of Miss Temple; and I, knowing her +so well, could see other points than those he mentioned +in which she would suit him as no other +woman could. If George would fall in love with Miss +Temple,—and there was no earthly reason why he +should not, for Bernard told me he was going to make +him stay a week,—then everything would be all right; +all my anxieties, my forebodings, and my jealousies +would be gone, and I should be as happy as I was +before I met that dear girl, Miss Temple.</p> + +<p>"This was not all idle fancy. My plan was founded +on good, practical ideas. If George married Margaret +everything would be settled in an absolutely perfect +way. If I should die Bernard would not need to +marry anybody; in fact, I did not believe that in this +case he would want to. He would go to live with +George and Margaret; their home would be his home, +and he would always have both of them to take care +of him and to make him happy in every possible way +in which anybody could make him happy. In my +mind's eye I could see him in the best room in the +house, with all sorts of comforts and luxuries about +him—our present comforts and luxuries would make +a great show gathered together in one room; and then +I saw Margaret and George standing at the open door, +asking if there were anything he would like, and +what they could do for him. As this mental picture +came before me my eyes involuntarily went around +that room to see if there were a picture of me on the +wall; and there it was, and no portrait of any other +woman anywhere about.</p> + +<p>"In a flash the whole thing became so horrible to +me that I threw myself on the bed and began to cry +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> +convulsively. Bernard heard me, and came up-stairs, +and I was obliged to tell him I had a sudden pain. +He does not like sudden pains, and sat down and +talked to me a good while about what I had been +eating. Before long, however, I grew calm, and was +able to think about my plans in a common-sense, +practical way. Truly there could be nothing better +for my present comfort and Bernard's future happiness: +Margaret and George to take care of him, and +my image undimmed in his heart. I felt like one +who has insured his life for the benefit of a loved one, +so, no matter what might happen to him, he would +have, as long as he lived, the joy of knowing what he +had done for the loved one.</p> + +<p>"When George came the next day he was just the +same splendid old George, and I do not believe any +one ever received a warmer welcome from a sister-in-law +than I gave him. Bernard made a little fun +of me, as usual, and said he believed I would rather +see George than him.</p> + +<p>"'Nonsense,' said I; 'I am always glad to see you, +but I am especially glad to see George.'</p> + +<p>"Bernard whistled, and looked at me in the same +queer way that he looked at me when he once had +said laughingly that he believed if I had never met +him I would have married George, and I had answered +that if I had been sure he did not exist it might have +been a good thing for me to marry George.</p> + +<p>"Miss Temple did not come to the house that morning, +as she so often did, but I asked Emily to send over +and invite her to tea; for I did not wish to lose any +time in the carrying out of my plans. It was about +the middle of the afternoon when Bernard and his +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> +brother came in from a walk. I had been anxious to +see George, because I wanted to talk with him about +Margaret before he met her. I was going to speak +very guardedly, of course; but I knew it would be +well to prepare his mind, and I had made up my +mind exactly what I was going to say.</p> + +<p>"I artfully managed so that George and I walked +over the lawn to a bench in the shade of a big tree +where there was something or other—I entirely forget +what it was—which I said I would show him. Mr. +and Mrs. Cheston and Bernard were on the piazza, +but I did not ask them to join us.</p> + +<p>"We sat down on the bench, and, in a general sort +of way, I asked him what he had been doing, meaning +presently to bring up the subject of Margaret, for I +did not know what time she might drop in. But +George was just as anxious to talk as I was, and, being +a man, he was a little more pushing, and he said:</p> + +<p>"'Now, little Rosa, I am so glad you came down +here with me, for I have something on my mind I +want to tell you, and I want to do it myself, before +anybody else interferes. It is just this: I am engaged +to be married, and as soon as I get back from England +I am going to—' And then he opened his eyes +very wide and looked hard at me. 'What is the +matter, Rosa?' he exclaimed. 'Don't you feel well?'</p> + +<p>"In one instant all my plans and hopes and happy +dreams of the future had dropped to the ground, and +had been crushed into atoms.</p> + +<p>"'Well!' said I, and I think I spoke in a queer +voice. 'I am very well. There is nothing the matter +with me. What is her name?'</p> + +<p>"He told me; but I had never heard it before, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> +it was of no more importance to me than the buzzing +of a bee.</p> + +<p>"'It will be very nice,' I said; 'and now let us go +up to the house and tell the others.'</p> + +<p>"I think that for a woman who had just received +such a blow as had been dealt to me I behaved very +well indeed. But I was cold and, I suspect, pale. I +listened as the others talked, but I did not say much +myself; and, as soon as I could make some excuse, I +went up to my room. There I threw myself into a +great chair, and gently cried myself to sleep. I did +not sob loudly, because I did not want Bernard to +come up again. When I awoke I had a dreadful +headache, and I made up my mind I would not go +down to tea. I could do no good by going down, and, +so far as I was concerned, it did not matter in the +least whether Margaret was there or not. In fact, I +did not care about anything. Let George marry +whoever he pleased. If I should die Margaret Temple +had promised to take care of Bernard. Everything +was settled, and there was no sense in making +any more plans. So I got ready for another nap, and +when Bernard came up I told him I had a headache, +and did not want any tea.</p> + +<p>"That evening Bernard sat and looked at me without +speaking, as was sometimes his habit, and then he +said:</p> + +<p>"'Rosa, I do not understand this at all, and I want +you to tell me why you were so extravagantly glad +when you found my brother George was coming here, +and why you were so overcome by your emotions +when you heard of his engagement.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, Bernard,' I cried, 'if it were anybody else I +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> +might tell everything, but I cannot tell you—I cannot +tell you!' And I am sure I spoke truly, for how +could I have told that dear man what I had said to +Margaret Temple; and how jealous I had been of her +afterwards; and how I had planned for her to marry +George; and that, after my funeral, he should go to +live with them; and about my picture on the wall; +and all the rest of it? It was simply impossible. +And if he did not know all this, how could he understand +my feelings when I heard that George was +engaged?</p> + +<p>"I could not answer him; I could only sob, and +repeat what I had said before—that if it were anybody +else I might speak, but that I could never tell +him. Soon after that he went down-stairs, and I went +to sleep.</p> + +<p>"Bernard was never cross with me,—I do not believe +he could be if he tried,—but the next morning +he was very quiet, and soon after breakfast he and +Mr. Cheston and George went fishing. If the incidents +of the day before had not occurred I suppose +they would have done something in which Emily and +I could have joined; but some sort of change had +come over things, and it was plain enough that even +George did not want me. So I sat alone under the +tree where George had told me of his engagement, +feeling very much troubled and very lonely. I +wanted to tell everything to somebody, but there +was no one to tell. It would be impossible to speak +to Emily; she would have no sympathy with me; and +if I should tell her everything I had planned, I knew +she would laugh at me unmercifully. I think it +would have pleased me better to speak to George than +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> +to any one else; he had always been so sympathetic +and kind; but now things were changed, and he +would not care to interest himself in the affairs of +any woman except the one to whom he was engaged. +It was terrible to sit there and think that there was +not a person in the world, not even my husband, to +whom I could look for sympathy and comfort. If I +had not been out in the open air, where people could +have seen me, I should have cried.</p> + +<p>"Happening to look up, I saw some one on the +piazza. It was that horrible Margaret Temple; and +when she gazed about from side to side she saw me +under the tree, and as I, apparently, took no notice +of her, she stepped down from the piazza and came +walking across the lawn toward me. If I had been +a man I should have cursed my fate; not only +was I deprived of every comfort, but here came +the disturber of my peace to make me still more unhappy.</p> + +<p>"I do not remember what she said when she reached +me, but I know she spoke very pleasantly; nor do I +remember what I replied, but I am sure I did not +speak pleasantly. I was out of humor with the whole +world, and particularly with her. She brought a +little chair that was near by, and sat down by me. +She was a very straightforward person about speaking, +and so she said, without any preface:</p> + +<p>"'Have you told your husband of that arrangement +you made with me if he should survive you?'</p> + +<p>"'Of course I have not!' I exclaimed. 'Do you +think I would tell him a thing like that, especially +when I said I would not? The fact is,' I continued,—and +it was very hard for me to keep from crying as +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> +I spoke,—'I am just loaded down with trouble, and I +cannot tell anybody.'</p> + +<p>"'I knew you were troubled,' she replied, 'and that +is the reason I came this morning. Why can't you +tell me what is the matter?'</p> + +<p>"At first this made me angry, and I felt like bouncing +off to the house and never speaking to her again; +but in the next instant I changed my mind. It would +serve her right if I told her everything; and so I did. +I made her feel exactly how I had felt when I had +thought of her in my place, and how I had determined +that it should never be. Then I went on and told her +all my plans about George and herself; and how Bernard +was to board with them if I died. I made the +story a good deal longer than I have made it here. Then +I finished by telling her of George's engagement, and +how nothing had come of the whole thing except that +Bernard had supposed that I thought too much of +George, and had gone away that morning as cold as a +common acquaintance; and that I felt as though my +whole life had been wrecked, and that she had done it.</p> + +<p>"It was easy to see that she was not affected as she +should have been by what I said. In fact, she looked +as though she wanted to laugh; but her respect for +me prevented that.</p> + +<p>"'I do not see,' she said, 'how I have wrecked your +life.'</p> + +<p>"'That may be so,' I answered, 'but it is because +you do not want to see it. I should think that even +you would admit that it is enough to drive me crazy +to see any woman waiting and longing for the day +which would give her that which I prize more than +anything else in the world. And to think what you +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span> +are aspiring to! None of the old left-overs that other +people have offered to you, but my Bernard, the very +prince of men! I do not wonder you were so quick +to promise me you would take him!'</p> + +<p>"She jumped up, and I thought she was going +away; but she did not go, and turned again toward +me, and remarked, just as coolly as anybody could +speak: 'Well, I do not wonder, either. Your Bernard +is a most estimable man, and if nothing should happen +in any way or at any time to interfere in the case of +his surviving you I shall be happy to marry him. I +think I would make him a very good wife.'</p> + +<p>"At this I sprang to my feet, and I am sure my +eyes and cheeks were blazing. 'Do you mean,' I +cried, 'that you would make him a better wife than +I do?'</p> + +<p>"'That is a question,' she said, 'that is not easy to +answer, and needs a good deal of consideration.' And +she spoke with as much deliberation as if she were +trying to decide whether it would be better to cover +a floor with matting or carpet. 'For one thing, I do +not believe I would nag him.'</p> + +<p>"'Nag!' I exclaimed. 'What do you mean by +that? Do you suppose I nag him?'</p> + +<p>"'I do not know anything about it,' she answered, +'except what you told me yourself; and what you +said was my reason for agreeing so quickly to your +proposition.'</p> + +<p>"'Nag!' I cried. But then I stopped. I thought +it would be better to wait until I could think over +what I had said to her before I pursued this subject. +'But I can tell you one thing,' I continued, 'and +that is that you need not have any hopes in the direction +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> +of my husband. I am going to tell him everything +just as soon as he comes home, even about you +and George; and I am going to make him promise +that, no matter what happens, he will never marry you.'</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 461px;"> +<a name="image_p336" id="image_p336"><img src="images/image_p336.jpg" width="461" height="600" alt="" title="" /></a> +<div class="caption">"Do you mean," I cried, "that you would make him +a better wife than I do?"</div> +</div> + +<p>"I think these words made some impression on +her, for she answered very quickly: 'I am not sure +that it will be wise to tell him everything; but if you +are determined to do so, I must insist that you will +tell him something more; and that is that I am engaged +to be married, and have been for nearly a year.'</p> + +<p>"'And you have been deceiving all these anxious +wives?' I cried.</p> + +<p>"'I never made promises to any one but to you,' +she answered; 'and I would not have done that if I +had not liked you so much.'</p> + +<p>"'You have a funny way of liking,' I remarked.</p> + +<p>"She merely smiled, and went on: 'And I should +not have told you of my engagement if I had not +thought it would be safer to do so, considering the +story you are going to tell your husband.'</p> + +<p>"'And it is because I consider it safer that I am +going to tell him that story,' I replied.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"That afternoon, as soon as I was alone with +Bernard,—I did not give him any time to show me any +of his common-acquaintance coolness,—I told him the +whole thing from beginning to end. He listened so +earnestly that one might have thought he was in +church; but when I came to the part about his boarding +with George and Miss Temple he could not help +laughing. He excused himself, however, and told me +to go on. He looked very happy when I had told +him my story, and no one would have supposed that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> +he had ever assumed the air of a mere common +acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"'You are such a good little wife!' he exclaimed. +'And you are always trying to do things to make +me happy. But you must not take so much labor +and anxiety upon yourself. I want to help you in +every way that I can, and in such a case you ought +to let me do it.'</p> + +<p>"'But how could you help me in the trouble I have +been telling you about?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'Easily enough,' he answered. 'Now, if you had +taken me into your confidence, I would have told you +that I consider Miss Temple too tall a woman for my +fancy.'</p> + +<p>"'She is,' I said. 'I did not think so at first, but I +can see it plainly now.'</p> + +<p>"'Then, again, she is too practical-minded.'</p> + +<p>"'Entirely too much so,' I agreed.</p> + +<p>"'And in other respects she is not up to my standard,' +continued Bernard. 'So I think, Rosa, that if +you should ever take up such a scheme again we +should act together. I am sure my opinion would be +of great advantage to you in helping you to select +some one who should take up the work of making me +happy—'</p> + +<p>"'You are perfectly horrid!' I exclaimed; and I +stopped his mouth.</p> + +<p>"That was the end of the matter; but I never +learned to like Margaret Temple. To be sure, I +thought seriously of some things she had said; but +then, people can consider things people say without +liking the people who say them. I pity her husband."</p> + +<p>Just then came the summons to luncheon, and this +story was not commented upon.</p> + + + + +<p class="center chaptertitle">THIS STORY IS TOLD BY<br /> +<big>JOHN GAYTHER</big><br /> +AND IS CALLED<br /> +<big>BLACKGUM AG'IN' THUNDER</big></p> + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI">XI</a><br /> +BLACKGUM AG'IN' THUNDER</h2> + + +<p>John Gayther and the Daughter of the House +walked in the garden. The melons were ripe +now, and it was a pleasure to push aside the +coarse leaves and find beneath them the tropical-looking +fruit with the pretty network tracery covering +the gray-green rind. The grape-vines, too, were +things of beauty, hanging full of great white, yellow, +red, and purple clusters. The tomatoes gleamed +scarlet and purple-red thickly among the plants. +The cabbages had curled themselves up into compact +heads that looked like big folded roses set in an open +cluster of leaves. There were rows of green-leaved +turnips, red-leaved beets, and feathery-leaved carrots. +The ears were standing stiff in the corn rows.</p> + +<p>In the orchard the peaches were rosy and downy, +the plums ready to drop with lusciousness; ruddy-cheeked +pears were crowded on the drooping +branches; the apples, not so plentiful, were taking on +the colors that proclaimed their near fruition; and +even the knotty quinces were growing fair and golden. +On the upper terrace the stately, delicate cosmos was +waving in the wind; great beds of low marigolds were +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> +flaunting their rich colors in the bright sunlight; the +dahlias lifted into the air, stiffly and proudly, their +great blossoms of varying forms; the clove-pinks, +lowly and delicate in color, gave forth the fragrance +of the springtime which they had held stored up in +their tender blossoms; and the early chrysanthemums +were unfolding their plumes.</p> + +<p>"I love the late August-time," said John Gayther, +as the two sat down to rest in the summer-house after +a long stay in the garden. "I have a singular feeling, +which I hope is not irreverent, that the great Creator +is pleased with me for having brought this work to +perfection, and the thought gives me great peace of +mind."</p> + +<p>"It does sound a little presumptuous, John," said +the young lady.</p> + +<p>"Not in the way I mean it," replied John. "We +are told that God gives abundantly of the fruits and +blossoms that gladden our hearts and eyes. But this +is only partly true. There may be some lands where +nothing need be done to these God-given fruits and +vegetables and flowers. I do not know. But in this +happy land, although he does abundantly give us the +material to work upon, he expects us to do the work. +Else what would be the use of gardens? And if there +were no need of gardens there would be no gardens; +and how desolate would life be without gardens!"</p> + +<p>"I see what you mean, John," said the young lady. +"We could not go into the woods, or on to the +plains, and find the fruits and vegetables that grow so +well in this garden. If they were there at all they +would be poor and undeveloped."</p> + +<p>"Exactly so," said John. "And in my garden I +garner up God's gifts; and I select the best, and then +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> +the best of the best, and so on and on; and I watch, +oh, so carefully, for everything hurtful; and I water; +and I prune off the dead branches; and enrich the +ground. And so I work and work, with God's help +of the sunshine and the rain; and at last, when it all +comes to what we see to-day, I cannot but feel that +God is pleased with me for bringing about the fruition +he knew I could accomplish with the material given +by what some people call nature and I call God. +That is what a garden is for, and in that way it glorifies +him."</p> + +<p>They were both silent for some time. The young +girl was thinking that while all that John had said +was true, she could not, like him, love this season best +of all. Its very perfection and full fruition were saddening, +for that must inevitably be followed by decay. +The old man was thinking that while youth and its +promise for the future was beautiful, the resignation +and peacefulness of an accomplished life was far more +beautiful.</p> + +<p>The red thrush broke into song and startled them +both. The old man listened to it as if it were a pæan +of thanksgiving for the garden and all that it had +given, and wished he were able to join his voice with +the music of the bird. As the young girl listened it +seemed to her that the song was as clear and sweet and +happy as it had been in the spring. And she marvelled.</p> + +<p>"What a pity! We have missed the bird!" A voice +broke into the stillness that had followed the song. +It was the Mistress of the House who was approaching, +followed by the Master of the House, the Next +Neighbor, and the Old Professor.</p> + +<p>"I was wondering why you were not all here some +time ago," said the Daughter of the House.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span>"Kept by company," said the Master of the House, +as they all came forward and took their accustomed +places. "Not half as agreeable as the bird, nor as +interesting as the story John promised to tell. I hope +it will not be as solemn as your countenance, John."</p> + +<p>Nobody was ever solemn long when the Master of the +House was present, and John Gayther's countenance +immediately was lighted up by a smile. "I could not +think of telling you a solemn story," he said, "and +this one is about a peculiar character I knew. His +name was Abner Batterfield, and he was a farmer. +One day he was forty-five years old. He was also +tired. Having finished hoeing his last row of corn, he +sat down on a bench at his front door, took off his +wide and dilapidated straw hat, and wiped his brow. +Presently his wife came out. She was a little more +than forty-five years old, and of phenomenal physical +and mental endurance. She had lived seventeen +years with Abner, and her natural vigor was not impaired.</p> + +<p>"'Supper's ready,' said she.</p> + +<p>"Her husband heaved a sigh, and stretched out his +weary legs in unison.</p> + +<p>"'Supper,' he repeated; 'it's allus eat, and work, +and sleep!'</p> + +<p>"'Perhaps you'd like to leave out the eatin',' said +Mrs. Batterfield; 'that would save lots.'</p> + +<p>"Her husband ignored this remark. His farm was +small, but it was too big for him. He had no family +except himself and wife, but the support of that family +taxed his energies. There was a certain monotony +connected with coming out short at the end of the +year which was wearisome to his soul.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span>"'Mrs. B.,' said he, 'I've made up my mind to start +over again.'</p> + +<p>"'Goin' back to the corn-field?' she asked. 'You'd +better have your supper first.'</p> + +<p>"'No,' said he; 'it's different. I've been thinkin' +about it all day, and I'm goin' to begin life over ag'in.'</p> + +<p>"'At your age it would be more fit fer you to consider +the proper endin' of it,' said she.</p> + +<p>"'I knew you'd say that, Mrs. B.; I knew you'd say +that! You never do agree with me in any of my +plans and undertakin's.'</p> + +<p>"'Which accounts fer our still havin' a roof over +our heads,' said she.</p> + +<p>"'But, I can tell you, this time I'm a-goin' ahead. +I don't care what people say; I don't care what they +do, or what they don't do; I'm goin' ahead. It'll be +blackgum ag'in' thunder this time, and I'm blackgum. +You've heard about the thunder and lightnin' tacklin' +a blackgum-tree?'</p> + +<p>"'Ever since I was born,' said she.</p> + +<p>"'Well, there's a awful scatterin' of dust and chips +when that sort of a fight is on; but nobody ever yet +heard of thunder gettin' the better of a blackgum-tree. +And I'm goin' to be a blackgum!'</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Batterfield made no reply to this remark, but +in her heart she said: 'And I'm goin' to be thunder.'</p> + +<p>"The next morning, Abner Batterfield put on his +best clothes, and walked to the little town about two +miles distant. He didn't enter the business part of +the place, but turned into a shady side street where +stood a small one-story building, almost by itself. +This was the village library, and the librarian was +sitting in the doorway, reading a book. He was an +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span> +elderly man of comfortable contour, and wore no +glasses, even for the finest print.</p> + +<p>"'Mornin', Abner,' said the librarian; 'have you +brought back that book?'</p> + +<p>"Abner seated himself on the door-step. 'No, I +haven't, Mr. Brownsill,' said he; 'I forgot it. I forgot +it, but I remember some things that's in it, and +I've come to talk about 'em.'</p> + +<p>"'Very good,' said the librarian, closing the volume +of Salmon's Geographical Grammar with his +finger at page 35, treating of paradoxes, and remarked: +'Well, Abner, what is it?'</p> + +<p>"Then Abner Batterfield told his tale. He was +going to make a fresh start; he was going to spend +the rest of his life in some manner worthy of him. +He hadn't read much of the book he had taken out of +the library, for in his present way of spending his life +there didn't seem to be any very good time for reading, +but he had read enough of it to make him feel +that it was time for him to make a fresh start, and he +was going to do it.</p> + +<p>"'And I may have a tough time,' said Abner; 'but +it'll be blackgum ag'in' thunder, and I'm blackgum!'</p> + +<p>"The librarian smiled. 'What are you going to +do?' said he.</p> + +<p>"'That's a thing,' said Abner, 'I'm not so certain +about. I've been thinkin' of enterin' the ministry; +but the bother about that is, I can't make up my mind +which particular denomination to enter. There's +such a difference in 'em.'</p> + +<p>"'That's true,' said Mr. Brownsill; 'that's very true! +But haven't you a leaning for some one of them in +particular?'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span>"'In thinkin' it over,' said Abner, 'I've been +drawn to the Quakers. So far's I kin find out, there's +nothin' a Quaker preacher has to do if he don't +want to.'</p> + +<p>"'But then, on the other hand,' said the librarian, +'there's no pay.'</p> + +<p>"'Which won't work at all,' said Abner, 'so that's +got to be dropped. As to the Methodists, there's too +much work. A man might as well stick to hoein' +corn.'</p> + +<p>"'What do you think of the Catholics?' asked the +librarian, meditatively. 'I should think a monk in a +cell might suit you. I don't believe you'd be +expected to do much work in a cell.'</p> + +<p>"Abner cogitated. 'But there ain't no pay to +that, no more'n if I was a Quaker. And there's Mrs. B. +to be considered. I tell you, Mr. Brownsill, it's +awful hard makin' a ch'ice.'</p> + +<p>"The librarian opened his book and took a good +look at the number of the page on which paradoxes +were treated, so that he might remember it; then +he rose and put the book upon the table, and, turning +to Abner, he looked at him steadfastly.</p> + +<p>"'Abner Batterfield,' said he, 'I understand the +state of your mind, and it is plain enough that it's +pretty hard for you to make a choice of a new path +in life; but perhaps I can help you. How would you +like to be a librarian?'</p> + +<p>"'Me!' exclaimed Abner, amazed.</p> + +<p>"'I don't mean,' said Mr. Brownsill, 'that you should +take up this business for life without knowing whether +you like it or not, but I can offer you what might be +called a sample situation. I want to go away for a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span> +couple of weeks to visit my relations, and if you will +come and attend to the library while I am gone, it +might be a good thing for both of us. Then, if you +don't like the business of a librarian, you might +sample some other calling or profession.'</p> + +<p>"Abner rose from the door-step, and, entering the +room, stood before Mr. Brownsill. 'That's the most +sensible thing,' said he, 'that I ever heard said in all +my life. Sample first, and go into afterwards; that's +sound reason. Mr. Brownsill, I will do it.'</p> + +<p>"'Good!' said the librarian. 'And the duties are +not difficult.'</p> + +<p>"'And the pay?' asked Abner.</p> + +<p>"'Just what I get,' said Mr. Brownsill.</p> + +<p>"The bargain was made, and Abner immediately +began taking lessons in the duties of a librarian.</p> + +<p>"When he went home he told his tale to Mrs. B. +'I have hoed my last row of corn,' said he, 'and +when it's fit to cut and shock we'll hire a man. +There's librarians, Mrs. B., so Mr. Brownsill told me, +that gets thousands a year. Think of that, Mrs. B.—thousands +a year!'</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Batterfield made no reply to this remark, +but in her heart she said: 'And I am thunder.'</p> + +<p>"Early the next morning, long before the ordinary +time for opening the library, Abner was at his post. +He took the key from the concealed nail where Mr. Brownsill +was wont to hang it. He opened the door +and windows, as the librarian told him he must do; +he swept the floor; he dusted the books; and then he +took the water-pail, and proceeded to the pump hard +by. He filled it, then he sat down and wiped his +brow. He had done so much sitting down and brow-wiping +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span> +in his life that it had become a habit with +him, even when he was neither hot nor tired.</p> + +<p>"This little library was certainly a very pleasant +place in which to earn one's living—ten thousand +times more to his taste than the richest corn-field. +Around the walls were book-shelves, some of them +nearly filled with books, most of which, judging from +their bindings, were of a sober if not a sombre turn of +mind.</p> + +<p>"'Some of these days,' said Abner, 'I am goin' to +read those books; I never did have time to read +books.'</p> + +<p>"From the ceiling there hung, too high to be +conveniently dusted, a few stuffed birds, and one small +alligator. 'Some of these days,' said Abner to himself, +'I am goin' to get on a step-ladder and look at them +birds and things; I never did properly know what +they was.'</p> + +<p>"Now footsteps were heard on the sidewalk, and +Abner jumped up quickly and redusted a book upon +the table. There entered two little girls, the elder +one with her hair plaited down her back. They +looked in surprise at Abner, who smiled.</p> + +<p>"'I guess you want to see Mr. Brownsill,' he said. +'Well, I am in his place now, and all you got to do is +to tell me what book you want.'</p> + +<p>"'Please, sir,' said the one with plaits, 'mother +wants to know if you can change a quarter of a dollar.'</p> + +<p>"This proposed transaction seemed to Abner to be +a little outside of a librarian's business, but he put his +hand in his pocket and said he would see. When he +had extracted all the change that pocket contained +he found that he was the owner of three nickels and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span> +five copper cents. He tried some other pockets, but +there was no money in any of them. He was disappointed; +he did not want to begin his intercourse +with the townspeople by failing to do the first favor +asked of him. He looked around the room; he rubbed +his nose. In a moment an idea struck him.</p> + +<p>"'How much do you want to get out of this quarter?' +said he.</p> + +<p>"'Ten cents, sir,' said the girl with the plaits. 'The +woman's waitin' fer it now.'</p> + +<p>"'I'll tell you,' said Abner, 'what I can do. All I +have got is twenty cents. Two of these nickels will do +for the woman, and then for the other five cents you +can take out a book for a week. A duodecimo volume +for a week is five cents. Is there any duodecimo volume +you would like?'</p> + +<p>"The girl with the plaits said she didn't know, +and that all she wanted was change for a quarter.</p> + +<p>"'Which this will be,' said Abner.</p> + +<p>"Asking the little girls to follow him, he approached +the book-shelves. 'Now here's something,' +said he, presently, taking down a book. 'It's Buck's +Theological Dictionary, and it's got a lot of different +things in it. Some of them your mother might like +to read to you, and some of them she might like to +read to herself. I once read one piece in that book +myself. It is about the Inquisition, and when I began +it I couldn't stop until I got to the end of it. I guess +your mother might like to read that, even if she don't +read it to you.'</p> + +<p>"The little girl said she didn't know whether her +mother would like it or not, but what she had been +sent for was change for a quarter.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span>"'This will be the same thing,' said Abner; 'twenty +cents in money, and five cents for a duodecimo for +one week. So take the money and the book, my dear, +and tell your mother that if she keeps it out longer +than one week there'll be a fine.'</p> + +<p>"The child and the duodecimo departed, and Abner +sat down again, and wiped his brow. 'There's one +customer,' said he, 'and that's the way to do business. +They come to get you to do somethin' for them, and +before they know it they're doin' business with you, +payin' cash in advance. But there's one thing I forgot. +I oughter asked them young ones what their +mother's name was. But I'll remember 'em, specially +the one with the plaited hair, so it's all the same.'</p> + +<p>"The little girls went home. 'It's a new man at +the library,' said the one with the plaits, 'and he +hadn't got no more'n twenty cents in money; but he +sent you a book for the other five cents.'</p> + +<p>"The mother, with her baby in her lap, sent the +ten cents to the woman who was waiting, and then +took the book, which opened quite naturally at the +article on the Inquisition, and began to read. And, +although the baby grew restless and began to cry, she +didn't stop reading until she had finished that article. +'It's fully worth five cents,' she said to herself, as she +put it on the shelf for future perusal.</p> + +<p>"It was not long before the thought struck Abner +that he was losing opportunities which spread themselves +around him, so he jumped up and took down +a book. The volume proved to be one of 'Elegant +Extracts'; but after reading certain reflections 'Upon +Seeing Mr. Pope's House at Binfield' he thought he +would like something more in the nature of a story, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span> +and took up a thinner volume entitled 'Dick's Future +State.' He turned over the leaves, hoping to meet +with some of the adventures of Dick; but his attention +was arrested by a passage which asserted that +arithmetic would be one of the occupations to be followed +in heaven. He was about to put away the +book in disgust—for to him there was no need of a +man's being good in this world if he were to be condemned +to arithmetic in the next—when the light +from the open door was darkened by a large body who +approached in carpet slippers, making no noise. This +proved to be a round and doleful negro woman, a +greater part of her face wrapped up in a red-and-green +handkerchief. Her attire was somewhat nondescript, +and entirely unsuggestive of literary inclinations. +She groaned as she entered the room.</p> + +<p>"'Whar Mr. Bro'nsill?' she asked, with one hand to +her face.</p> + +<p>"Abner was amazed. Was it possible that this +woman could read, and that she cared for books? He +explained the situation, and assured her that he could +attend to her just as well as the regular librarian.</p> + +<p>"'I's mighty glad to hear dat,' said the woman, 'I's +mighty glad to hear dat, for I hasn't slep' one wink +for dis tooth. Mr. Bro'nsill he allus pulls my teeth, +and dey nebber has been one what ached as bad +as dis.'</p> + +<p>"With this she began to unwrap her swollen face.</p> + +<p>"'You needn't do that,' cried Abner. 'I can't pull +teeth. You must go to the dentist.'</p> + +<p>"'That'll be fifty cents,' said the woman, 'and Mr. Bro'nsill +he don' charge nothin'. I know whar he +keeps his pinchers. Dey's in dat drawer in de table. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span> +And you kin pull it out jes as well as anudder pusson. +I'd pull hit out ef I wuz anudder pusson.'</p> + +<p>"Abner shook his head. 'I never pulled a tooth,' +he said. 'I don't know nothin' about it.'</p> + +<p>"'Don' dey tell somethin' about pullin' teeth in dese +here books?' said the woman.</p> + +<p>"Abner shook his head. 'There may be,' he said, +'but I don't know where to find it.'</p> + +<p>"'And you's de librarian,' said she, in a tone of +supreme contempt, 'and don' know how to fin' what's +in de books!' And with this she re-wrapped her face +and wabbled away.</p> + +<p>"'I hope the next one will want a book,' said Abner +to himself, 'and won't want nothin' else. If I'm to be +librarian I want to fork out books.'</p> + +<p>"The morning passed, and no one else appeared. +The forenoon was not the time when people generally +came for books in that town.</p> + +<p>"After he had eaten the dinner he had brought, +Abner sat down to meditate a little. He was not sure +that the life of a librarian would suit him. It was +almost as lonesome as hoeing corn.</p> + +<p>"Some time after these reflections—it might have +been a minute, it might have been an hour—he was +awakened by a man's voice, and suddenly started +upright in his chair.</p> + +<p>"'Hello!' said the voice. 'You keepin' library for +old Brownsill?'</p> + +<p>"'That's what I'm doin',' said Abner; 'he's away +for his holiday.'</p> + +<p>"The new-comer, Joe Pearson, was an odd creature. +I remember him well. He had been assistant to the +town clerk, but was now out of a position. He was a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> +stout man with little eyes, and wore a shiny black +coat, and no collar.</p> + +<p>"'I am glad to hear it,' he said. 'Mr. Brownsill's a +little too sharp for my fancy; I'd rather do business +with you. Have you got any books on eggs?'</p> + +<p>"'I don't know,' said Abner, 'but I can look. What +kind of eggs?'</p> + +<p>"'I don't suppose there's a different book for every +kind of egg,' said Joe; 'I guess they're lumped.'</p> + +<p>"'All right,' said Abner; 'step up to the shelves, +and we'll take a look. Now here's one that I've just +been glancin' over myself. It seems to have a lot of +different things in it: it's called "Elegant Extracts."'</p> + +<p>"'"Elegant Extracts" won't do,' said Joe; 'they +ain't eggs.'</p> + +<p>"'E, E, E,' said Abner, looking along the line, and +anxious to make a good show in the eyes of his acquaintance, +who had the reputation of being a man +of considerable learning. '"Experimental Christianity"—but +that won't do.'</p> + +<p>"After fifteen or twenty minutes occupied in scrutiny +of backs of books, Joe Pearson gave up the search. +'I don't believe there's a book on eggs in the whole +darned place,' said he. 'That's just like Brownsill; +he hasn't got no fancy for nothin' practical.'</p> + +<p>"'What do you want to know about eggs?' said +Abner.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Pearson did not immediately answer, but after +a few moments of silent consideration he walked to +the door and closed it. Then he sat down, and invited +Abner to sit by him. 'Look here, Abner Batterfield,' +said he; 'I've got a idee that's goin' to make +my fortune. I want somebody to help me, and I +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span> +don't see why you couldn't do it as well as anybody +else. For one thing, you've got a farm.'</p> + +<p>"As he said this Abner started back. 'Confound +the farm!' he said. 'I've given up farmin', and I +don't want nothin' more to do with it.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, you will,' said Pearson, 'when I've told you +what I'm goin' to do. But it won't be common +farmin': it'll be mighty different. There's money in +this kind of farmin', and no work, nuther, to mention.'</p> + +<p>"Abner now became interested.</p> + +<p>"'It concerns eggs,' said Pearson. 'Abner, did you +ever hear about the eggs of the great auk?'</p> + +<p>"'Great hawk!' said Abner.</p> + +<p>"'Not <em>hawk</em>! Auk—a-u-k.'</p> + +<p>"'Never seen the bird,' said Abner.</p> + +<p>"'I reckon not,' said the other. 'They say they +disappeared some time before the war; but I don't +believe that. I've been readin' a piece about 'em, +Abner, and I tell you it just roused me up, and that's +the reason I've come here s'posin' I might find a book +that might give me some new p'ints. But I reckon I +know enough to work on.'</p> + +<p>"'Is there anything uncommon about 'em?' asked +Abner.</p> + +<p>"'Uncommon!' exclaimed the other. 'Do you +know what a great auk's egg is wuth? It's one thousand +eight hundred dollars!'</p> + +<p>"'A car-load?' asked Abner.</p> + +<p>"'Stuff!' ejaculated Mr. Pearson. 'It's that much +for <em>one</em>; and that one blowed—nothin' but a shell—not +a thing inside. And eighteen hundred dollars!'</p> + +<p>"'By George!' exclaimed Abner. 'Eighteen hundred dollars!'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span>"'And that's the lowest figure. Great auk eggs is +wuth twenty-one thousand and six hundred dollars a +dozen!'</p> + +<p>"Abner rose from his chair. 'Joe Pearson,' he said, +'what are you talkin' about?'</p> + +<p>"'I'm talkin' about makin' the biggest kind of +money, and if you choose to go in with me you can +make big money too. I'm all correct, and I can show +you the figures.'</p> + +<p>"Abner now sat down and leaned over toward +Pearson. 'Whar's it likely to fin' nests?' said he.</p> + +<p>"'Nests!' exclaimed Pearson, in disdain. 'If I +could find two of 'em—fresh ones—I'd call my fortune +made.'</p> + +<p>"'I should say so,' said Abner, 'sellin' for thirty-six +hundred dollars! But what is there so all-fired good +about 'em to make 'em sell like that?'</p> + +<p>"'Scerceness,' said Joe. 'Apart from scerceness +they ain't no better'n any other egg. But there's +mighty few of 'em in market now, and all of them's +blowed.'</p> + +<p>"'And no good?' said Abner.</p> + +<p>"'They say not,' said the other. 'For scerceness +they're better blowed than stale, which they're bound +to be if they're kept.'</p> + +<p>"'But what's your idea about 'em?' said Abner.</p> + +<p>"'That's what I'm goin' to tell you,' replied Pearson. +'There's a general notion that there ain't no +more great auks, specially hen great auks, and that's +why their eggs are so scerce. But I don't see the +p'int of that. It don't stand to reason; for now and +then somebody gets a great auk egg. If you find 'em +they've got to be laid; and if they're laid there's got +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span> +to be hen great auks somewhere. Now the p'int is to +find out where them great auks lay. It may be a +awful job to do it, but if I can do it, and get just two +eggs, my fortune's made, and yourn too.'</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 447px;"> +<a name="image_p356" id="image_p356"><img src="images/image_p356.jpg" width="447" height="600" alt="" title="" /></a> +<div class="caption">"Abner, did you ever hear about the eggs of the great auk?"</div> +</div> + +<p>"'Would you divide the thirty-six hundred dollars +even?'—now very much interested.</p> + +<p>"'Divide!' sneered Pearson. 'Do you suppose I'd +sell 'em? No, sir; I'd set 'em under a turkey, or +perhaps a big hen. Then, sir, I'd go into the great +auk business. I'd sell auk eggs, and make my fortune, +and yourn too.'</p> + +<p>"'And young ones, if we get a lot?'</p> + +<p>"'No, sir!' exclaimed Pearson. 'Nobody'd own no +auks but me. You can't catch 'em alive. And I +wouldn't sell no eggs at all till they'd first been +blowed. I'd keep the business all in my own hands. +Abner, I've been thinkin' a great deal about this +thing. You've heard about the lively sixpence and +the slow dollar? Well, sir, I'm goin' to sell them +auk eggs for sixteen hundred dollars, two for three +thousand.'"</p> + +<p>"John Gayther," said the Master of the House, +"you will not make me believe that you ever knew +two such fools."</p> + +<p>"In the course of my life," said the Old Professor, +"I have known several of them."</p> + +<p>"Not looking for auks' eggs?" inquired the Next +Neighbor.</p> + +<p>"Something just as impracticable," he said.</p> + +<p>"The North Pole, for instance," suggested the Mistress +of the House.</p> + +<p>"I think," said John, "they are more likely to find +that than my friends were to find what they sought. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span> +But we shall see. Abner looked at his companion. +'That would be better than 'most any other kind +of business,' said he. 'Where do you go to get them +eggs?'</p> + +<p>"''Way up north,' said Pearson; 'and the furder +north you go the more likely you are to find 'em.'</p> + +<p>"'I don't know about goin' north,' said Abner, reflectively; +'there's Mrs. B. to consider.'</p> + +<p>"'But I don't want you to go,' said Pearson. 'I'm +goin' north. And when I've found a couple o' auk +eggs, I'll pack 'em up nice and warm in cotton, and +send 'em down to you, and have 'em hatched. That's +where your farm'll come in. You've got to have a +farm and turkeys or big hens if you want to raise +auks. Then I'll go on lookin', and, most likely, I'll +get a couple more.'</p> + +<p>"'That'll be a good thing,' said Abner; 'the more +the merrier. I'll go in with you, Joe Pearson. That's +the sort of business that'll just suit me. But I'll tell +you one thing, Joe: I wouldn't put the price of them +eggs down at first; I'd wait until a couple of dozen +had been laid and blowed, and then, perhaps, I'd put +the price down.'</p> + +<p>"'No, sir,' said Joe; 'I'll put the price down at the +very beginning. Sixteen hundred dollars, or three +thousand for two, is enough for any eggs, and we +oughter be satisfied with it.'</p> + +<p>"'And when are you goin' to start north?' asked +Abner.</p> + +<p>"'That's the p'int,' said Pearson, 'that's the p'int. +You see, Abner, I ain't got no family, and I can +start north whenever I please, as far as that's concerned. +But there's obstacles. For one thing, I ain't +got the right kind of clothes; and then there's other +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span> +things. It's awful hard lines startin' out on a business +like this, and the more money there is in it the +harder the lines.'</p> + +<p>"'But you can do it, Joe,' said Abner. 'I feel in +my bones you can do it. It'll be blackgum ag'in' +thunder, but you'll be blackgum, and you'll come out +all right.'</p> + +<p>"'I can't be blackgum nor nothin' else,' said Pearson, +'if I don't get no help; specially if I don't get no +help from the party what's goin' to get a lot of the +money.'</p> + +<p>"Abner reflected. 'If we was to set any auk eggs +next month, it'll be well on into next summer before +we'd have eggs to sell.'</p> + +<p>"Pearson also reflected. 'Yes,' he said; 'and it +might be a little later than that. You've got to leave +a margin. I allus leave a margin. Then I'm safe.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' said Abner; 'then you're safe.'</p> + +<p>"Joe Pearson was a man of resourceful discretion. +He rose now. 'Abner,' said he, 'I've got to go; I've +got a lot of things on my hands. And I want you to +remember that what I've said to you I said to you, +and I wouldn't have no other man know nothin' about +it. If anybody else should hear of this thing, and go +north, and get ahead of me, it would be—well, I don't +know what to say it would be, I've such feelin's about +it. I've offered to take you in because you've got a +farm, and because I think you're a good man, and +would know how to take care of auks when they +was hatched. But there's a lot for me to do. There's +maps to look over, and time-tables; and I must be +off. But I'll stop in to-morrer, Abner, and we'll talk +this over again.'</p> + +<p>"When Pearson had gone, Abner sat and stared +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span> +steadily at a knot-hole in the floor. 'Mrs. B.,' he +said to himself, 'has allus been a great one on eggs. +She's the greatest one on eggs I ever knowed. If +she'd go in, now, the thing 'u'd be just as good as done. +When she knows what's ahead of us she oughter go +in. That's all I've got to say about it.'</p> + +<p>"The significance of these reflections depended upon +the fact that Mrs. Batterfield had a small income. It +was upon this fact that there depended the other fact +that there were three meals a day in the Batterfield +household. It was this fact, also, which was the cause +of Mr. Joe Pearson's visit to the library. He was +very well acquainted with Abner, although he knew +Mrs. Batterfield but slightly; but he was aware of her +income.</p> + +<p>"After reflecting for about twenty minutes or half +an hour upon the exciting proposition which had +been made to him, Abner grew very impatient. 'No +use of my stayin' here,' he said; 'there's nobody goin' +to get out books in this hot weather; so I'll just shut +up shop and go home. I never did want to see Mrs. Batterfield +as much as I want to see her now.'</p> + +<p>"'Libraries seem to shut up early,' said Mrs. Batterfield, +as her husband walked into the front yard.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, they do,' said Abner, 'in summer-time.'</p> + +<p>"All the way from town he had been rehearsing to +himself the story he was going to tell; but he hadn't +finished it yet, and he wanted to get it all straight before +he began, so he walked over to the barn and sat +down on an inverted horse-bucket to get his story all +straight before he began. When he got it all straight +he concluded not to tell it until after supper. But +when that meal was finished, and everything had been +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span> +cleared away, and Mrs. Batterfield had gone to sit on +the front porch, as was her evening custom, he sat +down by her and told his story.</p> + +<p>"He made the tale as attractive as he possibly could +make it. He even omitted the fact that Joe Pearson +intended to sell his first eggs for sixteen hundred dollars +instead of eighteen hundred, and he diminished +by very many hundred miles the length of Joe Pearson's +probable journey to the north. In fact, had his +suppositions been nearly correct, the remaining specimens +of the great auk would have been birds of very +temperate dispositions, so far as latitude was concerned.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Batterfield listened with great attention. +She was engaged upon some sewing on which her +eyes were fixed, but her ears drank in every word +that Abner said. When he had finished, she laid +down her sewing, for it was beginning to get a little +dark for even her sharp eyes, and remarked: 'And he +wants some warm clothes? Furs, I suppose?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' said Abner; 'I expect they'd be furs.'</p> + +<p>"'And travelling expenses?' she asked.</p> + +<p>"'Yes; I suppose he'd want help in that way. Of +course, since he's makin' me such a big offer, he'll +expect me to put in somethin'.'</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Batterfield made no reply, but folded up her +sewing and went indoors. He waited until she had +time to retire, then he closed the house and went up +himself.</p> + +<p>"'She'll want to sleep on that,' said he; 'it'll be a +good thing for her to sleep on it. She mayn't like it +at first, but I'll go at her ag'in to-morrer, and I'm +goin' to stick to it. I reckon it'll be the worst rassle +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span> +we ever had; but it's blackgum ag'in' thunder, and +I'm blackgum.'</p> + +<p>"When Abner reached his chamber he found his +wife sitting quietly by the table, on which burned a +lamp.</p> + +<p>"'Hello!' said he. 'I thought you'd be abed and +asleep!'</p> + +<p>"'I didn't want to do my talkin' out front,' said +she, 'for there might be people passin' along the road. +I think you said this was to be a case of blackgum +ag'in' thunder!'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' said Abner, in a somewhat uncertain tone.</p> + +<p>"'Well, then,' said Mrs. Batterfield, 'I'm thunder.'</p> + +<p>"It was very late when that couple went to bed, +but it was very early the next morning when Abner +rose. He split a great deal of fire-wood before breakfast, +and very soon after that meal he put his hoe on +his shoulder and went to his corn-field. He remembered +that there were three rows of corn which he +had hoed upon only one side.</p> + +<p>"The library was not opened that day, and it remained +closed until Mr. Brownsill returned. The +failure in the supply of books did not occasion very +much comment in the town, for everybody agreed +that Mr. Brownsill was a good man and ought to have +a holiday. There were four persons in the place—a +little girl with plaited hair and a sister; a colored +woman with a bad tooth; and Joe Pearson—who knew +that Abner Batterfield had held, for a time, the office +of librarian.</p> + +<p>"When his vacation had expired, Mr. Brownsill +came home, and on the second morning after his arrival, +Abner Batterfield appeared before him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span>"'I had to come in town,' said Abner, 'and so I +thought I'd step in here and see about my pay.'</p> + +<p>"The librarian looked at him. 'How long were +you here?' he asked. 'I've been told that the library +was shut up for two weeks.'</p> + +<p>"'I was here for three quarters of a day,' said +Abner. 'That's about as near as I can calculate.'</p> + +<p>"The librarian took up a pencil and made a calculation.</p> + +<p>"'By the way,' said he, 'you must have done some +business. I miss our copy of Buck's Theological Dictionary; +but I find no entry about it.'</p> + +<p>"'That was took out as change,' said Abner. 'Five +cents for a duodecimo for a week, and the rest in +change. If the woman hasn't brought it back she +owes a week's fine.'</p> + +<p>"'Who was the woman?' asked the librarian.</p> + +<p>"'I don't know,' said Abner; 'but she has a daughter +with plaited hair and a small sister. While I'm +in town I'll try to look 'em up.'</p> + +<p>"'In the meantime,' said Mr. Brownsill, 'I'll have +to charge you for the book; and, deducting your pay +for three quarters of a day, you now owe me seventy-five +cents. I don't suppose there's any use talking +about the fines I have got down against you?'</p> + +<p>"'I don't believe there is,' said Abner.</p> + +<p>"The librarian could not help smiling, so dejected +was the tone in which these last words were spoken.</p> + +<p>"'By the way,' said he, 'how about your great fight +you were talking about—blackgum ag'in' thunder? +How did that turn out?'</p> + +<p>"Abner in his turn smiled.</p> + +<p>"'Blackgum was split as fine as matches,' said he."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span>"I can't help feeling sorry for the old fellow," said +the Next Neighbor, when John had concluded his +story. "I always have sympathy with great ambitions."</p> + +<p>"And if Joe Pearson had got far enough north," said +the Mistress of the House, "he would have found no +eggs, but he might have stumbled over the North +Pole."</p> + +<p>"It is a pity the old fellow had to tell his wife," +said the Master of the House. "Women ruin great +ambitions by too much common-sense. A great many +of the inventions we now consider necessary would +have been utterly lost to us if some men's brains had +not been a little addled. A woman would have set +them straight, and that would have been the end. +That is the reason so few women are inventors; they +have too much sense."</p> + +<p>"That is a very left-handed compliment," said the +Daughter of the House. "You are always decrying +inventions, which is strange. How would you like to +sail a ship without steam?"</p> + +<p>"It would be a great deal pleasanter, my dear, and +much cleaner."</p> + +<p>"There are patent contrivances for garden-work," +said John Gayther, "and I don't say that they don't +help, especially in planting-time; but, like the captain, +I prefer the old ways that bring the gardener +and the earth close together. The old, simple instruments +seem like friends. I feel as if something +went from me through the hoe-handle to the plants; +and when the seed drops from my hands instead of +from a seeder, it seems to me it takes a message direct +from me to the earth that receives it."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span></p> +<p style='margin-bottom:80px'>The stories are all told. The winter has come. +The orchard is stripped of its leaves, and, sere and +brown, they cover the garden paths and are strewn +over the box borders. The fruits are all garnered. +The bare vines that cover the summer-house are like +dead memories of what has been. The vegetable-beds +are empty. The black frost has settled upon bloom +and foliage on the upper terrace. The sweet, blithe +song of the red thrush has ceased. The family have +gone to a sunnier clime. And John Gayther walks +alone in his garden.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of John Gayther's Garden and the Stories +Told Therein, by Frank R. Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN GAYTHER'S GARDEN *** + +***** This file should be named 22737-h.htm or 22737-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/7/3/22737/ + +Produced by Alexander Bauer, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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