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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28662-8.txt b/28662-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c07220 --- /dev/null +++ b/28662-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6173 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Squirrel Inn, 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: The Squirrel Inn + +Author: Frank R. Stockton + +Release Date: May 2, 2009 [EBook #28662] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SQUIRREL INN *** + + + + +Produced by Bethanne M. Simms Christine D. and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THE SQUIRREL INN.] + +THE SQUIRREL INN + +BY + +FRANK R. STOCKTON + +_AUTHOR OF "RUDDER GRANGE," "THE LADY, OR THE TIGER?" "THE LATE MRS. +NULL," "THE CASTING AWAY OF MRS. LECKS AND MRS. ALESHINE," "THE MERRY +CHANTER," "THE HUNDREDTH MAN," ETC._ + +[Illustration] + + NEW YORK + THE CENTURY CO. + 1891 + + COPYRIGHT, 1891, + BY FRANK R. STOCKTON. + +_All rights reserved._ + + +THE DE VINNE PRESS. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + I THE STEAMBOAT PIER 1 + + II THE BABY, THE MAN, AND THE MASTERY 7 + + III MATTHEW VASSAR 16 + + IV LODLOE UNDERTAKES TO NOMINATE HIS + SUCCESSOR 25 + + V THE LANDLORD AND HIS INN 32 + + VI THE GREEK SCHOLAR 40 + + VII ROCKMORES AHEAD 47 + + VIII MISS MAYBERRY 56 + + IX THE PRESERVATION OF LITERATURE 61 + + X ROSE VERSUS MAYBERRY 68 + + XI LANIGAN BEAM 78 + + XII LANIGAN CHANGES HIS CRAVAT 90 + + XIII DECREES OF EXILE 96 + + XIV BACKING OUT 101 + + XV THE BABY IS PASSED AROUND 110 + + XVI MESSRS. BEAM AND LODLOE DECLINE TO WAIT + FOR THE SECOND TABLE 119 + + XVII BANANAS AND OATS 132 + + XVIII SWEET PEAS 138 + + XIX THE AROUSED ROSE 149 + + XX AN INGENUOUS MAID 157 + + XXI TWISTED TRYSTS 163 + + XXII THE BLOSSOM AND THE LITTLE JAR 175 + + XXIII HAMMERSTEIN 181 + + XXIV TRANSLATIONS 197 + + XXV MR. TIPPENGRAY MOUNTS HIGH 204 + + XXVI ANOTHER SQUIRREL IN THE TAP-ROOM 213 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + + THE SQUIRREL INN FRONTISPIECE + + ON DECK 11 + + A WAGON-LOAD OF NURSE-MAIDS 28 + + STEPHEN PETTER 33 + + THE SIGN 38 + + A GREEK IN AN OUTHOUSE 42 + + MR. TIPPENGRAY 44 + + "I SUPPOSE THIS IS MRS. CRISTIE" 49 + + LODLOE IS INTRODUCED TO STEPHEN PETTER 53 + + "PASSING NEARER, MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED" 65 + + "TEACH THE OLD HENS GOOD MANNERS" 76 + + "DON'T GET EXCITED" 80 + + "HAVE YOU HAPPENED TO HEAR ANYBODY SPEAK + OF ME?" 83 + + "I AM HERE FOR A PURPOSE" 92 + + IDA MAKES HERSELF COMFORTABLE 102 + + "BACK!" 108 + + "HE BEGAN SLOWLY TO PUSH IT TOWARDS + THE SQUIRREL INN" 112 + + "I WILL WHEEL IT DOWN TO MY SUMMER-HOUSE + WHERE IT IS COOL AND SHADY" 113 + + "HE LEANED OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE" 118 + + "CALTHY, THIS IS TRULY LIKE OLD TIMES" 129 + + "WILL YOU NOT TAKE THESE INSTEAD?" 143 + + "I HAVE DISSECTED ONE" 147 + + MRS. CRISTIE CONSIDERS 153 + + A MATRIMONIAL CONVERSATION 160 + + CALTHEA HOLDS HIM WITH HER LISTENING EAR 165 + + THE BABY AND THE SWEET-PEA BLOSSOM 179 + + MISS CALTHEA STEPS OUT 187 + + "WHAT SKEERED HIM?" 191 + + MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED AND LISTENED 192 + + THE TRANSLATION 198 + + THE PROPOSAL 206 + + MR. PETTER TAKES OFF HIS HAT 209 + + LANIGAN BEAM WANTS HIS LADDER 210 + + + + + + +THE SQUIRREL INN + + + + +I + +THE STEAMBOAT PIER + + +The steamboat _Manasquan_ was advertised to leave her pier on the east +side of the city at half-past nine on a July morning. At nine o'clock +Walter Lodloe was on the forward upper deck, watching the early +passengers come on board, and occasionally smiling as his glance fell +upon a tall man in a blue flannel shirt, who, with a number of other +deck-hands, was hard at work transferring from the pier to the steamer +the boxes, barrels, and bales of merchandise the discouraging mass of +which was on the point of being increased by the unloading of a newly +arrived two-horse truck. + +Lodloe had good reason to allow himself his smiles of satisfaction, for +he had just achieved a victory over the man in the blue shirt, and a +victory over a busy deck-hand on a hot day is rare enough to be +valuable. As soon as he had stepped on board, he had deposited his +hand-baggage in a place of safety, and walked forward to see the men run +on the freight. It was a lively scene, and being a student of incident, +character, and all that sort of thing, it greatly interested him. +Standing by a strangely marked cask which had excited his curiosity, he +found himself in the way of the deck-hand in the blue shirt, who, with +red face and sparkling forehead, had just wheeled two heavy boxes up the +incline of the gang-plank, and was about to roll them with easy rapidity +to the other side of the deck; but Lodloe, with his back turned and +directly in front of him, made it necessary for him to make a violent +swerve to the right or to break the legs of a passenger. He made the +swerve, missed Lodloe, and then, dumping his load, turned and swore at +the young man with the promptness and accuracy of a cow-boy's revolver. + +It was quite natural that a high-spirited young fellow should object to +be sworn at, no matter what provocation he had given, and Lodloe not +only objected but grew very angry. The thing which instantly suggested +itself to him, and which to most people would seem the proper thing to +do, was to knock down the man. But this knocking-down business is a +matter which should be approached with great caution. Walter was a +strong young fellow and had had some practice in boxing, but it was not +impossible that, even with the backing of justifiable indignation, the +conventional blow straight from the shoulder might have failed to fell +the tall deck-hand. + +But even had Lodloe succeeded in stretching the insulting man upon the +dirty deck, it is not at all probable that he would have staid there. In +five seconds there would have been a great fight, and it would not have +been long before the young gentleman would have found himself in the +custody of a policeman. + +Lodloe's common sense was capable of considerable tension without giving +way, even under a strain like this, and, although pale with anger, he +would not engage in a personal contest with a deck-hand on a crowded +steamboat; but to bear the insult was almost impossible. Never before +had he been subjected to such violent abuse. + +But in a flash he remembered something, and the man had scarcely turned +his empty truck to go back to the pier, when Lodloe stepped in front of +him, and with a wave of the hand stopped him. + +Two nights before Lodloe had been sitting up late reading some papers on +modern Italian history, and in the course of said reading had met with +the text of the _anathema maranatha_ pronounced by Pius IX. against +disbelievers in his infallibility. The directness, force, and +comprehensiveness of the expressions used in this composition made a +deep impression upon Lodloe, and as it was not very long he had +committed it to memory, thinking that he might some time care to use it +in quotation. Now it flashed upon him that the time had come to quote +this _anathema maranatha_, without hesitation he delivered the whole of +it, and square, straight into the face of the petrified deck-hand. + +Petrified immediately he was not. As first he flushed furiously, but +after a few phrases he began to pale and to turn to living stone; enough +mobility, however, remained to allow him presently to raise his hand +imploringly, but Lodloe had now nearly finished his discourse, and with +a few words more he turned and walked away. The deck-hand wiped his +brow, took in a long breath, and went to work. If another passenger had +got in his way, he would not have sworn at him. + +Therefore it was that, gently pleased by the sensations of victory, +Walter Lodloe sat on the upper deck and watched the busy scene. He soon +noted that passengers were beginning to come down the pier in +considerable numbers, and among these his eye was caught by a young +woman wheeling a baby-carriage. + +When this little equipage had been pushed down nearly to the end of that +side of the pier from which the passengers were going on board, it +stopped, and its motive power looked behind her. Presently she turned +her head towards the steamer and eagerly scanned every part of it on +which she could see human beings. In doing this she exhibited to Lodloe +a very attractive face. It was young enough, it was round enough, and +the brown eyes were large enough, to suit almost any one whose taste was +not restricted to the lines of the old sculptors. + +When she completed her survey of the steamboat, the young woman turned +the carriage around and wheeled it up the pier. Very soon, however, she +returned, walking rapidly, and ran the little vehicle over the broad +gang-plank on to the steamboat. Now Lodloe lost sight of her, but in +about five minutes she appeared on the forward upper deck without the +baby-carriage, and looking eagerly here and there. Not finding what she +sought, she hastily descended. + +The next act in this performance was the appearance of the +baby-carriage, borne by the blue-shirted deck-hand, and followed by the +young woman carrying the baby. The carriage was humbly set down by its +bearer, who departed without looking to the right or left, and the baby +was quickly deposited in it. Then the young woman stepped to the rail +and looked anxiously upon the pier. As Lodloe gazed upon her it was easy +to see that she was greatly troubled. She was expecting some one who did +not come. Now she went to the head of the stairway and went down a few +steps, then she came up again and stood undecided. Her eyes now fell +upon Lodloe, who was looking at her, and she immediately approached him. + +"Can you tell me, sir," she said, "exactly how long it will be before +this boat starts?" + +Lodloe drew out his watch. + +"In eight minutes," he answered. + +If Lodloe had allowed himself to suppose that because the young woman +who addressed him was in sole charge of a baby-carriage she was a nurse +or superior maid-servant, that notion would have instantly vanished when +he heard her speak. + +The lady turned a quick glance towards the pier, and then moved to the +head of the stairway, but stopped before reaching it. It was plain that +she was in much perplexity. Lodloe stepped quickly towards her. + +"Madam," said he, "you are looking for some one. Can I help you?" + +"I am," she said; "I am looking for my nurse-maid. She promised to meet +me on the pier. I cannot imagine what has become of her." + +"Let me go and find her," said Lodloe. "What sort of person is she?" + +"She isn't any sort of person in particular," answered the lady. "I +couldn't describe her. I will run down and look for her myself, and if +you will kindly see that nobody knocks over my baby I shall be much +obliged to you." + +Lodloe instantly undertook the charge, and the lady disappeared below. + + + + +II + +THE BABY, THE MAN, AND THE MASTERY + + +The young man drew the baby-carriage to the bench by the rail and, +seating himself, gazed with interest upon its youthful occupant. This +individual appeared to be about two years of age, with its mother's eyes +and a combative disposition. The latter was indicated by the manner in +which it banged its own legs and the sides of its carriage with a wicker +bludgeon that had once been a rattle. It looked earnestly at the young +man, and gave the edges of its carriage a whack which knocked the +bludgeon out of its hand. Lodloe picked up the weapon, and, restoring it +to its owner, began to commune with himself. + +"It is the same old story," he thought. "The mother desires to be rid of +the infant; she leaves it for a moment in the charge of a stranger; she +is never seen again. However, I accept the situation. If she doesn't +come back this baby is mine. It seems like a good sort of baby, and I +think I shall like it. Yes, youngster, if your mother doesn't come back +you are mine. I shall not pass you over to the police or to any one +else; I shall run you myself." + +It was now half-past nine. Lodloe arose and looked out over the pier. He +could see nothing of the young mother. The freight was all on board, and +they were hauling up the forward gang-plank. One or two belated +passengers were hurrying along the pier; the bell was ringing; now the +passengers were on board, the aft gang-plank was hauled in, the hawsers +were cast off from the posts, the pilot's bell jingled, the wheels began +to revolve, and the great steamboat slowly moved from its pier. + +"I knew it," said Lodloe, unconsciously speaking aloud; "she hadn't the +slightest idea of coming back. Now, then," said he, "I own a baby, and I +must consider what I am to do with it. One thing is certain, I intend to +keep it. I believe I can get more solid comfort and fun out of a baby +than I could possibly get out of a dog or even a horse." + +Walter Lodloe was a young man who had adopted literature as a +profession. Earlier in life he had worked at journalism, but for the +last two years he had devoted himself almost entirely to literature pure +and simple. His rewards, so far, had been slight, but he was not in the +least discouraged, and hoped bravely for better things. He was now on +his way to spend some months at a quiet country place of which he had +heard, not for a summer holiday, but to work where he could live cheaply +and enjoy outdoor life. His profession made him more independent than an +artist--all he needed were writing materials, and a post-office within a +reasonable distance. + +Lodloe gazed with much satisfaction at his new acquisition. He was no +stickler for conventionalities, and did not in the least object to +appear at his destination--where he knew no one--with a baby and a +carriage. + +"I'll get some country girl to take care of it when I am busy," he said, +"and the rest of the time I'll attend to it myself. I'll teach it a lot +of things, and from what I have seen of youngster-culture I shouldn't +wonder if I should beat the record." + +At this moment the baby gave a great wave with its empty rattle, and, +losing its hold upon it, the wicker weapon went overboard. Then, after +feeling about in its lap, and peering over the side of the carriage, the +baby began to whimper. + +"Now then," thought the young man, "here's my chance. I must begin +instantly to teach it that I am its master." + +Leaning forward, he looked sternly into the child's face, and in a +sharp, quick tone said: + +"Whoa!" + +The baby stopped instantly, and stared at its new guardian. + +"There," thought Lodloe, "it is just the same with a baby as with a +horse. Be firm, be decided; it knows what you want, and it will do it." + +At this instant the baby opened its mouth, uttered a wild wail, and +continued wailing. + +Lodloe laughed. "That didn't seem to work," said he; and to quiet the +little creature he agitated the vehicle, shook before the child his +keys, and showed it his watch, but the wails went on with persistent +violence. The baby's face became red, its eyes dropped tears. + +The young man looked around him for assistance. The forward upper deck +was without an awning, and was occupied only by a few men, the majority +of the passengers preferring the spacious and shaded after deck. Two of +the men were laughing at Lodloe. + +"That's a new way," one of them called out to him, "to shut up a young +one. Did it ever work?" + +"It didn't this time," answered Lodloe. "Have you any young ones?" + +"Five," answered the man. + +"And how do you stop them when they howl like that?" + +"I leave that to the old woman," was the answer, "and when she's heard +enough of it she spanks 'em." + +Lodloe shook his head. That method did not suit him. + +"If you'd run its wagon round the deck," said another man, "perhaps that +would stop it. I guess you was never left alone with it before." + +Lodloe made no reply to this supposition, but began to wheel the +carriage around the deck. Still the baby yelled and kicked. An elderly +gentleman who had been reading a book went below. + +"If you could feed it," said one of the men who had spoken before, "that +might stop it, but the best thing you can do is to take it down to its +mother." + +[Illustration: ON DECK.] + +Lodloe was annoyed. He had not yet arranged in his mind how he should +account for his possession of the baby, and he did not want an +explanation forced upon him before he was ready to make it. These men +had come on board after the departure of the young woman, and could know +nothing of the facts, and therefore Lodloe, speaking from a high, +figurative standpoint, settled the matter by shaking his head and +saying: + +"That can't be done. The little thing has lost its mother." + +The man who had last spoken looked compassionately at Lodloe. + +"That's a hard case," he said; "I know all about it, for I've been in +that boat myself. My wife died just as I was going to sail for this +country, and I had to bring over the two babies. I was as seasick as +blazes, and had to take care of 'em night and day. I tell you, sir, +you've got a hard time ahead of you; but feedin' 's the only thing. I'll +get you something. Is it on milk yet, or can it eat biscuit?" + +Lodloe looked at the open mouth of the vociferous infant and saw teeth. + +"Biscuit will do," he said, "or perhaps a banana. If you can get me +something of the sort I shall be much obliged"; and he gave the man some +money. + +The messenger soon returned with an assortment of refreshments, among +which, happily, was not a banana, and the baby soon stopped wailing to +suck an enormous stick of striped candy. Quiet having been restored to +this part of the vessel, Lodloe sat down to reconsider the situation. + +"It may be," he said to himself, "that I shall have to take it to an +asylum, but I shall let it stay there only during the period of +unintelligent howling. When it is old enough to understand that I am its +master, then I shall take it in hand again. It is ridiculous to suppose +that a human being cannot be as easily trained as a horse." + +The more he considered the situation the better he liked it. The +possession of a healthy and vigorous youngster without encumbrances was +to him a novel and delightful sensation. + +"I hope," he said to himself, "that when the country girl dresses it she +will find no label on its clothes, nor any sign which might enable one +to discover the original owners. I don't want anybody coming up to claim +it after we've got to be regular chums." + +When the boat made its first landing the two men who had given advice +and assistance to Lodloe got off, and as the sun rose higher the forward +deck became so unpleasantly warm that nearly everybody left it; but +Lodloe concluded to remain. The little carriage had a top, which +sufficiently shaded the baby, and as for himself he was used to the sun. +If he went among the other passengers they might ask him questions, and +he was not prepared for these. What he wanted was to be let alone until +he reached his landing-place, and then he would run his baby-carriage +ashore, and when the steamboat had passed on he would be master of the +situation, and could assume what position he chose towards his new +possession. + +"When I get the little bouncer to Squirrel Inn I shall be all right, but +I must have the relationship defined before I arrive there." And to the +planning and determination of that he now gave his mind. + +He had not decided whether he should create an imaginary mother who had +died young, consider himself the uncle of the child, whose parents had +been lost at sea, or adopt the little creature as a brother or a +sister, as the case might be, when the subject of his reflections laid +down its stick of candy and began a violent outcry against circumstances +in general. + +Lodloe's first impulse was to throw it overboard. Repressing this +natural instinct, he endeavored to quiet the infantile turbulence with +offers of biscuit, fresh candy, gingercakes, and apples, but without +effect. The young bewailer would have nothing to do with any of these +enticements. + +Lodloe was puzzled. "I have got to keep the thing quiet until we land," +he thought; "then I will immediately hire some one to go with me and +take charge of it, but I can't stand this uproar for two hours longer." +The crying attracted the attention of other people, and presently a +country woman appeared from below. + +"What is the matter with it?" she asked. "I thought it was some child +left here all by itself." + +"What would you do with it?" asked Lodloe, helplessly. + +"You ought to take it up and walk it about until its mother comes," said +the woman; and having given this advice she returned below to quiet one +of her own offspring who had been started off by the sounds of woe. + +Lodloe smiled at the idea of carrying the baby about until its mother +came; but he was willing to do the thing in moderation, and taking up +the child resolutely, if not skilfully, he began to stride up and down +the deck with it. + +This suited the youngster perfectly, and it ceased crying and began to +look about with great interest. It actually smiled into the young man's +face, and taking hold of his mustache began to use it as a doorbell. + +"This is capital," said Lodloe; "we are chums already." And as he strode +he whistled, talked baby-talk, and snapped his fingers in the face of +the admiring youngster, who slapped at him, and laughed, and did its +best to kick off the bosom of his shirt. + + + + +III + +MATTHEW VASSAR + + +In the course of this sociable promenade the steamboat stopped at a +small town, and it had scarcely started again when the baby gave a +squirm which nearly threw it out of its bearer's arms. At the same +instant he heard quick steps behind him, and, turning, he beheld the +mother of the child. At the sight his heart fell. Gone were his plans, +his hopes, his little chum. + +The young woman was flushed and panting. + +"Upon my word!" was all she could say as she clasped the child, whose +little arms stretched out towards her. She seated herself upon the +nearest bench. In a few moments she looked from her baby to Lodloe; she +had not quite recovered her breath, and her face was flushed, but in her +eyes and on her mouth and dimpled cheeks there was an expression of +intense delight mingled with amusement. + +"Will you tell me, sir," she said, "how long you have been carrying this +baby about? And did you have to take care of it?" + +Lodloe did not feel in a very good humor. By not imposing upon him, as +he thought she had done, she had deceived and disappointed him. + +"Of course I took care of it," he said, "as you left it in my charge; +and it gave me a lot of trouble, I assure you. For a time it kicked up a +dreadful row. I had the advice of professionals, but I did all the work +myself." + +"I am very sorry," she said, "but it does seem extremely funny that it +should have happened so. What did you think had become of me?" + +"I supposed you had gone off to whatever place you wanted to go to," +said Lodloe. + +She looked at him in amazement. + +"Do you mean to say," she exclaimed, "that you thought I wanted to get +rid of my baby, and to palm him off on you--an utter stranger?" + +"That is exactly what I thought," he answered. "Of course, people who +want to get rid of babies don't palm them off on friends and +acquaintances. I am very sorry if I misjudged you, but I think you will +admit that, under the circumstances, my supposition was a very natural +one." + +"Tell me one more thing," she said; "what did you intend to do with this +child?" + +"I intended to bring it up as my own," said Lodloe; "I had already +formed plans for its education." + +The lady looked at him in speechless amazement. If she had known him she +would have burst out laughing. + +"The way of it was this," she said presently. "I ran off the steamboat +to look for my nurse-maid, and if I hadn't thought of first searching +through the other parts of the boat to see if she was on board I should +have had plenty of time. I found her waiting for me at the entrance of +the pier, and when I ran towards her all she had to say was that she had +made up her mind not to go into the country. I was so excited, and so +angry at her for playing such a trick on me at the last moment, that I +forgot how time was passing, and that is why I was left behind. But it +never entered my mind that any one would think that I intended to desert +my baby, and I didn't feel afraid either that he wouldn't be taken care +of. I had seen ever so many women on board, and some with babies of +their own, and I did not doubt that some of these would take charge of +him. + +"As soon as I saw that the steamboat had gone, I jumped into a cab, and +went to the West Bank Railroad, and took the first train for Scurry, +where I knew the steamboat stopped. The ticket agent told me he thought +the train would get there about forty minutes before the boat; but it +didn't, and I had to run every inch of the way from the station to the +wharf, and then barely got there in time." + +"You managed matters very well," said Lodloe. + +"I should have managed better," said she, "if I had taken my baby ashore +with me. In that case, I should have remained in the city until I +secured another maid. But why did you trouble yourself with the child, +especially when he cried?" + +"Madam," said Lodloe, "you left that little creature in my charge, and +it never entered my mind to hand it over to anybody else. I took advice, +as I told you, but that was all I wanted of any one until I went +ashore, and then I intended to hire a country girl to act as its nurse." + +"And you really and positively intended to keep it for your own?" she +asked. + +"I did," he answered. + +At this the lady could not help laughing. "In all my life," she said, "I +never heard of anything like that. But I am just as much obliged to you, +sir, as if I were acquainted with you; in fact, more so." + +Lodloe took out his card and handed it to her. She read it, and then +said: + +"I am Mrs. Robert Cristie of Philadelphia. And now I will take my baby +to the other end of the boat, where it is more sheltered, but not +without thanking you most heartily for your very great kindness." + +"If you are going aft," said Lodloe, "let me help you. If you will take +the baby, I will bring its carriage." + +In a few minutes the mother and child were ensconced in a shady spot on +the lower deck, and then Lodloe, lifting his hat, remarked: + +"As I suppose two people cannot become conventionally acquainted without +the intervention of a third person, no matter how little each may know +of said third party, I must take my leave; but allow me to say that, if +you require any further assistance, I shall be most happy to give it. I +shall be on the boat until we reach Romney." + +"That is where I get off," she said. + +"Indeed," said he; "then perhaps you will engage the country girl whom I +intended to hire." + +"Do you know any one living there," she asked, "who would come to me as +nurse-maid?" + +"I don't know a soul in Romney," said Lodloe; "I never was in the place +in my life. I merely supposed that in a little town like that there were +girls to be hired. I don't intend to remain in Romney, to be sure, but I +thought it would be much safer to engage a girl there than to trust to +getting one in the country place to which I am going." + +"And you thought out all that, and about my baby?" said Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes, I did," said Lodloe, laughing. + +"Very well," said she; "I shall avail myself of your forethought, and +shall try to get a girl in Romney. Where do you go when you leave +there?" + +"Oh, I am going some five or six miles from the town, to a place called +the 'Squirrel Inn.'" + +"The Squirrel Inn!" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie, dropping her hands into her +lap and leaning forward. + +"Yes," said Lodloe; "are you going there?" + +"I am," she answered. + +Now in his heart Walter Lodloe blessed his guardian angel that she had +prompted him to make the announcement of his destination before he knew +where this lady was going. + +"I am very glad to hear that," he said. "It seems odd that we should +happen to be going to the same place, and yet it is not so very odd, +after all, for people going to the Squirrel Inn must take this boat and +land at Romney, which is not on the railroad." + +"The odd part of it is that so few people go to the Squirrel Inn," said +the lady. + +"I did not know that," remarked Lodloe; "in fact I know very little +about the place. I have heard it spoken of, and it seems to be just the +quiet, restful place in which I can work. I am a literary man, and like +to work in the country." + +"Do you know the Rockmores of Germantown?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"I never heard of them," he answered. + +"Well, then, you may as well stay on board this steamboat and go back +home in her," said Mrs. Cristie; "if you do not know the Rockmores of +Germantown Stephen Petter will not take you into his inn. I know all +about the place. I was there with my husband three years ago. Mr. Petter +is very particular about the guests he entertains. Several years ago, +when he opened the inn, the Rockmores of Germantown spent the summer +with him, and he was so impressed with them that he will not take +anybody unless they know the Rockmores of Germantown." + +"He must be a ridiculous old crank," said Lodloe, drawing a camp-chair +near to the lady, and seating himself thereon. + +"In one way he is not a crank," said Mrs. Cristie; "you can't turn him. +When he has made up his mind about anything, that matter is settled and +fixed just as if it were screwed down to the floor." + +"From what I had been told," said the young man, "I supposed the +Squirrel Inn to be a free and easy place." + +"It is, after you get there," said Mrs. Cristie, "and the situation and +the surroundings are beautiful, and the air is very healthful. My +husband was Captain Cristie of the navy. He was in bad health when he +went to the Squirrel Inn, but the air did him good, and if we had staid +all winter, as Stephen Petter wanted us to, it would have been a great +advantage to him. But when the weather grew cool we went to New York, +where my husband died early in the following December." + +"I will take my chances with Stephen Petter," said Lodloe, after a +suitable pause. "I am going to the Squirrel Inn, and I am bound to stay +there. There must be some road not through Germantown by which a fellow +can get into the favor of Mr. Petter. Perhaps you will say a good word +for me, madam?" + +"I don't know any good word to say," she answered, "except that you take +excellent care of babies, and I am not at all sure that that would have +any weight with Stephen Petter. Since you are going to the inn, and +since we have already talked together so much, I wish I did properly +know you. Did you ever have a sister at Vassar?" + +"I am sorry to say," said Lodloe, "that I never had a sister at that +college, though I have one who wanted very much to go there; but instead +of that she went with an aunt to Europe, where she married." + +"An American?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said Lodloe. + +"What was his name?" + +"Tredwell." + +"I never heard of him," said the lady. "There don't seem to be any +threads to take hold of." + +"Perhaps you had a brother at Princeton," remarked Lodloe. + +"I have no brother," said she. + +There was now a pause in the dialogue. The young man was well pleased +that this very interesting young woman wished to know him properly, as +she put it, and if there could be found the least bit of foundation on +which might be built a conventional acquaintance he was determined to +find it. + +"Were you a Vassar girl?" he asked. + +"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "I was there four years." + +"Perhaps you know something of old Matthew Vassar, the founder?" + +Mrs. Cristie laughed. "I've heard enough about him, you may be sure; but +what has he to do with anything?" + +"I once slept in his room," said Lodloe; "in the Founder's Room, with +all his stiff old furniture, and his books, and his portrait." + +"You!" cried Mrs. Cristie. "When did you do that?" + +"It was two years ago this spring," said Lodloe. "I was up there getting +material for an article on the college which I wrote for the 'Bayside +Magazine.'" + +"Did you write that?" said Mrs. Cristie. "I read it, and it was just as +full of mistakes as it could be." + +"That may be, and I don't wonder at it," said the young man. "I kept on +taking in material until I had a good deal more than I could properly +stow away in my mind, and it got to be too late for me to go back to the +town, and they had to put me into the Founder's Room, because the house +was a good deal crowded. Before I went to bed I examined all the things +in the room. I didn't sleep well at all, for during the night the old +gentleman got down out of his frame, and sat on the side of my bed, and +told me a lot of things about that college which nobody else ever knew, +I am sure." + +"And I suppose you mixed up all that information with what the college +people gave you," she said. + +"That may be the case," answered Lodloe, laughing, "for some of the old +gentleman's points were very interesting and made a deep impression upon +me." + +"Well," said Mrs. Cristie, speaking very emphatically, "when I had +finished reading that article I very much wished to meet the person who +had written it, so that I might tell him what I thought of it; but of +course I had no idea that the founder had anything to do with its +inaccuracies." + +"Madam," said Lodloe, "if it had not been for the mistakes in it you +never would have thought of the man who wrote the paper, but you did +think of him, and wanted to meet him. Now it seems to me that we have +been quite properly introduced to each other, and it was old Matthew +Vassar who did it. I am sure I am very much obliged to him." + +Mrs. Cristie laughed. "I don't know what the social authorities would +say to such an introduction," she answered, "but as baby is asleep I +shall take him into the saloon." + + + + +IV + +LODLOE UNDERTAKES TO NOMINATE HIS SUCCESSOR + + +It was late in the afternoon when the Romney passengers were landed, and +Mrs. Cristie and Lodloe, with a few other persons, repaired to the +village hotel. + +"There is a sort of stage-wagon," said the lady, "which takes people +from this house to the Squirrel Inn, and it starts when the driver is +ready; but before I leave Romney I must try to find some one who will go +with me as nurse-maid." + +"Madam," said Lodloe, "don't think of it. I have made inquiries of the +landlord, and he says the roads are rough, and that it will take more +than an hour to reach the Squirrel Inn, so that if you do not start now +I fear you and the baby will not get there before dark. I prefer to stay +here to-night, and it will be no trouble at all for me to look up a +suitable person for you, and to take her with me to-morrow. It will be a +good plan to take four or five of them, and when you have selected the +one you like best the others can come back here in the wagon. It will be +a lark for them." + +Mrs. Cristie drew a long breath. "Truly," she said, "your proposition is +phenomenal. Half a dozen nurse-maids in a wagon, from whom I am to pick +and choose! The thing is so startling and novel that I am inclined to +accept. I should very much dislike to be on the road after dark, and if +you have planned to stay here to-night, and if it will not be much +trouble--" + +"Say not another word," cried Lodloe; "project your mind into to-morrow +morning, and behold a wagon-load of willing maidens at the door of the +inn." + +When Mrs. Cristie and the baby and an elderly woman who lived in +Lethbury, a village two miles beyond the Squirrel Inn, had started on +their journey, Walter Lodloe set about the task he had undertaken. It +was still hot, and the Romney streets were dusty, and after an hour or +two of inquiry, walking, and waiting for people who had been sent for, +Lodloe found that in the whole village there was not a female from +thirteen to seventy-three who would think of such a thing as leaving her +home to become nurse-maid to a city lady. He went to bed that night a +good deal chagrined, and not in the least knowing what he was going to +do about it. + +In the morning, however, the thing to do rose clear and plain before +him. + +"I can't go to her and tell her I've failed," he said to himself. "A +maid must be got, and I have undertaken to get one. As there is nobody +to be had here, I must go back to the city for one. There are plenty of +them there." + +So when the early morning boat came along he took passage for the +nearest railroad station on the river, for he wished to lose no time on +that trip. + +The elderly lady who was going to Lethbury took a great interest in Mrs. +Cristie, who was to be her only fellow-passenger. She was at the hotel +with her carpet-bag and her paper bundle some time before the big +spring-wagon was ready to start, and she gave earnest attention to the +loading thereon of Mrs. Cristie's trunk and the baby-carriage. When they +were on their way the elderly woman promptly began the conversation: + +"I think," said she to Mrs. Cristie, "that I've seed you before." + +"Perhaps so," said the other; "I was in this region three years ago." + +"Yes, yes," said the elder woman; "I thought I was right. Then you had a +husband and no child. It now looks as if you had a child and no +husband." + +Mrs. Cristie informed her that her surmise was correct. + +"Well, well," said the elderly woman; "I've had 'em both, and it's hard +to say which can be spared best, but as we've got nothin' to do with the +sparin' of 'em, we've got ter rest satisfied. After all, they're a good +deal like lilock bushes, both of 'em. They may be cut down, and grubbed +up, and a parsley bed made on the spot, but some day they sprout up +ag'in, and before you know it you've got just as big a bush as ever. +Does Stephen Petter know you're comin'?" + +[Illustration: A WAGON-LOAD OF NURSE-MAIDS.] + +"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Cristie, quite willing to change the subject; "all +that is arranged. I was so pleased with the place when I was here +before, and Mrs. Petter was so good to me, that I quite long to spend a +summer there with my child." + +"Well, I'm glad he knows you are comin', but if he didn't, I was goin' +ter say to you that you'd better go on to Lethbury, and then see what +you could do with Stephen to-morrow. It's no use stoppin' at his house +without givin' notice, and like as not it ain't no use then." + +"Is Mr. Petter's house filled?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"Filled!" said the elderly woman. "There's nobody on the place but his +own family and the Greek." + +"Greek!" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said the other; "he keeps a Greek in an outhouse, but what for +nobody knows. I think Stephen Petter is gettin' more oncommon than he +was. If he wants to get custom for his house the best thing he can do is +to die. There ain't no other way, for Stephen's not goin' to do no +changin' of himself. My niece, Calthea Rose, the daughter of Daniel +Rose, who used to keep the store,--she keeps it now herself,--goes over +there a good deal, for she's wonderful partial to Susan Petter, and +there's a good reason for it too, for a better woman never lived, and +the walk over there is mostly shady, or through the fields, to both of +which Calthea is partial, and so she knows most things that's goin' on +at the Squirrel Inn, which latterly has not been much, except the comin' +of the Greek; an' as nobody has been able to get at the bottom of that +business, that isn't much, neither." + +"I think I remember Miss Calthea Rose," said Mrs. Cristie. "She was +tall, wasn't she, with a very fair complexion?" + +"Yes," said the elderly woman; "and it's just as fair now as it was +then. Some of it's owin' to sun-bonnet, and some of it to cold cream. +Calthea isn't as young as she was, but she's wonderful lively on her +feet yit, and there ain't many that could get ahead of her walkin' or +bargainin'." + +"And she keeps the store?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said the other; "she keeps it, and in more ways than one. You +see, when Dan'el died--and that was two years ago last March--he left +everything to Calthea, and the store with the rest. Before he died he +told her what he had done, and advised her to sell out the stock, and +put the money into somethin' that would pay good interest, and this she +agreed to do, and this she is doing now. She wouldn't consent to no +auction, for she knew well enough the things wouldn't bring more 'n half +they cost, so she undertook herself to sell 'em all out at retail, just +as her father intended they should be sold when he bought 'em. Well, +it's took her a long while, and, in the opinion of most folks, it'll +take her a long while yit. You see she don't lay in no new goods, but +just keeps on sellin' or tryin' to sell what she's got on hand. + +"It was purty easy to get rid of the groceries, and the iron and wooden +things got themselves sold some way or other; but old dry-goods, with +never any new ones to lighten 'em up, is about as humdrum as old people +without youngsters in the family. Now it stands to reason that when a +person goes into a store and sees nothin' but old calicoes, and some +other odds and ends, gettin' mustier and dustier and a little more +fly-specked every time, and never a new thing, even so much as a spool +of cotton thread, then persons isn't likely to go often into that store, +specially when there's a new one in the village that keeps up to the +times. + +"Now that's Calthea Rose's way of doin' business. She undertook to sell +out them goods, and she's goin' to keep on till she does it. She is +willin' to sell some of the worst-lookin' things at cost, but not a cent +below that, for if she does, she loses money, and that isn't Calthea +Rose. I guess, all put together, she hasn't sold more 'n ten dollars' +worth of goods this year, and most of them was took by the Greek, though +what he wants with 'em is more 'n I know." + +"I am sorry to hear that there are no guests at the Squirrel Inn," was +Mrs. Cristie's only reply to this information. + +"Oh, you needn't give yourself no trouble about loneliness and that sort +of thing," said the elderly woman; "before to-morrow night the whole +house may be crowded from cockloft to potato-cellar. It never has been +yit, but there's no tellin' what Stephen Petter has a-brewin' in his +mind." + + + + +V + +THE LANDLORD AND HIS INN + + +Stephen Petter was a man of middle age, who had been born on a farm, and +who, apparently, had been destined to farm a farm. But at the age of +thirty, having come into a moderate inheritance, he devoted himself more +to the business of cultivating himself and less to that of cultivating +his fields. + +He was a man who had built himself up out of books. His regular +education had been limited, but he was an industrious reader, and from +the characters of this and that author he had conceived an idea of a +sort of man which pleased his fancy, and to make himself this sort of +man he had given a great deal of study and a great deal of hard labor. +The result was that he had shaped himself into something like an +old-fashioned country clergyman, without his education, his manners, his +religion, or his clothes. Imperfect similitudes of these Stephen Petter +had acquired, but this was as far as he had gone. A well-read man who +happened also to be a good judge of human nature could have traced back +every obvious point of Stephen Petter's character to some English +author of the last century or the first half of this one. + +[Illustration: STEPHEN PETTER.] + +It was rather odd that a man like this should be the landlord of an inn. +But everything about Stephen Petter was odd, so ten years before he had +conceived the notion that such a man as he would like to be would be +entirely unwilling to live in the little village of Lethbury, where he +had no opportunity of exercising an influence upon his fellow-beings. +Such an influence he thought it fit to exercise, and as he was not +qualified to be a clergyman, or a physician, or a lawyer, he resolved to +keep a tavern. This vocation would bring him into contact with +fellow-beings; it would give him opportunities to control, impel, and +retard. + +Stephen Petter did not for a moment think of buying the Lethbury +"Hotel," nor of establishing such a house as was demanded by the +village. What he had read about houses of entertainment gave him no such +motives as these. Fortunately he had an opportunity of carrying out his +plan according to the notions he had imbibed from his books. + +Some years before Stephen Petter had decided upon his vocation, a rich +gentleman had built himself a country-seat about two miles out of +Lethbury. This house and its handsome grounds were the talk and the +admiration of the neighborhood. But the owner had not occupied his +country-home a whole summer before he determined to make a still more +attractive home of it by lighting it with a new-fashioned gas of +domestic manufacture. He succeeded in lighting not only his house but +the whole country-side, for one moonless night his mansion was burned to +the ground. Nothing was left of the house but the foundations, and on +these the owner felt no desire to build again. He departed from the +Lethbury neighborhood and never came back. + +When Mr. Petter became impressed with the belief that it would be a good +thing for him to be an innkeeper, he also became impressed with the +belief that the situation which the rich man had chosen for his +country-home would be an admirable one for his purposes. He accordingly +bought the property at a very reasonable price, and on the stone +foundations of the house which had been burned he built his inn. + +This edifice was constructed very much as he had endeavored to construct +himself. His plans for one part of it were made up from the +descriptions in one of his books, and those of another part from the +descriptions or pictures in some other book. Portions of the structure +were colonial, others were old English, and others again suggested the +Swiss chalet or a château in Normandy. There was a tall tower and there +were some little towers. There were peaks here and there, and different +kinds of slopes to the various roofs, some of which were thatched, some +shingled in fanciful ways, and some covered with long strips or slabs. +There were a good many doors and a good many windows, and these were of +different forms, sizes, and periods, some of them jutting boldly +outward, and some appearing anxious to shrink out of sight. + +It took a great deal of thought and a good deal of labor to build this +house; which was also true of Mr. Petter's character. But the +first-named work was the more difficult of the two, for in building up +himself he consulted with no one, while in planning his inn he met with +all sorts of opposition from the village workmen and builders. + +But at the cost of all the time that was needed and all the money he +could spare, he had his house built as he wanted it; and when it was +finished it seemed to exhibit a trace of nearly everything a house +should possess excepting chronology and paint. Mr. Petter had selected +with a great deal of care the various woods of which his house was +built, and he decidedly objected to conceal their hues and texture by +monotonous paint. The descriptions that he had read of houses seldom +mentioned paint. + +The interior was not in the least monotonous. The floors of the rooms, +even in the same story, were seldom upon the same level; sometimes one +entered a room from a hallway by an ascent of two or three steps, while +access to others was obtained by going down some steps. The inside was +subordinated in a great degree to the outside: if there happened to be a +pretty window like something Mr. Petter had seen in an engraving, a room +of suitable shape and size was constructed behind the window. Stairways +were placed where they were needed, but they were not allowed to +interfere with the shapes of rooms or hallways; if there happened to be +no other good place for them they were put on the outside of the house. +Some of these stairways were wide, some narrow, and some winding; and as +those on the outside were generally covered they increased the +opportunities for queer windows and perplexing projections. The upper +room of the tower was reached by a staircase from the outside, which +opened into a little garden fenced off from the rest of the grounds, so +that a person might occupy this room without having any communication +with the other people in the house. + +In one of the back wings of the building there was a room which was more +peculiar than any other, from the fact that there was no entrance to it +whatever, unless one climbed into it by means of a ladder placed at one +of its windows. This room, which was of fair size and well lighted, was +in the second story, but it appeared to be of greater height on account +of the descent of the ground at the back of the inn. It had been +constructed because the shape of that part of the building called for a +room, and a stairway to it had been omitted for the reason that if one +had been built in the inside of the house it would have spoiled the +shape of the room below, and there seemed no good way of putting one on +the outside. So when the room was finished and floored the workmen came +out of it through one of the windows, and Stephen Petter reserved his +decision in regard to a door and stairway until the apartment should be +needed. The grounds around the Squirrel Inn were interesting and +attractive, and with them Stephen Petter had interfered very little. The +rich man had planned beautiful surroundings for his country-home, and +during many years nature had labored steadily to carry out his plans. +There were grassy stretches and slopes, great trees, and terraces +covered with tangled masses of vines and flowers. The house stood on a +bluff, and on one side could be seen a wide view of a lovely valley, +with the two steeples of Lethbury showing above the treetops. + +Back of the house, and sweeping around between it and the public road, +was a far-reaching extent of woodland; and through this, for the +distance of half a mile, wound the shaded lane which led from the +highway to the Squirrel Inn. + +At the point at which this lane was entered from the highroad was the +sign of the inn. This was a tall post with a small square frame hanging +from a transverse beam, and seated on the lower strip of the frame was a +large stuffed gray squirrel. Every spring Stephen Petter took down this +squirrel and put up a new one. The old squirrels were fastened up side +by side on a ledge in the taproom, and by counting them one could find +out how many years the inn had been kept. + +[Illustration: THE SIGN.] + +Directly below the bluff on which the house stood were Stephen Petter's +grassy meadows and his fields of grain and corn, and in the rich +pastures, or in the shade of the trees standing by the bank of the rapid +little stream that ran down from the woodlands, might be seen his flocks +and his herds. By nature he was a very good farmer, and his agricultural +method he had not derived from his books. There were people who +said--and among these Calthea Rose expressed herself rather better than +the others--that Mr. Petter's farm kept him, while he kept the Squirrel +Inn. + +When it had become known that the Squirrel Inn was ready to receive +guests, people came from here and there; not very many of them, but +among them were the Rockmores of Germantown. This large family, so it +appeared to Stephen Petter, was composed of the kind of fellow-beings +with whom he wished to associate. Their manners and ways seemed to him +the manners and ways of the people he liked to read about, and he +regarded them with admiration and respect. He soon discovered from their +conversation that they were connected or acquainted with leading +families in our principal Eastern cities, and it became his hope that he +and his Squirrel Inn might become connected with these leading families +by means of the Rockmores of Germantown. + +As this high-classed family liked variety in their summer outings, they +did not come again to the Squirrel Inn, but the effect of their +influence remained strong upon its landlord. He made up his mind that +those persons who did not know the Rockmores of Germantown did not move +in those circles of society from which he wished to obtain his guests, +and therefore he drew a line which excluded all persons who did not +possess this acquaintanceship. + +This rule was very effectual in preventing the crowding of his house, +and, indeed, there were summers when he had no guests at all; but this +did not move Stephen Petter. Better an empty house than people outside +the pale of good society. + + + + +VI + +THE GREEK SCHOLAR + + +Mrs. Cristie and her baby were warmly welcomed by Stephen Petter and his +wife. They had learned during her former visit to like this lady for +herself, and now that she came to them a widow their sentiments towards +her were warmer than ever. + +Mrs. Petter wondered very much why she had come without a maid, but +fearing that perhaps the poor lady's circumstances were not what they +had been she forbore to ask any immediate questions. But in her heart +she resolved that, if she kept her health and strength, Mrs. Cristie +should not be worn out by that child. + +The young widow was charmed to find herself once more at the Squirrel +Inn, for it had been more like a home to her than any place in which she +had lived since her marriage, but when she went to her room that night +there was a certain depression on her spirits. This was caused by the +expected advent on the next day of Mr. Lodloe and a wagon-load of +candidates for the nurse-maidship. + +The whole affair annoyed her. In the first place it was very awkward to +have this young man engaged in this service for her; and now that he was +engaged in it, it would be, in a manner, under her auspices that he +would arrive at the Squirrel Inn. The more she thought of the matter the +more it annoyed her. She now saw that she must announce the coming of +this gentleman. It would not do for him to make a totally unexpected +appearance as her agent in the nurse-maid business. + +But no worry of this sort could keep her awake very long, and after a +night of sound and healthful sleep she told her host and hostess, the +next morning at breakfast, of the Mr. Lodloe who had kindly undertaken +to bring her a nurse-maid. + +"Lodloe," repeated Mr. Petter. "It strikes me that I have heard the +Rockmores mention that name. Is it a Germantown family?" + +"I really do not know," answered Mrs. Cristie; "he is from New York." + +Here she stopped. She was of a frank and truthful nature, and very much +wished to say that she knew nothing whatever of Mr. Lodloe, but she was +also of a kindly and grateful disposition, and she very well knew that +such a remark would be an extremely detrimental one to the young man; +so, being in doubt, she resolved to play trumps, and in cases like this +silence is generally trumps. + +Mrs. Petter had a mind which could project itself with the rapidity of +light into the regions of possibilities, and if the possibilities +appeared to her desirable her mind moved at even greater velocity. It +was plain to her that there must be something between this young widow +and the young man who was going to bring her a nurse-maid; and if this +were the case, nothing must be allowed to interfere with the admission +of said young man as a guest at the Squirrel Inn. + +[Illustration: A GREEK IN AN OUTHOUSE.] + +Mrs. Cristie did not want to talk any more on this subject. Nothing +would have pleased her better at that moment than to hear that Mr. +Lodloe had been unable to find her a suitable girl and that business had +called him to New York. + +"Mr. Petter," she exclaimed, "I was told yesterday that you kept a Greek +in an outhouse. What on earth does that mean?" + +Here Mrs. Petter laughed abruptly, and Mr. Petter slightly lifted his +brow. + +"Who could have told you such nonsense?" he said. "There is no Greek +here. It is true that a Greek scholar lives in my summer-house, but that +is very different from keeping a Greek in an outhouse." + +"And he's always late to breakfast," said Mrs. Petter; "I believe if we +sat down at the table at nine o'clock he would come in just as we were +finishing." + +"How does it happen," said Mrs. Cristie, "that he lives in the +summer-house?" + +"He does not know the Rockmores of Germantown," said Mrs. Petter. + +"He is a man of learning," remarked Stephen Petter, "with a fine mind; +and although I have made a rule which is intended to keep up the +reputation of this house to a desirable level, I do not intend, if I can +help it, that my rules shall press pinchingly, oppressively, or +irritatively upon estimable persons. Such a person is Mr. Tippengray, +our Greek scholar; and although his social relations are not exactly up +to the mark, he is not a man who should be denied the privileges of this +house, so far as they can be conscientiously given him. So you see, Mrs. +Cristie, that, although I could not take him into the inn, there was no +reason why I should not fit up the summer-house for him, which I did, +and I believe he likes it better than living in the house with us." + +"Like it!" exclaimed Mrs. Petter; "I should say he did like it. I +believe it would drive him crazy if he had to keep regular hours like +other people; but here he is now. Hester, bring in some hot cakes. Mrs. +Cristie, allow me to introduce Mr. Tippengray." + +[Illustration: MR. TIPPENGRAY.] + +The appearance of the Greek scholar surprised Mrs. Cristie. She had +expected to see a man in threadbare black, with a reserved and bowed +demeanor. Instead of this, she saw a bright little gentleman in neat +summer clothes, with a large blue cravat tied sailor fashion. He was not +a young man, although his hair being light the few portions of it which +had turned gray were not conspicuous. He was a man who was inclined to +listen and to observe rather than to talk, but when he had anything to +say he popped it out very briskly. + +Mr. Petter, having finished his breakfast, excused himself and retired, +and Mrs. Petter remarked to Mr. Tippengray that she was sorry he had not +taken his evening meal with them the day before. + +"I took such a long walk," said the Greek scholar, "that I concluded to +sup in Lethbury." + +"Those Lethbury people usually take tea at five," said his hostess. + +"But I'm not a Lethbury person," said he, "and I took my tea at seven." + +Mrs. Petter looked at him with twinkles in her eyes. + +"Of course you went to the hotel," she said. + +Mr. Tippengray looked at her with twinkles in his eyes. + +"Madam," said he, "have you noticed that those large blue-jays that were +here in the spring have almost entirely disappeared. I remember you used +to object to their shrill pipes." + +"Which is as much as to say," said Mrs. Petter, "you don't care to +mention where you took tea yesterday." + +"Madam," said Mr. Tippengray, "the pleasure of taking breakfast here +to-day effaces the memory of all former meals." + +"The truth of it is," said Mrs. Petter to Mrs. Cristie, when they had +left the table, "Calthea Rose gave him his tea, and he don't want to say +so. She's mightily taken with him, for he is a fine-minded man, and it +isn't often she gets the chance of keeping company with that kind of a +man. I don't know whether he likes her liking or not, but he don't care +to talk about it." + +Her first day at the Squirrel Inn was not altogether a pleasant one for +Bertha Cristie. In spite of the much-proffered service of Mrs. Petter +the care of her baby hampered her a good deal; and notwithstanding the +delights of her surroundings her mind was entirely too much occupied +with wondering when Mr. Lodloe would arrive with his wagon-load of +girls, and what she would have to say to him and about him when he did +arrive. + +[Illustration] + + + + +VII + +ROCKMORES AHEAD + + +It was late in the afternoon of the day after Mrs. Cristie reached the +Squirrel Inn that she slowly trundled the little carriage containing the +baby towards the end of the bluff beneath which stretched the fair +pastures where were feeding Mr. Petter's flocks and herds. All day she +had been looking for the arrival of the young man who had promised to +bring her some candidates for the position of child's nurse, and now she +was beginning to believe that she might as well cease to expect him. It +was an odd sort of service for a comparative stranger voluntarily to +undertake, and it would not be at all surprising if he had failed in his +efforts or had given up his idea of coming to the Squirrel Inn. + +Having philosophized a little on the subject, and having succeeded in +assuring herself that after all the matter was of no great importance, +and that she should have attended to it herself, and must do it the next +day, she was surprised to find how glad she was when, turning, she saw +emerging from the woodland road a one-horse wagon with Mr. Lodloe +sitting by the driver, and a female figure on the back seat. + +The latter proved to be a young person who at a considerable distance +looked about fourteen years old, although on a nearer and more careful +view she would pass for twenty, or thereabouts. She wore a round straw +hat with a white ribbon, and a light-colored summer suit with a broad +belt, which held a large bunch of yellow flowers with brown centers. She +had a cheerful, pleasant countenance, and large brown eyes which seemed +to observe everything. + +As the wagon approached, Mrs. Cristie rapidly pushed her baby-carriage +towards the house. Before she reached it the young girl had jumped to +the ground, and was advancing towards her. + +"I suppose this is Mrs. Cristie," said the newcomer. "I am Ida +Mayberry"; and she held out her hand. Without a word Mrs. Cristie shook +hands with the nurse-maid. + +"I think," said the latter, "before we have any talk I would better go +to my room and freshen myself up a little. I am covered with dust"; and +then she turned to the driver of the wagon and gave him directions in +regard to a medium-sized trunk, a large flat box, and several long +packages tied up in brown muslin, which had been strapped to the back of +the wagon. When these had been taken into the inn, she followed them. + +As Mr. Lodloe approached Mrs. Cristie, hat in hand, she exclaimed in a +tone which she was not in the habit of using to comparative strangers, +in which category sober reflection would certainly have placed the +gentleman: + +[Illustration: "I SUPPOSE THIS IS MRS. CRISTIE."] + +"Will you please to tell me what is the meaning of this? Who is that +girl, and where did she come from?" + +"Madam," said Lodloe, in a deprecatory tone, "I can scarcely pick up the +courage to say so, but that is the nurse-maid." + +"And you brought her to me?" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie. + +"I did," he answered. + +"Did you get her in Romney?" + +"No," said Lodloe; "there wasn't a girl of any sort or kind to be had +there. I was obliged to go to New York for one." + +"To New York!" cried the astonished Mrs. Cristie. + +"Madam," said Lodloe, "let me propose that we retire a little from the +house. Perhaps her room may be somewhere above us." + +And the two having walked a short distance over the lawn, he continued: + +"I really believe that I have done a very foolish thing, but having +promised to do you a service I greatly disliked not to keep my word. I +could find no one in Romney, and of course the only way to get you a +girl was to go to New York; and so I went there. My idea was to apply to +one of those establishments where there are always lots of maids of all +grades, and bring one to you. That was the way the matter appeared to +me, and it seemed simple enough. On the ferryboat I met Mrs. Waltham, a +lady I know very well, who is a member of the Monday Morning Club, and a +great promoter of college annexes for girls, and all that sort of thing; +and when I asked her advice about the best intelligence office, she told +me to keep away from all of them, and to go instead to a teachers' +agency, of which she gave me the address, where she said I would be +almost sure to find some teacher who wanted occupation during the +holidays." + +"A teacher!" cried Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said Lodloe; "and you may be sure that I was as much surprised as +you are. But Mrs. Waltham assured me that a great many women teachers +found it necessary to make money during the summer, and were glad to do +anything, just as college students wait at hotels. The more she talked +about it the more she got interested in it, and the matter resulted in +her going to the agency with me. Mrs. Waltham is a heavy swell in +educational circles, and as she selected this girl herself I said not a +word about it, except to hurry up matters so that the girl and I could +start on an early afternoon train." + +"Never in my life!" ejaculated Mrs. Cristie. + +"Madam," interrupted Lodloe, "I beg you not to say what you intended. It +is impossible for you to feel as badly about it as I do. Just to think +of it stuns me. Did you see her baggage? She has come to stay all +summer. There is no earthly reason to think she will suit you. I don't +suppose she ever saw a baby." + +Mrs. Cristie's mind was still filled with surprise and vexation, but she +could not help laughing at Mr. Lodloe's comical contrition. + +"I will see her presently," she said; "but in the mean time what are you +going to do? There is Mr. Petter standing in the doorway waiting for +your approach, and he will ask you a lot of questions." + +"About the Germantown family, I suppose," said Lodloe. + +"Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "that will be one of them." + +"Well, I don't know them," said Lodloe, "and that's the end of it." + +"By no means," said the lady, quickly; "Mr. Petter has on his most +impressive air. You must go and talk to him, and it will not do to sneer +at the Rockmores." + +"If it is absolutely necessary to have credentials in order to secure +quarters here," said Lodloe, "I don't see what is to be done about it." + +"Come with me," said Mrs. Cristie, quickly; "you have put yourself to a +great deal of trouble for me, and I will see what I can do for you." + +When Walter Lodloe and Mr. Petter had been formally introduced to each +other, the brow of the latter bore marks of increased trouble and +uncertainty. From the confidential aspect of the interview between Mrs. +Cristie and the young man, the landlord of the inn had begun to suspect +what his wife had suspected, and it galled his spirit to think of +putting his usual test question to this friend of Mrs. Cristie. But he +was a man of principle, and he did not flinch. + +"Are you from Philadelphia, sir," he asked, "or its vicinity?" + +"No," said Lodloe; "I am from New York." + +[Illustration: LODLOE IS INTRODUCED TO STEPHEN PETTER.] + +"A great many Philadelphia people," continued the landlord, "or those +from its vicinity, are well known in New York, and in fact move in +leading circles there. Are you acquainted, sir, with the Rockmores of +Germantown?" + +Mrs. Petter now appeared in the doorway, her face clouded. If Mrs. +Cristie had known the Rockmores she would have hastened to give Mr. +Lodloe such advantages as an acquaintance in the second degree might +afford. But she had never met any member of that family, the valuable +connection being entirely on the side of her late husband. + +"I did not know," said Lodloe, "that you required credentials of +respectability, or I might have brought a lot of letters." + +"One from Matthew Vassar?" said Mrs. Cristie, unable to resist her +opportunity. + +"Were you acquainted with Matthew Vassar?" interpolated Mrs. Petter with +energetic interest. "He was a great and good man, and his friends ought +to be good enough for anybody. Now put it to yourself, Stephen. Don't +you think that the friends of Matthew Vassar, the founder of that +celebrated college, known all over the world, a man who even after his +day and generation is doing so much good, are worthy to be accommodated +in this house?" + +Mr. Petter contracted his brows, looked upon the ground, and interlaced +his fingers in front of him. + +"The late Mr. Matthew Vassar," said he, "was truly a benefactor to his +kind, and a man worthy of all respect; but when we come to consider the +way in which the leading circles of society are made up--" + +"Don't consider it at all," cried Mrs. Petter. "If this gentleman is a +friend of Mrs. Cristie, and is backed up by Matthew Vassar, you cannot +turn him away. If you want to get round the Rockmores you can treat him +just as you treat Mr. Tippengray. Let him have the top room of the +tower, which, I am sure, is as pleasant as can be, especially in warm +weather, and then he will have his own stairs to himself, and can come +in and go out just as Mr. Tippengray does, without ever considering +whether the Squirrel Inn is open or shut. As for eating, that's a +different matter. People can eat in a place without living there. That +was all settled when we took Mr. Tippengray." + +An expression of decided relief passed over the face of Mr. Petter. + +"It is true," he said, "that in the case of Mr. Tippengray we made an +exception to our rule--" + +"That's so," interrupted Mrs. Petter; "and as I have heard that +exceptions prove a rule, the more of them we have the better. And if the +top room suits Mr. Lodloe, I'll have it made ready for him without +waiting another minute." + +Mr. Lodloe declared that any room into which the good lady might choose +to put him would suit him perfectly; and that matter was settled. + + + + +VIII + +MISS MAYBERRY + + +About five minutes after Walter Lodloe had departed for his loft chamber +Miss Ida Mayberry made her appearance in the front doorway. She had +changed her dress, and looked very bright and fresh. + +"Isn't this a pretty place?" she said, approaching Mrs. Cristie. "I +think I shall like it ever so much. And that is your baby? Is it a boy +or a girl?" + +"A boy," was the answer. + +"And his name?" + +"Douglas." + +"I like that sort of name," remarked Miss Mayberry; "it is sensible and +distinctive. And now I wish you would tell me exactly what you want me +to do." + +Mrs. Cristie spoke nervously. + +"Really," said she, "I am afraid that there has been a mistake. I want +an ordinary nurse-maid, and Mr. Lodloe could not have understood--" + +"Oh, don't trouble yourself about that," said the other. "I understand +perfectly. You will find me quite practical. What I don't know I can +learn. My mental powers need a change of channel, and if I can give them +this change, and at the same time make some money, I am sure I ought to +be satisfied." + +"But it seems to me," said Mrs. Cristie, "that one who is by profession +a teacher would scarcely--" + +"Perhaps not, years ago," interrupted the other; "but things are +different now. Look at all the young college fellows who work during +vacation, and we are beginning to do it, too. Now you will find me just +as practical as anybody. Nine months in the year I teach,--moral and +mental philosophy are my special branches,--and during vacation I am not +going to wear out my brain in a summer school, nor empty my purse by +lounging about in idleness. Now what could be better than for me to come +to a perfectly lovely place like this, which I fancy more and more every +minute, and take care of a nice little child, which, I am sure, will be +a pleasure in itself, and give me a lot of time to read besides? +However, I wish you to understand, Mrs. Cristie, that I am never going +to neglect the baby for the sake of study or reading." + +"But have you thought seriously of the position in which this would +place you?" + +"Oh, yes," was the answer; "but that is a disadvantage that has to be +accepted, and I don't mind it. Of course I wouldn't go to anybody and +everybody, but when a lady is recommended by a friend of Mrs. Waltham's, +I wouldn't hesitate to make an engagement with her. As to salary, I will +take whatever you would pay to another nurse-maid, and I beg you will +not make the slightest difference because I am a teacher. Is that bell +for supper?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "and perhaps you have not yet reflected that +my nurse-maid must take care of my baby while I am at my meals." + +"That is precisely and exactly what she is going to do. Go in to your +supper, and I will push him about until you come out again. Then you can +show me how to put him to bed." + +"Isn't she coming in?" asked Mrs. Petter, looking out of the window as +she took her seat at the table. + +"Of course not," said Mrs. Cristie, in a tone which was intended to make +an impression on Mr. Lodloe; "my maids do not eat with me." + +"But, goodnessfulme!" said Mrs. Petter, "you can't look upon that sort +of a young woman as a servant. Why, I put her in one of the best rooms; +though of course that doesn't make any difference so long as there is +nobody else to take it. I wonder if we couldn't find some sort of a girl +to take care of the baby while she comes to her meals." + +At this even Stephen Petter smiled. He was pleased that one of his +guests should have a servant of such high degree. It was like a noble +lady in waiting upon a queen. + +"She shall be entertained," he said, "according to her station. There +need be no fear about that." + +"Upon my word," exclaimed Mrs. Petter, "if here isn't Mr. Tippengray! +Well, sir, I don't know when I've seen you on hand at regular +meal-time." + +"Perhaps it is a little out of the common," said the Greek scholar; +"but, after all," he continued, looking out of the window, "it appears +I am not the last one to come in." And then, glancing around the table, +he asked, "Am I taking her place?" + +"Oh, no, sir," said Mrs. Cristie; "that is my maid." + +Mr. Tippengray again looked out of the window; then he helped himself to +butter, and said: + +"Have you ever noticed, Mrs. Petter, that the prevailing style in wild +flowers seems to vary every year? It changes just like our fashions, +though of course there are always a few old fogies among blossoming +weeds, as well as among clothes-wearers." + +The next morning Walter Lodloe came to Mrs. Cristie on the lawn. + +"I have been waiting for some time," he said, "in order to tell you that +I am ready at any moment to repair the unpardonable blunder that I made +yesterday, and to escort back to New York the very unsuitable young +woman whom I forced upon you." + +"Oh, you need not think of doing anything of that kind," said Mrs. +Cristie; "the young person is perfectly satisfied with the situation, +and intends to stay. She gives me no possible excuse to tell her that +she will not suit me, for she takes hold of things exactly as if she +remembered what people did for her when she was a baby. She doesn't know +everything, but she intends to; that is plain enough. At present she is +washing one of baby's frocks with my _savon de rose_, because she +declares that the soap they gave her in the kitchen contains enough lye +to corrode the fibers of the fabric." + +"Then you think she may suit you?" said Lodloe. + +"Oh, she will suit; she intends to suit; and I have nothing to say +except that I feel very much as I suppose you would feel if you had a +college president to brush your coat." + +"My spirits rise," said Lodloe; "I begin to believe that I have not made +so much of a blunder after all. When you can get it, there is nothing +like blooded service." + +"But you do not want too much blood," said Mrs. Cristie. "I wish she had +not studied at Bryn Mawr, for I think she pities me for having graduated +at Vassar. But still she says I must call her Ida, and that gives me +courage." + +There then followed a contention in which Lodloe was worsted about his +expenses in the nurse-maid affair, and, this matter being settled, the +young man declared that having shown what an extremely undesirable +person he was to work for others, he must go and attend to his own work. + +"What sort of work do you do?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"I write," he answered--"novels, stories, fiction in general." + +"I know that," said she, "having read your Vassar article; but I do not +think I have met with any of your avowed stories." + +"Madam," said Walter Lodloe, "there are so many people in this world, +and so few of them have read my stories, it is no wonder that you belong +to the larger class. But, satirize my Vassar article as you please, I +shall never cease to be grateful to it for my tower room in the Squirrel +Inn." + + + + +IX + +THE PRESERVATION OF LITERATURE + + +Walter Lodloe set out to go to his work, and on his way to the little +garden at the foot of the staircase which led to his room in the tower +he saw the Greek scholar sitting on a bench outside his summer-house +smoking a large cigar. + +"Good morning, sir," said Mr. Tippengray; "do you smoke?" + +The tone of these words implied not only a question but an invitation, +in case the young man did smoke, to sit down on that bench and do it. +Lodloe understood the force of the remark, and, drawing out a cigar, +took a seat by Mr. Tippengray. + +"Before I go to my work," said the latter, "it is my habit to sit here +and enjoy the scenery and a few puffs. I suppose when you come to a +place like this you throw work to the winds." + +"Oh, no!" said Lodloe; "I am a literary man, and I came here to write." + +"Very glad to hear it," said the other; "very glad that that tower room +is to have the right sort of occupant. If I had not this summer-house, I +should want that room; but I am afraid, however, if I had it, I should +look out of the window a great deal and translate a very little." + +"What do you translate?" asked Lodloe, with interest. + +"At present," said Mr. Tippengray, "I am engaged in translating into +Greek some of the standard works of our modern literature. There is no +knowing what may happen to our modern languages. In the course of a few +centuries they may become as useless to the readers of that day as the +English of Chaucer is to the ordinary reader of our time; but Greek will +stand, sir, and the sooner we get the good things of the present day +into solid Greek the better it will be for them and the literature of +the future." + +"What work are you translating?" asked Lodloe. + +"I am now at work on the 'Pickwick Papers,'" said the scholar, "and I +assure you that it is not an easy job. When I get through with it I +shall translate it back into English, after the fashion of Sir William +Jones--the only way to do that sort of thing. Same as a telegraphic +message--if it isn't repeated, you can't depend on it. If I then find +that my English is like that of Dickens, I shall feel greatly +encouraged, and probably shall take up the works of Thackeray." + +Walter Lodloe was somewhat stunned at this announcement, and he +involuntarily glanced at the gray streaks in the locks of the Greek +scholar. The latter perceived the glance, and, knocking the ashes from +his cigar, remarked: + +"Did you ever notice, sir, that an ordinary robin is perfectly aware +that while squirrels and cats are able to ascend the perpendicular +trunk of a tree, they cannot climb the painted pillar of a piazza; and +consequently it is perfectly safe to build a nest at the top of such a +pillar?" + +Lodloe had noticed this, and a good many other intelligent traits of +animals, and the two conversed on this interesting subject until the sun +came round to the bench on which they were sitting, when they moved to a +shady spot and continued the conversation. + +At last Lodloe arose. "It must be nearly dinnertime," said he. "I think +I shall take a walk this afternoon, and see some of the country." + +"You ought to do it," said Mr. Tippengray. "It is a beautiful country. +If you like I will go with you. I'm not a bad guide; I know every road, +path, and short cut." + +Walter Lodloe expressed his satisfaction at the proposed companionship, +and suggested that the first walk be to the village of Lethbury, peeping +up among the trees in the distance. + +"Lethbury!" exclaimed the Greek scholar. "Well, sir, if it's all the +same to you, I prefer walking in any direction to that of Lethbury. It's +a good enough place, but to-day I don't feel drawn to it." + +"Very good," said Lodloe; "we will walk anywhere but in the direction of +Lethbury." + +About half an hour afterward, Mrs. Petter, having finished carving a +pair of fowls, paused for a moment's rest in serving the little company, +and looked out of the dining-room window. + +"Upon my word!" she exclaimed, "this is too bad. When other boarders +came, I thought Mr. Tippengray would begin to behave like other +Christians, and come to his meals at the proper time. At supper last +night and breakfast this morning he was at the table as soon as anybody, +and I was beginning to feel real heartened up, as if things were going +to run on regular and proper. But now look at that? Isn't that enough to +make a housekeeper give up in despair?" + +Mrs. Cristie, Lodloe, and Mr. Petter all looked out of the window, and +beheld the Greek scholar engaged in pushing the baby carriage backward +and forward under the shade of a large tree; while, on a seat near by, +the maid Ida sat reading a book. Now passing nearer, Mr. Tippengray +stopped, and with sparkling eyes spoke to her. Then she looked up, and +with sparkling eyes answered him. Then together, with sparkling eyes, +they conversed for a few minutes, evidently about the book. After a few +more turns of the carriage Mr. Tippengray returned to the maid; the +sparkling eyes were raised again from the book, and the scene was +repeated. + +"He has lent her a book," said Mrs. Cristie. "She did not take that one +out with her." + +"There's a time for books, and there's a time for meals," said Mrs. +Petter. "Why didn't he keep his book until he had eaten his dinner?" + +"I think Mr. Tippengray must be something of a philosopher," said +Lodloe, "and that he prefers to take his books to a pretty maid when +other people are at dinner." + +"My wife does not altogether understand the ways of scholars," said Mr. +Petter. "A gentleman giving most of his time to Greek cannot be expected +to give much of his mind to the passage of modern times." + +[Illustration: "PASSING NEARER, MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED."] + +"If he gives some of his time to the passage of a good dinner into cold +victuals it would help his dyspepsia. But I suppose he will come when he +is ready, and all I have to say is that I would like to see Calthea Rose +if she could catch sight of them this minute." + +Mr. Petter sat at the end of the table where he had a view of his flocks +and his herds in the pasture below. + +"Well," said he, "if that estimable young woman wants to catch a sight +of them, all she has to do is to step along lively, for at this present +moment she is walking over the field-path straight to this house, and +what is more, she is wearing her bonnet and carrying a parasol." + +"Bonnet and parasol!" ejaculated Mrs. Petter. "Fire in the mountains, +run, boys, run! Debby, step out as quick as you can to Mr. Tippengray, +and you needn't say anything but just ask if Miss Calthea Rose told him +she was coming to dinner to-day, and tell him she's coming over the +field." + +In about one minute the Greek scholar was in his place at the table and +beginning his meal. + +"Now, Mr. Tippengray," said Mrs. Petter, "I don't suppose you feel any +coals of fire on your head at this present moment." + +"Madame," said the scholar, "did you ever notice that when squirrels +strip the bark from the limbs of trees they are very apt to despoil +those branches which project in such a manner as to interfere with a +view?" + +"No, I didn't," said Mrs. Petter; "and I don't believe they do it, +either. Debby, put a knife, fork, and napkin for Calthea Rose. If she is +coming to dinner it is just as well to let her think that nobody forgot +to bring the message she sent. She never comes to meals without sending +word beforehand." + +But Miss Calthea had not come to dinner. She sent word by Debby, who met +her at the front door, that she had had her dinner, and that she would +wait for the family on the piazza. + +"Bonnet and parasol," said Mrs. Petter. "She has come to make a call, +and it's on you, Mrs. Cristie. Don't eat too fast, Mr. Tippengray; she's +good for the rest of the afternoon." + + + + +X + +ROSE VERSUS MAYBERRY + + +Miss Calthea Rose was a person of good height, originally slender, but +gathering an appreciable plumpness as the years went on, and with good +taste in dress when she chose to exert it, which on the present occasion +she did. She possessed acute perceptions and a decided method of action. +But whether or not the relation of her perceptions to her actions was +always influenced by good judgment was a question with her neighbors. It +never was, however, a question with herself. + +When everybody but Mr. Tippengray had finished dinner, and he had +desired the others not to wait for him as he would probably be occupied +some time longer, the host and hostess went out to greet the visitor, +followed by Mrs. Cristie and Lodloe. When Miss Calthea Rose turned to +greet the latter lady her expression was cold, not to say hard; but when +her eyes fell upon the gentleman by the side of the young widow, a +softening warmth spread over her face, and she came forward with +outstretched hands. + +"Did you see that?" said Mrs. Petter, aside to her husband. "Jealous as +she can be of Mrs. Cristie till she sees that she's got a young man of +her own; then as sweet as sugar." + +When Miss Calthea Rose set about to be as sweet as sugar, it was very +good sugar that she took for her model. She liked to talk, but was not a +mistress of words, and although her remarks were not always to the +point, they were generally pointed. At last Mr. Tippengray came out on +the piazza. He walked slowly, and he did not wear his usual ease of +demeanor; but nothing could have been more cordial and reassuring than +the greeting given him by Miss Calthea. If this were intended in any way +to inspirit him, it failed of its effect. The Greek scholar stood apart, +and did not look like a man who had made up his mind as to what he was +going to do next; but Miss Calthea took no notice of his unusual +demeanor. She talked with great graciousness to the company in general, +and frequently directed remarks to Mr. Tippengray which indicated a high +degree of good comradeship. + +Under this general warmth Mr. Tippengray was forced to melt a little, +and in a manner to accept the position thus publicly tendered him; but +suddenly the maid Ida popped up the steps of the piazza. She had an open +book in her hand, and she went directly and quickly to Mr. Tippengray. +She held the book up towards him, and put her finger on a page. + +"You were just here," she said, "when you had to go to your dinner. Now +if you will finish the explanation I can go on nicely. You don't know +how you help me. Every word you say seems to take root"; and she looked +up into his face with sparkling eyes. + +But not a sparkle sparkled from the eyes of the Greek scholar. He stood +silently looking at the book, his face a little flushed, his eyes +blinking as if the sunlight were too strong for him. + +"Suppose you walk out on the lawn with me," said the nurse-maid, "and +then we shall not disturb the others. I will not keep you more than five +minutes." + +She went down the steps of the piazza, and Mr. Tippengray, having +apparently lost the power of making up his mind what he should do, did +what she wanted him to do, and followed her. They did not walk very far, +but stood barely out of hearing of the persons on the piazza; her eyes +sparkling up into his face, as his helpful words took root in her +understanding. + +At the instant of the appearance of the maid Ida Miss Calthea Rose +stopped talking. Her subsequent glances towards this young woman and Mr. +Tippengray might have made one think of steel chilled to zero. Mrs. +Cristie looked at Lodloe, and he at her, and both slightly smiled. "She +understands that sort of thing," he thought, and "He understands that +sort of thing," she thought. + +At this moment Mrs. Petter glanced at her two guests and saw the smile +which passed between them. She understood that sort of thing. + +"Who is that?" said Miss Calthea Rose, presently. + +Mrs. Cristie, full of the humor of the situation, hastened to answer. + +"It is my nurse-maid," she said, "Ida Mayberry." + +"A child's nurse!" ejaculated Miss Calthea Rose. + +"Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "that is what she is." + +"I expect," said Mrs. Petter, "that he is teaching her Greek, and of +course it's hard for her at the beginning. Mr. Tippengray's such a kind +man that he would do anything for anybody, so far as he could; but I +must admit that I can't see how Greek can help anybody to nurse +children, unless there is some book on the subject in that language." + +"Greek!" scornfully ejaculated Miss Calthea, and, turning her steely +glance from the couple on the lawn, she began to talk to Mr. Petter +about one of his cows which had broken its leg. + +Ida Mayberry was a young woman who meant what she said, and in less than +five minutes, with a sparkling glance of thanks, she released Mr. +Tippengray. That gentleman returned to the piazza, but his appearance +elicited no more attention from the lady who had so recently brought +into view their friendly relationship than if he had been the head of a +nail in the floor beneath her. From Mr. Petter she turned to speak to +some of the others, and if her words and manner did not make Mr. +Tippengray understand that, so far as she was concerned, he had ceased +to exist, her success was not what she expected it to be. + +Although he had been amused and interested, Walter Lodloe now thought +that he had had enough of Miss Calthea Rose, and wandered away to the +little garden at the foot of his staircase. He had not reached it before +he was joined by Mr. Tippengray. + +"Look here," said the latter, with something of his usual briskness; +"if you are still in the humor, suppose we walk over to Lethbury." + +Lodloe looked at him in surprise. "I thought you didn't want to go +there," he said. + +"I've changed my mind," replied the other. "I think this is a very good +day to go to Lethbury. It is a pretty village, and you ought to have +some one with you to show you its best points." + +As soon as she thought etiquette would permit, Mrs. Cristie withdrew, +pleading the interests of her baby as an excuse. + +"Do you mean to tell me," said Miss Calthea Rose, the moment the young +mother was out of hearing, "that she leaves her baby in the care of that +thing with a book?" + +"Oh, yes," was the answer; "Mrs. Cristie tells me she is a very good +nurse-maid." + +"Well," said Miss Calthea, "babies are troublesome, and it's often +convenient to get rid of them, but I must say that I never heard of this +new style of infanticide. I suppose there isn't any law against it yet." + +Mr. Petter looked uneasy. He did not like fault found with Mrs. Cristie, +who was a great favorite with him. + +"I am inclined to think, Miss Calthea," he said, "that you judge that +young person too harshly. I have formed a very good opinion of her. Not +only does she attend to her duties, but she has a good mind. It may not +be a fine mind, but it is a good mind. Her desire to learn from Mr. +Tippengray is a great point in her favor." + +Here Mrs. Petter, who sat near her husband, pressed violently upon his +foot; but she was too late, the words had been said. Mrs. Petter +prepared herself for a blaze, but none came. There was a momentary flash +in the Calthean eyes, and then the lids came down and shut out +everything but a line of steely light. Then she gazed out over the +landscape, and presently again turned her face towards her companions, +with nothing more upon it than her usual expression when in a bad humor. + +"Do you know," she said abruptly, "that Lanigan Beam is coming back?" + +"Goodness gracious!" exclaimed Mrs. Petter, "I thought he was settled in +Patagonia." + +"It was not Patagonia," said Mr. Petter; "it was Nicaragua." + +"Well, I knew it was the little end of some place," said she; "and now +he's coming back. Well, that is unfortunate." + +"Unfortunate!" said Miss Calthea; "it's criminal. There ought to be a +law against such things." + +Again the host of the Squirrel Inn moved uneasily on his chair and +crossed and recrossed his legs. He liked Lanigan Beam. + +"I cannot see," he said, "why it is wrong for a man to return to the +place where he was born." + +"Born!" scornfully exclaimed Miss Calthea; "it's the greatest pity that +there is any place where he was born; but there's no use talking about +him. He has written to them at the hotel at Lethbury that he will be +there the day after to-morrow, and he wants them to have a room ready +for him. If he'd asked them to have a grave ready for him it would have +been much more considerate." + +Mr. Petter now rose to his feet; his manner was very dignified. + +"Excuse me, Miss Calthea," he said, "but I must go and look after my men +in the cornfield." + +Miss Calthea Rose sat up very straight in her chair. + +"If there's anything you want to do, Mrs. Petter, I beg you won't let me +keep you." + +"Now, Calthea," said Mrs. Petter, "don't work yourself into such a +terrible stew. You know Stephen doesn't like to have Lanigan pitched +into; I'm sorry for even what I said. But that about his grave was +enough to rouse a saint." + +Miss Calthea was on the point of retorting that that was something which +Stephen Petter was not, by any means, but she restrained herself. If she +quarreled with the Petters, and cut herself off from visiting the +Squirrel Inn, a great part of the pleasure of her life would be gone. + +"Well," she said, "we all know Lanigan Beam, and if there's anybody who +wants the peace of the community to vanish entirely out of sight, the +responsibility's on him, and not on me." + +"Mrs. Petter," said Ida Mayberry, appearing so suddenly before that good +woman that she seemed to have dropped through the roof of the piazza, +"do you know where Mr. Tippengray is? I've been looking all over for +him, and can't find him. He isn't in his little house, for I knocked at +the door." + +"Does Mrs. Cristie want him?" asked Mrs. Petter, making this wild grasp +at a straw. + +"Oh, no," said Ida. "It is I who want him. There's a Greek sentence in +this book he lent me which I am sure I have not translated properly; and +as the baby is asleep now, there couldn't be a better time for him to +help me, if only I could find him." + +Self-restraint was no longer possible with Miss Calthea Rose. A red +blaze shot into her face, and without deigning to look in the direction +of the creature who had just spoken, she said in the sharpest tones of +contemptuous anger: + +"Greek to a child's nurse! I expect next he'll teach French to the +pigs." + +The maid Ida lifted up her eyes from the book and fixed them on Miss +Calthea. + +"The best thing he could do," she quietly remarked, "would be to teach +the old hens good manners"; and then she walked away with her book. + +Miss Calthea sprang to her feet, and looked as if she was going to do +something; but there was nothing to do, and she sat down again. Her brow +was dark, her eyes flashed, and her lips were parted, as if she was +about to say something; but there was nothing to say, and she sat +silent, breathing hard. It was bad enough to be as jealous as Miss +Calthea was at that moment, but to be so flagrantly insulted by the +object of her jealousy created in her a rage that could not be expressed +in words. It was fortunate that she did not look at Mrs. Petter, for +that good lady was doing her best to keep from laughing. + +"Well!" she exclaimed, as soon as she could speak composedly, "this is +too much. I think I must speak to Mrs. Cristie about this. Of course she +can't prevent the young woman from answering back, but I think I can +make her see that it isn't seemly and becoming for nurse-maids to be +associating with boarders in this way." + +[Illustration: "TEACH THE OLD HENS GOOD MANNERS."] + +"If you take my advice, Susan Petter," said Miss Calthea, in a voice +thickened by her emotions, "you will keep your mouth shut on that +subject. If your boarders choose to associate with servants, let them +alone. It simply shows what sort of people they are." + +Calthea Rose did not like to hear herself speak in a voice which might +show how she was feeling, and as there was no use of staying there if +she could not talk, she rose to leave, and, in spite of Mrs. Petter's +hospitable entreaty to make a longer stay, she departed. + +When her visitor was well out of sight, Mrs. Petter allowed herself to +lean back in her chair and laugh quietly. + +"Leave them alone indeed," she said to herself. "You may want me to do +it, but I know well enough that you are not going to leave them alone, +Miss Calthea Rose, and I can't say that I wonder at your state of mind, +for it seems to me that this is your last chance. If you don't get Mr. +Tippengray, I can't see where you are going to find another man properly +older than you are." + + + + +XI + +LANIGAN BEAM + + +That evening about eleven o'clock Walter Lodloe was sitting in his room +in the tower, his feet upon the sill of the large window which looked +out over the valley. He had come up to his room an hour or two before, +determined not to allow the whole day to pass without his having done +any work; and now, having written several pages of the story on which he +was engaged, he was enjoying the approbation of his conscience, the +flavor of a good cigar, and the beautiful moonlighted scene which he +beheld from his window. + +More than this, he was thinking over the events of the day with a good +deal of interest and amusement, particularly of his afternoon walk with +Mr. Tippengray. He had taken a great fancy to that gentleman, who, +without making any direct confidences, had given him a very fair idea of +his relations with Calthea Rose. It was plain enough that he liked that +very estimable person, and that he had passed many pleasant hours in her +society, but that he did not at all agree with what he called her +bigoted notions in regard to proprietorship in fellow-beings. + +On the other hand, Lodloe was greatly delighted with Miss Calthea's +manner of showing her state of mind. Quite unexpectedly they had met her +in Lethbury,--to which village Mr. Tippengray had not thought she would +return so soon,--and Lodloe almost laughed as he called to mind the +beaming and even genial recognition that she gave to him, and which, at +the same time, included effacement and extinction of his companion to +the extent of being an admirable piece of dramatic art. The effect upon +Lodloe had been such, that when the lady had passed he involuntarily +turned to see if the Greek scholar had not slipped away just before the +moment of meeting. + +"When a woman tries so hard to show how little she thinks of a man," +thought Lodloe, "it is a proof that she thinks a great deal of him, and +I shall not be surprised--" Just then there came a tap at the window +opposite the one at which he was sitting. + +Now when a man in the upper room of a fairly tall tower, access to which +is gained by a covered staircase the door at the bottom of which he +knows he has locked, hears a tap at the window, he is likely to be +startled. Lodloe was so startled that his chair nearly tipped over +backward. Turning quickly, he saw a man's head and shoulders at the +opposite window, the sash of which was raised. With an exclamation, +Lodloe sprang to his feet. His lamp had been turned down in order that +he might better enjoy the moonlight, but he could plainly see the man at +the window, who now spoke: + +"Hold hard," said he; "don't get excited. There's nothing out of the +way. My name is Beam--Lanigan Beam. I tapped because I thought if I +spoke first you might jump out of the window, being turned in that +direction. May I come in?" + +[Illustration: "DON'T GET EXCITED."] + +Lodloe made no answer; his mind did not comprehend the situation; he +went to the window and looked out. The man was standing on the sharp +ridge of a roof which stretched from the tower to the rear portion of +the building. By reaching upward he was able to look into the window. + +"Give me a hand," said the man, "and we'll consider matters inside. This +is a mighty ticklish place to stand on." + +Lodloe had heard a good deal that evening about Lanigan Beam, and +although he was amazed at the appearance of that individual at this time +and place, he was ready and willing to make his acquaintance. Bracing +himself against the window-frame, he reached out his hand, and in a few +moments Mr. Beam had scrambled into the room. Lodloe turned up the wick +of his lamp, and by the bright light he looked at his visitor. + +He saw a man rather long as to legs, and thin as to face, and dressed in +an easy-fitting suit of summer clothes. + +"Take a seat," said Lodloe, "and tell me to what I owe this call." + +"To your lamp," said the other, taking a chair; "it wasn't burning very +brightly, but still it was a light, and the only one about. I was on my +way to Lethbury, but I couldn't get any sort of conveyance at Romney, so +I footed it, thinking I would like a moonlight walk. But by the time I +got to the squirrel on the post I thought I would turn in here and stay +with Stephen Petter for the night; but the house was all shut up and +dark except this room, and as I knew that if I woke Stephen out of a +sound sleep he'd bang me over the head with his everlasting Rockmores of +Germantown, I determined to take a night's lodging without saying a word +to him about it. + +"There's a room back here that you can only get into by a ladder put up +on the outside. I knew all about it, so I went to the ice-house and got +a ladder and climbed into the room. I put my valise under my head, and +prepared to take a good sleep on the floor, but in three minutes I found +the place was full of wasps. I couldn't stay there, you know, and I was +just getting ready to go down the ladder again when I happened to look +out of a window that opened on the roof, and saw you in here. I could +see only the back of your head, but although it was pretty well lighted, +I couldn't judge very well by that what sort of a person you were. But I +saw you were smoking, and it struck me that a man who smokes is +generally a pretty good fellow, and so I came over." + +"Glad to see you," said Lodloe; "and what can I do for you?" + +"Well, in the first place," said Beam, "have you any liquid ammonia? The +first notice I had of the wasps in that room was this sting on my +finger." + +Lodloe was sorry that he did not possess anything of the kind. + +"If I'm not mistaken," said the visitor, "there is a bottle of it on the +top shelf of that closet. I have frequently occupied this room, and I +remember putting some there myself. May I look for it?" + +Permission being given, Mr. Beam speedily found the bottle, and assuaged +the pains of his sting. + +"Now then," said he, resuming his seat, "the next favor I'll ask will be +to allow me to fill my pipe, and put to you a few questions as to the +way the land lies about here at present. I've been away for a year and a +half, and don't know what's going on, or who's dead or alive. By the +way, have you happened to hear anybody speak of me?" + +"I should think so," said Lodloe, laughing. "The greater part of this +evening was occupied in a discussion on your life, adventures, moral +character, disposition, and mental bias. There may have been some other +points touched upon, but I don't recall them just now." + +"Upon my word," said Lanigan Beam, putting his arms on the table, and +leaning forward, "this is interesting. Who discussed me?" + +[Illustration: "HAVE YOU HAPPENED TO HEAR ANYBODY SPEAK OF ME?"] + +"Mr. and Mrs. Petter had the most to say," answered Lodloe. + +"I'm glad to hear they're alive," interpolated the other. + +"And Mrs. Cristie, who knew you when her husband was alive." + +"Dead, is he?" said Beam. "Very sorry to hear that. A mighty pretty +woman is Mrs. Cristie." + +"Miss Calthea Rose was not present," continued Lodloe, "but her opinions +were quoted very freely by the others, and sometimes combated." + +"Calthea alive, is she?" ejaculated Beam. "Well, well, I ought to be +glad to hear it, and I suppose I am. Anybody else?" + +"Yes; there was Mr. Tippengray, one of the guests at the inn. There are +only three of us in all. He had heard a great deal about you from Miss +Rose. She seems to have been very communicative to him." + +"Chums, are they?" cried Lanigan Beam. "Well, bless his soul, I say, +whatever sort of man he is. Now what did they say about me?" + +"It's my opinion," answered Lodloe, smiling, "that it is a very unsafe +thing to tell a man what other people say about him." + +Lanigan sprang to his feet, and stood, pipe in hand, before the other. +"Now, sir," said he, "I have not heard your name yet--Lodloe; thank you. +Now, Mr. Lodloe, I have before me the greatest chance of my life. It +almost never happens that a man has an opportunity of hearing a +straightforward account of what people say about him. Now if you want to +do the biggest kind of favor to a fellow-being, just tell me what you +heard of me to-night. You are a perfect stranger to me, and you can +speak out plainly about it without having the least feeling one way or +the other." + +Lodloe looked at him. + +"Here's a chance," he said to himself, "that seldom comes to a man; an +opportunity to tell a man exactly what his friends and neighbors think +about him. It's a rare experience, and I like it. I'll do it." + +"Very good," said he, aloud; "if you want to see yourself as others see +you, I'll turn on the lights and act as showman; but remember I have +nothing to do with the painting. I have no prejudices one way or the +other." + +"All right," said Lanigan, reseating himself; "let the panorama move." + +"About the first thing I was told," said Lodloe, "was that you were a +good-hearted fellow, but the fact that your father was an Irishman had +deprived your character of ballast." + +"Umph," said Lanigan; "there are some people who are all ballast. I +don't mind that." + +"And then I heard that, although you were a wild and irresponsible +youth, people generally expected that as you grew older you would +gradually accumulate ballast; but instead of that you had steadily gone +downhill from the moment of your birth." + +"Now, then," said Lanigan, "I suppose I have no right to ask you, but I +would like very much to know who said that." + +"I don't object in the least to telling you," said Lodloe; "it is fitter +that you should know it than that I should know it. That was a quoted +opinion of Miss Calthea Rose." + +"Good for you," said Lanigan; "you'd be death to the members of a +scandal-monger society. You would break up the business utterly." + +"To this Mr. Petter remarked," said Lodloe, "that he thought in many +ways you had improved very much, but he was obliged to admit that he +could never think of anything that you had done which was of the least +benefit to yourself or anybody else." + +"Upon my word," cried Lanigan, "that's a pretty wide sweep for old +Petter. I shall have to rub up his memory. He forgets that I helped him +to make the plans for this house. And what did Mrs. Cristie say about +me?" + +"She said she thought it was a great pity that you did not apply +yourself to something or other." + +"She is right there," said Beam, "and, by George! I'll apply myself to +her. However, I don't know about that," he continued. "What else did +Calthea say?" + +"One remark was that having proved false to every friend you had here +you had no right to return." + +"That means," said Mr. Beam, "that having promised at least five times +to marry her, I never did it once." + +"Were you really engaged to her?" asked Lodloe. + +"Oh, yes," said the other; "it seems to me as if I had always been +engaged to her. Born that way. Sort of an ailment you get used to, like +squinting. When I was a youngster, Calthea was a mighty pretty girl, a +good deal my senior, of course, or I wouldn't have cared for her. As +she grew older she grew prettier, and I was more and more in love with +her. We used to have quarrels, but they didn't make much difference, for +after every one of them we engaged ourselves again, and all went on as +before. But the time came when Calthea kept on being older than I was, +and didn't keep on being pretty and agreeable. Then I began to weaken +about the marriage altar and all that sort of thing, but for all that I +would have been perfectly willing to stay engaged to her for the rest of +my life if she had wished it, but one day she got jealous, kicked up a +tremendous row, and away I went." + +"Well," said Lodloe, "she must have considered that the best thing you +could do for her, for Mrs. Petter said that she had heard her declare +dozens of times that from her very youth you had hung like a millstone +about her neck, and blighted her every prospect, and that your return +here was like one of the seven plagues of Egypt." + +"Mixed, but severe," said Mr. Beam. "Did anybody say any good of me?" + +"Yes," answered Lodloe; "Mrs. Cristie said you were an obliging fellow, +although very apt to forget what you had promised to do. Mr. Petter said +that you had a very friendly disposition, although he was obliged to +admit the truth of his wife's remark that said disposition would have +been more agreeable to your friends, if you had been as willing to do +things for them as you were to have them do things for you. And Mrs. +Petter on her own motion summed up your character by saying, that if you +had not been so regardless of the welfare and wishes of others; so +totally given up to self-gratification; so ignorant of all kinds of +business, and so unwilling to learn; so extravagant in your habits, and +so utterly conscienceless in regard to your debts; so neglectful of your +promises and your duty; so heretical in your opinions, political and +religious, and such a dreadful backslider from everything that you had +promised to be when a baby, you would be a very nice sort of fellow, +whom she would like to see come into the house." + +"Well," said Lanigan Beam, leaning back in his chair, "that's all of my +bright side, is it?" + +"Not quite," said Lodloe; "Mr. Tippengray declared that you are the +first man he ever heard of who did not possess a single good point; that +you must be very interesting, and that he would like to know you." + +"Noble Tippengray!" said Mr. Beam. "And he's the man who is chumming it +with Calthea?" + +"Not at present," said Lodloe; "she is jealous, and doesn't speak to +him." + +Mr. Beam let his head drop on his breast, his arms hung down by his +side, and he sank into his chair, as if his spine had come unhinged. + +"There goes the last prop from under me," he said. "If Calthea had a man +in tow I wouldn't be afraid of her, but now--well, no matter. If you +will let me take that bottle of ammonia with me,--I suppose by rights it +now belongs to the house,--I'll go back to that room and fight it out +with the wasps. As I haven't any good points, they'll be able to put +some into me, I'll wager." + +Lodloe laughed. "You shall not go there," he said; "I have more +bed-covering than I want, and an extra pillow, and if you can make +yourself comfortable on that lounge you are welcome to stay here." + +"Sir," said Lanigan Beam, rising, "I accept your offer, and if it were +not that by so doing I would destroy the rare symmetry of my character, +I would express my gratitude. And now I will go down your stairs, and up +my ladder, and get my valise." + + + + +XII + +LANIGAN CHANGES HIS CRAVAT + + +Early the next morning, without disturbing the sleep of Walter Lodloe, +Lanigan Beam descended from the tower, carrying his valise. His face +wore that air of gravity which sometimes follows an early morning hour +of earnest reflection, and he had substituted a black cravat for the +blue one with white spots that he had worn on his arrival. + +Walking out towards the barn he met Mr. Petter, who was one of the +earliest risers on the place. + +The greeting given him by the landlord of the Squirrel Inn was a mixture +of surprise, cordiality, and annoyance. + +"Lanigan Beam!" he exclaimed. "Why, I thought--" + +"Of course you did; I understand," said the other, extending his hand +with a dignified superiority to momentary excitement in others. "You +thought I would arrive at Lethbury in a day or two, and had no idea of +seeing me here. You have reason, but I have changed my plans. I left New +York earlier than I intended, and I am not going to Lethbury at all. At +least not to the hotel there. I greatly prefer this house." + +A shade of decided trouble came over Mr. Petter's face. + +"Now, Lanigan," he said, "that will not do at all; of course I don't +want to be hard on you, and I never was, but my season is commenced, I +have my guests, my rules are in full force, and I cannot permit you to +come here and disarrange my arrangements. If for once, Lanigan, you will +take the trouble to think, you will see that for yourself." + +"Mr. Petter," said the younger man, setting his valise upon the ground, +"I have no desire to disarrange them; on the contrary, I would stamp +them with fixity. And before we go any further I beg that you be kind +enough not to call me by my Christian name, and to endeavor to produce +in yourself the conviction that since you last saw me I have been +entirely rearranged and reconstructed. In order to do this, you have +only to think of me as you used to think, and then exactly reverse your +opinion. In this way you will get a true view of my present character. +It does not suit me to do things partially, or by degrees, and I am now +exactly the opposite of what I used to be. By keeping this in mind any +one who knew me before may consider himself or herself perfectly +acquainted with me now." + +Stephen Petter looked at him doubtfully. + +"Of course," he said, "I shall be very glad--and so will Mrs. Petter--to +find that you have reformed, but as to your coming here--" + +"Now, then," said Mr. Beam, "I know you are not the man to allow +trifles to stand in the way of important movements. I am here for a +purpose, a great purpose, with which you will be in entire sympathy. I +will say at once, frankly and openly, that my object is the improvement +of Lethbury. I have a project which--" + +[Illustration: "I AM HERE FOR A PURPOSE."] + +"Now, now, now!" exclaimed Mr. Petter, with much irritation, "I don't +want to hear anything more of any of your projects; I know all about +them. They all begin with a demand for money from your friends, and +that is the end of the project and the money." + +"Stephen Petter," said the other, "you are not looking at my character +as I told you to look at it. Every cent of the capital required for my +operations I will contribute myself. No one will be allowed to subscribe +any money whatever. This, you see, is exactly the opposite of what used +to be the case; and when I tell you that the success of my plan will +improve the business of Lethbury, elevate its moral and intellectual +standard, exercise an ennobling and purifying influence upon the tone of +its society, and give an almost incredible impetus to faith, hope, and +charity in its moral atmosphere,--and all that without anybody's being +asked to give a copper,--I know you will agree with me that a mere +matter of residence should not be allowed to block this great work." + +Since he had been assured that he was not to be asked to contribute +money, Mr. Petter's face had shown relief and interest; but now he shook +his head. + +"This is my season," he said, "and I have my rules." + +Lanigan Beam laid his hand upon the shoulder of his companion. + +"Petter," said he, "I don't ask you to infract your rules. That would be +against my every principle. I do not know the Rockmores of Germantown, +but if it were necessary I would immediately go and find them, and make +their acquaintance--I should have no difficulty in doing it, I assure +you, but it is not necessary. I staid last night with Mr. Lodloe, who +occupies the top room of your tower. Don't jump out of your boots. I +went to him because there was a light in his room and the rest of the +house was dark, and he explained to me the Rockmorial reason why he +occupies that room while the rest of your house is nearly empty. Now you +can do the same thing for me. Let me have that upper room with no +stairway to it; give me the use of a ladder, and I shall be perfectly +satisfied." + +"But the room's not furnished," said Mr. Petter. + +"Oh, we can easily get over that little difficulty," replied Mr. Beam; +"whatever furniture may be needed can easily be put in through the +window. If there are any wasps up there I can fumigate them out. Now we +call that settled, don't we? None of your rules broken, Lethbury +regenerated, and nothing for you to do but look on and profit." + +Mr. Petter gazed reflectively upon the ground. + +"There can be no doubt," said he, "that Lethbury is in a stagnant +condition, and if that condition could be improved, it would be for the +benefit of us all; and considering, furthermore, that if your +project--which you have not yet explained to me--should be unsuccessful, +no one but yourself will lose any money, I see no reason why I should +interfere with your showing the people of this neighborhood that your +character has been reconstructed. But if you should lodge in that room, +it would make a very odd condition of things. I should then have but +three male guests, and not one of them literally living in my house." + +"Ah, my good friend Petter," said Lanigan, taking up his valise, "you +should know there is luck in odd conditions, as well as in odd numbers, +and everything will turn out right, you may bet on that. Hello," he +continued, stepping back a little, "who is that very pretty girl with a +book in her hand? That cannot be Mrs. Cristie." + +"Oh, no," said Mr. Petter, "that is her maid, who takes care of her +child. I think the young woman has come out to study before beginning +her daily duties." + +"Upon my word," said Lanigan Beam, attentively regarding Miss Ida +Mayberry as she daintily made her way across the dewy lawn to a rustic +seat under a tree. And then, suddenly turning to Mr. Petter, he said: + +"Look you, my good Stephen, can't you let me go in somewhere and furbish +myself up a little before breakfast?" + +And having been shown into a room on the ground floor, Mr. Beam +immediately proceeded to take off his black cravat and to replace it by +the blue one with white spots. + +[Illustration] + + + + +XIII + +DECREES OF EXILE + + +Towards the end of the afternoon of the day after Mr. Lanigan Beam had +been installed as an outside guest of the Squirrel Inn, Miss Calthea +Rose sat by the window at the back of her shop. This shop was a small +one, but it differed from most other places of business in that it +contained very few goods and was often locked up. When there is reason +to suppose that if you go to a shop you will not be able to get in, and +that, should it be open, you will not be apt to find therein anything +you want, it is not likely that such a shop will have a very good run of +custom. + +This was the case with Miss Calthea's establishment. It had become rare +for any one even to propose custom, but she did not in the least waver +in regard to her plan of closing up the business left to her by her +father. As has been said, she did not wish to continue this business, so +she laid in no new stock, and as she had gradually sold off a great +deal, she expected to be able in time to sell off everything. She did +not adopt the usual methods of clearing out a stock of goods, because +these would involve sacrifices, and, as Miss Calthea very freely said +to those who spoke to her on the subject, there was no need whatever for +her to make sacrifices. She was good at waiting, and she could wait. +When she sold the few things which remained on the shelves--and she, as +well as nearly every one in the village, knew exactly what these things +were without the trouble of looking--she would retire from business, and +have the shop altered into a front parlor. Until then the articles which +remained on hand were for sale. + +Miss Calthea was busily sewing, but she was much more busily engaged in +thinking. So earnestly was her mind set upon the latter occupation that +she never raised her head to look out at the special varieties of +hollyhocks, dahlias, and marigolds which had lately begun to show their +beauties in the beds beneath her window, nor did she glance towards the +door to see if any one was coming in. She had much more important things +to think about than flowers or customers. + +Mrs. Petter had driven over to Lethbury that morning, and had told +Calthea all the news of the Squirrel Inn. She had told her of the +unexpected arrival of Lanigan Beam; of his unwillingness to go to +Lethbury, as he had originally intended, and of the quarters that had +been assigned to him in the ladder-room. She also told how Lanigan, who +now wished to be called Mr. Beam, had a wonderful plan in his mind for +the improvement of Lethbury, but whether it was electric lights, or gas, +or water, or street railroads, or a public library, he would not tell +anybody. He was going to work in his own way, and all he would say about +the scheme was that he did not want anybody to give him money for it. +And this, Mrs. Petter had remarked, had helped Mr. Petter and herself to +believe what Lanigan had said about his amendment, for if anything could +show a change in him it would be his not wanting people to give him +money. + +Mrs. Petter had said a great deal about the newcomer, and had declared +that whatever alterations had gone on in his mind, soul, and character, +he certainly had improved in appearance, and was a very good-looking +young man, with becoming clothes. In one way, however, he had not +changed, for in a surprisingly short time he had made friends with +everybody on the place. He talked to Mr. Lodloe as if he had been an old +chum; he had renewed his acquaintance with Mrs. Cristie, and was very +gallant to her; he was hand-in-glove with Mr. Tippengray, both of them +laughing together and making jokes as if they had always known each +other; and, more than that, it wasn't an hour after breakfast when he +and Mrs. Cristie's nurse-maid were sitting on a bench under the trees, +reading out of the same book, while Mr. Tippengray was pushing the +baby-carriage up and down on the grass, and Mrs. Cristie and Mr. Lodloe +were putting up the lawn-tennis net. + +"I could see for myself," Mrs. Petter had remarked at this point, "that +you were right in saying that there was no use in my talking about the +boarders associating with servants, for when they made up the +lawn-tennis game it turned out that Mr. Tippengray didn't play, and so +that girl Ida had to take a hand while he kept on neglecting his Greek +for the baby." + +At last Miss Calthea let her sewing drop into her lap, and sat looking +at an empty shelf opposite to her. + +"Yes," she said to herself, her lips moving, although no sound was +audible, "the first thing to do is to get Lanigan away. As long as he is +here I might as well not lift a finger, and it looks as if that +impertinent minx of a child's nurse would be my best help. If he doesn't +have one of his changeable fits, he will be ready in three days to +follow her anywhere, but I must look sharp, for at this very minute he +may be making love to the widow. Of course he hasn't any chance with +her, but it would be just like Lanigan to go in strongest where he knew +he hadn't any chance. However, I shall see for myself how matters stand, +and one thing is certain--Lanigan has got to go." + +About this time Mr. Lanigan Beam, finding himself with a solitary +quarter of an hour on his hands, was reflecting on a bench upon the lawn +of the Squirrel Inn. "Yes," he thought, "it is a great plan. It will +elevate the social tone of Lethbury, it will purify the moral atmosphere +of the surrounding country, and, above all, it will make it possible for +me to live here. It will give me an opportunity to become a man among +men in the place where I was born. Until this thing is done, I can have +no chance to better myself here, and, more than that, the community has +no chance to better itself. Yes, it must be done; Calthea Rose must go." + +At this moment Mr. Petter came along, on his way to supper. + +"Well, Lanigan," said he, "are you thinking about your great +enterprise?" + +"Yes," said the other, rising and walking with him; "that is exactly +what my mind was working on." + +"And you are going to do it all yourself?" said Mr. Petter. + +"Not exactly," said Beam. "I shall not require any pecuniary assistance, +but I shall want some one to help me." + +"Is there anybody about here who can do it?" + +"Yes; I hope so," said Lanigan. "At present I am thinking of Mr. +Tippengray." + +"A very good choice," said Mr. Petter; "he is a man of fine mind, and it +will certainly be to your advantage if you can get him to work with +you." + +"Indeed it will be," said Lanigan Beam, with much earnestness. + + + + +XIV + +BACKING OUT + + +Ida Mayberry was walking on the narrow road which led through the woods +from the Squirrel Inn to the public highway. She had been much +interested in the road when she had been driven through it on the day of +her arrival, and had availed herself of the opportunity given her this +pleasant afternoon, by the prolonged slumbers of Master Douglas Cristie, +to make a close acquaintance with its attractions. + +It was indeed a pleasant road, where there were tall trees that often +met overhead, and on each side there were bushes, and vines, and wild +flowers, and little vistas opening into the woods, and rabbits running +across the roadway; a shallow stream tumbling along its stony bed, +sometimes to be seen and sometimes only heard; yellow butterflies in the +air; and glimpses above, that afternoon, of blue sky and white clouds. + +When she had walked about half the length of the road Miss Mayberry came +to a tree with a large branch running horizontally about three feet from +the ground and then turning up again, so as to make a very good seat for +young people who like that sort of thing. Ida was a young person who +liked that sort of thing, and she speedily clambered upon the broad, +horizontal branch and bestowed herself quite comfortably there. Taking +off her hat and leaning her head against the upright portion of the +branch, she continued the reflections she had been making while walking. + +[Illustration: IDA MAKES HERSELF COMFORTABLE.] + +"Yes," she said to herself, "it will be wise in me not only to make up +my mind that I will not grow to be an old maid, but to prevent people +from thinking I am going to grow to be one. I believe that people are +very apt to think that way about teachers. Perhaps it is because they +are always contrasted with younger persons. There is no reason why girl +teachers should be different from other girls. Marriage should be as +practically advantageous to them as to any others, only they should be +more than usually circumspect in regard to their partners; that is, if +they care for careers, which I am sure I do. + +"Now the situation in this place seems to me to be one which I ought +seriously to consider. It is generally agreed that propinquity is the +cause of most marriages, but I think that a girl ought to be very +careful not to let propinquity get the better of her. She should +regulate and control propinquities. + +"Here, now, is Mr. Lodloe. He seems to be a very suitable sort of a man, +young and good-looking, and, I think, endowed with brains; but I have +read two of his stories, and I see no promise in them, and I doubt if he +would sympathize with good, hard study; besides, he is devoting himself +to Mrs. Cristie, and he is out of the question. Mr. Tippengray is an +exceedingly agreeable man and a true student. To marry him would be in +itself a higher education; but he is not a bit young. I think he is at +least fifty, perhaps more, and then, supposing that he should retain his +mental vigor until he is seventy, that would give only twenty years of +satisfactory intellectual companionship. That is a point that ought to +be very carefully weighed. + +"As to Mr. Beam, he is older than I am, but he is young enough. Upon the +probable duration of his life one might predicate forty years of mental +activity, and from what I have seen of him he appears to have a good +intellect. They talk about an aqueduct and waterworks he is about to +construct. That indicates the study of geology, and engineering +capacity, and such a bias of mind would suit me very well. Mrs. Petter +tells me that he is really and truly engaged to that old thing from +Lethbury; but as she also said that he is heartily tired of the +engagement, I don't see why it should be considered. He is as likely to +correct his errors of matrimonial inclination as he is those of +mathematical computation, and as for her, I should not let her stand in +my way for one minute. Any woman who is as jealous about a man as she is +about Mr. Tippengray has waived her right in all other men." + +About this time a phaeton, drawn by a stout sorrel horse, and containing +Miss Calthea Rose, was turning from the highroad into this lane. As a +rule, Miss Calthea greatly preferred walking to driving, and although +her father had left her a horse and several vehicles, she seldom made +personal use of them; but to-day she was going to Romney, which was too +far away for walking, and she had planned to stop at the Squirrel Inn +and ask Mrs. Cristie to go with her. + +It was necessary, for the furtherance of Miss Calthea's plans, that she +should be on good terms with Mrs. Cristie. She ought, in fact, to be +intimate with her, so that when the time came she could talk to her +freely and plainly. It was desirable, indeed, that she should maintain +a friendly connection with everybody at the Squirrel Inn. She had not +yet met Lanigan Beam, and it would be well if he should be made to feel +that she looked upon him merely as an old companion, and cared for him +neither more nor less than one cares for ordinary old companions. Thus +he would feel perfectly free to carry out his own impulses and her +desires. + +Towards Mr. Tippengray she had decided to soften. She was still very +angry with him, but it would not do to repel him from herself, for that +might impel him towards another, and spoil two of her plans. Even to +that impertinent child's nurse she would be civil. She need have but +little to do with the creature, but she must not let any one suppose +that she harbored ill feeling towards her, and, with the exception of +Mrs. Petter, no one would suppose she had any reason for such feelings. +In fact, as Miss Calthea's mind dwelt upon this subject, she came to +think that it would be a very good thing if she could do some kindness +or service to this girl. This would give effect to what she might +afterward be obliged to say about her. + +Having reached this point in her cogitations, she also reached the point +in the road where Ida Mayberry still sat making her plans, and concealed +from the view of those coming from the direction of the highroad by a +mass of projecting elderberry bushes. Hearing an approaching vehicle, +the young woman on the horizontal limb, not wishing to be seen perched +upon this elevated seat, sprang to the ground, which she touched about +four feet from the nose of the sorrel horse. + +This animal, which was trotting along in a quiet and reflective way, as +if he also was making plans, was greatly startled by this sudden flash +of a light-colored mass, this rustle, this waving, this thud upon the +ground, and he bounded sidewise entirely across the road, stopping with +his head in the bushes on the other side. + +Miss Calthea, who was nearly thrown from her seat, could not repress a +scream, and, turning, perceived Ida Mayberry. + +"Did you do that?" she cried. + +"I am sorry that I made your horse shy," said Ida, approaching the +vehicle; "but he seems to be perfectly quiet now, and I hope nothing is +broken. Horses ought to be taught not to shy, but I suppose that would +be difficult, considering the small size of their brain cavities." + +"If some people had as much brains as a horse," muttered Miss Calthea, +"it would be better for them. Back, Sultan! Do you hear me! Back!" And +she tugged with all her strength upon the reins. + +But the sorrel horse did not move; he had two reasons for refusing to +obey his mistress. In the first place, on general principles he disliked +to back, and was fully conscious that Miss Calthea could not make him do +it, and in the second place, he wanted a drink, and did not intend to +move until he got it. Just here the brook was at its widest and deepest, +and it came so near the road that in shying Sultan had entered it so far +that the front wheels of the phaeton nearly touched the water. Standing +more than fetlock deep in this cool stream, it is no wonder that Sultan +wanted some one to loosen his check-rein and let him drink. + +"I am afraid you are not strong enough to back him out of that," said +Ida; "and if there were not so much water all around him I would go and +take him by the head." + +"Let him alone," cried Miss Calthea. "Back, Sultan! Back, I say!" And +she pulled and pulled, tiring herself greatly, but making no impression +upon the horse. + +Now appeared upon the scene Mrs. Cristie, pushing her baby-carriage. She +had come to look for Ida. She was full of sympathy when she heard what +had happened, and, pushing Douglas into a safe place behind a tree, came +forward and proposed that some one go for a man. But Calthea Rose did +not want a man. She was very proud of her abilities as a horsewoman, and +she did not wish a man to behold her inferiority in emergencies of this +sort. She therefore opposed the suggestion, and continued to pull and +tug. + +"That will never do," said Ida Mayberry, who had been earnestly +regarding the situation. "You cannot make him move, and even if we did +go into the water, he might jump about and tread on us; but I have +thought of a way in which I think we can make him back. You are pretty +heavy, Miss Rose, and Mrs. Cristie is lighter than I am, so she ought to +get into the phaeton and take the reins, and you and I ought to help +back the phaeton. I have seen it done, and I can tell you how to do +it." + +[Illustration: "BACK!"] + +To this Miss Calthea paid no immediate attention; but as Mrs. Cristie +urged that if Ida knew about such things it would be well to let her try +what she could do, and as Miss Calthea found that tugging at Sultan's +bit amounted to nothing, she stepped out of the low vehicle and demanded +to know what the child's nurse proposed to do. + +"Now jump in, Mrs. Cristie," said Ida, "and when I give the word you +pull the reins with all your might, and shout 'Back!' at him. Miss Rose, +you go to that hind wheel, and I will go to this one. Now put one foot +on a spoke, so, and take hold of the wheel, and when I say 'Now!' we +will both raise ourselves up and put our whole weight on the spoke, and +Mrs. Cristie will pull on him at the same instant." + +Somewhat doggedly, but anxious to get out of her predicament, Miss +Calthea took her position at the wheel and put one foot upon an almost +horizontal spoke. Ida did the same, and then giving the word, both women +raised themselves from the ground; Mrs. Cristie gave a great pull, and +shouted, "Back!" and as the hind wheels began slowly to revolve, the +astonished horse, involuntarily obeying the double impulse thus given +him, backed a step or two. + +"Now! Again!" cried Ida, and the process was repeated, this time the +horse backing himself out of the water. + +"Bravo!" cried Lanigan Beam, who, with Walter Lodloe, had arrived on the +scene just as Calthea Rose and Ida Mayberry had made their second +graceful descent from an elevated spoke to the ground. + + + + +XV + +THE BABY IS PASSED AROUND + + +"Good for you, Calthy," cried Lanigan Beam, advancing with outstretched +hands. "How do you do? Old Sultan is at his tricks again, is he, +declining to back? But you got the better of him that time, and did it +well, too." + +In his admiration of the feat he had witnessed, the credit of which he +gave entirely to his old and well-tried fiancée, Lanigan forgot for the +moment his plan for the benefit of Lethbury. + +Irritated and embarrassed as she was, Miss Calthea did not forget her +intention of treating Lanigan Beam as a person between whom and herself +there could be nothing of a connecting order which could be set up as +something of an obstructing order between herself and any one else. She +therefore took his hand, made a few commonplace remarks about his +return, and then, excusing herself, approached Mrs. Cristie, who was +just about to alight from the phaeton, and gave her the invitation to +drive to Romney. That lady hesitated a few moments, and then, +remembering some shopping she would like to do, accepted; and the +attention of Miss Mayberry having been called to the baby-carriage +behind the tree, the two ladies drove off. + +Ida Mayberry gazed for a moment at the parting vehicle, and then, +turning to Mr. Beam, she said: + +"She might at least have thanked me for getting her out of that scrape." + +"Was that your idea?" said Lanigan. + +"Of course it was," said the young woman: "if I hadn't shown her how to +make the horse back, she would have pulled her arms out for nothing. It +is easy to see that she does not know anything about managing horses." + +Lanigan laughed outright. + +"I would advise you not to say that to her," he said. + +"I would as soon say it to her as not," said Ida; "somebody ought to do +it. Why, if that horse had shied towards me instead of away from me when +I jumped from that tree, I might have been very much hurt." + +Lanigan laughed again, but this time inwardly. + +"Do you like yellow flowers, Miss Mayberry?" said he. "The largest wild +coreopsis I ever saw grows in this region. I noticed some in a field we +just passed. Shall I gather a few for you?" + +"I am very fond of that flower," said Ida; and Mr. Beam declaring that +if she would step a little way with him he would show her a whole field +of them, the two walked up the road. + +Walter Lodloe had been gazing with some dissatisfaction at the departing +phaeton. His mind was getting into a condition which made it unpleasant +for him to see people take Mrs. Cristie away from him. He now turned +and looked at the baby-carriage, in which the infant Douglas was sitting +up, endeavoring by various noises to attract attention to himself. +Lodloe pulled the vehicle into the road, and, finding that the motion +quieted its occupant, he began slowly to push it towards the Squirrel +Inn. When Walter Lodloe turned into the open space about the inn he met +Mr. Tippengray with a book in his hand. + +[Illustration: "HE BEGAN SLOWLY TO PUSH IT TOWARDS THE SQUIRREL INN."] + +"Really," said the latter, elevating his eyebrows, "I heard the creaking +of those little wheels, and I--" + +"Thought Miss Mayberry was making them creak," said Lodloe. "But she is +not, and you may as well postpone the lesson I suppose you want to give +her. She is at present taking lessons in botany from another professor"; +and he hereupon stated in brief the facts of the desertion of the infant +Douglas. "Now what am I going to do with the little chap?" he continued; +"I must search for Mrs. Petter." + +"Don't do that," said the Greek scholar, quickly; "it would look badly +for the young woman. Let me have the child; I will take care of it until +she comes. I will wheel it down to my summer-house, where it is cool and +shady." + +"And an excellent spot to teach Greek," said Lodloe, laughing. + +"A capital place," gaily replied Mr. Tippengray, putting his book into +his pocket, and taking hold of the handle of the little carriage, elated +by the feeling that in so doing he was also, for a time, getting a hold +upon Miss Mayberry. + +[Illustration: "I WILL WHEEL IT DOWN TO MY SUMMER-HOUSE, WHERE IT IS +COOL AND SHADY."] + +"Yes," he continued, "it is just the place for me; it suits me in all +sorts of ways, and I have a mind to tell you of a most capital joke +connected with it. It is too good a thing to keep to myself any longer, +and now that I know you so well, I am perfectly willing to trust you. +Would you believe it? I know the Rockmores of Germantown. I know them +very well, and hate them for a lot of prigs. But I never told Stephen +Petter. Not I. In some way or other he took it for granted that I did +not possess the valuable acquaintanceship, and I let him think so. Ha! +ha! That's the way I got the summer-house, don't you see? Ha! ha! ha!" + +Lodloe laughed. "Your secret is safe with me," said he; and the two +having reached the little garden, he left the Greek scholar and went to +his room. + +When Ida Mayberry had her arms full of the great yellow flowers she +suddenly appreciated the fact that she must be a long way from the baby, +and ought immediately to return to it. She thereupon hastened back +across the uneven surface of the field. When she reached the spot where +the baby had been left, no baby was there. + +"My goodness!" she exclaimed, "Mr. Lodloe has taken the child away, and +there is no knowing which way he has gone." + +"Oh, the youngster's all right," said Lanigan. "Sit down and rest +yourself, and we will walk to the inn." + +"Not a bit of it!" exclaimed Ida. "You go that way, and I will go this, +and if you see him, call out as loud as you can." + +Very reluctantly Mr. Beam obeyed orders, and hurried in the direction of +the highroad. + +As he sat down by his open window Walter Lodloe looked out and saw Ida +Mayberry running. Instantly there was a shout from the summer-house and +the wave of a handkerchief. Then the nurse-maid ceased to run, but +walked rapidly in the direction of the handkerchief-waver, who stood +triumphantly pointing to the baby-carriage. After a glance at the baby +to see that he was all right, Miss Mayberry seated herself on a bench in +the shade, and took off her hat. In a few moments the Greek scholar was +seated by her, the book was opened, and two heads were together in +earnest study. + +About ten minutes later Lodloe saw Lanigan Beam appear upon the lawn, +walking rapidly. In a moment he caught sight of the group at the +summer-house, and stopped short. He clenched his fists and slightly +stamped one foot. + +Lodloe now gave a low whistle, and Lanigan glancing upward at the sound, +he beckoned to him to come to his tower-room. The young man at first +hesitated, and then walked slowly towards the little garden, and +ascended the outside stairway. + +Lodloe greeted him with a smile. + +"As you seem doubtful about joining the little company down there, I +thought I would ask you up here," he said. + +Lanigan walked to the window and gazed out at the summer-house. + +"They are having a good, cozy time of it," said he, "but that won't do. +That sort of thing has got to be stopped." + +"Why won't it do?" asked Lodloe. "What is the matter with it, and who is +going to stop it?" + +"It's sheer nonsense," said Beam, turning away from the window and +throwing himself into a chair; "why should an old fellow like Tippengray +take up all the spare time of that girl? She doesn't need to learn +anything. From what she has said to me I judge that she knows too much +already." + +"It strikes me," said Lodloe, "that if he likes to teach her, and she +likes to learn, it is nobody's business but their own, unless Mrs. +Cristie should think that her interests were being neglected." He spoke +quietly, although he was a little provoked at the tone of his companion. + +"Well," said Mr. Beam, stretching his legs upon a neighboring chair, "I +object to that intimacy for two reasons. In the first place, it keeps +me away from Miss Mayberry, and I am the sort of person she ought to +associate with, especially in her vacation; and in the second place, it +keeps old Tippengray away from Calthea Rose. That is bad, very bad. Mrs. +Petter tells me that before Miss Mayberry arrived Calthea and the Greek +were as chummy and as happy together as any two people could be. It is +easy to see that Calthea is dead in love with him, and if she had been +let alone I am confident she would have married him before the summer +was over." + +"And you think that desirable?" asked Lodloe. + +"Of course I do," cried Lanigan, sitting up straight in his chair and +speaking earnestly; "it would be the best thing in the world. Calthea +has had a hard time with her various engagements,--all of them with +me,--and now that she has found the man she likes she ought to have him. +It would be a splendid match; he might travel where he pleased, and +Calthea would be an honor to him. She could hold her own with the +nobility and gentry, and the crowned heads, for that matter. By George! +it would make him two inches taller to walk through a swell crowd with +Calthea on his arm, dressed as she would dress, and carrying her head as +she would carry it." + +"You seem to be a matchmaker," said Lodloe; "but I don't meddle in that +sort of thing. I greatly prefer to let people take care of their own +affairs; but I feel bound to say to you that after Ida Mayberry +neglected her duty to go off with you, I determined to advise Mrs. +Cristie to dispense with the services of such a very untrustworthy +nurse-maid." + +Lanigan Beam sprang to his feet. "Don't you do that!" he cried. "I beg +of you not to do that." + +"Why not?" said Lodloe. "That would aid your philanthropic plan in +regard to Miss Rose and Mr. Tippengray. The maid away, there is no +reason why they should not come together again." + +"Now I am a straightforward, honest man," said Lanigan, "and I tell you +plainly that that would be very hard on me. I've come here to my native +place to settle down, and if I settle I've got to marry, and I have +never seen a girl whom I would rather marry and settle with than Miss +Mayberry. She may be a little slack about taking care of the baby, but +I'll talk to her about that, and I know she will keep a closer eye on +him. Now if you want to see everybody happy, don't prejudice Mrs. +Cristie against that girl. Give me a chance, and I'll win her into the +right way, and I'll do it easily and naturally, without making hard +blood or hurting anybody. Then old Tip and Calthea will come together +again, and everything will be jolly. Now don't you go and blast the +happiness of all of us, and get that poor girl turned off like a drunken +cook. And as for taking good care of the baby, just look at her now." + +Lodloe looked out of the window. Ida Mayberry was leaning forward on the +bench, twirling a great yellow flower before the child, who was laughing +and making snatches at it. In a moment appeared Mr. Tippengray with a +large white daisy; he leaned over the other side of the carriage and +twirled his flower in front of the baby. The little fellow was in great +glee, first clutching at one blossom and then at the other, and Mr. +Tippengray laughed, and Miss Mayberry laughed, and the three laughed +together. + +"Confound it!" said Lanigan Beam, with a frown, "this thing must be +stopped." + +Lodloe smiled. "Work matters your own way," he said; "I shall not +interfere." + +An hour later when Calthea Rose and Mrs. Cristie returned from Romney, +Ida Mayberry was walking by the side of the baby-carriage, which Lanigan +Beam was pushing towards the spot from which there was the best view of +the western sky. + +[Illustration: "HE LEANED OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE."] + +Mrs. Cristie looked at them, and said to herself: + +"I don't altogether like that sort of thing, and I think it must be +stopped." + +Calthea Rose appeared to have recovered her good humor. She looked about +her apparently satisfied with the world and its ways, and readily +accepted Mrs. Petter's invitation to stay to tea. + + + + +XVI + +MESSRS. BEAM AND LODLOE DECLINE TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND TABLE + + +As has been before mentioned, Walter Lodloe had grown into a condition +of mind which made it unpleasant for him when people took Mrs. Cristie +away or occupied her time and attention to the exclusion of his +occupancy of the same. As a literary man he had taken an interest in +studying the character of Mrs. Cristie, and he had now come to like the +character even better than he liked the study. + +A pretty woman, of a lively and independent disposition, and quick wit, +and yet with certain matronly and practical points in her character +which always surprised as well as pleased him when they showed +themselves, Mrs. Cristie could not fail to charm such a man as Lodloe, +if the two remained long enough together. She had charmed him, and he +knew it and liked it, and was naturally anxious to know whether, in the +slightest degree, she thought of him as he thought of her. But he had +never been able to perceive any indication of this. The young widow was +kind, gracious, and at times delightfully intimate with him, but he +knew enough of the world to understand that this sort of thing in this +sort of place might not in the least indicate that what was growing up +in him was growing up in her. + +On the afternoon of the day after Miss Calthea Rose had taken tea at the +Squirrel Inn Walter Lodloe came down from his room in the tower with no +other object in life than to find Mrs. Cristie. It was about the hour +that she usually appeared on the lawn, and if there should follow +tennis, or talking, or walking, or anything else, one thing would be the +same as another to Lodloe, provided he and she took part. But when he +saw Mrs. Cristie her avocation was one in which he could not take part. + +She was sitting on a bench by Mr. Tippengray, Ida Mayberry was sitting +at his other side, and the everlasting baby-carriage was standing near +by. The Greek scholar and the nurse-maid each had a book, but these were +closed, and Mr. Tippengray was talking with great earnestness and +animation, while the young women appeared to be listening with eager +interest. It was plain that the two were taking a lesson in something or +other. + +As Lodloe walked slowly from the gate of the little garden Mrs. Cristie +looked up for a moment, saw him, but instantly resumed her attentive +listening. This was enough; he perceived that for the present, at least, +he was not wanted. He strolled on towards the field, and just below the +edge of the bluff he saw Lanigan Beam sitting under a tree. + +"Hello!" said the latter, looking up, "are they at that stupid business +yet?" + +Lodloe smiled. "Are you waiting for Miss Mayberry to get through with +her lesson?" he asked. + +"Yes, I am," said Lanigan. "I have been hanging around here for half an +hour. I never saw such a selfish old codger as that Tippengray. I +suppose he will stick there with them the whole afternoon." + +"And you want him!" said Lodloe. + +"Want him!" exclaimed Lanigan; "not much. But I want her. If there were +only two together I would do as I did yesterday. I would join them, take +a part, and before long carry her off; but I can't do that with Mrs. +Cristie there. I haven't the cheek to break up her studies." + +Lodloe laughed. "Don't let us wait for the second table," he said; "come +and take a walk to Lethbury." + +It was now Lanigan's turn to smile. + +"You think you would better not wait for the second table," he said; +"very well, then; come on." + +The lesson on the bench had been deliberately planned by Mrs. Cristie. +She had been considering the subject of her nurse-maid and Lanigan Beam, +and had decided that it was her duty to interfere with the growth of +that intimacy. She felt that it was her duty to exercise some personal +supervision over the interests of the young person in her service, and +had given her some guarded advice in regard to country-resort +intimacies. + +Having given this advice to Ida Mayberry, it struck Mrs. Cristie that it +would apply very well to herself. She remembered that she was also a +young person, and she resolved to take to herself all the advice she had +given to her nurse-maid, and thus it was that she was sitting on the +bench by Mr. Tippengray, listening to his very interesting discourse +upon some of the domestic manners and customs of the ancients, and their +surprising resemblance in many points to those of the present day. +Therefore it was, also, that she allowed Walter Lodloe to pass on his +way without inviting him to join the party. + +When Lodloe and Beam reached Lethbury, the latter proposed that they +should go and worry Calthea Rose; and to his companion's surprised +exclamation at being asked to join in this diversion Lanigan answered, +that having been used to that sort of thing all his life, it seemed the +most natural sport in which to indulge now that he found himself in +Lethbury again. + +"Very good," said Lodloe, as they approached Miss Rose's place of +business; "I shall not interfere with your native sports, but I do not +care to join them. I shall continue my walk, and stop for you on my way +back." + +When Lanigan Beam entered Miss Rose's shop she was sitting, as was her +custom, by the back window, sewing. A neighbor had dropped in to chat +with her a half-hour before, but had gone away very soon. The people of +Lethbury had learned to understand when Calthea Rose did not wish to +chat. + +Miss Calthea was not happy; she was disappointed. Things had not gone as +she hoped they would go, and as she had believed they would go when she +accepted Mrs. Petter's invitation to tea. That meal had been a very +pleasant one; even the presence of Ida Mayberry, who came to table with +the family when the baby happened to be asleep, did not disturb her. On +the contrary, it gratified her, for Lanigan Beam sat by that young +person and was very attentive to her. She carefully watched Mr. +Tippengray, and perceived that this attention, and the interest of the +child's nurse in Lanigan's remarks, did not appear to give him the least +uneasiness. Thereupon she began gradually, and she hoped imperceptibly, +to resume her former method of intercourse with the Greek scholar, and +to do so without any show of restoring him to favor. She did this so +deftly that Mrs. Cristie was greatly interested in the performance, and +an outside observer could have had no reason to suppose that there had +been any break in the friendly intercourse between Miss Rose and Mr. +Tippengray. + +But this unsatisfactory state of things soon came to an end. When the +daylight began to wane, and Miss Calthea's phaeton had been brought to +the door, she went to it with her plans fully formed. As Mr. Tippengray +assisted her into the vehicle, she intended to accept his proposition to +drive her to Lethbury. She had slightly deferred her departure in order +that the growing duskness might give greater reason for the proposition. +There would be a moon about nine o'clock, and his walk back would be +pleasant. + +But when she reached the phaeton Mr. Tippengray was not there. Ida +Mayberry, eager to submit to his critical eye two lines of Browning +which she had put into a sort of Greek resembling the partly cremated +corpse of a dead language, and who for the past ten minutes had been +nervously waiting for Master Douglas to close his eyes in sleep that she +might rush down to Mr. Tippengray while he was yet strolling on the +lawn by himself, had rushed down to him, and had made him forget +everything else in the world in his instinctive effort to conceal from +his pupil the shock given him by the sight of her lines. He had been +waiting for Miss Calthea to come out, had been intending to hand her to +her vehicle, and had thought of proposing to accompany her to the +village; but he had not heard the phaeton roll to the door, the +leave-taking on the porch did not reach his ear, and his mind took no +note whatever of the fact that Miss Rose was on the point of departure. + +As that lady, stepping out upon the piazza, swept her eyes over the +scene and beheld the couple on the lawn, she gave a jerk to the glove +she was drawing on her hand that tore in it a slit three inches long. +She then turned her eyes upon her phaeton, declined the offer of Mr. +Petter to see her home, and, after a leave-taking which was a little +more effusive than was usual with her, drove herself to Lethbury. If the +sorrel horse had behaved badly in the early part of that afternoon, he +was punished for it in the early part of that evening, for he completely +broke all previous records of time made between the Squirrel Inn and +Lethbury. + +Thus the hopes of Miss Calthea had been doubly darkened; the pariah with +the brimstone blossoms had not only treacherously deserted Lanigan, but +had made Mr. Tippengray treacherously desert her. She had been furiously +angry; now she was low-spirited and cross. But one thing in the world +could have then cheered her spirits, and that would have been the sight +of her bitterest enemy and Lanigan Beam driving or walking together past +her shop door; but when Lanigan alone entered that shop door she was not +cheered at all. + +Mr. Beam's greeting was very free and unceremonious, and without being +asked to do so he took a seat near the proprietress of the +establishment. + +"Well, well," he said, "this looks like old times. Why, Calthy, I don't +believe you have sold a thing since I was here last." + +"If you had any eyes in your head," said Miss Calthea, severely, "you +would see that I have sold a great deal. Nearly everything, in fact." + +"That proves my point," said Lanigan; "for nearly everything was gone +when I left." + +"And some of the things that are gone," said she, "you still owe me +for." + +"Well put, Calthy," said Lanigan, laughing; "and after that, let's drop +the business. What's new and what's stale in Lethbury?" + +"You are about the newest as well as the stalest thing here," said she. + +Lanigan whistled. "Calthy," said he, "would you mind my smoking a cigar +here! There will be no customers coming in." + +"You know very well you cannot smoke here," she said; "what is the +matter with you? Has that pincushion-faced child's nurse driven you from +the inn?" + +A pang went through Lanigan. Was Calthea jealous of Miss Mayberry on his +account? The thought frightened him. If he could have said anything +which would have convinced Calthea that he was on the point of marrying +Miss Mayberry, and that therefore she might as well consider everything +at an end between herself and him, he would have said it. But he merely +replied: + +"She is a nice girl, and very much given to learning." + +Now Miss Calthea could restrain herself no longer. + +"Learning!" she exclaimed. "Stuff and deception! Impudent flirting is +what she is fond of, as long as she can get a good-for-naught like you, +or an old numskull like that Tippengray, to play her tricks on." + +Now Lanigan Beam braced himself for action. This sort of thing would not +do; whatever she might say or think about the rest of the world, Calthea +must not look with disfavor on the Greek scholar. + +"Numskull!" said he. "You're off the track there, Calthy, I never knew a +man with a better skull than Mr. Tippengray, and as to his being +old--there is a little gray in his hair to be sure, but it's my opinion +that that comes more from study than from years." + +"Nonsense!" said Calthea; "I don't believe he cares a snap for study +unless he can do it with some girl. I expect he has been at that all his +life." + +Now Lanigan's spirits rose; he saw that it was not on his account that +Calthea was jealous of Ida Mayberry. His face put on an expression of +serious interest, and he strove to speak impressively, but not so much +so as to excite suspicion. + +"Calthea," said he, "I think you are not treating Mr. Tippengray with +your usual impartiality and fairness. From what I have seen of him, I am +sure that the great object of his life is to teach, and when he gets a +chance to do that he does it, and for the moment forgets everything +else. You may be right in thinking that he prefers to teach young +persons, and this is natural enough, for young people are much more +likely than older ones to want to learn. Now, to prove that he doesn't +care to teach young girls just because they are girls, I will tell you +that I saw him, this very afternoon, hard at work teaching Mrs. Cristie +and Ida Mayberry at the same time, and he looked twice as happy as when +he was instructing only one of them. If there were enough people here so +that he could make up a class, and could have a sort of summer school, I +expect he would be the happiest man on earth. + +"I am afraid that is Mr. Tippengray's fault," continued Lanigan, folding +his hands in his lap and gazing reflectively at his outstretched legs. +"I am afraid that he gives too much of his mind to teaching, and +neglects other things. He is carried away by his love of teaching, and +when he finds one person, or a dozen persons who want to learn, he +neglects his best friends for that one person, or those dozen persons. +He oughtn't to do it; it isn't right--but then, after all, no man is +perfect, and I suppose the easiest way for us to get along is to stop +looking for perfection." + +Miss Calthea made no answer. She gazed out of the window as if she was +mildly impressed with a solicitude for the welfare of her garden. There +flitted into her mind a wavering, indeterminate sort of notion that +perhaps Lanigan was a better fellow than he used to be, and that if she +should succeed in her great purpose it might not be necessary that he +should go away. But still,--and here prudence stepped in front of +kindliness,--if that child's nurse remained in the neighborhood, it +would be safer if Lanigan kept up his interest in her; and if she +ultimately carried him off, that was his affair. + +Leaning forward, Miss Calthea took a match from a box on a shelf, and +handed it to Lanigan. + +"You may as well smoke if you want to," she said; "it's not likely any +one will be coming in, and I don't object when the window is open." + +Gratefully Lanigan lighted his cigar. + +"Calthy, this is truly like old times," he said. "And to finish up with +Tippengray, I'll say that if Lodloe and I had not our mind so filled +with our own businesses and projects, I'd get him to go in with me, and +help make up a class; but if I were to do that, perhaps people might say +that all I wanted was to get in with the girls." + +Here was a chance for Calthea to give her schemes a little push. + +"There is only one girl," she said, "who would be likely to take part in +that sort of thing, and that is the child's nurse at the Squirrel Inn; +but if she really is given to study, I suppose she might help you to +improve your mind, and if you are what you used to be, it will stand a +good deal of improving." + +"That's so, Calthy," said Lanigan; "that's so." He was in high good +humor at the turn the conversation had taken, but did his best to +repress his inclination to show it. "It might be well to go in for +improvement. I'll do that, anyway." Lanigan blew out a long whiff of +purple smoke. "Calthy is a deep one," he said to himself; "she wants me +to draw off that girl from the old man. But all right, my lady; you +tackle him and I will tackle her. That suits me beautifully." + +At this moment Lodloe entered the shop, and Miss Calthea Rose greeted +him with much graciousness. + +[Illustration: "CALTHY, THIS IS TRULY LIKE OLD TIMES."] + +"You must have taken a short walk," said Lanigan. "Don't you want to +wait until I finish my cigar? It's so much pleasanter to smoke here than +in the open air. Perhaps Miss Calthea will let you join me." + +Lodloe was perfectly willing to wait, but did not wish to smoke. He was +interested in what he had heard of the stock of goods which was being +sold off about as fast as a glacier moves, and was glad to have the +opportunity to look about him. + +"Do you know, Calthy," said Lanigan, "that you ought to sell Mr. Lodloe +a bill of goods?" He said this partly because of his own love of +teasing, but partly in earnest. To help Calthea sell off her stock was +an important feature of his project. + +"Mr. Lodloe shall not buy a thing," said Calthea Rose. "If he is ever in +want of anything, and stops in here to see if I have it in stock, I +shall be glad to sell it to him if it is here, for I am still in +business; but I know very well that Mr. Lodloe came in now as an +acquaintance and not as a customer." + +"Beg your pardons, both of you," cried Lanigan, springing to his feet, +and throwing the end of his cigar out of the window; "but I say, Calthy, +have you any of that fire-blaze calico with the rocket sparks that's +been on hand ever since I can remember?" + +"Your memory is pretty short sometimes," said Calthea, "but I think I +know the goods you mean, and I have seven yards of it left. Why do you +ask about it?" + +"I want to see it," said Lanigan. "There it is on that shelf; it's the +same-sized parcel that it used to be. Would you mind handing it down to +me?" + +Lanigan unrolled the calico upon the counter, and gazed upon it with +delight. "Isn't that glorious!" he cried to Lodloe; "isn't that like a +town on fire! By George! Calthea, I will take the whole seven yards." + +"Now, Lanigan," said Miss Calthea, "you know you haven't the least use +in the world for this calico." + +"I know nothing of the sort," said Lanigan; "I have a use for it. I want +to make Mrs. Petter a present, and I have been thinking of a +fire-screen, and this is just the thing for it. I'll build the frame +myself, and I'll nail on this calico, front and back the same. It'll +want a piece of binding, or gimp, tacked around the edges. Have you any +binding, or gimp, Calthy, that would suit?" + +Miss Calthea laughed. "You'd better wait until you are ready for it," +she said, "and then come and see." + +"Anyway, I want the calico," said he. "Please put it aside for me, and +I'll come in to-morrow and settle for it. And now it seems to me that if +we want any supper we had better be getting back to the inn." + +"It's not a bad idea," said Miss Calthea Rose, when she was left to +herself; "but it shall not be in a class. No, indeed! I will take good +care that it shall not be in a class." + + + + +XVII + +BANANAS AND OATS + + +When Walter Lodloe walked to Lethbury because he could not talk to Mrs. +Cristie, it could not have been reasonably supposed that his walk would +have had more practical influence on his feelings towards that lady than +a conversation with her would have had; but such was the case. + +It would have been very pleasant to talk, or walk, or chat, or stroll, +or play tennis, with her, but when he reached the quiet little village, +and wandered by himself along the shaded streets, and looked into the +pretty yards and gardens, on the profusion of old-fashioned flowers and +the cool green grass under the trees, and here and there a stone +well-curb with a great sweep and an oaken bucket, and the air of quaint +comfort which seemed to invade the interiors of those houses that were +partly opened to his view, it struck him, as no idea of the sort had +ever struck him before, what a charming and all-satisfying thing it +would be to marry Mrs. Cristie and live in Lethbury in one of these +cool, quaint houses with the quiet and shade and the flowers--at least +for a few years until his fortunes should improve. + +He had a notion that Mrs. Cristie would like that sort of thing. She +seemed so fond of country life. He would write and she would help him. +He would work in the vegetable garden, and she among the flowers. It +would be Arcadia, and it would be cheap. Even with his present income +every rural want could be satisfied. + +An infusion of feasibility--or what he looked upon as such--into the +sentimentality of such a man as Walter Lodloe generally acts as a +stiffener to his purposes. He was no more in love with Mrs. Cristie than +he had been when he left the Squirrel Inn, but he now determined, if he +saw any reason to suppose that she would accept them, to offer himself +and a Lethbury cottage to Mrs. Cristie. + +He had a good opportunity to think over this matter and come to +decisions, for his companion walked half the way home without saying a +word. + +Suddenly Lanigan spoke. + +"Do you know," said he, "that I have about made up my mind to marry the +governess?" + +"She isn't a governess," said Lodloe; "she is a nurse-maid." + +"I prefer to invest her with a higher grade," said Lanigan; "and it is +pretty much the same thing, after all. Anyway, I want to marry her, and +I believe I can do it if nobody steps in to interfere." + +"Who do you suppose would do that?" asked Lodloe. + +"Well," said Lanigan, "if the Lethbury people knew about it, and had a +chance, every man jack of them, and every woman jack, too, would +interfere, and under ordinary circumstances Calthea Rose would take the +lead; but just now I think she intends to lend me a hand--not for my +good, but for her own. If she does that, I am not afraid of all Lethbury +and the Petters besides. The only person I am afraid of is Mrs. +Cristie." + +"Why do you fear her?" asked Lodloe. + +"Well," said Lanigan, "when she was at the inn some years ago I was at +my wildest, and her husband did not like me. He was in bad health, very +touchy, and I suppose I gave him reason enough to consider me an +extremely black sheep. Of course Mrs. Cristie naturally thought pretty +much as he did, and from what you told me of the conference over my +advent, I suppose her opinions haven't changed much. She has treated me +very well since I have been here, but I have no doubt that she would +consider it her duty to let Miss Mayberry know just the sort of fellow +she thinks I am." + +"Of course she would do that," said Lodloe; "and she ought to do it." + +"No, sir," said Lanigan; "you are wrong, and I am going to prove it to +you, and you shall see that I trust you as if I had known you years +instead of days. I want you to understand that I am not the same sort of +fellow that I used to be, not by any means. I told old Petter that, so +that he might have a little practice in treating me with respect, but I +didn't give him any reasons for it, because Calthea Rose would be sure +to suspect that he knew something, and she'd worm it out of him; but I +don't believe she could worm anything out of you. When I left this +place some eighteen months ago I went down to Central America and bought +a banana farm, paying very little money down. In less than three months +I sold my land to a company, and made a very good thing out of it. Then, +thinking the company after a while might want more land, I bought +another large tract, and before the end of the year I sold that to them, +doubling my money. Then I left the tropics, fearing I might go too deep +into that sort of speculation and lose every cent I had. I traveled +around, and at last landed in Chicago, and here the money-making fever +seized me again. It is a new thing to me, and a lot more intoxicating, I +can tell you. I invested in oats, and before I knew it that blessed +grain went up until, if its stalks had been as high as its price, it +would have been over my head. I sold out, and then I said to myself: +'Now, Lanigan, my boy, if you don't want to be a beastly pauper for the +rest of your life, you had better go home.' Honestly, I was frightened, +and it seemed to me I should never be safe until I was back in Lethbury. +Look here," he said, taking from a pocket a wallet filled with a mass of +papers and a bank-book; "look at those certificates, and here is my New +York bank-book, so you can see that I am not telling you lies. + +"Now you may say that the fact of my having money doesn't prove that I +am any better than I used to be, but if you think that, you are wrong. +There is no better way to reform a fellow than to give him something to +take care of and take an interest in. That's my case now, and all I've +got I've given myself, which makes it better, of course. I'm not rich, +but I've got enough to buy out any business in Lethbury. And to go into +business and to live here are what will suit me better than anything +else, and that's not counting in Ida Mayberry at all. To live here with +her would be better luck than the biggest rise in oats the world ever +saw. Now you see where I stand. If Mrs. Cristie goes against me, she +does a cruel thing to me, and to Ida Mayberry besides." + +"Why don't you tell her the facts?" said Lodloe. "That would be the +straightforward and sensible thing to do." + +"My dear boy," said Lanigan, "I cannot put the facts into the hands of a +woman. No matter how noble or honorable she may be, without the least +intention on her part they would leak out, and if Calthea Rose should +get hold of them I should be lost. She'd drop old Tippengray like a hot +potato and stick to me like one of those adhesive plasters that have +holes in them. No, sir; I don't want Calthea Rose to think well of me. I +want her to keep on considering me as a good-for-nothing scapegrace, +and, by George! it's easy enough to make her do that. It's all in her +line of business. But I want other people to think well of me in a +general way, and when Calthea and Tippengray have settled things between +them, and are traveling on the Continent, which they certainly ought to +do, I'll start in business, and take my place as one of the leading +citizens of Lethbury; and, as things look now, all will be plain sailing +if Mrs. Cristie thinks well enough of me not to interfere between me +and Ida Mayberry. Now all I ask of you is to say a good word for me if +you can get a chance." + +"After what you have told me," said Lodloe, "I think I shall say it." + +"Good for you!" cried Lanigan. "And if I go to Calthy and ask her to +lend me the money to get a frame made for Mrs. Petter's fire-screen, +don't you be surprised. What I'm doing is just as much for her good as +for mine. In this whole world there couldn't be a better match for her +than old Tippengray, and she knows it, and wants him." + +"If there was a society for the prevention of cruelty to Greek scholars, +I don't know but that it might interfere in this case," said Lodloe. + + + + +XVIII. + +SWEET PEAS. + + +Walter Lodloe was now as much flushed with the fever of love-making as +Lanigan Beam had been flushed with the fever of money-making, but he did +not have the other man's luck. Mrs. Cristie gave him few opportunities +of making her know him as he wished her to know him. He had sense enough +to see that this was intentional, and that if he made any efforts to +improve his opportunities he might drive her away. + +As he sat at his tower window, his fingers in his hair and his mind +trying to formulate the prudent but bold thing he ought to do, a voice +came up from below. It was that of Ida Mayberry. + +"Mr. Lodloe! Mr. Lodloe!" she cried; and when he had put his head out of +the window she called to him: + +"Don't you want to come down and help us teach Mr. Tippengray to play +tennis? He has taught us so much that we are going to teach him +something." + +"Who are going to teach?" asked Lodloe. + +"Mrs. Cristie and I," said Ida. "Will you come?" + +Instantly consenting, Lodloe drew in his head, his love fever rising. + +The Greek scholar was one of the worst tennis-players in the world. He +knew nothing of the game, and did not appear capable of learning it. And +yet when Lanigan Beam appeared, having just arrived on horseback from +Romney, Mrs. Cristie would not allow the Greek scholar to give up his +place to the younger man. She insisted on his finishing the game, and +when it was over she declared the morning too warm to play any more. + +As she and Lodloe stood together for a moment, their rackets still in +their hands, Mrs. Cristie smiled, but at the same time frowned. + +"It is too provoking," she said; "I wish Douglas would wake up and +scream his very loudest. I was just on the point of asking Ida to go +with me into the garden to pick sweet peas, when Mr. Beam hands her that +horrible bunch of wild flowers, crammed full of botany, I've no doubt. +And now just look at them! Before one could say a word, there they are +on that bench, heads together, and pulling the weeds to pieces. Think of +it! Studying botany with _him_, and Mr. Tippengray on the same lawn with +her!" + +"Oh, he's too hot to teach anything," said Lodloe. "You don't seem to +approve of Mr. Beam's attentions to that young woman." + +"I do not," said she. "You know what he is as well as I do." + +"Better," said Lodloe. For a moment he paused, and then continued: "Mrs. +Cristie, I wish you would let me go into the garden with you to pick +sweet peas and to talk about Mr. Beam." + +"Mr. Beam!" she repeated. + +"Yes," said Lodloe; "I wish very much to speak to you in regard to him, +and I cannot do it here where we may be interrupted at any moment." + +As a young and pretty woman who knew her attractions, and who had made +resolutions in regard to the preponderance of social intercourse in a +particular direction, Mrs. Cristie hesitated before answering. But as a +matron who should know all about a young man who was paying very special +attention to a younger woman in her charge, she accepted the invitation, +and went into the garden with Lodloe. + +The sweet pea-blossoms crowded the tall vines which lined one side of a +path, and as she picked them he talked to her. + +He began by saying that he had noticed, and he had no doubt that she had +noticed, that in all the plain talk they had heard about Mr. Beam there +had been nothing said against his moral character except that he did not +pay his debts nor keep his promises. To this Mrs. Cristie assented, but +said that she thought these were very bad things. Lodloe agreed to this, +but said he thought that when a young man of whom even professional +slanderers did not say that he was cruel, or that he gambled, or drank, +or was addicted to low company and pursuits, had determined to reform +his careless and thoughtless life, he ought to be encouraged and helped +in every possible way. And then when she asked him what reason he had to +suppose that Mr. Beam had determined to reform, he straightway told her +everything about Lanigan, Chicago oats and all, adding that the young +man did not wish him to say anything about this matter, but he had taken +it upon himself to do so because Mrs. Cristie ought to know it, and +because he was sure that she would not mention it to any one. When Mrs. +Cristie exclaimed at this, and said that she thought that the sooner +everybody knew it the better, Lodloe told her of the state of affairs +between Calthea Rose and Lanigan Beam, and why the latter did not wish +his reform to be known at present. + +Mrs. Cristie dropped upon the ground every sweet-pea blossom she had +gathered. + +"I cannot imagine," she said, "how you can take the part of a man who +would deliberately attempt to lower himself in the eyes of one woman in +order that he might have a better chance to win another woman." + +"Mrs. Cristie," said Lodloe, "I am a young man, and I have lived much +among young men. I have seen many of them in dangerous and troubled +waters, floating down to ruin and destruction, and now and then I have +seen one who had turned and was trying to strike out for the shore. In +every case of this kind I have tried to give the poor fellow a hand and +help him get his feet on firm ground. Sometimes he jumped in again, and +sometimes he didn't, but all that was not my affair; I was bound to help +him when I saw him facing the right way, and that is just the way I feel +about young Beam. I do not approve of all his methods, but if he wants +moral support I say he ought to have it." + +Mrs. Cristie looked at the pink, blue, and purple blossoms on the +ground. "His sentiments are good and generous ones," she thought, "and I +shall not say one word against them, but Ida Mayberry shall not marry +that exceedingly slippery young man, and the good Mr. Tippengray shall +not be caught by Calthea Rose." She came to this resolution with much +firmness of purpose, but as she was not prepared to say anything on the +subject just then, she looked up very sweetly at Lodloe, and said: + +"Suppose we drop Mr. Beam." + +He looked for an instant into her eyes. + +"Gladly," he exclaimed, with an impulse like a lightning-flash, "and +speak of Walter Lodloe." + +"Of you?" she said. + +"Yes, of me," he replied; "of myself, of a man who has no scheme, no +plan, no concealments, and who only wishes you to know that he loves you +with all his heart." + +She looked at him steadfastly for a moment. + +"Was it for this," she said, "that you asked me to come with you and +pick sweet-pea blossoms?" + +"Not at all," he exclaimed; "I meant no more than I said, and thought of +no more. But the flowers we came to gather you have dropped upon the +ground." + +"They can easily be picked up again," she said. + +"Not at all," he cried, and, stepping forward, put his foot upon the +fragrant blossoms. Then with a few rapid dashes he gathered a bunch of +sweet peas and extended them towards Mrs. Cristie. + +"Will you not take these instead?" he said. + +She put her hands behind her back. + +[Illustration: "WILL YOU NOT TAKE THESE INSTEAD?"] + +"I do not mean," he said, speaking low but strongly, "that in accepting +them you accept me. I only want to know that you will talk to me of what +I said, or at any rate think of it." + +But still she kept her hands behind her back. In her heart she knew that +she wanted those flowers, but the knowledge had come so suddenly, so +unexpectedly, and so unreasonably, that she did not even look at them, +and clasped her fingers together more tightly. + +"Some one is coming," said Lodloe. "Tell me quickly, must these flowers +be dropped?" + +Steps could plainly be heard not far away. Mrs. Cristie looked up. + +"I will take one," she said; "the very smallest." + +He thrust the bunch of flowers towards her, and she hastily drew from it +one which happened to be the largest of them all. + +The person who now appeared in the garden walk was Calthea Rose. She +experienced no emotions but those of mild amusement at seeing these two +together. At present she did not care very much about either of them, +although, when she had heard of the expected coming of the young widow, +she had been afraid of her, and was prepared to dislike her. But finding +her, as she supposed, already provided with a lover, Calthea was quite +satisfied with Mrs. Cristie. She liked Lodloe on general principles, +because he was a man. Her greeting was very pleasant. It often happened +that the people whom Calthea Rose neither liked nor disliked were those +who found her the most pleasant. + +She was inclined to walk on and leave them among the sweet-pea blossoms, +but Mrs. Cristie would not allow this. She joined Calthea, and the three +went on together. When they stepped upon the open lawn, Calthea gave a +quick glance around, and the result was very satisfactory. Ida Mayberry +and Lanigan were still sitting together under a tree, and she saw Mr. +Tippengray talking to Mrs. Petter not far from the summer-house. Nothing +could be better arranged. Lanigan was on the right road, and it would be +quite as natural for her immediately to join Mrs. Petter as it would be +easy to get rid of her. + +The party separated, Lodloe going to his room and Calthea walking +towards the summer-house. She had come that day to the Squirrel Inn with +a purpose; she was going to be taught by Mr. Tippengray. In this world +we must adapt ourselves to circumstances, and she was going to adapt +herself to the Greek scholar's hobby. She was a sensible woman, and did +not for a moment purpose to ask him to teach her the dead languages, +philosophy, or science, things in which he knew she took no interest. +Indeed, she would not ask him to teach her anything, but she was going +to give him the opportunity to do so, and she was quite sure that that +would be sufficient for her purpose. + +She intended to make herself an audience of one, and to listen in a way +she knew would please him to the recital of his travels and experiences. +Of these he had often essayed to talk to her, but she had not encouraged +him. She never liked to talk upon subjects of which other people knew +more than she did, and she always endeavored to bring the conversation +into a channel where she could take an equal part. If she could lead, so +much the better. But now she was going to let Mr. Tippengray talk to her +just as much as he pleased, and tell her all he wanted to tell her. She +now knew him better than she had done before, and she had strong hopes +that by this new string she would be able to lead him from the Squirrel +Inn to Lethbury whenever she chose. + +Mrs. Petter had long been accustomed to look upon Calthea Rose as a +person whose anger would blaze up very suddenly, but would go out quite +as promptly--which was true, when Miss Calthea chose to put it out--but +she was a little surprised that Calthea, after so recently going away in +a huff, should treat Mr. Tippengray with such easy friendliness. If the +Greek scholar himself felt surprised, he did not show it, for he was +always ready to meet a cordial overture. + +Miss Calthea had just accepted an invitation to be seated in the +shade,--which she knew would very soon be followed by Mrs. Petter's +going into the house, for that good woman was seldom content to sit long +out of doors,--when up stepped Ida Mayberry. + +"Mr. Tippengray," said she in the clear, distinct way in which she +always spoke, "here is something which I have been trying to explain to +Mr. Beam, but I am afraid I haven't a quite correct idea about it +myself. Will you please read it, and tell me how it strikes you!" + +[Illustration: "I HAVE DISSECTED ONE."] + +This was too much for the patience of Calthea Rose. Her resolutions of +geniality and good nature could not stand for a moment against such an +interruption at such a time. She turned sharply upon the nurse-maid, +and, without attempting to disguise her feelings, said it seemed to her +that a person so anxious to learn would be much better employed in +attending to her business and in trying to learn something about babies +than in interrupting conversation in this impertinent way. + +"Learn something about babies!" exclaimed Miss Mayberry. "Nobody knows +more about babies than I do--I have dissected one." + +At this Mrs. Petter gave a cry of horror, and Miss Calthea stepped back, +speechless with amazement. As for the Greek scholar, he suddenly retired +to a little distance and leaned over a bench, his back to the company. +He was greatly agitated. + +Without further remark Miss Mayberry closed her book, and, with dignity, +walked back to Lanigan Beam. + + + + +XIX + +THE AROUSED ROSE + + +The soul of Miss Calthea Rose was now filled with one burning purpose, +and that was to banish from the Squirrel Inn that obtrusive and utterly +obnoxious collegiate nurse-maid who had so shamelessly admitted a desire +for surgical research in connection with the care of an infant. It was +of no use for Miss Calthea to think at this moment of her plans in +regard to Mr. Tippengray, nor indeed of anything but this one absorbing +object. Until she had rid herself of Ida Mayberry she could expect to do +nothing that she wished to do. Leaving Mr. Tippengray to the quiet +enjoyment of his agitations, Miss Calthea and Mrs. Petter immediately +set off to find Mrs. Cristie. + +"She must instantly know," said the former, "what sort of a serpent she +has in her service. If I were in her place I would never let that +creature touch my baby again." + +"Touch the baby!" exclaimed Mrs. Petter, "I wouldn't let her touch me. +When a person with such a disposition begins on infants there is no +knowing where she will stop. Of course I don't mean that she is +dangerous to human life, but it seems to me horrible to have any one +about us who would be looking at our muscles, and thinking about our +bones, and wondering if they worked together properly, and if they would +come apart easily. Ugh! It's like having a bat in the room." + +Mrs. Cristie was not in the mood to give proper attention to the +alarming facts which were laid before her by the two women, who found +her sitting by the window in her room. It had been so short a time since +she had come from the garden, and the blossom of the sweet pea, which +she still held in her hand, had been so recently picked from its vine, +that it was not easy for her to fix her mind upon the disqualifications +of nurse-maids. Even the tale that was told her, intensified by the +bitter feeling of Miss Rose, and embellished by the imagination of Mrs. +Petter, did not have the effect upon her that was expected by the +narrators. She herself had been a student of anatomy, and was still fond +of it, and if she had been able properly to consider the subject at that +moment, she might not have considered it a bad thing for Ida Mayberry to +have the experience of which she had boasted. + +But the young widow did not wish at that moment to think of her +nurse-maid or even of her baby, and certainly not to give her attention +to the tales of her landlady and the spinster from Lethbury. + +"I must admit," she said, "that I cannot see that what you tell me is so +very, very dreadful, but I will speak to Ida about it. I think she is +apt to talk very forcibly, and perhaps imprudently, and does not always +make herself understood." + +This was said with an air of abstraction and want of interest which +greatly irritated Miss Calthea. She had not even been thanked for what +she had done. Mrs. Cristie had been very civil, and was evidently trying +to be more so, but this was not enough for Miss Calthea. + +"We considered it our duty," she said, with a decided rigidity of +countenance, "to tell you what we know of that girl, and now we leave +the matter with you"; which was a falsehood, if Miss Calthea was capable +of telling one. + +Then with much dignity she moved towards the door, and Mrs. Petter +prepared to follow; but before going she turned with moist eyes towards +Mrs. Cristie, and said: + +"Indeed, indeed, you ought to be very careful; and no matter how you +look at it, she is not fit for a nurse, as everybody can see. Make up +your mind to send her away, and I'll go myself and get you a good one." + +Glancing out of the door to see that the Lethbury lady was out of +hearing, Mrs. Cristie said: + +"You are very good, Mrs. Petter, and I know you wish me well, but tell +me one thing; wasn't it Miss Rose who proposed that you should come to +me with this story about Ida!" + +"Of course I should have told you myself," said Mrs. Petter, "though I +might have taken my time about it; but Calthea did not want to lose a +minute, and said we must go right off and look for you. She was as mad +as hops any way, for we were talking to Mr. Tippengray at the time, and +Calthea does hate to be interrupted when she is talking to him. But +don't you worry yourself any more than you can help, and remember my +promise. I'll stick to it, you may count on that." + +When Mrs. Cristie had been left to herself she gave enough time to the +consideration of what had been told her to come to the following +conclusion: "She shall not have him; I have made up my mind to that. +Interrupted by Ida! Of course that is at the bottom of it." And having +settled this matter, she relapsed into her former mood, and fell to +thinking what she should do about the sweet-pea blossom. + +She thought until the supper-bell rang, and then she rose and with a +pretty smile and flush upon her face, which showed that her thoughts had +not in the least worried her, she put the sweet-pea blossom into a +little jar which she had brought from Florence, and which was just big +enough for one small flower. + +At supper Walter Lodloe was very quiet and very polite, and Mrs. +Cristie, who was opposite to him, though not at all quiet, was also very +polite, but bestowed her attention almost entirely upon Mr. Tippengray, +who sat beside her. The Greek scholar liked this, and his conversation +sparkled. + +Miss Calthea Rose, who had accepted Mrs. Petter's invitation to spend +the night,--for if ever she was going to do anything at the Squirrel +Inn, this was the time to do it,--did not like Mrs. Cristie's +politeness, and her conversation did not sparkle. In fact she was +quieter than Mr. Lodloe, and paid little heed to the chatter of her +neighbor, Lanigan Beam. This young man was dissatisfied. There was a +place at the table that was sometimes filled and sometimes not filled. +At present it was empty. + +[Illustration: MRS. CRISTIE CONSIDERS.] + +"I cannot see," said he, speaking to the company in general, "why babies +are not brought to the table. I think they ought to be taught from the +very beginning how to behave themselves at meals." + +Mr. Petter fixed his eyes upon him, and, speaking through the young man, +also addressed the company. + +"I'm not altogether in favor of having small children at the table," +said he. "Their food is different from ours, and their ways are often +unpleasant; but I do think--" + +"No, you don't," interrupted Mrs. Petter from the other end of the +table--"you don't think anything of the kind. That has all been fixed +and settled, and there's no use in bringing it up again." + +Mr. Petter looked at his wife with a little flash in his eye, but he +spoke quietly. + +"There are some things," he said, "that can be unfixed and unsettled." + +Mrs. Cristie hastened to stop this discussion. + +"As I own the only baby in the house," she said, with a smile, "I may as +well say that it is not coming to the table either by itself or in any +other way." + +A thought now tickled Mr. Tippengray. Without any adequate reason +whatever, there came before him the vision of an opossum which he once +had seen served at a Virginia dinner-table, plump and white, upon a +china dish. And he felt almost irresistibly impelled to lean forward and +ask Mr. Lodloe if he had ever read any of the works of Mr. Jonathan +Carver, that noted American traveler of the last century; but he knew it +wouldn't do, and he restrained himself. If he had thought Lodloe would +understand him he would have made his observation in Greek, but even +that would have been impolite to the rest of the company. So he kept his +joke to himself, and, for fear that any one should perceive his +amusement, he asked Mrs. Petter if she had ever noticed how much finer +was the fur of a cat which slept out of doors than that of one which had +been in the house. She had noticed it, but thought that the cat would +prefer a snug rug by the fire to fine fur. + +Calthea Rose said little and thought much. It was necessary that she +should take in every possible point in the situation, and she was doing +it. She did not like Mrs. Cristie's attention to Mr. Tippengray, because +it gave him pleasure, and she did not wish that other women should give +him pleasure; but she was not jealous, for that would have been absurd +in this case. + +But the apparent state of feeling at the table had given her an idea. +She was thinking very bitterly of Mrs. Cristie, and would gladly do +anything which would cause that lady discomfort. There seemed to be +something wrong between her and Mr. Lodloe, otherwise the two lovers +would be talking to each other, as was their custom. Perhaps she might +find an opportunity to do something here. If, for instance, she could +get the piqued gentleman to flirt a little with her,--and she had no +doubt of her abilities in this line,--it might cause Mrs. Cristie +uneasiness. And here her scheme widened and opened before her. If in +any way she could make life at the Squirrel Inn distasteful to Mrs. +Cristie, that lady might go away. And in this case the whole problem +that engrossed her would be solved, for of course the maid would go with +the mistress. + +Calthea's eyes brightened, and with a smile she half listened to +something Lanigan Beam was saying to her. + +"Yes," she thought; "that would settle the whole business. The widow is +the person I ought to drive away; then they would all go, and leave him +to me, as I had him before." + +And now she listened a little, and talked a little, but still kept on +thinking. It was really a very good thing that her feeling towards Mrs. +Cristie had so suddenly changed, otherwise she might never have thought +of this admirable scheme. + + + + +XX + +AN INGENUOUS MAID + + +Mrs. Cristie was unusually prompt that evening in going to the relief of +Ida Mayberry, but before she allowed that young woman to go down to her +supper she put a question to her. + +"What do you mean, Ida," she said, "by talking about dissecting babies? +Whatever you may have done in that line, I do not think it is very nice +to bring it forward when you have charge of a child." + +"Of course it wasn't nice," replied Ida, "and I should never have +thought of speaking of it if it had not been for that thing from +Lethbury. She makes me so angry that I don't know what I say. You ought +to hear Lanigan Beam talk about her. He has confided to me, although I +am not sure that he should have done it." + +"Of course not," said Mrs. Cristie, very promptly; "he should not have +confided anything to you." + +"Well," continued Ida, "he told me, but said he would not breathe it to +any one else, that the great object of his life at present was to rid +this neighborhood of Calthea Rose. He says she has been a plague to +this community ever since he has known her. She is always ready to make +mischief, and nobody can tell when or how she is going to do it. As for +himself, he vows she has made it impossible for him to live here; and as +he wishes to live here, he wants her to go." + +"And how does he propose to make her go?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"He wants her to marry Mr. Tippengray, which she is very willing to do, +and then he is quite sure that they will go away and travel, and stay +abroad for a long time. He knows that this will be the very thing that +she would want to do." + +"And I suppose," said Mrs. Cristie, "that Mr. Beam told you all this in +order that you might be induced to help on the match between Mr. +Tippengray and Miss Rose." + +"That was exactly his object," said Ida; "he said that everybody ought +to help in this good work." + +"And then, I suppose, he would like to marry you," remarked Mrs. +Cristie. + +"He hasn't said so yet," replied Miss Mayberry, "but I think he would +like to do it." + +Mrs. Cristie brought down her little fist upon the table, regardless of +her slumbering child. + +"That man is utterly without a conscience," she exclaimed. "If he hadn't +kept on engaging himself over and over again to Calthea Rose, she might +have married somebody else, and gone away long ago. He has no one but +himself to blame that she is still here to worry him and other people. +And as to his wishing to sacrifice Mr. Tippengray to his ease and +comfort, I think it is the most shameful thing I ever heard of. I hope, +Ida, that you did not encourage him in this iniquitous scheme." + +Ida laughed, but quietly--remembering the baby. + +"Not much," she said; "in fact, I have determined, if I can, to rescue +Mr. Tippengray from that clutching old thing." + +"How?" asked Mrs. Cristie, quickly. + +"By marrying him myself," said the nurse-maid. + +"Ida Mayberry!" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said the other; "I have been considering the matter a good deal, +and I think it can be done. He is much older than I am, but that isn't +of great importance when people suit in other ways. Of course I would +not wish to marry a very old man, even if he were suitable, for I should +have to look forward to a married life so short that it would not pay; +but Mr. Tippengray was not born so dreadfully far back, and he is one of +those men who keep young for a long time. I think he likes me, and I am +sure I can easily make him like me more, if I choose. There is nobody +here that I need be afraid of, excepting you, perhaps." + +Mrs. Cristie looked at her in amazement. + +"Me!" she exclaimed. + +"Yes," said Ida; "and this is the way of it. For a time I rather liked +Lanigan Beam, for he's young and good-looking, and particularly because +he seems very much in love with me; but although he pretends to be +anxious to study, I know he is not very deep, and will probably soon +tire of that. So when my sympathy for Mr. Tippengray was fairly +aroused,--and it has been growing for some time,--it was easy enough to +drop Lanigan; but before I allowed myself to become too much interested +in Mr. Tippengray I had to consider all sides of the case. You seem to +like Mr. Tippengray very much, and of course if you really made up your +mind to prefer him to anybody else, one great object would be gained, +just the same as if I married him, and he would be saved from the hole +those two are digging for him." + +[Illustration: A MATRIMONIAL CONVERSATION.] + +"And in that case," said Mrs. Cristie, repressing a strong disposition +to laugh, "what would you do? Perhaps you would be content to take +anything that might be left." + +"I suppose you mean Mr. Lodloe," said Ida. "Well, to speak plainly, I +have never thought that I had a right to take him into consideration, +but if the field were entirely open, I would not hesitate a moment in +preferring him to either of the others." + +Now Mrs. Cristie laughed outright. + +"I could never have imagined," she said, "that a young girl such as you +are could have such practical and business-like views about matrimony." + +"Well," said the nurse-maid, "I don't see anything out of the way in my +views. I want to bring an intelligent judgment to bear upon everything I +do, and if the higher education is of any good at all, it ought to help +us to regulate our affections." + +"I have nothing to say on the subject," said Mrs. Cristie, "except that +they did not pretend to teach us that at Vassar. I don't see how you can +bring yourself to such calculations. But one part of your scheme I +approve of highly: positively you ought to drop Lanigan Beam. As to +marrying Mr. Tippengray, that is your affair, and his affair. And you +may be sure I shall not interfere in any way." + +Ida looked at her and smiled. + +"I wasn't very much afraid of that," she said, "though of course I +thought I ought to steer clear of even a possible interference; but now +I can go ahead with a clear conscience." + +Mrs. Cristie felt drawn towards this ingenuous maid. + +"Ida," she said, taking her by the hand, "as you have been so confiding +towards me, I will say to you that since you have concluded to drop Mr. +Beam your choice is decidedly restricted." + +"I am glad to hear it," said the other, warmly; "he is a good man, and I +think he has brains that you can count on. Is it all settled?" + +"Oh, no, no!" said Mrs. Cristie; "and mind, Ida, don't you say a word of +this to a living soul." + +"Oh, you needn't be afraid of that," said Miss Mayberry; "I never betray +confidences." + +"I am afraid," said Mrs Cristie to herself, as she stood alone by her +baby's bedside, "that I went a little too far. It isn't settled yet, and +it would have been better not to say anything about it. However"--and +then her thoughts went wandering. She was going down-stairs and out of +doors as soon as she had satisfied herself that Douglas could be +prudently left to his slumbers. + + + + +XXI + +TWISTED TRYSTS + + +Mrs. Cristie found the lower floor of the Squirrel Inn quite deserted. +She stopped before a window in a Norman tower and looked out. Twilight +was fading, but there was a young moon in the sky. By stepping a little +to one side she could see the moon, with the evening star twinkling not +far away from it. She did not go out, however, but slowly wandered into +a long room under the roof of a Swiss chalet. Here she went out on a +queer little balcony and sat down; but her view was cut off by an +out-jutting upper story of the old English type, with rows of +small-paned windows, and she soon came in from the balcony. There was a +light burning in the taproom, and as she passed its open door she +stopped for a moment and gazed reflectively at the row of dilapidated +stuffed squirrels, each of which had once stood guard upon the +guide-post to the inn. But she took no note of the squirrels, nor of +anything else in the quiet room, but as she stood, and instinctively put +her finger to her forehead, a resolution came. + +"I will be sensible, like Ida," she thought. "I will go out and let +things happen as they may." + +She went out into the young moonlight and, glancing across the lawn, +saw, near the edge of the bluff that commanded the western view, two +persons sitting upon a bench. Their backs were towards her, but one of +them she knew to be Calthea Rose. + +"I hope that is not poor Mr. Tippengray," said Mrs. Cristie to herself. +"If she has secured him already, and taken him out there, I am afraid +that even Ida will not be able to get him away from her. Ida must still +be at her supper. I should not have detained her so long." + +But Ida was not at her supper. As she turned towards the end of the lawn +Mrs. Cristie saw her nurse-maid slowly strolling over the grass, a man +on each side of her. They were plainly to be seen, and one man was Mr. +Tippengray and the other Lanigan Beam. The three were engaged in earnest +conversation. Mrs. Cristie smiled. + +"I need not have feared for Ida," she thought; "she must have made a +bold stroke to leave her rival in the lurch in that way, but I suppose +in order to get one man she has to take both. It is a little hard on +Miss Calthea"; and with an amused glance towards the couple on the bluff +she moved towards the gardens. Her mind was in a half-timorous and +undetermined state, in which she would have been glad to wander about by +herself and to meet nobody, or, if it so should happen, glad to meet +somebody; and wistfully, but yet timidly, she wondered which it would +be. All at once she heard a step behind her. In spite of herself she +started and flushed, and, turning, saw Mr. Petter. The sight of this +worthy gentleman was a shock to her. She had been sure he was sitting +with Calthea Rose on the bluff. If it was not he, who was it? + +[Illustration: CALTHEA HOLDS HIM WITH HER LISTENING EAR.] + +"I am glad to see you, Mrs. Cristie," said the landlord of the inn, "for +I want to speak with you. My mind is disturbed, and it is on account of +your assistant, Miss Mayberry. She has been talked about in a way that I +do not at all like. I may even say that my wife has been urging me to +use my influence with you to get her dismissed. I assured Mrs. Petter, +however, that I should use that influence, if it exists, in exactly the +opposite direction. Shall we walk on together, Mrs. Cristie, while I +speak further on the subject? I have a high opinion of Miss Mayberry. I +like her because she is what I term blooded. Nothing pleases me so much +as blooded service, and, I may add, blooded associations and +possessions. So far as I am able to have it so, my horses, my cattle, +and all my live stock are blooded. I consider my house, this inn, to be +a blooded house. It can trace its various lines of architectural +ancestry to honorable origins. The company at my house, with the +exception of Lanigan Beam,--who, however, is not a full guest, but +rather a limited inmate, ascending by a ladder to his dormitory,--are, +if you will excuse me for saying so, blooded. And that one of these +guests should avail herself of blooded service is to me a great +gratification, of which I hope I shall not be deprived. To see a vulgar +domestic in Miss Mayberry's place would wound and pain me, and I may +say, Mrs. Cristie that I have been able to see no reason whatever for +such substitution." + +Mrs. Cristie had listened without a word, but as she listened she had +been asking herself who that could be with Calthea Rose. If it was not +Walter Lodloe, who was it? And if it was he, why was he there? And if he +was there, why did he stay there? Of course she was neither jealous nor +worried nor troubled by such a thing, but the situation was certainly +odd. She had come out expecting something, she did not know exactly +what; it might not have been a walk among the sweet-pea blossoms, but +she was very certain it was not a conversation with Mr. Petter, while +Walter Lodloe sat over there in the moonlight with Calthea Rose. + +"You need not have given yourself any anxiety," she said to her +companion, "for I have not the slightest idea of discharging Ida. She +suits me admirably, and what they say about her is all nonsense; of +course I do not mean any disrespect to Mrs. Petter." + +Mr. Petter deprecatingly waved his hand. + +"I understand perfectly your reference to my wife," he said "Her mind, I +think, has been acted upon by others. Allow me to say, madam, that your +words have encouraged and delighted me. I feel we are moving in the +right direction. I breathe better." + +"How is it possible," thought Mrs. Cristie, during the delivery of this +speech, "that he can sit there, and sit, and sit, and sit, when he knows +at this hour I am always somewhere about the house or grounds, and never +in my room? Well, if he likes to sit there, let him sit"; and with this +she looked up with some vivacity into the face of her landlord and +asked him if even his pigeons and his chickens were blooded, and if the +pigs were also of good descent. As she spoke she slightly accelerated +her pace. + +Mr. Petter was very willing to walk faster, and to talk about all that +appertained to his beloved Squirrel Inn, and so they walked and talked +until they reached the garden and disappeared from view behind the tall +shrubbery that bordered the central path. + +Mrs. Petter sat on a little Dutch porch, looking out on the lawn, and +her mind was troubled. She wished to talk to Mr. Petter, and here he was +strolling about in the moonlight with that young widow. Of course there +was nothing in it, and it was perfectly proper for him to be polite to +his guests, but there were lines in politeness as well as in other +things, and they ought to be drawn before people went off walking by +themselves in the garden at an hour when most farmers were thinking +about going to bed. The good lady sat very uneasily on her little bench. +The night air felt damp to her and disagreeable; she was sure there were +spiders and other things running about the porch floor, and there were +no rounds to the bench on which she could put her feet. But she could +not bear to go in, for she had not the least idea in the world where +they had gone to. Perhaps they might walk all the way to Lethbury, for +all she knew. At this moment a man came up to the porch. It was Lanigan +Beam, and his soul was troubled. The skilful Miss Mayberry had so +managed the conversation in which she and the two gentlemen were +engaged, that its subject matter became deeper and deeper in its +character, until poor Lanigan found that it was getting very much too +deep for him. As long as he could manage to keep his head above water he +stood bravely, but when he was obliged to raise himself on the tips of +his toes, and even then found the discourse rising above his chin, +obliging him to shut his mouth and to blink his eyes, he thought it wise +to strike out for shore before he made a pitiful show of his lack of +mental stature. + +And in a very bad humor Lanigan walked rapidly to the house, where he +was much surprised to see Mrs. Petter on the little Dutch porch. + +"Why, madam," he exclaimed, "I thought you never sat out after +nightfall." + +"As a rule, I don't," the good lady answered, "and I oughtn't to now; +but the fact is--" She hesitated, but it was not necessary to finish the +sentence. Mr. Petter and Mrs. Cristie emerged from the garden and stood +together just outside its gate. He was explaining to her the origin of +some of the peculiar features of the Squirrel Inn. + +When the eyes of Mr. Beam fell upon these two, who stood plainly visible +in the moonlight, while he and Mrs. Petter were in shadow, his trouble +was dissipated by a mischievous hilarity. + +"Well, well, well!" said he, "she _is_ a woman." + +"Of course she is," said Mrs. Petter; "and what of that, I'd like to +know?" + +"Now that I think of it," said Lanigan, with a finger on the side of his +nose, "I remember that she and her young man didn't have much to say to +each other at supper. Quarreled, perhaps. And she is comforting herself +with a little flirt with Mr. Petter." + +"Lanigan Beam, you ought to be ashamed of yourself," cried the good +lady; "you know Mr. Petter never flirts." + +"Well, perhaps _he_ doesn't," said Lanigan; "but if I were you, Mrs. +Petter, I would take him out a shawl or something to put over his +shoulders. He oughtn't to be standing out there in the night wind." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind," she answered shortly, "and I oughtn't +to be out here in the night air either." + +Lanigan gazed at Mrs. Cristie and her companion. If that charming young +widow wanted some one to walk about with her in the moonlight, she could +surely do better than that. Perhaps a diversion might be effected and +partners changed. + +"Mrs. Petter," said he, "I wouldn't go in, if I were you. If you move +about you will be all right. Suppose we stroll over that way." + +"I am ready to stroll," said Mrs. Petter, in a tone that showed she had +been a good deal stirred by her companion's remarks, "but I am not going +to stroll over that way. The place is big enough for people to keep to +themselves, if they choose, and I am one that chooses, and I choose to +walk in the direction of my duty, or, more properly, the duty of +somebody else, and see that the hen-houses are shut"; and, taking +Lanigan's arm, she marched him down to the barn, and then across a small +orchard to the most distant poultry-house within the limits of the +estate. + +When Mr. Stephen Petter, allowing his eyes to drop from the pointed roof +of his high tower, saw his wife and Lanigan Beam walking away among the +trees in the orchard, he suddenly became aware that the night air was +chilly, and suggested to his companion that it might be well to return +to the house. + +"Oh, not yet, Mr. Petter," said she; "I want you to tell me how you came +to have that little turret over the thatched roof." + +She had determined that she would not go indoors while Calthea Rose and +Mr. Lodloe sat together on that bench. + +Early in the evening Miss Calthea had seen Mr. Lodloe walking by himself +upon the bluff, and she so arranged a little promenade of her own that +in passing around some shrubbery she met him near the bench. Miss +Calthea was an admirable manager in dialogue, and if she had an object +in view it did not take her long to find out what her collocutor liked +to talk about. She had unusual success in discovering something which +very much interested Mr. Lodloe, and they were soon seated on a bench +discussing the manners and ways of life in Lethbury. + +To a man who recently had been seized with a desire to marry and to live +in Lethbury, and who had already taken some steps in regard to the +marriage, this subject was one of the most lively interest, and Lodloe +was delighted to find what a sensible, practical, and well-informed +woman was Miss Rose. She was able to give him all sorts of points about +buying a building or renting houses in Lethbury, and she entered with +the greatest zeal into the details of living, service, the cost of +keeping a horse, a cow, and poultry, and without making any inconvenient +inquiries into the reasons for Mr. Lodloe's desire for information on +these subjects. She told him everything he wanted to know about +housekeeping in her native village, because she had made herself aware +that his mind was set on that sort of thing. In truth she did not care +whether he settled in Lethbury or some other place, or whether he ever +married and settled at all. All she wished was to talk to him in such a +way that she might keep him with her as long as possible. She wished +this because she liked to keep a fine-looking young man all to herself, +and also because she thought that the longer she did so the more +uneasiness she would cause Mrs. Cristie. + +She had convinced herself that it would not do for life to float too +smoothly at the Squirrel Inn. She would stir up things here and there, +but prudently, so that no matter who became disgusted and went away, it +would not be Mr. Tippengray. She was not concerned at present about this +gentleman. It was ten to one that by this time Lanigan Beam had driven +him away from the child's nurse. + +Walter Lodloe was now beginning to feel that it was quite time that his +conversation with Miss Rose, which had really lasted much longer than he +supposed, should be brought to a close. His manner indicating this, Miss +Calthea immediately entered into a most attractive description of a +house picturesquely situated on the outskirts of Lethbury, which would +probably soon be vacated on account of the owner's desire to go West. + +At the other end of the extensive lawn two persons walked backward and +forward near the edge of the trees perfectly satisfied and untroubled. +What the rest of the world was doing was of no concern whatever to +either of them. + +"I am afraid, Mr. Tippengray," said the nurse-maid, "that when your +Greek version of the literature of to-day, especially its humorous +portion, is translated into the American language of the future it will +lose much of its point and character." + +"You must remember, my dear Miss Mayberry," said the gentleman, "that we +do not know what our language will be in eight hundred or a thousand +years from now. The English of to-day may be utterly unintelligible to +the readers of that era, but that portion of our literature which I put +into imperishable and unchangeable Greek will be the same then as now. +The scholar may read it for his own pleasure and profit, or he may +translate it for the pleasure and profit of others. At all events, it +will be there, like a fly in amber, good for all time. All you have to +do is to melt your amber, and there you have your fly." + +"And a well-shriveled-up fly it would be, I am afraid," said Ida. + +Mr. Tippengray laughed. + +"Be not too sure of that," he said. "I will translate some of my Greek +version of 'Pickwick' back into English, and let you see for yourself +how my amber preserves the fly." + +"Let me do it," said Ida. "It is a long time since I read 'Pickwick,' +and therefore my translation will be a better test." + +"Capital!" cried Mr. Tippengray. "I will copy a few lines for you +to-night." + +From out an open Elizabethan window under a mansard roof, and +overlooking a small Moorish veranda, there came a sound of woe. The +infant Douglas had awakened from a troubled sleep, and with a wild and +piercing cry he made known to his fellow-beings his desire for society. +Instantly there was a kaleidoscopic change among the personages on the +grounds of the Squirrel Inn. Miss Mayberry darted towards the house; the +Greek scholar, without knowing what he was doing, ran after her for a +short distance, and then stopped; Mrs. Petter screamed from the edge of +the orchard to know what was the matter; and Lanigan ran to see. Mr. +Petter, the natural guardian of the place, pricked up his ears and +strode towards the inn, his soul filled with a sudden fear of fire. Mrs. +Cristie recognized the voice of her child, but saw Ida running, and so, +relieved of present anxiety, remained where her companion had left her. + +Walter Lodloe, hearing Mrs. Petter's voice and the running, sprang from +his seat; and seeing that it would be impossible to detain him now, and +preferring to leave rather than to be left, Miss Calthea hurried away to +see what was the matter. + + + + +XXII + +THE BLOSSOM AND THE LITTLE JAR + + +Perceiving Mrs. Cristie standing alone near the entrance to the garden, +Walter Lodloe walked rapidly towards her. As he approached she moved in +the direction of the house. + +"Will you not stop a moment?" he said. "Do not go in yet." + +"I must," she answered; "I have been out here a long while--too long." + +"Out here a long time!" he exclaimed. "You surprise me. Please stop one +moment. I want to tell you of a most interesting conversation I have had +with Miss Rose. It has animated me wonderfully." + +Considering what had occurred that afternoon, this remark could not fail +to impress Mrs. Cristie, and she stopped and looked at him. He did not +give her time to ask any questions, but went on: + +"I have been asking her about life in Lethbury--houses, gardens, +everything that relates to a home in that delightful village. And what +she has told me opens a paradise before me. I did not dream that down +in that moon-lighted valley I should be almost rich; that I could offer +you--" + +"And may I ask," she interrupted, "if you have been talking about me to +Miss Rose?" + +"Not a word of it," he answered warmly. "I never mentioned your name, +nor referred to you in any way." + +She could not help ejaculating a little sarcastically: + +"How circumspect!" + +"And now," he said, coming closer to her, "will you not give me an +answer? I love you, and I cannot wait. And oh! speak quickly, for here +comes Mrs. Petter straight towards us." + +"I do not like Lethbury," said Mrs. Cristie. + +Lodloe could have stamped his feet, in the fire of his impatience. + +"But of me, of myself," he said. "And oh! speak quickly, she is almost +here." + +"Please cease," said Mrs. Cristie; "she will hear you." + +Mrs. Petter came up panting. + +"I don't want to interrupt you, Mrs. Cristie," she said, "but really and +truly you ought to go to your baby. He has stopped crying in the most +startling and suspicious way. Of course I don't know what she has done +to him, and whether it's anything surgical or laudanum. And it isn't for +me to be there to smell the little creature's breath; but you ought to +go this minute, and if you find there is anything needed in the way of +mustard, or hot water, or sending for the doctor, just call to me from +the top of the stairs." + +"My dear Mrs. Petter," said Mrs. Cristie, "why didn't Calthea Rose come +and tell me this herself, instead of sending you?" + +"She said that she thought you would take it better from me than from +her; and after we had made up our minds about it, she said I ought not +to wait a second." + +"Well," said Mrs. Cristie, "it was very good in you to come to me, but I +do not feel in the least alarmed. It was Ida's business to quiet the +child, and I have no doubt she did it without knives or poison. But now +that you are here, Mrs. Petter, I wish to ask your opinion about +something that Mr. Lodloe has been talking of to me." + +The young man looked at her in astonishment. + +"He has been telling me," continued Mrs. Cristie, "of a gentleman he +knows, a person of education, and accustomed to society, who had +conceived the idea of living in Lethbury. Now what do you think of +that?" + +"Well," said Mrs. Petter, "if he's married, and if his wife's got the +asthma, or he's got it himself, I have heard that Lethbury is good for +that sort of complaint. Or if he's failed in business and has to live +cheap; or if he is thinking of setting up a store where a person can get +honest wash-goods; or if he has sickly children, and isn't particular +about schools, I suppose he might as well come to Lethbury as not." + +"But he has none of those reasons for settling here," said Mrs. Cristie. + +"Well, then," remarked Mrs. Petter, somewhat severely, "he must be weak +in his mind. And if he's that, I don't think he's needed in Lethbury." + +As she finished speaking the good woman turned and beheld her husband +just coming out of the house. Being very desirous of having her talk +with him, and not very well pleased at the manner in which her mission +had been received, she abruptly betook herself to the house. + +"Now, then," said Mrs. Cristie, turning to Lodloe, "what do you think of +that very explicit opinion?" + +"Does it agree with yours?" he asked. + +"Wonderfully," she replied. "I could not have imagined that Mrs. Petter +and I were so much of a mind." + +"Mrs. Cristie," said Lodloe, "I drop Lethbury, and here I stand with +nothing but myself to offer you." + +The moon had now set, the evening was growing dark, and the lady began +to feel a little chilly about the shoulders. + +"Mr. Lodloe," she asked, "what did you do with that bunch of sweet peas +you picked this afternoon?" + +"They are in my room," he said eagerly. "I have put them in water. They +are as fresh as when I gathered them." + +"Well," she said, speaking rather slowly, "if to-morrow, or next day, or +any time when it may be convenient, you will bring them to me, I think I +will take them." + +[Illustration: THE BABY AND THE SWEET-PEA BLOSSOM.] + +In about half an hour Mrs. Cristie went into the house, feeling that she +had stayed out entirely too late. In her room she found Ida reading by a +shaded lamp, and the baby sleeping soundly. The nurse-maid looked up +with a smile, and then turned her face again to her book. Mrs. Cristie +stepped quietly to the mantelpiece, on which she had set the little jar +from Florence, but to her surprise there was nothing in it. The +sweet-pea blossom was gone. After looking here and there upon the floor, +she went over to Ida, and in a low voice asked her if she had seen +anything of a little flower that had been in that jar. + +"Oh, yes," said the girl, putting down her book; "I gave it to baby to +amuse him, and the instant he took it he stopped crying, and very soon +went to sleep. There it is; I declare, he is holding it yet." + +Mrs. Cristie went softly to the bedside of the child and, bending over +him, gently drew the sweet-pea blossom from his chubby little fist. + + + + +XXIII + +HAMMERSTEIN + + +Miss Calthea Rose was up and about very early the next morning. She had +work to do in which there must be no delay or loss of opportunity. It +was plain enough that her scheme for driving away Ida Mayberry had +failed, and, having carefully noted the extraordinary length of time +which Mrs. Cristie and Mr. Lodloe spent together under the stars the +previous evening, she was convinced that it would not be easy to make +that lady dissatisfied with the Squirrel Inn. She therefore determined +to turn aside from her plans of exile, to let the child's nurse stay +where she pleased, to give no further thought to Lanigan Beam, and to +devote all her energies to capturing Mr. Tippengray. She believed that +she had been upon the point of doing this before the arrival of +intruders on the scene, and she did not doubt that she could reach that +point again. + +Miss Calthea was very restless that morning; she was much more anxious +to begin work than was anybody else on the place. She walked about the +ground, went into the garden, passed the summer-house on her way there +and back again, and even wandered down to the barnyard, where the +milking had just begun. If any one had been roaming about like herself, +she could not have failed to observe such person. But there was no one +about until a little before breakfast-time, when Mr. Petter showed +himself. + +This gentleman greeted Calthea coolly. He had had a very animated +conversation with his wife on the evening before, and had been made +acquainted with the unwarrantable enmity exhibited by this village +shopkeeper toward Mrs. Cristie's blooded assistant. He was beginning to +dislike Calthea, and he remembered that the Rockmores never liked her, +and he wished very much that she would cease to spend so much of her +time at his house. After breakfast Calthea was more fortunate. She saw +the Greek scholar walking upon the lawn, with a piece of writing-paper +in his hand. In less than five minutes, by the merest accident in the +world, Mr. Tippengray was walking across the lawn with Miss Rose, and he +had put his piece of paper into his pocket. + +She wanted to ask him something. She would detain him only a few +minutes. The questions she put to him had been suggested to her by +something she had read that morning--a most meager and unsatisfactory +passage. She held in her hand the volume which, although she did not +tell him so, had taken her a half-hour to select in Mr. Petter's book +room. Shortly they were seated together, and he was answering her +questions which, as she knew, related to the most interesting +experiences of his life. As he spoke his eyes glistened and her soul +warmed. He did not wish that this should be so. He wanted to bring this +interview to an end. He was nervously anxious to go back on the lawn, +that he might see Miss Mayberry when she came out of doors; that he +might show her the lines of "Pickwick" which he had put into Greek, and +which she was to turn back into English. + +But he could not cut short the interview. Miss Calthea was not an +Ancient Mariner; she had never even seen the sea, and she had no +glittering eye, but she held him with a listening ear, and never was +wedding guest, or any other man, held more securely. + +Minutes, quarter-hours, half-hours passed and still he talked and she +listened. She guided his speech as a watchful sailor guides his ship, +and whichever way she turned it the wind always filled his sails. For +the first ten minutes he had been ill at ease, but after that he had +begun to feel that he had never so much enjoyed talking. In time he +forgot everything but what he had to say, and it was rapture to be able +to say it, and to feel that never before had he said it so well. + +His back was towards the inn, but through some trees Miss Calthea could +see that Mr. Petter's spring wagon, drawn by the two grays, Stolzenfels +and Falkenberg, was at the door, and soon she perceived that Mr. Lodloe +was in the driver's place, and that Mrs. Cristie, with Ida Mayberry +holding the baby, was on the back seat. The place next Lodloe was +vacant, and they seemed to be waiting for some one. Then Lanigan Beam +came up. There was a good deal of conversation, in which he seemed to +be giving information, and presently he sprang up beside the driver and +they were off. The party were going for a long drive, Miss Calthea +thought, because Mrs. Petter had come out and had put a covered basket +into the back of the wagon. + +Mr. Tippengray was so absorbed in the interest of what he was saying +that he did not hear the roll of the departing wheels, and Miss Calthea +allowed him to talk on for nearly a quarter of an hour until she thought +she had exhausted the branch of the subject on which he was engaged, and +was sure the spring wagon was out of sight and hearing. Then she +declared that she had not believed that any part of the world could be +as interesting as that region which Mr. Tippengray had been describing +to her, and that she was sorry she could not sit there all the morning +and listen to him, but duty was duty, and it was necessary for her to +return to Lethbury. + +This announcement did not seem in the least to decrease the good spirits +of the Greek scholar, but his chin and his spirits fell when, on +reaching the house, he heard from Mrs. Petter that his fellow-guests had +gone off for a long drive. + +"They expected to take you, Mr. Tippengray," said his hostess, "but +Lanigan Beam said he had seen you and Miss Rose walking across the +fields to Lethbury, and so they asked him to go. I hope they'll be back +to dinner, but there's no knowing, and so I put in a basket of +sandwiches and things to keep them from starving before they get home." + +Miss Calthea was quite surprised. + +"We were sitting over yonder the whole time," she said, "very much +occupied with talking, it is true, but near enough to hear if we had +been called. I fancy that Lanigan had reasons of his own for saying we +had gone to Lethbury." + +Poor Mr. Tippengray was downcast. How much time must elapse before he +would have an opportunity to deliver the piece of paper he had in his +pocket! How long would he be obliged to lounge around by himself waiting +for Ida Mayberry to return! + +"Well," said Calthea, "I must go home, and as I ought to have been there +long ago, I am going to ask Mr. Petter to lend me a horse and buggy. +It's the greatest pity, Mr. Tippengray, that you have lost your drive +with your friends, but as you can't have that, suppose you take one with +me. I don't mind acknowledging to you that I am a little afraid of Mr. +Petter's horses, but with you driving I should feel quite safe." + +If Mr. Tippengray could have immediately thought of any good reason why +he should have staid at home that morning he would probably have given +it, but none came into his mind. After all, he might as well be driving +to Lethbury as staying there doing nothing, and there could be no doubt +that Miss Calthea was very agreeable that morning. Consequently he +accepted the invitation. + +Calthea Rose went herself to the barn to speak to Mr. Petter about the +horse, and especially requested that he would lend her old Zahringen, +whom she knew to be the most steady of beasts, but Zahringen had gone to +be shod, and there was no horse at her service except Hammerstein, and +no vehicle but a village cart. Hammerstein was a better horse than +Zahringen, and would take Calthea home more rapidly, which entirely +suited Mr. Petter. + +It may be here remarked that the barn and stables were not of Mr. +Petter's building, but in order that they might not be entirely exempt +from the influence of his architectural fancies, he had given his horses +the names of certain castles on the Rhine. + +Calthea was not altogether satisfied with the substitution of the big +black horse for the fat brown one, but she could make no reasonable +objection, and the vehicle was soon at the door. + +Mr. Tippengray was very fond of driving, and his spirits had risen +again. But he was a good deal surprised when Miss Calthea declined to +take the seat beside him, preferring to occupy the rear seat with her +back to the horse. By turning a little to one side, she said she could +talk just as well, and it was more comfortable in such a small vehicle +as a village cart to have a whole seat to one's self. + +As soon as they were in the road that ran through the woods she proved +that she could twist herself around so as to talk to her companion, and +look him in the face, quite as easily as if she had been sitting beside +him. They chatted together, and looked each other in the face, and the +Greek scholar enjoyed driving very much until they had gone a mile or +more on the main road, and had come upon an overturned wagon lying by +the roadside. At this Hammerstein and the conversation suddenly stopped. +The big black horse was very much opposed to overturned vehicles. He +knew that in some way they were connected with disaster, and he would +not willingly go near one. He stood head up, ears forward, and slightly +snorting. Mr. Tippengray was annoyed by this nonsense. + +[Illustration: MISS CALTHEA STEPS OUT.] + +"Go on!" he cried, "Get up!" Then the driver took the whip from the +socket and gave the horse a good crack. + +"Get up!" he cried. + +Hammerstein obeyed, but got up in a manner which Mr. Tippengray did not +intend. He arose upon his hind legs, and pawed the air, appearing to the +two persons behind him like a tall, black, unsteady steeple. + +When a horse harnessed to a village cart sees fit to rear, the hind part +of the vehicle is brought very near to the ground, so that a person +sitting on the back seat can step out without trouble. Miss Calthea +perceived this and stepped out. On general principles she had known that +it was safer to alight from the hind seat of a village cart than from +the front seat. + +"Don't pull at him that way," she cried from the opposite side of the +road, "he will go over backwards on top of you. Let him alone and +perhaps he will stop rearing." + +Hammerstein now stood on all his feet again, and Miss Calthea earnestly +advised Mr. Tippengray to turn him around and drive back. + +"I am not far from home now," she said, "and can easily walk there. I +really think I do not care to get in again. But I am sure he will go +home to his stable without giving you any trouble." + +But Mr. Tippengray's spirit was up, and he would not be conquered by a +horse, especially in the presence of a lady. + +"I shall make him pass it," he cried, and he brought down his whip on +Hammerstein's back with such force that the startled animal gave a great +bound forward, and then, finding himself so near the dreaded wreck, he +gave a wilder bound, and passed it. Then, being equipped with blinders, +which did not allow him to see behind him, he did not know but the +frightful wagon, its wheels uppermost, was wildly pursuing him, and, +fearing that this might be so, he galloped onward with all his speed. + +The Greek scholar pulled at the reins and shouted in such a way that +Hammerstein was convinced that he was being urged to use all efforts to +get away from the oncoming monster. He did not turn into the Lethbury +road when he came to it, but kept straight on. At such a moment the +straighter the road the better. Going down a long hill, Mr. Tippengray, +still pulling and shouting, and now hatless, perceived, some distance +ahead of him, a boy standing by the roadside. It was easy enough for the +practised eye of a country boy to take in the state of affairs, and his +instincts prompted him to skip across the road and open a gate which led +into a field recently plowed. + +Mr. Tippengray caught at the boy's idea and, exercising all his +strength, he turned Hammerstein into the open gateway. When he had made +a dozen plunges into the deep furrows and through the soft yielding +loam, the horse concluded that he had had enough of that sort of +exercise, and stopped. Mr. Tippengray, whose senses had been nearly +bounced out of him, sprang from the cart, and, slipping on the uneven +surface of the ground, tumbled into a deep furrow, from which, however, +he instantly arose without injury, except to his clothes. Hurrying to +the head of the horse he found the boy already there, holding the now +quiet animal. The Greek scholar looked at him admiringly. + +"My young friend," said he, "that was a noble thought, worthy of a +philosopher." + +The boy grinned. + +"They generally stop when they get into a plowed field," he said. "What +skeered him?" + +Mr. Tippengray briefly related the facts of the case, and the horse was +led into the road. It was soon ascertained that no material harm had +been done to harness or vehicle. + +"Young man," said Mr. Tippengray, "what will you take for your hat!" + +The boy removed his head-covering and looked at it. It was of coarse +straw, very wide, very much out of shape, without a band, and with a +hole in the crown surrounded by a tuft of broken straw. + +"Well," said he, "it ain't worth much now, but it'll take a quarter to +buy a new one." + +"Here is a quarter for your hat," said the Greek scholar, "and another +for your perspicacity. I suppose I shall find my hat on the road, but I +cannot wait for that. The sun is too hot." + +[Illustration: "WHAT SKEERED HIM?"] + +The Greek scholar now started homeward, leading Hammerstein. He liked +walking, and had no intention whatever of again getting into that cart. +If, when they reached the overturned wagon, the animal should again +upheave himself, or in any way misbehave, Mr. Tippengray intended to let +go of him, and allow him to pursue his homeward way in such manner and +at such speed as might best please him. + +[Illustration: MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED AND LISTENED.] + +The two walked a long distance without reaching the object of +Hammerstein's fright, and Mr. Tippengray began to think that the road +was a good deal narrower and more shaded than he had supposed it to be. +The fact was, that a road diverged from the right, near the top of the +hill, which he had not noticed when passing it in mad career, and +naturally turning to the right, without thinking very much about it, he +had taken this road instead of the one by which he had come. Our +scholar, however, did not yet comprehend that he was on the wrong road, +and kept on. + +Soon his way led through the woods, with great outstretching trees, with +wide-open spaces, interspersed here and there with masses of +undergrowth. Mr. Tippengray greatly enjoyed the shaded road, the smell +of the pines, and the flowers scattered along the edges of the wood. But +in a few minutes he would doubtless have discovered that he had gone +astray, and, notwithstanding the pleasantness of his surroundings, he +would have turned back, had he not suddenly heard voices not far away. +He stopped and listened. + +The voices came from behind a clump of evergreens close by the roadside, +and to his utter amazement Mr. Tippengray heard the voice of Lanigan +Beam saying to some one that true love must speak out, and could not be +silenced; that for days he had been looking for an opportunity, and now +that it had come she must hear him, and know that his heart was hers +only, and could never belong to anybody else. Then the voice of Ida +Mayberry, very clear and distinct, replied that he must not talk to her +in that way, that her line of life and his were entirely different. And +she was doubtless going to say more, when her companion interrupted, and +vowed with all possible earnestness that whatever line of life she chose +should be his line; that he would gladly give up every plan and purpose, +follow her in whatever direction she chose to lead, and do whatever she +wished he should do. + +Mr. Tippengray was very uneasy. The subject-matter of the conversation +he was overhearing disturbed him in a manner which he did not +understand, and he felt, moreover, that it was not proper for him to +listen to another word. He did not know what to do; if he moved forward +they would hear the wheels, and know that he had been near, and if he +attempted to back out of the vicinity there was no knowing what hubbub +he and Hammerstein might create. While standing undecided, he heard +Lanigan speak thus: + +"And as for Greek, and that sort of thing, you shall have all you want. +I'll hire old Tippengray by the year; he shall be the family pedagogue, +and we'll tap him for any kind of learning we may happen to want." + +Instantly all thought of retreat fled from the mind of the scholar; his +eyes glittered, and he was on the point of doing something, when there +came from a little distance the voice of Mrs. Cristie, loudly calling +for Ida. There was shuffling of feet, and in a few moments Mr. +Tippengray perceived the nurse-maid rapidly walking away between the +trees while Lanigan leisurely followed. + +With head erect and nostrils dilated, as if he had been excited by the +perception of something upside down, Mr. Tippengray again laid hold of +the bridle of Hammerstein, and went on. In a few minutes he emerged upon +an open space, through which flowed a little brook, and where sat Mrs. +Cristie, Lodloe, Ida Mayberry with the baby in her lap, and Lanigan +Beam. All of these persons, excepting the infant, were eating +sandwiches. + +At the sight of the little man and the tall horse, the former spattered +with mud, smeared with the earth of the plowed field, and crowned with a +misshapen hat with the expansive hole in the top, the sandwich-eaters +stopped eating, gazed open-eyed, and then burst out laughing. Mr. +Tippengray did not laugh; his eyes still glittered. + +It was half an hour before the tale was told, order restored, and Mr. +Tippengray had washed his face and hands in the brook and taken +refreshment. Then he found himself alone with Mrs. Cristie. + +"Truly you have had a hard time," said she, kindly. + +"Madam," answered the Greek scholar, "you are entirely correct. This has +been an unfortunate day for me. I have been cunningly entrapped, and +heartlessly deserted; I have been nearly frightened out of my wits; have +had my soul nearly burned out of my body, and have been foully +besmirched with dirt and mud. But, worse than all, I have heard myself +made the subject of contempt and contumely." + +"How is that?" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie. "I do not understand." + +"I will quickly make it plain to you," said the indignant scholar, and +he related the conversation he had overheard. + +"What a shameful way to speak of you, Mr. Tippengray!" cried Mrs. +Cristie. "I did not suppose that Mr. Beam would dare to say such things +to one whom he knew to be your friend. I have no doubt that if I had not +called Ida at that moment, you would have heard her resent that +disrespectful speech." + +"I hope so; with all my heart, I hope so," replied the Greek scholar. + +He said this with so much feeling that his companion looked at him a few +moments without speaking. + +"Mr. Tippengray," she said presently, "it is time for us to go home. How +would you like to take Ida Mayberry back in your cart?" + +The brightness in the eyes of the Greek scholar changed from the glitter +of indignation to gleams of joy. + +"Madam," said he, "I should like it of all things. It would remove from +the anticipated pleasures of this day the enormous Alpha privative which +has so far overshadowed them." + +The young widow did not exactly comprehend this answer, but it was +enough to know that he was glad to accept the opportunity she offered +him. No sooner had he spoken than Mr. Tippengray remembered the hazards +to which he was exposing himself by again taking the reins of +Hammerstein, but not for an instant did he think of drawing back. His +desire to take Ida Mayberry away from that fellow, and have her by +himself, overpowered fear and all other feelings. + +Mrs. Cristie's arrangement for the return pleased everybody except +Lanigan Beam. The nurse-maid was perfectly willing to go in the village +cart, and was not at all afraid of horses, and Walter Lodloe had no +objection to sit on the back seat of the wagon with his lady-love, and +help take care of the baby. Lanigan made few remarks about the +situation; he saw that he had made a mistake, and was being punished for +it, and without remonstrance he took the front seat and the reins of the +grays. + + + + +XXIV + +TRANSLATIONS + + +Lanigan Beam had no more fear of Mr. Tippengray as a rival than he would +have had of Mr. Petter, but the apportionment of companions for the +return trip nettled him a good deal, and, as a consequence of this, the +pair of grays traveled homeward at a smarter pace, and Hammerstein and +the village cart were soon left far behind. + +The road was not the one by which Mr. Tippengray had arrived on the +scene, but led through the woods to the main road, which it joined at a +point not far from the sign of the Squirrel Inn. Hammerstein traveled +very quietly and steadily of his own accord, slackening his gait at the +rough places, thus giving Mr. Tippengray every opportunity for an +uninterrupted converse with his fellow scholar; and he lost no time in +submitting to her his Greek version of the lines from "Pickwick." + +"I am very glad you have it with you," said Ida, "for I put my Greek +dictionary in my pocket this morning, when I first came down, hoping to +have a chance to do some translating, and what better chance could I +have than this?" + +[Illustration: THE TRANSLATION.] + +Drawing out her dictionary and a little blank-book she immediately began +her labors. Mr. Tippengray did not altogether like this. He felt an +intense and somewhat novel desire to converse with the young woman on no +matter what subject, and he would have preferred that she should +postpone the translation. But he would not interrupt the engrossing +occupation into which she now plunged with ardor. Rapidly turning +backward and forward the leaves of the little dictionary, and tapping +her front teeth with her pencil as she puzzled over the correlation of +Greek and English words and expressions, she silently pursued her work. + +Although he did not talk to her, it was very pleasant for Mr. Tippengray +to sit and look upon this fair young scholar. At her request he made +the tall steed walk, in order that her pencil might not be too much +joggled, slyly thinking, the while, that thus the interview would be +prolonged. The air was warm and balmy. Everything was still about them. +They met no one, and every minute Mr. Tippengray became more and more +convinced that, next to talking to her, there could be no greater joy in +life than basking in the immediate atmosphere of this girl. + +At last she shut up her dictionary. + +"Now, then!" she exclaimed, "I have translated it, and I assure you that +it is a fair and square version, for I do not in the least remember the +original paragraph." + +"I have the original here," said Mr. Tippengray, pulling the second +volume of "Pickwick" from his pocket, "and we will compare it with your +translation, if you will be so good as to read it. You do not know with +what anxious enthusiasm I await the result." + +"And I, too," said Ida, earnestly. "I do not think there could be a +better test of the power of the Greek language to embalm and preserve +for future generations the spirit of Dickens. Now I will read, and you +can compare my work with the original as I go on." + +The translation ran thus: + + "For the reason that he who drives a vehicle of the + post-road holds high office above the masses," to him + answered the Sire Weller with eyes affiliated; "for the + reason that he who drives a vehicle of the post-road acteth + at will, undoubted, humanity otherwise prohibited. For the + reason that he who drives a vehicle of the post-road is able + to look with affection on a woman of eighty far distant, + though it is not publicly believed that in the midst of any + it is his desire to wed. Among males which one discourseth + similarly, Sammy?" + +"I wrote Sammy," she explained, "because I remembered that is the way +the name is used in English." + +Mr. Tippengray raised his eyebrows very high, and his chin slowly began +to approach the sailor knot of his cravat. + +"Oh, dear," he said, "I am afraid that this would not express to future +ages the spirit and style of Dickens. The original passage runs thus," +and he read: + + "'Cos a coachman's a privileged individual," replied Mr. + Weller, looking fixedly at his son. "'Cos a coachman may do + without suspicion wot other men may not; 'cos a coachman may + be on the very amicablest terms with eighty mile o' females + and yet nobody thinks that he ever means to marry any vun + among 'em. And wot other man can say the same, Sammy?" + +"They are not much alike, are they?" said Miss Mayberry. "I think if +Dickens could read my translation he would not in the least recognize +it. The fact is, Mr. Tippengray, I do not believe that your method of +Greek pickling will answer to preserve our fiction for the future. It +may do for histories and scientific work, but when you come to dialect +and vernacular, if you once get it into Greek you can never get it back +again as it used to be." + +"That will be a great pity," said Mr. Tippengray, "for fiction makes up +such a large part of our literature. And it does seem that good English +might be properly translated into good Greek." + +"Oh, it isn't the translation," said Ida; "that is all easy enough: it's +the resurrection back into the original condition. Look at the prophet +Enoch. He was translated, but if it were possible now to bring him back +again, he would not be the same Enoch, you know." + +"One might infer from that simile," said the Greek scholar, smiling, +"that when a bit of English gets into Greek it goes to heaven, and would +better stay there. Perhaps you are right in what you say about fiction. +Anyway it is very pleasant to talk with one who can appreciate this +subject, and reason sensibly about it." + +Mr. Tippengray shut up his book and put it back into his pocket, while +his companion tore her translation from her note-book and scattered it +in little bits along the road. + +"I would not like it," she said, "if any one but you were to read that +and know I did it." + +Mr. Tippengray's eyes and Mr. Tippengray's heart turned towards her. +Those words, "any one but you," touched him deeply. He had a feeling as +if he were being translated into something better than his original +self, and that this young woman was doing it. He wished to express this +in some way, and to say a good many other things which came crowding +upon his mind, but he expressed nothing and said none of these things. +An exclamation from Ida caused him to look in front of him, and there +was the spring wagon with the horses standing still. + +Mrs. Cristie turned round and called to them: + +"Mr. Beam says that there are some by-roads just ahead of us, and as he +was afraid you might turn into one and get lost, he thought it better to +wait for you." + +"Nonsense!" cried Miss Mayberry; "there was no danger that we would turn +into any by-ways. The road is plain enough." + +"I'm not so sure of that," said Mr. Tippengray to himself. "I think that +just now I was on the point of turning into a by-way." + +The wagon now moved slowly on, and the village cart followed. Mr. +Tippengray would gladly have dropped a good deal behind, but he found +this not practicable, because whenever he made Hammerstein walk +Stolzenfels and Falkenberg also walked. It was plain enough that Lanigan +Beam did not wish any longer to cut himself off from the society of the +lady to whom he had made a proposal of marriage, and whenever he could +find a pretext, which was not difficult for Lanigan, he called back to +her to direct her attention to something, or to ask her opinion about +something. Miss Mayberry did not respond with any readiness, but the +persistence of the young man succeeded in making the conversation a +general one, and the Greek scholar made no attempt to explain to the +nurse-maid that he was in course of translation. + +Dinner was very late at the Squirrel Inn that day, and Mrs. Petter gave +her guests a scolding. But this did not in the least disturb the mind of +Mr. Tippengray, who was well used to being scolded for coming late to +his meals. But something else disturbed him, and for nearly an hour +after dinner he wandered about the lawn and around the house. He wanted +very much to see Miss Mayberry again, and to tell her the things he did +not have a chance to tell her on the road, and he also very much wished +to prevent that rascally Lanigan Beam from getting ahead of him, and +continuing his broken-off interview with the lady. + + + + +XXV + +MR. TIPPENGRAY MOUNTS HIGH + + +It seemed as if every one must be taking an afternoon nap, for the Greek +scholar had the grounds to himself. When he began to be tired of +walking, he seated himself where he had a good view of the house, and +presently saw Ida Mayberry at her window, with the young Douglas in her +arms. Almost at the same moment he saw Lanigan Beam approaching from the +direction of the barns. + +"If he turns his steps towards that window," thought the scholar, "I +shall see to it that I am there before him." + +But the young man did not walk towards the front of the house, but went +in the direction of his room, where the ladder stood leaning against the +open window. Mounting this, he disappeared within. + +The eyes of Mr. Tippengray flashed, and his face was lighted by a bright +thought. In an instant he was on his feet and running lightly towards +Lanigan's room. Cautiously and silently he approached the ladder; +deftly, and without making the least noise, he moved the upper end of +it from the side of the building, and then, putting it on his shoulder, +gently walked away with it. + +Around to the front of the house Mr. Tippengray carried the ladder, and +boldly placed it nearly upright, under Miss Mayberry's window. In +astonishment that young lady looked out, and asked him what in the world +he was doing. + +"I want to speak to you," said Mr. Tippengray, "on a subject of great +importance, and I cannot afford to lose this opportunity. May I come +up?" + +"Certainly," said Ida. + +In a moment the Greek scholar was standing on one of the upper rounds of +the ladder, with his head and shoulders well above the window-sill. +Little Douglas was delighted to see him, and, taking hold of his +outstretched forefinger, gave it a good wag. + +"It was a capital notion," said Mr. Tippengray, "for me to take this +ladder. In the first place, it enables me to get up to you, and +secondly, it prevents Lanigan Beam from getting down from his room." + +Miss Mayberry laughed, and the baby crowed in sympathy. + +"Why shouldn't he get down, Mr. Tippengray?" said she. + +"If he did," was the answer, "he would be sure to interfere with me. He +would come here, and I don't want him. I have something to say to you, +Miss Mayberry, and I must be brief in saying it, for bystanders, no +matter who they might be, would prevent my speaking plainly. I have +become convinced, Miss Mayberry, that my life will be imperfect, and +indeed worthless, if I cannot pass it in prosecuting my studies in your +company, and with your assistance. You may think this strong language, +but it is true." + +[Illustration: THE PROPOSAL.] + +"That would be very pleasant," said the nurse-maid, "but I do not see +how you are going to manage it. My stay here will soon come to an end, +for if Mrs. Cristie does not return to the city in a week or two, I must +leave her. I am a teacher, you know, and before the end of the summer +vacation, I must go and make my arrangements for the next term, and then +you can easily see for yourself that when I am engaged in a school I +cannot do very much studying with you." + +"Oh, my dear young lady," cried Mr. Tippengray, "you do not catch my +idea. I am not thinking of schools or positions, and I do not wish you +to think of them. I wish you to know that you have translated me from a +quiet scholar into an ardent lover, and that it would be of no use at +all to try to get me back into my original condition. If I cannot be the +man I want to be, I cannot be the man I was. I ask you for your hands, +your heart, and your intellect. I invite you to join me in pursuing the +higher education until the end of our lives. Take me for your scholar +and be mine. I pray you give me--" + +"Upon--my word!" was the ejaculation, loud and distinct, which came up +from the foot of the ladder, and stopped Mr. Tippengray's avowal. Miss +Mayberry instantly thrust her head out of the window, and Mr. Tippengray +looked down. It was Calthea Rose who had spoken, and she stood under the +window in company with Mr. and Mrs. Petter. A short distance away, and +rapidly approaching, were Mrs. Cristie and Walter Lodloe. + +"Here is gratitude!" cried Calthea, in stinging tones. "I came all the +way back from Lethbury to see if anything had happened to you and that +horse, and this is what I find. The top of a ladder and a child's nurse! +Such a disgrace never fell on this county." + +"Never, indeed," cried Mrs. Petter. "I wouldn't have believed it if +angels had got down on their knees and sworn it to me. Come down from +that ladder, Mr. Tippengray! Come down from it before I make my husband +break it to bits beneath you. Come down, I say!" + +"Mr. Tippengray," said Mr. Petter, in solemn voice, "in the name of the +laws of domesticity and the hearthstone, and in the honorable name of +the Squirrel Inn, I command you to come down." + +There was but one thing for Mr. Tippengray to do, and that was to come +down, and so down he came. + +"Disgraceful!" cried Miss Rose; "you ought to be ashamed to look anybody +in the face." + +"Never would I have believed it," exclaimed Mrs. Petter. "Never, never, +if I had not seen it with my own eyes, and in broad daylight too!" + +What Mr. Tippengray would have said or done is not known, for at that +instant Ida Mayberry leaned far out of the window and claimed the +attention of the company. + +"Look here!" she cried, "we have had enough of this. Mr. Tippengray has +nothing to be ashamed of, and he had a perfect right to climb up this +ladder. I want you all to understand that we are engaged to be married." + +This announcement fell like a sudden downpour upon the people beneath +the window, and they stood silenced; but in an instant the Greek scholar +bounded up the ladder, and, seizing Miss Mayberry by the hand, kissed it +rapturously. + +"I may have been a little abrupt," she said, in a low voice, "but I +wasn't going to stand here and let our affair be broken off like that." + +At Mr. Tippengray's spontaneous exhibition of tender affection, Mr. +Petter involuntarily and reverently took off his hat, while Mrs. Cristie +and Lodloe clapped their hands. The lover, with radiant face, now +descended the ladder and received congratulations from everybody except +Miss Calthea, who, with her nose pointed about forty-five degrees above +the horizon, walked rapidly to the post where she had tied her horse. + +[Illustration: MR. PETTER TAKES OFF HIS HAT.] + +Miss Mayberry now appeared, with the baby in her arms, and an expression +of great satisfaction upon her face. Mrs. Cristie relieved her of the +first, but the latter increased as the little company heartily shook +hands with her. + +[Illustration: LANIGAN BEAM WANTS HIS LADDER.] + +"I had supposed it would be different with you, Mr. Tippengray," said +Mrs. Petter, "but people ought to know their own minds, and I have no +doubt that Calthea would have often made it very hot for you, especially +if you did not turn over an entirely new leaf in regard to coming to +your meals. But there must be no more laddering; whether it is right or +not, it does not look so. When Ida isn't tending to the child, and it's +too wet to be out of doors, you can have the little parlor to +yourselves. I'll have it dusted and aired." + +"Excuse me," said Lodloe, coming forward, "but if you have no further +use for that ladder, Mr. Tippengray, I will take it to Lanigan Beam, who +is leaning out of his window, and shouting like mad. I presume he wants +to come down, and as I have locked the door of my room he cannot descend +in that way." + +"Poor Lanigan!" ejaculated Mrs. Petter, "he doesn't know what he's +coming down to. But no matter what he undertakes he is always a day +after the fair." + +Mr. Petter drew the Greek scholar aside. + +"My dear sir," he said expressively, "I have a special reason for +congratulating you on your decision to unite your blood and culture with +those of another. Had you been entrapped by the wiles of our Lethbury +neighbor, a person for whom I have but slight regard, and who is looked +upon with decided disapprobation by those as competent to judge as the +Rockmores of Germantown, I am afraid, my dear sir, I should have been +compelled to sever those pleasant relations which for so many months +have held us together, and which I hope may continue for years." + +"My good Petter," said Mr. Tippengray, "I have a pleasant house in town, +which I hope to occupy with my wife this winter, and I should like it +very much if you and Mrs. Petter would make us a visit there, and, if +you wish, I'll have some of the Germantown Rockmores there to meet you." + +The landlord of the Squirrel Inn stepped back in amazement. + +"Do you mean to say," he exclaimed, "that you know the Rockmores?" + +"The way of it is this," replied the Greek scholar; "you see, my mother +was a Purley, and on the maternal side she belonged to the +Kempton-Tucker family, and you know that the head of that family married +for his second wife a Mrs. Callaway, who was own sister to John Brent +Norris, whose daughter married a Rockmore. So you see we are connected." + +"And you never told me!" solemnly exclaimed Mr. Petter. + +"No," said his companion; "there are pleasures of revelation, which are +enhanced by a delay in realization, and besides I did not wish to place +myself in a position which might, perchance, subordinate some of your +other guests." + +"I must admit that I am sorry," said Mr. Petter; "but your action in the +matter proves your blood." + +And now, Mrs. Cristie having finished her very earnest conversation with +Ida, the newly betrothed pair walked together towards the bluff from +which there was such a beautiful view of the valley below. + + + + +XXVI + +ANOTHER SQUIRREL IN THE TAP-ROOM + + +"If I had known," said Lanigan Beam, as late that night he sat smoking +with Walter Lodloe in the top room of the tower, "that that old rascal +was capable of stealing my ladder in order to make love to my girl, I +should have had a higher respect for him. Well, I'm done for, and now I +shall lose no time in saying good-by to the Squirrel Inn and Lethbury." + +"Why so?" asked his companion in surprise. "Was the hope of winning Miss +Mayberry the only thing that kept you here?" + +"Oh, no," said Lanigan; "it was the hope that Calthea might get old +Tippengray. You will remember I told you that, but as she cannot now go +off with him, there is nobody for her to go off with, and so I must be +the one to travel." + +Lodloe laughed. "Under the circumstances then," he said, "you think you +couldn't stay in this neighborhood?" + +"Not with Calthea unattached," replied Lanigan. "Oh, no! Quite +impossible." + +When Miss Rose had been convinced that all her plans had come to naught, +earnestly and with much severity and singleness of purpose she +considered the situation. It did not take her long to arrive at the +conclusion that the proper thing for her to do was to marry Lanigan +Beam, and to do it without loss of time. Having come to this decision, +she immediately began to make arrangements to carry it into effect. + +It was utterly vain and useless for Lanigan to attempt to get away from +her. She came upon him with a sweet assurance which he supposed had +vanished with her earlier years; she led him with ribbons which he +thought had faded and fallen into shreds long, long ago; she clapped +over his head a bag which he supposed had been worn out on old +Tippengray; and she secured him with fetters which he imagined had long +since been dropped, forgotten, and crumbled into dust. He did not go +away, and it was not long before it was generally understood in the +neighborhood that, at last, he and Calthea Rose were to be married. + +Shortly after this fact had been made public, Lanigan and Walter Lodloe, +who had not seen each other for some days, were walking together on the +Lethbury road. + +"Yes," said the former, "it is a little odd, but then odd things are all +the time happening. I don't know whether Calthea has taken me in by +virtue of my first engagement to her, or on some of the others. Or it +may be that it is merely a repeal of our last breaking off. Anyway, I +found she had never dreamed of anything but marrying me, and though I +thought I had a loose foot, I found I hadn't, and there's an end of it. +Besides, I will say for Calthea that her feelings are different from +what I supposed they were. She has mellowed up a good deal in the last +year or two, and I shall try to make things as easy for her as I can. + +"But one thing is certain; I shall stick to my resolution not to tell +her that I have made money, and have reformed my old, loose ways of +living and doing business. All that I am going to keep as a sort of +saving fund that I can draw on when I feel like it, and let it alone +when I don't feel like it. We are going to travel,--she is wild on that +point,--and she expects to pay the piper. She can't do it, but I shall +let her think she's doing it. She takes me for a rattling scapegrace, +and I needn't put on the sober and respectable unless I choose to; and +when I do choose it will be a big card in my hand. By George! sir, I +know Calthea so well that I can twist her around my finger, and I am not +sure, if I had got the other one, that I could have done that. It's much +more likely that I should have been the twisted one." + +"What is Miss Rose going to do about her business?" asked Lodloe. + +"Oh, that's to be wound up with a jerk," answered his companion. "I've +settled all that. She wanted to hire somebody to take charge of the +store while we're gone, and to sell out the things on her old plan; but +that's all tomfoolery. I have engaged a shopkeeper at Romney to come out +and buy the whole stock at retail price, and I gave him the money to do +it with. That's good business, you know, because it's the same as money +coming back to me, and as for the old oddments, and remnants, and +endments of faded braids and rotten calicoes, it's a clear profit to be +rid of them. If the Romney man sends them to be ground up at the +paper-mill, he may pay himself for the cartage and his time. So the shop +will be shut day after to-morrow, and you can see for yourself that my +style of business is going to be of the stern, practical sort; and, +after all, I don't see any better outlook for a fellow than to live a +married life in which very little is expected of him, while he knows +that he has on tap a good bank-account and a first-class moral +character." + +The autumn was a very pleasant one, and as there was no reason for doing +anything else, the guests at the Squirrel Inn remained until late in the +season. Therefore it was that Miss Calthea was enabled to marry and +start off on her wedding tour before the engaged couples at the inn had +returned to the city, or had even fixed the dates for their weddings. +Calthea was not a woman who would allow herself to be left behind in +matters of this nature. From her general loftiness and serenity of +manner, and the perfect ease and satisfaction with which she talked of +her plans and prospects with her friends and acquaintances, no one could +have imagined that she had ever departed from her original intention of +becoming Mrs. Lanigan Beam. + +In the midst of her happiness she could not help feeling a little sorry +for Ida Mayberry, and this she did not hesitate to say to some persons +with whom she was intimate, including Mrs. Petter. To be sure, she had +been informed as to the year of Mr. Tippengray's birth, which, if +correct, would make him forty-six; but it was her private opinion that +sixty would be a good deal nearer the mark. However, if the young +child's nurse should become an early widow, and be thrown upon her own +resources, she, for one, would not withhold a helping hand. But she +earnestly insisted that not a word she said on this subject should ever +be breathed into another ear. + +When Ida Mayberry heard what Calthea had said about her and Mr. +Tippengray's age, she was very angry, and declared she would not go to +the old thing's wedding, which was to take place the next day in the +Lethbury church. But, after thinking over the matter, she changed her +mind, and concluded that at times like this we should all be pleasant +and good-natured towards one another; so she sat down and wrote a letter +to Miss Calthea, which she sent to the expectant bride that very +afternoon. The missive ran thus: + + + MY DEAR MISS ROSE: + + I have seen so little of Mr. Beam in the last few days that + I have had no opportunity to express to him some thanks + which are due him from Mr. Tippengray and myself. I am + therefore obliged to ask you, my dear Miss Rose, to give to + him a message from me, which, as it is one of gratitude, you + will be pleased to deliver. + + Not long ago, when Mr. Beam took occasion to tell me that he + loved me and asked me to marry him,--I remember now that it + was on the very day that Mr. Petter's horse behaved so badly + and, unfortunately for you, tipped you out of the tail end + of the little cart, and made it necessary for you to give up + both it and Mr. Tippengray to me,--he (Mr. Beam) was so good + as to say that if I would agree to be his wife and still + wished the instructive companionship of Mr. Tippengray, he + would take that gentleman into his family as a tutor. Now + this, as you will readily acknowledge, my dear Miss Rose, + was very good in Mr. Beam, and in return I wish you to say + to him, both from Mr. Tippengray and from me, that if there + should ever be any position in our gift which he is capable + of filling, all he has to do is to ask for it. + + Most sincerely yours, + + Ida Mayberry. + + + +And the next day in church no face expressed a more delighted interest +in the nuptial ceremonies than that of the pretty Miss Mayberry. + + * * * * * + +It was late in November, and the weather was getting decidedly cool. +There was a fire in the tap-room of the Squirrel Inn, and also one in +the little parlor, and by this, after supper, sat Mr. and Mrs. Petter. + +The guests were all gone; Mr. and Mrs. Tippengray, who had had a quiet +wedding in New York, were on their way to Cambridge, England, where the +bride would spend a portion of the honeymoon in the higher studies there +open to women, while Mrs. Cristie and Mr. Lodloe were passing happy days +in the metropolis preparing for their marriage early in the new year. +The Beams were in Florida, where, so Lanigan wrote, they had an idea of +buying an orange grove, and where, so Calthea wrote, she would not live +if they gave her a whole county. + +The familiar faces all being absent, and very few people dropping in +from Lethbury or the surrounding neighborhood, the Squirrel Inn was +lonely, and the hostess thereof did not hesitate to say so. As for the +host, he had his books, his plans, and his hopes. He also had his +regrets, which were useful in helping him to pass his time. + +"What in the world," asked Mrs. Petter, regarding an object in her +husband's hands, "made you take down that miserable, dilapidated little +squirrel from the sign-post? You might as well have let him stay there +all winter, and put up a new one in the spring." + +"This has been a most memorable year," replied her husband, "and I wish +to place this squirrel in his proper position on the calendar shelf of +the tap-room before the storms and winds of winter have blown the fur +from his body and every hair from his upturned tail. I have killed and +prepared a fresh squirrel, and I will place him on the sign-post in a +few days." + +"If you would let that one stay until he was a skin skeleton, he would +have given people a better idea of the way this year has turned out than +he does now," said Mrs. Petter. + +"How so?" he asked, looking at her in surprise. + +"Don't we sit here stripped of every friendly voice?" she said. "Of +course, it's always more lonesome in the winter, but it's never been so +bad as this, for we haven't even Calthea to fall back on. Things didn't +turn out as I expected them to, and I suppose they never will, but it +always was my opinion, and is yet, that nothing can go straight in such +a crooked house. This very afternoon, as I was coming from the +poultry-yard, and saw Lanigan's ladder still standing up against the +window of his room, I couldn't help thinking that if a burglar got into +that room, he might suppose he was in the house; but he'd soon find +himself greatly mistaken, and even if he went over the roof to Mr. +Lodloe's room, all he could do would be to come down the tower stairs, +and then he would find himself outside, just where he started from." + +"That would suit me very well," remarked Mr. Petter. + +"If this house had been built in a plain, straightforward way," his wife +continued, "with a hall through the middle of it, and the rooms alike on +both sides, then things might have happened in a straightforward way, +and not all mixed up, as they were here this summer. Nobody could tell +who was going to marry who, and why they should do it, if they ever +did." + +Mr. Petter arose and, still holding the stuffed squirrel in his hand, +stood with his back to the fire. + +"It strikes me, Susan," said he, looking reflectively in front of him, +"that our lives are very seldom built with a hall through the middle and +the rooms alike on both sides. I don't think we'd like it if they were. +They would be stupid and humdrum. The right sort of a life should have +its ups and downs, its ins and outs, its different levels, its outside +stairs and its inside stairs, its balconies, windows and roofs of +different periods and different styles. This is education. These things +are the advantages that our lives get from the lives of others. + +"Now, for myself, I like the place I live in to resemble my life and +that of the people about me. And I am sure that nothing could be better +suited to all that than the Squirrel Inn. + +"All sorts of things come into our lives, and when a thing like Lanigan +Beam comes into it, what could be better than to lodge it in a place +where it can go no farther? and if something of a high order, something +backed up by Matthew Vassar, but which is a little foreign, and not +altogether of our kind, how well to be able to put that in a noble and +elevated position, where it can have every advantage and can go and +come, without being naturalized or made a part of us. Think, too, how +high excellence can be worthily lodged, with the comforts of the North +and the beauties of the South, as in the case of Mrs. Cristie's rooms; +and how blooded service is not forced into a garret, but is quartered in +a manner which shows that the blood is recognized and the service +ignored." + +"If I had known what she was when she came," remarked Mrs. Petter, "I +should have put her on the top floor." + +"Think, too," continued the landlord, "of noble sentiments, high +aspirations, and deep learning, lodged of their own free will--for it +appears that there was no necessity for it--so near as to answer every +need of social domesticity, and yet in a manner so free and apart as to +allow undisturbed and undisturbing reveries beneath the stars, and such +other irregular manifestations of genius as are common to the gifted." + +"Such as coming late to meals," interpolated the lady. + +"Think, too," Mr. Petter went on to say, speaking in a more earnest +voice--"think, too, of a life or a house in which there is no place for +a Calthea Rose; in which she cannot exist, and which, I am happy to say, +she has always opposed and condemned." + +Mrs. Petter slightly yawned. + +"All that sounds very well," she said, "and there may be truth in it; +but, after all, here we are alone by ourselves, and, so far as I can +see, no chance of being less lonely next season, for your rules keep +out all common folks, and we can't count on the people who were here +this year coming again." + +Mr. Petter smiled. "There is no reason to suppose," he said, "that next +season we shall not be favored with the company of the Rockmores of +Germantown." + +And with that he walked away to place in its proper position on the +shelf in the tap-room the squirrel of the past season. + +[Illustration] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Squirrel Inn, by Frank R. Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SQUIRREL INN *** + +***** This file should be named 28662-8.txt or 28662-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/6/6/28662/ + +Produced by Bethanne M. 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Stockton. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + img {border: 0} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .trnote {background-color: #EEE; color: inherit; margin: 2em 5% 1em 5%; font-size: 80%; + padding: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 1em; border: dotted 1px gray;} + .padding {padding-bottom: 2em; padding-top: 2em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .right {text-align: right;} + .left {text-align: left;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center; width:inherit;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center; width:inherit} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Squirrel Inn, 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: The Squirrel Inn + +Author: Frank R. Stockton + +Release Date: May 2, 2009 [EBook #28662] +Last Updated: June 26, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SQUIRREL INN *** + + + + +Produced by Bethanne M. Simms Christine D. and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<p><a name="si" id="si"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 402px;"> +<img src="images/img01_th.png" width="402" height="303" alt="THE SQUIRREL INN." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE SQUIRREL INN.</span> +</div> + +<h1>THE SQUIRREL INN</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>FRANK R. STOCKTON</h2> + +<p class='center'><i>AUTHOR OF "RUDDER GRANGE," "THE LADY, OR<br /> +THE TIGER?" "THE LATE MRS. NULL," "THE CASTING<br /> +AWAY OF MRS. LECKS AND MRS. ALESHINE," "THE<br /> +MERRY CHANTER," "THE HUNDREDTH MAN," ETC.</i></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/crest.png" width="100" height="102" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class='center'> +NEW YORK<br /> +THE CENTURY CO.<br /> +1891</p> + +<p class='center'> +<span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1891,<br /> +<span class="smcap">by Frank R. Stockton</span>.</p> + +<p class='center'><i>All rights reserved.</i></p> + + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">The De Vinne Press.</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Steamboat Pier</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Baby, the Man, and the Mastery</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Matthew Vassar</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lodloe Undertakes to Nominate his Successor</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Landlord and his Inn</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Greek Scholar</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rockmores Ahead</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Miss Mayberry</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Preservation of Literature</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rose versus Mayberry</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lanigan Beam</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_78">78</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lanigan Changes his Cravat</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_90">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Decrees of Exile</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Backing Out</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Baby is Passed Around</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Messrs. Beam and Lodloe Decline to Wait for the Second Table</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bananas and Oats</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Sweet Peas</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Aroused Rose</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Ingenuous Maid</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Twisted Trysts</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Blossom and the Little Jar</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Hammerstein</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Translations</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mr. Tippengray Mounts High</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Another Squirrel in the Tap-Room</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='right'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Squirrel Inn</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#si">FRONTISPIECE</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">On Deck</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Wagon-load of Nurse-maids</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Stephen Petter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Sign</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Greek in an Outhouse</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mr. Tippengray</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">I Suppose this is Mrs. Cristie</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lodloe is Introduced to Stephen Petter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">Passing Nearer, Mr. Tippengray Stopped</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">Teach the Old Hens Good Manners</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">Don't Get Excited</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">Have you Happened to Hear anybody Speak of Me?</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">I am Here for a Purpose</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ida Makes Herself Comfortable</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">Back!</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">He Began Slowly to Push it towards the Squirrel Inn</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">I will Wheel it Down to my Summer-house where it is Cool and Shady</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">He Leaned over the Other Side of the Carriage</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">Calthy, this is Truly Like Old Times</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">Will you not Take These Instead?</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">I Have Dissected One</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mrs. Cristie Considers</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Matrimonial Conversation</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Calthea Holds him with her Listening Ear</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Baby and the Sweet-pea Blossom</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Miss Calthea Steps Out</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">What Skeered Him?</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mr. Tippengray Stopped and Listened</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Translation</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_198">198</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Proposal</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mr. Petter Takes off his Hat</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lanigan Beam Wants his Ladder</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='padding'><h1>THE SQUIRREL INN</h1></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE STEAMBOAT PIER</p> + + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 160px;"> +<img src="images/the.png" width="160" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p>The steamboat <i>Manasquan</i> was advertised to leave her pier on the east +side of the city at half-past nine on a July morning. At nine o'clock +Walter Lodloe was on the forward upper deck, watching the early +passengers come on board, and occasionally smiling as his glance fell +upon a tall man in a blue flannel shirt, who, with a number of other +deck-hands, was hard at work transferring from the pier to the steamer +the boxes, barrels, and bales of merchandise the discouraging mass of +which was on the point of being increased by the unloading of a newly +arrived two-horse truck.</p> + +<p>Lodloe had good reason to allow himself his smiles of satisfaction, for +he had just achieved a victory over the man in the blue shirt, and a +victory over a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> busy deck-hand on a hot day is rare enough to be +valuable. As soon as he had stepped on board, he had deposited his +hand-baggage in a place of safety, and walked forward to see the men run +on the freight. It was a lively scene, and being a student of incident, +character, and all that sort of thing, it greatly interested him. +Standing by a strangely marked cask which had excited his curiosity, he +found himself in the way of the deck-hand in the blue shirt, who, with +red face and sparkling forehead, had just wheeled two heavy boxes up the +incline of the gang-plank, and was about to roll them with easy rapidity +to the other side of the deck; but Lodloe, with his back turned and +directly in front of him, made it necessary for him to make a violent +swerve to the right or to break the legs of a passenger. He made the +swerve, missed Lodloe, and then, dumping his load, turned and swore at +the young man with the promptness and accuracy of a cow-boy's revolver.</p> + +<p>It was quite natural that a high-spirited young fellow should object to +be sworn at, no matter what provocation he had given, and Lodloe not +only objected but grew very angry. The thing which instantly suggested +itself to him, and which to most people would seem the proper thing to +do, was to knock down the man. But this knocking-down business is a +matter which should be approached with great caution. Walter was a +strong young fellow and had had some practice in boxing, but it was not +impossible that, even with the backing of justifiable indignation, the +conventional blow straight from the shoulder might have failed to fell +the tall deck-hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<p>But even had Lodloe succeeded in stretching the insulting man upon the +dirty deck, it is not at all probable that he would have staid there. In +five seconds there would have been a great fight, and it would not have +been long before the young gentleman would have found himself in the +custody of a policeman.</p> + +<p>Lodloe's common sense was capable of considerable tension without giving +way, even under a strain like this, and, although pale with anger, he +would not engage in a personal contest with a deck-hand on a crowded +steamboat; but to bear the insult was almost impossible. Never before +had he been subjected to such violent abuse.</p> + +<p>But in a flash he remembered something, and the man had scarcely turned +his empty truck to go back to the pier, when Lodloe stepped in front of +him, and with a wave of the hand stopped him.</p> + +<p>Two nights before Lodloe had been sitting up late reading some papers on +modern Italian history, and in the course of said reading had met with +the text of the <i>anathema maranatha</i> pronounced by Pius IX. against +disbelievers in his infallibility. The directness, force, and +comprehensiveness of the expressions used in this composition made a +deep impression upon Lodloe, and as it was not very long he had +committed it to memory, thinking that he might some time care to use it +in quotation. Now it flashed upon him that the time had come to quote +this <i>anathema maranatha</i>, without hesitation he delivered the whole of +it, and square, straight into the face of the petrified deck-hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + +<p>Petrified immediately he was not. As first he flushed furiously, but +after a few phrases he began to pale and to turn to living stone; enough +mobility, however, remained to allow him presently to raise his hand +imploringly, but Lodloe had now nearly finished his discourse, and with +a few words more he turned and walked away. The deck-hand wiped his +brow, took in a long breath, and went to work. If another passenger had +got in his way, he would not have sworn at him.</p> + +<p>Therefore it was that, gently pleased by the sensations of victory, +Walter Lodloe sat on the upper deck and watched the busy scene. He soon +noted that passengers were beginning to come down the pier in +considerable numbers, and among these his eye was caught by a young +woman wheeling a baby-carriage.</p> + +<p>When this little equipage had been pushed down nearly to the end of that +side of the pier from which the passengers were going on board, it +stopped, and its motive power looked behind her. Presently she turned +her head towards the steamer and eagerly scanned every part of it on +which she could see human beings. In doing this she exhibited to Lodloe +a very attractive face. It was young enough, it was round enough, and +the brown eyes were large enough, to suit almost any one whose taste was +not restricted to the lines of the old sculptors.</p> + +<p>When she completed her survey of the steamboat, the young woman turned +the carriage around and wheeled it up the pier. Very soon, however, she +returned, walking rapidly, and ran the little vehicle over the broad +gang-plank on to the steamboat. Now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> Lodloe lost sight of her, but in +about five minutes she appeared on the forward upper deck without the +baby-carriage, and looking eagerly here and there. Not finding what she +sought, she hastily descended.</p> + +<p>The next act in this performance was the appearance of the +baby-carriage, borne by the blue-shirted deck-hand, and followed by the +young woman carrying the baby. The carriage was humbly set down by its +bearer, who departed without looking to the right or left, and the baby +was quickly deposited in it. Then the young woman stepped to the rail +and looked anxiously upon the pier. As Lodloe gazed upon her it was easy +to see that she was greatly troubled. She was expecting some one who did +not come. Now she went to the head of the stairway and went down a few +steps, then she came up again and stood undecided. Her eyes now fell +upon Lodloe, who was looking at her, and she immediately approached him.</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me, sir," she said, "exactly how long it will be before +this boat starts?"</p> + +<p>Lodloe drew out his watch.</p> + +<p>"In eight minutes," he answered.</p> + +<p>If Lodloe had allowed himself to suppose that because the young woman +who addressed him was in sole charge of a baby-carriage she was a nurse +or superior maid-servant, that notion would have instantly vanished when +he heard her speak.</p> + +<p>The lady turned a quick glance towards the pier, and then moved to the +head of the stairway, but stopped before reaching it. It was plain that +she was in much perplexity. Lodloe stepped quickly towards her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Madam," said he, "you are looking for some one. Can I help you?"</p> + +<p>"I am," she said; "I am looking for my nurse-maid. She promised to meet +me on the pier. I cannot imagine what has become of her."</p> + +<p>"Let me go and find her," said Lodloe. "What sort of person is she?"</p> + +<p>"She isn't any sort of person in particular," answered the lady. "I +couldn't describe her. I will run down and look for her myself, and if +you will kindly see that nobody knocks over my baby I shall be much +obliged to you."</p> + +<p>Lodloe instantly undertook the charge, and the lady disappeared below.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE BABY, THE MAN, AND THE MASTERY</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="150" height="154" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +The young man drew the baby-carriage to the bench by the rail and, +seating himself, gazed with interest upon its youthful occupant. This +individual appeared to be about two years of age, with its mother's eyes +and a combative disposition. The latter was indicated by the manner in +which it banged its own legs and the sides of its carriage with a wicker +bludgeon that had once been a rattle. It looked earnestly at the young +man, and gave the edges of its carriage a whack which knocked the +bludgeon out of its hand. Lodloe picked up the weapon, and, restoring it +to its owner, began to commune with himself.</p> + +<p>"It is the same old story," he thought. "The mother desires to be rid of +the infant; she leaves it for a moment in the charge of a stranger; she +is never seen again. However, I accept the situation. If she doesn't +come back this baby is mine. It seems like a good sort of baby, and I +think I shall like it. Yes, youngster, if your mother doesn't come back +you are mine. I shall not pass you over to the police or to any one +else; I shall run you myself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was now half-past nine. Lodloe arose and looked out over the pier. He +could see nothing of the young mother. The freight was all on board, and +they were hauling up the forward gang-plank. One or two belated +passengers were hurrying along the pier; the bell was ringing; now the +passengers were on board, the aft gang-plank was hauled in, the hawsers +were cast off from the posts, the pilot's bell jingled, the wheels began +to revolve, and the great steamboat slowly moved from its pier.</p> + +<p>"I knew it," said Lodloe, unconsciously speaking aloud; "she hadn't the +slightest idea of coming back. Now, then," said he, "I own a baby, and I +must consider what I am to do with it. One thing is certain, I intend to +keep it. I believe I can get more solid comfort and fun out of a baby +than I could possibly get out of a dog or even a horse."</p> + +<p>Walter Lodloe was a young man who had adopted literature as a +profession. Earlier in life he had worked at journalism, but for the +last two years he had devoted himself almost entirely to literature pure +and simple. His rewards, so far, had been slight, but he was not in the +least discouraged, and hoped bravely for better things. He was now on +his way to spend some months at a quiet country place of which he had +heard, not for a summer holiday, but to work where he could live cheaply +and enjoy outdoor life. His profession made him more independent than an +artist—all he needed were writing materials, and a post-office within a +reasonable distance.</p> + +<p>Lodloe gazed with much satisfaction at his new acquisition. He was no +stickler for conventionalities,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> and did not in the least object to +appear at his destination—where he knew no one—with a baby and a +carriage.</p> + +<p>"I'll get some country girl to take care of it when I am busy," he said, +"and the rest of the time I'll attend to it myself. I'll teach it a lot +of things, and from what I have seen of youngster-culture I shouldn't +wonder if I should beat the record."</p> + +<p>At this moment the baby gave a great wave with its empty rattle, and, +losing its hold upon it, the wicker weapon went overboard. Then, after +feeling about in its lap, and peering over the side of the carriage, the +baby began to whimper.</p> + +<p>"Now then," thought the young man, "here's my chance. I must begin +instantly to teach it that I am its master."</p> + +<p>Leaning forward, he looked sternly into the child's face, and in a +sharp, quick tone said:</p> + +<p>"Whoa!"</p> + +<p>The baby stopped instantly, and stared at its new guardian.</p> + +<p>"There," thought Lodloe, "it is just the same with a baby as with a +horse. Be firm, be decided; it knows what you want, and it will do it."</p> + +<p>At this instant the baby opened its mouth, uttered a wild wail, and +continued wailing.</p> + +<p>Lodloe laughed. "That didn't seem to work," said he; and to quiet the +little creature he agitated the vehicle, shook before the child his +keys, and showed it his watch, but the wails went on with persistent +violence. The baby's face became red, its eyes dropped tears.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<p>The young man looked around him for assistance. The forward upper deck +was without an awning, and was occupied only by a few men, the majority +of the passengers preferring the spacious and shaded after deck. Two of +the men were laughing at Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"That's a new way," one of them called out to him, "to shut up a young +one. Did it ever work?"</p> + +<p>"It didn't this time," answered Lodloe. "Have you any young ones?"</p> + +<p>"Five," answered the man.</p> + +<p>"And how do you stop them when they howl like that?"</p> + +<p>"I leave that to the old woman," was the answer, "and when she's heard +enough of it she spanks 'em."</p> + +<p>Lodloe shook his head. That method did not suit him.</p> + +<p>"If you'd run its wagon round the deck," said another man, "perhaps that +would stop it. I guess you was never left alone with it before."</p> + +<p>Lodloe made no reply to this supposition, but began to wheel the +carriage around the deck. Still the baby yelled and kicked. An elderly +gentleman who had been reading a book went below.</p> + +<p>"If you could feed it," said one of the men who had spoken before, "that +might stop it, but the best thing you can do is to take it down to its +mother."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 364px;"> +<img src="images/img02_th.png" width="364" height="305" alt="ON DECK." title="" /> +<span class="caption">ON DECK.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lodloe was annoyed. He had not yet arranged in his mind how he should +account for his possession of the baby, and he did not want an +explanation forced upon him before he was ready to make it. These men +had come on board after the departure of the young woman, and could know +nothing of the facts, and therefore Lodloe, speaking from a high, +figurative standpoint, settled the matter by shaking his head and +saying:</p> + +<p>"That can't be done. The little thing has lost its mother."</p> + +<p>The man who had last spoken looked compassionately at Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"That's a hard case," he said; "I know all about it, for I've been in +that boat myself. My wife died just as I was going to sail for this +country, and I had to bring over the two babies. I was as seasick as +blazes, and had to take care of 'em night and day. I tell you, sir, +you've got a hard time ahead of you; but feedin' 's the only thing. I'll +get you something. Is it on milk yet, or can it eat biscuit?"</p> + +<p>Lodloe looked at the open mouth of the vociferous infant and saw teeth.</p> + +<p>"Biscuit will do," he said, "or perhaps a banana. If you can get me +something of the sort I shall be much obliged"; and he gave the man some +money.</p> + +<p>The messenger soon returned with an assortment of refreshments, among +which, happily, was not a banana, and the baby soon stopped wailing to +suck an enormous stick of striped candy. Quiet having been restored to +this part of the vessel, Lodloe sat down to reconsider the situation.</p> + +<p>"It may be," he said to himself, "that I shall have to take it to an +asylum, but I shall let it stay there only during the period of +unintelligent howling. When it is old enough to understand that I am its +master, then I shall take it in hand again. It is ridiculous to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> suppose +that a human being cannot be as easily trained as a horse."</p> + +<p>The more he considered the situation the better he liked it. The +possession of a healthy and vigorous youngster without encumbrances was +to him a novel and delightful sensation.</p> + +<p>"I hope," he said to himself, "that when the country girl dresses it she +will find no label on its clothes, nor any sign which might enable one +to discover the original owners. I don't want anybody coming up to claim +it after we've got to be regular chums."</p> + +<p>When the boat made its first landing the two men who had given advice +and assistance to Lodloe got off, and as the sun rose higher the forward +deck became so unpleasantly warm that nearly everybody left it; but +Lodloe concluded to remain. The little carriage had a top, which +sufficiently shaded the baby, and as for himself he was used to the sun. +If he went among the other passengers they might ask him questions, and +he was not prepared for these. What he wanted was to be let alone until +he reached his landing-place, and then he would run his baby-carriage +ashore, and when the steamboat had passed on he would be master of the +situation, and could assume what position he chose towards his new +possession.</p> + +<p>"When I get the little bouncer to Squirrel Inn I shall be all right, but +I must have the relationship defined before I arrive there." And to the +planning and determination of that he now gave his mind.</p> + +<p>He had not decided whether he should create an imaginary mother who had +died young, consider himself the uncle of the child, whose parents had +been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> lost at sea, or adopt the little creature as a brother or a +sister, as the case might be, when the subject of his reflections laid +down its stick of candy and began a violent outcry against circumstances +in general.</p> + +<p>Lodloe's first impulse was to throw it overboard. Repressing this +natural instinct, he endeavored to quiet the infantile turbulence with +offers of biscuit, fresh candy, gingercakes, and apples, but without +effect. The young bewailer would have nothing to do with any of these +enticements.</p> + +<p>Lodloe was puzzled. "I have got to keep the thing quiet until we land," +he thought; "then I will immediately hire some one to go with me and +take charge of it, but I can't stand this uproar for two hours longer." +The crying attracted the attention of other people, and presently a +country woman appeared from below.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with it?" she asked. "I thought it was some child +left here all by itself."</p> + +<p>"What would you do with it?" asked Lodloe, helplessly.</p> + +<p>"You ought to take it up and walk it about until its mother comes," said +the woman; and having given this advice she returned below to quiet one +of her own offspring who had been started off by the sounds of woe.</p> + +<p>Lodloe smiled at the idea of carrying the baby about until its mother +came; but he was willing to do the thing in moderation, and taking up +the child resolutely, if not skilfully, he began to stride up and down +the deck with it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>This suited the youngster perfectly, and it ceased crying and began to +look about with great interest. It actually smiled into the young man's +face, and taking hold of his mustache began to use it as a doorbell.</p> + +<p>"This is capital," said Lodloe; "we are chums already." And as he strode +he whistled, talked baby-talk, and snapped his fingers in the face of +the admiring youngster, who slapped at him, and laughed, and did its +best to kick off the bosom of his shirt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III</h2> + +<p class='center'>MATTHEW VASSAR</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/i.png" width="150" height="143" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +In the course of this sociable promenade the steamboat stopped at a +small town, and it had scarcely started again when the baby gave a +squirm which nearly threw it out of its bearer's arms. At the same +instant he heard quick steps behind him, and, turning, he beheld the +mother of the child. At the sight his heart fell. Gone were his plans, +his hopes, his little chum.</p> + +<p>The young woman was flushed and panting.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word!" was all she could say as she clasped the child, whose +little arms stretched out towards her. She seated herself upon the +nearest bench. In a few moments she looked from her baby to Lodloe; she +had not quite recovered her breath, and her face was flushed, but in her +eyes and on her mouth and dimpled cheeks there was an expression of +intense delight mingled with amusement.</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me, sir," she said, "how long you have been carrying this +baby about? And did you have to take care of it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lodloe did not feel in a very good humor. By not imposing upon him, as +he thought she had done, she had deceived and disappointed him.</p> + +<p>"Of course I took care of it," he said, "as you left it in my charge; +and it gave me a lot of trouble, I assure you. For a time it kicked up a +dreadful row. I had the advice of professionals, but I did all the work +myself."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry," she said, "but it does seem extremely funny that it +should have happened so. What did you think had become of me?"</p> + +<p>"I supposed you had gone off to whatever place you wanted to go to," +said Lodloe.</p> + +<p>She looked at him in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say," she exclaimed, "that you thought I wanted to get +rid of my baby, and to palm him off on you—an utter stranger?"</p> + +<p>"That is exactly what I thought," he answered. "Of course, people who +want to get rid of babies don't palm them off on friends and +acquaintances. I am very sorry if I misjudged you, but I think you will +admit that, under the circumstances, my supposition was a very natural +one."</p> + +<p>"Tell me one more thing," she said; "what did you intend to do with this +child?"</p> + +<p>"I intended to bring it up as my own," said Lodloe; "I had already +formed plans for its education."</p> + +<p>The lady looked at him in speechless amazement. If she had known him she +would have burst out laughing.</p> + +<p>"The way of it was this," she said presently. "I ran off the steamboat +to look for my nurse-maid, and if I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> hadn't thought of first searching +through the other parts of the boat to see if she was on board I should +have had plenty of time. I found her waiting for me at the entrance of +the pier, and when I ran towards her all she had to say was that she had +made up her mind not to go into the country. I was so excited, and so +angry at her for playing such a trick on me at the last moment, that I +forgot how time was passing, and that is why I was left behind. But it +never entered my mind that any one would think that I intended to desert +my baby, and I didn't feel afraid either that he wouldn't be taken care +of. I had seen ever so many women on board, and some with babies of +their own, and I did not doubt that some of these would take charge of +him.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I saw that the steamboat had gone, I jumped into a cab, and +went to the West Bank Railroad, and took the first train for Scurry, +where I knew the steamboat stopped. The ticket agent told me he thought +the train would get there about forty minutes before the boat; but it +didn't, and I had to run every inch of the way from the station to the +wharf, and then barely got there in time."</p> + +<p>"You managed matters very well," said Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"I should have managed better," said she, "if I had taken my baby ashore +with me. In that case, I should have remained in the city until I +secured another maid. But why did you trouble yourself with the child, +especially when he cried?"</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Lodloe, "you left that little creature in my charge, and +it never entered my mind to hand it over to anybody else. I took advice, +as I told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> you, but that was all I wanted of any one until I went +ashore, and then I intended to hire a country girl to act as its nurse."</p> + +<p>"And you really and positively intended to keep it for your own?" she +asked.</p> + +<p>"I did," he answered.</p> + +<p>At this the lady could not help laughing. "In all my life," she said, "I +never heard of anything like that. But I am just as much obliged to you, +sir, as if I were acquainted with you; in fact, more so."</p> + +<p>Lodloe took out his card and handed it to her. She read it, and then +said:</p> + +<p>"I am Mrs. Robert Cristie of Philadelphia. And now I will take my baby +to the other end of the boat, where it is more sheltered, but not +without thanking you most heartily for your very great kindness."</p> + +<p>"If you are going aft," said Lodloe, "let me help you. If you will take +the baby, I will bring its carriage."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the mother and child were ensconced in a shady spot on +the lower deck, and then Lodloe, lifting his hat, remarked:</p> + +<p>"As I suppose two people cannot become conventionally acquainted without +the intervention of a third person, no matter how little each may know +of said third party, I must take my leave; but allow me to say that, if +you require any further assistance, I shall be most happy to give it. I +shall be on the boat until we reach Romney."</p> + +<p>"That is where I get off," she said.</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said he; "then perhaps you will engage the country girl whom I +intended to hire."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you know any one living there," she asked, "who would come to me as +nurse-maid?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know a soul in Romney," said Lodloe; "I never was in the place +in my life. I merely supposed that in a little town like that there were +girls to be hired. I don't intend to remain in Romney, to be sure, but I +thought it would be much safer to engage a girl there than to trust to +getting one in the country place to which I am going."</p> + +<p>"And you thought out all that, and about my baby?" said Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did," said Lodloe, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said she; "I shall avail myself of your forethought, and +shall try to get a girl in Romney. Where do you go when you leave +there?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am going some five or six miles from the town, to a place called +the 'Squirrel Inn.'"</p> + +<p>"The Squirrel Inn!" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie, dropping her hands into her +lap and leaning forward.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Lodloe; "are you going there?"</p> + +<p>"I am," she answered.</p> + +<p>Now in his heart Walter Lodloe blessed his guardian angel that she had +prompted him to make the announcement of his destination before he knew +where this lady was going.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to hear that," he said. "It seems odd that we should +happen to be going to the same place, and yet it is not so very odd, +after all, for people going to the Squirrel Inn must take this boat and +land at Romney, which is not on the railroad."</p> + +<p>"The odd part of it is that so few people go to the Squirrel Inn," said +the lady.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I did not know that," remarked Lodloe; "in fact I know very little +about the place. I have heard it spoken of, and it seems to be just the +quiet, restful place in which I can work. I am a literary man, and like +to work in the country."</p> + +<p>"Do you know the Rockmores of Germantown?" asked Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"I never heard of them," he answered.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, you may as well stay on board this steamboat and go back +home in her," said Mrs. Cristie; "if you do not know the Rockmores of +Germantown Stephen Petter will not take you into his inn. I know all +about the place. I was there with my husband three years ago. Mr. Petter +is very particular about the guests he entertains. Several years ago, +when he opened the inn, the Rockmores of Germantown spent the summer +with him, and he was so impressed with them that he will not take +anybody unless they know the Rockmores of Germantown."</p> + +<p>"He must be a ridiculous old crank," said Lodloe, drawing a camp-chair +near to the lady, and seating himself thereon.</p> + +<p>"In one way he is not a crank," said Mrs. Cristie; "you can't turn him. +When he has made up his mind about anything, that matter is settled and +fixed just as if it were screwed down to the floor."</p> + +<p>"From what I had been told," said the young man, "I supposed the +Squirrel Inn to be a free and easy place."</p> + +<p>"It is, after you get there," said Mrs. Cristie, "and the situation and +the surroundings are beautiful, and the air is very healthful. My +husband was Captain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> Cristie of the navy. He was in bad health when he +went to the Squirrel Inn, but the air did him good, and if we had staid +all winter, as Stephen Petter wanted us to, it would have been a great +advantage to him. But when the weather grew cool we went to New York, +where my husband died early in the following December."</p> + +<p>"I will take my chances with Stephen Petter," said Lodloe, after a +suitable pause. "I am going to the Squirrel Inn, and I am bound to stay +there. There must be some road not through Germantown by which a fellow +can get into the favor of Mr. Petter. Perhaps you will say a good word +for me, madam?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know any good word to say," she answered, "except that you take +excellent care of babies, and I am not at all sure that that would have +any weight with Stephen Petter. Since you are going to the inn, and +since we have already talked together so much, I wish I did properly +know you. Did you ever have a sister at Vassar?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say," said Lodloe, "that I never had a sister at that +college, though I have one who wanted very much to go there; but instead +of that she went with an aunt to Europe, where she married."</p> + +<p>"An American?" asked Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"What was his name?"</p> + +<p>"Tredwell."</p> + +<p>"I never heard of him," said the lady. "There don't seem to be any +threads to take hold of."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you had a brother at Princeton," remarked Lodloe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have no brother," said she.</p> + +<p>There was now a pause in the dialogue. The young man was well pleased +that this very interesting young woman wished to know him properly, as +she put it, and if there could be found the least bit of foundation on +which might be built a conventional acquaintance he was determined to +find it.</p> + +<p>"Were you a Vassar girl?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "I was there four years."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you know something of old Matthew Vassar, the founder?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie laughed. "I've heard enough about him, you may be sure; but +what has he to do with anything?"</p> + +<p>"I once slept in his room," said Lodloe; "in the Founder's Room, with +all his stiff old furniture, and his books, and his portrait."</p> + +<p>"You!" cried Mrs. Cristie. "When did you do that?"</p> + +<p>"It was two years ago this spring," said Lodloe. "I was up there getting +material for an article on the college which I wrote for the 'Bayside +Magazine.'"</p> + +<p>"Did you write that?" said Mrs. Cristie. "I read it, and it was just as +full of mistakes as it could be."</p> + +<p>"That may be, and I don't wonder at it," said the young man. "I kept on +taking in material until I had a good deal more than I could properly +stow away in my mind, and it got to be too late for me to go back to the +town, and they had to put me into the Founder's Room, because the house +was a good deal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> crowded. Before I went to bed I examined all the things +in the room. I didn't sleep well at all, for during the night the old +gentleman got down out of his frame, and sat on the side of my bed, and +told me a lot of things about that college which nobody else ever knew, +I am sure."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose you mixed up all that information with what the college +people gave you," she said.</p> + +<p>"That may be the case," answered Lodloe, laughing, "for some of the old +gentleman's points were very interesting and made a deep impression upon +me."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Cristie, speaking very emphatically, "when I had +finished reading that article I very much wished to meet the person who +had written it, so that I might tell him what I thought of it; but of +course I had no idea that the founder had anything to do with its +inaccuracies."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Lodloe, "if it had not been for the mistakes in it you +never would have thought of the man who wrote the paper, but you did +think of him, and wanted to meet him. Now it seems to me that we have +been quite properly introduced to each other, and it was old Matthew +Vassar who did it. I am sure I am very much obliged to him."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie laughed. "I don't know what the social authorities would +say to such an introduction," she answered, "but as baby is asleep I +shall take him into the saloon."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV</h2> + +<p class='center'>LODLOE UNDERTAKES TO NOMINATE HIS SUCCESSOR</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/i.png" width="150" height="143" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +It was late in the afternoon when the Romney passengers were landed, and +Mrs. Cristie and Lodloe, with a few other persons, repaired to the +village hotel.</p> + +<p>"There is a sort of stage-wagon," said the lady, "which takes people +from this house to the Squirrel Inn, and it starts when the driver is +ready; but before I leave Romney I must try to find some one who will go +with me as nurse-maid."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Lodloe, "don't think of it. I have made inquiries of the +landlord, and he says the roads are rough, and that it will take more +than an hour to reach the Squirrel Inn, so that if you do not start now +I fear you and the baby will not get there before dark. I prefer to stay +here to-night, and it will be no trouble at all for me to look up a +suitable person for you, and to take her with me to-morrow. It will be a +good plan to take four or five of them, and when you have selected the +one you like best the others can come back here in the wagon. It will be +a lark for them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie drew a long breath. "Truly," she said, "your proposition is +phenomenal. Half a dozen nurse-maids in a wagon, from whom I am to pick +and choose! The thing is so startling and novel that I am inclined to +accept. I should very much dislike to be on the road after dark, and if +you have planned to stay here to-night, and if it will not be much +trouble—"</p> + +<p>"Say not another word," cried Lodloe; "project your mind into to-morrow +morning, and behold a wagon-load of willing maidens at the door of the +inn."</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Cristie and the baby and an elderly woman who lived in +Lethbury, a village two miles beyond the Squirrel Inn, had started on +their journey, Walter Lodloe set about the task he had undertaken. It +was still hot, and the Romney streets were dusty, and after an hour or +two of inquiry, walking, and waiting for people who had been sent for, +Lodloe found that in the whole village there was not a female from +thirteen to seventy-three who would think of such a thing as leaving her +home to become nurse-maid to a city lady. He went to bed that night a +good deal chagrined, and not in the least knowing what he was going to +do about it.</p> + +<p>In the morning, however, the thing to do rose clear and plain before +him.</p> + +<p>"I can't go to her and tell her I've failed," he said to himself. "A +maid must be got, and I have undertaken to get one. As there is nobody +to be had here, I must go back to the city for one. There are plenty of +them there."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>So when the early morning boat came along he took passage for the +nearest railroad station on the river, for he wished to lose no time on +that trip.</p> + +<p>The elderly lady who was going to Lethbury took a great interest in Mrs. +Cristie, who was to be her only fellow-passenger. She was at the hotel +with her carpet-bag and her paper bundle some time before the big +spring-wagon was ready to start, and she gave earnest attention to the +loading thereon of Mrs. Cristie's trunk and the baby-carriage. When they +were on their way the elderly woman promptly began the conversation:</p> + +<p>"I think," said she to Mrs. Cristie, "that I've seed you before."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," said the other; "I was in this region three years ago."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said the elder woman; "I thought I was right. Then you had a +husband and no child. It now looks as if you had a child and no +husband."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie informed her that her surmise was correct.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said the elderly woman; "I've had 'em both, and it's hard +to say which can be spared best, but as we've got nothin' to do with the +sparin' of 'em, we've got ter rest satisfied. After all, they're a good +deal like lilock bushes, both of 'em. They may be cut down, and grubbed +up, and a parsley bed made on the spot, but some day they sprout up +ag'in, and before you know it you've got just as big a bush as ever. +Does Stephen Petter know you're comin'?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 443px;"> +<img src="images/img03_th.png" width="443" height="263" alt="A WAGON-LOAD OF NURSE-MAIDS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A WAGON-LOAD OF NURSE-MAIDS.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Cristie, quite willing to change the subject; "all +that is arranged. I was so pleased with the place when I was here +before, and Mrs. Petter was so good to me, that I quite long to spend a +summer there with my child."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad he knows you are comin', but if he didn't, I was goin' +ter say to you that you'd better go on to Lethbury, and then see what +you could do with Stephen to-morrow. It's no use stoppin' at his house +without givin' notice, and like as not it ain't no use then."</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Petter's house filled?" asked Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Filled!" said the elderly woman. "There's nobody on the place but his +own family and the Greek."</p> + +<p>"Greek!" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the other; "he keeps a Greek in an outhouse, but what for +nobody knows. I think Stephen Petter is gettin' more oncommon than he +was. If he wants to get custom for his house the best thing he can do is +to die. There ain't no other way, for Stephen's not goin' to do no +changin' of himself. My niece, Calthea Rose, the daughter of Daniel +Rose, who used to keep the store,—she keeps it now herself,—goes over +there a good deal, for she's wonderful partial to Susan Petter, and +there's a good reason for it too, for a better woman never lived, and +the walk over there is mostly shady, or through the fields, to both of +which Calthea is partial, and so she knows most things that's goin' on +at the Squirrel Inn, which latterly has not been much, except the comin' +of the Greek; an' as nobody has been able to get at the bottom of that +business, that isn't much, neither."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think I remember Miss Calthea Rose," said Mrs. Cristie. "She was +tall, wasn't she, with a very fair complexion?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the elderly woman; "and it's just as fair now as it was +then. Some of it's owin' to sun-bonnet, and some of it to cold cream. +Calthea isn't as young as she was, but she's wonderful lively on her +feet yit, and there ain't many that could get ahead of her walkin' or +bargainin'."</p> + +<p>"And she keeps the store?" asked Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the other; "she keeps it, and in more ways than one. You +see, when Dan'el died—and that was two years ago last March—he left +everything to Calthea, and the store with the rest. Before he died he +told her what he had done, and advised her to sell out the stock, and +put the money into somethin' that would pay good interest, and this she +agreed to do, and this she is doing now. She wouldn't consent to no +auction, for she knew well enough the things wouldn't bring more 'n half +they cost, so she undertook herself to sell 'em all out at retail, just +as her father intended they should be sold when he bought 'em. Well, +it's took her a long while, and, in the opinion of most folks, it'll +take her a long while yit. You see she don't lay in no new goods, but +just keeps on sellin' or tryin' to sell what she's got on hand.</p> + +<p>"It was purty easy to get rid of the groceries, and the iron and wooden +things got themselves sold some way or other; but old dry-goods, with +never any new ones to lighten 'em up, is about as humdrum as old people +without youngsters in the family. Now it stands to reason that when a +person goes into a store<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> and sees nothin' but old calicoes, and some +other odds and ends, gettin' mustier and dustier and a little more +fly-specked every time, and never a new thing, even so much as a spool +of cotton thread, then persons isn't likely to go often into that store, +specially when there's a new one in the village that keeps up to the +times.</p> + +<p>"Now that's Calthea Rose's way of doin' business. She undertook to sell +out them goods, and she's goin' to keep on till she does it. She is +willin' to sell some of the worst-lookin' things at cost, but not a cent +below that, for if she does, she loses money, and that isn't Calthea +Rose. I guess, all put together, she hasn't sold more 'n ten dollars' +worth of goods this year, and most of them was took by the Greek, though +what he wants with 'em is more 'n I know."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to hear that there are no guests at the Squirrel Inn," was +Mrs. Cristie's only reply to this information.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't give yourself no trouble about loneliness and that sort +of thing," said the elderly woman; "before to-morrow night the whole +house may be crowded from cockloft to potato-cellar. It never has been +yit, but there's no tellin' what Stephen Petter has a-brewin' in his +mind."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE LANDLORD AND HIS INN</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/s.png" width="150" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Stephen Petter was a man of middle age, who had been born on a farm, and +who, apparently, had been destined to farm a farm. But at the age of +thirty, having come into a moderate inheritance, he devoted himself more +to the business of cultivating himself and less to that of cultivating +his fields.</p> + +<p>He was a man who had built himself up out of books. His regular +education had been limited, but he was an industrious reader, and from +the characters of this and that author he had conceived an idea of a +sort of man which pleased his fancy, and to make himself this sort of +man he had given a great deal of study and a great deal of hard labor. +The result was that he had shaped himself into something like an +old-fashioned country clergyman, without his education, his manners, his +religion, or his clothes. Imperfect similitudes of these Stephen Petter +had acquired, but this was as far as he had gone. A well-read man who +happened also to be a good judge of human nature could have traced back +every obvious point of Stephen Petter's character to some English<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +author of the last century or the first half of this one.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 194px;"> +<img src="images/img04_th.png" width="194" height="247" alt="STEPHEN PETTER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">STEPHEN PETTER.</span> +</div> + +<p>It was rather odd that a man like this should be the landlord of an inn. +But everything about Stephen Petter was odd, so ten years before he had +conceived the notion that such a man as he would like to be would be +entirely unwilling to live in the little village of Lethbury, where he +had no opportunity of exercising an influence upon his fellow-beings. +Such an influence he thought it fit to exercise, and as he was not +qualified to be a clergyman, or a physician, or a lawyer, he resolved to +keep a tavern. This vocation would bring him into contact with +fellow-beings; it would give him opportunities to control, impel, and +retard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>Stephen Petter did not for a moment think of buying the Lethbury +"Hotel," nor of establishing such a house as was demanded by the +village. What he had read about houses of entertainment gave him no such +motives as these. Fortunately he had an opportunity of carrying out his +plan according to the notions he had imbibed from his books.</p> + +<p>Some years before Stephen Petter had decided upon his vocation, a rich +gentleman had built himself a country-seat about two miles out of +Lethbury. This house and its handsome grounds were the talk and the +admiration of the neighborhood. But the owner had not occupied his +country-home a whole summer before he determined to make a still more +attractive home of it by lighting it with a new-fashioned gas of +domestic manufacture. He succeeded in lighting not only his house but +the whole country-side, for one moonless night his mansion was burned to +the ground. Nothing was left of the house but the foundations, and on +these the owner felt no desire to build again. He departed from the +Lethbury neighborhood and never came back.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Petter became impressed with the belief that it would be a good +thing for him to be an innkeeper, he also became impressed with the +belief that the situation which the rich man had chosen for his +country-home would be an admirable one for his purposes. He accordingly +bought the property at a very reasonable price, and on the stone +foundations of the house which had been burned he built his inn.</p> + +<p>This edifice was constructed very much as he had endeavored to construct +himself. His plans for one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> part of it were made up from the +descriptions in one of his books, and those of another part from the +descriptions or pictures in some other book. Portions of the structure +were colonial, others were old English, and others again suggested the +Swiss chalet or a château in Normandy. There was a tall tower and there +were some little towers. There were peaks here and there, and different +kinds of slopes to the various roofs, some of which were thatched, some +shingled in fanciful ways, and some covered with long strips or slabs. +There were a good many doors and a good many windows, and these were of +different forms, sizes, and periods, some of them jutting boldly +outward, and some appearing anxious to shrink out of sight.</p> + +<p>It took a great deal of thought and a good deal of labor to build this +house; which was also true of Mr. Petter's character. But the +first-named work was the more difficult of the two, for in building up +himself he consulted with no one, while in planning his inn he met with +all sorts of opposition from the village workmen and builders.</p> + +<p>But at the cost of all the time that was needed and all the money he +could spare, he had his house built as he wanted it; and when it was +finished it seemed to exhibit a trace of nearly everything a house +should possess excepting chronology and paint. Mr. Petter had selected +with a great deal of care the various woods of which his house was +built, and he decidedly objected to conceal their hues and texture by +monotonous paint. The descriptions that he had read of houses seldom +mentioned paint.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>The interior was not in the least monotonous. The floors of the rooms, +even in the same story, were seldom upon the same level; sometimes one +entered a room from a hallway by an ascent of two or three steps, while +access to others was obtained by going down some steps. The inside was +subordinated in a great degree to the outside: if there happened to be a +pretty window like something Mr. Petter had seen in an engraving, a room +of suitable shape and size was constructed behind the window. Stairways +were placed where they were needed, but they were not allowed to +interfere with the shapes of rooms or hallways; if there happened to be +no other good place for them they were put on the outside of the house. +Some of these stairways were wide, some narrow, and some winding; and as +those on the outside were generally covered they increased the +opportunities for queer windows and perplexing projections. The upper +room of the tower was reached by a staircase from the outside, which +opened into a little garden fenced off from the rest of the grounds, so +that a person might occupy this room without having any communication +with the other people in the house.</p> + +<p>In one of the back wings of the building there was a room which was more +peculiar than any other, from the fact that there was no entrance to it +whatever, unless one climbed into it by means of a ladder placed at one +of its windows. This room, which was of fair size and well lighted, was +in the second story, but it appeared to be of greater height on account +of the descent of the ground at the back of the inn. It had been +constructed because the shape of that part<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> of the building called for a +room, and a stairway to it had been omitted for the reason that if one +had been built in the inside of the house it would have spoiled the +shape of the room below, and there seemed no good way of putting one on +the outside. So when the room was finished and floored the workmen came +out of it through one of the windows, and Stephen Petter reserved his +decision in regard to a door and stairway until the apartment should be +needed. The grounds around the Squirrel Inn were interesting and +attractive, and with them Stephen Petter had interfered very little. The +rich man had planned beautiful surroundings for his country-home, and +during many years nature had labored steadily to carry out his plans. +There were grassy stretches and slopes, great trees, and terraces +covered with tangled masses of vines and flowers. The house stood on a +bluff, and on one side could be seen a wide view of a lovely valley, +with the two steeples of Lethbury showing above the treetops.</p> + +<p>Back of the house, and sweeping around between it and the public road, +was a far-reaching extent of woodland; and through this, for the +distance of half a mile, wound the shaded lane which led from the +highway to the Squirrel Inn.</p> + +<p>At the point at which this lane was entered from the highroad was the +sign of the inn. This was a tall post with a small square frame hanging +from a transverse beam, and seated on the lower strip of the frame was a +large stuffed gray squirrel. Every spring Stephen Petter took down this +squirrel and put up a new one. The old squirrels were fastened up side +by side<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> on a ledge in the taproom, and by counting them one could find +out how many years the inn had been kept.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 221px;"> +<img src="images/img05_th.png" width="221" height="333" alt="THE SIGN." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE SIGN.</span> +</div> + +<p>Directly below the bluff on which the house stood were Stephen Petter's +grassy meadows and his fields of grain and corn, and in the rich +pastures, or in the shade of the trees standing by the bank of the rapid +little stream that ran down from the woodlands, might be seen his flocks +and his herds. By nature he was a very good farmer, and his agricultural +method he had not derived from his books. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> were people who +said—and among these Calthea Rose expressed herself rather better than +the others—that Mr. Petter's farm kept him, while he kept the Squirrel +Inn.</p> + +<p>When it had become known that the Squirrel Inn was ready to receive +guests, people came from here and there; not very many of them, but +among them were the Rockmores of Germantown. This large family, so it +appeared to Stephen Petter, was composed of the kind of fellow-beings +with whom he wished to associate. Their manners and ways seemed to him +the manners and ways of the people he liked to read about, and he +regarded them with admiration and respect. He soon discovered from their +conversation that they were connected or acquainted with leading +families in our principal Eastern cities, and it became his hope that he +and his Squirrel Inn might become connected with these leading families +by means of the Rockmores of Germantown.</p> + +<p>As this high-classed family liked variety in their summer outings, they +did not come again to the Squirrel Inn, but the effect of their +influence remained strong upon its landlord. He made up his mind that +those persons who did not know the Rockmores of Germantown did not move +in those circles of society from which he wished to obtain his guests, +and therefore he drew a line which excluded all persons who did not +possess this acquaintanceship.</p> + +<p>This rule was very effectual in preventing the crowding of his house, +and, indeed, there were summers when he had no guests at all; but this +did not move Stephen Petter. Better an empty house than people outside +the pale of good society.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE GREEK SCHOLAR</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/m.png" width="150" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Mrs. Cristie and her baby were warmly welcomed by Stephen Petter and his +wife. They had learned during her former visit to like this lady for +herself, and now that she came to them a widow their sentiments towards +her were warmer than ever.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter wondered very much why she had come without a maid, but +fearing that perhaps the poor lady's circumstances were not what they +had been she forbore to ask any immediate questions. But in her heart +she resolved that, if she kept her health and strength, Mrs. Cristie +should not be worn out by that child.</p> + +<p>The young widow was charmed to find herself once more at the Squirrel +Inn, for it had been more like a home to her than any place in which she +had lived since her marriage, but when she went to her room that night +there was a certain depression on her spirits. This was caused by the +expected advent on the next day of Mr. Lodloe and a wagon-load of +candidates for the nurse-maidship.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>The whole affair annoyed her. In the first place it was very awkward to +have this young man engaged in this service for her; and now that he was +engaged in it, it would be, in a manner, under her auspices that he +would arrive at the Squirrel Inn. The more she thought of the matter the +more it annoyed her. She now saw that she must announce the coming of +this gentleman. It would not do for him to make a totally unexpected +appearance as her agent in the nurse-maid business.</p> + +<p>But no worry of this sort could keep her awake very long, and after a +night of sound and healthful sleep she told her host and hostess, the +next morning at breakfast, of the Mr. Lodloe who had kindly undertaken +to bring her a nurse-maid.</p> + +<p>"Lodloe," repeated Mr. Petter. "It strikes me that I have heard the +Rockmores mention that name. Is it a Germantown family?"</p> + +<p>"I really do not know," answered Mrs. Cristie; "he is from New York."</p> + +<p>Here she stopped. She was of a frank and truthful nature, and very much +wished to say that she knew nothing whatever of Mr. Lodloe, but she was +also of a kindly and grateful disposition, and she very well knew that +such a remark would be an extremely detrimental one to the young man; +so, being in doubt, she resolved to play trumps, and in cases like this +silence is generally trumps.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter had a mind which could project itself with the rapidity of +light into the regions of possibilities, and if the possibilities +appeared to her desirable her mind moved at even greater velocity. It +was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> plain to her that there must be something between this young widow +and the young man who was going to bring her a nurse-maid; and if this +were the case, nothing must be allowed to interfere with the admission +of said young man as a guest at the Squirrel Inn.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 321px;"> +<img src="images/img06_th.png" width="321" height="375" alt="A GREEK IN AN OUTHOUSE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A GREEK IN AN OUTHOUSE.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie did not want to talk any more on this subject. Nothing +would have pleased her better at that moment than to hear that Mr. +Lodloe had been unable to find her a suitable girl and that business had +called him to New York.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Petter," she exclaimed, "I was told yesterday that you kept a Greek +in an outhouse. What on earth does that mean?"</p> + +<p>Here Mrs. Petter laughed abruptly, and Mr. Petter slightly lifted his +brow.</p> + +<p>"Who could have told you such nonsense?" he said. "There is no Greek +here. It is true that a Greek scholar lives in my summer-house, but that +is very different from keeping a Greek in an outhouse."</p> + +<p>"And he's always late to breakfast," said Mrs. Petter; "I believe if we +sat down at the table at nine o'clock he would come in just as we were +finishing."</p> + +<p>"How does it happen," said Mrs. Cristie, "that he lives in the +summer-house?"</p> + +<p>"He does not know the Rockmores of Germantown," said Mrs. Petter.</p> + +<p>"He is a man of learning," remarked Stephen Petter, "with a fine mind; +and although I have made a rule which is intended to keep up the +reputation of this house to a desirable level, I do not intend, if I can +help it, that my rules shall press pinchingly, oppressively, or +irritatively upon estimable persons. Such a person is Mr. Tippengray, +our Greek scholar; and although his social relations are not exactly up +to the mark, he is not a man who should be denied the privileges of this +house, so far as they can be conscientiously given him. So you see, Mrs. +Cristie,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> that, although I could not take him into the inn, there was no +reason why I should not fit up the summer-house for him, which I did, +and I believe he likes it better than living in the house with us."</p> + +<p>"Like it!" exclaimed Mrs. Petter; "I should say he did like it. I +believe it would drive him crazy if he had to keep regular hours like +other people; but here he is now. Hester, bring in some hot cakes. Mrs. +Cristie, allow me to introduce Mr. Tippengray."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 183px;"> +<img src="images/img07_th.png" width="183" height="187" alt="MR. TIPPENGRAY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. TIPPENGRAY.</span> +</div> + +<p>The appearance of the Greek scholar surprised Mrs. Cristie. She had +expected to see a man in threadbare black, with a reserved and bowed +demeanor. Instead of this, she saw a bright little gentleman in neat +summer clothes, with a large blue cravat tied sailor fashion. He was not +a young man, although his hair being light the few portions of it which +had turned gray were not conspicuous. He was a man who was inclined to +listen and to observe rather than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> to talk, but when he had anything to +say he popped it out very briskly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter, having finished his breakfast, excused himself and retired, +and Mrs. Petter remarked to Mr. Tippengray that she was sorry he had not +taken his evening meal with them the day before.</p> + +<p>"I took such a long walk," said the Greek scholar, "that I concluded to +sup in Lethbury."</p> + +<p>"Those Lethbury people usually take tea at five," said his hostess.</p> + +<p>"But I'm not a Lethbury person," said he, "and I took my tea at seven."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter looked at him with twinkles in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Of course you went to the hotel," she said.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray looked at her with twinkles in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said he, "have you noticed that those large blue-jays that were +here in the spring have almost entirely disappeared. I remember you used +to object to their shrill pipes."</p> + +<p>"Which is as much as to say," said Mrs. Petter, "you don't care to +mention where you took tea yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Mr. Tippengray, "the pleasure of taking breakfast here +to-day effaces the memory of all former meals."</p> + +<p>"The truth of it is," said Mrs. Petter to Mrs. Cristie, when they had +left the table, "Calthea Rose gave him his tea, and he don't want to say +so. She's mightily taken with him, for he is a fine-minded man, and it +isn't often she gets the chance of keeping company with that kind of a +man. I don't know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> whether he likes her liking or not, but he don't care +to talk about it."</p> + +<p>Her first day at the Squirrel Inn was not altogether a pleasant one for +Bertha Cristie. In spite of the much-proffered service of Mrs. Petter +the care of her baby hampered her a good deal; and notwithstanding the +delights of her surroundings her mind was entirely too much occupied +with wondering when Mr. Lodloe would arrive with his wagon-load of +girls, and what she would have to say to him and about him when he did +arrive.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 187px;"> +<img src="images/img08_th.png" width="187" height="167" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII</h2> + +<p class='center'>ROCKMORES AHEAD</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/i.png" width="150" height="143" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +It was late in the afternoon of the day after Mrs. Cristie reached the +Squirrel Inn that she slowly trundled the little carriage containing the +baby towards the end of the bluff beneath which stretched the fair +pastures where were feeding Mr. Petter's flocks and herds. All day she +had been looking for the arrival of the young man who had promised to +bring her some candidates for the position of child's nurse, and now she +was beginning to believe that she might as well cease to expect him. It +was an odd sort of service for a comparative stranger voluntarily to +undertake, and it would not be at all surprising if he had failed in his +efforts or had given up his idea of coming to the Squirrel Inn.</p> + +<p>Having philosophized a little on the subject, and having succeeded in +assuring herself that after all the matter was of no great importance, +and that she should have attended to it herself, and must do it the next +day, she was surprised to find how glad she was when, turning, she saw +emerging from the woodland road a one-horse wagon with Mr. Lodloe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +sitting by the driver, and a female figure on the back seat.</p> + +<p>The latter proved to be a young person who at a considerable distance +looked about fourteen years old, although on a nearer and more careful +view she would pass for twenty, or thereabouts. She wore a round straw +hat with a white ribbon, and a light-colored summer suit with a broad +belt, which held a large bunch of yellow flowers with brown centers. She +had a cheerful, pleasant countenance, and large brown eyes which seemed +to observe everything.</p> + +<p>As the wagon approached, Mrs. Cristie rapidly pushed her baby-carriage +towards the house. Before she reached it the young girl had jumped to +the ground, and was advancing towards her.</p> + +<p>"I suppose this is Mrs. Cristie," said the newcomer. "I am Ida +Mayberry"; and she held out her hand. Without a word Mrs. Cristie shook +hands with the nurse-maid.</p> + +<p>"I think," said the latter, "before we have any talk I would better go +to my room and freshen myself up a little. I am covered with dust"; and +then she turned to the driver of the wagon and gave him directions in +regard to a medium-sized trunk, a large flat box, and several long +packages tied up in brown muslin, which had been strapped to the back of +the wagon. When these had been taken into the inn, she followed them.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Lodloe approached Mrs. Cristie, hat in hand, she exclaimed in a +tone which she was not in the habit of using to comparative strangers, +in which category sober reflection would certainly have placed the +gentleman:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 444px;"> +<img src="images/img09_th.png" width="444" height="301" alt=""I SUPPOSE THIS IS MRS. CRISTIE."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"I SUPPOSE THIS IS MRS. CRISTIE."</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Will you please to tell me what is the meaning of this? Who is that +girl, and where did she come from?"</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Lodloe, in a deprecatory tone, "I can scarcely pick up the +courage to say so, but that is the nurse-maid."</p> + +<p>"And you brought her to me?" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"I did," he answered.</p> + +<p>"Did you get her in Romney?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Lodloe; "there wasn't a girl of any sort or kind to be had +there. I was obliged to go to New York for one."</p> + +<p>"To New York!" cried the astonished Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Lodloe, "let me propose that we retire a little from the +house. Perhaps her room may be somewhere above us."</p> + +<p>And the two having walked a short distance over the lawn, he continued:</p> + +<p>"I really believe that I have done a very foolish thing, but having +promised to do you a service I greatly disliked not to keep my word. I +could find no one in Romney, and of course the only way to get you a +girl was to go to New York; and so I went there. My idea was to apply to +one of those establishments where there are always lots of maids of all +grades, and bring one to you. That was the way the matter appeared to +me, and it seemed simple enough. On the ferryboat I met Mrs. Waltham, a +lady I know very well, who is a member of the Monday Morning Club, and a +great promoter of college annexes for girls, and all that sort of thing; +and when I asked her advice about the best intelligence office, she told +me to keep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> away from all of them, and to go instead to a teachers' +agency, of which she gave me the address, where she said I would be +almost sure to find some teacher who wanted occupation during the +holidays."</p> + +<p>"A teacher!" cried Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Lodloe; "and you may be sure that I was as much surprised as +you are. But Mrs. Waltham assured me that a great many women teachers +found it necessary to make money during the summer, and were glad to do +anything, just as college students wait at hotels. The more she talked +about it the more she got interested in it, and the matter resulted in +her going to the agency with me. Mrs. Waltham is a heavy swell in +educational circles, and as she selected this girl herself I said not a +word about it, except to hurry up matters so that the girl and I could +start on an early afternoon train."</p> + +<p>"Never in my life!" ejaculated Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Madam," interrupted Lodloe, "I beg you not to say what you intended. It +is impossible for you to feel as badly about it as I do. Just to think +of it stuns me. Did you see her baggage? She has come to stay all +summer. There is no earthly reason to think she will suit you. I don't +suppose she ever saw a baby."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie's mind was still filled with surprise and vexation, but she +could not help laughing at Mr. Lodloe's comical contrition.</p> + +<p>"I will see her presently," she said; "but in the mean time what are you +going to do? There is Mr. Petter standing in the doorway waiting for +your approach, and he will ask you a lot of questions."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>"About the Germantown family, I suppose," said Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "that will be one of them."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know them," said Lodloe, "and that's the end of it."</p> + +<p>"By no means," said the lady, quickly; "Mr. Petter has on his most +impressive air. You must go and talk to him, and it will not do to sneer +at the Rockmores."</p> + +<p>"If it is absolutely necessary to have credentials in order to secure +quarters here," said Lodloe, "I don't see what is to be done about it."</p> + +<p>"Come with me," said Mrs. Cristie, quickly; "you have put yourself to a +great deal of trouble for me, and I will see what I can do for you."</p> + +<p>When Walter Lodloe and Mr. Petter had been formally introduced to each +other, the brow of the latter bore marks of increased trouble and +uncertainty. From the confidential aspect of the interview between Mrs. +Cristie and the young man, the landlord of the inn had begun to suspect +what his wife had suspected, and it galled his spirit to think of +putting his usual test question to this friend of Mrs. Cristie. But he +was a man of principle, and he did not flinch.</p> + +<p>"Are you from Philadelphia, sir," he asked, "or its vicinity?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Lodloe; "I am from New York."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 345px;"> +<img src="images/img10_th.png" width="345" height="413" alt="LODLOE IS INTRODUCED TO STEPHEN PETTER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LODLOE IS INTRODUCED TO STEPHEN PETTER.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A great many Philadelphia people," continued the landlord, "or those +from its vicinity, are well known in New York, and in fact move in +leading circles there. Are you acquainted, sir, with the Rockmores of +Germantown?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter now appeared in the doorway, her face clouded. If Mrs. +Cristie had known the Rockmores she would have hastened to give Mr. +Lodloe such advantages as an acquaintance in the second degree might +afford. But she had never met any member of that family, the valuable +connection being entirely on the side of her late husband.</p> + +<p>"I did not know," said Lodloe, "that you required credentials of +respectability, or I might have brought a lot of letters."</p> + +<p>"One from Matthew Vassar?" said Mrs. Cristie, unable to resist her +opportunity.</p> + +<p>"Were you acquainted with Matthew Vassar?" interpolated Mrs. Petter with +energetic interest. "He was a great and good man, and his friends ought +to be good enough for anybody. Now put it to yourself, Stephen. Don't +you think that the friends of Matthew Vassar, the founder of that +celebrated college, known all over the world, a man who even after his +day and generation is doing so much good, are worthy to be accommodated +in this house?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter contracted his brows, looked upon the ground, and interlaced +his fingers in front of him.</p> + +<p>"The late Mr. Matthew Vassar," said he, "was truly a benefactor to his +kind, and a man worthy of all respect; but when we come to consider the +way in which the leading circles of society are made up—"</p> + +<p>"Don't consider it at all," cried Mrs. Petter. "If this gentleman is a +friend of Mrs. Cristie, and is backed up by Matthew Vassar, you cannot +turn him away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> If you want to get round the Rockmores you can treat him +just as you treat Mr. Tippengray. Let him have the top room of the +tower, which, I am sure, is as pleasant as can be, especially in warm +weather, and then he will have his own stairs to himself, and can come +in and go out just as Mr. Tippengray does, without ever considering +whether the Squirrel Inn is open or shut. As for eating, that's a +different matter. People can eat in a place without living there. That +was all settled when we took Mr. Tippengray."</p> + +<p>An expression of decided relief passed over the face of Mr. Petter.</p> + +<p>"It is true," he said, "that in the case of Mr. Tippengray we made an +exception to our rule—"</p> + +<p>"That's so," interrupted Mrs. Petter; "and as I have heard that +exceptions prove a rule, the more of them we have the better. And if the +top room suits Mr. Lodloe, I'll have it made ready for him without +waiting another minute."</p> + +<p>Mr. Lodloe declared that any room into which the good lady might choose +to put him would suit him perfectly; and that matter was settled.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII</h2> + +<p class='center'>MISS MAYBERRY</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/a.png" width="150" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p>About five minutes after Walter Lodloe had departed for his loft chamber +Miss Ida Mayberry made her appearance in the front doorway. She had +changed her dress, and looked very bright and fresh.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this a pretty place?" she said, approaching Mrs. Cristie. "I +think I shall like it ever so much. And that is your baby? Is it a boy +or a girl?"</p> + +<p>"A boy," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"And his name?"</p> + +<p>"Douglas."</p> + +<p>"I like that sort of name," remarked Miss Mayberry; "it is sensible and +distinctive. And now I wish you would tell me exactly what you want me +to do."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie spoke nervously.</p> + +<p>"Really," said she, "I am afraid that there has been a mistake. I want +an ordinary nurse-maid, and Mr. Lodloe could not have understood—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't trouble yourself about that," said the other. "I understand +perfectly. You will find me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> quite practical. What I don't know I can +learn. My mental powers need a change of channel, and if I can give them +this change, and at the same time make some money, I am sure I ought to +be satisfied."</p> + +<p>"But it seems to me," said Mrs. Cristie, "that one who is by profession +a teacher would scarcely—"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, years ago," interrupted the other; "but things are +different now. Look at all the young college fellows who work during +vacation, and we are beginning to do it, too. Now you will find me just +as practical as anybody. Nine months in the year I teach,—moral and +mental philosophy are my special branches,—and during vacation I am not +going to wear out my brain in a summer school, nor empty my purse by +lounging about in idleness. Now what could be better than for me to come +to a perfectly lovely place like this, which I fancy more and more every +minute, and take care of a nice little child, which, I am sure, will be +a pleasure in itself, and give me a lot of time to read besides? +However, I wish you to understand, Mrs. Cristie, that I am never going +to neglect the baby for the sake of study or reading."</p> + +<p>"But have you thought seriously of the position in which this would +place you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," was the answer; "but that is a disadvantage that has to be +accepted, and I don't mind it. Of course I wouldn't go to anybody and +everybody, but when a lady is recommended by a friend of Mrs. Waltham's, +I wouldn't hesitate to make an engagement with her. As to salary, I will +take whatever you would pay to another nurse-maid, and I beg you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> will +not make the slightest difference because I am a teacher. Is that bell +for supper?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "and perhaps you have not yet reflected that +my nurse-maid must take care of my baby while I am at my meals."</p> + +<p>"That is precisely and exactly what she is going to do. Go in to your +supper, and I will push him about until you come out again. Then you can +show me how to put him to bed."</p> + +<p>"Isn't she coming in?" asked Mrs. Petter, looking out of the window as +she took her seat at the table.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Mrs. Cristie, in a tone which was intended to make +an impression on Mr. Lodloe; "my maids do not eat with me."</p> + +<p>"But, goodnessfulme!" said Mrs. Petter, "you can't look upon that sort +of a young woman as a servant. Why, I put her in one of the best rooms; +though of course that doesn't make any difference so long as there is +nobody else to take it. I wonder if we couldn't find some sort of a girl +to take care of the baby while she comes to her meals."</p> + +<p>At this even Stephen Petter smiled. He was pleased that one of his +guests should have a servant of such high degree. It was like a noble +lady in waiting upon a queen.</p> + +<p>"She shall be entertained," he said, "according to her station. There +need be no fear about that."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," exclaimed Mrs. Petter, "if here isn't Mr. Tippengray! +Well, sir, I don't know when I've seen you on hand at regular +meal-time."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is a little out of the common," said the Greek scholar; +"but, after all," he continued, looking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> out of the window, "it appears +I am not the last one to come in." And then, glancing around the table, +he asked, "Am I taking her place?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir," said Mrs. Cristie; "that is my maid."</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray again looked out of the window; then he helped himself to +butter, and said:</p> + +<p>"Have you ever noticed, Mrs. Petter, that the prevailing style in wild +flowers seems to vary every year? It changes just like our fashions, +though of course there are always a few old fogies among blossoming +weeds, as well as among clothes-wearers."</p> + +<p>The next morning Walter Lodloe came to Mrs. Cristie on the lawn.</p> + +<p>"I have been waiting for some time," he said, "in order to tell you that +I am ready at any moment to repair the unpardonable blunder that I made +yesterday, and to escort back to New York the very unsuitable young +woman whom I forced upon you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you need not think of doing anything of that kind," said Mrs. +Cristie; "the young person is perfectly satisfied with the situation, +and intends to stay. She gives me no possible excuse to tell her that +she will not suit me, for she takes hold of things exactly as if she +remembered what people did for her when she was a baby. She doesn't know +everything, but she intends to; that is plain enough. At present she is +washing one of baby's frocks with my <i>savon de rose</i>, because she +declares that the soap they gave her in the kitchen contains enough lye +to corrode the fibers of the fabric."</p> + +<p>"Then you think she may suit you?" said Lodloe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, she will suit; she intends to suit; and I have nothing to say +except that I feel very much as I suppose you would feel if you had a +college president to brush your coat."</p> + +<p>"My spirits rise," said Lodloe; "I begin to believe that I have not made +so much of a blunder after all. When you can get it, there is nothing +like blooded service."</p> + +<p>"But you do not want too much blood," said Mrs. Cristie. "I wish she had +not studied at Bryn Mawr, for I think she pities me for having graduated +at Vassar. But still she says I must call her Ida, and that gives me +courage."</p> + +<p>There then followed a contention in which Lodloe was worsted about his +expenses in the nurse-maid affair, and, this matter being settled, the +young man declared that having shown what an extremely undesirable +person he was to work for others, he must go and attend to his own work.</p> + +<p>"What sort of work do you do?" asked Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"I write," he answered—"novels, stories, fiction in general."</p> + +<p>"I know that," said she, "having read your Vassar article; but I do not +think I have met with any of your avowed stories."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Walter Lodloe, "there are so many people in this world, +and so few of them have read my stories, it is no wonder that you belong +to the larger class. But, satirize my Vassar article as you please, I +shall never cease to be grateful to it for my tower room in the Squirrel +Inn."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE PRESERVATION OF LITERATURE</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/w.png" width="150" height="161" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Walter Lodloe set out to go to his work, and on his way to the little +garden at the foot of the staircase which led to his room in the tower +he saw the Greek scholar sitting on a bench outside his summer-house +smoking a large cigar.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, sir," said Mr. Tippengray; "do you smoke?"</p> + +<p>The tone of these words implied not only a question but an invitation, +in case the young man did smoke, to sit down on that bench and do it. +Lodloe understood the force of the remark, and, drawing out a cigar, +took a seat by Mr. Tippengray.</p> + +<p>"Before I go to my work," said the latter, "it is my habit to sit here +and enjoy the scenery and a few puffs. I suppose when you come to a +place like this you throw work to the winds."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" said Lodloe; "I am a literary man, and I came here to write."</p> + +<p>"Very glad to hear it," said the other; "very glad that that tower room +is to have the right sort of occupant. If I had not this summer-house, I +should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> want that room; but I am afraid, however, if I had it, I should +look out of the window a great deal and translate a very little."</p> + +<p>"What do you translate?" asked Lodloe, with interest.</p> + +<p>"At present," said Mr. Tippengray, "I am engaged in translating into +Greek some of the standard works of our modern literature. There is no +knowing what may happen to our modern languages. In the course of a few +centuries they may become as useless to the readers of that day as the +English of Chaucer is to the ordinary reader of our time; but Greek will +stand, sir, and the sooner we get the good things of the present day +into solid Greek the better it will be for them and the literature of +the future."</p> + +<p>"What work are you translating?" asked Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"I am now at work on the 'Pickwick Papers,'" said the scholar, "and I +assure you that it is not an easy job. When I get through with it I +shall translate it back into English, after the fashion of Sir William +Jones—the only way to do that sort of thing. Same as a telegraphic +message—if it isn't repeated, you can't depend on it. If I then find +that my English is like that of Dickens, I shall feel greatly +encouraged, and probably shall take up the works of Thackeray."</p> + +<p>Walter Lodloe was somewhat stunned at this announcement, and he +involuntarily glanced at the gray streaks in the locks of the Greek +scholar. The latter perceived the glance, and, knocking the ashes from +his cigar, remarked:</p> + +<p>"Did you ever notice, sir, that an ordinary robin is perfectly aware +that while squirrels and cats are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> able to ascend the perpendicular +trunk of a tree, they cannot climb the painted pillar of a piazza; and +consequently it is perfectly safe to build a nest at the top of such a +pillar?"</p> + +<p>Lodloe had noticed this, and a good many other intelligent traits of +animals, and the two conversed on this interesting subject until the sun +came round to the bench on which they were sitting, when they moved to a +shady spot and continued the conversation.</p> + +<p>At last Lodloe arose. "It must be nearly dinnertime," said he. "I think +I shall take a walk this afternoon, and see some of the country."</p> + +<p>"You ought to do it," said Mr. Tippengray. "It is a beautiful country. +If you like I will go with you. I'm not a bad guide; I know every road, +path, and short cut."</p> + +<p>Walter Lodloe expressed his satisfaction at the proposed companionship, +and suggested that the first walk be to the village of Lethbury, peeping +up among the trees in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Lethbury!" exclaimed the Greek scholar. "Well, sir, if it's all the +same to you, I prefer walking in any direction to that of Lethbury. It's +a good enough place, but to-day I don't feel drawn to it."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said Lodloe; "we will walk anywhere but in the direction of +Lethbury."</p> + +<p>About half an hour afterward, Mrs. Petter, having finished carving a +pair of fowls, paused for a moment's rest in serving the little company, +and looked out of the dining-room window.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word!" she exclaimed, "this is too bad. When other boarders +came, I thought Mr. Tippengray<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> would begin to behave like other +Christians, and come to his meals at the proper time. At supper last +night and breakfast this morning he was at the table as soon as anybody, +and I was beginning to feel real heartened up, as if things were going +to run on regular and proper. But now look at that? Isn't that enough to +make a housekeeper give up in despair?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie, Lodloe, and Mr. Petter all looked out of the window, and +beheld the Greek scholar engaged in pushing the baby carriage backward +and forward under the shade of a large tree; while, on a seat near by, +the maid Ida sat reading a book. Now passing nearer, Mr. Tippengray +stopped, and with sparkling eyes spoke to her. Then she looked up, and +with sparkling eyes answered him. Then together, with sparkling eyes, +they conversed for a few minutes, evidently about the book. After a few +more turns of the carriage Mr. Tippengray returned to the maid; the +sparkling eyes were raised again from the book, and the scene was +repeated.</p> + +<p>"He has lent her a book," said Mrs. Cristie. "She did not take that one +out with her."</p> + +<p>"There's a time for books, and there's a time for meals," said Mrs. +Petter. "Why didn't he keep his book until he had eaten his dinner?"</p> + +<p>"I think Mr. Tippengray must be something of a philosopher," said +Lodloe, "and that he prefers to take his books to a pretty maid when +other people are at dinner."</p> + +<p>"My wife does not altogether understand the ways of scholars," said Mr. +Petter. "A gentleman giving most of his time to Greek cannot be expected +to give much of his mind to the passage of modern times."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 410px;"> +<img src="images/img11_th.png" width="410" height="295" alt=""PASSING NEARER, MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"PASSING NEARER, MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED."</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If he gives some of his time to the passage of a good dinner into cold +victuals it would help his dyspepsia. But I suppose he will come when he +is ready, and all I have to say is that I would like to see Calthea Rose +if she could catch sight of them this minute."</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter sat at the end of the table where he had a view of his flocks +and his herds in the pasture below.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "if that estimable young woman wants to catch a sight +of them, all she has to do is to step along lively, for at this present +moment she is walking over the field-path straight to this house, and +what is more, she is wearing her bonnet and carrying a parasol."</p> + +<p>"Bonnet and parasol!" ejaculated Mrs. Petter. "Fire in the mountains, +run, boys, run! Debby, step out as quick as you can to Mr. Tippengray, +and you needn't say anything but just ask if Miss Calthea Rose told him +she was coming to dinner to-day, and tell him she's coming over the +field."</p> + +<p>In about one minute the Greek scholar was in his place at the table and +beginning his meal.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Tippengray," said Mrs. Petter, "I don't suppose you feel any +coals of fire on your head at this present moment."</p> + +<p>"Madame," said the scholar, "did you ever notice that when squirrels +strip the bark from the limbs of trees they are very apt to despoil +those branches which project in such a manner as to interfere with a +view?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, I didn't," said Mrs. Petter; "and I don't believe they do it, +either. Debby, put a knife, fork, and napkin for Calthea Rose. If she is +coming to dinner it is just as well to let her think that nobody forgot +to bring the message she sent. She never comes to meals without sending +word beforehand."</p> + +<p>But Miss Calthea had not come to dinner. She sent word by Debby, who met +her at the front door, that she had had her dinner, and that she would +wait for the family on the piazza.</p> + +<p>"Bonnet and parasol," said Mrs. Petter. "She has come to make a call, +and it's on you, Mrs. Cristie. Don't eat too fast, Mr. Tippengray; she's +good for the rest of the afternoon."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X</h2> + +<p class='center'>ROSE VERSUS MAYBERRY</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/m.png" width="150" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Miss Calthea Rose was a person of good height, originally slender, but +gathering an appreciable plumpness as the years went on, and with good +taste in dress when she chose to exert it, which on the present occasion +she did. She possessed acute perceptions and a decided method of action. +But whether or not the relation of her perceptions to her actions was +always influenced by good judgment was a question with her neighbors. It +never was, however, a question with herself.</p> + +<p>When everybody but Mr. Tippengray had finished dinner, and he had +desired the others not to wait for him as he would probably be occupied +some time longer, the host and hostess went out to greet the visitor, +followed by Mrs. Cristie and Lodloe. When Miss Calthea Rose turned to +greet the latter lady her expression was cold, not to say hard; but when +her eyes fell upon the gentleman by the side of the young widow, a +softening warmth spread over her face, and she came forward with +outstretched hands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you see that?" said Mrs. Petter, aside to her husband. "Jealous as +she can be of Mrs. Cristie till she sees that she's got a young man of +her own; then as sweet as sugar."</p> + +<p>When Miss Calthea Rose set about to be as sweet as sugar, it was very +good sugar that she took for her model. She liked to talk, but was not a +mistress of words, and although her remarks were not always to the +point, they were generally pointed. At last Mr. Tippengray came out on +the piazza. He walked slowly, and he did not wear his usual ease of +demeanor; but nothing could have been more cordial and reassuring than +the greeting given him by Miss Calthea. If this were intended in any way +to inspirit him, it failed of its effect. The Greek scholar stood apart, +and did not look like a man who had made up his mind as to what he was +going to do next; but Miss Calthea took no notice of his unusual +demeanor. She talked with great graciousness to the company in general, +and frequently directed remarks to Mr. Tippengray which indicated a high +degree of good comradeship.</p> + +<p>Under this general warmth Mr. Tippengray was forced to melt a little, +and in a manner to accept the position thus publicly tendered him; but +suddenly the maid Ida popped up the steps of the piazza. She had an open +book in her hand, and she went directly and quickly to Mr. Tippengray. +She held the book up towards him, and put her finger on a page.</p> + +<p>"You were just here," she said, "when you had to go to your dinner. Now +if you will finish the explanation I can go on nicely. You don't know +how you help me. Every word you say seems to take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> root"; and she looked +up into his face with sparkling eyes.</p> + +<p>But not a sparkle sparkled from the eyes of the Greek scholar. He stood +silently looking at the book, his face a little flushed, his eyes +blinking as if the sunlight were too strong for him.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you walk out on the lawn with me," said the nurse-maid, "and +then we shall not disturb the others. I will not keep you more than five +minutes."</p> + +<p>She went down the steps of the piazza, and Mr. Tippengray, having +apparently lost the power of making up his mind what he should do, did +what she wanted him to do, and followed her. They did not walk very far, +but stood barely out of hearing of the persons on the piazza; her eyes +sparkling up into his face, as his helpful words took root in her +understanding.</p> + +<p>At the instant of the appearance of the maid Ida Miss Calthea Rose +stopped talking. Her subsequent glances towards this young woman and Mr. +Tippengray might have made one think of steel chilled to zero. Mrs. +Cristie looked at Lodloe, and he at her, and both slightly smiled. "She +understands that sort of thing," he thought, and "He understands that +sort of thing," she thought.</p> + +<p>At this moment Mrs. Petter glanced at her two guests and saw the smile +which passed between them. She understood that sort of thing.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" said Miss Calthea Rose, presently.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie, full of the humor of the situation, hastened to answer.</p> + +<p>"It is my nurse-maid," she said, "Ida Mayberry."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A child's nurse!" ejaculated Miss Calthea Rose.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "that is what she is."</p> + +<p>"I expect," said Mrs. Petter, "that he is teaching her Greek, and of +course it's hard for her at the beginning. Mr. Tippengray's such a kind +man that he would do anything for anybody, so far as he could; but I +must admit that I can't see how Greek can help anybody to nurse +children, unless there is some book on the subject in that language."</p> + +<p>"Greek!" scornfully ejaculated Miss Calthea, and, turning her steely +glance from the couple on the lawn, she began to talk to Mr. Petter +about one of his cows which had broken its leg.</p> + +<p>Ida Mayberry was a young woman who meant what she said, and in less than +five minutes, with a sparkling glance of thanks, she released Mr. +Tippengray. That gentleman returned to the piazza, but his appearance +elicited no more attention from the lady who had so recently brought +into view their friendly relationship than if he had been the head of a +nail in the floor beneath her. From Mr. Petter she turned to speak to +some of the others, and if her words and manner did not make Mr. +Tippengray understand that, so far as she was concerned, he had ceased +to exist, her success was not what she expected it to be.</p> + +<p>Although he had been amused and interested, Walter Lodloe now thought +that he had had enough of Miss Calthea Rose, and wandered away to the +little garden at the foot of his staircase. He had not reached it before +he was joined by Mr. Tippengray.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said the latter, with something of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> usual briskness; +"if you are still in the humor, suppose we walk over to Lethbury."</p> + +<p>Lodloe looked at him in surprise. "I thought you didn't want to go +there," he said.</p> + +<p>"I've changed my mind," replied the other. "I think this is a very good +day to go to Lethbury. It is a pretty village, and you ought to have +some one with you to show you its best points."</p> + +<p>As soon as she thought etiquette would permit, Mrs. Cristie withdrew, +pleading the interests of her baby as an excuse.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to tell me," said Miss Calthea Rose, the moment the young +mother was out of hearing, "that she leaves her baby in the care of that +thing with a book?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," was the answer; "Mrs. Cristie tells me she is a very good +nurse-maid."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Miss Calthea, "babies are troublesome, and it's often +convenient to get rid of them, but I must say that I never heard of this +new style of infanticide. I suppose there isn't any law against it yet."</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter looked uneasy. He did not like fault found with Mrs. Cristie, +who was a great favorite with him.</p> + +<p>"I am inclined to think, Miss Calthea," he said, "that you judge that +young person too harshly. I have formed a very good opinion of her. Not +only does she attend to her duties, but she has a good mind. It may not +be a fine mind, but it is a good mind. Her desire to learn from Mr. +Tippengray is a great point in her favor."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>Here Mrs. Petter, who sat near her husband, pressed violently upon his +foot; but she was too late, the words had been said. Mrs. Petter +prepared herself for a blaze, but none came. There was a momentary flash +in the Calthean eyes, and then the lids came down and shut out +everything but a line of steely light. Then she gazed out over the +landscape, and presently again turned her face towards her companions, +with nothing more upon it than her usual expression when in a bad humor.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," she said abruptly, "that Lanigan Beam is coming back?"</p> + +<p>"Goodness gracious!" exclaimed Mrs. Petter, "I thought he was settled in +Patagonia."</p> + +<p>"It was not Patagonia," said Mr. Petter; "it was Nicaragua."</p> + +<p>"Well, I knew it was the little end of some place," said she; "and now +he's coming back. Well, that is unfortunate."</p> + +<p>"Unfortunate!" said Miss Calthea; "it's criminal. There ought to be a +law against such things."</p> + +<p>Again the host of the Squirrel Inn moved uneasily on his chair and +crossed and recrossed his legs. He liked Lanigan Beam.</p> + +<p>"I cannot see," he said, "why it is wrong for a man to return to the +place where he was born."</p> + +<p>"Born!" scornfully exclaimed Miss Calthea; "it's the greatest pity that +there is any place where he was born; but there's no use talking about +him. He has written to them at the hotel at Lethbury that he will be +there the day after to-morrow, and he wants them to have a room ready +for him. If he'd asked them to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> have a grave ready for him it would have +been much more considerate."</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter now rose to his feet; his manner was very dignified.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Miss Calthea," he said, "but I must go and look after my men +in the cornfield."</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea Rose sat up very straight in her chair.</p> + +<p>"If there's anything you want to do, Mrs. Petter, I beg you won't let me +keep you."</p> + +<p>"Now, Calthea," said Mrs. Petter, "don't work yourself into such a +terrible stew. You know Stephen doesn't like to have Lanigan pitched +into; I'm sorry for even what I said. But that about his grave was +enough to rouse a saint."</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea was on the point of retorting that that was something which +Stephen Petter was not, by any means, but she restrained herself. If she +quarreled with the Petters, and cut herself off from visiting the +Squirrel Inn, a great part of the pleasure of her life would be gone.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, "we all know Lanigan Beam, and if there's anybody who +wants the peace of the community to vanish entirely out of sight, the +responsibility's on him, and not on me."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Petter," said Ida Mayberry, appearing so suddenly before that good +woman that she seemed to have dropped through the roof of the piazza, +"do you know where Mr. Tippengray is? I've been looking all over for +him, and can't find him. He isn't in his little house, for I knocked at +the door."</p> + +<p>"Does Mrs. Cristie want him?" asked Mrs. Petter, making this wild grasp +at a straw.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Ida. "It is I who want him. There's a Greek sentence in +this book he lent me which I am sure I have not translated properly; and +as the baby is asleep now, there couldn't be a better time for him to +help me, if only I could find him."</p> + +<p>Self-restraint was no longer possible with Miss Calthea Rose. A red +blaze shot into her face, and without deigning to look in the direction +of the creature who had just spoken, she said in the sharpest tones of +contemptuous anger:</p> + +<p>"Greek to a child's nurse! I expect next he'll teach French to the +pigs."</p> + +<p>The maid Ida lifted up her eyes from the book and fixed them on Miss +Calthea.</p> + +<p>"The best thing he could do," she quietly remarked, "would be to teach +the old hens good manners"; and then she walked away with her book.</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea sprang to her feet, and looked as if she was going to do +something; but there was nothing to do, and she sat down again. Her brow +was dark, her eyes flashed, and her lips were parted, as if she was +about to say something; but there was nothing to say, and she sat +silent, breathing hard. It was bad enough to be as jealous as Miss +Calthea was at that moment, but to be so flagrantly insulted by the +object of her jealousy created in her a rage that could not be expressed +in words. It was fortunate that she did not look at Mrs. Petter, for +that good lady was doing her best to keep from laughing.</p> + +<p>"Well!" she exclaimed, as soon as she could speak composedly, "this is +too much. I think I must speak to Mrs. Cristie about this. Of course she +can't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> prevent the young woman from answering back, but I think I can +make her see that it isn't seemly and becoming for nurse-maids to be +associating with boarders in this way."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 324px;"> +<img src="images/img12_th.png" width="324" height="311" alt=""TEACH THE OLD HENS GOOD MANNERS."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"TEACH THE OLD HENS GOOD MANNERS."</span> +</div> + +<p>"If you take my advice, Susan Petter," said Miss Calthea, in a voice +thickened by her emotions, "you will keep your mouth shut on that +subject. If your boarders choose to associate with servants, let them +alone. It simply shows what sort of people they are."</p> + +<p>Calthea Rose did not like to hear herself speak in a voice which might +show how she was feeling, and as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> there was no use of staying there if +she could not talk, she rose to leave, and, in spite of Mrs. Petter's +hospitable entreaty to make a longer stay, she departed.</p> + +<p>When her visitor was well out of sight, Mrs. Petter allowed herself to +lean back in her chair and laugh quietly.</p> + +<p>"Leave them alone indeed," she said to herself. "You may want me to do +it, but I know well enough that you are not going to leave them alone, +Miss Calthea Rose, and I can't say that I wonder at your state of mind, +for it seems to me that this is your last chance. If you don't get Mr. +Tippengray, I can't see where you are going to find another man properly +older than you are."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI</h2> + +<p class='center'>LANIGAN BEAM</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="150" height="154" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +That evening about eleven o'clock Walter Lodloe was sitting in his room +in the tower, his feet upon the sill of the large window which looked +out over the valley. He had come up to his room an hour or two before, +determined not to allow the whole day to pass without his having done +any work; and now, having written several pages of the story on which he +was engaged, he was enjoying the approbation of his conscience, the +flavor of a good cigar, and the beautiful moonlighted scene which he +beheld from his window.</p> + +<p>More than this, he was thinking over the events of the day with a good +deal of interest and amusement, particularly of his afternoon walk with +Mr. Tippengray. He had taken a great fancy to that gentleman, who, +without making any direct confidences, had given him a very fair idea of +his relations with Calthea Rose. It was plain enough that he liked that +very estimable person, and that he had passed many pleasant hours in her +society, but that he did not at all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> agree with what he called her +bigoted notions in regard to proprietorship in fellow-beings.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, Lodloe was greatly delighted with Miss Calthea's +manner of showing her state of mind. Quite unexpectedly they had met her +in Lethbury,—to which village Mr. Tippengray had not thought she would +return so soon,—and Lodloe almost laughed as he called to mind the +beaming and even genial recognition that she gave to him, and which, at +the same time, included effacement and extinction of his companion to +the extent of being an admirable piece of dramatic art. The effect upon +Lodloe had been such, that when the lady had passed he involuntarily +turned to see if the Greek scholar had not slipped away just before the +moment of meeting.</p> + +<p>"When a woman tries so hard to show how little she thinks of a man," +thought Lodloe, "it is a proof that she thinks a great deal of him, and +I shall not be surprised—" Just then there came a tap at the window +opposite the one at which he was sitting.</p> + +<p>Now when a man in the upper room of a fairly tall tower, access to which +is gained by a covered staircase the door at the bottom of which he +knows he has locked, hears a tap at the window, he is likely to be +startled. Lodloe was so startled that his chair nearly tipped over +backward. Turning quickly, he saw a man's head and shoulders at the +opposite window, the sash of which was raised. With an exclamation, +Lodloe sprang to his feet. His lamp had been turned down in order that +he might better enjoy the moonlight, but he could plainly see the man at +the window, who now spoke:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hold hard," said he; "don't get excited. There's nothing out of the +way. My name is Beam—Lanigan Beam. I tapped because I thought if I +spoke first you might jump out of the window, being turned in that +direction. May I come in?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 268px;"> +<img src="images/img13_th.png" width="268" height="280" alt=""DON'T GET EXCITED."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"DON'T GET EXCITED."</span> +</div> + +<p>Lodloe made no answer; his mind did not comprehend the situation; he +went to the window and looked out. The man was standing on the sharp +ridge of a roof which stretched from the tower to the rear portion of +the building. By reaching upward he was able to look into the window.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Give me a hand," said the man, "and we'll consider matters inside. This +is a mighty ticklish place to stand on."</p> + +<p>Lodloe had heard a good deal that evening about Lanigan Beam, and +although he was amazed at the appearance of that individual at this time +and place, he was ready and willing to make his acquaintance. Bracing +himself against the window-frame, he reached out his hand, and in a few +moments Mr. Beam had scrambled into the room. Lodloe turned up the wick +of his lamp, and by the bright light he looked at his visitor.</p> + +<p>He saw a man rather long as to legs, and thin as to face, and dressed in +an easy-fitting suit of summer clothes.</p> + +<p>"Take a seat," said Lodloe, "and tell me to what I owe this call."</p> + +<p>"To your lamp," said the other, taking a chair; "it wasn't burning very +brightly, but still it was a light, and the only one about. I was on my +way to Lethbury, but I couldn't get any sort of conveyance at Romney, so +I footed it, thinking I would like a moonlight walk. But by the time I +got to the squirrel on the post I thought I would turn in here and stay +with Stephen Petter for the night; but the house was all shut up and +dark except this room, and as I knew that if I woke Stephen out of a +sound sleep he'd bang me over the head with his everlasting Rockmores of +Germantown, I determined to take a night's lodging without saying a word +to him about it.</p> + +<p>"There's a room back here that you can only get into by a ladder put up +on the outside. I knew all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> about it, so I went to the ice-house and got +a ladder and climbed into the room. I put my valise under my head, and +prepared to take a good sleep on the floor, but in three minutes I found +the place was full of wasps. I couldn't stay there, you know, and I was +just getting ready to go down the ladder again when I happened to look +out of a window that opened on the roof, and saw you in here. I could +see only the back of your head, but although it was pretty well lighted, +I couldn't judge very well by that what sort of a person you were. But I +saw you were smoking, and it struck me that a man who smokes is +generally a pretty good fellow, and so I came over."</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you," said Lodloe; "and what can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, in the first place," said Beam, "have you any liquid ammonia? The +first notice I had of the wasps in that room was this sting on my +finger."</p> + +<p>Lodloe was sorry that he did not possess anything of the kind.</p> + +<p>"If I'm not mistaken," said the visitor, "there is a bottle of it on the +top shelf of that closet. I have frequently occupied this room, and I +remember putting some there myself. May I look for it?"</p> + +<p>Permission being given, Mr. Beam speedily found the bottle, and assuaged +the pains of his sting.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said he, resuming his seat, "the next favor I'll ask will be +to allow me to fill my pipe, and put to you a few questions as to the +way the land lies about here at present. I've been away for a year and a +half, and don't know what's going on, or who's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> dead or alive. By the +way, have you happened to hear anybody speak of me?"</p> + +<p>"I should think so," said Lodloe, laughing. "The greater part of this +evening was occupied in a discussion on your life, adventures, moral +character, disposition, and mental bias. There may have been some other +points touched upon, but I don't recall them just now."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," said Lanigan Beam, putting his arms on the table, and +leaning forward, "this is interesting. Who discussed me?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 311px;"> +<img src="images/img14_th.png" width="311" height="292" alt=""HAVE YOU HAPPENED TO HEAR ANYBODY SPEAK OF ME?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"HAVE YOU HAPPENED TO HEAR ANYBODY SPEAK OF ME?"</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mr. and Mrs. Petter had the most to say," answered Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear they're alive," interpolated the other.</p> + +<p>"And Mrs. Cristie, who knew you when her husband was alive."</p> + +<p>"Dead, is he?" said Beam. "Very sorry to hear that. A mighty pretty +woman is Mrs. Cristie."</p> + +<p>"Miss Calthea Rose was not present," continued Lodloe, "but her opinions +were quoted very freely by the others, and sometimes combated."</p> + +<p>"Calthea alive, is she?" ejaculated Beam. "Well, well, I ought to be +glad to hear it, and I suppose I am. Anybody else?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; there was Mr. Tippengray, one of the guests at the inn. There are +only three of us in all. He had heard a great deal about you from Miss +Rose. She seems to have been very communicative to him."</p> + +<p>"Chums, are they?" cried Lanigan Beam. "Well, bless his soul, I say, +whatever sort of man he is. Now what did they say about me?"</p> + +<p>"It's my opinion," answered Lodloe, smiling, "that it is a very unsafe +thing to tell a man what other people say about him."</p> + +<p>Lanigan sprang to his feet, and stood, pipe in hand, before the other. +"Now, sir," said he, "I have not heard your name yet—Lodloe; thank you. +Now, Mr. Lodloe, I have before me the greatest chance of my life. It +almost never happens that a man has an opportunity of hearing a +straightforward account of what people say about him. Now if you want to +do the biggest kind of favor to a fellow-being, just tell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> me what you +heard of me to-night. You are a perfect stranger to me, and you can +speak out plainly about it without having the least feeling one way or +the other."</p> + +<p>Lodloe looked at him.</p> + +<p>"Here's a chance," he said to himself, "that seldom comes to a man; an +opportunity to tell a man exactly what his friends and neighbors think +about him. It's a rare experience, and I like it. I'll do it."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said he, aloud; "if you want to see yourself as others see +you, I'll turn on the lights and act as showman; but remember I have +nothing to do with the painting. I have no prejudices one way or the +other."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Lanigan, reseating himself; "let the panorama move."</p> + +<p>"About the first thing I was told," said Lodloe, "was that you were a +good-hearted fellow, but the fact that your father was an Irishman had +deprived your character of ballast."</p> + +<p>"Umph," said Lanigan; "there are some people who are all ballast. I +don't mind that."</p> + +<p>"And then I heard that, although you were a wild and irresponsible +youth, people generally expected that as you grew older you would +gradually accumulate ballast; but instead of that you had steadily gone +downhill from the moment of your birth."</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said Lanigan, "I suppose I have no right to ask you, but I +would like very much to know who said that."</p> + +<p>"I don't object in the least to telling you," said Lodloe; "it is fitter +that you should know it than that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> should know it. That was a quoted +opinion of Miss Calthea Rose."</p> + +<p>"Good for you," said Lanigan; "you'd be death to the members of a +scandal-monger society. You would break up the business utterly."</p> + +<p>"To this Mr. Petter remarked," said Lodloe, "that he thought in many +ways you had improved very much, but he was obliged to admit that he +could never think of anything that you had done which was of the least +benefit to yourself or anybody else."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," cried Lanigan, "that's a pretty wide sweep for old +Petter. I shall have to rub up his memory. He forgets that I helped him +to make the plans for this house. And what did Mrs. Cristie say about +me?"</p> + +<p>"She said she thought it was a great pity that you did not apply +yourself to something or other."</p> + +<p>"She is right there," said Beam, "and, by George! I'll apply myself to +her. However, I don't know about that," he continued. "What else did +Calthea say?"</p> + +<p>"One remark was that having proved false to every friend you had here +you had no right to return."</p> + +<p>"That means," said Mr. Beam, "that having promised at least five times +to marry her, I never did it once."</p> + +<p>"Were you really engaged to her?" asked Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said the other; "it seems to me as if I had always been +engaged to her. Born that way. Sort of an ailment you get used to, like +squinting. When I was a youngster, Calthea was a mighty pretty girl, a +good deal my senior, of course, or I wouldn't have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> cared for her. As +she grew older she grew prettier, and I was more and more in love with +her. We used to have quarrels, but they didn't make much difference, for +after every one of them we engaged ourselves again, and all went on as +before. But the time came when Calthea kept on being older than I was, +and didn't keep on being pretty and agreeable. Then I began to weaken +about the marriage altar and all that sort of thing, but for all that I +would have been perfectly willing to stay engaged to her for the rest of +my life if she had wished it, but one day she got jealous, kicked up a +tremendous row, and away I went."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lodloe, "she must have considered that the best thing you +could do for her, for Mrs. Petter said that she had heard her declare +dozens of times that from her very youth you had hung like a millstone +about her neck, and blighted her every prospect, and that your return +here was like one of the seven plagues of Egypt."</p> + +<p>"Mixed, but severe," said Mr. Beam. "Did anybody say any good of me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Lodloe; "Mrs. Cristie said you were an obliging fellow, +although very apt to forget what you had promised to do. Mr. Petter said +that you had a very friendly disposition, although he was obliged to +admit the truth of his wife's remark that said disposition would have +been more agreeable to your friends, if you had been as willing to do +things for them as you were to have them do things for you. And Mrs. +Petter on her own motion summed up your character by saying, that if you +had not been so regardless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> of the welfare and wishes of others; so +totally given up to self-gratification; so ignorant of all kinds of +business, and so unwilling to learn; so extravagant in your habits, and +so utterly conscienceless in regard to your debts; so neglectful of your +promises and your duty; so heretical in your opinions, political and +religious, and such a dreadful backslider from everything that you had +promised to be when a baby, you would be a very nice sort of fellow, +whom she would like to see come into the house."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lanigan Beam, leaning back in his chair, "that's all of my +bright side, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Not quite," said Lodloe; "Mr. Tippengray declared that you are the +first man he ever heard of who did not possess a single good point; that +you must be very interesting, and that he would like to know you."</p> + +<p>"Noble Tippengray!" said Mr. Beam. "And he's the man who is chumming it +with Calthea?"</p> + +<p>"Not at present," said Lodloe; "she is jealous, and doesn't speak to +him."</p> + +<p>Mr. Beam let his head drop on his breast, his arms hung down by his +side, and he sank into his chair, as if his spine had come unhinged.</p> + +<p>"There goes the last prop from under me," he said. "If Calthea had a man +in tow I wouldn't be afraid of her, but now—well, no matter. If you +will let me take that bottle of ammonia with me,—I suppose by rights it +now belongs to the house,—I'll go back to that room and fight it out +with the wasps. As I haven't any good points, they'll be able to put +some into me, I'll wager."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lodloe laughed. "You shall not go there," he said; "I have more +bed-covering than I want, and an extra pillow, and if you can make +yourself comfortable on that lounge you are welcome to stay here."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Lanigan Beam, rising, "I accept your offer, and if it were +not that by so doing I would destroy the rare symmetry of my character, +I would express my gratitude. And now I will go down your stairs, and up +my ladder, and get my valise."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII</h2> + +<p class='center'>LANIGAN CHANGES HIS CRAVAT</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/e.png" width="150" height="148" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Early the next morning, without disturbing the sleep of Walter Lodloe, +Lanigan Beam descended from the tower, carrying his valise. His face +wore that air of gravity which sometimes follows an early morning hour +of earnest reflection, and he had substituted a black cravat for the +blue one with white spots that he had worn on his arrival.</p> + +<p>Walking out towards the barn he met Mr. Petter, who was one of the +earliest risers on the place.</p> + +<p>The greeting given him by the landlord of the Squirrel Inn was a mixture +of surprise, cordiality, and annoyance.</p> + +<p>"Lanigan Beam!" he exclaimed. "Why, I thought—"</p> + +<p>"Of course you did; I understand," said the other, extending his hand +with a dignified superiority to momentary excitement in others. "You +thought I would arrive at Lethbury in a day or two, and had no idea of +seeing me here. You have reason, but I have changed my plans. I left New +York earlier than I intended, and I am not going to Lethbury at all. At<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +least not to the hotel there. I greatly prefer this house."</p> + +<p>A shade of decided trouble came over Mr. Petter's face.</p> + +<p>"Now, Lanigan," he said, "that will not do at all; of course I don't +want to be hard on you, and I never was, but my season is commenced, I +have my guests, my rules are in full force, and I cannot permit you to +come here and disarrange my arrangements. If for once, Lanigan, you will +take the trouble to think, you will see that for yourself."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Petter," said the younger man, setting his valise upon the ground, +"I have no desire to disarrange them; on the contrary, I would stamp +them with fixity. And before we go any further I beg that you be kind +enough not to call me by my Christian name, and to endeavor to produce +in yourself the conviction that since you last saw me I have been +entirely rearranged and reconstructed. In order to do this, you have +only to think of me as you used to think, and then exactly reverse your +opinion. In this way you will get a true view of my present character. +It does not suit me to do things partially, or by degrees, and I am now +exactly the opposite of what I used to be. By keeping this in mind any +one who knew me before may consider himself or herself perfectly +acquainted with me now."</p> + +<p>Stephen Petter looked at him doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Of course," he said, "I shall be very glad—and so will Mrs. Petter—to +find that you have reformed, but as to your coming here—"</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said Mr. Beam, "I know you are not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> the man to allow +trifles to stand in the way of important movements. I am here for a +purpose, a great purpose, with which you will be in entire sympathy. I +will say at once, frankly and openly, that my object is the improvement +of Lethbury. I have a project which—"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 299px;"> +<img src="images/img15_th.png" width="299" height="307" alt=""I AM HERE FOR A PURPOSE."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"I AM HERE FOR A PURPOSE."</span> +</div> + +<p>"Now, now, now!" exclaimed Mr. Petter, with much irritation, "I don't +want to hear anything more of any of your projects; I know all about +them. They all begin with a demand for money from your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> friends, and +that is the end of the project and the money."</p> + +<p>"Stephen Petter," said the other, "you are not looking at my character +as I told you to look at it. Every cent of the capital required for my +operations I will contribute myself. No one will be allowed to subscribe +any money whatever. This, you see, is exactly the opposite of what used +to be the case; and when I tell you that the success of my plan will +improve the business of Lethbury, elevate its moral and intellectual +standard, exercise an ennobling and purifying influence upon the tone of +its society, and give an almost incredible impetus to faith, hope, and +charity in its moral atmosphere,—and all that without anybody's being +asked to give a copper,—I know you will agree with me that a mere +matter of residence should not be allowed to block this great work."</p> + +<p>Since he had been assured that he was not to be asked to contribute +money, Mr. Petter's face had shown relief and interest; but now he shook +his head.</p> + +<p>"This is my season," he said, "and I have my rules."</p> + +<p>Lanigan Beam laid his hand upon the shoulder of his companion.</p> + +<p>"Petter," said he, "I don't ask you to infract your rules. That would be +against my every principle. I do not know the Rockmores of Germantown, +but if it were necessary I would immediately go and find them, and make +their acquaintance—I should have no difficulty in doing it, I assure +you, but it is not necessary. I staid last night with Mr. Lodloe, who +occupies the top room of your tower. Don't jump out of your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> boots. I +went to him because there was a light in his room and the rest of the +house was dark, and he explained to me the Rockmorial reason why he +occupies that room while the rest of your house is nearly empty. Now you +can do the same thing for me. Let me have that upper room with no +stairway to it; give me the use of a ladder, and I shall be perfectly +satisfied."</p> + +<p>"But the room's not furnished," said Mr. Petter.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we can easily get over that little difficulty," replied Mr. Beam; +"whatever furniture may be needed can easily be put in through the +window. If there are any wasps up there I can fumigate them out. Now we +call that settled, don't we? None of your rules broken, Lethbury +regenerated, and nothing for you to do but look on and profit."</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter gazed reflectively upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"There can be no doubt," said he, "that Lethbury is in a stagnant +condition, and if that condition could be improved, it would be for the +benefit of us all; and considering, furthermore, that if your +project—which you have not yet explained to me—should be unsuccessful, +no one but yourself will lose any money, I see no reason why I should +interfere with your showing the people of this neighborhood that your +character has been reconstructed. But if you should lodge in that room, +it would make a very odd condition of things. I should then have but +three male guests, and not one of them literally living in my house."</p> + +<p>"Ah, my good friend Petter," said Lanigan, taking up his valise, "you +should know there is luck in odd conditions, as well as in odd numbers, +and everything will turn out right, you may bet on that. Hello," he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +continued, stepping back a little, "who is that very pretty girl with a +book in her hand? That cannot be Mrs. Cristie."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Mr. Petter, "that is her maid, who takes care of her +child. I think the young woman has come out to study before beginning +her daily duties."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," said Lanigan Beam, attentively regarding Miss Ida +Mayberry as she daintily made her way across the dewy lawn to a rustic +seat under a tree. And then, suddenly turning to Mr. Petter, he said:</p> + +<p>"Look you, my good Stephen, can't you let me go in somewhere and furbish +myself up a little before breakfast?"</p> + +<p>And having been shown into a room on the ground floor, Mr. Beam +immediately proceeded to take off his black cravat and to replace it by +the blue one with white spots.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 244px;"> +<img src="images/img16_th.png" width="244" height="244" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII</h2> + +<p class='center'>DECREES OF EXILE</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="150" height="154" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Towards the end of the afternoon of the day after Mr. Lanigan Beam had +been installed as an outside guest of the Squirrel Inn, Miss Calthea +Rose sat by the window at the back of her shop. This shop was a small +one, but it differed from most other places of business in that it +contained very few goods and was often locked up. When there is reason +to suppose that if you go to a shop you will not be able to get in, and +that, should it be open, you will not be apt to find therein anything +you want, it is not likely that such a shop will have a very good run of +custom.</p> + +<p>This was the case with Miss Calthea's establishment. It had become rare +for any one even to propose custom, but she did not in the least waver +in regard to her plan of closing up the business left to her by her +father. As has been said, she did not wish to continue this business, so +she laid in no new stock, and as she had gradually sold off a great +deal, she expected to be able in time to sell off everything. She did +not adopt the usual methods of clearing out a stock of goods, because +these would involve sacrifices, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> as Miss Calthea very freely said +to those who spoke to her on the subject, there was no need whatever for +her to make sacrifices. She was good at waiting, and she could wait. +When she sold the few things which remained on the shelves—and she, as +well as nearly every one in the village, knew exactly what these things +were without the trouble of looking—she would retire from business, and +have the shop altered into a front parlor. Until then the articles which +remained on hand were for sale.</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea was busily sewing, but she was much more busily engaged in +thinking. So earnestly was her mind set upon the latter occupation that +she never raised her head to look out at the special varieties of +hollyhocks, dahlias, and marigolds which had lately begun to show their +beauties in the beds beneath her window, nor did she glance towards the +door to see if any one was coming in. She had much more important things +to think about than flowers or customers.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter had driven over to Lethbury that morning, and had told +Calthea all the news of the Squirrel Inn. She had told her of the +unexpected arrival of Lanigan Beam; of his unwillingness to go to +Lethbury, as he had originally intended, and of the quarters that had +been assigned to him in the ladder-room. She also told how Lanigan, who +now wished to be called Mr. Beam, had a wonderful plan in his mind for +the improvement of Lethbury, but whether it was electric lights, or gas, +or water, or street railroads, or a public library, he would not tell +anybody. He was going to work in his own way, and all he would say about +the scheme was that he did not want<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> anybody to give him money for it. +And this, Mrs. Petter had remarked, had helped Mr. Petter and herself to +believe what Lanigan had said about his amendment, for if anything could +show a change in him it would be his not wanting people to give him +money.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter had said a great deal about the newcomer, and had declared +that whatever alterations had gone on in his mind, soul, and character, +he certainly had improved in appearance, and was a very good-looking +young man, with becoming clothes. In one way, however, he had not +changed, for in a surprisingly short time he had made friends with +everybody on the place. He talked to Mr. Lodloe as if he had been an old +chum; he had renewed his acquaintance with Mrs. Cristie, and was very +gallant to her; he was hand-in-glove with Mr. Tippengray, both of them +laughing together and making jokes as if they had always known each +other; and, more than that, it wasn't an hour after breakfast when he +and Mrs. Cristie's nurse-maid were sitting on a bench under the trees, +reading out of the same book, while Mr. Tippengray was pushing the +baby-carriage up and down on the grass, and Mrs. Cristie and Mr. Lodloe +were putting up the lawn-tennis net.</p> + +<p>"I could see for myself," Mrs. Petter had remarked at this point, "that +you were right in saying that there was no use in my talking about the +boarders associating with servants, for when they made up the +lawn-tennis game it turned out that Mr. Tippengray didn't play, and so +that girl Ida had to take a hand while he kept on neglecting his Greek +for the baby."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>At last Miss Calthea let her sewing drop into her lap, and sat looking +at an empty shelf opposite to her.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said to herself, her lips moving, although no sound was +audible, "the first thing to do is to get Lanigan away. As long as he is +here I might as well not lift a finger, and it looks as if that +impertinent minx of a child's nurse would be my best help. If he doesn't +have one of his changeable fits, he will be ready in three days to +follow her anywhere, but I must look sharp, for at this very minute he +may be making love to the widow. Of course he hasn't any chance with +her, but it would be just like Lanigan to go in strongest where he knew +he hadn't any chance. However, I shall see for myself how matters stand, +and one thing is certain—Lanigan has got to go."</p> + +<p>About this time Mr. Lanigan Beam, finding himself with a solitary +quarter of an hour on his hands, was reflecting on a bench upon the lawn +of the Squirrel Inn. "Yes," he thought, "it is a great plan. It will +elevate the social tone of Lethbury, it will purify the moral atmosphere +of the surrounding country, and, above all, it will make it possible for +me to live here. It will give me an opportunity to become a man among +men in the place where I was born. Until this thing is done, I can have +no chance to better myself here, and, more than that, the community has +no chance to better itself. Yes, it must be done; Calthea Rose must go."</p> + +<p>At this moment Mr. Petter came along, on his way to supper.</p> + +<p>"Well, Lanigan," said he, "are you thinking about your great +enterprise?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," said the other, rising and walking with him; "that is exactly +what my mind was working on."</p> + +<p>"And you are going to do it all yourself?" said Mr. Petter.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," said Beam. "I shall not require any pecuniary assistance, +but I shall want some one to help me."</p> + +<p>"Is there anybody about here who can do it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I hope so," said Lanigan. "At present I am thinking of Mr. +Tippengray."</p> + +<p>"A very good choice," said Mr. Petter; "he is a man of fine mind, and it +will certainly be to your advantage if you can get him to work with +you."</p> + +<p>"Indeed it will be," said Lanigan Beam, with much earnestness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV</h2> + +<p class='center'>BACKING OUT</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/i.png" width="150" height="143" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Ida Mayberry was walking on the narrow road which led through the woods +from the Squirrel Inn to the public highway. She had been much +interested in the road when she had been driven through it on the day of +her arrival, and had availed herself of the opportunity given her this +pleasant afternoon, by the prolonged slumbers of Master Douglas Cristie, +to make a close acquaintance with its attractions.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a pleasant road, where there were tall trees that often +met overhead, and on each side there were bushes, and vines, and wild +flowers, and little vistas opening into the woods, and rabbits running +across the roadway; a shallow stream tumbling along its stony bed, +sometimes to be seen and sometimes only heard; yellow butterflies in the +air; and glimpses above, that afternoon, of blue sky and white clouds.</p> + +<p>When she had walked about half the length of the road Miss Mayberry came +to a tree with a large branch running horizontally about three feet from +the ground and then turning up again, so as to make a very good seat for +young people who like that sort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> of thing. Ida was a young person who +liked that sort of thing, and she speedily clambered upon the broad, +horizontal branch and bestowed herself quite comfortably there. Taking +off her hat and leaning her head against the upright portion of the +branch, she continued the reflections she had been making while walking.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 303px;"> +<img src="images/img17_th.png" width="303" height="364" alt="IDA MAKES HERSELF COMFORTABLE." title="" /> +<span class="caption">IDA MAKES HERSELF COMFORTABLE.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," she said to herself, "it will be wise in me not only to make up +my mind that I will not grow to be an old maid, but to prevent people +from thinking I am going to grow to be one. I believe that people are +very apt to think that way about teachers. Perhaps it is because they +are always contrasted with younger persons. There is no reason why girl +teachers should be different from other girls. Marriage should be as +practically advantageous to them as to any others, only they should be +more than usually circumspect in regard to their partners; that is, if +they care for careers, which I am sure I do.</p> + +<p>"Now the situation in this place seems to me to be one which I ought +seriously to consider. It is generally agreed that propinquity is the +cause of most marriages, but I think that a girl ought to be very +careful not to let propinquity get the better of her. She should +regulate and control propinquities.</p> + +<p>"Here, now, is Mr. Lodloe. He seems to be a very suitable sort of a man, +young and good-looking, and, I think, endowed with brains; but I have +read two of his stories, and I see no promise in them, and I doubt if he +would sympathize with good, hard study; besides, he is devoting himself +to Mrs. Cristie, and he is out of the question. Mr. Tippengray is an +exceedingly agreeable man and a true student. To marry him would be in +itself a higher education; but he is not a bit young. I think he is at +least fifty, perhaps more, and then, supposing that he should retain his +mental vigor until he is seventy, that would give only twenty years of +satisfactory intellectual companionship. That is a point that ought to +be very carefully weighed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"As to Mr. Beam, he is older than I am, but he is young enough. Upon the +probable duration of his life one might predicate forty years of mental +activity, and from what I have seen of him he appears to have a good +intellect. They talk about an aqueduct and waterworks he is about to +construct. That indicates the study of geology, and engineering +capacity, and such a bias of mind would suit me very well. Mrs. Petter +tells me that he is really and truly engaged to that old thing from +Lethbury; but as she also said that he is heartily tired of the +engagement, I don't see why it should be considered. He is as likely to +correct his errors of matrimonial inclination as he is those of +mathematical computation, and as for her, I should not let her stand in +my way for one minute. Any woman who is as jealous about a man as she is +about Mr. Tippengray has waived her right in all other men."</p> + +<p>About this time a phaeton, drawn by a stout sorrel horse, and containing +Miss Calthea Rose, was turning from the highroad into this lane. As a +rule, Miss Calthea greatly preferred walking to driving, and although +her father had left her a horse and several vehicles, she seldom made +personal use of them; but to-day she was going to Romney, which was too +far away for walking, and she had planned to stop at the Squirrel Inn +and ask Mrs. Cristie to go with her.</p> + +<p>It was necessary, for the furtherance of Miss Calthea's plans, that she +should be on good terms with Mrs. Cristie. She ought, in fact, to be +intimate with her, so that when the time came she could talk to her +freely and plainly. It was desirable, indeed, that she should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> maintain +a friendly connection with everybody at the Squirrel Inn. She had not +yet met Lanigan Beam, and it would be well if he should be made to feel +that she looked upon him merely as an old companion, and cared for him +neither more nor less than one cares for ordinary old companions. Thus +he would feel perfectly free to carry out his own impulses and her +desires.</p> + +<p>Towards Mr. Tippengray she had decided to soften. She was still very +angry with him, but it would not do to repel him from herself, for that +might impel him towards another, and spoil two of her plans. Even to +that impertinent child's nurse she would be civil. She need have but +little to do with the creature, but she must not let any one suppose +that she harbored ill feeling towards her, and, with the exception of +Mrs. Petter, no one would suppose she had any reason for such feelings. +In fact, as Miss Calthea's mind dwelt upon this subject, she came to +think that it would be a very good thing if she could do some kindness +or service to this girl. This would give effect to what she might +afterward be obliged to say about her.</p> + +<p>Having reached this point in her cogitations, she also reached the point +in the road where Ida Mayberry still sat making her plans, and concealed +from the view of those coming from the direction of the highroad by a +mass of projecting elderberry bushes. Hearing an approaching vehicle, +the young woman on the horizontal limb, not wishing to be seen perched +upon this elevated seat, sprang to the ground, which she touched about +four feet from the nose of the sorrel horse.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + +<p>This animal, which was trotting along in a quiet and reflective way, as +if he also was making plans, was greatly startled by this sudden flash +of a light-colored mass, this rustle, this waving, this thud upon the +ground, and he bounded sidewise entirely across the road, stopping with +his head in the bushes on the other side.</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea, who was nearly thrown from her seat, could not repress a +scream, and, turning, perceived Ida Mayberry.</p> + +<p>"Did you do that?" she cried.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that I made your horse shy," said Ida, approaching the +vehicle; "but he seems to be perfectly quiet now, and I hope nothing is +broken. Horses ought to be taught not to shy, but I suppose that would +be difficult, considering the small size of their brain cavities."</p> + +<p>"If some people had as much brains as a horse," muttered Miss Calthea, +"it would be better for them. Back, Sultan! Do you hear me! Back!" And +she tugged with all her strength upon the reins.</p> + +<p>But the sorrel horse did not move; he had two reasons for refusing to +obey his mistress. In the first place, on general principles he disliked +to back, and was fully conscious that Miss Calthea could not make him do +it, and in the second place, he wanted a drink, and did not intend to +move until he got it. Just here the brook was at its widest and deepest, +and it came so near the road that in shying Sultan had entered it so far +that the front wheels of the phaeton nearly touched the water. Standing +more than fetlock deep in this cool stream, it is no wonder that Sultan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +wanted some one to loosen his check-rein and let him drink.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you are not strong enough to back him out of that," said +Ida; "and if there were not so much water all around him I would go and +take him by the head."</p> + +<p>"Let him alone," cried Miss Calthea. "Back, Sultan! Back, I say!" And +she pulled and pulled, tiring herself greatly, but making no impression +upon the horse.</p> + +<p>Now appeared upon the scene Mrs. Cristie, pushing her baby-carriage. She +had come to look for Ida. She was full of sympathy when she heard what +had happened, and, pushing Douglas into a safe place behind a tree, came +forward and proposed that some one go for a man. But Calthea Rose did +not want a man. She was very proud of her abilities as a horsewoman, and +she did not wish a man to behold her inferiority in emergencies of this +sort. She therefore opposed the suggestion, and continued to pull and +tug.</p> + +<p>"That will never do," said Ida Mayberry, who had been earnestly +regarding the situation. "You cannot make him move, and even if we did +go into the water, he might jump about and tread on us; but I have +thought of a way in which I think we can make him back. You are pretty +heavy, Miss Rose, and Mrs. Cristie is lighter than I am, so she ought to +get into the phaeton and take the reins, and you and I ought to help +back the phaeton. I have seen it done, and I can tell you how to do +it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 387px;"> +<img src="images/img18_th.png" width="387" height="299" alt=""BACK!"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"BACK!"</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>To this Miss Calthea paid no immediate attention; but as Mrs. Cristie +urged that if Ida knew about such things it would be well to let her try +what she could do, and as Miss Calthea found that tugging at Sultan's +bit amounted to nothing, she stepped out of the low vehicle and demanded +to know what the child's nurse proposed to do.</p> + +<p>"Now jump in, Mrs. Cristie," said Ida, "and when I give the word you +pull the reins with all your might, and shout 'Back!' at him. Miss Rose, +you go to that hind wheel, and I will go to this one. Now put one foot +on a spoke, so, and take hold of the wheel, and when I say 'Now!' we +will both raise ourselves up and put our whole weight on the spoke, and +Mrs. Cristie will pull on him at the same instant."</p> + +<p>Somewhat doggedly, but anxious to get out of her predicament, Miss +Calthea took her position at the wheel and put one foot upon an almost +horizontal spoke. Ida did the same, and then giving the word, both women +raised themselves from the ground; Mrs. Cristie gave a great pull, and +shouted, "Back!" and as the hind wheels began slowly to revolve, the +astonished horse, involuntarily obeying the double impulse thus given +him, backed a step or two.</p> + +<p>"Now! Again!" cried Ida, and the process was repeated, this time the +horse backing himself out of the water.</p> + +<p>"Bravo!" cried Lanigan Beam, who, with Walter Lodloe, had arrived on the +scene just as Calthea Rose and Ida Mayberry had made their second +graceful descent from an elevated spoke to the ground.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE BABY IS PASSED AROUND</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/g.png" width="150" height="147" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +"Good for you, Calthy," cried Lanigan Beam, advancing with outstretched +hands. "How do you do? Old Sultan is at his tricks again, is he, +declining to back? But you got the better of him that time, and did it +well, too."</p> + +<p>In his admiration of the feat he had witnessed, the credit of which he +gave entirely to his old and well-tried fiancée, Lanigan forgot for the +moment his plan for the benefit of Lethbury.</p> + +<p>Irritated and embarrassed as she was, Miss Calthea did not forget her +intention of treating Lanigan Beam as a person between whom and herself +there could be nothing of a connecting order which could be set up as +something of an obstructing order between herself and any one else. She +therefore took his hand, made a few commonplace remarks about his +return, and then, excusing herself, approached Mrs. Cristie, who was +just about to alight from the phaeton, and gave her the invitation to +drive to Romney. That lady hesitated a few moments, and then, +remembering some shopping she would like to do, accepted; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> the +attention of Miss Mayberry having been called to the baby-carriage +behind the tree, the two ladies drove off.</p> + +<p>Ida Mayberry gazed for a moment at the parting vehicle, and then, +turning to Mr. Beam, she said:</p> + +<p>"She might at least have thanked me for getting her out of that scrape."</p> + +<p>"Was that your idea?" said Lanigan.</p> + +<p>"Of course it was," said the young woman: "if I hadn't shown her how to +make the horse back, she would have pulled her arms out for nothing. It +is easy to see that she does not know anything about managing horses."</p> + +<p>Lanigan laughed outright.</p> + +<p>"I would advise you not to say that to her," he said.</p> + +<p>"I would as soon say it to her as not," said Ida; "somebody ought to do +it. Why, if that horse had shied towards me instead of away from me when +I jumped from that tree, I might have been very much hurt."</p> + +<p>Lanigan laughed again, but this time inwardly.</p> + +<p>"Do you like yellow flowers, Miss Mayberry?" said he. "The largest wild +coreopsis I ever saw grows in this region. I noticed some in a field we +just passed. Shall I gather a few for you?"</p> + +<p>"I am very fond of that flower," said Ida; and Mr. Beam declaring that +if she would step a little way with him he would show her a whole field +of them, the two walked up the road.</p> + +<p>Walter Lodloe had been gazing with some dissatisfaction at the departing +phaeton. His mind was getting into a condition which made it unpleasant +for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> him to see people take Mrs. Cristie away from him. He now turned +and looked at the baby-carriage, in which the infant Douglas was sitting +up, endeavoring by various noises to attract attention to himself. +Lodloe pulled the vehicle into the road, and, finding that the motion +quieted its occupant, he began slowly to push it towards the Squirrel +Inn. When Walter Lodloe turned into the open space about the inn he met +Mr. Tippengray with a book in his hand.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 170px;"> +<img src="images/img19_th.png" width="170" height="174" alt=""HE BEGAN SLOWLY TO PUSH IT TOWARDS THE SQUIRREL INN."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"HE BEGAN SLOWLY TO PUSH IT TOWARDS THE SQUIRREL INN."</span> +</div> + +<p>"Really," said the latter, elevating his eyebrows, "I heard the creaking +of those little wheels, and I—"</p> + +<p>"Thought Miss Mayberry was making them creak," said Lodloe. "But she is +not, and you may as well postpone the lesson I suppose you want to give +her. She is at present taking lessons in botany from another professor"; +and he hereupon stated in brief the facts of the desertion of the infant +Douglas. "Now what am I going to do with the little chap?" he continued; +"I must search for Mrs. Petter."</p> + +<p>"Don't do that," said the Greek scholar, quickly; "it would look badly +for the young woman. Let me have the child; I will take care of it until +she comes. I will wheel it down to my summer-house, where it is cool and +shady."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And an excellent spot to teach Greek," said Lodloe, laughing.</p> + +<p>"A capital place," gaily replied Mr. Tippengray, putting his book into +his pocket, and taking hold of the handle of the little carriage, elated +by the feeling that in so doing he was also, for a time, getting a hold +upon Miss Mayberry.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 162px;"> +<img src="images/img20_th.png" width="162" height="182" alt=""I WILL WHEEL IT DOWN TO MY SUMMER-HOUSE, WHERE IT IS COOL AND SHADY."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"I WILL WHEEL IT DOWN TO MY SUMMER-HOUSE, WHERE IT IS COOL AND SHADY."</span> +</div> + +<p>"Yes," he continued, "it is just the place for me; it suits me in all +sorts of ways, and I have a mind to tell you of a most capital joke +connected with it. It is too good a thing to keep to myself any longer, +and now that I know you so well, I am perfectly willing to trust you. +Would you believe it? I know the Rockmores of Germantown. I know them +very well, and hate them for a lot of prigs. But I never told Stephen +Petter. Not I. In some way or other he took it for granted that I did +not possess the valuable acquaintanceship, and I let him think so. Ha! +ha! That's the way I got the summer-house, don't you see? Ha! ha! ha!"</p> + +<p>Lodloe laughed. "Your secret is safe with me," said he; and the two +having reached the little garden, he left the Greek scholar and went to +his room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Ida Mayberry had her arms full of the great yellow flowers she +suddenly appreciated the fact that she must be a long way from the baby, +and ought immediately to return to it. She thereupon hastened back +across the uneven surface of the field. When she reached the spot where +the baby had been left, no baby was there.</p> + +<p>"My goodness!" she exclaimed, "Mr. Lodloe has taken the child away, and +there is no knowing which way he has gone."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the youngster's all right," said Lanigan. "Sit down and rest +yourself, and we will walk to the inn."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it!" exclaimed Ida. "You go that way, and I will go this, +and if you see him, call out as loud as you can."</p> + +<p>Very reluctantly Mr. Beam obeyed orders, and hurried in the direction of +the highroad.</p> + +<p>As he sat down by his open window Walter Lodloe looked out and saw Ida +Mayberry running. Instantly there was a shout from the summer-house and +the wave of a handkerchief. Then the nurse-maid ceased to run, but +walked rapidly in the direction of the handkerchief-waver, who stood +triumphantly pointing to the baby-carriage. After a glance at the baby +to see that he was all right, Miss Mayberry seated herself on a bench in +the shade, and took off her hat. In a few moments the Greek scholar was +seated by her, the book was opened, and two heads were together in +earnest study.</p> + +<p>About ten minutes later Lodloe saw Lanigan Beam appear upon the lawn, +walking rapidly. In a moment he caught sight of the group at the +summer-house,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> and stopped short. He clenched his fists and slightly +stamped one foot.</p> + +<p>Lodloe now gave a low whistle, and Lanigan glancing upward at the sound, +he beckoned to him to come to his tower-room. The young man at first +hesitated, and then walked slowly towards the little garden, and +ascended the outside stairway.</p> + +<p>Lodloe greeted him with a smile.</p> + +<p>"As you seem doubtful about joining the little company down there, I +thought I would ask you up here," he said.</p> + +<p>Lanigan walked to the window and gazed out at the summer-house.</p> + +<p>"They are having a good, cozy time of it," said he, "but that won't do. +That sort of thing has got to be stopped."</p> + +<p>"Why won't it do?" asked Lodloe. "What is the matter with it, and who is +going to stop it?"</p> + +<p>"It's sheer nonsense," said Beam, turning away from the window and +throwing himself into a chair; "why should an old fellow like Tippengray +take up all the spare time of that girl? She doesn't need to learn +anything. From what she has said to me I judge that she knows too much +already."</p> + +<p>"It strikes me," said Lodloe, "that if he likes to teach her, and she +likes to learn, it is nobody's business but their own, unless Mrs. +Cristie should think that her interests were being neglected." He spoke +quietly, although he was a little provoked at the tone of his companion.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Beam, stretching his legs upon a neighboring chair, "I +object to that intimacy for two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> reasons. In the first place, it keeps +me away from Miss Mayberry, and I am the sort of person she ought to +associate with, especially in her vacation; and in the second place, it +keeps old Tippengray away from Calthea Rose. That is bad, very bad. Mrs. +Petter tells me that before Miss Mayberry arrived Calthea and the Greek +were as chummy and as happy together as any two people could be. It is +easy to see that Calthea is dead in love with him, and if she had been +let alone I am confident she would have married him before the summer +was over."</p> + +<p>"And you think that desirable?" asked Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," cried Lanigan, sitting up straight in his chair and +speaking earnestly; "it would be the best thing in the world. Calthea +has had a hard time with her various engagements,—all of them with +me,—and now that she has found the man she likes she ought to have him. +It would be a splendid match; he might travel where he pleased, and +Calthea would be an honor to him. She could hold her own with the +nobility and gentry, and the crowned heads, for that matter. By George! +it would make him two inches taller to walk through a swell crowd with +Calthea on his arm, dressed as she would dress, and carrying her head as +she would carry it."</p> + +<p>"You seem to be a matchmaker," said Lodloe; "but I don't meddle in that +sort of thing. I greatly prefer to let people take care of their own +affairs; but I feel bound to say to you that after Ida Mayberry +neglected her duty to go off with you, I determined to advise Mrs. +Cristie to dispense with the services of such a very untrustworthy +nurse-maid."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lanigan Beam sprang to his feet. "Don't you do that!" he cried. "I beg +of you not to do that."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" said Lodloe. "That would aid your philanthropic plan in +regard to Miss Rose and Mr. Tippengray. The maid away, there is no +reason why they should not come together again."</p> + +<p>"Now I am a straightforward, honest man," said Lanigan, "and I tell you +plainly that that would be very hard on me. I've come here to my native +place to settle down, and if I settle I've got to marry, and I have +never seen a girl whom I would rather marry and settle with than Miss +Mayberry. She may be a little slack about taking care of the baby, but +I'll talk to her about that, and I know she will keep a closer eye on +him. Now if you want to see everybody happy, don't prejudice Mrs. +Cristie against that girl. Give me a chance, and I'll win her into the +right way, and I'll do it easily and naturally, without making hard +blood or hurting anybody. Then old Tip and Calthea will come together +again, and everything will be jolly. Now don't you go and blast the +happiness of all of us, and get that poor girl turned off like a drunken +cook. And as for taking good care of the baby, just look at her now."</p> + +<p>Lodloe looked out of the window. Ida Mayberry was leaning forward on the +bench, twirling a great yellow flower before the child, who was laughing +and making snatches at it. In a moment appeared Mr. Tippengray with a +large white daisy; he leaned over the other side of the carriage and +twirled his flower in front of the baby. The little fellow was in great +glee, first clutching at one blossom and then at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> other, and Mr. +Tippengray laughed, and Miss Mayberry laughed, and the three laughed +together.</p> + +<p>"Confound it!" said Lanigan Beam, with a frown, "this thing must be +stopped."</p> + +<p>Lodloe smiled. "Work matters your own way," he said; "I shall not +interfere."</p> + +<p>An hour later when Calthea Rose and Mrs. Cristie returned from Romney, +Ida Mayberry was walking by the side of the baby-carriage, which Lanigan +Beam was pushing towards the spot from which there was the best view of +the western sky.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 234px;"> +<img src="images/img21_th.png" width="234" height="182" alt=""HE LEANED OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"HE LEANED OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE."</span> +</div> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie looked at them, and said to herself:</p> + +<p>"I don't altogether like that sort of thing, and I think it must be +stopped."</p> + +<p>Calthea Rose appeared to have recovered her good humor. She looked about +her apparently satisfied with the world and its ways, and readily +accepted Mrs. Petter's invitation to stay to tea.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI</h2> + +<p class='center'>MESSRS. BEAM AND LODLOE DECLINE TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND TABLE</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/a.png" width="150" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +As has been before mentioned, Walter Lodloe had grown into a condition +of mind which made it unpleasant for him when people took Mrs. Cristie +away or occupied her time and attention to the exclusion of his +occupancy of the same. As a literary man he had taken an interest in +studying the character of Mrs. Cristie, and he had now come to like the +character even better than he liked the study.</p> + +<p>A pretty woman, of a lively and independent disposition, and quick wit, +and yet with certain matronly and practical points in her character +which always surprised as well as pleased him when they showed +themselves, Mrs. Cristie could not fail to charm such a man as Lodloe, +if the two remained long enough together. She had charmed him, and he +knew it and liked it, and was naturally anxious to know whether, in the +slightest degree, she thought of him as he thought of her. But he had +never been able to perceive any indication of this. The young widow was +kind, gracious, and at times delightfully intimate with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> him, but he +knew enough of the world to understand that this sort of thing in this +sort of place might not in the least indicate that what was growing up +in him was growing up in her.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the day after Miss Calthea Rose had taken tea at the +Squirrel Inn Walter Lodloe came down from his room in the tower with no +other object in life than to find Mrs. Cristie. It was about the hour +that she usually appeared on the lawn, and if there should follow +tennis, or talking, or walking, or anything else, one thing would be the +same as another to Lodloe, provided he and she took part. But when he +saw Mrs. Cristie her avocation was one in which he could not take part.</p> + +<p>She was sitting on a bench by Mr. Tippengray, Ida Mayberry was sitting +at his other side, and the everlasting baby-carriage was standing near +by. The Greek scholar and the nurse-maid each had a book, but these were +closed, and Mr. Tippengray was talking with great earnestness and +animation, while the young women appeared to be listening with eager +interest. It was plain that the two were taking a lesson in something or +other.</p> + +<p>As Lodloe walked slowly from the gate of the little garden Mrs. Cristie +looked up for a moment, saw him, but instantly resumed her attentive +listening. This was enough; he perceived that for the present, at least, +he was not wanted. He strolled on towards the field, and just below the +edge of the bluff he saw Lanigan Beam sitting under a tree.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" said the latter, looking up, "are they at that stupid business +yet?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lodloe smiled. "Are you waiting for Miss Mayberry to get through with +her lesson?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am," said Lanigan. "I have been hanging around here for half an +hour. I never saw such a selfish old codger as that Tippengray. I +suppose he will stick there with them the whole afternoon."</p> + +<p>"And you want him!" said Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"Want him!" exclaimed Lanigan; "not much. But I want her. If there were +only two together I would do as I did yesterday. I would join them, take +a part, and before long carry her off; but I can't do that with Mrs. +Cristie there. I haven't the cheek to break up her studies."</p> + +<p>Lodloe laughed. "Don't let us wait for the second table," he said; "come +and take a walk to Lethbury."</p> + +<p>It was now Lanigan's turn to smile.</p> + +<p>"You think you would better not wait for the second table," he said; +"very well, then; come on."</p> + +<p>The lesson on the bench had been deliberately planned by Mrs. Cristie. +She had been considering the subject of her nurse-maid and Lanigan Beam, +and had decided that it was her duty to interfere with the growth of +that intimacy. She felt that it was her duty to exercise some personal +supervision over the interests of the young person in her service, and +had given her some guarded advice in regard to country-resort +intimacies.</p> + +<p>Having given this advice to Ida Mayberry, it struck Mrs. Cristie that it +would apply very well to herself. She remembered that she was also a +young person, and she resolved to take to herself all the advice she had +given to her nurse-maid, and thus it was that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> was sitting on the +bench by Mr. Tippengray, listening to his very interesting discourse +upon some of the domestic manners and customs of the ancients, and their +surprising resemblance in many points to those of the present day. +Therefore it was, also, that she allowed Walter Lodloe to pass on his +way without inviting him to join the party.</p> + +<p>When Lodloe and Beam reached Lethbury, the latter proposed that they +should go and worry Calthea Rose; and to his companion's surprised +exclamation at being asked to join in this diversion Lanigan answered, +that having been used to that sort of thing all his life, it seemed the +most natural sport in which to indulge now that he found himself in +Lethbury again.</p> + +<p>"Very good," said Lodloe, as they approached Miss Rose's place of +business; "I shall not interfere with your native sports, but I do not +care to join them. I shall continue my walk, and stop for you on my way +back."</p> + +<p>When Lanigan Beam entered Miss Rose's shop she was sitting, as was her +custom, by the back window, sewing. A neighbor had dropped in to chat +with her a half-hour before, but had gone away very soon. The people of +Lethbury had learned to understand when Calthea Rose did not wish to +chat.</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea was not happy; she was disappointed. Things had not gone as +she hoped they would go, and as she had believed they would go when she +accepted Mrs. Petter's invitation to tea. That meal had been a very +pleasant one; even the presence of Ida Mayberry, who came to table with +the family<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> when the baby happened to be asleep, did not disturb her. On +the contrary, it gratified her, for Lanigan Beam sat by that young +person and was very attentive to her. She carefully watched Mr. +Tippengray, and perceived that this attention, and the interest of the +child's nurse in Lanigan's remarks, did not appear to give him the least +uneasiness. Thereupon she began gradually, and she hoped imperceptibly, +to resume her former method of intercourse with the Greek scholar, and +to do so without any show of restoring him to favor. She did this so +deftly that Mrs. Cristie was greatly interested in the performance, and +an outside observer could have had no reason to suppose that there had +been any break in the friendly intercourse between Miss Rose and Mr. +Tippengray.</p> + +<p>But this unsatisfactory state of things soon came to an end. When the +daylight began to wane, and Miss Calthea's phaeton had been brought to +the door, she went to it with her plans fully formed. As Mr. Tippengray +assisted her into the vehicle, she intended to accept his proposition to +drive her to Lethbury. She had slightly deferred her departure in order +that the growing duskness might give greater reason for the proposition. +There would be a moon about nine o'clock, and his walk back would be +pleasant.</p> + +<p>But when she reached the phaeton Mr. Tippengray was not there. Ida +Mayberry, eager to submit to his critical eye two lines of Browning +which she had put into a sort of Greek resembling the partly cremated +corpse of a dead language, and who for the past ten minutes had been +nervously waiting for Master Douglas to close his eyes in sleep that she +might rush down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> to Mr. Tippengray while he was yet strolling on the +lawn by himself, had rushed down to him, and had made him forget +everything else in the world in his instinctive effort to conceal from +his pupil the shock given him by the sight of her lines. He had been +waiting for Miss Calthea to come out, had been intending to hand her to +her vehicle, and had thought of proposing to accompany her to the +village; but he had not heard the phaeton roll to the door, the +leave-taking on the porch did not reach his ear, and his mind took no +note whatever of the fact that Miss Rose was on the point of departure.</p> + +<p>As that lady, stepping out upon the piazza, swept her eyes over the +scene and beheld the couple on the lawn, she gave a jerk to the glove +she was drawing on her hand that tore in it a slit three inches long. +She then turned her eyes upon her phaeton, declined the offer of Mr. +Petter to see her home, and, after a leave-taking which was a little +more effusive than was usual with her, drove herself to Lethbury. If the +sorrel horse had behaved badly in the early part of that afternoon, he +was punished for it in the early part of that evening, for he completely +broke all previous records of time made between the Squirrel Inn and +Lethbury.</p> + +<p>Thus the hopes of Miss Calthea had been doubly darkened; the pariah with +the brimstone blossoms had not only treacherously deserted Lanigan, but +had made Mr. Tippengray treacherously desert her. She had been furiously +angry; now she was low-spirited and cross. But one thing in the world +could have then cheered her spirits, and that would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> been the sight +of her bitterest enemy and Lanigan Beam driving or walking together past +her shop door; but when Lanigan alone entered that shop door she was not +cheered at all.</p> + +<p>Mr. Beam's greeting was very free and unceremonious, and without being +asked to do so he took a seat near the proprietress of the +establishment.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," he said, "this looks like old times. Why, Calthy, I don't +believe you have sold a thing since I was here last."</p> + +<p>"If you had any eyes in your head," said Miss Calthea, severely, "you +would see that I have sold a great deal. Nearly everything, in fact."</p> + +<p>"That proves my point," said Lanigan; "for nearly everything was gone +when I left."</p> + +<p>"And some of the things that are gone," said she, "you still owe me +for."</p> + +<p>"Well put, Calthy," said Lanigan, laughing; "and after that, let's drop +the business. What's new and what's stale in Lethbury?"</p> + +<p>"You are about the newest as well as the stalest thing here," said she.</p> + +<p>Lanigan whistled. "Calthy," said he, "would you mind my smoking a cigar +here! There will be no customers coming in."</p> + +<p>"You know very well you cannot smoke here," she said; "what is the +matter with you? Has that pincushion-faced child's nurse driven you from +the inn?"</p> + +<p>A pang went through Lanigan. Was Calthea jealous of Miss Mayberry on his +account? The thought frightened him. If he could have said anything +which would have convinced Calthea that he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> on the point of marrying +Miss Mayberry, and that therefore she might as well consider everything +at an end between herself and him, he would have said it. But he merely +replied:</p> + +<p>"She is a nice girl, and very much given to learning."</p> + +<p>Now Miss Calthea could restrain herself no longer.</p> + +<p>"Learning!" she exclaimed. "Stuff and deception! Impudent flirting is +what she is fond of, as long as she can get a good-for-naught like you, +or an old numskull like that Tippengray, to play her tricks on."</p> + +<p>Now Lanigan Beam braced himself for action. This sort of thing would not +do; whatever she might say or think about the rest of the world, Calthea +must not look with disfavor on the Greek scholar.</p> + +<p>"Numskull!" said he. "You're off the track there, Calthy, I never knew a +man with a better skull than Mr. Tippengray, and as to his being +old—there is a little gray in his hair to be sure, but it's my opinion +that that comes more from study than from years."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" said Calthea; "I don't believe he cares a snap for study +unless he can do it with some girl. I expect he has been at that all his +life."</p> + +<p>Now Lanigan's spirits rose; he saw that it was not on his account that +Calthea was jealous of Ida Mayberry. His face put on an expression of +serious interest, and he strove to speak impressively, but not so much +so as to excite suspicion.</p> + +<p>"Calthea," said he, "I think you are not treating Mr. Tippengray with +your usual impartiality and fairness. From what I have seen of him, I am +sure that the great object of his life is to teach, and when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> he gets a +chance to do that he does it, and for the moment forgets everything +else. You may be right in thinking that he prefers to teach young +persons, and this is natural enough, for young people are much more +likely than older ones to want to learn. Now, to prove that he doesn't +care to teach young girls just because they are girls, I will tell you +that I saw him, this very afternoon, hard at work teaching Mrs. Cristie +and Ida Mayberry at the same time, and he looked twice as happy as when +he was instructing only one of them. If there were enough people here so +that he could make up a class, and could have a sort of summer school, I +expect he would be the happiest man on earth.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that is Mr. Tippengray's fault," continued Lanigan, folding +his hands in his lap and gazing reflectively at his outstretched legs. +"I am afraid that he gives too much of his mind to teaching, and +neglects other things. He is carried away by his love of teaching, and +when he finds one person, or a dozen persons who want to learn, he +neglects his best friends for that one person, or those dozen persons. +He oughtn't to do it; it isn't right—but then, after all, no man is +perfect, and I suppose the easiest way for us to get along is to stop +looking for perfection."</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea made no answer. She gazed out of the window as if she was +mildly impressed with a solicitude for the welfare of her garden. There +flitted into her mind a wavering, indeterminate sort of notion that +perhaps Lanigan was a better fellow than he used to be, and that if she +should succeed in her great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> purpose it might not be necessary that he +should go away. But still,—and here prudence stepped in front of +kindliness,—if that child's nurse remained in the neighborhood, it +would be safer if Lanigan kept up his interest in her; and if she +ultimately carried him off, that was his affair.</p> + +<p>Leaning forward, Miss Calthea took a match from a box on a shelf, and +handed it to Lanigan.</p> + +<p>"You may as well smoke if you want to," she said; "it's not likely any +one will be coming in, and I don't object when the window is open."</p> + +<p>Gratefully Lanigan lighted his cigar.</p> + +<p>"Calthy, this is truly like old times," he said. "And to finish up with +Tippengray, I'll say that if Lodloe and I had not our mind so filled +with our own businesses and projects, I'd get him to go in with me, and +help make up a class; but if I were to do that, perhaps people might say +that all I wanted was to get in with the girls."</p> + +<p>Here was a chance for Calthea to give her schemes a little push.</p> + +<p>"There is only one girl," she said, "who would be likely to take part in +that sort of thing, and that is the child's nurse at the Squirrel Inn; +but if she really is given to study, I suppose she might help you to +improve your mind, and if you are what you used to be, it will stand a +good deal of improving."</p> + +<p>"That's so, Calthy," said Lanigan; "that's so." He was in high good +humor at the turn the conversation had taken, but did his best to +repress his inclination to show it. "It might be well to go in for +improvement. I'll do that, anyway." Lanigan blew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> out a long whiff of +purple smoke. "Calthy is a deep one," he said to himself; "she wants me +to draw off that girl from the old man. But all right, my lady; you +tackle him and I will tackle her. That suits me beautifully."</p> + +<p>At this moment Lodloe entered the shop, and Miss Calthea Rose greeted +him with much graciousness.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 274px;"> +<img src="images/img22_th.png" width="274" height="263" alt=""CALTHY, THIS IS TRULY LIKE OLD TIMES."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"CALTHY, THIS IS TRULY LIKE OLD TIMES."</span> +</div> + +<p>"You must have taken a short walk," said Lanigan. "Don't you want to +wait until I finish my cigar? It's so much pleasanter to smoke here than +in the open air. Perhaps Miss Calthea will let you join me."</p> + +<p>Lodloe was perfectly willing to wait, but did not wish to smoke. He was +interested in what he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> heard of the stock of goods which was being +sold off about as fast as a glacier moves, and was glad to have the +opportunity to look about him.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Calthy," said Lanigan, "that you ought to sell Mr. Lodloe +a bill of goods?" He said this partly because of his own love of +teasing, but partly in earnest. To help Calthea sell off her stock was +an important feature of his project.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lodloe shall not buy a thing," said Calthea Rose. "If he is ever in +want of anything, and stops in here to see if I have it in stock, I +shall be glad to sell it to him if it is here, for I am still in +business; but I know very well that Mr. Lodloe came in now as an +acquaintance and not as a customer."</p> + +<p>"Beg your pardons, both of you," cried Lanigan, springing to his feet, +and throwing the end of his cigar out of the window; "but I say, Calthy, +have you any of that fire-blaze calico with the rocket sparks that's +been on hand ever since I can remember?"</p> + +<p>"Your memory is pretty short sometimes," said Calthea, "but I think I +know the goods you mean, and I have seven yards of it left. Why do you +ask about it?"</p> + +<p>"I want to see it," said Lanigan. "There it is on that shelf; it's the +same-sized parcel that it used to be. Would you mind handing it down to +me?"</p> + +<p>Lanigan unrolled the calico upon the counter, and gazed upon it with +delight. "Isn't that glorious!" he cried to Lodloe; "isn't that like a +town on fire! By George! Calthea, I will take the whole seven yards."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, Lanigan," said Miss Calthea, "you know you haven't the least use +in the world for this calico."</p> + +<p>"I know nothing of the sort," said Lanigan; "I have a use for it. I want +to make Mrs. Petter a present, and I have been thinking of a +fire-screen, and this is just the thing for it. I'll build the frame +myself, and I'll nail on this calico, front and back the same. It'll +want a piece of binding, or gimp, tacked around the edges. Have you any +binding, or gimp, Calthy, that would suit?"</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea laughed. "You'd better wait until you are ready for it," +she said, "and then come and see."</p> + +<p>"Anyway, I want the calico," said he. "Please put it aside for me, and +I'll come in to-morrow and settle for it. And now it seems to me that if +we want any supper we had better be getting back to the inn."</p> + +<p>"It's not a bad idea," said Miss Calthea Rose, when she was left to +herself; "but it shall not be in a class. No, indeed! I will take good +care that it shall not be in a class."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII</h2> + +<p class='center'>BANANAS AND OATS</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/w.png" width="150" height="161" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +When Walter Lodloe walked to Lethbury because he could not talk to Mrs. +Cristie, it could not have been reasonably supposed that his walk would +have had more practical influence on his feelings towards that lady than +a conversation with her would have had; but such was the case.</p> + +<p>It would have been very pleasant to talk, or walk, or chat, or stroll, +or play tennis, with her, but when he reached the quiet little village, +and wandered by himself along the shaded streets, and looked into the +pretty yards and gardens, on the profusion of old-fashioned flowers and +the cool green grass under the trees, and here and there a stone +well-curb with a great sweep and an oaken bucket, and the air of quaint +comfort which seemed to invade the interiors of those houses that were +partly opened to his view, it struck him, as no idea of the sort had +ever struck him before, what a charming and all-satisfying thing it +would be to marry Mrs. Cristie and live in Lethbury in one of these +cool, quaint houses with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> quiet and shade and the flowers—at least +for a few years until his fortunes should improve.</p> + +<p>He had a notion that Mrs. Cristie would like that sort of thing. She +seemed so fond of country life. He would write and she would help him. +He would work in the vegetable garden, and she among the flowers. It +would be Arcadia, and it would be cheap. Even with his present income +every rural want could be satisfied.</p> + +<p>An infusion of feasibility—or what he looked upon as such—into the +sentimentality of such a man as Walter Lodloe generally acts as a +stiffener to his purposes. He was no more in love with Mrs. Cristie than +he had been when he left the Squirrel Inn, but he now determined, if he +saw any reason to suppose that she would accept them, to offer himself +and a Lethbury cottage to Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>He had a good opportunity to think over this matter and come to +decisions, for his companion walked half the way home without saying a +word.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Lanigan spoke.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," said he, "that I have about made up my mind to marry the +governess?"</p> + +<p>"She isn't a governess," said Lodloe; "she is a nurse-maid."</p> + +<p>"I prefer to invest her with a higher grade," said Lanigan; "and it is +pretty much the same thing, after all. Anyway, I want to marry her, and +I believe I can do it if nobody steps in to interfere."</p> + +<p>"Who do you suppose would do that?" asked Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lanigan, "if the Lethbury people knew about it, and had a +chance, every man jack of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> them, and every woman jack, too, would +interfere, and under ordinary circumstances Calthea Rose would take the +lead; but just now I think she intends to lend me a hand—not for my +good, but for her own. If she does that, I am not afraid of all Lethbury +and the Petters besides. The only person I am afraid of is Mrs. +Cristie."</p> + +<p>"Why do you fear her?" asked Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lanigan, "when she was at the inn some years ago I was at +my wildest, and her husband did not like me. He was in bad health, very +touchy, and I suppose I gave him reason enough to consider me an +extremely black sheep. Of course Mrs. Cristie naturally thought pretty +much as he did, and from what you told me of the conference over my +advent, I suppose her opinions haven't changed much. She has treated me +very well since I have been here, but I have no doubt that she would +consider it her duty to let Miss Mayberry know just the sort of fellow +she thinks I am."</p> + +<p>"Of course she would do that," said Lodloe; "and she ought to do it."</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Lanigan; "you are wrong, and I am going to prove it to +you, and you shall see that I trust you as if I had known you years +instead of days. I want you to understand that I am not the same sort of +fellow that I used to be, not by any means. I told old Petter that, so +that he might have a little practice in treating me with respect, but I +didn't give him any reasons for it, because Calthea Rose would be sure +to suspect that he knew something, and she'd worm it out of him; but I +don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> believe she could worm anything out of you. When I left this +place some eighteen months ago I went down to Central America and bought +a banana farm, paying very little money down. In less than three months +I sold my land to a company, and made a very good thing out of it. Then, +thinking the company after a while might want more land, I bought +another large tract, and before the end of the year I sold that to them, +doubling my money. Then I left the tropics, fearing I might go too deep +into that sort of speculation and lose every cent I had. I traveled +around, and at last landed in Chicago, and here the money-making fever +seized me again. It is a new thing to me, and a lot more intoxicating, I +can tell you. I invested in oats, and before I knew it that blessed +grain went up until, if its stalks had been as high as its price, it +would have been over my head. I sold out, and then I said to myself: +'Now, Lanigan, my boy, if you don't want to be a beastly pauper for the +rest of your life, you had better go home.' Honestly, I was frightened, +and it seemed to me I should never be safe until I was back in Lethbury. +Look here," he said, taking from a pocket a wallet filled with a mass of +papers and a bank-book; "look at those certificates, and here is my New +York bank-book, so you can see that I am not telling you lies.</p> + +<p>"Now you may say that the fact of my having money doesn't prove that I +am any better than I used to be, but if you think that, you are wrong. +There is no better way to reform a fellow than to give him something to +take care of and take an interest in. That's my case now, and all I've +got<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> I've given myself, which makes it better, of course. I'm not rich, +but I've got enough to buy out any business in Lethbury. And to go into +business and to live here are what will suit me better than anything +else, and that's not counting in Ida Mayberry at all. To live here with +her would be better luck than the biggest rise in oats the world ever +saw. Now you see where I stand. If Mrs. Cristie goes against me, she +does a cruel thing to me, and to Ida Mayberry besides."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you tell her the facts?" said Lodloe. "That would be the +straightforward and sensible thing to do."</p> + +<p>"My dear boy," said Lanigan, "I cannot put the facts into the hands of a +woman. No matter how noble or honorable she may be, without the least +intention on her part they would leak out, and if Calthea Rose should +get hold of them I should be lost. She'd drop old Tippengray like a hot +potato and stick to me like one of those adhesive plasters that have +holes in them. No, sir; I don't want Calthea Rose to think well of me. I +want her to keep on considering me as a good-for-nothing scapegrace, +and, by George! it's easy enough to make her do that. It's all in her +line of business. But I want other people to think well of me in a +general way, and when Calthea and Tippengray have settled things between +them, and are traveling on the Continent, which they certainly ought to +do, I'll start in business, and take my place as one of the leading +citizens of Lethbury; and, as things look now, all will be plain sailing +if Mrs. Cristie thinks well enough of me not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> to interfere between me +and Ida Mayberry. Now all I ask of you is to say a good word for me if +you can get a chance."</p> + +<p>"After what you have told me," said Lodloe, "I think I shall say it."</p> + +<p>"Good for you!" cried Lanigan. "And if I go to Calthy and ask her to +lend me the money to get a frame made for Mrs. Petter's fire-screen, +don't you be surprised. What I'm doing is just as much for her good as +for mine. In this whole world there couldn't be a better match for her +than old Tippengray, and she knows it, and wants him."</p> + +<p>"If there was a society for the prevention of cruelty to Greek scholars, +I don't know but that it might interfere in this case," said Lodloe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII.</h2> + +<p class='center'>SWEET PEAS.</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/w.png" width="150" height="161" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Walter Lodloe was now as much flushed with the fever of love-making as +Lanigan Beam had been flushed with the fever of money-making, but he did +not have the other man's luck. Mrs. Cristie gave him few opportunities +of making her know him as he wished her to know him. He had sense enough +to see that this was intentional, and that if he made any efforts to +improve his opportunities he might drive her away.</p> + +<p>As he sat at his tower window, his fingers in his hair and his mind +trying to formulate the prudent but bold thing he ought to do, a voice +came up from below. It was that of Ida Mayberry.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lodloe! Mr. Lodloe!" she cried; and when he had put his head out of +the window she called to him:</p> + +<p>"Don't you want to come down and help us teach Mr. Tippengray to play +tennis? He has taught us so much that we are going to teach him +something."</p> + +<p>"Who are going to teach?" asked Lodloe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mrs. Cristie and I," said Ida. "Will you come?"</p> + +<p>Instantly consenting, Lodloe drew in his head, his love fever rising.</p> + +<p>The Greek scholar was one of the worst tennis-players in the world. He +knew nothing of the game, and did not appear capable of learning it. And +yet when Lanigan Beam appeared, having just arrived on horseback from +Romney, Mrs. Cristie would not allow the Greek scholar to give up his +place to the younger man. She insisted on his finishing the game, and +when it was over she declared the morning too warm to play any more.</p> + +<p>As she and Lodloe stood together for a moment, their rackets still in +their hands, Mrs. Cristie smiled, but at the same time frowned.</p> + +<p>"It is too provoking," she said; "I wish Douglas would wake up and +scream his very loudest. I was just on the point of asking Ida to go +with me into the garden to pick sweet peas, when Mr. Beam hands her that +horrible bunch of wild flowers, crammed full of botany, I've no doubt. +And now just look at them! Before one could say a word, there they are +on that bench, heads together, and pulling the weeds to pieces. Think of +it! Studying botany with <i>him</i>, and Mr. Tippengray on the same lawn with +her!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's too hot to teach anything," said Lodloe. "You don't seem to +approve of Mr. Beam's attentions to that young woman."</p> + +<p>"I do not," said she. "You know what he is as well as I do."</p> + +<p>"Better," said Lodloe. For a moment he paused, and then continued: "Mrs. +Cristie, I wish you would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> let me go into the garden with you to pick +sweet peas and to talk about Mr. Beam."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Beam!" she repeated.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Lodloe; "I wish very much to speak to you in regard to him, +and I cannot do it here where we may be interrupted at any moment."</p> + +<p>As a young and pretty woman who knew her attractions, and who had made +resolutions in regard to the preponderance of social intercourse in a +particular direction, Mrs. Cristie hesitated before answering. But as a +matron who should know all about a young man who was paying very special +attention to a younger woman in her charge, she accepted the invitation, +and went into the garden with Lodloe.</p> + +<p>The sweet pea-blossoms crowded the tall vines which lined one side of a +path, and as she picked them he talked to her.</p> + +<p>He began by saying that he had noticed, and he had no doubt that she had +noticed, that in all the plain talk they had heard about Mr. Beam there +had been nothing said against his moral character except that he did not +pay his debts nor keep his promises. To this Mrs. Cristie assented, but +said that she thought these were very bad things. Lodloe agreed to this, +but said he thought that when a young man of whom even professional +slanderers did not say that he was cruel, or that he gambled, or drank, +or was addicted to low company and pursuits, had determined to reform +his careless and thoughtless life, he ought to be encouraged and helped +in every possible way. And then when she asked him what reason he had to +suppose that Mr. Beam had determined to reform, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> straightway told her +everything about Lanigan, Chicago oats and all, adding that the young +man did not wish him to say anything about this matter, but he had taken +it upon himself to do so because Mrs. Cristie ought to know it, and +because he was sure that she would not mention it to any one. When Mrs. +Cristie exclaimed at this, and said that she thought that the sooner +everybody knew it the better, Lodloe told her of the state of affairs +between Calthea Rose and Lanigan Beam, and why the latter did not wish +his reform to be known at present.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie dropped upon the ground every sweet-pea blossom she had +gathered.</p> + +<p>"I cannot imagine," she said, "how you can take the part of a man who +would deliberately attempt to lower himself in the eyes of one woman in +order that he might have a better chance to win another woman."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Cristie," said Lodloe, "I am a young man, and I have lived much +among young men. I have seen many of them in dangerous and troubled +waters, floating down to ruin and destruction, and now and then I have +seen one who had turned and was trying to strike out for the shore. In +every case of this kind I have tried to give the poor fellow a hand and +help him get his feet on firm ground. Sometimes he jumped in again, and +sometimes he didn't, but all that was not my affair; I was bound to help +him when I saw him facing the right way, and that is just the way I feel +about young Beam. I do not approve of all his methods, but if he wants +moral support I say he ought to have it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie looked at the pink, blue, and purple blossoms on the +ground. "His sentiments are good and generous ones," she thought, "and I +shall not say one word against them, but Ida Mayberry shall not marry +that exceedingly slippery young man, and the good Mr. Tippengray shall +not be caught by Calthea Rose." She came to this resolution with much +firmness of purpose, but as she was not prepared to say anything on the +subject just then, she looked up very sweetly at Lodloe, and said:</p> + +<p>"Suppose we drop Mr. Beam."</p> + +<p>He looked for an instant into her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Gladly," he exclaimed, with an impulse like a lightning-flash, "and +speak of Walter Lodloe."</p> + +<p>"Of you?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, of me," he replied; "of myself, of a man who has no scheme, no +plan, no concealments, and who only wishes you to know that he loves you +with all his heart."</p> + +<p>She looked at him steadfastly for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Was it for this," she said, "that you asked me to come with you and +pick sweet-pea blossoms?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," he exclaimed; "I meant no more than I said, and thought of +no more. But the flowers we came to gather you have dropped upon the +ground."</p> + +<p>"They can easily be picked up again," she said.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," he cried, and, stepping forward, put his foot upon the +fragrant blossoms. Then with a few rapid dashes he gathered a bunch of +sweet peas and extended them towards Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Will you not take these instead?" he said.</p> + +<p>She put her hands behind her back.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 311px;"> +<img src="images/img23_th.png" width="311" height="409" alt=""WILL YOU NOT TAKE THESE INSTEAD?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"WILL YOU NOT TAKE THESE INSTEAD?"</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do not mean," he said, speaking low but strongly, "that in accepting +them you accept me. I only want to know that you will talk to me of what +I said, or at any rate think of it."</p> + +<p>But still she kept her hands behind her back. In her heart she knew that +she wanted those flowers, but the knowledge had come so suddenly, so +unexpectedly, and so unreasonably, that she did not even look at them, +and clasped her fingers together more tightly.</p> + +<p>"Some one is coming," said Lodloe. "Tell me quickly, must these flowers +be dropped?"</p> + +<p>Steps could plainly be heard not far away. Mrs. Cristie looked up.</p> + +<p>"I will take one," she said; "the very smallest."</p> + +<p>He thrust the bunch of flowers towards her, and she hastily drew from it +one which happened to be the largest of them all.</p> + +<p>The person who now appeared in the garden walk was Calthea Rose. She +experienced no emotions but those of mild amusement at seeing these two +together. At present she did not care very much about either of them, +although, when she had heard of the expected coming of the young widow, +she had been afraid of her, and was prepared to dislike her. But finding +her, as she supposed, already provided with a lover, Calthea was quite +satisfied with Mrs. Cristie. She liked Lodloe on general principles, +because he was a man. Her greeting was very pleasant. It often happened +that the people whom Calthea Rose neither liked nor disliked were those +who found her the most pleasant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>She was inclined to walk on and leave them among the sweet-pea blossoms, +but Mrs. Cristie would not allow this. She joined Calthea, and the three +went on together. When they stepped upon the open lawn, Calthea gave a +quick glance around, and the result was very satisfactory. Ida Mayberry +and Lanigan were still sitting together under a tree, and she saw Mr. +Tippengray talking to Mrs. Petter not far from the summer-house. Nothing +could be better arranged. Lanigan was on the right road, and it would be +quite as natural for her immediately to join Mrs. Petter as it would be +easy to get rid of her.</p> + +<p>The party separated, Lodloe going to his room and Calthea walking +towards the summer-house. She had come that day to the Squirrel Inn with +a purpose; she was going to be taught by Mr. Tippengray. In this world +we must adapt ourselves to circumstances, and she was going to adapt +herself to the Greek scholar's hobby. She was a sensible woman, and did +not for a moment purpose to ask him to teach her the dead languages, +philosophy, or science, things in which he knew she took no interest. +Indeed, she would not ask him to teach her anything, but she was going +to give him the opportunity to do so, and she was quite sure that that +would be sufficient for her purpose.</p> + +<p>She intended to make herself an audience of one, and to listen in a way +she knew would please him to the recital of his travels and experiences. +Of these he had often essayed to talk to her, but she had not encouraged +him. She never liked to talk upon subjects of which other people knew +more than she did,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> and she always endeavored to bring the conversation +into a channel where she could take an equal part. If she could lead, so +much the better. But now she was going to let Mr. Tippengray talk to her +just as much as he pleased, and tell her all he wanted to tell her. She +now knew him better than she had done before, and she had strong hopes +that by this new string she would be able to lead him from the Squirrel +Inn to Lethbury whenever she chose.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter had long been accustomed to look upon Calthea Rose as a +person whose anger would blaze up very suddenly, but would go out quite +as promptly—which was true, when Miss Calthea chose to put it out—but +she was a little surprised that Calthea, after so recently going away in +a huff, should treat Mr. Tippengray with such easy friendliness. If the +Greek scholar himself felt surprised, he did not show it, for he was +always ready to meet a cordial overture.</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea had just accepted an invitation to be seated in the +shade,—which she knew would very soon be followed by Mrs. Petter's +going into the house, for that good woman was seldom content to sit long +out of doors,—when up stepped Ida Mayberry.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Tippengray," said she in the clear, distinct way in which she +always spoke, "here is something which I have been trying to explain to +Mr. Beam, but I am afraid I haven't a quite correct idea about it +myself. Will you please read it, and tell me how it strikes you!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 353px;"> +<img src="images/img24_th.png" width="353" height="301" alt=""I HAVE DISSECTED ONE."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"I HAVE DISSECTED ONE."</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was too much for the patience of Calthea Rose. Her resolutions of +geniality and good nature could not stand for a moment against such an +interruption at such a time. She turned sharply upon the nurse-maid, +and, without attempting to disguise her feelings, said it seemed to her +that a person so anxious to learn would be much better employed in +attending to her business and in trying to learn something about babies +than in interrupting conversation in this impertinent way.</p> + +<p>"Learn something about babies!" exclaimed Miss Mayberry. "Nobody knows +more about babies than I do—I have dissected one."</p> + +<p>At this Mrs. Petter gave a cry of horror, and Miss Calthea stepped back, +speechless with amazement. As for the Greek scholar, he suddenly retired +to a little distance and leaned over a bench, his back to the company. +He was greatly agitated.</p> + +<p>Without further remark Miss Mayberry closed her book, and, with dignity, +walked back to Lanigan Beam.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE AROUSED ROSE</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/t.png" width="150" height="154" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +The soul of Miss Calthea Rose was now filled with one burning purpose, +and that was to banish from the Squirrel Inn that obtrusive and utterly +obnoxious collegiate nurse-maid who had so shamelessly admitted a desire +for surgical research in connection with the care of an infant. It was +of no use for Miss Calthea to think at this moment of her plans in +regard to Mr. Tippengray, nor indeed of anything but this one absorbing +object. Until she had rid herself of Ida Mayberry she could expect to do +nothing that she wished to do. Leaving Mr. Tippengray to the quiet +enjoyment of his agitations, Miss Calthea and Mrs. Petter immediately +set off to find Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"She must instantly know," said the former, "what sort of a serpent she +has in her service. If I were in her place I would never let that +creature touch my baby again."</p> + +<p>"Touch the baby!" exclaimed Mrs. Petter, "I wouldn't let her touch me. +When a person with such a disposition begins on infants there is no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +knowing where she will stop. Of course I don't mean that she is +dangerous to human life, but it seems to me horrible to have any one +about us who would be looking at our muscles, and thinking about our +bones, and wondering if they worked together properly, and if they would +come apart easily. Ugh! It's like having a bat in the room."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie was not in the mood to give proper attention to the +alarming facts which were laid before her by the two women, who found +her sitting by the window in her room. It had been so short a time since +she had come from the garden, and the blossom of the sweet pea, which +she still held in her hand, had been so recently picked from its vine, +that it was not easy for her to fix her mind upon the disqualifications +of nurse-maids. Even the tale that was told her, intensified by the +bitter feeling of Miss Rose, and embellished by the imagination of Mrs. +Petter, did not have the effect upon her that was expected by the +narrators. She herself had been a student of anatomy, and was still fond +of it, and if she had been able properly to consider the subject at that +moment, she might not have considered it a bad thing for Ida Mayberry to +have the experience of which she had boasted.</p> + +<p>But the young widow did not wish at that moment to think of her +nurse-maid or even of her baby, and certainly not to give her attention +to the tales of her landlady and the spinster from Lethbury.</p> + +<p>"I must admit," she said, "that I cannot see that what you tell me is so +very, very dreadful, but I will speak to Ida about it. I think she is +apt to talk very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> forcibly, and perhaps imprudently, and does not always +make herself understood."</p> + +<p>This was said with an air of abstraction and want of interest which +greatly irritated Miss Calthea. She had not even been thanked for what +she had done. Mrs. Cristie had been very civil, and was evidently trying +to be more so, but this was not enough for Miss Calthea.</p> + +<p>"We considered it our duty," she said, with a decided rigidity of +countenance, "to tell you what we know of that girl, and now we leave +the matter with you"; which was a falsehood, if Miss Calthea was capable +of telling one.</p> + +<p>Then with much dignity she moved towards the door, and Mrs. Petter +prepared to follow; but before going she turned with moist eyes towards +Mrs. Cristie, and said:</p> + +<p>"Indeed, indeed, you ought to be very careful; and no matter how you +look at it, she is not fit for a nurse, as everybody can see. Make up +your mind to send her away, and I'll go myself and get you a good one."</p> + +<p>Glancing out of the door to see that the Lethbury lady was out of +hearing, Mrs. Cristie said:</p> + +<p>"You are very good, Mrs. Petter, and I know you wish me well, but tell +me one thing; wasn't it Miss Rose who proposed that you should come to +me with this story about Ida!"</p> + +<p>"Of course I should have told you myself," said Mrs. Petter, "though I +might have taken my time about it; but Calthea did not want to lose a +minute, and said we must go right off and look for you. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> was as mad +as hops any way, for we were talking to Mr. Tippengray at the time, and +Calthea does hate to be interrupted when she is talking to him. But +don't you worry yourself any more than you can help, and remember my +promise. I'll stick to it, you may count on that."</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Cristie had been left to herself she gave enough time to the +consideration of what had been told her to come to the following +conclusion: "She shall not have him; I have made up my mind to that. +Interrupted by Ida! Of course that is at the bottom of it." And having +settled this matter, she relapsed into her former mood, and fell to +thinking what she should do about the sweet-pea blossom.</p> + +<p>She thought until the supper-bell rang, and then she rose and with a +pretty smile and flush upon her face, which showed that her thoughts had +not in the least worried her, she put the sweet-pea blossom into a +little jar which she had brought from Florence, and which was just big +enough for one small flower.</p> + +<p>At supper Walter Lodloe was very quiet and very polite, and Mrs. +Cristie, who was opposite to him, though not at all quiet, was also very +polite, but bestowed her attention almost entirely upon Mr. Tippengray, +who sat beside her. The Greek scholar liked this, and his conversation +sparkled.</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea Rose, who had accepted Mrs. Petter's invitation to spend +the night,—for if ever she was going to do anything at the Squirrel +Inn, this was the time to do it,—did not like Mrs. Cristie's +politeness, and her conversation did not sparkle. In fact she was +quieter than Mr. Lodloe, and paid little heed to the chatter of her +neighbor, Lanigan Beam. This young man was dissatisfied. There was a +place at the table that was sometimes filled and sometimes not filled. +At present it was empty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 307px;"> +<img src="images/img25_th.png" width="307" height="437" alt="MRS. CRISTIE CONSIDERS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MRS. CRISTIE CONSIDERS.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I cannot see," said he, speaking to the company in general, "why babies +are not brought to the table. I think they ought to be taught from the +very beginning how to behave themselves at meals."</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter fixed his eyes upon him, and, speaking through the young man, +also addressed the company.</p> + +<p>"I'm not altogether in favor of having small children at the table," +said he. "Their food is different from ours, and their ways are often +unpleasant; but I do think—"</p> + +<p>"No, you don't," interrupted Mrs. Petter from the other end of the +table—"you don't think anything of the kind. That has all been fixed +and settled, and there's no use in bringing it up again."</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter looked at his wife with a little flash in his eye, but he +spoke quietly.</p> + +<p>"There are some things," he said, "that can be unfixed and unsettled."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie hastened to stop this discussion.</p> + +<p>"As I own the only baby in the house," she said, with a smile, "I may as +well say that it is not coming to the table either by itself or in any +other way."</p> + +<p>A thought now tickled Mr. Tippengray. Without any adequate reason +whatever, there came before him the vision of an opossum which he once +had seen served at a Virginia dinner-table, plump and white, upon a +china dish. And he felt almost irresistibly impelled to lean forward and +ask Mr. Lodloe if he had ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> read any of the works of Mr. Jonathan +Carver, that noted American traveler of the last century; but he knew it +wouldn't do, and he restrained himself. If he had thought Lodloe would +understand him he would have made his observation in Greek, but even +that would have been impolite to the rest of the company. So he kept his +joke to himself, and, for fear that any one should perceive his +amusement, he asked Mrs. Petter if she had ever noticed how much finer +was the fur of a cat which slept out of doors than that of one which had +been in the house. She had noticed it, but thought that the cat would +prefer a snug rug by the fire to fine fur.</p> + +<p>Calthea Rose said little and thought much. It was necessary that she +should take in every possible point in the situation, and she was doing +it. She did not like Mrs. Cristie's attention to Mr. Tippengray, because +it gave him pleasure, and she did not wish that other women should give +him pleasure; but she was not jealous, for that would have been absurd +in this case.</p> + +<p>But the apparent state of feeling at the table had given her an idea. +She was thinking very bitterly of Mrs. Cristie, and would gladly do +anything which would cause that lady discomfort. There seemed to be +something wrong between her and Mr. Lodloe, otherwise the two lovers +would be talking to each other, as was their custom. Perhaps she might +find an opportunity to do something here. If, for instance, she could +get the piqued gentleman to flirt a little with her,—and she had no +doubt of her abilities in this line,—it might cause Mrs. Cristie +uneasiness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> And here her scheme widened and opened before her. If in +any way she could make life at the Squirrel Inn distasteful to Mrs. +Cristie, that lady might go away. And in this case the whole problem +that engrossed her would be solved, for of course the maid would go with +the mistress.</p> + +<p>Calthea's eyes brightened, and with a smile she half listened to +something Lanigan Beam was saying to her.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she thought; "that would settle the whole business. The widow is +the person I ought to drive away; then they would all go, and leave him +to me, as I had him before."</p> + +<p>And now she listened a little, and talked a little, but still kept on +thinking. It was really a very good thing that her feeling towards Mrs. +Cristie had so suddenly changed, otherwise she might never have thought +of this admirable scheme.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX</h2> + +<p class='center'>AN INGENUOUS MAID</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/m.png" width="150" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Mrs. Cristie was unusually prompt that evening in going to the relief of +Ida Mayberry, but before she allowed that young woman to go down to her +supper she put a question to her.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Ida," she said, "by talking about dissecting babies? +Whatever you may have done in that line, I do not think it is very nice +to bring it forward when you have charge of a child."</p> + +<p>"Of course it wasn't nice," replied Ida, "and I should never have +thought of speaking of it if it had not been for that thing from +Lethbury. She makes me so angry that I don't know what I say. You ought +to hear Lanigan Beam talk about her. He has confided to me, although I +am not sure that he should have done it."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Mrs. Cristie, very promptly; "he should not have +confided anything to you."</p> + +<p>"Well," continued Ida, "he told me, but said he would not breathe it to +any one else, that the great object of his life at present was to rid +this neighborhood of Calthea Rose. He says she has been a plague<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> to +this community ever since he has known her. She is always ready to make +mischief, and nobody can tell when or how she is going to do it. As for +himself, he vows she has made it impossible for him to live here; and as +he wishes to live here, he wants her to go."</p> + +<p>"And how does he propose to make her go?" asked Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"He wants her to marry Mr. Tippengray, which she is very willing to do, +and then he is quite sure that they will go away and travel, and stay +abroad for a long time. He knows that this will be the very thing that +she would want to do."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose," said Mrs. Cristie, "that Mr. Beam told you all this in +order that you might be induced to help on the match between Mr. +Tippengray and Miss Rose."</p> + +<p>"That was exactly his object," said Ida; "he said that everybody ought +to help in this good work."</p> + +<p>"And then, I suppose, he would like to marry you," remarked Mrs. +Cristie.</p> + +<p>"He hasn't said so yet," replied Miss Mayberry, "but I think he would +like to do it."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie brought down her little fist upon the table, regardless of +her slumbering child.</p> + +<p>"That man is utterly without a conscience," she exclaimed. "If he hadn't +kept on engaging himself over and over again to Calthea Rose, she might +have married somebody else, and gone away long ago. He has no one but +himself to blame that she is still here to worry him and other people. +And as to his wishing to sacrifice Mr. Tippengray to his ease and +comfort,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> I think it is the most shameful thing I ever heard of. I hope, +Ida, that you did not encourage him in this iniquitous scheme."</p> + +<p>Ida laughed, but quietly—remembering the baby.</p> + +<p>"Not much," she said; "in fact, I have determined, if I can, to rescue +Mr. Tippengray from that clutching old thing."</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Mrs. Cristie, quickly.</p> + +<p>"By marrying him myself," said the nurse-maid.</p> + +<p>"Ida Mayberry!" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the other; "I have been considering the matter a good deal, +and I think it can be done. He is much older than I am, but that isn't +of great importance when people suit in other ways. Of course I would +not wish to marry a very old man, even if he were suitable, for I should +have to look forward to a married life so short that it would not pay; +but Mr. Tippengray was not born so dreadfully far back, and he is one of +those men who keep young for a long time. I think he likes me, and I am +sure I can easily make him like me more, if I choose. There is nobody +here that I need be afraid of, excepting you, perhaps."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie looked at her in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Me!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Ida; "and this is the way of it. For a time I rather liked +Lanigan Beam, for he's young and good-looking, and particularly because +he seems very much in love with me; but although he pretends to be +anxious to study, I know he is not very deep, and will probably soon +tire of that. So when my sympathy for Mr. Tippengray was fairly +aroused,—and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> it has been growing for some time,—it was easy enough to +drop Lanigan; but before I allowed myself to become too much interested +in Mr. Tippengray I had to consider all sides of the case. You seem to +like Mr. Tippengray very much, and of course if you really made up your +mind to prefer him to anybody else, one great object would be gained, +just the same as if I married him, and he would be saved from the hole +those two are digging for him."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 279px;"> +<img src="images/img26_th.png" width="279" height="284" alt="A MATRIMONIAL CONVERSATION." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A MATRIMONIAL CONVERSATION.</span> +</div> + +<p>"And in that case," said Mrs. Cristie, repressing a strong disposition +to laugh, "what would you do?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> Perhaps you would be content to take +anything that might be left."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you mean Mr. Lodloe," said Ida. "Well, to speak plainly, I +have never thought that I had a right to take him into consideration, +but if the field were entirely open, I would not hesitate a moment in +preferring him to either of the others."</p> + +<p>Now Mrs. Cristie laughed outright.</p> + +<p>"I could never have imagined," she said, "that a young girl such as you +are could have such practical and business-like views about matrimony."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the nurse-maid, "I don't see anything out of the way in my +views. I want to bring an intelligent judgment to bear upon everything I +do, and if the higher education is of any good at all, it ought to help +us to regulate our affections."</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to say on the subject," said Mrs. Cristie, "except that +they did not pretend to teach us that at Vassar. I don't see how you can +bring yourself to such calculations. But one part of your scheme I +approve of highly: positively you ought to drop Lanigan Beam. As to +marrying Mr. Tippengray, that is your affair, and his affair. And you +may be sure I shall not interfere in any way."</p> + +<p>Ida looked at her and smiled.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't very much afraid of that," she said, "though of course I +thought I ought to steer clear of even a possible interference; but now +I can go ahead with a clear conscience."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie felt drawn towards this ingenuous maid.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ida," she said, taking her by the hand, "as you have been so confiding +towards me, I will say to you that since you have concluded to drop Mr. +Beam your choice is decidedly restricted."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear it," said the other, warmly; "he is a good man, and I +think he has brains that you can count on. Is it all settled?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no!" said Mrs. Cristie; "and mind, Ida, don't you say a word of +this to a living soul."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't be afraid of that," said Miss Mayberry; "I never betray +confidences."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid," said Mrs Cristie to herself, as she stood alone by her +baby's bedside, "that I went a little too far. It isn't settled yet, and +it would have been better not to say anything about it. However"—and +then her thoughts went wandering. She was going down-stairs and out of +doors as soon as she had satisfied herself that Douglas could be +prudently left to his slumbers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a>XXI</h2> + +<p class='center'>TWISTED TRYSTS</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/m.png" width="150" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Mrs. Cristie found the lower floor of the Squirrel Inn quite deserted. +She stopped before a window in a Norman tower and looked out. Twilight +was fading, but there was a young moon in the sky. By stepping a little +to one side she could see the moon, with the evening star twinkling not +far away from it. She did not go out, however, but slowly wandered into +a long room under the roof of a Swiss chalet. Here she went out on a +queer little balcony and sat down; but her view was cut off by an +out-jutting upper story of the old English type, with rows of +small-paned windows, and she soon came in from the balcony. There was a +light burning in the taproom, and as she passed its open door she +stopped for a moment and gazed reflectively at the row of dilapidated +stuffed squirrels, each of which had once stood guard upon the +guide-post to the inn. But she took no note of the squirrels, nor of +anything else in the quiet room, but as she stood, and instinctively put +her finger to her forehead, a resolution came.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will be sensible, like Ida," she thought. "I will go out and let +things happen as they may."</p> + +<p>She went out into the young moonlight and, glancing across the lawn, +saw, near the edge of the bluff that commanded the western view, two +persons sitting upon a bench. Their backs were towards her, but one of +them she knew to be Calthea Rose.</p> + +<p>"I hope that is not poor Mr. Tippengray," said Mrs. Cristie to herself. +"If she has secured him already, and taken him out there, I am afraid +that even Ida will not be able to get him away from her. Ida must still +be at her supper. I should not have detained her so long."</p> + +<p>But Ida was not at her supper. As she turned towards the end of the lawn +Mrs. Cristie saw her nurse-maid slowly strolling over the grass, a man +on each side of her. They were plainly to be seen, and one man was Mr. +Tippengray and the other Lanigan Beam. The three were engaged in earnest +conversation. Mrs. Cristie smiled.</p> + +<p>"I need not have feared for Ida," she thought; "she must have made a +bold stroke to leave her rival in the lurch in that way, but I suppose +in order to get one man she has to take both. It is a little hard on +Miss Calthea"; and with an amused glance towards the couple on the bluff +she moved towards the gardens. Her mind was in a half-timorous and +undetermined state, in which she would have been glad to wander about by +herself and to meet nobody, or, if it so should happen, glad to meet +somebody; and wistfully, but yet timidly, she wondered which it would +be. All at once she heard a step behind her. In spite of herself she +started and flushed, and, turning, saw Mr. Petter. The sight of this +worthy gentleman was a shock to her. She had been sure he was sitting +with Calthea Rose on the bluff. If it was not he, who was it?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 305px;"> +<img src="images/img27_th.png" width="305" height="407" alt="CALTHEA HOLDS HIM WITH HER LISTENING EAR." title="" /> +<span class="caption">CALTHEA HOLDS HIM WITH HER LISTENING EAR.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you, Mrs. Cristie," said the landlord of the inn, "for +I want to speak with you. My mind is disturbed, and it is on account of +your assistant, Miss Mayberry. She has been talked about in a way that I +do not at all like. I may even say that my wife has been urging me to +use my influence with you to get her dismissed. I assured Mrs. Petter, +however, that I should use that influence, if it exists, in exactly the +opposite direction. Shall we walk on together, Mrs. Cristie, while I +speak further on the subject? I have a high opinion of Miss Mayberry. I +like her because she is what I term blooded. Nothing pleases me so much +as blooded service, and, I may add, blooded associations and +possessions. So far as I am able to have it so, my horses, my cattle, +and all my live stock are blooded. I consider my house, this inn, to be +a blooded house. It can trace its various lines of architectural +ancestry to honorable origins. The company at my house, with the +exception of Lanigan Beam,—who, however, is not a full guest, but +rather a limited inmate, ascending by a ladder to his dormitory,—are, +if you will excuse me for saying so, blooded. And that one of these +guests should avail herself of blooded service is to me a great +gratification, of which I hope I shall not be deprived. To see a vulgar +domestic in Miss Mayberry's place would wound and pain me, and I may +say, Mrs. Cristie that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> I have been able to see no reason whatever for +such substitution."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie had listened without a word, but as she listened she had +been asking herself who that could be with Calthea Rose. If it was not +Walter Lodloe, who was it? And if it was he, why was he there? And if he +was there, why did he stay there? Of course she was neither jealous nor +worried nor troubled by such a thing, but the situation was certainly +odd. She had come out expecting something, she did not know exactly +what; it might not have been a walk among the sweet-pea blossoms, but +she was very certain it was not a conversation with Mr. Petter, while +Walter Lodloe sat over there in the moonlight with Calthea Rose.</p> + +<p>"You need not have given yourself any anxiety," she said to her +companion, "for I have not the slightest idea of discharging Ida. She +suits me admirably, and what they say about her is all nonsense; of +course I do not mean any disrespect to Mrs. Petter."</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter deprecatingly waved his hand.</p> + +<p>"I understand perfectly your reference to my wife," he said "Her mind, I +think, has been acted upon by others. Allow me to say, madam, that your +words have encouraged and delighted me. I feel we are moving in the +right direction. I breathe better."</p> + +<p>"How is it possible," thought Mrs. Cristie, during the delivery of this +speech, "that he can sit there, and sit, and sit, and sit, when he knows +at this hour I am always somewhere about the house or grounds, and never +in my room? Well, if he likes to sit there, let him sit"; and with this +she looked up with some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> vivacity into the face of her landlord and +asked him if even his pigeons and his chickens were blooded, and if the +pigs were also of good descent. As she spoke she slightly accelerated +her pace.</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter was very willing to walk faster, and to talk about all that +appertained to his beloved Squirrel Inn, and so they walked and talked +until they reached the garden and disappeared from view behind the tall +shrubbery that bordered the central path.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter sat on a little Dutch porch, looking out on the lawn, and +her mind was troubled. She wished to talk to Mr. Petter, and here he was +strolling about in the moonlight with that young widow. Of course there +was nothing in it, and it was perfectly proper for him to be polite to +his guests, but there were lines in politeness as well as in other +things, and they ought to be drawn before people went off walking by +themselves in the garden at an hour when most farmers were thinking +about going to bed. The good lady sat very uneasily on her little bench. +The night air felt damp to her and disagreeable; she was sure there were +spiders and other things running about the porch floor, and there were +no rounds to the bench on which she could put her feet. But she could +not bear to go in, for she had not the least idea in the world where +they had gone to. Perhaps they might walk all the way to Lethbury, for +all she knew. At this moment a man came up to the porch. It was Lanigan +Beam, and his soul was troubled. The skilful Miss Mayberry had so +managed the conversation in which she and the two gentlemen were +engaged, that its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> subject matter became deeper and deeper in its +character, until poor Lanigan found that it was getting very much too +deep for him. As long as he could manage to keep his head above water he +stood bravely, but when he was obliged to raise himself on the tips of +his toes, and even then found the discourse rising above his chin, +obliging him to shut his mouth and to blink his eyes, he thought it wise +to strike out for shore before he made a pitiful show of his lack of +mental stature.</p> + +<p>And in a very bad humor Lanigan walked rapidly to the house, where he +was much surprised to see Mrs. Petter on the little Dutch porch.</p> + +<p>"Why, madam," he exclaimed, "I thought you never sat out after +nightfall."</p> + +<p>"As a rule, I don't," the good lady answered, "and I oughtn't to now; +but the fact is—" She hesitated, but it was not necessary to finish the +sentence. Mr. Petter and Mrs. Cristie emerged from the garden and stood +together just outside its gate. He was explaining to her the origin of +some of the peculiar features of the Squirrel Inn.</p> + +<p>When the eyes of Mr. Beam fell upon these two, who stood plainly visible +in the moonlight, while he and Mrs. Petter were in shadow, his trouble +was dissipated by a mischievous hilarity.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, well!" said he, "she <i>is</i> a woman."</p> + +<p>"Of course she is," said Mrs. Petter; "and what of that, I'd like to +know?"</p> + +<p>"Now that I think of it," said Lanigan, with a finger on the side of his +nose, "I remember that she and her young man didn't have much to say to +each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> other at supper. Quarreled, perhaps. And she is comforting herself +with a little flirt with Mr. Petter."</p> + +<p>"Lanigan Beam, you ought to be ashamed of yourself," cried the good +lady; "you know Mr. Petter never flirts."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps <i>he</i> doesn't," said Lanigan; "but if I were you, Mrs. +Petter, I would take him out a shawl or something to put over his +shoulders. He oughtn't to be standing out there in the night wind."</p> + +<p>"I shall do nothing of the kind," she answered shortly, "and I oughtn't +to be out here in the night air either."</p> + +<p>Lanigan gazed at Mrs. Cristie and her companion. If that charming young +widow wanted some one to walk about with her in the moonlight, she could +surely do better than that. Perhaps a diversion might be effected and +partners changed.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Petter," said he, "I wouldn't go in, if I were you. If you move +about you will be all right. Suppose we stroll over that way."</p> + +<p>"I am ready to stroll," said Mrs. Petter, in a tone that showed she had +been a good deal stirred by her companion's remarks, "but I am not going +to stroll over that way. The place is big enough for people to keep to +themselves, if they choose, and I am one that chooses, and I choose to +walk in the direction of my duty, or, more properly, the duty of +somebody else, and see that the hen-houses are shut"; and, taking +Lanigan's arm, she marched him down to the barn, and then across a small +orchard to the most distant poultry-house within the limits of the +estate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Mr. Stephen Petter, allowing his eyes to drop from the pointed roof +of his high tower, saw his wife and Lanigan Beam walking away among the +trees in the orchard, he suddenly became aware that the night air was +chilly, and suggested to his companion that it might be well to return +to the house.</p> + +<p>"Oh, not yet, Mr. Petter," said she; "I want you to tell me how you came +to have that little turret over the thatched roof."</p> + +<p>She had determined that she would not go indoors while Calthea Rose and +Mr. Lodloe sat together on that bench.</p> + +<p>Early in the evening Miss Calthea had seen Mr. Lodloe walking by himself +upon the bluff, and she so arranged a little promenade of her own that +in passing around some shrubbery she met him near the bench. Miss +Calthea was an admirable manager in dialogue, and if she had an object +in view it did not take her long to find out what her collocutor liked +to talk about. She had unusual success in discovering something which +very much interested Mr. Lodloe, and they were soon seated on a bench +discussing the manners and ways of life in Lethbury.</p> + +<p>To a man who recently had been seized with a desire to marry and to live +in Lethbury, and who had already taken some steps in regard to the +marriage, this subject was one of the most lively interest, and Lodloe +was delighted to find what a sensible, practical, and well-informed +woman was Miss Rose. She was able to give him all sorts of points about +buying a building or renting houses in Lethbury, and she entered with +the greatest zeal into the details of living,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> service, the cost of +keeping a horse, a cow, and poultry, and without making any inconvenient +inquiries into the reasons for Mr. Lodloe's desire for information on +these subjects. She told him everything he wanted to know about +housekeeping in her native village, because she had made herself aware +that his mind was set on that sort of thing. In truth she did not care +whether he settled in Lethbury or some other place, or whether he ever +married and settled at all. All she wished was to talk to him in such a +way that she might keep him with her as long as possible. She wished +this because she liked to keep a fine-looking young man all to herself, +and also because she thought that the longer she did so the more +uneasiness she would cause Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>She had convinced herself that it would not do for life to float too +smoothly at the Squirrel Inn. She would stir up things here and there, +but prudently, so that no matter who became disgusted and went away, it +would not be Mr. Tippengray. She was not concerned at present about this +gentleman. It was ten to one that by this time Lanigan Beam had driven +him away from the child's nurse.</p> + +<p>Walter Lodloe was now beginning to feel that it was quite time that his +conversation with Miss Rose, which had really lasted much longer than he +supposed, should be brought to a close. His manner indicating this, Miss +Calthea immediately entered into a most attractive description of a +house picturesquely situated on the outskirts of Lethbury, which would +probably soon be vacated on account of the owner's desire to go West.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the other end of the extensive lawn two persons walked backward and +forward near the edge of the trees perfectly satisfied and untroubled. +What the rest of the world was doing was of no concern whatever to +either of them.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid, Mr. Tippengray," said the nurse-maid, "that when your +Greek version of the literature of to-day, especially its humorous +portion, is translated into the American language of the future it will +lose much of its point and character."</p> + +<p>"You must remember, my dear Miss Mayberry," said the gentleman, "that we +do not know what our language will be in eight hundred or a thousand +years from now. The English of to-day may be utterly unintelligible to +the readers of that era, but that portion of our literature which I put +into imperishable and unchangeable Greek will be the same then as now. +The scholar may read it for his own pleasure and profit, or he may +translate it for the pleasure and profit of others. At all events, it +will be there, like a fly in amber, good for all time. All you have to +do is to melt your amber, and there you have your fly."</p> + +<p>"And a well-shriveled-up fly it would be, I am afraid," said Ida.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray laughed.</p> + +<p>"Be not too sure of that," he said. "I will translate some of my Greek +version of 'Pickwick' back into English, and let you see for yourself +how my amber preserves the fly."</p> + +<p>"Let me do it," said Ida. "It is a long time since I read 'Pickwick,' +and therefore my translation will be a better test."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Capital!" cried Mr. Tippengray. "I will copy a few lines for you +to-night."</p> + +<p>From out an open Elizabethan window under a mansard roof, and +overlooking a small Moorish veranda, there came a sound of woe. The +infant Douglas had awakened from a troubled sleep, and with a wild and +piercing cry he made known to his fellow-beings his desire for society. +Instantly there was a kaleidoscopic change among the personages on the +grounds of the Squirrel Inn. Miss Mayberry darted towards the house; the +Greek scholar, without knowing what he was doing, ran after her for a +short distance, and then stopped; Mrs. Petter screamed from the edge of +the orchard to know what was the matter; and Lanigan ran to see. Mr. +Petter, the natural guardian of the place, pricked up his ears and +strode towards the inn, his soul filled with a sudden fear of fire. Mrs. +Cristie recognized the voice of her child, but saw Ida running, and so, +relieved of present anxiety, remained where her companion had left her.</p> + +<p>Walter Lodloe, hearing Mrs. Petter's voice and the running, sprang from +his seat; and seeing that it would be impossible to detain him now, and +preferring to leave rather than to be left, Miss Calthea hurried away to +see what was the matter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE BLOSSOM AND THE LITTLE JAR</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/p.png" width="150" height="152" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Perceiving Mrs. Cristie standing alone near the entrance to the garden, +Walter Lodloe walked rapidly towards her. As he approached she moved in +the direction of the house.</p> + +<p>"Will you not stop a moment?" he said. "Do not go in yet."</p> + +<p>"I must," she answered; "I have been out here a long while—too long."</p> + +<p>"Out here a long time!" he exclaimed. "You surprise me. Please stop one +moment. I want to tell you of a most interesting conversation I have had +with Miss Rose. It has animated me wonderfully."</p> + +<p>Considering what had occurred that afternoon, this remark could not fail +to impress Mrs. Cristie, and she stopped and looked at him. He did not +give her time to ask any questions, but went on:</p> + +<p>"I have been asking her about life in Lethbury—houses, gardens, +everything that relates to a home in that delightful village. And what +she has told me opens a paradise before me. I did not dream that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> down +in that moon-lighted valley I should be almost rich; that I could offer +you—"</p> + +<p>"And may I ask," she interrupted, "if you have been talking about me to +Miss Rose?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word of it," he answered warmly. "I never mentioned your name, +nor referred to you in any way."</p> + +<p>She could not help ejaculating a little sarcastically:</p> + +<p>"How circumspect!"</p> + +<p>"And now," he said, coming closer to her, "will you not give me an +answer? I love you, and I cannot wait. And oh! speak quickly, for here +comes Mrs. Petter straight towards us."</p> + +<p>"I do not like Lethbury," said Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>Lodloe could have stamped his feet, in the fire of his impatience.</p> + +<p>"But of me, of myself," he said. "And oh! speak quickly, she is almost +here."</p> + +<p>"Please cease," said Mrs. Cristie; "she will hear you."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter came up panting.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to interrupt you, Mrs. Cristie," she said, "but really and +truly you ought to go to your baby. He has stopped crying in the most +startling and suspicious way. Of course I don't know what she has done +to him, and whether it's anything surgical or laudanum. And it isn't for +me to be there to smell the little creature's breath; but you ought to +go this minute, and if you find there is anything needed in the way of +mustard, or hot water, or sending for the doctor, just call to me from +the top of the stairs."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My dear Mrs. Petter," said Mrs. Cristie, "why didn't Calthea Rose come +and tell me this herself, instead of sending you?"</p> + +<p>"She said that she thought you would take it better from me than from +her; and after we had made up our minds about it, she said I ought not +to wait a second."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Cristie, "it was very good in you to come to me, but I +do not feel in the least alarmed. It was Ida's business to quiet the +child, and I have no doubt she did it without knives or poison. But now +that you are here, Mrs. Petter, I wish to ask your opinion about +something that Mr. Lodloe has been talking of to me."</p> + +<p>The young man looked at her in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"He has been telling me," continued Mrs. Cristie, "of a gentleman he +knows, a person of education, and accustomed to society, who had +conceived the idea of living in Lethbury. Now what do you think of +that?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mrs. Petter, "if he's married, and if his wife's got the +asthma, or he's got it himself, I have heard that Lethbury is good for +that sort of complaint. Or if he's failed in business and has to live +cheap; or if he is thinking of setting up a store where a person can get +honest wash-goods; or if he has sickly children, and isn't particular +about schools, I suppose he might as well come to Lethbury as not."</p> + +<p>"But he has none of those reasons for settling here," said Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," remarked Mrs. Petter, somewhat severely, "he must be weak +in his mind. And if he's that, I don't think he's needed in Lethbury."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<p>As she finished speaking the good woman turned and beheld her husband +just coming out of the house. Being very desirous of having her talk +with him, and not very well pleased at the manner in which her mission +had been received, she abruptly betook herself to the house.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said Mrs. Cristie, turning to Lodloe, "what do you think of +that very explicit opinion?"</p> + +<p>"Does it agree with yours?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Wonderfully," she replied. "I could not have imagined that Mrs. Petter +and I were so much of a mind."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Cristie," said Lodloe, "I drop Lethbury, and here I stand with +nothing but myself to offer you."</p> + +<p>The moon had now set, the evening was growing dark, and the lady began +to feel a little chilly about the shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lodloe," she asked, "what did you do with that bunch of sweet peas +you picked this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"They are in my room," he said eagerly. "I have put them in water. They +are as fresh as when I gathered them."</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, speaking rather slowly, "if to-morrow, or next day, or +any time when it may be convenient, you will bring them to me, I think I +will take them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/img28_th.png" width="310" height="351" alt="THE BABY AND THE SWEET-PEA BLOSSOM." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE BABY AND THE SWEET-PEA BLOSSOM.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>In about half an hour Mrs. Cristie went into the house, feeling that she +had stayed out entirely too late. In her room she found Ida reading by a +shaded lamp, and the baby sleeping soundly. The nurse-maid looked up +with a smile, and then turned her face again to her book. Mrs. Cristie +stepped quietly to the mantelpiece, on which she had set the little jar +from Florence, but to her surprise there was nothing in it. The +sweet-pea blossom was gone. After looking here and there upon the floor, +she went over to Ida, and in a low voice asked her if she had seen +anything of a little flower that had been in that jar.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said the girl, putting down her book; "I gave it to baby to +amuse him, and the instant he took it he stopped crying, and very soon +went to sleep. There it is; I declare, he is holding it yet."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie went softly to the bedside of the child and, bending over +him, gently drew the sweet-pea blossom from his chubby little fist.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII</h2> + +<p class='center'>HAMMERSTEIN</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/m.png" width="150" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Miss Calthea Rose was up and about very early the next morning. She had +work to do in which there must be no delay or loss of opportunity. It +was plain enough that her scheme for driving away Ida Mayberry had +failed, and, having carefully noted the extraordinary length of time +which Mrs. Cristie and Mr. Lodloe spent together under the stars the +previous evening, she was convinced that it would not be easy to make +that lady dissatisfied with the Squirrel Inn. She therefore determined +to turn aside from her plans of exile, to let the child's nurse stay +where she pleased, to give no further thought to Lanigan Beam, and to +devote all her energies to capturing Mr. Tippengray. She believed that +she had been upon the point of doing this before the arrival of +intruders on the scene, and she did not doubt that she could reach that +point again.</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea was very restless that morning; she was much more anxious +to begin work than was anybody else on the place. She walked about the +ground,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> went into the garden, passed the summer-house on her way there +and back again, and even wandered down to the barnyard, where the +milking had just begun. If any one had been roaming about like herself, +she could not have failed to observe such person. But there was no one +about until a little before breakfast-time, when Mr. Petter showed +himself.</p> + +<p>This gentleman greeted Calthea coolly. He had had a very animated +conversation with his wife on the evening before, and had been made +acquainted with the unwarrantable enmity exhibited by this village +shopkeeper toward Mrs. Cristie's blooded assistant. He was beginning to +dislike Calthea, and he remembered that the Rockmores never liked her, +and he wished very much that she would cease to spend so much of her +time at his house. After breakfast Calthea was more fortunate. She saw +the Greek scholar walking upon the lawn, with a piece of writing-paper +in his hand. In less than five minutes, by the merest accident in the +world, Mr. Tippengray was walking across the lawn with Miss Rose, and he +had put his piece of paper into his pocket.</p> + +<p>She wanted to ask him something. She would detain him only a few +minutes. The questions she put to him had been suggested to her by +something she had read that morning—a most meager and unsatisfactory +passage. She held in her hand the volume which, although she did not +tell him so, had taken her a half-hour to select in Mr. Petter's book +room. Shortly they were seated together, and he was answering her +questions which, as she knew, related to the most interesting +experiences of his life. As he spoke<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> his eyes glistened and her soul +warmed. He did not wish that this should be so. He wanted to bring this +interview to an end. He was nervously anxious to go back on the lawn, +that he might see Miss Mayberry when she came out of doors; that he +might show her the lines of "Pickwick" which he had put into Greek, and +which she was to turn back into English.</p> + +<p>But he could not cut short the interview. Miss Calthea was not an +Ancient Mariner; she had never even seen the sea, and she had no +glittering eye, but she held him with a listening ear, and never was +wedding guest, or any other man, held more securely.</p> + +<p>Minutes, quarter-hours, half-hours passed and still he talked and she +listened. She guided his speech as a watchful sailor guides his ship, +and whichever way she turned it the wind always filled his sails. For +the first ten minutes he had been ill at ease, but after that he had +begun to feel that he had never so much enjoyed talking. In time he +forgot everything but what he had to say, and it was rapture to be able +to say it, and to feel that never before had he said it so well.</p> + +<p>His back was towards the inn, but through some trees Miss Calthea could +see that Mr. Petter's spring wagon, drawn by the two grays, Stolzenfels +and Falkenberg, was at the door, and soon she perceived that Mr. Lodloe +was in the driver's place, and that Mrs. Cristie, with Ida Mayberry +holding the baby, was on the back seat. The place next Lodloe was +vacant, and they seemed to be waiting for some one. Then Lanigan Beam +came up. There was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> good deal of conversation, in which he seemed to +be giving information, and presently he sprang up beside the driver and +they were off. The party were going for a long drive, Miss Calthea +thought, because Mrs. Petter had come out and had put a covered basket +into the back of the wagon.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray was so absorbed in the interest of what he was saying +that he did not hear the roll of the departing wheels, and Miss Calthea +allowed him to talk on for nearly a quarter of an hour until she thought +she had exhausted the branch of the subject on which he was engaged, and +was sure the spring wagon was out of sight and hearing. Then she +declared that she had not believed that any part of the world could be +as interesting as that region which Mr. Tippengray had been describing +to her, and that she was sorry she could not sit there all the morning +and listen to him, but duty was duty, and it was necessary for her to +return to Lethbury.</p> + +<p>This announcement did not seem in the least to decrease the good spirits +of the Greek scholar, but his chin and his spirits fell when, on +reaching the house, he heard from Mrs. Petter that his fellow-guests had +gone off for a long drive.</p> + +<p>"They expected to take you, Mr. Tippengray," said his hostess, "but +Lanigan Beam said he had seen you and Miss Rose walking across the +fields to Lethbury, and so they asked him to go. I hope they'll be back +to dinner, but there's no knowing, and so I put in a basket of +sandwiches and things to keep them from starving before they get home."</p> + +<p>Miss Calthea was quite surprised.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We were sitting over yonder the whole time," she said, "very much +occupied with talking, it is true, but near enough to hear if we had +been called. I fancy that Lanigan had reasons of his own for saying we +had gone to Lethbury."</p> + +<p>Poor Mr. Tippengray was downcast. How much time must elapse before he +would have an opportunity to deliver the piece of paper he had in his +pocket! How long would he be obliged to lounge around by himself waiting +for Ida Mayberry to return!</p> + +<p>"Well," said Calthea, "I must go home, and as I ought to have been there +long ago, I am going to ask Mr. Petter to lend me a horse and buggy. +It's the greatest pity, Mr. Tippengray, that you have lost your drive +with your friends, but as you can't have that, suppose you take one with +me. I don't mind acknowledging to you that I am a little afraid of Mr. +Petter's horses, but with you driving I should feel quite safe."</p> + +<p>If Mr. Tippengray could have immediately thought of any good reason why +he should have staid at home that morning he would probably have given +it, but none came into his mind. After all, he might as well be driving +to Lethbury as staying there doing nothing, and there could be no doubt +that Miss Calthea was very agreeable that morning. Consequently he +accepted the invitation.</p> + +<p>Calthea Rose went herself to the barn to speak to Mr. Petter about the +horse, and especially requested that he would lend her old Zahringen, +whom she knew to be the most steady of beasts, but Zahringen had gone to +be shod, and there was no horse at her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> service except Hammerstein, and +no vehicle but a village cart. Hammerstein was a better horse than +Zahringen, and would take Calthea home more rapidly, which entirely +suited Mr. Petter.</p> + +<p>It may be here remarked that the barn and stables were not of Mr. +Petter's building, but in order that they might not be entirely exempt +from the influence of his architectural fancies, he had given his horses +the names of certain castles on the Rhine.</p> + +<p>Calthea was not altogether satisfied with the substitution of the big +black horse for the fat brown one, but she could make no reasonable +objection, and the vehicle was soon at the door.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray was very fond of driving, and his spirits had risen +again. But he was a good deal surprised when Miss Calthea declined to +take the seat beside him, preferring to occupy the rear seat with her +back to the horse. By turning a little to one side, she said she could +talk just as well, and it was more comfortable in such a small vehicle +as a village cart to have a whole seat to one's self.</p> + +<p>As soon as they were in the road that ran through the woods she proved +that she could twist herself around so as to talk to her companion, and +look him in the face, quite as easily as if she had been sitting beside +him. They chatted together, and looked each other in the face, and the +Greek scholar enjoyed driving very much until they had gone a mile or +more on the main road, and had come upon an overturned wagon lying by +the roadside. At this Hammerstein and the conversation suddenly stopped. +The big black horse was very much opposed to overturned vehicles. He +knew that in some way they were connected with disaster, and he would +not willingly go near one. He stood head up, ears forward, and slightly +snorting. Mr. Tippengray was annoyed by this nonsense.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 384px;"> +<img src="images/img29_th.png" width="384" height="296" alt="MISS CALTHEA STEPS OUT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MISS CALTHEA STEPS OUT.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Go on!" he cried, "Get up!" Then the driver took the whip from the +socket and gave the horse a good crack.</p> + +<p>"Get up!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Hammerstein obeyed, but got up in a manner which Mr. Tippengray did not +intend. He arose upon his hind legs, and pawed the air, appearing to the +two persons behind him like a tall, black, unsteady steeple.</p> + +<p>When a horse harnessed to a village cart sees fit to rear, the hind part +of the vehicle is brought very near to the ground, so that a person +sitting on the back seat can step out without trouble. Miss Calthea +perceived this and stepped out. On general principles she had known that +it was safer to alight from the hind seat of a village cart than from +the front seat.</p> + +<p>"Don't pull at him that way," she cried from the opposite side of the +road, "he will go over backwards on top of you. Let him alone and +perhaps he will stop rearing."</p> + +<p>Hammerstein now stood on all his feet again, and Miss Calthea earnestly +advised Mr. Tippengray to turn him around and drive back.</p> + +<p>"I am not far from home now," she said, "and can easily walk there. I +really think I do not care to get in again. But I am sure he will go +home to his stable without giving you any trouble."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Mr. Tippengray's spirit was up, and he would not be conquered by a +horse, especially in the presence of a lady.</p> + +<p>"I shall make him pass it," he cried, and he brought down his whip on +Hammerstein's back with such force that the startled animal gave a great +bound forward, and then, finding himself so near the dreaded wreck, he +gave a wilder bound, and passed it. Then, being equipped with blinders, +which did not allow him to see behind him, he did not know but the +frightful wagon, its wheels uppermost, was wildly pursuing him, and, +fearing that this might be so, he galloped onward with all his speed.</p> + +<p>The Greek scholar pulled at the reins and shouted in such a way that +Hammerstein was convinced that he was being urged to use all efforts to +get away from the oncoming monster. He did not turn into the Lethbury +road when he came to it, but kept straight on. At such a moment the +straighter the road the better. Going down a long hill, Mr. Tippengray, +still pulling and shouting, and now hatless, perceived, some distance +ahead of him, a boy standing by the roadside. It was easy enough for the +practised eye of a country boy to take in the state of affairs, and his +instincts prompted him to skip across the road and open a gate which led +into a field recently plowed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray caught at the boy's idea and, exercising all his +strength, he turned Hammerstein into the open gateway. When he had made +a dozen plunges into the deep furrows and through the soft yielding +loam, the horse concluded that he had had enough of that sort of +exercise, and stopped. Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> Tippengray, whose senses had been nearly +bounced out of him, sprang from the cart, and, slipping on the uneven +surface of the ground, tumbled into a deep furrow, from which, however, +he instantly arose without injury, except to his clothes. Hurrying to +the head of the horse he found the boy already there, holding the now +quiet animal. The Greek scholar looked at him admiringly.</p> + +<p>"My young friend," said he, "that was a noble thought, worthy of a +philosopher."</p> + +<p>The boy grinned.</p> + +<p>"They generally stop when they get into a plowed field," he said. "What +skeered him?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray briefly related the facts of the case, and the horse was +led into the road. It was soon ascertained that no material harm had +been done to harness or vehicle.</p> + +<p>"Young man," said Mr. Tippengray, "what will you take for your hat!"</p> + +<p>The boy removed his head-covering and looked at it. It was of coarse +straw, very wide, very much out of shape, without a band, and with a +hole in the crown surrounded by a tuft of broken straw.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "it ain't worth much now, but it'll take a quarter to +buy a new one."</p> + +<p>"Here is a quarter for your hat," said the Greek scholar, "and another +for your perspicacity. I suppose I shall find my hat on the road, but I +cannot wait for that. The sun is too hot."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 471px;"> +<img src="images/img30_th.png" width="471" height="294" alt=""WHAT SKEERED HIM?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"WHAT SKEERED HIM?"</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Greek scholar now started homeward, leading Hammerstein. He liked +walking, and had no intention whatever of again getting into that cart. +If, when they reached the overturned wagon, the animal should again +upheave himself, or in any way misbehave, Mr. Tippengray intended to let +go of him, and allow him to pursue his homeward way in such manner and +at such speed as might best please him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 230px;"> +<img src="images/img31_th.png" width="230" height="207" alt="MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED AND LISTENED." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED AND LISTENED.</span> +</div> + +<p>The two walked a long distance without reaching the object of +Hammerstein's fright, and Mr. Tippengray began to think that the road +was a good deal narrower and more shaded than he had supposed it to be. +The fact was, that a road diverged from the right, near the top of the +hill, which he had not noticed when passing it in mad career, and +naturally turning to the right, without thinking very much about it, he +had taken this road instead of the one by which he had come. Our +scholar, however, did not yet comprehend that he was on the wrong road, +and kept on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<p>Soon his way led through the woods, with great outstretching trees, with +wide-open spaces, interspersed here and there with masses of +undergrowth. Mr. Tippengray greatly enjoyed the shaded road, the smell +of the pines, and the flowers scattered along the edges of the wood. But +in a few minutes he would doubtless have discovered that he had gone +astray, and, notwithstanding the pleasantness of his surroundings, he +would have turned back, had he not suddenly heard voices not far away. +He stopped and listened.</p> + +<p>The voices came from behind a clump of evergreens close by the roadside, +and to his utter amazement Mr. Tippengray heard the voice of Lanigan +Beam saying to some one that true love must speak out, and could not be +silenced; that for days he had been looking for an opportunity, and now +that it had come she must hear him, and know that his heart was hers +only, and could never belong to anybody else. Then the voice of Ida +Mayberry, very clear and distinct, replied that he must not talk to her +in that way, that her line of life and his were entirely different. And +she was doubtless going to say more, when her companion interrupted, and +vowed with all possible earnestness that whatever line of life she chose +should be his line; that he would gladly give up every plan and purpose, +follow her in whatever direction she chose to lead, and do whatever she +wished he should do.</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray was very uneasy. The subject-matter of the conversation +he was overhearing disturbed him in a manner which he did not +understand, and he felt, moreover, that it was not proper for him to +listen to another word. He did not know what to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> do; if he moved forward +they would hear the wheels, and know that he had been near, and if he +attempted to back out of the vicinity there was no knowing what hubbub +he and Hammerstein might create. While standing undecided, he heard +Lanigan speak thus:</p> + +<p>"And as for Greek, and that sort of thing, you shall have all you want. +I'll hire old Tippengray by the year; he shall be the family pedagogue, +and we'll tap him for any kind of learning we may happen to want."</p> + +<p>Instantly all thought of retreat fled from the mind of the scholar; his +eyes glittered, and he was on the point of doing something, when there +came from a little distance the voice of Mrs. Cristie, loudly calling +for Ida. There was shuffling of feet, and in a few moments Mr. +Tippengray perceived the nurse-maid rapidly walking away between the +trees while Lanigan leisurely followed.</p> + +<p>With head erect and nostrils dilated, as if he had been excited by the +perception of something upside down, Mr. Tippengray again laid hold of +the bridle of Hammerstein, and went on. In a few minutes he emerged upon +an open space, through which flowed a little brook, and where sat Mrs. +Cristie, Lodloe, Ida Mayberry with the baby in her lap, and Lanigan +Beam. All of these persons, excepting the infant, were eating +sandwiches.</p> + +<p>At the sight of the little man and the tall horse, the former spattered +with mud, smeared with the earth of the plowed field, and crowned with a +misshapen hat with the expansive hole in the top, the sandwich-eaters +stopped eating, gazed open-eyed, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> burst out laughing. Mr. +Tippengray did not laugh; his eyes still glittered.</p> + +<p>It was half an hour before the tale was told, order restored, and Mr. +Tippengray had washed his face and hands in the brook and taken +refreshment. Then he found himself alone with Mrs. Cristie.</p> + +<p>"Truly you have had a hard time," said she, kindly.</p> + +<p>"Madam," answered the Greek scholar, "you are entirely correct. This has +been an unfortunate day for me. I have been cunningly entrapped, and +heartlessly deserted; I have been nearly frightened out of my wits; have +had my soul nearly burned out of my body, and have been foully +besmirched with dirt and mud. But, worse than all, I have heard myself +made the subject of contempt and contumely."</p> + +<p>"How is that?" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie. "I do not understand."</p> + +<p>"I will quickly make it plain to you," said the indignant scholar, and +he related the conversation he had overheard.</p> + +<p>"What a shameful way to speak of you, Mr. Tippengray!" cried Mrs. +Cristie. "I did not suppose that Mr. Beam would dare to say such things +to one whom he knew to be your friend. I have no doubt that if I had not +called Ida at that moment, you would have heard her resent that +disrespectful speech."</p> + +<p>"I hope so; with all my heart, I hope so," replied the Greek scholar.</p> + +<p>He said this with so much feeling that his companion looked at him a few +moments without speaking.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mr. Tippengray," she said presently, "it is time for us to go home. How +would you like to take Ida Mayberry back in your cart?"</p> + +<p>The brightness in the eyes of the Greek scholar changed from the glitter +of indignation to gleams of joy.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said he, "I should like it of all things. It would remove from +the anticipated pleasures of this day the enormous Alpha privative which +has so far overshadowed them."</p> + +<p>The young widow did not exactly comprehend this answer, but it was +enough to know that he was glad to accept the opportunity she offered +him. No sooner had he spoken than Mr. Tippengray remembered the hazards +to which he was exposing himself by again taking the reins of +Hammerstein, but not for an instant did he think of drawing back. His +desire to take Ida Mayberry away from that fellow, and have her by +himself, overpowered fear and all other feelings.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie's arrangement for the return pleased everybody except +Lanigan Beam. The nurse-maid was perfectly willing to go in the village +cart, and was not at all afraid of horses, and Walter Lodloe had no +objection to sit on the back seat of the wagon with his lady-love, and +help take care of the baby. Lanigan made few remarks about the +situation; he saw that he had made a mistake, and was being punished for +it, and without remonstrance he took the front seat and the reins of the +grays.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a>XXIV</h2> + +<p class='center'>TRANSLATIONS</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/l.png" width="150" height="144" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +Lanigan Beam had no more fear of Mr. Tippengray as a rival than he would +have had of Mr. Petter, but the apportionment of companions for the +return trip nettled him a good deal, and, as a consequence of this, the +pair of grays traveled homeward at a smarter pace, and Hammerstein and +the village cart were soon left far behind.</p> + +<p>The road was not the one by which Mr. Tippengray had arrived on the +scene, but led through the woods to the main road, which it joined at a +point not far from the sign of the Squirrel Inn. Hammerstein traveled +very quietly and steadily of his own accord, slackening his gait at the +rough places, thus giving Mr. Tippengray every opportunity for an +uninterrupted converse with his fellow scholar; and he lost no time in +submitting to her his Greek version of the lines from "Pickwick."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad you have it with you," said Ida, "for I put my Greek +dictionary in my pocket this morning, when I first came down, hoping to +have a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> chance to do some translating, and what better chance could I +have than this?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 230px;"> +<img src="images/img32_th.png" width="230" height="199" alt="THE TRANSLATION." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE TRANSLATION.</span> +</div> + +<p>Drawing out her dictionary and a little blank-book she immediately began +her labors. Mr. Tippengray did not altogether like this. He felt an +intense and somewhat novel desire to converse with the young woman on no +matter what subject, and he would have preferred that she should +postpone the translation. But he would not interrupt the engrossing +occupation into which she now plunged with ardor. Rapidly turning +backward and forward the leaves of the little dictionary, and tapping +her front teeth with her pencil as she puzzled over the correlation of +Greek and English words and expressions, she silently pursued her work.</p> + +<p>Although he did not talk to her, it was very pleasant for Mr. Tippengray +to sit and look upon this fair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> young scholar. At her request he made +the tall steed walk, in order that her pencil might not be too much +joggled, slyly thinking, the while, that thus the interview would be +prolonged. The air was warm and balmy. Everything was still about them. +They met no one, and every minute Mr. Tippengray became more and more +convinced that, next to talking to her, there could be no greater joy in +life than basking in the immediate atmosphere of this girl.</p> + +<p>At last she shut up her dictionary.</p> + +<p>"Now, then!" she exclaimed, "I have translated it, and I assure you that +it is a fair and square version, for I do not in the least remember the +original paragraph."</p> + +<p>"I have the original here," said Mr. Tippengray, pulling the second +volume of "Pickwick" from his pocket, "and we will compare it with your +translation, if you will be so good as to read it. You do not know with +what anxious enthusiasm I await the result."</p> + +<p>"And I, too," said Ida, earnestly. "I do not think there could be a +better test of the power of the Greek language to embalm and preserve +for future generations the spirit of Dickens. Now I will read, and you +can compare my work with the original as I go on."</p> + +<p>The translation ran thus:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"For the reason that he who drives a vehicle of the +post-road holds high office above the masses," to him +answered the Sire Weller with eyes affiliated; "for the +reason that he who drives a vehicle of the post-road acteth +at will, undoubted, humanity otherwise prohibited. For the +reason that he who drives a vehicle of the post-road is able +to look with affection on a woman of eighty far distant, +though it is not publicly believed that in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> midst of any +it is his desire to wed. Among males which one discourseth +similarly, Sammy?"</p></div> + +<p>"I wrote Sammy," she explained, "because I remembered that is the way +the name is used in English."</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray raised his eyebrows very high, and his chin slowly began +to approach the sailor knot of his cravat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear," he said, "I am afraid that this would not express to future +ages the spirit and style of Dickens. The original passage runs thus," +and he read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"'Cos a coachman's a privileged individual," replied Mr. +Weller, looking fixedly at his son. "'Cos a coachman may do +without suspicion wot other men may not; 'cos a coachman may +be on the very amicablest terms with eighty mile o' females +and yet nobody thinks that he ever means to marry any vun +among 'em. And wot other man can say the same, Sammy?"</p></div> + +<p>"They are not much alike, are they?" said Miss Mayberry. "I think if +Dickens could read my translation he would not in the least recognize +it. The fact is, Mr. Tippengray, I do not believe that your method of +Greek pickling will answer to preserve our fiction for the future. It +may do for histories and scientific work, but when you come to dialect +and vernacular, if you once get it into Greek you can never get it back +again as it used to be."</p> + +<p>"That will be a great pity," said Mr. Tippengray, "for fiction makes up +such a large part of our literature. And it does seem that good English +might be properly translated into good Greek."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't the translation," said Ida; "that is all easy enough: it's +the resurrection back into the original condition. Look at the prophet +Enoch. He was translated, but if it were possible now to bring him back +again, he would not be the same Enoch, you know."</p> + +<p>"One might infer from that simile," said the Greek scholar, smiling, +"that when a bit of English gets into Greek it goes to heaven, and would +better stay there. Perhaps you are right in what you say about fiction. +Anyway it is very pleasant to talk with one who can appreciate this +subject, and reason sensibly about it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray shut up his book and put it back into his pocket, while +his companion tore her translation from her note-book and scattered it +in little bits along the road.</p> + +<p>"I would not like it," she said, "if any one but you were to read that +and know I did it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Tippengray's eyes and Mr. Tippengray's heart turned towards her. +Those words, "any one but you," touched him deeply. He had a feeling as +if he were being translated into something better than his original +self, and that this young woman was doing it. He wished to express this +in some way, and to say a good many other things which came crowding +upon his mind, but he expressed nothing and said none of these things. +An exclamation from Ida caused him to look in front of him, and there +was the spring wagon with the horses standing still.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cristie turned round and called to them:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Beam says that there are some by-roads just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> ahead of us, and as he +was afraid you might turn into one and get lost, he thought it better to +wait for you."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" cried Miss Mayberry; "there was no danger that we would turn +into any by-ways. The road is plain enough."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure of that," said Mr. Tippengray to himself. "I think that +just now I was on the point of turning into a by-way."</p> + +<p>The wagon now moved slowly on, and the village cart followed. Mr. +Tippengray would gladly have dropped a good deal behind, but he found +this not practicable, because whenever he made Hammerstein walk +Stolzenfels and Falkenberg also walked. It was plain enough that Lanigan +Beam did not wish any longer to cut himself off from the society of the +lady to whom he had made a proposal of marriage, and whenever he could +find a pretext, which was not difficult for Lanigan, he called back to +her to direct her attention to something, or to ask her opinion about +something. Miss Mayberry did not respond with any readiness, but the +persistence of the young man succeeded in making the conversation a +general one, and the Greek scholar made no attempt to explain to the +nurse-maid that he was in course of translation.</p> + +<p>Dinner was very late at the Squirrel Inn that day, and Mrs. Petter gave +her guests a scolding. But this did not in the least disturb the mind of +Mr. Tippengray, who was well used to being scolded for coming late to +his meals. But something else disturbed him, and for nearly an hour +after dinner he wandered about the lawn and around the house. He wanted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +very much to see Miss Mayberry again, and to tell her the things he did +not have a chance to tell her on the road, and he also very much wished +to prevent that rascally Lanigan Beam from getting ahead of him, and +continuing his broken-off interview with the lady.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXV" id="XXV"></a>XXV</h2> + +<p class='center'>MR. TIPPENGRAY MOUNTS HIGH</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/i.png" width="150" height="143" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +It seemed as if every one must be taking an afternoon nap, for the Greek +scholar had the grounds to himself. When he began to be tired of +walking, he seated himself where he had a good view of the house, and +presently saw Ida Mayberry at her window, with the young Douglas in her +arms. Almost at the same moment he saw Lanigan Beam approaching from the +direction of the barns.</p> + +<p>"If he turns his steps towards that window," thought the scholar, "I +shall see to it that I am there before him."</p> + +<p>But the young man did not walk towards the front of the house, but went +in the direction of his room, where the ladder stood leaning against the +open window. Mounting this, he disappeared within.</p> + +<p>The eyes of Mr. Tippengray flashed, and his face was lighted by a bright +thought. In an instant he was on his feet and running lightly towards +Lanigan's room. Cautiously and silently he approached the ladder; +deftly, and without making the least<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> noise, he moved the upper end of +it from the side of the building, and then, putting it on his shoulder, +gently walked away with it.</p> + +<p>Around to the front of the house Mr. Tippengray carried the ladder, and +boldly placed it nearly upright, under Miss Mayberry's window. In +astonishment that young lady looked out, and asked him what in the world +he was doing.</p> + +<p>"I want to speak to you," said Mr. Tippengray, "on a subject of great +importance, and I cannot afford to lose this opportunity. May I come +up?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Ida.</p> + +<p>In a moment the Greek scholar was standing on one of the upper rounds of +the ladder, with his head and shoulders well above the window-sill. +Little Douglas was delighted to see him, and, taking hold of his +outstretched forefinger, gave it a good wag.</p> + +<p>"It was a capital notion," said Mr. Tippengray, "for me to take this +ladder. In the first place, it enables me to get up to you, and +secondly, it prevents Lanigan Beam from getting down from his room."</p> + +<p>Miss Mayberry laughed, and the baby crowed in sympathy.</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't he get down, Mr. Tippengray?" said she.</p> + +<p>"If he did," was the answer, "he would be sure to interfere with me. He +would come here, and I don't want him. I have something to say to you, +Miss Mayberry, and I must be brief in saying it, for bystanders, no +matter who they might be, would prevent my speaking plainly. I have +become convinced, Miss Mayberry, that my life will be imperfect, and +indeed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> worthless, if I cannot pass it in prosecuting my studies in your +company, and with your assistance. You may think this strong language, +but it is true."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 284px;"> +<img src="images/img33_th.png" width="284" height="309" alt="THE PROPOSAL." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE PROPOSAL.</span> +</div> + +<p>"That would be very pleasant," said the nurse-maid, "but I do not see +how you are going to manage it. My stay here will soon come to an end, +for if Mrs. Cristie does not return to the city in a week or two, I must +leave her. I am a teacher, you know, and before the end of the summer +vacation, I must go and make my arrangements for the next term, and then +you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> can easily see for yourself that when I am engaged in a school I +cannot do very much studying with you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear young lady," cried Mr. Tippengray, "you do not catch my +idea. I am not thinking of schools or positions, and I do not wish you +to think of them. I wish you to know that you have translated me from a +quiet scholar into an ardent lover, and that it would be of no use at +all to try to get me back into my original condition. If I cannot be the +man I want to be, I cannot be the man I was. I ask you for your hands, +your heart, and your intellect. I invite you to join me in pursuing the +higher education until the end of our lives. Take me for your scholar +and be mine. I pray you give me—"</p> + +<p>"Upon—my word!" was the ejaculation, loud and distinct, which came up +from the foot of the ladder, and stopped Mr. Tippengray's avowal. Miss +Mayberry instantly thrust her head out of the window, and Mr. Tippengray +looked down. It was Calthea Rose who had spoken, and she stood under the +window in company with Mr. and Mrs. Petter. A short distance away, and +rapidly approaching, were Mrs. Cristie and Walter Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"Here is gratitude!" cried Calthea, in stinging tones. "I came all the +way back from Lethbury to see if anything had happened to you and that +horse, and this is what I find. The top of a ladder and a child's nurse! +Such a disgrace never fell on this county."</p> + +<p>"Never, indeed," cried Mrs. Petter. "I wouldn't have believed it if +angels had got down on their knees and sworn it to me. Come down from +that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> ladder, Mr. Tippengray! Come down from it before I make my husband +break it to bits beneath you. Come down, I say!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Tippengray," said Mr. Petter, in solemn voice, "in the name of the +laws of domesticity and the hearthstone, and in the honorable name of +the Squirrel Inn, I command you to come down."</p> + +<p>There was but one thing for Mr. Tippengray to do, and that was to come +down, and so down he came.</p> + +<p>"Disgraceful!" cried Miss Rose; "you ought to be ashamed to look anybody +in the face."</p> + +<p>"Never would I have believed it," exclaimed Mrs. Petter. "Never, never, +if I had not seen it with my own eyes, and in broad daylight too!"</p> + +<p>What Mr. Tippengray would have said or done is not known, for at that +instant Ida Mayberry leaned far out of the window and claimed the +attention of the company.</p> + +<p>"Look here!" she cried, "we have had enough of this. Mr. Tippengray has +nothing to be ashamed of, and he had a perfect right to climb up this +ladder. I want you all to understand that we are engaged to be married."</p> + +<p>This announcement fell like a sudden downpour upon the people beneath +the window, and they stood silenced; but in an instant the Greek scholar +bounded up the ladder, and, seizing Miss Mayberry by the hand, kissed it +rapturously.</p> + +<p>"I may have been a little abrupt," she said, in a low voice, "but I +wasn't going to stand here and let our affair be broken off like that."</p> + +<p>At Mr. Tippengray's spontaneous exhibition of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> tender affection, Mr. +Petter involuntarily and reverently took off his hat, while Mrs. Cristie +and Lodloe clapped their hands. The lover, with radiant face, now +descended the ladder and received congratulations from everybody except +Miss Calthea, who, with her nose pointed about forty-five degrees above +the horizon, walked rapidly to the post where she had tied her horse.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/img34_th.png" width="310" height="494" alt="MR. PETTER TAKES OFF HIS HAT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MR. PETTER TAKES OFF HIS HAT.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>Miss Mayberry now appeared, with the baby in her arms, and an expression +of great satisfaction upon her face. Mrs. Cristie relieved her of the +first, but the latter increased as the little company heartily shook +hands with her.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 133px;"> +<img src="images/img35_th.png" width="133" height="205" alt="LANIGAN BEAM WANTS HIS LADDER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">LANIGAN BEAM WANTS HIS LADDER.</span> +</div> + +<p>"I had supposed it would be different with you, Mr. Tippengray," said +Mrs. Petter, "but people ought to know their own minds, and I have no +doubt that Calthea would have often made it very hot for you, especially +if you did not turn over an entirely new leaf in regard to coming to +your meals. But there must be no more laddering; whether it is right or +not, it does not look so. When Ida isn't tending to the child, and it's +too wet to be out of doors, you can have the little parlor to +yourselves. I'll have it dusted and aired."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said Lodloe, coming forward, "but if you have no further +use for that ladder, Mr. Tippengray, I will take it to Lanigan Beam, who +is leaning out of his window, and shouting like mad. I presume he wants +to come down, and as I have locked the door of my room he cannot descend +in that way."</p> + +<p>"Poor Lanigan!" ejaculated Mrs. Petter, "he doesn't know what he's +coming down to. But no matter what he undertakes he is always a day +after the fair."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Petter drew the Greek scholar aside.</p> + +<p>"My dear sir," he said expressively, "I have a special reason for +congratulating you on your decision to unite your blood and culture with +those of another. Had you been entrapped by the wiles of our Lethbury +neighbor, a person for whom I have but slight regard, and who is looked +upon with decided disapprobation by those as competent to judge as the +Rockmores of Germantown, I am afraid, my dear sir, I should have been +compelled to sever those pleasant relations which for so many months +have held us together, and which I hope may continue for years."</p> + +<p>"My good Petter," said Mr. Tippengray, "I have a pleasant house in town, +which I hope to occupy with my wife this winter, and I should like it +very much if you and Mrs. Petter would make us a visit there, and, if +you wish, I'll have some of the Germantown Rockmores there to meet you."</p> + +<p>The landlord of the Squirrel Inn stepped back in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say," he exclaimed, "that you know the Rockmores?"</p> + +<p>"The way of it is this," replied the Greek scholar; "you see, my mother +was a Purley, and on the maternal side she belonged to the +Kempton-Tucker family, and you know that the head of that family married +for his second wife a Mrs. Callaway, who was own sister to John Brent +Norris, whose daughter married a Rockmore. So you see we are connected."</p> + +<p>"And you never told me!" solemnly exclaimed Mr. Petter.</p> + +<p>"No," said his companion; "there are pleasures<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> of revelation, which are +enhanced by a delay in realization, and besides I did not wish to place +myself in a position which might, perchance, subordinate some of your +other guests."</p> + +<p>"I must admit that I am sorry," said Mr. Petter; "but your action in the +matter proves your blood."</p> + +<p>And now, Mrs. Cristie having finished her very earnest conversation with +Ida, the newly betrothed pair walked together towards the bluff from +which there was such a beautiful view of the valley below.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXVI" id="XXVI"></a>XXVI</h2> + +<p class='center'>ANOTHER SQUIRREL IN THE TAP-ROOM</p> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/i.png" width="150" height="143" alt="" title="" /> +</div><p> +"If I had known," said Lanigan Beam, as late that night he sat smoking +with Walter Lodloe in the top room of the tower, "that that old rascal +was capable of stealing my ladder in order to make love to my girl, I +should have had a higher respect for him. Well, I'm done for, and now I +shall lose no time in saying good-by to the Squirrel Inn and Lethbury."</p> + +<p>"Why so?" asked his companion in surprise. "Was the hope of winning Miss +Mayberry the only thing that kept you here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Lanigan; "it was the hope that Calthea might get old +Tippengray. You will remember I told you that, but as she cannot now go +off with him, there is nobody for her to go off with, and so I must be +the one to travel."</p> + +<p>Lodloe laughed. "Under the circumstances then," he said, "you think you +couldn't stay in this neighborhood?"</p> + +<p>"Not with Calthea unattached," replied Lanigan. "Oh, no! Quite +impossible."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Miss Rose had been convinced that all her plans had come to naught, +earnestly and with much severity and singleness of purpose she +considered the situation. It did not take her long to arrive at the +conclusion that the proper thing for her to do was to marry Lanigan +Beam, and to do it without loss of time. Having come to this decision, +she immediately began to make arrangements to carry it into effect.</p> + +<p>It was utterly vain and useless for Lanigan to attempt to get away from +her. She came upon him with a sweet assurance which he supposed had +vanished with her earlier years; she led him with ribbons which he +thought had faded and fallen into shreds long, long ago; she clapped +over his head a bag which he supposed had been worn out on old +Tippengray; and she secured him with fetters which he imagined had long +since been dropped, forgotten, and crumbled into dust. He did not go +away, and it was not long before it was generally understood in the +neighborhood that, at last, he and Calthea Rose were to be married.</p> + +<p>Shortly after this fact had been made public, Lanigan and Walter Lodloe, +who had not seen each other for some days, were walking together on the +Lethbury road.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the former, "it is a little odd, but then odd things are all +the time happening. I don't know whether Calthea has taken me in by +virtue of my first engagement to her, or on some of the others. Or it +may be that it is merely a repeal of our last breaking off. Anyway, I +found she had never dreamed of anything but marrying me, and though I +thought I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> had a loose foot, I found I hadn't, and there's an end of it. +Besides, I will say for Calthea that her feelings are different from +what I supposed they were. She has mellowed up a good deal in the last +year or two, and I shall try to make things as easy for her as I can.</p> + +<p>"But one thing is certain; I shall stick to my resolution not to tell +her that I have made money, and have reformed my old, loose ways of +living and doing business. All that I am going to keep as a sort of +saving fund that I can draw on when I feel like it, and let it alone +when I don't feel like it. We are going to travel,—she is wild on that +point,—and she expects to pay the piper. She can't do it, but I shall +let her think she's doing it. She takes me for a rattling scapegrace, +and I needn't put on the sober and respectable unless I choose to; and +when I do choose it will be a big card in my hand. By George! sir, I +know Calthea so well that I can twist her around my finger, and I am not +sure, if I had got the other one, that I could have done that. It's much +more likely that I should have been the twisted one."</p> + +<p>"What is Miss Rose going to do about her business?" asked Lodloe.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's to be wound up with a jerk," answered his companion. "I've +settled all that. She wanted to hire somebody to take charge of the +store while we're gone, and to sell out the things on her old plan; but +that's all tomfoolery. I have engaged a shopkeeper at Romney to come out +and buy the whole stock at retail price, and I gave him the money to do +it with. That's good business, you know, because it's the same as money +coming back to me, and as for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> old oddments, and remnants, and +endments of faded braids and rotten calicoes, it's a clear profit to be +rid of them. If the Romney man sends them to be ground up at the +paper-mill, he may pay himself for the cartage and his time. So the shop +will be shut day after to-morrow, and you can see for yourself that my +style of business is going to be of the stern, practical sort; and, +after all, I don't see any better outlook for a fellow than to live a +married life in which very little is expected of him, while he knows +that he has on tap a good bank-account and a first-class moral +character."</p> + +<p>The autumn was a very pleasant one, and as there was no reason for doing +anything else, the guests at the Squirrel Inn remained until late in the +season. Therefore it was that Miss Calthea was enabled to marry and +start off on her wedding tour before the engaged couples at the inn had +returned to the city, or had even fixed the dates for their weddings. +Calthea was not a woman who would allow herself to be left behind in +matters of this nature. From her general loftiness and serenity of +manner, and the perfect ease and satisfaction with which she talked of +her plans and prospects with her friends and acquaintances, no one could +have imagined that she had ever departed from her original intention of +becoming Mrs. Lanigan Beam.</p> + +<p>In the midst of her happiness she could not help feeling a little sorry +for Ida Mayberry, and this she did not hesitate to say to some persons +with whom she was intimate, including Mrs. Petter. To be sure, she had +been informed as to the year of Mr. Tippengray's birth, which, if +correct, would make him forty-six;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> but it was her private opinion that +sixty would be a good deal nearer the mark. However, if the young +child's nurse should become an early widow, and be thrown upon her own +resources, she, for one, would not withhold a helping hand. But she +earnestly insisted that not a word she said on this subject should ever +be breathed into another ear.</p> + +<p>When Ida Mayberry heard what Calthea had said about her and Mr. +Tippengray's age, she was very angry, and declared she would not go to +the old thing's wedding, which was to take place the next day in the +Lethbury church. But, after thinking over the matter, she changed her +mind, and concluded that at times like this we should all be pleasant +and good-natured towards one another; so she sat down and wrote a letter +to Miss Calthea, which she sent to the expectant bride that very +afternoon. The missive ran thus:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +<span class="smcap">My Dear Miss Rose:</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>I have seen so little of Mr. Beam in the last few days that +I have had no opportunity to express to him some thanks +which are due him from Mr. Tippengray and myself. I am +therefore obliged to ask you, my dear Miss Rose, to give to +him a message from me, which, as it is one of gratitude, you +will be pleased to deliver.</p> + +<p>Not long ago, when Mr. Beam took occasion to tell me that he +loved me and asked me to marry him,—I remember now that it +was on the very day that Mr. Petter's horse behaved so badly +and, unfortunately for you, tipped you out of the tail end +of the little cart, and made it necessary for you to give up +both it and Mr. Tippengray to me,—he (Mr. Beam) was so good +as to say that if I would agree to be his wife and still +wished the instructive companionship of Mr. Tippengray, he +would take that gentleman into his family as a tutor. Now +this, as you will readily acknowledge, my dear Miss Rose, +was very good in Mr. Beam, and in return I wish you to say +to him, both from Mr. Tippengray<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> and from me, that if there +should ever be any position in our gift which he is capable +of filling, all he has to do is to ask for it.</p> + +<p class='center'>Most sincerely yours,</p> +<p class='right'>Ida Mayberry.</p></div> + +<p>And the next day in church no face expressed a more delighted interest +in the nuptial ceremonies than that of the pretty Miss Mayberry.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It was late in November, and the weather was getting decidedly cool. +There was a fire in the tap-room of the Squirrel Inn, and also one in +the little parlor, and by this, after supper, sat Mr. and Mrs. Petter.</p> + +<p>The guests were all gone; Mr. and Mrs. Tippengray, who had had a quiet +wedding in New York, were on their way to Cambridge, England, where the +bride would spend a portion of the honeymoon in the higher studies there +open to women, while Mrs. Cristie and Mr. Lodloe were passing happy days +in the metropolis preparing for their marriage early in the new year. +The Beams were in Florida, where, so Lanigan wrote, they had an idea of +buying an orange grove, and where, so Calthea wrote, she would not live +if they gave her a whole county.</p> + +<p>The familiar faces all being absent, and very few people dropping in +from Lethbury or the surrounding neighborhood, the Squirrel Inn was +lonely, and the hostess thereof did not hesitate to say so. As for the +host, he had his books, his plans, and his hopes. He also had his +regrets, which were useful in helping him to pass his time.</p> + +<p>"What in the world," asked Mrs. Petter, regarding an object in her +husband's hands, "made you take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> down that miserable, dilapidated little +squirrel from the sign-post? You might as well have let him stay there +all winter, and put up a new one in the spring."</p> + +<p>"This has been a most memorable year," replied her husband, "and I wish +to place this squirrel in his proper position on the calendar shelf of +the tap-room before the storms and winds of winter have blown the fur +from his body and every hair from his upturned tail. I have killed and +prepared a fresh squirrel, and I will place him on the sign-post in a +few days."</p> + +<p>"If you would let that one stay until he was a skin skeleton, he would +have given people a better idea of the way this year has turned out than +he does now," said Mrs. Petter.</p> + +<p>"How so?" he asked, looking at her in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Don't we sit here stripped of every friendly voice?" she said. "Of +course, it's always more lonesome in the winter, but it's never been so +bad as this, for we haven't even Calthea to fall back on. Things didn't +turn out as I expected them to, and I suppose they never will, but it +always was my opinion, and is yet, that nothing can go straight in such +a crooked house. This very afternoon, as I was coming from the +poultry-yard, and saw Lanigan's ladder still standing up against the +window of his room, I couldn't help thinking that if a burglar got into +that room, he might suppose he was in the house; but he'd soon find +himself greatly mistaken, and even if he went over the roof to Mr. +Lodloe's room, all he could do would be to come down the tower stairs, +and then he would find himself outside, just where he started from."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That would suit me very well," remarked Mr. Petter.</p> + +<p>"If this house had been built in a plain, straightforward way," his wife +continued, "with a hall through the middle of it, and the rooms alike on +both sides, then things might have happened in a straightforward way, +and not all mixed up, as they were here this summer. Nobody could tell +who was going to marry who, and why they should do it, if they ever +did."</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter arose and, still holding the stuffed squirrel in his hand, +stood with his back to the fire.</p> + +<p>"It strikes me, Susan," said he, looking reflectively in front of him, +"that our lives are very seldom built with a hall through the middle and +the rooms alike on both sides. I don't think we'd like it if they were. +They would be stupid and humdrum. The right sort of a life should have +its ups and downs, its ins and outs, its different levels, its outside +stairs and its inside stairs, its balconies, windows and roofs of +different periods and different styles. This is education. These things +are the advantages that our lives get from the lives of others.</p> + +<p>"Now, for myself, I like the place I live in to resemble my life and +that of the people about me. And I am sure that nothing could be better +suited to all that than the Squirrel Inn.</p> + +<p>"All sorts of things come into our lives, and when a thing like Lanigan +Beam comes into it, what could be better than to lodge it in a place +where it can go no farther? and if something of a high order, something +backed up by Matthew Vassar, but which is a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> little foreign, and not +altogether of our kind, how well to be able to put that in a noble and +elevated position, where it can have every advantage and can go and +come, without being naturalized or made a part of us. Think, too, how +high excellence can be worthily lodged, with the comforts of the North +and the beauties of the South, as in the case of Mrs. Cristie's rooms; +and how blooded service is not forced into a garret, but is quartered in +a manner which shows that the blood is recognized and the service +ignored."</p> + +<p>"If I had known what she was when she came," remarked Mrs. Petter, "I +should have put her on the top floor."</p> + +<p>"Think, too," continued the landlord, "of noble sentiments, high +aspirations, and deep learning, lodged of their own free will—for it +appears that there was no necessity for it—so near as to answer every +need of social domesticity, and yet in a manner so free and apart as to +allow undisturbed and undisturbing reveries beneath the stars, and such +other irregular manifestations of genius as are common to the gifted."</p> + +<p>"Such as coming late to meals," interpolated the lady.</p> + +<p>"Think, too," Mr. Petter went on to say, speaking in a more earnest +voice—"think, too, of a life or a house in which there is no place for +a Calthea Rose; in which she cannot exist, and which, I am happy to say, +she has always opposed and condemned."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Petter slightly yawned.</p> + +<p>"All that sounds very well," she said, "and there may be truth in it; +but, after all, here we are alone by ourselves, and, so far as I can +see, no chance of being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> less lonely next season, for your rules keep +out all common folks, and we can't count on the people who were here +this year coming again."</p> + +<p>Mr. Petter smiled. "There is no reason to suppose," he said, "that next +season we shall not be favored with the company of the Rockmores of +Germantown."</p> + +<p>And with that he walked away to place in its proper position on the +shelf in the tap-room the squirrel of the past season.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 214px;"> +<img src="images/img36_th.png" width="214" height="82" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Squirrel Inn, by Frank R. Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SQUIRREL INN *** + +***** This file should be named 28662-h.htm or 28662-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/6/6/28662/ + +Produced by Bethanne M. 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0000000..e045e85 --- /dev/null +++ b/28662-h/images/w.png diff --git a/28662.txt b/28662.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0d5378 --- /dev/null +++ b/28662.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6173 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Squirrel Inn, 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: The Squirrel Inn + +Author: Frank R. Stockton + +Release Date: May 2, 2009 [EBook #28662] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SQUIRREL INN *** + + + + +Produced by Bethanne M. Simms Christine D. and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THE SQUIRREL INN.] + +THE SQUIRREL INN + +BY + +FRANK R. STOCKTON + +_AUTHOR OF "RUDDER GRANGE," "THE LADY, OR THE TIGER?" "THE LATE MRS. +NULL," "THE CASTING AWAY OF MRS. LECKS AND MRS. ALESHINE," "THE MERRY +CHANTER," "THE HUNDREDTH MAN," ETC._ + +[Illustration] + + NEW YORK + THE CENTURY CO. + 1891 + + COPYRIGHT, 1891, + BY FRANK R. STOCKTON. + +_All rights reserved._ + + +THE DE VINNE PRESS. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + I THE STEAMBOAT PIER 1 + + II THE BABY, THE MAN, AND THE MASTERY 7 + + III MATTHEW VASSAR 16 + + IV LODLOE UNDERTAKES TO NOMINATE HIS + SUCCESSOR 25 + + V THE LANDLORD AND HIS INN 32 + + VI THE GREEK SCHOLAR 40 + + VII ROCKMORES AHEAD 47 + + VIII MISS MAYBERRY 56 + + IX THE PRESERVATION OF LITERATURE 61 + + X ROSE VERSUS MAYBERRY 68 + + XI LANIGAN BEAM 78 + + XII LANIGAN CHANGES HIS CRAVAT 90 + + XIII DECREES OF EXILE 96 + + XIV BACKING OUT 101 + + XV THE BABY IS PASSED AROUND 110 + + XVI MESSRS. BEAM AND LODLOE DECLINE TO WAIT + FOR THE SECOND TABLE 119 + + XVII BANANAS AND OATS 132 + + XVIII SWEET PEAS 138 + + XIX THE AROUSED ROSE 149 + + XX AN INGENUOUS MAID 157 + + XXI TWISTED TRYSTS 163 + + XXII THE BLOSSOM AND THE LITTLE JAR 175 + + XXIII HAMMERSTEIN 181 + + XXIV TRANSLATIONS 197 + + XXV MR. TIPPENGRAY MOUNTS HIGH 204 + + XXVI ANOTHER SQUIRREL IN THE TAP-ROOM 213 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + + THE SQUIRREL INN FRONTISPIECE + + ON DECK 11 + + A WAGON-LOAD OF NURSE-MAIDS 28 + + STEPHEN PETTER 33 + + THE SIGN 38 + + A GREEK IN AN OUTHOUSE 42 + + MR. TIPPENGRAY 44 + + "I SUPPOSE THIS IS MRS. CRISTIE" 49 + + LODLOE IS INTRODUCED TO STEPHEN PETTER 53 + + "PASSING NEARER, MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED" 65 + + "TEACH THE OLD HENS GOOD MANNERS" 76 + + "DON'T GET EXCITED" 80 + + "HAVE YOU HAPPENED TO HEAR ANYBODY SPEAK + OF ME?" 83 + + "I AM HERE FOR A PURPOSE" 92 + + IDA MAKES HERSELF COMFORTABLE 102 + + "BACK!" 108 + + "HE BEGAN SLOWLY TO PUSH IT TOWARDS + THE SQUIRREL INN" 112 + + "I WILL WHEEL IT DOWN TO MY SUMMER-HOUSE + WHERE IT IS COOL AND SHADY" 113 + + "HE LEANED OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE" 118 + + "CALTHY, THIS IS TRULY LIKE OLD TIMES" 129 + + "WILL YOU NOT TAKE THESE INSTEAD?" 143 + + "I HAVE DISSECTED ONE" 147 + + MRS. CRISTIE CONSIDERS 153 + + A MATRIMONIAL CONVERSATION 160 + + CALTHEA HOLDS HIM WITH HER LISTENING EAR 165 + + THE BABY AND THE SWEET-PEA BLOSSOM 179 + + MISS CALTHEA STEPS OUT 187 + + "WHAT SKEERED HIM?" 191 + + MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED AND LISTENED 192 + + THE TRANSLATION 198 + + THE PROPOSAL 206 + + MR. PETTER TAKES OFF HIS HAT 209 + + LANIGAN BEAM WANTS HIS LADDER 210 + + + + + + +THE SQUIRREL INN + + + + +I + +THE STEAMBOAT PIER + + +The steamboat _Manasquan_ was advertised to leave her pier on the east +side of the city at half-past nine on a July morning. At nine o'clock +Walter Lodloe was on the forward upper deck, watching the early +passengers come on board, and occasionally smiling as his glance fell +upon a tall man in a blue flannel shirt, who, with a number of other +deck-hands, was hard at work transferring from the pier to the steamer +the boxes, barrels, and bales of merchandise the discouraging mass of +which was on the point of being increased by the unloading of a newly +arrived two-horse truck. + +Lodloe had good reason to allow himself his smiles of satisfaction, for +he had just achieved a victory over the man in the blue shirt, and a +victory over a busy deck-hand on a hot day is rare enough to be +valuable. As soon as he had stepped on board, he had deposited his +hand-baggage in a place of safety, and walked forward to see the men run +on the freight. It was a lively scene, and being a student of incident, +character, and all that sort of thing, it greatly interested him. +Standing by a strangely marked cask which had excited his curiosity, he +found himself in the way of the deck-hand in the blue shirt, who, with +red face and sparkling forehead, had just wheeled two heavy boxes up the +incline of the gang-plank, and was about to roll them with easy rapidity +to the other side of the deck; but Lodloe, with his back turned and +directly in front of him, made it necessary for him to make a violent +swerve to the right or to break the legs of a passenger. He made the +swerve, missed Lodloe, and then, dumping his load, turned and swore at +the young man with the promptness and accuracy of a cow-boy's revolver. + +It was quite natural that a high-spirited young fellow should object to +be sworn at, no matter what provocation he had given, and Lodloe not +only objected but grew very angry. The thing which instantly suggested +itself to him, and which to most people would seem the proper thing to +do, was to knock down the man. But this knocking-down business is a +matter which should be approached with great caution. Walter was a +strong young fellow and had had some practice in boxing, but it was not +impossible that, even with the backing of justifiable indignation, the +conventional blow straight from the shoulder might have failed to fell +the tall deck-hand. + +But even had Lodloe succeeded in stretching the insulting man upon the +dirty deck, it is not at all probable that he would have staid there. In +five seconds there would have been a great fight, and it would not have +been long before the young gentleman would have found himself in the +custody of a policeman. + +Lodloe's common sense was capable of considerable tension without giving +way, even under a strain like this, and, although pale with anger, he +would not engage in a personal contest with a deck-hand on a crowded +steamboat; but to bear the insult was almost impossible. Never before +had he been subjected to such violent abuse. + +But in a flash he remembered something, and the man had scarcely turned +his empty truck to go back to the pier, when Lodloe stepped in front of +him, and with a wave of the hand stopped him. + +Two nights before Lodloe had been sitting up late reading some papers on +modern Italian history, and in the course of said reading had met with +the text of the _anathema maranatha_ pronounced by Pius IX. against +disbelievers in his infallibility. The directness, force, and +comprehensiveness of the expressions used in this composition made a +deep impression upon Lodloe, and as it was not very long he had +committed it to memory, thinking that he might some time care to use it +in quotation. Now it flashed upon him that the time had come to quote +this _anathema maranatha_, without hesitation he delivered the whole of +it, and square, straight into the face of the petrified deck-hand. + +Petrified immediately he was not. As first he flushed furiously, but +after a few phrases he began to pale and to turn to living stone; enough +mobility, however, remained to allow him presently to raise his hand +imploringly, but Lodloe had now nearly finished his discourse, and with +a few words more he turned and walked away. The deck-hand wiped his +brow, took in a long breath, and went to work. If another passenger had +got in his way, he would not have sworn at him. + +Therefore it was that, gently pleased by the sensations of victory, +Walter Lodloe sat on the upper deck and watched the busy scene. He soon +noted that passengers were beginning to come down the pier in +considerable numbers, and among these his eye was caught by a young +woman wheeling a baby-carriage. + +When this little equipage had been pushed down nearly to the end of that +side of the pier from which the passengers were going on board, it +stopped, and its motive power looked behind her. Presently she turned +her head towards the steamer and eagerly scanned every part of it on +which she could see human beings. In doing this she exhibited to Lodloe +a very attractive face. It was young enough, it was round enough, and +the brown eyes were large enough, to suit almost any one whose taste was +not restricted to the lines of the old sculptors. + +When she completed her survey of the steamboat, the young woman turned +the carriage around and wheeled it up the pier. Very soon, however, she +returned, walking rapidly, and ran the little vehicle over the broad +gang-plank on to the steamboat. Now Lodloe lost sight of her, but in +about five minutes she appeared on the forward upper deck without the +baby-carriage, and looking eagerly here and there. Not finding what she +sought, she hastily descended. + +The next act in this performance was the appearance of the +baby-carriage, borne by the blue-shirted deck-hand, and followed by the +young woman carrying the baby. The carriage was humbly set down by its +bearer, who departed without looking to the right or left, and the baby +was quickly deposited in it. Then the young woman stepped to the rail +and looked anxiously upon the pier. As Lodloe gazed upon her it was easy +to see that she was greatly troubled. She was expecting some one who did +not come. Now she went to the head of the stairway and went down a few +steps, then she came up again and stood undecided. Her eyes now fell +upon Lodloe, who was looking at her, and she immediately approached him. + +"Can you tell me, sir," she said, "exactly how long it will be before +this boat starts?" + +Lodloe drew out his watch. + +"In eight minutes," he answered. + +If Lodloe had allowed himself to suppose that because the young woman +who addressed him was in sole charge of a baby-carriage she was a nurse +or superior maid-servant, that notion would have instantly vanished when +he heard her speak. + +The lady turned a quick glance towards the pier, and then moved to the +head of the stairway, but stopped before reaching it. It was plain that +she was in much perplexity. Lodloe stepped quickly towards her. + +"Madam," said he, "you are looking for some one. Can I help you?" + +"I am," she said; "I am looking for my nurse-maid. She promised to meet +me on the pier. I cannot imagine what has become of her." + +"Let me go and find her," said Lodloe. "What sort of person is she?" + +"She isn't any sort of person in particular," answered the lady. "I +couldn't describe her. I will run down and look for her myself, and if +you will kindly see that nobody knocks over my baby I shall be much +obliged to you." + +Lodloe instantly undertook the charge, and the lady disappeared below. + + + + +II + +THE BABY, THE MAN, AND THE MASTERY + + +The young man drew the baby-carriage to the bench by the rail and, +seating himself, gazed with interest upon its youthful occupant. This +individual appeared to be about two years of age, with its mother's eyes +and a combative disposition. The latter was indicated by the manner in +which it banged its own legs and the sides of its carriage with a wicker +bludgeon that had once been a rattle. It looked earnestly at the young +man, and gave the edges of its carriage a whack which knocked the +bludgeon out of its hand. Lodloe picked up the weapon, and, restoring it +to its owner, began to commune with himself. + +"It is the same old story," he thought. "The mother desires to be rid of +the infant; she leaves it for a moment in the charge of a stranger; she +is never seen again. However, I accept the situation. If she doesn't +come back this baby is mine. It seems like a good sort of baby, and I +think I shall like it. Yes, youngster, if your mother doesn't come back +you are mine. I shall not pass you over to the police or to any one +else; I shall run you myself." + +It was now half-past nine. Lodloe arose and looked out over the pier. He +could see nothing of the young mother. The freight was all on board, and +they were hauling up the forward gang-plank. One or two belated +passengers were hurrying along the pier; the bell was ringing; now the +passengers were on board, the aft gang-plank was hauled in, the hawsers +were cast off from the posts, the pilot's bell jingled, the wheels began +to revolve, and the great steamboat slowly moved from its pier. + +"I knew it," said Lodloe, unconsciously speaking aloud; "she hadn't the +slightest idea of coming back. Now, then," said he, "I own a baby, and I +must consider what I am to do with it. One thing is certain, I intend to +keep it. I believe I can get more solid comfort and fun out of a baby +than I could possibly get out of a dog or even a horse." + +Walter Lodloe was a young man who had adopted literature as a +profession. Earlier in life he had worked at journalism, but for the +last two years he had devoted himself almost entirely to literature pure +and simple. His rewards, so far, had been slight, but he was not in the +least discouraged, and hoped bravely for better things. He was now on +his way to spend some months at a quiet country place of which he had +heard, not for a summer holiday, but to work where he could live cheaply +and enjoy outdoor life. His profession made him more independent than an +artist--all he needed were writing materials, and a post-office within a +reasonable distance. + +Lodloe gazed with much satisfaction at his new acquisition. He was no +stickler for conventionalities, and did not in the least object to +appear at his destination--where he knew no one--with a baby and a +carriage. + +"I'll get some country girl to take care of it when I am busy," he said, +"and the rest of the time I'll attend to it myself. I'll teach it a lot +of things, and from what I have seen of youngster-culture I shouldn't +wonder if I should beat the record." + +At this moment the baby gave a great wave with its empty rattle, and, +losing its hold upon it, the wicker weapon went overboard. Then, after +feeling about in its lap, and peering over the side of the carriage, the +baby began to whimper. + +"Now then," thought the young man, "here's my chance. I must begin +instantly to teach it that I am its master." + +Leaning forward, he looked sternly into the child's face, and in a +sharp, quick tone said: + +"Whoa!" + +The baby stopped instantly, and stared at its new guardian. + +"There," thought Lodloe, "it is just the same with a baby as with a +horse. Be firm, be decided; it knows what you want, and it will do it." + +At this instant the baby opened its mouth, uttered a wild wail, and +continued wailing. + +Lodloe laughed. "That didn't seem to work," said he; and to quiet the +little creature he agitated the vehicle, shook before the child his +keys, and showed it his watch, but the wails went on with persistent +violence. The baby's face became red, its eyes dropped tears. + +The young man looked around him for assistance. The forward upper deck +was without an awning, and was occupied only by a few men, the majority +of the passengers preferring the spacious and shaded after deck. Two of +the men were laughing at Lodloe. + +"That's a new way," one of them called out to him, "to shut up a young +one. Did it ever work?" + +"It didn't this time," answered Lodloe. "Have you any young ones?" + +"Five," answered the man. + +"And how do you stop them when they howl like that?" + +"I leave that to the old woman," was the answer, "and when she's heard +enough of it she spanks 'em." + +Lodloe shook his head. That method did not suit him. + +"If you'd run its wagon round the deck," said another man, "perhaps that +would stop it. I guess you was never left alone with it before." + +Lodloe made no reply to this supposition, but began to wheel the +carriage around the deck. Still the baby yelled and kicked. An elderly +gentleman who had been reading a book went below. + +"If you could feed it," said one of the men who had spoken before, "that +might stop it, but the best thing you can do is to take it down to its +mother." + +[Illustration: ON DECK.] + +Lodloe was annoyed. He had not yet arranged in his mind how he should +account for his possession of the baby, and he did not want an +explanation forced upon him before he was ready to make it. These men +had come on board after the departure of the young woman, and could know +nothing of the facts, and therefore Lodloe, speaking from a high, +figurative standpoint, settled the matter by shaking his head and +saying: + +"That can't be done. The little thing has lost its mother." + +The man who had last spoken looked compassionately at Lodloe. + +"That's a hard case," he said; "I know all about it, for I've been in +that boat myself. My wife died just as I was going to sail for this +country, and I had to bring over the two babies. I was as seasick as +blazes, and had to take care of 'em night and day. I tell you, sir, +you've got a hard time ahead of you; but feedin' 's the only thing. I'll +get you something. Is it on milk yet, or can it eat biscuit?" + +Lodloe looked at the open mouth of the vociferous infant and saw teeth. + +"Biscuit will do," he said, "or perhaps a banana. If you can get me +something of the sort I shall be much obliged"; and he gave the man some +money. + +The messenger soon returned with an assortment of refreshments, among +which, happily, was not a banana, and the baby soon stopped wailing to +suck an enormous stick of striped candy. Quiet having been restored to +this part of the vessel, Lodloe sat down to reconsider the situation. + +"It may be," he said to himself, "that I shall have to take it to an +asylum, but I shall let it stay there only during the period of +unintelligent howling. When it is old enough to understand that I am its +master, then I shall take it in hand again. It is ridiculous to suppose +that a human being cannot be as easily trained as a horse." + +The more he considered the situation the better he liked it. The +possession of a healthy and vigorous youngster without encumbrances was +to him a novel and delightful sensation. + +"I hope," he said to himself, "that when the country girl dresses it she +will find no label on its clothes, nor any sign which might enable one +to discover the original owners. I don't want anybody coming up to claim +it after we've got to be regular chums." + +When the boat made its first landing the two men who had given advice +and assistance to Lodloe got off, and as the sun rose higher the forward +deck became so unpleasantly warm that nearly everybody left it; but +Lodloe concluded to remain. The little carriage had a top, which +sufficiently shaded the baby, and as for himself he was used to the sun. +If he went among the other passengers they might ask him questions, and +he was not prepared for these. What he wanted was to be let alone until +he reached his landing-place, and then he would run his baby-carriage +ashore, and when the steamboat had passed on he would be master of the +situation, and could assume what position he chose towards his new +possession. + +"When I get the little bouncer to Squirrel Inn I shall be all right, but +I must have the relationship defined before I arrive there." And to the +planning and determination of that he now gave his mind. + +He had not decided whether he should create an imaginary mother who had +died young, consider himself the uncle of the child, whose parents had +been lost at sea, or adopt the little creature as a brother or a +sister, as the case might be, when the subject of his reflections laid +down its stick of candy and began a violent outcry against circumstances +in general. + +Lodloe's first impulse was to throw it overboard. Repressing this +natural instinct, he endeavored to quiet the infantile turbulence with +offers of biscuit, fresh candy, gingercakes, and apples, but without +effect. The young bewailer would have nothing to do with any of these +enticements. + +Lodloe was puzzled. "I have got to keep the thing quiet until we land," +he thought; "then I will immediately hire some one to go with me and +take charge of it, but I can't stand this uproar for two hours longer." +The crying attracted the attention of other people, and presently a +country woman appeared from below. + +"What is the matter with it?" she asked. "I thought it was some child +left here all by itself." + +"What would you do with it?" asked Lodloe, helplessly. + +"You ought to take it up and walk it about until its mother comes," said +the woman; and having given this advice she returned below to quiet one +of her own offspring who had been started off by the sounds of woe. + +Lodloe smiled at the idea of carrying the baby about until its mother +came; but he was willing to do the thing in moderation, and taking up +the child resolutely, if not skilfully, he began to stride up and down +the deck with it. + +This suited the youngster perfectly, and it ceased crying and began to +look about with great interest. It actually smiled into the young man's +face, and taking hold of his mustache began to use it as a doorbell. + +"This is capital," said Lodloe; "we are chums already." And as he strode +he whistled, talked baby-talk, and snapped his fingers in the face of +the admiring youngster, who slapped at him, and laughed, and did its +best to kick off the bosom of his shirt. + + + + +III + +MATTHEW VASSAR + + +In the course of this sociable promenade the steamboat stopped at a +small town, and it had scarcely started again when the baby gave a +squirm which nearly threw it out of its bearer's arms. At the same +instant he heard quick steps behind him, and, turning, he beheld the +mother of the child. At the sight his heart fell. Gone were his plans, +his hopes, his little chum. + +The young woman was flushed and panting. + +"Upon my word!" was all she could say as she clasped the child, whose +little arms stretched out towards her. She seated herself upon the +nearest bench. In a few moments she looked from her baby to Lodloe; she +had not quite recovered her breath, and her face was flushed, but in her +eyes and on her mouth and dimpled cheeks there was an expression of +intense delight mingled with amusement. + +"Will you tell me, sir," she said, "how long you have been carrying this +baby about? And did you have to take care of it?" + +Lodloe did not feel in a very good humor. By not imposing upon him, as +he thought she had done, she had deceived and disappointed him. + +"Of course I took care of it," he said, "as you left it in my charge; +and it gave me a lot of trouble, I assure you. For a time it kicked up a +dreadful row. I had the advice of professionals, but I did all the work +myself." + +"I am very sorry," she said, "but it does seem extremely funny that it +should have happened so. What did you think had become of me?" + +"I supposed you had gone off to whatever place you wanted to go to," +said Lodloe. + +She looked at him in amazement. + +"Do you mean to say," she exclaimed, "that you thought I wanted to get +rid of my baby, and to palm him off on you--an utter stranger?" + +"That is exactly what I thought," he answered. "Of course, people who +want to get rid of babies don't palm them off on friends and +acquaintances. I am very sorry if I misjudged you, but I think you will +admit that, under the circumstances, my supposition was a very natural +one." + +"Tell me one more thing," she said; "what did you intend to do with this +child?" + +"I intended to bring it up as my own," said Lodloe; "I had already +formed plans for its education." + +The lady looked at him in speechless amazement. If she had known him she +would have burst out laughing. + +"The way of it was this," she said presently. "I ran off the steamboat +to look for my nurse-maid, and if I hadn't thought of first searching +through the other parts of the boat to see if she was on board I should +have had plenty of time. I found her waiting for me at the entrance of +the pier, and when I ran towards her all she had to say was that she had +made up her mind not to go into the country. I was so excited, and so +angry at her for playing such a trick on me at the last moment, that I +forgot how time was passing, and that is why I was left behind. But it +never entered my mind that any one would think that I intended to desert +my baby, and I didn't feel afraid either that he wouldn't be taken care +of. I had seen ever so many women on board, and some with babies of +their own, and I did not doubt that some of these would take charge of +him. + +"As soon as I saw that the steamboat had gone, I jumped into a cab, and +went to the West Bank Railroad, and took the first train for Scurry, +where I knew the steamboat stopped. The ticket agent told me he thought +the train would get there about forty minutes before the boat; but it +didn't, and I had to run every inch of the way from the station to the +wharf, and then barely got there in time." + +"You managed matters very well," said Lodloe. + +"I should have managed better," said she, "if I had taken my baby ashore +with me. In that case, I should have remained in the city until I +secured another maid. But why did you trouble yourself with the child, +especially when he cried?" + +"Madam," said Lodloe, "you left that little creature in my charge, and +it never entered my mind to hand it over to anybody else. I took advice, +as I told you, but that was all I wanted of any one until I went +ashore, and then I intended to hire a country girl to act as its nurse." + +"And you really and positively intended to keep it for your own?" she +asked. + +"I did," he answered. + +At this the lady could not help laughing. "In all my life," she said, "I +never heard of anything like that. But I am just as much obliged to you, +sir, as if I were acquainted with you; in fact, more so." + +Lodloe took out his card and handed it to her. She read it, and then +said: + +"I am Mrs. Robert Cristie of Philadelphia. And now I will take my baby +to the other end of the boat, where it is more sheltered, but not +without thanking you most heartily for your very great kindness." + +"If you are going aft," said Lodloe, "let me help you. If you will take +the baby, I will bring its carriage." + +In a few minutes the mother and child were ensconced in a shady spot on +the lower deck, and then Lodloe, lifting his hat, remarked: + +"As I suppose two people cannot become conventionally acquainted without +the intervention of a third person, no matter how little each may know +of said third party, I must take my leave; but allow me to say that, if +you require any further assistance, I shall be most happy to give it. I +shall be on the boat until we reach Romney." + +"That is where I get off," she said. + +"Indeed," said he; "then perhaps you will engage the country girl whom I +intended to hire." + +"Do you know any one living there," she asked, "who would come to me as +nurse-maid?" + +"I don't know a soul in Romney," said Lodloe; "I never was in the place +in my life. I merely supposed that in a little town like that there were +girls to be hired. I don't intend to remain in Romney, to be sure, but I +thought it would be much safer to engage a girl there than to trust to +getting one in the country place to which I am going." + +"And you thought out all that, and about my baby?" said Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes, I did," said Lodloe, laughing. + +"Very well," said she; "I shall avail myself of your forethought, and +shall try to get a girl in Romney. Where do you go when you leave +there?" + +"Oh, I am going some five or six miles from the town, to a place called +the 'Squirrel Inn.'" + +"The Squirrel Inn!" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie, dropping her hands into her +lap and leaning forward. + +"Yes," said Lodloe; "are you going there?" + +"I am," she answered. + +Now in his heart Walter Lodloe blessed his guardian angel that she had +prompted him to make the announcement of his destination before he knew +where this lady was going. + +"I am very glad to hear that," he said. "It seems odd that we should +happen to be going to the same place, and yet it is not so very odd, +after all, for people going to the Squirrel Inn must take this boat and +land at Romney, which is not on the railroad." + +"The odd part of it is that so few people go to the Squirrel Inn," said +the lady. + +"I did not know that," remarked Lodloe; "in fact I know very little +about the place. I have heard it spoken of, and it seems to be just the +quiet, restful place in which I can work. I am a literary man, and like +to work in the country." + +"Do you know the Rockmores of Germantown?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"I never heard of them," he answered. + +"Well, then, you may as well stay on board this steamboat and go back +home in her," said Mrs. Cristie; "if you do not know the Rockmores of +Germantown Stephen Petter will not take you into his inn. I know all +about the place. I was there with my husband three years ago. Mr. Petter +is very particular about the guests he entertains. Several years ago, +when he opened the inn, the Rockmores of Germantown spent the summer +with him, and he was so impressed with them that he will not take +anybody unless they know the Rockmores of Germantown." + +"He must be a ridiculous old crank," said Lodloe, drawing a camp-chair +near to the lady, and seating himself thereon. + +"In one way he is not a crank," said Mrs. Cristie; "you can't turn him. +When he has made up his mind about anything, that matter is settled and +fixed just as if it were screwed down to the floor." + +"From what I had been told," said the young man, "I supposed the +Squirrel Inn to be a free and easy place." + +"It is, after you get there," said Mrs. Cristie, "and the situation and +the surroundings are beautiful, and the air is very healthful. My +husband was Captain Cristie of the navy. He was in bad health when he +went to the Squirrel Inn, but the air did him good, and if we had staid +all winter, as Stephen Petter wanted us to, it would have been a great +advantage to him. But when the weather grew cool we went to New York, +where my husband died early in the following December." + +"I will take my chances with Stephen Petter," said Lodloe, after a +suitable pause. "I am going to the Squirrel Inn, and I am bound to stay +there. There must be some road not through Germantown by which a fellow +can get into the favor of Mr. Petter. Perhaps you will say a good word +for me, madam?" + +"I don't know any good word to say," she answered, "except that you take +excellent care of babies, and I am not at all sure that that would have +any weight with Stephen Petter. Since you are going to the inn, and +since we have already talked together so much, I wish I did properly +know you. Did you ever have a sister at Vassar?" + +"I am sorry to say," said Lodloe, "that I never had a sister at that +college, though I have one who wanted very much to go there; but instead +of that she went with an aunt to Europe, where she married." + +"An American?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said Lodloe. + +"What was his name?" + +"Tredwell." + +"I never heard of him," said the lady. "There don't seem to be any +threads to take hold of." + +"Perhaps you had a brother at Princeton," remarked Lodloe. + +"I have no brother," said she. + +There was now a pause in the dialogue. The young man was well pleased +that this very interesting young woman wished to know him properly, as +she put it, and if there could be found the least bit of foundation on +which might be built a conventional acquaintance he was determined to +find it. + +"Were you a Vassar girl?" he asked. + +"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "I was there four years." + +"Perhaps you know something of old Matthew Vassar, the founder?" + +Mrs. Cristie laughed. "I've heard enough about him, you may be sure; but +what has he to do with anything?" + +"I once slept in his room," said Lodloe; "in the Founder's Room, with +all his stiff old furniture, and his books, and his portrait." + +"You!" cried Mrs. Cristie. "When did you do that?" + +"It was two years ago this spring," said Lodloe. "I was up there getting +material for an article on the college which I wrote for the 'Bayside +Magazine.'" + +"Did you write that?" said Mrs. Cristie. "I read it, and it was just as +full of mistakes as it could be." + +"That may be, and I don't wonder at it," said the young man. "I kept on +taking in material until I had a good deal more than I could properly +stow away in my mind, and it got to be too late for me to go back to the +town, and they had to put me into the Founder's Room, because the house +was a good deal crowded. Before I went to bed I examined all the things +in the room. I didn't sleep well at all, for during the night the old +gentleman got down out of his frame, and sat on the side of my bed, and +told me a lot of things about that college which nobody else ever knew, +I am sure." + +"And I suppose you mixed up all that information with what the college +people gave you," she said. + +"That may be the case," answered Lodloe, laughing, "for some of the old +gentleman's points were very interesting and made a deep impression upon +me." + +"Well," said Mrs. Cristie, speaking very emphatically, "when I had +finished reading that article I very much wished to meet the person who +had written it, so that I might tell him what I thought of it; but of +course I had no idea that the founder had anything to do with its +inaccuracies." + +"Madam," said Lodloe, "if it had not been for the mistakes in it you +never would have thought of the man who wrote the paper, but you did +think of him, and wanted to meet him. Now it seems to me that we have +been quite properly introduced to each other, and it was old Matthew +Vassar who did it. I am sure I am very much obliged to him." + +Mrs. Cristie laughed. "I don't know what the social authorities would +say to such an introduction," she answered, "but as baby is asleep I +shall take him into the saloon." + + + + +IV + +LODLOE UNDERTAKES TO NOMINATE HIS SUCCESSOR + + +It was late in the afternoon when the Romney passengers were landed, and +Mrs. Cristie and Lodloe, with a few other persons, repaired to the +village hotel. + +"There is a sort of stage-wagon," said the lady, "which takes people +from this house to the Squirrel Inn, and it starts when the driver is +ready; but before I leave Romney I must try to find some one who will go +with me as nurse-maid." + +"Madam," said Lodloe, "don't think of it. I have made inquiries of the +landlord, and he says the roads are rough, and that it will take more +than an hour to reach the Squirrel Inn, so that if you do not start now +I fear you and the baby will not get there before dark. I prefer to stay +here to-night, and it will be no trouble at all for me to look up a +suitable person for you, and to take her with me to-morrow. It will be a +good plan to take four or five of them, and when you have selected the +one you like best the others can come back here in the wagon. It will be +a lark for them." + +Mrs. Cristie drew a long breath. "Truly," she said, "your proposition is +phenomenal. Half a dozen nurse-maids in a wagon, from whom I am to pick +and choose! The thing is so startling and novel that I am inclined to +accept. I should very much dislike to be on the road after dark, and if +you have planned to stay here to-night, and if it will not be much +trouble--" + +"Say not another word," cried Lodloe; "project your mind into to-morrow +morning, and behold a wagon-load of willing maidens at the door of the +inn." + +When Mrs. Cristie and the baby and an elderly woman who lived in +Lethbury, a village two miles beyond the Squirrel Inn, had started on +their journey, Walter Lodloe set about the task he had undertaken. It +was still hot, and the Romney streets were dusty, and after an hour or +two of inquiry, walking, and waiting for people who had been sent for, +Lodloe found that in the whole village there was not a female from +thirteen to seventy-three who would think of such a thing as leaving her +home to become nurse-maid to a city lady. He went to bed that night a +good deal chagrined, and not in the least knowing what he was going to +do about it. + +In the morning, however, the thing to do rose clear and plain before +him. + +"I can't go to her and tell her I've failed," he said to himself. "A +maid must be got, and I have undertaken to get one. As there is nobody +to be had here, I must go back to the city for one. There are plenty of +them there." + +So when the early morning boat came along he took passage for the +nearest railroad station on the river, for he wished to lose no time on +that trip. + +The elderly lady who was going to Lethbury took a great interest in Mrs. +Cristie, who was to be her only fellow-passenger. She was at the hotel +with her carpet-bag and her paper bundle some time before the big +spring-wagon was ready to start, and she gave earnest attention to the +loading thereon of Mrs. Cristie's trunk and the baby-carriage. When they +were on their way the elderly woman promptly began the conversation: + +"I think," said she to Mrs. Cristie, "that I've seed you before." + +"Perhaps so," said the other; "I was in this region three years ago." + +"Yes, yes," said the elder woman; "I thought I was right. Then you had a +husband and no child. It now looks as if you had a child and no +husband." + +Mrs. Cristie informed her that her surmise was correct. + +"Well, well," said the elderly woman; "I've had 'em both, and it's hard +to say which can be spared best, but as we've got nothin' to do with the +sparin' of 'em, we've got ter rest satisfied. After all, they're a good +deal like lilock bushes, both of 'em. They may be cut down, and grubbed +up, and a parsley bed made on the spot, but some day they sprout up +ag'in, and before you know it you've got just as big a bush as ever. +Does Stephen Petter know you're comin'?" + +[Illustration: A WAGON-LOAD OF NURSE-MAIDS.] + +"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Cristie, quite willing to change the subject; "all +that is arranged. I was so pleased with the place when I was here +before, and Mrs. Petter was so good to me, that I quite long to spend a +summer there with my child." + +"Well, I'm glad he knows you are comin', but if he didn't, I was goin' +ter say to you that you'd better go on to Lethbury, and then see what +you could do with Stephen to-morrow. It's no use stoppin' at his house +without givin' notice, and like as not it ain't no use then." + +"Is Mr. Petter's house filled?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"Filled!" said the elderly woman. "There's nobody on the place but his +own family and the Greek." + +"Greek!" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said the other; "he keeps a Greek in an outhouse, but what for +nobody knows. I think Stephen Petter is gettin' more oncommon than he +was. If he wants to get custom for his house the best thing he can do is +to die. There ain't no other way, for Stephen's not goin' to do no +changin' of himself. My niece, Calthea Rose, the daughter of Daniel +Rose, who used to keep the store,--she keeps it now herself,--goes over +there a good deal, for she's wonderful partial to Susan Petter, and +there's a good reason for it too, for a better woman never lived, and +the walk over there is mostly shady, or through the fields, to both of +which Calthea is partial, and so she knows most things that's goin' on +at the Squirrel Inn, which latterly has not been much, except the comin' +of the Greek; an' as nobody has been able to get at the bottom of that +business, that isn't much, neither." + +"I think I remember Miss Calthea Rose," said Mrs. Cristie. "She was +tall, wasn't she, with a very fair complexion?" + +"Yes," said the elderly woman; "and it's just as fair now as it was +then. Some of it's owin' to sun-bonnet, and some of it to cold cream. +Calthea isn't as young as she was, but she's wonderful lively on her +feet yit, and there ain't many that could get ahead of her walkin' or +bargainin'." + +"And she keeps the store?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said the other; "she keeps it, and in more ways than one. You +see, when Dan'el died--and that was two years ago last March--he left +everything to Calthea, and the store with the rest. Before he died he +told her what he had done, and advised her to sell out the stock, and +put the money into somethin' that would pay good interest, and this she +agreed to do, and this she is doing now. She wouldn't consent to no +auction, for she knew well enough the things wouldn't bring more 'n half +they cost, so she undertook herself to sell 'em all out at retail, just +as her father intended they should be sold when he bought 'em. Well, +it's took her a long while, and, in the opinion of most folks, it'll +take her a long while yit. You see she don't lay in no new goods, but +just keeps on sellin' or tryin' to sell what she's got on hand. + +"It was purty easy to get rid of the groceries, and the iron and wooden +things got themselves sold some way or other; but old dry-goods, with +never any new ones to lighten 'em up, is about as humdrum as old people +without youngsters in the family. Now it stands to reason that when a +person goes into a store and sees nothin' but old calicoes, and some +other odds and ends, gettin' mustier and dustier and a little more +fly-specked every time, and never a new thing, even so much as a spool +of cotton thread, then persons isn't likely to go often into that store, +specially when there's a new one in the village that keeps up to the +times. + +"Now that's Calthea Rose's way of doin' business. She undertook to sell +out them goods, and she's goin' to keep on till she does it. She is +willin' to sell some of the worst-lookin' things at cost, but not a cent +below that, for if she does, she loses money, and that isn't Calthea +Rose. I guess, all put together, she hasn't sold more 'n ten dollars' +worth of goods this year, and most of them was took by the Greek, though +what he wants with 'em is more 'n I know." + +"I am sorry to hear that there are no guests at the Squirrel Inn," was +Mrs. Cristie's only reply to this information. + +"Oh, you needn't give yourself no trouble about loneliness and that sort +of thing," said the elderly woman; "before to-morrow night the whole +house may be crowded from cockloft to potato-cellar. It never has been +yit, but there's no tellin' what Stephen Petter has a-brewin' in his +mind." + + + + +V + +THE LANDLORD AND HIS INN + + +Stephen Petter was a man of middle age, who had been born on a farm, and +who, apparently, had been destined to farm a farm. But at the age of +thirty, having come into a moderate inheritance, he devoted himself more +to the business of cultivating himself and less to that of cultivating +his fields. + +He was a man who had built himself up out of books. His regular +education had been limited, but he was an industrious reader, and from +the characters of this and that author he had conceived an idea of a +sort of man which pleased his fancy, and to make himself this sort of +man he had given a great deal of study and a great deal of hard labor. +The result was that he had shaped himself into something like an +old-fashioned country clergyman, without his education, his manners, his +religion, or his clothes. Imperfect similitudes of these Stephen Petter +had acquired, but this was as far as he had gone. A well-read man who +happened also to be a good judge of human nature could have traced back +every obvious point of Stephen Petter's character to some English +author of the last century or the first half of this one. + +[Illustration: STEPHEN PETTER.] + +It was rather odd that a man like this should be the landlord of an inn. +But everything about Stephen Petter was odd, so ten years before he had +conceived the notion that such a man as he would like to be would be +entirely unwilling to live in the little village of Lethbury, where he +had no opportunity of exercising an influence upon his fellow-beings. +Such an influence he thought it fit to exercise, and as he was not +qualified to be a clergyman, or a physician, or a lawyer, he resolved to +keep a tavern. This vocation would bring him into contact with +fellow-beings; it would give him opportunities to control, impel, and +retard. + +Stephen Petter did not for a moment think of buying the Lethbury +"Hotel," nor of establishing such a house as was demanded by the +village. What he had read about houses of entertainment gave him no such +motives as these. Fortunately he had an opportunity of carrying out his +plan according to the notions he had imbibed from his books. + +Some years before Stephen Petter had decided upon his vocation, a rich +gentleman had built himself a country-seat about two miles out of +Lethbury. This house and its handsome grounds were the talk and the +admiration of the neighborhood. But the owner had not occupied his +country-home a whole summer before he determined to make a still more +attractive home of it by lighting it with a new-fashioned gas of +domestic manufacture. He succeeded in lighting not only his house but +the whole country-side, for one moonless night his mansion was burned to +the ground. Nothing was left of the house but the foundations, and on +these the owner felt no desire to build again. He departed from the +Lethbury neighborhood and never came back. + +When Mr. Petter became impressed with the belief that it would be a good +thing for him to be an innkeeper, he also became impressed with the +belief that the situation which the rich man had chosen for his +country-home would be an admirable one for his purposes. He accordingly +bought the property at a very reasonable price, and on the stone +foundations of the house which had been burned he built his inn. + +This edifice was constructed very much as he had endeavored to construct +himself. His plans for one part of it were made up from the +descriptions in one of his books, and those of another part from the +descriptions or pictures in some other book. Portions of the structure +were colonial, others were old English, and others again suggested the +Swiss chalet or a chateau in Normandy. There was a tall tower and there +were some little towers. There were peaks here and there, and different +kinds of slopes to the various roofs, some of which were thatched, some +shingled in fanciful ways, and some covered with long strips or slabs. +There were a good many doors and a good many windows, and these were of +different forms, sizes, and periods, some of them jutting boldly +outward, and some appearing anxious to shrink out of sight. + +It took a great deal of thought and a good deal of labor to build this +house; which was also true of Mr. Petter's character. But the +first-named work was the more difficult of the two, for in building up +himself he consulted with no one, while in planning his inn he met with +all sorts of opposition from the village workmen and builders. + +But at the cost of all the time that was needed and all the money he +could spare, he had his house built as he wanted it; and when it was +finished it seemed to exhibit a trace of nearly everything a house +should possess excepting chronology and paint. Mr. Petter had selected +with a great deal of care the various woods of which his house was +built, and he decidedly objected to conceal their hues and texture by +monotonous paint. The descriptions that he had read of houses seldom +mentioned paint. + +The interior was not in the least monotonous. The floors of the rooms, +even in the same story, were seldom upon the same level; sometimes one +entered a room from a hallway by an ascent of two or three steps, while +access to others was obtained by going down some steps. The inside was +subordinated in a great degree to the outside: if there happened to be a +pretty window like something Mr. Petter had seen in an engraving, a room +of suitable shape and size was constructed behind the window. Stairways +were placed where they were needed, but they were not allowed to +interfere with the shapes of rooms or hallways; if there happened to be +no other good place for them they were put on the outside of the house. +Some of these stairways were wide, some narrow, and some winding; and as +those on the outside were generally covered they increased the +opportunities for queer windows and perplexing projections. The upper +room of the tower was reached by a staircase from the outside, which +opened into a little garden fenced off from the rest of the grounds, so +that a person might occupy this room without having any communication +with the other people in the house. + +In one of the back wings of the building there was a room which was more +peculiar than any other, from the fact that there was no entrance to it +whatever, unless one climbed into it by means of a ladder placed at one +of its windows. This room, which was of fair size and well lighted, was +in the second story, but it appeared to be of greater height on account +of the descent of the ground at the back of the inn. It had been +constructed because the shape of that part of the building called for a +room, and a stairway to it had been omitted for the reason that if one +had been built in the inside of the house it would have spoiled the +shape of the room below, and there seemed no good way of putting one on +the outside. So when the room was finished and floored the workmen came +out of it through one of the windows, and Stephen Petter reserved his +decision in regard to a door and stairway until the apartment should be +needed. The grounds around the Squirrel Inn were interesting and +attractive, and with them Stephen Petter had interfered very little. The +rich man had planned beautiful surroundings for his country-home, and +during many years nature had labored steadily to carry out his plans. +There were grassy stretches and slopes, great trees, and terraces +covered with tangled masses of vines and flowers. The house stood on a +bluff, and on one side could be seen a wide view of a lovely valley, +with the two steeples of Lethbury showing above the treetops. + +Back of the house, and sweeping around between it and the public road, +was a far-reaching extent of woodland; and through this, for the +distance of half a mile, wound the shaded lane which led from the +highway to the Squirrel Inn. + +At the point at which this lane was entered from the highroad was the +sign of the inn. This was a tall post with a small square frame hanging +from a transverse beam, and seated on the lower strip of the frame was a +large stuffed gray squirrel. Every spring Stephen Petter took down this +squirrel and put up a new one. The old squirrels were fastened up side +by side on a ledge in the taproom, and by counting them one could find +out how many years the inn had been kept. + +[Illustration: THE SIGN.] + +Directly below the bluff on which the house stood were Stephen Petter's +grassy meadows and his fields of grain and corn, and in the rich +pastures, or in the shade of the trees standing by the bank of the rapid +little stream that ran down from the woodlands, might be seen his flocks +and his herds. By nature he was a very good farmer, and his agricultural +method he had not derived from his books. There were people who +said--and among these Calthea Rose expressed herself rather better than +the others--that Mr. Petter's farm kept him, while he kept the Squirrel +Inn. + +When it had become known that the Squirrel Inn was ready to receive +guests, people came from here and there; not very many of them, but +among them were the Rockmores of Germantown. This large family, so it +appeared to Stephen Petter, was composed of the kind of fellow-beings +with whom he wished to associate. Their manners and ways seemed to him +the manners and ways of the people he liked to read about, and he +regarded them with admiration and respect. He soon discovered from their +conversation that they were connected or acquainted with leading +families in our principal Eastern cities, and it became his hope that he +and his Squirrel Inn might become connected with these leading families +by means of the Rockmores of Germantown. + +As this high-classed family liked variety in their summer outings, they +did not come again to the Squirrel Inn, but the effect of their +influence remained strong upon its landlord. He made up his mind that +those persons who did not know the Rockmores of Germantown did not move +in those circles of society from which he wished to obtain his guests, +and therefore he drew a line which excluded all persons who did not +possess this acquaintanceship. + +This rule was very effectual in preventing the crowding of his house, +and, indeed, there were summers when he had no guests at all; but this +did not move Stephen Petter. Better an empty house than people outside +the pale of good society. + + + + +VI + +THE GREEK SCHOLAR + + +Mrs. Cristie and her baby were warmly welcomed by Stephen Petter and his +wife. They had learned during her former visit to like this lady for +herself, and now that she came to them a widow their sentiments towards +her were warmer than ever. + +Mrs. Petter wondered very much why she had come without a maid, but +fearing that perhaps the poor lady's circumstances were not what they +had been she forbore to ask any immediate questions. But in her heart +she resolved that, if she kept her health and strength, Mrs. Cristie +should not be worn out by that child. + +The young widow was charmed to find herself once more at the Squirrel +Inn, for it had been more like a home to her than any place in which she +had lived since her marriage, but when she went to her room that night +there was a certain depression on her spirits. This was caused by the +expected advent on the next day of Mr. Lodloe and a wagon-load of +candidates for the nurse-maidship. + +The whole affair annoyed her. In the first place it was very awkward to +have this young man engaged in this service for her; and now that he was +engaged in it, it would be, in a manner, under her auspices that he +would arrive at the Squirrel Inn. The more she thought of the matter the +more it annoyed her. She now saw that she must announce the coming of +this gentleman. It would not do for him to make a totally unexpected +appearance as her agent in the nurse-maid business. + +But no worry of this sort could keep her awake very long, and after a +night of sound and healthful sleep she told her host and hostess, the +next morning at breakfast, of the Mr. Lodloe who had kindly undertaken +to bring her a nurse-maid. + +"Lodloe," repeated Mr. Petter. "It strikes me that I have heard the +Rockmores mention that name. Is it a Germantown family?" + +"I really do not know," answered Mrs. Cristie; "he is from New York." + +Here she stopped. She was of a frank and truthful nature, and very much +wished to say that she knew nothing whatever of Mr. Lodloe, but she was +also of a kindly and grateful disposition, and she very well knew that +such a remark would be an extremely detrimental one to the young man; +so, being in doubt, she resolved to play trumps, and in cases like this +silence is generally trumps. + +Mrs. Petter had a mind which could project itself with the rapidity of +light into the regions of possibilities, and if the possibilities +appeared to her desirable her mind moved at even greater velocity. It +was plain to her that there must be something between this young widow +and the young man who was going to bring her a nurse-maid; and if this +were the case, nothing must be allowed to interfere with the admission +of said young man as a guest at the Squirrel Inn. + +[Illustration: A GREEK IN AN OUTHOUSE.] + +Mrs. Cristie did not want to talk any more on this subject. Nothing +would have pleased her better at that moment than to hear that Mr. +Lodloe had been unable to find her a suitable girl and that business had +called him to New York. + +"Mr. Petter," she exclaimed, "I was told yesterday that you kept a Greek +in an outhouse. What on earth does that mean?" + +Here Mrs. Petter laughed abruptly, and Mr. Petter slightly lifted his +brow. + +"Who could have told you such nonsense?" he said. "There is no Greek +here. It is true that a Greek scholar lives in my summer-house, but that +is very different from keeping a Greek in an outhouse." + +"And he's always late to breakfast," said Mrs. Petter; "I believe if we +sat down at the table at nine o'clock he would come in just as we were +finishing." + +"How does it happen," said Mrs. Cristie, "that he lives in the +summer-house?" + +"He does not know the Rockmores of Germantown," said Mrs. Petter. + +"He is a man of learning," remarked Stephen Petter, "with a fine mind; +and although I have made a rule which is intended to keep up the +reputation of this house to a desirable level, I do not intend, if I can +help it, that my rules shall press pinchingly, oppressively, or +irritatively upon estimable persons. Such a person is Mr. Tippengray, +our Greek scholar; and although his social relations are not exactly up +to the mark, he is not a man who should be denied the privileges of this +house, so far as they can be conscientiously given him. So you see, Mrs. +Cristie, that, although I could not take him into the inn, there was no +reason why I should not fit up the summer-house for him, which I did, +and I believe he likes it better than living in the house with us." + +"Like it!" exclaimed Mrs. Petter; "I should say he did like it. I +believe it would drive him crazy if he had to keep regular hours like +other people; but here he is now. Hester, bring in some hot cakes. Mrs. +Cristie, allow me to introduce Mr. Tippengray." + +[Illustration: MR. TIPPENGRAY.] + +The appearance of the Greek scholar surprised Mrs. Cristie. She had +expected to see a man in threadbare black, with a reserved and bowed +demeanor. Instead of this, she saw a bright little gentleman in neat +summer clothes, with a large blue cravat tied sailor fashion. He was not +a young man, although his hair being light the few portions of it which +had turned gray were not conspicuous. He was a man who was inclined to +listen and to observe rather than to talk, but when he had anything to +say he popped it out very briskly. + +Mr. Petter, having finished his breakfast, excused himself and retired, +and Mrs. Petter remarked to Mr. Tippengray that she was sorry he had not +taken his evening meal with them the day before. + +"I took such a long walk," said the Greek scholar, "that I concluded to +sup in Lethbury." + +"Those Lethbury people usually take tea at five," said his hostess. + +"But I'm not a Lethbury person," said he, "and I took my tea at seven." + +Mrs. Petter looked at him with twinkles in her eyes. + +"Of course you went to the hotel," she said. + +Mr. Tippengray looked at her with twinkles in his eyes. + +"Madam," said he, "have you noticed that those large blue-jays that were +here in the spring have almost entirely disappeared. I remember you used +to object to their shrill pipes." + +"Which is as much as to say," said Mrs. Petter, "you don't care to +mention where you took tea yesterday." + +"Madam," said Mr. Tippengray, "the pleasure of taking breakfast here +to-day effaces the memory of all former meals." + +"The truth of it is," said Mrs. Petter to Mrs. Cristie, when they had +left the table, "Calthea Rose gave him his tea, and he don't want to say +so. She's mightily taken with him, for he is a fine-minded man, and it +isn't often she gets the chance of keeping company with that kind of a +man. I don't know whether he likes her liking or not, but he don't care +to talk about it." + +Her first day at the Squirrel Inn was not altogether a pleasant one for +Bertha Cristie. In spite of the much-proffered service of Mrs. Petter +the care of her baby hampered her a good deal; and notwithstanding the +delights of her surroundings her mind was entirely too much occupied +with wondering when Mr. Lodloe would arrive with his wagon-load of +girls, and what she would have to say to him and about him when he did +arrive. + +[Illustration] + + + + +VII + +ROCKMORES AHEAD + + +It was late in the afternoon of the day after Mrs. Cristie reached the +Squirrel Inn that she slowly trundled the little carriage containing the +baby towards the end of the bluff beneath which stretched the fair +pastures where were feeding Mr. Petter's flocks and herds. All day she +had been looking for the arrival of the young man who had promised to +bring her some candidates for the position of child's nurse, and now she +was beginning to believe that she might as well cease to expect him. It +was an odd sort of service for a comparative stranger voluntarily to +undertake, and it would not be at all surprising if he had failed in his +efforts or had given up his idea of coming to the Squirrel Inn. + +Having philosophized a little on the subject, and having succeeded in +assuring herself that after all the matter was of no great importance, +and that she should have attended to it herself, and must do it the next +day, she was surprised to find how glad she was when, turning, she saw +emerging from the woodland road a one-horse wagon with Mr. Lodloe +sitting by the driver, and a female figure on the back seat. + +The latter proved to be a young person who at a considerable distance +looked about fourteen years old, although on a nearer and more careful +view she would pass for twenty, or thereabouts. She wore a round straw +hat with a white ribbon, and a light-colored summer suit with a broad +belt, which held a large bunch of yellow flowers with brown centers. She +had a cheerful, pleasant countenance, and large brown eyes which seemed +to observe everything. + +As the wagon approached, Mrs. Cristie rapidly pushed her baby-carriage +towards the house. Before she reached it the young girl had jumped to +the ground, and was advancing towards her. + +"I suppose this is Mrs. Cristie," said the newcomer. "I am Ida +Mayberry"; and she held out her hand. Without a word Mrs. Cristie shook +hands with the nurse-maid. + +"I think," said the latter, "before we have any talk I would better go +to my room and freshen myself up a little. I am covered with dust"; and +then she turned to the driver of the wagon and gave him directions in +regard to a medium-sized trunk, a large flat box, and several long +packages tied up in brown muslin, which had been strapped to the back of +the wagon. When these had been taken into the inn, she followed them. + +As Mr. Lodloe approached Mrs. Cristie, hat in hand, she exclaimed in a +tone which she was not in the habit of using to comparative strangers, +in which category sober reflection would certainly have placed the +gentleman: + +[Illustration: "I SUPPOSE THIS IS MRS. CRISTIE."] + +"Will you please to tell me what is the meaning of this? Who is that +girl, and where did she come from?" + +"Madam," said Lodloe, in a deprecatory tone, "I can scarcely pick up the +courage to say so, but that is the nurse-maid." + +"And you brought her to me?" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie. + +"I did," he answered. + +"Did you get her in Romney?" + +"No," said Lodloe; "there wasn't a girl of any sort or kind to be had +there. I was obliged to go to New York for one." + +"To New York!" cried the astonished Mrs. Cristie. + +"Madam," said Lodloe, "let me propose that we retire a little from the +house. Perhaps her room may be somewhere above us." + +And the two having walked a short distance over the lawn, he continued: + +"I really believe that I have done a very foolish thing, but having +promised to do you a service I greatly disliked not to keep my word. I +could find no one in Romney, and of course the only way to get you a +girl was to go to New York; and so I went there. My idea was to apply to +one of those establishments where there are always lots of maids of all +grades, and bring one to you. That was the way the matter appeared to +me, and it seemed simple enough. On the ferryboat I met Mrs. Waltham, a +lady I know very well, who is a member of the Monday Morning Club, and a +great promoter of college annexes for girls, and all that sort of thing; +and when I asked her advice about the best intelligence office, she told +me to keep away from all of them, and to go instead to a teachers' +agency, of which she gave me the address, where she said I would be +almost sure to find some teacher who wanted occupation during the +holidays." + +"A teacher!" cried Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said Lodloe; "and you may be sure that I was as much surprised as +you are. But Mrs. Waltham assured me that a great many women teachers +found it necessary to make money during the summer, and were glad to do +anything, just as college students wait at hotels. The more she talked +about it the more she got interested in it, and the matter resulted in +her going to the agency with me. Mrs. Waltham is a heavy swell in +educational circles, and as she selected this girl herself I said not a +word about it, except to hurry up matters so that the girl and I could +start on an early afternoon train." + +"Never in my life!" ejaculated Mrs. Cristie. + +"Madam," interrupted Lodloe, "I beg you not to say what you intended. It +is impossible for you to feel as badly about it as I do. Just to think +of it stuns me. Did you see her baggage? She has come to stay all +summer. There is no earthly reason to think she will suit you. I don't +suppose she ever saw a baby." + +Mrs. Cristie's mind was still filled with surprise and vexation, but she +could not help laughing at Mr. Lodloe's comical contrition. + +"I will see her presently," she said; "but in the mean time what are you +going to do? There is Mr. Petter standing in the doorway waiting for +your approach, and he will ask you a lot of questions." + +"About the Germantown family, I suppose," said Lodloe. + +"Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "that will be one of them." + +"Well, I don't know them," said Lodloe, "and that's the end of it." + +"By no means," said the lady, quickly; "Mr. Petter has on his most +impressive air. You must go and talk to him, and it will not do to sneer +at the Rockmores." + +"If it is absolutely necessary to have credentials in order to secure +quarters here," said Lodloe, "I don't see what is to be done about it." + +"Come with me," said Mrs. Cristie, quickly; "you have put yourself to a +great deal of trouble for me, and I will see what I can do for you." + +When Walter Lodloe and Mr. Petter had been formally introduced to each +other, the brow of the latter bore marks of increased trouble and +uncertainty. From the confidential aspect of the interview between Mrs. +Cristie and the young man, the landlord of the inn had begun to suspect +what his wife had suspected, and it galled his spirit to think of +putting his usual test question to this friend of Mrs. Cristie. But he +was a man of principle, and he did not flinch. + +"Are you from Philadelphia, sir," he asked, "or its vicinity?" + +"No," said Lodloe; "I am from New York." + +[Illustration: LODLOE IS INTRODUCED TO STEPHEN PETTER.] + +"A great many Philadelphia people," continued the landlord, "or those +from its vicinity, are well known in New York, and in fact move in +leading circles there. Are you acquainted, sir, with the Rockmores of +Germantown?" + +Mrs. Petter now appeared in the doorway, her face clouded. If Mrs. +Cristie had known the Rockmores she would have hastened to give Mr. +Lodloe such advantages as an acquaintance in the second degree might +afford. But she had never met any member of that family, the valuable +connection being entirely on the side of her late husband. + +"I did not know," said Lodloe, "that you required credentials of +respectability, or I might have brought a lot of letters." + +"One from Matthew Vassar?" said Mrs. Cristie, unable to resist her +opportunity. + +"Were you acquainted with Matthew Vassar?" interpolated Mrs. Petter with +energetic interest. "He was a great and good man, and his friends ought +to be good enough for anybody. Now put it to yourself, Stephen. Don't +you think that the friends of Matthew Vassar, the founder of that +celebrated college, known all over the world, a man who even after his +day and generation is doing so much good, are worthy to be accommodated +in this house?" + +Mr. Petter contracted his brows, looked upon the ground, and interlaced +his fingers in front of him. + +"The late Mr. Matthew Vassar," said he, "was truly a benefactor to his +kind, and a man worthy of all respect; but when we come to consider the +way in which the leading circles of society are made up--" + +"Don't consider it at all," cried Mrs. Petter. "If this gentleman is a +friend of Mrs. Cristie, and is backed up by Matthew Vassar, you cannot +turn him away. If you want to get round the Rockmores you can treat him +just as you treat Mr. Tippengray. Let him have the top room of the +tower, which, I am sure, is as pleasant as can be, especially in warm +weather, and then he will have his own stairs to himself, and can come +in and go out just as Mr. Tippengray does, without ever considering +whether the Squirrel Inn is open or shut. As for eating, that's a +different matter. People can eat in a place without living there. That +was all settled when we took Mr. Tippengray." + +An expression of decided relief passed over the face of Mr. Petter. + +"It is true," he said, "that in the case of Mr. Tippengray we made an +exception to our rule--" + +"That's so," interrupted Mrs. Petter; "and as I have heard that +exceptions prove a rule, the more of them we have the better. And if the +top room suits Mr. Lodloe, I'll have it made ready for him without +waiting another minute." + +Mr. Lodloe declared that any room into which the good lady might choose +to put him would suit him perfectly; and that matter was settled. + + + + +VIII + +MISS MAYBERRY + + +About five minutes after Walter Lodloe had departed for his loft chamber +Miss Ida Mayberry made her appearance in the front doorway. She had +changed her dress, and looked very bright and fresh. + +"Isn't this a pretty place?" she said, approaching Mrs. Cristie. "I +think I shall like it ever so much. And that is your baby? Is it a boy +or a girl?" + +"A boy," was the answer. + +"And his name?" + +"Douglas." + +"I like that sort of name," remarked Miss Mayberry; "it is sensible and +distinctive. And now I wish you would tell me exactly what you want me +to do." + +Mrs. Cristie spoke nervously. + +"Really," said she, "I am afraid that there has been a mistake. I want +an ordinary nurse-maid, and Mr. Lodloe could not have understood--" + +"Oh, don't trouble yourself about that," said the other. "I understand +perfectly. You will find me quite practical. What I don't know I can +learn. My mental powers need a change of channel, and if I can give them +this change, and at the same time make some money, I am sure I ought to +be satisfied." + +"But it seems to me," said Mrs. Cristie, "that one who is by profession +a teacher would scarcely--" + +"Perhaps not, years ago," interrupted the other; "but things are +different now. Look at all the young college fellows who work during +vacation, and we are beginning to do it, too. Now you will find me just +as practical as anybody. Nine months in the year I teach,--moral and +mental philosophy are my special branches,--and during vacation I am not +going to wear out my brain in a summer school, nor empty my purse by +lounging about in idleness. Now what could be better than for me to come +to a perfectly lovely place like this, which I fancy more and more every +minute, and take care of a nice little child, which, I am sure, will be +a pleasure in itself, and give me a lot of time to read besides? +However, I wish you to understand, Mrs. Cristie, that I am never going +to neglect the baby for the sake of study or reading." + +"But have you thought seriously of the position in which this would +place you?" + +"Oh, yes," was the answer; "but that is a disadvantage that has to be +accepted, and I don't mind it. Of course I wouldn't go to anybody and +everybody, but when a lady is recommended by a friend of Mrs. Waltham's, +I wouldn't hesitate to make an engagement with her. As to salary, I will +take whatever you would pay to another nurse-maid, and I beg you will +not make the slightest difference because I am a teacher. Is that bell +for supper?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "and perhaps you have not yet reflected that +my nurse-maid must take care of my baby while I am at my meals." + +"That is precisely and exactly what she is going to do. Go in to your +supper, and I will push him about until you come out again. Then you can +show me how to put him to bed." + +"Isn't she coming in?" asked Mrs. Petter, looking out of the window as +she took her seat at the table. + +"Of course not," said Mrs. Cristie, in a tone which was intended to make +an impression on Mr. Lodloe; "my maids do not eat with me." + +"But, goodnessfulme!" said Mrs. Petter, "you can't look upon that sort +of a young woman as a servant. Why, I put her in one of the best rooms; +though of course that doesn't make any difference so long as there is +nobody else to take it. I wonder if we couldn't find some sort of a girl +to take care of the baby while she comes to her meals." + +At this even Stephen Petter smiled. He was pleased that one of his +guests should have a servant of such high degree. It was like a noble +lady in waiting upon a queen. + +"She shall be entertained," he said, "according to her station. There +need be no fear about that." + +"Upon my word," exclaimed Mrs. Petter, "if here isn't Mr. Tippengray! +Well, sir, I don't know when I've seen you on hand at regular +meal-time." + +"Perhaps it is a little out of the common," said the Greek scholar; +"but, after all," he continued, looking out of the window, "it appears +I am not the last one to come in." And then, glancing around the table, +he asked, "Am I taking her place?" + +"Oh, no, sir," said Mrs. Cristie; "that is my maid." + +Mr. Tippengray again looked out of the window; then he helped himself to +butter, and said: + +"Have you ever noticed, Mrs. Petter, that the prevailing style in wild +flowers seems to vary every year? It changes just like our fashions, +though of course there are always a few old fogies among blossoming +weeds, as well as among clothes-wearers." + +The next morning Walter Lodloe came to Mrs. Cristie on the lawn. + +"I have been waiting for some time," he said, "in order to tell you that +I am ready at any moment to repair the unpardonable blunder that I made +yesterday, and to escort back to New York the very unsuitable young +woman whom I forced upon you." + +"Oh, you need not think of doing anything of that kind," said Mrs. +Cristie; "the young person is perfectly satisfied with the situation, +and intends to stay. She gives me no possible excuse to tell her that +she will not suit me, for she takes hold of things exactly as if she +remembered what people did for her when she was a baby. She doesn't know +everything, but she intends to; that is plain enough. At present she is +washing one of baby's frocks with my _savon de rose_, because she +declares that the soap they gave her in the kitchen contains enough lye +to corrode the fibers of the fabric." + +"Then you think she may suit you?" said Lodloe. + +"Oh, she will suit; she intends to suit; and I have nothing to say +except that I feel very much as I suppose you would feel if you had a +college president to brush your coat." + +"My spirits rise," said Lodloe; "I begin to believe that I have not made +so much of a blunder after all. When you can get it, there is nothing +like blooded service." + +"But you do not want too much blood," said Mrs. Cristie. "I wish she had +not studied at Bryn Mawr, for I think she pities me for having graduated +at Vassar. But still she says I must call her Ida, and that gives me +courage." + +There then followed a contention in which Lodloe was worsted about his +expenses in the nurse-maid affair, and, this matter being settled, the +young man declared that having shown what an extremely undesirable +person he was to work for others, he must go and attend to his own work. + +"What sort of work do you do?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"I write," he answered--"novels, stories, fiction in general." + +"I know that," said she, "having read your Vassar article; but I do not +think I have met with any of your avowed stories." + +"Madam," said Walter Lodloe, "there are so many people in this world, +and so few of them have read my stories, it is no wonder that you belong +to the larger class. But, satirize my Vassar article as you please, I +shall never cease to be grateful to it for my tower room in the Squirrel +Inn." + + + + +IX + +THE PRESERVATION OF LITERATURE + + +Walter Lodloe set out to go to his work, and on his way to the little +garden at the foot of the staircase which led to his room in the tower +he saw the Greek scholar sitting on a bench outside his summer-house +smoking a large cigar. + +"Good morning, sir," said Mr. Tippengray; "do you smoke?" + +The tone of these words implied not only a question but an invitation, +in case the young man did smoke, to sit down on that bench and do it. +Lodloe understood the force of the remark, and, drawing out a cigar, +took a seat by Mr. Tippengray. + +"Before I go to my work," said the latter, "it is my habit to sit here +and enjoy the scenery and a few puffs. I suppose when you come to a +place like this you throw work to the winds." + +"Oh, no!" said Lodloe; "I am a literary man, and I came here to write." + +"Very glad to hear it," said the other; "very glad that that tower room +is to have the right sort of occupant. If I had not this summer-house, I +should want that room; but I am afraid, however, if I had it, I should +look out of the window a great deal and translate a very little." + +"What do you translate?" asked Lodloe, with interest. + +"At present," said Mr. Tippengray, "I am engaged in translating into +Greek some of the standard works of our modern literature. There is no +knowing what may happen to our modern languages. In the course of a few +centuries they may become as useless to the readers of that day as the +English of Chaucer is to the ordinary reader of our time; but Greek will +stand, sir, and the sooner we get the good things of the present day +into solid Greek the better it will be for them and the literature of +the future." + +"What work are you translating?" asked Lodloe. + +"I am now at work on the 'Pickwick Papers,'" said the scholar, "and I +assure you that it is not an easy job. When I get through with it I +shall translate it back into English, after the fashion of Sir William +Jones--the only way to do that sort of thing. Same as a telegraphic +message--if it isn't repeated, you can't depend on it. If I then find +that my English is like that of Dickens, I shall feel greatly +encouraged, and probably shall take up the works of Thackeray." + +Walter Lodloe was somewhat stunned at this announcement, and he +involuntarily glanced at the gray streaks in the locks of the Greek +scholar. The latter perceived the glance, and, knocking the ashes from +his cigar, remarked: + +"Did you ever notice, sir, that an ordinary robin is perfectly aware +that while squirrels and cats are able to ascend the perpendicular +trunk of a tree, they cannot climb the painted pillar of a piazza; and +consequently it is perfectly safe to build a nest at the top of such a +pillar?" + +Lodloe had noticed this, and a good many other intelligent traits of +animals, and the two conversed on this interesting subject until the sun +came round to the bench on which they were sitting, when they moved to a +shady spot and continued the conversation. + +At last Lodloe arose. "It must be nearly dinnertime," said he. "I think +I shall take a walk this afternoon, and see some of the country." + +"You ought to do it," said Mr. Tippengray. "It is a beautiful country. +If you like I will go with you. I'm not a bad guide; I know every road, +path, and short cut." + +Walter Lodloe expressed his satisfaction at the proposed companionship, +and suggested that the first walk be to the village of Lethbury, peeping +up among the trees in the distance. + +"Lethbury!" exclaimed the Greek scholar. "Well, sir, if it's all the +same to you, I prefer walking in any direction to that of Lethbury. It's +a good enough place, but to-day I don't feel drawn to it." + +"Very good," said Lodloe; "we will walk anywhere but in the direction of +Lethbury." + +About half an hour afterward, Mrs. Petter, having finished carving a +pair of fowls, paused for a moment's rest in serving the little company, +and looked out of the dining-room window. + +"Upon my word!" she exclaimed, "this is too bad. When other boarders +came, I thought Mr. Tippengray would begin to behave like other +Christians, and come to his meals at the proper time. At supper last +night and breakfast this morning he was at the table as soon as anybody, +and I was beginning to feel real heartened up, as if things were going +to run on regular and proper. But now look at that? Isn't that enough to +make a housekeeper give up in despair?" + +Mrs. Cristie, Lodloe, and Mr. Petter all looked out of the window, and +beheld the Greek scholar engaged in pushing the baby carriage backward +and forward under the shade of a large tree; while, on a seat near by, +the maid Ida sat reading a book. Now passing nearer, Mr. Tippengray +stopped, and with sparkling eyes spoke to her. Then she looked up, and +with sparkling eyes answered him. Then together, with sparkling eyes, +they conversed for a few minutes, evidently about the book. After a few +more turns of the carriage Mr. Tippengray returned to the maid; the +sparkling eyes were raised again from the book, and the scene was +repeated. + +"He has lent her a book," said Mrs. Cristie. "She did not take that one +out with her." + +"There's a time for books, and there's a time for meals," said Mrs. +Petter. "Why didn't he keep his book until he had eaten his dinner?" + +"I think Mr. Tippengray must be something of a philosopher," said +Lodloe, "and that he prefers to take his books to a pretty maid when +other people are at dinner." + +"My wife does not altogether understand the ways of scholars," said Mr. +Petter. "A gentleman giving most of his time to Greek cannot be expected +to give much of his mind to the passage of modern times." + +[Illustration: "PASSING NEARER, MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED."] + +"If he gives some of his time to the passage of a good dinner into cold +victuals it would help his dyspepsia. But I suppose he will come when he +is ready, and all I have to say is that I would like to see Calthea Rose +if she could catch sight of them this minute." + +Mr. Petter sat at the end of the table where he had a view of his flocks +and his herds in the pasture below. + +"Well," said he, "if that estimable young woman wants to catch a sight +of them, all she has to do is to step along lively, for at this present +moment she is walking over the field-path straight to this house, and +what is more, she is wearing her bonnet and carrying a parasol." + +"Bonnet and parasol!" ejaculated Mrs. Petter. "Fire in the mountains, +run, boys, run! Debby, step out as quick as you can to Mr. Tippengray, +and you needn't say anything but just ask if Miss Calthea Rose told him +she was coming to dinner to-day, and tell him she's coming over the +field." + +In about one minute the Greek scholar was in his place at the table and +beginning his meal. + +"Now, Mr. Tippengray," said Mrs. Petter, "I don't suppose you feel any +coals of fire on your head at this present moment." + +"Madame," said the scholar, "did you ever notice that when squirrels +strip the bark from the limbs of trees they are very apt to despoil +those branches which project in such a manner as to interfere with a +view?" + +"No, I didn't," said Mrs. Petter; "and I don't believe they do it, +either. Debby, put a knife, fork, and napkin for Calthea Rose. If she is +coming to dinner it is just as well to let her think that nobody forgot +to bring the message she sent. She never comes to meals without sending +word beforehand." + +But Miss Calthea had not come to dinner. She sent word by Debby, who met +her at the front door, that she had had her dinner, and that she would +wait for the family on the piazza. + +"Bonnet and parasol," said Mrs. Petter. "She has come to make a call, +and it's on you, Mrs. Cristie. Don't eat too fast, Mr. Tippengray; she's +good for the rest of the afternoon." + + + + +X + +ROSE VERSUS MAYBERRY + + +Miss Calthea Rose was a person of good height, originally slender, but +gathering an appreciable plumpness as the years went on, and with good +taste in dress when she chose to exert it, which on the present occasion +she did. She possessed acute perceptions and a decided method of action. +But whether or not the relation of her perceptions to her actions was +always influenced by good judgment was a question with her neighbors. It +never was, however, a question with herself. + +When everybody but Mr. Tippengray had finished dinner, and he had +desired the others not to wait for him as he would probably be occupied +some time longer, the host and hostess went out to greet the visitor, +followed by Mrs. Cristie and Lodloe. When Miss Calthea Rose turned to +greet the latter lady her expression was cold, not to say hard; but when +her eyes fell upon the gentleman by the side of the young widow, a +softening warmth spread over her face, and she came forward with +outstretched hands. + +"Did you see that?" said Mrs. Petter, aside to her husband. "Jealous as +she can be of Mrs. Cristie till she sees that she's got a young man of +her own; then as sweet as sugar." + +When Miss Calthea Rose set about to be as sweet as sugar, it was very +good sugar that she took for her model. She liked to talk, but was not a +mistress of words, and although her remarks were not always to the +point, they were generally pointed. At last Mr. Tippengray came out on +the piazza. He walked slowly, and he did not wear his usual ease of +demeanor; but nothing could have been more cordial and reassuring than +the greeting given him by Miss Calthea. If this were intended in any way +to inspirit him, it failed of its effect. The Greek scholar stood apart, +and did not look like a man who had made up his mind as to what he was +going to do next; but Miss Calthea took no notice of his unusual +demeanor. She talked with great graciousness to the company in general, +and frequently directed remarks to Mr. Tippengray which indicated a high +degree of good comradeship. + +Under this general warmth Mr. Tippengray was forced to melt a little, +and in a manner to accept the position thus publicly tendered him; but +suddenly the maid Ida popped up the steps of the piazza. She had an open +book in her hand, and she went directly and quickly to Mr. Tippengray. +She held the book up towards him, and put her finger on a page. + +"You were just here," she said, "when you had to go to your dinner. Now +if you will finish the explanation I can go on nicely. You don't know +how you help me. Every word you say seems to take root"; and she looked +up into his face with sparkling eyes. + +But not a sparkle sparkled from the eyes of the Greek scholar. He stood +silently looking at the book, his face a little flushed, his eyes +blinking as if the sunlight were too strong for him. + +"Suppose you walk out on the lawn with me," said the nurse-maid, "and +then we shall not disturb the others. I will not keep you more than five +minutes." + +She went down the steps of the piazza, and Mr. Tippengray, having +apparently lost the power of making up his mind what he should do, did +what she wanted him to do, and followed her. They did not walk very far, +but stood barely out of hearing of the persons on the piazza; her eyes +sparkling up into his face, as his helpful words took root in her +understanding. + +At the instant of the appearance of the maid Ida Miss Calthea Rose +stopped talking. Her subsequent glances towards this young woman and Mr. +Tippengray might have made one think of steel chilled to zero. Mrs. +Cristie looked at Lodloe, and he at her, and both slightly smiled. "She +understands that sort of thing," he thought, and "He understands that +sort of thing," she thought. + +At this moment Mrs. Petter glanced at her two guests and saw the smile +which passed between them. She understood that sort of thing. + +"Who is that?" said Miss Calthea Rose, presently. + +Mrs. Cristie, full of the humor of the situation, hastened to answer. + +"It is my nurse-maid," she said, "Ida Mayberry." + +"A child's nurse!" ejaculated Miss Calthea Rose. + +"Yes," said Mrs. Cristie; "that is what she is." + +"I expect," said Mrs. Petter, "that he is teaching her Greek, and of +course it's hard for her at the beginning. Mr. Tippengray's such a kind +man that he would do anything for anybody, so far as he could; but I +must admit that I can't see how Greek can help anybody to nurse +children, unless there is some book on the subject in that language." + +"Greek!" scornfully ejaculated Miss Calthea, and, turning her steely +glance from the couple on the lawn, she began to talk to Mr. Petter +about one of his cows which had broken its leg. + +Ida Mayberry was a young woman who meant what she said, and in less than +five minutes, with a sparkling glance of thanks, she released Mr. +Tippengray. That gentleman returned to the piazza, but his appearance +elicited no more attention from the lady who had so recently brought +into view their friendly relationship than if he had been the head of a +nail in the floor beneath her. From Mr. Petter she turned to speak to +some of the others, and if her words and manner did not make Mr. +Tippengray understand that, so far as she was concerned, he had ceased +to exist, her success was not what she expected it to be. + +Although he had been amused and interested, Walter Lodloe now thought +that he had had enough of Miss Calthea Rose, and wandered away to the +little garden at the foot of his staircase. He had not reached it before +he was joined by Mr. Tippengray. + +"Look here," said the latter, with something of his usual briskness; +"if you are still in the humor, suppose we walk over to Lethbury." + +Lodloe looked at him in surprise. "I thought you didn't want to go +there," he said. + +"I've changed my mind," replied the other. "I think this is a very good +day to go to Lethbury. It is a pretty village, and you ought to have +some one with you to show you its best points." + +As soon as she thought etiquette would permit, Mrs. Cristie withdrew, +pleading the interests of her baby as an excuse. + +"Do you mean to tell me," said Miss Calthea Rose, the moment the young +mother was out of hearing, "that she leaves her baby in the care of that +thing with a book?" + +"Oh, yes," was the answer; "Mrs. Cristie tells me she is a very good +nurse-maid." + +"Well," said Miss Calthea, "babies are troublesome, and it's often +convenient to get rid of them, but I must say that I never heard of this +new style of infanticide. I suppose there isn't any law against it yet." + +Mr. Petter looked uneasy. He did not like fault found with Mrs. Cristie, +who was a great favorite with him. + +"I am inclined to think, Miss Calthea," he said, "that you judge that +young person too harshly. I have formed a very good opinion of her. Not +only does she attend to her duties, but she has a good mind. It may not +be a fine mind, but it is a good mind. Her desire to learn from Mr. +Tippengray is a great point in her favor." + +Here Mrs. Petter, who sat near her husband, pressed violently upon his +foot; but she was too late, the words had been said. Mrs. Petter +prepared herself for a blaze, but none came. There was a momentary flash +in the Calthean eyes, and then the lids came down and shut out +everything but a line of steely light. Then she gazed out over the +landscape, and presently again turned her face towards her companions, +with nothing more upon it than her usual expression when in a bad humor. + +"Do you know," she said abruptly, "that Lanigan Beam is coming back?" + +"Goodness gracious!" exclaimed Mrs. Petter, "I thought he was settled in +Patagonia." + +"It was not Patagonia," said Mr. Petter; "it was Nicaragua." + +"Well, I knew it was the little end of some place," said she; "and now +he's coming back. Well, that is unfortunate." + +"Unfortunate!" said Miss Calthea; "it's criminal. There ought to be a +law against such things." + +Again the host of the Squirrel Inn moved uneasily on his chair and +crossed and recrossed his legs. He liked Lanigan Beam. + +"I cannot see," he said, "why it is wrong for a man to return to the +place where he was born." + +"Born!" scornfully exclaimed Miss Calthea; "it's the greatest pity that +there is any place where he was born; but there's no use talking about +him. He has written to them at the hotel at Lethbury that he will be +there the day after to-morrow, and he wants them to have a room ready +for him. If he'd asked them to have a grave ready for him it would have +been much more considerate." + +Mr. Petter now rose to his feet; his manner was very dignified. + +"Excuse me, Miss Calthea," he said, "but I must go and look after my men +in the cornfield." + +Miss Calthea Rose sat up very straight in her chair. + +"If there's anything you want to do, Mrs. Petter, I beg you won't let me +keep you." + +"Now, Calthea," said Mrs. Petter, "don't work yourself into such a +terrible stew. You know Stephen doesn't like to have Lanigan pitched +into; I'm sorry for even what I said. But that about his grave was +enough to rouse a saint." + +Miss Calthea was on the point of retorting that that was something which +Stephen Petter was not, by any means, but she restrained herself. If she +quarreled with the Petters, and cut herself off from visiting the +Squirrel Inn, a great part of the pleasure of her life would be gone. + +"Well," she said, "we all know Lanigan Beam, and if there's anybody who +wants the peace of the community to vanish entirely out of sight, the +responsibility's on him, and not on me." + +"Mrs. Petter," said Ida Mayberry, appearing so suddenly before that good +woman that she seemed to have dropped through the roof of the piazza, +"do you know where Mr. Tippengray is? I've been looking all over for +him, and can't find him. He isn't in his little house, for I knocked at +the door." + +"Does Mrs. Cristie want him?" asked Mrs. Petter, making this wild grasp +at a straw. + +"Oh, no," said Ida. "It is I who want him. There's a Greek sentence in +this book he lent me which I am sure I have not translated properly; and +as the baby is asleep now, there couldn't be a better time for him to +help me, if only I could find him." + +Self-restraint was no longer possible with Miss Calthea Rose. A red +blaze shot into her face, and without deigning to look in the direction +of the creature who had just spoken, she said in the sharpest tones of +contemptuous anger: + +"Greek to a child's nurse! I expect next he'll teach French to the +pigs." + +The maid Ida lifted up her eyes from the book and fixed them on Miss +Calthea. + +"The best thing he could do," she quietly remarked, "would be to teach +the old hens good manners"; and then she walked away with her book. + +Miss Calthea sprang to her feet, and looked as if she was going to do +something; but there was nothing to do, and she sat down again. Her brow +was dark, her eyes flashed, and her lips were parted, as if she was +about to say something; but there was nothing to say, and she sat +silent, breathing hard. It was bad enough to be as jealous as Miss +Calthea was at that moment, but to be so flagrantly insulted by the +object of her jealousy created in her a rage that could not be expressed +in words. It was fortunate that she did not look at Mrs. Petter, for +that good lady was doing her best to keep from laughing. + +"Well!" she exclaimed, as soon as she could speak composedly, "this is +too much. I think I must speak to Mrs. Cristie about this. Of course she +can't prevent the young woman from answering back, but I think I can +make her see that it isn't seemly and becoming for nurse-maids to be +associating with boarders in this way." + +[Illustration: "TEACH THE OLD HENS GOOD MANNERS."] + +"If you take my advice, Susan Petter," said Miss Calthea, in a voice +thickened by her emotions, "you will keep your mouth shut on that +subject. If your boarders choose to associate with servants, let them +alone. It simply shows what sort of people they are." + +Calthea Rose did not like to hear herself speak in a voice which might +show how she was feeling, and as there was no use of staying there if +she could not talk, she rose to leave, and, in spite of Mrs. Petter's +hospitable entreaty to make a longer stay, she departed. + +When her visitor was well out of sight, Mrs. Petter allowed herself to +lean back in her chair and laugh quietly. + +"Leave them alone indeed," she said to herself. "You may want me to do +it, but I know well enough that you are not going to leave them alone, +Miss Calthea Rose, and I can't say that I wonder at your state of mind, +for it seems to me that this is your last chance. If you don't get Mr. +Tippengray, I can't see where you are going to find another man properly +older than you are." + + + + +XI + +LANIGAN BEAM + + +That evening about eleven o'clock Walter Lodloe was sitting in his room +in the tower, his feet upon the sill of the large window which looked +out over the valley. He had come up to his room an hour or two before, +determined not to allow the whole day to pass without his having done +any work; and now, having written several pages of the story on which he +was engaged, he was enjoying the approbation of his conscience, the +flavor of a good cigar, and the beautiful moonlighted scene which he +beheld from his window. + +More than this, he was thinking over the events of the day with a good +deal of interest and amusement, particularly of his afternoon walk with +Mr. Tippengray. He had taken a great fancy to that gentleman, who, +without making any direct confidences, had given him a very fair idea of +his relations with Calthea Rose. It was plain enough that he liked that +very estimable person, and that he had passed many pleasant hours in her +society, but that he did not at all agree with what he called her +bigoted notions in regard to proprietorship in fellow-beings. + +On the other hand, Lodloe was greatly delighted with Miss Calthea's +manner of showing her state of mind. Quite unexpectedly they had met her +in Lethbury,--to which village Mr. Tippengray had not thought she would +return so soon,--and Lodloe almost laughed as he called to mind the +beaming and even genial recognition that she gave to him, and which, at +the same time, included effacement and extinction of his companion to +the extent of being an admirable piece of dramatic art. The effect upon +Lodloe had been such, that when the lady had passed he involuntarily +turned to see if the Greek scholar had not slipped away just before the +moment of meeting. + +"When a woman tries so hard to show how little she thinks of a man," +thought Lodloe, "it is a proof that she thinks a great deal of him, and +I shall not be surprised--" Just then there came a tap at the window +opposite the one at which he was sitting. + +Now when a man in the upper room of a fairly tall tower, access to which +is gained by a covered staircase the door at the bottom of which he +knows he has locked, hears a tap at the window, he is likely to be +startled. Lodloe was so startled that his chair nearly tipped over +backward. Turning quickly, he saw a man's head and shoulders at the +opposite window, the sash of which was raised. With an exclamation, +Lodloe sprang to his feet. His lamp had been turned down in order that +he might better enjoy the moonlight, but he could plainly see the man at +the window, who now spoke: + +"Hold hard," said he; "don't get excited. There's nothing out of the +way. My name is Beam--Lanigan Beam. I tapped because I thought if I +spoke first you might jump out of the window, being turned in that +direction. May I come in?" + +[Illustration: "DON'T GET EXCITED."] + +Lodloe made no answer; his mind did not comprehend the situation; he +went to the window and looked out. The man was standing on the sharp +ridge of a roof which stretched from the tower to the rear portion of +the building. By reaching upward he was able to look into the window. + +"Give me a hand," said the man, "and we'll consider matters inside. This +is a mighty ticklish place to stand on." + +Lodloe had heard a good deal that evening about Lanigan Beam, and +although he was amazed at the appearance of that individual at this time +and place, he was ready and willing to make his acquaintance. Bracing +himself against the window-frame, he reached out his hand, and in a few +moments Mr. Beam had scrambled into the room. Lodloe turned up the wick +of his lamp, and by the bright light he looked at his visitor. + +He saw a man rather long as to legs, and thin as to face, and dressed in +an easy-fitting suit of summer clothes. + +"Take a seat," said Lodloe, "and tell me to what I owe this call." + +"To your lamp," said the other, taking a chair; "it wasn't burning very +brightly, but still it was a light, and the only one about. I was on my +way to Lethbury, but I couldn't get any sort of conveyance at Romney, so +I footed it, thinking I would like a moonlight walk. But by the time I +got to the squirrel on the post I thought I would turn in here and stay +with Stephen Petter for the night; but the house was all shut up and +dark except this room, and as I knew that if I woke Stephen out of a +sound sleep he'd bang me over the head with his everlasting Rockmores of +Germantown, I determined to take a night's lodging without saying a word +to him about it. + +"There's a room back here that you can only get into by a ladder put up +on the outside. I knew all about it, so I went to the ice-house and got +a ladder and climbed into the room. I put my valise under my head, and +prepared to take a good sleep on the floor, but in three minutes I found +the place was full of wasps. I couldn't stay there, you know, and I was +just getting ready to go down the ladder again when I happened to look +out of a window that opened on the roof, and saw you in here. I could +see only the back of your head, but although it was pretty well lighted, +I couldn't judge very well by that what sort of a person you were. But I +saw you were smoking, and it struck me that a man who smokes is +generally a pretty good fellow, and so I came over." + +"Glad to see you," said Lodloe; "and what can I do for you?" + +"Well, in the first place," said Beam, "have you any liquid ammonia? The +first notice I had of the wasps in that room was this sting on my +finger." + +Lodloe was sorry that he did not possess anything of the kind. + +"If I'm not mistaken," said the visitor, "there is a bottle of it on the +top shelf of that closet. I have frequently occupied this room, and I +remember putting some there myself. May I look for it?" + +Permission being given, Mr. Beam speedily found the bottle, and assuaged +the pains of his sting. + +"Now then," said he, resuming his seat, "the next favor I'll ask will be +to allow me to fill my pipe, and put to you a few questions as to the +way the land lies about here at present. I've been away for a year and a +half, and don't know what's going on, or who's dead or alive. By the +way, have you happened to hear anybody speak of me?" + +"I should think so," said Lodloe, laughing. "The greater part of this +evening was occupied in a discussion on your life, adventures, moral +character, disposition, and mental bias. There may have been some other +points touched upon, but I don't recall them just now." + +"Upon my word," said Lanigan Beam, putting his arms on the table, and +leaning forward, "this is interesting. Who discussed me?" + +[Illustration: "HAVE YOU HAPPENED TO HEAR ANYBODY SPEAK OF ME?"] + +"Mr. and Mrs. Petter had the most to say," answered Lodloe. + +"I'm glad to hear they're alive," interpolated the other. + +"And Mrs. Cristie, who knew you when her husband was alive." + +"Dead, is he?" said Beam. "Very sorry to hear that. A mighty pretty +woman is Mrs. Cristie." + +"Miss Calthea Rose was not present," continued Lodloe, "but her opinions +were quoted very freely by the others, and sometimes combated." + +"Calthea alive, is she?" ejaculated Beam. "Well, well, I ought to be +glad to hear it, and I suppose I am. Anybody else?" + +"Yes; there was Mr. Tippengray, one of the guests at the inn. There are +only three of us in all. He had heard a great deal about you from Miss +Rose. She seems to have been very communicative to him." + +"Chums, are they?" cried Lanigan Beam. "Well, bless his soul, I say, +whatever sort of man he is. Now what did they say about me?" + +"It's my opinion," answered Lodloe, smiling, "that it is a very unsafe +thing to tell a man what other people say about him." + +Lanigan sprang to his feet, and stood, pipe in hand, before the other. +"Now, sir," said he, "I have not heard your name yet--Lodloe; thank you. +Now, Mr. Lodloe, I have before me the greatest chance of my life. It +almost never happens that a man has an opportunity of hearing a +straightforward account of what people say about him. Now if you want to +do the biggest kind of favor to a fellow-being, just tell me what you +heard of me to-night. You are a perfect stranger to me, and you can +speak out plainly about it without having the least feeling one way or +the other." + +Lodloe looked at him. + +"Here's a chance," he said to himself, "that seldom comes to a man; an +opportunity to tell a man exactly what his friends and neighbors think +about him. It's a rare experience, and I like it. I'll do it." + +"Very good," said he, aloud; "if you want to see yourself as others see +you, I'll turn on the lights and act as showman; but remember I have +nothing to do with the painting. I have no prejudices one way or the +other." + +"All right," said Lanigan, reseating himself; "let the panorama move." + +"About the first thing I was told," said Lodloe, "was that you were a +good-hearted fellow, but the fact that your father was an Irishman had +deprived your character of ballast." + +"Umph," said Lanigan; "there are some people who are all ballast. I +don't mind that." + +"And then I heard that, although you were a wild and irresponsible +youth, people generally expected that as you grew older you would +gradually accumulate ballast; but instead of that you had steadily gone +downhill from the moment of your birth." + +"Now, then," said Lanigan, "I suppose I have no right to ask you, but I +would like very much to know who said that." + +"I don't object in the least to telling you," said Lodloe; "it is fitter +that you should know it than that I should know it. That was a quoted +opinion of Miss Calthea Rose." + +"Good for you," said Lanigan; "you'd be death to the members of a +scandal-monger society. You would break up the business utterly." + +"To this Mr. Petter remarked," said Lodloe, "that he thought in many +ways you had improved very much, but he was obliged to admit that he +could never think of anything that you had done which was of the least +benefit to yourself or anybody else." + +"Upon my word," cried Lanigan, "that's a pretty wide sweep for old +Petter. I shall have to rub up his memory. He forgets that I helped him +to make the plans for this house. And what did Mrs. Cristie say about +me?" + +"She said she thought it was a great pity that you did not apply +yourself to something or other." + +"She is right there," said Beam, "and, by George! I'll apply myself to +her. However, I don't know about that," he continued. "What else did +Calthea say?" + +"One remark was that having proved false to every friend you had here +you had no right to return." + +"That means," said Mr. Beam, "that having promised at least five times +to marry her, I never did it once." + +"Were you really engaged to her?" asked Lodloe. + +"Oh, yes," said the other; "it seems to me as if I had always been +engaged to her. Born that way. Sort of an ailment you get used to, like +squinting. When I was a youngster, Calthea was a mighty pretty girl, a +good deal my senior, of course, or I wouldn't have cared for her. As +she grew older she grew prettier, and I was more and more in love with +her. We used to have quarrels, but they didn't make much difference, for +after every one of them we engaged ourselves again, and all went on as +before. But the time came when Calthea kept on being older than I was, +and didn't keep on being pretty and agreeable. Then I began to weaken +about the marriage altar and all that sort of thing, but for all that I +would have been perfectly willing to stay engaged to her for the rest of +my life if she had wished it, but one day she got jealous, kicked up a +tremendous row, and away I went." + +"Well," said Lodloe, "she must have considered that the best thing you +could do for her, for Mrs. Petter said that she had heard her declare +dozens of times that from her very youth you had hung like a millstone +about her neck, and blighted her every prospect, and that your return +here was like one of the seven plagues of Egypt." + +"Mixed, but severe," said Mr. Beam. "Did anybody say any good of me?" + +"Yes," answered Lodloe; "Mrs. Cristie said you were an obliging fellow, +although very apt to forget what you had promised to do. Mr. Petter said +that you had a very friendly disposition, although he was obliged to +admit the truth of his wife's remark that said disposition would have +been more agreeable to your friends, if you had been as willing to do +things for them as you were to have them do things for you. And Mrs. +Petter on her own motion summed up your character by saying, that if you +had not been so regardless of the welfare and wishes of others; so +totally given up to self-gratification; so ignorant of all kinds of +business, and so unwilling to learn; so extravagant in your habits, and +so utterly conscienceless in regard to your debts; so neglectful of your +promises and your duty; so heretical in your opinions, political and +religious, and such a dreadful backslider from everything that you had +promised to be when a baby, you would be a very nice sort of fellow, +whom she would like to see come into the house." + +"Well," said Lanigan Beam, leaning back in his chair, "that's all of my +bright side, is it?" + +"Not quite," said Lodloe; "Mr. Tippengray declared that you are the +first man he ever heard of who did not possess a single good point; that +you must be very interesting, and that he would like to know you." + +"Noble Tippengray!" said Mr. Beam. "And he's the man who is chumming it +with Calthea?" + +"Not at present," said Lodloe; "she is jealous, and doesn't speak to +him." + +Mr. Beam let his head drop on his breast, his arms hung down by his +side, and he sank into his chair, as if his spine had come unhinged. + +"There goes the last prop from under me," he said. "If Calthea had a man +in tow I wouldn't be afraid of her, but now--well, no matter. If you +will let me take that bottle of ammonia with me,--I suppose by rights it +now belongs to the house,--I'll go back to that room and fight it out +with the wasps. As I haven't any good points, they'll be able to put +some into me, I'll wager." + +Lodloe laughed. "You shall not go there," he said; "I have more +bed-covering than I want, and an extra pillow, and if you can make +yourself comfortable on that lounge you are welcome to stay here." + +"Sir," said Lanigan Beam, rising, "I accept your offer, and if it were +not that by so doing I would destroy the rare symmetry of my character, +I would express my gratitude. And now I will go down your stairs, and up +my ladder, and get my valise." + + + + +XII + +LANIGAN CHANGES HIS CRAVAT + + +Early the next morning, without disturbing the sleep of Walter Lodloe, +Lanigan Beam descended from the tower, carrying his valise. His face +wore that air of gravity which sometimes follows an early morning hour +of earnest reflection, and he had substituted a black cravat for the +blue one with white spots that he had worn on his arrival. + +Walking out towards the barn he met Mr. Petter, who was one of the +earliest risers on the place. + +The greeting given him by the landlord of the Squirrel Inn was a mixture +of surprise, cordiality, and annoyance. + +"Lanigan Beam!" he exclaimed. "Why, I thought--" + +"Of course you did; I understand," said the other, extending his hand +with a dignified superiority to momentary excitement in others. "You +thought I would arrive at Lethbury in a day or two, and had no idea of +seeing me here. You have reason, but I have changed my plans. I left New +York earlier than I intended, and I am not going to Lethbury at all. At +least not to the hotel there. I greatly prefer this house." + +A shade of decided trouble came over Mr. Petter's face. + +"Now, Lanigan," he said, "that will not do at all; of course I don't +want to be hard on you, and I never was, but my season is commenced, I +have my guests, my rules are in full force, and I cannot permit you to +come here and disarrange my arrangements. If for once, Lanigan, you will +take the trouble to think, you will see that for yourself." + +"Mr. Petter," said the younger man, setting his valise upon the ground, +"I have no desire to disarrange them; on the contrary, I would stamp +them with fixity. And before we go any further I beg that you be kind +enough not to call me by my Christian name, and to endeavor to produce +in yourself the conviction that since you last saw me I have been +entirely rearranged and reconstructed. In order to do this, you have +only to think of me as you used to think, and then exactly reverse your +opinion. In this way you will get a true view of my present character. +It does not suit me to do things partially, or by degrees, and I am now +exactly the opposite of what I used to be. By keeping this in mind any +one who knew me before may consider himself or herself perfectly +acquainted with me now." + +Stephen Petter looked at him doubtfully. + +"Of course," he said, "I shall be very glad--and so will Mrs. Petter--to +find that you have reformed, but as to your coming here--" + +"Now, then," said Mr. Beam, "I know you are not the man to allow +trifles to stand in the way of important movements. I am here for a +purpose, a great purpose, with which you will be in entire sympathy. I +will say at once, frankly and openly, that my object is the improvement +of Lethbury. I have a project which--" + +[Illustration: "I AM HERE FOR A PURPOSE."] + +"Now, now, now!" exclaimed Mr. Petter, with much irritation, "I don't +want to hear anything more of any of your projects; I know all about +them. They all begin with a demand for money from your friends, and +that is the end of the project and the money." + +"Stephen Petter," said the other, "you are not looking at my character +as I told you to look at it. Every cent of the capital required for my +operations I will contribute myself. No one will be allowed to subscribe +any money whatever. This, you see, is exactly the opposite of what used +to be the case; and when I tell you that the success of my plan will +improve the business of Lethbury, elevate its moral and intellectual +standard, exercise an ennobling and purifying influence upon the tone of +its society, and give an almost incredible impetus to faith, hope, and +charity in its moral atmosphere,--and all that without anybody's being +asked to give a copper,--I know you will agree with me that a mere +matter of residence should not be allowed to block this great work." + +Since he had been assured that he was not to be asked to contribute +money, Mr. Petter's face had shown relief and interest; but now he shook +his head. + +"This is my season," he said, "and I have my rules." + +Lanigan Beam laid his hand upon the shoulder of his companion. + +"Petter," said he, "I don't ask you to infract your rules. That would be +against my every principle. I do not know the Rockmores of Germantown, +but if it were necessary I would immediately go and find them, and make +their acquaintance--I should have no difficulty in doing it, I assure +you, but it is not necessary. I staid last night with Mr. Lodloe, who +occupies the top room of your tower. Don't jump out of your boots. I +went to him because there was a light in his room and the rest of the +house was dark, and he explained to me the Rockmorial reason why he +occupies that room while the rest of your house is nearly empty. Now you +can do the same thing for me. Let me have that upper room with no +stairway to it; give me the use of a ladder, and I shall be perfectly +satisfied." + +"But the room's not furnished," said Mr. Petter. + +"Oh, we can easily get over that little difficulty," replied Mr. Beam; +"whatever furniture may be needed can easily be put in through the +window. If there are any wasps up there I can fumigate them out. Now we +call that settled, don't we? None of your rules broken, Lethbury +regenerated, and nothing for you to do but look on and profit." + +Mr. Petter gazed reflectively upon the ground. + +"There can be no doubt," said he, "that Lethbury is in a stagnant +condition, and if that condition could be improved, it would be for the +benefit of us all; and considering, furthermore, that if your +project--which you have not yet explained to me--should be unsuccessful, +no one but yourself will lose any money, I see no reason why I should +interfere with your showing the people of this neighborhood that your +character has been reconstructed. But if you should lodge in that room, +it would make a very odd condition of things. I should then have but +three male guests, and not one of them literally living in my house." + +"Ah, my good friend Petter," said Lanigan, taking up his valise, "you +should know there is luck in odd conditions, as well as in odd numbers, +and everything will turn out right, you may bet on that. Hello," he +continued, stepping back a little, "who is that very pretty girl with a +book in her hand? That cannot be Mrs. Cristie." + +"Oh, no," said Mr. Petter, "that is her maid, who takes care of her +child. I think the young woman has come out to study before beginning +her daily duties." + +"Upon my word," said Lanigan Beam, attentively regarding Miss Ida +Mayberry as she daintily made her way across the dewy lawn to a rustic +seat under a tree. And then, suddenly turning to Mr. Petter, he said: + +"Look you, my good Stephen, can't you let me go in somewhere and furbish +myself up a little before breakfast?" + +And having been shown into a room on the ground floor, Mr. Beam +immediately proceeded to take off his black cravat and to replace it by +the blue one with white spots. + +[Illustration] + + + + +XIII + +DECREES OF EXILE + + +Towards the end of the afternoon of the day after Mr. Lanigan Beam had +been installed as an outside guest of the Squirrel Inn, Miss Calthea +Rose sat by the window at the back of her shop. This shop was a small +one, but it differed from most other places of business in that it +contained very few goods and was often locked up. When there is reason +to suppose that if you go to a shop you will not be able to get in, and +that, should it be open, you will not be apt to find therein anything +you want, it is not likely that such a shop will have a very good run of +custom. + +This was the case with Miss Calthea's establishment. It had become rare +for any one even to propose custom, but she did not in the least waver +in regard to her plan of closing up the business left to her by her +father. As has been said, she did not wish to continue this business, so +she laid in no new stock, and as she had gradually sold off a great +deal, she expected to be able in time to sell off everything. She did +not adopt the usual methods of clearing out a stock of goods, because +these would involve sacrifices, and, as Miss Calthea very freely said +to those who spoke to her on the subject, there was no need whatever for +her to make sacrifices. She was good at waiting, and she could wait. +When she sold the few things which remained on the shelves--and she, as +well as nearly every one in the village, knew exactly what these things +were without the trouble of looking--she would retire from business, and +have the shop altered into a front parlor. Until then the articles which +remained on hand were for sale. + +Miss Calthea was busily sewing, but she was much more busily engaged in +thinking. So earnestly was her mind set upon the latter occupation that +she never raised her head to look out at the special varieties of +hollyhocks, dahlias, and marigolds which had lately begun to show their +beauties in the beds beneath her window, nor did she glance towards the +door to see if any one was coming in. She had much more important things +to think about than flowers or customers. + +Mrs. Petter had driven over to Lethbury that morning, and had told +Calthea all the news of the Squirrel Inn. She had told her of the +unexpected arrival of Lanigan Beam; of his unwillingness to go to +Lethbury, as he had originally intended, and of the quarters that had +been assigned to him in the ladder-room. She also told how Lanigan, who +now wished to be called Mr. Beam, had a wonderful plan in his mind for +the improvement of Lethbury, but whether it was electric lights, or gas, +or water, or street railroads, or a public library, he would not tell +anybody. He was going to work in his own way, and all he would say about +the scheme was that he did not want anybody to give him money for it. +And this, Mrs. Petter had remarked, had helped Mr. Petter and herself to +believe what Lanigan had said about his amendment, for if anything could +show a change in him it would be his not wanting people to give him +money. + +Mrs. Petter had said a great deal about the newcomer, and had declared +that whatever alterations had gone on in his mind, soul, and character, +he certainly had improved in appearance, and was a very good-looking +young man, with becoming clothes. In one way, however, he had not +changed, for in a surprisingly short time he had made friends with +everybody on the place. He talked to Mr. Lodloe as if he had been an old +chum; he had renewed his acquaintance with Mrs. Cristie, and was very +gallant to her; he was hand-in-glove with Mr. Tippengray, both of them +laughing together and making jokes as if they had always known each +other; and, more than that, it wasn't an hour after breakfast when he +and Mrs. Cristie's nurse-maid were sitting on a bench under the trees, +reading out of the same book, while Mr. Tippengray was pushing the +baby-carriage up and down on the grass, and Mrs. Cristie and Mr. Lodloe +were putting up the lawn-tennis net. + +"I could see for myself," Mrs. Petter had remarked at this point, "that +you were right in saying that there was no use in my talking about the +boarders associating with servants, for when they made up the +lawn-tennis game it turned out that Mr. Tippengray didn't play, and so +that girl Ida had to take a hand while he kept on neglecting his Greek +for the baby." + +At last Miss Calthea let her sewing drop into her lap, and sat looking +at an empty shelf opposite to her. + +"Yes," she said to herself, her lips moving, although no sound was +audible, "the first thing to do is to get Lanigan away. As long as he is +here I might as well not lift a finger, and it looks as if that +impertinent minx of a child's nurse would be my best help. If he doesn't +have one of his changeable fits, he will be ready in three days to +follow her anywhere, but I must look sharp, for at this very minute he +may be making love to the widow. Of course he hasn't any chance with +her, but it would be just like Lanigan to go in strongest where he knew +he hadn't any chance. However, I shall see for myself how matters stand, +and one thing is certain--Lanigan has got to go." + +About this time Mr. Lanigan Beam, finding himself with a solitary +quarter of an hour on his hands, was reflecting on a bench upon the lawn +of the Squirrel Inn. "Yes," he thought, "it is a great plan. It will +elevate the social tone of Lethbury, it will purify the moral atmosphere +of the surrounding country, and, above all, it will make it possible for +me to live here. It will give me an opportunity to become a man among +men in the place where I was born. Until this thing is done, I can have +no chance to better myself here, and, more than that, the community has +no chance to better itself. Yes, it must be done; Calthea Rose must go." + +At this moment Mr. Petter came along, on his way to supper. + +"Well, Lanigan," said he, "are you thinking about your great +enterprise?" + +"Yes," said the other, rising and walking with him; "that is exactly +what my mind was working on." + +"And you are going to do it all yourself?" said Mr. Petter. + +"Not exactly," said Beam. "I shall not require any pecuniary assistance, +but I shall want some one to help me." + +"Is there anybody about here who can do it?" + +"Yes; I hope so," said Lanigan. "At present I am thinking of Mr. +Tippengray." + +"A very good choice," said Mr. Petter; "he is a man of fine mind, and it +will certainly be to your advantage if you can get him to work with +you." + +"Indeed it will be," said Lanigan Beam, with much earnestness. + + + + +XIV + +BACKING OUT + + +Ida Mayberry was walking on the narrow road which led through the woods +from the Squirrel Inn to the public highway. She had been much +interested in the road when she had been driven through it on the day of +her arrival, and had availed herself of the opportunity given her this +pleasant afternoon, by the prolonged slumbers of Master Douglas Cristie, +to make a close acquaintance with its attractions. + +It was indeed a pleasant road, where there were tall trees that often +met overhead, and on each side there were bushes, and vines, and wild +flowers, and little vistas opening into the woods, and rabbits running +across the roadway; a shallow stream tumbling along its stony bed, +sometimes to be seen and sometimes only heard; yellow butterflies in the +air; and glimpses above, that afternoon, of blue sky and white clouds. + +When she had walked about half the length of the road Miss Mayberry came +to a tree with a large branch running horizontally about three feet from +the ground and then turning up again, so as to make a very good seat for +young people who like that sort of thing. Ida was a young person who +liked that sort of thing, and she speedily clambered upon the broad, +horizontal branch and bestowed herself quite comfortably there. Taking +off her hat and leaning her head against the upright portion of the +branch, she continued the reflections she had been making while walking. + +[Illustration: IDA MAKES HERSELF COMFORTABLE.] + +"Yes," she said to herself, "it will be wise in me not only to make up +my mind that I will not grow to be an old maid, but to prevent people +from thinking I am going to grow to be one. I believe that people are +very apt to think that way about teachers. Perhaps it is because they +are always contrasted with younger persons. There is no reason why girl +teachers should be different from other girls. Marriage should be as +practically advantageous to them as to any others, only they should be +more than usually circumspect in regard to their partners; that is, if +they care for careers, which I am sure I do. + +"Now the situation in this place seems to me to be one which I ought +seriously to consider. It is generally agreed that propinquity is the +cause of most marriages, but I think that a girl ought to be very +careful not to let propinquity get the better of her. She should +regulate and control propinquities. + +"Here, now, is Mr. Lodloe. He seems to be a very suitable sort of a man, +young and good-looking, and, I think, endowed with brains; but I have +read two of his stories, and I see no promise in them, and I doubt if he +would sympathize with good, hard study; besides, he is devoting himself +to Mrs. Cristie, and he is out of the question. Mr. Tippengray is an +exceedingly agreeable man and a true student. To marry him would be in +itself a higher education; but he is not a bit young. I think he is at +least fifty, perhaps more, and then, supposing that he should retain his +mental vigor until he is seventy, that would give only twenty years of +satisfactory intellectual companionship. That is a point that ought to +be very carefully weighed. + +"As to Mr. Beam, he is older than I am, but he is young enough. Upon the +probable duration of his life one might predicate forty years of mental +activity, and from what I have seen of him he appears to have a good +intellect. They talk about an aqueduct and waterworks he is about to +construct. That indicates the study of geology, and engineering +capacity, and such a bias of mind would suit me very well. Mrs. Petter +tells me that he is really and truly engaged to that old thing from +Lethbury; but as she also said that he is heartily tired of the +engagement, I don't see why it should be considered. He is as likely to +correct his errors of matrimonial inclination as he is those of +mathematical computation, and as for her, I should not let her stand in +my way for one minute. Any woman who is as jealous about a man as she is +about Mr. Tippengray has waived her right in all other men." + +About this time a phaeton, drawn by a stout sorrel horse, and containing +Miss Calthea Rose, was turning from the highroad into this lane. As a +rule, Miss Calthea greatly preferred walking to driving, and although +her father had left her a horse and several vehicles, she seldom made +personal use of them; but to-day she was going to Romney, which was too +far away for walking, and she had planned to stop at the Squirrel Inn +and ask Mrs. Cristie to go with her. + +It was necessary, for the furtherance of Miss Calthea's plans, that she +should be on good terms with Mrs. Cristie. She ought, in fact, to be +intimate with her, so that when the time came she could talk to her +freely and plainly. It was desirable, indeed, that she should maintain +a friendly connection with everybody at the Squirrel Inn. She had not +yet met Lanigan Beam, and it would be well if he should be made to feel +that she looked upon him merely as an old companion, and cared for him +neither more nor less than one cares for ordinary old companions. Thus +he would feel perfectly free to carry out his own impulses and her +desires. + +Towards Mr. Tippengray she had decided to soften. She was still very +angry with him, but it would not do to repel him from herself, for that +might impel him towards another, and spoil two of her plans. Even to +that impertinent child's nurse she would be civil. She need have but +little to do with the creature, but she must not let any one suppose +that she harbored ill feeling towards her, and, with the exception of +Mrs. Petter, no one would suppose she had any reason for such feelings. +In fact, as Miss Calthea's mind dwelt upon this subject, she came to +think that it would be a very good thing if she could do some kindness +or service to this girl. This would give effect to what she might +afterward be obliged to say about her. + +Having reached this point in her cogitations, she also reached the point +in the road where Ida Mayberry still sat making her plans, and concealed +from the view of those coming from the direction of the highroad by a +mass of projecting elderberry bushes. Hearing an approaching vehicle, +the young woman on the horizontal limb, not wishing to be seen perched +upon this elevated seat, sprang to the ground, which she touched about +four feet from the nose of the sorrel horse. + +This animal, which was trotting along in a quiet and reflective way, as +if he also was making plans, was greatly startled by this sudden flash +of a light-colored mass, this rustle, this waving, this thud upon the +ground, and he bounded sidewise entirely across the road, stopping with +his head in the bushes on the other side. + +Miss Calthea, who was nearly thrown from her seat, could not repress a +scream, and, turning, perceived Ida Mayberry. + +"Did you do that?" she cried. + +"I am sorry that I made your horse shy," said Ida, approaching the +vehicle; "but he seems to be perfectly quiet now, and I hope nothing is +broken. Horses ought to be taught not to shy, but I suppose that would +be difficult, considering the small size of their brain cavities." + +"If some people had as much brains as a horse," muttered Miss Calthea, +"it would be better for them. Back, Sultan! Do you hear me! Back!" And +she tugged with all her strength upon the reins. + +But the sorrel horse did not move; he had two reasons for refusing to +obey his mistress. In the first place, on general principles he disliked +to back, and was fully conscious that Miss Calthea could not make him do +it, and in the second place, he wanted a drink, and did not intend to +move until he got it. Just here the brook was at its widest and deepest, +and it came so near the road that in shying Sultan had entered it so far +that the front wheels of the phaeton nearly touched the water. Standing +more than fetlock deep in this cool stream, it is no wonder that Sultan +wanted some one to loosen his check-rein and let him drink. + +"I am afraid you are not strong enough to back him out of that," said +Ida; "and if there were not so much water all around him I would go and +take him by the head." + +"Let him alone," cried Miss Calthea. "Back, Sultan! Back, I say!" And +she pulled and pulled, tiring herself greatly, but making no impression +upon the horse. + +Now appeared upon the scene Mrs. Cristie, pushing her baby-carriage. She +had come to look for Ida. She was full of sympathy when she heard what +had happened, and, pushing Douglas into a safe place behind a tree, came +forward and proposed that some one go for a man. But Calthea Rose did +not want a man. She was very proud of her abilities as a horsewoman, and +she did not wish a man to behold her inferiority in emergencies of this +sort. She therefore opposed the suggestion, and continued to pull and +tug. + +"That will never do," said Ida Mayberry, who had been earnestly +regarding the situation. "You cannot make him move, and even if we did +go into the water, he might jump about and tread on us; but I have +thought of a way in which I think we can make him back. You are pretty +heavy, Miss Rose, and Mrs. Cristie is lighter than I am, so she ought to +get into the phaeton and take the reins, and you and I ought to help +back the phaeton. I have seen it done, and I can tell you how to do +it." + +[Illustration: "BACK!"] + +To this Miss Calthea paid no immediate attention; but as Mrs. Cristie +urged that if Ida knew about such things it would be well to let her try +what she could do, and as Miss Calthea found that tugging at Sultan's +bit amounted to nothing, she stepped out of the low vehicle and demanded +to know what the child's nurse proposed to do. + +"Now jump in, Mrs. Cristie," said Ida, "and when I give the word you +pull the reins with all your might, and shout 'Back!' at him. Miss Rose, +you go to that hind wheel, and I will go to this one. Now put one foot +on a spoke, so, and take hold of the wheel, and when I say 'Now!' we +will both raise ourselves up and put our whole weight on the spoke, and +Mrs. Cristie will pull on him at the same instant." + +Somewhat doggedly, but anxious to get out of her predicament, Miss +Calthea took her position at the wheel and put one foot upon an almost +horizontal spoke. Ida did the same, and then giving the word, both women +raised themselves from the ground; Mrs. Cristie gave a great pull, and +shouted, "Back!" and as the hind wheels began slowly to revolve, the +astonished horse, involuntarily obeying the double impulse thus given +him, backed a step or two. + +"Now! Again!" cried Ida, and the process was repeated, this time the +horse backing himself out of the water. + +"Bravo!" cried Lanigan Beam, who, with Walter Lodloe, had arrived on the +scene just as Calthea Rose and Ida Mayberry had made their second +graceful descent from an elevated spoke to the ground. + + + + +XV + +THE BABY IS PASSED AROUND + + +"Good for you, Calthy," cried Lanigan Beam, advancing with outstretched +hands. "How do you do? Old Sultan is at his tricks again, is he, +declining to back? But you got the better of him that time, and did it +well, too." + +In his admiration of the feat he had witnessed, the credit of which he +gave entirely to his old and well-tried fiancee, Lanigan forgot for the +moment his plan for the benefit of Lethbury. + +Irritated and embarrassed as she was, Miss Calthea did not forget her +intention of treating Lanigan Beam as a person between whom and herself +there could be nothing of a connecting order which could be set up as +something of an obstructing order between herself and any one else. She +therefore took his hand, made a few commonplace remarks about his +return, and then, excusing herself, approached Mrs. Cristie, who was +just about to alight from the phaeton, and gave her the invitation to +drive to Romney. That lady hesitated a few moments, and then, +remembering some shopping she would like to do, accepted; and the +attention of Miss Mayberry having been called to the baby-carriage +behind the tree, the two ladies drove off. + +Ida Mayberry gazed for a moment at the parting vehicle, and then, +turning to Mr. Beam, she said: + +"She might at least have thanked me for getting her out of that scrape." + +"Was that your idea?" said Lanigan. + +"Of course it was," said the young woman: "if I hadn't shown her how to +make the horse back, she would have pulled her arms out for nothing. It +is easy to see that she does not know anything about managing horses." + +Lanigan laughed outright. + +"I would advise you not to say that to her," he said. + +"I would as soon say it to her as not," said Ida; "somebody ought to do +it. Why, if that horse had shied towards me instead of away from me when +I jumped from that tree, I might have been very much hurt." + +Lanigan laughed again, but this time inwardly. + +"Do you like yellow flowers, Miss Mayberry?" said he. "The largest wild +coreopsis I ever saw grows in this region. I noticed some in a field we +just passed. Shall I gather a few for you?" + +"I am very fond of that flower," said Ida; and Mr. Beam declaring that +if she would step a little way with him he would show her a whole field +of them, the two walked up the road. + +Walter Lodloe had been gazing with some dissatisfaction at the departing +phaeton. His mind was getting into a condition which made it unpleasant +for him to see people take Mrs. Cristie away from him. He now turned +and looked at the baby-carriage, in which the infant Douglas was sitting +up, endeavoring by various noises to attract attention to himself. +Lodloe pulled the vehicle into the road, and, finding that the motion +quieted its occupant, he began slowly to push it towards the Squirrel +Inn. When Walter Lodloe turned into the open space about the inn he met +Mr. Tippengray with a book in his hand. + +[Illustration: "HE BEGAN SLOWLY TO PUSH IT TOWARDS THE SQUIRREL INN."] + +"Really," said the latter, elevating his eyebrows, "I heard the creaking +of those little wheels, and I--" + +"Thought Miss Mayberry was making them creak," said Lodloe. "But she is +not, and you may as well postpone the lesson I suppose you want to give +her. She is at present taking lessons in botany from another professor"; +and he hereupon stated in brief the facts of the desertion of the infant +Douglas. "Now what am I going to do with the little chap?" he continued; +"I must search for Mrs. Petter." + +"Don't do that," said the Greek scholar, quickly; "it would look badly +for the young woman. Let me have the child; I will take care of it until +she comes. I will wheel it down to my summer-house, where it is cool and +shady." + +"And an excellent spot to teach Greek," said Lodloe, laughing. + +"A capital place," gaily replied Mr. Tippengray, putting his book into +his pocket, and taking hold of the handle of the little carriage, elated +by the feeling that in so doing he was also, for a time, getting a hold +upon Miss Mayberry. + +[Illustration: "I WILL WHEEL IT DOWN TO MY SUMMER-HOUSE, WHERE IT IS +COOL AND SHADY."] + +"Yes," he continued, "it is just the place for me; it suits me in all +sorts of ways, and I have a mind to tell you of a most capital joke +connected with it. It is too good a thing to keep to myself any longer, +and now that I know you so well, I am perfectly willing to trust you. +Would you believe it? I know the Rockmores of Germantown. I know them +very well, and hate them for a lot of prigs. But I never told Stephen +Petter. Not I. In some way or other he took it for granted that I did +not possess the valuable acquaintanceship, and I let him think so. Ha! +ha! That's the way I got the summer-house, don't you see? Ha! ha! ha!" + +Lodloe laughed. "Your secret is safe with me," said he; and the two +having reached the little garden, he left the Greek scholar and went to +his room. + +When Ida Mayberry had her arms full of the great yellow flowers she +suddenly appreciated the fact that she must be a long way from the baby, +and ought immediately to return to it. She thereupon hastened back +across the uneven surface of the field. When she reached the spot where +the baby had been left, no baby was there. + +"My goodness!" she exclaimed, "Mr. Lodloe has taken the child away, and +there is no knowing which way he has gone." + +"Oh, the youngster's all right," said Lanigan. "Sit down and rest +yourself, and we will walk to the inn." + +"Not a bit of it!" exclaimed Ida. "You go that way, and I will go this, +and if you see him, call out as loud as you can." + +Very reluctantly Mr. Beam obeyed orders, and hurried in the direction of +the highroad. + +As he sat down by his open window Walter Lodloe looked out and saw Ida +Mayberry running. Instantly there was a shout from the summer-house and +the wave of a handkerchief. Then the nurse-maid ceased to run, but +walked rapidly in the direction of the handkerchief-waver, who stood +triumphantly pointing to the baby-carriage. After a glance at the baby +to see that he was all right, Miss Mayberry seated herself on a bench in +the shade, and took off her hat. In a few moments the Greek scholar was +seated by her, the book was opened, and two heads were together in +earnest study. + +About ten minutes later Lodloe saw Lanigan Beam appear upon the lawn, +walking rapidly. In a moment he caught sight of the group at the +summer-house, and stopped short. He clenched his fists and slightly +stamped one foot. + +Lodloe now gave a low whistle, and Lanigan glancing upward at the sound, +he beckoned to him to come to his tower-room. The young man at first +hesitated, and then walked slowly towards the little garden, and +ascended the outside stairway. + +Lodloe greeted him with a smile. + +"As you seem doubtful about joining the little company down there, I +thought I would ask you up here," he said. + +Lanigan walked to the window and gazed out at the summer-house. + +"They are having a good, cozy time of it," said he, "but that won't do. +That sort of thing has got to be stopped." + +"Why won't it do?" asked Lodloe. "What is the matter with it, and who is +going to stop it?" + +"It's sheer nonsense," said Beam, turning away from the window and +throwing himself into a chair; "why should an old fellow like Tippengray +take up all the spare time of that girl? She doesn't need to learn +anything. From what she has said to me I judge that she knows too much +already." + +"It strikes me," said Lodloe, "that if he likes to teach her, and she +likes to learn, it is nobody's business but their own, unless Mrs. +Cristie should think that her interests were being neglected." He spoke +quietly, although he was a little provoked at the tone of his companion. + +"Well," said Mr. Beam, stretching his legs upon a neighboring chair, "I +object to that intimacy for two reasons. In the first place, it keeps +me away from Miss Mayberry, and I am the sort of person she ought to +associate with, especially in her vacation; and in the second place, it +keeps old Tippengray away from Calthea Rose. That is bad, very bad. Mrs. +Petter tells me that before Miss Mayberry arrived Calthea and the Greek +were as chummy and as happy together as any two people could be. It is +easy to see that Calthea is dead in love with him, and if she had been +let alone I am confident she would have married him before the summer +was over." + +"And you think that desirable?" asked Lodloe. + +"Of course I do," cried Lanigan, sitting up straight in his chair and +speaking earnestly; "it would be the best thing in the world. Calthea +has had a hard time with her various engagements,--all of them with +me,--and now that she has found the man she likes she ought to have him. +It would be a splendid match; he might travel where he pleased, and +Calthea would be an honor to him. She could hold her own with the +nobility and gentry, and the crowned heads, for that matter. By George! +it would make him two inches taller to walk through a swell crowd with +Calthea on his arm, dressed as she would dress, and carrying her head as +she would carry it." + +"You seem to be a matchmaker," said Lodloe; "but I don't meddle in that +sort of thing. I greatly prefer to let people take care of their own +affairs; but I feel bound to say to you that after Ida Mayberry +neglected her duty to go off with you, I determined to advise Mrs. +Cristie to dispense with the services of such a very untrustworthy +nurse-maid." + +Lanigan Beam sprang to his feet. "Don't you do that!" he cried. "I beg +of you not to do that." + +"Why not?" said Lodloe. "That would aid your philanthropic plan in +regard to Miss Rose and Mr. Tippengray. The maid away, there is no +reason why they should not come together again." + +"Now I am a straightforward, honest man," said Lanigan, "and I tell you +plainly that that would be very hard on me. I've come here to my native +place to settle down, and if I settle I've got to marry, and I have +never seen a girl whom I would rather marry and settle with than Miss +Mayberry. She may be a little slack about taking care of the baby, but +I'll talk to her about that, and I know she will keep a closer eye on +him. Now if you want to see everybody happy, don't prejudice Mrs. +Cristie against that girl. Give me a chance, and I'll win her into the +right way, and I'll do it easily and naturally, without making hard +blood or hurting anybody. Then old Tip and Calthea will come together +again, and everything will be jolly. Now don't you go and blast the +happiness of all of us, and get that poor girl turned off like a drunken +cook. And as for taking good care of the baby, just look at her now." + +Lodloe looked out of the window. Ida Mayberry was leaning forward on the +bench, twirling a great yellow flower before the child, who was laughing +and making snatches at it. In a moment appeared Mr. Tippengray with a +large white daisy; he leaned over the other side of the carriage and +twirled his flower in front of the baby. The little fellow was in great +glee, first clutching at one blossom and then at the other, and Mr. +Tippengray laughed, and Miss Mayberry laughed, and the three laughed +together. + +"Confound it!" said Lanigan Beam, with a frown, "this thing must be +stopped." + +Lodloe smiled. "Work matters your own way," he said; "I shall not +interfere." + +An hour later when Calthea Rose and Mrs. Cristie returned from Romney, +Ida Mayberry was walking by the side of the baby-carriage, which Lanigan +Beam was pushing towards the spot from which there was the best view of +the western sky. + +[Illustration: "HE LEANED OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE."] + +Mrs. Cristie looked at them, and said to herself: + +"I don't altogether like that sort of thing, and I think it must be +stopped." + +Calthea Rose appeared to have recovered her good humor. She looked about +her apparently satisfied with the world and its ways, and readily +accepted Mrs. Petter's invitation to stay to tea. + + + + +XVI + +MESSRS. BEAM AND LODLOE DECLINE TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND TABLE + + +As has been before mentioned, Walter Lodloe had grown into a condition +of mind which made it unpleasant for him when people took Mrs. Cristie +away or occupied her time and attention to the exclusion of his +occupancy of the same. As a literary man he had taken an interest in +studying the character of Mrs. Cristie, and he had now come to like the +character even better than he liked the study. + +A pretty woman, of a lively and independent disposition, and quick wit, +and yet with certain matronly and practical points in her character +which always surprised as well as pleased him when they showed +themselves, Mrs. Cristie could not fail to charm such a man as Lodloe, +if the two remained long enough together. She had charmed him, and he +knew it and liked it, and was naturally anxious to know whether, in the +slightest degree, she thought of him as he thought of her. But he had +never been able to perceive any indication of this. The young widow was +kind, gracious, and at times delightfully intimate with him, but he +knew enough of the world to understand that this sort of thing in this +sort of place might not in the least indicate that what was growing up +in him was growing up in her. + +On the afternoon of the day after Miss Calthea Rose had taken tea at the +Squirrel Inn Walter Lodloe came down from his room in the tower with no +other object in life than to find Mrs. Cristie. It was about the hour +that she usually appeared on the lawn, and if there should follow +tennis, or talking, or walking, or anything else, one thing would be the +same as another to Lodloe, provided he and she took part. But when he +saw Mrs. Cristie her avocation was one in which he could not take part. + +She was sitting on a bench by Mr. Tippengray, Ida Mayberry was sitting +at his other side, and the everlasting baby-carriage was standing near +by. The Greek scholar and the nurse-maid each had a book, but these were +closed, and Mr. Tippengray was talking with great earnestness and +animation, while the young women appeared to be listening with eager +interest. It was plain that the two were taking a lesson in something or +other. + +As Lodloe walked slowly from the gate of the little garden Mrs. Cristie +looked up for a moment, saw him, but instantly resumed her attentive +listening. This was enough; he perceived that for the present, at least, +he was not wanted. He strolled on towards the field, and just below the +edge of the bluff he saw Lanigan Beam sitting under a tree. + +"Hello!" said the latter, looking up, "are they at that stupid business +yet?" + +Lodloe smiled. "Are you waiting for Miss Mayberry to get through with +her lesson?" he asked. + +"Yes, I am," said Lanigan. "I have been hanging around here for half an +hour. I never saw such a selfish old codger as that Tippengray. I +suppose he will stick there with them the whole afternoon." + +"And you want him!" said Lodloe. + +"Want him!" exclaimed Lanigan; "not much. But I want her. If there were +only two together I would do as I did yesterday. I would join them, take +a part, and before long carry her off; but I can't do that with Mrs. +Cristie there. I haven't the cheek to break up her studies." + +Lodloe laughed. "Don't let us wait for the second table," he said; "come +and take a walk to Lethbury." + +It was now Lanigan's turn to smile. + +"You think you would better not wait for the second table," he said; +"very well, then; come on." + +The lesson on the bench had been deliberately planned by Mrs. Cristie. +She had been considering the subject of her nurse-maid and Lanigan Beam, +and had decided that it was her duty to interfere with the growth of +that intimacy. She felt that it was her duty to exercise some personal +supervision over the interests of the young person in her service, and +had given her some guarded advice in regard to country-resort +intimacies. + +Having given this advice to Ida Mayberry, it struck Mrs. Cristie that it +would apply very well to herself. She remembered that she was also a +young person, and she resolved to take to herself all the advice she had +given to her nurse-maid, and thus it was that she was sitting on the +bench by Mr. Tippengray, listening to his very interesting discourse +upon some of the domestic manners and customs of the ancients, and their +surprising resemblance in many points to those of the present day. +Therefore it was, also, that she allowed Walter Lodloe to pass on his +way without inviting him to join the party. + +When Lodloe and Beam reached Lethbury, the latter proposed that they +should go and worry Calthea Rose; and to his companion's surprised +exclamation at being asked to join in this diversion Lanigan answered, +that having been used to that sort of thing all his life, it seemed the +most natural sport in which to indulge now that he found himself in +Lethbury again. + +"Very good," said Lodloe, as they approached Miss Rose's place of +business; "I shall not interfere with your native sports, but I do not +care to join them. I shall continue my walk, and stop for you on my way +back." + +When Lanigan Beam entered Miss Rose's shop she was sitting, as was her +custom, by the back window, sewing. A neighbor had dropped in to chat +with her a half-hour before, but had gone away very soon. The people of +Lethbury had learned to understand when Calthea Rose did not wish to +chat. + +Miss Calthea was not happy; she was disappointed. Things had not gone as +she hoped they would go, and as she had believed they would go when she +accepted Mrs. Petter's invitation to tea. That meal had been a very +pleasant one; even the presence of Ida Mayberry, who came to table with +the family when the baby happened to be asleep, did not disturb her. On +the contrary, it gratified her, for Lanigan Beam sat by that young +person and was very attentive to her. She carefully watched Mr. +Tippengray, and perceived that this attention, and the interest of the +child's nurse in Lanigan's remarks, did not appear to give him the least +uneasiness. Thereupon she began gradually, and she hoped imperceptibly, +to resume her former method of intercourse with the Greek scholar, and +to do so without any show of restoring him to favor. She did this so +deftly that Mrs. Cristie was greatly interested in the performance, and +an outside observer could have had no reason to suppose that there had +been any break in the friendly intercourse between Miss Rose and Mr. +Tippengray. + +But this unsatisfactory state of things soon came to an end. When the +daylight began to wane, and Miss Calthea's phaeton had been brought to +the door, she went to it with her plans fully formed. As Mr. Tippengray +assisted her into the vehicle, she intended to accept his proposition to +drive her to Lethbury. She had slightly deferred her departure in order +that the growing duskness might give greater reason for the proposition. +There would be a moon about nine o'clock, and his walk back would be +pleasant. + +But when she reached the phaeton Mr. Tippengray was not there. Ida +Mayberry, eager to submit to his critical eye two lines of Browning +which she had put into a sort of Greek resembling the partly cremated +corpse of a dead language, and who for the past ten minutes had been +nervously waiting for Master Douglas to close his eyes in sleep that she +might rush down to Mr. Tippengray while he was yet strolling on the +lawn by himself, had rushed down to him, and had made him forget +everything else in the world in his instinctive effort to conceal from +his pupil the shock given him by the sight of her lines. He had been +waiting for Miss Calthea to come out, had been intending to hand her to +her vehicle, and had thought of proposing to accompany her to the +village; but he had not heard the phaeton roll to the door, the +leave-taking on the porch did not reach his ear, and his mind took no +note whatever of the fact that Miss Rose was on the point of departure. + +As that lady, stepping out upon the piazza, swept her eyes over the +scene and beheld the couple on the lawn, she gave a jerk to the glove +she was drawing on her hand that tore in it a slit three inches long. +She then turned her eyes upon her phaeton, declined the offer of Mr. +Petter to see her home, and, after a leave-taking which was a little +more effusive than was usual with her, drove herself to Lethbury. If the +sorrel horse had behaved badly in the early part of that afternoon, he +was punished for it in the early part of that evening, for he completely +broke all previous records of time made between the Squirrel Inn and +Lethbury. + +Thus the hopes of Miss Calthea had been doubly darkened; the pariah with +the brimstone blossoms had not only treacherously deserted Lanigan, but +had made Mr. Tippengray treacherously desert her. She had been furiously +angry; now she was low-spirited and cross. But one thing in the world +could have then cheered her spirits, and that would have been the sight +of her bitterest enemy and Lanigan Beam driving or walking together past +her shop door; but when Lanigan alone entered that shop door she was not +cheered at all. + +Mr. Beam's greeting was very free and unceremonious, and without being +asked to do so he took a seat near the proprietress of the +establishment. + +"Well, well," he said, "this looks like old times. Why, Calthy, I don't +believe you have sold a thing since I was here last." + +"If you had any eyes in your head," said Miss Calthea, severely, "you +would see that I have sold a great deal. Nearly everything, in fact." + +"That proves my point," said Lanigan; "for nearly everything was gone +when I left." + +"And some of the things that are gone," said she, "you still owe me +for." + +"Well put, Calthy," said Lanigan, laughing; "and after that, let's drop +the business. What's new and what's stale in Lethbury?" + +"You are about the newest as well as the stalest thing here," said she. + +Lanigan whistled. "Calthy," said he, "would you mind my smoking a cigar +here! There will be no customers coming in." + +"You know very well you cannot smoke here," she said; "what is the +matter with you? Has that pincushion-faced child's nurse driven you from +the inn?" + +A pang went through Lanigan. Was Calthea jealous of Miss Mayberry on his +account? The thought frightened him. If he could have said anything +which would have convinced Calthea that he was on the point of marrying +Miss Mayberry, and that therefore she might as well consider everything +at an end between herself and him, he would have said it. But he merely +replied: + +"She is a nice girl, and very much given to learning." + +Now Miss Calthea could restrain herself no longer. + +"Learning!" she exclaimed. "Stuff and deception! Impudent flirting is +what she is fond of, as long as she can get a good-for-naught like you, +or an old numskull like that Tippengray, to play her tricks on." + +Now Lanigan Beam braced himself for action. This sort of thing would not +do; whatever she might say or think about the rest of the world, Calthea +must not look with disfavor on the Greek scholar. + +"Numskull!" said he. "You're off the track there, Calthy, I never knew a +man with a better skull than Mr. Tippengray, and as to his being +old--there is a little gray in his hair to be sure, but it's my opinion +that that comes more from study than from years." + +"Nonsense!" said Calthea; "I don't believe he cares a snap for study +unless he can do it with some girl. I expect he has been at that all his +life." + +Now Lanigan's spirits rose; he saw that it was not on his account that +Calthea was jealous of Ida Mayberry. His face put on an expression of +serious interest, and he strove to speak impressively, but not so much +so as to excite suspicion. + +"Calthea," said he, "I think you are not treating Mr. Tippengray with +your usual impartiality and fairness. From what I have seen of him, I am +sure that the great object of his life is to teach, and when he gets a +chance to do that he does it, and for the moment forgets everything +else. You may be right in thinking that he prefers to teach young +persons, and this is natural enough, for young people are much more +likely than older ones to want to learn. Now, to prove that he doesn't +care to teach young girls just because they are girls, I will tell you +that I saw him, this very afternoon, hard at work teaching Mrs. Cristie +and Ida Mayberry at the same time, and he looked twice as happy as when +he was instructing only one of them. If there were enough people here so +that he could make up a class, and could have a sort of summer school, I +expect he would be the happiest man on earth. + +"I am afraid that is Mr. Tippengray's fault," continued Lanigan, folding +his hands in his lap and gazing reflectively at his outstretched legs. +"I am afraid that he gives too much of his mind to teaching, and +neglects other things. He is carried away by his love of teaching, and +when he finds one person, or a dozen persons who want to learn, he +neglects his best friends for that one person, or those dozen persons. +He oughtn't to do it; it isn't right--but then, after all, no man is +perfect, and I suppose the easiest way for us to get along is to stop +looking for perfection." + +Miss Calthea made no answer. She gazed out of the window as if she was +mildly impressed with a solicitude for the welfare of her garden. There +flitted into her mind a wavering, indeterminate sort of notion that +perhaps Lanigan was a better fellow than he used to be, and that if she +should succeed in her great purpose it might not be necessary that he +should go away. But still,--and here prudence stepped in front of +kindliness,--if that child's nurse remained in the neighborhood, it +would be safer if Lanigan kept up his interest in her; and if she +ultimately carried him off, that was his affair. + +Leaning forward, Miss Calthea took a match from a box on a shelf, and +handed it to Lanigan. + +"You may as well smoke if you want to," she said; "it's not likely any +one will be coming in, and I don't object when the window is open." + +Gratefully Lanigan lighted his cigar. + +"Calthy, this is truly like old times," he said. "And to finish up with +Tippengray, I'll say that if Lodloe and I had not our mind so filled +with our own businesses and projects, I'd get him to go in with me, and +help make up a class; but if I were to do that, perhaps people might say +that all I wanted was to get in with the girls." + +Here was a chance for Calthea to give her schemes a little push. + +"There is only one girl," she said, "who would be likely to take part in +that sort of thing, and that is the child's nurse at the Squirrel Inn; +but if she really is given to study, I suppose she might help you to +improve your mind, and if you are what you used to be, it will stand a +good deal of improving." + +"That's so, Calthy," said Lanigan; "that's so." He was in high good +humor at the turn the conversation had taken, but did his best to +repress his inclination to show it. "It might be well to go in for +improvement. I'll do that, anyway." Lanigan blew out a long whiff of +purple smoke. "Calthy is a deep one," he said to himself; "she wants me +to draw off that girl from the old man. But all right, my lady; you +tackle him and I will tackle her. That suits me beautifully." + +At this moment Lodloe entered the shop, and Miss Calthea Rose greeted +him with much graciousness. + +[Illustration: "CALTHY, THIS IS TRULY LIKE OLD TIMES."] + +"You must have taken a short walk," said Lanigan. "Don't you want to +wait until I finish my cigar? It's so much pleasanter to smoke here than +in the open air. Perhaps Miss Calthea will let you join me." + +Lodloe was perfectly willing to wait, but did not wish to smoke. He was +interested in what he had heard of the stock of goods which was being +sold off about as fast as a glacier moves, and was glad to have the +opportunity to look about him. + +"Do you know, Calthy," said Lanigan, "that you ought to sell Mr. Lodloe +a bill of goods?" He said this partly because of his own love of +teasing, but partly in earnest. To help Calthea sell off her stock was +an important feature of his project. + +"Mr. Lodloe shall not buy a thing," said Calthea Rose. "If he is ever in +want of anything, and stops in here to see if I have it in stock, I +shall be glad to sell it to him if it is here, for I am still in +business; but I know very well that Mr. Lodloe came in now as an +acquaintance and not as a customer." + +"Beg your pardons, both of you," cried Lanigan, springing to his feet, +and throwing the end of his cigar out of the window; "but I say, Calthy, +have you any of that fire-blaze calico with the rocket sparks that's +been on hand ever since I can remember?" + +"Your memory is pretty short sometimes," said Calthea, "but I think I +know the goods you mean, and I have seven yards of it left. Why do you +ask about it?" + +"I want to see it," said Lanigan. "There it is on that shelf; it's the +same-sized parcel that it used to be. Would you mind handing it down to +me?" + +Lanigan unrolled the calico upon the counter, and gazed upon it with +delight. "Isn't that glorious!" he cried to Lodloe; "isn't that like a +town on fire! By George! Calthea, I will take the whole seven yards." + +"Now, Lanigan," said Miss Calthea, "you know you haven't the least use +in the world for this calico." + +"I know nothing of the sort," said Lanigan; "I have a use for it. I want +to make Mrs. Petter a present, and I have been thinking of a +fire-screen, and this is just the thing for it. I'll build the frame +myself, and I'll nail on this calico, front and back the same. It'll +want a piece of binding, or gimp, tacked around the edges. Have you any +binding, or gimp, Calthy, that would suit?" + +Miss Calthea laughed. "You'd better wait until you are ready for it," +she said, "and then come and see." + +"Anyway, I want the calico," said he. "Please put it aside for me, and +I'll come in to-morrow and settle for it. And now it seems to me that if +we want any supper we had better be getting back to the inn." + +"It's not a bad idea," said Miss Calthea Rose, when she was left to +herself; "but it shall not be in a class. No, indeed! I will take good +care that it shall not be in a class." + + + + +XVII + +BANANAS AND OATS + + +When Walter Lodloe walked to Lethbury because he could not talk to Mrs. +Cristie, it could not have been reasonably supposed that his walk would +have had more practical influence on his feelings towards that lady than +a conversation with her would have had; but such was the case. + +It would have been very pleasant to talk, or walk, or chat, or stroll, +or play tennis, with her, but when he reached the quiet little village, +and wandered by himself along the shaded streets, and looked into the +pretty yards and gardens, on the profusion of old-fashioned flowers and +the cool green grass under the trees, and here and there a stone +well-curb with a great sweep and an oaken bucket, and the air of quaint +comfort which seemed to invade the interiors of those houses that were +partly opened to his view, it struck him, as no idea of the sort had +ever struck him before, what a charming and all-satisfying thing it +would be to marry Mrs. Cristie and live in Lethbury in one of these +cool, quaint houses with the quiet and shade and the flowers--at least +for a few years until his fortunes should improve. + +He had a notion that Mrs. Cristie would like that sort of thing. She +seemed so fond of country life. He would write and she would help him. +He would work in the vegetable garden, and she among the flowers. It +would be Arcadia, and it would be cheap. Even with his present income +every rural want could be satisfied. + +An infusion of feasibility--or what he looked upon as such--into the +sentimentality of such a man as Walter Lodloe generally acts as a +stiffener to his purposes. He was no more in love with Mrs. Cristie than +he had been when he left the Squirrel Inn, but he now determined, if he +saw any reason to suppose that she would accept them, to offer himself +and a Lethbury cottage to Mrs. Cristie. + +He had a good opportunity to think over this matter and come to +decisions, for his companion walked half the way home without saying a +word. + +Suddenly Lanigan spoke. + +"Do you know," said he, "that I have about made up my mind to marry the +governess?" + +"She isn't a governess," said Lodloe; "she is a nurse-maid." + +"I prefer to invest her with a higher grade," said Lanigan; "and it is +pretty much the same thing, after all. Anyway, I want to marry her, and +I believe I can do it if nobody steps in to interfere." + +"Who do you suppose would do that?" asked Lodloe. + +"Well," said Lanigan, "if the Lethbury people knew about it, and had a +chance, every man jack of them, and every woman jack, too, would +interfere, and under ordinary circumstances Calthea Rose would take the +lead; but just now I think she intends to lend me a hand--not for my +good, but for her own. If she does that, I am not afraid of all Lethbury +and the Petters besides. The only person I am afraid of is Mrs. +Cristie." + +"Why do you fear her?" asked Lodloe. + +"Well," said Lanigan, "when she was at the inn some years ago I was at +my wildest, and her husband did not like me. He was in bad health, very +touchy, and I suppose I gave him reason enough to consider me an +extremely black sheep. Of course Mrs. Cristie naturally thought pretty +much as he did, and from what you told me of the conference over my +advent, I suppose her opinions haven't changed much. She has treated me +very well since I have been here, but I have no doubt that she would +consider it her duty to let Miss Mayberry know just the sort of fellow +she thinks I am." + +"Of course she would do that," said Lodloe; "and she ought to do it." + +"No, sir," said Lanigan; "you are wrong, and I am going to prove it to +you, and you shall see that I trust you as if I had known you years +instead of days. I want you to understand that I am not the same sort of +fellow that I used to be, not by any means. I told old Petter that, so +that he might have a little practice in treating me with respect, but I +didn't give him any reasons for it, because Calthea Rose would be sure +to suspect that he knew something, and she'd worm it out of him; but I +don't believe she could worm anything out of you. When I left this +place some eighteen months ago I went down to Central America and bought +a banana farm, paying very little money down. In less than three months +I sold my land to a company, and made a very good thing out of it. Then, +thinking the company after a while might want more land, I bought +another large tract, and before the end of the year I sold that to them, +doubling my money. Then I left the tropics, fearing I might go too deep +into that sort of speculation and lose every cent I had. I traveled +around, and at last landed in Chicago, and here the money-making fever +seized me again. It is a new thing to me, and a lot more intoxicating, I +can tell you. I invested in oats, and before I knew it that blessed +grain went up until, if its stalks had been as high as its price, it +would have been over my head. I sold out, and then I said to myself: +'Now, Lanigan, my boy, if you don't want to be a beastly pauper for the +rest of your life, you had better go home.' Honestly, I was frightened, +and it seemed to me I should never be safe until I was back in Lethbury. +Look here," he said, taking from a pocket a wallet filled with a mass of +papers and a bank-book; "look at those certificates, and here is my New +York bank-book, so you can see that I am not telling you lies. + +"Now you may say that the fact of my having money doesn't prove that I +am any better than I used to be, but if you think that, you are wrong. +There is no better way to reform a fellow than to give him something to +take care of and take an interest in. That's my case now, and all I've +got I've given myself, which makes it better, of course. I'm not rich, +but I've got enough to buy out any business in Lethbury. And to go into +business and to live here are what will suit me better than anything +else, and that's not counting in Ida Mayberry at all. To live here with +her would be better luck than the biggest rise in oats the world ever +saw. Now you see where I stand. If Mrs. Cristie goes against me, she +does a cruel thing to me, and to Ida Mayberry besides." + +"Why don't you tell her the facts?" said Lodloe. "That would be the +straightforward and sensible thing to do." + +"My dear boy," said Lanigan, "I cannot put the facts into the hands of a +woman. No matter how noble or honorable she may be, without the least +intention on her part they would leak out, and if Calthea Rose should +get hold of them I should be lost. She'd drop old Tippengray like a hot +potato and stick to me like one of those adhesive plasters that have +holes in them. No, sir; I don't want Calthea Rose to think well of me. I +want her to keep on considering me as a good-for-nothing scapegrace, +and, by George! it's easy enough to make her do that. It's all in her +line of business. But I want other people to think well of me in a +general way, and when Calthea and Tippengray have settled things between +them, and are traveling on the Continent, which they certainly ought to +do, I'll start in business, and take my place as one of the leading +citizens of Lethbury; and, as things look now, all will be plain sailing +if Mrs. Cristie thinks well enough of me not to interfere between me +and Ida Mayberry. Now all I ask of you is to say a good word for me if +you can get a chance." + +"After what you have told me," said Lodloe, "I think I shall say it." + +"Good for you!" cried Lanigan. "And if I go to Calthy and ask her to +lend me the money to get a frame made for Mrs. Petter's fire-screen, +don't you be surprised. What I'm doing is just as much for her good as +for mine. In this whole world there couldn't be a better match for her +than old Tippengray, and she knows it, and wants him." + +"If there was a society for the prevention of cruelty to Greek scholars, +I don't know but that it might interfere in this case," said Lodloe. + + + + +XVIII. + +SWEET PEAS. + + +Walter Lodloe was now as much flushed with the fever of love-making as +Lanigan Beam had been flushed with the fever of money-making, but he did +not have the other man's luck. Mrs. Cristie gave him few opportunities +of making her know him as he wished her to know him. He had sense enough +to see that this was intentional, and that if he made any efforts to +improve his opportunities he might drive her away. + +As he sat at his tower window, his fingers in his hair and his mind +trying to formulate the prudent but bold thing he ought to do, a voice +came up from below. It was that of Ida Mayberry. + +"Mr. Lodloe! Mr. Lodloe!" she cried; and when he had put his head out of +the window she called to him: + +"Don't you want to come down and help us teach Mr. Tippengray to play +tennis? He has taught us so much that we are going to teach him +something." + +"Who are going to teach?" asked Lodloe. + +"Mrs. Cristie and I," said Ida. "Will you come?" + +Instantly consenting, Lodloe drew in his head, his love fever rising. + +The Greek scholar was one of the worst tennis-players in the world. He +knew nothing of the game, and did not appear capable of learning it. And +yet when Lanigan Beam appeared, having just arrived on horseback from +Romney, Mrs. Cristie would not allow the Greek scholar to give up his +place to the younger man. She insisted on his finishing the game, and +when it was over she declared the morning too warm to play any more. + +As she and Lodloe stood together for a moment, their rackets still in +their hands, Mrs. Cristie smiled, but at the same time frowned. + +"It is too provoking," she said; "I wish Douglas would wake up and +scream his very loudest. I was just on the point of asking Ida to go +with me into the garden to pick sweet peas, when Mr. Beam hands her that +horrible bunch of wild flowers, crammed full of botany, I've no doubt. +And now just look at them! Before one could say a word, there they are +on that bench, heads together, and pulling the weeds to pieces. Think of +it! Studying botany with _him_, and Mr. Tippengray on the same lawn with +her!" + +"Oh, he's too hot to teach anything," said Lodloe. "You don't seem to +approve of Mr. Beam's attentions to that young woman." + +"I do not," said she. "You know what he is as well as I do." + +"Better," said Lodloe. For a moment he paused, and then continued: "Mrs. +Cristie, I wish you would let me go into the garden with you to pick +sweet peas and to talk about Mr. Beam." + +"Mr. Beam!" she repeated. + +"Yes," said Lodloe; "I wish very much to speak to you in regard to him, +and I cannot do it here where we may be interrupted at any moment." + +As a young and pretty woman who knew her attractions, and who had made +resolutions in regard to the preponderance of social intercourse in a +particular direction, Mrs. Cristie hesitated before answering. But as a +matron who should know all about a young man who was paying very special +attention to a younger woman in her charge, she accepted the invitation, +and went into the garden with Lodloe. + +The sweet pea-blossoms crowded the tall vines which lined one side of a +path, and as she picked them he talked to her. + +He began by saying that he had noticed, and he had no doubt that she had +noticed, that in all the plain talk they had heard about Mr. Beam there +had been nothing said against his moral character except that he did not +pay his debts nor keep his promises. To this Mrs. Cristie assented, but +said that she thought these were very bad things. Lodloe agreed to this, +but said he thought that when a young man of whom even professional +slanderers did not say that he was cruel, or that he gambled, or drank, +or was addicted to low company and pursuits, had determined to reform +his careless and thoughtless life, he ought to be encouraged and helped +in every possible way. And then when she asked him what reason he had to +suppose that Mr. Beam had determined to reform, he straightway told her +everything about Lanigan, Chicago oats and all, adding that the young +man did not wish him to say anything about this matter, but he had taken +it upon himself to do so because Mrs. Cristie ought to know it, and +because he was sure that she would not mention it to any one. When Mrs. +Cristie exclaimed at this, and said that she thought that the sooner +everybody knew it the better, Lodloe told her of the state of affairs +between Calthea Rose and Lanigan Beam, and why the latter did not wish +his reform to be known at present. + +Mrs. Cristie dropped upon the ground every sweet-pea blossom she had +gathered. + +"I cannot imagine," she said, "how you can take the part of a man who +would deliberately attempt to lower himself in the eyes of one woman in +order that he might have a better chance to win another woman." + +"Mrs. Cristie," said Lodloe, "I am a young man, and I have lived much +among young men. I have seen many of them in dangerous and troubled +waters, floating down to ruin and destruction, and now and then I have +seen one who had turned and was trying to strike out for the shore. In +every case of this kind I have tried to give the poor fellow a hand and +help him get his feet on firm ground. Sometimes he jumped in again, and +sometimes he didn't, but all that was not my affair; I was bound to help +him when I saw him facing the right way, and that is just the way I feel +about young Beam. I do not approve of all his methods, but if he wants +moral support I say he ought to have it." + +Mrs. Cristie looked at the pink, blue, and purple blossoms on the +ground. "His sentiments are good and generous ones," she thought, "and I +shall not say one word against them, but Ida Mayberry shall not marry +that exceedingly slippery young man, and the good Mr. Tippengray shall +not be caught by Calthea Rose." She came to this resolution with much +firmness of purpose, but as she was not prepared to say anything on the +subject just then, she looked up very sweetly at Lodloe, and said: + +"Suppose we drop Mr. Beam." + +He looked for an instant into her eyes. + +"Gladly," he exclaimed, with an impulse like a lightning-flash, "and +speak of Walter Lodloe." + +"Of you?" she said. + +"Yes, of me," he replied; "of myself, of a man who has no scheme, no +plan, no concealments, and who only wishes you to know that he loves you +with all his heart." + +She looked at him steadfastly for a moment. + +"Was it for this," she said, "that you asked me to come with you and +pick sweet-pea blossoms?" + +"Not at all," he exclaimed; "I meant no more than I said, and thought of +no more. But the flowers we came to gather you have dropped upon the +ground." + +"They can easily be picked up again," she said. + +"Not at all," he cried, and, stepping forward, put his foot upon the +fragrant blossoms. Then with a few rapid dashes he gathered a bunch of +sweet peas and extended them towards Mrs. Cristie. + +"Will you not take these instead?" he said. + +She put her hands behind her back. + +[Illustration: "WILL YOU NOT TAKE THESE INSTEAD?"] + +"I do not mean," he said, speaking low but strongly, "that in accepting +them you accept me. I only want to know that you will talk to me of what +I said, or at any rate think of it." + +But still she kept her hands behind her back. In her heart she knew that +she wanted those flowers, but the knowledge had come so suddenly, so +unexpectedly, and so unreasonably, that she did not even look at them, +and clasped her fingers together more tightly. + +"Some one is coming," said Lodloe. "Tell me quickly, must these flowers +be dropped?" + +Steps could plainly be heard not far away. Mrs. Cristie looked up. + +"I will take one," she said; "the very smallest." + +He thrust the bunch of flowers towards her, and she hastily drew from it +one which happened to be the largest of them all. + +The person who now appeared in the garden walk was Calthea Rose. She +experienced no emotions but those of mild amusement at seeing these two +together. At present she did not care very much about either of them, +although, when she had heard of the expected coming of the young widow, +she had been afraid of her, and was prepared to dislike her. But finding +her, as she supposed, already provided with a lover, Calthea was quite +satisfied with Mrs. Cristie. She liked Lodloe on general principles, +because he was a man. Her greeting was very pleasant. It often happened +that the people whom Calthea Rose neither liked nor disliked were those +who found her the most pleasant. + +She was inclined to walk on and leave them among the sweet-pea blossoms, +but Mrs. Cristie would not allow this. She joined Calthea, and the three +went on together. When they stepped upon the open lawn, Calthea gave a +quick glance around, and the result was very satisfactory. Ida Mayberry +and Lanigan were still sitting together under a tree, and she saw Mr. +Tippengray talking to Mrs. Petter not far from the summer-house. Nothing +could be better arranged. Lanigan was on the right road, and it would be +quite as natural for her immediately to join Mrs. Petter as it would be +easy to get rid of her. + +The party separated, Lodloe going to his room and Calthea walking +towards the summer-house. She had come that day to the Squirrel Inn with +a purpose; she was going to be taught by Mr. Tippengray. In this world +we must adapt ourselves to circumstances, and she was going to adapt +herself to the Greek scholar's hobby. She was a sensible woman, and did +not for a moment purpose to ask him to teach her the dead languages, +philosophy, or science, things in which he knew she took no interest. +Indeed, she would not ask him to teach her anything, but she was going +to give him the opportunity to do so, and she was quite sure that that +would be sufficient for her purpose. + +She intended to make herself an audience of one, and to listen in a way +she knew would please him to the recital of his travels and experiences. +Of these he had often essayed to talk to her, but she had not encouraged +him. She never liked to talk upon subjects of which other people knew +more than she did, and she always endeavored to bring the conversation +into a channel where she could take an equal part. If she could lead, so +much the better. But now she was going to let Mr. Tippengray talk to her +just as much as he pleased, and tell her all he wanted to tell her. She +now knew him better than she had done before, and she had strong hopes +that by this new string she would be able to lead him from the Squirrel +Inn to Lethbury whenever she chose. + +Mrs. Petter had long been accustomed to look upon Calthea Rose as a +person whose anger would blaze up very suddenly, but would go out quite +as promptly--which was true, when Miss Calthea chose to put it out--but +she was a little surprised that Calthea, after so recently going away in +a huff, should treat Mr. Tippengray with such easy friendliness. If the +Greek scholar himself felt surprised, he did not show it, for he was +always ready to meet a cordial overture. + +Miss Calthea had just accepted an invitation to be seated in the +shade,--which she knew would very soon be followed by Mrs. Petter's +going into the house, for that good woman was seldom content to sit long +out of doors,--when up stepped Ida Mayberry. + +"Mr. Tippengray," said she in the clear, distinct way in which she +always spoke, "here is something which I have been trying to explain to +Mr. Beam, but I am afraid I haven't a quite correct idea about it +myself. Will you please read it, and tell me how it strikes you!" + +[Illustration: "I HAVE DISSECTED ONE."] + +This was too much for the patience of Calthea Rose. Her resolutions of +geniality and good nature could not stand for a moment against such an +interruption at such a time. She turned sharply upon the nurse-maid, +and, without attempting to disguise her feelings, said it seemed to her +that a person so anxious to learn would be much better employed in +attending to her business and in trying to learn something about babies +than in interrupting conversation in this impertinent way. + +"Learn something about babies!" exclaimed Miss Mayberry. "Nobody knows +more about babies than I do--I have dissected one." + +At this Mrs. Petter gave a cry of horror, and Miss Calthea stepped back, +speechless with amazement. As for the Greek scholar, he suddenly retired +to a little distance and leaned over a bench, his back to the company. +He was greatly agitated. + +Without further remark Miss Mayberry closed her book, and, with dignity, +walked back to Lanigan Beam. + + + + +XIX + +THE AROUSED ROSE + + +The soul of Miss Calthea Rose was now filled with one burning purpose, +and that was to banish from the Squirrel Inn that obtrusive and utterly +obnoxious collegiate nurse-maid who had so shamelessly admitted a desire +for surgical research in connection with the care of an infant. It was +of no use for Miss Calthea to think at this moment of her plans in +regard to Mr. Tippengray, nor indeed of anything but this one absorbing +object. Until she had rid herself of Ida Mayberry she could expect to do +nothing that she wished to do. Leaving Mr. Tippengray to the quiet +enjoyment of his agitations, Miss Calthea and Mrs. Petter immediately +set off to find Mrs. Cristie. + +"She must instantly know," said the former, "what sort of a serpent she +has in her service. If I were in her place I would never let that +creature touch my baby again." + +"Touch the baby!" exclaimed Mrs. Petter, "I wouldn't let her touch me. +When a person with such a disposition begins on infants there is no +knowing where she will stop. Of course I don't mean that she is +dangerous to human life, but it seems to me horrible to have any one +about us who would be looking at our muscles, and thinking about our +bones, and wondering if they worked together properly, and if they would +come apart easily. Ugh! It's like having a bat in the room." + +Mrs. Cristie was not in the mood to give proper attention to the +alarming facts which were laid before her by the two women, who found +her sitting by the window in her room. It had been so short a time since +she had come from the garden, and the blossom of the sweet pea, which +she still held in her hand, had been so recently picked from its vine, +that it was not easy for her to fix her mind upon the disqualifications +of nurse-maids. Even the tale that was told her, intensified by the +bitter feeling of Miss Rose, and embellished by the imagination of Mrs. +Petter, did not have the effect upon her that was expected by the +narrators. She herself had been a student of anatomy, and was still fond +of it, and if she had been able properly to consider the subject at that +moment, she might not have considered it a bad thing for Ida Mayberry to +have the experience of which she had boasted. + +But the young widow did not wish at that moment to think of her +nurse-maid or even of her baby, and certainly not to give her attention +to the tales of her landlady and the spinster from Lethbury. + +"I must admit," she said, "that I cannot see that what you tell me is so +very, very dreadful, but I will speak to Ida about it. I think she is +apt to talk very forcibly, and perhaps imprudently, and does not always +make herself understood." + +This was said with an air of abstraction and want of interest which +greatly irritated Miss Calthea. She had not even been thanked for what +she had done. Mrs. Cristie had been very civil, and was evidently trying +to be more so, but this was not enough for Miss Calthea. + +"We considered it our duty," she said, with a decided rigidity of +countenance, "to tell you what we know of that girl, and now we leave +the matter with you"; which was a falsehood, if Miss Calthea was capable +of telling one. + +Then with much dignity she moved towards the door, and Mrs. Petter +prepared to follow; but before going she turned with moist eyes towards +Mrs. Cristie, and said: + +"Indeed, indeed, you ought to be very careful; and no matter how you +look at it, she is not fit for a nurse, as everybody can see. Make up +your mind to send her away, and I'll go myself and get you a good one." + +Glancing out of the door to see that the Lethbury lady was out of +hearing, Mrs. Cristie said: + +"You are very good, Mrs. Petter, and I know you wish me well, but tell +me one thing; wasn't it Miss Rose who proposed that you should come to +me with this story about Ida!" + +"Of course I should have told you myself," said Mrs. Petter, "though I +might have taken my time about it; but Calthea did not want to lose a +minute, and said we must go right off and look for you. She was as mad +as hops any way, for we were talking to Mr. Tippengray at the time, and +Calthea does hate to be interrupted when she is talking to him. But +don't you worry yourself any more than you can help, and remember my +promise. I'll stick to it, you may count on that." + +When Mrs. Cristie had been left to herself she gave enough time to the +consideration of what had been told her to come to the following +conclusion: "She shall not have him; I have made up my mind to that. +Interrupted by Ida! Of course that is at the bottom of it." And having +settled this matter, she relapsed into her former mood, and fell to +thinking what she should do about the sweet-pea blossom. + +She thought until the supper-bell rang, and then she rose and with a +pretty smile and flush upon her face, which showed that her thoughts had +not in the least worried her, she put the sweet-pea blossom into a +little jar which she had brought from Florence, and which was just big +enough for one small flower. + +At supper Walter Lodloe was very quiet and very polite, and Mrs. +Cristie, who was opposite to him, though not at all quiet, was also very +polite, but bestowed her attention almost entirely upon Mr. Tippengray, +who sat beside her. The Greek scholar liked this, and his conversation +sparkled. + +Miss Calthea Rose, who had accepted Mrs. Petter's invitation to spend +the night,--for if ever she was going to do anything at the Squirrel +Inn, this was the time to do it,--did not like Mrs. Cristie's +politeness, and her conversation did not sparkle. In fact she was +quieter than Mr. Lodloe, and paid little heed to the chatter of her +neighbor, Lanigan Beam. This young man was dissatisfied. There was a +place at the table that was sometimes filled and sometimes not filled. +At present it was empty. + +[Illustration: MRS. CRISTIE CONSIDERS.] + +"I cannot see," said he, speaking to the company in general, "why babies +are not brought to the table. I think they ought to be taught from the +very beginning how to behave themselves at meals." + +Mr. Petter fixed his eyes upon him, and, speaking through the young man, +also addressed the company. + +"I'm not altogether in favor of having small children at the table," +said he. "Their food is different from ours, and their ways are often +unpleasant; but I do think--" + +"No, you don't," interrupted Mrs. Petter from the other end of the +table--"you don't think anything of the kind. That has all been fixed +and settled, and there's no use in bringing it up again." + +Mr. Petter looked at his wife with a little flash in his eye, but he +spoke quietly. + +"There are some things," he said, "that can be unfixed and unsettled." + +Mrs. Cristie hastened to stop this discussion. + +"As I own the only baby in the house," she said, with a smile, "I may as +well say that it is not coming to the table either by itself or in any +other way." + +A thought now tickled Mr. Tippengray. Without any adequate reason +whatever, there came before him the vision of an opossum which he once +had seen served at a Virginia dinner-table, plump and white, upon a +china dish. And he felt almost irresistibly impelled to lean forward and +ask Mr. Lodloe if he had ever read any of the works of Mr. Jonathan +Carver, that noted American traveler of the last century; but he knew it +wouldn't do, and he restrained himself. If he had thought Lodloe would +understand him he would have made his observation in Greek, but even +that would have been impolite to the rest of the company. So he kept his +joke to himself, and, for fear that any one should perceive his +amusement, he asked Mrs. Petter if she had ever noticed how much finer +was the fur of a cat which slept out of doors than that of one which had +been in the house. She had noticed it, but thought that the cat would +prefer a snug rug by the fire to fine fur. + +Calthea Rose said little and thought much. It was necessary that she +should take in every possible point in the situation, and she was doing +it. She did not like Mrs. Cristie's attention to Mr. Tippengray, because +it gave him pleasure, and she did not wish that other women should give +him pleasure; but she was not jealous, for that would have been absurd +in this case. + +But the apparent state of feeling at the table had given her an idea. +She was thinking very bitterly of Mrs. Cristie, and would gladly do +anything which would cause that lady discomfort. There seemed to be +something wrong between her and Mr. Lodloe, otherwise the two lovers +would be talking to each other, as was their custom. Perhaps she might +find an opportunity to do something here. If, for instance, she could +get the piqued gentleman to flirt a little with her,--and she had no +doubt of her abilities in this line,--it might cause Mrs. Cristie +uneasiness. And here her scheme widened and opened before her. If in +any way she could make life at the Squirrel Inn distasteful to Mrs. +Cristie, that lady might go away. And in this case the whole problem +that engrossed her would be solved, for of course the maid would go with +the mistress. + +Calthea's eyes brightened, and with a smile she half listened to +something Lanigan Beam was saying to her. + +"Yes," she thought; "that would settle the whole business. The widow is +the person I ought to drive away; then they would all go, and leave him +to me, as I had him before." + +And now she listened a little, and talked a little, but still kept on +thinking. It was really a very good thing that her feeling towards Mrs. +Cristie had so suddenly changed, otherwise she might never have thought +of this admirable scheme. + + + + +XX + +AN INGENUOUS MAID + + +Mrs. Cristie was unusually prompt that evening in going to the relief of +Ida Mayberry, but before she allowed that young woman to go down to her +supper she put a question to her. + +"What do you mean, Ida," she said, "by talking about dissecting babies? +Whatever you may have done in that line, I do not think it is very nice +to bring it forward when you have charge of a child." + +"Of course it wasn't nice," replied Ida, "and I should never have +thought of speaking of it if it had not been for that thing from +Lethbury. She makes me so angry that I don't know what I say. You ought +to hear Lanigan Beam talk about her. He has confided to me, although I +am not sure that he should have done it." + +"Of course not," said Mrs. Cristie, very promptly; "he should not have +confided anything to you." + +"Well," continued Ida, "he told me, but said he would not breathe it to +any one else, that the great object of his life at present was to rid +this neighborhood of Calthea Rose. He says she has been a plague to +this community ever since he has known her. She is always ready to make +mischief, and nobody can tell when or how she is going to do it. As for +himself, he vows she has made it impossible for him to live here; and as +he wishes to live here, he wants her to go." + +"And how does he propose to make her go?" asked Mrs. Cristie. + +"He wants her to marry Mr. Tippengray, which she is very willing to do, +and then he is quite sure that they will go away and travel, and stay +abroad for a long time. He knows that this will be the very thing that +she would want to do." + +"And I suppose," said Mrs. Cristie, "that Mr. Beam told you all this in +order that you might be induced to help on the match between Mr. +Tippengray and Miss Rose." + +"That was exactly his object," said Ida; "he said that everybody ought +to help in this good work." + +"And then, I suppose, he would like to marry you," remarked Mrs. +Cristie. + +"He hasn't said so yet," replied Miss Mayberry, "but I think he would +like to do it." + +Mrs. Cristie brought down her little fist upon the table, regardless of +her slumbering child. + +"That man is utterly without a conscience," she exclaimed. "If he hadn't +kept on engaging himself over and over again to Calthea Rose, she might +have married somebody else, and gone away long ago. He has no one but +himself to blame that she is still here to worry him and other people. +And as to his wishing to sacrifice Mr. Tippengray to his ease and +comfort, I think it is the most shameful thing I ever heard of. I hope, +Ida, that you did not encourage him in this iniquitous scheme." + +Ida laughed, but quietly--remembering the baby. + +"Not much," she said; "in fact, I have determined, if I can, to rescue +Mr. Tippengray from that clutching old thing." + +"How?" asked Mrs. Cristie, quickly. + +"By marrying him myself," said the nurse-maid. + +"Ida Mayberry!" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie. + +"Yes," said the other; "I have been considering the matter a good deal, +and I think it can be done. He is much older than I am, but that isn't +of great importance when people suit in other ways. Of course I would +not wish to marry a very old man, even if he were suitable, for I should +have to look forward to a married life so short that it would not pay; +but Mr. Tippengray was not born so dreadfully far back, and he is one of +those men who keep young for a long time. I think he likes me, and I am +sure I can easily make him like me more, if I choose. There is nobody +here that I need be afraid of, excepting you, perhaps." + +Mrs. Cristie looked at her in amazement. + +"Me!" she exclaimed. + +"Yes," said Ida; "and this is the way of it. For a time I rather liked +Lanigan Beam, for he's young and good-looking, and particularly because +he seems very much in love with me; but although he pretends to be +anxious to study, I know he is not very deep, and will probably soon +tire of that. So when my sympathy for Mr. Tippengray was fairly +aroused,--and it has been growing for some time,--it was easy enough to +drop Lanigan; but before I allowed myself to become too much interested +in Mr. Tippengray I had to consider all sides of the case. You seem to +like Mr. Tippengray very much, and of course if you really made up your +mind to prefer him to anybody else, one great object would be gained, +just the same as if I married him, and he would be saved from the hole +those two are digging for him." + +[Illustration: A MATRIMONIAL CONVERSATION.] + +"And in that case," said Mrs. Cristie, repressing a strong disposition +to laugh, "what would you do? Perhaps you would be content to take +anything that might be left." + +"I suppose you mean Mr. Lodloe," said Ida. "Well, to speak plainly, I +have never thought that I had a right to take him into consideration, +but if the field were entirely open, I would not hesitate a moment in +preferring him to either of the others." + +Now Mrs. Cristie laughed outright. + +"I could never have imagined," she said, "that a young girl such as you +are could have such practical and business-like views about matrimony." + +"Well," said the nurse-maid, "I don't see anything out of the way in my +views. I want to bring an intelligent judgment to bear upon everything I +do, and if the higher education is of any good at all, it ought to help +us to regulate our affections." + +"I have nothing to say on the subject," said Mrs. Cristie, "except that +they did not pretend to teach us that at Vassar. I don't see how you can +bring yourself to such calculations. But one part of your scheme I +approve of highly: positively you ought to drop Lanigan Beam. As to +marrying Mr. Tippengray, that is your affair, and his affair. And you +may be sure I shall not interfere in any way." + +Ida looked at her and smiled. + +"I wasn't very much afraid of that," she said, "though of course I +thought I ought to steer clear of even a possible interference; but now +I can go ahead with a clear conscience." + +Mrs. Cristie felt drawn towards this ingenuous maid. + +"Ida," she said, taking her by the hand, "as you have been so confiding +towards me, I will say to you that since you have concluded to drop Mr. +Beam your choice is decidedly restricted." + +"I am glad to hear it," said the other, warmly; "he is a good man, and I +think he has brains that you can count on. Is it all settled?" + +"Oh, no, no!" said Mrs. Cristie; "and mind, Ida, don't you say a word of +this to a living soul." + +"Oh, you needn't be afraid of that," said Miss Mayberry; "I never betray +confidences." + +"I am afraid," said Mrs Cristie to herself, as she stood alone by her +baby's bedside, "that I went a little too far. It isn't settled yet, and +it would have been better not to say anything about it. However"--and +then her thoughts went wandering. She was going down-stairs and out of +doors as soon as she had satisfied herself that Douglas could be +prudently left to his slumbers. + + + + +XXI + +TWISTED TRYSTS + + +Mrs. Cristie found the lower floor of the Squirrel Inn quite deserted. +She stopped before a window in a Norman tower and looked out. Twilight +was fading, but there was a young moon in the sky. By stepping a little +to one side she could see the moon, with the evening star twinkling not +far away from it. She did not go out, however, but slowly wandered into +a long room under the roof of a Swiss chalet. Here she went out on a +queer little balcony and sat down; but her view was cut off by an +out-jutting upper story of the old English type, with rows of +small-paned windows, and she soon came in from the balcony. There was a +light burning in the taproom, and as she passed its open door she +stopped for a moment and gazed reflectively at the row of dilapidated +stuffed squirrels, each of which had once stood guard upon the +guide-post to the inn. But she took no note of the squirrels, nor of +anything else in the quiet room, but as she stood, and instinctively put +her finger to her forehead, a resolution came. + +"I will be sensible, like Ida," she thought. "I will go out and let +things happen as they may." + +She went out into the young moonlight and, glancing across the lawn, +saw, near the edge of the bluff that commanded the western view, two +persons sitting upon a bench. Their backs were towards her, but one of +them she knew to be Calthea Rose. + +"I hope that is not poor Mr. Tippengray," said Mrs. Cristie to herself. +"If she has secured him already, and taken him out there, I am afraid +that even Ida will not be able to get him away from her. Ida must still +be at her supper. I should not have detained her so long." + +But Ida was not at her supper. As she turned towards the end of the lawn +Mrs. Cristie saw her nurse-maid slowly strolling over the grass, a man +on each side of her. They were plainly to be seen, and one man was Mr. +Tippengray and the other Lanigan Beam. The three were engaged in earnest +conversation. Mrs. Cristie smiled. + +"I need not have feared for Ida," she thought; "she must have made a +bold stroke to leave her rival in the lurch in that way, but I suppose +in order to get one man she has to take both. It is a little hard on +Miss Calthea"; and with an amused glance towards the couple on the bluff +she moved towards the gardens. Her mind was in a half-timorous and +undetermined state, in which she would have been glad to wander about by +herself and to meet nobody, or, if it so should happen, glad to meet +somebody; and wistfully, but yet timidly, she wondered which it would +be. All at once she heard a step behind her. In spite of herself she +started and flushed, and, turning, saw Mr. Petter. The sight of this +worthy gentleman was a shock to her. She had been sure he was sitting +with Calthea Rose on the bluff. If it was not he, who was it? + +[Illustration: CALTHEA HOLDS HIM WITH HER LISTENING EAR.] + +"I am glad to see you, Mrs. Cristie," said the landlord of the inn, "for +I want to speak with you. My mind is disturbed, and it is on account of +your assistant, Miss Mayberry. She has been talked about in a way that I +do not at all like. I may even say that my wife has been urging me to +use my influence with you to get her dismissed. I assured Mrs. Petter, +however, that I should use that influence, if it exists, in exactly the +opposite direction. Shall we walk on together, Mrs. Cristie, while I +speak further on the subject? I have a high opinion of Miss Mayberry. I +like her because she is what I term blooded. Nothing pleases me so much +as blooded service, and, I may add, blooded associations and +possessions. So far as I am able to have it so, my horses, my cattle, +and all my live stock are blooded. I consider my house, this inn, to be +a blooded house. It can trace its various lines of architectural +ancestry to honorable origins. The company at my house, with the +exception of Lanigan Beam,--who, however, is not a full guest, but +rather a limited inmate, ascending by a ladder to his dormitory,--are, +if you will excuse me for saying so, blooded. And that one of these +guests should avail herself of blooded service is to me a great +gratification, of which I hope I shall not be deprived. To see a vulgar +domestic in Miss Mayberry's place would wound and pain me, and I may +say, Mrs. Cristie that I have been able to see no reason whatever for +such substitution." + +Mrs. Cristie had listened without a word, but as she listened she had +been asking herself who that could be with Calthea Rose. If it was not +Walter Lodloe, who was it? And if it was he, why was he there? And if he +was there, why did he stay there? Of course she was neither jealous nor +worried nor troubled by such a thing, but the situation was certainly +odd. She had come out expecting something, she did not know exactly +what; it might not have been a walk among the sweet-pea blossoms, but +she was very certain it was not a conversation with Mr. Petter, while +Walter Lodloe sat over there in the moonlight with Calthea Rose. + +"You need not have given yourself any anxiety," she said to her +companion, "for I have not the slightest idea of discharging Ida. She +suits me admirably, and what they say about her is all nonsense; of +course I do not mean any disrespect to Mrs. Petter." + +Mr. Petter deprecatingly waved his hand. + +"I understand perfectly your reference to my wife," he said "Her mind, I +think, has been acted upon by others. Allow me to say, madam, that your +words have encouraged and delighted me. I feel we are moving in the +right direction. I breathe better." + +"How is it possible," thought Mrs. Cristie, during the delivery of this +speech, "that he can sit there, and sit, and sit, and sit, when he knows +at this hour I am always somewhere about the house or grounds, and never +in my room? Well, if he likes to sit there, let him sit"; and with this +she looked up with some vivacity into the face of her landlord and +asked him if even his pigeons and his chickens were blooded, and if the +pigs were also of good descent. As she spoke she slightly accelerated +her pace. + +Mr. Petter was very willing to walk faster, and to talk about all that +appertained to his beloved Squirrel Inn, and so they walked and talked +until they reached the garden and disappeared from view behind the tall +shrubbery that bordered the central path. + +Mrs. Petter sat on a little Dutch porch, looking out on the lawn, and +her mind was troubled. She wished to talk to Mr. Petter, and here he was +strolling about in the moonlight with that young widow. Of course there +was nothing in it, and it was perfectly proper for him to be polite to +his guests, but there were lines in politeness as well as in other +things, and they ought to be drawn before people went off walking by +themselves in the garden at an hour when most farmers were thinking +about going to bed. The good lady sat very uneasily on her little bench. +The night air felt damp to her and disagreeable; she was sure there were +spiders and other things running about the porch floor, and there were +no rounds to the bench on which she could put her feet. But she could +not bear to go in, for she had not the least idea in the world where +they had gone to. Perhaps they might walk all the way to Lethbury, for +all she knew. At this moment a man came up to the porch. It was Lanigan +Beam, and his soul was troubled. The skilful Miss Mayberry had so +managed the conversation in which she and the two gentlemen were +engaged, that its subject matter became deeper and deeper in its +character, until poor Lanigan found that it was getting very much too +deep for him. As long as he could manage to keep his head above water he +stood bravely, but when he was obliged to raise himself on the tips of +his toes, and even then found the discourse rising above his chin, +obliging him to shut his mouth and to blink his eyes, he thought it wise +to strike out for shore before he made a pitiful show of his lack of +mental stature. + +And in a very bad humor Lanigan walked rapidly to the house, where he +was much surprised to see Mrs. Petter on the little Dutch porch. + +"Why, madam," he exclaimed, "I thought you never sat out after +nightfall." + +"As a rule, I don't," the good lady answered, "and I oughtn't to now; +but the fact is--" She hesitated, but it was not necessary to finish the +sentence. Mr. Petter and Mrs. Cristie emerged from the garden and stood +together just outside its gate. He was explaining to her the origin of +some of the peculiar features of the Squirrel Inn. + +When the eyes of Mr. Beam fell upon these two, who stood plainly visible +in the moonlight, while he and Mrs. Petter were in shadow, his trouble +was dissipated by a mischievous hilarity. + +"Well, well, well!" said he, "she _is_ a woman." + +"Of course she is," said Mrs. Petter; "and what of that, I'd like to +know?" + +"Now that I think of it," said Lanigan, with a finger on the side of his +nose, "I remember that she and her young man didn't have much to say to +each other at supper. Quarreled, perhaps. And she is comforting herself +with a little flirt with Mr. Petter." + +"Lanigan Beam, you ought to be ashamed of yourself," cried the good +lady; "you know Mr. Petter never flirts." + +"Well, perhaps _he_ doesn't," said Lanigan; "but if I were you, Mrs. +Petter, I would take him out a shawl or something to put over his +shoulders. He oughtn't to be standing out there in the night wind." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind," she answered shortly, "and I oughtn't +to be out here in the night air either." + +Lanigan gazed at Mrs. Cristie and her companion. If that charming young +widow wanted some one to walk about with her in the moonlight, she could +surely do better than that. Perhaps a diversion might be effected and +partners changed. + +"Mrs. Petter," said he, "I wouldn't go in, if I were you. If you move +about you will be all right. Suppose we stroll over that way." + +"I am ready to stroll," said Mrs. Petter, in a tone that showed she had +been a good deal stirred by her companion's remarks, "but I am not going +to stroll over that way. The place is big enough for people to keep to +themselves, if they choose, and I am one that chooses, and I choose to +walk in the direction of my duty, or, more properly, the duty of +somebody else, and see that the hen-houses are shut"; and, taking +Lanigan's arm, she marched him down to the barn, and then across a small +orchard to the most distant poultry-house within the limits of the +estate. + +When Mr. Stephen Petter, allowing his eyes to drop from the pointed roof +of his high tower, saw his wife and Lanigan Beam walking away among the +trees in the orchard, he suddenly became aware that the night air was +chilly, and suggested to his companion that it might be well to return +to the house. + +"Oh, not yet, Mr. Petter," said she; "I want you to tell me how you came +to have that little turret over the thatched roof." + +She had determined that she would not go indoors while Calthea Rose and +Mr. Lodloe sat together on that bench. + +Early in the evening Miss Calthea had seen Mr. Lodloe walking by himself +upon the bluff, and she so arranged a little promenade of her own that +in passing around some shrubbery she met him near the bench. Miss +Calthea was an admirable manager in dialogue, and if she had an object +in view it did not take her long to find out what her collocutor liked +to talk about. She had unusual success in discovering something which +very much interested Mr. Lodloe, and they were soon seated on a bench +discussing the manners and ways of life in Lethbury. + +To a man who recently had been seized with a desire to marry and to live +in Lethbury, and who had already taken some steps in regard to the +marriage, this subject was one of the most lively interest, and Lodloe +was delighted to find what a sensible, practical, and well-informed +woman was Miss Rose. She was able to give him all sorts of points about +buying a building or renting houses in Lethbury, and she entered with +the greatest zeal into the details of living, service, the cost of +keeping a horse, a cow, and poultry, and without making any inconvenient +inquiries into the reasons for Mr. Lodloe's desire for information on +these subjects. She told him everything he wanted to know about +housekeeping in her native village, because she had made herself aware +that his mind was set on that sort of thing. In truth she did not care +whether he settled in Lethbury or some other place, or whether he ever +married and settled at all. All she wished was to talk to him in such a +way that she might keep him with her as long as possible. She wished +this because she liked to keep a fine-looking young man all to herself, +and also because she thought that the longer she did so the more +uneasiness she would cause Mrs. Cristie. + +She had convinced herself that it would not do for life to float too +smoothly at the Squirrel Inn. She would stir up things here and there, +but prudently, so that no matter who became disgusted and went away, it +would not be Mr. Tippengray. She was not concerned at present about this +gentleman. It was ten to one that by this time Lanigan Beam had driven +him away from the child's nurse. + +Walter Lodloe was now beginning to feel that it was quite time that his +conversation with Miss Rose, which had really lasted much longer than he +supposed, should be brought to a close. His manner indicating this, Miss +Calthea immediately entered into a most attractive description of a +house picturesquely situated on the outskirts of Lethbury, which would +probably soon be vacated on account of the owner's desire to go West. + +At the other end of the extensive lawn two persons walked backward and +forward near the edge of the trees perfectly satisfied and untroubled. +What the rest of the world was doing was of no concern whatever to +either of them. + +"I am afraid, Mr. Tippengray," said the nurse-maid, "that when your +Greek version of the literature of to-day, especially its humorous +portion, is translated into the American language of the future it will +lose much of its point and character." + +"You must remember, my dear Miss Mayberry," said the gentleman, "that we +do not know what our language will be in eight hundred or a thousand +years from now. The English of to-day may be utterly unintelligible to +the readers of that era, but that portion of our literature which I put +into imperishable and unchangeable Greek will be the same then as now. +The scholar may read it for his own pleasure and profit, or he may +translate it for the pleasure and profit of others. At all events, it +will be there, like a fly in amber, good for all time. All you have to +do is to melt your amber, and there you have your fly." + +"And a well-shriveled-up fly it would be, I am afraid," said Ida. + +Mr. Tippengray laughed. + +"Be not too sure of that," he said. "I will translate some of my Greek +version of 'Pickwick' back into English, and let you see for yourself +how my amber preserves the fly." + +"Let me do it," said Ida. "It is a long time since I read 'Pickwick,' +and therefore my translation will be a better test." + +"Capital!" cried Mr. Tippengray. "I will copy a few lines for you +to-night." + +From out an open Elizabethan window under a mansard roof, and +overlooking a small Moorish veranda, there came a sound of woe. The +infant Douglas had awakened from a troubled sleep, and with a wild and +piercing cry he made known to his fellow-beings his desire for society. +Instantly there was a kaleidoscopic change among the personages on the +grounds of the Squirrel Inn. Miss Mayberry darted towards the house; the +Greek scholar, without knowing what he was doing, ran after her for a +short distance, and then stopped; Mrs. Petter screamed from the edge of +the orchard to know what was the matter; and Lanigan ran to see. Mr. +Petter, the natural guardian of the place, pricked up his ears and +strode towards the inn, his soul filled with a sudden fear of fire. Mrs. +Cristie recognized the voice of her child, but saw Ida running, and so, +relieved of present anxiety, remained where her companion had left her. + +Walter Lodloe, hearing Mrs. Petter's voice and the running, sprang from +his seat; and seeing that it would be impossible to detain him now, and +preferring to leave rather than to be left, Miss Calthea hurried away to +see what was the matter. + + + + +XXII + +THE BLOSSOM AND THE LITTLE JAR + + +Perceiving Mrs. Cristie standing alone near the entrance to the garden, +Walter Lodloe walked rapidly towards her. As he approached she moved in +the direction of the house. + +"Will you not stop a moment?" he said. "Do not go in yet." + +"I must," she answered; "I have been out here a long while--too long." + +"Out here a long time!" he exclaimed. "You surprise me. Please stop one +moment. I want to tell you of a most interesting conversation I have had +with Miss Rose. It has animated me wonderfully." + +Considering what had occurred that afternoon, this remark could not fail +to impress Mrs. Cristie, and she stopped and looked at him. He did not +give her time to ask any questions, but went on: + +"I have been asking her about life in Lethbury--houses, gardens, +everything that relates to a home in that delightful village. And what +she has told me opens a paradise before me. I did not dream that down +in that moon-lighted valley I should be almost rich; that I could offer +you--" + +"And may I ask," she interrupted, "if you have been talking about me to +Miss Rose?" + +"Not a word of it," he answered warmly. "I never mentioned your name, +nor referred to you in any way." + +She could not help ejaculating a little sarcastically: + +"How circumspect!" + +"And now," he said, coming closer to her, "will you not give me an +answer? I love you, and I cannot wait. And oh! speak quickly, for here +comes Mrs. Petter straight towards us." + +"I do not like Lethbury," said Mrs. Cristie. + +Lodloe could have stamped his feet, in the fire of his impatience. + +"But of me, of myself," he said. "And oh! speak quickly, she is almost +here." + +"Please cease," said Mrs. Cristie; "she will hear you." + +Mrs. Petter came up panting. + +"I don't want to interrupt you, Mrs. Cristie," she said, "but really and +truly you ought to go to your baby. He has stopped crying in the most +startling and suspicious way. Of course I don't know what she has done +to him, and whether it's anything surgical or laudanum. And it isn't for +me to be there to smell the little creature's breath; but you ought to +go this minute, and if you find there is anything needed in the way of +mustard, or hot water, or sending for the doctor, just call to me from +the top of the stairs." + +"My dear Mrs. Petter," said Mrs. Cristie, "why didn't Calthea Rose come +and tell me this herself, instead of sending you?" + +"She said that she thought you would take it better from me than from +her; and after we had made up our minds about it, she said I ought not +to wait a second." + +"Well," said Mrs. Cristie, "it was very good in you to come to me, but I +do not feel in the least alarmed. It was Ida's business to quiet the +child, and I have no doubt she did it without knives or poison. But now +that you are here, Mrs. Petter, I wish to ask your opinion about +something that Mr. Lodloe has been talking of to me." + +The young man looked at her in astonishment. + +"He has been telling me," continued Mrs. Cristie, "of a gentleman he +knows, a person of education, and accustomed to society, who had +conceived the idea of living in Lethbury. Now what do you think of +that?" + +"Well," said Mrs. Petter, "if he's married, and if his wife's got the +asthma, or he's got it himself, I have heard that Lethbury is good for +that sort of complaint. Or if he's failed in business and has to live +cheap; or if he is thinking of setting up a store where a person can get +honest wash-goods; or if he has sickly children, and isn't particular +about schools, I suppose he might as well come to Lethbury as not." + +"But he has none of those reasons for settling here," said Mrs. Cristie. + +"Well, then," remarked Mrs. Petter, somewhat severely, "he must be weak +in his mind. And if he's that, I don't think he's needed in Lethbury." + +As she finished speaking the good woman turned and beheld her husband +just coming out of the house. Being very desirous of having her talk +with him, and not very well pleased at the manner in which her mission +had been received, she abruptly betook herself to the house. + +"Now, then," said Mrs. Cristie, turning to Lodloe, "what do you think of +that very explicit opinion?" + +"Does it agree with yours?" he asked. + +"Wonderfully," she replied. "I could not have imagined that Mrs. Petter +and I were so much of a mind." + +"Mrs. Cristie," said Lodloe, "I drop Lethbury, and here I stand with +nothing but myself to offer you." + +The moon had now set, the evening was growing dark, and the lady began +to feel a little chilly about the shoulders. + +"Mr. Lodloe," she asked, "what did you do with that bunch of sweet peas +you picked this afternoon?" + +"They are in my room," he said eagerly. "I have put them in water. They +are as fresh as when I gathered them." + +"Well," she said, speaking rather slowly, "if to-morrow, or next day, or +any time when it may be convenient, you will bring them to me, I think I +will take them." + +[Illustration: THE BABY AND THE SWEET-PEA BLOSSOM.] + +In about half an hour Mrs. Cristie went into the house, feeling that she +had stayed out entirely too late. In her room she found Ida reading by a +shaded lamp, and the baby sleeping soundly. The nurse-maid looked up +with a smile, and then turned her face again to her book. Mrs. Cristie +stepped quietly to the mantelpiece, on which she had set the little jar +from Florence, but to her surprise there was nothing in it. The +sweet-pea blossom was gone. After looking here and there upon the floor, +she went over to Ida, and in a low voice asked her if she had seen +anything of a little flower that had been in that jar. + +"Oh, yes," said the girl, putting down her book; "I gave it to baby to +amuse him, and the instant he took it he stopped crying, and very soon +went to sleep. There it is; I declare, he is holding it yet." + +Mrs. Cristie went softly to the bedside of the child and, bending over +him, gently drew the sweet-pea blossom from his chubby little fist. + + + + +XXIII + +HAMMERSTEIN + + +Miss Calthea Rose was up and about very early the next morning. She had +work to do in which there must be no delay or loss of opportunity. It +was plain enough that her scheme for driving away Ida Mayberry had +failed, and, having carefully noted the extraordinary length of time +which Mrs. Cristie and Mr. Lodloe spent together under the stars the +previous evening, she was convinced that it would not be easy to make +that lady dissatisfied with the Squirrel Inn. She therefore determined +to turn aside from her plans of exile, to let the child's nurse stay +where she pleased, to give no further thought to Lanigan Beam, and to +devote all her energies to capturing Mr. Tippengray. She believed that +she had been upon the point of doing this before the arrival of +intruders on the scene, and she did not doubt that she could reach that +point again. + +Miss Calthea was very restless that morning; she was much more anxious +to begin work than was anybody else on the place. She walked about the +ground, went into the garden, passed the summer-house on her way there +and back again, and even wandered down to the barnyard, where the +milking had just begun. If any one had been roaming about like herself, +she could not have failed to observe such person. But there was no one +about until a little before breakfast-time, when Mr. Petter showed +himself. + +This gentleman greeted Calthea coolly. He had had a very animated +conversation with his wife on the evening before, and had been made +acquainted with the unwarrantable enmity exhibited by this village +shopkeeper toward Mrs. Cristie's blooded assistant. He was beginning to +dislike Calthea, and he remembered that the Rockmores never liked her, +and he wished very much that she would cease to spend so much of her +time at his house. After breakfast Calthea was more fortunate. She saw +the Greek scholar walking upon the lawn, with a piece of writing-paper +in his hand. In less than five minutes, by the merest accident in the +world, Mr. Tippengray was walking across the lawn with Miss Rose, and he +had put his piece of paper into his pocket. + +She wanted to ask him something. She would detain him only a few +minutes. The questions she put to him had been suggested to her by +something she had read that morning--a most meager and unsatisfactory +passage. She held in her hand the volume which, although she did not +tell him so, had taken her a half-hour to select in Mr. Petter's book +room. Shortly they were seated together, and he was answering her +questions which, as she knew, related to the most interesting +experiences of his life. As he spoke his eyes glistened and her soul +warmed. He did not wish that this should be so. He wanted to bring this +interview to an end. He was nervously anxious to go back on the lawn, +that he might see Miss Mayberry when she came out of doors; that he +might show her the lines of "Pickwick" which he had put into Greek, and +which she was to turn back into English. + +But he could not cut short the interview. Miss Calthea was not an +Ancient Mariner; she had never even seen the sea, and she had no +glittering eye, but she held him with a listening ear, and never was +wedding guest, or any other man, held more securely. + +Minutes, quarter-hours, half-hours passed and still he talked and she +listened. She guided his speech as a watchful sailor guides his ship, +and whichever way she turned it the wind always filled his sails. For +the first ten minutes he had been ill at ease, but after that he had +begun to feel that he had never so much enjoyed talking. In time he +forgot everything but what he had to say, and it was rapture to be able +to say it, and to feel that never before had he said it so well. + +His back was towards the inn, but through some trees Miss Calthea could +see that Mr. Petter's spring wagon, drawn by the two grays, Stolzenfels +and Falkenberg, was at the door, and soon she perceived that Mr. Lodloe +was in the driver's place, and that Mrs. Cristie, with Ida Mayberry +holding the baby, was on the back seat. The place next Lodloe was +vacant, and they seemed to be waiting for some one. Then Lanigan Beam +came up. There was a good deal of conversation, in which he seemed to +be giving information, and presently he sprang up beside the driver and +they were off. The party were going for a long drive, Miss Calthea +thought, because Mrs. Petter had come out and had put a covered basket +into the back of the wagon. + +Mr. Tippengray was so absorbed in the interest of what he was saying +that he did not hear the roll of the departing wheels, and Miss Calthea +allowed him to talk on for nearly a quarter of an hour until she thought +she had exhausted the branch of the subject on which he was engaged, and +was sure the spring wagon was out of sight and hearing. Then she +declared that she had not believed that any part of the world could be +as interesting as that region which Mr. Tippengray had been describing +to her, and that she was sorry she could not sit there all the morning +and listen to him, but duty was duty, and it was necessary for her to +return to Lethbury. + +This announcement did not seem in the least to decrease the good spirits +of the Greek scholar, but his chin and his spirits fell when, on +reaching the house, he heard from Mrs. Petter that his fellow-guests had +gone off for a long drive. + +"They expected to take you, Mr. Tippengray," said his hostess, "but +Lanigan Beam said he had seen you and Miss Rose walking across the +fields to Lethbury, and so they asked him to go. I hope they'll be back +to dinner, but there's no knowing, and so I put in a basket of +sandwiches and things to keep them from starving before they get home." + +Miss Calthea was quite surprised. + +"We were sitting over yonder the whole time," she said, "very much +occupied with talking, it is true, but near enough to hear if we had +been called. I fancy that Lanigan had reasons of his own for saying we +had gone to Lethbury." + +Poor Mr. Tippengray was downcast. How much time must elapse before he +would have an opportunity to deliver the piece of paper he had in his +pocket! How long would he be obliged to lounge around by himself waiting +for Ida Mayberry to return! + +"Well," said Calthea, "I must go home, and as I ought to have been there +long ago, I am going to ask Mr. Petter to lend me a horse and buggy. +It's the greatest pity, Mr. Tippengray, that you have lost your drive +with your friends, but as you can't have that, suppose you take one with +me. I don't mind acknowledging to you that I am a little afraid of Mr. +Petter's horses, but with you driving I should feel quite safe." + +If Mr. Tippengray could have immediately thought of any good reason why +he should have staid at home that morning he would probably have given +it, but none came into his mind. After all, he might as well be driving +to Lethbury as staying there doing nothing, and there could be no doubt +that Miss Calthea was very agreeable that morning. Consequently he +accepted the invitation. + +Calthea Rose went herself to the barn to speak to Mr. Petter about the +horse, and especially requested that he would lend her old Zahringen, +whom she knew to be the most steady of beasts, but Zahringen had gone to +be shod, and there was no horse at her service except Hammerstein, and +no vehicle but a village cart. Hammerstein was a better horse than +Zahringen, and would take Calthea home more rapidly, which entirely +suited Mr. Petter. + +It may be here remarked that the barn and stables were not of Mr. +Petter's building, but in order that they might not be entirely exempt +from the influence of his architectural fancies, he had given his horses +the names of certain castles on the Rhine. + +Calthea was not altogether satisfied with the substitution of the big +black horse for the fat brown one, but she could make no reasonable +objection, and the vehicle was soon at the door. + +Mr. Tippengray was very fond of driving, and his spirits had risen +again. But he was a good deal surprised when Miss Calthea declined to +take the seat beside him, preferring to occupy the rear seat with her +back to the horse. By turning a little to one side, she said she could +talk just as well, and it was more comfortable in such a small vehicle +as a village cart to have a whole seat to one's self. + +As soon as they were in the road that ran through the woods she proved +that she could twist herself around so as to talk to her companion, and +look him in the face, quite as easily as if she had been sitting beside +him. They chatted together, and looked each other in the face, and the +Greek scholar enjoyed driving very much until they had gone a mile or +more on the main road, and had come upon an overturned wagon lying by +the roadside. At this Hammerstein and the conversation suddenly stopped. +The big black horse was very much opposed to overturned vehicles. He +knew that in some way they were connected with disaster, and he would +not willingly go near one. He stood head up, ears forward, and slightly +snorting. Mr. Tippengray was annoyed by this nonsense. + +[Illustration: MISS CALTHEA STEPS OUT.] + +"Go on!" he cried, "Get up!" Then the driver took the whip from the +socket and gave the horse a good crack. + +"Get up!" he cried. + +Hammerstein obeyed, but got up in a manner which Mr. Tippengray did not +intend. He arose upon his hind legs, and pawed the air, appearing to the +two persons behind him like a tall, black, unsteady steeple. + +When a horse harnessed to a village cart sees fit to rear, the hind part +of the vehicle is brought very near to the ground, so that a person +sitting on the back seat can step out without trouble. Miss Calthea +perceived this and stepped out. On general principles she had known that +it was safer to alight from the hind seat of a village cart than from +the front seat. + +"Don't pull at him that way," she cried from the opposite side of the +road, "he will go over backwards on top of you. Let him alone and +perhaps he will stop rearing." + +Hammerstein now stood on all his feet again, and Miss Calthea earnestly +advised Mr. Tippengray to turn him around and drive back. + +"I am not far from home now," she said, "and can easily walk there. I +really think I do not care to get in again. But I am sure he will go +home to his stable without giving you any trouble." + +But Mr. Tippengray's spirit was up, and he would not be conquered by a +horse, especially in the presence of a lady. + +"I shall make him pass it," he cried, and he brought down his whip on +Hammerstein's back with such force that the startled animal gave a great +bound forward, and then, finding himself so near the dreaded wreck, he +gave a wilder bound, and passed it. Then, being equipped with blinders, +which did not allow him to see behind him, he did not know but the +frightful wagon, its wheels uppermost, was wildly pursuing him, and, +fearing that this might be so, he galloped onward with all his speed. + +The Greek scholar pulled at the reins and shouted in such a way that +Hammerstein was convinced that he was being urged to use all efforts to +get away from the oncoming monster. He did not turn into the Lethbury +road when he came to it, but kept straight on. At such a moment the +straighter the road the better. Going down a long hill, Mr. Tippengray, +still pulling and shouting, and now hatless, perceived, some distance +ahead of him, a boy standing by the roadside. It was easy enough for the +practised eye of a country boy to take in the state of affairs, and his +instincts prompted him to skip across the road and open a gate which led +into a field recently plowed. + +Mr. Tippengray caught at the boy's idea and, exercising all his +strength, he turned Hammerstein into the open gateway. When he had made +a dozen plunges into the deep furrows and through the soft yielding +loam, the horse concluded that he had had enough of that sort of +exercise, and stopped. Mr. Tippengray, whose senses had been nearly +bounced out of him, sprang from the cart, and, slipping on the uneven +surface of the ground, tumbled into a deep furrow, from which, however, +he instantly arose without injury, except to his clothes. Hurrying to +the head of the horse he found the boy already there, holding the now +quiet animal. The Greek scholar looked at him admiringly. + +"My young friend," said he, "that was a noble thought, worthy of a +philosopher." + +The boy grinned. + +"They generally stop when they get into a plowed field," he said. "What +skeered him?" + +Mr. Tippengray briefly related the facts of the case, and the horse was +led into the road. It was soon ascertained that no material harm had +been done to harness or vehicle. + +"Young man," said Mr. Tippengray, "what will you take for your hat!" + +The boy removed his head-covering and looked at it. It was of coarse +straw, very wide, very much out of shape, without a band, and with a +hole in the crown surrounded by a tuft of broken straw. + +"Well," said he, "it ain't worth much now, but it'll take a quarter to +buy a new one." + +"Here is a quarter for your hat," said the Greek scholar, "and another +for your perspicacity. I suppose I shall find my hat on the road, but I +cannot wait for that. The sun is too hot." + +[Illustration: "WHAT SKEERED HIM?"] + +The Greek scholar now started homeward, leading Hammerstein. He liked +walking, and had no intention whatever of again getting into that cart. +If, when they reached the overturned wagon, the animal should again +upheave himself, or in any way misbehave, Mr. Tippengray intended to let +go of him, and allow him to pursue his homeward way in such manner and +at such speed as might best please him. + +[Illustration: MR. TIPPENGRAY STOPPED AND LISTENED.] + +The two walked a long distance without reaching the object of +Hammerstein's fright, and Mr. Tippengray began to think that the road +was a good deal narrower and more shaded than he had supposed it to be. +The fact was, that a road diverged from the right, near the top of the +hill, which he had not noticed when passing it in mad career, and +naturally turning to the right, without thinking very much about it, he +had taken this road instead of the one by which he had come. Our +scholar, however, did not yet comprehend that he was on the wrong road, +and kept on. + +Soon his way led through the woods, with great outstretching trees, with +wide-open spaces, interspersed here and there with masses of +undergrowth. Mr. Tippengray greatly enjoyed the shaded road, the smell +of the pines, and the flowers scattered along the edges of the wood. But +in a few minutes he would doubtless have discovered that he had gone +astray, and, notwithstanding the pleasantness of his surroundings, he +would have turned back, had he not suddenly heard voices not far away. +He stopped and listened. + +The voices came from behind a clump of evergreens close by the roadside, +and to his utter amazement Mr. Tippengray heard the voice of Lanigan +Beam saying to some one that true love must speak out, and could not be +silenced; that for days he had been looking for an opportunity, and now +that it had come she must hear him, and know that his heart was hers +only, and could never belong to anybody else. Then the voice of Ida +Mayberry, very clear and distinct, replied that he must not talk to her +in that way, that her line of life and his were entirely different. And +she was doubtless going to say more, when her companion interrupted, and +vowed with all possible earnestness that whatever line of life she chose +should be his line; that he would gladly give up every plan and purpose, +follow her in whatever direction she chose to lead, and do whatever she +wished he should do. + +Mr. Tippengray was very uneasy. The subject-matter of the conversation +he was overhearing disturbed him in a manner which he did not +understand, and he felt, moreover, that it was not proper for him to +listen to another word. He did not know what to do; if he moved forward +they would hear the wheels, and know that he had been near, and if he +attempted to back out of the vicinity there was no knowing what hubbub +he and Hammerstein might create. While standing undecided, he heard +Lanigan speak thus: + +"And as for Greek, and that sort of thing, you shall have all you want. +I'll hire old Tippengray by the year; he shall be the family pedagogue, +and we'll tap him for any kind of learning we may happen to want." + +Instantly all thought of retreat fled from the mind of the scholar; his +eyes glittered, and he was on the point of doing something, when there +came from a little distance the voice of Mrs. Cristie, loudly calling +for Ida. There was shuffling of feet, and in a few moments Mr. +Tippengray perceived the nurse-maid rapidly walking away between the +trees while Lanigan leisurely followed. + +With head erect and nostrils dilated, as if he had been excited by the +perception of something upside down, Mr. Tippengray again laid hold of +the bridle of Hammerstein, and went on. In a few minutes he emerged upon +an open space, through which flowed a little brook, and where sat Mrs. +Cristie, Lodloe, Ida Mayberry with the baby in her lap, and Lanigan +Beam. All of these persons, excepting the infant, were eating +sandwiches. + +At the sight of the little man and the tall horse, the former spattered +with mud, smeared with the earth of the plowed field, and crowned with a +misshapen hat with the expansive hole in the top, the sandwich-eaters +stopped eating, gazed open-eyed, and then burst out laughing. Mr. +Tippengray did not laugh; his eyes still glittered. + +It was half an hour before the tale was told, order restored, and Mr. +Tippengray had washed his face and hands in the brook and taken +refreshment. Then he found himself alone with Mrs. Cristie. + +"Truly you have had a hard time," said she, kindly. + +"Madam," answered the Greek scholar, "you are entirely correct. This has +been an unfortunate day for me. I have been cunningly entrapped, and +heartlessly deserted; I have been nearly frightened out of my wits; have +had my soul nearly burned out of my body, and have been foully +besmirched with dirt and mud. But, worse than all, I have heard myself +made the subject of contempt and contumely." + +"How is that?" exclaimed Mrs. Cristie. "I do not understand." + +"I will quickly make it plain to you," said the indignant scholar, and +he related the conversation he had overheard. + +"What a shameful way to speak of you, Mr. Tippengray!" cried Mrs. +Cristie. "I did not suppose that Mr. Beam would dare to say such things +to one whom he knew to be your friend. I have no doubt that if I had not +called Ida at that moment, you would have heard her resent that +disrespectful speech." + +"I hope so; with all my heart, I hope so," replied the Greek scholar. + +He said this with so much feeling that his companion looked at him a few +moments without speaking. + +"Mr. Tippengray," she said presently, "it is time for us to go home. How +would you like to take Ida Mayberry back in your cart?" + +The brightness in the eyes of the Greek scholar changed from the glitter +of indignation to gleams of joy. + +"Madam," said he, "I should like it of all things. It would remove from +the anticipated pleasures of this day the enormous Alpha privative which +has so far overshadowed them." + +The young widow did not exactly comprehend this answer, but it was +enough to know that he was glad to accept the opportunity she offered +him. No sooner had he spoken than Mr. Tippengray remembered the hazards +to which he was exposing himself by again taking the reins of +Hammerstein, but not for an instant did he think of drawing back. His +desire to take Ida Mayberry away from that fellow, and have her by +himself, overpowered fear and all other feelings. + +Mrs. Cristie's arrangement for the return pleased everybody except +Lanigan Beam. The nurse-maid was perfectly willing to go in the village +cart, and was not at all afraid of horses, and Walter Lodloe had no +objection to sit on the back seat of the wagon with his lady-love, and +help take care of the baby. Lanigan made few remarks about the +situation; he saw that he had made a mistake, and was being punished for +it, and without remonstrance he took the front seat and the reins of the +grays. + + + + +XXIV + +TRANSLATIONS + + +Lanigan Beam had no more fear of Mr. Tippengray as a rival than he would +have had of Mr. Petter, but the apportionment of companions for the +return trip nettled him a good deal, and, as a consequence of this, the +pair of grays traveled homeward at a smarter pace, and Hammerstein and +the village cart were soon left far behind. + +The road was not the one by which Mr. Tippengray had arrived on the +scene, but led through the woods to the main road, which it joined at a +point not far from the sign of the Squirrel Inn. Hammerstein traveled +very quietly and steadily of his own accord, slackening his gait at the +rough places, thus giving Mr. Tippengray every opportunity for an +uninterrupted converse with his fellow scholar; and he lost no time in +submitting to her his Greek version of the lines from "Pickwick." + +"I am very glad you have it with you," said Ida, "for I put my Greek +dictionary in my pocket this morning, when I first came down, hoping to +have a chance to do some translating, and what better chance could I +have than this?" + +[Illustration: THE TRANSLATION.] + +Drawing out her dictionary and a little blank-book she immediately began +her labors. Mr. Tippengray did not altogether like this. He felt an +intense and somewhat novel desire to converse with the young woman on no +matter what subject, and he would have preferred that she should +postpone the translation. But he would not interrupt the engrossing +occupation into which she now plunged with ardor. Rapidly turning +backward and forward the leaves of the little dictionary, and tapping +her front teeth with her pencil as she puzzled over the correlation of +Greek and English words and expressions, she silently pursued her work. + +Although he did not talk to her, it was very pleasant for Mr. Tippengray +to sit and look upon this fair young scholar. At her request he made +the tall steed walk, in order that her pencil might not be too much +joggled, slyly thinking, the while, that thus the interview would be +prolonged. The air was warm and balmy. Everything was still about them. +They met no one, and every minute Mr. Tippengray became more and more +convinced that, next to talking to her, there could be no greater joy in +life than basking in the immediate atmosphere of this girl. + +At last she shut up her dictionary. + +"Now, then!" she exclaimed, "I have translated it, and I assure you that +it is a fair and square version, for I do not in the least remember the +original paragraph." + +"I have the original here," said Mr. Tippengray, pulling the second +volume of "Pickwick" from his pocket, "and we will compare it with your +translation, if you will be so good as to read it. You do not know with +what anxious enthusiasm I await the result." + +"And I, too," said Ida, earnestly. "I do not think there could be a +better test of the power of the Greek language to embalm and preserve +for future generations the spirit of Dickens. Now I will read, and you +can compare my work with the original as I go on." + +The translation ran thus: + + "For the reason that he who drives a vehicle of the + post-road holds high office above the masses," to him + answered the Sire Weller with eyes affiliated; "for the + reason that he who drives a vehicle of the post-road acteth + at will, undoubted, humanity otherwise prohibited. For the + reason that he who drives a vehicle of the post-road is able + to look with affection on a woman of eighty far distant, + though it is not publicly believed that in the midst of any + it is his desire to wed. Among males which one discourseth + similarly, Sammy?" + +"I wrote Sammy," she explained, "because I remembered that is the way +the name is used in English." + +Mr. Tippengray raised his eyebrows very high, and his chin slowly began +to approach the sailor knot of his cravat. + +"Oh, dear," he said, "I am afraid that this would not express to future +ages the spirit and style of Dickens. The original passage runs thus," +and he read: + + "'Cos a coachman's a privileged individual," replied Mr. + Weller, looking fixedly at his son. "'Cos a coachman may do + without suspicion wot other men may not; 'cos a coachman may + be on the very amicablest terms with eighty mile o' females + and yet nobody thinks that he ever means to marry any vun + among 'em. And wot other man can say the same, Sammy?" + +"They are not much alike, are they?" said Miss Mayberry. "I think if +Dickens could read my translation he would not in the least recognize +it. The fact is, Mr. Tippengray, I do not believe that your method of +Greek pickling will answer to preserve our fiction for the future. It +may do for histories and scientific work, but when you come to dialect +and vernacular, if you once get it into Greek you can never get it back +again as it used to be." + +"That will be a great pity," said Mr. Tippengray, "for fiction makes up +such a large part of our literature. And it does seem that good English +might be properly translated into good Greek." + +"Oh, it isn't the translation," said Ida; "that is all easy enough: it's +the resurrection back into the original condition. Look at the prophet +Enoch. He was translated, but if it were possible now to bring him back +again, he would not be the same Enoch, you know." + +"One might infer from that simile," said the Greek scholar, smiling, +"that when a bit of English gets into Greek it goes to heaven, and would +better stay there. Perhaps you are right in what you say about fiction. +Anyway it is very pleasant to talk with one who can appreciate this +subject, and reason sensibly about it." + +Mr. Tippengray shut up his book and put it back into his pocket, while +his companion tore her translation from her note-book and scattered it +in little bits along the road. + +"I would not like it," she said, "if any one but you were to read that +and know I did it." + +Mr. Tippengray's eyes and Mr. Tippengray's heart turned towards her. +Those words, "any one but you," touched him deeply. He had a feeling as +if he were being translated into something better than his original +self, and that this young woman was doing it. He wished to express this +in some way, and to say a good many other things which came crowding +upon his mind, but he expressed nothing and said none of these things. +An exclamation from Ida caused him to look in front of him, and there +was the spring wagon with the horses standing still. + +Mrs. Cristie turned round and called to them: + +"Mr. Beam says that there are some by-roads just ahead of us, and as he +was afraid you might turn into one and get lost, he thought it better to +wait for you." + +"Nonsense!" cried Miss Mayberry; "there was no danger that we would turn +into any by-ways. The road is plain enough." + +"I'm not so sure of that," said Mr. Tippengray to himself. "I think that +just now I was on the point of turning into a by-way." + +The wagon now moved slowly on, and the village cart followed. Mr. +Tippengray would gladly have dropped a good deal behind, but he found +this not practicable, because whenever he made Hammerstein walk +Stolzenfels and Falkenberg also walked. It was plain enough that Lanigan +Beam did not wish any longer to cut himself off from the society of the +lady to whom he had made a proposal of marriage, and whenever he could +find a pretext, which was not difficult for Lanigan, he called back to +her to direct her attention to something, or to ask her opinion about +something. Miss Mayberry did not respond with any readiness, but the +persistence of the young man succeeded in making the conversation a +general one, and the Greek scholar made no attempt to explain to the +nurse-maid that he was in course of translation. + +Dinner was very late at the Squirrel Inn that day, and Mrs. Petter gave +her guests a scolding. But this did not in the least disturb the mind of +Mr. Tippengray, who was well used to being scolded for coming late to +his meals. But something else disturbed him, and for nearly an hour +after dinner he wandered about the lawn and around the house. He wanted +very much to see Miss Mayberry again, and to tell her the things he did +not have a chance to tell her on the road, and he also very much wished +to prevent that rascally Lanigan Beam from getting ahead of him, and +continuing his broken-off interview with the lady. + + + + +XXV + +MR. TIPPENGRAY MOUNTS HIGH + + +It seemed as if every one must be taking an afternoon nap, for the Greek +scholar had the grounds to himself. When he began to be tired of +walking, he seated himself where he had a good view of the house, and +presently saw Ida Mayberry at her window, with the young Douglas in her +arms. Almost at the same moment he saw Lanigan Beam approaching from the +direction of the barns. + +"If he turns his steps towards that window," thought the scholar, "I +shall see to it that I am there before him." + +But the young man did not walk towards the front of the house, but went +in the direction of his room, where the ladder stood leaning against the +open window. Mounting this, he disappeared within. + +The eyes of Mr. Tippengray flashed, and his face was lighted by a bright +thought. In an instant he was on his feet and running lightly towards +Lanigan's room. Cautiously and silently he approached the ladder; +deftly, and without making the least noise, he moved the upper end of +it from the side of the building, and then, putting it on his shoulder, +gently walked away with it. + +Around to the front of the house Mr. Tippengray carried the ladder, and +boldly placed it nearly upright, under Miss Mayberry's window. In +astonishment that young lady looked out, and asked him what in the world +he was doing. + +"I want to speak to you," said Mr. Tippengray, "on a subject of great +importance, and I cannot afford to lose this opportunity. May I come +up?" + +"Certainly," said Ida. + +In a moment the Greek scholar was standing on one of the upper rounds of +the ladder, with his head and shoulders well above the window-sill. +Little Douglas was delighted to see him, and, taking hold of his +outstretched forefinger, gave it a good wag. + +"It was a capital notion," said Mr. Tippengray, "for me to take this +ladder. In the first place, it enables me to get up to you, and +secondly, it prevents Lanigan Beam from getting down from his room." + +Miss Mayberry laughed, and the baby crowed in sympathy. + +"Why shouldn't he get down, Mr. Tippengray?" said she. + +"If he did," was the answer, "he would be sure to interfere with me. He +would come here, and I don't want him. I have something to say to you, +Miss Mayberry, and I must be brief in saying it, for bystanders, no +matter who they might be, would prevent my speaking plainly. I have +become convinced, Miss Mayberry, that my life will be imperfect, and +indeed worthless, if I cannot pass it in prosecuting my studies in your +company, and with your assistance. You may think this strong language, +but it is true." + +[Illustration: THE PROPOSAL.] + +"That would be very pleasant," said the nurse-maid, "but I do not see +how you are going to manage it. My stay here will soon come to an end, +for if Mrs. Cristie does not return to the city in a week or two, I must +leave her. I am a teacher, you know, and before the end of the summer +vacation, I must go and make my arrangements for the next term, and then +you can easily see for yourself that when I am engaged in a school I +cannot do very much studying with you." + +"Oh, my dear young lady," cried Mr. Tippengray, "you do not catch my +idea. I am not thinking of schools or positions, and I do not wish you +to think of them. I wish you to know that you have translated me from a +quiet scholar into an ardent lover, and that it would be of no use at +all to try to get me back into my original condition. If I cannot be the +man I want to be, I cannot be the man I was. I ask you for your hands, +your heart, and your intellect. I invite you to join me in pursuing the +higher education until the end of our lives. Take me for your scholar +and be mine. I pray you give me--" + +"Upon--my word!" was the ejaculation, loud and distinct, which came up +from the foot of the ladder, and stopped Mr. Tippengray's avowal. Miss +Mayberry instantly thrust her head out of the window, and Mr. Tippengray +looked down. It was Calthea Rose who had spoken, and she stood under the +window in company with Mr. and Mrs. Petter. A short distance away, and +rapidly approaching, were Mrs. Cristie and Walter Lodloe. + +"Here is gratitude!" cried Calthea, in stinging tones. "I came all the +way back from Lethbury to see if anything had happened to you and that +horse, and this is what I find. The top of a ladder and a child's nurse! +Such a disgrace never fell on this county." + +"Never, indeed," cried Mrs. Petter. "I wouldn't have believed it if +angels had got down on their knees and sworn it to me. Come down from +that ladder, Mr. Tippengray! Come down from it before I make my husband +break it to bits beneath you. Come down, I say!" + +"Mr. Tippengray," said Mr. Petter, in solemn voice, "in the name of the +laws of domesticity and the hearthstone, and in the honorable name of +the Squirrel Inn, I command you to come down." + +There was but one thing for Mr. Tippengray to do, and that was to come +down, and so down he came. + +"Disgraceful!" cried Miss Rose; "you ought to be ashamed to look anybody +in the face." + +"Never would I have believed it," exclaimed Mrs. Petter. "Never, never, +if I had not seen it with my own eyes, and in broad daylight too!" + +What Mr. Tippengray would have said or done is not known, for at that +instant Ida Mayberry leaned far out of the window and claimed the +attention of the company. + +"Look here!" she cried, "we have had enough of this. Mr. Tippengray has +nothing to be ashamed of, and he had a perfect right to climb up this +ladder. I want you all to understand that we are engaged to be married." + +This announcement fell like a sudden downpour upon the people beneath +the window, and they stood silenced; but in an instant the Greek scholar +bounded up the ladder, and, seizing Miss Mayberry by the hand, kissed it +rapturously. + +"I may have been a little abrupt," she said, in a low voice, "but I +wasn't going to stand here and let our affair be broken off like that." + +At Mr. Tippengray's spontaneous exhibition of tender affection, Mr. +Petter involuntarily and reverently took off his hat, while Mrs. Cristie +and Lodloe clapped their hands. The lover, with radiant face, now +descended the ladder and received congratulations from everybody except +Miss Calthea, who, with her nose pointed about forty-five degrees above +the horizon, walked rapidly to the post where she had tied her horse. + +[Illustration: MR. PETTER TAKES OFF HIS HAT.] + +Miss Mayberry now appeared, with the baby in her arms, and an expression +of great satisfaction upon her face. Mrs. Cristie relieved her of the +first, but the latter increased as the little company heartily shook +hands with her. + +[Illustration: LANIGAN BEAM WANTS HIS LADDER.] + +"I had supposed it would be different with you, Mr. Tippengray," said +Mrs. Petter, "but people ought to know their own minds, and I have no +doubt that Calthea would have often made it very hot for you, especially +if you did not turn over an entirely new leaf in regard to coming to +your meals. But there must be no more laddering; whether it is right or +not, it does not look so. When Ida isn't tending to the child, and it's +too wet to be out of doors, you can have the little parlor to +yourselves. I'll have it dusted and aired." + +"Excuse me," said Lodloe, coming forward, "but if you have no further +use for that ladder, Mr. Tippengray, I will take it to Lanigan Beam, who +is leaning out of his window, and shouting like mad. I presume he wants +to come down, and as I have locked the door of my room he cannot descend +in that way." + +"Poor Lanigan!" ejaculated Mrs. Petter, "he doesn't know what he's +coming down to. But no matter what he undertakes he is always a day +after the fair." + +Mr. Petter drew the Greek scholar aside. + +"My dear sir," he said expressively, "I have a special reason for +congratulating you on your decision to unite your blood and culture with +those of another. Had you been entrapped by the wiles of our Lethbury +neighbor, a person for whom I have but slight regard, and who is looked +upon with decided disapprobation by those as competent to judge as the +Rockmores of Germantown, I am afraid, my dear sir, I should have been +compelled to sever those pleasant relations which for so many months +have held us together, and which I hope may continue for years." + +"My good Petter," said Mr. Tippengray, "I have a pleasant house in town, +which I hope to occupy with my wife this winter, and I should like it +very much if you and Mrs. Petter would make us a visit there, and, if +you wish, I'll have some of the Germantown Rockmores there to meet you." + +The landlord of the Squirrel Inn stepped back in amazement. + +"Do you mean to say," he exclaimed, "that you know the Rockmores?" + +"The way of it is this," replied the Greek scholar; "you see, my mother +was a Purley, and on the maternal side she belonged to the +Kempton-Tucker family, and you know that the head of that family married +for his second wife a Mrs. Callaway, who was own sister to John Brent +Norris, whose daughter married a Rockmore. So you see we are connected." + +"And you never told me!" solemnly exclaimed Mr. Petter. + +"No," said his companion; "there are pleasures of revelation, which are +enhanced by a delay in realization, and besides I did not wish to place +myself in a position which might, perchance, subordinate some of your +other guests." + +"I must admit that I am sorry," said Mr. Petter; "but your action in the +matter proves your blood." + +And now, Mrs. Cristie having finished her very earnest conversation with +Ida, the newly betrothed pair walked together towards the bluff from +which there was such a beautiful view of the valley below. + + + + +XXVI + +ANOTHER SQUIRREL IN THE TAP-ROOM + + +"If I had known," said Lanigan Beam, as late that night he sat smoking +with Walter Lodloe in the top room of the tower, "that that old rascal +was capable of stealing my ladder in order to make love to my girl, I +should have had a higher respect for him. Well, I'm done for, and now I +shall lose no time in saying good-by to the Squirrel Inn and Lethbury." + +"Why so?" asked his companion in surprise. "Was the hope of winning Miss +Mayberry the only thing that kept you here?" + +"Oh, no," said Lanigan; "it was the hope that Calthea might get old +Tippengray. You will remember I told you that, but as she cannot now go +off with him, there is nobody for her to go off with, and so I must be +the one to travel." + +Lodloe laughed. "Under the circumstances then," he said, "you think you +couldn't stay in this neighborhood?" + +"Not with Calthea unattached," replied Lanigan. "Oh, no! Quite +impossible." + +When Miss Rose had been convinced that all her plans had come to naught, +earnestly and with much severity and singleness of purpose she +considered the situation. It did not take her long to arrive at the +conclusion that the proper thing for her to do was to marry Lanigan +Beam, and to do it without loss of time. Having come to this decision, +she immediately began to make arrangements to carry it into effect. + +It was utterly vain and useless for Lanigan to attempt to get away from +her. She came upon him with a sweet assurance which he supposed had +vanished with her earlier years; she led him with ribbons which he +thought had faded and fallen into shreds long, long ago; she clapped +over his head a bag which he supposed had been worn out on old +Tippengray; and she secured him with fetters which he imagined had long +since been dropped, forgotten, and crumbled into dust. He did not go +away, and it was not long before it was generally understood in the +neighborhood that, at last, he and Calthea Rose were to be married. + +Shortly after this fact had been made public, Lanigan and Walter Lodloe, +who had not seen each other for some days, were walking together on the +Lethbury road. + +"Yes," said the former, "it is a little odd, but then odd things are all +the time happening. I don't know whether Calthea has taken me in by +virtue of my first engagement to her, or on some of the others. Or it +may be that it is merely a repeal of our last breaking off. Anyway, I +found she had never dreamed of anything but marrying me, and though I +thought I had a loose foot, I found I hadn't, and there's an end of it. +Besides, I will say for Calthea that her feelings are different from +what I supposed they were. She has mellowed up a good deal in the last +year or two, and I shall try to make things as easy for her as I can. + +"But one thing is certain; I shall stick to my resolution not to tell +her that I have made money, and have reformed my old, loose ways of +living and doing business. All that I am going to keep as a sort of +saving fund that I can draw on when I feel like it, and let it alone +when I don't feel like it. We are going to travel,--she is wild on that +point,--and she expects to pay the piper. She can't do it, but I shall +let her think she's doing it. She takes me for a rattling scapegrace, +and I needn't put on the sober and respectable unless I choose to; and +when I do choose it will be a big card in my hand. By George! sir, I +know Calthea so well that I can twist her around my finger, and I am not +sure, if I had got the other one, that I could have done that. It's much +more likely that I should have been the twisted one." + +"What is Miss Rose going to do about her business?" asked Lodloe. + +"Oh, that's to be wound up with a jerk," answered his companion. "I've +settled all that. She wanted to hire somebody to take charge of the +store while we're gone, and to sell out the things on her old plan; but +that's all tomfoolery. I have engaged a shopkeeper at Romney to come out +and buy the whole stock at retail price, and I gave him the money to do +it with. That's good business, you know, because it's the same as money +coming back to me, and as for the old oddments, and remnants, and +endments of faded braids and rotten calicoes, it's a clear profit to be +rid of them. If the Romney man sends them to be ground up at the +paper-mill, he may pay himself for the cartage and his time. So the shop +will be shut day after to-morrow, and you can see for yourself that my +style of business is going to be of the stern, practical sort; and, +after all, I don't see any better outlook for a fellow than to live a +married life in which very little is expected of him, while he knows +that he has on tap a good bank-account and a first-class moral +character." + +The autumn was a very pleasant one, and as there was no reason for doing +anything else, the guests at the Squirrel Inn remained until late in the +season. Therefore it was that Miss Calthea was enabled to marry and +start off on her wedding tour before the engaged couples at the inn had +returned to the city, or had even fixed the dates for their weddings. +Calthea was not a woman who would allow herself to be left behind in +matters of this nature. From her general loftiness and serenity of +manner, and the perfect ease and satisfaction with which she talked of +her plans and prospects with her friends and acquaintances, no one could +have imagined that she had ever departed from her original intention of +becoming Mrs. Lanigan Beam. + +In the midst of her happiness she could not help feeling a little sorry +for Ida Mayberry, and this she did not hesitate to say to some persons +with whom she was intimate, including Mrs. Petter. To be sure, she had +been informed as to the year of Mr. Tippengray's birth, which, if +correct, would make him forty-six; but it was her private opinion that +sixty would be a good deal nearer the mark. However, if the young +child's nurse should become an early widow, and be thrown upon her own +resources, she, for one, would not withhold a helping hand. But she +earnestly insisted that not a word she said on this subject should ever +be breathed into another ear. + +When Ida Mayberry heard what Calthea had said about her and Mr. +Tippengray's age, she was very angry, and declared she would not go to +the old thing's wedding, which was to take place the next day in the +Lethbury church. But, after thinking over the matter, she changed her +mind, and concluded that at times like this we should all be pleasant +and good-natured towards one another; so she sat down and wrote a letter +to Miss Calthea, which she sent to the expectant bride that very +afternoon. The missive ran thus: + + + MY DEAR MISS ROSE: + + I have seen so little of Mr. Beam in the last few days that + I have had no opportunity to express to him some thanks + which are due him from Mr. Tippengray and myself. I am + therefore obliged to ask you, my dear Miss Rose, to give to + him a message from me, which, as it is one of gratitude, you + will be pleased to deliver. + + Not long ago, when Mr. Beam took occasion to tell me that he + loved me and asked me to marry him,--I remember now that it + was on the very day that Mr. Petter's horse behaved so badly + and, unfortunately for you, tipped you out of the tail end + of the little cart, and made it necessary for you to give up + both it and Mr. Tippengray to me,--he (Mr. Beam) was so good + as to say that if I would agree to be his wife and still + wished the instructive companionship of Mr. Tippengray, he + would take that gentleman into his family as a tutor. Now + this, as you will readily acknowledge, my dear Miss Rose, + was very good in Mr. Beam, and in return I wish you to say + to him, both from Mr. Tippengray and from me, that if there + should ever be any position in our gift which he is capable + of filling, all he has to do is to ask for it. + + Most sincerely yours, + + Ida Mayberry. + + + +And the next day in church no face expressed a more delighted interest +in the nuptial ceremonies than that of the pretty Miss Mayberry. + + * * * * * + +It was late in November, and the weather was getting decidedly cool. +There was a fire in the tap-room of the Squirrel Inn, and also one in +the little parlor, and by this, after supper, sat Mr. and Mrs. Petter. + +The guests were all gone; Mr. and Mrs. Tippengray, who had had a quiet +wedding in New York, were on their way to Cambridge, England, where the +bride would spend a portion of the honeymoon in the higher studies there +open to women, while Mrs. Cristie and Mr. Lodloe were passing happy days +in the metropolis preparing for their marriage early in the new year. +The Beams were in Florida, where, so Lanigan wrote, they had an idea of +buying an orange grove, and where, so Calthea wrote, she would not live +if they gave her a whole county. + +The familiar faces all being absent, and very few people dropping in +from Lethbury or the surrounding neighborhood, the Squirrel Inn was +lonely, and the hostess thereof did not hesitate to say so. As for the +host, he had his books, his plans, and his hopes. He also had his +regrets, which were useful in helping him to pass his time. + +"What in the world," asked Mrs. Petter, regarding an object in her +husband's hands, "made you take down that miserable, dilapidated little +squirrel from the sign-post? You might as well have let him stay there +all winter, and put up a new one in the spring." + +"This has been a most memorable year," replied her husband, "and I wish +to place this squirrel in his proper position on the calendar shelf of +the tap-room before the storms and winds of winter have blown the fur +from his body and every hair from his upturned tail. I have killed and +prepared a fresh squirrel, and I will place him on the sign-post in a +few days." + +"If you would let that one stay until he was a skin skeleton, he would +have given people a better idea of the way this year has turned out than +he does now," said Mrs. Petter. + +"How so?" he asked, looking at her in surprise. + +"Don't we sit here stripped of every friendly voice?" she said. "Of +course, it's always more lonesome in the winter, but it's never been so +bad as this, for we haven't even Calthea to fall back on. Things didn't +turn out as I expected them to, and I suppose they never will, but it +always was my opinion, and is yet, that nothing can go straight in such +a crooked house. This very afternoon, as I was coming from the +poultry-yard, and saw Lanigan's ladder still standing up against the +window of his room, I couldn't help thinking that if a burglar got into +that room, he might suppose he was in the house; but he'd soon find +himself greatly mistaken, and even if he went over the roof to Mr. +Lodloe's room, all he could do would be to come down the tower stairs, +and then he would find himself outside, just where he started from." + +"That would suit me very well," remarked Mr. Petter. + +"If this house had been built in a plain, straightforward way," his wife +continued, "with a hall through the middle of it, and the rooms alike on +both sides, then things might have happened in a straightforward way, +and not all mixed up, as they were here this summer. Nobody could tell +who was going to marry who, and why they should do it, if they ever +did." + +Mr. Petter arose and, still holding the stuffed squirrel in his hand, +stood with his back to the fire. + +"It strikes me, Susan," said he, looking reflectively in front of him, +"that our lives are very seldom built with a hall through the middle and +the rooms alike on both sides. I don't think we'd like it if they were. +They would be stupid and humdrum. The right sort of a life should have +its ups and downs, its ins and outs, its different levels, its outside +stairs and its inside stairs, its balconies, windows and roofs of +different periods and different styles. This is education. These things +are the advantages that our lives get from the lives of others. + +"Now, for myself, I like the place I live in to resemble my life and +that of the people about me. And I am sure that nothing could be better +suited to all that than the Squirrel Inn. + +"All sorts of things come into our lives, and when a thing like Lanigan +Beam comes into it, what could be better than to lodge it in a place +where it can go no farther? and if something of a high order, something +backed up by Matthew Vassar, but which is a little foreign, and not +altogether of our kind, how well to be able to put that in a noble and +elevated position, where it can have every advantage and can go and +come, without being naturalized or made a part of us. Think, too, how +high excellence can be worthily lodged, with the comforts of the North +and the beauties of the South, as in the case of Mrs. Cristie's rooms; +and how blooded service is not forced into a garret, but is quartered in +a manner which shows that the blood is recognized and the service +ignored." + +"If I had known what she was when she came," remarked Mrs. Petter, "I +should have put her on the top floor." + +"Think, too," continued the landlord, "of noble sentiments, high +aspirations, and deep learning, lodged of their own free will--for it +appears that there was no necessity for it--so near as to answer every +need of social domesticity, and yet in a manner so free and apart as to +allow undisturbed and undisturbing reveries beneath the stars, and such +other irregular manifestations of genius as are common to the gifted." + +"Such as coming late to meals," interpolated the lady. + +"Think, too," Mr. Petter went on to say, speaking in a more earnest +voice--"think, too, of a life or a house in which there is no place for +a Calthea Rose; in which she cannot exist, and which, I am happy to say, +she has always opposed and condemned." + +Mrs. Petter slightly yawned. + +"All that sounds very well," she said, "and there may be truth in it; +but, after all, here we are alone by ourselves, and, so far as I can +see, no chance of being less lonely next season, for your rules keep +out all common folks, and we can't count on the people who were here +this year coming again." + +Mr. Petter smiled. "There is no reason to suppose," he said, "that next +season we shall not be favored with the company of the Rockmores of +Germantown." + +And with that he walked away to place in its proper position on the +shelf in the tap-room the squirrel of the past season. + +[Illustration] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Squirrel Inn, by Frank R. Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SQUIRREL INN *** + +***** This file should be named 28662.txt or 28662.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/6/6/28662/ + +Produced by Bethanne M. 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