eben holden-第46部分

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　could　hardly　help　laughing　as　melancholy　as　I　felt。

'Now　you　go　if　bed；'he　said；　rising　and　gently　touching　my　head　with　his　hand。　'There's　things　goin't'happen；　boy　…　take　my　word　fer　it。　

I　got　in　bed　late　at　night　but　there　was　no　sleep　for　me。　In　the　still　hours　I　lay　quietly；　planning　my　future；　for　now　I　must　make　myself　worth　having　and　as　soon　as　possible。

Some　will　say　my　determination　was　worthy　of　a　better　lover　but；　bless　you！　I　have　my　own　way　of　doing　things　and　it　has　not　been　always　so　unsuccessful。

Chapter　31

Hope　was　not　at　breakfast　with　us。

'The　child　is　worn　out；'said　Mrs　Fuller。　'I　shall　keep　her　in　bed　a　day　or　two。　

'Couldn't　I　see　her　a　moment？'I　enquired。

'Dear！　no！'said　she。　'The　poor　thing　is　in　bed　with　a　headache。'If　Hope　had　been　ill　at　home　I　should　have　felt　free　to　go　and　sit　by　her　as　I　had　done　more　than　once。　It　seemed　a　little　severe　to　be　shut　away　from　her　now　but　Mrs　Fuller's　manner　had　fore…answered　any　appeal　and　I　held　my　peace。　Having　no　children　of　her　own　she　had　assumed　a　sort　of　proprietorship　over　Hope　that　was　evident　…　that　probably　was　why　the　girl　had　ceased　to　love　me　and　to　write　to　me　as　of　old。　A　troop　of　mysteries　came　clear　to　me　that　morning。　Through　many　gifts　and　favours　she　had　got　my　sweetheart　in　a　sort　of　bondage　and　would　make　a　marriage　of　her　own　choosing　if　possible。

'Is　there　anything　you　would　like　particularly　for　your　breakfast？　　Mrs　Fuller　enquired。

'Hain't　no　way　pertic　lar；'said　Uncle　Eb。　'I　gen　rally　eat　buckwheat　pancakes　an'maple　sugar　with　a　good　strong　cup　o'tea。　

Mrs　Fuller　left　the　room　a　moment。

'Dunno　but　I　ll　go　out　if　the　barn　a　minnit　'n　take　a　look　at　the　hosses；'he　said　when　she　came　back。

'The　stable　is　a　mile　away；'she　replied　smiling。

'Gran'good　team　ye　druv　us　out　with　las'night；'he　said。　'Hed　a　chance　t'look　'em　over　a　leetle　there　at　the　door。　The　off　hoss　is　puffed　some　for　ard　but　if　ye　r　husband　ll　put　on　a　cold　bandage　ev　ry　night　it　ll　make　them　legs　smoother　n　a　hound's　tooth。　

She　thanked　him　and　invited　us　to　look　in　at　the　conservatory。

'Where's　yer　husband？'Uncle　Eb　enquired。

'He's　not　up　yet；'said　she；　'I　fear　he　did　not　sleep　well。　

'Now　Mis　Fuller；'said　Uncle　Eb；　as　we　sat　waiting；　'if　there　s　anything　I　can　do　t'help　jes'le'me　know　what　'tis。　

She　said　there　was　nothing。　Presently　Uncle　Eb　sneezed　so　powerfully　that　it　rattled　the　crystals　on　the　chandelier　and　rang　in　the　brass　medallions。

The　first　and　second　butlers　came　running　in　with　a　frightened　look。　There　was　also　a　startled　movement　from　somebody　above　stairs。

'I　do　sneeze　powerful；　sometimes；'said　Uncle　Eb　from　under　his　red　bandanna。''S　enough　if　scare　anybody。　

They　brought　in　our　breakfast　then　…　a　great　array　of　tempting　dishes。　'Jest　hey　four　pancakes　'n　a　biled　egg；'said　Uncle　Eb　as　he　sipped　his　tea。　'Grand　tea！'he　added；　'strong　enough　if　float　a　silver　dollar　too。　

'Mrs　Fuller；'I　said　rising；　when　we　had　finished；　'I　thank　you　for　your　hospitality；　but　as　I　shall　have　to　work　nights；　probably；　I　must　find　lodgings　near　the　office。　

'You　must　come　and　see　us　again；'she　answered　cordially。　'On　Saturday　I　shall　take　Hope　away　for　a　bit　of　rest　to　Saratoga　probably　…　and　from　there　I　shall　take　her　to　Hillsborough　myself　for　a　day　or　two。　

'Thought　she　was　goin'home　with　me；'said　Uncle　Eb。

'O　dear　no！'said　Mrs　Fuller；　'she　cannot　go　now。　The　girl　is　ill　and　it's　such　a　long　journey。　

The　postman　came　then　with　a　letter　for　Uncle　Eb。

It　was　from　David　Brower。　He　would　have　to　be　gone　a　week　or　so　buying　cattle　and　thought　Uncle　Eb　had　better　come　home　as　soon　as　convenient。

'They　re　lonesome；'he　said；　thoughtfully；　after　going　over　the　letter　again。　〃Tain't　no　wonder　…　they　re　gittin'old。　

Uncle　Eb　was　older　than　either　of　them　but　he　had　not　thought　of　that。

'Le's　see；　's　about　eight　o　clock；'said　he；　presently。　'I've　got　t'go　an　　ten'to　some　business　o'my　own。　I　ll　be　back　here　sometime　if　day　Mis　Fuller　an'I　ll　hey　if　see　thet　girl。　Ye　musm　t　never　try　if　keep　me　'way　from　her。　She's　sot　on　my　knee　too　many　year　fer　that'　altogether　too　many。　

We　arranged　to　meet　there　at　four。　Then　a　servant　brought　us　our　hats。　I　heard　Hope　calling　as　we　passed　the　stairway：

'Won't　you　come　up　a　minute；　Uncle　Eb？　I　want　to　see　you　very　much。　

Then　Uncle　Eb　hurried　upstairs　and　I　came　away。

I　read　the　advertisements　of　board　and　lodging　…　a　perplexing　task　for　one　so　ignorant　of　the　town。　After　many　calls　I　found　a　place　to　my　liking　on　Monkey　Hill；　near　Printing　House　Square。　Monkey　Hill　was　the　east　end　of　William　Street；　and　not　in　the　least　fashionable。　There　were　some　neat　and　cleanly　looking　houses　on　it　of　wood；　and　brick；　and　brown　stone　inhabited　by　small　tradesmen；　a　few　shops；　a　big　stable　and　the　chalet　sitting　on　a　broad；　flat　roof　that　covered　a　portion　of　the　stableyard。　The　yard　itself　was　the　summit　of　Monkey　Hill。　It　lay　between　two　brick　buildings　and　up　the　hill；　from　the　walk；　one　looked　into　the　gloomy　cavern　of　the　stable　and　under　the　low　roof；　on　one　side7　there　were　dump　carts　and　old　coaches　in　varying　stages　of　infirmity。　There　was　an　old　iron　shop；　that　stood　flush　with　the　sidewalk；　flanking　the　stableyard。　A　lantern　and　a　mammoth　key　were　suspended　above　the　door　and　hanging　upon　the　side　of　the　shop　was　a　wooden　stair　ascending　to　the　chalet　The　latter　had　a　sheathing　of　weather…worn　clapboards。　It　stood　on　the　rear　end　of　the　brick　building；　communicating　with　the　front　rooms　above　the　shop。　A　little　stair　of　five　steps　ascended　from　the　landing　to　its　red　door　that　overlooked　an　ample　yard　of　roofing；　adorned　with　potted　plants。　The　main　room　of　the　chalet　where　we　ate　our　meals　and　sat　and　talked；　of　an　evening；　had　the　look　of　a　ship's　cabin。　There　were　stationary　seats　along　the　wall　covered　with　leathern　cushions。　There　were　port　and　starboard　lanterns　and　a　big　one　of　polished　brass　that　overhung　the　table。　A　ship's　clock　that　had　a　noisy　and　cheerful　tick；　was　set　in　the　wall。　A　narrow　passage　led　to　the　room　in　front　and　the　latter　had　slanting　sides。　A　big　window　of　little　panes；　in　its　further　end；　let　in　the　light　of　William　Street　Here　I　found　a　home　for　myself'humble　but　quaint　and　cleanly。　A　thrifty　German　who；　having　long　followed　the　sea；　had　married　and　thrown　out　his　anchor　for　good　and　all；　now　dwelt　in　the　chalet　with　his　wife　and　two　boarders　…　both　newspaper　men。　The　old　shopkeeper　in　front；　once　a　sailor　himself；　had　put　the　place　in　shipshape　and　leased　itto　them。

Mine　host　bore　the　name　of　Opper　and　was　widely　known　as　'All　Right'Opper；　from　his　habit　of　cheery　approval。　Everything　and　everybody　were　'all　right'to　him　so　far　as　I　could　observe。　If　he　were　blessed　or　damned　he　said　'all　right　。　To　be　sure　he　took　exceptions；　on　occasions；　but　even　then　the　affair　ended　with　his　inevitable　verdict　of　'all　right　。　Every　suggestion　I　made　as　to　terms　of　payment　and　arrangement　of　furniture　was　promptly　stamped　with　this　seal　of　approval。

I　was　comfortably　settled　and　hard　at　work　on　my　article　by　noon。　At　four　I　went　to　meet　Uncle　Eb。　Hope　was　still　sick　in　bed　and　we　came　away　in　a　frame　of　mind　that　coul