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Page 8
"Yes, I think so; but that is a coincidence only. She takes no
interest in this young man; scarcely noticed him when I
introduced him; just bowed to him over her shoulder; she was
fastening on our little one's cap. Usually she is extremely,
courteous to strangers, but she was abstracted, positively
abstracted at that moment. I wondered at it, for he usually
makes a stir wherever he goes. But my wife cares little for
beauty in a man; I doubt if she noticed his looks at all. She
did not catch his name, I remember."
"Pardon me, what is that you say?"
"She did not catch his name, for later she asked me what it was."
"Tell me about that, Mr. Packard."
"It is immaterial; but I am ready to answer all your questions.
It was while we were out dining. Chance threw us together, and
to fill up the moment she asked the name of the young man I had
brought into the library that morning. I told her and explained
his position and the long training he had had in local politics.
She listened, but not as closely as she did to the music. Oh,
she takes no interest in him. I wish she did; his stories might
amuse her."
I did not pursue the subject. Taking out the letter I had been
writing, I held it out for his inspection, with the remark:
"More copy, please, Mayor Packard."
CHAPTER III
IN THE GABLE WINDOW
A few minutes later I was tripping up-stairs in the wake of a
smart young maid whom Mayor Packard had addressed as Ellen. I
liked this girl at first sight and, as I followed her up first
one flight, then another, to the room which had been chosen for
me, the hurried glimpses I had of her bright and candid face
suggested that in this especial member of the household I might
hope to find a friend and helper in case friendship and help were
needed in the blind task to which I stood committed. But I soon
saw cause--or thought I did--to change this opinion. When she
turned on me at the door of my room, a small one at the extreme
end of the third floor, I had an opportunity of meeting her eyes.
The interest in her look was not the simple one to be expected.
In another person in other circumstances I should have
characterized her glance as one of inquiry and wonder. But
neither inquiry nor wonder described the present situation, and I
put myself upon my guard.
Seeing me look her way, she flushed, and, throwing wide the door,
remarked in the pleasantest of tones:
"This is your room. Mrs. Packard says that if it is not large
enough or does not seem pleasant to you, she will find you
another one to-morrow."
"It's very pleasant and quite large enough," I confidently
replied, after a hasty look about me. "I could not be more
comfortable."
She smiled, a trifle broadly for the occasion, I thought, and
patted a pillow here and twitched a curtain there, as she
remarked with a certain emphasis:
"I'm sure you will be comfortable. There's nobody else on this
floor but Letty and the baby, but you don't look as if you would
be easily frightened." Astonished, not so much by her words as
by the furtive look she gave me, I laughed as I repeated
"Frightened? What should frighten me?"
"Oh, nothing." Her back was to me now, but I felt that I knew her
very look. "Nothing, of course. If you're not timid you won't
mind sleeping so far away from every one. Then, we are always
within call. The attic door is just a few steps off. We'll
leave it unlocked and you can come up if--if you feel like it at
any time. We'll understand."
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