|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 28
"How did she look then? You saw her I suppose?"
"And was'nt that what I was telling you, when you stopped me. She
looked like a queen, that she did; as grand a lady as ever I see, in
her velvet dress sweeping over the floor, and her diamonds as big
as--"
"Was she a dark woman?" I asked.
"Her hair was black and so were her eyes, if that is what you mean."
"And was she very tall and proud looking?"
The girl nodded. "You know her?" whispered she.
"No," said I, "not exactly; but I think I can tell who she is. And so
she called to-day on Mrs. Daniels, did she."
"Yes, but I guess she knew master would be home before she got away."
"Come," said I, "tell me all about it; I'm getting impatient."
"And ain't I telling you?" said she. "It was about three o'clock this
afternoon, the time I go up stairs to dress, so I just hangs about in
the hall a bit, near the parlor door, and I hear her gossiping with
Mrs. Daniels almost as if she was an old friend, and Mrs. Daniels
answering her mighty stiffly and as if she was'nt glad to see her at
all. But the lady didn't seem to mind, but went on talking as sweet as
honey, and when they came out, you would have thought she loved the
old woman like a sister to see her look into her face and say
something about knowing how busy she was, but that it would give her
so much pleasure if she would come some day to see her and talk over
old times. But Mrs. Daniels was'nt pleased a bit and showed plain
enough she did'nt like the lady, fine as she was in her ways. She was
going to answer her too, but just then the front door opened and Mr.
Blake with his satchel in his hand, came into the house. And how he
did start, to be sure, when he saw them, though he tried to say
something perlite which she did'nt seem to take to at all, for after
muttering something about not expecting to see him, she put her hand
on the knob and was going right out. But he stopped her and they
went into the parlor together while Mrs. Daniels stood staring after
them like one mad, her hand held out with his bag and umbrella in it,
stiff as a statter in the Central Park. She did'nt stand so long,
though, but came running down the hall, as if she was bewitched. I
was dreadful flustered, for though I was hid behind the wall that juts
out there by the back stairs, I was afraid she would see me and shame
me before Mr. Blake. But she passed right by and never looked up.
'There is something dreadful mysterious in this,' thought I, and I
just made up my mind to stay where I was till Mr. Blake and the lady
should come out again from the parlor. I did'nt have to wait very
long. In a few minutes the door opened and they stepped out, he ahead
and she coming after. I thought this was queer, he is always so
dreadful perlite in his ways, but I thought it was a deal queerer when
I saw him go up the front stairs, she hurrying after, looking I
cannot tell you how, but awful troubled and anxious, I should say.
"They went into that room of his he calls his studio and though I knew
it might cost me my place if I was found out, I could'nt help
following and listening at the keyhole."
"And what did you hear?" I asked, for she paused to take breath.
"Well, the first thing I heard was a cry of pleasure from her, and the
words, 'You keep that always before you? You cannot dislike me, then,
as much as you pertend.' I don't know what she meant nor what he
did, but he stepped across the room and I heard her cry out this time
as if she was hurt as well as awful surprised; and he talked and
talked, and I could'nt catch a word, he spoke so low; and by and by
she sobbed just a little, and I got scared and would have run away
but she cried out with a kind of shriek, 'O, don't say any more; to
think that crime should come into our family, the proudest in the
land. How could you, Holman, how could you.' Yes," the girl went on,
flushing in her excitement till she was as red as the cherry ribbons
in her cap, "those were the very words she used: 'To think that crime
should come into our family! the proudest one in the land!' And she
called him by his first name, and asked him how he could do it."
"And what did Mr. Blake say?" returned I, a little taken back myself at
this result of my efforts with Fanny.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|