rudder grange-第18部分

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been　waiting　for　him　for　hours。〃

〃The　horse　is　si　　I　mean　he's　gone　to　Ballville　for　oats。〃

〃And　why　didn't　he　send　and　tell　me？〃　I　asked。

〃There　wasn't　nobody　to　send；〃　answered　the　boy。

〃You　are　not　telling　the　truth；〃　exclaimed　Euphemia；　〃there　is
always　some　one　to　send；　in　a　family　like　yours。〃

To　this　the　boy　made　no　answer；　but　again　said　that　he　would　go
after　the　milk。

〃We　want　you　to　bring　no　milk；〃　I　cried；　now　quite　angry。　　〃I　want
you　to　go　down　to　the　station；　and　tell　the　driver　of　the　express…
wagon　to　come　here　immediately。　　Do　you　understand？　　Immediately。〃

The　boy　declared　he　understood；　and　started　off　quite　willingly。
We　did　not　prefer　to　have　the　express…wagon；　for　it　was　too　public
a　conveyance；　and；　besides；　old　John　knew　exactly　how　to　do　what
was　required。　　But　we　need　not　have　troubled　ourselves。　　The
express…wagon　did　not　come。

When　it　became　dark；　we　saw　that　we　could　not　leave　that　night。
Even　if　a　wagon　did　come；　it　would　not　be　safe　to　drive　over　the
fields　in　the　darkness。　　And　we　could　not　go　away　and　leave　the
camp…equipage。　　I　proposed　that　Euphemia　should　go　up　to　the　house；
while　I　remained　in　camp。　　But　she　declined。　　We　would　keep
together；　whatever　happened；　she　said。

We　unpacked　our　cooking…utensils　and　provisions；　and　had　supper。
There　was　no　milk　for　our　coffee；　but　we　did　not　care。　　The　evening
did　not　pass　gayly。　　We　were　annoyed　by　the　conduct　of　old　John　and
the　express…boy；　though；　perhaps；　it　was　not　their　fault。　　I　had
given　them　no　notice　that　I　should　need　them。

And　we　were　greatly　troubled　at　the　continuance　of　the　secrecy　and
subterfuge　which　now　had　become　really　necessary；　if　we　did　not
wish　to　hurt　our　friends'　feelings。

The　first　thing　that　I　thought　of；　when　I　opened　my　eyes　in　the
morning；　was　the　fact　that　we　would　have　to　stay　there　all　day；　for
we　could　not　move　on　Sunday。

But　Euphemia　did　not　agree　with　me。　　After　breakfast　（we　found　that
the　water　and　the　milk　had　been　brought　very　early；　before　we　were
up）　she　stated　that　she　did　not　intend　to　be　treated　in　this　way。
She　was　going　up　to　old　John's　house　herself；　and　away　she　went。

In　less　than　half　an　hour；　she　returned；　followed　by　old　John　and
his　wife；　both　looking　much　as　if　they　had　been　whipped。

〃These　people；〃　said　she；　〃have　entered　into　a　conspiracy　against
us。　　I　have　questioned　them　thoroughly；　and　have　made　them　answer
me。　　The　horse　was　at　home　yesterday；　and　the　boy　did　not　go　after
the　express…wagon。　　They　thought　that　if　they　could　keep　us　here；
until　our　company　had　gone；　we　would　stay　as　long　as　we　originally
intended；　and　they　would　continue　to　make　money　out　of　us。　　But
they　are　mistaken。　　We　are　going　home　immediately。〃

At　this　point　I　could　not　help　thinking　that　Euphemia　might　have
consulted　me　in　regard　to　her　determination；　but　she　was　very　much
in　earnest；　and　I　would　not　have　any　discussion　before　these
people。

〃Now；　listen！〃　said　Euphemia；　addressing　the　down…cast　couple；　〃we
are　going　home；　and　you　two　are　to　stay　here　all　this　day　and　to…
night；　and　take　care　of　these　things。　　You　can't　work　to…day；　and
you　can　shut　up　your　house；　and　bring　your　whole　family　here　if　you
choose。　　We　will　pay　you　for　the　service；although　you　do　not
deserve　a　cent；and　we　will　leave　enough　here　for　you　to　eat。　　You
must　bring　your　own　sheets　and　pillowcases；　and　stay　here　until　we
see　you　on　Monday　morning。〃

Old　John　and　his　wife　agreed　to　this　plan　with　the　greatest
alacrity；　apparently　well　pleased　to　get　off　so　easily；　and；　having
locked　up　the　smaller　articles　of　camp…furniture；　we　filled　a
valise　with　our　personal　baggage　and　started　off　home。

Our　house　and　grounds　never　looked　prettier　than　they　did　that
morning；　as　we　stood　at　the　gate。　　Lord　Edward　barked　a　welcome
from　his　shed；　and　before　we　reached　the　door；　Pomona　came　running
out；　her　face　radiant。

〃I'm　awful　glad　to　see　you　back；〃　she　said；　〃though　I'd　never　have
said　so　while　you　was　in　camp。〃

I　patted　the　dog　and　looked　into　the　garden。　　Everything　was
growing　splendidly。　　Euphemia　rushed　to　the　chicken…yard。　　It　was
in　first…rate　order；　and　there　were　two　broods　of　little　yellow
puffy　chicks。

Down　on　her　knees　went　my　wife；　to　pick　up　the　little　creatures；
one　by　one；　press　their　downy　bodies　to　her　cheek；　and　call　them
tootsy…wootsies；　and　away　went　I　to　the　barn；　followed　by　Pomona；
and　soon　afterward　by　Euphemia。

The　cow　was　all　right。

〃I've　been　making　butter；〃　said　Pomona；　〃though　it　don't　look
exactly　like　it　ought　to；　yet；　and　the　skim…milk　I　didn't　know　what
to　do　with；　so　I　gave　it　to　old　John。　　He　came　for　it　every　day；
and　was　real　mad　once　because　I　had　given　a　lot　of　it　to　the　dog；
and　couldn't　let　him　have　but　a　pint。〃

〃He　ought　to　have　been　mad；〃　said　I　to　Euphemia；　as　we　walked　up　to
the　house。　　〃He　got　ten　cents　a　quart　for　that　milk。〃

We　laughed；　and　didn't　care。　　We　were　too　glad　to　be　at　home。

〃But　where　are　our　friends？〃　I　asked　Pomona。　　We　had　actually
forgotten　them。

〃Oh！　they're　gone　out　for　a　walk；〃　said　she。　　〃They　started　off
right　after　breakfast。〃

We　were　not　sorry　for　this。　　It　would　be　so　much　nicer　to　see　our
dear　home　again　when　there　was　nobody　there　but　ourselves。　　In…
doors　we　rushed。　　Our　absence　had　been　like　rain　on　a　garden。
Everything　now　seemed　fresher　and　brighter　and　more　delightful。　　We
went　from　room　to　room；　and　seemed　to　appreciate　better　than　ever
what　a　charming　home　we　had。

We　were　so　full　of　the　delights　of　our　return　that　we　forgot　all
about　the　Sunday　dinner　and　our　guests；　but　Pomona；　whom　my　wife
was　training　to　be　an　excellent　cook；　did　not　forget；　and　Euphemia
was　summoned　to　a　consultation　in　the　kitchen。

Dinner　was　late；　but　our　guests　were　later。　　We　waited　as　long　as
the　state　of　the　provisions　and　our　appetites　would　permit；　and
then　we　sat　down　to　the　table　and　began　to　eat　slowly。　　But　they
did　not　come。　　We　finished　our　meal；　and　they　were　still　absent。
We　now　became　quite　anxious；　and　I　proposed　to　Euphemia　that　we
should　go　and　look　for　them。

We　started　out；　and　our　steps　naturally　turned　toward　the　river。
An　unpleasant　thought　began　to　crowd　itself　into　my　mind；　and
perhaps　the　same　thing　happened　to　Euphemia；　for；　without　saying
anything　to　each　other；　we　both　turned　toward　the　path　that　led　to
the　peninsula。　　We　crossed　the　field；　climbed　the　fence；　and　there；
in　front　of　the　tent　sat　our　old　boarder　splitting　sticks　with　the
camp…hatchet。

〃Hurrah！〃　he　cried；　springing　to　his　feet　when　he　saw　us。　　〃How
glad　I　am　to　see　you　back！　　When　did　you　return？　　Isn't　this
splendid？〃

〃What？〃　I　said；　as　we　shook　hands。

〃Why　this；〃　he　cried；　pointing　to　the　tent。　　〃Don't　you　see？　　We're
camping　out。〃

〃You　are？〃　I　exclaimed；　looking　around　for　his　wife；　while　Euphemia
stood　motionless；　actually　unable　to　make　a　remark。

〃Certainly　we　are。　　It's　the　rarest　bit　of　luck。　　My　wife　and　Adele
will　be　here　directly。　　They've　gone　to　look　for　water…cresses。
But　I　must　tell　you　how　I　came　to　make　this　magnificent　find。　　We
started　out　for　a　walk　this　morning；　and　we　happened　to　hit　on　this
place；　and　here　we　saw　this　gorgeous　tent　with　nobody　near　but　a
little　tow…headed　boy。〃

〃Only　a　boy？〃　cried　Euphemia。

〃Yes；　a　young　shaver　of　about　nine　or　ten。　　I　asked　him　what　he　was
doing　here；　and　he　told　me　that　this　tent　belonged　to　a　gentleman
who　had　gone　away；　and　that　he　was　here　to　watch　it　until　he　came
back。　　Then　I　asked　him　how　long　the　owner　would　probably　be　away；
and　he　said　he　supposed　for　a　day　or　two。　　Then　a　splendid　idea
struck　me。　　I　offered　the　boy　a　dollar　to　let　me　take　his　place：　I
knew　that　any　sensible　man　would　rather　have　me　in　charge　of　his
tent；　than　a　young　codger　like　that。　　The　boy　agreed　as　quick　as
lightning；　and　I　paid　him　and　sent　him　off。　　You　see　how　little　he
was　to　be　trusted！　　The　owner　of　this　tent　will　be　under　the
greatest　obligations　to　me。　　Just　look　at　it！〃　he　cried。　　〃Beds；
table；　stove；everything　anybody　could　want。　　I've　camped　out　lots
of　times；　but　never　had　such　a　tent　as　this。　　I　intended　coming　up
this　afternoon　after　my　valise；　and　to　tell　your　girl　where　we　are。
But　here　is　my　wife　and　little　Adele。〃

In　the　midst　of　the　salutations　and　the　mutual　surprise；　Euphemia
cried：

〃But　you　don't　expect　to　camp　out；　now？　　You　are　coming　back　to　our
house？〃

〃You　see；〃　said　the　ex…boarder；　〃we　should　never　have　thought　of
doing　anything　so　rude；　had　we　supposed　you　would　have　returned　so
soon。　　But　your　girl　gave　us　to　understand　that　you　would　not　be
back　for　days；　and　so　we　felt　free　to　go　at　any　time；　and　I　did　not
hesitate　to　make　this　arrangement。　　And　now　that　I　have　really
taken　the　responsibility　of　the　tent　and　fixtures　on　myself；　I
don't　think　it　would　be　right　to　go　away　and　leave　the　place；
especially　as　I　don't　know　where　to　find　that　boy。　　The　owner　will
be　back　in　a　day　or　two；　and　I　would　like　to　explain　matters　to　him
and　give　up　the　property　in　good　order　into　his　hands。　　And；　to
tell　the　truth；　we　both　adore　camping…out；　and　we　may　never　have
such　a　chance　again。　　We　can　live　here　splendidly。　　I　went　out　to
forage　this　morning；　and　found　an　old　fellow　living　near　by　who
sold　me　a　lot　of　provisionseven　some　coffee　and　sugarand　he's
to　bring　us　some　milk。　　We're　going　to　have　supper　in　about　an
hour；　won't　you　stay　and　take　a　camp…meal　with　us？　　It　will　be　a
novelty　for　you；　at　any　rate。〃

We　declined　this　invitation；　as　we　had　so　lately　dined。　　I　looked
at　Euphemia　with　a　question　in　my　eye。　　She　understood　me；　and
gently　shook　her　head。　　It　would　be　a　shame　to　make　any
explanations　which　might　put　an　end　to　this　bit　of　camp…life；　which
evidently　was　so　eagerly　enjoyed　by　our　old　friend。　　But　we
insisted　that　they　should　come　up　to　the　house　and　see　us；　and　they
agreed　to　dine　with　us　the　next　evening。　　On　Tuesday；　they　must
return　to　the　city。

〃Now；　this　is　what　I　call　real　hospitality；〃　said　the　ex…boarder；
warmly　grasping　my　hand。　　I　could　not　help　agreeing　with　him。

As　we　walked　home；　I　happened　to　look　back　and　saw　old　John　going
over　the　fields　toward　the　camp；　carrying　a　little　tin…pail　a