rudder grange-第19部分

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over　the　fields　toward　the　camp；　carrying　a　little　tin…pail　and　a
water　bucket。

The　next　day；　toward　evening；　a　storm　set　in；　and　at　the　hour　fixed
for　our　dinner；　the　rain　was　pouring　down　in　such　torrents　that　we
did　not　expect　our　guests。　　After　dinner　the　rain　ceased；　and　as　we
supposed　that　they　might　not　have　made　any　preparations　for　a　meal；
Euphemia　packed　up　some　dinner　for　them　in　a　basket；　and　I　took　it
down　to　the　camp。

They　were　glad　to　see　me；　and　said　they　had　a　splendid　time　all
day。　　They　were　up　before　sunrise；　and　had　explored；　tramped；
boated；　and　I　don't　know　what　else。

My　basket　was　very　acceptable；　and　I　would　have　stayed　awhile　with
them；　but　as　they　were　obliged　to　eat　in　the　tent；　there　was　no
place　for　me　to　sit；　it　being　too　wet　outside；　and　so　I　soon　came
away。

We　were　in　doubt　whether　or　not　to　tell　our　friends　the　true
history　of　the　camp。　　I　thought　that　it　was　not　right　to　keep　up
the　deception；　while　Euphemia　declared　that　if　they　were　sensitive
people；　they　would　feel　very　badly　at　having　broken　up　our　plans　by
their　visit；　and　then　having　appropriated　our　camp　to　themselves。
She　thought　it　would　be　the　part　of　magnanimity　to　say　nothing
about　it。

I　could　not　help　seeing　a　good　deal　of　force　in　her　arguments；
although　I　wished　very　much　to　set　the　thing　straight；　and　we
discussed　the　matter　again　as　we　walked　down　to　the　camp；　after
breakfast　next　morning。

There　we　found　old　John　sitting　on　a　stump。　　He　said　nothing；　but
handed　me　a　note　written　in　lead…pencil　on　a　card。　　It　was　from　our
ex…boarder；　and　informed　me　that　early　that　morning　he　had　found
that　there　was　a　tug　lying　in　the　river；　which　would　soon　start　for
the　city。　　He　also　found　that　he　could　get　passage　on　her　for　his
party；　and　as　this　was　such　a　splendid　chance　to　go　home　without
the　bother　of　getting　up　to　the　station；　he　had　just　bundled　his
family　and　his　valise　on　board；　and　was　very　sorry　they　did　not
have　time　to　come　up　and　bid　us　good…bye。　　The　tent　he　left　in
charge　of　a　very　respectable　man；　from　whom　he　had　had　supplies。

That　morning　I　had　the　camp…equipage　packed　up　and　expressed　to　its
owner。　　We　did　not　care　to　camp　out　any　more　that　season；　but
thought　it　would　be　better　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　vacation　at　the
sea…shore。

Our　ex…boarder　wrote　to　us　that　he　and　his　wife　were　anxious　that
we　should　return　their　visit　during　my　holidays；　but　as　we　did　not
see　exactly　how　we　could　return　a　visit　of　the　kind；　we　did　not　try
to　do　it。



CHAPTER　XII。

LORD　EDWARD　AND　THE　TREE…MAN。


It　was　winter　at　Rudder　Grange。　　The　season　was　the　same　at　other
places；　but　that　fact　did　not　particularly　interest　Euphemia　and
myself。　　It　was　winter　with　us；　and　we　were　ready　for　it。　　That　was
the　great　point；　and　it　made　us　proud　to　think　that　we　had　not　been
taken　unawares；　notwithstanding　the　many　things　that　were　to　be
thought　of　on　a　little　farm　like　ours。

It　is　true　that　we　had　always　been　prepared　for　winter；　wherever　we
had　lived；　but　this　was　a　different　case。　　In　other　days　it　did　not
matter　much　whether　we　were　ready　or　not；　but　now　our　house；　our
cow；　our　poultry；　and　indeed　ourselves；　might　have　suffered；there
is　no　way　of　finding　out　exactly　how　much；if　we　had　not　made　all
possible　preparations　for　the　coming　of　cold　weather。

But　there　was　a　great　deal　yet　to　be　thought　of　and　planned　out；
although　we　were　ready　for　winter。　　The　next　thing　to　think　of　was
spring。

We　laid　out　the　farm。　　We　decided　where　we　would　have　wheat；　corn；
potatoes；　and　oats。　　We　would　have　a　man　by　the　day　to　sow　and
reap。　　The　intermediate　processes　I　thought　I　could　attend　to
myself。

Everything　was　talked　over；　ciphered　over；　and　freely　discussed　by
my　wife　and　myself；　except　one　matter；　which　I　planned　and　worked
out　alone；　doing　most　of　the　necessary　calculations　at　the　office；
so　as　not　to　excite　Euphemia's　curiosity。

I　had　determined　to　buy　a　horse。　　This　would　be　one　of　the　most
important　events　of　our　married　life；　and　it　demanded　a　great　deal
of　thought；　which　I　gave　it。

The　horse　was　chosen　for　me　by　a　friend。　　He　was　an　excellent　beast
（the　horse）；　excelling；　as　my　friend　told　me；　in　muscle　and　wit。
Nothing　better　than　this　could　be　said　about　a　horse。　　He　was　a
sorrel　animal；　quite　handsome；　gentle　enough　for　Euphemia　to　drive；
and　not　too　high…minded　to　do　a　little　farm…work；　if　necessary。　　He
was　exactly　the　animal　I　needed。

The　carriage　was　not　quite　such　a　success。　　The　horse　having　cost　a
good　deal　more　than　I　expected　to　pay；　I　found　that　I　could　only
afford　a　second…hand　carriage。　　I　bought　a　good；　serviceable
vehicle；　which　would　hold　four　persons；　if　necessary；　and　there　was
room　enough　to　pack　all　sorts　of　parcels　and　baskets。　　It　was　with
great　satisfaction　that　I　contemplated　this　feature　of　the
carriage；　which　was　a　rather　rusty…looking　affair；　although　sound
and　strong　enough。　　The　harness　was　new；　and　set　off　the　horse
admirably。

On　the　afternoon　when　my　purchases　were　completed；　I　did　not　come
home　by　the　train。　　I　drove　home　in　my　own　carriage；　drawn　by　my
own　horse！　　The　ten　miles'　drive　was　over　a　smooth　road；　and　the
sorrel　traveled　splendidly。　　If　I　had　been　a　line　of　kings　a　mile
long；　all　in　their　chariots　of　state；　with　gold　and　silver；　and
outriders；　and　music；　and　banners　waving　in　the　wind；　I　could　not
have　been　prouder　than　when　I　drew　up　in　front　of　my　house。

There　was　a　wagon…gate　at　one　side　of　the　front　fence　which　had
never　been　used　except　by　the　men　who　brought　coal；　and　I　got　out
and　opened　this；　very　quietly；　so　as　not　to　attract　the　attention
of　Euphemia。　　It　was　earlier　than　I　usually　returned；　and　she　would
not　be　expecting　me。　　I　was　then　about　to　lead　the　horse　up　a
somewhat　grass…grown　carriage…way　to　the　front　door；　but　I
reflected　that　Euphemia　might　be　looking　out　of　some　of　the　windows
and　I　had　better　drive　up。　　So　I　got　in　and　drove　very　slowly　to
the　door。

However；　she　heard　the　unaccustomed　noise　of　wheels；　and　looked　out
of　the　parlor　window。　　She　did　not　see　me；　but　immediately　came
around　to　the　door。　　I　hurried　out　of　the　carriage　so　quickly　that；
not　being　familiar　with　the　steps；　I　barely　escaped　tripping。

When　she　opened　the　front　door　she　was　surprised　to　see　me　standing
by　the　horse。

〃Have　you　hired　a　carriage？〃　she　cried。　　〃Are　we　going　to　ride？〃

〃My　dear；〃　said　I；　as　I　took　her　by　the　hand；　〃we　are　going　to
ride。　　But　I　have　not　hired　a　carriage。　　I　have　bought　one。　　Do　you
see　this　horse？　　He　is　oursour　own　horse。〃

If　you　could　have　seen　the　face　that　was　turned　up　to　me；all　you
other　men　in　the　world；you　would　have　torn　your　hair　in　despair。

Afterward　she　went　around　and　around　that　horse；　she　patted　his
smooth　sides；　she　looked；　with　admiration；　at　his　strong；　well…
formed　legs；　she　stroked　his　head；　she　smoothed　his　mane；　she　was
brimful　of　joy。

When　I　had　brought　the　horse　some　water　in　a　bucketand　what　a
pleasure　it　was　to　water　one's　own　horse！Euphemia　rushed　into　the
house　and　got　her　hat　and　cloak；　and　we　took　a　little　drive。

I　doubt　if　any　horse　ever　drew　two　happier　people。　　Euphemia　said
but　little　about　the　carriage。　　That　was　a　necessary　adjunct；　and
it　was　good　enough　for　the　present。　　But　the　horse！　　How　nobly　and
with　what　vigor　he　pulled　us　up　the　hills　and　how　carefully　and
strongly　he　held　the　carriage　back　as　we　went　down！　　How　easily　he
trotted　over　the　level　road；　caring　nothing　for　the　ten　miles　he
had　gone　that　afternoon！　　What　a　sensation　of　power　it　gave　us　to
think　that　all　that　strength　and　speed　and　endurance　was　ours；　that
it　would　go　where　we　wished；　that　it　would　wait　for　us　as　long　as
we　chose；　that　it　was　at　our　service　day　and　night；　that　it　was　a
horse；　and　we　owned　it！

When　we　returned；　Pomona　saw　us　drive　in；she　had　not　known　of　our
ride；and　when　she　heard　the　news　she　was　as　wild　with　proud
delight　as　anybody。　　She　wanted　to　unharness　him；　but　this　I　could
not　allow。　　We　did　not　wish　to　be　selfish；　but　after　she　had　seen
and　heard　what　we　thought　was　enough　for　her；　we　were　obliged　to
send　her　back　to　the　kitchen　for　the　sake　of　the　dinner。

Then　we　unharnessed　him。　　I　say　we；　for　Euphemia　stood　by　and　I
explained　everything；　for　some　day；　she　said；　she　might　want　to　do
it　herself。　　Then　I　led　him　into　the　stable。　　How　nobly　he　trod；
and　how　finely　his　hoofs　sounded　on　the　stable　floor！

There　was　hay　in　the　mow　and　I　had　brought　a　bag　of　oats　under　the
seat　of　the　carriage。

〃Isn't　it　just　delightful；〃　said　Euphemia；　〃that　we　haven't　any
man？　　If　we　had　a　man　he　would　take　the　horse　at　the　door；　and　we
should　be　deprived　of　all　this。　　It　wouldn't　be　half　like　owning　a
horse。〃

In　the　morning　I　drove　down　to　the　station；　Euphemia　by　my　side。
She　drove　back　and　Old　John　came　up　and　attended　to　the　horse。
This　he　was　to　do；　for　the　present；　for　a　small　stipend。　　In　the
afternoon　Euphemia　came　down　after　me。　　How　I　enjoyed　those　rides！
Before　this　I　had　thought　it　ever　so　much　more　pleasant　and
healthful　to　walk　to　and　from　the　station　than　to　ride；　but　then　I
did　not　own　a　horse。　　At　night　I　attended　to　everything；　Euphemia
generally　following　me　about　the　stable　with　a　lantern。　　When　the
days　grew　longer　we　would　have　delightful　rides　after　dinner；　and
even　now　we　planned　to　have　early　breakfasts；　and　go　to　the　station
by　the　longest　possible　way。

One　day；　in　the　following　spring；　I　was　riding　home　from　the
station　with　Euphemia；we　seldom　took　pleasure…drives　now；　we　were
so　busy　on　the　place；and　as　we　reached　the　house　I　heard　the　dog
barking　savagely。　　He　was　loose　in　the　little　orchard　by　the　side
of　the　house。　　As　I　drove　in；　Pomona　came　running　to　the　carriage。

〃Man　up　the　tree！〃　she　shouted。

I　helped　Euphemia　out；　left　the　horse　standing　by　the　door；　and　ran
to　the　dog；　followed　by　my　wife　and　Pomona。　　Sure　enough；　there　was
a　man　up　the　tree；　and　Lord　Edward　was　doing　his　best　to　get　at
him；　springing　wildly　at　the　tree　and　fairly　shaking　with　rage。

I　looked　up　at　the　man；　he　was　a　thoroughbred　tramp；　burly；　dirty；
generally　unkempt；　but；　unlike　most　tramps；　he　looked　very　much
frightened。　　His　position；　on