"I beg your pardon, ma'am; I was sure you was some kin--maybe an

a'nt."

No, she was not even that; but willing enough to let the old man

believe her a lady of the Remington order, she did not explain that

she was simply the housekeeper, she simply said: "If it's Mr. Guy you want, I can tell you he is not at home, which

will save your getting out."

"Not at home, and I've come so far to see him!" grandpa exclaimed, and

in his voice there was so much genuine disappointment that Mrs. Noah

rejoined, quite kindly: "He's gone over to Devonshire with the young lady his stepmother.

Perhaps you might tell your business to me; I know all Mr. Guy's

affairs."

"If I might come in, ma'am," he answered, meekly, as through the open

door he caught glimpses of a cheerful fire. "It's mighty chilly for

such as me." He did look cold and blue, Mrs. Noah thought, and she

bade him come in, feeling a very little contempt for the old-fashioned

camlet cloak in which his feet became entangled, and smiling inwardly

at the shrunken, faded pantaloons, betokening poverty.

"As you know all Squire Guy's affairs," grandpa said, when he was

seated before the fire, "maybe you could tell whether he would be

likely to lend a stranger three hundred dollars, and that stranger

me?"

Mrs. Noah stared at him aghast. Was he crazy, or did he mean to insult

her master? Evidently neither. He seemed as sane as herself, while no

one could associate an insult with him. He did not know anything. That

was the solution of his audacity, and pityingly, as she would have

addressed a half idiot, Mrs. Noah made him understand how impossible

it was for him to think her master would lend to a stranger like him.

"You say he's gone to Devonshire," grandpa said, softly, with a quiver

on his lip when she had finished. "I wish I'd knew it; I left my

granddarter there to be examined. Mabby I'll meet him going back, and

can ask him."

"I tell you it won't be no use. Mr. Guy has no three hundred dollars

to throw away," was Mrs. Noah's rather sharp rejoinder.

"Wall, wall, we won't quarrel about it," the old man replied, in his

most conciliatory manner, as he turned his head away to hide the

starting tear.

Grandfather Markham's heart was very sore, and Mrs. Noah's harshness

troubled him. He could not bear to think that she really was cross

with him, besides that he wanted something to carry Maddy besides

disappointment, so by way of testing Mrs. Noah's amiability and

pleasing Maddy, too, he said, as he arose: "I'm an old man, lady, old

enough to be your father." Here Mrs. Noah's face grew brighter, and

she listened attentively while he continued: "You won't take what I

say amiss, I'm sure. I have a little girl at home, a grandchild, who

has heard big stories of the fine things at Aikenside. She has a

hankerin' after such vanities, and it would please her mightily to

have me tell her what I saw up here, so maybe you wouldn't mind

lettin' me go into that big room where the silk fixin's are. I'll take

off my shoes, if you say so."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024