"I don't know about that," said Mr. Putney, with whimsical perversity,
holding the door ajar. "I see that arch-conspirator from South Hatboro',"
he said, looking at Mrs. Munger.
He showed himself, as he stood holding the door ajar, a lank little figure,
dressed with reckless slovenliness in a suit of old-fashioned black; a
loose neck-cloth fell stringing down his shirt front, which his unbuttoned
waistcoat exposed, with its stains from the tobacco upon which his thin
little jaws worked mechanically, as he stared into the room with flamy blue
eyes; his silk hat was pushed back from a high, clear forehead; he had
yesterday's stubble on his beardless cheeks; a heavy moustache and imperial
gave dash to a cast of countenance that might otherwise have seemed slight
and effeminate.
"Yes; but I'm in charge of Miss Kilburn, and you needn't be afraid of me.
Come in. We wish to consult you," cried Mrs. Munger. Mrs. Gerrish cackled
some applausive incoherencies.
Putney advanced into the room, and dropped his burlesque air as he
approached Annie.
"Miss Kilburn, I must apologise for not having called with Mrs. Putney to
pay my respects. I have been away; when I got back I found she had stolen
a march on me. But I'm going to make Ellen bring me at once. I don't think
I've been in your house since the old Judge's time. Well, he was an able
man, and a good man; I was awfully fond of the old Judge, in a boy's way."
"Thank you," said Annie, touched by something gentle and honest in his
words.
"He was a Christian gentleman," said Mr. Gerrish. with authority.
Putney said, without noticing Mr. Gerrish, "Well, I'm glad you've come back
to the old place, Miss Kilburn--I almost said Annie."
"I shouldn't have minded, Ralph," she retorted.
"Shouldn't you? Well, that's right." Putney continued, ignoring the
laugh of the others at Annie's sally: "You'll find Hatboro' pretty
exciting, after Rome, for a while, I suppose. But you'll get used to
it. It's got more of the modern improvements, I'm told, and it's more
public-spirited--more snap to it. I'm told that there's more enterprise in
Hatboro', more real _crowd_ in South Hatboro' alone, than there is in
the Quirinal and the Vatican put together."
"You had better come and live at South Hatboro', Mr. Putney; that would be
just the atmosphere for you," said Mrs. Munger, with aimless hospitality.
She said this to every one.
"Is it about coming to South Hatboro' you want to consult me?" asked
Putney.