Captain Bradford did stay for supper, after
all.
Did you expect anything else from one of
herfamily?
Your CousinHenrietta, now, she see it yesterday and
what she said about it waspretty discouragin. Tadgett reluctantly laid the scraping
knife on the floor and turnedhis head to listen.
Bradford looked about the other back
room.
Would you mind if Istayed and watched you work a
little while? If thats a compliment itdoesnt sound like one. Swapped a chair and a
clam hoe and an old pair of steelyardsfor it. Its going to be lonesome enough here
for a while, Mother, hesaid.
But hes beginnin to show signs that he is a man,and
thats somethin. Any long-time resident of Denboro would have recognized him. So the
crust was rubbed off and the little room became much lighterin consequence. Then
addressing Banks, So thats all twas,eh? He pointed to an ancientruin, half hidden by
a roll of musty rag carpet. Margaret would have spoken but her son spoke
first.
Theres a crippled highboy over in the corner, he
said.
I did call on you, but you were out and
Mr.
I presume likely Ive gotsome of my own, if I knew
what they were.
The worst of it was that most of these people were
honest and didmean to pay sometime or other. You ought to look like an able
seamaneven if you are a green hand.
Those errands of yours can wait a minute ortwo,
cant they?
I suppose there is a lot more Ihavent seen. He bent
forward and pulled gently at a tinybrass knob.
Well, headmitted, Im glad to know youve got that
much common sense inyour manifest.
No one is trying to put anything over on you, if
thats whatyoure afraid of. I thought perhaps I might try to find what I want here in
yourplace. Ebenezer nodded several times; then he put the keys in his
pocket.
Nothing is going on behind yourback, Cousin Hettie.
And you aint by nomeans an antique yourself. The craze for antiques was young yet,
but Mr.
I thought a good deal last night after I left you,
he repliedsharply. Ebenezer closed one eye, opened it, and closed the other. The
door of the other back room was open and Banks was standing onits threshold looking
in. Accordin to Tadgett, youtold him youd take that back office of Judge
Blodgetts.
Im a lawyer now, and the important question iswhere
I shall begin to practice, or try to.
It takes up considerble space and it dontsmell like
lemon verbena, neither. Its a shame, but that is how it always is.
You must haveeyes like a pair of gimlets. It was
what I camehere to talk about, mainly. If Miss Bradford was expecting him to ask
thename of her informant she was disappointed.