The chairs were of differentpatterns, one of them
mended with cod line.
Silie, what in the world were you andyour Uncle
Bijah up to last night? If he would give nothing for it it wasburned or thrown away.
Ebenezer nodded several times; then he put the keys in his pocket.
Why, yes, he admitted, not too graciously, I was
going out. But I have got the key toJudge Blodgetts rooms. Ive been told that you
and he were shut up together inhis room at the hotel for much as an
hour.
He had a number of snapshots of her whichhe had
taken from time to time.
I didnt know myself, until lastevening, that Uncle
Bije had any plans for me.
You cant always tell whats underneathpaint, on
women or furniture.
What sort of business did you talk
about?
Margaret, he demanded, did you know about
this?
You havent opened your mouths since Icame
in.
A tear, a sigh, a sad good-by; The pardon came too
late! If I could afford it Id have your portrait there, too,Mother. It was a
perfectly innocent if not very illuminating reply, but ithad a curious effect. You
can pay me backafter you win your first case for the New York, New Haven andHartford
Railroad.
Inthe other back room Ebenezer kept his treasures.
Well, its a goodseasonable day for this time of year, Mr.
Margaret, he demanded, did you know about
this?
You neednt mind; I dont want to be cured. Why, I
thought you had bought it already. Miss Bradford caught her breath and leanedforward
in her chair. Hush, Mother, Illtell her; it isnt any secret.
I took it in trade from Heman Bearse, over to
theNeck.
So youlooked the premises over on your own hook,
eh? There was a twinkle in her eyeas she glanced at her son. You wereworking on that
table when I interrupted you, I suppose.
Ive just got here and I came partly to see
you.
But youcant imagine how disappointed I am about
that gas burner. You cant always tell whats underneathpaint, on women or furniture.
Silie, what in the world were you andyour Uncle Bijah up to last night? Tadgett says
you and hepicked out furniture for that room and that you went ahead andbought
it.
Ive rentedthe room in the post-office building and
Ive paid the firstmonths rent in advance.