CHAPTER VIII
AN IMPULSE
For nearly an hour I sat listlessly in my chair and watched the shadowslengthen across the valley. Suddenly an impulse seized me, and Iresolved to obey it.
"If I can go downstairs to-morrow, I can go just as well to-night," Isaid, "and go I will. She shall not have a shadow on her first eveningwith her lover, and she's too good-hearted to enjoy it wholly if shethinks I'm moping and sighing in my room. Moreover, I shall not let myshadows make a background for the banker's general prosperity. Statelyand patronizing he cannot help being, and Miss Warren may lead him tothink that he is under some obligation to me--I wish he might neverhear of it--but, by Vulcan and his sledge! he shall have no cause topity me while he unctuously rubs his hands in self-felicitation."
As far as my strength permitted, I made a careful toilet, and sat downto wait. As the sun sank below the horizon, the banker appeared. "Veryappropriate," I muttered; "but his presence would make it dark atmidday."
Miss Warren was talking with animation, and pointing out thesurrounding objects of interest, and he was listening with awonderfully complacent smile on his smooth, full face.
"How prosperous he looks!" I muttered. "The idea of anything goingcontrary to his will or wishes!"
Then I saw that a little girl sat on the front seat with Reuben, andthat he was letting her drive, but with his hand hovering near thereins.
Mr. and Mrs. Yocomb came out and greeted Mr. Hearn cordially, and he inreturn was very benign, for it was evident that, in their place andstation, he found them agreeable people, and quite to his mind.
"Why doesn't he take off his hat to Mrs. Yocomb as if she were aduchess?" I growled. "That trunk that fills half the rockaway doesn'tlook as if he had come to spend Sunday only. Perhaps we are destined tomake a happy family. I wonder who the little girl is?".
The banker was given what was known as the parlor bedroom, on theground floor, and I heard Adah taking the little girl to her room.
Miss Warren did not glance at my window on her return. "She would havebeen happy enough had I remained here and sighed like a furnace," Imuttered grimly. "Well, idiot! why shouldn't she be?"
She had evidently lingered to say something to Mrs. Yocomb, but I soonheard her light step pass up to her room.
"Now's my chance," I thought. "Mrs. Yocomb is preparing for supper, andall the rest are out of the way," and I slipped down the stairs withnoiseless and rather unsteady tread. Excitement, however, lent me atransient strength, and I felt as if the presence of the banker wouldgive me sinews of steel. I entered the parlor unobserved, and taking myold seat, from which I had watched the approach of the memorable storm,I waited events.
The first one to appear was the banker, rubbing his hands in a way thatsuggested a habit of complacency and self-felicitation. He startedslightly on seeing me, and then said graciously:
"Mr. Morton, I presume?"
"You are correct, Mr. Hearn. I congratulate you on your safe arrival."
"Thanks. I've travelled considerably, and have never met with anaccident. Glad to see you able to be down, for from what I heard Ifeared you had not sufficiently recovered."
"I'm much better to-day, sir," I replied, briefly.
"Well, this air, these scenes ought to impart health and content. I'mgreatly pleased already, and congratulate myself on finding so pleasanta place of summer sojourn. It will form a delightful contrast to greathotels and jostling crowds." I now saw Miss Warren, through thehalf-open door, talking to Mrs. Yocomb. They evidently thought thebanker was conversing with Mr. Yocomb.
Instead of youthful ardor and bubbling happiness, the girl's face had agrave, sedate aspect that comported well with her coming dignities.Then she looked distressed. Was Mrs. Yocomb telling her of my profaneand awful mood? I lent an inattentive ear to Mr. Hearn's excellentreasons for satisfaction with his present abode, and in the depths ofmy soul I thought, "If she's worrying about me now, how good-heartedshe is!"
"I already foresee," Mr. Hearn proceeded, in his full-orbed tones,"that it will also be just the place for my little girl--safe andquiet, with very nice people to associate with."
"Yes," I said emphatically, "they are nice people--the best I everknew."
Miss Warren started violently, took a step toward the door, thenpaused, and Mrs. Yocomb entered first.
"Why, Richard Morton!" she exclaimed, "what does thee mean by thisimprudence?"
"I mean to eat a supper that will astonish you," I replied, laughing.
"But I didn't give thee leave to come down."
"You said I could come to-morrow, so I haven't disobeyed in spirit."
Miss Warren still stood in the hall, but seeing that I had recognizedher, she came forward and gave me her hand as she said:
"No one is more glad than I that you are able to come down."
Her words were very quiet, but the pressure of her hand was so warm asto surprise me, and I also noted that what must have been a vivid colorwas fading from her usually pale face. I saw, too, that Mr. Hearn waswatching us keenly.
"Oh, but you are shrewd!" I thought. "I wish you had cause to suspect."
I returned her greeting with great apparent frankness and cordiality asI replied, "Oh, I'm much better to-night, and as jolly as Mark Tapley."
"Well," ejaculated Mrs. Yocomb, "thee _has_ stolen a march on us, butI'm afraid thee'll be the worse for it."
"Ah, Mrs. Yocomb," I laughed, "your captive has escaped. I'm going tomeeting with you to-morrow."
"No, thee isn't. I feel as if I ought to take thee right back to thyroom."
"Mr. Yocomb," I cried to the old gentleman, who now stood staring at mein the doorway, "I appeal to you. Can't I stay down to supper?"
"How's this! how's this!" he exclaimed. "We were going to give thee agrand ovation to-morrow, and mother had planned a dinner that mightcontent an alderman."
"Or a banker," I thought, as I glanced at Mr. Hearn's ample waistcoat;but I leaned back in my chair and laughed heartily as I said:
"You cannot get me back to my room, Mrs. Yocomb, now that I know I'veescaped an ovation. I'd rather have a toothache."
"But does thee really feel strong enough?"
"Oh, yes; I never felt better in my life."
"I don't know what to make of thee," she said, with a puzzled look.
"No," I replied; "you little knew what a case I was when you took me inhand."
"I'll stand up for thee, Friend Morton. Thee shall stay down to supper,and have what thee pleases. Thee may as well give in, mother; he's outfrom under thy thumb."
"My dear sir, you talk as if you were out, too. I fear our mutiny maygo too far. To-morrow is Sunday, Mrs. Yocomb, and I'll be as good as Iknow how all day, which, after all, is not promising much."
"It must be very delightful to you to have secured such good friends,"began Mr. Hearn, who perhaps felt that he had stood too long in thebackground. "I congratulate you. At the same time, Mr. and Mrs.Yocomb," with a courtly bend toward them, "I do not wonder at yourfeelings, for Emily has told me that Mr. Morton behaved very handsomelyduring that occasion of peril."
"Did I?" I remarked, with a wry face. "I was under the impression thatI looked very ridiculous," and I turned a quick, mischievous glancetoward Miss Warren, who seemed well content to remain in the background.
"Yes," she said, laughing, "your appearance did not comport with yourdeeds."
"I'm not so sure about that," I replied, dryly. "At any rate, I muchprefer the present to reminiscences."
"I trust that you will permit me, as one of the most interestedparties, to thank you also," began Mr. Hearn, impressively.
"No, indeed, sir," I exclaimed, a little brusquely. "Thanks do notagree with my constitution at all."
"Hurrah!" cried Reuben, looking in at the parlor window.
"Yes, here's the man to thank," I resumed. "Even after being struck bylightning he was equal to the emergency."
"No, thee don't, Richard," laughed Reuben. "Thee needn't think th
ee'sgoing to palm that thing off on me. We've all come to our senses now."
For some reason Miss Warren laughed heartily, and then said to me, "Youlook so well and genial to-night that I do begin to think it was someother tramp."
"I fear I'm the same old tramp; for, as Reuben says, we have all cometo our senses."
"Thee didn't lose thy senses, Richard, till after thee was sick. 'Twasmighty lucky thee wasn't struck," explained the matter-of-fact Reuben.
"You must permit me to echo the young lad's sentiment," said Mr. Hearn,feelingly. "It was really a providence that you escaped, and kept sucha cool, clear head."
I fear I made another very wry face as I looked out of the window.Reuben evidently had not liked the term "young lad," but as he saw myexpression he burst out laughing as he said:
"What's the matter, Richard? I guess thee thinks thee had the worst ofit after all."
"So thee has," broke out Mr. Yocomb. "Thee didn't know what an awfulscrape I was getting thee into when I brought thee home from meeting.Never was a stranger so taken in before. I don't believe thee'll evergo to Friends' meeting again," and the old gentleman laughed heartily,but tears stood in his eyes.
In spite of myself my color was rising, and I saw that Mrs. Yocomb andMiss Warren looked uncomfortably conscious of what must be in my mind;but I joined in his laugh as I replied:
"You are mistaken. Had I a prophet's eye, I would have come home withyou. The kindness received in this home has repaid me a thousand times.With a sick bear on their hands, Mrs. Yocomb and Miss Adah were in aworse scrape than I."
"Well, thee hasn't growled as much as I expected," laughed Mrs. Yocomb;"and now thee's a very amiable bear indeed, and shall have thy supperat once," and she turned to depart, smiling to herself, but met in thedoorway Adah and the little stranger--a girl of about the same age asZillah, with large, vivid black eyes, and long dark hair. Zillah wasfollowing her timidly, with a face full of intense interest in her newcompanion; but the moment she saw me she ran and sprang into my arms,and, forgetful of all others, cried gladly:
"Oh, I'm so glad--I'm so glad thee's well!"
The impulse must have been strong to make so shy a child forget thepresence of strangers.
I whispered in her ear, "I told you that your kiss would make me well."
"Yes; but thee said Emily Warren's roses too," protested the littlegirl.
"Did I?" I replied, laughing. "Well, there's no escaping the truth inthis house."
I dared not look at Miss Warren, but saw that Mr. Hearn's eyes were onher.
"Confound him!" I thought. "Can he be fool enough to be jealous?"
Adah still stood hesitatingly in the doorway, as if she dared not trustherself to enter. I put Zillah down, and crossing the room in a free,frank manner, I took her hand cordially as I said:
"Miss Adah, I must thank you next to Mrs. Yocomb that I am able to bedown this evening, and that I am getting well so fast. You have beenthe best of nurses, and just as kind and considerate as a sister. I'mgoing to have the honor of taking you out to supper." I placed her handon my arm, and its thrill and tremble touched my very soul. In mythoughts I said, "It's all a wretched muddle, and, as the banker said,mysterious enough to be a providence"; but at that moment the ways ofProvidence seemed very bright to the young girl, and she saw Mr. Hearnescorting Miss Warren with undisguised complacency.
As the latter took her seat I ventured to look at her, and if ever awoman's eyes were eloquent with warm, approving friendliness, herswere. I seemingly had done the very thing she would have wished me todo. As we bowed our heads in grace, I was graceless enough to growl,under my breath, "My attentions to Adah are evidently verysatisfactory. Can she imagine for a moment--does she take me for aweather-vane?"
When grace was over, I glanced toward her again, a trifle indignantly;but her face now was quiet and pale, and I was compelled to believethat for the rest of the evening she avoided my eyes and all referencesto the past.
"Why, mother!" exclaimed Mr. Yocomb from the head of the table, "thycheeks are as red--why, thee looks like a young girl."
"Thee knows I'm very much pleased to-night," she said. "Does theeremember, Richard, when thee first sat down to supper with us?"
"Indeed I do. Never shall I forget my trepidation lest Mr. Yocombshould discover whom, in his unsuspecting hospitality, he washarboring."
"Well, I've discovered," laughed the old gentleman. "Good is alwayscoming out of Nazareth."
"It seems to me that we've met before," remarked Mr. Hearn, graciouslyand reflectively.
"Yes, sir," I explained. "As a reporter I called on you once or twicefor information."
"Ah, now it comes back to me. Yes, yes, I remember; and I also rememberthat you did not extract the information as if it had been a tooth.Your manner was not that of a professional interviewer. You must meetwith disagreeable experiences in your calling."
"Yes, sir; but perhaps that is true of all callings."
"Yes, no doubt, no doubt; but it has seemed to me that a reporter's lotmust frequently bring him in contact with much that is disagreeable."
"Mr. Morton is not a reporter," said Adah, a trifle indignantly; "he'sthe editor of a first-class paper."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Hearn, growing much more benign; "why, Emily,you did not tell me that."
"No, I only spoke of Mr. Morton as a gentleman."
"I imagine that Miss Warren thinks that I have mistaken my calling, andthat I ought to be a gardener."
"That's an odd impression. Mr. Yocomb would not even trust you toweed," she retorted quickly.
"I have a fellow feeling for weeds; they grow so easily and naturally.But I must correct your impressions, Miss Adah. I'm not the dignitaryyou imagine-only _an_ editor, and an obscure night one at that."
"Your night work on one occasion bears the light very well. I hope itmay be the earnest of the future," said Mr. Hearn impressively.
I felt that he had a covert meaning, for he had glanced more than onceat Miss Warren when I spoke, and I imagined him a little anxious as toour mutual impressions.
"I feel it my duty to set you right also, Mr. Hearn," I replied, withquiet emphasis, for I wished to end all further reference to thatoccasion. "Through Mr. and Mrs. Yocomb's kindness, I happened to be aninmate of the farmhouse that night. I merely did what any man wouldhave done, and could have done just as well. My action involved nopersonal peril, and no hardship worth naming. My illness resulted frommy own folly. I'd been overworking or overworked, as so many in mycalling are. Conscious that I am not in the least heroic, I do not wishto be imagined a hero. Mrs. Yocomb knows what a bear I've been," Iconcluded, with a humorous nod toward her.
"Yes, I know, Richard," she said, quietly smiling.
"After this statement in prose, Mr. Hearn, you will not be led toexpect more from me than from any ordinary mortal."
"Indeed, sir, I like your modesty, your self-depreciation."
"I beg your pardon," I interrupted a little decisively; "I hope you donot think my words had any leaning toward affectation. I wished tostate the actual truth. My friends here have become too kind andpartial to give a correct impression."
Mr. Hearn waved his hand very benignly, and his smile was graciousnessitself as he said:
"I think I understand you, sir, and respect your sincerity. I've beenled to believe that you cherish a high and scrupulous sense of honor,and that trait counts with me far more than all others."
I understood him well. "Oh, you _are_ shrewd!" I thought; "but I'd liketo know what obligations I'm under to you?" I merely bowed a triflecoldly to this tribute and suggestive statement, and turned theconversation. As I swept my eyes around the table a little later, Ithought Miss Warren looked paler than usual.
"Does she understand his precautionary measures?" I thought. "He'dbetter beware--she would not endure distrust."
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