登陆注册
5197800000012

第12章

"Please to be seated, everybody," she said."Cap'n Obed, you take your reg'lar place.Mrs.Barnes, if you'll be so kind as to set here, and Miss Howes next to you.Kenelm, you set side of me.Set down, don't stand there fidgetin'.WHAT did you put on that necktie for? I told you to put on the red one."Kenelm fingered his tie."I--I cal'late I must have forgot, Hannah," he stammered."I never noticed.This one's all right, ain't it?""All right! It'll have to be.You can't change it now.But, for goodness sakes, look out it stays on.The elastic's all worn loose and it's li'ble to drop into your tea or anywheres else.Now,"with a sudden change from a family to a "company" manner, "may Iassist you to a piece of the cold ham, Miss Howes? I trust you are feelin' quite restored to yourself again?"Emily's answer being in the affirmative, their hostess continued:

"I'm so sorry to be obliged to set nothin' but cold ham and toast and tea before you," she said."If I had known you was comin' Ishould have prepared somethin' more fittin'.After such an experience as you must have been through this night to set down to ham and toast! I--I declare I feel real debilitated and ashamed to offer 'em to you."Thankful answered.

"Don't say a word, Miss Parker," she said, heartily."We're the ones that ought to be ashamed.Landin' on you this way in the middle of the night.You're awfully good to take us in at all.My cousin and I were on our way to the hotel, but Cap'n Bangs wouldn't hear of it.He's responsible for our comin' here."Miss Parker nodded.

"Cap'n Obed is the most hospital soul livin'," she said, grandly.

"He done just right.If he'd done anything else Kenelm and I would have felt hurt.I-- Look out!" with a sudden snatch at her brother's shirt front."There goes that tie.Another second and 'twould have been right in your plate."Kenelm snapped the loop of the "made" tie over his collar button.

"Don't grab at me that way, Hannah," he protested mildly."I'm kind of nervous tonight, after what I've been through.'Twouldn't have done no great harm if I had dropped it.I could pick it up again, couldn't I?""You could, but I doubt if you would.You might have ate it, you're so absent-minded.Nervous! YOU nervous! What do you think of me? Mrs.Barnes," turning to Thankful and once more resuming the "company" manner, "you'll excuse our bein' a little upset.You see, when my brother came home and said he'd seen lights movin'

around in the old Barnes' house, he frightened us all pretty near to death.All Cap'n Obed could think of was tramps, or thieves or somethin'.Nothin' would do but he must drag Kenelm right back to see who or what was in there.And I was left alone to imagine all sorts of dreadful things.Tramps I might stand.They belong to this world, anyhow.But in THAT house, at eleven o'clock at night, I-- Mrs.Barnes, do you believe in aberrations?"Thankful was nonplused."In--in which?" she asked.

"In aberrations, spirits of dead folks comin' alive again?"For just a moment Mrs.Barnes hesitated.Then she glanced at Emily, who was trying hard not to smile, and answered, with decision: "No, I don't.""Well, I don't either, so far as that goes.I never see one myself, and I've never seen anybody that has.But when Kenelm came tearin' in to say he'd seen a light in a house shut up as long as that one has been, and a house that folks--"Captain Bangs interrupted.He had been regarding Thankful closely and now he changed the subject.

"How did it happen you saw that light, Kenelm?" he asked."What was you doin' over in that direction a night like this?"Kenelm hesitated.He seemed to find it difficult to answer.

"Why--why--" he stammered, "I'd been up to the office after the mail.And--and--it was so late comin' that I give it up.I says to Lemuel Ryder, 'Lem,' I says--"His sister broke in.

"Lem Ryder!" she repeated."Was he at the post-office?""Well--well--" Kenelm's confusion was more marked than ever.

"Well--well--" he stammered, "I see him, and I says--""You see him! Where did you see him? Kenelm Parker, I don't believe you was at the postoffice at all.You was at the clubroom, that's where you was.At that clubroom, smokin' and playin' cards with that deprivated crowd of loafers and gamblers.Tell me the truth, now, wasn't you?"Mr.Parker's tie fell off then, but neither he nor his sister noticed it.

"Gamblers!" he snorted."There ain't no gamblers there.Playin' a hand or two of Californy Jack just for fun ain't gamblin'.Iwouldn't gamble, not for a million dollars."Captain Obed laughed."Neither would I," he observed."Nor for two cents, with that clubroom gang; 'twould be too much nerve strain collectin' my winnin's.I see now why you come by the Barnes' house, Kenelm.It's the nighest way home from that clubhouse.Well, I'm glad you did.Mrs.Barnes and Miss Howes would have had a long session in the dark if you hadn't.Yes, and a night at Darius Holt's hotel, which would have been a heap worse.

So you've been livin' at South Middleboro, Mrs.Barnes, have you?

Does Miss Howes live there, too?"

Thankful, very grateful for the change of topic, told of her life since her husband's death, of her long stay with Mrs.Pearson, of Emily's teaching school, and their trip aboard the depot-wagon.

同类推荐
  • A Girl of the Limberlost

    A Girl of the Limberlost

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大唐新语

    大唐新语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 元始无量度人上品妙经内义

    元始无量度人上品妙经内义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 杂曲歌辞 昔昔盐

    杂曲歌辞 昔昔盐

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 本草分经

    本草分经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 爹地,妈咪还未婚

    爹地,妈咪还未婚

    A市最年轻的新晋权贵高调示爱,非卿不娶?那女人竟是已有四岁宝宝的未婚妈妈?未婚生子?单亲妈妈?是真爱抑或是作秀?五年前,还是小小员工的他求婚被拒;五年前,尚是大学生的她表白未果。同样的时间地点,他和她,各自失意着;阴差阳错,酒精燃烧着情欲。五年后,他是新任权贵,她是未婚妈妈;意外邂逅,爱情将会怎样进行?总而言之,就是深情男主俘获未婚妈妈的童话爱情故事。亲们,还在犹豫神马?请尽情收藏阅读之…
  • 重生之王爷请娶我

    重生之王爷请娶我

    她从未想过再次睁眼已在异世,既然上天给了这么好的机会就要活得精彩。无奈现实是残酷的,为了生活她要去做丫鬟。他,玩世不恭,整日烟花柳巷,还是出了名的暴躁脾气;虽被尊称王爷却并无实权。阴差阳错,他们相恋,不想一道圣旨美人赐下,他们该何去何从。。。
  • 太古魔尊你惹不起

    太古魔尊你惹不起

    【无敌爽文,日常爆更】魔王重生,想干啥就干啥。以圣女为侍,把圣子当狗,让圣人磕头!没有谁,我惹不起!“魔”就一个字,不服都得死!圣女红着脸:“魔尊大人,人家,人家准备好了……”“滚一边去,别打扰我修炼!”
  • 这真不是动物园

    这真不是动物园

    在遥远的东方,存在着一家神奇的动物乐园。在这里猫和老鼠共餐,狮子和羚羊共舞,老虎被当做看门狗,滚滚在厨房里打扫卫生,恐龙在花园里漫步……就是这样神奇的店面,却没有被有关部门封杀,反而有着络绎不绝的贵人进进出出,天天在门口排出了长队,求一只动物而不得其入。并且在这里,每天都有一个凶巴巴的小萝莉站在门口,严防死守,挥舞着大棒道:“敢硬闯的,通通打死!”直到有一天一只雷公毛猴从天而降后,小萝莉才惊慌失措的丢下大棒,跑进屋道:“粑粑,粑粑,不好了,那只臭猴子又想来当宠物啦……”
  • 第一专宠,匪姐不好惹

    第一专宠,匪姐不好惹

    孽债啊!不能啊!他是个非男勿扰的怪王爷,女人,从来不碰!关起门来,翻翻账本,不是东风压倒西风,就是西风压倒东风。
  • 听总裁们谈经营之道

    听总裁们谈经营之道

    本书从突围举措、行业结构、企业后劲等方面详细解读了50位优秀的企业领导人“重装突围”的应对之道,其中有前瞻性的战略规划,更不乏实际应对的改革措施,希望对目前遭遇企业创立以来最大困难的企业和所有有志于做中国最好企业的创业者有所借鉴、有所启发。
  • 卓异记

    卓异记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 如果爱你只有这一次

    如果爱你只有这一次

    三年前,他毁掉了她的婚姻,夺走了她的孩子,害得她绝望跳江而死。原以为不爱她,却在她死后整整三年,梦里徘徊不去她的脸。再相逢,她是别人的未婚妻,他却对她穷追不舍:“宋妍,我们还有一个儿子,你怎么能嫁给别人呢?”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 时光不念旧

    时光不念旧

    是一个从高中到成人以后的恋爱故事,里面的男主和女主经历了风风雨雨才走到一起实属不易。很多高中恋爱但不会长久。可是我想打破这种常规。给读者一个冲击大脑的刺激感。在读这本书时,你会随着人物入戏。体验一个人在纯洁的年龄,所想的没好事事情。你可以看到清新脱俗的女神,也可看见普遍的娘炮,也可看见疯狂的女神经病。就让你翻来这本书,体验他吧!
  • 嫡女煞妃

    嫡女煞妃

    【坑货版简介】靳辰觉得自己穿越之后的人生处处都是深不见底的巨坑……天命煞女一枚,出身高贵却必须吃斋念佛,美其名曰为驱煞?靳辰表示念佛可以,吃斋那是万万不行滴!于是无肉不欢的靳姑娘凭借一只烤鸡,收获了一个世外高人当师父。然而,师父是个更大的坑……直接导致靳辰从一个将军府嫡女沦落为小厨娘之后,又沦落成为一个废物王爷的女护卫。异世女护卫是什么样子的?靳辰表示,本姑娘的人生信条是:能动手的绝对不吵吵,想跟本姑娘吵吵的,分分钟气你吐血都是家常便饭灭哈哈!武力值爆棚的女护卫顶着一张眉眼弯弯人畜无害的小脸,杀人如切瓜,强悍无比地把最凶残变态的杀手头子给虐成了乖乖小弟,煞气四溢,彪到飞起,圆满完成了一年的保护任务。“任务完成,滚了。”靳姑娘背着包袱,潇洒地对某废物王爷挥了挥手准备回家。有着天下第一美男之称的某废物王爷笑容荡漾无比:“小丫头,你都把本王吃干抹净了,打算抛夫弃子么?”靳辰小脸一黑:“草!能要点脸不?”【正剧版简介】特工靳辰穿越异世,成为夏国将军府嫡出的五小姐,同时也是人人避之不及的天命煞女。靳辰吃过斋,念过佛,拜过坑货为师,还当过某废物王爷的女护卫。一朝归家,所谓的亲人一反常态,热情欢迎煞女归来,还义正言辞地说给靳辰找了一个好归宿。踹过父亲骂过母亲揍过弟弟妹妹,靳家人眼中的恶魔煞星靳辰姑娘眉眼弯弯,浅笑吟吟:“我嫁。”瞬间惊爆了一地眼球……那一日,他墨衣银发,浴血而来;那一日,她指天为誓,非他不嫁。天煞孤星,天命煞女,一场煞气冲天的婚礼,一条荆棘遍地的浴血之路……因为有她相伴,他从不惧;因为有他作陪,她永无悔。**小剧场**【坑货师父篇】师父:小徒儿,这是为师花了所有的积蓄给你买的漂亮衣服,喜欢咩?靳辰:我要出门的盘缠。师父:这就是盘缠!小徒儿你穿上,遇到劫财劫色的,把他们抢得毛都不剩一根,然后就要啥啥都有了,灭哈哈!靳辰:……【妖艳贱货篇】二师兄:小师妹,你救师兄一命,师兄无以为报,唯有以身相许,来吧!三师兄:小师妹,师兄对你一见钟情再见倾心!靳辰:(仰天长啸)我大师兄一定跟你们这两个妖艳贱货不一样!某男:(笑容愉悦)原来在小师妹心中,我是最好的,我心甚喜。靳辰:(晴天霹雳)啊啊啊啊!混蛋!你怎么是我大师兄?!***本文男强女强,游游出品,不虐男女主,不坑~***【推荐游游自己的三本完结文】