登陆注册
5419600000002

第2章

"And what might you be wanting, sir?" said Kate O'Brien, apparently not quite pleased as she opened the door and let in all the cold air.

"I wish to see Mrs.Bell.Is not this Mrs.Bell's house?" said the young man, shaking the snow from out of the breast of his coat.

He did see Mrs.Bell, and we will now tell who he was, and why he had come, and how it came to pass that his carpet-bag was brought down to the widow's house and one of the front bedrooms was prepared for him, and that he drank tea that night in the widow's parlour.

His name was Aaron Dunn, and by profession he was an engineer.What peculiar misfortune in those days of frost and snow had befallen the line of rails which runs from Schenectady to Lake Champlain, I never quite understood.Banks and bridges had in some way come to grief, and on Aaron Dunn's shoulders was thrown the burden of seeing that they were duly repaired.Saratoga Springs was the centre of these mishaps, and therefore at Saratoga Springs it was necessary that he should take up his temporary abode.

Now there was at that time in New York city a Mr.Bell, great in railway matters--an uncle of the once thriving but now departed Albany lawyer.He was a rich man, but he liked his riches himself;or at any rate had not found himself called upon to share them with the widow and daughters of his nephew.But when it chanced to come to pass that he had a hand in despatching Aaron Dunn to Saratoga, he took the young man aside and recommended him to lodge with the widow."There," said he, "show her my card." So much the rich uncle thought he might vouchsafe to do for the nephew's widow.

Mrs.Bell and both her daughters were in the parlour when Aaron Dunn was shown in, snow and all.He told his story in a rough, shaky voice, for his teeth chattered; and he gave the card, almost wishing that he had gone to the empty big hotel, for the widow's welcome was not at first quite warm.

The widow listened to him as he gave his message, and then she took the card and looked at it.Hetta, who was sitting on the side of the fireplace facing the door, went on demurely with her work.

Susan gave one glance round--her back was to the stranger--and then another; and then she moved her chair a little nearer to the wall, so as to give the young man room to come to the fire, if he would.

He did not come, but his eyes glanced upon Susan Bell; and he thought that the old man in New York was right, and that the big hotel would be cold and dull.It was a pretty face to look on that cold evening as she turned it up from the stocking she was mending.

"Perhaps you don't wish to take winter boarders, ma'am?" said Aaron Dunn.

"We never have done so yet, sir," said Mrs.Bell timidly.Could she let this young wolf in among her lamb-fold? He might be a wolf;--who could tell?

"Mr.Bell seemed to think it would suit," said Aaron.

Had he acquiesced in her timidity and not pressed the point, it would have been all up with him.But the widow did not like to go against the big uncle; and so she said, "Perhaps it may, sir.""I guess it will, finely," said Aaron.And then the widow seeing that the matter was so far settled, put down her work and came round into the passage.Hetta followed her, for there would be housework to do.Aaron gave himself another shake, settled the weekly number of dollars--with very little difficulty on his part, for he had caught another glance at Susan's face; and then went after his bag.

'Twas thus that Aaron Dunn obtained an entrance into Mrs.Bell's house."But what if he be a wolf?" she said to herself over and over again that night, though not exactly in those words.Ay, but there is another side to that question.What if he be a stalwart man, honest-minded, with clever eye, cunning hand, ready brain, broad back, and warm heart; in want of a wife mayhap; a man that can earn his own bread and another's;--half a dozen others' when the half dozen come? Would not that be a good sort of lodger? Such a question as that too did flit, just flit, across the widow's sleepless mind.But then she thought so much more of the wolf!

Wolves, she had taught herself to think, were more common than stalwart, honest-minded, wife-desirous men.

"I wonder mother consented to take him," said Hetta, when they were in the little room together.

"And why shouldn't she?" said Susan."It will be a help.""Yes, it will be a little help," said Hetta."But we have done very well hitherto without winter lodgers.""But uncle Bell said she was to."

"What is uncle Bell to us?" said Hetta, who had a spirit of her own.

And she began to surmise within herself whether Aaron Dunn would join the Baptist congregation, and whether Phineas Beckard would approve of this new move.

"He is a very well-behaved young man at any rate," said Susan, "and he draws beautifully.Did you see those things he was doing?""He draws very well, I dare say," said Hetta, who regarded this as but a poor warranty for good behaviour.Hetta also had some fear of wolves--not for herself perhaps; but for her sister.

Aaron Dunn's work--the commencement of his work--lay at some distance from the Springs, and he left every morning with a lot of workmen by an early train--almost before daylight.And every morning, cold and wintry as the mornings were, the widow got him his breakfast with her own hands.She took his dollars and would not leave him altogether to the awkward mercies of Kate O'Brien; nor would she trust her girls to attend upon the young man.Hetta she might have trusted; but then Susan would have asked why she was spared her share of such hardship.

In the evening, leaving his work when it was dark, Aaron always returned, and then the evening was passed together.But they were passed with the most demure propriety.These women would make the tea, cut the bread and butter, and then sew; while Aaron Dunn, when the cups were removed, would always go to his plans and drawings.

同类推荐
  • 麓堂诗话

    麓堂诗话

    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。
  • 地官司徒

    地官司徒

    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。
  • 破邪论

    破邪论

    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。
  • 佛说长阿含经

    佛说长阿含经

    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。
  • 塞下曲

    塞下曲

    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
  • 魏忠贤小说斥奸书

    魏忠贤小说斥奸书

    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。
  • 川菜诗百首:用旋律找回记忆

    川菜诗百首:用旋律找回记忆

    历史上四川籍的文化名人,以及长期客居四川的文化名人,与川菜结下了不解之缘。司马相如、左思、李白、杜甫、薛涛、苏东坡、陆游、李调元、张大千、李劼人、黄晋临等大名鼎鼎的诗人、作家、画家、官人,或用诗歌,或用锦绣文章给我们留下了川菜的精神元素。他们或者亲自下厨,或者自办餐厅,给川菜创制了许多名菜,给川菜留下了许多佳话,注入了许多文化的味精。
  • 北大“差”生

    北大“差”生

    成绩普通、发挥不稳定的周林林因高考超常发挥,进入了莘莘学子梦寐以求的北京大学。但因其能力有限,在光鲜亮丽的北大生存艰难,唯一愿望就是顺利毕业。开朗活泼却自卑的周林林面对众多天之骄子,投机取巧,又随波逐流,不明白生活的方向和目标在何处。入学时对经院师兄谢端西一见钟情,却无奈落花有意流水无情;新闻系红人文涛在和周林林的相处过程中,逐渐对其直白简单的性格倾心,表白后却遭到了周林林的拒绝;和周林林一起考入北大的老乡毒舌方予可从小暗恋她,在辅导她学习,帮助她生活的点点滴滴中,两人互见真情,最终相知相爱。
  • 重生之头条女王

    重生之头条女王

    前世温宁玉在自己意外走红后迎来了两个选择,一个承诺力捧但要给金主的小白花当挡箭牌,另一个是和前途渺茫的小公司签约,当时正逢养父母家最艰辛的时候,于是缺钱的她走了第一条路,结果躲过了大大小小的人祸却不想竟被嫉妒心重的小白花给坑死了。更想不到她又重回了分岔路口,再次面临了那两个选择。珍爱生命,远离极品!这辈子她果断地选择和小公司签约,正当她准备从零开始努力奋斗时,小公司被前世的金主收购了……温宁玉磨刀霍霍,送上门来的肥羊,宰还是不宰?
  • 龙血圣帝

    龙血圣帝

    【超燃爆爽文】少年叶无双奇获混沌龙墓,得其“吞天龙诀”传承吞噬天地,从卑微中崛起,以无敌之姿,横推万世,纳万界神族为奴,临诸天万界之巅,万古称帝!粉丝群:464385556
  • 乱世佳人:若水无伤

    乱世佳人:若水无伤

    一缕幽魂错转异世,演绎一段乱世佳人的悲欢离合,婉言低诉这红尘有爱,奈何苍天无情,想爱的人阴阳相隔,恨之入骨的仇人却又苦苦纠缠。前世今生,舞一曲红颜缭乱,上善若水,祈愿无殇!前世的她被老公的外遇刺激而死,今生的她被皇帝老爹遗弃在外,命运对她,总是无情而冷酷。三个性格迥异,位高权重的男人,几段可歌可泣假假真真的情感纠葛,是他,是他……还是他,最终能夺得美人归?
  • 余生为卿歌

    余生为卿歌

    我苏云歌,是孤儿院恶名昭彰的孩子王,天生脾气大,不好惹。我沈浮云,是苏云歌强大的后援团,天生冷漠疏离,有点小腹黑,不好相处。麻蛋!被抛弃了!又被毁容了!等我改头换面,脱胎换骨,定要抛弃我的人好看,你是当红炸子鸡又怎么样,还不是我苏云歌的人!做个助理不仅天天被人监视,还有生命危险?真不知该说你人气太旺,还是我太垮?要报仇?看我不上怼傲娇大BOSS,下打刻薄小明星,不让你坐红蓝车(警车),我就不叫苏云歌!
  • 男配女配

    男配女配

    他是标准的男二号,英俊多金,沉稳内敛;她是标准的女二号,漂亮聪明,手段用尽;终于有一天,两只配角狭路相逢……
  • 末世流浪狗

    末世流浪狗

    末世开始,一个胖子,带着一只狗,一个萝莉,开始了他们的流浪之旅!
  • 温暖治愈的人生故事文学(套装8册)

    温暖治愈的人生故事文学(套装8册)

    《他跟我聊到樱桃树、灰尘以及一座山》、《时间停止的那一天》、《世界尽头的图书馆》、《穿过森林的男孩》、《爱的边境》、《你是我一切的一切》、《没有你,什么都不甜蜜》、《晚风如诉》,八本温暖治愈的人生故事文学。生活往往比我们看上去更加复杂,即便它看上去平静如水,给在世间蓬勃生长,坦率去爱、温柔抵抗的人。