Part 76 (2/2)

Lulie's face expressed her happiness. ”Oh, he is ever and ever so much better,” she declared. ”Last night I was so afraid that the shock and the dreadful disappointment and all might have a very had effect upon him, but it hasn't. He is weak this morning and tired, of course, but his brain is perfectly clear and he talks as calmly as you or I. Yes, a good deal more calmly than I am talking just now, for I am very much excited.”

She laughed a little. Then, with a blush which caused the Boston connoisseur to re-endorse his own estimate of her looks, added: ”I just must tell you this, Martha, you and Mr. Bangs, for I know you will be almost as much delighted as I am--of course, I put in the 'almost.'

This morning, a little while ago, I ventured to mention Nelson's name to father and to hint that perhaps now that he knew Marietta's 'medium'

nonsense to be all a fraud, he would believe as I did that the things she said about Nelson were frauds, too. I said it in fear and trembling, and for some time he didn't answer. Then he called me to him and said he guessed I was probably right. 'You seem to have been right most of the time, Lulie,' he said, 'and I've been clear off the course.' Then he said something about his getting old and about ready for the sc.r.a.p heap, but at the end he said: 'You ask that young Howard to cruise around here and see me some one of these days. I want to talk to him.' There!”

triumphantly. ”Isn't that splendid? Isn't that something for him to say?”

Martha beamed delightedly. ”For your father to say it's more than somethin', it's a whole big lot,” she declared. ”Well, well, well! Cap'n Jeth invitin' Nelson to come and see him and talk with him! Mercy me!

'Wonders 'll never cease, fish fly and birds swim,' as my own father used to say,” she added, with a laugh. ”Mr. Cabot, excuse me for talkin'

about somethin' you don't understand, but, you see, Lulie is--Well, Primmie, what is it?”

Primmie's face expressed great excitement as she pushed it around the edge of the kitchen door. ”My savin' soul!” was her salutation. ”Who do you suppose is comin' right up our walk this very minute? Raish Pulcifer, that's who! And--and I bet you he's heard about last night's doin's, Miss Martha.”

A little of Miss Cash's excitement was communicated to the others by her announcement. To every one except Mr. Bangs, of course. Galusha, after his acknowledgment of Lulie's thanks, had relapsed into his absent-minded apathy. Martha looked at Lulie.

”Humph!” she said, after a moment. ”Well, let him come, as far as I'm concerned. I never was afraid of Raish Pulcifer yet and I'm not now.

Lulie, if you don't want to meet him, you might go into the sitting room.”

Lulie hesitated. ”Well, perhaps I will,” she said. ”Father has told me a little about--Well, I imagine Raish will be disagreeable and I don't feel like going through more disagreeableness just now. I'll wait in here till he goes, Martha.”

”Perhaps you'd like to go, too, Mr. Cabot,” suggested Martha.

Cabot shrugged. ”Not unless you wish me to,” he replied. ”I've never met this agent of ours and I wouldn't mind seeing what he looks like.

Williams hired him, so he doesn't know me from Adam.”

For the first time that morning Miss Phipps addressed her boarder directly. ”How about you, Mr. Bangs?” she asked.

Galusha did not appear to hear the question, and before it was repeated a knock, loud, portentous, threatening, sounded upon the door.

”Let him in, Primmie,” commanded Miss Phipps.

Mr. Pulcifer entered. His bearing was as ominous as his knock. He nodded to Martha, glanced inquiringly at Cabot, and then turned his gaze upon Galusha Bangs.

”Well, Raish,” said Martha, cheerfully, ”you're an early bird this mornin'. How do you do?”

The great Horatio's only acknowledgment of the greeting was a nod. He did not even remove his cap. He was looking at the little man in the chair at the foot of the table and he seemed quite oblivious of any one else. And Galusha, for that matter, seemed quite as oblivious of him.

The Pulcifer mouth opened and the Pulcifer finger pointed.

”Say,” commanded Raish. ”Say--you!” And as this seemed to have little or no effect upon the individual toward whom the finger pointed, he added: ”Say, you--er--What's-your-name--Bangs.”

Galusha, who had been absently playing with his napkin, twisting it into folds and then untwisting it, looked up.

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