Part 18 (1/2)
”And I imagine that people stop just to look in at it,” Katherine spoke up.
”We might label it as having been the property of some great man,” said the Professor.
”Oh, I know it's a joke with you, but it's not with us,” his wife retorted. ”I don't see any fun in a disgrace.”
”Have you no respect for the aged?” he asked, trying to wink at his daughter, but she would not accept it. ”Let us trail a vine about it and call it a ruined mill.”
”That's a stab at me, mother,” said the girl. ”I am not permitted to have a sentiment.”
”Well, I don't want any; I've had enough,” the mother replied. ”It's sentiment, sentiment ever since I can remember, and I'm sick of it.”
”You want poetry, my dear,” said the Professor. ”Or at least you set store by it, for didn't you give Tennyson to the preacher?”
”I don't care if I did, I'm going to throw that old thing out. Wesley, when is your insurance due?”
”It is paid, madam, thanks be to the Lord. I sent the money off yesterday.”
”Why didn't you tell me you were going to send it?”
”Oh, it was a mere trifle, and I forgot it.”
”For pity sake! And where did you get the money?”
”I combed it out of the gra.s.s.”
”Well, you'd better comb out some for us while you are combing. I've lived this way till I'm tired of it. Where did you get that money?”
”The gra.s.s was thick, and the gra.s.s was long, and the comb pulled heavy and slow.”
”You ought to be ashamed of yourself. That's all I've got to say.”
”I'm afraid not.”
”I'll talk just as much as I please.”
”I'm afraid so. But let us all be cheerful now. Yesterday it was dark and misty, and now the sun is bright. Here, mamma, kiss me to my labor.
I haven't drawn at the weak sinews of my feeble salary, and you shall have enough to buy a new sofa.”
”That's a good dear,” she said, kissing him. ”Don't let what I said worry you. I didn't mean it.”
He whistled at the dog as he went out; he sang merrily as he walked along the road, with the sunrise on his face and the noontime in his heart.
CHAPTER XIII.
DORSEY.
It was Mitch.e.l.l's day to cook, and when Milford came in to dinner, the hired man told him that he had something of importance to tell.
”Out with it,” said Milford.