Part 19 (1/2)

”Here 'tis,” she said, in her forlornest quaver. ”I hope you won't do nothin' out o' the way with it. I should hate to git into trouble here.

I ain't that kind.”

Mrs. Blair was too excited to hear or heed her. She was briefly, flas.h.i.+ngly, taking in the possibilities of the room, her bright black eyes darting here and there with fiery insistence. Suddenly she went to the closet, and, diving to the bottom of a baggy pocket in her ”t'other dress,” drew forth a ball of twine. She chalked it, still in delighted haste, and forced one end upon her bewildered room-mate.

”You go out there to the middle square o' the front winder,” she commanded, ”an' hold your end o' the string down on the floor. I'll snap it.”

Miss Dyer cast one despairing glance about her, and obeyed.

”Crazy!” she muttered. ”Oh my land! she's crazy's a loon. I wisht Mis'

Mitch.e.l.l'd pitch her tent here a spell!”

But Mrs. Blair was following out her purpose in a manner exceedingly methodical. Drawing out one bed, so that it stood directly opposite her kneeling helper, she pa.s.sed the cord about the leg of the bedstead and made it fast; then, returning to the middle of the room, she snapped the line triumphantly. A faint chalk-mark was left upon the floor.

”There!” she cried. ”Leggo! Now, you gi' me the chalk, an' I'll go over it an' make it whiter.”

She knelt and chalked with the utmost absorption, crawling along on her knees, quite heedless of the despised alpaca; and Miss Dyer, hovering in a corner, timorously watched her. Mrs. Blair staggered to her feet, entangled by her skirt, and pitching like a s.h.i.+p at sea.

”There!” she announced. ”Now here's two rooms. The chalk-mark's the part.i.tion. You can have the mornin' sun, for I'd jest as soon live by a taller candle if I can have somethin' that's my own. I'll chalk a lane into the closet, an' we'll both keep a right o' way there. Now I'm to home, an' so be you. Don't you dast to speak a word to me unless you come an' knock here on my headboard,--that's the front door,--an' I won't to you. Well, if I ain't glad to be alone! I've hung my harp on a willer long enough!”

It was some time before the true meaning of the new arrangement penetrated Miss Dyer's slower intelligence; but presently she drew her chair nearer the window and thought a little, chuckling as she did so.

She, too, was alone.

The sensation was new and very pleasant. Mrs. Blair went back and forth through the closet-lane, putting her clothes away, with high good humor. Once or twice she sang a little--Derby's Ram and Lord Lovel--in a cracked voice. She was in love with solitude.

Just before tea, Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l, in some trepidation, knocked at the door, to see the fruits of contention present and to come. She had expected to hear loud words; and the silence quite terrified her, emphasizing, as it did, her own guilty sense of personal responsibility. Miss Dyer gave one appealing look at Mrs. Blair, and then, with some indecision, went to open the door, for the latch was in her house.

”Well, here you are, comfortably settled!” began Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l. She had the unmistakable tone of professional kindliness; yet it rang clear and true. ”May I come in?”

”Set right down here,” answered Miss Dyer, drawing forward a chair.

”I'm real pleased to see ye.”

”And how are you this afternoon?” This was addressed to the occupant of the other house, who, quite oblivious to any alien presence, stood busily rubbing the chalk-marks from her dress.

Mrs. Blair made no answer. She might have been stone deaf, and as dumb as the hearthstone bricks. Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l cast an alarmed glance at her entertainer.

”Isn't she well?” she said, softly.

”It's a real pretty day, ain't it?” responded Miss Dyer. ”If 'twas summer time, I should think there'd be a sea turn afore night. I like a sea turn myself. It smells jest like Old Boar's Head.”

”I have brought you down some fruit.” Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l was still anxiously observing the silent figure, now absorbed in an apparently futile search in a brocaded work-bag. ”Mrs. Blair, do you ever cut up bananas and oranges together?”

No answer. The visitor rose, and unwittingly stepped across the dividing line.

”Mrs. Blair--” she began, but she got no further.

Her hostess turned upon her, in surprised welcome.

”Well, if it ain't Mis' Mitch.e.l.l! I can't say I didn't expect you, for I see you goin' into Miss Dyer's house not more'n two minutes ago.

Seems to me you make short calls. Now set right down here, where you can see out o' the winder. That square's cracked, but I guess the directors'll put in another.”