Part 6 (1/2)
”You didn't think so, Alice, when we used to drive through here.”
”I was blind then and couldn't see except with your eyes. You didn't say it was lonesome.”
”How could I say so, when I was with you?”
Alice squeezed his hand lovingly.
As they turned into Mason Street, Quincy exclaimed: ”There's where Uncle Ike's chicken coop stood until he set it on fire.”
”Did he set it on fire?” cried Alice.
”Now I've let out another promised secret. Can you see 'Zeke's house ahead?”
”Yes, how inviting the old place looks. I'm glad Hiram Maxwell has it, for we can sit in the old parlour and sing duets as we used to.”
”Now we're going up Obed's Hill,” said Quincy. ”Deacon Mason's house looks as neat as ever.”
”Do you remember when Huldah Mason broke her arm, Quincy?”
”Do not remind me of that, Alice. I was never in love with her, but no one could help liking her. There's the grocery store in which I am a silent partner”--he paused a moment--”and here we are at the Hawkins House.”
As Ellis Smith reined up, the front door was opened and Mrs. Hawkins came out to meet her guests. ”I got your letter, an' I know'd it was you. How be ye both? Seems like old times. Come right in the parlour.
I've got the curtains down so as to keep it cool,” and the delighted woman led the way into the house. In the hallway, she screamed, ”Jonas!
Jonas! Hurry up and pick those chickens. Guv'nor Sawyer and Alice are here.”
CHAPTER IV
THE HAWKINS HOUSE
The converting of Mrs. Hawkins' boarding house into a hotel had been due to two causes: First, the thrift and economy of the lady herself, which had enabled her to put by a good sum in the bank. This she expended in building an ell with extra sleeping rooms, painting the structure cream colour with brown tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs, and replacing old furniture with that of modern make. This latter, she confessed within a year, was a great mistake, for the new chairs became rickety, the castors would not hold in the bed posts, the bureau drawers became unmanageable, and the rooms, as she expressed it, had a ”second-hand” appearance. Then it was that the old mahogany furniture, that had been relegated to the attic, was brought down, furbished up, and restored to its original place. When Quincy entered the room which he had formerly occupied, it did not seem possible that five years had elapsed.
The second cause that had led Mrs. Hawkins to change the small and modest sign--”Rooms and Board”--which had been in the front window for years, for a large swinging sign over the front door--”Hawkins House”--having large gold letters on a blue ground--was the rapid growth of the town. Many new mills had been erected in the neighbouring city of Cottonton. The operatives being unable to obtain suitable accommodations in the city, had come to Fernborough to live, where they could have gardens, fresh air, and playgrounds for their children. Fernborough became to Cottonton what Methuen is to Lawrence. Mrs. Hawkins was democratic, but s.h.i.+rt-sleeves and Prince Albert coats did not look well together, so she had turned what had been her sitting room into a private dining room, and it was here that what she called her ”star boarders” were served.
By the time Quincy and Alice had opened their trunks, and distributed the contents in the capacious closet and deep, roomy bureau drawers, the cheerful tones of the dinner bell were heard, and they descended to the private room.
They were its only occupants.
”I thought as how you might be hungry after so long a ride an' so I just hurried Jonas up so you could begin afore the crowd came in. I don't introduce folks now I run a hotel. If they gets acquainted it's their lookout not mine,” and Mrs. Hawkins and Olive brought in the fare from the adjoining kitchen.
Such a meal for hungry people! Lamb broth, roast chicken, yeast biscuit, potatoes, string beans, cuc.u.mbers, lettuce, berry pie, blackberries, currants, frosted cake, with tea, coffee, or cocoa.
”What does she charge?” asked Alice in a whisper when they were alone.
”A dollar a day for room and board--three square meals for board.”
After dinner they went into the parlour, where Mrs. Hawkins joined them.
”I jest told Jonas he must help Olive wash the dishes to-day, for I hain't seen ye for so long I'm just dyin' to have a talk with yer, 'cause I s'pose you'll eat and run while yer here, you know so many folks.”