Part 2 (1/2)
”Well, they certainly _are_ twins!” Miss Tabitha laid down her work, brushed the front of her immaculate dress, and prepared to rise. ”I suppose I had better go and meet them,” she added.
”I don't see the necessity for it, my dear,” the doctor protested.
”c.u.mmins may, I think, be relied on to deal even with-er-twins.”
”Of course; but-still-California's such a long way-and they may feel strange-or lonesome-”
The doctor laughed gently. ”Then by all means go, my dear. If you like, have them out here for a few minutes. If the resemblance between them is as striking as you seem to think, they must be worth seeing.”
When Miss Tabitha had tripped into the house, the doctor dropped his paper, stretched luxuriously, and, with a sigh of protest, sat up. He was several years younger than his sister-which is to say, in the neighborhood of forty-seven. He was a smallish man, compactly built, with a pleasant countenance on which a carefully-trimmed Vand.y.k.e beard made up to an extent for the lack of hair above. He wore sh.e.l.l-rimmed gla.s.ses and was very near-sighted, a fact emphasized by his manner of thrusting his head forward to eke out the deficiencies of his lenses.
This trick was apparent a minute later when, following in the tripping footsteps of Miss Tabitha, the two boys emerged on the porch. They were amazingly alike, the doctor decided: same height, same breadth at hip and shoulder, same coloring, same leisurely, yet confident, ease of movement, same expression of lively curiosity twinkling through an almost depressingly respectful solemnity.
”These are the Turner boys,” announced Miss Tabitha. ”This is Edward and this is-” She halted to look doubtfully from one to the other. ”Or-or perhaps _this_ is Edward and-Dear me!”
”I'm Edward, ma'am,” said the boy in blue.
”Well, I don't see how you can ever be _certain_ of it!” sighed Miss Tabitha, doubtfully. ”This is Doctor Hillman.”
They shook hands, and in a moment the boys found themselves seated side by side and replying to the doctor's questions.
”You are entering with certificates from your high school princ.i.p.al, I believe, young gentlemen. What year were you?”
”Second, sir,” answered Ned.
”And your home is in-”
”Santa Lucia, sir,” replied Laurie.
”California,” added Ned.
”Well, you're quite a ways from home. Did you make the trip alone?”
”Yes, sir. Dad was coming with us as far as Chicago, but something happened so he couldn't. We didn't have any trouble, though.”
”Really? Well, I believe you have the distinction of residing farther away than any of your fellows here. I don't recall any one who lives as far away as California; do you, sister?”
Miss Tabitha looked doubtful and hesitated an instant before she replied, ”George Watson comes from Wyoming, I think, John.”
”So he does,” a.s.sented the doctor, gravely; ”but measured in a straight line, my dear, California is slightly farther than Wyoming.”
”Is it?” asked Miss Tabitha, untroubled. ”I never could remember where those western States are.”
”You remember many more important things, however. My sister, boys, fancied that she detected a certain resemblance between you, and even surmised that you might be-er-twins. Doubtless she's mistaken.”
”No, sir,” answered Ned, more than a trace of surprise in his voice. ”I mean, we are twins, sir.”
”Why, now that's interesting! Looking closer-” the doctor leaned forward and craned his head-”I believe I detect a certain slight similarity myself!”
There was a perceptible twinkle behind the gla.s.ses and Laurie dared a laugh, in which the doctor and Ned joined, while Miss Tabitha murmured: ”Well! I should think you _might_!”
”I hope you are both going to like the school,” continued the doctor.
”Of course, you'll find our ways a little different, but we'll try to make you feel at home. You are the first representatives of your State who have attended our school, and I trust that both in conduct and industry you will bring honor to it. Mr. Cornish, your hall master, will advise you in all matters pertaining to your studies, Other questions may be taken to Mr. c.u.mmins, the school secretary, whom you have doubtless already met. But I want you always to feel at perfect liberty to come to me at any time on any matter at all. And,” added the doctor, with a twinkle, ”if we fail you, there is still my sister, who, I a.s.sure you, possesses more wisdom than all of us.”