Part 9 (1/2)
”I'll come and listen.”
”If you decide to undertake me, I insist that you shall not continue this scornful avoidance of me. If we three are to live together, we must live in harmony, which is necessary to my work.”
”Whose favour is this, yours or mine?”
”Favour? Good heavens! you don't think it is a favour to give me food and a roof for two years, do you? I thought it was an opportunity for you.”
The Professor, not easily moved to mirth, did an imitation of laughter, holding both his sides. Jarvis turned his charming, boyish smile upon him, and walked up the path to the house. Strange what things amused Bambi and her parent!
That night, after dinner, Bambi arranged the electric reading light in the screened porch, drew a big chair beside it, placed the Professor's favourite chaise-lounge near by, and got him into it. Then she went in search of her performer. She looked all over the house for him, to finally discover him on the top floor in hiding.
”Come on! I've got everything all ready, even the Professor.”
”I am terrified,” Jarvis admitted. ”Suppose you should not understand what I have written? Suppose you thought it was all rubbish?”
”If I think so, I will say so. Isn't that the idea? You are trying it on the dog to see if it goes?”
”If you think it is rubbish, don't say anything.”
”How silly! If you are spending your time on trash, you ought to know it, and get over it, and begin to write sense.”
”I feel like one of the Professor's slugs,” he muttered.
”Better try us on the simplest one.”
”Well, I will read you 'Success.'”
She ran downstairs, and he followed, to the piazza.
There was no sign of the Professor.
”Ardelia,” called Bambi, ”where is the Professor?”
”I don't know, ma'am. I seen him headed for the garden.”
”Professor Parkhurst, come in here!” Bambi called. ”We are to hear Jarvis's play.”
”Oh, that is it. I couldn't remember why I was placed in that chair, and Ardelia couldn't remember. So it occurred to me that I had forgotten my trowel,” he said. He put the trowel, absent-mindedly, in the tea basket, and took the seat arranged for Jarvis.
”Here, you sit in your regular seat,” Bambi objected, hauling him up.
”That isn't wise, my dear. I am sure to go to sleep.”
”We'll see that you don't,” she laughed.
”I've never heard a play read aloud that I can remember,” said the Professor.
”You will probably be very irritating, then. Don't interrupt me. If you fumble things, or make a noise, I'll stop.”
”That knowledge helps some,” retorted the Professor, with a twinkle. ”If I can't stand it, I'll whistle.”