Part 13 (2/2)
He see outside held his attention
”Ha!” he said ”A sloop is co vessel Whose is it, Henry?”
I walked to theto get a better look, but he reached out and drew me near hi The light is bad, and we have very ure There Now you can see it--out by the bar It carries too much canvas forward and spills half the wind Have you seen it before, Henry?”
The sun had been trying to break through the clouds, and a few rays had crept out, and glanced on the angry gray of the water, so that it shone here and there like scratches in dull lead The three shi+ps near our wharf were tossing fitfully, and on all three, the creere busy with the rigging Out further towards the broad curve of the horizon was the white smear of a sail, and as I looked, I could see the lines beneath the canvas He was right It was a sloop, running free with the tide pushi+ng her on
”Yes,” I said, ”I know the boat, though I do not see why she is putting in”
”Ah,” said my father, ”and do you not? And whose boat o she sailed fros to Jason Hill,” I told hiain at the low dunes and the marshes by the harbor mouth
”I think,” my father murmured half to himself, ”that perhaps after all I should have killed him Brutus!”
Brutus, who had watched the scene with the sauests at the dinner table, moved quickly forward
”Has no word corinned and shook his head
”The devil,” said e I left him?”
Brutus nodded, and ht, he took a few unhurried steps across the roolanced about him critically
”A busy day, my son,” he said, ”a very busy day, and a huet the paper They think--but they are all mistaken”
”You are sure?” I inquired
”Perfectly,” said my father ”I shall dispose of it infor the tireat hand behind his ear, and nodded violently My father stepped toward the hallway, and listened Above the hissing of the fire I heard a voice and footsteps He straightened the lace about his wrists, and his features lost their strained attention As he turned towards Brutus, he seeer and more alertly active than I had ever known him
”Ah, what a day,” he said, ”what a day, to be sure They are co since I have waited for thelasses on the table, Brutus We still must be hospitable”
The knocker on our front door sent a violent suraceful deliberation he was filling six glasses from the decanter
”Keep to the back of the roo? But you never can guess Our neighbors, hbors We are holding a distinguished salon, are we not?”
But before I could answer or even conjecture why he should receive such a visit, ave a low exclamation, partly of surprise, and partly of well concealed annoyance, and stepped forward, bowing low
Made roo for the paper? For, if they are, they shall not have it You--”