Children -- Death -- Juvenile fiction; Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Farm life -- Juvenile fiction; Siblings -- Juvenile fiction
"_That_ I'll do," said Mr. Inchbald. "And now it's a bargain.
Shake hands, -- and come let's go down and have some tea. --
Doll, I hope your tea is good to-night, for Mr. Landholm is
far from well. Sit down -- I wish your brother had the other
place."
That tea was a refreshment. It was served in the little back
room of the first floor, which had very much the seeming of
being Mrs. Nettley's cooking room too. The appointments were
on no higher scale of pretension than Mrs. Forriner's, yet
they gave a far higher impression of the people that used
them; why, belongs to the private mystery of cups and saucers
and chairs, which have an odd obstinate way of their own of
telling the truth. "Doll" was the very contrast to the lady of
the other tea-table. A little woman, rather fleshy, in a close
cap and neat spare gown, with a face which seemed a compound
of benevolent good-will, and anxious care lest everybody
should not get the full benefit of it. It had known care of
another kind too. If her brother had, his jovial, healthy,
hearty face gave no sign.
After tea Winthrop went back to Diamond St.
"We didn't wait for you," said Mr. Forriner as he came in, --
"for we thought you didn't intend probably to be back to tea."
"What success have you had?" inquired his better half.
"I have had tea, ma'am," said Winthrop.
"Have you found any place?"
"Or the place found me."
"You have got one! -- Where is it?"
"In Beaver St. -- the place where my brother used to be."
"What's the name?" said Mr. Forriner.
"Inchbald."
"What is he?" asked Mrs. Forriner.
"An Englishman -- a miniature painter by profession."
"I wonder if he makes his living at that?" said Mrs. Forriner.
"What do you have to pay?" said her husband.
"A fair rent, sir. And now I will pay my thanks for storage
and take away my trunk."
"To-night?" said Mr. Forriner.
"Well, cousin, we shall be glad to see you sometimes," said
Mrs. Forriner.
"At what times, ma'am?" said Winthrop.
He spoke with a straightforward simplicity which a little
daunted her.
"O," she said colouring, "come when you have an hour to spare
-- any time when you have nothing better to do."
"I will come then," he said smiling.
CHAPTER XVII.
Now he weighs time,
Even to the utmost grain.
KING HENRY V.
"Mannahatta, Dec. -- 1813.
"My dear friends at home,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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