the courtship of susan bell-第2章

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but　a　poor　warranty　for　good　behaviour。　　Hetta　also　had　some　fear　of
wolvesnot　for　herself　perhaps；　but　for　her　sister。

Aaron　Dunn's　workthe　commencement　of　his　worklay　at　some
distance　from　the　Springs；　and　he　left　every　morning　with　a　lot　of
workmen　by　an　early　trainalmost　before　daylight。　　And　every
morning；　cold　and　wintry　as　the　mornings　were；　the　widow　got　him　his
breakfast　with　her　own　hands。　　She　took　his　dollars　and　would　not
leave　him　altogether　to　the　awkward　mercies　of　Kate　O'Brien；　nor
would　she　trust　her　girls　to　attend　upon　the　young　man。　　Hetta　she
might　have　trusted；　but　then　Susan　would　have　asked　why　she　was
spared　her　share　of　such　hardship。

In　the　evening；　leaving　his　work　when　it　was　dark；　Aaron　always
returned；　and　then　the　evening　was　passed　together。　　But　they　were
passed　with　the　most　demure　propriety。　　These　women　would　make　the
tea；　cut　the　bread　and　butter；　and　then　sew；　while　Aaron　Dunn；　when
the　cups　were　removed；　would　always　go　to　his　plans　and　drawings。

On　Sundays　they　were　more　together；　but　even　on　this　day　there　was
cause　of　separation；　for　Aaron　went　to　the　Episcopalian　church；
rather　to　the　disgust　of　Hetta。　　In　the　afternoon；　however；　they
were　together；　and　then　Phineas　Beckard　came　in　to　tea　on　Sundays；
and　he　and　Aaron　got　to　talking　on　religion；　and　though　they
disagreed　pretty　much；　and　would　not　give　an　inch　either　one　or　the
other；　nevertheless　the　minister　told　the　widow；　and　Hetta　too
probably；　that　the　lad　had　good　stuff　in　him；　though　he　was　so
stiff…necked。

〃But　he　should　be　more　modest　in　talking　on　such　matters　with　a
minister；〃　said　Hetta。

The　Rev。　Phineas　acknowledged　that　perhaps　he　should；　but　he　was
honest　enough　to　repeat　that　the　lad　had　stuff　in　him。　　〃Perhaps
after　all　he　is　not　a　wolf；〃　said　the　widow　to　herself。

Things　went　on　in　this　way　for　above　a　month。　　Aaron　had　declared　to
himself　over　and　over　again　that　that　face　was　sweet　to　look　upon；
and　had　unconsciously　promised　to　himself　certain　delights　in
talking　and　perhaps　walking　with　the　owner　of　it。　　But　the　walkings
had　not　been　achievednor　even　the　talkings　as　yet。　　The　truth　was
that　Dunn　was　bashful　with　young　women；　though　he　could　be　so　stiff…
necked　with　the　minister。

And　then　he　felt　angry　with　himself；　inasmuch　as　he　had　advanced　no
further；　and　as　he　lay　in　his　bedwhich　perhaps　those　pretty　hands
had　helped　to　makehe　resolved　that　he　would　be　a　thought　bolder　in
his　bearing。　　He　had　no　idea　of　making　love　to　Susan　Bell；　of　course
not。　　But　why　should　he　not　amuse　himself　by　talking　to　a　pretty
girl　when　she　sat　so　near　him；　evening　after　evening？

〃What　a　very　quiet　young　man　he　is；〃　said　Susan　to　her　sister。

〃He　has　his　bread　to　earn；　and　sticks　to　his　work；〃　said　Hetta。　　〃No
doubt　he　has　his　amusement　when　he　is　in　the　city；〃　added　the　elder
sister；　not　wishing　to　leave　too　strong　an　impression　of　the　young
man's　virtue。

They　had　all　now　their　settled　places　in　the　parlour。　　Hetta　sat　on
one　side　of　the　fire；　close　to　the　table；　having　that　side　to
herself。　　There　she　sat　always　busy。　　She　must　have　made　every　dress
and　bit　of　linen　worn　in　the　house；　and　hemmed　every　sheet　and
towel；　so　busy　was　she　always。　　Sometimes；　once　in　a　week　or　so；
Phineas　Beckard　would　come　in；　and　then　place　was　made　for　him
between　Hetta's　usual　seat　and　the　table。　　For　when　there　he　would
read　out　loud。　　On　the　other　side；　close　also　to　the　table；　sat　the
widow；　busy；　but　not　savagely　busy　as　her　elder　daughter。　　Between
Mrs。　Bell　and　the　wall；　with　her　feet　ever　on　the　fender；　Susan　used
to　sit；　not　absolutely　idle；　but　doing　work　of　some　slender　pretty
sort；　and　talking　ever　and　anon　to　her　mother。　　Opposite　to　them
all；　at　the　other　side　of　the　table；　far　away　from　the　fire；　would
Aaron　Dunn　place　himself　with　his　plans　and　drawings　before　him。

〃Are　you　a　judge　of　bridges；　ma'am？〃　said　Aaron；　the　evening　after
he　had　made　his　resolution。　　'Twas　thus　he　began　his　courtship。

〃Of　bridges？〃　said　Mrs。　Bell〃oh　dear　no；　sir。〃　　But　she　put　out
her　hand　to　take　the　little　drawing　which　Aaron　handed　to　her。

〃Because　that's　one　I've　planned　for　our　bit　of　a　new　branch　from
Moreau　up　to　Lake　George。　　I　guess　Miss　Susan　knows　something　about
bridges。〃

〃I　guess　I　don't；〃　said　Susan〃only　that　they　oughtn't　to　tumble
down　when　the　frost　comes。〃

〃Ha；　ha；　ha；　no　more　they　ought。　　I'll　tell　McEvoy　that。〃　　McEvoy
had　been　a　former　engineer　on　the　line。　　〃Well；　that　won't　burst
with　any　frost；　I　guess。〃

〃Oh　my！　how　pretty！〃　said　the　widow；　and　then　Susan　of　course　jumped
up　to　look　over　her　mother's　shoulder。

The　artful　dodger！　he　had　drawn　and　coloured　a　beautiful　little
sketch　of　a　bridge；　not　an　engineer's　plan　with　sections　and
measurements；　vexatious　to　a　woman's　eye；　but　a　graceful　little
bridge　with　a　string　of　cars　running　under　it。　　You　could　almost
hear　the　bell　going。

〃Well；　that　is　a　pretty　bridge；〃　said　Susan。　　〃Isn't　it；　Hetta？〃

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　bridges；〃　said　Hetta；　to　whose　clever
eyes　the　dodge　was　quite　apparent。　　But　in　spite　of　her　cleverness
Mrs。　Bell　and　Susan　had　soon　moved　their　chairs　round　to　the　table；
and　were　looking　through　the　contents　of　Aaron's　portfolio。　　〃But
yet　he　may　be　a　wolf；〃　thought　the　poor　widow；　just　as　she　was
kneeling　down　to　say　her　prayers。

That　evening　certainly　made　a　commencement。　　Though　Hetta　went　on
pertinaciously　with　the　body　of　a　new　dress；　the　other　two　ladies
did　not　put　in　another　stitch　that　night。　　From　his　drawings　Aaron
got　to　his　instruments；　and　before　bedtime　was　teaching　Susan　how　to
draw　parallel　lines。　　Susan　found　that　she　had　quite　an　aptitude　for
parallel　lines；　and　altogether　had　a　good　time　of　it　that　evening。
It　is　dull　to　go　on　week　after　week；　and　month　after　month；　talking
only　to　one's　mother　and　sister。　　It　is　dull　though　one　does　not
oneself　recognise　it　to　be　so。　　A　little　change　in　such　matters　is
so　very　pleasant。　　Susan　had　not　the　slightest　idea　of　regarding
Aaron　as　even　a　possible　lover。　　But　young　ladies　do　like　the
conversation　of　young　gentlemen。　　Oh；　my　exceedingly　proper　prim　old
lady；　you　who　are　so　shocked　at　this　as　a　general　doctrine；　has　it
never　occurred　to　you　that　the　Creator　has　so　intended　it？

Susan　understanding　little　of　the　how　and　why；　knew　that　she　had　had
a　good　time；　and　was　rather　in　spirits　as　she　went　to　bed。　　But
Hetta　had　been　frightened　by　the　dodge。

〃Oh；　Hetta；　you　should　have　looked　at　those　drawings。　　He　is　so
clever！〃　said　Susan。

〃I　don't　know　that　they　would　have　done　me　much　good；〃　replied
Hetta。

〃Good！　　Well；　they'd　do　me　more　good　than　a　long　sermon；　I　know；〃
said　Susan；　〃except　on　a　Sunday；　of　course；〃　she　added
apologetically。　　This　was　an　ill…tempered　attack　both　on　Hetta　and
Hetta's　admirer。　　But　then　why　had　Hetta　been　so　snappish？

〃I'm　sure　he's　a　wolf；〃　thought　Hetta　as　she　went　to　bed。

〃What　a　very　clever　young　man　he　is！〃　thought　Susan　to　herself　as
she　pulled　the　warm　clothes　round　about　her　shoulders　and　ears。

〃Well　that　certainly　was　an　improvement；〃　thought　Aaron　as　he　went
through　the　same　operation；　with　a　stronger　feeling　of　self…
approbation　than　he　had　enjoyed　for　some　time　past。

In　the　course　of　the　next　fortnight　the　family　arrangements　all
altered　themselves。　　Unless　when　Beckard　was　there　Aaron　would　sit
in　the　widow's　place；　the　widow　would　take　Susan's　chair；　and　the
two　girls　would　be　opposite。　　And　then　Dunn　would　read　to　them；　not
sermons；　but　passages　from　Shakspeare；　and　Byron；　and　Longfellow。
〃He　reads　much　better　than　Mr。　Beckard；〃　Susan　had　said　one　night。
〃Of　course　you're　a　competent　judge！〃　had　been　Hetta's　retort。　　〃I
mean　that　I　like　it　better；〃　said　Susan。　　〃It's　well　that　all　people
don't　think　alike；〃　replied　Hetta。

And　then　there　was　a　deal　of　talking。　　The　widow　herself；　as
unconscious　in　this　respect　as　her　youngest　daughter；　certainly　did
find　that　a　little　variety　was　agreeable　on　those　long　winter
nights；　and　talked　herself　with　unaccustomed　freedom。　　And　Beckard
came　there　oftener　and　talked　very　much。　　When　he　was　there　the　two
young　men　did　all　the　talking；　and　they　pounded　each　other
immensely。　　But　still　there　grew　up　a　sort　of　friendship　between
them。

〃Mr。　Beckard　seems　quite　to　take　to　him；〃　said　Mrs。　Bell　to　her
eldest　daughter。

〃It　is　his　great　good　nature；　mother；〃　replied　Hetta。

It　was　at　the　end　of　the　second　month　when　Aaron　took　another　step
in　advancea　perilous　step。　　Sometimes　on　evenings　he　still　went　on
with　his　drawing　for　an　hour　or　so；　but　during　three　or　four
evenings　he　never　asked　any　one　to　look　at　what　he　was　doing。　　On
one　Friday　he　sat　over　his　work　till　late；　without　any　reading　or
talking　at　all；　so　late　that　at　last　Mrs。　Bell　said；　〃If　you're
going　to　sit　much　longer；　Mr。　Dunn；　I'll　get　you　to　put　out　the
candles。〃　　Thereby　showing；　had　he　known　it　or　had　she；　that　the
mother's　confidence　in　the　young　man　was　growing　fast。　　Hetta　knew
all　about　it；　and　dreaded　that　the　growth　was　too　quick。

〃I've　finished　now；〃　said　Aaron；　and　he　looked　carefully　at　the
cardboard　on　which　he　had　been　washing　in　his　water…colours。　　〃I've
finished　now。〃　　He　then　hesitated　a　moment；　but　ultimately　he　put
the　card　into　his　portfolio　and　carried　it　up　to　his　bedroom。　　Who
does　not　perceive　that　it　was　intended　as　a　present　to　Susan　Bell？

The　question　which　Aaron　asked　himself　that　night；　and　which　he
hardly　knew　how　to　answer；　was　this。　　Should　he　offer　the　drawing　to
Susan　in　the　presence　of　her　mother　and　sister；　or　on　some　occasion
when　they　two　might　be　alone　together？　　No　such　occasion　had　ever
yet　occurred；　but　Aaron　thought　that　it　might　probably　be　brought
about。　　But　then　he　wanted　to　make　no　fuss　about　it。　　His　first
intention　had　been　to　chuck　the　drawing　lightly　across　the　table
when　it　was　completed；　and　so　make　nothing　of　it。　　But　he　had
finished　it　with　more　care　than　he　had　at　first　intended；　and　then
he　had　hesitated　when　he　had　finished　it。　　It　was　too　late　now　for
that　plan　of　chucking　it　over　the　table。

On　the　Saturday　evening　when　he　came　down　from　his　room；　Mr。　Beckard
was　there；　and　there　was　no　opportunity　that　night。　　On　the　Sunday；
in　conformity　with　a　previous　engagement；　he　went　to　hear　Mr。
Beckard　preach；　and　walked　to　and　from　meeting　with　the　family。
This　pleased　Mrs。　Bell；　and　they　were　all　very　gracious　that
afternoon。　　But　Sunday　was　no　day　for　the　picture。

On　Monday　the　thing　had　become　of　importance　to　him。　　Things　always
do　when　they　are　kept　over。　　Before　tea　that　evening　when　he　came
down　Mrs。　Bell　and　Susan　only　were　in　the　room。　　He　knew　Hetta　for
his　foe；　and　therefore　determined　to　use　this　occasion。

〃Miss　Susan；〃　he　said；　stammering　somewhat；　and　blushing　too；　poor
fool！　　〃I　have　done　a　little　drawing　which　I　want　you　to　accept；〃
and　he　put　his　portfolio　down　on　the　table。

〃Oh！　　I　don't　know；〃　said　Susan；　who　had　seen　the　blush。

Mrs。　Bell　had　seen　the　blush　also；　and　pursed　her　mouth　up；　and
looked　grave。　　Had　there　been　no　stammering　and　no　blush；　she　might
have　thought　nothing　of　it。

Aaron　saw　at　once　that　his　little　gift　was　not　to　go　down　smoothly。
He　was；　ho