the peterkin papers-第22章

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mise　between　dinner　and　tea。　If　dinner　were　　expected　she　might　offend　by　taking　it　for　granted　that　it　was　to　be　〃tea；〃　and　　if　they　were　unused　to　a　late　dinner　they　might　be　disturbed　if　they　had　only　　provided　a　〃tea。〃

So　she　asked　what　was　the　usual　hour　for　supper；　and　was　surprised　when　Martha　　replied；　〃The　lady　must　say；〃　nodding　to　Mrs。　Peterkin。　〃She　can　have　it　just　　when　she　wants；　and　just　what　she　wants！〃

This　was　an　unexpected　courtesy。

Elizabeth　Eliza　asked　when　the　others　had　their　supper。

〃Oh；　they　took　it　a　long　time　ago；〃　Martha　answered。　〃If　the　lady　will　go　out　　into　the　kitchen　she　can　tell　what　she　wants。〃

〃Bring　us　in　what　you　have；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin；　himself　quite　hungry。　〃If　you　　could　cook　us　a　fresh　slice　of　beefsteak　that　would　be　well。〃

〃Perhaps　some　eggs；〃　murmured　Mrs。　Peterkin。

〃Scrambled；〃　cried　one　of　the　little　boys。

〃Fried　potatoes　would　not　be　bad；〃　suggested　Agamemnon。

〃Couldn't　we　have　some　onions？〃　asked　the　little　boy　who　had　stayed　at　home；　and　　had　noticed　the　odor　of　onions　when　the　others　had　their　supper。

〃A　pie　would　come　in　well；〃　said　Solomon　John。

〃And　some　stewed　cherries；〃　said　the　other　little　boy。

Martha　fell　to　laying　the　table；　and　the　family　was　much　pleased；　when；　in　the　　course　of　time；　all　the　dishes　they　had　recommended　appeared。　Their　appetites　　were　admirable；　and　they　pronounced　the　food　the　same。

〃This　is　true　Arab　hospitality；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin；　as　he　cut　his　juicy　　beefsteak。

〃I　know　it；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　whose　spirits　began　to　rise。　〃We　have　not　　even　seen　the　host　and　hostess。〃

She　would；　indeed；　have　been　glad　to　find　some　one　to　tell　her　when　the　　Sylvesters　were　expected；　and　why　they　had　not　arrived。　Her　room　was　in　the　　wing；　far　from　that　of　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Peterkin；　and　near　the　aged　deaf　and　foreign　　ladies；　and　she　was　kept　awake　for　some　time　by　perplexed　thoughts。

She　was　sure　the　lady　from　Philadelphia；　under　such　circumstances；　would　have　　written　to　somebody。　But　ought　she　to　write　to　Ann　Maria　or　the　Sylvesters？　And；　　if　she　did　write；　which　had　she　better　write　to？　She　fully　determined　to　write；　　the　first　thing　in　the　morning；　to　both　parties。　But　how　should　she　address　her　　letters　？　Would　there　be　any　use　in　sending　to　the　Sylvesters'　usual　address；　　which　she　knew　well　by　this　time；　merely　to　say　they　had　not　come？　Of　course　the　　Sylvesters　would　know　they　had　not　come。　It　would　be　the　same　with　Ann　Maria。

She　might；　indeed；　inclose　her　letters　to　their　several　postmasters。　Postmasters　　were　always　so　obliging；　and　always　knew　where　people　were　going　to；　and　where　　to　send　their　letters。　She　might；　at　least；　write　two　letters；　to　say　that　　they…the　Peterkins…had　arrived；　and　were　disappointed　not　to　find　the　　Sylvesters。　And　she　could　add　that　their　trunks　had　not　arrived；　and　perhaps　　their　friends　might　look　out　for　them　on　their　way。　It　really　seemed　a　good　plan　　to　write。　Yet　another　question　came　up；　as　to　how　she　would　get　her　letters　to　　the　post…office；　as　she　had　already　learned　it　was　at　quite　a　distance；　and　in　a　　different　direction　from　the　station；　where　they　were　to　send　the　next　day　for　　their　trunks。

She　went　over　and　over　these　same　questions；　kept　awake　by　the　coughing　and　　talking　of　her　neighbors；　the　other　side　of　the　thin　partition。

She　was　scarcely　sorry　to　be　aroused　from　her　uncomfortable　sleep　by　the　morning　　sounds　of　guinea…hens；　peacocks；　and　every　other　kind　of　fowl。

Mrs。　Peterkin　expressed　her　satisfaction　at　the　early　breakfast；　and　declared　　she　was　delighted　with　such　genuine　farm　sounds。

They　passed　the　day　much　as　the　afternoon　before；　reaching　the　beach　only　in　　time　to　turn　round　to　come　back　for　their　dinner；　which　was　appointed　at　noon。

Mrs。　Peterkin　was　quite　satisfied。　〃Such　a　straight　road；　and　the　beach　such　a　　safe　place　to　turn　round　upon！〃

Elizabeth　Eliza　was　not　so　well　pleased。　A　wagon　had　been　sent　to　the　station　　for　their　trunks；　which　could　not　be　found；　they　were　probably　left　at　the　　Boston　station；　or；　Mr。　Atwood　suggested；　might　have　been　switched　off　upon　one　　of　the　White　Mountain　trains。　There　was　no　use　to　write　any　letters；　as　there　　was　no　way　to　send　them。　Elizabeth　Eliza　now　almost　hoped　the　Sylvesters　would　　not　come；　for　what　should　she　do　if　the　trunks　did　not　come　and　all　her　new　　dresses　？　On　her　way　over　to　the　beach　she　had　been　thinking　what　she　should　do　　with　her　new　foulard　and　cream…colored　surah　if　the　Sylvesters　did　not　come；　and　　if　their　time　was　spent　in　only　driving　to　the　beach　and　back。　But　now；　she　　would　prefer　that　the　Sylvesters　would　not　come　till　the　dresses　and　the　trunks　　did。　All　she　could　find　out；　from　inquiry；　on　returning；　was；　〃that　another　lot　　was　expected　on　Saturday。〃　The　next　day　she　suggested：…　　〃Suppose　we　take　our　dinner　with　us　to　the　beach；　and　spend　the　day。〃　The　　Sylvesters　and　Ann　Maria　then　would　find　them　on　the　beach；　where　her　　travelling…dress　would　be　quite　appropriate。　〃I　am　a　little　tired；〃　she　added；　　〃of　going　back　and　forward　over　the　same　road；　but　when　the　rest　come　we　can　　vary　it。〃

The　plan　was　agreed　to；　but　Mr。　Peterkin　and　the　little　boys　remained　to　go　over　　the　farm　again。

They　had　an　excellent　picnic　on　the　beach；　under　the　shadow　of　a　ledge　of　sand。

They　were　just　putting　up　their　things　when　they　saw　a　party　of　people　　approaching　from　the　other　end　of　the　beach。

〃I　am　glad　to　see　some　pleasant…looking　people　at　last；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　　and　they　all　turned　to　walk　toward　them。

As　the　other　party　drew　near　she　recognized　Ann　Maria　Bromwick！　And　with　her　　were　the　Sylvesters；…so　they　proved　to　be；　for　she　had　never　seen　them　before。

〃What！　you　have　come　in　our　absence！〃　exclaimed　Elizabeth　Eliza。

〃And　we　have　been　wondering　what　had　become　of　you！〃　cried　Ann　Maria。

〃I　thought　you　would　be　at　the　farm　before　us；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza　to　Mr。

Sylvester；　to　whom　she　was　introduced。

〃We　have　been　looking　for　you　at　the　farm；〃　he　was　saying　to　her。

〃But　we　are　at　the　farm；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza。

〃And　so　are　we！〃　said　Ann　Maria。

〃We　have　been　there　two　days；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin。

〃And　so　have　we；　at　the　'Old　Farm；'　just　at　the　end　of　the　beach；〃　said　Ann　　Maria。

〃Our　farm　is　old　enough；〃　said　Solomon　John。

〃Whereabouts　are　you？〃　asked　Mr。　Sylvester。

Elizabeth　Eliza　pointed　to　the　road　they　had　come。

A　smile　came　over　Mr。　Sylvester's　face；　he　knew　the　country　well。

〃You　mean　the　farm…house　behind　the　hill；　at　the　end　of　the　road？〃　he　asked。

The　Peterkins　all　nodded　affirmatively。

Ann　Maria　could　not　restrain　herself；　as　broad　smiles　came　over　the　faces　of　all　　the　party。

〃Why；　that　is　the　Poor…house！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃The　town　farm；〃　Mr。　Sylvester　explained；　deprecatingly。

The　Peterkins　were　silent　for　a　while。　The　Sylvesters　tried　not　to　laugh。

〃There　certainly　were　some　disagreeable　old　men　and　women　there！〃　said　Elizabeth　　Eliza；　at　last。

〃But　we　have　surely　been　made　very　comfortable；〃　Mrs。　Peterkin　declared。

〃A　very　simple　mistake；〃　said　Mr。　Sylvester；　continuing　his　amusement。　〃Your　　trunks　arrived　all　right　at　the　'Old　Farm；'　two　days　ago。〃

〃Let　us　go　back　directly；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza。

〃As　directly　as　our　horse　will　allow；〃　said　Agamemnon。

Mr。　Sylvester　helped　them　into　the　wagon。　〃Your　rooms　are　awaiting　you；〃　he　　said。　〃Why　not　come　with　us？〃

〃We　want　to　find　Mr。　Peterkin　before　we　do　anything　else；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin。

They　rode　back　in　silence；　till　Elizabeth　Eliza　said；　〃Do　you　suppose　they　took　　us　for　paupers？〃

〃We　have　not　seen　any　'they；'〃　said　Solomon　John；　〃except　Mr。　Atwood。〃

At　the　entrance　of　the　farm…yard　Mr。　Peterkin　met　them。

〃I　have　been　looking　for　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　just　made　a　discovery。〃

〃We　have　made　it；　too；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃we　are　in　the　poor…house。〃

〃How　did　you　find　it　out？〃　Mrs。　Peterkin　asked　of　Mr。　Peterkin。

〃Mr。　Atwood　came　to　me；　puzzled　with　a　telegram　that　had　been　brought　to　him　　from　the　station；　which　he　ought　to　have　got　two　days　ago。　It　came　from　a　Mr。

Peters；　whom　they　were　expecting　here　this　week；　with　his　wife　and　boys；　to　take　　charge　of　the　establishment。　He　telegraphed　to　say　he　cannot　come　till　Friday。

Now；　Mr。　Atwood　had　supposed　we　were　the　Peterses；　whom　he　had　sent　for　the　day　　we　arrived；　not　having　received　this　telegram。〃

〃Oh；　I　see；　I　see！〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　〃and　we　did　get　into　a　muddle　at　the　　station！〃

Mr。　Atwood　met　them　at　the　porch。　〃I　beg　pardon；〃　he　said。　〃I　hope　you　have　　found　it　comfortable　here；　and　shall　be　glad　to　have　you　stay　till　Mr。　Peters'　　family　comes。〃

At　this　moment　wheels　were　heard。　Mr。　Sylvester　had　arrived；　with　an　open　wagon；　　to　take　the　Peterkins　to　the　〃Old　Farm。〃

Martha　was　waiting　within　the　door；　and　said　to　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃Beg　pardon；　　miss；　for　thinking　you　was　one　of　the　inmates；　and　putting　you　in　that　room。　We　　thought　it　so　kind　of　Mrs。　Peters　to　take　you　off　every　day　with　the　other　　gentlemen；　that　looked　so　wandering。〃

Elizabeth　Eliza　did　not　know　whether　to　laugh　or　to　cry。

Mr。　Peterkin　and　the　little　boys　decided　to　stay　at　the　farm　till　Friday。　But　　Agamemnon　and　Solomon　John　preferred　to　leave　with　Mr。　Sylvester；　and　to　take　　their　electrical　machine　and　camera　when　they　came　for　Mr。　Peterkin。

Mrs。　Peterkin　was　tempted　to　stay　another　night；　to　be　wakened　once　more　by　the　　guinea…hens。　But　Elizabeth　Eliza　bore　her　off。　There　was　not　much　packing　to　be　　done。　She　shouted　good…by　into　the　ears　of　the　deaf　old　lady；　and　waved　her　hand　　to　the　foreign　one；　and　glad　to　bid　farewell　to　the　old　men　with　their　pipes；　　leaning　against　the　porch。

〃This　time；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　not　our　trunks　that　were　lost〃

〃But　we；　as　a　family；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin。





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