第91章

On lifting this, each boarder found a small heap of solemn black huckleberries.But one of those plates held red currants, and was covered with a red rose; the other held white currants, and was covered with a white rose.There was a laugh at this at first, and then a short silence, and I noticed that her lip trembled, and the old gentleman opposite was in trouble to get at his bandanna handkerchief- "What was the use in waiting? We should be too late for Switzerland, that season, if we waited much longer." - The hand Iheld trembled in mine, and the eyes fell meekly, as Esther bowed herself before the feet of Ahasuerus.- She had been reading that chapter, for she looked up, - if there was a film of moisture over her eyes there was also the faintest shadow of a distant smile skirting her lips, but not enough to accent the dimples, - and said, in her pretty, still way, - "If it please the king, and if Ihave found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes" -I don't remember what King Ahasuerus did or said when Esther got just to that point of her soft, humble words, - but I know what Idid.That quotation from Scripture was cut short, anyhow.We came to a compromise on the great question, and the time was settled for the last day of summer.

In the mean time, I talked on with our boarders, much as usual, as you may see by what I have reported.I must say, I was pleased with a certain tenderness they all showed toward us, after the first excitement of the news was over.It came out in trivial matters, - but each one, in his or her way, manifested kindness.

Our landlady, for instance, when we had chickens, sent the LIVERinstead of the GIZZARD, with the wing, for the schoolmistress.

This was not an accident; the two are never mistaken, though some landladies APPEAR as if they did not know the difference.The whole of the company were even more respectfully attentive to my remarks than usual.There was no idle punning, and very little winking on the part of that lively young gentleman who, as the reader may remember, occasionally interposed some playful question or remark, which could hardly be considered relevant, - except when the least allusion was made to matrimony, when he would look at the landlady's daughter, and wink with both sides of his face, until she would ask what he was pokin' his fun at her for, and if he wasn't ashamed of himself.In fact, they all behaved very handsomely, so that I really felt sorry at the thought of leaving my boarding-house.

I suppose you think, that, because I lived at a plain widow-woman's plain table, I was of course more or less infirm in point of worldly fortune.You may not be sorry to learn, that, though not what GREAT MERCHANTS call very rich, I was comfortable, -comfortable, - so that most of those moderate luxuries I described in my verses on CONTENTMENT - MOST of them, I say - were within our reach, if we chose to have them.But I found out that the schoolmistress had a vein of charity about her, which had hitherto been worked on a small silver and copper basis, which made her think less, perhaps, of luxuries than even I did, - modestly as Ihave expressed my wishes.

It is a rather pleasant thing to tell a poor young woman, whom one has contrived to win without showing his rent-roll, that she has found what the world values so highly, in following the lead of her affections.That was an enjoyment I was now ready for.

I began abruptly:- Do you know that you are a rich young person?

I know that I am very rich, - she said.- Heaven has given me more than I ever asked; for I had not thought love was ever meant for me.

It was a woman's confession, and her voice fell to a whisper as it threaded the last words.

I don't mean that, - I said, - you blessed little saint and seraph!

- if there's an angel missing in the New Jerusalem, inquire for her at this boarding house! - I don't mean that! I mean that I - that is, you - am - are - confound it! - I mean that you'll be what most people call a lady of fortune.And I looked full in her eyes for the effect of the announcement.

There wasn't any.She said she was thankful that I had what would save me from drudgery, and that some other time I should tell her about it.- I never made a greater failure in an attempt to produce a sensation.