按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ure…seekers。 It was very difficult to
imagine that they could afford a jour…
ney； which was； as I believed； a great
luxury。 At first； the people looked to
be all of a sort； but after a little I be…
gan to see the differences； and to no…
tice that this one looked happy； and
that one sad； and another as if he had
much to do and liked it； and several
others as if they had very little idea
where they were going or why。
But I liked better to look from the
windows and to see the world。 The
houses seemed quite familiar and as if
I had seen them often before。 I hardly
could believe that I hadn't walked up
those paths； opened those doors and
seated myself at the tables。 I felt that
if I went in those houses I would know
where everything was just where the
dishes were kept； and the Bible； and the
jam。 It struck me that houses were
very much alike in the world； and that
led to the thought that people； too； were
probably alike。 So I forgot what the
conductor had said to me about keeping
still； and I crossed over the aisle and
sat down beside a little girl who was
regrettably young； but who looked
pleasant。 Her mother and grand…
mother were sitting opposite； and they
smiled at me in a watery sort of way
as if they thought a smile was expected
of them。 I meant to talk to the little
girl； but I saw she was almost on the
verge of tears； and it didn't take me
long to discover what was the matter。
Her little pink hat was held on by an
elastic band； which； being put behind
her ears and under her chin； was cut…
ting her cruelly。 I knew by experience
that if the band were placed in front of
her ears the tension would be lessened；
so； with the most benevolent intentions
in the world； I inserted my fingers be…
tween the rubber and her chubby
cheeks； drew it out with nervous but
friendly fingers； somehow let go of it；
and snap across her two red cheeks and
her pretty pug nose went the lacerat…
ing elastic； leaving a welt behind it！
〃What do you mean； you bad girl？〃
cried the mother； taking me by the
shoulders with a sort of grip I had
never felt before。 〃I never saw such a
child never！〃
An old woman with a face like a hen
leaned over the back of the seat。
〃What's she done？ What's she
done？〃 she demanded。 The mother
told her； as the grandmother comforted
the hurt baby。
〃Go back to your seat and stay
there！〃 commanded the mother。 〃See
you don't come near here again！〃
My lips trembled with the anguish I
could hardly restrain。 Never had a
noble soul been more misunderstood。
Stupid beings！ How dare they！ Yet；
not to be liked by them not to be un…
derstood！ That was unendurable。
Would they listen to the gentle word
that turneth away wrath？ I was in…
clined to think not。 I was fairly pant…
ing under my load of dismay and de…
spondency； when a large man with an
extraordinarily clean appearance sat
down opposite me。 He was a study in
grey grey suit； tie； socks； gloves； hat；
top…coat yes； and eyes！ He leaned
forward ingratiatingly。
〃What do you think Aunt Ellen sent
me last week？〃 he inquired。
We seemed to be old acquaintances；
and in my second of perplexity I de…
cided that it was mere forgetfulness
that made me unable to recall just
whom he was talking about。 So I only
said politely： 〃I don't know； I'm sure；
sir。〃
〃Why； yes； you do！〃 he laughed。
〃Couldn't you guess？ What should
Aunt Ellen send but some of that white
maple sugar of hers； better than ever；
too。 I've a pound of it along with me；
and I'd be glad to pry off a few pieces
if you'd like to eat it。 You always
were so fond of Aunt Ellen's maple
sugar； you know。〃
The tone carried conviction。 Of
course I must have been fond of it；
indeed； upon reflection； I felt that I had
been。 By the time the man was back
with a parallelogram of the maple
sugar in his hand； I was convinced that
he had spoken the truth。
〃Aunt Ellen certainly is a dear；〃 he
went on。 〃I run down to see her every
time I get a chance。 Same old rain…
barrel！ Same old beehives！ Same old
well…sweep！ Wouldn't trade them for
any others in the world。 I like every…
thing about the place like the 'Old
Man' that grows by the gate； and the
tomato trellis nobody else treats to…
matoes like flowers； and the herb gar…
den； and the cupboard with the little
wood…carvings in it that Uncle Ben
made。 You remember Uncle Ben？
Been a sailor broke both legs had
'em cut off and sat around and carved
while Aunt Ellen taught school。 Happy
they were no one happier。 Brought
me up； you know。 Didn't have a father
or mother just gathered me in。 Good
sort； those。 Uncle Ben's gone； but
Aunt Ellen's a mother to me yet。
Thinks of me； travelling； travelling；
never putting my head down in the same
bed two nights running； and here and
there and everywhere she overtakes me
with little scraps out of home。 That's
Aunt Ellen for you！〃
As the delicious sugar melted on my
tongue； the sorrows melted in my soul；
and I was just about to make some in…
quiries about Aunt Ellen； whose per…
sonal qualities seemed to be growing
clearer and clearer in my mind； when
my conductor came striding down the
aisle。
〃Where's my little girl？〃 he de…
manded heartily。 〃Ah； there she is；
just where I left her； in good company
and eating maple sugar； as I live。〃
〃Well； she hain't bin there all the
time now； I ken tell ye that！〃 cried the
old woman with a face like a hen。
〃Indeed； she ain't！〃 the other
women joined in。 〃She's a mischief…
makin' child； that's what she is！〃 said
the mother。 The little girl was look…
ing over her grandmother's shoulder；
and she ran out a very red； serpent…
like tongue at me。
〃She's a good girl； and almost as
fond of Aunt Ellen as I am；〃 said the
large man； finding my pocket； and put…
ting a huge piece of maple sugar in it。
The conductor； meantime； was gath…
ering my things； and with a 〃Come
along； now！ This is where you
change；〃 he led me from the car。 I
glanced back once； and the hen…faced
woman shook her withered brown fist
at me； and the large man waved and
smiled。 The conductor and I ran as
hard as we could； he carrying my light
luggage； to a stage that seemed to be
waiting for us。 He shouted some di…
rections to the driver； deposited me
within； and ran back to his train。 And
I； alone again； looked about me。
We were in the heart of a little town；
and a number of men were standing
around while the horses took their fill
at the watering…trough。 This accom…
plished； the driver checked up the
horses； mounted to his high seat； was
joined by a heavy young man； two gen…
tlemen entered the inside of the coach；
and we were off。
One of these gentlemen was very old。
His silver hair hung on his shoulders；
he had a beautiful flowing heard which
gleamed in the light； the kindest of
faces； lit with laughing blue eyes； and
he leaned forward on his heavy stick
and seemed to mind the plunging of
our vehicle。 The other man was mid…
dle…aged； dark； silent…looking； and； I
decided； rather like a king。 We all
rode in silence for a while； but by and
by the old man said kindly：
〃Where are you going； my child？〃
I told him。
〃And whose daughter are