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〃You know？ Your father knew him。This is he；
Tottering and leaning on the hireling's arm；〃
And so； at length； disrobed of all that clad
The simple life we share with weed and worm；
Go to our cradles； naked as we came。
XI
I suppose there would have been even more remarks upon the growing
intimacy of the Young Astronomer and his pupil； if the curiosity of
the boarders had not in the mean time been so much excited at the
apparently close relation which had sprung up between the Register of
Deeds and the Lady。 It was really hard to tell what to make of it。
The Register appeared at the table in a new coat。 Suspicious。 The
Lady was evidently deeply interested in him； if we could judge by the
frequency and the length of their interviews。 On at least one
occasion he has brought a lawyer with him； which naturally suggested
the idea that there were some property arrangements to be attended
to； in case； as seems probable against all reasons to the contrary；
these two estimable persons； so utterly unfitted； as one would say；
to each other； contemplated an alliance。 It is no pleasure to me to
record an arrangement of this kind。 I frankly confess I do not know
what to make of it。 With her tastes and breeding； it is the last
thing that I should have thought of；her uniting herself with this
most commonplace and mechanical person； who cannot even offer her the
elegances and luxuries to which she might seem entitled on changing
her condition。
While I was thus interested and puzzled I received an unexpected
visit from our Landlady。 She was evidently excited； and by some
event which was of a happy nature； for her countenance was beaming
and she seemed impatient to communicate what she had to tell。
Impatient or not； she must wait a moment； while I say a word about
her。 Our Landlady is as good a creature as ever lived。 She is a
little negligent of grammar at times； and will get a wrong word now
and then； she is garrulous； circumstantial； associates facts by their
accidental cohesion rather than by their vital affinities； is given
to choking and tears on slight occasions； but she has a warm heart；
and feels to her boarders as if they were her blood…relations。
She began her conversation abruptly。 I expect I'm a going to lose
one of my boarders；she said。
You don't seem very unhappy about it； madam；I answered。…We all
took it easily when the person who sat on our side of the table
quitted us in such a hurry； but I do not think there is anybody left
that either you or the boarders want to get rid ofunless it is
myself；I added modestly。
You！ said the Landladyyou！ No indeed。 When I have a quiet
boarder that 's a small eater； I don't want to lose him。 You don't
make trouble； you don't find fault with your vit＇Dr。 Benjamin had
schooled his parent on this point and she altered the word＇ with your
food； and you know when you 've had enough。
I really felt proud of this eulogy； which embraces the most
desirable excellences of a human being in the capacity of boarder。
The Landlady began again。 I'm going to loseat least； I suppose I
shallone of the best boarders I ever had；that Lady that's been
with me so long。
I thought there was something going on between her and the
Register；I said。
Something！ I should think there was！ About three months ago he
began making her acquaintance。 I thought there was something
particular。 I did n't quite like to watch 'em very close； but I
could n't help overbearing some of the things he said to her； for；
you see； he used to follow her up into the parlor； they talked pretty
low； but I could catch a word now and then。 I heard him say
something to her one day about 〃bettering her condition；〃 and she
seemed to be thinking very hard about it； and turning of it over in
her mind； and I said to myself； She does n't want to take up with
him； but she feels dreadful poor； and perhaps he has been saving and
has got money in the bank； and she does n't want to throw away a
chance of bettering herself without thinking it over。 But dear me；
says I to myself；to think of her walking up the broad aisle into
meeting alongside of such a homely； rusty…looking creatur' as that！
But there 's no telling what folks will do when poverty has got hold
of 'em。
Well； so I thought she was waiting to make up her mind； and he was
hanging on in hopes she'd come round at last； as women do half the
time； for they don't know their own minds and the wind blows both
ways at once with 'em as the smoke blows out of the tall chimlies；
east out of this one and west out of that；so it's no use looking at
'em to know what the weather is。
But yesterday she comes up to me after breakfast； and asks me to go
up with her into her little room。 Now； says I to myself； I shall
hear all about it。 I saw she looked as if she'd got some of her
trouble off her mind； and I guessed that it was settled； and so； says
I to myself； I must wish her joy and hope it's all for the best；
whatever I think about it。
Well； she asked me to set down； and then she begun。 She said that
she was expecting to have a change in her condition of life； and had
asked me up so that I might' have the first news of it。 I am sure
says II wish you both joy。 Merriage is a blessed thing when folks
is well sorted； and it is an honorable thing； and the first meracle
was at the merriage in Canaan。 It brings a great sight of happiness
with it； as I've had a chance of knowing； for my hus
The Landlady showed her usual tendency to 〃break〃 from the
conversational pace just at this point； but managed to rein in the
rebellious diaphragm； and resumed her narrative。
Merriage！says she；pray who has said anything about merriage ？
I beg your pardon； ma'am；says I；I thought you had spoke of
changing your condition and IShe looked so I stopped right short。
…Don't say another word； says she； but jest listen to what I am going
to tell you。
My friend； says she； that you have seen with me so often lately；
was hunting among his old Record books； when all at once he come
across an old deed that was made by somebody that had my family name。
He took it into his head to read it over； and he found there was some
kind of a condition that if it was n't kept； the property would all
go back to them that was the heirs of the one that gave the deed； and
that he found out was me。 Something or other put it into his head；
says she； that the company that owned the propertyit was ever so
rich a company and owned land all round everywherehadn't kept to
the conditions。 So he went to work； says she； and hunted through his
books and he inquired all round； and he found out pretty much all
about it； and at last he come to meit 's my boarder； you know； that
says all thisand says he； Ma'am； says he； if you have any kind of
fancy for being a rich woman you've only got to say so。 I didn't
know what he meant； and I began to think； says she； he must be crazy。
But he explained it all to me； how I'd nothing to do but go to court
and I could get a sight of property back。 Well； so she went on
telling methere was ever so much more that I suppose was all plain
enough； but I don't remember it allonly I k