Californy styleno dollar…jewelry and galvanized…watches business。 If
she wants to make a present to any of them nobles ez has been purlite to
her； it's got to be something that Rough…and…Ready ain't ashamed of。 I
showed you that pin Mamie bought me in Paris； didn't I？ It's just come
for my Christmas present。 No！ I reckon I put it in the safe； for them
kind o' things don't suit my style： but s'pose I orter sport it to…morrow。 It
was mighty thoughtful in Mamie； and it must cost a lump； it's got no
slouch of a pearl in it。 I wonder what Mamie gave for it？〃
〃You can easily tell； the bill is here。 You paid it yesterday；〃 said
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Slinn。 There was no satire in the man's voice； nor was there the least
perception of irony in Mulrady's manner； as he returned quietly；
〃That's so； it was suthin' like a thousand francs； but French money；
when you pan it out as dollars and cents； don't make so much； after all。〃
There was a few moments' silence； when he continued； in the same tone of
voice； 〃Talkin' o' them things； Slinn； I've got suthin' for you。〃 He stopped
suddenly。 Ever watchful of any undue excitement in the invalid； he had
noticed a slight flush of disturbance pass over his face； and continued
carelessly； 〃But we'll talk it over to…morrow； a day or two don't make
much difference to you and me in such things； you know。 P'raps I'll drop in
and see you。 We'll be shut up here。〃
〃Then you're going out somewhere？〃 asked Slinn； mechanically。
〃No；〃 said Mulrady； hesitatingly。 It had suddenly occurred to him
that he had nowhere to go if he wanted to； and he continued； half in
explanation； 〃I ain't reckoned much on Christmas； myself。 Abner's at the
Springs； it wouldn't pay him to come here for a day even if there was
anybody here he cared to see。 I reckon I'll hang round the shanty； and
look after things generally。 I haven't been over the house upstairs to put
things to rights since the folks left。 But YOU needn't come here； you
know。〃
He helped the old man to rise； assisted him in putting on his overcoat；
and than handed him the cane which had lately replaced his crutches。
〃Good…by； old man！ You musn't trouble yourself to say 'Merry
Christmas' now； but wait until you see me again。 Take care of yourself。〃
He slapped him lightly on the shoulder； and went back into his private
office。 He worked for some time at his desk； and then laid his pen aside；
put away his papers methodically； placing a large envelope on his private
secretary's vacant table。 He then opened the office door and ascended the
staircase。 He stopped on the first landing to listen to the sound of rain on
the glass skylight； that seemed to echo through the empty hall like the
gloomy roll of a drum。 It was evident that the searching water had found
out the secret sins of the house's construction； for there were great fissures
of discoloration in the white and gold paper in the corners of the wall。
There was a strange odor of the dank forest in the mirrored drawing…room；
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as if the rain had brought out the sap again from the unseasoned timbers；
the blue and white satin furniture looked cold； and the marble mantels and
centre tables had taken upon themselves the clamminess of tombstones。
Mr。 Mulrady； who had always retained his old farmer…like habit of taking
off his coat with his hat on entering his own house； and appearing in his
shirt…sleeves； to indicate domestic ease and security； was obliged to
replace it； on account of the chill。 He had never felt at home in this room。
Its strangeness had lately been heightened by Mrs。 Mulrady's purchase of
a family portrait of some one she didn't know； but who； she had alleged；
resembled her 〃Uncle Bob；〃 which hung on the wall beside some paintings
in massive frames。 Mr。 Mulrady cast a hurried glance at the portrait that；
on the strength of a high coat…collar and high top curlboth rolled with
equal precision and singular sameness of colorhad always glared at
Mulrady as if HE was the intruder； and； passing through his wife's
gorgeous bedroom； entered the little dressing…room； where he still slept on
the smallest of cots； with hastily improvised surroundings； as if he was a
bailiff in 〃possession。〃 He didn't linger here long； but； taking a key from
a drawer； continued up the staircase； to the ominous funeral marches of the
beating rain on the skylight； and paused on the landing to glance into his
son's and daughter's bedrooms； duplicates of the bizarre extravagance
below。 If he were seeking some characteristic traces of his absent family；
they certainly were not here in the painted and still damp blazoning of
their later successes。 He ascended another staircase； and； passing to the
wing of the house； paused before a small door； which was locked。
Already the ostentatious decorations of wall and passages were left behind；
and the plain lath…and…plaster partition of the attic lay before him。 He
unlocked the door； and threw it open。
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CHAPTER V
The apartment he entered was really only a lumber…room or loft over
the wing of the house； which had been left bare and unfinished； and which
revealed in its meagre skeleton of beams and joints the hollow sham of the
whole structure。 But in more violent contrast to the fresher glories of the
other part of the house were its contents； which were the heterogeneous
collection of old furniture； old luggage； and cast…off clothing； left over
from the past life in the old cabin。 It was a much plainer record of the
simple beginnings of the family than Mrs。 Mulrady cared to have remain
in evidence； and for that reason it had been relegated to the hidden
recesses of the new house； in the hope that it might absorb or digest it。
There were old cribs； in which the infant limbs of Mamie and Abner had
been tucked up； old looking…glasses； that had reflected their shining； soapy
faces； and Mamie's best chip Sunday hat； an old sewing…machine； that had
been worn out in active service； old patchwork quilts； an old accordion； to
whose long drawn inspirations Mamie had sung hymns； old pictures；
books； and old toys。 There were one or two old chromos； and； stuck in
an old frame； a colored print from the 〃Illustrated London News〃 of a
Christmas gathering in an old English country house。 He stopped and
picked up this print； which he had often seen before； gazing at it with a
new and singular interest。 He wondered if Mamie had seen anything of
this kind in England； and why couldn't he have had something like it here；
in their own fine house； with themselves and a few friends？ He
remembered a past Christmas； when he had bought Mamie that now
headless doll with the few coins that were left him after buying their frugal
Christmas dinner。 There was an old spotted hobby…horse that another
Christmas had brought to AbnerAbner； who would be driving a fast
trotter to…morrow at the Springs！ How everything had changed！ How
they all had got up in the world； and how far beyond this kind of thing
and yetyet it would have been rather comfortable to have all been
together again here。 Would THEY have been more comfortable？ No！
Yet then he might have had something to do； and been less lonely to…
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morrow。 What of
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