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rudder grange-第10章

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bought would not make a package as large as her hand。  However; her
request was complied with; and she took away a very decent package;
with the card of the store stamped on the outside。  I suppose that
there are not more than half a dozen people in this country who
would refuse Euphemia anything that she would be willing to ask
for。

So she took the work home; and she labored faithfully at it for
about a week; She did not suppose it would take her so long; but
she was not used to such very plain sewing; and was much afraid
that she would not do it neatly enough。  Besides this; she could
only work on it in the daytimewhen I was awayand was; of
course; interrupted a great deal by her ordinary household duties;
and the necessity of a careful oversight of Pomona's somewhat
erratic methods of doing her work。

But at last she finished the job and took it into the city。  She
did not want to spend any more money on the trip than was
absolutely necessary; and so was very glad to find that she had a
remnant of pocket…money sufficient to pay her fare both ways。

When she reached the city; she walked up to the place where her
work was to be delivered; and found it much farther when she went
on foot than it had seemed to her riding in the street cars。  She
handed over her bundle to the proper person; and; as it was soon
examined and approved; she received her pay therefor。

It amounted to sixty cents。  She had made no bargain; but she was a
little astonished。  However; she said nothing; but left the place
without asking for any more work。  In fact she forgot all about it。
She had an idea that everything was all wrong; and that idea
engrossed her mind entirely。  There was no mistake about the sum
paid; for the lady clerk had referred to the printed table of
prices when she calculated the amount due。  But something was
wrong; and; at the moment; Euphemia could not tell what it was。
She left the place; and started to walk back to the ferry。  But she
was so tired and weak; and hungryit was now an hour or two past
her regular luncheon timethat she thought she should faint if she
did not go somewhere and get some refreshments。

So; like a sensible little woman as she was; she went into a
restaurant。  She sat down at a table; and a waiter came to her to
see what she would have。  She was not accustomed to eating…houses;
and perhaps this was the first time that she had ever visited one
alone。  What she wanted was something simple。  So she ordered a cup
of tea and some rolls; and a piece of chicken。  The meal was a very
good one; and Euphemia enjoyed it。  When she had finished; she went
up to the counter to settle。  Her bill was sixty cents。  She paid
the money that she had just received; and walked down to the ferry…
…all in a daze; she said。  When she got home she thought it over;
and then she cried。

After a while she dried her eyes; and when I came home she told me
all about it。

〃I give it up;〃 she said。  〃I don't believe I can help you any。〃

Poor little thing!  I took her in my arms and comforted her; and
before bedtime I had convinced her that she was fully able to help
me better than any one else on earth; and that without puzzling her
brains about business; or wearing herself out by sewing for pay。

So we went on in our old way; and by keeping our attention on our
weekly balance; we prevented it from growing very rapidly。

We fell back on our philosophy (it was all the capital we had); and
became as calm and contented as circumstances allowed。



CHAPTER V。

POMONA PRODUCES A PARTIAL REVOLUTION IN RUDDER GRANGE。


Euphemia began to take a great deal of comfort in her girl。  Every
evening she had some new instance to relate of Pomona's inventive
abilities and aptness in adapting herself to the peculiarities of
our method of housekeeping。

〃Only to think!〃 said she; one afternoon; 〃Pomona has just done
another VERY smart thing。  You know what a trouble it has always
been for us to carry all our waste water upstairs; and throw it
over the bulwarks。  Well; she has remedied all that。  She has cut a
nice little low window in the side of the kitchen; and has made a
shutter of the piece she cut out; with leather hinges to it; and
now she can just open this window; throw the water out; shut it
again; and there it is!  I tell you she's smart。〃

〃Yes; there is no doubt of that;〃 I said; 〃but I think that there
is danger of her taking more interest in such extraordinary and
novel duties than in the regular work of the house。〃

〃Now; don't discourage the girl; my dear;〃 she said; 〃for she is of
the greatest use to me; and I don't want you to be throwing cold
water about like some people。〃

〃Not even if I throw it out of Pomona's little door; I suppose。〃

〃No。  Don't throw it at all。  Encourage people。  What would the
world be if everybody chilled our aspirations and extraordinary
efforts?  Like Fulton's steamboat。〃

〃All right;〃 I said; 〃I'll not discourage her。〃

It was now getting late in the season。  It was quite too cool to
sit out on deck in the evening; and our garden began to look
desolate。

Our boarder had wheeled up a lot of fresh earth; and had prepared a
large bed; in which he had planted turnips。  They made an excellent
fall crop; he assured us。

From being simply cool it began to be rainy; and the weather grew
decidedly unpleasant。  But our boarder bade us take courage。  This
was probably the 〃equinoctial;〃 and when it was over there would be
a delightful Indian summer; and the turnips would grow nicely。

This sounded very well; but the wind blew up cold at night; and
there was a great deal of unpleasant rain。

One night it blew what Pomona called a 〃whirlicane;〃 and we went to
bed very early to keep warm。  We heard our boarder on deck in the
garden after we were in bed; and Euphemia said she could not
imagine what he was about; unless he was anchoring his turnips to
keep them from blowing away。

During the night I had a dream。  I thought I was a boy again; and
was trying to stand upon my head; a feat for which I had been
famous。  But instead of throwing myself forward on my hands; and
then raising my heels backward over my head; in the orthodox
manner; I was on my back; and trying to get on my head from that
position。  I awoke suddenly; and found that the footboard of the
bedstead was much higher than our heads。  We were lying on a very
much inclined plane; with our heads downward。  I roused Euphemia;
and we both got out of bed; when; at almost the same moment; we
slipped down the floor into ever so much water。

Euphemia was scarcely awake; and she fell down gurgling。  It was
dark; but I heard her fall; and I jumped over the bedstead to her
assistance。  I had scarcely raised her up; when I heard a pounding
at the front door or main…hatchway; and our boarder shouted:

〃Get up!  Come out of that!  Open the door!  The old boat's turning
over!〃

My heart fell within me; but I clutched Euphemia。  I said no word;
and she simply screamed。  I dragged her over the floor; sometimes
in the water and sometimes out of it。  I got the dining…room door
open and set her on the stairs。  They were in a topsy…turvy
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