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room。 He had nothing but his trunk to take to it。
In the afternoon I left Euphemia at the hotel； where she was taking
a nap （she certainly needed it； for she had spent the night in a
wooden rocking…chair at the milk…woman's）； and I strolled down to
the river to take a last look at the remains of old Rudder Grange。
I felt sadly enough as I walked along the well…worn path to the
canal…boat； and thought how it had been worn by my feet more than
any other's； and how gladly I had walked that way； so often during
that delightful summer。 I forgot all that had been disagreeable；
and thought only of the happy times we had had。
It was a beautiful autumn afternoon； and the wind had entirely died
away。 When I came within sight of our old home； it presented a
doleful appearance。 The bow had drifted out into the river； and
was almost entirely under water。 The stern stuck up in a mournful
and ridiculous manner； with its keel； instead of its broadside；
presented to the view of persons on the shore。 As I neared the
boat I heard a voice。 I stopped and listened。 There was no one in
sight。 Could the sounds come from the boat？ I concluded that it
must be so； and I walked up closer。 Then I heard distinctly the
words：
〃He grasp ed her by the thro at and yell ed； swear to me thou nev
er wilt re veal my se cret； or thy hot heart's blood shall stain
this mar bel fib or； she gave one gry vy ous gasp and〃
It was Pomona！
Doubtless she had climbed up the stern of the boat and had
descended into the depths of the wreck to rescue her beloved book；
the reading of which had so long been interrupted by my harsh
decrees。 Could I break in on this one hour of rapture？ I had not
the heart to do it； and as I slowly moved away； there came to me
the last words that I ever heard from Rudder Grange：
〃And with one wild shry ik to heav en her heart's blo od spat ter
ed that prynce ly home of woe〃
CHAPTER VI。
THE NEW RUDDER GRANGE。
I have before given an account of the difficulties we encountered
when we started out house…hunting； and it was this doleful
experience which made Euphemia declare that before we set out on a
second search for a residence； we should know exactly what we
wanted。
To do this； we must know how other people live； we must examine
into the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods of
housekeeping； and make up our minds on the subject。
When we came to this conclusion we were in a city boarding…house；
and were entirely satisfied that this style of living did not suit
us at all。
At this juncture I received a letter from the gentleman who had
boarded with us on the canal…boat。 Shortly after leaving us the
previous fall； he had married a widow lady with two children； and
was now keeping house in a French flat in the upper part of the
city。 We had called upon the happy couple soon after their
marriage； and the letter； now received； contained an invitation for
us to come and dine； and spend the night。
〃We'll go；〃 said Euphemia。 〃There's nothing I want so much as to
see how people keep house in a French flat。 Perhaps we'll like it。
And I must see those children。〃 So we went。
The house； as Euphemia remarked； was anything but flat。 It was
very tall indeedthe tallest house in the neighborhood。 We
entered the vestibule； the outer door being open； and beheld； on
one side of us； a row of bell…handles。 Above each of these handles
was the mouth of a speaking…tube； and above each of these； a little
glazed frame containing a visiting…card。
〃Isn't this cute？〃 said Euphemia； reading over the cards。 〃Here's
his name and this is his bell and tube！ Which would you do first；
ring or blow？〃
〃My dear；〃 said I； 〃you don't blow up those tubes。 We must ring
the bell； just as if it were an ordinary front…door bell； and
instead of coming to the door； some one will call down the tube to
us。〃
I rang the bell under the boarder's name； and very soon a voice at
the tube said：
〃Well？〃
Then I told our names； and in an instant the front door opened。
〃Why； their flat must be right here；〃 whispered Euphemia。 〃How
quickly the girl came！〃
And she looked for the girl as we entered。 But there was no one
there。
〃Their flat is on the fifth story；〃 said I。 〃He mentioned that in
his letter。 We had better shut the door and go up。〃
Up and up the softly carpeted stairs we climbed； and not a soul we
saw or heard。
〃It is like an enchanted cavern；〃 said Euphemia。 〃You say the
magic word； the door in the rock opens and you go on； and on；
through the vaulted passages〃
〃Until you come to the ogre；〃 said the boarder； who was standing at
the top of the stairs。 He did not behave at all like an ogre； for
he was very glad to see us； and so was his wife。 After we had
settled down in the parlor and the boarder's wife had gone to see
about something concerning the dinner； Euphemia asked after the
children。
〃I hope they haven't gone to bed；〃 she said； 〃for I do so want to
see the dear little things。〃
The ex…boarder； as Euphemia called him； smiled grimly。
〃They're not so very little；〃 he said。 〃My wife's son is nearly
grown。 He is at an academy in Connecticut； and he expects to go
into a civil engineer's office in the spring。 His sister is older
than he is。 My wife marriedin the first instancewhen she was
very youngvery young in deed。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Euphemia； and then； after a pause； 〃And neither of them
is at home now？〃
〃No；〃 said the ex…boarder。 〃By the way； what do you think of this
dado？ It is a portable one； I devised it myself。 You can take it
away with you to another house when you move。 But there is the
dinner…bell。 I'll show you over the establishment after we have
had something to eat。〃
After our meal we made a tour of inspection。 The flat； which
included the whole floor； contained nine or ten rooms； of all
shapes and sizes。 The corners in some of the rooms were cut off
and shaped up into closets and recesses； so that Euphemia said the
corners of every room were in some other room。
Near the back of the flat was a dumb…waiter； with bells and
speaking…tubes。 When the butcher； the baker； or the kerosene…lamp
maker； came each morning； he rang the bell； and called up the tube
to know what was wanted。 The order was called down； and he brought
the things in the afternoon。
All this greatly charmed Euphemia。 It was so cute； so complete。
There were no interviews with disagreeable trades…people； none of
the ordinary annoyances of housekeeping。 Everything seemed to be
done with a bell； a speaking…tube or a crank。
〃Indeed；〃 said the ex…boarder； 〃if it were not for people tripping
over the wires； I could rig up attachments by which I could sit in
the parlor； and by using pedals and a key…board； I could do all the
work of this house without getting out of my easy…chair。〃
One of the most peculiar features of the establishment was the
servant's room。 This was at the rear end of the floor； and as
there was not much space left after the other rooms had been made；
it was very small； so small； indeed； that it would accommodate only
a very short bedstead。 This made it necessary fo