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Vona presented him, recovering her composure by the aid of Frank's steadiness. "How-de-do!" said Mr. Harnden, stiffly. He did not ask the caller to be seated. Vona gave the invitation. While Vaniman hesitated, the master of the household had a word to say, putting on his best business air.
"But, see here, Vona, my dear girl, we have been waiting supper a whole half hour. You've got scant time to eat and get on your stage togs." "This has been a pretty busy day in the bank, Harnden," explained Britt. "Meet Mr. Starr, the bank examiner!" "Oh, hullo, Starr!" cried Mr. Harnden, shoving out a friendly hand. "Heard you were in town. I know Starr," he told Britt.
Not by threats and by tumulting around as you have been doing! You've got a lot to learn. Listen to me!" Mr. Britt paused and blinked and listened. Mr. Harnden plucked out a pencil and made believe write a screed on the palm of his hand while he talked. "'By the twining tendrils of their affections you can sway 'em to and fro, as the poet said, speaking of women. I am loved in my home.
Everybody proposed to tiptoe when passing in the neighborhood of the Harnden house. But to have a ghost come and chase Tasper around town was wholly outside the calculations of the human beings in Egypt this night." "I'm afraid I don't see any joke hidden in this proposition, Squire," the young man complained.
"Father, I will stay at home and do all the work, if you'll keep our home from being desecrated by that man!" Mr. Harnden reared his crest and advanced one foot. "I have raised my daughter to be a lady and will keep her so! I'm now in a position to do it without any of her help." Vona stood up then. But not to fling angry retort at her father!
Fierce impatience roweled him. He would not allow himself to weaken his determination by thinking on what he would do after he arrived at the Harnden home. He had set that as his goal. Above other considerations he placed his frenzied resolution to protect Vona.
Every now and then, as if to fortify his optimistic courage, he declared, "After all, business is business and the trend of the times is to make the most of opportunity." Britt was showing interest in what Harnden was saying interest and satisfaction, too. But all at once that interest was diverted and the smooth satisfaction was wrinkled by a scowl.
And now to work to work!" Mr. Harnden was truly very much up-and-coming those days. He rose and shook out first one leg and then the other, with the manner of a scratching rooster. The movements settled the legs of his trousers. He had a new suit of his own. It resembled Tasper Britt's.
Harnden lighted a cigar and chirruped to his horse and drove straight on. The road zigzagged through an alder swamp for some distance, and the horse footed along slowly because a portion of the way was patched with sapling "corduroy." And with the impulse of a man who had been obliged to waste time, and saw an opportunity to get on, Harnden whipped up when he was again facing a smooth road.
No telling how the legislature may develop him. Glad he's going." The Squire rapped out his pipe ashes against an andiron. His posture gave him an opportunity to say what he said next without meeting Vaniman's gaze. "Vona Harnden was a mighty smart girl when she was teaching school. I was superintendent and had a chance to know. Does she take hold well in the bank?"
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