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"I don't s'pose you do. Well, I'm goin' to tell you. You know, I s'pose, that Mr. Tuxbury took me for your aunt Esther. You heard him call me Mis' Maxwell?" Lois nodded; her dilated eyes never wavered from her mother's face. "I s'pose you heard what he was sayin' to me when you come in. Lois, I didn't tell him I was your aunt Esther.
There was about her a terrible mental impetus which intimidated. People stood instinctively out of her way, as before some rushing force which might overwhelm them. Daniel Tuxbury followed her out to the street; then he fell back. Mrs. Jane Maxwell caught hold of her dress, but she let go, and leaned trembling over her iron gate looking after the relentless black figure speeding to the next door.
"I want some beefsteak!" wailed each, in wofully injured tones. Mr. Tuxbury set his mouth hard, and pushed his plate with a jerk toward his niece. Her face was very red, but she took it she was aware there was no other course open divided the meat impartially, and gave each child a piece with a surreptitious thump. Mr.
I think you would find it much pleasanter here, Mrs. Maxwell." His eyebrows were raised, his mouth pursed up. "I guess I'd better go, if I can jest as well as not; if I can get into the house." Mrs. Field spoke with deprecating persistency. Mr. Tuxbury turned abruptly toward his desk, and began fumbling in a drawer. She stood hesitatingly watchful.
"The hotel here is not very desirable, and " "Can't I go right up to the house?" "The Maxwell house?" "Yes, sir; if there ain't anything to hinder." Mr. Tuxbury stared at her. "Why, I don't know that there is really anything to hinder," he said, slowly. "Although it is rather No, I don't know as there is any actual objection to your going. I suppose the house belongs to you. But it is shut up.
She had not understood who this other woman was. She knew now the mother of the young woman who was the rightful heir to Thomas Maxwell's property. "The old lady has been pretty anxious," Mr. Tuxbury went on. "She's been in here a good many times made excuses to come in and see if I had any news. She has been twice as much concerned as her daughter about it. Well, she has had a pretty hard time.
Field and Lois to take tea with her the next afternoon, and had hinted there might be other company. "There's a good many I should like to ask," she had said, "but I ain't situated so I can jest now, an' it's a dreadful puzzle to know who to leave out without offendin' them. I'm goin' to have the minister an' his wife anyhow, an' Lawyer Tuxbury an' his sister.
That was what Daniel Tuxbury said now. "The house is musty," he remarked, with stately nose in the air. Mrs. Field made no response. She stepped inside at once. "I'm much obliged to you," said she. The lawyer looked at her, then past her into the dark depths of the house. "You can't see," said he, "you must let me go in with you and get a light." He spoke in a tone of short politeness.
Good-evenin', Mr. Tuxbury." She turned with a rustling bob, and was out the door. The lawyer pressed forward hurriedly. "Why, Mrs. Maxwell, weren't you coming in? Isn't there something I can do for you?" said he. "No, thank you," replied the old lady, shortly. "I've got to go home; it's my tea-time. I was goin' by, and I thought I'd jest look in a minute; that was all. It wa'n't anything.
Everybody looked at Lois; Francis with an anxious interest. He partly arose as if to make room for her on the sofa, but she simply moved her chair farther back. Presently Francis went over and shut the window. The minister, Mr. Tuxbury, and Mrs. Robbin's husband all arrived together shortly afterward. Mrs. Maxwell announced that tea was ready.
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