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Updated: June 14, 2025
Gabe Bearse, had he seen the major's shadow upon the Armstrong window curtain, might have speculated much. The pity which Jed felt for Phineas Babbitt caused him to keep silent concerning his Thanksgiving evening interview with the hardware dealer. At first he was inclined to tell Major Grover of Babbitt's expressions concerning the war and his son's enlistment.
At that time of year and at that time of night there were few windows alight in Orham, and Mr. Gabe Bearse, had he been astir at such an hour, might have wondered why the Armstrongs and "Shavings" were "settin' up."
Possession of the little knowledge which had been given him, or, rather, had been thrust upon him, and which Gabe Bearse would have considered a gossip treasure trove, a promise of greater treasures to be diligently mined, to Jed was a miserable, culpable thing, like the custody of stolen property. He felt wicked and mean, as if he had been caught peeping under a window shade.
But maybe 'tain't a customer, maybe it's Cap'n Sam or Gabe Bearse or somebody. . . . They wouldn't knock, though, 'tain't likely; anyhow Gabe wouldn't. . . . Come in," he called, as the knock was repeated. The person who entered the shop was a tall man in uniform. The afternoon was cloudy and the outer shop, piled high with stock and lumber, was shadowy.
To hear it purrin' out of his big, tall body was as unexpected as a hymn tune in a cent-in-the-slot talkin' machine. "'Too bad, he says. 'As a waiter, I'm afraid "Just then the door of one of the Annex houses opened sudden, and there stood Grace Robinson. The light behind her showed her up plain as could be. I heard Fred Bearse make a kind of gaspin' noise in his throat.
'What will? says I. 'Why, says he " "What was it?" demanded Captain Sam. "You're dyin' to tell us, a blind man could see that. Get it off your chest and save your life. What was it?" Mr. Bearse leaned forward and whispered. There was no real reason why he should whisper, but doing so added a mysterious, confidential tang, so to speak, to the value of his news.
Other visitors to the shop, those who knew him well, were surprised and amused to find him on such confidential and intimate terms with a child. Gabe Bearse, after one short call, reported about town that crazy Shavin's Winslow had taken up with a young-one just about as crazy as he was.
'Knocked' would be better, for the feller the carpenter 'twas went over and over like a barrel rollin' down hill. But there was two more left, and one of 'em was bound to have him. "Then a window upstairs banged open. "'Oh, Mr. Bearse! screamed a voice Grace Sterzer's voice. 'Don't let them get you! "We all heard her, in spite of the shoutin' and racket. Willie heard her, too.
Bearse had recently spoken of them as liking Orham very much and considering getting a place of their own. And of course Captain Sam, hearing this, had told them of the Winslow place, had sent them to him. "Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!" thought Jed, although what he said was: "Good mornin'." He might as well have said nothing. Mrs.
Gabe Bearse asked Babbie about it, and Phin here he " "Eh?" The captain turned to face his old enemy. "So you've been talkin', have you?" he asked. Mr. Babbitt leaned forward. "I ain't begun my talkin' yet, Sam Hunniwell," he snarled. "When I do you'll " He stopped. Grover had touched him on the shoulder. "Sshh!" said the Major quietly. To the absolute amazement of Captain Sam, Phineas subsided.
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