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The sun was low; the green fields stretched away southward into the misty distance. Mrs. Bickford's house appeared to watch her out of sight down the road, the next morning. She had lost all spirit for her holiday.
"I'm always busy," said the shipowner gayly, "but no more so to-day than any other day. Why?" "Oh, well, you can get off. I promised Thompson, here, to do him the honors, and now I've got to help John out. Oh, you two are not acquainted, are you? Excuse me! Mr. Archibald, Mr. Bickford Mr. Thompson, Mr. Bickford. Mr. Bickford's father was a dear old friend of mine.
Bickford's own voice trembled a little, but she held up the last bouquet and examined it critically. "I must hurry now an' put these in water," she said, in a matter of fact tone. Little Miss Pendexter was so quiet and sympathetic that her hostess felt no more embarrassed than if she had been talking only to herself.
I never shall forget how the poor thing looked when the four men who bore the litter set it down on the library-floor. A bruise on the temple showed where she had struck on the cruel stones. The hoarfrost, which had turned into drops of dew, glittered among her soft brown curls." The tears which had been gathering in Mrs. Bickford's eyes fell in large drops into her lap as she went on.
Soon Joe's deep, regular breathing and Bickford's snoring convinced the listener that the time had come to carry out his plans. With stealthy step he approached the tent, and stooping over gently removed the nugget from under Joshua's head. There was a bag of gold-dust which escaped his notice. The nugget was all he thought of.
Bickford's two associates followed him from the stand, the Cap'n abashed and carrying the tall hat behind his back, Hiram Look muttering disgusted profanity under his long mustache. "I want to say, gentlemen," cried Mr. Bickford, utilizing the interval of waiting to address the throng about him, "that you have no right to blame my dog.
As to the clothes, he must think of a way of securing them, before setting out on his journey to New York. One thing was certain. There was no chance of obtaining the clothes at present. Probably his best course would be to wait till night, and then come back to the house on the chance of gaining Mrs. Bickford's attention.
"Oh, I see," said Joshua, nodding; "kinder take 'em in." "Just so, Mr. Bickford." "Well, there is something in that." "Then I shall find out who my true friends are." "Just so." It is not my purpose to describe Mr. Bickford's arrival in Pumpkin Hollow, resplendent in his new suit. Joshua wouldn't have changed places with the President of the United States on that day.
Bickford's married brothers and sisters comprehended the truth that she was a woman of property, and had neither chick nor child. "So I thought 't was a good opportunity to just stop an' see if the lot was in good order, last spring Mr. Wallis's stone hove with the frost; an' so I could take these flowers." She gave a sigh.
He was lying at full length on the greensward, looking awkward and ungainly enough, but his countenance, homely as it was, looked honest and trustworthy, and Joe preferred his company to that of many possessed of more outward polish. He could not help smiling at Mr. Bickford's remark. "Probably Eve was not as robust as you are," he replied, "I doubt if she were as tall, either.
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