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It seems pretty poor planning to have to run down three miles to The Greenbush every Saturday evening to find out what you could know by just stepping across the bridge to Aurora's. She told me yesterday. Was that all?" "N no " "For mercy's sake, Mr. Caukins, don't keep me waiting here any longer! It's almost church time." "I wasn't aware that I was detaining you, Elvira."
"He has been thrown a good deal with the Caukinses since he took their son into partnership; the Colonel's boys are all doing well. Romanzo is in New York." "Still with the Company?" "Yes, in the main office. He married in that city two years ago rather well, I hear, but Mrs. Caukins is not reconciled yet. Now, there's a friend!
She gathered a little here, a little there; she put two and two together, and from what she heard as a matter of speculation, and from what she knew to be true through Mrs. Caukins via Romanzo in New York, she found that Champney Googe had sacrificed his honor, his mother, his friends, and the good name of his native town for the unlawful love of gain.
With loud and hearty acclaim they welcomed the new member of the Caukins family; they crowded about the Colonel, and no hand that grasped his and Luigi's in congratulation was firmer and more cordial than Elmer Wiggins'. The Colonel's smile expanded; he was satisfied the old score was wiped out. Afterwards with cigars and pipes they discussed for an hour the affairs of Flamsted.
He pushed him gently into his chair. The Colonel was rousing himself. He stepped to the telephone and called up Father Honoré. "Father Honoré "This is Colonel Caukins. Can you tell me if there is any truth in the report that Champney Googe has returned to-day? "Thank God." He put up the receiver, but still remained standing.
Her thoughts were busy with conjecture. Octavius recrossing the terrace called out to her: "You going up to Mrs. Caukins' later on this afternoon?" "Yes; Mrs. Champney said she didn't need me." "I'll take you up." "Thank you, Tave, not to-day. I'm going to row up as far as the upper shed. I promised the twins to meet them there; they want to see the new travelling crane at work.
Their father had been a boy, and at fifty had a boy's heart within him this was the secret of his success. Mrs. Caukins appeared at last, radiant in the consciousness of a new chip hat and silk blouse. Dulcie and Doosie in white lawn did their pains-taking mother credit in every respect.
Champney was still young enough to resent being made a subject of such practical joking by a little girl; but he was also sufficiently wise to acknowledge to himself that he had been worsted and, in the end, to put a good face on it. It is true he would have preferred that Romanzo Caukins had not been witness to his defeat. The sneezing and laughter gradually subsided.
"Well, we're off at last! I declare I miss Maggie every hour in the day. I don't know what I should have done all these years without that girl!" The mention of "Maggie" emphasizes one of the many changes in Flamsted during the six years of Champney Googe's absence. Mrs. Caukins, urged by her favorite, Aileen, and advised by Mrs.
Caukins' reply that Aileen "hadn't come up yet." He went directly to the boat house, wondering in the mean time where she was. One of the two boats was already gone; doubtless she had taken it where could she be? He stepped into the boat, and pulled slowly out into the lake, keeping in the lee of the rocky peninsula of The Bow.
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