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Updated: May 27, 2025
Downs's every other day, and papa was very good and considerate about his food, and quite contented with a dinner of potatoes or mush if nothing better was to be had, so the little housekeeper did not have any heavy burden on her mind so far as he was concerned. The boat proved a great comfort when it came, which was not till more than a month after their settlement on Causey Island.
This was their last night with the Downs family. Early next morning they started for the island in Mr. Downs's boat, taking with them their last bundles and bags, and Mrs. Downs, who had kindly offered to give them a day's help. Very helpful it proved, for there was every thing to do. Mr.
Eyebright watched till the boat passed behind the island, and out of sight; then she walked up the road to the Downs's, saying to herself, "What funny weather! I never saw any thing like it. It isn't a bit like last September." Next morning showed the same sultry mist, a little thicker if any thing. Eyebright stayed with Mrs.
Bright, who had some potatoes to ship to market, went over with them to Malachi, in a small sail-boat belonging to Captain Jim, Mr. Downs's brother's son. They were not to return till next day, so it was arranged that Eyebright should spend the night with Mrs. Downs, as papa did not like to leave her alone on the island.
So tired and spent was she, that for some minutes she lay under the blueberry clump before she could gather strength to pull herself up and go on. It was a very hard and painful walk, and the wind and the darkness did all they could to keep her back; but the gallant little heart did not fail, and, at last, just as the first dim dawn was breaking, she gained the village and Mr. Downs's door. Mrs.
Downs's drunkenness and desertion, beyond doubt, were chargeable to her, as well as another and worse crime, unless all indications were at fault.
By this time, Eyebright was very tired, and could hardly keep from crying as they drove away from the third place. "What shall we do if nobody will take us in?" she asked papa dolefully. "Shall we have to sit in the wagon all night?" "Guess 't won't come to that," said the cheery driver. "Downs'll take you. I'll bet a cookie he will." When he came to "Downs's," he jumped out and ran in.
It was Elise who kept up this discreditable and mysterious commerce with Downs, something that had culminated in the burning of Blakely's home, with who knows what evidence, something that had terminated only with Downs's mad desertion and probable death.
Downs was completely upset by the catastrophe to his officer and, somehow, had got a few comforting drinks stowed away, and these had started him to singing some confounded Irish keen that grated on Todd's nerves. He was afraid it would disturb the patient and he was about to go out and remonstrate when the singing stopped and presently he heard Downs's voice in excited conversation.
She showed a good deal of cleverness and sense in their arrangement, and papa was well content that things should be as she liked. "We must have the upstairs rooms plastered, I suppose," he said. "That'll require some time, I'm afraid. Plaster takes so long to dry. We must arrange to wait at Mr. Downs's for a week or two, Eyebright."
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