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There was a bench outside the kitchen door at The Cedars, a slant-legged, unpainted bench which at one time had been used to hold milk-cans. Wade settled himself on this in company with several dozen glasses of currant jelly. From his position he could look in at the kitchen door upon Eve and Miss Mullett, who, draped from chin to toes in blue-checked aprons, were busy over the summer preserving.
"You did, Doctor, but quite respectfully," answered Eve. "Respectfully!" grumbled the Doctor. "That's all age gets, just respect! Thirty years ago, madam, you wouldn't have dared to respect me! I beg your pardon, Miss Mullett; you are right, it is my first count. Fifteen-two, fifteen-four, fifteen-six, and a pair's eight and one's nine. And that puts me out!" "Brute!" said Miss Mullett.
I suppose it's only imagination, but sometimes I think I can smell the salt or taste it. That's scarcely possible, though, for we're a good twenty miles inland." "I'm not so sure," he answered. "Lots of times I've thought I could smell the ocean here. Does it take very long to get to Portsmouth or the beach? Couldn't we go some day, you and Miss Mullett and the Doctor and I?"
"Nor did I specially observe his teeth or his hair or his feet, or " "But you noticed the scar on his face, didn't you?" "Yes, I couldn't very well help doing that," owned Eve. "Any more than I could help noticing his hands." "So strong looking, aren't they?" asked Miss Mullett, eagerly. "Are they? I thought them rather ugly." "Oh, how can you say so?
In this work Gunn, returning an hour later, clad from head to foot in new apparel, offered to assist him. Mullett hesitated, but made no demur; neither did he join in the ecstasies which his new partner displayed at the sight of the profits. Gunn put some more gold into his new pockets, and throwing himself back in a chair, called loudly to George to bring him some drink.
Just think of all the wonderful things those hands must have done! And as for the scar, I thought it gave him quite a distinguished air, didn't you?" "Carrie Mullett, I am not interested in Mr. Herrick. If you say another word about him before luncheon " "You can say that if you like," interrupted Miss Mullett placidly, "but you are interested in him, my dear." "Carrie!"
Miss Caroline Mullett, standing on tiptoe in the middle of the path, strove to see over the hedge, and, failing, turned to the girl with breathless curiosity. "Why, Eve, who was that?" "He didn't leave his card, dear," replied Eve, with a gurgle of suppressed laughter, "but there is every reason to believe that his name is Herrick." "The gentleman who has taken the next house?
And then, to continue the pleasant formality of the occasion, the ladies withdrew to the parlor, and Wade and the Doctor smoked two very stout and very black cigars and sipped two tiny glasses of brandy. In the parlor Miss Mullett turned to Eve in excited trepidation. "My dear," she asked, in a thrilling whisper, "do you think I took too much champagne? My cheeks are positively burning!"
"Be still, both of you! I sh'd think you'd be ashamed, with everybody here so! Oh, my soul and body!" turning to the company, "if it ain't enough to try a saint! Sometimes seems's if I SHOULD give up. You be thankful, Abigail," to Miss Mullett, who sat by the door, "that you ain't got nine in a family and nobody to help teach 'em manners.
"And you probably couldn't afford me," said Miss Mullett, "and I guess I'm a good deal like marmalade myself half sweet and half bitter." Miss Mullett laughed at the conceit. "Anyway, dear, you don't cloy," said Eve. "But you're not like marmalade the least bit; you're you're like a nice currant jelly, just tart enough to be pleasant. How's that?"
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