the fortunes of oliver horn-第37章
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in terms so quaint and courtly； and so full of generous appreciation of their interest in Oliver； that Mr。 Slade； equally appreciative； had worn it into ribbons in showing it to his friends as a model of style and chirography。
Remembering his mother's wishes； and in appreciation of his employer's courtesy； he had kept up this intimacy with the Slade family until an unfortunate catastrophe had occurred； which while it did not affect his welcome at their house； ruined his pleasure while there。
Mr。 Slade had invited Oliver to dinner one rainy night； and； being too poor to pay for a cab； Oliver； in attempting to cross Broadway； had stepped into a mud…puddle a foot deep。 He must either walk back and change his shoes and be late for dinneran unpardonable offenceor he must keep on and run his chances of cleaning them in the dressing…room。 There was no dressing…room available； as it turned out； and the fat English butler had to bring a wet cloth out into the hall （oh！ how he wished for Malachi！） and get down on his stiff knees and wipe away vigorously before Oliver could present himself before his hostess； the dinner in the meantime getting cold and the guests being kept waiting。 Oliver could never look at those shoes after that without shivering。
This incident had kept him at home for a time and had made him chary of exposing himself to similar mortifications。 His stock of clothes at best was limitedespecially his shoesand as the weather continued bad and the streets impassable； he preferred waiting for clearer skies and safer walking。 So he spent his nights in his room； crooning over the coke fire with Fred； or all alone if Fred were at the Academy； drawing from the cast。
On these nights he would begin to long for Kennedy Square。 He had said nothing yet about returning； even for a day's visit。 He knew how his mother felt about it； and he knew how he had seen her struggle to keep the interest paid up on the mortgage and to meet the daily necessities of the house。 The motor was still incomplete； she wrote him； and success was as far off as ever。 The mortgage had again been extended and the note renewedthis time for a longer term； owing to some friend's interest in the matter whose name she could not learn。 She； therefore； felt no uneasiness on that score； although there were still no pennies which could be spared for Olivers travelling expenses； even if he could get leave of absence from his employers。
At these times； as he sat alone in his garret…room； Malachi's chuckle； without cause or reminder would suddenly ring in his ears； or some low strain from his father's violin or a soft note from Nathan's flute would float through his brain。 〃Dear Uncle Nat；〃 he would break out； speaking aloud and springing from his chair〃I wish I could hear you tonight。〃
His only relief while in these moods was to again seize his pen and pour out his heart to his mother or to his father； or to Miss Clendenning or old Mr。 Crocker。 Occasionally he would write to Suenot oftenfor that volatile young lady had so far forgotten Oliver as to leave his letters unanswered for weeks at a time。 She was singing 〃Dixie；〃 she told him in her last billet…doux； now a month old； and wondering whether Oliver was getting to be a Yankee； and whether he would be coming home with a high collar and his hair cut short and parted in the middle。
His father's letters in return did not lessen his gloom。 〃These agitators will destroy the country； my son； if they keep on；〃 Richard had written in his last letter。 〃It is a sin against civilization to hold your fellow…men in bondage； and that is why years ago I gave Malachi and Hannah and the others their freedom； but Virginia has unquestionably the right to govern her internal affairs without consulting Massachusetts； and that is what many of these Northern leaders do not or will not understand。 I am greatly disturbed over the situation； and I sincerely hope your own career will not be affected by these troubles。 As to my own affairs； all I can say is that I work early and late； and am out of debt。〃 Poor fellow！ He thought he was。
Oliver was sitting thus one night； his head in his hands； elbows on his knees； gazing into the smouldering coals of his grate； his favorite attitude when his mind was troubled； when Fred； his face aglow； his big blue eyes dancing； threw wide the door and bounded in； bringing in his clothes the fresh； cool air of the night。 He had been at work in the School of the Academy of Design； and had a drawing in chalk under his arma head of the young Augustus。
〃What's the matter； Ollie； got the blues？〃
〃No； Freddie； only thinking。〃
〃What's her name？ I'll go and see her and make it up。 Out with itdo I know her？〃
Oliver smiled faintly； examined the drawing for a moment； and handing it back to Fred； said； sadly； 〃It's not a girl； Freddie； but I don't seem to get anywhere。〃
Fred threw the drawing on the bed and squeezed himself into the chair beside his chum； his arm around his neck。
〃Where do you want to get； old man？ What's the matterany trouble at the store？〃
〃Nonone that I know of。 But the life is so monotonous； Fred。 You do what you love to do。 I mark boxes all day till lunch…time； then I roll them out on the sidewalk and make out dray tickets till I come home。 I've been doing that all winter； I expect to be doing it for years。 That don't get me anywhere； does it？ I hate the life more and more every day。〃
（Was our hero's old love of change again asserting itself； or was it only the pinching of that Chinese shoe which his mother in her anxiety had slipped on his unresisting foot； and which he was still wearing to please her？ Or was it the upper pressure of some inherent talentsome gift of his ancestors that would not down at his own bidding or that of his mother or anybody else's？）
〃Somebody's got to do it； Ollie； and you are the last man hired；〃 remarked Fred； quietly。 〃What would you like to do？〃
Oliver shifted himself in the crowded chair until he could look into his room…mate's eyes。
〃Fred； old man；〃 he answered； his voice choking； 〃I haven't said a word to you about it all the time I've been here； for I don't like to talk about a thing that hurts me； and so I've kept it to myself。 Now I'll tell you the truth just as it is。 I don't want Mr。 Slade's work nor anybody else's work。 I don't like business and never will。 I want to paint； and I'll never be happy until I do。 That's it； fair and square。〃
〃Well； quit Slade； then； and come with me。〃
〃I would if it wasn't for mother。 I promised her I would see this through； and I will。〃 As he spoke the overdue mortgage and his mother's efforts to keep the interest paid passed in review before him。
Fred caught his breath。 It astonished him； independent young Northerner as he was； to hear a full… grown man confess that his mother's' apron…strings still held him up； but he made no comment。
〃Why not try both？〃 he cried。 〃There's a place in the school alongside of mewe'll work together nights。 It won't interfere with what you do downtown。 You'll get a good start； and when you have a day off in the summer you can do some out…door work。 Waller has told me a dozen times that you draw better than he did when he commenced。 Come along with me。〃
This conversation； with the other incidents of the day； or rather that part of it which had reference to the Academy； was duly set forth in his next letter to his mothernot as an argument to gain her consent to his studying with Fred； for he knew it was the last thing she would agree tobut because it was his habit to tell her everything。 It would show her； too； how good a fellow Fred was and what an interest he took in his welfare。 Her answer； three days later； sent him bounding upstairs and into their room like a whirlwind。
〃Read； Fred； read！〃 he cried。 〃I can go。 Mother says she thinks it would be the best thing in the world for me。 Here； clap your eyes on that〃 and Oliver held the letter out to Fred； his finger pointing to this passage： 〃I wish you would join Fred at the Academy。 Now that you have a regular business that occupies your mind； and are earning your living； I have no objection to your studying drawing or learning any other accomplishment。 You w
