the fortunes of oliver horn-第60章
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it into Margaret's hand。 This billet…doux began by inviting Miss Margaret Grant of Brookfield Farm to pass a week with Miss Lavinia Clendenning； of Kennedy Square； she； Miss Lavinia； desiring to know the better one who had so charmed and delighted 〃our dear Oliver；〃 and ended with 〃Please say to your good mother； that I am twice your age； and will take as much care of you as if you were my own daughter。 I feel assured she will waive all ceremony when she thinks of how warm a greeting awaits you。〃
Margaret looked at the post…mark； and then at the little oval of violet wax bearing the crest of the Clendenningsgranted in the time of Queen Elizabeth for distinguished services to the Throneand after she had read it to her mother； and had shown the seal to her father； who had put on his glasses； scanned it closely； and tossed it back to her with a dry laugh； and after she had talked it all over with John； who said it was certainly very kind of the woman； and that Oliver's people were evidently 〃nobs；〃 but； of course； Madge couldn't go； not knowing any of them； Margaret took a sheet of plain white paper from her desk； thanked Miss Clendenning for her kind thought of her； and declined the honor in a firm； round hand。 This she closed with a red wafer； and then； with a little bridling of her head and a determined look in her face； she laid the letter on the gate…post； ready for the early stage in the morning。
This missive was duly received by Miss Clendenning； and read at once to Mrs。 Horn； who raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips in deep thought。 After some moments she looked over her glasses at Miss Lavinia and said：
〃I must say； Lavinia； I am very greatly astonished。 Won't come？ She has done perfectly right。 I think all the better of her for it。 Really； there may be something in the girl after all。 Let me look at her handwriting againwrites like a woman of some force。 Won't come？ What do you think； Lavinia？〃
〃Merely a question of grandmothers； my dear； she seems to have had one； too；〃 answered the little old maid； with a quizzical smile in her eye； as she folded the letter and slipped it in her pocket。
CHAPTER XVIII
THE LAST HOURS OF A CIVILIZATION
Margaret's decision saddened Oliver's last days at home； and he returned to New York with none of his former buoyancy。 Here other troubles began to multiply。 Before the autumn was gone； Morton； Slade & Co。； unable longer to make headway against the financial difficulties that beset them； went to the wall； involving many of their fellow…merchants。 Oliver lost his situation； in consequence； and was forced to support himself during the long dreary winter by making lithographic drawings for Bianchi； at prices that barely paid his board。 His loneliness in the garret room became more intense； Fred being much away and the occupants of the other rooms being either strangers to him or so uncongenial that he would not make their acquaintance。
To his own troubles were added other anxieties。 The political outlook had become even more gloomy than the financial。 The roar of Sumter's guns had reverberated throughout the land； and men of all minds were holding their breath and listening； with ears to the ground； for the sound of the next shot。 Even Margaret's letters were full of foreboding。 〃Father is more bitter against the South than ever；〃 she wrote。 〃He says if he had ten sons each should shoulder a musket。 We must wait； Ollie dear。 I can only talk to mother about you。 Father won't listen； and I never mention your name before him。 Not because it is you； Ollie； but because you represent a class whom he hates。 Dear John would listen； but he is still in Boston。 Even his fellow…classmen want to fight； he says。 I fear all this will hurt my work； and keep me from painting。〃
These letters of Margaret's； sad as they were； were his greatest and sometimes his only comfort。 She knew his ups and downs and they must have no secrets from each other。 From his mother； however； he kept all records of his privations during these troublous months。 Neither his father nor his dear mother must deprive themselves for his benefit。
During these dreary days he often longed for Kennedy Square and for those whom he loved； but it was not until one warm spring day； when the grass was struggling into life； and the twigs on the scraggy trees in Union Square were growing pink and green with impatient buds and leaves that he had his wish。 Then a startling telegram summoned him。 It read as follows：
〃Father ill。 Come at once。
〃Mother〃
Instinctively Oliver felt in his pockets for his purse。 There was just money enough to take him to Kennedy Square and back。
His mother met him at the door。
〃It was only a fainting turn； my son；〃 were her first words。 〃I am sorry I sent for you。 Your father is himself again； so Dr。 Wallace says。 He has been working too hard latelysometimes far into the night。 I could have stopped you from coming； but； somehow； I wanted you〃 and she held him close in her arms； and laid her cheek against his。 〃I get so lonely； my boy； and feel so helpless sometimes。〃
The weak and strong were changing places。 She felt the man in him now。
Nathan was in the library。 He and Malachi had been taking turns at Richard's bedside。 Malachi had not closed his eyes all night。 Nathan came out into the hall when he heard Oliver's voice； and put his hand on his shoulder。
〃We had a great scare； Ollie；〃 he said； 〃but he's all right again； thank God！ He's asleep nowbetter not wake him。〃 Then he put on his coat and went home。
Malachi shook his head。 〃Sumpin's de matter wid him； an' dis ain't de las' ob it。 Drapped jes' like a shote when he's hit； Marse Oliver；〃 he said； in a low whisper； as if afraid of disturbing his master on the floor above。 〃I was a…layin' out his clo'es an' he called quick like； 'Malachi！ Malachi！' an' when I got dar； he was lyin' on de flo' wid his head on de mat。 I ain't nebber seen Marse Richard do like dat befo'〃 The old servant trembled as he spoke。 He evidently did not share Nathan's hopeful views。 Neither did Dr。 Wallace； although he did not say so to anyone。
Their fears； however； were not realized。 Richard not only revived； but by the end of the week be was in the drawing…room again； Malachi； in accordance with the time…honored custom； wheeling out his chair； puffing up the cushions； and； with a wave of the hand and a sweeping bow； saying：
〃Yo' ch'ar's all ready； Marse Richard。 Hope you'se feelin' fine dis evenin'； sah！〃
The following day he was in his 〃li'l' room；〃 Oliver helping him。 It was the lifting of the heavy plate of the motor that had hurt Richard； so Nathan told him； not the same motor which Oliver remembered； another； much larger and built on different lines。 The inventor now used twenty…four cells instead of ten； and the magnets had been wrapped with finer wire。
These days in the shop were delightful to Oliver。 His father no longer treated him as an inexperienced youth； but as his equal。 〃I hope you will agree with me； my son；〃 he would say； or； 〃What do you think of the idea of using a 'cam' here instead of a lever？〃 or； 〃I wish you would find the last issue of the Review； and tell me what you think of that article of Latrobe's。 He puts the case very clearly； it seems to me；〃 etc。 And Oliver would bend his head in attention and try to follow his father's lead； wishing all the time that he could really be of use to the man he revered beyond all others； and so lighten some of the burdens that were weighing him down。
And none the less joyful were the hours spent with his mother。 All the old…time affection； the devotion of a lover…son； were lavished upon her。 And she was so supremely happy in it all。 Now that Richard had recovered； there was no other cloud on her horizon； not even that of the dreaded mortgage which owing to some payments made Richard by a company using one of his patents had been extended and its interest paid for two years in advance in deference to her urgent request。 All anxiety as to the Northern girl had happily passed out of her mind。 If Oliver intended marrying Miss Grant he would have told her； she knew。 Then again； he was so much stronger and wiser nowso much more thoughtful than he had be
