the fortunes of oliver horn-第76章
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old you。 Yes！ You started too late in life； my boy。〃
〃No； dear old daddy； I started just in the nick of time and in the right way。〃
How could he have thought anything else on this lovely spring morning； with the brightest of skies overhead； his first important order within his grasp； his dear old father and Nathan beside him； and the loveliest girl in the world or on the planets beyond waiting for him at the top of her studio stairs！
〃It's most kind of you to say so；〃 continued Richard； dodging the people as he talked； 〃but couldn't you have learned to work by following your own tastes？〃
〃No dad。 I was too confounded lazy and too fond of fun。 And then the dear mother wanted me to go to work； and that was always enough for me。〃
〃Oh； my son； it does me good to hear you say so〃 and a light shone on the old gentleman's face。 〃Yes！ you ALWAYS considered your mother。 You can't think how she has suffered during these terrible years。 But for the good offices of Mr。 Cobb whose kindness I shall never forget； I do not see how she could have gone through them as she has。 Isn't it fine； my son； to think it is all over？ She will never have to worry againnevernever。 The motor will end all her troubles。 She did not believe in it once； but she does now。
They continued on up Broadway； Oliver in the middle； Richard's arm in his； he hurrying them both along； steering them across the streets； avoiding the trucks and dragging them past the windows they wanted to look into； with promises of plenty of time for that to…morrow or next week。 Only once did he allow them to catch their breath； and that was when they passed the big bronze statue overlooking Union Square； and then only long enough for the two to take in its outlines； and from its pedestal to fix their eyes on the little windows of Miss Teetum's boarding… house； where he' had spent so many happy and unhappy days。
Soon the two breathless old gentlemen and equally breathless young guidethe first condition due to the state of the two old gentlemen's lungs and the second due entirely to the state of this particular young gentleman's heartstood in a doorway just off Madison Square； before a small bell…pull bearing above it a tiny sign reading： 〃Margaret Grant。 Top Floor。〃
〃Miss Grant has been at home only a few months；〃 Oliver burst out as he rang the bell and climbed the stairs。 〃Since her father's death she has been in Paris with her mother； her cousin； Higbee Shaw the sculptor； and her brother John。 A shell injured the drum of John's ear； and while she painted he was under the care of a French specialist。 He is still there with his mother。 If you think I can paint just wait until you see Miss Grant's work。 Think； dad！ she has taken two medals in Munich； and last year had honorable mention at the Salon。 You remember her brother； of course； don't you； Uncle Nat； the one Malachi hid over father's shop？〃
Uncle Nat nodded his head as he toiled up the steps。 He remembered every hour of the hideous nightmare。 He had been the one other man besides Richard and the Chief of Police to shake Oliver's hand that fatal night when he was exiled from Kennedy Square。
Mrs。 Mulligan； in white apron； a French cap on her head； and looking as fresh and clean as a trained nurse； opened the door。 Margaret had looked her up the very day she landed； and had placed her in charge of her apartment as cook； housekeeper； and lady's maid； with full control of the front door and of her studio。 The old woman was not hard to trace； she had followed the schools of the academy from their old quarters to the new marble building on Twenty… third Street； and was again posing for the draped…life class and occasionally lending a hand to the new janitor。 Margaret's life abroad had taught her the secret of living alone； a problem easily solved when there are Mrs。 Mulligans to be had for the asking。
〃Yes； Mr。 Oliver； she's insoide。 Oh！ it's fri'nds ye hev wid ye！〃 and she started back。
〃Only my father and Mr。 Gill；〃 and he brushed past Mrs。 Mulligan； parted the heavy portieres that divided Madge's working studio from the narrow hall； thrust in his head and called out； in his cheeriest voice：
〃Madge； who do you think is outside？ Guess！ Father and Uncle Nat。 Just arrived this morning。〃
Before Margaret could turn her head the two stood before her： Richard with his hat in his hand； his brown overcoat with the velvet collar over his arm he had slipped it off outsideand Nathan close behind； still in the long； pen…wiper cloak。
〃And is it really the distinguished young lady of whom I have heard so much？〃 exclaimed Richard with his most courtly bow； taking the girl's outstretched hand in both of his。 〃I am so glad to see you； my dear； both on your own account and on account of your brother； whom we once sheltered。 And how is he now？ and your dear mother？〃
To all of which Margaret answered in low gentle tones； her eyes never leaving Richard's； her hand still fast in his； until he had turned to introduce Nathan so that he might pay his respects。
Nathan； in his timid halting way； stepped from behind Richard； and taking her welcoming hand； told her how much he had wanted to know her； since he had seen the picture she had painted； then hanging in Miss Lavinia's home； both because it was the work of a woman and because tooand he looked straight into her eyes when he said it and meant every wordshe was the sister of the poor fellow who had been so shamefully treated in his own city。 And Margaret； her voice breaking； answered that； but for the aid of such kind friends as himself and Oliver； John might never have come back； adding； how grateful she and her whole family had been for the kindness shown her brother。
While they were talking； Richard； with a slight bow as if to ask her permission； began making the tour of the room； his glasses held to his eyes； examining each thing about him with the air of a connoisseur suddenly ushered into a new collection of curios。
〃Tell me who this sketch is by；〃 he asked； stopping before Margaret； and pointing to a small Lambinet； glowing like an opal on the dull…green wall of the studio。 〃I so seldom see good pictures that a gem like this is a delight。 By a Frenchman！ Ah！ Yes； I see the subtlety of coloring。 Marvellous people； these Frenchmen。 And this little jewel you have here？ This bit of mezzo in color。 With this I am more familiar； for we have a good many collections of old prints at home。 It is； I thinkyesI thought I could not be mistakenit is a Morland；〃 and he examined it closely； his nose almost touching the glass。
The next instant he had crossed the room to the window looking out over the city； the smoke and steam of a thousand fires floating over its wide expanse。
〃Come here； my son；〃 he called to Oliver。 〃Look over that stretch of energy and brains。 Is it not inspiring？ And that band of silver； moving so quietly and resistlessly out to sea。 What a power for good it all is； and what a story it will tell before the century is out。〃
Margaret was by his side as he spoke。 She had hardly taken her eyes from him since he entered the roomnot even when she was listening to Nathan。 All her old…time； prejudices and preconceived estimates of Richard were slipping away。 Was this the man whom she used to think of as a dreamer of dreams； and a shiftless Southerner？ This charming old gentleman with the air of an aristocrat and the keen discernment of an expert？ She could hardly believe her eyes。
As for Oliver； his very heart was bursting with pride。 It had all happened exactly as he had wanted ithis father and Margaret had liked each other from the very first moment。 And then she had been so beautiful； too； even in her long painting… apron and her hair twisted up in a coil on her head。 And the little blush of surprise and sweetness which had overspread her face when they entered； and which his father must have seen； and the inimitable grace with which she slipped from her high stool； and with a half courtesy held out her hand to welcome her visitors； and all with the savoir faire and charm of a woman of the world！ How it all went straight to his heart。
If； however； he had ever thought her pretty in this working…costume； he thought her all the mor
