The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-29
CHAPTER VI.

inc next morning MISS Il lelulnB slept
late. and her breakfast order was. as it
had been two days before, prosaie. Then.
also. she had slept late. This coincidence
struck me and gave me a presentiment.
I looked curiously for the first sight OF
her 20 confirm or destroy a theory that
had been incubating during my long
night hours alone. The fact that, as l
ate my breakfast, I could hear her whist
ling in her room helped along my hypo-
thesis So did Leah's apparent mental
detachment.
Miss Fielding romped into my room at
about $3.50. md with a laugh and a
Good morning. Chet!F pirouetted up to
my bed. My theory instantly gained
plausIbility. Her manner was what I had
anticipated. Her dress, also. was signi-
ficant
She had on fussy sort OF silk waist.
Inappropriate. l thought, with her cloth
walking skirt. Her hair was deliberately
''marcelled." and she wore bangles that
clinked on her wrists, there Was the same
odor OF santal that 7 had previously no
ticed. What was most suggestive was
that this get-up was apparently meant
TO impress me- At least that was how
I interpreted her cOGuettish smile. I
shouldn't care to say that she showed
actual poor taste-it was only, l thought,
poor taste for her. She needed such adj
juncts OF fashion so littlel
'See here" she said. tossing her head
and pointing at me dramatically you're
getting altogether too lazy I think that
you've been in he'd long enough. I'm
going to get you downstairs to-day The
doctor said three or four days in bed
would do. and now it's five. How do you
feel?" She shook the post of my bed
with mock ferocity, as II 20 expend some
surplus energy. There seemed 10 be an
extra ounce OF blood in her this morning.
"Oh, I'm game" ! replied Nothing
would suit me better"
TN set the library ready, then; Leah
and Uncle Jerdon will help you down.
Then you can watch me work. II you
don't mind. I'm trying 10 finish my cof-
fret She felt thoughtfuiiy OF her
biceps. 'I'll get quite muscle before
I'm through I shall have driven about
1900 nails by the time it's done
She walked 10 the door. swinging her
arms, and called, Leah! Come up here!
Quick"
A<NaA GRktAANAAf NHA VI hAFdtAit do rs
for the moment she had expected that
an accident had happened. She gave a
quick apprehensive look around.
Leah, we're going 10 get Mr.. Castle
downstairs To-day. Is Uncle Jerdon
about?'
DO you think Mr.. Castle is well
enough to be moved. YETI" Leah ven
tured
Didn't say he was going down
stairs?" Miss Fielding repeated impa-
tientiy. Il think we can decide that
question You do as l say. Go and get
Uncle Jerdon, and be quick about II, too
She's spoiled. She thinks she runs
this house, Miss ieiding complained TO
me. when Lean had left
I said nothing. watching her closely
My theory was now pretty well substan-
tiated. ! could not pass this scene of
as merely one OF the moods" that she
and Leah had both mentioned. There
was something definitely wrong with Miss
Fielding tO-day-sOmething more than
mere whim Of temper. There had been
something wrong two days before. when
she had acted similarly. She was dis
tinctly not herself, If her normal self
was the graceful. delicate tactful crea-
ture VINO had first charmed me.
II was not only her mood or her taste
in costume that seemed different. IL was
something not quite descTibable which
seemed % permeate her whole personal
ity. She had taken chair and sat with
her right arm cast up over the back. The
angle OF her raised elbow threw her into
a distinctly awkward position Her ges-
lures. too. were characteristic OF this
mysterious difference. When they were
not distinctly Initiative. as IN mimicklng
Uncle JerGOn's table manners, they were
Irrelevant. mere spasmodic exhibitions OF
activity-as when she caught the fly. or
swung her arms with active tennig-like
gestures. This spontaneous irrelevancy
she showed now In the way she doubled
her fists and brought them athletieally
10 her shoulders, as she talked, OF. rails
ing her foot a little. made circles with
her toe. showing the slenderness and
suppleness OF her ankle l don't say that
ali this ebullitiOn OF high spirits wasn't.
In its way, charming. It was. But II
was different from the way she had
acted yesterday. Perhaps I can best de-
scribe it by saying that she seemed quite
ten years younger.
She sprahg UP, and, apropos Of nothing
at all, proceeded 10 dance or hon side
wise across the room and back hilarious
~, l.. sheer excess Of vigor. It was what
she called 'gaiumphing," and. from time
10 time. during the day, usually at the
end Of some little over-seriOus converse
ton. she repeated the performance, TO my
great amusement and delight II was
tbs absurdly meaningless gambling OF
a kid, but II was so delicious IN its IN
that every time It provoked
my laughter.
While we were talking nonsense there.
Leah came up with Uncle Jerdon. Uncle
Jerdon was distinctly a New England
-ype-the chin-bearded, STRENGTHENING
farmer, quantity original. confident, droll. |
He vas we'll on in years, a dried-up. |
toothless bachelor with sparse
hair, long in the neck.
and twinkling blue eyes full Of good ma
Lure. He wore oveTalls and reeked OF
The stable
Miss Fielding introduced him, and I
shook his skinny hand
WALL" he drawled, "thinkin' abeout |
novin', be We? I guess Leah an neil
make pretty good elevator. I'll help We |
get dressed, fUst-cff. an then We'll take |
- up tenderly, lift We with care"
The two women left while I got my
,lothes on. It felt good to leave the bed. |
1--WE been a-tinkerin or that air ma |
'hile o yourn, but it's a leetle bit too |
much for US. 1 guess. Uncle Jerden said. |
You'll have to send deown a man, ex- |
2ect. I wouldn't ride in one o. them
ADJUSTMENTS.