登陆注册
36813300000101

第101章 IN WHICH KEZIAH'S PARSON PREACHES ONCE MORE(3)

Hung?he muttered.I wish,by godfreys mighty,I had the hangin'of SOME folks!I'd put a tighter collar on 'em than they've got now,I bet you!The minister's lips twitched.He knew what was coming.Hints of a surprising nature had been circulating about Trumet.

What's the matter,Mr.Pepper?he asked.

Matter?Matter enough!You know what she's goin'to do?She's goin'to marry THAT!The last word was emphasized by a furious gesticulation toward the back of the gentleman from Sandwich.

Who?Mr.Pratt?Is your sister to marry him?Indeed!Icongratulate them both--and you.

Me?What in tunket--I ask your pardon,Mr.Ellery,for talkin'so in the meetin'house--but what are you congratulatin'me for?Why,because your sister is to have a good husband;at least people speak highly of him.Ugh!

And because--well,Mr.Pepper,you have been quite confidential with me;we have shared secrets,you know;and I thought possibly the new arrangement might make it a bit more pleasant for you.Pleasant?How?

I suppose Mr.Pratt will take his bride home to Sandwich,and you,being here alone,will be more free.Free?Kyan repeated the word wrathfully.Free!I'll be about as free as a settin'hen under a barrel,I will.Is a feller free when he's got two pickin'at him instead of one?I thought I was goin'to have a little peace and comfort;I thought that same as you,Mr.Ellery.I've had my suspicions as to her and him for some time.That day when I cal'lated I'd locked her up and come back to find she'd gone buggy ridin',I thought 'twas queer.When she went to conference and left me alone I smelt a rat.When she took to letter writin'the smell got stronger;until the last few weeks I've been sartin of the game she was up to.And I never complained,no sir!Some brothers would have ripped up the eternal foundations afore they'd have let their sister break up their home and desert 'em for a stiff-necked,bald-headed old shoe peddler like--Hush!hush!Mr.Pepper.You forget--

No,I don't forget,nuther.Mr.Ellery,you don't know it all.

When Laviny come to me and told me what she was goin'to do,was Iobstinate?Did I stand on my rights as head of the family and tell her she couldn't do it?No,sir-ee,I didn't!I was resigned.Isays to her,'Laviny,'I says,'I won't say that I shan't be turrible lonesome without you.I won't say that I ain't sort of shocked and grieved at our partin'after all these years.But what's my personal feelin's when I compare 'em with your happiness?

Nothin',nothin'at all!'I says.'Bless you,Laviny,'says I.

'When you goin'to go away?'And what do you s'pose she says to me?Why,that she wa'n't goin'away at all.That--that Pratt thing has sold out his shoe store up to Sandwich and is comin'here to live.Comin'to live at our HOUSE,mind you,with her and with ME!Twill be so nice for you,'Bishy dear,'she says,'to have a man in the house to keep you comp'ny and look out for you when Iain't round.'Godfreys mighty!

This portion of Kyan's disclosure was surprising,if the announcement of his sister's engagement was not.

Mr.Pratt is coming to Trumet?the minister repeated.What for?What is he going to do here?

Keep shoe store,I s'pose likely.Laviny says there's a good openin'for one in this town.I told her the best openin'I could think of for him was the well and I hoped to the nation he'd fall into it.Then she went for me like a dogfish after a herrin'and Inever had a taste of vittles till I'd took it all back and said Iwas glad he was goin'to live with us.Free!Don't talk to me about *******!Godfreys mighty!Ellery smothered his desire to laugh and expressed sympathy.

Abishai listened in sullen silence.

Well,he said,turning to go,I ain't goin'to stand it,if Ican help it.I've been doin'some thinkin'on my own account and there's two ways of gettin'even.That Caleb critter is marryin' into our family 'cause he knows I'm well off.I'll cheat him,by godfreys!I'll will every cent of my fifteen hundred dollars to the poor or the heathen or somethin'.I will,sure's taxes.The minister was obliged to laugh,then.

I wouldn't do that,he said.From what I hear,Mr.Pratt is worth several times fifteen hundred.I know it;but he's so dum mean that 'twould break his heart to see even ten cents gettin'away from him.However,that ain't my only plan.He and Laviny ain't got any mortgage on the marryin' business.Other folks can do it as well as them.What do you think of Hannah Poundberry?What do I think of her?What do you mean?

同类推荐
  • 佛说鸯崛髻经

    佛说鸯崛髻经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 千手千眼观世音菩萨治病合药经

    千手千眼观世音菩萨治病合药经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 谒先主庙

    谒先主庙

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 皇明诗选

    皇明诗选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 推背图

    推背图

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 你的法术归我啦

    你的法术归我啦

    复仇失败,身陷不知名地点,却身怀能复制他人法术的法宝……老爹:“要用魔法战争魔法!”网友:“我打不过,我选择加入!”
  • W时空神皇

    W时空神皇

    身份不明的少年,却在世界各地广交好友,且看他如何一步步踏上成神之路
  • 卦师

    卦师

    《易》者,阴阳之变。太极者,其理也;两仪者,始为一画一分阴阳;四象者,次为二画以分太少;八卦者,次为三画而三才之象始备。此数言者,实圣人作《易》自然之次第,有不假丝毫智力而成者。掌握易理,洞明世事,才能达到卦师的最高境界。
  • 永恒神灵

    永恒神灵

    万古之前,诸神共存,统治诸天,为神话时代。岁月尽头,天道崩灭,神灵陨落,为乱古时代。如今,万物轮回,天地重演,万仙降临,立三千轮回,掌众生灵之生死!一名少年偶得神话时代的古物,传承神灵之血,在仙道纪元时代里,命运又会如何?
  • 贞观传说

    贞观传说

    新书《家父狄仁杰》震撼发布!大唐初立,贞观未至。外有异族虎视眈眈,内有各方争斗不断。袁淼狼狈的来到这里,原本只想抱紧李二的金大腿,当个富家翁。最后却被人按在了桌子上!!!成了传说……
  • 六钥匙

    六钥匙

    天空飘满无数的垃圾,忽然出现白色裂缝,从中吐出一栋大楼,楼在空中翻滚,把睡得很熟的人折腾得要命。
  • 凌天武神

    凌天武神

    武道天才季云,在突破圣境之时,被其师慕容嫣暗算身亡。醒来之后,却发现已经是武道法则崩溃的万年之后。“既然重活一世,那么我季云便要比上一世更为逆天,以铁血手段灭掉所有敌人,以无上修为令整个世界颤粟!”“慕容嫣,你给本尊等着!”
  • 嬉游之飞神

    嬉游之飞神

    曾经懵懂的少年在经历过校园爱情的失败以后蜕变,涅槃,成为一位嬉游花丛万花丛中过,片叶不沾身的风流浪子
  • 媚师人间

    媚师人间

    狐、龙、蛇,最精彩的故事,总是发生在人间。
  • 诡秘存活

    诡秘存活

    所有的幻想都以成真。李凡获得了在这个世界存活下去的关键!