eben holden-第28章

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'I　would　like　to　see　Mr　Horace　Greeley；'　I　said；　rather　timidly；　at　the　counter。

'Walk　right　up　those　stairs　and　turn　to　the　left；'　said　a　clerk；　as　he　opened　a　gate　for　me。

Ascending；　I　met　a　big　man　coming　down；　hurriedly；　and　with　heavy　steps。　We　stood　dodging　each　other　a　moment　with　that　unfortunate　co…ordination　of　purpose　men　sometimes　encounter　when　passing　each　other。　Suddeniy　the　big　man　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　stairway　and　held　both　of　his　hands　above　his　head。

'In　God's　name！　young　man；'　said　he；　'take　your　choice。'

He　spoke　in　a　high；　squeaky　voice　that　cut　me　with　the　sharpness　of　its　irritation。　I　went　on　past　him　and　entered　an　open　door　near　the　top　of　the　stairway。

'Is　Mr　Horace　Greeley　in？'　I　enquired　of　a　young　man　who　sat　reading　papers。

'Back　soon；'　said　he；　without　looking　up。　'Take　a　chair。'

In　a　little　while　I　heard　the　same　heavy　feet　ascending　the　stairway　two　steps　at　a　time。　Then　the　man　I　had　met　came　hurriedly　into　the　room。

'This　is　Mr　Greeley；'　said　the　yo'mg　man　who　was　reading。

The　great　editor　turned　and　looked　at　me　through　gold…rimmed　spectacles。　I　gave　him　my　letter　out　of　a　trembling　hand。　He　removed　it　from　the　envelope　and　held　it　close　to　his　big；　kindly；　smooth…shaven　face。　There　was　a　fringe　of　silky；　silver　hair；　streaked　with　yellow；　about　the　lower　part　of　his　head　from　temple　to　temple。　It　also　encircled　his　throat　from　under　his　collar。　His　cheeks　were　fall　and　fair　as　a　lady's；　with　rosy　spots　in　them　and　a　few　freckles　about　his　nose。　He　laughed　as　he　finished　reading　the　letter。

'Are　you　Dave　Brower's　boy？'　he　asked　in　a　drawling　falsetto；　looking　at　me　out　of　grey　eyes　and　smiling　with　good　humour。

'By　adoption；'　I　answered。'

'He　was　an　almighty　good　rassler；'　he　said；　deliberately；　as　he　looked　again　at　the　letter。'

'What　do　you　want　to　do？'　he　asked　abruptly。'

'Want　to　work　on　the　Tribune；'　I　answered。'

'Good　Lord！　　he　said。　'I　can't　hire　everybody。'

I　tried　to　think　of　some　argument；　but　what　with　looking　at　the　great　man　before　me；　and　answering　his　questions　and　maintaining　a　decent　show　of　dignity；　I　had　enough　to　do。

'Do　you　read　the　Tribune？　　he　asked。'

'Read　it　ever　since　I　can　remember。'

'What　do　you　think　of　the　administration？　

'Lot　of　dough　faces！　　I　answered；　smiling；　as　I　saw　he　recognised　his　own　phrase。　He　sat　a　moment　tapping　the　desk　with　his　penholder。'

'There's　so　many　liars　here　in　New　York；'　　he　said；　'there　ought　to　be　room　for　an　honest　man。　How　are　the　crops？'

'Fair；　　I　answered。　'Big　crop　of　boys　every　year。'　

'And　now　you　re　trying　to　find　a　market；　　he　remarked。'

'Want　to　have　you　try　them；'　I　answered。

'Well；'　said　he；　very　seriously；　turning　to　his　desk　that　came　up　to　his　chin　as　he　sat　beside　it；　'go　and　write　me　an　article　about　rats。'

'Would　you　advise…；'　I　started　to　say；　when　he　interrupted　me。

'The　man　that　gives　advice　is　a　bigger　fool　than　the　man　that　takes　it；'　he　fleered　impatiently。　'Go　and　do　your　best！'　

Before　he　had　given　me　this　injunction　he　had　dipped　his　pen　and　begun　to　write　hurriedly。　If　I　had　known　him　longer　I　should　have　known　that；　while　he　had　been　talking　to　me；　that　tireless　mind　of　his　had　summoned　him　to　its　service。　I　went　out；　in　high　spirits；　and　sat　down　a　moment　on　one　of　the　benches　in　the　little　park　near　by；　to　think　it　all　over。　He　was　going　to　measure　my　judgement；　my　skill　as　a　writer…　my　resources。　'Rats；'　I　said　to　myself　thoughtfully。　1　had　read　much　about　them。　They　infested　the　ships；　they　overran　the　wharves；　they　traversed　the　sewers。　An　inspiration　came　to　me。　I　started　for　the　waterfront；　asking　my　way　every　block　or　two。　Near　the　East　River　I　met　a　policeman　…　a　big；　husky；　good…hearted　Irishman。

'Can　you　tell　me；'　I　said；　'who　can　give　me　information　about　rats？'　

'Rats？'　he　repeated。　'What　d'　ye　wan't'　know　about　thim？'

'Everything；'I　said。　'They　ve　just　given　me　a　job　on　the　New　York　Tribune；'I　added　proudly。

He　smiled　good…naturedly。　He　had　looked　through　me　at　a　glance。

'Just　say　〃Tribune〃；'　　he　said。　'Ye　don't　have　t　　say　〃New　York　Tribune〃　here。　Come　along　wi　　me。'　

He　took　me　to　a　dozen　or　more　of　the　dock　masters。

'Give　'im　a　lift；　my　hearty；'he　said　to　the　first　of　them。　'He's　a　green。'

I　have　never　forgotten　the　kindness　of　that　Irishman；　whom　I　came　to　know　well　in　good　time。　Remembering　that　day　and　others　I　always　greeted　him　with　a　hearty　'God　bless　the　Irish！'　every　time　I　passed　him；　and　he　would　answer；　'Amen；　an'　save　yer　riverince。'

He　did　not　leave　me　until　I　was　on　my　way　home　loaded　with　fact　and　fable　and　good　dialect　with　a　savour　of　the　sea　in　it。

Hope　and　Uncle　Eb　were　sitting　together　in　his　room　when　I　returned。

'Guess　I've　got　a　job；'I　said；　trying　to　be　very　cool　about　it。。

'A　job！　　said　Hope　eagerly；　as　she　rose。　'Where？　

'With　Mr　Horace　Greeley；'I　answered；　my　voice　betraying　my　excitement。

'Jerusalem！　　said　Uncle　Eb。　'Is　it　possible？　'

'That's　grand！　said　Hope。　'Tell　us　about　it。'　

Then　I　told　them　of　my　interview　with　the　great　editor　and　of　what　I　had　done　since。

'Ye　done　wonderful！'　　said　Uncle　Eb　and　Hope　showed　quite　as　much　pleasure　in　her　own　sweet　way。

I　was　for　going　to　my　room　and　beginning　to　write　at　once；　but　Hope　said　it　was　time　to　be　getting　ready　for　dinner。

When　we　came　down　at　half…past　six　we　were　presented　to　our　host　and　the　guests　of　the　evening　…　handsome　men　and　women　in　full　dress　…　and　young　Mr　Livingstone　was　among　them。　I　felt　rather　cheap　in　my　frock　coat；　although　I　had　thought　it　grand　enough　for　anybody　on　the　day　of　my　graduation。　Dinner　announced；　the　gentlemen　rose　and　offered　escort　to　the　ladies；　and　Hope　and　Mrs　Fuller　relieved　our　embarrassment　by　conducting　us　to　our　seats　…　women　are　so　deft　in　those　little　difficulties。　The　dinner　was　not　more　formal　than　that　of　every　evening　in　the　Fuller　home　…　for　its　master　was　a　rich　man　of　some　refinement　of　taste　…　and　not　at　all　comparable　to　the　splendid　hospitality　one　may　see　every　day　at　the　table　of　a　modem　millionaire。　But　it　did　seem　very　wonderful　to　us；　then；　with　its　fine…mannered　servants；　its　flowers；　its　abundant　silver。　Hope　had　written　much　to　her　mother　of　the　details　of　deportment　at　John　Fuller's　table；　and　Elizabeth　had　delicately　imparted　to　us　the　things　we　ought　to　know。　We　behaved　well；　I　have　since　been　told；　although　we　got　credit　for　poorer　appetites　than　we　possessed。　Unde　Eb　took　no　chances　and　refused　everything　that　had　a　look　of　mystery　and　a　suggestion　of　peril；　dropping　a　droll　remark；　betimes；　that　sent　a　ripple　of　amusement　around　the　table。

John　Trumbull　sat　opposite　me；　and　even　then　I　felt　a　curious　interest　in　him　…　a　big；　full　bearded　man；　quite　six　feet　tall；　his　skin　and　eyes　dark；　his　hair　iron…grey；　his　voice　deep　like　David　s。　I　could　not　get　over　the　impression　that　I　had　seen　him　before　…　a　feeling　I　have　had　often；　facing　men　I　could　never　possibly　have　met。　No　word　came　out　of　his　firm　mouth　unless　he　were　addressed；　and　then　all　in　hearing　listened　to　the　little　he　had　to　say：　it　was　never　more　than　some　very　simple　remark。　In　his　face　and　form　and　voice　there　was　abundant　heraldry　of　rugged　power　and　ox…like　vitality。　I　have　seen　a　bronze　head　of　Daniel　Webster　which；　with　a　full　blonde　beard　and　an　ample　covering　of　grey　hair　would　have　given　one　a　fairly　perfect　idea　of　the　look　of　John　Trumbull。　Imagine　it　on　a　tall；　and　powerful　body　and　let　it　speak　with　a　voice　that　has　in　it　the　deep　and　musical　vibration　one　may　hear　in　the　looing　of　an　ox　and　you　shall　see；　as　perfectly　as　my　feeble　words　can　hdp　you　to　do；　this　remarkable　man　who；　must；　hereafter；　play　before　you　his　part　…　compared　to　which　mine　is　as　the　prattle　of　a　child　…　in　this　drama　of　God's　truth。

'You　have　not　heard；'said　Mrs　Fuller　addressing　me；　'how　Mr　Trumbull　saved　Hope's　life。'　

'Saved　Hope's　life！'I　exclaimed。

'Saved　her　life；'she　repeated；　'there　isn　t　a　doubt　of　it。　We　never　sent　word　of　it　for　fear　it　would　give　you　all　needless　worry。　It　was　a　day　of　last　winter　…　fell　crossing　Broadway；　a　dangerous　place'　he　pulled　her　aside　just　in　time　…　the　horse's　feet　were　raised　above　her　…　she　would　have　been　crushed　in　a　moment　He　lifted　her　in　his　arms　and　carried　her　to　the　sidewalk　not　a　bit　the　worse　for　it。　

'Seems　as　if　it　were　fate；'said　Hope。　'I　had　seen　him　so　often　and　wondered　who　he　was。　I　recall　a　night　when　I　had　to　come　home　alone　from　rehearsal。　I　was　horribly　afraid。　I　remember　passing　him　under　a　street　lamp。　If　he　had　spoken　to　me；　then；　I　should　have　dropped　with　fear　and　he　would　have　had　to　carry　me　home　that　time。　

'It's　an　odd　thing　a　girl　like　you　should　ever　have　to　walk　home　alone；'said　Mr　Fuller。　'Doesn't　speak　well　for　our　friend　Livingstone　or　Burnham　there　or　Dobbs。　

'Mrs　Fuller　doesn't　give　us　half　a　chance；'said　Livingstone；　'she　guards　her　day　and　night。　It's　like　the　monks　and　the　Holy　Grail。　

'Hope　is　independent　of　the　young　men；'said　Mrs　Fuller　as　we　rose　from　the　table。　'If　I　cannot　go　with　her　myself；　in　the　carriase；　I　always　send　a　maid　or　a　manservant　to　walk　home　with　her。　But　Mr　Fuller　and　I　were　out　of　town　that　night　and　the　young　men　missed　their　great　opportunity。　

'Had　a　differ　nt　way　o'sparkin'years　ago；'said　Unde　Eb。　'Didn　t　never　hey　if　please　anybody　but　the　girl　then。　If　ye　liked　a　girl　ye　went　an'sot　up　with　her　an'gin　her　a　smack　an'tol'her　right　out　plain　an'square　what　ye　wanted。　An'thet　settled　it　one　way　er　t　other。　An'her　mother　she　step'in　the　next　room　with　the　door　half…open　an'never　paid　no　'tention。　Recollec'one　col'night　when　I　was　sparkin'the　mother　hollered　out　o'bed；　〃Lucy；　hey　ye　got　anythin　'round　ye？〃　an'she　hollered　back；　〃Yis；　mother；〃　an'she　hed　too　but　'twan't　nothin'but　my　arm。'

They　laughed　merrily；　over　the　quaint　reminiscence　of　my　old　friend　and　the　quainter　way　he　had　of　telling　it。　The　rude　dialect　of　the　backwoodsman　might　have　seemed　oddly　out　of　place；　there；　but　for　the　quiet；　unassuming　manner　and　the　fine　old　face　of　Uncle　Eb　in　which　the　dullest　eye　might　see　the　soul　of　a　gentleman。

'What　became　of　Lucy？'Mr　Fuller　enquired；　laughingly。　'You　never　married　her。'　

'Lucy　died；'he　answered　soberly；　'thet　was　long；　long　ago。'　

Then　he　went　away　with　John　Trumbull　to　the　smoking…room　where　I　found　them；　talking　earnestly　in　a　corner；　when　it　was　time　to　go　to　the　church　with　Hope。

Chapter　30

Hope　and　Uncle　Eb　and　I　went　away　in　a　coach　with　Mrs　Fuller。　There　was　a　great　crowd　in　the　church　that　covered；　with　sweeping　arches；　an　interior　more　vast　than　any　I　had　ever　entered。　Hope　was　gowned　in　white　silk；　a　crescent　of　diamonds　in　her　hair　…　a　birthday　gift　from　Mrs　Fuller；　her　neck　and　a　part　of　her　full　breast　unadorned　by　anything　save　the　gifts　of　God　…　their　snowy　whiteness；　their　lovely　curves。

First　Henry　Cooper　came　on　with　his　violin　…　a　great　master　as　I　now　remember　him。　Then　Hope　ascended　to　the　platform；　her　dainty　kid　slippers　showing　under　her　gown；　and　the　odious　Livingstone　escorting　her。　I　was　never　so　madly　in　love　or　so　insanely　jealous。　I　must　confess　it　for　I　am　trying　to　tell　the　whole　truth　of　myself'I　was　a　fool。　And　it　is　the　greater　folly　that　one　says　ever　'I　was；'a