登陆注册
15418700000112

第112章

Not a soul had mentioned it--you nor Grandfather nor Grandmother."The housekeeper answered without turning her head."Guess we had so many things to talk about we forgot it," she said."Yes, she's been here over a week now.High time, from what I hear.The poor old parson has failed consider'ble and Maria Price's housekeepin'

and cookin' is enough to make a well man sick--or wish he was.But he'll be looked after now.Helen will look after him.She's the most capable girl there is in Ostable County.Did she tell you about what she done in the Red Cross and the hospitals?""She said something about it, not very much.""Um-hm.She wouldn't, bein' Helen Kendall.But the Red Cross folks said enough, and they're sayin' it yet.Why--"She went on to tell of Helen's work in the Red Cross depots and in the camp, and hospitals.It was an inspiring story.

"There they was," said Rachel, "the poor things, just boys most of 'em, dyin' of that dreadful influenza like rats, as you might say.

And, of course it's dreadful catchin', and a good many was more afraid of it than they would have been of bullets, enough sight.

But Helen Kendall wa'n't afraid--no, siree! Why--"And so on.Albert listened, hearing most of it, but losing some as his thoughts wandered back to the Helen he had known as a boy and the Helen he had met that forenoon.Her face, as she had welcomed him at the parsonage door--it was surprising how clearly it showed before his mind's eye.He had thought at first that she had not changed in appearance.That was not quite true--she had changed a little, but it was merely the fulfillment of a promise, that was all.Her eyes, her smile above a hospital bed--he could imagine what they must have seemed like to a lonely, homesick boy wrestling with the "flu.""And, don't talk!" he heard the housekeeper say, as he drifted out of his reverie, "if she wa'n't popular around that hospital, around both hospitals, fur's that goes! The patients idolized her, and the other nurses they loved her, and the doctors--""Did they love her, too?" Albert asked, with a smile, as she hesitated.

She laughed."Some of 'em did, I cal'late," she answered."You see, I got most of my news about it all from Bessie Ryder, Cornelius Ryder's niece, lives up on the road to the Center; you used to know her, Albert.Bessie was nursin' in that same hospital, the one Helen was at first.'Cordin' to her, there was some doctor or officer tryin' to shine up to Helen most of the time.When she was at Eastview, so Bessie heard, there was a real big-bug in the Army, a sort of Admiral or Commodore amongst the doctors he was, and HE was trottin' after her, or would have been if she'd let him.'Course you have to make some allowances for Bessie--she wouldn't be a Ryder if she didn't take so many words to say so little that the truth gets stretched pretty thin afore she finished--but there must have been SOMETHIN' in it.And all about her bein' such a wonderful nurse and doin' so much for the Red Cross I KNOW is true....Eh? Did you say anything, Albert?"Albert shook his head."No, Rachel," he replied."I didn't speak.""I thought I heard you or somebody say somethin'.I-- Why, Laban Keeler, what are you doin' away from your desk this time in the afternoon?"Laban grinned as he entered the kitchen.

"Did I hear you say you thought you heard somebody sayin' somethin', Rachel?" he inquired."That's queer, ain't it? Seemed to me _I_heard somebody sayin' somethin' as I come up the path just now.

Seemed as if they was sayin' it right here in the kitchen, too.

'Twasn't your voice, Albert, and it couldn't have been Rachel's, 'cause she NEVER talks--'specially to you.It's too bad, the prejudice she's got against you, Albert," he added, with a wink.

"Um-hm, too bad--yes, 'tis--yes, yes."

Mrs.Ellis sniffed.

"And that's what the newspapers in war time used to call--er--er--oh, dear, what was it?--camel--seems's if 'twas somethin' about a camel--""Camouflage?" suggested Albert.

"That's it.All that talk about me is just camouflage to save him answerin' my question.But he's goin' to answer it.What are you doin' away from the office this time in the afternoon, I want to know?"Mr.Keeler perched his small figure on the corner of the kitchen table.

"Well, to tell you the truth, Rachel," he said solemnly."I'm here to do what the folks in books call demand an explanation.You and I, Rachel, are just as good as engaged to be married, ain't we?

I've been keepin' company with you for the last twenty, forty or sixty years, some such spell as that.Now, just as I'm gettin'

used to it and beginnin' to consider it a settled arrangement, as you may say, I come into this house and find you shut up in the kitchen with another man.Now, what--"The housekeeper advanced toward him with the dripping dishcloth.

"Laban Keeler," she threatened, "if you don't stop your foolishness and answer my question, I declare I'll--"Laban slid from his perch and retired behind the table.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 恶魔少爷怜怜爱
  • 入侵十方世界

    入侵十方世界

    恶,地球称尊,魔,震压十方,看绝世凶魔谭吕,如何从卑微的被入侵者,再到入侵十方的血腥凶魔,屠刀染血泣天地,十方世界展魔威。尸身残肢成魔路,踏遍寰宇名永存。
  • 蓝色备胎

    蓝色备胎

    主角是一个普通得不能再普通的学生,三年前的一天接到一个离奇的短信,陷入了一个离奇的三角恋,这么多年他能找到事情的真相么
  • 凯穿梭千年.del

    凯穿梭千年.del

    本文为偶像和穿越文,还有仙侠和言情,主要为王俊凯为主题,螃蟹们该来了!!!
  • 非君不嫁:噬爱

    非君不嫁:噬爱

    “我需要比别人强,宁可强得让人嫉妒,也不要弱得让人可怜。”欧阳珊,哈佛大学出来的高材生,顶尖的外科医生,一流的组织杀手。救人?杀人?皆在她一念之间,她的喜怒决定着一个人的生存或死亡。一场莫名其妙的穿越,一段无可奈何的邂逅,她的心,是否依旧如她所控?“欧阳珊,我一定会让你知道,得罪我的下场是什么?”尹晋轩,炎国高高在上的皇太子,天下唯他掌控,可他却压不住这个动不动就将他的自尊踩在脚底下的女人。他是该厌恶她的,他一直这样认为,可为什么,他的心里,那抹带着淡淡微笑,又时不时透着无助的身影总是在他脑海里挥之不去?是同情?是怜惜?是爱?或者只是与生俱来的占有欲?佳人寐,帝王殇。 城有桃李花,一笑蚀人肠......
  • 平凡公主的恋爱期

    平凡公主的恋爱期

    我很平凡,但我有我的傲骨,和骄傲,我并不气馁,只要努力就没有达不到的顶峰。
  • 独镇四海八荒

    独镇四海八荒

    由于叶铃所在的空间规则的限制,叶铃的实力已经不能再有提升,但叶铃却不满足这样,叶铃以自身力量抗击天道,求取更强大的实力,以窥大道,无奈天公不做美,在冲刺过程中殒命,肉体尽灭,一残魂遁入湟中大陆,了结前世夙愿力霸天下,战力破天,无所不惧!书写无上巅峰实力!!
  • 女科折衷纂要

    女科折衷纂要

    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。
  • 高冷哥哥求放过

    高冷哥哥求放过

    夏清歌克制不了的爱着年少华,病态而固执年少华却只能假装自己不爱她,没有足够强大的话,自己的爱只会令她身陷危险一场权谋争夺,令两人一夜放纵第二天满心欢喜的夏清歌却被他冷厉的掐着脖颈,夏清歌心如死灰五年美国流放,夏清歌还是忘不了年少华,能不能这次别推开我
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、