登陆注册
15445700000032

第32章 CHAPTER 7(3)

It was in the midst of this little impromptu supper that the engagement of Trina and the dentist was announced. In a pause in the chatter of conversation Mrs. Sieppe leaned forward and, speaking to the agent, said:

"Vell, you know also my daughter Trina get married bretty soon. She and der dentist, Doktor McTeague, eh, yes?"

There was a general exclamation.

"I thought so all along," cried Miss Baker, excitedly. "The first time I saw them together I said, 'What a pair!'"

"Delightful!" exclaimed the agent, "to be married and win a snug little fortune at the same time."

"So--So," murmured Old Grannis, nodding at his plate.

"Good luck to you," cried Maria.

"He's lucky enough already," growled Marcus under his breath, relapsing for a moment into one of those strange moods of sullenness which had marked him throughout the evening.

Trina flushed crimson, drawing shyly nearer her mother.

McTeague grinned from ear to ear, looking around from one to another, exclaiming "Huh! Huh!"

But the agent rose to his feet, a newly filled beer glass in his hand. He was a man of the world, this agent. He knew life. He was suave and easy. A diamond was on his little finger.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began. There was an instant silence. "This is indeed a happy occasion. I--I am glad to be here to-night; to be a witness to such good fortune; to partake in these--in this celebration. Why, I feel almost as glad as if I had held four three oughts twelve myself; as if the five thousand were mine instead of belonging to our charming hostess. The good wishes of my humble self go out to Miss Sieppe in this moment of her good fortune, and I think--in fact, I am sure I can speak for the great institution, the great company I represent. The company congratulates Miss Sieppe. We--they--ah--They wish her every happiness her new fortune can procure her. It has been my duty, my--ah--cheerful duty to call upon the winners of large prizes and to offer the felicitation of the company.

I have, in my experience, called upon many such; but never have I seen fortune so happily bestowed as in this case.

The company have dowered the prospective bride. I am sure I but echo the sentiments of this assembly when I wish all joy and happiness to this happy pair, happy in the possession of a snug little fortune, and happy--happy in--" he finished with a sudden inspiration--"in the possession of each other; I drink to the health, wealth, and happiness of the future bride and groom. Let us drink standing up."

They drank with enthusiasm. Marcus was carried away with the excitement of the moment.

"Outa sight, outa sight," he vociferated, clapping his hands. "Very well said. To the health of the bride.

McTeague, McTeague, speech, speech!"

In an instant the whole table was clamoring for the dentist to speak. McTeague was terrified; he gripped the table with both hands, looking wildly about him.

"Speech, speech!" shouted Marcus, running around the table and endeavoring to drag McTeague up.

"No--no--no," muttered the other. "No speech." The company rattled upon the table with their beer glasses, insisting upon a speech. McTeague settled obstinately into his chair, very red in the face, shaking his head energetically.

"Ah, go on!" he exclaimed; "no speech."

"Ah, get up and say somethun, anyhow," persisted Marcus;

"you ought to do it. It's the proper caper."

McTeague heaved himself up; there was a burst of applause; he looked slowly about him, then suddenly sat down again, shaking his head hopelessly.

"Oh, go on, Mac," cried Trina.

"Get up, say somethun, anyhow, cried Marcus, tugging at his arm; "you GOT to."

Once more McTeague rose to his feet.

"Huh!" he exclaimed, looking steadily at the table. Then he began:

"I don' know what to say--I--I--I ain't never made a speech before; I--I ain't never made a speech before. But I'm glad Trina's won the prize--"

"Yes, I'll bet you are," muttered Marcus.

"I--I--I'm glad Trina's won, and I--I want to--I want to--I want to--want to say that--you're--all--welcome, an' drink hearty, an' I'm much obliged to the agent. Trina and I are goin' to be married, an' I'm glad everybody's here to- night, an' you're--all--welcome, an' drink hearty, an' I hope you'll come again, an' you're always welcome--an'--I-- an'--an'--That's--about--all--I--gotta say." He sat down, wiping his forehead, amidst tremendous applause.

Soon after that the company pushed back from the table and relaxed into couples and groups. The men, with the exception of Old Grannis, began to smoke, the smell of their tobacco mingling with the odors of ether, creosote, and stale bedding, which pervaded the "Parlors." Soon the windows had to be lowered from the top. Mrs. Sieppe and old Miss Baker sat together in the bay window exchanging confidences. Miss Baker had turned back the overskirt of her dress; a plate of cake was in her lap; from time to time she sipped her wine with the delicacy of a white cat. The two women were much interested in each other. Miss Baker told Mrs. Sieppe all about Old Grannis, not forgetting the fiction of the title and the unjust stepfather.

"He's quite a personage really," said Miss Baker.

Mrs. Sieppe led the conversation around to her children.

"Ach, Trina is sudge a goote girl," she said; "always gay, yes, und sing from morgen to night. Und Owgooste, he is soh smart also, yes, eh? He has der genius for machines, always making somethun mit wheels und sbrings."

"Ah, if--if--I had children," murmured the little old maid a trifle wistfully, "one would have been a sailor; he would have begun as a midshipman on my brother's ship; in time he would have been an officer. The other would have been a landscape gardener."

"Oh, Mac!" exclaimed Trina, looking up into the dentist's face, "think of all this money coming to us just at this very moment. Isn't it wonderful? Don't it kind of scare you?"

"Wonderful, wonderful!" muttered McTeague, shaking his head.

"Let's buy a lot of tickets," he added, struck with an idea.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • tfboys之没有心的熏衣女孩

    tfboys之没有心的熏衣女孩

    一个谜一样的女孩竟没有心,上一世她的心是他们用枪打碎的,她遇见他们之后会怎样?
  • 赎约

    赎约

    世间之事,有果必有因,谁是谁的因,谁是谁的果,所有人都在轮回中寻找救赎
  • 少年的小阿姨

    少年的小阿姨

    一个传说中的别人家的孩子在现实中相遇相处相离的故事。那是他和她的青春,他和她的年华流转,奔向未知的将来...
  • 帝医

    帝医

    叶秋,方氏集团医务室一名新进的小小医务人员,却有着不为人知的身份——华夏神龙特种部队退役军医,更是天医门首席大弟子。方篱,方氏集团总裁助理兼任人事部部长,有名的冰山女神铁血娘子,却被叶秋这个小小的职员气得一佛升天二佛出世,最后,竟然……亿万家财,无上权力,美女环绕?叶秋通通都拿在手中,但这只是他理想的一部分,他,这个传奇人物,最终想要的是什么?敬请期待《帝医》PS:如果觉得不够肥,请先收藏养着,然后左转去看已经完本的三百五十万字《特种军医!
  • 红尘修炼

    红尘修炼

    林峰作为地球十大秘境中最年轻的天才强者,修炼不到25年以无敌手,奈何修为提升太快导致道心不稳。为求无上之境,为求白日飞升,他决定红尘炼心。。。。大熊猫,家养的?美女老婆,捡来的?豪车别墅,人家送的?便宜老丈人,居然是上古大神蚩尤?炼心而已整这么多幺蛾子干啥?
  • 嘿!原始人

    嘿!原始人

    “嘿!你们这是在拍电视剧吗?”谢双双看着站在自己面前的原始人,心里有一千万只草泥马飞奔而过。“电视剧是什么?小雌性,你说的话我们这么都听不懂啊?”某双:……难道我是穿越了?!!!
  • 饕客行

    饕客行

    他行走江湖治病救人,他出入红尘寻找美食。他上为帝王将相解忧,他下为平民百姓驱鬼。美食,美人,这滚滚红尘,且看伍子安这名小小饕客的传奇故事。严重警告:读者请勿在饿的时候阅读此书,造成不测概不负责。
  • 孙小凡

    孙小凡

    读者初写小说第一次技巧不好理想中走的是爽文路线希望不会偏了^_^
  • 电击少女

    电击少女

    宇宙历西元965年,天旋星系七彩晶石的矿脉被探险船队发后,随着七彩晶石的作用被一一开发出来后,银河宇宙的人类从此进入了一个新时代——超能力时代。轻云,一个15岁的少女,来自于小国云秦联邦的农牧星嗒嗒星。由于3岁的时候吃了一只森林松鼠赠予的奇怪果子,她的身体变成了带磁电的体质。由于这种特殊的体质,她前往了天蓝星学习,进行自身超能力的开发。故事从这里开始了……感谢阅文评书团提供书评支持!
  • 华山南庙

    华山南庙

    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。