poor and proud-第6部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


n。　Katy　entered；　and　Michael　told　her　to　stand　in　the　entry　while　Miss　Grace　went　up…stairs　to　call　Mrs。　Gordon。



CHAPTER　V。

KATY　VISITS　MRS。　GORDON；　AND　GETS　RID　OF　DR。　FLYNCH。


Katy　gazed　with　wonder　and　admiration　at　the　rich　furniture　of　the　house；　and　thought　that　perhaps　her　grandfather　lived　in　as　good　style　as　Mrs。　Gordon；　and　that　she　might　some　day　go　to　Liverpool　and　be　an　inmate　of　just　such　a　palace。　The　door　of　the　sitting…room　was　open；　and　she　had　an　opportunity　to　look　at　all　the　fine　things　it　contained。　She　had　never　seen　anything　so　luxurious　before；　and　I　must　say　that　she　regretted　the　poverty　of　her　lot；　which　deprived　her　mother　and　herself　of　them。

All　round　the　room　hung　pictures　in　costly　frames。　Some　of　them　were　portraits；　and　one　which　hung　over　the　mantelpiece　directly　before　her；　soon　attracted　her　attention；　and　made　her　forget　the　soft　divans；　the　beautiful　carpet；　and　the　rich　draperies　of　the　windows。　It　was　the　portrait　of　a　lady；　and　her　expression　was　very　like　that　of　her　motherso　like　that　she　could　almost　believe　the　picture　had　been　painted　for　her　mother。　Yet　that　could　not　be；　for　the　lady　was　young；　and　plump；　and　rosy；　and　wore　rich　laces；　and　a　costly　dress。　She　seemed　to　look　down　upon　her　from　the　golden　frame　with　a　smile　of　satisfaction。　There　was　something　roguish　in　her　eye；　as　though　she　was　on　the　point　of　bursting　into　a　laugh　at　some　mischief　she　had　perpetrated。　O；　no！　that　could　not　be　her　mother；　she　had　never　seen　her　look　like　that。　But　there　was　something　that　seemed　very　much　like　her；　and　the　more　she　looked　at　it；　the　more　the　picture　fascinated　her。　She　tried　to　look　at　something　else；　but　the　lady　appeared　to　have　fixed　her　gaze　upon　her；　and；　whichever　way　she　turned；　those　laughing　eyes　followed　her；　and　brought　back　her　attention　to　the　canvas　again。

In　vain　she　attempted　to　fasten　her　mind　upon　some　of　the　other　portraits。　There　was　an　elderly　gentleman；　with　a　full　red　face；　but　the　jealous　lady　would　not　let　her　look　at　him。　She　turned　round　and　looked　out　the　windows　at　the　side　of　the　door；　but　the　spell　of　the　lady　was　upon　her；　and　she　could　not　resist　the　charm。　The　more　she　studied　the　portrait；　the　more　convinced　she　became　that　it　looked　like　her　mother；　though　there　was　something　about　it　which　was　as　unlike　her　as　anything　could　be。　〃What　makes　you　keep　looking　at　me？〃　said　Katy　to　herself；　or　rather　to　the　lady　on　the　canvas。　〃You　needn't　watch　me　so　closely；　I　shall　not　steal　anything。〃

The　lady；　however；　insisted　on　watching　her；　and　kept　her　roguish　glance　fixed　upon　her　with　a　steadiness　that　began　to　make　her　feel　nervous　and　uneasy；　and　she　was　greatly　relieved　when　she　heard　footsteps　on　the　stairs。

〃Mrs。　Gordon　will　be　down　in　a　moment；〃　said　Miss　Grace；　in　kind　tones。　〃Won't　you　come　into　this　room　and　sit　down？〃

Katy　thanked　her；　and　Grace　led　her　to　a　small　chair　directly　under　the　mischievous…looking　lady　in　the　frame；　and　she　felt　a　kind　of　satisfaction　in　being　placed　out　of　her　sight。　But　it　seemed；　even　then；　as　she　cast　a　furtive　glance　upward；　that　those　roguish　eyes　were　trying　to　peer　over　the　picture　frame；　and　get　a　look　at　her。

〃Well；　little　girl；　what　do　you　wish　with　me？〃　said　Mrs。　Gordon；　a　benevolent　looking　lady；　apparently　of　more　than　forty　years　of　age；　who　now　entered　the　room。

The　expression　of　her　countenance　was　very　pleasant；　and　though　there　were　a　few　wrinkles　on　her　brow　and　she　wore　a　lace　cap；　Katy　came　to　the　conclusion　that　the　portrait　had　been　taken　for　her。　She　wondered　if　such　a　dignified　lady　could　ever　have　been　so　roguish　as　the　picture　indicated。

〃Please；　ma'am；〃　stammered　she；　rising　from　her　chair；　〃I　come　to　see　you　about　the　house　we　live　in。〃

〃What　is　your　name；　child？〃

〃Katy　Redburn；　ma'am。〃

〃In　what　house　do　you　live　in？〃

〃In　one　of　yours　in　Colvin　Court。　Mother　is　a　poor　woman；　and　has　been　sick　so　much　this　summer　that　she　can't　pay　the　rent。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry　for　you；　my　child；　but　I　refer　you　to　my　agent；　Dr。　Flynch。　I　do　not　like　to　meddle　with　these　things；　as　I　have　given　him　the　whole　care　of　my　houses。　You　will　find　him　a　very　good　man；　and　one　who　will　be　willing　to　consider　your　case。　He　will　extend　to　you　all　the　lenity　your　case　requires。〃

〃We　have　told　Dr。　Flynch　all　about　it；　ma'am　and　he　says　if　the　rent　is　not　paid　by　one　o'clock　to…day；　he　shall　turn　us　out　of　the　house。〃

〃Indeed！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Gordon；　and　Grace　actually　jumped　out　of　her　chair　with　astonishment　and　indignation。

〃Yes；　ma'am；　that's　just　what　he　said；〃　added　Katy；　satisfied　with　the　impression　she　had　produced。

〃Is　your　mother　ill　now？〃　asked　Mrs。　Gordon。

〃Yes　ma'am；　she　has　not　been　off　her　bed　for　twelve　weeks。〃

〃What　does　Dr。　Flynch　say；　my　child？〃

〃He　says　my　mother　deceived　him；　that　she　told　him　a　falsehood；　and　that　she　had　money；　when　she　didn't　have　a　cent。〃

〃It　is　too　bad；　mother！〃　exclaimed　Grace。

〃Hush；　Grace；　probably　Dr。　Flynch　knows　best；　for　he　certainly　would　not　turn　a　poor　sick　woman　out　of　doors　because　she　did　not　pay　the　rent。　There　may　be；　as　he　says；　some　deception　about　it；　which　he　can　penetrate　and　we　cannot。〃

〃There　is　no　deception　about　it；　ma'am；〃　pleaded　Katy；　much　disturbed　by　this　sudden　damper　upon　her　hopes。　〃She　has　not　got　a　single　cent。　She　wouldn't　tell　a　lie；　and　I　wouldn't　either。〃

There　was　something　in　the　eloquence　and　earnestness　of　the　child　that　deeply　impressed　the　mind　of　the　lady；　and　she　could　hardly　resist　the　conclusion　that　her　agent　had；　in　this　instance；　made　a　mistake。　But　she　had　great　confidence　in　Dr。　Flynch；　and　she　was　very　unwilling　to　believe　that　he　could　be　so　harsh　and　cruel　as　the　little　girl　represented。　She　had　heard　of　the　tricks　of　the　vicious　poor；　and　while　she　was　disposed　to　be　very　tender　of　a　needy　tenant；　she　must　be　just　to　her　agent。

〃It　is　now　half…past　ten；〃　continued　Mrs。　Gordon。

〃You　shall　remain　here；　my　child；　and　I　will　send　Michael　down　to　Colvin　Court　to　inquire　into　the　situation　of　your　mother。　He　must　be　impartial　for　he　knows　nothing　about　the　case。〃

〃Thank　you；　ma'am；〃　said　Katy；　with　a　promptness　which　assured　Grace；　if　not　her　mother；　that　the　little　girl　was　honest。

Mrs。　Gordon　rang　the　bell；　and　when　Michael　answered　the　summons；　she　attended　him　to　the　street　door；　where　she　instructed　him　to　call　upon　Mrs。　Redburn；　and　also　to　inquire　of　the　grocer　at　the　corner；　and　of　her　neighbors；　what　sort　of　a　person　she　was。　The　lady　returned　to　the　sitting…room　when　he　had　gone；　and　asked　Katy　a　great　many　questions　about　herself　and　her　mother；　and　thus　nearly　an　hour　was　consumed；　at　the　end　of　which　time　Michael　returned。　Katy　had　answered　all　the　lady's　questions　fairly；　though　without　betraying　her　family　history；　which　her　mother　had　cautioned　her　to　keep　to　herself；　that　she　was　prepared　to　receive　a　favorable　report　from　her　man。

〃Well；　Michael；　did　you　find　the　woman　at　home？〃　asked　Mrs。　Gordon；　as　the　man　presented　himself。

〃Indeed；　I　deed；　marm。〃

〃What　was　she　doing？〃

〃She　was　fast　in　bed；　and　told　me　she　hadn't　been　out　of　it　for　twelve　weeks　come　Saturday。〃

〃What　does　the　grocer　say？〃

〃He　says　she　is　a　very　good　woman；　but　poor　and　proud。　She　always　paid　him　every　cent　she　owed　him；　and　he'd　trust　her　for　half　he　has　in　his　shop。〃

〃That　will　do；　Michael；　you　may　go；〃　and　the　man　retired　with　a　respectful　bow。

Katy's　face　wore　a　smile　of　triumph；　as　Michael　was　dismissed。　Her　mother's　truthfulness　had　been　vindicated；　and　it　was　the　proudest　moment　she　had　known　for　many　a　day。

〃How　long　has　your　mother　lived　in　my　house？〃　asked　Mrs。　Gordon。

〃About　three　years；　ma'am；　and　she　always　paid　her　rent　till　this　month；〃　replied　Katy。

〃If　she　had　not；　Dr。　Flynch　would　have　turned　her　into　the　street；〃　added　Grace；　and　it　was　evident　the　beautiful　young　lady　had　no　special　regard　for　that　worthy　gentleman。

〃We　have　tried　hard　enough　to　pay　the　rent　this　month；〃　continued　Katy；　and　she　proceeded　to　tell　the　story　of　the　silver　watch；　that　had　belonged　to　her　father。

〃This　is　dreadful；　mother；　let　us　do　something　about　it；〃　said　Grace。　〃What　a　wretch　the　broker　must　have　been！〃

〃We　will　endeavor　to　get　the　watch　back　for　her；〃　replied　Mrs。　Gordon；　as　she　seated　herself　at　a　table　and　wrote　a　few　lines　on　a　piece　of　paper。　〃Here；　my　child；　is　a　receipt　for　your　month's　rent。　When　Dr。　Flynch　comes　for　the　money；　you　show　him　this；　and　he　will　be　satisfied；〃　and　she　handed　her　the　receipt。

Katy　took　it；　and　thanked　the　good　lady；　assuring　her　that　her　mother　would　certainly　pay　the　money　as　soon　as　she　got　well。

〃My　mother　is　poor　and　proud；　just　as　the　grocer　said；　and　she　don't　ask　any　one　to　give　her　anything。　I　am　going　to　earn　some　money　myself；　and　I　hope　I　shall　be　able　to　pay　the　next　month's　rent；〃　added　Katy；　as　she　moved　towards　the　door。

〃But　the　watch；　mother？〃　interposed　Grace。

〃If　the　little　girl　will　come　here　this　afternoon　or　to…morrow　morning；　we　will　take　her　to　the　mayor　who　will　have　the　case　attended　to。〃

〃I　will　come　any　time；　ma'am。〃

〃The　mayor　is　my　friend；　and　I　will　call　at　his　house　with　you　this　afternoon　at　three　o'clock。〃

Katy　could　not　but　think　the　mayor　had　a　great　many　friends；　for　there　was　Master　Simon　Sneed；　and　Mrs。　Gordon；　and　she　knew　not　how　many　more。　She　thanked　the　lady　very　warmly　for　her　kindness；　and　promising　to　come　at　the　time　stated；　she　took　her　leave。

She　was　followed　to　the　door　by　Grace；　who　detained　her　there。

〃Katy；　I　am　sure　you　are　a　very　good　little　girl；　and　here　is　a　dollar　for　you。　It　will　buy　something　good　for　your　mother。〃

〃I　thank　you　very　much；　Miss　Gordon。　I　am　poor；　but　proud；　like　my　mother；〃　replied　she；　as　a　flush　of　shame　mantled　her　cheek。

〃What　a　foolish　little　girl！〃　laughed　Grace。　〃Take　it；　you　will　oblige　me　very　much　by　taking　it。〃

〃No；　ma'am；　I　can't；　my　mother　wouldn't　own　me　if　I　should　take　money　as　a　gift。〃

〃But　you　must　take　it；　Katy；　I　shall　be　angry　if　you　don't。〃

The　little　girl　looked　up　into　her　pretty　eyes　beaming　with　pity　and　love；　and　she　could　hardly　resist　the　temptation　to　oblige　her　by　accepting　the　gift；　but　since　she　had　heard　the　story　of　her　moth