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〃No。〃
〃Well； why in the land didn't you say so before； Albe't？〃
〃You didn't ask me。 What do you want I should say to her now？〃
〃Say to who？〃
〃The gul。 She's down in the pahlor； waitin'。〃
〃Well； of all the men！〃 cried Mrs。 Lander。 But she seemed to find
herself； upon reflection； less able to cope with Lander personally than
with the situation generally。 〃Will you send her up； Albe't？〃 she asked；
very patiently； as if he might be driven to further excesses； if not
delicately handled。 As soon as he had gone out of the room she wished
that she had told him to give her time to dress and have her room put in
order； before he sent the child up； but she could only make the best of
herself in bed with a cap and a breakfast jacket； arranged with the help
of a handglass。 She had to get out of bed to put her other clothes away
in the closet and she seized the chance to push the breakfast tray out of
the door； and smooth up the bed； while she composed her features and her
ideas to receive her visitor。 Both； from long habit rather than from any
cause or reason； were of a querulous cast； and her ordinary tone was a
snuffle expressive of deep…seated affliction。 She was at once plaintive
and voluable； and in moments of excitement her need of freeing her mind
was so great that she took herself into her own confidence； and found a
more sympathetic listener than when she talked to her husband。 As she
now whisked about her room in her bed…gown with an activity not
predicable of her age and shape； and finally plunged under the covering
and drew it up to her chin with one hand while she pressed it out
decorously over her person with the other； she kept up a rapid flow of
lamentation and conjecture。 〃I do suppose he'll be right back with her
before I'm half ready； and what the man was thinkin' of to do such a
thing anyway； I don't know。 I don't know as she'll notice much； comin'
out of such a lookin' place as that； and I don't know as I need to care
if she did。 But if the'e's care anywhe's around； I presume I'm the one
to have it。 I presume I did take a fancy to her； and I guess I shall be
glad to see how I like her now； and if he's only told her I want some
sewin' done； I can scrape up something to let her carry home with her。
It's well I keep my things where I can put my hand on 'em at a time like
this； and I don't believe I shall sca'e the child； as it is。 I do hope
Albe't won't hang round half the day before he brings her； I like to have
a thing ova。〃
Lander wandered about looking for the girl through the parlors and the
piazzas； and then went to the office to ask what had become of her。
The landlord came out of his room at his question to the clerk。 〃Oh； I
guess she's round in my wife's room； Mr。 Landa。 She always likes to see
Clementina； and I guess they all do。 She's a so't o' pet amongst 'em。〃
〃No hurry；〃 said Lander； 〃I guess my wife ain't quite ready for her yet。〃
〃Well； she'll be right out； in a minute or so；〃 said the landlord。
The old man tilted his hat forward over his eyes； and went to sit on the
veranda and look at the landscape while he waited。 It was one of the
loveliest landscapes in the mountains； the river flowed at the foot of an
abrupt slope from the road before the hotel； stealing into and out of the
valley； and the mountains； gray in the farther distance； were draped with
folds of cloud hanging upon their flanks and tops。 But Lander was tired
of nearly all kinds of views and prospects； though he put' up with them；
in his perpetual movement from place to place； in the same resignation
that he suffered the limitations of comfort in parlor cars and sleepers；
and the unwholesomeness of hotel tables。 He was chained to the restless
pursuit of an ideal not his own； but doomed to suffer for its
impossibility as if he contrived each of his wife's disappointments from
it。 He did not philosophize his situation； but accepted it as in an
order of Providence which it would be useless for him to oppose； though
there were moments when he permitted himself to feel a modest doubt of
its justice。 He was aware that when he had a house of his own he was
master in it； after a fashion； and that as long as he was in business he
was in some sort of authority。 He perceived that now he was a slave to
the wishes of a mistress who did not know what she wanted； and that he
was never farther from pleasing her than when he tried to do what she
asked。 He could not have told how all initiative had been taken from
him； and he had fallen into the mere follower of a woman guided only by
her whims； who had no object in life except to deprive it of all object。
He felt no rancor toward her for this； he knew that she had a tender
regard for him； and that she believed she was considering him first in
her most selfish arrangements。 He always hoped that sometime she would
get tired of her restlessness； and be willing to settle down again in
some stated place； and wherever it was； he meant to get into some kind of
business again。 Till this should happen he waited with an apathetic
patience of which his present abeyance was a detail。 He would hardly
have thought it anything unfit； and certainly nothing surprising； that
the landlady should have taken the young girl away from where he had left
her； and then in the pleasure of talking with her； and finding her a
centre of interest for the whole domestic force of the hotel； should have
forgotten to bring her back。
The Middlemount House had just been organized on the scale of a first
class hotel； with prices that had risen a little in anticipation of the
other improvements。 The landlord had hitherto united in himself the
functions of clerk and head waiter； but he had now got a senior； who was
working his way through college； to take charge of the dining…room； and
had put in the office a youth of a year's experience as under clerk at a
city hotel。 But he meant to relinquish no more authority than his wife
who frankly kept the name as well as duty of house…keeper。 It was in
making her morning inspection of the dusting that she found Clementina in
the parlor where Lander had told her to sit down till he should come for
her。
〃Why； Clem！〃 she said； 〃I didn't know you！ You have grown so！ Youa
folks all well？ I decla'e you ah' quite a woman now；〃 she added； as the
girl stood up in her slender； graceful height。 〃You look as pretty as a
pink in that hat。 Make that dress youaself？ Well； you do beat the
witch！ I want you should come to my room with me。〃
Mrs。 Atwell showered other questions and exclamations on the girl； who
explained how she happened to be there； and said that she supposed she
must stay where she was for fear Mr。 Lander should come back and find her
gone； but Mrs。 Atwell overruled her with the fact that Mrs。 Lander's
breakfast had just gone up to her； and she made her come out and see the
new features of the enlarged house…keeping。 In the dining…room there
were some of the waitresses who had been there the summer before； and
recognitions of more or less dignity passed between them and Clementina。
The place was now shut against guests； and the head…waiter was having it
put in order for the one o'clock dinner。 As they came near him； Mrs。
Atwell introduced him to Clementina； and he behaved deferentially； as if
she were some young lady visitor whom Mrs。 Atwell was showing the
improvements； but he seemed harassed and impatient； as if he were anxious
about his duties； and eager to get at them again。 He was a handsome
little fellow； with hair lighter than Clementina's and a sanguine
complexion； and the color coming and going。
〃He's smaht；〃 said Mrs。 Atwell； when they had left himhe held the
dining…room door open for them； and bowed them out。 〃I don't know but he
worries almost too much。 That'll wear off when he gets things runnin' to
suit him。 He's pretty p'tic'la'。 Now I'll show you how they've made the
office over； and built in a room for Mr。 Atwell behind it。〃
The landlord welcomed Clementina as if she had been some acceptable class
of custom； and when the tall young clerk came in to ask him something；
and Mrs。 Atwell said； 〃I want to introduce you to Miss Claxon； Mr。 Fane；〃
the clerk smiled down upon her from the height of his smooth； acquiline
young face； which he held bent encouragingly upon one side。
〃Now； I want you should come in and see where I live； a minute；〃 said
Mrs。 Atwell。 She took the girl from the clerk； and led her to the
official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so
that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she
wanted to be alone with her children； when she was there。 〃Why； you
a'n't much moa than a child youaself； Clem； and here I be talkin' to you
as if you was a mother in Israel。 How old ah' you； this summa？ Time
does go so！〃
〃I'm sixteen now；〃 said Clementina； smiling。
〃You be？ Well； I don't see why I say that； eitha！ You're full lahge
enough for your age； but not seein' you in long dresses before； I didn't
realize your age so much。 My； but you do all of you know how to do
things！〃
〃I'm about the only one that don't； Mrs。 Atwell；〃 said the girl