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The Landlady began again。 I'm going to loseat least； I suppose I
shallone of the best boarders I ever had；that Lady that's been
with me so long。
I thought there was something going on between her and the
Register；I said。
Something！ I should think there was！ About three months ago he
began making her acquaintance。 I thought there was something
particular。 I did n't quite like to watch 'em very close； but I
could n't help overbearing some of the things he said to her； for；
you see； he used to follow her up into the parlor； they talked pretty
low； but I could catch a word now and then。 I heard him say
something to her one day about 〃bettering her condition；〃 and she
seemed to be thinking very hard about it； and turning of it over in
her mind； and I said to myself； She does n't want to take up with
him； but she feels dreadful poor； and perhaps he has been saving and
has got money in the bank； and she does n't want to throw away a
chance of bettering herself without thinking it over。 But dear me；
says I to myself；to think of her walking up the broad aisle into
meeting alongside of such a homely； rusty…looking creatur' as that！
But there 's no telling what folks will do when poverty has got hold
of 'em。
Well； so I thought she was waiting to make up her mind； and he was
hanging on in hopes she'd come round at last； as women do half the
time； for they don't know their own minds and the wind blows both
ways at once with 'em as the smoke blows out of the tall chimlies；
east out of this one and west out of that；so it's no use looking at
'em to know what the weather is。
But yesterday she comes up to me after breakfast； and asks me to go
up with her into her little room。 Now； says I to myself； I shall
hear all about it。 I saw she looked as if she'd got some of her
trouble off her mind； and I guessed that it was settled； and so； says
I to myself； I must wish her joy and hope it's all for the best；
whatever I think about it。
Well； she asked me to set down； and then she begun。 She said that
she was expecting to have a change in her condition of life； and had
asked me up so that I might' have the first news of it。 I am sure
says II wish you both joy。 Merriage is a blessed thing when folks
is well sorted； and it is an honorable thing； and the first meracle
was at the merriage in Canaan。 It brings a great sight of happiness
with it； as I've had a chance of knowing； for my hus
The Landlady showed her usual tendency to 〃break〃 from the
conversational pace just at this point； but managed to rein in the
rebellious diaphragm； and resumed her narrative。
Merriage！says she；pray who has said anything about merriage ？
I beg your pardon； ma'am；says I；I thought you had spoke of
changing your condition and IShe looked so I stopped right short。
…Don't say another word； says she； but jest listen to what I am going
to tell you。
My friend； says she； that you have seen with me so often lately；
was hunting among his old Record books； when all at once he come
across an old deed that was made by somebody that had my family name。
He took it into his head to read it over； and he found there was some
kind of a condition that if it was n't kept； the property would all
go back to them that was the heirs of the one that gave the deed； and
that he found out was me。 Something or other put it into his head；
says she； that the company that owned the propertyit was ever so
rich a company and owned land all round everywherehadn't kept to
the conditions。 So he went to work； says she； and hunted through his
books and he inquired all round； and he found out pretty much all
about it； and at last he come to meit 's my boarder； you know； that
says all thisand says he； Ma'am； says he； if you have any kind of
fancy for being a rich woman you've only got to say so。 I didn't
know what he meant； and I began to think； says she； he must be crazy。
But he explained it all to me； how I'd nothing to do but go to court
and I could get a sight of property back。 Well； so she went on
telling methere was ever so much more that I suppose was all plain
enough； but I don't remember it allonly I know my boarder was a
good deal worried at first at the thought of taking money that other
people thought was theirs； and the Register he had to talk to her；
and he brought a lawyer and he talked to her； and her friends they
talked to her； and the upshot of it all was that the company agreed
to settle the business by paying her； well； I don't know just how
much； but enough to make her one of the rich folks again。
I may as well add here that； as I have since learned； this is one of
the most important cases of releasing right of reentry for condition
broken which has been settled by arbitration for a considerable
period。 If I am not mistaken the Register of Deeds will get
something more than a new coat out of this business； for the Lady
very justly attributes her change of fortunes to his sagacity and his
activity in following up the hint he had come across by mere
accident。
So my supernumerary fellow…boarder； whom I would have dispensed with
as a cumberer of the table； has proved a ministering angel to one of
the personages whom I most cared for。
One would have thought that the most scrupulous person need not have
hesitated in asserting an unquestioned legal and equitable claim
simply because it had lain a certain number of years in abeyance。
But before the Lady could make up her mind to accept her good fortune
she had been kept awake many nights in doubt and inward debate
whether she should avail herself of her rights。 If it had been
private property； so that another person must be made poor that she
should become rich； she would have lived and died in want rather than
claim her own。 I do not think any of us would like to turn out the
possessor of a fine estate enjoyed for two or three generations on
the faith of unquestioned ownership by making use of some old
forgotten instrument； which accident had thrown in our way。
But it was all nonsense to indulge in any sentiment in a case like
this； where it was not only a right； but a duty which she owed
herself and others in relation with her； to accept what Providence；
as it appeared； had thrust upon her； and when no suffering would be
occasioned to anybody。 Common sense told her not to refuse it。 So
did several of her rich friends； who remembered about this time that
they had not called upon her for a good while； and among them Mrs。
Midas Goldenrod。
Never had that lady's carriage stood before the door of our boarding…
house so long； never had it stopped so often； as since the revelation
which had come from the Registry of Deeds。 Mrs。 Midas Goldenrod was
not a bad woman； but she loved and hated in too exclusive and
fastidious a way to allow us to consider her as representing the
highest ideal of womanhood。 She hated narrow ill…ventilated courts；
where there was nothing to see if one looked out of the window but
old men in dressing…gowns and old women in caps； she hated little
dark rooms with air…tight stoves in them； she hated rusty bombazine
gowns and last year's bonnets； she hated gloves that were not as
fresh as new…laid eggs； and shoes that had grown bulgy and wrinkled
in service； she hated common crockeryware and teaspoons of slight
constitution； she hated second appearances on the dinner…table； she ~
hated coarse napkins and table…cloths； she hated to ride in the
horsecars； she hated to walk except for short distances； when she was
tired of sitting in her carriage。 She loved with sincere and
undisguised affection a spacious city mansion and a charming country
villa； with a seaside cottage for a couple of months or so； she loved
a perfectly appointed household； a cook who was up to all kinds of
salmis and vol…au…vents； a French maid； and a stylish…looking
coachman； and the rest of the people necessary to help one live in a
decent manner； she loved pictures that other people said were first…
rate； and which had at least cost first…rate prices； she loved books
with handsome backs； in showy cases； she loved heavy and richly
wought plate； fine linen and plenty of it； dresses from Paris
frequently； and as many as could be got in without troubling the
customhouse； Russia sables and Venetian point…lace； diamonds； and
good big ones； and； speaking generally； she loved dear things in
distinction from cheap ones； the real article and not the economical
substitute。
For the life of me I cannot see anything Satanic in all this。 Tell
me； Beloved； only between ourselves； if some of these things are not
desirable enough in their way； and if you and I could not make up our
minds to put up with some of the least objectionable of them without
any great inward struggle？ Even in the matter of ornaments there is
something to be said。 Why should we be told that the New Jerusalem
is paved with gold； and that its twelve gates are each of them a
pearl； and that its foundations are garnished with sapphires and
emeralds and all manner of precious stones； if these are not among
the most desirable of objects？ And is there anything very strange in
the fact that many a daughter of earth finds it a sweet