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Opening a Chestnut Burr

<h2 id="id00398" style="margin-top: 4em">CHAPTER VIII</h2> <h5 id="id00399">WITCHCRAFT</h5> Miss Eulie was doomed to disappointment, for Gregory came down late to breakfast the following morning with not a trace of his softened feelings. Indeed, because of pride, or for some reason, he chose to seem the very reverse of all she had hoped. The winter of his unbelief could not pass away so easily. Even in January there are days of sudden relenting, when the frost's icy grasp upon nature seems to relax. Days that rightfully belong to spring drop down upon us with birds that have come before their time. But such days may end in a northeast snowstorm and the birds perish. The simile appeared true of Gregory. As far as he took part in the table-talk he was a cold, finished man of the world, and the gloom of the early morning rested on his face. But Annie noticed that he made an indifferent breakfast and did not appear well. After he had retired to his room to write some letters, as he said, she remarked to her father when alone with him: "I suppose you remember Mr. Gregory's manner when you spoke of Mr. Hunting. They evidently are acquainted and not on good terms. What could have occurred between them?" "Some quarrel resulting from business, perhaps," said Mr. Walton, musingly. "I believe Charles has been trying to restrain Mr. Gregory in some of his fast ways," Annie continued, emphatically, "and they have had hot words. Men have so little discretion in their zeal." "Business men are not apt to interfere with each other's foibles unless they threaten their pockets," her father replied. "It is more probable that Gregory has borrowed money of Hunting, and been compelled to pay it against his will; and yet I have no right to surmise anything of the kind." "But Mr. Hunting is not a mere business man, father. He is bent on doing good wherever he can find opportunity. I incline to my solution. But it is clear that we must be silent in regard to him while Mr. Gregory is with us, for I never saw such bitter enmity expressed in any face. It is well that Charles is to be absent for some time, and that we have no prospect of a visit from him while our guest is here. Oh, dear! I wish Charles could come and make us a visit instead of this moody, wayward stranger." "I can echo that wish heartily, Annie, for in the son I find little of my old friend, his father. But remember what you said last night. It may be that he was sent to us in order that we should help him become what his father was." "I will do my best; but I do not look forward to his society with much pleasure. Still, if there should be any such result as we hope for, I should feel repaid a thousand-fold." Gregory finished his letters and then paced restlessly up and down his room. "That this country girl should have so moved me!" he muttered. "What does it mean? What is there about her that takes hold of my attention and awakens my interest? I wish to go downstairs now, and talk to her, and have her read to me, and am provoked with myself that I do. Yesterday at this time I wished to avoid her. "Why should I wish to avoid her? If she amuses me, diverts my mind, beguiles my pain, or more dreary apathy, why not let her exert her power to the utmost and make herself useful? Yes, but she will try to do more than amuse. Well, suppose she does; one can coolly foil such efforts. Not so sure of that. If I were dealing with a man I could, but one must be worse than a clod to hear her sing and not feel. I suppose I made a weak fool of myself before them all last night, and they thought I was on the eve of conversion. I half wish I were, or on the eve of anything else. Any change from my present state would seem a relief. But a man cannot go into these things like an impulsive girl, even if he believes in them, which is more than I do. I seem to have fallen into a state of moral and physical imbecility, in which I can only doubt, suffer, and chafe. "I won't avoid her. I will study and analyze her character. I doubt whether she is as good, fresh, and original as she seems. Such girls exist only in moral stories, and I've met but few even there. I will solve her mystery. Probably it is not a very deep one, and after a day or two she will become an old story and life resume its normal monotony;" and he at once descended the stairs to carry out his purpose. The children were just coming from the sitting-room where they had their school, exclaiming, "Oh, aunty, what shall we do this awful rainy day?" "Wait till I have given some directions to Zibbie, and I will read you a fairy story, and then you can go up into the garret until dinner-time." "May I listen to the fairy story also?" asked Walter. Miss Walton looked up with a smile and said, "You must be half-desperate from your imprisonment to accept of such solace. But if you can wait till I have kept my word to the children I will read something more to your taste." "I think I should like to hear how a fairy story sounds once again after all these years." "As Shakespeare may sound to us some time in the future," she replied, smiling. "I can't believe we shall ever outgrow Shakespeare," he said. "I can believe it, but cannot understand how it is possible. As yet I am only growing up to Shakespeare." "You seem very ready to believe what you cannot understand." "And that is woman's way, I suppose you would like to add," she answered, smiling over her shoulder, as she turned to the kitchen department. "You men have a general faith that there will be dinner at two o'clock, though you understand very little how it comes to pass, and if you are disappointed the best of your sex have not fortitude enough to wait patiently, so I must delay no longer to propitiate the kitchen divinity." "There!" he said, "I have but crossed her steps in the hall, and she has stirred me and set my nerves tingling like an October breeze. She is a witch." After a few minutes Miss Walton entered. Each of the children called for a story, and both clamored for their favorites. "Johnny," said Miss Walton, "it is manly to yield to the least and weakest, especially if she be a little woman." The boy thought a moment, and then with an amusing assumption of dignity said, "You may read Susie's story first, aunty." "Susie, promise Johnny that his story shall be read first next time;" which Susie promptly did with a touch of the womanly grace which accompanies favors bestowed after the feminine will has triumphed. "Now, little miniature man and woman, listen!" and their round eyes were ready for the world of wonders. And this child of nature was at the same time showing Gregory a world as new and strange—a world that he had caught glimpses of when a boy, but since had lost hopelessly. She carried the children away into fairy-land. She suggested to him a life in which simplicity, truth, and genuine goodness might bring peace and hope to the heart. "Well, what do you think of the fairy story?" she asked after she had finished and the children had drawn sighs of intense relief at the happy denouement, in which the ugly ogre was slain and the prince and princess were married: "I did not hear it," he said. "That's complimentary. But you appeared listening very closely." "You have heard of people reading a different meaning between the lines, and I suppose one can listen to a different meaning." "And what could you find between the lines of this fairy tale?" she asked with interest. "It would be difficult for me to explain—something too vague and indefinite for words, I fear. But if you will read me something else I will listen to the text itself." "Come, children, scamper off to the garret," said Annie, "and remember you are nearer heaven up there, and so must be very kind and gentle to each other." "You will fill those youngsters' heads with beautiful superstitions." "Superstition and faith are not so very far apart, though so unlike." "Yes, it is hard to tell where one leaves off and the other begins." "Is it?" "Isn't it?" "I don't like to contradict you, sir." "You have contradicted me, and I suppose it is manly to yield to a lady.'" "Not in matters of principle and honest conviction." "Alas! if one has not very much of either!" "It is a very great misfortune, and, I suppose I ought to add, fault." "I have no doubt it is a misfortune, Miss Walton, but you are not reading." "Well, make your choice." "I leave it entirely to you." "You don't look very well to-day. I will select something light and cheerful from Dickens." "Excuse me, please. I am in no mood for his deliberate purpose to make one laugh." "Then here is Irving. His style flows like a meadowbrook." "No, he is too sentimental." "Walter Scott, then, will form a happy medium." "No, he wearies one with explanations and history." "Some of Tennyson's dainty idylls will suit your fastidious taste." "I couldn't abide his affected, stilted language to-day." "Shakespeare, then; you regard him as perfect." "No, he makes me think, and I do not wish to." "Well, here are newspapers, the latest magazine, and some new novels." "Modern rubbish—a mushroom growth. They will soon kindle kitchen fires instead of thought." "Then I must make an expedition to the library. What shall I bring? There is Mosheim's 'Ecclesiastical Ancient History'; that has a solid, venerable sound. Or, if you prefer poetry, I will get Gray's 'Elegy.' That cannot be a literary mushroom, for he was twenty years writing it. But perhaps it is Tupper you would like. That would suit your mood exactly, Tupper's 'Proverbial Philosophy.'" "You are growing satirical, Miss Walton. Why don't you assert plainly that I am as full of whims as a—" "Woman, would you like to say?" "Present company excepted. The fact is, I am two-thirds ill to-day, and the most faultless style and theme in our language would weary me. I am possessed by the evil spirits of ennui, unrest, and disgust at myself and all the world, present company always excepted. Do you know of any spell that can exorcise these demons?" "Yes, a very simple one. Will you put yourself absolutely in my power and obey?" "I am your slave." Miss Walton left the room and soon returned with a large afghan. "You must take a horizontal position in order that my spell may work." "Pshaw! you are prescribing an ordinary nap." "I am glad to say the best things in this world are ordinary. But permit me to suggest that in view of your pledged word you have nothing to do in this matter but to obey." "Very well;" and he threw himself on the sofa. "The day is chilly, sir, and I must throw this afghan over you;" and she did so with a little touch of delicacy which is so grateful when one is indisposed. Her manner both soothed and pleased him. He was more lonely than he realized, for it had been years since he had experienced woman's gentle care and ministry; and Annie Walton had a power possessed by few to put jangling nerves at rest. Suddenly he said, "I wish I had a sister like you." "My creed, you know," she replied, "makes all mankind kindred." "Nonsense!" said Gregory, irritably; "deliver me from your church sisters." "Take care!" she answered, with a warning nod, "I'm a church sister; so don't drive me away, for I am going to sing you to sleep." "I'm half inclined to join your church that I may call you sister." "You would be disciplined and excommunicated within a month. But hush; you must not talk." "How would you treat me after I had been anathematized?" "If you were as ill as you are to-day I would make you sleep. Hush; not another word. I am going to sing." A luxurious sense of comfort stole over him, and he composed himself to listen and criticise, little imagining, though, that he would fall asleep. He saw through the window a lowering sky with leaden clouds driven wildly across it. The wind moaned and soughed around the angles of the house, and the rain beat against the glass. All without seemed emblematic of himself. But now he had a brief but blessed sense of shelter from both the storm and himself. The fire blazed cheerily on the hearth. The afghan seemed to envelop him like a genial atmosphere. Had Miss Walton bewitched it by her touch? And now she has found something to suit her, or rather him, and is singing. "What an unusual voice she has!" he thought "Truly the spirit of David's harp, that could banish the demon from Saul, dwells in it. I wonder if she is as good and real as she seems, or whether, under the stress of temptation or the poison of flattery, she would not show herself a true daughter of Eve? I must find out, for it is about the only remaining question that interests me. If she is like the rest of us—if she is a female Hunting—then good-by to all hope. I shall not live to find anybody or anything to trust. If she is what she seems, it's barely possible that she might help me out of this horrible 'slough of despond,' if she would take the trouble. I wish that she were my sister, or that my sister had lived and had been just like her." <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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