Out For Business or Robert Frost's Strange Career. Stratemeyer Edward

Чтение книги онлайн.

      After dinner Talbot said: "Now, my love, I wish you would show me over the house—our house," he added with cat-like softness.

      "I shall be so glad to do so."

      They passed out into the hall, and the new husband's attention was drawn to the portrait of Robert's father. He frowned slightly.

      "Who is that?" he asked.

      "It is my first husband."

      James Talbot glanced curiously at the picture. He was displeased to notice that the portrait represented such a handsome man—a man with whom he was not to be compared.

      "He was generally considered a fine-looking man," remarked the bride.

      "Humph! Tastes differ. No doubt he was a good man, but I don't consider him handsome."

      Through the open door Jane heard this remark, and took instant offense, for she had liked Mr. Frost, who was always kind to her.

      "He didn't look a gorilla, as you do," she said to herself, and would like to have said aloud.

      Meanwhile Robert went down to the village. He was the prey of contending emotions. It looked as if all the happiness of their quiet home was gone. This man—this interloper—would spoil it all.

      "How could mother marry him?" he said to himself.

      But in spite of his dissatisfaction, he felt hungry. There was a restaurant in the village, and he turned in there. He felt that on this day at least he could not dine at home.

      He sat down at the table beside Mr. Jameson, a jeweler, and an old friend of the family. The jeweler regarded Robert with surprise.

      "How is it that you don't dine at home?" he asked. "I believe, however, that your mother is away."

      "It isn't that, for Jane prepares the meals."

      "You want a change then?" said Mr. Jameson smiling.

      "No, it isn't that either. Mother has got home," he added bluntly.

      "And you go away at such a time?"

      "I may as well tell you—everybody will know it soon. She has come home with a new husband."

      "You amaze me! And you don't like the arrangement?" he asked, with a keen glance at his young companion.

      "No; he's not a gentleman," answered Robert bitterly. "I don't see how she could have married him—or anybody, after my father."

      "It is natural for you to feel so. Still, she had a right to do so."

      They talked further, and Mr. Jameson gradually modified Robert's excited feelings. He made the boy promise that if Mr. Talbot should show a disposition to be friendly, he would at any rate treat him with courtesy.

      About three o'clock in the afternoon Robert met his new step-father in the street. He paused, uncertain how to act. But James Talbot approached him with a soft, ingratiating smile.

      "Robert," he said, "I am sorry you have taken such a dislike to me. You will excuse my saying that it is quite unreasonable, as you can't know anything about me."

      "Perhaps I was hasty," Robert forced himself to say, "but it was a trial to me to think my mother had married again."

      "Quite natural, I am sure, so I shall not look upon your manifestations of dislike as personal to myself."

      "I suppose not," said Robert slowly. "Of course, I don't know much about you."

      "When you do, I hope you will like me better," said Talbot cheerfully. "Have you had any dinner?"

      "Yes, sir."

      "I hope you will come home to supper. It makes your mother feel very sad to have you stay away."

      "Yes, I will come."

      "Shall we take a walk together? I don't know anything of your village. You might show me something of it."

      Robert hesitated, but he was naturally polite, and, though rather reluctantly, he walked through different parts of the village and pointed out the churches and the public library, the center school-house, and other buildings. Gradually they approached the outskirts of the village till they reached a house occupied by an eccentric old bachelor, who kept a large dog of an uncertain temper. As the two passed, the dog bounded from the yard and ran after them. This gave Robert a chance to judge of his step-father's courage.

      James Talbot turned pale with fright, and started to run.

      "Save me, Robert!" he called out, in tremulous accents. "Will he—will he bite?"

      "I don't think so, Mr. Talbot," said Robert manfully, not exhibiting the least alarm. "What do you mean, Tige?" he continued sternly, addressing the dog.

      He snatched a stout stick from the side of the road, and made threatening demonstrations.

      The dog stood still, evidently cowed.

      "I don't think he is dangerous, Mr. Talbot," Robert started to say, but he looked in vain for his step-father.

      "Here I am, Robert," he heard in quavering accents.

      James Talbot had managed, with an agility hardly to be expected of a man of forty-five, to climb into a tree by the roadside.

      "I—I thought I should be safer here," he said, Robert wanted to laugh, but he was polite, and refrained.

      "I—I hope he won't bite you."

      "I'll risk it, sir."

      "What a terrible situation! I don't dare to come down."

      "I think you may, sir; I will protect you."

      "How can you? You wouldn't be a match for a dog like that."

      By this time Tiger had got over his fierce demonstrations, and seemed quite friendly.

      "You see he has got over his fierceness. You had better come down."

      "Do you really think it would be safe?"

      "I am sure of it."

      James Talbot got down from the tree cautiously, eyeing the dog askance.

      "Now let us get away from here at once," he said nervously.

      "Very well, sir."

      They took the road for home, the dog making no hostile demonstrations.

      "I—I was always afraid of dogs," said Talbot, half ashamed. "If it had been a man I wouldn't have cared." And then he began to tell Robert how he had once frightened a burglar from the house where he was lodging; but Robert didn't believe him. He felt contempt for his step-father as a coward.

      CHAPTER III.

      THE LITTLE PLOT AGAINST ROBERT

      Robert resumed his place in the home circle. Between him and his step-father there was no cordiality, but formal politeness, though at times Mrs. Talbot tried to cultivate more friendly СКАЧАТЬ