英语天堂-第67章

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d　in　his　own　reflections；　while　the　mother　seated　herself；　and　taking　out　a　long　stocking　of　mixed　blue　and　white　yarn；　began　to　knit　with　briskness。
“Mary；　thee’d　better　fill　the　kettle；　hadn’t　thee？”　gently　suggested　the　mother。
Mary　took　the　kettle　to　the　well；　and　soon　reappearing；　placed　it　over　the　stove；　where　it　was　soon　purring　and　steaming；　a　sort　of　censer　of　hospitality　and　good　cheer。　The　peaches；　moreover；　in　obedience　to　a　few　gentle　whispers　from　Rachel；　were　soon　deposited；　by　the　same　hand；　in　a　stew…pan　over　the　fire。
Rachel　now　took　down　a　snowy　moulding…board；　and；　tying　on　an　apron；　proceeded　quietly　to　making　up　some　biscuits；　first　saying　to　Mary；—“Mary；　hadn’t　thee　better　tell　John　to　get　a　chicken　ready？”　and　Mary　disappeared　acomordingly。
“And　how　is　Abigail　Peters？”　said　Rachel；　as　she　went　on　with　her　biscuits。
“O；　she’s　better；”　said　Ruth；　“I　was　in；　this　morning；　made　the　bed；　tidied　up　the　house。　Leah　Hills　went　in；　this　afternoon；　and　baked　bread　and　pies　enough　to　last　some　days；　and　I　engaged　to　go　back　to　get　her　up；　this　evening。”
“I　will　go　in　tomorrow；　and　do　any　cleaning　there　may　be；　and　look　over　the　mending；”　said　Rachel。
“Ah！　that　is　well；”　said　Ruth。　“I’ve　heard；”　she　added；　“that　Hannah　Stanwood　is　sick。　John　was　up　there；　last　night；—I　must　go　there　tomorrow。”
“John　can　come　in　here　to　his　meals；　if　thee　needs　to　stay　all　day；”　suggested　Rachel。
“Thank　thee；　Rachel；　will　see；　tomorrow；　but；　here　comes　Simeon。”
Simeon　Halliday；　a　tall；　straight；　muscular　man；　in　drab　coat　and　pantaloons；　and　broad…brimmed　hat；　now　entered。
“How　is　thee；　Ruth？”　he　said；　warmly；　as　he　spread　his　broad　open　hand　for　her　little　fat　palm；　“and　how　is　John？”
“O！　John　is　well；　and　all　the　rest　of　our　folks；”　said　Ruth；　cheerily。
“Any　news；　father？”　said　Rachel；　as　she　was　putting　her　biscuits　into　the　oven。
“Peter　Stebbins　told　me　that　they　should　be　along　tonight；　with　friends；”　said　Simeon；　significantly；　as　he　was　washing　his　hands　at　a　neat　sink；　in　a　little　back　porch。
“Indeed！”　said　Rachel；　looking　thoughtfully；　and　glancing　at　Eliza。
“Did　thee　say　thy　name　was　Harris？”　said　Simeon　to　Eliza；　as　he　reentered。
Rachel　glanced　quickly　at　her　husband；　as　Eliza　tremulously　answered　“yes；”　her　fears；　ever　uppermost；　suggesting　that　possibly　there　might　be　advertisements　out　for　her。
“Mother！”　said　Simeon；　standing　in　the　porch；　and　calling　Rachel　out。
“What　does　thee　want；　father？”　said　Rachel；　rubbing　her　floury　hands；　as　she　went　into　the　porch。
“This　child’s　husband　is　in　the　settlement；　and　will　be　here　tonight；”　said　Simeon。
“Now；　thee　doesn’t　say　that；　father？”　said　Rachel；　all　her　face　radiant　with　joy。
“It’s　really　true。　Peter　was　down　yesterday；　with　the　wagon；　to　the　other　stand；　and　there　he　found　an　old　woman　and　two　men；　and　one　said　his　name　was　George　Harris；　and　from　what　he　told　of　his　history；　I　am　certain　who　he　is。　He　is　a　bright；　likely　fellow；　too。”
“Shall　we　tell　her　now？”　said　Simeon。
“Let’s　tell　Ruth；”　said　Rachel。　“Here；　Ruth；—come　here。”
Ruth　laid　down　her　knitting…work；　and　was　in　the　back　porch　in　a　moment。
“Ruth；　what　does　thee　think？”　said　Rachel。　“Father　says　Eliza’s　husband　is　in　the　last　company；　and　will　be　here　tonight。”
A　burst　of　joy　from　the　little　Quakeress　interrupted　the　speech。　She　gave　such　a　bound　from　the　floor；　as　she　clapped　her　little　hands；　that　two　stray　curls　fell　from　under　her　Quaker　cap；　and　lay　brightly　on　her　white　neckerchief。
“Hush　thee；　dear！”　said　Rachel；　gently；　“hush；　Ruth！　Tell　us；　shall　we　tell　her　now？”
“Now！　to　be　sure；—this　very　minute。　Why；　now；　suppose　’t　was　my　John；　how　should　I　feel？　Do　tell　her；　right　off。”
“Thee　uses　thyself　only　to　learn　how　to　love　thy　neighbor；　Ruth；”　said　Simeon；　looking；　with　a　beaming　face；　on　Ruth。
“To　be　sure。　Isn’t　it　what　we　are　made　for？　If　I　didn’t　love　John　and　the　baby；　I　should　not　know　how　to　feel　for　her。　Come；　now　do　tell　her；—do！”　and　she　laid　her　hands　persuasively　on　Rachel’s　arm。　“Take　her　into　thy　bed…room；　there；　and　let　me　fry　the　chicken　while　thee　does　it。”
Rachel　came　out　into　the　kitchen；　where　Eliza　was　sewing；　and　opening　the　door　of　a　small　bed…room；　said；　gently；　“Come　in　here　with　me；　my　daughter；　I　have　news　to　tell　thee。”
The　blood　flushed　in　Eliza’s　pale　face；　she　rose；　trembling　with　nervous　anxiety；　and　looked　towards　her　boy。
“No；　no；”　said　little　Ruth；　darting　up；　and　seizing　her　hands。　“Never　thee　fear；　it’s　good　news；　Eliza；—go　in；　go　in！”　And　she　gently　pushed　her　to　the　door　which　closed　after　her；　and　then；　turning　round；　she　caught　little　Harry　in　her　arms；　and　began　kissing　him。
“Thee’ll　see　thy　father；　little　one。　Does　thee　know　it？　Thy　father　is　coming；”　she　said；　over　and　over　again；　as　the　boy　looked　wonderingly　at　her。
Meanwhile；　within　the　door；　another　scene　was　going　on。　Rachel　Halliday　drew　Eliza　toward　her；　and　said；　“The　Lord　hath　had　mercy　on　thee；　daughter；　thy　husband　hath　escaped　from　the　house　of　bondage。”
The　blood　flushed　to　Eliza’s　cheek　in　a　sudden　glow；　and　went　back　to　her　heart　with　as　sudden　a　rush。　She　sat　down；　pale　and　faint。
“Have　courage；　child；”　said　Rachel；　laying　her　hand　on　her　head。　“He　is　among　friends；　who　will　bring　him　here　tonight。”
“Tonight！”　Eliza　repeated；　“tonight！”　The　words　lost　all　meaning　to　her；　her　head　was　dreamy　and　confused；　all　was　mist　for　a　moment。
When　she　awoke；　she　found　herself　snugly　tucked　up　on　the　bed；　with　a　blanket　over　her；　and　little　Ruth　rubbing　her　hands　with　camphor。　She　opened　her　eyes　in　a　state　of　dreamy；　delicious　languor；　such　as　one　who　has　long　been　bearing　a　heavy　load；　and　now　feels　it　gone；　and　would　rest。　The　tension　of　the　nerves；　which　had　never　ceased　a　moment　since　the　first　hour　of　her　flight；　had　given　way；　and　a　strange　feeling　of　security　and　rest　came　over　her；　and　as　she　lay；　with　her　large；　dark　eyes　open；　she　followed；　as　in　a　quiet　dream；　the　motions　of　those　about　her。　She　saw　the　door　open　into　the　other　room；　saw　the　supper…table；　with　its　snowy　cloth；　heard　the　dreamy　murmur　of　the　singing　tea…kettle；　saw　Ruth　tripping　backward　and　forward；　with　plates　of　cake　and　saucers　of　preserves；　and　ever　and　anon　stopping　to　put　a　cake　into　Harry’s　hand；　or　pat　his　head；　or　twine　his　long　curls　round　her　snowy　fingers。　She　saw　the　ample；　motherly　form　of　Rachel；　as　she　ever　and　anon　came　to　the　bedside；　and　smoothed　and　arranged　something　about　the　bedclothes；　and　gave　a　tuck　here　and　there；　by　way　of　expressing　her　good…will；　and　was　conscious　of　a　kind　of　sunshine　beaming　down　upon　her　from　her　large；　clear；　brown　eyes。　She　saw　Ruth’s　husband　come　in；—saw　her　fly　up　to　him；　and　commence　whispering　very　earnestly；　ever　and　anon；　with　impressive　gesture；　pointing　her　little　finger　toward　the　room。　She　saw　her；　with　the　baby　in　her　arms；　sitting　down　to　tea；　she　saw　them　all　at　table；　and　little　Harry　in　a　high　chair；　under　the　shadow　of　Rachel’s　ample　wing；　there　were　low　murmurs　of　talk；　gentle　tinkling　of　tea…spoons；　and　musical　clatter　of　cups　and　saucers；　and　all　mingled　in　a　delightful　dream　of　rest；　and　Eliza　slept；　as　she　had　not　slept　before；　since　the　fearful　midnight　hour　when　she　had　taken　her　child　and　fled　through　the　frosty　starlight。
She　dreamed　of　a　beautiful　country；—a　land；　it　seemed　to　her；　of　rest；—green　shores；　pleasant　islands；　and　beautifully　glittering　water；　and　there；　in　a　house　which　kind　voices　told　her　was　a　home；　she　saw　her　boy　playing；　free　and　happy　child。　She　heard　her　husband’s　footsteps；　she　felt　him　coming　nearer；　his　arms　were　around　her；　his　tears　falling　on　her　face；　and　she　awoke！　It　was　no　dream。　The　daylight　had　long　faded；　her　child　lay　calmly　sleeping　by　her　side；　a　candle　was　burning　dimly　on　the　stand；　and　her　husband　was　sobbing　by　her　pillow。
The　next　morning　was　a　cheerful　one　at　the　Quaker　house。　“Mother”　was　up　betimes；　and　surrounded　by　busy　girls　and　boys；　whom　we　had　scarce　time　to　introduce　to　our　readers　yesterday；　and　who　all　moved　obediently　to　Rachel’s　gentle　“Thee　had　better；”　or　more　gentle　“Hadn’t　thee　better？”　in　the　work　of　getting　breakfast；　for　a　breakfast　in　the　luxurious　valleys　of　Indiana　is　a　thing　complicated　and　multiform；　and；　like　picking　up　the　rose…leaves　and　trimming　the　bushes　in　Paradise；　asking　other　hands　than　those　of　the　original　mother。　While；　therefore；　John　ran　to　the　spring　for　fresh　water；　and　Simeon　the　second　sifted　meal　for　corn…cakes；　and　Mary　ground　coffee；　Rachel　moved　gently；　and　quietly　about；　making　biscuits；　cutting　up　chicken；　and　diffusing　a　sort　of　sunny　radiance　over　the　whole　proceeding　generally。　If　there　was　any　danger　of　friction　or　collision　from　the　ill…regulated　zeal　of　so　many　young　operators；　her　gentle　“Come！　come！”　or　“I　wouldn’t；　now；”　was　quite　sufficient　to　allay　the　difficulty。　Bards　have　written　of　the　cestus　of　Venus；　that　turned　the　heads　of　all　the　world　in　sucomessive　generations。　We　had　rather；　for　our　part；　have　the　cestus　of　Rachel　Halliday；　that　kept　heads　from　being　turned；　and　made　everything　go　on　harmoniously。　We　think　it　is　more　suited　to　our　modern　days；　decidedly。
While　all　other　preparation