CHAPTER XV
PIPPIN MEETS AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE
Pippin went his way, planning his expedition as he went. He would startthat evening, in the cool. Pay up at his joint, and he might leaveNipper there, mebbe. Decent folks, and he could travel quicker--No! hewould take Nipper along, and give 'em a good sharpenin' up all roundover there. The Warden's boys--they'd be glad to see him, he expected. Aboy's knife always needed 'tendin' to; and the Warden! He was real good,he might have some tools, and he could go into the shop--green grass! hereally believed he'd be glad to see the old place again! Now wouldn'tthat give you a pain?
Was that because he warn't obleeged to go, think, or because he foundthe Lord there, and there was a manner of blessin' on the place forhim?--"Easy there!"
The last remark was not addressed to himself. He was crossing the streetwith perhaps a dozen other persons, between two halted phalanxes ofmotor cars, drays, wagons; midway a monumental policeman held a fractionof the world in the hollow of his hand. Just in front of Pippin was astout gentleman, puffing nervously, his gold-framed gaze fixed intentlyon the sidewalk haven before him. Suddenly a boy--he was nomore--stumbled over Pippin's feet, lurched forward, and fell heavilyagainst the stout gentleman with a cry of alarm. The gentleman turnedquickly. As he did so, Pippin's left arm shot out; he caught the boyand held him, struggling and kicking.
"Nix on the swipe, my darlin'," he said quietly.
"Lemme go!" spluttered the boy. "---- you, lemme go!"
"Is he hurt?" asked the stout gentleman. "Is the poor lad hurt?"
"Not yet he ain't," said Pippin grimly, "but he's liable to be."
"Step lively!" thundered the policeman, his eye on the pawing motorcars.
Pippin nodded toward the further sidewalk, and made his way thither,dragging his prisoner by the collar. The stout gentleman followed,bewildered.
"I don't understand--" he began.
"You wouldn't," said Pippin gently. "His hand was in your pocket, that'sall, sir. Easy, bo! Nix on the fade-away, neither; I've got your shirt,too, see? Why not take it easy?"
The boy, who had been trying to wriggle out of his jacket, gave it upand stood sullen and silent, with clenched hands. The stout gentlemanlooked distressed. "You mean--" he said "--you fear the lad is apickpocket?"
"That's what! Open your fins, Jimmy! drop the swagglekins! What? Need alittle help, do you?"
Pippin was standing discreetly in the gutter that he might not obstructtraffic. Now with his free hand he drew out his file and gave a smartrap on the boy's knuckles. The boy uttered a yelp of pain, the handopened involuntarily. Pippin deftly caught its contents as they dropped,and handed them to the gentleman with a little bow.
"Pocketbook an' wipe--I would say handkerchief! O.K., Governor?"
"God bless me! Yes, they are mine! Thank you!" cried the stoutgentleman. "Is it possible? This young lad! I am distressed. Young man,I am deeply indebted to you. Shall you--a--deliver him over to theauthorities?"
"Run him in?" Pippin eyed the boy thoughtfully. "I ain't quite sure yet.Me an' Jimmy'll have a little talk first, I expect. Mebbe--"
A bell clanged. There was a rush and a swirl in the crowd. As thefire-engine came thundering by, the boy suddenly dropped and hung limpand nerveless in Pippin's grasp; then, as the grasp shifted a little togain a better hold, he gave a violent jerk, a shove, a spring, and wasoff, under the very wheels of the advancing hose-carriage.
Pippin looked after him regretfully.
"Slick kid!" he said. "He's ben well trained, that kid has. I couldn'thave done that better myself. But there wasn't no chance to look for nograce in that one," he added. "Now I leave it to any one! But--what wasI tellin' you? That's the second one to-day. You leave me get hold ofthem boys, this one and that pup to the Home joint, and I could dosomepin with 'em. I could so!"
* * * * *
The trip to Shoreham, so carefully planned, was not to come off; theladies of distaff and shears had ordained otherwise. It occurred toPippin that in common politeness he could not leave town for a fortnightwithout "sharpenin' up" that young lady, bein' he had said he would callagain. That afternoon, accordingly, he and Nipper took their way to thegreen lane in the pleasant suburb, and turned in at the white gate.There was no clothes-hanging nymph in the yard this time--it was Mondayafternoon, and the clothes were lying in neat snowy rolls in a basketwithin, ready for the morrow's ironing--so Pippin knocked at the door,and Mary-in-the-kitchen opened it. A rather stern looking Mary, untilshe saw who it was; then she dimpled and smiled in a delightful way, andwanted to know if that was he.
"I was sort of looking for you to-day!" she added.
"You was!" Pippin glowed responsive. "Now that sounds good to me.Something in my line to-day?"
"There was a woman come to clean Saturday, and what must she do but takemy best potato knife to pry off the top of a jar! 'Twas a screw-top,too, so she had her trouble for her pains, and broke the knifebesides--Just the tip; I thought perhaps you could grind it off?"
"Well, I guess! just watch me! If there's one job I like better thananother, it's grind a new tip."
Mary brought the knife, which he pronounced a dandy from Dandyville. Hedidn't suppose she would care to see him do it? Some thought 'twaspretty to watch. Mary, with a glance at the clock, thought she had time.Soon, bright head and dark were bending over Nipper, the wheel wasflying, the rough edge of blue steel was fining, thinning, brightening,shaping--yes, it certainly was pretty to watch. Pippin had a strongnotion that something else would have been pretty to watch, too, couldhe have looked two ways at once; it was rather wonderful to feel a softbreath on your cheek, to be conscious that within six or eight inches ofyour own brown head was that bright efflorescence of light and color andsoftness, but Pippin did not say this.
When the knife was done, he looked up, and met his reward in a soft glowof admiration and wonder that almost took his breath.
"You surely are a master hand!" cried Mary. "Why, it's better than whenit came from the shop."
"I'm real pleased if it's satisfactory!" said Pippin modestly. "'Twouldbe better still if I had a bit of shammy skin; I did have a piece, but Ican't seem to--"
"Why, step right in! I've got shammy skin and to spare. Step in and setdown, do! I'd be pleased to have you!"
But not so pleased as Pippin was to step! He wiped his shoes aselaborately as if he had not indulged in "the best shine in town, fivecents!" before coming; he brushed imaginary dust off his neat brownclothes; finally he made his little bow of a young birch in the wind,and followed Mary into the kitchen.
Very different, Pippin, from the kitchen at Cyrus Poor Farm: for space,compactness; for mellow warmth of brick and timbers, brilliant white ofpaint and tile and enamel, set off by the blurred or shining silver ofaluminum or nickel; for Mrs. Bailey, kindly and wrinkled, in her purpleprint, this vision of blue and white and gold.
"Green grass!" said Pippin. "This is some, ain't it?"
He was to sit right down at this little table, Mary said. There! Herewas the "shammy," and if he would excuse her, she would make up herrolls. That way they'd both be busy, wouldn't they? And no time wasted!Mary's laugh seemed to tinkle all round the room, striking littlebell-like notes here and there, just as her smile--or so it seemed toPippin--woke new lights on the shining kettles and saucepans. Then,standing at the large table next to his small one, she lifted the coverfrom a yellow bowl full of creamy, bubbling dough, and went to work.
Have you ever watched a pretty girl making rolls? There are few moreattractive sights. First she tumbles the soft mass out on the board;then she kneads it, with much play of dimpled elbow and slender wrist.The bubbles heave and swell, but she catches them, breaks them down,works them in, till the whole is like smooth creamy velvet, delightfulto see, more delightful to handle. Now she cuts off a piece, cups it inher hands, pats, moulds, shapes, tucks in a bit of butter; behold theperfect roll! Into the pan it goes, with its fellows, and so into theoven, to
emerge in due time with the perfection of a "pale bake,"tenderest fawn color deepening at the top, say to the hue of a winterbeech leaf.
Pippin certainly was a long time over that knife tip. He rubbed it hardfor a minute or two, till it shone like Mary's own particular coffeepot;then he paused, lost in contemplation of Mary's wrists and elbows, herclear-cut profile, and waving hair. Whenever she turned toward him, herubbed the knife tip vigorously, only to relapse again when she turnedaway. So absorbed was he, he did not notice how rapidly the mass ofdough was diminishing; and when Mary, having plumped the last roll intoplace, turned suddenly full upon him with a "There! _That's_ done!" hestarted with a guilty flush, and almost cut himself with the knife, nowmore like a razor than a kitchen implement. Mary, meeting the full gazeof his dark bright eyes, flushed, too, and then laughed a little. "Ithink my work's pretty, too!" she said. "I guess you like to watch itsame as I do yours."
"I sure do! And if you'll excuse me sayin' so, I never see rolls handledso elegant in my life. I'm part baker myself," he added apologetically,"and I've seen a many rolls handled." Mary kindled with interest. Shewanted to know if he was a baker. Then why--
"Why ain't I bakin'?" Pippin laughed. "I'll have to tell you about thatsome day--lemme put 'em in for you! Dandy oven you've got; dandy outfitall round! That's if I might take the liberty of callin' again, Miss--"
"Mary Flower is my name!" said the girl. "I should be pleased to knowyours!"
"Pippin is what they call me!" Pippin, for the first time in his life,felt the need of two names. Now why?
"Mr. Pippin, I should be pleased to have you call again." She spoke alittle formally; these were proper conventions, since there was no thirdparty by to introduce them.
"Well, now, Miss Flower, I shall be glad to come, and more than glad,sure thing, the very day I come back. What I came special to-day was tosay--"
But Pippin never said it. At that moment the screen door swung open, anda man entered. A man about Pippin's age, in linen duster and straw hat,carrying a basket of vegetables. A grocer's assistant, evidently; hiswagon stood at the gate. The first thing that struck Pippin was theeager glance the man threw about the room, and the sharp flash of--wasit suspicion or jealousy?--as his eyes fell upon him, Pippin. This wasthe first impression; the second was that Mary did not like him; thethird that the man's nose was crooked. Having received these threeimpressions, Pippin bent over his potato knife, and polished itassiduously. Where _had_ he seen that nose? Where _had_ he seen thatnose? It couldn't be--was it?--green grass! now wouldn't that--
He glanced warily up, and seeing the man's attention engrossed by Mary,took a good look at him. A thin, sharp face, eyes too near together, astraight slit of a mouth; but the nose was what interested Pippin. Itwas certainly _very_ crooked! A long sharp nose; that must have been apowerful blow which had turned it from the straight course. Pippin'sright fist clenched involuntarily, with a reminiscent thrill; thecorners of his mouth twitched, and his eyes twinkled.
"Green grass!" he murmured again.
"No, I guess we shan't want anything to-morrow!" said Mary, in cool,flute-like tones. "No, you needn't call, thank you. We'll telephone whenwe need anything."
"Got company, I see!" the man directed an ugly scowl at Pippin. Pippinlooked up cheerfully.
"Hello, Nosey!" he said. "That you? Quite a stranger, ain't you?" Againthe man's eyes flashed, and this time there was recognition in them; thenext moment his face was a wooden mask.
"Guess you've got me!" he said. "Stranger to me, far as I know. Thatyour wheel out there?" He spoke with a curious mixture of eagerness andsullenness.
"Sure thing! Forgot me, have you, Nosey? Say 'Pippin,' and see if youdon't fetch it?"
"We don't carry apples at this season," stolidly. "Berries is what wecarry now, and early peaches."
"That so? Well, you're a peach, all right, all right. Well, Miss Flower,I expect I--" He was about to rise and make his adieux, when a look fromMary tingled through him to his toes; it said, "Stay!" He settled backin his seat. "I expect I'm ready for those other things you spoke of,"he said slowly. "Scissors, was they, or knives?"
"Scissors!" said Mary. "I'll get them!"
She vanished. As the door closed behind her, the man made a step towardPippin, and spoke low and savagely.
"You quit, do you hear? Quit and stay quit! If I catch you here again,I'll--" he indicated measures which would seriously incommode Pippin'sinternal economy.
"That so?" said Pippin in an easy drawl. He tilted his chair back on twolegs, and smiled amiably at his interlocutor. "Why, Nosey, I'm sorry youfeel that way. I never meant to spile it permanent, but it does seem tohave got a kind of a twist, don't it? I wouldn't bear malice, though, ifI was you!"
"---- ---- you!" hissed the man. "I'll have your--"
The door opened; he dropped back against the table, and his face becameonce more a wooden mask.
Mary, her hands full of scissors, looked from one to the other; herbreath came a little quickly, as if she had hurried. "You two gentlemenknow each other?" she asked doubtfully.
"Why," said Pippin slowly, "I thought he was a boy I used to know, buthe seems to think different. What is your handsome name, Mister, sinceNosey Bashford won't do you?"
"My name's Brown!" said the man hoarsely.
"Well, they both begin with B," said Pippin. "I don't know as it mattersany."
"Was there anything else you wanted to say, Mr. Brown?" asked Marycivilly.
At this palpable hint, the man could but take up his basket and startfor the door. He gave Pippin one venomous look; Pippin replied with aslight but friendly nod.
"So long, bo!" he said cheerfully.
At the door the man paused, as if struck by a sudden thought. He hadsome extra fine tomato plants in the cart, he said. They was an orderfor Goodwins, next door, but the boss thought likely Mr. Aymer (Mary'semployer) would like some. Wouldn't Mary step out and look at them?'Twouldn't take but a minute, if she wasn't afraid to leave--asignificant glance toward Pippin finished the sentence and decidedMary's answer. She had meant to say, "No!" with some asperity. As itwas, she said, "Yes!" and followed him out to the gate, leaving Pippinalone.
Now, the latter asked himself, wouldn't that give you a pain? Honest,now, wouldn't it? What did he suppose that skeezicks was sayin' to her.If he came the give-away, he, Pippin, expected he could give him asgood. Even if Dod was dead, and it wasn't likely he was--
If Pippin had been a cultivated person, he would have said,
"The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Make instruments to plague us!"
Being a plain person, he said, no two ways about it, that was what comeof startin' mean. Yes; but, he reminded himself, the start was not ofhis own making. Let him be straight and keep straight, and things wouldcome round 'cordin' to!
"That's right!" said Pippin aloud. "I'm only makin' a beginnin', so tosay. _My_ start is right now, see? Let Dod and Nosey get what they canout of theirs. Last week's dough-scrapin's needn't trouble me!"
Mary came back with her head high, a flush on her cheek and a sparkle inher eye.
"Gorry to 'Liza!" said Pippin, but not aloud. "She looks some-er whenshe's mad than when she's pleased!"
"Known Nosey long?" asked Pippin, rising as she entered.
"No, nor want to! He's not my style, nor I his. Did you really know him,Mr. Pippin?"
"Did I? Do I know a skunk by the sm--Yes, I knew him when we was boys.'Twas I give him his crooked nose. I'll tell you about it some day, ifyou'll let me. I must be goin' now."
Was it quite by accident, I wonder, that Mrs. Aymer came into thekitchen to get a cup of hot water? She greeted Pippin pleasantly,admired the rehabilitated potato knife, thought his must be a pleasanttrade in summer weather. She thought it very possible that Mr. Aymermight like his pocketknife sharpened. Could Pippin wait a moment?
"That's what I'm here for!" Pippin smilingly assured her. Mr. Aymerbeing summoned, shortly appeared: tall, thin, kindly-faced, lookin
g morelike a college professor than a hardware dealer. He, too, after lookingPippin well over, praised his skill and discussed various aspects ofcutlery with him. They agreed heartily on the fundamental fact that whenyou wanted a knife, you wanted it good. Followed commendation of certainmakes, disparagement of others. Bugler's goods, Pippin opined, wasn'tworth the price of the handles; he'd make as good a knife out of leadpipe. Now take Porter's, and _there_ you had a knife. Both men began toglow with responsive ardor, and it required a discreet cough and glancefrom Mrs. Aymer to convey to both the fact that supper time was drawingnear and that Mary had her work to do. Pippin withdrew with manyapologies, but not before both householders had cordially asked him tocall again. Mary, in her corner, remained demurely mute, but to be sureshe had already invited him; and her farewell glance and smile sent himaway trailing clouds of glory.
Later, on the comfortable little screened porch, the householders toldtheir guest about the handsome lad who was so clever with tools, and whohad evidently "taken such a shine" to their pretty Mary.
"I called John out on purpose!" said the lady. "Of course we feelresponsible about Mary; and you liked him, didn't you, John?"
"I certainly did: mighty decent looking fellow. Intelligent, too! Knowsgood steel when he sees it."
"You ought to have seen him, Lawrence! You are so interested in youngmen. If he comes again, you must be sure to want your knifesharpened--if this old Conference is going to give you _any_ time forus!" she added with a smiling pout. "Of course if there should beanything serious between him and Mary, we should want to be _very_careful!"
"Aren't you a little ahead of the game, Lucy?" her husband laughed. "Theboy has been here once, I understand--twice? Oh, well! I don't know thatLawrence can count on the wedding fee, even so. But you would like him,Larry, that's a fact. I took to him at once, and you know Lucy thinks mehard to please, especially about young fellows."
"I wish I had seen him!" said the guest heartily. "I've seen nothing butgray heads all day long, and a boy would be refreshing."
But if he had seen Pippin, the course of my story would have beendifferent.
Meanwhile, as they talked, Mary-in-the-kitchen sat on her back steps inthe moonlight, and thought her own thoughts. Happy thoughts! Mary wasalways happy. If some of them were of dark eyes and a kindling smile,of quaintly chosen words--He had as sweet a voice, Mary must say, asever she heard; she wished Mrs. Aymer had heard him sing; when he cameagain--oh, yes, he would come. The queer thing was, he didn't seem a bitof a stranger. Appeared like she had known him always.
What would you say, Mary, if you knew that the dark eyes were watchingyou now, in the shadow of that big elm across the road? You would besurprised, but possibly not displeased, Mary? Ah! But what if anotherpair of eyes were watching, too, sharply, eagerly, greedily; little redeyes, set too near together across a crooked nose? What then,Mary-in-the-kitchen?