Timothy Crump's Ward: A Story of American Life by Jr. Horatio Alger (top 10 novels to read TXT) π
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
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βWhen do you wish Ida to go with you?β asked Mrs. Crump.
βCan you let her go this afternoon?β
βWhy,β said Mrs. Crump, hesitating, βI should like to have a chance to wash out some clothes for her. I want her to appear as neat a possible, when she meets her mother.β
The nurse hesitated.
βI do not wish to hurry you. If you will let me know when she will be ready, I will call for her.β
βI think I can get her ready early to-morrow morning.β
βThat will answer excellently. I will call for her then.β
The nurse rose, and gathered her shawl about her.
βWhere are you going, Mrs. Hardwick?β asked the cooper's wife.
βTo a hotel,β was the reply.
βWe cannot allow that,β said Mrs. Crump, kindly. βIt is a pity if we cannot accommodate Ida's old nurse for one night, or ten times as long, for that matter.β
βMy wife is quite right,β said the cooper; βwe must insist upon your stopping with us.β
The nurse hesitated, and looked irresolute. It was plain she would have preferred to be elsewhere, but a remark which Mrs. Crump made, decided her to accept the invitation.
It was this. βYou know, Mrs. Hardwick, if Ida is to go with you, she ought to have a little chance to get acquainted with you before you go.β
βI will accept your kind invitation,β she said; βbut I am afraid I shall be in your way.β
βNot in the least. It will be a pleasure to us to have you here. If you will excuse me now, I will go out and attend to my dinner, which I am afraid is getting behindhand.β
Left to herself, the nurse behaved in a manner which might be regarded as singular. She rose from her seat, and approached the mirror. She took a full survey of herself as she stood there, and laughed a short, hard laugh.
Then she made a formal courtesy to her own reflection, saying, βHow do you do, Mrs. Hardwick?β
βDid you speak?β asked the cooper, who was passing through the entry on his way out.
βNo,β said the nurse, a little awkwardly. βI believe I said something to myself. It's of no consequence.β
βSomehow,β thought the cooper, βI don't fancy the woman's looks, but I dare say I am prejudiced. We're all of us as God made us.β
While Mrs. Crump was making preparations for the noon-day meal, she imparted to Rachel the astonishing information, which has already been detailed to the reader.
βI don't believe a word of it,β said Rachel, resolutely.
βShe's an imposter. I knew she was the very first moment I set eyes on her.β
This remark was so characteristic of Rachel, that Mrs. Crump did not attach any special importance to it. Rachel, of course, had no grounds for the opinion she so confidently expressed. It was consistent, however, with her general estimate of human nature.
βWhat object could she have in inventing such a story?β
βWhat object? Hundreds of 'em,β said Rachel, rather indefinitely. βMark my words, if you let her carry off Ida, it'll be the last you'll ever see of her.β
βTry to look on the bright side, Rachel. Nothing is more natural than that her mother should want to see her.β
βWhy couldn't she come herself?β muttered Rachel.
βThe letter explains.β
βI don't see that it does.β
βIt says that the same reasons exist for concealment as ever.β
βAnd what are they, I should like to know? I don't like mysteries, for my part.β
βWe won't quarrel with them, at any rate, since they enable us to keep Ida with us.β
Aunt Rachel shook her head, as if she were far from satisfied.
βI don't know,β said Mrs. Crump, βbut I ought to invite Mrs. Hardwick in here. I have left her alone in the front room.β
βI don't want to see her,β said Aunt Rachel. Then changing her mind, suddenly, βYes, you may bring her in. I'll find out whether she is an imposter or not.β
Mrs. Crump returned with the nurse. βMrs. Hardwick,β said she, βthis is my sister, Miss Rachel Crump.β
βI am glad to make your acquaintance, ma'am,β said the nurse.
βAunt Rachel, I will leave you to entertain Mrs. Hardwick,β said Mrs. Crump. βI am obliged to be in the kitchen.β
Rachel and the nurse eyed each other with mutual dislike.
βI hope you don't expect me to entertain you,β said Rachel. βI never expect to entertain anybody again. This is a world of trial and tribulation, and I've had my share. So you've come after Ida, I hear?β with a sudden change of subject.
βAt her mother's request,β said the nurse.
βShe wants to see her, then?β
βYes, ma'am.β
βI wonder she didn't think of it before,β said Aunt Rachel, sharply. βShe's good at waiting. She's waited eight years.β
βThere are circumstances that cannot be explained,β commenced the nurse.
βNo, I dare say not,β said Rachel, dryly. βSo you were her nurse?β
βYes, ma'am,β said Mrs. Hardwick, who evidently did not relish this cross-examination.
βHave you lived with the mother ever since?β
βNo,βyes,β stammered the nurse. βSome of the time,β she added, recovering herself.
βUmph!β grunted Rachel, darting a sharp glance at her.
βHave you a husband living?β inquired Rachel, after a pause.
βYes,β said Mrs. Hardwick. βHave you?β
βI!β repeated Aunt Rachel, scornfully. βNo, neither living nor dead. I'm thankful to say I never married. I've had trials enough without that. Does Ida's mother live in the city?β
βI can't tell you,β said the nurse.
βHumph, I don't like mystery.β
βIt isn't my mystery,β said the nurse. βIf you have any objection to make against it, you must make it to Ida's mother.β
The two were not likely to get along very amicably. Neither was gifted with
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