the haunted bookshop(闹鬼的书店)-第12节
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Titania； after making sure that Edwards was out of sight； turned up
Gissing Street with a fluent pace and an observant eye。 A small boy cried；
〃Carry your bag； lady？〃 and she was about to agree； but then remembered
that she was now engaged at ten dollars a week and waved him away。
Our readers would feel a justifiable grudge if we did not attempt a
description of the young lady； and we will employ the few blocks of her
course along Gissing Street for this purpose。
Walking behind her； the observer； by the time she had reached
Clemens Place； would have seen that she was faultlessly tailored in genial
tweeds； that her small brown boots were sheltered by spats of that pale tan
complexion exhibited by Pullman porters on the Pennsylvania Railroad；
that her person was both slender and vigorous； that her shoulders were
carrying a sumptuous fur of the colour described by the trade as nutria； or
possibly opal smoke。 The word chinchilla would have occurred irresistibly
to this observer from behind； he might also； if he were the father of a
family； have had a fleeting vision of many autographed stubs in a check
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
book。 The general impression that he would have retained； had he turned
aside at Clemens Place； would be 〃expensive； but worth the expense。〃
It is more likely； however； that the student of phenomena would have
continued along Gissing Street to the next corner； being that of Hazlitt
Street。 Taking advantage of opportunity； he would overtake the lady on
the pavement； with a secret； sidelong glance。 If he were wise； he would
pass her on the right side where her tilted bonnet permitted a wider angle
of vision。 He would catch a glimpse of cheek and chin belonging to the
category known （and rightly） as adorable； hair that held sunlight through
the dullest day； even a small platinum wrist watch that might pardonably
be excused； in its exhilarating career； for beating a trifle fast。 Among the
greyish furs he would note a bunch of such violets as never bloom in the
crude springtime； but reserve themselves for November and the plate glass
windows of Fifth Avenue。
It is probable that whatever the errand of this spectator he would have
continued along Gissing Street a few paces farther。 Then； with calculated
innocence； he would have halted halfway up the block that leads to the
Wordsworth Avenue 〃L；〃 and looked backward with carefully simulated
irresolution； as though considering some forgotten matter。 With
apparently unseeing eyes he would have scanned the bright pedestrian；
and caught the full impact of her rich blue gaze。 He would have seen a
small resolute face rather vivacious in effect； yet with a quaint pathos of
youth and eagerness。 He would have noted the cheeks lit with excitement
and rapid movement in the bracing air。 He would certainly have noted
the delicate contrast of the fur of the wild nutria with the soft V of her bare
throat。 Then； to his surprise； he would have seen this attractive person
stop； examine her surroundings； and run down some steps into a rather
dingy…looking second…hand bookshop。 He would have gone about his
affairs with a new and surprised conviction that the Almighty had the
borough of Brooklyn under His especial care。
Roger； who had conceived a notion of some rather peevish foundling
of the Ritz…Carlton lobbies and Central Park riding academies； was
agreeably amazed by the sweet simplicity of the young lady。
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
〃Is this Mr。 Mifflin？〃 she said； as he advanced all agog from his smoky
corner。
〃Miss Chapman？〃 he replied； taking her bag。 〃Helen！〃 he called。
〃Miss Titania is here。〃
She looked about the sombre alcoves of the shop。 〃I do think it's
adorable of you to take me in；〃 she said。 〃Dad has told me so much about
you。 He says I'm impossible。 I suppose this is the literature he talks
about。 I want to know all about it。〃
〃And here's Bock！〃 she cried。 〃Dad says he's the greatest dog in the
world； named after Botticelli or somebody。 I've brought him a present。
It's in my bag。 Nice old Bocky！〃
Bock； who was unaccustomed to spats； was examining them after his
own fashion。
〃Well； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Mifflin。 〃We are delighted to see you。 I
hope you'll be happy with us； but I rather doubt it。 Mr。 Mifflin is a hard
man to get along with。〃
〃Oh； I'm sure of it！〃 cried Titania。 〃I mean； I'm sure I shall be happy！
You mustn't believe a word of what Dad says about me。 I'm crazy about
books。 I don't see how you can bear to sell them。 I brought these violets
for you； Mrs。 Mifflin。〃
〃How perfectly sweet of you；〃 said Helen； captivated already。 〃Come
along； we'll put them right in water。 I'll show you your room。〃
Roger heard them moving about overhead。 It suddenly occurred to
him that the shop was rather a dingy place for a young girl。 〃I wish I had
thought to get in a cash register；〃 he mused。 〃She'll think I'm terribly
unbusiness…like。〃
〃Now；〃 said Mrs。 Mifflin； as she and Titania came downstairs again；
〃I'm making some pastry； so I'm going to turn you over to your employer。
He can show you round the shop and tell you where all the books are。〃
〃Before we begin；〃 said Titania； 〃just let me give Bock his present。〃
She showed a large package of tissue paper and； unwinding innumerable
layers； finally disclosed a stalwart bone。 〃I was lunching at Sherry's； and I
made the head waiter give me this。 He was awfully amused。〃
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〃Come along into the kitchen and give it to him；〃 said Helen。 〃He'll be
your friend for life。〃
〃What an adorable kennel！〃 cried Titania； when she saw the
remodelled packing…case that served Bock as a retreat。 The bookseller's
ingenious carpentry had built it into the similitude of a Carnegie library；
with the sign READING…ROOM over the door； and he had painted
imitation book…shelves along the interior。
〃You'll get used to Mr。 Mifflin after a while；〃 said Helen amusedly。
〃He spent all one winter getting that kennel fixed to his liking。 You might
have thought he was going to live in it instead of Bock。 All the titles that
he painted in there are books that have dogs in them； and a lot of them he
made up。〃
Titania insisted on getting down to peer inside。 Bock was much
flattered at this attention from the new planet that had swum into his
kennel。
〃Gracious！〃 she said； 〃here's ‘The Rubaiyat of Omar Canine。' I do
think that's clever！〃
〃Oh； there are a lot more；〃 said Helen。 〃The works of Bonar Law；
and Bohn's ‘Classics；' and ‘Catechisms on Dogma' and goodness knows
what。 If Roger paid half as much attention to business as he does to jokes
of that sort； we'd be rich。 Now； you run along and have a look at the
shop。〃
Titania found the bookseller at his desk。 〃Here I am； Mr。 Mifflin；〃
she said。 〃See； I brought a nice sharp pencil along with me to make out
sales slips。 I've been practicing sticking it in my hair。 I can do it quite
nicely now。 I hope you have some of those big red books with all the
carbon paper in them and everything。 I've been watching the girls up at
Lord and Taylor's make them out； and I think they're fascinating。 And
you must teach me to run the elevator。 I'm awfully keen about elevators。〃
〃Bless me；〃 said Roger； 〃You'll find this very different from Lord and
Taylor's！ We haven't any elevators； or any sales slips； or even a cash
register。 We don't wait on customers unless they ask us to。 They come in
and browse round； and if they find anything they want they co
