the fortunes of oliver horn-第28节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　bold；　bad　adventurer。　At　least；　that　had　been　Cockburn's　account　of　it　when　he　came　upstairs。

But　it　was　at　dinner　that　same　nightfor　Oliver　at　Fred's　pressing　invitation　had　come　back　to　dinner　that　the　full　galaxy　of　guests　and　regulars　burst　upon　our　hero。　Then　came　not　only　Miss　Euphemia　Teetum　in　a　costume　especially　selected　for　Oliver's　capture；　but　a　person　still　more　startling　and　imposing　so　imposing；　in　fact；　that　when　she　entered　the　room　one…half　of　the　gentlemen　present　made　little　backward　movements　with　the　legs　of　their　chairs；　as　if　intending　to　rise　to　their　feet　in　honor　of　her　presence。

This　prominent　figure　in　fashionable　life；　who　had　now　settled　herself　on　the　right　of　Miss　Annthe　post　of　honor　at　the　tableand　who　was　smiling　in　so　gracious　and　condescending　a　manner　as　her　eye　lighted　on　the　several　recipients　of　her　favor；　was　none　other　than　the　distinguished　Mrs。　Schuyler　Van　Tassell；　of　Tarrytown；　another　bird　of　passage；　who　had　left　her　country…seat　on　the　Hudson　to　spend　the　winter　months　in　what　she　called　the　delights　of　　〃upper…tandem。〃　She　belonged　to　an　ancient　familyor；　at　least；　her　husband　didhe　was　under　the　sod；　poor　soul；　and　therefore　at　peaceand；　having　inherited　his　estatea　considerable　onewas　to　be　treated　with　every　distinction。

These　several　personages　of　low　and　high　degree　interested　our　young　gentleman　quite　as　much　as　our　young　gentleman　interested　them。　He　made　friends　with　them　allespecially　with　the　ladies；　who　all　agreed　that　he　was　a　most　charming　and　accomplished　　youth。　This　good　opinion　became　permanent　when　Oliver　had　paid　each　in　turn　the　compliment　of　rising　from　his　seat　when　any　one　of　them　entered　the　room；　as　much　a　habit　with　the　young　fellow　as　the　taking　off　of　his　hat　when　he　came　into　a　house；　but　which　was　so　rare　a　courtesy　at　Miss　Teetum's　that　each　recipient　appropriated　the　compliment　as　personal　to　herself。

These　sentiments　of　admiration　were　shared；　and　to　an　alarming　degree；　by　Miss　Euphemia　herself；　who；　on　learning　later　that　Oliver　had　decided　to　occupy　half　of　Fred's　room　through　the　winter；　had　at　once　determined　to　remain　during　the　week；　the　better　to　lay　siege　to　his　heart。　This　resolution；　　it　is　fair　to　Oliver　to　say；　she　abandoned　before　dinner　was　over；　when　her　experienced　eye　detected　a　certain　amused　if　not　derisive　smile　playing　around　the　corners　of　Oliver's　mouth；　a　discovery　which　so　impressed　the　young　woman　that　she　left　him　severely　　alone　ever　after。

And　so　it　was　that　Oliver　unpacked　his　trunkthe　same　old　hair　trunk；　studded　with　brass　nails；　that　had　held　his　father's　wardrobe　at　collegespread　out　and　tacked　up　the　various　knick…knacks　which　his　mother　and　Sue　and　Miss　Clendenning　had　given　him　when　he　had　left　the　old　home；　and　began　to　make　himself　comfortable　on　the　top　floor　of　Miss　Teetum's　boarding…house　on　Union　Square。




CHAPTER　X

MCFUDD'S　BRASS　BAND



Our　hero　had　been　installed　at　Miss　Teetum's　for　a　month　or　more；　when　one　night　at　dinner　a　tiny　envelope　about　the　size　of　a　visiting…card　was　brought　in　by　the　middle…aged　waitress　and　laid　beside　Simmons's　　plate。　The　envelope　contained　six　orchestra　seats　at　the　Winter　Garden　and　was　accompanied　by　a　note　which　read　as　follows：　〃Bring　some　of　the　boys；　the　piece　drags。〃

The　musician　studied　the　note　carefully　and　a　broad　smile　broke　over　his　face。　As　one　of　the　first　violins　at　the　Winter　Garden；　with　a　wide　acquaintance　　among　desirable　patrons　of　the　theatre；　he　had　peculiar　facilities　for　obtaining　free　private　boxes　and　orchestra　chairs　not　only　at　his　own　theatre；　but　often　at　Wallack's　in　Broome　Street　and　the　old　Bowery。　　Simmons　was　almost　always　sure　to　have　tickets　when　the　new　piece　needed　booming；　or　when　an　old　play　failed　to　amuse　and　the　audiences　had　begun　to　shrink。　Indeed；　the　mystery　of　Mrs。　Schuyler　Van　Tassell's　frequent　appearance　in　the　left…hand　proscenium　box　at　the　Winter　Garden　on　Friday　nightsa　mystery　unexplained　among　the　immediate　friends　in　Tarrytown；　who　knew　how　she　husbanded　her　resources　despite　her　accredited　wealthwas　no　mystery　at　all　to　the　guests　at　Miss　Teetum's　table；　who　were　in　the　habit　of　seeing　just　such　tiny　envelopes　handed　to　Simmons　during　soup；　and　duly　passed　by　him　to　that　distinguished　leader　of　society。　Should　more　than　two　tickets　be　enclosed；　Mrs。　Van　T。　would；　perhaps；　invite。　Mr。　Ruffle…shirt　Tomlins；　or　some　other　properly　attired　person；　to　accompany　hernever　Miss　Ann　or　the　little　hunchback；　who　dearly　loved　the　play；　but　who　could　seldom　afford　to　gonever　anybody；　in　fact；　who　wore　plain　clothes　or　looked　a　compromising　acquaintance。

On　this　night；　however；　Pussy　Me…ow　Simmons；　ignoring　Mrs。　Van　Tassell；　turned　to　Oliver。

〃Ollie；〃　he　whisperedthe　formalities　had　ceased　between　the　members　of　the　Skylarks〃got　anything　　to　do　to…night？〃

〃No；　why？〃

And　then；　Simmons；　with　various　imaginary　poundings　of　imaginary　canes　on　the　threadbare　carpet　　beneath　his　chair；　and　with　sundry　half…smothered　　bursts　of　real　laughter　in　which　Fred　and　Oliver　joined；　unfolded　his　programme　for　the　eveninga　programme　which　was　agreed　to　so　rapturously　that　the　trio　before　dinner　was　over　excused　themselves　to　their　immediate　neighbors　and　bounded　upstairs；　three　steps　at　a　time。　There　they　pulled　the　Walrus　out　of　his　bed　and　woke　up　McFudd；　who　had　gone　to　sleep　before　dinner；　and　whom　nobody　had　called。　Then　having　sent　my　Lord　Cockburn　to　find　Ruffle…　shirt　Tomlins；　who　by　this　time　was　paying　court　to　Miss　Euphemia　in　the　front　parlor；　and　having　pinned　a　ticket　to　Mr。　Fog…horn　Cranch's　door；　with　instructions　　to　meet　them　in　the　lobby　the　moment　he　returned；　　they　all　slipped　on　their　overcoats；　picked　up　their　canes；　and　started　for　the　theatre。

Six　young　fellows；　all　with　red　blood　in　their　veins；　steel　springs　under　their　toes　and　laughter　in　their　hearts！　Six　comrades；　pals；　good…fellows；　skipping　down　the　avenue　as　gay　as　colts　and　happy　as　boys　no　thought　for　to…day　and　no　care　for　to…morrow！　Each　man　with　a　free　ticket　in　his　pocket　and　a　show　ahead　of　him。　No　wonder　the　bluecoats　looked　after　them　and　smiled；　no　wonder　the　old　fellow　with　the　shaky　legs；　waiting　at　the　corner　for　one　of　the　squad　to　help　him　over；　gave　a　sigh　as　he　watched　McFudd；　with　cane　in　air；　drilling　his　recruits；　all　five　abreast。　No　wonder　the　tired　shop…girls　glanced　at　them　enviously　as　they　swung　into　Broadway　chanting　　the　〃Dead　Man's　Chorus；〃　with　Oliver's　voice　sounding　clear　as　a　bell　above　the　din　of　the　streets。

The　play　was　a　melodrama　of　the　old；　old　school。　There　was　a　young　heroine　in　white；　and　a　handsome　lover　in　top…boots　and　white　trousers；　and　a　cruel　uncle　who　wanted　her　property。　And　there　was　a　particularly　brutal　villain　with　leery　eyes；　ugly　mouth；　with　one　tooth　gone；　and　an　iron　jaw　like　a　hull…dog's。　He　was　attired　in　a　fur　cap；　brown　corduroy　　jacket；　with　a　blood…red　handkerchief　twisted　about　his　throat；　and　he　carried　a　bludgeon。　When　the　double…dyed　villain　proceeded　in　the　third　act　to　pound　the　head　of　the　lovely　maiden　to　a　jelly　at　the　instigation　of　the　base　uncle；　concealed　behind　a　painted　tree…trunk；　and　the　lover　rushed　in　and　tried　to　save　her；　every　pair　of　hands　except　Oliver's　came　together　in　raptures　of　applause；　assisted　by　a　vigorous　　hammering　of　canes　on　the　floor。

〃Pound　away；　Ollie；〃　whispered　Simmons；　〃that's　what　we　came　for；　you　are　spoiling　all　our　fun。　The　manager　is　watching　us。　Pound　away；　I　tell　you。　There　he　is　inside　that　box。〃

〃I　won't；〃　said　Oliver；　in　a　tone　of　voice　strangely　in　contrast　with　the　joyousness　of　an　hour　before。

〃Then　you　won't　get　any　more　free　tickets；〃　muttered　Simmons　in　surprise。

〃I　don't　want　them。　I　don't　believe　in　murdering　people　on　the　stage；　or　anywhere　else。　That　man's　face　is　horrible；　I'm　sorry　I　came。〃

Simmons　laughed；　and；　shielding　his　mouth　with　his　hand；　repeated　Oliver's　outburst　to　Waller；　who；　having　first　sent　news　of　it　down　the　line；　reached　over　and　shook　Oliver's　hand　gravely；　while　he　wiped　a　theatrical　tear　from　his　eye；　while　my　Lord　Cockburn；　　with　feet　and　hands　still　busy；　returned　word　to　Oliver　by　Tomlins；　〃not　to　make　a　colossal　ass　of　himself。〃　Oliver　bore　their　ridicule　good…naturedly；　but　without　receding　from　his　opinion　in　any　way；　a　fact　which　ultimately　raised　him　in　the　estimation　of　the　group。　Only　when　the　villain　was　thrown　over　the　pasteboard　cliff　into　a　canvas　sea　by　the　gentleman　　in　top…boots；　to　be　devoured　by　sharks　or　cut　up　by　pirates；　or　otherwise　disposed　of　as　befitted　so　blood…thirsty　and　cruel　a　monster；　did　Oliver　join　in　the　applause。

The　play　over；　and　Simmons　having　duly　reported　to　the　managerwho　was　delighted　with　the　activity　of　the　feet；　but　who　advised　that　next　time　the　sticks　be　left　at　homethe　happy　party　sailed　up　Broadway；　　this　time　by　threes　and　twos；　swinging　their　canes　as　before；　and　threading　their　way　in　and　out　of　the　throngs　that　filled　the　street。

The　first　stop　was　made　at　the　corner　of　Thirteenth　Street　by　McFudd；　who　turned　his　troop　abruptly　to　the　right　and　marched　them　down　a　flight　of　steps　into　a　cellar；　where　they　immediately　attacked　a　huge　wash…tub　filled　with　steamed　clams；　and　covered　with　a　whi