the fortunes of oliver horn-第30节
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me bed？ And all you fellers go ahead treading on whispers； d'ye moind？〃 said McFudd under his breath。 〃I'll bring up this gang with me。 Not a breath out of any o' yez remimber； till I get there。 The drum's unhandy and we got to go slow wid it；〃 and he slipped the strap over his head and started upstairs； followed by the band。
The ascent was made without a sound until old Mr。 Lang's door was reached； when McFudd's foot slipped； and； but for the bassoonist's head； both the Irishman and the drum would have rolled down… stairs。 Lang heard the sound； and recognizing the character of the attendant imprecation； did not get up。 〃It's only McFndd；〃 he said quietly to his suddenly awakened wife。
Once safe upon the attic floor the band who were entering with great gusto into the spirit of the occasion； arranged themselves in a half…circle about the piano； replaced their shoes； stripped their instruments of their coveringsthe cornetist breathing noiselessly into the mouth…pieces to thaw out the frostand stood at attention for McFudd's orders。
By this time Simmons had taken his seat at the piano； Cockburn held the blower and tongs； Cranch； who on coming in had ignored the card tacked to his door； and who was found fast asleep in his chair； was given the coal…scuttle； and little Tomlins grasped his own wash…basin in one hand and Fred's poker in the other。 Oliver was to sing the air； and Fred was to beat a tattoo on Waller's door with the butt end of a cane。 The gas had been turned up and every kerosene lamp had been lighted and ranged about the hall。 McFudd threw off his coat and vest； cocked a Scotch smoking… cap over one eye； and seizing the Chinese gong in one hand and the wooden mallet in the other； climbed upon the piano and faced his motley orchestra。
〃Attintion； gentlemen；〃 whispered McFudd。
〃The first chune will be 'Old Dog Tray；' because it begins wid a lovely howl。 Remimber now； when I hit this gong that's the signal for yez to begin； and ye'll all come together wid wan smash。 Then the band will play a bar or two； and then every man Jack o' ye will go strong on the chorus。 Are yez ready？〃
McFudd swung his mallet over his head； poised it for an instant； ran his eye around the circle with the air of an impresario； saw that the drum was in position； the horns and clarionet ready； the blower； scuttle； tongs； and other instruments of torture in place； and hit the gong with all his might。
The crash that followed woke every boarder in the house and tumbled half of them out of their beds。 Long before the chorus had been reached all the doors had been thrown open； and the halls and passageways filled with the startled boarders。 Then certain mysterious…looking figures in bed…gowns； water… proofs； and bath…robes began bounding up the stairs； and a collection of dishevelled heads were thrust through the door of the attic。 Some of the suddenly awakened boarders tried to stop the din by protest； others threatened violence； one or two grinned with delight。 Among these last was the little hunchback； swathed in a blanket like an Indian chief； and barefooted。 He had rushed upstairs at the first sound as fast as his little legs could carry him； and was peering under the arms of the others； rubbing his sides with glee and laughing like a boy。 Mrs。 Schuyler Van Tassell； whose head and complexion were not ready for general inspection； had kept her door partly closed； opening it only wide enough when the other boarders rushed by to let her voice throughalways an unpleasant organ when that lady had lost her temper。
As the face of each new arrival appeared in the doorway； McFudd would bow gracefully in recognition of the honor of its presence； and redouble his attack on the gong。 The noise he produced was only equalled by that of the drum； which never ceased for an instantMcFudd's orders being to keep that instrument going irrespective of time or tune。
In the midst of this uproar of brass； strings； sheep… skin； wash…bowls； broken coal； pokers and tongs； a lean figure in curl…papers and slippers； bright red calico wrapper reaching to the floor； and a lighted candle in one hand； forced its way through the crowd at the door and stood out in the glare of the gaslights facing McFudd。
It was Miss Ann Teetum！
Instantly a silence fell upon the room。
〃Gentlemen； this is outrageous！〃 she cried in a voice that ripped through the air like a saw。 〃I have put up with these disgraceful performances as long as I am going to。 Not one of you shall stay in my house another night。 Out you go in the morning； every one of you； bag and baggage！〃
McFudd attempted to make an apology。 Oliver stepped forward； the color mounting to his cheeks； and Waller began a protest at the unwarrantable intrusion； but the infuriated little woman waved them all aside and turning abruptly marched back through the door and down the staircase； preceded by the other female boarders。 The little hunchback alone remained。 He was doubled up in a knot； wiping the tears from his eyes； his breath gone from excessive laughter。
The Skylarkers looked at each other in blank astonishment。 One of the long…cherished traditions of the house was the inviolability of this attic。 Its rooms were let with an especial privilege guaranteeing its privacy； with free license to make all the noise possible； provided the racket was confined to that one floor。 So careful had been its occupants to observe this rule； that noisy as they all were when once on the top floor； every man unlocked the front door at night with the touch of a burglar and crept upstairs as noiselessly as a footpad。
〃I'm sorry； men；〃 said McFudd； looking into the astounded faces about him。 〃I'm the last man； as ye know； to hurt anybody's feelings。 But what the divil's got into the old lady？ Who'd 'a' thought she would have heard a word of it down where she sleeps in the basement？〃
〃'Tis the Van Tassell；〃 grunted the Walrus。 〃She's so mesmerized the old woman lately that she don't know her own mind。〃
〃What makes you think she put her up to it； Waller？〃 asked Cranch。
〃I don't thinkbut it's just like her；〃 answered Waller； with illogical prejudice。
〃My eye！ wasn't she a beauty！〃 laughed Fred； and he picked up a bit of charcoal and began an outline of the wrapper and slippers on the side…wall。
Tomlins； Cranch； and the others had no suggestions to offer。 Their minds were too much occupied in wondering what was going to become of them in the morning。
The German band by this time had regained their usual solidity。 The leader seemed immensely relieved。 He had evidently expected the next apparition to be a bluecoat with a pair of handcuffs。
〃Put their green jackets on 'em；〃 McFudd said to the leader quietly； pointing to the instruments。 〃We're much obliged to you and your men for coming up；〃 and he slipped some notes into the leader's hand。 〃Now get downstairs； every man o' ye； as aisy as if ye were walking on eggs。 Cranch； old man； will ye see 'em out； to kape that infernal drum from butting into the Van Tassell's door； or we'll have another hornet's nest。 Begorra； there's wan thing very sureit's little baggage I'LL have to move out。〃
The next morning a row of six vacant seats stared Miss Ann out of countenance。 The outcasts had risen early and had gone to Riley's for their breakfast。 Miss Ann sat at the coffee…urn as stiff and erect as an avenging judge。 Lofty purpose and grim determination were written in every line of her face。 Mrs。 Van Tassell was not in evidence。 Her nerves had been so shattered by the 〃night's orgy；〃 she had said to Miss Ann； that she should breakfast in her room。 She further notified Miss Teetum that she should at once withdraw her protecting presence from the establishment； and leave it without a distinguished social head； if the dwellers on the top floor remained another day under the same roof with herself。
An ominous silence and depressing gloom seemed。 to hang over everybody。 Several of the older men pushed back their plates and began drumming oh the table…cloth with their fingers； a far…away look in their eyes。 One or two talked in whispers； their coffee untasted。 Old Mr。 Lang looked down the line of empty seats and took his place with a dejected air。 He was the oldest man in the house and the oldest boarder； this gave him certain privileges； one being to speak his mind。
〃I understand；〃 he said； unfolding his napkin and facing。 Miss Ann； 〃that you have ordered the boys out of the house？〃
〃Yes； I have；〃 snapped out Miss Teetum。
Everybody looked up。 No one recognized the tone of her voice； it was so sharp and bitter。
〃Why； may I ask？〃
〃I will not have my house turned into a bear… garden； that's why！〃
〃That's better than a graveyard；〃 retorted Mr。 Lang。 〃That's what the house would be without them。 I can't understand why you object。 You sleep in the basement and shouldn't hear a sound； my wife and I sleep under them every night。 If we can stand it； you can。 You send the boys away； Miss Teetum； and we'll move out。〃
Miss Ann winced under the shot； but she did not answer。
〃Do you mean that you're going to turn the young gentlemen into the street； Miss Ann？〃 whined Mrs。 Southwark Boggs in an injured tone； from her end of the table。 〃Are
