the peterkin papers-第14部分

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〃What　shall　we　do？〃　asked　Mrs。　Peterkin。

Elizabeth　Eliza　rose　from　the　sofa　and　went　to　the　door；　saying；　〃I　shall　be　　back　in　a　moment。〃

Agamemnon　slowly　passed　round　the　room；　collecting　the　scattered　volumes　of　his　　Encyclop？dia。　Mr。　Peterkin　offered　a　helping　hand　to　a　man　lifting　a　wardrobe。

Elizabeth　Eliza　soon　returned。　〃I　did　not　like　to　go　and　ask　her。　But　I　felt　　that　I　must　in　such　an　emergency。　I　explained　to　her　the　whole　matter；　and　she　　thinks　we　should　take　the　carpet　at　Makillan's。〃

〃Makillan's〃　was　a　store　in　the　village；　and　the　carpet　was　the　only　one　all　the　　family　had　liked　without　any　doubt；　but　they　had　supposed　they　might　prefer　one　　from　Boston。

The　moment　was　a　critical　one。　Solomon　John　was　sent　directly　to　Makillan's　to　　order　the　carpet　to　be　put　down　that　very　day。　But　where　should　they　dine？　where　　should　they　have　their　supper？　and　where　was　Mr。　Peterkin's　〃quiet　hour〃　？

Elizabeth　Eliza　was　frantic；　the　dining…room　floor　and　table　were　covered　with　　things。

It　was　decided　that　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Peterkin　should　dine　at　the　Bromwicks；　who　had　　been　most　neighborly　in　their　offers；　and　the　rest　should　get　something　to　eat　　at　the　baker's。

Agamemnon　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　hastened　away　to　be　ready　to　receive　the　carts　at　　the　other　house；　and　direct　the　furniture　as　they　could。　After　all　there　was　　something　exhilarating　in　this　opening　of　the　new　house；　and　in　deciding　where　　things　should　go。　Gayly　Elizabeth　Eliza　stepped　down　the　front　garden　of　the　new　　home；　and　across　the　piazza；　and　to　the　door。　But　it　was　locked；　and　she　had　no　　keys！

〃Agamemnon；　did　you　bring　the　keys？〃　she　exclaimed。

No；　he　had　not　seen　them　since　the　morning；…when…ah！…yes；　the　little　boys　were　　allowed　to　go　to　the　house　for　their　india…rubber　boots；　as　there　was　a　　threatening　of　rain。　Perhaps　they　had　left　some　door　unfastened…perhaps　they　had　　put　the　keys　under　the　door…mat。　No；　each　door；　each　window；　was　solidly　closed；　　and　there　was　no　mat！

〃I　shall　have　to　go　to　the　school　to　see　if　they　took　the　keys　with　them；〃　said　　Agamemnon；　〃or　else　go　home　to　see　if　they　left　them　there。〃　The　school　was　in　a　　different　direction　from　the　house；　and　far　at　the　other　end　of　the　town；　for　　Mr。　Peterkin　had　not　yet　changed　the　boys'　school；　as　he　proposed　to　do　after　　their　move。

〃That　will　be　the　only　way；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　for　it　had　been　arranged　that　　the　little　boys　should　take　their　lunch　to　school；　and　not　come　home　at　noon。

She　sat　down　on　the　steps　to　wait；　but　only　for　a　moment；　for　the　carts　soon　　appeared；　turning　the　corner。　What　should　be　done　with　the　furniture？　Of　course　　the　carters　must　wait　for　the　keys；　as　she　should　need　them　to　set　the　furniture　　up　in　the　right　places。　But　they　could　not　stop　for　this。　They　put　it　down　upon　　the　piazza；　on　the　steps；　in　the　garden；　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　saw　how　incongruous　　it　was！　There　was　something　from　every　room　in　the　house！　Even　the　large　family　　chest；　which　had　proved　too　heavy　for　them　to　travel　with　had　come　down　from　the　　attic；　and　stood　against　the　front　door。

And　Solomon　John　appeared　with　the　carpet　woman；　and　a　boy　with　a　wheelbarrow；　　bringing　the　new　carpet。　And　all　stood　and　waited。　Some　opposite　neighbors　　appeared　to　offer　advice　and　look　on；　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　groaned　inwardly　that　　only　the　shabbiest　of　their　furniture　appeared　to　be　standing　full　in　view。

　It　seemed　ages　before　Agamemnon　returned；　and　no　wonder；　for　he　had　been　to　the　　house；　then　to　the　school；　then　back　to　the　house；　for　one　of　the　little　boys　　had　left　the　keys　at　home；　in　the　pocket　of　his　clothes。　Meanwhile　the　　carpet…woman　had　waited；　and　the　boy　with　the　wheelbarrow　had　waited；　and　when　　they　got　in　they　found　the　parlor　must　be　swept　and　cleaned。　So　the　carpet…woman　　went　off　in　dudgeon；　for　she　was　sure　there　would　not　be　time　enough　to　do　　anything。

And　one　of　the　carts　came　again；　and　in　their　hurry　the　men　set　the　furniture　　down　anywhere。　Elizabeth　Eliza　was　hoping　to　make　a　little　place　in　the　　dining…room；　where　they　might　have　their　supper；　and　go　home　to　sleep。　But　she　　looked　out；　and　there　were　the　carters　bringing　the　bedsteads；　and　proceeding　to　　carry　them　upstairs。

In　despair　Elizabeth　Eliza　went　back　to　the　old　house。　If　she　had　been　there　she　　might　have　prevented　this。　She　found　Mrs。　Peterkin　in　an　agony　about　the　entry　　oil…cloth。　It　had　been　made　in　the　house；　and　how　could　it　be　taken　out　of　the　　house？　Agamemnon　made　measurements；　it　certainly　could　not　go　out　of　the　front　　door！　He　suggested　it　might　be　left　till　the　house　was　pulled　down；　when　it　　could　easily　be　moved　out　of　one　side。　But　Elizabeth　Eliza　reminded　him　that　the　　whole　house　was　to　be　moved　without　being　taken　apart。　Perhaps　it　could　be　cut　　in　strips　narrow　enough　to　go　out。　One　of　the　men　loading　the　remaining　cart　　disposed　of　the　question　by　coming　in　and　rolling　up　the　oil…cloth　and　carrying　　it　on　on　top　of　his　wagon。

Elizabeth　Eliza　felt　she　must　hurry　back　to　the　new　house。　But　what　should　they　　do？…no　beds　here；　no　carpets　there！　The　dining…room　table　and　sideboard　were　at　　the　other　house；　the　plates；　and　forks；　and　spoons　here。　In　vain　she　looked　at　　her　programme。　It　was　all　reversed；　everything　was　misplaced。　Mr。　Peterkin　would　　suppose　they　were　to　eat　here　and　sleep　here；　and　what　had　become　of　the　little　　boys？

Meanwhile　the　man　with　the　first　cart　had　returned。　They　fell　to　packing　the　　dining…room　china。

They　were　up　in　the　attic；　they　were　down　in　the　cellar。　Even　one　suggested　to　　take　the　tacks　out　of　the　parlor　carpets；　as　they　should　want　to　take　them　next。

Mrs。　Peterkin　sunk　upon　a　kitchen　chair。

〃Oh；　I　wish　we　had　decided　to　stay　and　be　moved　in　the　house　！〃　she　exclaimed。

Solomon　John　urged　his　mother　to　go　to　the　new　house；　for　Mr。　Peterkin　would　be　　there　for　his　〃quiet　hour。〃　And　when　the　carters　at　last　appeared；　carrying　the　　parlor　carpets　on　their　shoulders；　she　sighed　and　said；　〃There　is　nothing　left；〃

and　meekly　consented　to　be　led　away。

They　reached　the　new　house　to　find　Mr。　Peterkin　sitting　calmly　in　a　　rocking…chair　on　the　piazza；　watching　the　oxen　coming　into　the　opposite　barn。　He　　was　waiting　for　the　keys；　which　Solomon　John　had　taken　back　with　him。　The　little　　boys　were　in　a　horse…chestnut　tree；　at　the　side　of　the　house。

　Agamemnon　opened　the　door。　The　passages　were　crowded　with　furniture；　the　floors　　were　strewn　with　books；　the　bureau　was　upstairs　that　was　to　stand　in　a　lower　　bedroom；　there　was　not　a　place　to　lay　a　table；…there　was　nothing　to　lay　upon　it；　　for　the　knives　and　plates　and　spoons　had　not　come；　and　although　the　tables　were　　there　they　were　covered　with　chairs　and　boxes。

At　this　moment　came　a　covered　basket　from　the　lady　from　Philadelphia。　It　　contained　a　choice　supper；　and　forks　and　spoons；　and　at　the　same　moment　appeared　　a　pot　of　hot　tea　from　an　opposite　neighbor。　They　placed　all　this　on　the　back　of　　a　bookcase　lying　upset；　and　sat　around　it。　Solomon　John　came　rushing　in　from　the　　gate。

〃The　last　load　is　coming！　We　are　all　moved！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　the　little　boys　　joined　in　a　chorus；　〃We　are　moved！　we　are　moved！〃

Mrs。　Peterkin　looked　sadly　round；　the　kitchen　utensils　were　lying　on　the　parlor　　lounge；　and　an　old　family　gun　on　Elizabeth　Eliza's　hat…box。　The　parlor　clock　　stood　on　a　barrel；　some　coal…scuttles　had　been　placed　on　the　parlor　table；　a　　bust　of　Washington　stood　in　the　door…way；　and　the　looking…glasses　leaned　against　　the　pillars　of　the　piazza。　But　they　were　moved！　Mrs。　Peterkin　felt；　indeed；　that　　they　were　very　much　moved。

　THE　PETERKINS　DECIDE　TO　LEARN　THE　LANGUAGES。　　CERTAINLY　now　was　the　time　to　study　the　languages。　The　Peterkins　had　moved　into　　a　new　house；　far　more　convenient　than　their　old　one；　where　they　would　have　a　　place　for　everything　and　everything　in　its　place。　Of　course　they　would　then　have　　more　time。

Elizabeth　Eliza　recalled　the　troubles　of　the　old　house；　how　for　a　long　time　she　　was　obliged　to　sit　outside　of　the　window　upon　the　piazza；　when　she　wanted　to　　play　on　her　piano。

Mrs。　Peterkin　reminded　them　of　the　difficulty　about　the　table…cloths。　The　upper　　table…cloth　was　kept　in　a　trunk　that　had　to　stand　in　front　of　the　door　to　the　　closet　under　the　stairs。　But　the　under　table…cloth　was　kept　in　a　drawer　in　the　　closet。　So；　whenever　the　cloths　were　changed；　the　trunk　had　to　be　pushed　away　　under　some　projecting　shelves　to　make　room　for　opening　the　closet…door　（as　the　　under　table…cloth　must　be　taken　out　first）；　then　the　trunk　was　pushed　back　to　　make　room　for　it　to　be　opened　for　the　upper　table…cloth；　and；　after　all；　it　was　　necessary　to　push　the　trunk　away　again　to　open　the　closet…door　for　the　　knife…tray。　This　always　consumed　a　great　deal　of　time。

Now　that　the　china…closet　was　large　enough；　everything　could　find　a　place　in　it。

　Agamemnon　especially　enjoyed　the　new　library。　In　the　old　house　there　was　no　　separate　room　for　books。　The　dictionaries　were　kept　upstairs；　which　was　very　　inconvenient；　and　the　volumes　of　the　Encyclop？dia　could　not　be　together。　There　　was　not　room　for　all　in　one　place。　So　from　A　to　P　were　to　be　found　downstairs；　　and　from　Q　to　Z　were　scattered　in　different　rooms　upstairs。　And　the　worst　of　it　　was；　you　could　never　remember　whether　from　A　to　P　included　P。　〃I　always　went　　upstairs　after　P；〃　said　Agamemnon；　〃and　then　always　found　it　downstairs；　or　else　　it　was　the　other　way。〃

Of　course　now　there　were　more　conveniences　for　study。　With　the　books　all　in　one　　room；　there　would　be　no　time　wasted　in　looking　for　them。

Mr。　Peterkin　suggested　they　should　each　take　a　separate　language。　If　they　went　　abroad；　this　would　prove　a　great　convenience。　Elizabeth　Eliza　could　talk　French　　with　the　Parisians；　Agamemnon；　German　with　the　Germans；　Solomon　John；　Italian　　with　the　Italians；　Mrs。　Peterkin；　Spanish　in　Spain；　and　perhaps　he　could　himself　　master　all　the　Eastern　Languages　and　Russian。

Mrs。　Peterkin　was　uncertain　about　undertaking　the　Spanish；　but　all　the　family　　felt　very　sure　they　should　not　go　to　Spain　（as　Elizabeth　Eliza　dreaded　the　　Inquisition）；　and　Mrs。　Peterkin　felt　more　willing。

Still　she　had　quite　an　objection　to　going　abroad。　She　had　always　said　she　would　　not　go　till　a　bridge　was　made　a