the peterkin papers-第20部分

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t　downstairs。　But　she　had　not　　been　able　to　go　downstairs！　And　Amanda　must　have　supposed　that　all　the　family　　had　left；　and　she；　too；　must　have　gone；　knowing　of　the　expressman。　Yes；　she　　heard　the　wheels！　She　heard　the　front　door　shut！

But　could　they　have　gone　without　her？　Then　she　recalled　that　she　had　proposed　　walking　on　a　little　way　with　Solomon　John　and　her　father；　to　be　picked　up　by　　Mrs。　Peterkin；　if　she　should　have　finished　her　packing　in　time。　Her　mother　must　　have　supposed　that　she　had　done　so；…that　she　had　spoken　to　Amanda；　and　started　　with　the　rest。　Well；　she　would　soon　discover　her　mistake。　She　would　overtake　the　　walking　party；　and；　not　finding　Elizabeth　Eliza；　would　return　for　her。　Patience　　only　was　needed。　She　had　looked　around　for　something　to　read；　but　she　had　packed　　up　all　her　books。　She　had　packed　her　knitting。　How　quiet　and　still　it　was！　She　　tried　to　imagine　where　her　mother　would　meet　the　rest　of　the　family。　They　were　　good　walkers；　and　they　might　have　reached　the　two…mile　bridge。　But　suppose　they　　should　stop　for　water　beneath　the　arch　of　the　bridge；　as　they　often　did；　and　the　　carryall　pass　over　it　without　seeing　them；　her　mother　would　not　know　but　she　was　　with　them？　And　suppose　her　mother　should　decide　to　leave　the　horse　at　the　place　　proposed　for　stopping　and　waiting　for　the　first　pedestrian　party；　and　herself　　walk　on；　no　one　would　be　left　to　tell　the　rest；　when　they　should　come　up　to　the　　carryall。　They　might　go　on　so；　through　the　whole　journey；　without　meeting；　and　　she　might　not　be　missed　till　they　should　reach　her　grandfather's！

Horrible　thought！　She　would　be　left　here　alone　all　day。　The　expressman　would　　come；　but　the　expressman　would　go；　for　he　would　not　be　able　to　get　into　the　　house！

　She　thought　of　the　terrible　story　of　Ginevra；　of　the　bride　who　was　shut　up　in　　her　trunk；　and　forever！　She　was　shut　up　on　hers；　and　knew　not　when　she　should　be　　released！　She　had　acted　once　in　the　ballad　of　the　〃Mistletoe　Bough。〃　She　had　　been　one　of　the　〃guests；〃　who　had　sung　〃Oh；　the　Mistletoe　Bough；〃　and　had　looked　　up　at　it；　and　she　had　seen　at　the　side…scenes　how　the　bride　had　laughingly　　stepped　into　the　trunk。　But　the　trunk　then　was　only　a　make…believe　of　some　　boards　in　front　of　a　sofa；　and　this　was　a　stern　reality。

It　would　be　late　now　before　her　family　would　reach　her　grandfather's。　Perhaps　　they　would　decide　to　spend　the　night。　Perhaps　they　would　fancy　she　was　coming　by　　express。　She　gave　another　tremendous　effort　to　move　the　trunk　toward　the　door。

In　vain。　All　was　still。

　Meanwhile；　Mrs。　Peterkin　sat　some　time　at　the　door；　wondering　why　Elizabeth　　Eliza　did　not　come　down。　Mr。　Peterkin　had　started　on　with　Solomon　John　and　all　　the　little　boys。　Agamemnon　had　packed　the　things　into　the　carriage；…a　basket　of　　lunch；　a　change　of　shoes　for　Mr。　Peterkin；　some　extra　wraps；…everything　Mrs。

Peterkin　could　think　of；　for　the　family　comfort。　Still　Elizabeth　Eliza　did　not　　come。　〃I　think　she　must　have　walked　on　with　your　father；〃　she　said；　at　last；　　〃you　had　better　get　in。〃　Agamemnon　now　got　in。　〃I　should　think　she　would　have　　mentioned　it；〃　she　continued；　〃but　we　may　as　well　start　on；　and　pick　her　up！〃

They　started　off。　〃I　hope　Elizabeth　Eliza　thought　to　speak　to　Amanda；　but　we　　must　ask　her　when　we　come　up　with　her。〃

But　they　did　not　come　up　with　Elizabeth　Eliza。　At　the　turn　beyond　the　village；　　they　found　an　envelope　struck　up　in　an　inviting　manner　against　a　tree。　In　this　　way；　they　had　agreed　to　leave　missives　for　each　other　as　they　passed　on。　This　　note　informed　them　that　the　walking　party　was　going　to　take　the　short　cut　across　　the　meadows；　and　would　still　be　in　front　of　them。　They　saw　the　party　at　last；　　just　beyond　the　short　cut；　but　Mr。　Peterkin　was　explaining　the　character　of　the　　oak…tree　to　his　children　as　they　stood　around　a　large　specimen。

〃I　suppose　he　is　telling　them　that　it　is　some　kind　of　a　'Quercus；'〃　said　　Agamemnon；　thoughtfully。

Mrs。　Peterkin　thought　Mr。　Peterkin　would　scarcely　use　such　an　expression；　but　　she　could　see　nothing　of　Elizabeth　Eliza。　Some　of　the　party；　however；　were　　behind　the　tree；　some　were　in　front；　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　might　be　behind　the　　tree。　They　were　too　far　off　to　be　shouted　at。　Mrs。　Peterkin　was　calmed；　and　went　　on　to　the　stopping…lace　agreed　upon；　which　they　reached　before　long。　This　had　　been　appointed　near　Farmer　Gordon's　barn；　that　there　might　be　somebody　at　hand　　whom　they　knew；　in　case　there　should　be　any　difficulty　in　untying　the　horse。　The　　plan　had　been　that　Mrs。　Peterkin　should　always　sit　in　the　carriage；　while　the　　others　should　take　turns　for　walking；　and　Agamemnon　tied　the　horse　to　a　fence；　　and　left　her　comfortably　arranged　with　her　knitting。　Indeed；　she　had　risen　so　　early　to　prepare　for　the　alphabetical　breakfast；　and　had　since　been　so　tired　　with　preparations；　that　she　was　quite　sleepy；　and　would　not　object　to　a　nape　in　　the　shade；　by　the　soothing　sound　of　the　buzzing　of　the　flies。　But　she　called　　Agamemnon　back；　as　he　started　off　for　his　solitary　walk；　with　a　perplexing　　question：

〃Suppose　the　rest　all　should　arrive；　how　could　they　now　be　accommodated　in　the　　carryall？　It　would　be　too　much　for　the　horse！　Why　had　Elizabeth　Eliza　gone　with　　the　rest　without　counting　up？　Of　course；　they　must　have　expected　that　she…Mrs。

Peterkin…would　walk　on　to　the　next　stopping…place！〃

She　decided　there　was　no　way　but　for　her　to　walk　on。　When　the　rest　passed　her；　　they　might　make　a　change。　So　she　put　up　knitting　cheerfully。　It　was　a　little　　joggly　in　the　carriage；　she　had　already　found；　for　the　horse　was　restless　from　　the　flies；　and　she　did　not　like　being　left　alone。

She　walked　on　then　with　Agamemnon。　It　was　very　pleasant　at　first；　but　the　sun　　became　hot；　and　it　was　not　long　before　she　was　fatigued。　When　they　reached　a　　hay…field；　she　proposed　going　in　to　rest　upon　one　of　the　hay…cocks。　The　largest　　and　most　shady　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　field；　and　they　were　seated　there　　when　the　carryall　passed　them　in　the　road。　Mrs。　Peterkin　waved　parasol　and　hat；　　and　the　party　in　the　carryall　returned　their　greetings；　but　they　were　too　far　　apart　to　hear　each　other。

Mrs。　Peterkin　and　Agamemnon　slowly　resumed　their　walk。

〃Well；　we　shall　find　Elizabeth　Eliza　in　the　carryall；〃　she　said；　〃and　that　will　　explain　all。〃

But　it　took　them　an　hour　or　two　to　reach　the　carryall；　with　frequent　stoppings　　for　rest；　and　when　they　reached　it；　no　one　was　in　it。　A　note　was　pinned　up　in　　the　vehicle　to　say　they　had　all　walked　on；　it　was　〃prime　fun。〃

In　this　way　the　parties　continued　to　dodge　each　other；　for　Mrs。　Peterkin　felt　　that　she　must　walk　on　from　the　next　station；　and　the　carryall　missed　her　again　　while　she　and　Agamemnon　stopped　in　a　house　to　rest；　and　for　a　glass　of　water。

She　reached　the　carryall　to　find　again　that　no　one　was　in　it。　The　party　had　　passed　on　for　the　last　station；　where　it　had　been　decided　all　should　meet　at　the　　foot　of　grandfather's　hill；　that　they　might　all　arrive　at　the　house　together。

Mrs。　Peterkin　and　Agamemnon　looked　out　eagerly　for　the　party　all　the　way；　as　　Elizabeth　Eliza　must　be　tired　by　this　time；　but　Mrs。　Peterkin's　last　walk　had　　been　so　slow；　that　the　other　party　was　far　in　advance　and　reached　the　　stopping…place　before　them。　The　little　boys　were　all　rowed　out　on　the　stone　　fence；　awaiting　them；　full　of　delight　at　having　reached　grandfather's。　Mr。

Peterkin　came　forward　to　meet　them；　and；　at　the　same　moment　with　Mrs。　Peterkin；　　exclaimed：　〃Where　is　Elizabeth　Eliza？〃　Each　party　looked　eagerly　at　the　other；　　no　Elizabeth　Eliza　was　to　be　seen。　Where　was　she？　What　was　to　be　done？　Was　she　　left　behind？　Mrs。　Peterkin　was　convinced　she　must　have　somehow　got　to　　grandfather's。　They　hurried　up　the　hill。　Grandfather　and　all　the　family　came　out　　to　greet　them；　for　they　had　been　seen　approaching。　There　was　great　questioning；　　but　no　Elizabeth　Eliza！

It　was　sunset；　the　view　was　wide　and　fine。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Peterkin　stood　and　　looked　out　from　the　north　to　the　south。　Was　it　too　late　to　send　back　for　　Elizabeth　Eliza？　Where　was　she？

Meanwhile　the　little　boys　had　been　informing　the　family　of　the　object　of　their　　visit；　and　while　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Peterkin　were　looking　up　and　down　the　road；　and　　Agamemnon　and　Solomon　John　were　explaining　to　each　other　the　details　of　their　　journeys；　they　had　discovered　some　facts。

〃We　shall　have　to　go　back；〃　they　exclaimed。　〃We　are　too　late！　The　maple…syrup　　was　all　made　last　spring。〃

〃We　are　too　early；　we　shall　have　to　stay　two　or　three　months；　…the　cider　is　not　　made　till　October。〃

The　expedition　was　a　failure！　They　could　study　the　making　of　neither　maple…syrup　　nor　cider；　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　was　lost；　perhaps　forever！　The　sun　went　down；　and　　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Peterkin　still　stood　to　look　up　and　down　the　road。

。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　Elizabeth　Eliza　meanwhile；　had　sat　upon　her　trunk；　as　it　seemed　for　ages。　She　　recalled　all　the　terrible　stories　of　prisoners；…how　they　had　watched　the　growth　　of　flowers　through　cracks　in　the　pavement。　She　wondered　how　long　she　could　live　　without　eating。　How　thankful　she　was　for　her　abundant　breakfast！

At　length　she　heard　the　door…bell。　But　who　could　go　to　the　door　to　answer　it？　In　　vain　did　she　make　another　effort　to　escape；　it　was　impossible！

How　singular！…there　were　footsteps。　Some　one　was　going　to　the　door；　some　one　had　　opened　it。　〃They　must　be　burglars。〃　Well；　perhaps　that　was　a　better　fate…to　be　　gagged　by　burglars；　and　the　neighbors　informed…than　to　be　forever　locked　on　her　　trunk。　The　steps　approached　the　door。　It　opened；　and　Amanda　ushered　in　the　　expressman。

Amanda　had　not　gone。　She　had　gathered；　while　waiting　at　the　breakfast…table；　　that　there　was　to　be　an　expressman　whom　she　must　receive。

Elizabeth　Eliza　explained　the　situation。　The　expressman　turned　the　key　of　her　　trunk；　and　she　was　released！

What　should　she　do　next？　So　long　a　time　had　elapsed；　she　had　given　up　all　hope　　of　her　family　returning　for　her。　But　how　could　she　reach　them？

She　hastily　prevailed　upon　the　expressman　to　take　her　along　until　she　should　　come　up　with　some　of　the　family。　At　least　she　would　fall　in　with　either　the　　walking　party　or　the　carryall；　or　she　would　meet　them　if　they　were　on　their　　return。

She　mounted　the　seat　with　the　expressman；