human
For the land’s sake, Mr. Gorham!
gpt
Hurrah for us, he answered, laughing.
human
To think that I should have come unexpectedly upon this celebration and you. What more could a Bostonian ask?
gpt
You might ask to be in the Massachusetts house instead of over here in Gotham.
human
I fancy only invited guests go in there to-day; but at any rate I have only just arrived, and this is a fine place for the general effect. So that is the old Hancock house.
gpt
Yes. I remember the real one very well.
human
How well the grounds look. I am anxious to get in. You have visited it, of course.
gpt
Yes, I have. I must say to you, Mr. Gorham, I had to laugh to see some o’ the stuff they’ve put in a glass case over there. I’ve got some things in my attic in Pearfield they could have had and welcome.
human
Perhaps they would have been glad of them,
gpt
I never thought before o’ puttin’ Aunt Jerushy’s old calash under glass for a show, she said.
human
It would ’a’ looked simple to me; but there’s papers in one o’ the downstairs rooms that are interestin’. There’s no doubt about it. It does make a body’s blood boil to see the old superstitions down in black and white, and think o’ the past sufferin’s of innocent folks. There’s one paper there makin’ out a case against some poor critter for havin’ dealin’s with the devil, ’way back in Salem times.
gpt
I want to see everything in that house,
human
Well, give an account of yourself, said Miss Berry, after a moment’s silence.
gpt
Have you been to Mrs. Van Tassel’s?
human
No, not yet.
gpt
But you are comin’, ain’t you?
human
To call, certainly.
gpt
But you’ve been invited to stay?
human
Yes, I know; but I have taken a room at the Beach.
gpt
Why, what’s that for? Mrs. Van Tassel will think that’s queer.
human
She will have guests enough without me.
gpt
It is your Uncle Richard’s house,
human
Yes, that is just the trouble,
gpt
Well, I was ’lottin’ on helpin’ to make you all comfortable.
human
I haven’t a doubt of it, you dear soul. Be sure that only stern principle drives me from under your wing, and please get me an invitation to dinner soon, won’t you? How is Jack?
gpt
He’s lively. I heard ’em at breakfast talkin’ about all comin’ down to the illumination tonight.
human
I wonder if I might join the party.
gpt
Of course. Nobody knew you were comin’ out so soon.
human
I didn’t expect it myself. It was a sudden determination.
gpt
They are goin’ to have their supper down here at six o’clock, I heard ’em say at breakfast, at the Marine—Caffy, I think they call it. At any rate I know the house first-rate; and if ’t wan’t for the Art Buildin’ I could show it to you from here. It’s brown, and that’s queer enough in this place, and then it’s all covered with candle snuffers. Just as soon as I once sensed it that the Columbian Guards were put here to look pretty and didn’t know where anything was, I made up my mind if I didn’t learn the g’ography o’ the place I’d be a cripple; so I buckled down to it and I’m most ready to stand an examination. Miss Bryant told me when I first came down that if I’d just take the opposite direction to what a Guard told me, I’d find myself all right; and that did work pretty well, but it’s better yet to know your own way around and not have to make calculations.
human
It does beat all, Aunt Love went on,
gpt
Yes, I suppose so, said Page,
human
he added with the courage of a new-comer,
gpt
I propose to see all that’s in it; and speaking of thoroughness, have you looked over this building?
human
I just glanced as I came along, replied Miss Berry cautiously.
gpt
It’s pretty worldly and glitterin’, just like the folks that built it. That hall in there with the slippery floor
human
A ball-room, yes. Let us go back and examine.
gpt
Oh, it’s a ball-room, is it!