第23章

"And you say," he drawled, "that you come to me just because--""Mercy on us! If you don't know why I come by this time, then--""All right, all right.I--I'm talkin' to myself, I guess.Course you told me why you come.So you're cal'latin' to start a boardin'-house, eh? Risky things, boardin'-houses are.There's a couple of hundred launched every year and not more'n ten ever make a payin' v'yage.Let's hear what your plan is, the whole of it."Fighting down her impatience Thankful went into details concerning her plan.She explained why she had thought of it and her growing belief that it might be successful.Mr.Cobb listened.

"Humph!" he grunted, when she had finished."So Obed Bangs advised you to try it, hey? That don't make me think no better of it, as Iknow of.I know Bangs pretty well."

"Yes," dryly; "I supposed likely you did.Anyhow, he said he knew you.""He did, hey? Told you some things about me, hey?""No, he didn't tell me anything except that you and he had had some dealin's.Now, Mr.Cobb, we've talked a whole lot and it don't seem to me we got anywheres.If you don't want to take a mortgage on that place--""Sshh! Who said I didn't want to take it? How do I know what Iwant to do yet? Lord! How you women do go on! Suppose I should take a mortgage on that place--mind, I don't say I will, but suppose I should--how would I know that the mortgage would be paid, or the interest, or anything?""If it ain't paid you can foreclose when the time comes, I presume likely.As for the interest--well, I'm fairly honest, or I try to be, and that'll be paid reg'lar if I live.""Ya'as.Well, fur's honesty goes, I could run a seine through Ostable County any day in the week and load a schooner with honest folks; and there wouldn't nary one of 'em have cash enough to pay for the wear and tear on the net.Honesty's good policy, maybe, but it takes hard money to pay bills."Thankful stood up.

"All right," she said, decidedly, "then I'll go where they play the honest game.And you needn't set there and weed your face any more on my account."Mr.Cobb rose also."There! there!" he protested."Don't get het up.I don't say I won't take your mortgage, do I?""You've said a good deal.If you say any more of the same kind you can say it to yourself.I tell you, honest, I don't like the way you say it."The owner of the "hen-house" looked as if he wished very much to retort in kind.The glare he gave his visitor prophesied direful things.But he did not retort; nor, to her surprise, did he raise his voice or order her off the premises.Instead his tone, when he spoke again, was quiet, even conciliatory.

"I--I'm sorry if I've said anything I shouldn't," he stammered.

"I'm gettin' old and--and sort of short in my talk, maybe.I--I--there's a good many folks round here that don't like me, 'count of my doin' business in a business way, 'stead of doin' it like the average poor fool.I suppose they've been talkin' to you and you've got sort of prejudiced.Well, I don't know's I blame you for that.I shan't hold no grudge.How much of a mortgage do you cal'late to want on Abner's place?""Two thousand dollars."

"Two thousand!...There, there! Hold on, hold on! Two thousand dollars is a whole lot of money.It don't grow on every bush.""I know that as well as you do.If I did I'd have picked it afore this.""Um--hm.How long a time do you want?"

"I don't know.Three years, perhaps."

Solomon shook his head.

"Too long," he said."I couldn't give as long a mortgage as that to anybody.No, I couldn't do it....Tell you what I will do,"he added."I--I don't want to act mean to a relation.I think as much of relations as anybody does.I'd like to favor you and Iwill if I can.You give me a week to think this over in and then I'll let you know what I'll do.That's fair, ain't it?"Mrs.Barnes declined the offer.

"It may be fair to you," she said, "but I can't wait so long.Iwant to settle this afore I go back to South Middleboro.And Ishall go back tomorrow, or the day after at the latest."Another session of "weeding." Then said Mr.Cobb: "Well, all right, all right.I'll think it over and then I'll drive across to East Wellmouth, have another look at the property, and let you know.I'll see you day after tomorrow forenoon.Where you stoppin' over there?"Thankful told him.He walked as far as the door with her.

"Hope you ain't put out with me, ma'am," he said."I have to be kind of sharp and straight up and down in my dealin's; they'd get the weather gauge on me a dozen times a day if I wa'n't.But I'm real kind inside--to them I take a notion to.I'll--I'll treat you right--er--er--Cousin Thankful; you see if I don't.I'm real glad you come to me.Good day."Thankful went down the path.As she reached the sidewalk she turned and looked back.The gentleman with the kind interior was standing peering at her through the cracked glass of the door.He was still tugging at his whiskers and if, as he had intimated, he had "taken a notion" to her, his expression concealed the fact wonderfully.