"
"I do hope you are going to make us a visit," said Mr. Tarbox,
cordially.
"Thank you!" answered Frank, cheered by this warm reception. "If you are
sure it won't inconvenience you."
"Inconvenience me! We shall be delighted to have you with us."
"You must come up and see Mrs. Tarbox. She will be delighted to see
you."
Mr. Tarbox lived over his store. There was a door from the street
adjoining the shop front. Mr. Tarbox opened it with a pass-key, and
conducted Frank upstairs, ushering him into a gloomy parlor, with stiff,
straightbacked chairs, ranged at regular intervals along the sides of
the room, and a marble-topped center table, with two or three books
lying upon it. There was a framed engraving, representing Washington
crossing the Delaware, over the mantel, and two plaster figures and
similar ornaments on the mantelpiece. The whole aspect of the room
chilled Frank.
"Wait here, and I will call my wife," said Mr. Tarbox.
Frank sat down on a hard sofa and awaited the entrance of Mrs. Tarbox.
She came in, a tall, thin woman, about as handsome for a woman as her
husband was for a man. Indeed, they were very well matched.
Pages:
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94