“Zelotes,” she said reprovingly, “ain't you forgettin' somethin'?”
“Eh? Forgettin'? Heavens to Betsy, so I am! Lord, we thank thee for these and all other gifts, Amen. What did I do with the fork; swallow it?”
As long as he lives Albert Speranza will not forget that first meal in the home of his grandparents. It was so strange, so different from any other meal he had ever eaten. The food was good and there was an abundance of it, but the surroundings were so queer. Instead of the well-ordered and sedate school meal, here all the eatables from fish to pie were put upon the table at the same time and the servant--or housekeeper, which to his mind were one and the same--sat down, not only to eat with the family, but to take at least an equal part in the conversation. And the conversation itself was so different. Beginning with questions concerning his own journey from the New York town where the school was located, it at length reached South Harniss and there centered about the diminutive person of Laban Keeler, his loquacious and tuneful rescuer from the platform of the railway station.
“Where are your things, Albert?” asked Mrs. Snow. “Your trunk or travelin' bag, or whatever you had, I mean?”
“My trunks are coming by express,” began the boy. Captain Zelotes interrupted him.
“Your trunks?” he repeated. “Got more'n one, have you?”
“Why--why, yes, there are three. Mr. Holden--he is the headmaster, you know--”
“Eh? Headmaster? Oh, you mean the boss teacher up there at the school? Yes, yes. Um-hm.”
“Yes, sir. Mr. Holden says the trunks should get here in a few days.”
Mrs. Ellis, the housekeeper, made the next remark. “Did I understand you to say you had THREE trunks?” she demanded.
“Three trunks for one boy! For mercy sakes, what have you got in 'em?”
“Why--why, my things. My clothes and--and--everything.”
“Everything, or just about, I should say. Goodness gracious me, when I go up to Boston I have all I can do to fill up one trunk. And I'm bigger'n you are--bigger 'round, anyway.”
There was no doubt about that. Captain Zelotes laughed shortly.
“That statement ain't what I'd call exaggerated, Rachel,” he declared. “Every time I see you and Laban out walkin' together he has to keep on the sunny side or be in a total eclipse. And, by the way, speakin' of Laban--Say, son, how did you and he get along comin' down from the depot?”