Thus Captain Elisha entered another of New York's "circles," that which centered at Mrs. Hepton's boarding house. Within a week he was as much a part of it as if he had lived there for years. At lunch, on the day of his arrival, he made his appearance at the table in company with Pearson, and when the landlady exultantly announced that he was to be "one of our little party" thereafter, he received and replied to the welcoming salutations of his fellow boarders with unruffled serenity.
"How could I help it?" he asked. "Human nature's liable to temptation, they tell us. The flavor of that luncheon we had last time I was here has been hangin' 'round the edges of my mouth and tantalizin' my memory ever since.""We had a souffle that noon, if I remember correctly, Captain,"observed the flattered Mrs. Hepton.
"Did you? Well, I declare! I'd have sworn 'twas a biled-dinner hash. Knew 'twas better than any I ever ate afore, but I'd have bet 'twas hash, just the same. Tut! tut! tut! Now, honest, Mrs.
Hepton, ain't this--er--whatever-you-call-it a close relation--a sort of hash with its city clothes on, hey?"The landlady admitted that a souffle was something not unlike a hash. Captain Elisha nodded.
"I thought so," he declared. "I was sartin sure I couldn't be mistaken. What is it used to be in the song book? 'You can smash--you can--' Well, I don't remember. Somethin' about your bein'
able to smash the vase if you wanted to, but the smell of the posies was there yet."Mr. Ludlow, the bookseller, supplied the quotation.
"'You may break, you may shatter The vase if you will, But the scent of the roses Will cling to it still,'
he said, smiling.
"That's it. Much obliged. You can warm up and rechristen the hash if you will; but the corned beef and cabbage stay right on deck.
Ain't that so, Mr. Dickens?"
The illustrious "C." bowed.
"Moore?" he observed, with dignity.
"Yes. That's what _I_ said--'More!' Said it twice, I believe.
Glad you agree with me. The hymn says that weakness is sin, but there's no sin in havin' a weakness for corned-beef hash."Miss Sherborne and Mrs. Van Winkle Ruggles were at first inclined to snub the new boarder, considering him a country boor whose presence in their select society was almost an insult. The captain did not seem to notice their hints or sneers, although Pearson grew red and wrathful.
"Laura, my dear," said Mrs. Ruggles, addressing the teacher of vocal culture, "don't you feel quite rural today? Almost as if you were visiting the country?""I do, indeed," replied Miss Sherborne. "Refreshing, isn't it?
Ha! ha!"
"It is if one cares for such things. I am afraid _I_ don't appreciate them. They may be well enough in their place, but--"She finished with a shrug of her shoulders. Captain Elisha smiled.
"Yes, ma'am," he said politely, joining in the conversation;"that's what the boy said about the cooky crumbs in the bed. You don't care for the country, I take it, ma'am""I do NOT!"
"So? Well, it's a mercy we don't think alike; even Heaven would be crowded if we did--hey? You didn't come from the country, either?"turning to Miss Sherborne.
The young lady would have liked to answer with an uncompromising negative. Truth and the fact that some of those present were acquainted with it compelled her to forego this pleasure.
"I was born in a--a small town," she answered coldly. "But I came to the city as soon as I possibly could.""Um-hm. Well, I came when I couldn't possibly stay away. We can agree on one thing--we're all here. Yes, and on another--that that cake is fust-rate. I'll take a second piece, if you've no objection, Mrs. Hepton."When they were alone once more, in the captain's room, Pearson vented his indignation.
"Why didn't you give them as good as they sent?" he demanded.
"Couldn't you see they were doing their best to hurt your feelings?""Ya-as. I could see it. Didn't need any specs to see that.""Then why didn't you answer them as they deserved?""Oh, I don't know. What's the use? They've got troubles of their own. One of 'em's a used-to-be, and the other's a never-was.
Either disease is bad enough without addin' complications."Pearson laughed. "I don't get the whole of that, Captain," he said. "Mrs. Van is the used-to-be, I suppose. But what is it that Miss Sherborne never was?""Married," was the prompt reply. "Old maiditis is creepin' on her fast. You want to be careful, Jim; a certain kind of female gets desperate about her stage."Pearson laughed again.
"Oh, get out!" he exclaimed, turning to go.
"All right! I will, when you and she are together and you give me the signal. But I tell you honest, I'd hate to do it. Judgin' by the way she smiles and looks up under her eye-winkers at you, you're in danger of kidnappin'. So long. I'll see you again after I get my dunnage unpacked."The snubbing and sneering came to an abrupt end. Pearson, in conversation with Mrs. Ruggles, casually imparted the information that Captain Elisha was the brother of A. Rodgers Warren, late society leader and wealthy broker. Also, that he had entire charge of the latter's estate. Thereafter Mrs. Ruggles treated the captain as one whose rank was equal to her own, and, consequently, higher than anyone's else in the boarding-house. She made it a point to publicly ask his advice concerning "securities" and "investments," and favored him with many reminiscences of her distinguished father, the Senator. Miss Sherborne, as usual, followed her lead. Captain Elisha, when Pearson joked him on the altered behavior of the two ladies, merely grinned.