Her self-consciousness irritated Ann Eliza.
“I guess he’s got plenty of friends of his own,” she said, almost harshly.
“No, he ain’t, either. He’s got hardly any.”
“Did he tell you that too?” Even to her own ears there was a faint sneer in the interrogation.
“Yes, he did,” said Evelina, dropping her lids with a smile. “He seemed to be just crazy to talk to somebody–somebody agreeable, I mean. I think the man’s unhappy, Ann Eliza.”
“So do I,” broke from the elder sister.
“He seems such an educated man, too. He was reading the paper when I went in. Ain’t it sad to think of his being reduced to that little store, after being years at Tiff’ny’s, and one of the head men in their clock-department?”
“He told you all that?”
“Why, yes. I think he’d a’ told me everything ever happened to him if I’d had the time to stay and listen. I tell you he’s dead lonely, Ann Eliza.”
“Yes,” said Ann Eliza.
Chapter III
Two days afterward, Ann Eliza noticed that Evelina, before they sat down to supper, pinned a crimson bow under her collar; and when the meal was finished the younger sister, who seldom concerned herself with the clearing of the table, set about with nervous haste to help Ann Eliza in the removal of the dishes.
“I hate to see food mussing about,” she grumbled. “Ain’t it hateful having to do everything in one room?”
“Oh, Evelina, I’ve always thought we was so comfortable,” Ann Eliza protested.
“Well, so we are, comfortable enough; but I don’t suppose there’s any harm in my saying I wisht we had a parlour, is there? Anyway, we might manage to buy a screen to hide the bed.”
Ann Eliza coloured. There was something vaguely embarrassing in Evelina’s suggestion.
“I always think if we ask for more what we have may be taken from us,” she ventured.
“Well, whoever took it wouldn’t get much,” Evelina retorted with a laugh as she swept up the table-cloth.
A few moments later the back room was in its usual flawless order and the two sisters had seated themselves near the lamp. Ann Eliza had taken up her sewing, and Evelina was preparing to make artificial flowers. The sisters usually relegated this more delicate business to the long leisure of the summer months; but to-night Evelina had brought out the box which lay all winter under the bed, and spread before her a bright array of muslin petals, yellow stamens and green corollas, and a tray of little implements curiously suggestive of the dental art. Ann Eliza made no remark on this unusual proceeding; perhaps she guessed why, for that evening her sister had chosen a graceful task.
Presently a knock on the outer door made them look up; but Evelina, the first on her feet, said promptly: “Sit still. I’ll see who it is.”
Ann Eliza was glad to sit still: the baby’s petticoat that she was stitching shook in her fingers.
“Sister, here’s Mr. Ramy come to look at the clock,” said Evelina, a moment later, in the high drawl she cultivated before strangers; and a shortish man with a pale bearded face and upturned coat-collar came stiffly into the room.
Ann Eliza let her work fall as she stood up. “You’re very welcome, I’m sure, Mr. Ramy. It’s real kind of you to call.”
“Nod ad all, ma’am.” A tendency to illustrate Grimm’s law in the interchange of his consonants betrayed the clockmaker’s nationality, but he was evidently used to speaking English, or at least the particular branch of the vernacular with which the Bunner sisters were familiar. “I don’t like to led any clock go out of my store without being sure it gives satisfaction,” he added.
“Oh–but we were satisfied,” Ann Eliza assured him.
“But I wasn’t, you see, ma’am,” said Mr. Ramy looking slowly about the room, “nor I won’t be, not till I see that clock’s going all right.”
“May I assist you off with your coat, Mr. Ramy?” Evelina interposed. She could never trust Ann Eliza to remember these opening ceremonies.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he replied, and taking his thread-bare over-coat and shabby hat she laid them on a chair with the gesture she imagined the lady with the puffed sleeves might make use of on similar occasions. Ann Eliza’s social sense was roused, and she felt that the next act of hospitality must be hers. “Won’t you suit yourself to a seat?” she suggested. “My sister will reach down the clock; but I’m sure she’s all right again. She’s went beautiful ever since you fixed her.”