The Story of Glass | Page 4

the way you like it,
too."
"I'm sorry, Hannah."
"And me browning all those sweet potatoes!"
"I'm lots more disappointed than you are--truly I am. It can't be helped,
though. Now let me finish this letter and you go and lay out my dress
shirt and studs and things, or I'll be late."
Hannah darted from the room.
"I made you a Brown Betty pudding, too, Mr. Bob!" she called over her
shoulder. "But no matter. There is no evil without some good; your
trousers are freshly pressed and handsome as pictures--if I do say it as
shouldn't. I'll lay 'em out for you, and your dinner coat as well. But to

think of that pudding! Why couldn't Mr. Curtis have invited you the
night the beef stew was scorched."
* * * *
Promptly on the stroke of seven Uncle Bob Cabot presented himself at
the University Club, where Uncle Tom Curtis was waiting for him, and
the two men grasped hands cordially. How big Uncle Tom Curtis
looked and, despite Hannah's remarks, how rosy and how clean! And
what a nice smile he had! The dinner was extraordinarily good. The
filet was done to a turn, and there was just enough seasoning on the
mushrooms. As for the grilled potatoes, even Hannah herself couldn't
have improved upon them. An old Harvard "grad" came over from the
next table and greeted Uncle Tom Curtis, telling him he did not look a
day older than when he was in college, and in spite of his gray hairs
Uncle Tom Curtis seemed to believe it. Then they talked of the last
Harvard boat race; the winning eleven; the D. K. E. with its initiation
pranks; and the old professors. And after the other man had left the
waiter brought coffee which was deliciously hot and cheese that was
exactly ripe enough. Uncle Tom Curtis seemed to have no end of
stories at which Uncle Bob Cabot laughed until he was very red in the
face, and afterward Uncle Bob told some stories and Uncle Tom Curtis
sat back in his chair and laughed and wiped his eyes and mopped his
forehead. Then Uncle Bob said that of course the Club was all very
well, but he should insist on Uncle Tom's tossing his things into his
grip and coming over to Beacon Hill with him to finish up his Boston
visit.
They did not talk about Jean any more that night, but the next morning
after breakfast they went at the discussion and were just in the midst of
it when who should walk in but Jean herself. She had been spending
two or three days with a friend of her mother who lived in the suburbs.
"Uncle Bob!" she called as she dashed her hat and muff down upon the
settle in the hall. "Uncle Bob! Oh, I had a perfectly lovely time. And
what do you think! Mrs. Chandler has three darling Irish terrier puppies,
and she is going to give me one if you are willing that I should have it.
You do like puppies, don't you? I know you'd like these anyway; they

are so blinky, and fat, and little."
Tossing her coat on top of the hat and muff she ran up the front stairs
and into the library.
"Why, Uncle Tom Curtis!" she cried. "Whatever brought you here?"
Fluttering to the big man's side she gave him a prodigious hug and at
the same time dropped a butterfly kiss on the top of his shiny bald head.
The next instant she was perched on the arm of Uncle Bob's chair,
eyeing her two uncles expectantly.
"You both look so hot and so--well, almost cross, you know. What is
the matter?"
"We are talking about you, honey," ventured Uncle Bob after a short,
uneasy silence.
"About me! And it makes you look as solemn and ruffled up as this?
Whatever have I done? Did Mrs. Chandler telephone you about the
puppy? Don't worry. I do not mind if I don't have it--really I don't."
"No, dear, it wasn't the puppy. You shall have all the puppies you want
so far as I'm concerned," Uncle Bob answered, stroking the tiny hand
that nestled in his. "No, your Uncle Tom and I were talking about
where you are to live."
"But I thought I was to live here."
"I thought so too," agreed Uncle Bob. "Uncle Tom, though, is not
satisfied with that arrangement. He says he wants you to come and live
with him."
"But I couldn't leave you, Uncle Bob--you know that; at least, not for
all the time. If there were only two of me and I could live with each of
you how nice it would be. Of course I'd love to be with Uncle Tom