Alice and I used to play up there, and in July and August it was
hot enough to roast eggs, wasn't it, Alice?"
Alice, thus appealed to, said it might have been hot enough, but she was
positive that they never did roast any up there, although she remembered
setting the attic floor on fire one day with a burning glass. 'Zekiel
remembered that, too, and how they had to put new ceilings on two rooms,
because he used so much water to put the fire out.
When Uncle Ike got a chance to speak, he said to Huldy, "Thank you, my
dear Mrs. Pettengill," with a strong accent on the Mrs., which made
Huldy blush a rosy red, "but I wouldn't swap my old attic for all the
rest of the rooms in the house. My old blood requires warmth, and I can
stand ninety-six without asking for a fan. When I come up to see you,
you can put me in one of your big square rooms, but I sha'n't stay long,
because I don't like them."
The noise of wheels was heard, and Huldy ran to the window to look out.
"Oh, it's Mr. Sawyer," said she; "and he's got a young lady with him,
and she's got a trunk. I wonder who she is? Do you know, Alice?"
"I don't know who she is," replied Alice; "but I can imagine what she's
here for.
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