the peterkin papers-第17章
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gramme； in vain had she insisted they must take only the parlor furniture。 They had declared they must put the heavy pieces in the bottom of the cart； and the lighter furniture on top。 So she had seen them go into every room in the house； and select one piece of furniture after another； without even looking at Elizabeth Eliza's programme； she doubted if they could have read it if they had looked at it。
Mr。 Peterkin had ordered the carters to come； but he had no idea they would come so early； and supposed it would take them a long time to fill the carts。
But they had taken the dining…room sideboard first；…a heavy piece of furniture；…and all its contents were now on the dining…room tables。 Then； indeed； they selected the parlor book…case； but had set every book on the floor The men had told Mrs。 Peterkin they would put the books in the bottom of the cart； very much in the order they were taken from the shelves。 But by this time Mrs。 Peterkin was considering the carters as natural enemies； and dared not trust them； besides； the books ought all to be dusted。 So she was now holding one of the volumes of Agamemnon's Encyclop？dia； with difficulty； in one hand； while she was dusting it with the other。 Elizabeth Eliza was in dismay。 At this moment four men were bringing down a large chest of drawers from her father's room； and they called to her to stand out of the way。 The parlors were a scene of confusion。 In dusting the books Mrs。 Peterkin neglected to restore them to the careful rows in which they were left by the men； and they lay in hopeless masses in different parts of the room。 Elizabeth Eliza sunk in despair upon the end of a sofa。
〃It would have been better to buy the red and blue carpet；〃 said Solomon John。
〃Is not the carpet bought？〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Peterkin。 And then they were obliged to confess they had been unable to decide upon one； and had come back to consult Mrs。 Peterkin。
〃What shall we do？〃 asked Mrs。 Peterkin。
Elizabeth Eliza rose from the sofa and went to the door； saying； 〃I shall be back in a moment。〃
Agamemnon slowly passed round the room； collecting the scattered volumes of his Encyclop？dia。 Mr。 Peterkin offered a helping hand to a man lifting a wardrobe。
Elizabeth Eliza soon returned。 〃I did not like to go and ask her。 But I felt that I must in such an emergency。 I explained to her the whole matter； and she thinks we should take the carpet at Makillan's。〃
〃Makillan's〃 was a store in the village； and the carpet was the only one all the family had liked without any doubt； but they had supposed they might prefer one from Boston。
The moment was a critical one。 Solomon John was sent directly to Makillan's to order the carpet to be put down that very day。 But where should they dine？ where should they have their supper？ and where was Mr。 Peterkin's 〃quiet hour〃 ？
Elizabeth Eliza was frantic； the dining…room floor and table were covered with things。
It was decided that Mr。 and Mrs。 Peterkin should dine at the Bromwicks； who had been most neighborly in their offers； and the rest should get something to eat at the baker's。
Agamemnon and Elizabeth Eliza hastened away to be ready to receive the carts at the other house； and direct the furniture as they could。 After all there was something exhilarating in this opening of the new house； and in deciding where things should go。 Gayly Elizabeth Eliza stepped down the front garden of the new home； and across the piazza； and to the door。 But it was locked； and she had no keys！
〃Agamemnon； did you bring the keys？〃 she exclaimed。
No； he had not seen them since the morning；…when…ah！…yes； the little boys were allowed to go to the house for their india…rubber boots； as there was a threatening of rain。 Perhaps they had left some door unfastened…perhaps they had put the keys under the door…mat。 No； each door； each window； was solidly closed； and there was no mat！
〃I shall have to go to the school to see if they took the keys with them；〃 said Agamemnon； 〃or else go home to see if they left them there。〃 The school was in a different direction from the house； and far at the other end of the town； for Mr。 Peterkin had not yet changed the boys' school； as he proposed to do after their move。
〃That will be the only way；〃 said Elizabeth Eliza； for it had been arranged that the little boys should take their lunch to school； and not come home at noon。
She sat down on the steps to wait； but only for a moment； for the carts soon appeared； turning the corner。 What should be done with the furniture？ Of course the carters must wait for the keys； as she should need them to set the furniture up in the right places。 But they could not stop for this。 They put it down upon the piazza； on the steps； in the garden； and Elizabeth Eliza saw how incongruous it was！ There was something from every room in the house！ Even the large family chest； which had proved too heavy for them to travel with had come down from the attic； and stood against the front door。
And Solomon John appeared with the carpet woman； and a boy with a wheelbarrow； bringing the new carpet。 And all stood and waited。 Some opposite neighbors appeared to offer advice and look on； and Elizabeth Eliza groaned inwardly that only the shabbiest of their furniture appeared to be standing full in view。
It seemed ages before Agamemnon returned； and no wonder； for he had been to the house； then to the school； then back to the house； for one of the little boys had left the keys at home； in the pocket of his clothes。 Meanwhile the carpet…woman had waited； and the boy with the wheelbarrow had waited； and when they got in they found the parlor must be swept and cleaned。 So the carpet…woman went off in dudgeon； for she was sure there would not be time enough to do anything。
And one of the carts came again； and in their hurry the men set the furniture down anywhere。 Elizabeth Eliza was hoping to make a little place in the dining…room； where they might have their supper； and go home to sleep。 But she looked out； and there were the carters bringing the bedsteads； and proceeding to carry them upstairs。
In despair Elizabeth Eliza went back to the old house。 If she had been there she might have prevented this。 She found Mrs。 Peterkin in an agony about the entry oil…cloth。 It had been made in the house； and how could it be taken out of the house？ Agamemnon made measurements； it certainly could not go out of the front door！ He suggested it might be left till the house was pulled down； when it could easily be moved out of one side。 But Elizabeth Eliza reminded him that the whole house was to be moved without being taken apart。 Perhaps it could be cut in strips narrow enough to go out。 One of the men loading the remaining cart disposed of the question by coming in and rolling up the oil…cloth and carrying it on on top of his wagon。
Elizabeth Eliza felt she must hurry back to the new house。 But what should they do？…no beds here； no carpets there！ The dining…room table and sideboard were at the other house； the plates； and forks； and spoons here。 In vain she looked at her programme。 It was all reversed； everything was misplaced。 Mr。 Peterkin would suppose they were to eat here and sleep here； and what had become of the little boys？
Meanwhile the man with the first cart had returned。 They fell to packing the dining…room china。
They were up in the attic； they were down in the cellar。 Even one suggested to take the tacks out of the parlor carpets； as they should want to take them next。
Mrs。 Peterkin sunk upon a kitchen chair。
〃Oh； I wish we had decided to stay and be moved in the house ！〃 she exclaimed。
Solomon John urged his mother to go to the new house； for Mr。 Peterkin would be there for his 〃quiet hour。〃 And when the carters at last appeared； carrying the parlor carpets on their shoulders； she sighed and said； 〃There is nothing left；〃
and meekly consented to be led away。
They reached the new house to find Mr。 Peterkin sitting calmly in a rocking…chair on the piazza； watching the oxen coming into the opposite barn。 He was waiting for the keys； which Solomon John had taken back with him。 The little boy
