the peterkin papers-第28章
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checks； if only the little boys could know where Agamemnon had been； they were willing to look。 Mr。 Peterkin was not sure as they would have time to reach the train。
Still； they would need something to wear； and he could not tell the time。 He had not brought his watch。 It was a Waltham watch； and he thought it would not be in character for Peter the Great to wear it。
At this moment the strains of 〃Home； Sweet Home〃 were heard from the band； and people were seen preparing to go。
〃All can go home； but we must stay；〃 said Mrs。 Peterkin； gloomily； as the well…known strains floated in from the larger hall。
A number of marshals came to the refreshment…room； looked at them； whispered to each other； as the Peterkins sat in a row。
〃Can we do anything for you？〃 asked one at last。 〃Would you not like to go？〃 He seemed eager they should leave the room。
Mr。 Peterkin explained that they could not go； as they had lost the checks for their wraps； and hoped to find their checks on the floor when everybody was gone。 The marshal asked if they could not describe what they had worn； in which case the loss of the checks was not so important； as the crowds had now almost left； and it would not be difficult to identify their wraps。 Mrs。 Peterkin eagerly declared she could describe every article。
It was astonishing how the marshals hurried them through the quickly deserted corridors； how gladly they recovered their garments！ Mrs。 Peterkin； indeed； was disturbed by the eagerness of the marshals； she feared they had some pretext for getting the family out of the hall。 Mrs。 Peterkin was one of those who never consent to be forced to anything。 She would not be compelled to go home； even with strains of music。 She whispered her suspicions to Mr。 Peterkin； but Agamemnon came hastily up to announce the time； which he had learned from the clock in the large hall。 They must leave directly if they wished to catch the latest train； as there was barely time to reach it。
Then； indeed； was Mrs。 Peterkin ready to leave。 If they should miss the train！
If she should have to pass the night in the streets in her turban！ She was the first to lead the way； and； panting； the family followed her； just in time to take the train as it was leaving the station。
The excitement was not yet over。 They found in the train many of their friends and neighbors； returning also from the Carnival； so they had many questions put to them which they were unable to answer。 Still Mrs。 Peterkin's turban was much admired； and indeed the whole appearance of the family； so that they felt themselves much repaid for their exertions。
But more adventures awaited them。 They left the train with their friends； but as Mrs。 Peterkin and Elizabeth Eliza were very tired； they walked very slowly； and Solomon John and the little boys were sent on with the pass…key to open the door。 They soon returned with the startling intelligence that it was not the right key； and they could not get in。 It was Mr。 Peterkin's office…key； he had taken it by mistake； or he might have dropped the house…key in the cloak…room of the Carnival。
〃Must we go back？〃 sighed Mrs。 Peterkin； in an exhausted voice。 More than ever did Elizabeth Eliza regret that Agamemnon's invention in keys had failed to secure a patent！
It was impossible to get into the house； for Amanda had been allowed to go and spend the night with a friend； so there was no use in ringing； though the little boys had tried it。
〃We can return to the station；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin； 〃the rooms will be warm； on account of the midnight train。 We can； at least； think what we shall do next。〃
At the station was one of their neighbors； proposing to take the New York midnight train； for it was now after eleven； and the train went through at half…past。
〃I saw lights at the locksmith's over the way； as I passed；〃 he said； 〃why do not you send over to the young man there？ He can get your door open for you。 I never would spend the night here。〃
Solomon John went over to 〃the young man；〃 who agreed to go up to the house as soon as he had closed the shop； fit a key； and open the door； and come back to them on his way home。 Solomon John came back to the station； for it was now cold and windy in the deserted streets。 The family made themselves as comfortable as possible by the stove； sending Solomon John out occasionally to look for the young man。 But somehow Solomon John missed him； the lights were out in the locksmith's shop； so he followed along to the house； hoping to find him there。
But he was not there！ He came back to report。 Perhaps the young man had opened the door and gone on home。 Solomon John and Agamemnon went back together； but they could not get in。 Where was the young man？ He had lately come to town； and nobody knew where he lived； for on the return of Solomon John and Agamemnon it had been proposed to go to the house of the young man。 The night was wearing on。
The midnight train had come and gone。 The passengers who came and went looked with wonder at Mrs。 Peterkin； nodding in her turban； as she sat by the stove； on a corner of a long bench。 At last the station…master had to leave； for a short rest。 He felt obliged to lock up the station； but he promised to return at an early hour to release them。
〃Of what use；〃 said Elizabeth Eliza； 〃if we cannot even then get into our own house？〃
Mr。 Peterkin thought the matter appeared bad； if the locksmith had left town。 He feared the young man might have gone in； and helped himself to spoons； and left。
Only they should have seen him if he had taken the midnight train。 Solomon John thought he appeared honest。 Mr。 Peterkin only ventured to whisper his suspicions； as he did not wish to arouse Mrs。 Peterkin； who still was nodding in the corner of the long bench。
Morning did come at last。 The family decided to go to their home； perhaps by some effort in the early daylight they might make an entrance。
On the way they met with the night…policeman； returning from his beat。 He stopped when he saw the family。
〃Ah ！ that accounts；〃 he said； 〃you were all out last night； and the burglars took occasion to make a raid on your house。 I caught a lively young man in the very act； box of tools in his hand！ If I had been a minute late he would have made his way in〃… The family then tried to interrupt…to explain… 〃Where is he？〃 exclaimed Mr。 Peterkin。
〃Safe in the lock…up；〃 answered the policeman。
〃But he is the locksmith！〃 interrupted Solomon John。
〃We have no key！〃 said Elizabeth Eliza； 〃if you have locked up the locksmith we can never get in。〃
The policeman looked from one to the other； smiling slightly when he understood the case。
〃The locksmith！〃 he exclaimed； 〃he is a new fellow； and I did not recognize him； and arrested him！ Very well； I will go and let him out； that he may let you in！〃
and he hurried away； surprising the Peterkin family with what seemed like insulting screams of laughter。
〃It seems to me a more serious case than it appears to him；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin。
Mrs。 Peterkin did not understand it at all。 Had burglars entered the house？ Did the policeman say they had taken spoons ？ And why did he appear so pleased？ She was sure the old silver teapot was locked up in the closet of their room。 Slowly the family walked towards the house； and； almost as soon as they； the policeman appeared with the released locksmith； and a few boys from the street； who happened to be out early。
The locksmith was not in very good humor； and took ill the jokes of the policeman。 Mr。 Peterkin； fearing he might not consent to open the door； pressed into his hand a large sum of money。 The door flew open； the family could go in。
Amanda arrived at the same moment。 There was hope of breakfast。 Mrs。 Peterkin staggered towards the stairs。 〃I shall never go to another carnival！〃 she exclaimed。
THE PETERKINS AT THE FARM。 YES； at last they had reached the seaside； after much talking and deliberation； and summer after summer the journey had been constantly postponed。
But here they were at last； at the 〃Old Farm；〃 so called； where seaside attractions had been praised in all the advertisements。
