The next morning Peter
Ames, the chauffeur, called him up on the telephone to inquire whether
he had heard anything more about the job on his sister's place. He was
anxious to know, he said, because everybody had cleared out of Green
Fancy during the night and he had received instructions to lock up the
house and look for another situation.
CHAPTER XVIII
MR. SPROUSE CONTINUES TO BE PERPLEXING, BUT PUTS HIS NOSE TO THE
GROUND
The morning air was soft with the first real touch of spring. A quiet
haze lay over the valley; the lofty hills were enjoying a peaceful
smoke, and the sky was as blue as the turquoise. Birds shrilled a
fresh, gay carol; the song of the anvil had a new thrill of joy in
every inspiring note; the cawing of crows travelled melodiously across
the fields, roosters split their throats in vociferous acclaim to the
distant sun, and hens clucked a complacent chorus. The rattle of
kitchen pans was melody to the ear instead of torture; the squeaking
of pigs in the sty beyond the stable yard took on the dignity of
music; and the blue smoke that rose from chimneys near and far went
dancing up to wed the smiling sky.
Barnes was abroad early. Very greatly to his annoyance, he had slept
long and soundly throughout the night.
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