第26章

Withthewordinhismouth，heupliftedtheaxe，andlaidabouthim

sovigorouslythatthedustflew，theboardscrashed，and，ina

twinkling，theoldwomanhadanapronfullofbrokenrubbish。

“Weshallgetourwinter’swoodcheap。”quothTabitha。

Thegoodworkbeingthuscommenced，Peterbeatdownallbeforehim，

smitingandhewingatthejoistsandtimbers，unclinchingspike-nails，

rippingandtearingawayboards，withatremendousracket，from

morningtillnight。Hetookcare，however，toleavetheoutside

shellofthehouseuntouched，sothattheneighborsmightnot

suspectwhatwasgoingon。

Never，inanyofhisvagaries，thougheachhadmadehimhappywhile

itlasted，hadPeterbeenhappierthannow。Perhaps，afterall，

therewassomethinginPeterGoldthwaite’sturnofmind，whichbrought

himaninwardrecompenseforalltheexternalevilthatitcaused。

Ifhewerepoor，ill-clad，evenhungry，andexposed，asitwere，tobe

utterlyannihilatedbyaprecipiceofimpendingruin，yetonlyhis

bodyremainedinthesemiserablecircumstances，whilehisaspiring

soulenjoyedthesunshineofabrightfuturity。Itwashisnatureto

bealwaysyoung，andthetendencyofhismodeoflifetokeephim

so。Grayhairswerenothing，no，norwrinkles，norinfirmity；hemight

lookold，indeed，andbesomewhatdisagreeablyconnectedwitha

gauntoldfigure，muchtheworseforwear；butthetrue，theessential

Peterwasayoungmanofhighhopes，justenteringontheworld。At

thekindlingofeachnewfire，hisburnt-outyouthroseafreshfrom

theoldembersandashes。Itroseexultingnow。Havinglivedthus

long-nottoolong，butjusttotherightage-asusceptiblebachelor，

withwarmandtenderdreams，heresolved，sosoonasthehiddengold

shouldflashtolight，togoa-wooing，andwintheloveofthefairest

maidintown。Whatheartcouldresisthim？HappyPeterGoldthwaite！

Everyevening-asPeterhadlongabsentedhimselffromhisformer

lounging-places，atinsuranceoffices，news-rooms，andbook-stores，

andasthehonorofhiscompanywasseldomrequestedinprivate

circles-heandTabithausedtositdownsociablybythekitchen

hearth。Thiswasalwaysheapedplentifullywiththerubbishofhis

day’slabor。Asthefoundationofthefire，therewouldbea

goodly-sizedbacklogofredoak，which，afterbeingshelteredfrom

rainordampaboveacentury，stillhissedwiththeheat，and

distilledstreamsofwaterfromeachend，asifthetreehadbeen

cutdownwithinaweekortwo。Nextthesewerelargesticks，sound，

black，andheavy，whichhadlosttheprincipleofdecay，andwere

indestructibleexceptbyfire，whereintheyglowedlikered-hotbars

ofiron。Onthissolidbasis，Tabithawouldrearalighter

structure，composedofthesplintersofdoorpanels，ornamented

mouldings，andsuchquickcombustibles，whichcaughtlikestraw，and

threwabrilliantblazehighupthespaciousflue，makingitssooty

sidesvisiblealmosttothechimneytop。Meantime，thegleamofthe

oldkitchenwouldbechasedoutofthecobwebbedcorners，andaway

fromtheduskycross-beamsover-head，anddrivennobodycouldtell

whither，whilePetersmiledlikeagladsomeman，andTabithaseemed

apictureofcomfortableage。Allthis，ofcourse，wasbutanemblem

ofthebrightfortunewhichthedestructionofthehousewouldshed

uponitsoccupants。

Whilethedrypinewasflamingandcrackling，likeanirregular

dischargeoffairymusketry，Petersatlookingandlistening，ina

pleasantstateofexcitement。But，whenthebriefblazeanduproar

weresucceededbythedark-redglow，thesubstantialheat，andthe

deepsingingsound，whichweretolastthroughouttheevening，his

humorbecametalkative。Onenight，thehundredthtime，heteased

Tabithatotellhimsomethingnewabouthisgreat-granduncle。

“Youhavebeensittinginthatchimneycornerfifty-fiveyears，old

Tabby，andmusthaveheardmanyatraditionabouthim。”saidPeter。

“Didnotyoutellmethat，whenyoufirstcametothehouse，therewas

anoldwom