第23章

NotStanleypenetratingforthefirsttimeintotheDarkContinent，notNapoleonleadinghisarmyacrosstheAlps，wasmoreweightedwithresponsibility，moreburdenedwithcare，moreovercomewiththesenseoftheimportanceofhisundertaking，thanwasMr。Sieppeduringthisperiodofpreparation。Fromdawntodark，fromdarktoearlydawn，hetoiledandplannedandfretted，organizingandreorganizing，projectinganddevising。Thetrunkswerelettered，A，B，andC，thepackagesandsmallerbundlesnumbered。Eachmemberofthefamilyhadhisespecialdutytoperform，hisparticularbundlestooversee。Notadetailwasforgotten——

fares，prices，andtipswerecalculatedtotwoplacesofdecimals。Eventheamountoffoodthatitwouldbenecessarytocarryfortheblackgreyhoundwasdetermined。

Mrs。Sieppewastolookafterthelunch，“dergomisariat。“

Mr。Sieppewouldassumechargeofthechecks，themoney，thetickets，and，ofcourse，generalsupervision。ThetwinswouldbeunderthecommandofOwgooste，who，inturn，wouldreportfororderstohisfather。

Dayinanddayouttheseminutiaewererehearsed。Thechildrenweredrilledintheirpartswithamilitaryexactitude；obedienceandpunctualitybecamecardinalvirtues。Thevastimportanceoftheundertakingwasinsisteduponwithscrupulousiteration。Itwasamanoeuvre，anarmychangingitsbaseofoperations，averitabletribalmigration。

Ontheotherhand，Trina’slittleroomwasthecentrearoundwhichrevolvedanotheranddifferentorderofthings。Thedressmakercameandwent，congratulatoryvisitorsinvadedthelittlefrontparlor，thechatterofunfamiliarvoicesresoundedfromthefrontsteps；bonnet-boxesandyardsofdress-goodslitteredthebedsandchairs；wrappingpaper，tissuepaper，andbitsofstringstrewedthefloor；apairofwhitesatinslippersstoodonacornerofthetoilettable；lengthsofwhiteveiling，likeasnow-flurry，buriedthelittlework-table；andamislaidboxofartificialorangeblossomswasfinallydiscoveredbehindthebureau。

Thetwosystemsofoperationoftenclashedandtangled。Mrs。

SieppewasfoundbyherharassedhusbandhelpingTrinawiththewaistofhergownwhensheshouldhavebeenslicingcoldchickeninthekitchen。Mr。Sieppepackedhisfrockcoat，whichhewouldhavetowearatthewedding，attheverybottomof“TrunkC。“Theminister，whocalledtoofferhiscongratulationsandtomakearrangements，wasmistakenfortheexpressman。

McTeaguecameandwentfurtively，dizziedandmadeuneasybyallthisbustle。Hegotintheway；hetroduponandtorebreadthsofsilk；hetriedtohelpcarrythepacking-boxes，andbrokethehallgasfixture；hecameinuponTrinaandthedress-makeratanill-timedmoment，andretiringprecipitately，overturnedthepilesofpicturesstackedinthehall。

Therewasanincessantgoingandcomingateverymomentoftheday，agreatcallingupanddownstairs，ashoutingfromroomtoroom，anopeningandshuttingofdoors，andanintermittentsoundofhammeringfromthelaundry，whereMr。

Sieppeinhisshirtsleeveslaboredamongthepacking-boxes。

Thetwinsclatteredaboutonthecarpetlessfloorsofthedenudedrooms。Owgoostewassmackedfromhourtohour，andweptuponthefrontstairs；thedressmakercalledoverthebanistersforahotflatiron；expressmentrampedupanddownthestairway。Mrs。Sieppestoppedinthepreparationofthelunchestocall“Hoop，Hoop“tothegreyhound，throwinglumpsofcoal。Thedog-wheelcreaked，thefrontdoorbellrang，deliverywagonsrumbledaway，windowsrattled——thelittlehousewasinapositiveuproar。

AlmosteverydayoftheweeknowTrinawasobligedtorunovertotownandmeetMcTeague。Nomorephilanderingovertheirlunchnow-a-days。Itwasbusinessnow。Theyhauntedthehouse-furnishingfloor