'Come on now,' he added as he took my grip away from me. 'We're goin' t' hev a gran' good time. I'll take ye all to a splendid tavern somewheres. An' I ain't goin' to count the cost nuther.
He was determined to carry my grip for me. Hope had a friend with her who was going north in the morning on our boat. We crossed the ferry and took a Broadway omnibus, while query followed query.
'Makes me feel like a flapjack t'ride 'n them things,' said Uncle Eb as we got out.
He hired a parlour and two bedrooms for us all at the St Nicholas.
'Purty middlin' steep!' he said to me as we left the office. 'It is, sartin! but I don't care—not a bit. When folks has to hev a good time they've got t' hev it.
We were soon seated in our little parlour. There was a great glow of health and beauty in Hope's face. It was a bit fuller but had nobler outlines and a colouring as delicate as ever. She wore a plain grey gown admirably fitted to her plump figure. There was a new and splendid 'dignity in her carriage, her big blue eyes, her nose with its little upward slant. She was now the well groomed young woman of society in the full glory of her youth.
Uncle Eb who sat between us pinched her cheek playfully. A little spot of white showed a moment where his fingers had been. Then the pink flooded over it.
'Never see a girl git such a smack as you did,' he said laughing.
'Well,' said she, smiling, 'I guess I gave as good as I got.'
'Served him right,' he said. 'You kissed back good 'n hard. Gran sport!' he added turning to me.