No one doubted the success of our experiment, for that
evening at least.
"Perkins Brown, Shelldrake's boy-of-all-work, awaited us at the
door. He had been sent on two or three days in advance, to take
charge of the house, and seemed to have had enough of hermit-life,
for he hailed us with a wild whoop, throwing his straw hat half-way
up one of the poplars. Perkins was a boy of fifteen, the child of
poor parents, who were satisfied to get him off their hands,
regardless as to what humanitarian theories might be tested upon
him. As the Arcadian Club recognized no such thing as caste, he
was always admitted to our meetings, and understood just enough of
our conversation to excite a silly ambition in his slow mind. His
animal nature was predominant, and this led him to be deceitful.
At that time, however, we all looked upon him as a proper
young Arcadian, and hoped that he would develop into a second Abel
Mallory.
"After our effects had been deposited on the stoop, and the
carriages had driven away, we proceeded to apportion the rooms, and
take possession.
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