Part 38 (1/2)
”No question of it, I think.”
”Are you satisfied?”
”Perfectly. I haven't seen very much of Fred since he--and we--grew up, but if he's his father's son----”
”He is, I think,” said Doctor Churchill, confidently. ”And the doctor likes it, I'm sure. There's satisfaction in his face whenever he looks at them. In fact, I can't help thinking he planned both the house party and this trip with a view of bringing them together all he could.”
”Dear Celia--if she's just half as happy as she deserves to be----”
”She will be. She loves to travel, hasn't had half enough of it, and he'll take her round the world. I haven't had a chance to tell you that he's going to India in the fall, in some important capacity. He received the appointment just yesterday.”
”Really?” Charlotte looked thoughtful. ”Celia--in India! Andy----”
”Does that startle you? I don't imagine it's for any long stay, but as a matter of some scientific investigations. Here, don't go to looking sober. I shall be sorry I told you.”
Charlotte smiled and answered brightly that it was not a thing to look sober over. Nevertheless, her thoughts were much with her sister. The next morning, as the party found their places on the little steamer which was to take them down the river to Mount Vernon, she found herself watching Celia more closely than she had meant to do, in the anxiety to discover if the trip to India was really imminent.
”Isn't Mount Vernon a fascinating spot?” asked Evelyn, as she and Jeff walked up the long, ascending road from pier to house together. ”I've never forgotten my first visit. I lived in Was.h.i.+ngton's times in my dreams for weeks afterward. I never saw it at this season of the year.
The garden must be in its prime now.”
”Let's go and see it first,” responded Jeff, quickly. ”I don't remember much about it. My two visits here have all been spent in the house.”
So while the others rambled through the quaint and interesting rooms, Jeff and Evelyn made their way to the box-bordered paths of Lady Was.h.i.+ngton's garden, and wandered about there in the warm June suns.h.i.+ne.
It grew so hot after a while that they betook themselves to the lawn and banks overlooking the river, and sat there talking, as they watched the waters of the Potomac.
”What are you going to do when you get home?” asked Jeff, somewhat suddenly.
”Put our rooms in order,” Evelyn responded, promptly.
”All by yourself?”
”We live in the same house with a lovely little woman, the wife of a former Confederate general. I shall be with her until Thorne comes.”
”I suppose you've lots of friends of your own age?” Jeff observed.
”Not as many as I ought to have. You see, I've lived very quietly with my brother for six years now, except for the time I spent at a girls'
school in Baltimore. Since I came home from there I've not been very strong, and Thorne has kept me very quiet, until he sent me North to school last fall.”
”You're so well now you'll be going about a lot. Any young people in the house with you? It's a boarding-house, isn't it?”
”Yes, a small one. There are no young people in it except Mrs.
Livingstone's son.”
”How old a fellow?”
”Twenty-one, I believe.”
”I suppose you're great friends with him?” said Jeff suspiciously.