Volume I Part 12 (2/2)

”I don't think he is,” said Fleda, quietly.

”But why, Fairy?”

”He doesn't know how to keep his word as well, grandpa.”

”Ay, ay? let's hear about that,” said Mr. Ringgan.

A little reluctantly, for Cynthia was present, Fleda told the story of the robins, and how Mr. Carleton would not let the gun be fired.

”Wa'n't your cousin a little put out by that?”

”They were both put out,” said Fleda; ”Mr. Carleton was very angry for a minute, and then Mr. Rossitur was angry, but I think he could have been angrier if he had chosen.”

Mr. Ringgan laughed, and then seemed in a sort of amused triumph about something.

”Well, dear!” he remarked after a while; ”you'll never buy wooden nutmegs, I expect.”

Fleda laughed, and hoped not, and asked him why he said so.

But he didn't tell her.

”Mr. Ringgan,” said Cynthy, ”hadn't I better run up the hill after supper, and ask Mis' Plumfield to come down and help to- morrow? I s'pose you'll want considerable of a set-out; and if both them young men comes, you'll want some more help to entertain 'em than I can give you, it's likely.”

”Do so ? do so,” said the old gentleman. ”Tell her who I expect, and ask her if she can come and help you, and me too.”

”O, and I'll go with you, Cynthy,” said Fleda. ”I'll get aunt Miriam to come, I know.”

”I should think you'd be run off your legs already, Flidda,”

said Miss Cynthia; ” what ails you to want to be going again?”

But this remonstrance availed nothing. Supper was hurried through, and leaving the table standing, Cynthia and Fleda set off to ”run up the hill.”

They were hardly a few steps from the gate when they heard the clatter of horses' hoofs behind them, and the two young gentlemen came riding hurriedly past, having joined company and taken their horses at Queechy Run. Rossitur did not seem to see his little cousin and her companion; but the doffed cap and low inclination of the other rider as they flew by called up a smile and blush of pleasure to Fleda's face; and the sound of their horses' hoofs had died away in the distance, before the light had faded from her cheeks, or she was quite at home to Cynthia's observations. She was possessed with the feeling, what a delightful thing it was to have people do things in such a manner.

”That was your cousin, wa'n't it?” said Cynthy, when the spell was off.

”No,” said Fleda, ”the other one was my cousin.”

”Well ? I mean one of them fellers that went by. He's a soldier, ain't he?”

”An officer,” said Fleda.

”Well, it does give a man an elegant look to be in the militie, don't it? I should admire to have a cousin like that.

It's dreadful becoming to have that ? what is it they call it?

? to let the beard grow over the mouth. I s'pose they can't do that without they be in the army, can they?”

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