Volume I Part 47 (1/2)
”No wild beasts, my dear, if that is your meaning ? and I do not suppose there are even many snakes left by this time.”
”No, but, dear uncle, I mean, is it in all unsettled state?”
”No, my dear, not at all ? perfectly quiet.”
”Ah! but do not play with me,” exclaimed poor Mrs. Rossitur, between laughing and crying; ? ”I mean, is it far from any town, and not among neighbours?”
”Far enough to be out of the way of morning calls,” said the doctor; ”and when your neighbours come to see you, they will expect tea by four o'clock. There are not a great many near by, but they don't mind coming from five or six miles off.”
Mrs. Rossitur looked chilled, and horrified. To her he had described a very wild country indeed. Fleda would have laughed if it had not been for her aunt's face; but that settled down into a doubtful anxious look that pained her. It pained the old doctor too.
”Come,” said he, touching her pretty chin with his fore-finger ? ”what are you thinking of? folks may be good folks, and yet have tea at four o'clock, mayn't they?”
”When do they have dinner!” said Mrs. Rossitur.
”I really don't know. When you get settled up there, I'll come and see.”
”Hardly,” said Mrs. Rossitur. ”I don't believe it would be possible for Emile to get dinner before the tea-time; and I am sure I shouldn't like to propose such a thing to Mrs. Renney.”
The doctor fidgeted about a little on the hearth-rug, and looked comical, perfectly understood by one acute observer in the corner.
”Are you wise enough to imagine, Lucy,” said Mr. Rossitur, sternly, ”that you can carry your whole establishment with you? What do you suppose Emile and Mrs. Renney would do in a farmhouse?”
”I can do without whatever you can,” said Mrs. Rossitur, meekly. ”I did not know that you would be willing to part with Emile, and I do not think Mrs. Renney would like to leave us.”
”I told you before, it is no more a question of liking,”
answered he.
”And if it were,” said the doctor, ”I have no idea that Monsieur Emile and Madame Renney would be satisfied with the style of a country kitchen, or think the interior of Yankeeland a hopeful sphere for their energies.”
”What sort of a house is it?” said Mrs. Rossitur.
”A wooden-frame house, I believe.”
”No, but, dear uncle, do tell me.”
”What sort of a house? ? Humph ? large enough, I am told. It will accommodate you in one way.”
”Comfortable?”
”I don't know,” said the doctor, shaking his head ? ”depends on who's in it. No house is that per se. But I reckon there isn't much plate gla.s.s. I suppose you'll find the doors all painted blue, and every fireplace with a crane in it.”
”A crane!” said Mrs. Rossitur, to whose imagination the word suggested nothing but a large water-bird with a long neck.
”Ay!” said the doctor. ”But it's just as well. You wont want hanging lamps there ? and candelabra would hardly be in place either, to hold tallow candles.”
”Tallow candles!” exclaimed Mrs. Rossitur. Her husband winced, but said nothing.
”Ay,” said the doctor, again ? ”and make them yourself, if you are a good housewife. Come, Lucy,” said he, taking her hand, ”do you know how the wild fowl do on the Chesapeake? ? duck and swim under water till they can show their heads with safety. 'T wont spoil your eyes to see by a tallow candle.”
Mrs. Rossitur half smiled, but looked anxiously towards her husband.