Volume I Part 47 (2/2)
”Pooh, pooh! Rolf wont care what the light burns that lights him to independence ? and when you get there, you may illuminate with a whole whale if you like. By the way, Rolf, there is a fine water power up yonder, and a saw-mill in good order, they tell me, but a short way from the house. Hugh might learn to manage it, and it would be fine employment for him.”
”Hugh!” said his mother, disconsolately. Mr. Rossitur neither spoke nor looked an answer. Fleda sprang forward.
”A saw-mill! ? Uncle Orrin! ? where is it?”
”Just a little way from the house, they say. You can't manage it, fair Saxon! ? though you look as if you would undertake all the mills in creation, for a trifle.”
”No, but the place, uncle Orrin; ? where is the place?”
”The place? Hum ? why it's up in Wyandot County ? some five or six miles from the Montepoole Spring ? what's this they call it? ? Queechy! ? By the way!” said he, reading Fleda's countenance, ”it is the very place where your father was born!
? it is! I didn't think of that before.”
Fleda's hands were clasped.
”Oh, I am very glad!” she said. ”It's my old home. It is the most lovely place, aunt Lucy! ? most lovely ? and we shall have some good neighbours there too. Oh, I am very glad! ? The dear old saw-mill! ?”
”Dear old saw-mill!” said the doctor, looking at her. ”Rolf, I'll tell you what, you shall give me this girl. I want her. I can take better care of her, perhaps, now, than you can. Let her come to me when you leave the city ? it will be better for her than to help work the saw-mill; and I have as good a right to her as anybody, for Amy before her was like my own child.”
The doctor spoke not with his usual light jesting manner, but very seriously. Hugh's lips parted ? Mrs. Rossitur looked with a sad thoughtful look at Fleda ? Mr. Rossitur walked up and down looking at n.o.body. Fleda watched him.
”What does Fleda herself say?” said he, stopping short suddenly. His face softened, and his eye changed as it fell upon her, for the first time that day. Fleda saw her opening; she came to him, within his arms, and laid her head upon his breast.
”What does Fleda say?” said he, softly kissing her.
Fleda's tears said a good deal, that needed no interpreter.
She felt her uncle's hand pa.s.sed more and more tenderly over her head ? so tenderly that it made it all the more difficult for her to govern herself and stop her tears. But she did stop them, and looked up at him then with such a face ? so glowing through smiles and tears ? it was like a very rainbow of hope upon the cloud of their prospects. Mr. Rossitur felt the power of the sunbeam wand; it reached his heart; it was even with a smile that he said, as he looked at her ?
”Will you go to your uncle Orrin, Fleda?”
”Not if uncle Rolf will keep me.”
”Keep you!” said Mr. Rossitur; ”I should like to see who wouldn't keep you! There, Dr. Gregory, you have your answer.”
”Hum! ? I might have known,” said the doctor, ”that the 'faire Una' would abjure cities. Come here, you Elf!” ? and he wrapped her in his arms so tight she could not stir ? ”I have a spite against you for this. What amends will you make me for such an affront?”
”Let me take breath,” said Fleda, laughing, ”and I'll tell you. You don't want any amends, uncle Orrin.”
”Well,” said he, gazing with more feeling than he cared to show into that sweet face, so innocent of apology-making ? you shall promise me that you will not forget uncle Orrin, and the old house in Bleecker Street.”
Fleda's eyes grew more wistful.
”And will you promise me that if ever you want anything, you will come, or send straight there?”
”If ever I want anything I can't get nor do without,” said Fleda.
”Pshaw!” said the doctor, letting her go, but laughing at the same time. ” Mind my words, Mr. and Mrs. Rossitur ? if ever that girl takes the wrong bit in her mouth ? Well, well! I'll go home.”
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