Volume I Part 66 (1/2)
”Yes it was, because, you know, we have only fried pork for dinner to-day; and while we have the milk and eggs, it doesn't cost much ? the sugar is almost nothing. He will like it better, and so will Hugh. As for you,” said Fleda, gently touching her forehead again, ”you know it is of no consequence!”
”I wish you would think yourself of some consequence,” said Mrs. Rossitur.
”Don't I think myself of consequence?” said Fleda, affectionately. ”I don't know how you'd all get on without me.
What do you think I have a mind to do now, by way of resting myself?”
”Well?” said Mrs. Rossitur, thinking of something else.
”It is the day for making presents to the minister, you know?”
”The minister? ?”
”Yes, the new minister ? they expect him to-day; you have heard of it; the things are all to be carried to his house to- day. I have a great notion to go and see the fun ? If I only had anything in the world I could possibly take with me ?”
”Aren't you too tired, dear?”
”No ? it would rest me; it is early yet; if I only had something to take! I couldn't go without taking something ?”
”A basket of eggs?” said Mrs. Rossitur.
”Can't, aunt Lucy ? I can't spare them; so many of the hens are setting now. A basket of strawberries! ? that's the thing!
I've got enough picked for that and to-night too. That will do!”
Fleda's preparations were soon made, and with her basket on her arm she was ready to set forth.
”If pride had not been a little put down in me,” she said, smiling, ”I suppose I should rather stay at home than go with such a petty offering. And no doubt every one that sees it or hears of it will lay it to anything but the right reason. So much the world knows about the people it judges! It is too bad to leave you all alone, aunt Lucy.”
Mrs. Rossitur pulled her down for a kiss ? a kiss in which how much was said on both sides! ? and Fleda set forth, choosing, as she very commonly did, the old-time way through the kitchen.
”Off again?” said Barby, who was on her knees scrubbing the great flag-stones of the hearth.
”Yes, I am going up to see the donation party.”
”Has the minister come?”
”No, but he is coming to-day, I understand.”
”He ha'n't preached for 'em yet, has he?”
”Not yet; I suppose he will next Sunday.”
”They are in a mighty hurry to give him a donation party!”
said Barby. ”I'd a' waited till he was here first. I don't believe they'd be quite so spry with their donations if they had paid the last man up as they ought. I'd rather give a man what belongs to him, and make him presents afterwards.”
”Why, so I hope they will, Barby,” said Fleda, laughing. But Barby said no more.
The parsonage-house was about a quarter of a mile, a little more, from the saw-mill, in a line at right angles with the main road. Fleda took Hugh from his work, to see her safe there. The road ran north, keeping near the level of the mid- hill, where it branched off a little below the saw-mill; and as the ground continued rising towards the east, and was well clothed with woods, the way, at this hour, was still pleasantly shady. To the left, the same slope of ground carried down to the foot of the hill gave them an uninterrupted view over a wide plain or bottom, edged in the distance with a circle of gently swelling hills. Close against the hills, in the far corner of the plain, lay the little village of Queechy Run, hid from sight by a slight intervening rise of ground. Not a chimney showed itself in the whole spread of country. A sunny landscape just now; but rich in picturesque a.s.sociations of hay-c.o.c.ks and win-rows, spotting it near and far; and close by below them was a field of mowers at work; they could distinctly hear the measured rush of the scythes through the gra.s.s, and then the soft clink of the rifles would seem to play some old delicious tune of childish days. Fleda made Hugh stand still to listen. It was a warm day, but ”the sweet south that breathes upon a bank of violets” could hardly be more sweet than the air which, coming to them over the whole breadth of the valley, had been charged by the new-made hay.
”How good it is, Hugh,” said Fleda, ”that one can get out of doors, and forget everything that ever happened or ever will happen within four walls!”