Volume I Part 66 (2/2)
”Do you?” said Hugh, rather soberly.
”Yes, I do ? even in my flower-patch, right before the house- door; but here” ? said Fleda, turning away, and swinging her basket of strawberries as she went, ”I have no idea I ever did such a thing as make bread, ? and how clothes get mended I do not comprehend in the least!”
”And have you forgotten the pease and the asparagus too?”
”I am afraid you haven't, dear Hugh,” said Fleda, linking her arm within his. ”Hugh ? I must find some way to make money.”
”More money!” said Hugh, smiling.
”Yes ? this garden business is all very well, but it doesn't come to any very great things after all, if you are aware of it; and Hugh, I want to get aunt Lucy a new dress. I can't bear to see her in that old merino, and it isn't good for her.
Why, Hugh, she couldn't possibly see anybody, if anybody should come to the house.”
”Who is there to come?” said Hugh.
”Why, n.o.body; but still, she ought not to be so.”
”What more can you do, dear Fleda? You work a great deal too hard already,” said Hugh, sighing. ”You should have seen the way father and mother looked at you last night when you were asleep on the sofa.”
Fleda stifled her sigh, and went on.
”I am sure there are things that might be done ? things for the booksellers ? translating, or copying, or something ? I don't know exactly ? I have heard of people's doing such things. I mean to write to uncle Orrin, and ask him. I am sure he can manage it for me.”
”What were you writing the other night?” said Hugh, suddenly.
”When!”
”The other night ? when you were writing by the fire-light? I saw your pencil scribbling away at a furious rate over the paper, and you kept your hand up carefully between me and your face, but I could see it was something very interesting. Ha!”
? said Hugh, laughingly trying to get another view of Fleda's face which was again kept from him. ”Send that to uncle Orrin, Fleda; ? or show it to me first, and then I will tell you.”
Fleda made no answer; and at the parsonage-door Hugh left her.
Two or three wagons were standing there, but n.o.body to be seen. Fleda went up the steps and crossed the broad piazza, brown and unpainted, but picturesque still, and guided by the sound of tongues turned to the right, where she found a large low room, the very centre of the stir. But the stir had not by any means reached the height yet. Not more than a dozen people were gathered. Here were aunt Syra and Mrs. Dougla.s.s, appointed a committee to receive and dispose the offerings as they were brought in.
”Why, there is not much to be seen yet,” said Fleda. ”I did not know I was so early.”
”Time enough,” said Mrs. Dougla.s.s. ”They'll come the thicker when they do come. Good morning, Dr. Quackenboss! I hope you're a-going to give us something else besides a bow? and I wont take none of your physic neither.”
”I humbly submit,” said the doctor, graciously, ”that nothing ought to be expected of gentlemen that ? a ? are so unhappy as to be alone; for they really ? a ? have nothing to give ? but themselves.”
There was a shout of merriment.
”And suppos'n that's a gift that n.o.body wants?” said Mrs.
Dougla.s.s's sharp eye and voice at once.
”In that case,” said the doctor, ”I really ? Miss Ringgan, may I ? a ? may I relieve your hand of this fair burden?”
”It is not a very fair burden, Sir,” said Fleda, laughing, and relinquis.h.i.+ng her strawberries.
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