Volume Ii Part 6 (1/2)
”Mr. Thorn!” said Mr. Carleton.
”Yes,” said Mrs. Evelyn, in an indulgent tone ? ”he was very attentive to her last winter when she was with us, but she went away before anything was decided. I don't think he has forgotten her.”
”I shouldn't think anybody could forget her,” said Edith.
”I am confident he would be here at this moment,” said Constance, ”if he wasn't in London.”
”But what is 'all mamma's doing,' Constance?” inquired her sister.
”The destruction of the peace of the whole family of Thorns; I shouldn't sleep sound in my bed if I were she, with such a reflection. I look forward to heart-rending scenes, with a very disturbed state of mind.”
”But what have I done, my child?” said Mrs. Evelyn.
”Didn't you introduce your favourite, Mr. Olmney, to Miss Ringgan, last summer? I don't know” ? her native delicacy shrunk from making any disclosures, and, of course, the tongue of friends.h.i.+p is silent ? ”but they were out ages yesterday while I was waiting for her, and their parting at the gate was ? I feel myself unequal to the task of describing it,” said Constance, ecstatically; ”and she was in the most elevated tone of mind during our whole interview afterwards, and took all my brilliant remarks with as much coolness as if they had been drops of rain ? more, I presume, considering that it was hay-time.”
”Did you see him?” said Mrs. Evelyn.
”Only at that impracticable distance, Mamma; but I introduced his name afterwards, in my usual happy manner, and I found that Miss Ringgan's cheeks were by no means indifferent to it.
I didn't dare go any further.”
”I am very glad of it. I hope it is so,” said Mrs. Evelyn, energetically. ”It would be a most excellent match. He is a charming young man, and would make her very happy.”
”You are exciting gloomy feelings in Mr. Carleton's mind, Mamma, by your felicitous suggestions. Mr. Carleton, did your ears receive a faint announcement of ham and eggs, which went quite through and through mine just now?”
He bowed, and handed the young lady in; but Constance declared, that though he sat beside her, and took care of her at breakfast, he had on one of his intangible fits, which drove her to the last extreme of impatience and captivation.
The sun was not much more than two hours high the next morning, when a rider was slowly approaching Mr. Rossitur's house from the bridge, walking his horse, like a man who wished to look well at all he was pa.s.sing. He paused behind a clump of locusts and rose-acacias, in the corner of the court- yard, as a figure, bonneted and gloved, came out of the house, and began to be busy among the rose-bushes. Another figure presently appeared at the hall door, and called out ?
”Fleda!”
”Well, Barby ?”
This second voice was hardly raised, but it came from so much nearer that the words could be distinctly heard.
”Mr. Skillcorn wants to know if you're going to fix the flowers for him to carry?”
”They're not ready, and it wont do for him to wait ? Mr. Sweet must send for them if he wants them. Philetus must make haste back, for you know Mr. Dougla.s.s wants him to help in the barn meadow. Lucas wont be here, and now the weather is so fine, I want to make haste with the hay.”
”Well, will you have the samp for breakfast?”
”No ? we'll keep that for dinner. I'll come in and poach some eggs, Barby, ? if you'll make me some thin pieces of toast ?
and call me when it's time. Thin, Barby.”
The gentleman turned his horse, and galloped back to Montepoole.
Some disappointment was created among a portion of Mr. Sweet's guests that afternoon, by the intelligence that Mr. Carleton purposed setting off the next morning to join his English friends at Saratoga, on their way to the Falls and Canada.
Which purpose was duly carried into effect.
CHAPTER IV.