Volume Ii Part 49 (2/2)
”My dear Miss Ringgan, I am most happy of this delightful opportunity ? I had supposed you were located at home for the winter. This is a sudden start.”
”Is it sudden to you, Dr. Quackenboss?” said Fleda.
”Why ? a ? not disagreeably so,” said the doctor, smiling; ”nothing could be that in the present circ.u.mstances ? but I ?
a ? I hadn't calculated upon it for much of a spell beforehand.”
Fleda was vexed, and looked ? only unconversable.
”I suppose,” said the doctor, after a pause, ”that we have not much time to waste ? a ? in idle moments. Which route do you intend to travel?”
”I was thinking to go by the North River, Sir.”
”But the ice has collected, I am afraid.”
”At Albany, I know; but when I came up, there was a boat every other day, and we could get there in time by the stage ? this is her day.”
”But we have had some pretty tight weather since, if you remember,” said the doctor; ”and the boats have ceased to connect with the stage. We shall have to go to Greenfield to take the Housatonic, which will land us at Bridgeport on the Sound.”
”Have we time to reach Greenfield this morning?”
”Oceans of time,” said the doctor, delightedly; ”I've got my team here, and they're jumping out of their skins with having nothing to do, and the weather ? they'll carry us there as spry as gra.s.shoppers ? now, if you're ready, my dear Miss Ringgan.”
There was nothing more but to give and receive those speechless lip-messages that are out of the reach of words, and Mrs. Rossitur's half-spoken last charge, to take care of herself; and with these seals upon her mission, Fleda set forth and joined the doctor, thankful for one foil to curiosity in the shape of a veil, and only wis.h.i.+ng that there were any invented screen that she could place between her and hearing.
”I hope your attire is of a very warm description,” said the doctor, as he helped her into the wagon; ”it friz pretty hard last night, and I don't think it has got out of the notion yet. If I had been consulted in any other? a ? form, than that of a friend, I should have disapprobated, if you'll excuse me, Miss Ringgan's travelling again before her 'Rose of Ca.s.sius'
there was in blow. I hope you have heard no evil tidings? Dr.
? a ? Gregory, I hope, is not taken ill?”
”I hope not, Sir,” said Fleda.
”He didn't look like it. A very hearty old gentleman. Not very old either, I should judge. Was he the brother of your mother or your father?”
”Neither, Sir.”
”Ah! ? I misunderstood ? I thought, but of course I was mistaken ? I thought I heard you speak to him under the t.i.tle of uncle. But that is a t.i.tle we sometimes give to elderly people as a term of familiarity; there is an old fellow that works for me, he has been a long time in our family, and we always call him 'uncle Jenk.' ”
Fleda was ready to laugh, cry, and be angry, in a breath. She looked straight before her, and was mum.
”That 'Rose of Ca.s.sius' is a most exquisite thing,” said the doctor, recurring to the cl.u.s.ter of bare bushy stems in the corner of the garden. ”Did Mr. Rossitur bring it with him when he came to his present residence?”
”Yes, Sir.”
”Where is Mr. Rossitur now?”
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