Volume I Part 84 (1/2)
”I'll go bail for the first part of that!” said Squire Deacon. ”But it's your affairs I'm talkin' of--not his'n. And I s'pose I've as good a right as all the rest of Pattaqua.s.set--and give no offence, neither.
I was goin' to make you my compliments, doctor--that's all; and if you don't think you'll ever want 'em, why there's no harm done--and enough said. All I want to know is, what do you get so stirred up for?”
”Is that all?” said the doctor, as if he had a mind to know the whole before giving an answer.
”All what?” said Squire Deacon.
”All that you wish to communicate?”
”I haven't communicated anything yet,” said the Squire. ”I guess you knew all that before.”
”Well,” said the doctor, half laughing, though his expression had changed more than once during the last five minutes,--”then my answer is easy. In the first place, Mr. Deacon, I have no affairs--therefore it is impossible to talk about them. In the second place, when I am in want of your compliments I will send you mine. In the third place,--I declare I am at a loss how to answer you; for the only thing I ever get stirred up for, is my breakfast! Good afternoon!--”
Staying no more civilities, the doctor made the best of his way to Mrs.
Derrick's. Faith was ready for him, and more gently with her he set out on the road back again. It was not a time of day to meet people--one familiar face however they did meet,--Squire Deacon. His eye did not seek Faith's face, but rested on the doctor with full effect.
Arrived at the Judge's house, the doctor led her to the library, and there unlocked the door of a little cabinet room. On a table in the window, standing in the full suns.h.i.+ne, was the object of their visit.
It was simply a fine little Aquarium. More delightfully new to Faith's eyes nothing could be; as the same eyes shewed. While they explored the wonders of the box, the doctor at his ease proceeded to unfold to her the various meanings of them. He enlarged upon the habits and characters of the several inmates of the Aquarium; he explained to her the philosophy of keeping the balance of vegetable and animal life and thereby preserving both; he told which creature lived upon which other; what office they severally, some of them, performed for the small section of Ocean in which they lived and its vitrified sh.o.r.es; and then taking up the subject of Sea anemones, the doctor told stories, of natural truth, that with these living specimens before her entranced Faith out of all knowledge of place or time. Dr. Harrison asked no more. He gave her what she liked, and with admirable tact abstained from putting himself forward; any further than a quick eye, excellent speech, and full and accurate mind must make themselves known, and most gentle and graceful attention make itself felt.
”Do you suppose,” said he, when Faith was absorbedly watching the Anemones feed,--”that Mrs. Derrick would give this thing house-room?”
Faith looked, but half comprehending.
”I am not always here,” said the doctor carelessly, as he was supplying another bit of flesh to the voracious flower,--”and I should like to have it somewhere that it would be taken care of. If I left it to Sophy for a week, I should expect to find on my return that the vegetables and fishes had eaten up each other. Don't you admire that crab?”
”Very much,” said Faith. ”This little fish is just like some of the sh.e.l.ls down on the sh.o.r.e.”
”He came from the sh.o.r.e somewhere,” said the doctor,--”little monster!
The ocean world isn't much better than the world of earth, apparently, Miss Derrick.”
”Do you think the earth-world is like that?” said Faith.
”Don't you?”
”I don't know what it is like.”
”If you will permit me to say so, I hope you never will--any further than as you choose to make this a miniature of that. And things in miniature--are much less,” said the doctor abstractedly, looking at the Anemone. ”Would you like to have this little ocean box in your house for awhile, Miss Faith?--it could just as well as not. Indeed it would be rather a benefit to me.”
”O I should like it!” said Faith. ”But I should be afraid of its getting broken, Dr. Harrison.”
”I am not afraid,” said he. ”It would be in less danger there than here. As I told you, Sophy neither knows nor cares anything about such things; and she would either kill them with kindness or forget them altogether--most likely do both alternately. But with you they would be safe, for the simple reason that you love them.”
The sunbeams had left the window before Faith was at all aware of the pa.s.sing away of the afternoon. And then, for once to her joy, Miss Harrison could not be found. They set out to walk home, and had got half way when a little rush of footsteps came up behind them, and Reuben and Sam pa.s.sed by, arm in arm; or rather half by--then paused and said good evening.
”O have you seen Mr. Linden to-night, Dr. Harrison?” said Sam.
”Good evening, sir!” said the doctor. ”Have I the honour of knowing you?”
”I should think you might,” said Sam, in a tone not at all displeased--”but it don't signify much. Have you seen him to-night, doctor?”