"She does not bear that name in Snowdon. They consider her very haughty
there. I think you must be a favorite."
"Are they very aristocratic and wealthy?" 'Lina asked, and Alice
answered:
"Aristocratic, not wealthy. They were very kind to me, and the doctor's
sister, Anna, is one of the sweetest ladies I ever knew. She may
possibly be here during the summer. She is an invalid, and has been for
years."
Suddenly Ellen Tiffton's story of the ambrotype flashed into 'Lina's
mind. Alice might know something of it, and after a little she asked if
the doctor had not at one time been engaged.
Alice did not know. It was very possible. Why did Miss Worthington ask
the question?
'Lina did not stop to consider the propriety or impropriety of making so
free with a stranger, and unhesitatingly repeated what Ellen Tiffton had
told her of the ambrotype. This, of course, compelled her to speak of
Adah, who, she said, came to them under very suspicious circumstances,
and was cared for by her eccentric brother, Hugh.
In spite of the look of entreaty visible on Mrs. Worthington's face,
'Lina said:
"To be candid with you, Miss Johnson, I'm afraid you won't like Hugh. He
has many good traits, but I am sorry to say we have never succeeded in
cultivating him one particle, so that he is very rough and boorish in
his manner, and will undoubtedly strike you unfavorably. I may as well
tell you this, as you will probably hear it from Ellen Tiffton, and must
know it when you see him. He is not popular with the ladies; he hates
them all, he says. Mother, Loo-loo, come," and breaking off from her
very sisterly remarks concerning Hugh, 'Lina sprang up in terror as a
large beetle, attracted by the light, fastened itself upon her hair.
Mrs. Worthington was the first to the rescue, while Lulu, who had
listened with flashing eye when Hugh was the subject of remark, came
laggardly, whispering slyly to Alice:
"That's a lie she done tell you about Mas'r Hugh. He ain't rough, nor
bad, and we blacks would die for him any day."
Alice was confounded at this flat contradiction between mistress and
servant, while a faint glimmer of the truth began to dawn upon her. The
"horn-bug" being disposed of, 'Lina became quiet, and might, perhaps,
have taken up Hugh again, but for a timely interruption in the shape of
Irving Stanley, who had walked up to the Columbian, and seeing 'Lina and
her mother through the window, sauntered leisurely into the parlor.
"Ah, Mr. Stanley," and 'Lina half arose from her chair, thus intimating
that he was to join them. "Miss Johnson, Mr. Stanley," and 'Lina watched
them closely.
"You have positively been smitten by Miss Johnson's pretty face," said
'Lina, laughing a little spitefully, as they parted at the piazza,
Irving to go after his accustomed glasses of water, and 'Lina to seek
out Dr. Richards in the parlor. "Yes, I know you are smitten, and
inasmuch as we are cousins, I shall expect to see you at Spring Bank
some day not far in the future."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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