United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
"By Jove," said Mr. Middleton, "that’s just the thing! And you have taken
Dick’s place in school—poor, boy, to die so soon!" The tears were again
moistening his immense beard, but this time he hastily brushed them away,
and went on, "Yes, that’s a capital idee, and you want me to patternize
you by sending my two gals—hey? Well, I reckon I can’t do better, if they
want to go. Ho! Tempest—Sunshine—what d’ye say? D’ye want to go back to
Frankfort and board at Miss Crane’s, ’long of Mr. Miller, Dr. Lacey, Katy
did, and that other infernal Katy didn’t, what fainted spang away at the
sight of old Josh! But though she was so dreadfully skeered, the pooty
color didn’t leave her cheeks an atom. Lightnin’ spikes! Let me catch my
gals paintin’ and I’ll—"
But he was prevented from telling what he’d do by Fanny, who clapped her
hands and said, "Oh, father, you are a dear good man; may we really go?"
"I thought Fanny would be pleased with the idea," said Mr. Miller, "and
even if she had objected, I was going to send the doctor out, and I know
he would bring her to terms."
Fanny blushed and her father said, "Do you think so? Well, I’m glad on’t.
I’d as soon she’d have him as anybody, and she’s worthy of him too, for if
she can love such a hideous old clown as I am, she’ll stick to such a nice
man as Dr. Lacey through thick and thin. But what do you say to goin’,
Tempest?"
Julia had at first thought that nothing could induce her to become a pupil
of Mr. Miller, but his allusion to Dr. Lacey decided her otherwise. It was
necessary that she should go, for she did not dare trust her sister alone
with the doctor; so she swallowed her dislike to Mr. Miller, and said she
should be delighted to return to school.
It was settled that they should go during the next week.
This arrangement gave great pleasure to Dr. Lacey, who found it very
lonely in Frankfort without Fanny, and had several times spoken of
returning to New Orleans. But when he learned that Fanny was coming back,
he suddenly changed his mind and concluded that Frankfort would be a
charming winter residence. This was laughingly told to Fanny by Kate, who
had learned to love her very much. Julia she disliked, for she had at last
drawn from Mr. Miller the whole history of her proceedings, and she could
but look upon the false-hearted girl as accessory to her brother’s death.
Julia knew that by the fair Northern beauty she was secretly despised, but
she did not care, for she had conceived a great friendship for Mrs.
Carrington, whom she often amused with her remarks about New York people.
Once she said, "I do wish New York would die, or stop taking emetics, and
sending the contents of her bilious stomach to Kentucky in the shape of
teachers!"
Mrs. Carrington smiled and said, "I think you prefer Louisiana emetics, do
you not?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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