Love stories; New England -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
"Let me see, Apollo--he struck liars and knew how to prescribe for the
croup, didn't he, besides being a looker beyond all comers?"
Diana smiled. "You think of everything in terms of humor, do you not?"
she rejoined.
"Perhaps--of most things, but not of you."
"Oh, I think of me most of all."
"Far from it," said Philip. "I wouldn't dare. If my voice gives you a
thrill, yours gives me a chill."
"I can't believe that really," said Diana equably, watching Philip's
expert handling of the trowel. "You are always laughing at me. I don't
in the least understand why, but it doesn't matter at all. I think it is
a quite laudable mission to make people laugh. What a good gardener you
are, Mr. Barrison."
"Oh, isn't he, though!" exclaimed Miss Priscilla, emerging from the
house. "Think of my luck that Phil really likes to fuss with flowers.
Ox-chains couldn't drag him to do it if he didn't like to."
"Really?" returned Diana. "Is she not maligning you, Mr. Barrison? Are
you really the slave of caprice?"
"I deny it," said Philip. "It doesn't sound nice."
"It would be a dire thing for you," declared the girl. "But you do not
ask me what I am naming the Inn."
"Oh, it is an Inn, is it?"
"Yes," put in Miss Priscilla. "Since the leaks are mended, both pipes
and roof, and the stove's up and the chimney draws, I think we can call
it that."
"What is it, then? 'The Dew Drop'?" inquired Philip.
"I particularly dislike puns," said Diana quietly. "I like 'The
Wayside.' Why shouldn't we call it 'The Wayside Inn'?"
"You have my permission," said Philip.
"We do not need anything original, but we do need a name that is lovely.
'The Wayside Inn' is lovely."
"So be it," said Philip.
"And you're not forgettin' what you are goin' to do to-morrow, are you,
dear boy?" said Miss Priscilla ingratiatingly.
"Not if it isn't to go again for the plumber," replied Philip. "His
wrenches and hammers are too handy; and I'm sure one more call up here
would render him dangerous."
"Mr. Buell is a very pleasant man," said Diana. "So is Mr. Blake, the
carpenter. I have learned such interesting expressions from them. Mr.
Blake was showing me the fault in one of the gables of this house. He
said the builder had given the roof a 'too quick yank.' Is not that
quaint?"
"Ha, ha, ha," laughed Philip up into the girl's serious face. "Bully for
Matt. You may get the vernacular, after all."
"I'm not quick," said Diana. "I'm afraid I should not prove an apt
pupil."
"But, Philip," said Miss Priscilla, "about to-morrow. You know you'll
have to get the early boat to go to meet Veronica. It's perfectly
splendid of you to go, dear boy. I don't know how I could spare the
time. I've got to get several rooms ready for to-morrow, and the child
is such an utter stranger in this part o' the world."
"Oh, yes, I'll go," said Philip carelessly. "I think the Inn will be
relieved that I can get a hair-cut. My tresses are nearly ready to braid
now."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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