"And I'm feeling fine," assented Mrs. Fields, her spare face lighted
into something like real comeliness by the pleasure in her heart. "Just
one thing, Doctor Andy. I'm terrible sorry them relatives of yours
happened along just now. If I'd gone to the door--well--I don't believe
but I'd have seen my way clear to--"
Churchill shook his head, smiling. "No, Fieldsy, you know you wouldn't.
Besides, Cousin Lula looks far from well, and she's had a lot of
trouble. It's all right, you know. My, but this is a good dinner we have
coming to us!"
He went off gaily. Mrs. Fields looked after him affectionately.
"Oh, yes, Andy Churchill, it's plain to be seen your heart's in the
right place as much as ever it was, if you have got married," she
thought.
"O Fieldsy,"--and this time it was Charlotte who invaded the kitchen and
grasped the housekeeper's hands--"how good it seems to be back! But I
can't realise a bit I'm at home over here, can you?"
"You'll soon get used to it, I guess, Mis' Churchill."
"Oh, and _that_ sounds strange--from you!" declared Charlotte, laughing.
"I'd begun to get a little bit used to it down in Virginia. If you don't
say 'Miss Charlotte' once in a while to me I shall feel quite lost."
"I guess Doctor Churchill 'd have something to say about that, if I
should. I don't believe but what he's terrible proud of that name."
It was certainly a name nobody seemed able to "get used to." Just called
his sister by the new title once during the evening. They were at the
table when he thus addressed her, and there followed a succession of
comments.
"Don't you dare call her that when I'm round!" remarked Jeff.
"I actually didn't understand at first whom you meant," said Celia.
"I've not forgotten how long it took me to learn that my name was
Birch," said Charlotte's mother, with a smile so bright that it covered
the involuntary sigh.
"Is Aunty Charlotte my Aunty Churchill now?" piped little Ellen. Lucy
and Randolph Peyton laughed.
"Of course, she is, dumpling, only you can keep on calling her Aunty
Charlotte. And I'm your Uncle Andy. How do you like that?"
"Oh, I like that!" agreed Ellen, and edged her chair an inch nearer
"Uncle Andy."
Dinner over, Celia bore Ellen home to bed. Charlotte suggested the same
possibility for the Peyton children, but although it was nearing nine
o'clock, both refused so decidedly that after a glance at their mother,
who took no notice, Charlotte said no more.
Randolph grew sleepy in his chair, and Doctor Churchill presently took
pity on him. He sat down beside the lad and told him a story of so
intentionally monotonous a character that Randolph was soon half over
the border. Then the doctor picked him up, and with the drooping head on
his shoulder observed, pleasantly:
"This lad wants his bed, Cousin Lula. May I take him to it?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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