He paced the gravel sailor-wise,
taking six steps and then turning, instead of going in each direction
as far as he could. He longed and feared his sister's return. One
hour--two hours elapsed; still he walked a supposed deck on the little
lawn--six steps and then turn. At last he saw her coming in the
distance; he ran to meet her; but when he came up with her he did not
speak, but looked wistfully in her face, and tried hard to read it and
his fate.
"Now, David, don't make a fool of yourself, or I won't tell you."
"No, no. I'll be calm, I will--be--calm."
"Well, then, for one thing, she is to drink tea with us this evening."
"She? Who? What? Where? Oh!"
"Here."
CHAPTER V.
MR. FOUNTAIN sat at breakfast opposite his niece with a twinkle set in
his eye like a cherry-clack in a tree, relishing beforehand her
smiles, and blushes, and gratitude to him for having hooked and played
his friend, so that now she had but to land him. "I'll just finish
this delicious cup of coffee," thought he, "and then I'll tell you, my
lady." While he was slowly sipping said cup, Lucy looked up and said
graciously to him, "How silly Mr. Talboys was last night--was he not,
dear?"
"Talboys? silly? what? do you know? Why, what on earth do you mean?"
"Silly is a harsh word--injudicious, then--praising me _a tort et a
travers,_ and was downright ill-bred--was discourteous to another
of our guests, Mr. Dodd."
"Confound Mr. Dodd! I wish I had never invited him.
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