United States or Micronesia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"There was glasses on the tray, and a decanter of that cordial Direxia makes; it's too strong for a temperance household. Doctor Strong and that young Blyth girl were sitting on two stools, and they was all three playing cards! I suppose I looked none too well pleased, for Mis' Tree said, 'I can't have you turning my cordial sour, Ephraim Weight.
"Miss Vesta won't have me," said Geoffrey; "and I won't have anybody else, unless you will relent, Mrs. Tree. Now, what do you want? lobster salad? Well, I shall not give you that. If you eat it you will be ill tomorrow, and then Direxia will send for me, and you will throw my medicine out of the window and get well without it, and then laugh in my face.
Slowly and unwillingly he plodded across the street, and shuffled up the walk; timidly and half-heartedly he lifted the shining knocker and let it fall. Direxia Hawkes opened the door, and he passed in. "Well?" said Mrs. Weight. The deacon had not made a long stay at the opposite house.
Mis' Tree has lived handsome and close all her days. As you say, deacon, I hope she's prepared, but I never see any signs of active piety in her myself." There was a pause, while all the family except Annie Lizzie, who profited by the interlude to take two doughnuts beyond her usual allowance gazed eagerly at the house opposite. "She's questioning Direxia. She's shaking her head.
"The Lord likes to be helped along once in a while!" said Mrs. Tree. "Don't tell me! I wasn't born yesterday." And this statement was not to be controverted. "Deacon," said Mrs. Weight, "Mis' Tree is sick!" "Now, reelly!" said the deacon. "Is that so?" "It is so. She sent for Doctor Strong this morning. I saw Direxia go out, and she was gone just the len'th of time to go to the girls' and back.
"If Direxia had nothing better to do, I'd send her packing," said Mrs. Tree. "Here!" They touched glasses solemnly. "Wishing you luck in a wife!" said the old lady. "Good gracious!" cried Geoffrey. "It's what you need, young man, and you'd better be looking out for one. There must be some one would have you, and any wife is better than none."
How's the girls?" She rang the bell, and Direxia appeared. "Bring the cake and sherry!" she said. "It's a shame to spoil boys, but when they're spoilt already, there's less harm done. How's the girls?" Geoffrey reported a clean bill of health, so far as Miss Phoebe and Miss Vesta were concerned. "I really am proud of Miss Phoebe!" he said.
The late Captain Tree had been a man of fancy, and, sailing on many seas, never forgot his name, but bought precious woods wherever he found them. "Here's the doctor!" said Direxia. "I expect he'll keep right on coming till he finds you sick." "That's what he will do!" said Geoffrey. "No chance for me to-day, though, I see. How do you do, Mrs. Tree?
The door was opened by a Brownie, disguised in a cap and apron. This was Direxia Hawkes, aunt to Diploma Grotty. In his mind Geoffrey had christened the little house the Aunt's Nest, but he never dared to tell anybody this. "Well, Direxia, how is Mrs. Tree to-day? would she like to see me, do you think?" "She ain't no need to see you!" The young doctor looked grieved, and turned away.
"You must have looked quite pretty when you was short-coated!" said the old lady, irrelevantly. "Have some wine? the cake is too rich for you, but you may have just a crumb." "You must have been the wickedest thing alive when you were eighteen!" said Geoffrey, pouring out the amber sherry into a wonderful gilt glass. "I wish Direxia would stay in the room and matronise me; I'm afraid, I tell you."
Word Of The Day