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“That woman wouldn’t ask anything better than for me to go to St. Louis.” Hosmer was utterly amazed. He leaned his arms on the table, clasping his hands together and looked at his wife. “That woman? Belle Worthington? What do you mean, any way?” “I don’t mean Belle Worthington,” she said excitedly, with two deep red spots in her cheeks. “I’m talking about Mrs. Laferm.”
Laferm; only I’d think you’d die of lonesomeness, sometimes.” Thérèse laughed, and told her not to forget that she expected them all over in the evening. “You can depend on me; and I’ll do my best to drag Fanny over; so-long.”
She answered with unsteady voice, “Oh, I was able to look after my husband myself, Mrs. Laferm.” Thérèse reddened at finding herself so misunderstood. “I meant in your housekeeping, Mrs. Hosmer; I could have relieved you of some of that worry, whilst you were occupied with your husband.”
He rode up close to the rail of the veranda near which Thérèse stood, and nodded to her without offering to raise or touch his hat. She was prepared for the drawl with which he addressed her, and even guessed at what his first words would be. “You’re Mrs. Laferm I ’low?” Thérèse acknowledged her identity with a bow.
A second time, she awkwardly returned the hand pressure, and later, these mildly sensuous exchanges prefaced the outpouring of all Fanny’s woes, great and small. “I don’t say that I always done what was right, Mrs. Laferm, but I guess David’s told you just what suited him about me. You got to remember there’s always two sides to a story.”
Worthington even now loudly demanding a pack of cards. “Here’s a gentleman never heard of six-handed euchre. If you’ve got a pack of cards, Mrs. Laferm, I guess I can show him quick enough that it can be done.” “Oh, I don’t doubt Mrs. Worthington’s ability to make any startling and pleasing revelations,” rejoined the planter good humoredly, and gallantly following Mrs.
“Well, I reckon she knows they ain’t anybody born, good enough fur her?” he said, thinking of those engagements that she had shattered. “What was David doing?” Fanny asked abruptly. “Writin’ lettas at the sto’.” “Did he say when he was coming?” “No.” “Do you guess he’ll come pretty soon?” “No, I reckon not fur a good w’ile.” “Is Melicent with Mrs. Laferm?” “No; she’s packin’ her things.”
Laferm, do take a peep at Mr. Worthington astride that horse; it’s enough to make a cat expire!” Mrs. Worthington was on the whole rather inclined to take her husband seriously. As often as he might excite her disapproval, it was seldom that he aroused her mirth. So it may be gathered that his appearance in this unfamiliar rôle of horseman was of the most mirth-provoking.
“I guess I’ll go sit with Mrs. Laferm, d’you think she’ll mind?” “No, she’ll be glad to have you.” Fanny crossed over to go join Thérèse. She liked to be with her when there was no danger of interruption from Melicent, and Grégoire went wandering aimlessly about the plantation. He staked great hopes on what the night might bring for him.
He’s a mighty good husband now, Mrs. Laferm. Don’t mind what I said about him. I was afraid you thought that ” “Never mind,” returned Thérèse kindly, “I know all about it. Don’t worry any farther over what I may think. I believe in you and in him, and I know you’ll both be brave and do what’s right.”
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