Queechy Volume I Part 76

"My brother," said Charlton.

"I don't mean your brother, Captain Rossitur," said Thorn, throwing himself off his horse.

He joined the party, who were just leaving the mill to go down towards the house. Very much at his leisure, Charlton dismounted, and came after him.

"I have brought Charlton safe home, Miss Ringgan," said Thorn, who, leading his horse, had quietly secured a position at her side.

"What's the matter?" said Fleda, laughing. "Couldn't he bring himself home?"

"I don't know what's the matter, but he's been uncommonly dumpish; we've been as near as possible to quarrelling for half a dozen miles back."

"We have been ? a ? more agreeably employed," said Dr.

Quackenboss, looking round at him with a face that was a concentration of affability.

"I make no doubt of it, Sir; I trust we shall bring no unharmonious interruption. If I may change somebody else's words," he added more low to Fleda ? " 'disdain itself must convert to courtesy in your presence.' "

"I am sorry disdain should live to pay me a compliment," said Fleda. "Mr. Thorn, may I introduce to you, Mr. Olmney?"

Mr. Thorn honoured the introduction with perfect civility, but then fell back to his former position and slightly lowered tone.

"Are you then a sworn foe to compliments?"

"I was never so fiercely attacked by them as to give me any occasion."

"I should be very sorry to furnish the occasion; but what's the harm in them, Miss Ringgan?"

"Chiefly a want of agreeableness."

"Of agreeableness! Pardon me; I hope you will be so good as to give me the rationale of that?"

"I am of Miss Edgeworth's opinion, Sir," said Fleda, blus.h.i.+ng, " that a lady may always judge of the estimation in which she is held, by the conversation which is addressed to her."

"And you judge compliments to be a doubtful indication of esteem!"

"I am sure you do not need information on that point, Sir."

"As to your opinion, or the matter of fact?" said he, somewhat keenly.

"As to the matter of fact," said Fleda, with a glance both simple and acute in its expression.

"I will not venture to say a word," said Thorn, smiling.

"Protestations would certainly fall flat at the gates where _les douces paroles_ cannot enter. But do you know this is picking a man's pocket of all his silver pennies, and obliging him to produce his gold?"

"That _would_ be a hard measure upon a good many people," said Fleda, laughing. "But they're not driven to that. There's plenty of small change left."

"You certainly do not deal in the coin you condemn," said Thorn, bowing. "But you will remember that none call for gold but those who can exchange it, and the number of them is few.

In a world where cowrie pa.s.ses current, a man may be excused for not throwing about his guineas."

"I wish you'd throw about a few for our entertainment," said Charlton, who was close behind. "I haven't seen a yellow-boy in a good while."

"A proof that your eyes are not jaundiced," said his friend, without turning his head, "whatever may be the case with you otherwise. Is he out of humour with the country-life you like so well, Miss Ringgan? or has he left his domestic tastes in Mexico? How do you think he likes Queechy?"

"You might as well ask myself," said Charlton.

"How do you think he likes Queechy, Miss Ringgan?"

"I am afraid something after the fas.h.i.+on of Touchstone," said Fleda, laughing; ? "he thinks, that 'in respect of itself, it is a good life; but in respect that it is a shepherd's life, it is nought. In respect that it is solitary, he likes it very well; but in respect that it is private, it is a very vile life. Now, in respect it is in the fields, it pleaseth him well; but in respect it is not in the court, it is tedious.' "

"There's a guinea for you, Captain Rossitur," said his friend.

"Do you know out of what mint?"

"It doesn't bear the head of Socrates," said Charlton.

" 'Hast no philosophy in thee,' Charlton?" said Fleda, laughing back at him.

"Has not Queechy ? a ? the honour of your approbation, Captain Rossitur?" said the doctor.

"Certainly, Sir; I have no doubt of its being a very fine country."

"Only he has imbibed some doubts whether happiness be an indigenous crop," said Thorn.

"Undoubtedly," said the doctor, blandly; "to one who has roamed over the plains of Mexico, Queechy must seem rather ? a ? a rather flat place."

"If he could lose sight of the hills," said Thorn.

"Undoubtedly, Sir, undoubtedly," said the doctor; "they are a marked feature in the landscape, and do much to relieve ? a ?

the charge of sameness."

"Luckily," said Mr. Olmney, smiling, "happiness is not a thing of circ.u.mstance; it depends on a man's self."

"I used to think so," said Thorn; "that is what I have always subscribed to; but I am afraid I could not live in this region and find it so long."

"What an evening!" said Fleda. "Queechy is doing its best to deserve our regards under this light. Mr. Olmney, did you ever notice the beautiful curve of the hills in that hollow where the sun sets?"

"I do notice it now," he said.

"It is exquisite!" said the doctor. "Captain Rossitur, do you observe, Sir ? in that hollow where the sun sets?"

Captain Rossitur's eye made a very speedy transition from the hills to Fleda, who had fallen back a little to take Hugh's arm, and placing herself between him and Mr. Olmney, was giving her attention undividedly to the latter. And to him she talked perseveringly of the mountains, the country, and the people, till they reached the courtyard gate. Mr. Olmney then pa.s.sed on. So did the doctor, though invited to tarry, averring that the sun had gone down behind the firmament, and he had something to attend to at home.

"You will come in, Thorn," said Charlton.

"Why, I had intended returning; but the sun has gone down indeed, and as our friend says there is no chance of our seeing him again, I may as well go in and take what comfort is to be had in the circ.u.mstances. Gentle Euphrosyne, doth it not become the Graces to laugh?"

"They always ask leave, Sir," said Fleda, hesitating.

"A most Grace-ful answer, though it does not smile upon me,"

said Thorn.