"Tenth day," Guy responded, thus showing that he, too, was keeping
Maddy's age, even to a day.
"Yes, the tenth day," resumed the doctor. "There's 'most eleven years'
difference between us, but if she feels at all as I do, she will not
care, Guy;" and the doctor began to talk earnestly: "I'll be candid
with you, and say that you have sometimes made my heart ache a
little."
"Me!" and Guy's face was crimson, while the doctor continued: "Yes, and I beg your pardon for it; but let me ask you one question,
and upon its answer will depend my future course with regard to Maddy:
You are true to Lucy?"
Guy felt the blood trickling at the roots of his hair, but he answered
truthfully as he believed: "Yes, true as steel;" while the generous thought came over him that he
would further the doctor's plans all he possibly could.
"Then I am satisfied," the doctor rejoined; "and as you have rather
assumed the position of her guardian or brother, I ask your permission
to offer her the love which whether she accepts it or not, is hers."
Guy had never felt a sharper pang than that which now thrilled through
every nerve, but he would not prove false to the friend confiding in
him, and he answered calmly: "You have my consent; but, Doc, better put it off till you see her at
Aikenside. There's no chance at the cottage, with those three old
people. I wonder she don't go wild. I'm sure I should."
Guy was growing rather savage about something, but the doctor did not
mind; and grasping his arm as he arose, he said: "And you'll manage it for me, Guy? You know how. I don't. You'll
contrive for me to see her alone, and maybe say a word beforehand in
my favor."
"Yes, yes, I'll manage it. I'll fix it right. Don't forget, day after
to-morrow night. The Cutlers' will be there, and, by the way, Marcia
has got to be a splendid girl. She fancied you once, you know. Old
Cutler is worth half a million." And Guy tore himself away from the
doctor, who, now that the ice was broken, would like to have talked of
Maddy forever.
But Guy was not thus inclined, and in a mood not extremely amiable, he
threw himself into his sleigh and went dashing down toward Honedale.
For some unaccountable reason he was not now one bit interested in the
party, and, were it not that a few of the invitations were issued, he
would have been tempted to give it up. Guy did not know what ailed
him. He only felt as if somebody had been meddling with his plans, and
had he been in the habit of swearing, he would probably have sworn;
but as he was not, he contented himself with driving like a second
Jehu he reached Honedale, where a pair of soft, brown eyes smiled up
into his face, and a little, fat, warm hand was clasped in his, as
Maddy came even to the gate to meet him.