For a moment there was silence in the room, and then Guy told the
doctor of what himself and Agnes were speaking when he arrived.
"I suppose it's of no use asking you to join us for a week or so."
"There was not," the doctor said. "His patients needed him and he must
stay at home."
"Doctor, how would this Maddy Clyde do to stay here with Jessie while
we are gone, partly as companion and partly as her teacher?" was Guy's
next question, which brought Mrs. Agnes at once from her reverie.
"Guy," she exclaimed, "are you crazy? That child Jessie's governess!
No, indeed! I shall have a teacher from Boston--one whose manners and
style are unexceptionable."
Guy had a will of his own, and few could provoke it into action as
effectually as Agnes, who, in thus opposing him, was working directly
against herself. Paying her no attention, except to bow in token that
he heard, Guy asked Jessie her opinion.
"Oh, it will be splendid! Can she come to-morrow? I shan't care how
long you are gone if I can have Maddy here, and doctor will come up
every day, will you, doctor?" and the soft eyes looked up pleadingly
into the doctor's face.
"It is not settled yet that Maddy comes," the doctor replied, adding
as an answer to Guy's question: "If Agnes could be willing, I do not
think you could do better than to secure Miss Clyde's services. Two
children will thus be made happy, for Maddy, as I have told you,
thinks Aikenside must be a little lower only than Paradise. I shall be
happy to open negotiations, if you say so."
"I'll ride down and let you know to-morrow," Guy said. "These domestic
matters, where there is a difference of thinking, had better be
discussed alone," and he turned good-humoredly toward Agnes, who knew
it was useless to oppose him then.
But oppose him she did that night, after the doctor had gone, taking
at first the high stand that sooner than have a country girl like
Maddy Clyde associated daily with her daughter, whether as teacher or
companion, she would give up Saratoga and stay at home. Guy could not
explain why it was that opposition from Agnes always aroused all his
powers of antagonism. Yet so it was, and now he was as fully
determined that Maddy Clyde should come to Aikenside as Agnes was that
she should not. He knew, too, how to attain this end without further
altercation.