"Not if that's your only reason," grandpa replied. "It's right to want

learning, quite right; but, if my child is biased by the fine things

at Aikenside, and hates to come back to her poor home, because 'tis

poor, I should say it was very natural, but not exactly right."

Maddy was very happy after it was settled, and chatted gayly with her

grandmother, while Guy went out with her grandfather, who wished to

speak with him alone.

"Young man," he said, "you have taken a deep interest in me and mine

since I first came to know you, and I thank you for it all. I've

nothing to give in return except my prayers, and those you have every

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day; you and that doctor. I pray for you two just as I do for Maddy.

Somehow you three come in together. You're uncommon good to Maddy.

'Tain't every one like you who would offer and insist on learning her.

I don't know what you do it for. You seem honest. You can't, of

course, ever dream of making her your wife, and, if I thought--yes, if

I supposed"--here grandpa's voice trembled, and his face became a

livid hue with the horror of the idea--"if I supposed that in your

heart there was the shadow of an intention to deceive my child, to

ruin my Maddy, I'd throttle you here on the spot, old as I am, and

bitterly as I should repent the rashness."

Guy attempted to speak, but grandpa motioned him to be silent, while

he went on: "I do not suspect you, and that's why I trust her with you. My old

eyes are dim, but I can see enough to know that Maddy is beautiful.

Her mother was so before her, and the Clydes were a handsome race. My

Alice was elevated, folks thought, by marrying Captain Clyde, but I

don't think so. She was pure and good as the angels, and Maddy is much

like her, only she has the ambition of the Clydes: has their taste for

everything a little above her. She wouldn't make nobody blush if she

was mistress of Aikenside."

Grandpa felt relieved when he had said all this to Guy, who listened

politely, smiling at the idea of his deceiving Maddy, and fully

concurring with grandpa in all he said of her rare beauty and natural

gracefulness. On their return to the house grandpa showed Guy the

bedroom intended for Uncle Joseph, and Guy, as he glanced at the

furniture, though within himself how he would send down from Aikenside

some of the unused articles piled away on the garret when he

refurnished his house. He was becoming greatly interested in the

Markhams, caring nothing for the remarks his interest might excite

among the neighbors, some of whom watched Maddy half curiously as in

the stylish carriage, beside its stylish owner, she rode back to

Aikenside in the quiet, autumnal afternoon.




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