"Do your daughters prefer that church?" asked William.
"Why, yes," returned his brother; "or, that is, Dick, poor boy Dick,
belonged thar; so did the young Leftenant Carrington; so does Dr. Lacey;
and that's reason enough why Sunshine should prefer it. Tempest goes thar,
I reckon, because its fashionable, and she can have a nice prar-book to
show. You ought to see the one I bought for Sunshine. It's all velvety,
and has gold clasps, with jest the word 'Sunshine' writ on it. Tempest has
got a more common one. It didn't cost half as much."
"I notice that you make quite a distinction between your daughters," said
William. "May I ask why you do it?"
Mr. Middleton stopped smoking and said, "If you please, Bill, I'd rather
say nothin' about that now. I make it a rule never to swar Sundays, and if
I got to goin' it about Tempest and the way she used poor Dick, I should
have to swar and no mistake. Mebby you think I'd better not swar any
time."
"Yes," answered William; "I should be glad if you would not. It is a bad
habit, and I wish you would discontinue it."
"Well now, Bill," said Mr. Middleton, "Lord knows--no, I mean I know I've
tried a heap of times to break off, and now I'll try again. I'll not cuss
a word till I forget. Dick used to want me to stop, and when he died I
promised myself I would; but the pigs and horses got into the corn, and
fust I knew I was swarin' wus than ever. I wish you had seen Dick; it
can't be; he's gone forever."
"Have you no daguerreotype of him?" asked William.
"No, I hain't, but his folks have; and Mr. Miller and Kate are going home
this summer, and they'll fetch me one. That makes me think Sunshine is so
puny and sick like, that I'm goin' to let her go North with them. It'll do
her good; and I'm going to buy her four silk gowns to go with, but for
Lord's--no, for land's sake don't tell Tempest."
"I hope you are not very anxious to have Fanny go North," said William;
"for it will seriously affect a plan which I have formed."
"Well, what is it?" asked Mr. Middleton.
William then told of the house he had purchased, and of his intention to
take both his nieces back with him. "I know," said he, "that it seems
strange to take them there in hot weather; but down by the lake it will be
pleasant and cool, and I must have them with me."