"Saint Peter!" said Mr. Middleton. "What's the row now? What's happened to
make little Sunshine spirt up so? Don't you want to see Dr. Lacey, child?"
"No, father; I never desire to see him again."
The old cob pipe dropped from Mr. Middleton's mouth, and springing up, he
confronted Fanny, saying, "What in fury is this racket? You not wish to go
to New Orleans, or see Dr. Lacey either! I half wish you was Tempest for a
spell, so I could storm at you; but as it is Sunshine, I can't even feel
mad."
"Oh, father, father!" cried Fanny, weeping; "if you knew all that has
occurred, you would not blame me."
"What do you mean, darling?" asked Mr. Middleton, suddenly becoming cool.
"What has happened?"
Then looking at Julia, whose face was crimson, a new idea struck him, and
he exclaimed more wrathfully, "How now, Tempest? What makes you turn as
red as a hickory fire? Have you been raising a rumpus between Dr. Lacey
and Sunshine? Out with it if you have."
It was now Julia's turn to cry and appeal to her uncle, if it were not
unjust in her father always to suspect her of evil, if anything were
wrong. William very wisely kept silent, but Fanny said, "Do not accuse
Julia, for she is not guilty. She knows it all, however, and is sorry for
it."
"Knows what? Sorry for what? Why don't you tell?" said Mr. Middleton,
stalking back and forth through the porch, and setting down his feet as
heavily as if he would crush everything which might fall beneath his
tread.
"I cannot tell you now," said Fanny; "but when we are alone, you shall
know all."
In a few moments William thought proper to retire, and as his example was
soon followed by Julia, Fanny was left alone with her parents. Drawing her
stool nearer to her father, and laying her hot, feverish forehead on his
hand, she said, "Before I give any explanation, I wish you to make me a
promise."
"Promise of what?" asked her father and mother, simultaneously.
"It is not probable," answered Fanny, "that you will ever see Dr. Lacey
again, but if you do, I wish you never to mention to him what I am about
to tell you."
The promise was readily given by Mrs. Middleton, but her husband demurred,
saying, "I shan't commit myself until I know what 'tis. If Dr. Lacey has
been cuttin' up, why I'll cowhide him, that's all."