The morning which succeeded the events narrated in the last chapter was
clear and bright. Nature, beautiful as ever, looked as if laughing
defiance at the fearful storm which so lately had swept over the earth.
Beautifully over hill and valley fell the sun's red rays, but when they
penetrated the dwelling of Mr. Middleton, they shone on the anxious,
careworn faces of those who had been sleepless during the dark hours of
that dreadful night. Even the merry-hearted Florence seemed sad and
spiritless as she hurried from room to room, urging Ashton to accelerate
their departure. By eight o'clock the last guest was gone. Around the old
stone house a gloomy silence settled, broken only by the heavy tramp of
Uncle Joshua, whose cowhides came down with a vengeance, as up and down
the yard he strode, talking to Dr. Lacey, who walked by his side.
"Now," said he, "if this isn't a little the all-firedest muss a feller
ever got into, Josh ain't no judge. Of course the papers have nothing to
do but flout it all over the country. For myself I don't care a copper,
but 'twill be mighty mortifyin' to you, though I think you desarve some
mortifyin', for how in thunder a chap of your sense ever come to be made
such a precious fool of is more'n I can tell."
"If you knew all the arts she employed, you would not wonder quite so
much," said Dr. Lacey. And Mr. Middleton answered, "Know all her arts?
Don't I know 'em? Don't I know that she rummaged heaven and arth for ways
and means?"
"I hardly think she went to the former place for assistance," said Dr.
Lacey; and Mr. Middleton continued, "You are right, but I'll be bound
Satan hadn't any tricks but what he told her of. 'Pears like she's been
possessed ever since she first opened her big black eyes in the very room
where the row was last night. Oh, how happy I was," he continued, "when I
took her in my arms a little baby, and knew she was mine and Nancy's, and
thought what a comfort she'd be to me; but George, I tell you what," said
he, as he placed one hand on Dr. Lacey's arm and passed the other through
the grizzled locks which lay around his brow, "I tell you what, these gray
hairs come a heap too soon, and all for her, for her. Oh, Julia, Julia,
what trouble have you not caused me!" and in his hands Uncle Joshua buried
his face, while through his large red fingers the tears trickled slowly,
and fell upon the ground. For a moment he wept, and then wiping his eyes,
said, "But wasn't it lucky that long-legged, salmon-colored Joe got here
as he did! Another minute and you'd have been clinched, but now the
tempest has blowed over, and for the rest of your life you'll have nothing
but sunshine."