"Dr. Lacey of New Orleans?" asked Stanton.
"The same," returned Mr. Middleton. "You look as much like him as two
peas, only you wear goggles. Connection of your'n I reckon?"
"Yes, sir," answered Stanton, "he is my cousin. I have been told that we
resemble each other."
"By Jupiter!" said Mr. Middleton, "that's just the checker. No wonder I
like you so well. And Dr. Lacey goin' to marry Sunshine, too. Your
sweetheart ought to look like Fanny. Got her picter, hey?"
Stanton handed him Nellie's daguerreotype, and he pretended to discover a
close resemblance between her and Fanny; but neither Mrs. Middleton, nor
Mr. Ashton could trace any, for which Mr. Middleton called them both
blockheads.
"I think," said Mrs. Middleton, "that she looks more like Mr. Ashton than
she does like Fanny."
"It is similarity of name which makes her resemble him," said Raymond.
"Why, is her name Ashton?" asked Middleton.
"Yes, sir," said Stanton.
"Mebbe she's your sister, Ashton. But Lord knows she don't look no more
like you than she does like old Josh."
"She cannot be my sister," said Ashton, "for I had but one, and she is
dead."
After breakfast Mr. Middleton ordered out his carriage and bade Ike drive
the gentlemen to Frankfort.
"I'd go myself," said he, "but I've got a fetched headache. Give my love
to my gals and tell them I'm comin' to see 'em shortly. You'd better go to
the Whizzakor House, till you find out whether or not Miss Crane 'll board
you."
The young men thanked him for his hospitality, and bade him good morning.
As they were leaving the yard they passed Bob, who was still limping with
the "rheumatiz." Raymond bade Ike stop, while he threw "Bobaway" some
pennies. Bob picked them up and looked at them with a rueful face.
"What's the matter, Bobaway?" asked Raymond. "Don't they suit?"
"No, sir," said Bob. "I like fopences; I don't want nothin' of these old
iron rocks."
Each of the men threw Bob a sixpence, for which they were rewarded with a
sight of his ivories and a loud "thank-ee-sar." After a ride of two hours
they reached the Weisiger House in Frankfort. Soon after arriving there,
Mr. Ashton introduced Stanton into one of the best law offices in the
town, and then repaired to his former lodgings.