They call her Elfie, and she calls them
grandpapa, and uncle and aunt, but she has been sitting here
complaining of everything being cold and dull, and talking about seas
and islands, palm-trees, and coral caves, and humming birds, yes, and
black slaves, and strings of pearls, so that if she is romancing,
like Armine and Babie, she does it uncommonly naturally."
They saw no more of this mysterious little being, and the family soon
returned from Church. The father was a fine, old-fashioned yeoman,
the son had the style of a modern farmer, and the wife was so quiet,
sensible, and matronly as to be almost ladylike. Her two little
girls were dressed as well as Essie and Ellie, but all were
essentially commonplace. They were very kind and friendly, anxious
that Allen should stay as long as was good for him, as well as
pressing in their hospitality to the two ladies. Mr. Gould was very
anxious to drive them home in his gig, though he allowed that the
road was very rough unless you went through Belforest Park, and that
he never did.
This was surprising, for Belforest had always seemed as free as the
turnpike-road, and River Hollow was apparently part of the estate,
but there was an air of discouraging questions, so Carey suspected
quarrels and asked none.
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