"Said
he'd take his Honor with him," muttered Abner to himself in the dim
watches of the night; "lookin' at that sayin' in its right light, it
looks bad."
V.
The elaborately untruthful account which Mr. Nott gave his daughter of
De Ferrieres' sudden departure was more fortunate than his usual
equivocations. While it disappointed and slightly mortified her, it did
not seem to her inconsistent with what she already knew of him. "Said
his doctor had ordered him to quit town under an hour, owing to a
comin' attack of hay fever, and he had a friend from furrin parts
waitin' him at the Springs, Rosey," explained Nott, hesitating between
his desire to avoid his daughter's eyes and his wish to observe her
countenance.
"Was he worse?--I mean did he look badly, father?" inquired Rosey,
thoughtfully.
"I reckon not exactly bad. Kinder looked as if he mout be worse soon ef
he didn't hump hisself."
"Did you see him?--in his room?" asked Rosey anxiously. Upon the answer
to this simple question depended the future confidential relations of
father and daughter.
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