" "Why do you stare thus,
Lieutenant Mason?" cried Captain Dunwoodie, laughing a little. "You show
more astonishment than when you saw the falls." "Oh, the falls!--they
are a thing to be looked at on a moonshiny night, by your Aunt Sarah and
that gay old bachelor, Colonel Singleton; but a fellow like myself never
shows surprise, unless it may be at such a touch as this." The
extraordinary vehemence of the stranger's manner had passed away as
suddenly as it was exhibited, but he listened to this speech with deep
interest, while Dunwoodie replied, a little gravely,--"Come, come, Tom,
no jokes about my good aunt, I beg; she is kindness itself, and I have
heard it whispered that her youth was not altogether happy." "Why, as to
rumor," said Mason, "there goes one in Accomac, that Colonel Singleton
offers himself to her regularly every Valentine's day; and there are
some who add that your old great-aunt helps his suit." "Aunt Jeanette!"
said Dunwoodie, laughing. "Dear, good soul, she thinks but little of
marriage in any shape, I believe, since the death of Dr. Sitgreaves.
There were some whispers of a courtship between them formerly, but it
ended in nothing but civilities, and I suspect that the whole story
arises from the intimacy of Colonel Singleton and my father.
Pages:
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632