“The young man who blacked up and came to Mr. Barstow’s party.”
“How old is he, and what does he look like?”
“‘Haven’t an idea’ answers both those questions; you remember I told you I never saw him really. Dr. Rowe says that Miss Sophia Garrett has been here to see you.”
“Yes, she came out this morning with a string of gossip that would reach from here to town. What’s this about Jeremy Todd? Sophy says he is going to the city, neglecting his work at the church and running up useless expense,” Miss Rindy laughed as she quoted Miss Sophia.
“How in the world did she find out that he is going? I only knew it to-day, myself.”
“Trust Sophy for finding out things, and her tales never lose by the telling. So he really is going?”
“Yes, he is going to visit Mr. Barstow, who is an old friend, and as he is to be the bearer of the violin, Mr. Barstow insists upon paying all his expenses, and I am to take the church music while he is away, which will be only over one Sunday.”
“Isn’t that just like Sophy to make a mountain out of a mole-hill? She reminds me of those scientists to whom you give a bone and they will construct a mastodon. I can’t help going back to that check, Ellen. You are sure it isn’t too much? I’d hate to have you accept more than the thing is worth. It seems a monstrous price to pay for a violin.”
“It is a very fine one, and Mr. Todd says it is really worth more, so does Mr. Marshall say so in his note.”
“You didn’t bring the note for me to see. Why not?”