Here were gathered many carriages, of every description, from the donkey cart to the family barouche, and horses which were unharnessed, and tethered, so that they might nibble the fresh, luxuriant grass while resting from their labors.
Roma drew up, alighted, lifted the child to the ground, and was about to take her horse from the shafts and tether him to a tree, when a voice sounded behind her.
“My dear young lady, I am so glad to see you—so surprised and delighted! Let me do that.”
She turned and saw her own family physician standing there.
“Oh, Dr. Keech! So happy to meet you!” she exclaimed, giving him her hand, which he shook heartily, and retained in his grasp longer than necessary.
But the organ from within the church began to peal forth with the opening voluntary, and she added, by way of hastening the release of her hand:
“And thank you very much. You may, if you please, do this.”
Doing “this” meant unharnessing and tethering the cob, which the doctor quickly effected, while Roma stood by, holding the hand of Owlet.
“And who is this young lady?” inquired the doctor, as the three turned to walk toward the church.
“She is Catherine Nouvellini, a little ward of mine. You must come to the Hall and make her acquaintance. She is quite worth cultivating, I assure you,” Roma replied.