“How well you are looking, dear!” exclaimed each to the other, speaking simultaneously.
“And now, Dick, give me little Leonard; I want to look at him! Remember, sir, if you are his godfather, I am his godmother, and have my rights. Don’t be trying to exercise man’s usurped prerogative by ‘claiming the child,’” said Anna, holding out her hands for the boy.
“I shall never attempt to assert man’s prerogative against woman’s rights,” laughed Dick placing the child in her arms, and then going to pay and dismiss the wagon which was now unloaded of all the luggage it had brought, and was ready to go.
“Bless my soul! Anna, my dear, how came you to return by such a very rude and primitive conveyance as that?” inquired the General, as the great old wagon rattled and rumbled past on its way back.
“Couldn’t get any other, dear grandpa! The ‘Foaming Tankard’ don’t boast a carriage of any description except this.”
“If I had only known, I could have sent the coach to meet you. I should have sent it anyway this afternoon.”
“But you wouldn’t have had me to wait till the afternoon for it, dear grandpa?” laughed Anna.
“Oh, no, no, no! by no means! Only, if I had but known, I could have so easily sent it. Such a conveyance for a lady to come in!” exclaimed the old gentleman, as he gazed after the retreating wagon that rather jumped and bounced along than rolled.
“It was delightful! It was better than a hard trotting-horse! I liked to be tossed as much as Master Leonard himself does! It has given me such a shaking up and such an appetite for breakfast as I never had before! I am famished, grandpa!”
“Oh, exactly! exactly! so you must be! Drusa! Drusa, my dear!” exclaimed the old gentleman, looking around for his young volunteer housekeeper.