“That’s what I would have said, Mary; but we must go in, and practise the new air for the guitar which Henry brought us from Montreal. We promised him that we would. Here comes Alfred to spend his idleness upon us.”
“His idleness, Emma! surely, you don’t mean that; he’s seldom, if ever, unemployed.”
“Some people are very busy about nothing,” replied Emma.
“Yes; and some people say what they do not mean, sister,” replied Mary.
“Well, Alfred, here is Emma pronouncing you to be an idle body.”
“I am not likely to be that, at all events,” replied Alfred, taking off his hat and fanning himself. “My father proposes to give me enough to do. What do you think he said to me this morning before breakfast?”
“I suppose he said that you might as well go to sea again as remain here,” replied Emma, laughing.
“No, indeed; I wish he had; but he has proposed that your prophecy should be fulfilled, my malicious little cousin. He has proposed my turning miller.”
Emma clapped her hands and laughed.
“How do you mean?” said Mary.