"Well, what did you tell her?"
"That we should start to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock."
I struggled hard to keep up, under the unexpected blow, and answered, as I bit my lip and choked down the tears:
"Very well, sir, I will try to be ready in time."
"The doctor says it will be perfectly safe," continued Mr. Rutledge, quietly.
"And there is no appeal from his opinion," I interrupted, tartly.
"I am so much better myself," he went on, as if he had not heard me, "that there is no imprudence in my attempting it; and I can see no objection to complying with your aunt's request immediately. Indeed, I feel that I could not do otherwise."
His indifferent way of speaking of what to me was such a vital matter, roused my pride less than it wounded my sensitiveness, and I had much ado to master myself enough to say:
"If you had had the goodness to tell me before, I need not have wasted this evening, but could have spent it in packing."
"You cannot have much to do, I am sure. Kitty can pack everything in the morning, and I thought it was best not to worry you by telling you of it before."