“A beautiful girl I saw to–night. But I donʼt wish to see much more beauty in that way. Nearly cost me my life, I know. You are up in the classics so: what is it we used to read at school?—Helene, Helenaus, Helip—something—teterrima belli causa fuit. Upon my word, I havenʼt talked so much Latin and Greek—have another glass of port, just for company; the dry vintage of ’34 canʼt hurt anybody”. John Rosedew took another glass, for his spirits were low, and the wine was good, and the parson felt then that he ought to have more confidence in God. Then he brought his mind to bear on the matter, and listened very attentively while the doctor described, with a rush of warm language and plenteous exaggeration, the fright of his mare at that mournful vision, the vision itself, and the consequences.
“Sir, you must have ridden like a Centaur, or like Alexander. What will Mrs. Hutton say? But are you sure that she leaped an oak–tree”?
“Perfectly certain”, said Rufus, gravely, “clean through the fork of the branches, and the acorns rattled upon my hat, like the hail of the Himalaya”.
“Remarkable! Most remarkable”!
“But you have not told me yet”, continued Dr. Hutton, “although I am sure that you know, who the beautiful young lady is”.
“From your description, and the place, though I have not heard that they are in mourning, I think it must have been Miss Garnet”.
“Miss Garnet! What Miss Garnet? Not Bull Garnetʼs daughter? I never heard that he had one”.
“Yes, he has, and a very nice girl. My Amy knows a little of her. But he does not allow her to visit much, and is most repressive to her. Unwise, in my opinion; not the way to treat a daughter; one should have confidence in her, as I have in my dear child”.
“Oh, you have confidence in Miss Rosedew; and she goes out whenever she likes, I suppose”?
“Of course she does”, said the simple John, wondering at the question; “that is, of course, whenever it is right for her”.