"Yes, Dotty; I presume they will come to-day, for Maria can hardly wait to have the doctor look at her eyes."
"Of course they'll come," said Horace; "who ever heard of brooks minding the weather? Rain water agrees with 'em."
"If you please, Mrs. Allen," said Nathaniel, appearing at the door, "I—"
"O, they've come—have they, Nat?" asked Horace. Horace was already well acquainted with the waiting man, and called him Nat, though he was a very sober youth, with velvety hair, and a green neck-tie, as stiff as a cactus.
Nat only replied by handing Mrs. Allen a letter, with a hesitating air, as if he would much rather not do it.
"A despatch!" cried Mrs. Allen, turning rather pale.
Dotty Dimple and Flyaway crowded close to her, and overwhelmed her with questions.
"O, what is it?" said one. "Who wroted it? And why didn't Hollis bring the camphor bottle athout my asking?" said the other.
But the older children knew better than to speak just then. As soon as Mrs. Allen could get her breath, she said,—
"Don't be frightened, dears. It is only a message from your Uncle Augustus. He can't come home to-night, as we expected. He says, 'One of my old attacks. Nothing serious. Can you come?'"