“And you have been taking care of us instead all these years!” I said, self-reproachfully, for we had always regarded this romance of Loveday’s as only a matter to smile at.
“’Tain’t that so much,” amended Loveday, conscientiously. “I can’t say as I was ever one that felt a real call to take care of a man person—but—but it seems to come handy that we should get married right now. Hiram’s a professor and a God-fearin’ man if ever there was one, and yet I can’t feel to trust him to go everywheres alone—men folks bein’ so easy carried away.”
This was puzzling; for had not Hiram, from his youth up, gone on his traveling tours alone?
“Besides, he hain’t got quite so much spunk to carry things through as what I have, if I do say it,” Loveday continued, thoughtfully.
Was Loveday becoming mercenary and longing that Hiram’s business should have the aid of her superior “spunk”? I felt a cold chill in the shadow of suspicion, of which I was ashamed the next moment, that Loveday was fleeing from our falling fortunes.
“But we want you to have a beautiful wedding, Loveday,” said Octavia. “And just now——”
“’Twill be day after to-morrer to the minister’s,” said Loveday firmly. “I shall be marryin’ in the Lord and ’twon’t be a mite of matter if I don’t have a good black silk, as I always calc’lated to.”
“Day after to-morrow!” echoed Octavia and I, in a dismayed chorus.
“And if there ain’t no objections I’m a-comin’ back ag’in, after we have a little weddin’ tour. It’ll mebbe be only a short one, and then ag’in mebbe ’twill take some time. I’ve got Viola pretty well broke in. Her riz biscuits is fair to middlin’, and her pies ’n’ cakes ain’t pison. I can feel to trust her for a week or two, anyhow.”
“And you’re coming back? O, Loveday, how delightful!” we cried. “But you shouldn’t have given us such a fright.”