"So I have heard so Mrs. Rossitur told me; but I fear, pardon me, you do not look fit to grapple with such a burden of care."
Hugh sighed, and Fleda's eyes gave Mr. Olmney a hint to be silent.
"I am not going to grapple with any thing, Sir; I intend to take things easily."
"I wish I could take an agricultural turn, too," said he, smiling, "and be of some service to you."
"Oh, I shall have no lack of service," said Fleda, gaily; "I am not going unprovided into the business. There is my cousin Seth Plumfield who has engaged himself to be my counsellor and instructor in general; I could not have a better; and Mr. Douglass is to be my right hand, I occupying only the quiet and unassuming post of the will, to convey the orders of the head to the hand. And for the rest, Sir, there is Philetus!"
Mr. Olmney looked, half laughing, at Mr. Skillcorn, who was at that moment standing with his hands on his sides, eyeing with concentrated gravity the movements of Earl Douglass and the doctor.
"Don't shake your head at him!" said Fleda. "I wish you had come an hour earlier, Mr. Olmney."
"Why?"
"I was just thinking of coming out here," said Fleda, her eyes flashing with hidden fun; "and Hugh and I were both standing in the kitchen, when we heard a tremendous shout from the woodyard. Don't laugh, or I can't go on. We all ran out towards the lantern which we saw standing there, and so soon as we got near we heard Philetus singing out, 'Ho, Miss Elster! I'm dreadfully on't!' Why he called upon Barby I don't know, unless from some notion of her general efficiency, though, to be sure, he was nearer her than the sap-boilers, and perhaps thought her aid would come quickest. And he was in a hurry, for the cries came thick, 'Miss Elster! here! I'm dreadfully on't' "
"I don't understand "