"Men beat all!" said Barby, impatiently. "The little sense there is into them."
Fleda's sinking heart was almost ready to echo the sentiment; but nobody knew it.
Coffee was swallowed, her little travelling-bag and bonnet on the sofa all ready. Then came the doctor.
"My dear Miss Ringgan, I am most happy of this delightful opportunity I had supposed you were located at home for the winter. This is a sudden start."
"Is it sudden to you, Dr. Quackenboss?" said Fleda.
"Why a not disagreeably so," said the doctor, smiling; "nothing could be that in the present circumstances but I a I hadn't calculated upon it for much of a spell beforehand."
Fleda was vexed, and looked only unconversable.
"I suppose," said the doctor, after a pause, "that we have not much time to waste a in idle moments. Which route do you intend to travel?"
"I was thinking to go by the North River, Sir."
"But the ice has collected, I am afraid."