"I have made no arrangements of the kind," said Mr. Rossitur controlling with some effort his rebelling muscles. "Donohan is boarded somewhere else, and for the present it will be best for all in my employ to follow the same plan."
"Very good," said uncle Joshua, "it makes no difference,--only of course in that case it is worth more, when a man has to find himself and his team."
"Whatever it is worth I am quite ready to pay, sir."
"Very good! You and Lucas can agree about that. He'll be along in the morning."
So they parted; and Fleda understood the impatient quick step with which her uncle got over the ground.
"Is that man a brother of your grandfather?"
"No sir--Oh no! only his brother-in-law. My grandmother was his sister, but they weren't in the least like each other."
"I should think they could not," said Mr. Rossitur.
"Oh they were not!" Fleda repeated. "I have always heard that."
After paying her respects to aunt Syra in the kitchen she had come back time enough to hear the end of the discourse in the parlour, and had felt its full teaching. Doubts returned, and her spirits were sobered again. Not another word was spoken till they reached home; when Fleda seized upon Hugh and went off to the rock after her forsaken pie.