Fleda laughed and hoped not, and asked him why he said so. But he didn't tell her.
"Mr. Ringgan," said Cynthy, "hadn't I better run up the hill after supper, and ask Mis' Plumfield to come down and help to-morrow? I suppose you'll want considerable of a set out; and if both them young men comes you'll want some more help to entertain 'em than I can give you, it's likely?"
"Do so--do so," said the old gentleman. "Tell her who I expect, and ask her if she can come and help you, and me too."
"O and I'll go with you, Cynthy," said Fleda. "I'll get aunt Miriam to come, I know."
"I should think you'd be run off your legs already, Flidda," said Miss Cynthia; "what ails you to want to be going again?"
But this remonstrance availed nothing. Supper was hurried through, and leaving the table standing Cynthia and Fleda set off to "run up the hill."
They were hardly a few steps from the gate when they heard the clatter of horses' hoofs behind them, and the two young gentlemen came riding hurriedly past, having joined company and taken their horses at Queechy Run. Rossitur did not seem to see his little cousin and her companion; but the doffed cap and low inclination of the other rider as they flew by called up a smile and blush of pleasure to Fleda's face; and the sound of their horses' hoofs had died away in the distance before the light had faded from her cheeks or she was quite at home to Cynthia's observations. She was possessed with the feeling, what a delightful thing it was to have people do things in such a manner.
"That was your cousin, wa'n't it?" said Cynthy, when the spell was off.
"No," said Fleda, "the other one was my cousin." "Well--I mean one of them fellers that went by. He's a soldier, ain't he?'
"An officer," said Fleda.