I thank you for your company; but good faith, I had as lief have been myself alone.--As You Like It.
The first thing next morning Seth Plumfield came down to say that he had seen Dr. Quackenboss the night before and had chanced to find out that he was going to New York too, this very day; and knowing that the doctor would be just as safe an escort as himself, Seth had made over the charge of his cousin to him; "calculating," he said, "that it would make no difference to Fleda and that he had better stay at home with his mother."
Fleda said nothing and looked as little as possible of her disappointment, and her cousin went away wholly unsuspecting of it.
"Seth Plumfield ha'n't done a smarter thing than that in a good while," Barby remarked satirically as he was shutting the door. "I should think he'd ha' hurt himself."
"I dare say the doctor will take good care of me," said Fleda;--"as good as he knows how."
"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.