"Not if that's your only reason," grandpa replied. "It's right to want
learning, quite right; but, if my child is biased by the fine things
at Aikenside, and hates to come back to her poor home, because 'tis
poor, I should say it was very natural, but not exactly right."
Maddy was very happy after it was settled, and chatted gayly with her
grandmother, while Guy went out with her grandfather, who wished to
speak with him alone.
"Young man," he said, "you have taken a deep interest in me and mine
since I first came to know you, and I thank you for it all. I've
nothing to give in return except my prayers, and those you have every
day; you and that doctor. I pray for you two just as I do for Maddy.
Somehow you three come in together. You're uncommon good to Maddy.
'Tain't every one like you who would offer and insist on learning her.
I don't know what you do it for. You seem honest. You can't, of
course, ever dream of making her your wife, and, if I thought--yes, if
I supposed"--here grandpa's voice trembled, and his face became a
livid hue with the horror of the idea--"if I supposed that in your
heart there was the shadow of an intention to deceive my child, to
ruin my Maddy, I'd throttle you here on the spot, old as I am, and
bitterly as I should repent the rashness."
Guy attempted to speak, but grandpa motioned him to be silent, while
he went on: "I do not suspect you, and that's why I trust her with you. My old
eyes are dim, but I can see enough to know that Maddy is beautiful.
Her mother was so before her, and the Clydes were a handsome race. My
Alice was elevated, folks thought, by marrying Captain Clyde, but I
don't think so. She was pure and good as the angels, and Maddy is much
like her, only she has the ambition of the Clydes: has their taste for
everything a little above her. She wouldn't make nobody blush if she
was mistress of Aikenside."
Grandpa felt relieved when he had said all this to Guy, who listened
politely, smiling at the idea of his deceiving Maddy, and fully
concurring with grandpa in all he said of her rare beauty and natural
gracefulness. On their return to the house grandpa showed Guy the
bedroom intended for Uncle Joseph, and Guy, as he glanced at the
furniture, though within himself how he would send down from Aikenside
some of the unused articles piled away on the garret when he
refurnished his house. He was becoming greatly interested in the
Markhams, caring nothing for the remarks his interest might excite
among the neighbors, some of whom watched Maddy half curiously as in
the stylish carriage, beside its stylish owner, she rode back to
Aikenside in the quiet, autumnal afternoon.