He spoke low and rapidly--hardly above his breath; but the black

eyes, unclosing, flashed upon him.

"So you have come back!" said Rosa's weak voice. "You stayed away an

eternity!"

Her coquettish displeasure and the asperity of her accent contrasted

so oddly with her vehemently expressed attachment for her husband

and extolment of his virtues, that Mrs. Sutton regarded her in

speechless amazement. She submitted to his kiss, without returning

it--even raising her hand pettishly as to repel further endearments.

"I should have died of the blue devils if Aunt Rachel hadn't, by the

merest accident, heard that I was ailing, and driven over, like the

Good Samaritan she is, to take pity upon me in my destitution; to

pour oil--not cod-liver--into my wounds, and wine into my mouth. She

is better than all the men-doctors that were ever created; so if

you have brought your bearded Esculapius home with you, you may tell

him, with my compliments, that I won't see him yet awhile. He was an

old beau of mine, and I hope I have too much respect for what I used

to be, to let him get a glimpse of me until Dr. Sutton has set me up

in better flesh and looks. She brought me some enchanting jelly--one

of her magical preparations for the amelioration of human misery,

and I am to have a bowl of her unparalleled chicken-broth for

dinner. I wish dinner-time were come! the very thought makes me

ravenous. I am to do nothing for a week, but eat, drink, and sleep,

at the end of which period I shall be dismissed as thoroughly cured.

So, Mr. Chilton, you can go back to your beloved clients whenever

you please!"

To Mrs. Sutton's apprehension this was an infelicitous introduction

of herself to the husband's toleration. Certainly, she did not know

many men who would have parried the thrusts at themselves with the

dexterity he manifested, and acknowledged her merits and kindly

offices willingly and gracefully. He did not apologize for his

protracted absence, nor insist upon conveying his physician to the

sick-chamber; but he chatted for five minutes or thereabouts upon

such topics as he knew would entertain the captious invalid, and

finally arose from the bed-side, where he had been sitting, fondling

her hot hands, with a good-humored laugh.

"But all the while I am enjoying myself here, the hirsute Galen

aforesaid is munching the invisible salad of the solitary in the

parlor! I am to eject him incontinently, am I? My conscience will

not let me withhold the admission, when I do this, that my wife's

judgment in the matter of medical attendants is vastly superior to

mine. While Mrs. Sutton is so good as to remain with you, you are

right in thinking that you have need of no other physician."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024