Bad Hugh
Page 120"Oh, I am so glad Alice didn't read this letter," Mrs. Worthington
cried, while something which sounded much like a bit of an oath dropped
from Hugh's white lips, and then he continued: "'When will you come? Asenath has sent the curtains in the north
chamber to the laundress, but will go no farther until we hear for
certain that Miss Worthington is to be our guest. Write
immediately.
"'Yours affectionately, "'ANNA.
"'Remember me to John and Miss W----.
"'P.S.--I still continue to be annoyed with women answering that
advertisement. Sometimes I'm half sorry I put it in the paper,
though if the right one ever comes, I shall think there was a
Providence in it.' "Mother, I am resolved now to win Dr. Richards at all hazards. Only
let me keep up the appearance of wealth, and the thing is easily
accomplished; but I can't go to Terrace Hill yet, cannot meet this
Anna, for, kindly as she spoke of me, I dread her decision more
with the doctor.
"But to come back to the madam, showing her point-lace cap at
dinner, and telling Mrs. ex-Governor Somebody how Miss Worthington
had a severe headache. I was fast asleep when she returned. Had not
read Anna's letter, nor anything! You should have seen her face
when I told her I had changed my mind, that I could not go to
Terrace Hill, that mamma (that's you!) did not think it would be
proper, inasmuch as I had no claim upon them. You see, I made her
believe I had written to you on the subject, receiving a reply that
you disapproved of my going, and Brother Hugh, too, I quote him a
heap, making madam laugh till she cried with repeating his odd
speeches, she does so want to see that eccentric Hugh, she says."
Another groan from Mrs. Worthington, another something like an oath from
that eccentric Hugh, and he went on: "I said, brother was afraid it was improper under the circumstances
going at once to New York. So it was finally decided, to the
doctor's relief, I fancied, that we come here, and here we
are--hotel just like a beehive, and my room is in the fifth story.
"John had come on the day before to secure rooms, so madam and I
were alone, occupying two whole seats, madam and myself on one,
madam's feet, two satchels, two silk umbrellas, one fan, one
bouquet, and a book in the other. Several tired-looking folks
glanced wistfully in that direction, but madam frowned so
majestically that they passed on into another car, leaving us to
our extra seat. At Rhinebeck, however, she found her match in a
very fine-looking man, apparently forty or thereabouts, with a weed
on his hat and a certain air, which savored strongly of psalms and
hymns and extempore praying. In short, I guessed at once that he
was a Presbyterian minister, old school at that. Now, madam, you
anything like a dissenter. But I do not give her credit for having
sufficient sagacity to detect the heretic in this handsome,
pleasant-faced stranger, who stood looking this way and that for a
seat. Madam, I saw, grew very red in the face, and finally threw
down her veil, but not till the minister saw it, and half started
forward as if about to speak. The movement showed him one extra
seat, and very politely he laid his hand upon it, saying: "'Pardon me, ladies, this, I believe, is unoccupied, and I can find
no other.' "Madam's feet came down with a jerk, ditto madam's portion of the
traps, although the stranger insisted that they did not trouble
him, while again his mild but expressive eyes scanned the brown
veil as if he would know whose face was under it. When we reached
New York, he bowed to us again, as if to offer us assistance, but
the doctor himself appeared, so that his services were unnecessary.