By this time Mrs. Worthington was able to talk of a matter which had
apparently so delighted 'Lina. Her first remark, however, was not very
pleasant to the young lady: "I would willingly give Alice a home, but it's not for me to say. Hugh
alone can decide it."
"You know he'll refuse," was 'Lina'a angry reply. "He hates young
ladies. So you may as well save your postage to New Orleans, and write
at once to Miss Johnson that she cannot come on account of a boorish
clown."
"'Lina," feebly interposed Mrs. Worthington, "'Lina, we must write to
Hugh."
"Mother, you shall not," and 'Lina spoke determinedly. "I'll send an
answer to this letter myself, this very day. I will not suffer the
chance to be thrown away. Hugh may swear a little at first, but he'll
get over it."
"Hugh never swears," and Mrs. Worthington spoke up at once.
"He don't hey? Maybe you've forgotten when he came home from Frankfort,
that time he heard about my dress!"
"I know he swore then; but he never has since, I'm sure, and I think he
is better, gentler, more refined than he used to be, since--since--Adah
came."
A contemptuous "Pshaw!" came from 'Lina's lips. "Say," she continued,
"wouldn't you rather Adah were your child than me? Then you'd be granny,
you know." And a laugh came from 'Lina's lips.
Mrs. Worthington did not reply; and 'Lina proceeded to speak of Alice
Johnson, asking for her family. Were they aristocratic? Were they the
F.F.V.'s of Boston? and so forth.
"Now let us talk a little about the thousand dollars. What shall I do
with it?" 'Lina said, for already the money was beginning to burn in her
hands.
"Redeem Rocket with half of it," Mrs. Worthington said, "and that will
reconcile Hugh to Alice Johnson."
"Do you think I've taken leave of my senses?" 'Lina asked, with
unaffected surprise. "Buy Rocket for five hundred dollars! Indeed, I
shall do no such thing. If Hugh had not sworn so awfully, I might; but I
remember what he said too well to part with half of my inheritance for
him. I'm going to Saratoga, and you are going, too. We'll have heaps of
dresses, and--oh, mother, won't it be grand! We'll take Lu for a waiting
maid. That will be sure to make a sensation at the North. I can imagine
just how old Deacon Tripp of Elwood, would open his eyes when he heard
'Mrs. Square Worthington and darter' had come back with a 'nigger.' It
would furnish him with material for half a dozen monthly concerts, and
I'm not sure but he'd try to run her off, if he had a chance. But Lu
likes Hugh too well ever to be coaxed away; so we're safe on that
score. 'Mrs. Worthington, daughter, and colored servant, Spring Bank,
Kentucky.' I can almost see that on the clerk's books at the United
States. Then I can manage to let it be known that I'm an heiress, as I
am. We needn't tell that it's only a thousand dollars, most of which I
have on my back, and maybe I'll come home Adaline somebody else. There
are always splendid matches at Saratoga. We'll go North the middle of
July, just three weeks from now."