Tempest and Sunshine

Mr. Middleton accepted Dr. Lacey's invitation willingly, and the three

weeks which he spent at his residence passed rapidly and pleasantly away.

During that time Dr. Lacey met with a gentleman who owned a very handsome

villa near the lake shore. This he wished to dispose of, and Mr. Middleton

and Dr. Lacey went down to inspect it. They found it every way desirable,

and Mr. Middleton finally purchased it at an enormous price, and called it

the "Indian Nest." "Here," said he, speaking to Dr. Lacey, "here I shall

at last find that happiness which I have sought for in vain during forty

years. I shall have both my nieces with me, besides Miss Mortimer and Miss

Woodburn. I suppose I shall have to invite some other young gentleman

besides yourself, for the girls will hardly fancy the old Indian for a

beau."

Dr. Lacey did not reply. He was thinking how much pleasure such an

arrangement would have given him a few months ago; but now all was

changed, and the thought of again meeting Fanny afforded him more pain

than pleasure.

Mr. Middleton noticed his silence, and as he was slightly tinctured with

the abruptness which characterized his brother, he said, "Why, young man,

what is the matter? Have you been disappointed, or what makes you manifest

so much indifference to spending the summer, or a part of it, with four

agreeable girls?"

Dr. Lacey saw the necessity of rousing himself from his melancholy mood,

and assuming a gayety he did not feel, he said, "I feel very much

flattered, Mr. Middleton, with the honor you confer upon me, but I have

for some time past been subject to low spirits; so you must not mind it if

I am not always gay. Come, let us go into the garden and see what

improvements are needed there."

So saying, they turned together into the large terraced garden. While they

were engaged in walking over the handsome grounds which surrounded "The

Indian Nest," Rondeau, who had accompanied his master, was differently

occupied. Strolling down to the lake shore, he amused himself for a time

by watching the waves as they dashed against the pebbly beach, and by

fancying that each of them reflected the image of Leffie's bright, round

face. Then buttoning up his coat he would strut back and forth, admiring

his shadow, and thinking how much more the coat became him than it did his

young master. It had been given to him by Dr. Lacey, with the order "not

to wear it out in two days"; so Rondeau had not worn it before since the

morning when he gave his master one letter and forgot the other. He had

brought it with him to the lake, and was trying the effect of his elegant

appearance.