Tempest and Sunshine

Fanny answered, hesitatingly, "I am afraid you would not like to go there,

Dr. Lacey."

"Why not?" said he. "Do you not like your home?"

"Oh, yes, very much," she replied; "but father is a little odd, and you

might feel inclined to laugh at him; but he is very kind, and if you could

forget his roughness, you would like him."

"I know I shall like him, just because he is your father," said Dr. Lacey.

He then turned the conversation upon other subjects, and Fanny found him

so agreeable that she never thought of the hour until Mr. Wilmot, Mrs.

Carrington and Julia suddenly entered the parlor.

"Upon my word," said Mrs. Carrington, "you have both stolen a march upon

us."

"I hope you have been agreeably entertained, Dr. Lacey," said Julia, in an

ironical tone.

"I assure you I have," said he, warmly "I do not remember having passed so

pleasant an evening for a long, long time."

"I dare say not; Fanny is usually very interesting," was, Julia's

contemptuous reply, and as Mr. Wilmot just then took his leave, she very

haughtily left the room and went upstairs, muttering to herself, "Foiled

for the first time in my life."

From this time nothing of particular importance occurred for two or three

weeks, except that Dr. Lacey seemed each day to grow fonder of Fanny,

which greatly annoyed Mrs. Carrington and Julia, both of whom spared no

pains to make Fanny appear in as bad a light as possible. But Dr. Lacey

understood their maneuvers, and whenever they were present seemed to take

delight in being very attentive to Fanny. He ardently desired to see the

father of the two girls, and ere long his wish was gratified. But of this

we will speak in another chapter.