Tempest and Sunshine

"Why, Fanny," said she, "what is the matter? What are you crying for?"

Fanny did not reply, but as Mrs. Miller drew her up from the floor and

placed her on the sofa, she laid her head in Kate's lap and wept still

more passionately. At length Mrs. Miller succeeded in soothing her, and

then insisted on knowing what was the cause of her distress.

"Oh," said Fanny, "do not ask me, for I can only tell you that nobody

loves me long at a time--nobody but my dear old father, mother, and the

blacks."

"You should not say so, Fanny dear," said Kate. "You know we all love you

very much, and you say that within a few weeks Julia has been uniformly

kind and affectionate to you."

"Yes, I know she is, but--"

"But what?" said Mrs. Miller. "Anything the trouble with Dr. Lacey?"

"Yes, that's it! That's it!" said Fanny in a low voice.

"Why, what's the matter? Is he sick?" asked Kate.

"Oh, no. If he were I would go to him. But, Mrs. Miller, for four long

weeks he has not written me one word. Now if he were sick or dead,

somebody would write to me; but it isn't that--I am afraid he's false.

Julia thinks he is, and she is sorry for me, there is some comfort in

that."

"Not written in four weeks? Perhaps he has written and his letters have

been miscarried," said Kate.

"Oh, no, that cannot be," answered Fanny. "His first four letters came in

the course of two weeks, but since then I have not had a word."

"Have you written to him since his letters ceased?" asked Kate.

"Yes, once, and I am sorry I did," answered Fanny; "but I asked Julia if I

had better, and she said it would do no harm."

"Perhaps," said Mrs. Miller, "he is intending to return soon and wishes to

surprise you, or it may be he is testing the strength of your attachment.

But I would not suffer myself to be so much distressed until I was sure he

was false. Come, dry your eyes and go with me to the parlor. There are

some young gentlemen here from New York. One of them is Dr. Lacey's

cousin. He wishes to see you."

"Oh, no, no!" said Fanny, quickly. "I cannot go down. You must excuse me

to him."