"Then I shall not tell you," was Fanny's firm reply.
Her father saw she was in earnest, and replied, "What's got your back up
so high, Sunshine? I never knew you had so much grit. What's the reason
you don't want Dr. Lacey to hear of it?"
"Because," said Fanny, hesitatingly, "because I do not wish him to know
how much I care about it; and besides, it can do no possible good. Now,
father, promise you will not tell him or any one else."
Mr. Middleton was finally persuaded, and his promise given, Fanny knew it
would not be broken, for her father prided himself on keeping his word. So
she gave an account of Dr. Lacey's conduct, and ended her narrative by
producing a letter, which she supposed came from him. Up to the moment Mr.
Middleton had sat perfectly still; but meantime his wrath had waxed warmer
and warmer, until at last it could no longer be restrained, but burst
forth in such a storm of fury as made Fanny stop her ears.
She, however, caught the words, "And I was fool enough to promise not to
say a word. Well, thank the Lord, I didn't promise not to shoot the puppy.
Let me catch him within pistol shot of me, and I'll pop him over as I
would a woodchuck. And if he don't come back, I'll go all the way to New
Orleans for the sake of doin' on't. I'll larn him to fool with my gal;
yes, I will!"
Fanny's fears for Dr. Lacey's safety were immediately roused; and again
were her arms wound round the neck of her enraged father, while she begged
of him to be quiet, and think reasonably of the matter. Not long could one
resist the arguments of Fanny; and in less than half an hour her father
grew calm, and said more gently, "I shouldn't have been so rarin' mad, if
it had been anybody but you, Sunshine. I s'pose I did go on high, and swar
like a pirate. I didn't mean to do that, for I promised Bill I'd try and
leave off."
"Leave swearing?" said Fanny. "Oh, I'm so glad. I hope you will. Now
promise that you will, dear father, and say again that you will not
mention Dr. Lacey's conduct either to him or to any one else."
"I have promised once," said Mr. Middleton, "and one promise is as good as
forty. Old Josh'll never break his word as long as he has his senses. But
that paltry doctor owes his life to you, Sunshine. Half an hour ago I was
as fully set to knock him over as I am now determined to let the varmint
go to destruction in his own way."