It was very pleasant that afternoon, for the summer breeze was blowing
cool across the fields, where the laborers were busy; and with the
elasticity of youth, Maddy's tears stopped their flowing, but not
until the dear old home had disappeared, and they were some distance
on the road to Aikenside.
"I wonder how I shall like Mrs. Remington and Mr. Guy?" was the first
remark she made.
"You'll not see them immediately. They left this morning for
Saratoga," the doctor replied.
"Left! Mr. Guy gone!" Maddy repeated in a disappointed tone.
"Are you very sorry?" the doctor asked, and Maddy replied: "I did want to see him once; you know I never have."
It would be such a surprise to find that Guy was no other than the
terrible inspector, that he would not undeceive her, the doctor
thought; and so he relapsed into a thoughtful mood, from which Maddy
aroused him by breaking the subject of the unpaid bill, asking if he'd
please not trouble grandpa, but wait until she could pay it.
"Perhaps it's wrong asking it when you were so good, but if you only
will take me for payment," and Maddy's soft brown eyes were lifted to
his face.
"Yes, Maddy, I'll take you for payment," the doctor said, smiling,
half seriously, as his eyes rested fondly upon her.
Even then stupid Maddy did not understand him, but began to calculate
out loud how long it would take to earn the money. She'd heard people
say that the doctor charged a dollar a visit to Honedale, and he'd
been so many, many times, that it would take a great many weeks to pay
him; besides, there was the debt to Mr. Guy. She wanted to help pay
that, but did not see how she could, unless he waited, too. Did the
doctor think he would? It seemed terrible to the doctor that one so
young as Maddy should be harassed with the payment of debts, and he
felt a most intense desire for the right to shield her from all such
care, but he must not speak of it then; he'd rather she should remain
a little longer an artless child, confiding all her troubles to him as
if he had been her brother.
"There's Aikenside," he said, at last, and it was not long before they
passed through the gate, guarded by the great bronze lions, and struck
into the graveled road leading to the house.
"It's grander, finer, than I ever dreamed. Oh! if I could some time
have just such a home! and doctor, look! What does make that water go
up in the air so? Is it what they call a fountain?"