"Oh, how frightened I was!" exclaimed Nettie, as her mother applied some
healing salve to a slight burn on her arm; "how frightened I was, at
that fire!"
"You mean, how frightened you were _after_ the fire," replied her
mother, smiling; "you were so bewildered, waking up out of that sound
sleep, that I fancy you did not understand much about the danger till
after good Johnny Galt saved you."
"If I did not love Neddy so much, I should certainly give Johnny Galt my
picture," said Nettie, with a sudden outburst of enthusiasm.
"I will see that Johnny Galt is rewarded," replied Ruth. "But this is
the day Mr. Walter was to have come. I hope Johnny Galt will meet him at
the Dépôt as he promised, else he will be so alarmed about our safety
when he learns of the fire. Dear me! how the rain comes down, it looks
as though it meant to persevere."
"Yes, and _pour-severe_ too," said Nettie, with an arch look at her
mother.
Katy and Ruth had not finished laughing at this sally, when Mr. Walter
was announced.
His greeting was grave, for he trembled to think of the danger they had
escaped. After mutual congratulations had been exchanged, a detailed
account of their escape given, and Johnny Galt's heroism duly extolled,
Mr. Walter said:
"Well, I am glad to find you so comfortably housed after the fire; but
the sooner I take all of you under my charge, the better, I think.
What do you say to starting for ---- to-morrow? Are you sufficiently
recovered from your fright and fatigue?"
"Oh, yes," replied Ruth, laughing; "do we not look as good as new? Our
wardrobe, to be sure, is in rather a slender condition; but that is much
easier remedied than a slender purse, as I have good reason to know."
"Very well, then," said Mr. Walter; "it is understood that we go
to-morrow. I have some business to look after in the morning; shall you
object to waiting till after dinner?"
"Not at all," replied Ruth. "In my opinion nothing can equal the
forlornness of forsaking a warm bed, to start breakfastless on a
journey, with one's eyes half open."
"'Floy,'" said Mr. Walter, taking a package from his pocket, "I have
obeyed your directions, and here is something which you may well be
proud of;" and he handed Ruth a paper. It ran thus:
XXXXXXX+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++XXXXXXX
X X X X
X X THE SETON BANK. X C X
X X X A $ X
X $ X IN THE CITY OF ----. X P 2 X
X 1 X X I , X
X S 0 X _Be it known that Mrs. Ruth Hall, of ----, is X T 0 X
X H 0 X entitled to one hundred shares of the Capital Stock X A 0 X
X A , X of the Seton Bank, and holds the same subject to the X L 0 X
X R X conditions and stipulations contained in the Articles X , X
X E E X of Association of such Institution; which shares are X S 0 X
X s A X transferable on the Books of the Association by the X T 0 X
X , C X said Mrs. Ruth Hall or her Attorney, on surrender of X O 0 X
X H X this Certificate._ X C . X
X X X K X
X X _In witness whereof, &c., &c._ X , X
X X X X
XXXXXXX+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++XXXXXXX
"There," said Mr. Walter, laughing, "imagine yourself, if you can, in
that dismal attic one year ago, a bank-stock holder! Now confess that
you are proud of yourself."
"We are proud of her," said the talkative Nettie; "if she is not proud
of herself. Don't you think it is too bad, Mr. Walter, that mamma won't
let Katy and me tell that 'Floy' is our mother? A little girl who lived
at the hotel that was burnt up, said to Katy, that her uncle had just
given her Life Sketches for a birth-day present, and told her that she
must try and write as well as 'Floy' one of these days; and Katy looked
at me, and I looked at Katy; and oh, isn't it _too bad_, Mr. Walter,
that mamma won't let us tell, when we want to so much?"
"Well," said Mr. Walter, laughing, "I have only one little remark to
make about that, namely, I have no doubt you two young ladies discovered
some time before I did, that when your mamma says _No_, there is an end
to all argument."