"The Bowriggs are all off for the winter, and the house closed. Reuben
has been here on a flying visit to the parsonage; and how proud Miss
Eliza was of _her nephew_! He came over to see Phil, I suppose; but Phil
had gone two weeks before. Mamma thinks he is _fine-looking_. I fancy he
will never live in the country again. When shall I see you again, _dear,
dear_ Ady? I have _so much_ to talk to you about!"
A month thereafter Maverick and his daughter find their way back to
Ashfield. Of course Miss Johns has made magnificent preparations to
receive them. She surpassed herself in her toilette on the day of their
arrival, and fairly astonished Maverick with the warmth of her welcome
to his child. Yet he could not help observing that Adèle met it more
coolly than was her wont, and that her tenderest words were reserved for
the good Doctor. And how proud she was to walk with her father upon the
village street, glancing timidly up at the windows from which she knew
those stiff old Miss Hapgoods must be peeping out! How proud to sit
beside him in the parson's pew, feeling that the eyes of half the
congregation were fastened on the tall gentleman beside her! Ah, happy
daughter! may your beautiful filial pride never have a fall!
Important business letters command Maverick's early presence abroad;
and, after conference with the Doctor, he decides to leave Adèle once
more under the roof of the parsonage.
"Under God, I will do for her what I can," said the Doctor.
"I know it, I know it, my good friend," says Maverick. "Teach her
self-reliance; she may need it some day. And mind what I have said of
this French woman. Adèle seems to have a _tendresse_ that way. Those
French women are very insidious, Johns."
"You know their ways better than I," said the Doctor, dryly.
"Good! a smack of the old college humor there, Johns. Well, well, at
least you don't doubt the sacredness of my love for Adèle?"
"I trust, Maverick, I may never doubt the sacredness of your love in any
direction. I only hope you may direct it where I fear you do not."
"God bless you, Johns! I wish I were as good a man as you."
A little afterwards Maverick was humming a snatch from an opera under
the trees of the orchard; and Adèle went bounding toward him, to take
the last walk with him for so long,--so long!