The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-12-30


up, ask him what he was doing at Mrs.
Rushtons yesterday afternoon. Stay
| will tell you, if you promise not to
breathe word. 1t will make you laugh
so. lie was'-Mrs. Pennewel chuckled
immensely ly--'he was on his knees to her,
uttering the widest nonsense you ever
heard in your life !
Perhaps the cid lady expected Mrs
lnglesby to cry instead of laugh; but if
SO, she was disappointed.
oh! | can easily understand that
madame. Poor Eustace is subject to
strange attacks Of absence of mind, when
he does the most eccentric things. He
told me all about it this morning-not an
hour ago
This produced climax to Mrs. PEN
newell's laughter, and for while it was
uucoutrolable When she had recovered
she said
Child your innocence will be the
death Of me. But have a thought I!
Here comes Doctor brotherhood. You
must tell him about your husbands &C.
centricity--or shall /? | know him very
well-better than anybody knows him.
perhaps
Mrs Inglesby was to bewildered to
make any demur, and presently the doc.
tor trottcd in.
He was a hearty-looklng, short, merry
old person, with blooming countcnance
and idgety manner-the sort Of old gen.
tleman one is likely to meet almost any,
where, and whose nationality never could
be satisfactorily fixed upon.
Mrs, Pennewell and the good old doc.
tor presently did considerable whispering;
and then Eustace awoke. of course with a
start.
Great heaven thought it was mid.
night. was dreaming about the oldest
things, and | fancied Mrs. Charlotte
Rushton was here. hope he said,
earnestly, Il didn't talk in my sleep?'
No, dear responded Mrs. Inglesby /;
but you remember, l suppose, that you
dropped off into your nap in the middle
Of my music p
He sprang up and took her hand
'Of course l did, Emma-brute that |
am but-Ilelloa, doctor, you here ?
What time is it? Great heaven |
must be off,
Where are you going?' cried Mrs
lnglesby, seizing him as he was about to
take his departure.
My dearest love, don't dctain me,
implore If you could only know what
| know-you-you would-in fact, you
would be acquainted with everything
within the circle of my knowledge! And
so an reroir. Mrs Pennewell, aud doc.
tor, this is pressing, you know, and all
that--ana so | shall see you all again at
dinner
And away he went
There was pause. Doctor Prother.
wood shrugged, and raised his ugly eye
brows.
Clear case, Mrs. Pennewell.'
i think so
Mrs Inglesby was tremulous and pale
She could hardly grasp out request
for explanation; but the words came at
last.
I'm! My dear child, answered the
doctor, Il really don't wish to distress
you but
But what ?
Nothing. really must 20.
haven't minute, Ha! Good morning
ladies'. Expect me to dinner.
And out trotted the funny old doctor
Dinner !! said Mrs. Pennewcll. They'll
both be back then, SO they say Now,
my sweet Mrs. Inglesby, | see that you
are greatly distressed. Don't deny it.
You are quite ready to cry
True enough. All the dear little lady
could do was to stiae sob. and gasp out
What did the doctor say?'
Never mind. Perhaps the curtain
will rise after this famous dinner And
so you think your husband eccentric?
Yes. He has acted in the straugest
manner since the last few days. lie has
always preoccupied-wauders in his talk
-and-'
Mrs. Pennewel held up her finger.
'Wait = she said.
The dinner very naturally came as ex.
pected. Who should walk in after the
soup but Mrs. Rushtou, on Mr.. Inges
by's arm
Yes; he had been quite right in hi:
description, for she was large, sparkling
handsome, though certainly a tridt
weighty-physically and metaphorically
There was no delay 10 explanation
since she said after while:
i have invited myself here to dine to
day, because after dinner Mr., Iuglesby
and L have some very particular busines;
together
After dinner! And yet Inglesb,
scowed. His wife didn't know what tc
do but the doctor and Mrs. Pennewe
nudged each other and laughed.
After dinner the doctor and Mrs
Pennewel took the little woman aside
Il will tell you,' said the former, ant
, tell you frankly. think your Inglesby
is not sane man. have consulted au
thorities this morning, and it is impossi
f BILE for any man in his sound senses to &C
as he does. Now. l propose to oxamin
him. You shall stand by and notice hi
answers, and afterwards we'll cempar
notes
Il have different theory, my dear
= croaked Mrs. Pennewell. The end vii
r prove who is correct
D SO they went at once TO look for Eus
tace. He had left the house with tn
|, widow.
. Where could he have gone? Mrs
lnglesby timldly suggested the peach or
chard. They went noiselcssly througl
the garden in that direction and on ap
J., proaching, heard voices.
e Yes, there they were-Eustace an
D Mrs Rushton together. The caves drop
peIs listened.
! But adore you . said Eustace.