The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-12-17

being Friday.
$50 have l." said Carr; "but l am
sure l had better have refused. A stran-
ger in sick house is a positive nuisance.
| think I shall go to town by an after
noon train if there is one"
"Upon my word I think we had better
do the same," said Mrs Marston. "What
do you say, Arthur" And she turned
to her husband.
II must go to day, anyhow-on bust
ness" said Gen. Marston.
81 hope no one is talking of leaving"
said Charles, who had returned sudden
ly, rather out of breath.
AS he spoke his eyes were fixed on
Carr
eyes, that is exactly what we were
doing" said Mrs. Marston. Nothing
is SO tiresome as having visitors on ones
hands when there is illness in the house.
Mr.. Carr was thinking of going up to
London by the afternoon train, and |
have very good mind to go away with
Arthur instead Of staying Oh and letting
him come back here for me tomorrow
as we had intended"
''Pray do not think Of such thing!"
said Charles, really with unnecessary
earnestness. Mrs. Marston, pray do
not alter your plans. CARR in much
sterner tone, Il must beg that you will
not think of leaving us today. Your
fried, Col. Middleton, is staying on, and
we cannot allow you to desert us so sud
denly
It was more like command than an
invitation; but Carr, usually so quick to
take slight, did not seem to notice it,
and merely said that he should be happy
to go OF stay, whichever was most in &C
cordance with the wishes Of others, and
took up the newspaper. He and Charles
did not seem to get Oh well. | could see
that Charles had not seemed to take
to him from the very first, and Carr GER
tainly did not appear at ease in the house.
Perhaps Charles felt that he had rather
failed in courtesy to him, for during the
remainder Of the morning he hardly let
him out Of his sight. He took him to
see the stables, though Carr openly de-
clared that he did not understand horses;
he showed him his collection Of Zulu
weapons in the vestibule; he even started
a game Of billiards with him till the ar
rival of the doctor. do not think Carr
took his attentions in very good part,
though he was too we'll hammered to show
it; but he looked relieved when Charles
went upstairs with the doctor, and
pitched his cue into the rack at once,
and came to the hall fire, where | was
sitting, and where Aurelia presently
joined us, fresh and smiling, in the pref
test of morning gowns. Everyone met
in the hall 1t was in the center of the
house, and everyone coming up or down
had to pass through it. Just now it was
not so tempting an abode as usual, for
the flowers and part of the stage had al
ready been removed, and the bare boards
with their wooden supports gave an air
Of discomfort to the whole place.
Aurelia opened wide eyes of horror at
hearing Sir George was i'll. She even
got out a tiny laced pocket handkerchief,
but before she had had time to weep
much into it and spoil her pretty eyes
the doctor reappeared, accompanied by
Charles and Ralph, and we all learned to
our great relief that Sir George, though
undoubtedly i'll, was not dangerously so
at present, though the greatest care
would be necessary. Lady Mary had
undertaken the nursing of her brother
in-law, and in her the doctor expressed
the same confidence which parents are
l. r. IL IL T.,