Up the Hill and Over eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 381 pages of information about Up the Hill and Over.

Up the Hill and Over eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 381 pages of information about Up the Hill and Over.

“You don’t say?  And is it different from ours?”

“I—­yes, I think it does look different.”

“How did you happen to notice it?  Oh, Esther, you aren’t really carrying on with that strange young man, are you?”

The girl’s cheek flamed.  The question, she knew, was void of offence.  “Carrying on” meant nothing, but the homely phrase seemed suddenly very displeasing—­horribly vulgar!  Her very ears burned.  What if, some time, he should hear a like phrase used to describe their wonderful friendship?  The thought was acute discomfort.  Oh, how mean and small and misunderstanding people were!

She took off her hat and smoothed her hair without answering.  But Miss Annabel was so used to having her anxious queries unanswered that she did not notice the lack.

“I know you haven’t, of course,” she went on.  “But Coombe is such a place for gossip.  Ever since you and he had that smash-up with the automobile, people have kind of got it into their heads that you’re keeping company.  But I said to Mrs. Miller, ’I know Esther Coombe better than you do and it isn’t at all likely that a girl who can pick and choose will go off with a stranger—­even if he is a doctor.  And,’ I said, ‘how do we know he is a doctor anyway?’ Goodness knows he came into the place like a tramp.  You’ve heard, haven’t you, Esther, how he came into the Imperial with nothing but a knapsack and riding in Mournful Mark’s democrat?”

This time she did pause for an answer and Esther said “Yes,” shortly.

“Then that settles it.  I knew you had some sense.  Just like I said to Mrs. Miller.  Next time I see her I’ll tell her what you say.  ’Tisn’t as if we knew anything about the man.  No wonder you feel vexed about it.”

“I hope you will not mention the subject at all.”

“Of course not.  Except to tell them how silly they are.  You’re sure you didn’t notice anything queer about Angus when you were walking home from church?”

“Nothing at all.”  Yet, as she said it, it occurred to her that she had noticed something unusual in the minister’s manner—­an agitation, a lack of poise!  “Perhaps he is disturbed about church matters,” she suggested, thinking of the interrupted conversation about the important matter which was not business.  “Why don’t you ask him?”

Miss Annabel shook her head.  “Oh, I never ask him anything!  But,” cheerfully, “I almost always manage to find out.  I’m rather good at finding out things.  But this isn’t a church matter.  I know all the symptoms of that.  This is different.  It’s—­it’s more human!”

“Liver?” suggested Esther.

“No.  I know the symptoms of liver too, Esther!  What if it should be Love!”

The idea was so daring that Miss Macnair justly spoke it in italics.  But the attitude of her listener was disappointing.  Esther looked as if it might be quite a natural thing for the minister of Knox Church to fall in love.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Up the Hill and Over from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.