From this time nothing of particular importance occurred for two or three weeks, except that Dr. Lacey seemed each day to grow fonder of Fanny, which greatly annoyed Mrs. Carrington and Julia, both of whom spared no pains to make Fanny appear in as bad a light as possible.  But Dr. Lacey understood their maneuvers, and whenever they were present seemed to take delight in being very attentive to Fanny.  He ardently desired to see the father of the two girls, and ere long his wish was gratified.  But of this we will speak in another chapter.

CHAPTER V

The fatal letter

Julia and Fanny had been gone from home about four weeks when Mr. Middleton suddenly determined “to go and see his gals” and bring them home.  Accordingly he “fixed up right smart,” as he thought, which meant that he took off his beard and put on “a bran new pair of jeens.”  He preferred driving his own carriage, so he set off alone for Frankfort.

It was Friday morning, and as his daughters were in school, he stalked into Mrs. Crane’s parlor to wait for them.  Spying the piano, he sat down to it, and commenced producing a series of unearthly sounds, not altogether unlike the fashionable music of the present day.  Mrs. Carrington chanced to be crossing the hall and, hearing the noise from the parlor, looked in.  As her eye fell upon the strange-looking, giant form of Mr. Middleton, she uttered a very delicate scream, and as she just then saw Dr. Lacey entering the house, she staggered back a few paces, and tried to faint very gracefully.  But the doctor caught her in his arms just in time to restore her to consciousness!

Mr. Middleton now came toward them, exclaiming, “Lightning guns!  What’s to pay now?  Skeered at me, are you, madam or miss, whichever you be?  I won’t hurt a har of your soft skull!”

“Ugh-u-u!” said Mrs. Carrington, shrinking from him in disgust, as he advanced toward her, and laid his large hand on her head, “just to see,” as he said, “if she were made of anything besides jewelry, curls and paint.”

At this allusion to her brilliant color, Mrs. Carrington relieved Dr. Lacey from the delightful duty of supporting her, and disappeared up the stairs, saying in no very gentle tones, “What an old brute!”

“Fire away thar,” called our Mr. Middleton.  “I am an old brute, I suppose.”

“But your right name is Mr. Middleton, I conclude,” said Dr. Lacey.

Mr. Middleton started and answered, “How d’ye know that?  Just as you’d know his satanic majesty, if he should appear to you?”

“Something upon that principle,” said Dr. Lacey, laughing, “but,” he continued, “I am glad to see you, Mr. Middleton.  I suppose you have come to visit your daughters.”

“Yes, and to take them home and let their mother and the rest of the blacks see them,” answered Mr. Middleton; then after a pause he added, “They’ll be right glad to see me, I reckon, or at least Sunshine will.”