“Yes,” answered William; “I should be glad if you would not.  It is a bad habit, and I wish you would discontinue it.”

“Well now, Bill,” said Mr. Middleton, “Lord knows—­no, I mean I know I’ve tried a heap of times to break off, and now I’ll try again.  I’ll not cuss a word till I forget.  Dick used to want me to stop, and when he died I promised myself I would; but the pigs and horses got into the corn, and fust I knew I was swarin’ wus than ever.  I wish you had seen Dick; it can’t be; he’s gone forever.”

“Have you no daguerreotype of him?” asked William.

“No, I hain’t, but his folks have; and Mr. Miller and Kate are going home this summer, and they’ll fetch me one.  That makes me think Sunshine is so puny and sick like, that I’m goin’ to let her go North with them.  It’ll do her good; and I’m going to buy her four silk gowns to go with, but for Lord’s—­no, for land’s sake don’t tell Tempest.”

“I hope you are not very anxious to have Fanny go North,” said William; “for it will seriously affect a plan which I have formed.”

“Well, what is it?” asked Mr. Middleton.

William then told of the house he had purchased, and of his intention to take both his nieces back with him.  “I know,” said he, “that it seems strange to take them there in hot weather; but down by the lake it will be pleasant and cool, and I must have them with me.”

“Have you said anything to them about it?” asked Mr. Middleton.

“Yes,” answered his brother.  “I have mentioned it to them.”

“What did they say?”

“Fanny said nothing, but Julia seemed much pleased with the idea,” said William.

“I’ll warrant that,” returned Mr. Middleton.  “She’s tickled enough, and in her own mind she’s run up a bill agin me for at least five hundred.  Sunshine is so modest, I s’pose, because Dr. Lacey will be there, that she does not want to seem very glad; but she’ll go.  I’ll have them come home tomorrow, and will talk the matter over.  I’d as soon have her go to New Orleans as to New York.”

Here the conversation was interrupted by Mrs. Middleton, who came to tell her husband that it was past nine.  Mr. Middleton had a great horror of being up after that hour, so he hastily bade his brother and Ashton good night, saying to the former, “Now I’ve got kind of used to your being alive, Bill, I hope I shan’t have such pesky work goin’ to sleep.”

Next morning Ashton returned to Frankfort in the carriage which Mr. Middleton had sent for the purpose of bringing his daughters home.  For once in her life, Julia was delighted with the idea of visiting her parents.  She had learned from a note which her mother had written that the reason of their being sent for was to talk over the matter of going to New Orleans.  Fanny felt differently.  She wished, yet dreaded, to go home.  She too knew why they were sent for; and as she was determined not to go to New Orleans, it would be necessary at last to tell her father the true reason.  She was certain he would be unsparing in his wrath against Dr. Lacey, and she almost trembled for the consequences.