Almost Fleda's first thought on coming home had been about Mr. Jolly. But she knew very well, without asking, that he had not been there; she would not touch the subject.
"I haven't had such a fine day of nutting in a great while, grandpa," she said again; "and you never saw such a good hand as Mr. Carleton is at whipping the trees."
"I don't know,--I suppose it was to please me, in the first place; but I am sure he enjoyed it himself; and he liked the pie and cheese, too, Cynthy."
"O he went off after the woodcock. I hope he didn't find any."
"What do you think of those two young men, Fairy?"
"I mean, which of them do you like the best?"
"But t'other one's your cousin," said Mr. Ringgan, bending forward and examining his little granddaughter's face with a curious pleased look, as he often did when expecting an answer from her.
"Yes," said Fleda, "but he isn't so much of a gentleman."
"I don't think he is," said Fleda quietly.
"He doesn't know how to keep his word as well, grandpa."
"Ay, ay? let's hear about that," said Mr. Ringgan.
A little reluctantly, for Cynthia was present, Fleda told the story of the robins, and how Mr. Carleton would not let the gun be fired.
"Wa'n't your cousin a little put out by that?"
"They were both put out," said Fleda, "Mr. Carleton was very angry for a minute, and then Mr. Rossitur was angry, but I think he could have been angrier if he had chosen."
Mr. Ringgan laughed, and then seemed in a sort of amused triumph about something.
"Well dear!" he remarked after a while,--"you'll never buy wooden nutmegs, I expect."
Fleda laughed and hoped not, and asked him why he said so. But he didn't tell her.
"Mr. Ringgan," said Cynthy, "hadn't I better run up the hill after supper, and ask Mis' Plumfield to come down and help to-morrow? I suppose you'll want considerable of a set out; and if both them young men comes you'll want some more help to entertain 'em than I can give you, it's likely?"
"Do so--do so," said the old gentleman. "Tell her who I expect, and ask her if she can come and help you, and me too."
"O and I'll go with you, Cynthy," said Fleda. "I'll get aunt Miriam to come, I know."
"I should think you'd be run off your legs already, Flidda," said Miss Cynthia; "what ails you to want to be going again?"