Oh! the brook has risen, and the planks are gone, we shall have to
wade; Hen, ask those men to go before, I don't like them to see above
my ancles.'
"'Catch me at a pic-nic again,' said the terrified spinster.
"'You had better get home from this first, before you talk of
another,' sais Di.
"'Oh, Di, Di,' said Henrietta, 'how can you act so?'
"'You may say Di, Di, if you please, dear,' said the tormentor; 'but I
never say die--and never will while there is life in me. Letty, will
you go to the ball to-night? we shall catch cold if we don't; for we
have two miles more of the rain to endure in the open carriages before
we reach the steamer, and we shall be chilled when we cease walking.'
"But Letty can do nothing but cry, as if she wasn't wet enough
already.
"'Good gracious!' sais the head of the house, 'the horses have
overturned the carriage, broke the pole, and run away.'
"'What's the upset price of it, I wonder?' sais Di, 'the horses will
make 'their election sure;' they are at the 'head of the pole, they
are returned and they have left no trace behind.' I wish they had
taken the rain with them also.'
"'It's a pity you wouldn't rein your tongue in also,' said the
fractious uncle.
"'Well, I will, Nunky, if you will restrain your choler. De Courcy,
the horses are off at a 'smashing pace;' G soft, it's all dickey with
us now, ain't it? But that milk-sop, Russel, is making a noise in his
boots, as if he was 'churning butter.
Pages:
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373