"
"But where are they now--Mrs. Deane and her daughters?" asked Mr.
Hastings; and Mrs. Leah replied. "Gone to Avon Springs: and folks
do say they've done their own work, and ate cold victuals off the
pantry shelf ever since last November, so as to save money, to cut
a swell. I guess Eugenia'll be mighty glad if that old uncle ever
dies. For my part, I hope he won't! or, if he does, I hope he
won't leave her a dollar."
"_Not a dime!_" thought Uncle Nat, who, not being supposed to
feel interested in Eugenia Deane, had tried to appear indifferent,
holding hard the while upon the rounds of his chair "to keep
himself together."
Alone with Mr. Hastings, his wrath burst forth, but after a few
tremendous explosions, he grew calm, and proposed that they too
should go at once to Avon. "We shall then see the lady in all her
glory," said he, "and maybe hear something about her old uncle,
though you'll have to keep your eye on me, or I shall go off on a
sudden, and shake her as a dog would a snake! We'll send for Mrs.
Elliott and Dora to join us there," he continued; "it will be fun
to bring them together, and see what Eugenia will do.
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