"Thank Heaven!" again fervently breathed Elfrida Force.
"What's all that you're talking about over there?" inquired the lady from the mines, rising from her seat on the sofa and unceremoniously joining the group around her hostess. "What's up now? I heard the name of my fine scamp mentioned just now! Has anything happened to him? Has he broken his neck, eh?"
"Oh, no!" sighed Wynnette, in a tone of regret; "he has not broken his neck. Fate reserves that for the hangman to do! He has only left the neighborhood to return to England. But let us hope that the ship may be lost! I'm sure his presence on board will be enough to raise the demon and sink the ship!"
"Oh, Wynnette! Don't say such dreadfully wicked things! You don't mean them at all, you know you don't! Consider how many good people would be drowned if the ship should sink! And how many people would grieve all their lives after them!" said little Elva.
"Well, I'll take that back again! I know I do talk too much with my mouth--I mean speak without mature consideration," said Wynnette.
"So my scamp has gone back to England, has he? I wonder if he will try to marry a dook's darter? Or a markiss' widder? He's got cheek enough for anything! I declare, I ought to follow him up, to keep him out of mischief! I mean, of course, out of doing other folks mischief! I don't care a snap of my finger how much mischief he does himself! The more, the better, sez I! But I ought to go for him to prevent him from preying upon other people! And I would, too, if I had money enough! 'Pon my word, I'm a great mind to go to New York and try to get a place as stewardess on one of the ocean steamers, so as to go after him! I'll think of it, anyway."
The conversation was interrupted by the opening of the door and the entrance of Miss Meeke, followed by Dr. Ingle.
There was a pretty flush on the usually pale cheeks of the young governess, and some little embarrassment in her manner, which was almost unnoticed, however, in the cordial greeting that was given to the young physician by all the family and guests in the room, and with all of whom he was acquainted, excepting only the lady from the California mines, to whom Mrs. Force duly presented him, and by whom he was received with gushing welcome.