"But where is Mr. Hugh?"
"He's to hum."
"But has he nothing to do with all this? does he leave it all to his cousin?"
"He's to the mill."
"And Miss Ringgan manages farm and garden and all?" said Mrs. Evelyn.
"She doos," said Philetus.
And receiving a gratuity which he accepted without demonstration of any kind whatever, the basket-bearer at length released moved off.
"Poor Fleda!" said Miss Evelyn as he disappeared with his load.
"She's a very clever girl," said Mrs. Evelyn dismissing the subject.
"She's too lovely for anything!" said Constance. "Mr. Carleton,--if you will just imagine we are in China, and introduct a pair of familiar chop-sticks into this basket, I shall be repaid for the loss of a strawberry by the expression of ecstasy which will immediately spread itself over your features. I intend to patronize the natural mode of eating in future. I find the ends of my fingers decidedly odoriferous."