So she took her conjugal
appurtenance with her?"
"And left her cousinly impertinence behind her," retorted a gay voice
from his elbow.
"Ah, Kate! are you there? It's not a moment since I saw you 'coming from
the town.' A pretty hostess, you! I arrive on your invitation to pass
the day"--
"But I didn't expect you before the sun."
"To pass the day, and find you absent and the breakfast-table not
cleared away."
"My dear Roger, we have not quite taken our habits yet. As soon as the
country-air shall have wakened and made over Helen and Mrs. Laudersdale,
you will find us ready for company at daybreak."
"What a passion for 'company'! I shall not be surprised some day to
receive cards for your death-bed."
"Friends and relatives invited to attend? No, Roger, you mustn't be
naughty. You shall receive cards for my dinner-party before we go,
if you won't come without; for we have innumerable friends in town,
already."
"Happy woman!"
"What's that? A newspaper? A newspaper! How McLean will chuckle!" And
she seized the sheet which Mrs. Laudersdale had abandoned in sweeping
from the room.
"Is there a Mr. Laudersdale? Where is he?" asked Mr. Raleigh, as he
leaned against the window.
"Who?" asked his cousin, deep in a paragraph.
"Mr. Laudersdale. Where is he?"
"Oh! between his four planks, I suppose," she replied, thinking of the
Soundboat's berth, which probably contained the gentleman designated.
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