Then, whether he judged
it best to do so, or was goaded to the defiance by 'Manda Grier's
manner, he replied, "Miss Swan and Miss Carver? Miss Swan is
married, and lives in Wyoming Territory now." Before he had reached
the close of the sentence he had controlled himself sufficiently to
be speaking quite calmly.
"Oh indeed, Mr. Barker! And may I ask where Miss Carver is? She
merried and living in Wyoming Territory too?"
"No," said Lemuel quietly. "She's not married. She's in Boston."
"Indeed! Then it _was_ her I see in the Garden to-day, S'tira!
She b'en back long, Mr. Barker?"
"About a month, I think," said Lemuel.
"Quite a spell! _You_ seen her, Mr. Barker?"
"Yes, quite often."
"I want to know! She still paintin' Roman boys, Mr. Barker? Didn't
seem to make any great out at it last winter! But practice makes
perfect, they say. I s'pose _you_ seen her in the Garden, too?"
"I usually see her at home," said Lemuel. "_You_ probably
receive your friends on the benches in the Garden, but young ladies
prefer to have them call at their residences." He astonished himself
by this brutality, he who was all gentleness with Miss Carver.
"Very well, Mr. Barker! That's all right. That's all I wanted to
know. Never mind about where I meet my friends. Wherever it is,
they're _gentlemen_; and they ain't generally goin' with three
or four girls 't the same time.
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