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Page 6
Doctors cannot command their time like other people, and Dr. Carr was
often detained by his patients, and made late for the mail, so it was all
the pleasanter a surprise when on the great day of the cake-baking he came
in earlier than usual, with his hands quite full of letters and parcels.
All the girls made a rush for him at once; but he fended them off with an
elbow, while with teasing slowness he read the addresses on the envelopes.
"Miss Carr--Miss Carr--Miss Katherine Carr--Miss Carr again; four for you,
Katy. Dr. P. Carr,--a bill and a newspaper, I perceive; all that an old
country doctor with a daughter about to be married ought to expect, I
suppose. Miss Clover E. Carr,--one for the 'Confidante in white linen.'
Here, take it, Clovy. Miss Carr again. Katy, you have the lion's share.
Miss Joanna Carr,--in the unmistakable handwriting of Miss Inches. Miss
Katherine Carr, care Dr. Carr. That looks like a wedding present, Katy.
Miss Elsie Carr; Cecy's hand, I should say. Miss Carr once more,--from the
conquering hero, judging from the post-mark. Dr. Carr,--another
newspaper, and--hollo!--one more for Miss Carr. Well, children, I hope for
once you are satisfied with the amount of your correspondence. My arm
fairly aches with the weight of it. I hope the letters are not so heavy
inside as out."
"I am quite satisfied, Papa, thank you," said Katy, looking up with a
happy smile from Ned's letter, which she had torn open first of all. "Are
you going, dear?" She laid her packages down to help him on with his coat.
Katy never forgot her father.
"Yes, I am going. Time and rheumatism wait for no man. You can tell me
your news when I come back."
It is not fair to peep into love letters, so I will only say of Ned's that
it was very long, very entertaining,--Katy thought,--and contained the
pleasant information that the "Natchitoches" was to sail four days after
it was posted, and would reach New York a week sooner than any one had
dared to hope. The letter contained several other things as well, which
showed Katy how continually she had been in his thoughts,--a painting on
rice paper, a dried flower or two, a couple of little pen-and-ink sketches
of the harbor of Santa Lucia and the shipping, and a small cravat of an
odd convent lace folded very flat and smooth. Altogether it was a
delightful letter, and Katy read it, as it were, in leaps, her eyes
catching at the salient points, and leaving the details to be dwelt upon
when she should be alone.
This done, she thrust the letter into her pocket, and proceeded to examine
the others. The first was in Cousin Helen's clear, beautiful
handwriting:--
DEAR KATY,--If any one had told us ten years ago that in this
particular year of grace you would be getting ready to be
married, and I preparing to come to your wedding, I think we
should have listened with some incredulity, as to an agreeable
fairy tale which could not possibly come true. We didn't look
much like it, did we,--you in your big chair and I on my sofa?
Yet here we are! When your letter first reached me it seemed a
sort of impossible thing that I should accept your invitation;
but the more I thought about it the more I felt as if I must,
and now things seem to be working round to that end quite
marvellously. I have had a good winter, but the doctor wishes me
to try the experiment of the water cure again which benefited me
so much the summer of your accident. This brings me in your
direction; and I don't see why I might not come a little earlier
than I otherwise should, and have the great pleasure of seeing
you married, and making acquaintance with Lieutenant
Worthington. That is, if you are perfectly sure that to have at
so busy a time a guest who, like the Queen of Spain, has the
disadvantage of being without legs, will not be more care than
enjoyment. Think seriously over this point, and don't send for
me unless you are certain. Meanwhile, I am making ready. Alex
and Emma and little Helen--who is a pretty big Helen now--are to
be my escorts as far as Buffalo on their way to Niagara. After
that is all plain sailing, and Jane Carter and I can manage very
well for ourselves. It seems like a dream to think that I may
see you all so soon; but it is such a pleasant one that I would
not wake up on any account.
I have a little gift which I shall bring you myself, my Katy;
but I have a fancy also that you shall wear some trifling thing
on your wedding-day which comes from me, so for fear of being
forestalled I will say now, please don't buy any stockings for
the occasion, but wear the pair which go with this, for the sake
of your loving
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