Fairbairn, watching him from afar); when
the sprightly young lady, accompanied by a lad the masculine image
of herself, appeared upon the platform, saying, with an aspect as
cordial as her words,--
"Good-evening, Professor. Allow me to introduce my brother and
myself, Dick and Dolly Ward, and ask you in my mother's name, to
come home with us; for the tavern is not a cosy place, and after all
this exertion you should be made comfortable. Please come, for Dr.
Turner always stayed with us, and we promised to do the honors of
the town to any gentleman he might send to supply his place."
"Of course we did; and mother is probably freezing her blessed nose
off watching for us; so don't disappoint her, Bopp. It's all
settled, the sleigh's at the door, and here's your coat; so, come
on!"
Dick was a fine sample of young America in its best aspect, and
would have said "How are you?" to Louis Napoleon if he had been at
hand, and have done it so heartily that the great Frenchman would
have found it hard to resist giving as frank an answer. Therefore no
wonder that Mr. Bopp surrendered at once; for the young gentleman
took possession of him bodily, and shook him into his coat with an
amiable impetuosity which developed a sudden rent in the well-worn
sleeve thereof, and caused an expression of dismay, to dawn upon the
owner's countenance.
"Beg pardon; never mind; mother'll sew you up in two seconds, and
your overcoat will hide the damage.
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