The Land Claim — page 126: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

122. THE LAND-CLAIM. Flag’s wife noticed that tears were standing in Lady Alicia’s eyes. Allen, too, saw it. “You have not told me yet whether you would sell the old Newcome claim.” “Oh! certainly I will, if your lady wishes it. Morally speaking, she has a sort of right to it—a right which I am disposed to regard. Besides, we shall be glad to have you in Fairview once more, where we shall hope you can be per- suaded to remain.” f “We can not promise; the condition of Sir Deming’s health will determine that. At all events, we shall be there for the coming summer.” “Tt will be so pleasant,’ remarked Alicia, “if we can get the Wymans to take charge of our place—so much like home for me.” “Yes, dear, so it will.” Allen had not lost the habit of calling her “dear.” “Then you will let me go on the hunt, for two months, I presume ?” She only answered him with her eyes, but they hardly in- dicated a willingness to consent to a two months’ separation. “Tve never been away from her a day,’ Allen said to Flag, who was “taking notes” of the lady’s appearance. “ Nor I from my wife; nor I don’t mean to be. It would grieve us now to be parted for one week; and I have no desire to get over that kind of feeling, as people must who are used to separations.” “Who would have believed we should have made such devoted husbands, when we used to torment the poor Doctor on his reverence for the sex?” laughed Allen. “ Poor Doctor! he had the kindest heart !” “My wife can appreciate your encomium,” replied Flag, looking at her significantly ; “ the Doctor was her first love. It was talking about our intimacy, I believe, that first made her like me; though, of course, she never told me so.” “By the way, Allen, talking about the Doctor naturally suggests the remembrance of something I saw in Kansas, two years ago. I happened to be at Leavenworth while there was a great camp-meeting going on, and I saw there the two fellows who were in company with Carnes when he was taken. In what character, do you suppose ?” comliclooks.com