Adèle Dubois | Page 4

fra' the States. His claithes look pretty nice.
As a gen'al thing them people fra' the States hae plenty o' plack in their
pockets. What do you think, sir?"
"He is undoubtedly a gentleman from New England", said Mr. Norton.

CHAPTER II.
MRS. M'NAB.
Mrs. McNab was a native of Dumfries, Scotland, and had made her
advent in the Miramichi country about five years previous to the
occurrences just mentioned.
Having buried her husband, mother, and two children,--hoping that
change of scene might lighten the weight upon her spirits, she had
concluded to emigrate with some intimate acquaintances to the
Province of New Brunswick.
On first reaching the settlement, she had spent several weeks at the
Dubois House, where she set immediately at work to prove her
accomplishments, by assisting in making up dresses for Mrs. Dubois
and Adèle.
She entertained them with accounts of her former life in
Scotland,--talking largely about her acquaintance with the family of
Lord Lindsay, in which she had served in the capacity of nurse. She
described the castle in which they resided, the furniture, the servants,

and the grand company; and, more than all, she knew or pretended to
know the traditions, legends, and ghost stories connected, for many
generations past, with the Lindsay race.
She talked untiringly of these matters to the neighbors, exciting their
interest and wonder by the new phases of life presented, and furnishing
food for the superstitious tendencies always rife in new and ignorant
settlements. In short, by these means, she won her way gradually in the
community, until she came to be the general factotum.
It was noticed, indeed, that in the annual round of her visits from house
to house, Mrs. McNab had a peculiar faculty of securing to herself the
various material comforts available, having an excellent appetite and a
genius for appropriating the warmest seat at the fireplace and any other
little luxury a-going. These things were, however, overlooked,
especially by the women of the region, on account of her social
qualities, she being an invaluable companion during the long days and
evenings when their husbands and sons were away, engaged in
lumbering or fishing. When the family with which she happened to be
sojourning were engaged in domestic occupations, Mrs. McNab,
established in some cosey corner, told her old wife stories and whiled
away the long and dismal wintry hours.
Of all the people among whom she moved, Adèle Dubois least
exercised the grace of patience toward her.
On the return of Mr. Dubois and his daughter to the house, after having
seen the horses safely stowed away, he refreshed himself at the
tea-table and left the room to attend to necessary business. Mrs. Dubois
and Mrs. McNab went to fit up an apartment for the stranger.
In the mean time Mr. Norton and Adèle were left with the invalid.
Mr. Brown's face had lost its pallid hue and was now overspread with
the fiery glow of fever. He grew more and more restless in his sleep,
until at length he opened his eyes wide and began to talk deliriously. At
the first sound of his voice, Adèle started from her seat, expecting to
hear some request from his lips.

Gazing at her wildly for a moment, he exclaimed, "What, you here,
Agnes! you, travelling in this horrible wilderness! Where's your
husband? Where's John, the brave boy? Don't bring them here to taunt
me. Go away! Don't look at me!"
With an expression of terror on his countenance, he sank back upon the
pillow and closed his eyes. Mr. Norton knelt down by the couch and
made slow, soothing motions with his hand upon the hot and fevered
head, until the sick man sank again into slumber. Seeing this, Adèle,
who had been standing in mute bewilderment, came softly near and
whispered, "He has been doing something wrong, has he not, sir?"
"I hope not", said the good man, "He is not himself now, and is not
aware what he is saying. His fever causes his mind to wander".
"Yes, sir. But I think he is unhappy beside being sick. That sigh was so
sorrowful!"
"It was sad enough", said Mr. Norton. After a pause, he continued, "I
will stay by his bed and take care of him to-night".
"Ah! will you, sir?" said Adèle. "That is kind, but Aunt Patty, I know,
will insist on taking charge of him. She thinks it her right to take care
of all the sick people. But I don't wish her to stay with this gentleman
to-night. If he talks again as he did just now, she will tell it all over the
neighborhood".
At that moment, the door opened, and Mrs. McNab came waddling in,
followed by Mr. and Mrs. Dubois.
"Now, Mr. Doobyce", said she, "if