Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/153

 Eletheer was watching from an upper window and her heart fluttered as she thought of meeting this great man face to face. "Just like good Dr. Brinton," she said to herself. "None but the best for our family—but Hernando is worthy of it. I do wonder what is the matter with him anyway. Reuben seems so worried. Dr. Herschel takes his time. Probably as his name is made, he does not need to inconvenience himself for the sake of others."

He raised his eyes to the window before which she sat and seeing her, bowed slightly and advanced slowly toward the house.

"So this is the great scientist," she said aloud, disappointment pictured in every lineament of her face—and indeed any casual observer would never give him a second thought. Reuben, always a well-bred servant, could barely restrain his impatience, and without waiting for the doctor to ring, he opened the door and unceremoniously ushered him into the library where Mr. De Vere was absorbed in the morning papers.