第41章 The Wheels Run Down (2)

"You have been feeling very tired lately; you have had unaccountable pains flying about all over you, but specially your back has felt, as you just said, somewhat 'broken.' You have generally noticed this when you have been walking, or bending over your desk writing for the 'Idol-Breaker.'"She laughed.

"Now please don't turn into a clairvoyant; I shall begin to think you uncanny; and, besides, it would be an argument for Tom when we quarrel about you.""Then my surmises are true?"

"Substitute first person singular for second plural, and it might have come from my own lips," said Erica, smiling."But please stop; I'm afraid you will try to turn prophet next, and I'm sure you will prophesy something horrid.""It would need no very clear-sighted prophet to prophesy that you will have to let your wheels run down for a little while.""Do you mean that you think I shall die?" asked Erica, languidly.

"It wouldn't be at all convenient just now; father couldn't spare me.Do you know," and her face brightened, "he is really beginning to use me a good deal?""I didn't mean that I thought your wheels would run down in that way," said Charles Osmond, touched by the pathos of her words."Imay even be wrong, but I think you will want a long rest, and I am quite sure you mustn't lose a day before seeing a doctor.I should like my brother to see you; Brian is only junior partner, you know.""What, another Mr.Osmond! How muddled we shall get between you all!" said Erica, laughing.

"I should think that Brian might be Brian by this time," said Charles Osmond; "that will dispose of one; and perhaps you would like to follow the example of one of my servants, who, I hear, invariably speaks of me as the 'dear rev.'"Erica laughed.

"No, I shall call you my 'prophet,' though it is true you have begun by being a prophet of evil! By the bye, you can not say again that I am not impartial.What do you think Tom and I did last week?""Read the New Testament backward?"

"No, we went to a Holy Scripture Society meeting at Exeter Hall.""Hope you were edified," said Charles Osmond, with a little twinkle in his eye; but he sighed, nevertheless.