CHAPTER XVII.
HUGH An unexpected turn in Hugh's affairs made it no longer necessary for him to remain in the sultry climate of New Orleans, and just one week from his mother's departure from Spring Bank he reached it, expressing unbounded surprise when he heard from Aunt Eunice where his mother had gone, and how she had gone.
"Fool and his money soon parted," Hugh said.

"I can fancy just the dash Ad is making.

But who sent the money ?" "A Mrs.Johnson, an old friend of your mother's," Aunt Eunice replied, while Hugh looked up quickly, wondering why the Johnsons should be so continually thrust upon him, when the only Johnson for whom he cared was dead years ago.
"And the young lady--what about her ?" he asked, while Aunt Eunice told him the little she knew, which was that Mrs.Johnson wished her daughter to come to Spring Bank, but she did not know what they had concluded upon.
"That she should not come, of course," Hugh said.

"They had no right to give her a home without my consent, and I've plenty of young ladies at Spring Bank now.

Oh, it was such a relief when I was gone to know that in all New Orleans there was not a single hoop annoyed on my account.