Volume I Part 11 (2/2)
”Mr. Carleton,” ? said she.
Mr. Carleton put down his basket, and looked in some surprise at the hesitating anxious little face that looked up at him.
”Wont you please not say anything to grandpa about my going away?”
”Why not, Fairy?” said he, kindly.
”Because I don't think I ought to go.”
”But may it not be possible,” said he, ”that your grandfather can judge better in the matter than you can do?”
”No,” said Fleda, ”I don't think he can. He would do anything he thought would be most for my happiness; but it wouldn't be for my happiness,” she said, with an unsteady lip, ? ”I don't know what he would do if I went!”
”You think he would have no suns.h.i.+ne if your wand didn't touch him?” said Mr. Carleton, smiling.
”No, Sir,” said Fleda, gravely, ”I don't think that, ? but wont you please, Mr. Carleton, not to speak about it?”
”But are you sure,” he said, sitting down on a stone hard by, and taking one of her hands, ? ”are you sure that you would not like to go with us? I wish you would change your mind about it. My mother will love you very much, and I will take the especial charge of you till we give you to your aunt in Paris; ? if the wind blows a little too rough I will always put myself between it and you,” he added, smiling.
Fleda smiled faintly, but immediately begged Mr. Carleton ”not to say anything to put it into her grandfather's head.”
”It must be there already, I think, Miss Fleda; but at any rate you know my mother must perform her promise to your aunt Mrs. Rossitur; and she would not do that without letting your grandfather know how glad she would be to take you.”
Fleda stood silent a moment, and then with a touching look of waiting patience in her sweet face suffered Mr. Carleton to help her over the fence; and they went home.
To Fleda's unspeakable surprise it was found to be past four o'clock, and Cynthy had supper ready. Mr. Ringgan with great cordiality invited Mr. Carleton to stay with them, but he could not; his mother would expect him to dinner.
”Where is your mother?”
”At Montepoole, Sir; we have been to Niagara, and came this way on our return, partly that my mother might fulfil the promise she made Mrs. Rossitur ? to let you know, Sir, with how much pleasure she will take charge of your little granddaughter, and convey her to her friends in Paris, if you can think it best to let her go.”
”Hum! ? she is very kind,” said Mr. Ringgan, with a look of grave and not unmoved consideration which Fleda did not in the least like; ? ”How long will you stay at Montepoole Sir?”
”It might be several days,” Mr. Carleton said.
”Hum ? You have given up this day to Fleda, Mr. Carleton, ?
suppose you take to-morrow for the game, and come here and try our country fare when you have got through shooting? ? you and young Mr. Rossitur? ? and I'll think over this question and let you know about it.”
Fleda was delighted to see that her friend accepted this invitation with apparent pleasure.
”You will be kind enough to give my respects to your mother,”
Mr. Ringgan went on, ”and thanks for her kind offer. I may perhaps ? I don't know ? avail myself of it. If anything should bring Mrs. Carleton this way we should like to see her.
I am glad to see my friends,” he said, shaking the young gentleman's hand, ? ”as long as I have a house to ask 'em to!”
”That will be for many years, I trust,” said Mr. Carleton, respectfully, struck with something in the old gentleman's manner.
”I don't know, Sir!” said Mr. Ringgan, with again the dignified look of trouble: ? ” it may not be! ? I wish you good day, Sir.”
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