Volume I Part 69 (1/2)
”You look just as you used to do,” Mrs. Evelyn went on, earnestly.
”Do I?” said Fleda, privately thinking that the lady must have good eyes for features of resemblance.
”Except that you have more colour in your cheeks and more sparkles in your eyes. Dear little creature that you were; I want to make you know my children. Do you remember that Mr.
and Mrs. Carleton that took such care of you at Montepoole?”
”Certainly I do! ? very well.”
”We saw them last winter; we were down at their country place in ? s.h.i.+re. They have a magnificent place there ? everything you can think of to make life pleasant. We spent a week with them. My dear Fleda, I wish I could show you that place! you never saw anything like it.”
Fleda ate her pie.
”We have nothing like it in this country; of course, cannot have. One of those superb English country seats is beyond even the imagination of an American.”
”Nature has been as kind to us, hasn't she?” said Fleda.
”O yes; but such fortunes, you know. Mr. Olmney, what do you think of those overgrown fortunes? I was speaking to Miss Ringgan just now of a gentleman who has forty thousand pounds a year income ? sterling, Sir; forty thousand pounds a year sterling. Somebody says, you know, that 'he who has more than enough is a thief of the rights of his brother' ? what do you think?”
But Mr. Olmney's attention was at the moment forcibly called off by the ”income” of a paris.h.i.+oner.
”I suppose,” said Fleda, ”his thievish character must depend entirely on the use he makes of what he has.”
”I don't know,” said Mrs. Evelyn, shaking her head; ”I think the possession of great wealth is very hardening.”
”To a fine nature?” said Fleda.
Mrs. Evelyn shook her head again, but did not seem to think it worth while to reply; and Fleda was trying the question in her own mind whether wealth or poverty might be the most hardening in its effects; when Mr. Olmney, having succeeded in getting free again, came and took his station beside them, and they had a particularly pleasant talk, which Fleda, who had seen n.o.body in a great while, enjoyed very much. They had several such talks in the course of the day; for though the distractions caused by Mr. Olmney's other friends were many and engrossing, he generally contrived in time to find his way back to their window. Meanwhile, Mrs. Evelyn had a great deal to say to Fleda, and to hear from her; and left her at last under an engagement to spend the next day at the Pool.
Upon Mr. Olmney's departure with Mrs. Evelyn, the attraction which had held the company together was broken, and they scattered fast. Fleda presently finding herself in the minority, was glad to set out with Miss Anastasia Finn, and her sister Lucy, who would leave her but very little way from her own door. But she had more company than she bargained for.
Dr. Quackenboss was pleased to attach himself to their party, though his own shortest road certainly lay in another direction; and Fleda wondered what he had done with his wagon, which, beyond a question, must have brought the cheese in the morning. She edged herself out of the conversation as much as possible, and hoped it would prove so agreeable that he would not think of attending her home. In vain. When they made a stand at the cross roads the doctor stood on her side.
”I hope now you've made a commencement, you will come to see us again, Fleda,” said Miss Lucy.
”What's the use of asking?” said her sister, abruptly. ”If she has a mind to, she will, and if she ha'n't, I am sure we don't want her.”
They turned off.
”Those are excellent people,” said the doctor, when they were beyond hearing; ”really respectable!”
”Are they?” said Fleda.
”But your goodness does not look, I am sure, to find ? a ?
Parisian graces in so remote a circle?”
”Certainly not,” said Fleda.
”We have had a genial day!” said the doctor, quitting the Finns.