Volume I Part 71 (1/2)
”I shall not come down to breakfast. Don't look so, love! ? I can't help it.”
”Why was that calico got for me and not for you!” said Fleda, bitterly.
”A sixpenny calico!” said Mrs. Rossitur, smiling ? ”it would be hard if you could not have so much as that, love.”
”And you will not see Mrs. Evelyn and her daughters at all! ?
and I was thinking that it would do you so much good!”
Mrs. Rossitur drew her face a little nearer and kissed it, over and over.
”It will do you good, my darling ? that is what I care for much more.”
”It will not do me half as much,” said Fleda, sighing.
Her spirits were in their old place again; no more a tiptoe to-night. The short light of pleasure was overcast. She went to bed feeling very quiet indeed; and received Mrs. Evelyn and excused her aunt the next day, almost wis.h.i.+ng the lady had not been as good as her word. But though in the same mood she set off with her to drive to Montepoole, it could not stand the bright influences with which she found herself surrounded. She came home again at night with dancing spirits.
It was some days before Captain Rossitur began at all to comprehend the change which had come upon his family. One morning Fleda and Hugh, having finished their morning's work, were in the breakfast-room waiting for the rest of the family, when Charlton made his appearance, with the cloud on his brow which had been lately gathering.
”Where is the paper?” said he. ”I haven't seen a paper since I have been here.”
”You mustn't expect to find Mexican luxuries in Queechy, Captain Rossitur,” said Fleda pleasantly. ? ”Look at these roses, and don't ask me for papers!”
He did look a minute at the dish of flowers she was arranging for the breakfast table, and at the rival freshness and sweetness of the face that hung over them.
”You don't mean to say you live without a paper?”
”Well, it's astonis.h.i.+ng how many things people can live without,” said Fleda, rather dreamily, intent upon settling an uneasy rose that would topple over.
”I wish you'd answer me really,” said Charlton. ”Don't you take a paper here?”
”We would take one, thankfully, if it would be so good as to come; but, seriously, Charlton, we haven't any,” she said, changing her tone.
”And have you done without one all through the war?”
”No ? we used to borrow one from a kind neighbour once in a while, to make sure, as Mr. Thorn says, that you had not bartered an arm for a shoulder-knot.”
”You never looked to see whether I was killed in the meanwhile, I suppose?”
”No ? never,” said Fleda, gravely, as she took her place on a low seat in the corner ? ”I always knew you were safe before I touched the paper.”
”What do you mean?”
”I am not an enemy, Charlton,” said Fleda, laughing. ”I mean that I used to make aunt Miriam look over the accounts before I did.”
Charlton walked up and down the room for a little while in sullen silence; and then brought up before Fleda.
”What are you doing?”
Fleda looked up ? a glance that, as sweetly and brightly as possible, half asked, half bade him be silent and ask no questions.