Volume Ii Part 25 (1/2)
”Shall I see you at Mrs. Decatur's, to-morrow?”
”No, Sir.”
”I thought I understood,” said he, in an explanatory tone, ”from your friends, the Miss Evelyns, that they were going.”
”I believe they are, and I did think of it; but I have changed my mind, and shall stay at home with Mrs. Evelyn.”
After some further conversation, the hour for the drive was appointed, and Mr. Carleton took leave.
”Come for me twice, and Mrs. Evelyn refused without consulting me!” thought Fleda. ”What could make her do so? How very rude he must have thought me! And how glad I am I have had an opportunity of setting that right!”
So, quitting Mrs. Evelyn, her thoughts went off upon a long train of wandering over the afternoon's talk.
”Wake up!” said the doctor, laying his hand kindly upon her shoulder; ”you'll want something fresh again presently. What mine of profundity are you digging into now?”
Fleda looked up, and came back from her profundity with a glance and smile as simple as a child's.
”Dear uncle Orrin, how came you to leave me alone in the library?”
”Was that what you were trying to discover?”
”Oh no, Sir! But why did you, uncle Orrin? I might have been left utterly alone.”
”Why,” said the doctor, ”I was going out, and a friend, that I thought I could confide in, promised to take care of you.”
”A friend! ? n.o.body came near me,” said Fleda.
”Then I'll never trust anybody again,” said the doctor. ”But what were you hammering at, mentally, just now? ? Come, you shall tell me.”
”O nothing, uncle Orrin,” said Fleda, looking grave again, however; ”I was thinking that I had been talking too much to- day.”
”Talking too much? ? why, whom have you been talking to?”
”Oh, n.o.body but Mr. Carleton.”
”Mr. Carleton! Why, you didn't say six and a quarter words while he was here.”
”No, but I mean in the library, and walking home.”
”Talking too much! I guess you did,” said the doctor; ? ”your tongue is like
'the music of the spheres, So loud it deafens human ears.'
How came you to talk too much? I thought you were too shy to talk at all in company.”
”No, Sir, I am not; I am not at all shy unless people frighten me. It takes almost nothing to do that; but I am very bold if I am not frightened.”
”Were you frightened this afternoon?”
”No, Sir?”