Volume Ii Part 35 (2/2)
”That's only because you have forgotten her, father,” said Hugh, laughing.
It was a very lovely face just then. Mr. Rossitur gazed into it a moment, and again kissed first one cheek and then the other, and then suddenly withdrew his hands and turned away, with an air ? Fleda could not tell what to make of it ? an air that struck her with an immediate feeling of pain; somewhat as if for some cause or other he had nothing to do with her or her loveliness. And she needed not to see him walk the room for three minutes to know that Michigan agencies had done nothing to lighten his brow, or uncloud his character. If this had wanted confirmation, Fleda would have found it in her aunt's face. She soon discovered, even in the course of the pleasant talkative hours before supper, that it was not brightened, as she had expected to find it, by her uncle's coming home; and her ears now caught painfully the occasional long breath, but half smothered, which told of a burden upon the heart but half concealed. Fleda supposed that Mr.
Rossitur's business affairs at the West must have disappointed him; and resolved not to remember that Michigan was in the map of North America.
Still they talked on, through the afternoon and evening, all of them except him: he was moody and silent. Fleda felt the cloud overshadow sadly her own gaiety; but Mrs. Rossitur and Hugh were accustomed to it, and Charlton was much too tall a light to come under any external obscuration whatever. He was descanting brilliantly upon the doings and prospects at Fort Hamilton, where he was stationed, much to the entertainment of his mother and brother. Fleda could not listen to him, while his father was sitting lost in something not half so pleasant as sleep, in the corner of the sofa. Her eyes watched him stealthily, till she could not bear it any longer. She resolved to bring the power of her sunbeam to bear, and, going round, seated herself on the sofa close by him, and laid her hand on his arm. He felt it immediately. The arm was instantly drawn away to be put round her, and Fleda was pressed nearer to his side, while the other hand took hers; and his lips were again on her forehead.
”And how do you like me for a farmer, uncle Rolf?” she said, looking up at him, laughingly, and then fearing immediately that she had chosen her subject ill. Not from any change in his countenance, however ? that decidedly brightened up. He did not answer at once.
”My child, you make me ashamed of mankind!”
”Of the dominant half of them, Sir, do you mean?” said Charlton ? ”or is your observation a sweeping one?”
”It would sweep the greatest part of the world into the background, Sir,” answered his father, drily, ”if its sense were the general rule.”
”And what has Fleda done to be such a besom of desolation?”
Fleda's laugh set everybody else a-going, and there was immediately more life and common feeling in the society than had been all day. They all seemed willing to shake off a weight, and even Fleda, in the endeavour to chase the gloom that hung over others, as it had often happened, lost half of her own.
”But still I am not answered,” said Charlton, when they were grave again. ”What has Fleda done to put such a libel upon mankind?”
”You should call it a _label_, as Dr. Quackenboss does,” said Fleda, in a fresh burst; ”he says he never would stand being labelled!”
”But come back to the point,” said Charlton; ”I want to know what is the label in this case, that Fleda's doings put upon those of other people?”
”Insignificance,” said his father, drily.
”I should like to know how bestowed,” said Charlton.
”Don't enlighten him, uncle Rolf,” said Fleda, laughing; ”let my doings remain in safe obscurity, please.”
”I stand as a representative of mankind,” said Charlton, ”and I demand an explanation.”
”Look at what this slight frame and delicate nerves have been found equal to, and then tell me if the broad shoulders of all your mess would have borne half the burden, or their united heads accomplished a quarter the results.”
He spoke with sufficient depth of meaning, though now with no unpleasant expression. But Charlton, notwithstanding, rather gathered himself up.
”Oh, uncle Rolf,” said Fleda, gently, ”nerves and muscles haven't much to do with it; after all, you know, I have just served the place of a mouthpiece. Seth was the head, and good Earl Dougla.s.s the hand.”
”I am ashamed of myself and of mankind,” Mr. Rossitur repeated, ”when I see what mere weakness can do, and how proudly valueless strength is contended to be. You are looking, Captain Rossitur; but, after all, a cap and plume really makes a man taller only to the eye.”
”When I have flung my plume in anybody's face, Sir,” said Charlton, rather hotly, ”it will be time enough to throw it back again.”
Mrs. Rossitur put her. hand on his arm, and looked her remonstrance.
”Are you glad to be home again, dear Fleda?” she said, turning to her.
But Fleda was making some smiling communications to her uncle, and did not seem to hear.
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