Volume Ii Part 43 (1/2)
”Don't ask me, Barby,” said Fleda, hiding her face in her hands, and s.h.i.+vering; ”I made myself very cold just now ? Aunt Lucy doesn't feel very well, and I got frightened,” she added, presently.
”What's the matter with her?”
”I don't know ? if you'll make me a cup of tea, I'll take it up to her, Barby.”
”You put yourself down there,” said Barby, placing her with gentle force in a chair; ”you'll do no such a thing till I see you look as if there was some blood in you. I'll take it up myself.”
But Fleda held her, though with a hand much too feeble indeed for any but moral suasion. It was enough. Barby stood silently, and very anxiously watching her, till the fire had removed the outward chill at least. But even that took long to do, and before it was well done, Fleda again asked for the cup of tea. Barby made it without a word, and Fleda went to her aunt with it, taking her strength from the sheer emergency.
Her knees trembled under her as she mounted the stairs, and once a glimpse of those words flitted across her mind ?
”patient continuance in well-doing.” It was like a lightning flash in a dark night showing the way one must go. She could lay hold of no other stay. Her mind was full of one intense purpose ? to end the suspense.
She gently tried the door of her aunt's room; it was unfastened, and she went in. Mrs. Rossitur was lying on the bed; but her first mood had changed, for at Fleda's soft word and touch she half rose up, and, putting both arms round her waist, laid her face against her. There were no tears still, only a succession of low moans, so inexpressibly weak and plaintive, that Fleda's nature could hardly bear them without giving way. A more fragile support was never clung to. Yet her trembling fingers, in their agony, moved caressingly among her aunt's hair and over her brow, as she begged her ? when she could, she was not able at first ? to let her know the cause that was grieving her. The straitened clasp of Mrs. Rossitur's arms, and her increased moaning, gave only an answer of pain.
But Fleda repeated the question. Mrs. Rossitur still neglecting it, then made her sit down upon the bed, so that she could lay her head higher on Fleda's bosom; where she hid it, with a mingling of fondness given and asked ? a poor seeking for comfort and rest, that wrung her niece's heart.
They sat so for a little time; Fleda hoping that her aunt would by degrees come to the point herself. The tea stood cooling on the table, not even offered; not wanted there.
”Wouldn't you feel better if you told me, dear aunt Lucy?”
said Fleda, when they had been for a little while perfectly still. Even the moaning had ceased.
”Is your uncle come home?” whispered Mrs. Rossitur, but so low that Fleda could but half catch the words.
”Not yet.”
”What o'clock is it?”
”I don't know ? not early ? it must be near eight. ? Why?”
”You have not heard anything of him?”
”No ? nothing.”
There was silence again for a little, and then Mrs. Rossitur said in a low, fearful whisper ?
”Have you seen anybody round the house?”
Fleda's thoughts flew to Seth, with that nameless fear to which she could give neither shape nor direction, and after a moment's hesitation she said ?
”What do you mean?”
”Have you?” said Mrs. Rossitur, with more energy.
”Seth Plumfield was here a little while ago.”
Her aunt had the clue that she had not, for with a half scream, half exclamation, she quitted Fleda's arms, and fell back upon the pillows, turning from her and hiding her face there. Fleda prayed again for her confidence, as well as the weakness and the strength of fear could do; and Mrs. Rossitur presently grasping a paper that lay on the bed, held it out to her, saying only, as Fleda was about quitting the room, ”Bring me a light.”
Fleda left the letter there and went down to fetch one. She commanded herself under the excitement and necessity of the moment ? all but her face; that terrified Barby exceedingly.
But she spoke with a strange degree of calmness; told her Mrs.
Rossitur was not alarmingly ill; that she did not need Barby's services, and wished to see n.o.body but herself, and didn't want a fire. As she was pa.s.sing through the hall again, Hugh came out of the sitting-room to ask after his mother. Fleda kept the light from her face.