Volume Ii Part 53 (1/2)

The old woman, herself most unchanged, did not know the young lady, but well remembered the little girl whom Fleda brought to her mind. And then she was overjoyed to see her, and asked a mult.i.tude of questions, and told a long story of her having met Mr. Rossitur in the street the other day, ”in the last place where she'd have looked to see him;” and how old he had grown, and how surprised she had been to see the gray hairs in his head. Fleda at last gave her to understand that she expected him to meet her there, and would like to see him alone; and the good woman immediately took her work into another apartment, made up the fire, and set up the chairs, and leaving her, a.s.sured Fleda she would lock up the doors, ”and not let no one come through.”

It was sundown, and later, Fleda thought, and she felt as if every pulse was doing double duty. No matter, if she were shattered and the work done. But what work! Oh, the needlessness, the cruelty, the folly of it! And how much of the ill consequences she might be unable, after all, to ward off. She took off her hat, to relieve a nervous smothered feeling; and walked, and sat down; and then sat still, from trembling inability to do anything else. Dinah's poor little room, clean though it was, looked to her the most dismal place in the world, from its a.s.sociation with her errand; she hid her face on her knees, that she might have no disagreeableness to contend with, but that which could not be shut out.

It had lain there some time, till a sudden feeling of terror at the growing lateness made her raise it to look at the window. Mr. Rossitur was standings still before her ? he must have come in very softly ? and looking ? oh, Fleda had not imagined him looking so changed. All was forgotten ? the wrong, and the needlessness, and the indignation with which she had sometimes thought of it; Fleda remembered nothing but love and pity, and threw herself upon his neck with such tears of tenderness and sympathy, such kisses of forgiveness and comfort-speaking, as might have broken a stouter heart than Mr. Rossitur's. He held her in his arms for a few minutes, pa.s.sively suffering her caresses, and then gently unloosing her hold, placed her on a seat, sat down a little way off, covered his face and groaned aloud.

Fleda could not recover herself at once. Then shaking off her agitation, she came and knelt down by his side, and putting one arm over his shoulders, laid her cheek against his forehead. Words were beyond reach, but his forehead was wet with her tears; and kisses, of soft entreaty, of winning a.s.surance, said all she could say.

”What did you come here for, Fleda?” said Mr. Rossitur, at length, without changing his position.

”To bring you home, uncle Rolf.”

”Home!” said he, with an accent between bitterness and despair.

”Yes, for it's all over, it's all forgotten ? there is no more to be said about it at all,” said Fleda, getting her words out she didn't know how.

What is forgotten?” said he, harshly.

”All that you would wish, Sir,” replied Fleda, softly and gently; ”there is no more to be done about it; and I came to tell you, if possible, before it was too late. Oh, I'm so glad!” and her arms and her cheek pressed closer, as fresh tears stopped her voice.

”How do you know, Fleda?” said Mr. Rossitur, raising his head, and bringing hers to his shoulder, while his arms in turn enclosed her.

Fleda whispered, ”He told me so himself.”

”Who?”

”Mr. Thorn.”

The words were but just spoken above her breath. Mr. Rossitur was silent for some time.

”Are you sure you understood him?”

”Yes, Sir; it could not have been spoken plainer.”

”Are you quite sure he meant what he said, Fleda?”

”Perfectly sure, uncle Rolf! I know he did.”

”What stipulation did he make beforehand?”

”He did it without any stipulation, Sir.”

”What was his inducement, then? If I know him, he is not a man to act without any.”

Fleda's cheek was dyed, but except that, she gave no other answer.

”Why has it been left so long?” said her uncle, presently.

”I don't know, Sir ? he said nothing about that. He promised that neither we nor the world should hear anything more of it.”

”The world!” said Mr. Rossitur.