Volume Ii Part 54 (1/2)
Even long ago I knew that.”
”The good that it did!” It was no time then to moralize, but he must know that Marion was at home, or he might incautiously reveal to her what happily there was no necessity for her ever knowing. And the story must give him great and fresh pain.
”Dear uncle Rolf,” said Fleda, pressing closer to him ”we may be happier than we have been in a long time, if you will only take it so. The cloud upon you has been a cloud upon us.”
”I know it!” he exclaimed ? ”a cloud that served to show me that my jewels were diamonds!”
”You have an accession to your jewels, uncle Rolf.”
”What do you mean?”
”I mean,” said Fleda, trembling, ”that there are two more at home.”
He held her back to look at her.
”Can't you guess who?”
”No!” said he. ”What do you mean?”
”I must tell you, because they know nothing, and needn't know, of all this matter.”
”What are you talking about?”
”Marion is there!”
”Marion!” exclaimed Mr. Rossitur, with quick changes of expression ? ”Marion! At Queechy! ? and her husband?”
”No, Sir ? a dear little child.”
”Marion! ? and her husband ? where is he?”
Fleda hesitated.
”I don't know ? I don't know whether she knows.”
”Is he dead?”
”No, Sir.”
Mr. Rossitur put her away, and got up and walked, or strode up and down the little apartment. Fleda dared not look at him, even by the faint glimmer that came from the chimney.
But abroad it was perfectly dark ? the stars were s.h.i.+ning, the only lamps that illumined the poor little street, and for a long time there had been no light in the room but that of the tiny wood fire. Dinah never could be persuaded of the superior cheapness of coal. Fleda came at last to her uncle's side, and putting her arm within his, said ?
”How soon will you set off for home, uncle Rolf?”
”To-morrow morning.”
”You must take the boat to Bridgeport now ? you know the river is fast.”
”Yes, I know.”