Volume Ii Part 57 (1/2)
Fleda's shocked start and change of countenance was seen by more eyes than one pair. Thorn's fell, and a shade crossed his countenance, too, for an instant, that Fleda's vision was too dazzled to see. Mr. Carleton moved away.
”Why are _you_ going to Queechy?” said Charlton, astonished.
His friend was silent a moment, perhaps for want of power to speak. Fleda dared not look at him.
”It is not impossible ? unless this lady forbid me. I am not a fixture.”
”But what brought you here, man, to offer your services?” said Charlton; ”most ungallantly leaving so many pairs of bright eyes to s.h.i.+ne upon your absence.”
”Mr. Thorn will not find himself in darkness here, Captain Rossitur,” said Mrs. Decatur.
”It's my opinion he ought, Ma'am,” said Charlton.
”It is my opinion every man ought, who makes his dependance on gleams of suns.h.i.+ne,” said Mr. Thorn, rather cynically. ”I cannot say I was thinking of brightness, before or behind me.”
”I should think not,” said Charlton; ”you don't look as if you had seen any in a good while.”
”A light goes out every now and then,” said Thorn; ”and it takes one's eyes some time to get accustomed to it. What a singular world we live in, Mrs. Decatur!”
”That is so new an idea,” said the lady, laughing, ”that I must request an explanation.”
”What new experience of its singularity has your wisdom made?”
said his friend. ”I thought you and the world knew each other's faces pretty well before.”
”Then you have not heard the news?”
”What news?”
”Hum ? I suppose it is not about, yet,” said Thorn, composedly. ”No ? you haven't heard it.”
”But what, man?” said Charlton; ”let's hear your news, for I must be off.”
”Why ? but it is no more than rumour yet ? but it is said that strange things are coming to light about a name that used to be held in very high respect.”
”In this city?”
”In this city? ? yes; it is said proceedings are afoot against one of our oldest citizens, on charge of a very grave offence.”
”Who ? and what offence? what do you mean?”
”Is it a secret, Mr. Thorn?” said Mrs. Decatur.
”If you have not heard, perhaps it is as well not to mention names too soon; if it comes out, it will be all over directly; possibly the family may hush it up, and, in that case, the less said the better; but those have it in hand that will not let it slip through their fingers.”
Mrs. Decatur turned away, saying, ”How shocking such things were!” and Thorn, with a smile which did not, however, light up his face, said ?
”You may be off, Charlton, with no concern for the bright eyes you leave behind you; I will endeavour to atone for my negligence elsewhere, by my mindfulness of them.”
”Don't excuse you,” said Charlton; but his eye catching at the moment another attraction opposite in the form of man or woman, instead of quitting the room, he leisurely crossed it to speak to the new-comer; and Thorn, with an entire change of look and manner, pressed forward, and offered his arm to Fleda, who was looking perfectly white. If his words had needed any commentary, it was given by his eye as it met hers, in speaking the last sentence to Mrs. Decatur. No one was near whom she knew, and Mr. Thorn led her out to a little back room where the gentlemen had thrown off their cloaks, where the air was fresher, and placing her on a seat, stood waiting before her till she could speak to him.