Volume Ii Part 57 (2/2)
”What do you mean, Mr. Thorn?” Fleda looked as much as said, when she could meet his face.
”I may rather ask you what _you_ mean, Miss Fleda,” he answered, gravely.
Fleda drew breath painfully.
”I mean nothing,” she said, lowering her head again; ”I have done nothing.”
”Did you think I meant nothing when I agreed to do all you wished?”
”I thought you said you would do it freely,” she said, with a tone of voice that might have touched anybody, there was such a sinking of heart in it.
”Didn't you understand me?”
”And is it all over now?” said Fleda, after a pause.
”Not yet; but it soon may be. A weak hand may stop it now ? it will soon be beyond the power of the strongest.”
”And what becomes of your promise that it should no more be heard of?” said Fleda, looking up at him with a colourless face, but eyes that put the question forcibly, nevertheless.
”Is any promise bound to stand without its conditions?”
”I made no conditions,” said Fleda, quickly.
”Forgive me! but did you not permit me to understand them?”
”No! or if I did, I could not help it.”
”Did you say that you wished to help it?” said he, gently.
”I must say so now, then, Mr. Thorn,” said Fleda, withdrawing the hand he had taken; ”I did not mean or wish you to think so, but I was too ill to speak ? almost to know what I did. It was not my fault.”
”You do not make it mine, that I chose such a time, selfishly, I grant, to draw from your lips the words that are more to me than life?”
”Cannot you be generous ?” _for once_, she was very near saying.
”Where you are concerned, I do not know how.”
Fleda was silent a moment, and then bowed her face in her hands.
”May I not ask that question of you?” said he, bending down and endeavouring to remove them; ”will you not say ? or look ?
that word that will make others happy beside me?”
”I cannot, Sir.”
”Not for their sakes?” he said, calmly.
”Can you ask me to do for theirs, what I would not for my own?”
<script>