Volume Ii Part 64 (2/2)
”I am sorry, Miss Constance, I have none for you. But, will this headache yield to nothing?”
”Fleda prophesied that it would to time,” said Florence; ”she would not let us try much beside.”
”And I must confess there has been no volatile agency employed at all,” said Constance; ”I never knew time have less of it, and Fleda seemed to prefer him for her physician.”
”He hasn't been a good one to-day,” said Edith, nestling affectionately to her side. ”Isn't it better, Fleda?” for she had covered her eyes with her hand.
”Not just now,” said Fleda, softly.
”It is fair to change physicians if the first fails,” said Mr.
Carleton. ”I have had a slight experience in headache-curing; if you will permit me, Miss Constance, I will supersede time and try a different prescription.”
He went out to seek it, and Fleda leaned her head in her hand, and tried to quiet the throbbing heart, every pulsation of which was felt so keenly at the seat of pain. She knew, from Mr. Carleton's voice and manner ? she _thought_ she knew ? that he had exceeding good tidings for her; once a.s.sured of that, she would soon be better; but she was worse now.
”Where is Mr. Carleton gone?” said Mrs. Evelyn.
”I haven't the least idea, Mamma ? he has ventured upon an extraordinary undertaking, and has gone off to qualify himself, I suppose. I can't conceive why he didn't ask Miss Ringgan's permission to change her physician instead of mine.”
”I suppose he knew there was no doubt about that,” said Edith, hitting the precise answer of Fleda's thoughts.
”And what should make him think there was any doubt about mine?” said Constance, tartly.
”Oh, you know,” said her sister, ”you are so odd, n.o.body can tell what you will take a fancy to.”
”You are extremely liberal in your expressions, at least, Miss Evelyn, I must say,” said Constance, with a glance of no doubtful meaning. ”Joe ? did you let Mr. Carleton in?”
”No, Ma'am.”
”Well, let him in next time, and don't let in anybody else.”
Whereafter the party relapsed into silent expectation.
It was not many minutes before Mr. Carleton returned.
”Tell your friend, Miss Constance,” he said, putting an exquisite little vinaigrette into her hand, ”that I have nothing worse for her than that.”
”Worse than this!” said Constance, examining it. ”Mr.
Carleton, I doubt exceedingly whether smelling this will afford Miss Ringgan any benefit.”
”Why, Miss Constance?”
”Because it has made me sick only to look at it!”
”There will be no danger for her,” he said, smiling.
”Wont there? Well, Fleda, my dear, here, take it,” said the young lady; ”I hope you are differently const.i.tuted from me, for I feel a sudden pain since I saw it; but as you keep your eyes shut, and so escape the sight of this lovely gold chasing, perhaps it will do you no mischief.”
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