Volume Ii Part 72 (1/2)
”I am afraid you have wanted my former prescription to-day,”
said Mr. Carleton, after considering the little-improved colour of Fleda's face.
”I have, indeed.”
”Where is it?”
Fleda hesitated, and then, in a little confusion, said, she supposed it was lying on Mrs. Evelyn's centre-table.
”How happens that?” said he, smiling.
”Because I could not help it, Mr. Carleton,” said Fleda, with no little difficulty; ”I was foolish, I could not bring it away.”
He understood and was silent.
”Are you fit to bear a long ride in the cold?” he said, compa.s.sionately, a few minutes after.
”Oh, yes; it will do me good.”
”You have had a miserable day, have you not?”
”My head has been pretty bad,” said Fleda, a little evasively.
”Well, what would you have?” said he, lightly; ”doesn't that make a miserable day of it?”
Fleda hesitated and coloured, and then, conscious that her cheeks were answering for her, coloured so exceedingly, that she was fain to put both her hands up to hide what they only served the more plainly to show. No advantage was taken. Mr.
Carleton said nothing; she could not see what answer might be in his face. It was only by a peculiar quietness in his tone whenever he spoke to her afterwards that Fleda knew she had been thoroughly understood. She dared not lift her eyes.
They had soon employment enough around her. A sleigh and horses, better than anything else Quarrenton had been known to furnish, were carrying her rapidly towards home, the weather had perfectly cleared off, and in full brightness and fairness the sun was s.h.i.+ning upon a brilliant world. It was cold indeed, though the only wind was that made by their progress; but Fleda had been again unresistingly wrapped in the furs, and was, for the time, beyond the reach of that or any other annoyance. She sat silently and quietly enjoying; so quietly that a stranger might have questioned there being any enjoyment in the case. It was a very picturesque, broken country, fresh covered with snow; and at that hour, late in the day, the lights and shadows were a constantly varying charm to the eye. Clumps of evergreens stood out in full disclosure against the white ground; the bare branches of neighbouring trees in all their barrenness, had a wild prospective or retrospective beauty peculiar to themselves. On the wavy white surface of the meadow land, or the steep hill- sides, lay every variety of shadow in blue and neutral tint; where they lay not, the snow was too brilliant to be borne.
And afar off, through a heaven, bright and cold enough to hold the canopy over winter's head, the ruler of the day was gently preparing to say good-bye to the world. Fleda's eye seemed to be new set for all forms of beauty, and roved from one to the other as grave and bright as nature itself.
For a little way, Mr. Carleton left her to her musings, and was as silent as she. But then he gently drew her into a conversation that broke up the settled gravity of her face, and obliged her to divide her attention between nature and him, and his part of it he knew how to manage. But though eye and smile constantly answered him, he could win neither to a straightforward bearing.
They were about a mile from Queechy, when Fleda suddenly exclaimed ?
”Oh, Mr. Carleton, please stop the sleigh!”
The horses were stopped.
”It is only Earl Dougla.s.s, our farmer,” Fleda said, in explanation: ”I want to ask how they are at home?”
In answer to her nod of recognition, Mr. Dougla.s.s came to the side of the vehicle; but till he was there, close, gave her no other answer by word or sign; when there, broke forth his accustomed guttural ? ”How d'ye do?”
”How d'ye do, Mr. Dougla.s.s,” said Fleda. ”How are they all at home?”
”Well, there aint nothin' new among 'em, as I've heerd on,”
said Earl, diligently though stealthily, at the same time qualifying himself to make a report of Mr. Carleton. ”I guess they'll be glad to see you. _I_ be.”
”Thank you, Mr. Dougla.s.s. How is Hugh?”
”He aint nothin' different from what he's been for a spell back ? at least I ain't heerd that he was. Maybe he is, but if he is, I ha'n't heerd speak of it, and if he was, I think I should ha' heerd speak of it. He was pretty bad a spell ago ?