Volume Ii Part 80 (1/2)

”But must I do nothing?” said Mrs. Rossitur, when she had remained quiet, with her face in her hands, for a minute or two after he had done speaking.

”Nothing but be willing ? be willing to have Christ in all His offices, as your Teacher, your King, and your Redeemer; give yourself to Him, dear Mrs. Rossitur, and He will take care of the rest.”

”I am willing!” she exclaimed. Fresh tears came, and came freely. Mr. Carleton said no more, till; hearing some noise of opening and shutting doors above stairs, Mrs. Rossitur hurriedly left the room, and Fleda came in by the other entrance.

”May I take you a little out of the way, Mr. Carleton?” she said, when they had pa.s.sed through the Deepwater settlement.

”I have a message to carry to Mrs. Elster ? a poor woman out here beyond the Lake. It is not a disagreeable place.”

”And what if it were?”

”I should not, perhaps, have asked you to go with me,” said Fleda, a little doubtfully.

”You may take me where you will, Elfie,” he said, gently. ”I hope to do as much by you some day.”

Fleda looked up at the piece of elegance beside her, and thought what a change must have come over him if _he_ would visit poor places. He was silent and grave, however, and so was she, till they arrived at the house they were going to.

Certainly it was not a disagreeable place. Barb's much less strong-minded sister had at least a good share of her practical nicety. The little board path to the door was clean and white still, with possibly a trifle less brilliant effect.

The room and its old inhabitants were very comfortable and tidy ? the patchwork counterpane as gay as ever. Mrs. Elster was alone, keeping company with a snug little wood fire, which was near as much needed in that early spring weather as it had been during the winter.

Mr. Carleton had come back from his abstraction, and stood, taking half unconscious note of these things, while Fleda was delivering her message to the old woman. Mrs. Elster listened to her implicitly, with, every now and then, an acquiescing nod or e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n; but so soon as Fleda had said her say, she burst out, with a voice that had never known the m.u.f.flings of delicacy, and was now pitched entirely beyond its owner's ken.

Looking hard at Mr. Carleton ?

”Fleda! Is _this_ the gentleman that's to be your ? _husband?_”

The last word elevated and brought out with emphatic distinctness of utterance.

If the demand had been, whether the gentleman in question was a follower of Mohammed, it would hardly have been more impossible for Fleda to give an affirmative answer; but Mr.

Carleton laughed, and, bringing his face a little nearer the old crone, answered ?

”So she has promised, Ma'am .”

It was curious to see the lines of the old woman's face relax as she looked at him.

”He's worthy of you, as far as looks goes,” she said, in the same key as before, apostrophising Fleda, who had drawn back, but not stirring her eyes from Mr. Carleton all the time. And then she added to him, with a little, satisfied nod, and in a very decided tone of information ?

”She will make you a good wife.”

”Because she has made a good friend?” said Mr. Carleton, quietly. ”Will you let me be a friend, too?”

He had turned the old lady's thoughts into a golden channel, whence, as she was an American, they had no immediate issue in words; and Fleda and Mr. Carleton left the house without anything more.

Fleda felt nervous. But Mr. Carleton's first words were as coolly and as gravely spoken as if they had just come out from a philosophical lecture; and with an immediate spring of relief, she enjoyed every step of the way, and every word of the conversation, which was kept up with great life till they reached Mrs. Plumfield's door.

No one was in the sitting-room. Fleda left Mr. Carleton there, and pa.s.sed gently into the inner apartment, the door of which was standing ajar.

But her heart absolutely leaped into her mouth, for Dr.

Quackenboss and Mr. Olmney were there on either side of her aunt's bed. Fleda came forward and shook hands.

”This is quite a meeting of friends,” said the doctor, blandly, yet with a perceptible shading of the whilome broad suns.h.i.+ne of his face. ”Your ? a ? aunt, my dear Miss Ringgan, is in a most extraordinary state of mind!”

Fleda was glad to hide her face against her aunt's, and asked her how she did.