Volume Ii Part 90 (1/2)
”The city is very hot and dusty just now.”
”Very, and I am sorry to keep you in it, Mrs. Carleton.”
”Keep me, love?” said Mrs. Carleton, bending down her face to her again; ”it's a pleasure to be kept anywhere by you.”
Fleda shut her eyes, for she could hardly bear a little word now.
”I don't like to keep _you_ here; it is not myself I am thinking of. I fancy a change would do you good.”
”You are very kind, Ma'am.”
”Very interested kindness,” said Mrs. Carleton. ”I want to see you looking a little better before Guy comes; I am afraid he will look grave at both of us.” But as she paused and stroked Fleda's cheek, it came into her mind to doubt the truth of the last a.s.sertion, and she ended off with, ”I wish he would come!”
So Fleda wished truly; for now, cut off as she was from her old a.s.sociations, she longed for the presence of the one friend that was to take place of them all.
”I hope we shall hear soon that there is some prospect of his getting free,” Mrs. Carleton went on. ”He has been gone now ?
how many weeks? I am looking for a letter to-day. And there it is!”
The maid at this moment entered with the steamer despatches.
Mrs. Carleton pounced upon the one she knew, and broke it open.
”Here it is! and there is yours, Fleda.”
With kind politeness, she went off to read her own, and left Fleda to study hers at her leisure. An hour after she came in again. Fleda's face was turned from her.
”Well, what does he say?” she asked in a lively tone.
”I suppose, the same he has said to you, Ma'am,” said Fleda.
”I don't suppose it, indeed,” said Mrs. Carleton, laughing.
”He has given me sundry charges, which, if he has given you, it is morally certain we shall never come to an understanding.”
”I have received no charges,” said Fleda.
”I am directed to be very careful to find out your exact wish in the matter, and to let you follow no other. So what is it, my sweet Fleda?”
”I promised,” said Fleda, colouring and turning her letter over. But there she stopped.
”Whom, and what?” said Mrs. Carleton, after she had waited a reasonable time.
”Mr. Carleton.”
”What did you promise, my dear Fleda?”
”That I would do as he said.”
”But he wishes you to do as you please.”