The vinaigrette dropped from Fleda"s fingers, but beyond a heightened colour and a little tremulous gravity about the lip, she gave no other sign of emotion.
"Mamma," said Florence, laughing, "you are too bad !"
"Mamma," said Constance, "I wonder how any tender sentiment for you can continue to exist in Fleda"s breast! By the way, Fleda, my dear, do you know that we have heard of two escorts for you? but I only tell you because I know you"ll not be fit to travel this age."
"I should not be able to travel to-morrow," said Fleda.
"They are not going to-morrow," said Mrs. Evelyn, quietly.
"Who are they ?"
"Excellent ones," said Mrs. Evelyn. "One of them is your old friend, Mr. Olmney."
"Mr. Olmney!" said Fleda. "What has brought him to New York?"
"Really," said Mrs. Evelyn, laughing, "I do not know. What should keep him away? I was very glad to see him, for my part.
Maybe he has come to take you home."
"Who is the other?" said Fleda.
"That"s another old friend of yours ? Mrs. Renney."
"Mrs. Renney? who is she?" said Fleda.
"Why, don"t you know? Mrs. Renney ? she used to live with your aunt Lucy, in some capacity ? years ago, when she was in New York ? housekeeper, I think; don"t you remember her?"
"Perfectly now," said Fleda. "Mrs. Renney!" ?
"She has been housekeeper for Mrs. Schenck these several years, and she is going somewhere out West to some relation, her brother, I believe, to take care of his family; and her road leads her your way."
"When do they go, Mrs. Evelyn?"
"Both the same day, and both the day after to-morrow. Mr.
Olmney takes the morning train, he says, unless you would prefer some other. I told him you were very anxious to go; and Mrs. Renney goes in the afternoon. So there"s a choice for you."
"Mamma," said Constance, "Fleda is not fit to go at all, either time."
"I don"t think she is," said Mrs. Evelyn. "But she knows best what she likes to do."
Thoughts and resolutions come swiftly one after another into Fleda"s mind, and were decided upon in as quick succession.
First, that she must go the day after to-morrow at all events; second, that it should not be with Mr. Olmney; third, that to prevent that, she must not see him in the meantime ? and, therefore ? yes, no help for it ? must refuse to see any one that called the next day; there was to be a party in the evening, so then she would be safe. No doubt Mr. Carleton would come, to give her a more particular account of what he had done, and she wished unspeakably to hear it; but it was not possible that she should make an exception in his favour and admit him alone. That could not be. If friends would only be simple, and straightforward, and kind, one could afford to be straightforward too; but as it was, she must not do what she longed to do, and they would be sure to misunderstand.
There was, indeed, the morning of the day following left her, if Mr. Olmney did not take it into his head to stay. And it might issue in her not seeing Mr. Carleton at all, to bid good-bye and thank him? He would not think her ungrateful, he knew better than that, but still ? Well! so much for kindness!
"What _are_ you looking so grave about? said Constance.
"Considering ways and means," Fleda said, with a slight smile.
"Ways and means of what?"
"Going."
"You don"t mean to go the day after to-morrow?"
"Yes."
"It"s too absurd for anything! You sha"n"t do it."
"I must, indeed."
"Mamma," said Constance, "if you permit such a thing, I shall hope that memory will be a fingerboard of remorse to you,"
pointing to Miss Ringgan"s pale cheeks.
"I shall charge it entirely upon Miss Ringgan"s own fingerboard," said Mrs. Evelyn, with her complacently amused face. "Fleda, my dear, shall I request Mr. Olmney to delay his journey for a day or two, my love, till you are stronger?"
"Not at all, Mrs. Evelyn! I shall go then; ? if I am not ready in the morning, I will take Mrs. Renney in the afternoon ? I would quite as lief go with her."
"Then I will make Mr. Olmney keep to his first purpose," said Mrs. Evelyn.
Poor Fleda, though with a very sorrowful heart, kept her resolutions, and for very forlornness and weariness, slept away a great part of the next day. Neither would she appear in the evening, for fear of more people than one. It was impossible to tell whether Mrs. Evelyn"s love of mischief would not bring Mr. Olmney there, and the Thorns, she knew, were invited. Mr. Lewis would probably absent himself, but Fleda could not endure even the chance of seeing his mother.
She wanted to know, but dared not ask, whether Mr. Carleton had been to see her. What if to-morrow morning should pa.s.s without her seeing him? Fleda pondered this uncertainty a little, and then jumped out of bed, and wrote him the heartiest little note of thanks and remembrance that tears would let her write; sealed it, and carried it herself to the nearest branch of the despatch post the first thing next morning.
She took a long look that same morning at the little vinaigrette, which still lay on the centre-table, wishing very much to take it up stairs and pack it away among her things.
It was meant for her, she knew, and she wanted it as a very pleasant relic from the kind hands that had given it; and besides, he might think it odd, if she should slight his intention. But how odd it would seem to him if he knew that the Evelyns had half appropriated it. And appropriate it anew, in another direction, she could not. She could not, without their knowledge, and they would put their own absurd construction on what was a simple matter of kindness; she could not brave it.
The morning ? a long one it was ? had pa.s.sed away; Fleda had just finished packing her trunk, and was sitting with a faint- hearted feeling of body and mind, trying to rest before being called to her early dinner, when Florence came to tell her it was ready.
"Mr. Carleton was here a while ago," she said, "and he asked for you; but mamma said you were busy; she knew you had enough to tire you without coming down stairs to see him. He asked when you thought of going."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him, "Oh, you were not gone yet!" ? it"s such a plague to be bidding people good-bye ? _I_ always want to get rid of it. Was I right?"
Fleda said nothing, but in her heart she wondered what possible concern it could be of her friends if Mr. Carleton wanted to see her before she went away. She felt it was unkind ? they did not know how unkind, for they did not understand that he was a very particular friend, and an old friend ? they could not tell what reason there was for her wishing to bid him good-bye. She thought she should have liked to do it, very much.
CHAPTER XX.
"Methought I was ? there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had ? But man is but a patched fool, if he will offer to say what methought I had."
MIDSUMMER NIGHT"S DREAM.
Mrs. Evelyn drove down to the boat with Fleda, and did not leave her till she was safely put in charge of Mrs. Renney.
Fleda immediately retreated to the. innermost depths of the ladies" cabin, hoping to find some rest for the body at least, if not forgetfulness for the mind.
The latter was not to be. Mrs. Renney was exceeding glad to see her, and bent upon knowing what had become of her since those days when they used to know each other.