Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

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 had 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 Douglass-our farmer," Fleda said in explanation" I want to ask how they are at home."

In answer to her nod of recognition, Mr Douglass 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 Douglass," said Fleda. all at home?"

"How are they

"Well, there ain't 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 Douglass. How is Hugh?"

"He ain't 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—about when you went away-but he's been better sen. So they say. I ha'n't seen him.-Well, Flidda," he added, with somewhat of a sly gleam in his eye-" do you think you're going to make up your mind to stay to hum this time?"

"I have no immediate intention of running away, Mr Douglass," said Fleda, her pale cheeks turning rose as she saw him looking curiously up and down the edges of the black fox. His eye came back to hers with a good-humoured intelligence that she could hardly stand.

"It's time you was back," said he.

"Your uncle's to hum -but he don't do me much good, whatever he does to other folks-nor himself nother, as far as the farm goes; there's that

corn

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"Very well, Mr Douglass," said Fleda, "I shall be at home now, and I'll see about it."

"Very good!" said Earl, as he stepped back-"Queechy can't get along without you, that's no mistake."

They drove on a few minutes in silence.

"Aren't you thinking, Mr Carleton," said Fleda, "that my countrymen are a strange mixture?"

"I was not thinking of them at all at this moment. I believe such a notion has crossed my mind.”

"It has crossed mine very often," said Fleda.

"How do you read them? what is the basis of it?"

"I think the strong self-respect which springs from the security and importance that republican institutions give every man. But," she added, colouring, "I have seen very little of the world, and ought not to judge."

"I have no doubt you are quite right," said Mr Carleton, smiling. "But don't you think an equal degree of self-respect may consist with giving honour where honour is due?"

"Yes," said Fleda, a little doubtfully-" where religion and not republicanism is the spring of it."

66

Humility and not pride," said he.

They

"Yes-you are right." "My countrymen do yield honour where they think it is due," said Fleda, "especially where it is not claimed. must give it to reality-not to pretension. And, I confess, I would rather them see them a little rude in their independence than cringing before mere advantages of external positioneven for my own personal pleasure."

"I agree with you, Elfie-putting, perhaps, the last clause out of the question."

[ocr errors]

Now, that man," said Fleda, smiling at his look—“I suppose his address must have struck you as very strange, and yet there was no want of respect under it. I am sure he has a true thorough respect, and even regard for me, and would prove it on any occasion."

"I have no doubt of that."

"But it does not satisfy you?"

"Not quite. I confess I should require more from any one under my control."

"Oh, nobody is under control here," said Fleda.

"That is,

I mean, individual control, unless so far as self-interest comes in. I suppose that is all-powerful here as elsewhere."

"And the reason it gives less power to individuals is, that the greater freedom of resources makes no man's interest depend so absolutely on one other man. That is a reason you cannot regret. No-your countrymen have the best of it, Elfie. But do you suppose that this is a fair sample of the whole country?"

"I dare not say that," said Fleda. "I am afraid there is not so much intelligence and cultivation everywhere. But I am sure there are many parts of the land that will bear a fair comparison with it."

"It is more than I would dare say for my own land." -Fleda suddenly stopped.

"I should think"

"What?" said Mr Carleton, gently.

"I beg your pardon, sir-I was going to say something very presumptuous."

"You cannot," he said, in the same tone.

"I was going to say," said Fleda, blushing, "that I should think there might be a great deal of pleasure in raising the tone of mind and character among the people-as one could who had influence over a large neighbourhood."

His smile was very bright in answer.

"I have been trying that, Elfie, for the last eight years." Fleda's eye looked now eagerly in pleasure and in curiosity for more. But he was silent.

"I was thinking, a little while ago," he said, "of the time, once before, when I rode here with you. - when you were beginning to lead me to the problem I have been trying to work out ever since. When I left you in Paris, I went to resolve with myself the question, What I had to do in the world? Your little Bible was my invaluable help, I had read very little of it when I threw aside all other books; and my problem was soon solved. I saw that the life has no honour nor value which is not spent to the glory of God. I saw the end I was made for-the happiness I was fitted for-the dignity to which even a fallen creature may rise, through his dear Redeemer and Surety."

Fleda's eyes were down now. Mr Carleton was silent a moment, watching one or two bright witnesses that fell from them. "The next conclusion was easy-that my work was at home

-I have wanted my good fairy," Mr Carleton went on, smiling. "But I hope she will be contented to carry the standard of Christianity, without that of republicanism."

"But Christianity tends directly to republicanism, Mr Carleton," said Fleda, trying to laugh.

"I know that," said he, smiling-" and I am willing to know it. But the leaven of truth is one thing, and the powder train of the innovator is another."

Fleda sat thinking that she had very little in common with the layers of powder trains. She did not know the sleigh was passing Deepwater Lake, till Mr Carleton said

"I am glad, my dear Elfie, for your sake, that we are almost at the end of your journey."

"I should think you might be glad for your own sake, Mr Carleton."

"No-my journey is not ended”.

"Not?"

“No—it will not be ended till I get back to New York, or rather till I find myself here again-I shall make very little delay there"

"But you will not go any further to-night?" said Fleda, her eye this time meeting his fully.

"Yes I must take the first train to New York. I have some reason to expect my mother by this steamer."

"Back to New York!" said Fleda. "Then taking care of me has just hindered you in your business."

But even as she spoke she read the truth in his eye, and her own fell in confusion.

66

My business?" said he, smiling;-"you know it now, Elfie. I arrived at Mrs Evelyn's just after you had quitted it, intending to ask you to take the long-talked-of drive; and learned to my astonishment that you had left the city, and as Edith kindly informed me, under no better guardianship than that in which I found you. I was just in time to reach the boat."

"And you were in the boat night before last?”

"Certainly."

"I should have felt a great deal easier if I had known that," said Fleda.

"So should I," said he, "but you were invisible, till I discerned you in the midst of a crowd of people before me in the car."

Fleda was silent till the sleigh stopped and Mr Carleton had handed her out.

"What's going to be done with this here trunk?" said their driver, trying a tug at one handle.

"I will send somebody down to help you with it," said Fleda. "It is too heavy for one alone."

"Well, I reckon it is," said he. "I guess you didn't know I was a cousin, did you?"

"No," said Fleda.

66 I believe I be."

"Who are you?"

"I am Pierson Barnes. I live to Quarrenton for a year back. Squire Joshua Springer's your uncle, ain't he?” "Yes, my father's uncle."

"Well, he's mine too. His sister's my mother."

"I'll send somebody to help you, Mr Barnes."

She took Mr Carleton's arm and walked half the way up to the house without daring to look at him.

"Another specimen of your countrymen," he said, smiling. There was nothing but quiet amusement in the tone, and there was not the shadow of anything else in his face. Fleda looked, and thanked him mentally, and drew breath easier. At the house-door he made a pause.

"You are coming in, Mr Carleton ?"

"Not now."

"It is a long drive to Greenfield, Mr Carleton ;-you must not turn away from a country-house till we have shewn ourselves unworthy to live in it. You will come in and let us give you something more substantial than those Quarrenton oysters. Do not say no," she said earnestly, as she saw a refusal in his eye-"I know what you are thinking of, but they do not know that you have been told anything-it makes no difference."

She laid her gentle detaining hand, as irresistible in its way as most things, upon his arm, and he followed her in.

Only Hugh was in the sitting-room, and he was in a great easy-chair by the fire. It struck to Fleda's heart; but there was no time but for a flash of thought. He had turned his face and saw her. Fleda meant to have controlled herself and presented Mr Carleton properly, but Hugh started up, he saw but herself, and one view of the ethereal delicacy of his face

« ПредишнаНапред »