Queechy Volume I Part 79

"He is killing himself!" said Fleda, letting her work fall, and hardly speaking the words through thick tears. Her head was down, and they came fast. Charlton stood abashed for a minute.

"You sha'n't do so, Fleda," said he gently, endeavouring to raise her ? "you have tired yourself with this miserable work!

Come to the window ? you have got low-spirited, but, I am sure, without reason about Hugh ? but you shall set me about what you will; you are right, I dare say, and I am wrong; but don't make me think myself a brute, and I will do anything you please."

He had raised her up, and made her lean upon him. Fleda wiped her eyes and tried to smile.

"I will do anything that will please you, Fleda."

"It is not to please _me_," she answered, meekly.

"I would not have spoken a word last night if I had known it would have grieved you so."

"I am sorry you should have none but so poor a reason for doing right," said Fleda, gently.

"Upon my word, I think you are about as good reason as anybody need have," said Charlton.

She put her hand upon his arm, and looked up ? such a look of pure rebuke, as carried to his mind the full force of the words she did not speak, ? "Who art thou that carest for a worm which shall die, and forgettest the Lord thy Maker!"

Charlton's eyes fell. Fleda turned gently away, and began to mend the fire. He stood watching her for a little.

"What do you think of me, Fleda?" he said at length.

"A little wrong-headed," answered Fleda, giving him a glance and a smile. "I don't think you are very bad."

"If you will go with me, Fleda, you shall make what you please of me."

He spoke half in jest, half in earnest, and did not himself know at the moment which way he wished Fleda to take it. But she had no notion of any depth in his words.

"A hopeless task!" she answered, lightly, shaking her head, as she got down on her knees to blow the fire; ? "I am afraid it is too much for me. I have been trying to mend you ever since you came, and I cannot see the slightest change for the better."

"Where is the bellows?" said Charlton, in another tone.

"It has expired ? its last breath," said Fleda. "In other words, it has lost its nose."

"Well, look here," said he, laughing and pulling her away ?

"you will stand a fair chance of losing your face if you put it in the fire. You sha'n't do it. Come and show me where to find the scattered parts of that old wind instrument, and I will see if it cannot be persuaded to play again."

CHAPTER XXV.

"I dinna ken what I should want If I could get but a man."

SCOTCH BALLAD.

Captain Rossitur did no work at the saw-mill. But Fleda's words had not fallen to the ground. He began to show care for his fellow-creatures in getting the bellows mended; his next step was to look to his gun; and from that time, so long as he stayed, the table was plentifully supplied with all kinds of game the season and the country could furnish. Wild ducks and partridges banished pork and bacon even from memory; and Fleda joyfully declared she would not see another omelette again till she was in distress.

While Charlton was still at home came a very urgent invitation from Mrs. Evelyn, that Fleda should pay them a long visit in New York, bidding her care for no want of preparation, but come and make it there. Fleda demurred, however, on that very score. But before her answer was written another missive came from Dr. Gregory, not asking so much as demanding her presence, and enclosing a fifty dollar bill, for which he said he would hold her responsible till she had paid him with, not her own hands, but her own lips. There was no withstanding the manner of this entreaty. Fleda packed up some of Mrs.

Rossitur's laid-by silks, to be refreshed with an air of fas.h.i.+on, and set off with Charlton at the end of his furlough.

To her simple spirit of enjoyment the weeks ran fast; and all manner of novelties and kindnesses helped them on. It was a time of cloudless pleasure. But those she had left thought it long. She wrote them how delightfully she kept house for the old doctor, whose wife had long been dead, and how joyously she and the Evelyns made time fly And every pleasure she felt awoke almost as strong a throb in the hearts at home. But they missed her, as Barby said, "dreadfully;" and she was most dearly welcomed when she came back. It was just before New Year.

For half an hour there was most gladsome use of eyes and tongues. Fleda had a great deal to tell them.

"How well ? how well you are looking, dear Fleda!" said her aunt, for the third or fourth time.

"That's more than I can say for you and Hugh, aunt Lucy. What have you been doing to yourselves?"

"Nothing new," they said, as her eye went from one to the other.

"I guess you have wanted me!" said Fleda, shaking her head, as she kissed them both again.

"I guess we have," said Hugh, "but don't fancy we have grown thin upon the want."

"But where's uncle Rolf? you didn't tell me."

"He is gone to look after those lands in Michigan."

"In Michigan! ? When did he go?"

"Very soon after you."

"And you didn't let me know! ? Oh, why didn't you? How lonely you must have been!"

"Let you know, indeed!" said Mrs. Rossitur, wrapping her in her arms again; ? "Hugh and I counted every week that you stayed, with more pleasure each one."

"I understand!" said Fleda, laughing under her aunt's kisses.

"Well, I am glad I am at home again to take care of you. I see you can't get along without me."

"People have been very kind, Fleda," said Hugh.

"Have they?"

"Yes ? thinking we were desolate, I suppose. There has been no end to aunt Miriam's goodness and pleasantness."

"Oh, aunt Miriam, always!" said Fleda. "And Seth."

"Catherine Dougla.s.s has been up twice to ask if her mother could do anything for us; and Mrs. Dougla.s.s sent us once a rabbit, and once a quant.i.ty of wild pigeons that Earl had shot. Mother and I lived upon pigeons for I don't know how long. Barby wouldn't eat 'em ? she said she liked pork better; but I believe she did it on purpose."

"Like enough," said Fleda, smiling, from her aunt's arms where she still lay.

"And Seth has sent you plenty of your favourite hickory nuts, very fine ones; and I gathered b.u.t.ternuts enough for you near home."

"Everything is for me," said Fleda. "Well, the first thing I do shall be to make some b.u.t.ternut candy for _you_. You wont despise that Mr. Hugh?"

Hugh smiled at her, and went on.