“Where is your cousin to be found?”
“I don’t know where he lodges when he
is in town.”
“You did not leave him at Mrs. Decatur’s.
Do you know where he is this evening?”
“Yes!” said Fleda, wondering that she
should have heard and remembered,—“he
said he was going to meet a party of his brother officers
at Mme. Fouche’s—a sister-in-law
of his Colonel, I believe.”
“I know her. This note—was it
the name of the young Mr. Thorn, or of his father
that was used?”
“Of his father!—”
“Has he appeared at all in this business?”
“No,” said Fleda, feeling for the first
time that there was something notable about it.
“What sort of person do you take him to be?”
“Very kind—very pleasant, always,
he has been to me, and I should think to everybody,—very
unlike the son”
Mr. Carleton had ordered the coachman back to Mrs.
Evelyn’s.
“Do you know the amount of the note? It
may be desirable that I should not appear uninformed.”
“It was for four thousand dollars” Fleda
said in the low voice of shame.
“And when given?”
“I don’t know exactly—but six
years ago—some time in the winter of ’43,
it must have been.”
He said no more till the carriage stopped; and then
before handing her out of it, lifted her hand to his
lips. That carried all the promise Fleda wanted
from him. How oddly, how curiously, her hand kept
the feeling of that kiss upon it all night.
Heat not a furnace for your friend so
hot
That it may singe yourself.
Shakspeare.
Mr. Carleton went to Mme. Fouche’s, who
received most graciously, as any lady would, his apology
for introducing himself unlooked-for, and begged that
he would commit the same fault often. As soon
as practicable he made his way to Charlton, and invited
him to breakfast with him the next morning.
Mrs. Carleton always said it never was known that
Guy was refused anything he had a mind to ask.
Charlton, though taken by surprise, and certainly
not too much prepossessed in his favour, was won by
an influence that where its owner chose to exert it
was generally found irresistible; and not only accepted
the invitation, but was conscious to himself of doing
it with a good deal of pleasure. Even when Mr.
Carleton made the further request that Capt.
Rossitur would in the mean time see no one on business,
of any kind, intimating that the reason would then
be given, Charlton though startling a little at this
restraint upon his freedom of motion could do no other
than give the desired promise, and with the utmost
readiness.
Guy then went to Mr. Thorn’s.—It
was by this time not early.
“Mr. Lewis Thorn—is he at home?”
“He is, sir,” said the servant admitting
him rather hesitatingly.
