Queechy Volume Ii Part 73

"It is more than I would dare say for my own land."

"I should think" ? Fleda suddenly stopped.

"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 G.o.d. 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 pa.s.sing 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.

"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 ere 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 heir 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.

"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, aint 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 amus.e.m.e.nt 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 shown 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."