Old Quince, greatly to cousin Monica's amusement, persisted in furnishing me with those capacious pockets which belonged to a former generation. I was glad of this old-world eccentricity now, and placed my guilty letter, that, amidst all my hypocrisies, spoke out with terrible frankness, deep in this receptacle, and having hid away the pen and ink, my accomplices, I opened the door, and resumed my careless looks, awaiting Madame's return.
'I was to demand to Mr. Ruthyn the permission to go to Feltram, and I think he will allow. He want to speak to you.'
With Madame I entered my uncle's room. He was reclining on a sofa, his back towards us, and his long white hair, as fine as spun glass, hung over the back of the couch.
'I was going to ask you, dear Maud, to execute two or three little commissions for me in Feltram.'
My dreadful letter felt lighter in my pocket, and my heart beat violently.
'But I have just recollected that this is a market-day, and Feltram will be full of doubtful characters and tipsy persons, so we must wait till to-morrow; and Madame says, very kindly, that she will, as she does not so much mind, make any little purchases to-day which cannot conveniently wait.'
Madame assented with a courtesy to Uncle Silas, and a great hollow smile to me.
By this time Uncle Silas had raised himself from his reclining posture, and was sitting, gaunt and white, upon the sofa.
'News of my prodigal to-day,' he said, with a peevish smile, drawing the newspaper towards him. 'The vessel has been spoken again. How many miles away, do you suppose?'
He spoke in a plaintive key, looking at me, with hungry eyes, and a horribly smiling countenance.