One day, some months after they had been in Paris, they were sitting in the Place de la Concorde. Mr. Carleton was in one of these thinking fits. He had been giving Fleda a long detail of the scenes that had taken place in that spot; a history of it from the time when it had lain an unsightly waste, such a graphic lively account as he knew well how to give. The absorbed interest with which she had lost everything else in what he was saying, had given him at once reward and motive enough as he went on. Standing by his side, with one little hand confidingly resting on his knee, she gazed alternately into his face and towards the broad highly-adorned square by the side of which they had placed themselves, and where it was hard to realize that the ground had once been soaked in blood, while madness and death filled the air; and her changing face, like a mirror, gave him back the reflection of the times he held up to her view. And still standing there in the same attitude after he had done, she had been looking out towards the square in a fit of deep meditation. Mr. Carleton had forgotten her for a while in his own thoughts, and then the sight of the little gloved hand upon his knee brought him back again.
"What are you musing about, Elfie, dear?" he said, cheerfully, taking the hand in one of his.
Fleda gave a swift glance into his face, as if to see whether it would be safe for her to answer his question, a kind of exploring look, in which her eyes often acted as scouts for her tongue. Those she met pledged their faith for her security; yet Fleda's look went back to the square and then again to his face in silence.
"How do you like living in Paris?" said he. "You should know by this time."
"I like it very much indeed," said Fleda.
"I thought you would."
"I like Queechy better, though," she went on, gravely, her eyes turning again to the square.
"Like Queechy better! Were you thinking of Queechy just now when I spoke to you?"
"O no!" with a smile.
"Were you going over all those horrors I have been distressing you with?"