"No we used to borrow one from a kind neighbour once in a while, to make sure, as Mr. Thorn says, that you had not bartered an arm for a shoulder-knot."
"You never looked to see whether I was killed in the meanwhile, I suppose?"
"No never," said Fleda, gravely, as she took her place on a low seat in the corner "I always knew you were safe before I touched the paper."
"What do you mean?"
"I am not an enemy, Charlton," said Fleda, laughing. "I mean that I used to make aunt Miriam look over the accounts before I did."
Charlton walked up and down the room for a little while in sullen silence; and then brought up before Fleda.
"What are you doing?"
Fleda looked up a glance that, as sweetly and brightly as possible, half asked, half bade him be silent and ask no questions.
"What are you doing?" he repeated.
"I am putting a patch on my shoe."