So he did, and made himself agreeable that evening to every one of the circle; though Fleda's sole reason for liking to see him come in had been, that she was glad of everything that served to keep Charlton's attention from home subjects. She saw sometimes the threatening of a cloud that troubled her.
But the Evelyns and Thorn, and everybody else whom they knew, left the Pool at last, before Charlton, who was sufficiently well again, had near run out his furlough; and then the cloud, which had only showed itself by turns during all those weeks, gathered and settled determinately upon his brow.
He had long ago supplied the want of a newspaper. One evening in September, the family were sitting in the room where they had had tea, for the benefit of the fire, when Barby pushed open the kitchen door and came in.
"Fleda, will you let me have one of the last papers? I've a notion to look at it."
Fleda rose and went to rummaging in the cupboards.
"You can have it again in a little while," said Barby, considerately.
The paper was found, and Miss Elster went out with it.
"What an unendurable piece of ill-manners that woman is!" said
Charlton.
"She has no idea of being ill-mannered, I assure you," said
Fleda,.
His voice was like a brewing storm hers was so clear and soft that it made a lull in spite of him. But he began again.