"Come, you shall not say that any more," said he, taking the kiss that Fleda had no mind to give him.
Half laughing, but with eyes that were all too ready for something else, she turned again to Hugh, when his brother had left the room, and looked wistfully in his face, stroking back the hair from his temples with a caressing hand.
"You are just as you were when I left you!" she said, with lips that seemed too unsteady to say more, and remained parted.
"I am afraid so are you," he replied; "not a bit fatter. I hoped you would be."
"What have you been smiling at so this evening?"
"I was thinking how well you talked."
"Why, Hugh! you should have helped me I talked too much."
"I would much rather listen," said Hugh. "Dear Fleda, what a different thing the house is with you in it!"
Fleda said nothing, except an inexplicable little shake of her head, which said a great many things; and then she and her aunt were left alone. Mrs. Rossitur drew her to her bosom, with a look so exceeding fond that its sadness was hardly discernible. It was mingled, however, with an expression of some doubt.
"What has made you keep so thin?"