As the first confusion of thought cleared away, two images of distress loomed up and filled the view her aunt, broken under the news, and Hugh still unknowing to them; her own separate existence Fleda was hardly conscious of. Hugh especially how was he to be told, and how could he bear to hear, with his most sensitive conformation of both physical and moral nature? And if an arrest should take place there that night! Fleda shuddered, and, unable to go on thinking, rose up and went to her aunt's bedside. It had not entered her mind till the moment she read Mr. Thorn's letter that Seth Plumfield was sheriff for the county. She was shaking again from head to foot with fear. She could not say anything the touch of her lips to the throbbing temples, soft and tender as sympathy itself, was all she ventured.
"Have you heard anything of him?" Mrs. Rossitur whispered.
"No I doubt if we do at all to-night."
There was a half breathed "Oh!" of indescribable pain and longing; and with a restless change of position Mrs. Rossitur gathered herself up on the bed and sat with her head leaning on her knees. Fleda brought a large cloak and put it round her.
"I am in no danger," she said "I wish I were!"
Again Fleda's lips softly, tremblingly touched her cheek.
Mrs. Rossitur put her arm round her and drew her down to her side, upon the bed, and wrapped half of the big cloak about her; and they sat there still in each other's arms, without speaking or weeping, while quarter after quarter of an hour passed away nobody knew how many. And the cold bright moonlight streamed in on the floor, mocking them.
"Go!" whispered Mrs. Rossitur, at last "go down stairs, and take care of yourself and Hugh."
"Wont you come?"
Mrs. Rossitur shook her head.