"Very kind very pleasant, always, he has been to me, and I should think to everybody very unlike the son."
Mr. Carleton had ordered the coachman back to Mrs. Evelyn's.
"Do you know the amount of the note? It may be desirable that
I should not appear uninformed."
"It was for four thousand dollars," Fleda said, in the low voice of shame.
"And when given?"
"I don't know exactly but six years ago some time in the winter of '43, it must have been."
He said no more till the carriage stopped; and then, before handing her out of it, lifted her hand to his lips. That carried all the promise Fleda wanted, from him. How oddly how curiously, her hand kept the feeling of that kiss upon it all night!
CHAPTER XVIII.
"Heat not a furnace for your friend so hot
That it may singe yourself."
SHAKESPEARE.
Mr. Carleton went to Madame Fouché's, who received most graciously, as any lady would, his apology for introducing himself unlooked-for, and begged that he would commit the same fault often. As soon as practicable, he made his way to Charlton, and invited him to breakfast with him the next morning.