"Will you permit me to say to Mrs. Evelyn," he said, in a low tone, "that you left a piece of your property in her house, and have commissioned me to bring it you?"
"Yes," said Fleda, hesitating, and looking a little confused; "but will you let me write a note instead, Mr. Carleton?"
"Certainly! but what are you thinking of, Elfie? what grave doubt is lying under your brow?"
All Fleda's shadows rolled away before that clear, bright eye.
"I have found by experience," she said, smiling a little, but looking down, "that whenever I tell my secret thoughts to anybody, I have some reason afterwards to be sorry for it."
"You shall make me an exception to your rule, however, Elfie."
Fleda looked up, one of her looks, half questioning, half fearing, and then answered, a little hesitating
"I was afraid, Sir, that if you went to Mrs. Evelyn's on that errand I was afraid you would show them you were displeased."
"And what then?" said he, quietly.
"Only that I wanted to spare them what always gives me a cold chill."