There was a change of tone, and of eye, as Fleda sealed each thank with a kiss.
"But how is it?--does all the charge of the house come upon you, dear?"
"O, this kind of thing, because aunt Lucy doesn't understand it and can't get along with it so well. She likes better to sew, and I had quite as lief do this."
"And don't you sew too?"
"O--a little. She does as much as she can," said Fleda gravely.
"Where is your other cousin?" said Mrs. Plumfield abruptly.
"Marion?--she is in England I believe;--we don't hear from her very often."
"No, no, I mean the one who is in the army?"
"Charlton!--O he is just ordered off to Mexico," said Fleda sadly, "and that is another great trouble to aunt Lucy. This miserable war!--"
"Does he never come home?"