"And suppose some of the people from Montepoole that know me should come by? What are you thinking of?" said he in a tone that certainly justified Fleda's deprecation.
"Well!"--said Fleda in a kind of choked voice,--"there is a strange rule of honour in vogue in the world!"
"Why should I help Hugh rather than anybody else?"
"He is killing himself!--" said Fleda, letting her work fall and hardly speaking the words through thick tears. Her head was down and they came fast. Charlton stood abashed for a minute.
"You sha'n't do so, Fleda," said he gently, endeavouring to raise her,--"you have tired yourself with this miserable work!--Come to the window--you have got low-spirited, but I am sure without reason about Hugh,--but you shall set me about what you will--You are right, I dare say, and I am wrong; but don't make me think myself a brute, and I will do anything you please."
He had raised her up and made her lean upon him. Fleda wiped her eyes and tried to smile.
"I will do anything that will please you, Fleda."
"It is not to please me,--" she answered meekly.
"I would not have spoken a word last night if I had known it would have grieved you so."
"I am sorry you should have none but so poor a reason for doing right," said Fleda gently.