"Dare I ask you to go with me to-morrow?"
"I don't know," said Fleda with the old childish sparkle of her eye,--"but if you ask me, sir, I will go."
He sat down beside her immediately, and Fleda knew by his change of eye that her former thought had been right.
"Shall I see you at Mrs. Decatur's to-morrow?"
"No, sir."
"I thought I understood," said he in an explanatory tone, "from your friends the Miss Evelyns, that they were going."
"I believe they are, and I did think of it; but I have changed my mind, and shall stay at home with Mrs. Evelyn."
After some further conversation the hour for the drive was appointed, and Mr. Carleton took leave.
"Come for me twice and Mrs. Evelyn refused without consulting me!" thought Fleda. "What could make her do so?--How very rude he must have thought me! And how glad I am I have had an opportunity of setting that right."
So quitting Mrs. Evelyn her thoughts went off upon a long train of wandering over the afternoon's talk.