"I should think you might be glad for your own sake, Mr. Carleton."
"No--my journey is not ended--"
"Not?"
"No--it will not be ended till I get back to New York, or rather till I find myself here again--I shall make very little delay there--"
"But you will not go any further to-night?" said Fleda, her eye this time meeting his fully.
"Yes--I must take the first train to New York. I have some reason to expect my mother by this steamer."
"Back to New York!" said Fleda. "Then taking care of me has just hindered you in your business."
But even as she spoke she read the truth in his eye and her own fell in confusion.
"My business?" said he smiling;--"you know it now, Elfie. I arrived at Mrs. Evelyn's just after you had quitted it, intending to ask you to take the long talked of drive; and learned to my astonishment that you had left the city, and as Edith kindly informed me, under no better guardianship than that in which I found you. I was just in time to reach the boat."
"And you were in the boat night before last?"