"I am very glad you did!"
She could fain have persuaded the lady to disregard circumstances and stay with her, at least till the next day, but Mrs. Carleton was unpersuadable. She would return immediately to Montepoole.
"And how long shall you be here now?" she said.
"A few days--it will not be more than a week."
"Do you know how soon Mr. Rossitur intends to sail for Jamaica?"
"As soon as possible--he will make his stay in New York very short--not more than a fortnight perhaps,--as short as he can."
"And then, my dear Fleda, I am to have the charge of you--for a little while--am I not?"
Fleda hesitated and began to say, "Thank you," but it was finished with a burst of very hearty tears.
Mrs. Carleton knew immediately the tender spot she had touched. She put her arms about Fleda and caressed her as gently as her own mother might have done.
"Forgive me, dear Fleda!--I forgot that so much that is sad to you must come before what is so much pleasure to me.--Look up and tell me that you forgive me."