"Well, those are not American fences," said the doctor; "so, I suppose, I am safe enough. Whom did I see you out riding with yesterday?"
"I was with Mrs. Evelyn," said Fleda. "I didn't want to go, but I couldn't very well help myself."
"Mrs. Evelyn! Mrs. Evelyn wasn't driving, was she?"
"I thought so. Have you seen your old friend, Mr. Carleton, yet?"
"Why shouldn't I? What's the difficulty of knowing people? Have you seen him?"
"But how did you know that he was an old friend of mine?"
"Question!" said the doctor. "Hum well, I won't tell you; so there's the answer. Now, will you answer me?"
"Haven't met him, in all the times you have been to Mrs. Evelyn's?"
"No, Sir. I have been there but once in the evening, uncle Orrin. He is just about sailing for England."
"Well, you're going there to-night, aren't you? Run, and bundle yourself up, and I'll take you there before I begin my work."
There was a small party that evening at Mrs. Evelyn's. Fleda was very early. She ran up to the first floor rooms lighted and open, but nobody there.
"Fleda Ringgan," called out the voice of Constance from over the stairs, "is that you?"
"Well, just wait till I come down to you. My darling little Fleda, it's delicious of you to come so early. Now, just tell me, am I captivating?"
"Well, I retain self-possession," said Fleda. "I cannot tell about the strength of head of other people."
"You wretched little creature! Fleda, don't you admire my hair? it's new style, my dear just come out; the Delancys brought it out with them; Eloise Delancy taught it us; isn't it graceful? Nobody in New York has it yet, except the Delancys and we."
"How do you know but they have taught somebody else?" said Fleda.
"I won't talk to you! Don't you like it?"
"I am not sure that I do not like you in your ordinary way better."
Constance made a gesture of impatience, and then pulled Fleda after her into the drawing-rooms.
"Come in here; I wont waste the elegancies of my toilet upon your dull perceptions; come here and let me show you some flowers aren't those lovely? This bunch came to-day, 'for Miss Evelyn', so Florence will have it it is hers, and it's very mean of her, for I am perfectly certain it is mine; it's come from somebody who wasn't enlightened on the subject of my family circle, and has innocently imagined that two Miss Evelyns could not belong to the same one! I know the floral representatives of all Florence's dear friends and admirers, and this isn't from any of them. I have been distractedly endeavouring all day to find who it came from, for if I don't, I can't take the least comfort in it."