"What troubled you in that, Elfie? tell me the whole."
"I was sorry, because,--it wasn't right," said Fleda, with a grave truthfulness which yet lacked none of her universal gentleness and modesty.
"What wasn't right?"
"To speak--I am afraid you won't like me to say it, Mr. Carleton."
"I will, Elfie,--for I ask you."
"To speak to Mrs. Carleton so, and besides,--you know what you said, Mr. Carleton--"
"It was not right," said he after a minute,--"and I very seldom use such an expression, but you know one cannot always be on one's guard, Elfie?"
"But," said Fleda with gentle persistence, "one can always do what is right."
The deuce one can!--thought Mr, Carleton to himself. "Elfie,--was that all that troubled you?--that I had said what was not right?"
"It wasn't quite that only," said Fleda hesitating,--"What else?"