It must have taken very little time for these thoughts to run through her head, for half a minute had not flown when the vacant seat beside her was occupied and a hand softly touched one of hers which lay in her lap. Fleda started up in terror,--to have the hand taken and her eye met by Mr. Carleton.
"Mr. Carleton!--O sir, how glad I am to see you!"--was said by eye and cheek as unmistakably as by word.
"Have you come from the clouds?"
"I might rather ask that question of you," said he smiling.
"You have been invisible ever since the night when I had the honour of playing the part of your physician."
"I could not help it, sir,--I was sure you would believe it. I wanted exceedingly to see you and to thank you--as well as I could--but I was obliged to leave it--"
She could hardly say so much. Her swimming eye gave him more thanks than he wanted. But she scolded herself vigorously and after a few minutes was able to look and speak again.
"I hoped you would not think me ungrateful, sir, but in case you might, I wrote to let you know that you were mistaken."
"You wrote to me!" said he.
"Yes, sir--yesterday morning--at least it was put in the post yesterday morning."