else, so the doctor felt no alarm but always went and prescribed
some harmless remedy with the most amiable sobriety and
patience.
Rose was tired but not sleepy and wanted to think over several
things, so instead of going to bed she sat down before the open fire
in the study to wait for her uncle and perhaps Charlie, though she
did not expect him so late.
Aunt Myra’s palpitations must have been unusually severe, for the
clock struck twelve before Dr. Alec came, and Rose was preparing
to end her reverie when the sound of someone fumbling at the hall
door made her jump up, saying to herself: “Poor man! His hands
are so cold he can’t get his latchkey in. Is that you, Uncle?” she
added, running to admit him, for Jane was slow and the night as
bitter as it was brilliant.
A voice answered, “Yes.” And as the door swung open, in walked,
not Dr. Alec, but Charlie, who immediately took one of the hall
chairs and sat there with his hat on, rubbing his gloveless hands
and blinking as if the light dazzled him, as he said in a rapid,
abrupt sort of tone, “I told you I’d come left the fellows keeping it
up gloriously going to see the old year out, you know. But I
promised never break my word and here I am. Angel in blue, did
you slay your thousands??
“Hush! The waiters are still about. Come to the study fire and
warm yourself, you must be frozen,” said Rose, going before to roll
up the easy chair.
“Not at all never warmer looks very comfortable, though. Where’s
Uncle?” asked Charlie, following with his hat still on, his hands in
his pockets, and his eye fixed steadily on the bright head in front of
him.
“Aunt Myra sent for him, and I was waiting up to see how she
was,” answered Rose, busily mending the fire.
Charlie laughed and sat down upon a corner of the library table.
“Poor old soul! What a pity she doesn’t die before he is quite worn
out. A little too much ether some of these times would send her off
quite comfortably, you know.?
“Don’t speak in that way. Uncle says imaginary troubles are often
as hard to bear as real ones,” said Rose, turning around displeased.
Till now she had not fairly looked at him, for recollections of the
morning made her a little shy. His attitude and appearance
surprised her as much as his words, and the quick change in her
face seemed to remind him of his manners. Getting up, he hastily
took off his hat and stood looking at her with a curiously fixed yet
absent look as he said in the same rapid, abrupt way, as if, when
once started, he found it hard to stop, “I beg pardon only joking
very bad taste I know, and won’t do it again. The heat of the room
makes me a little dizzy, and I think I got a chill coming out. It is
cold I am frozen, I daresay though I drove like the devil.?
“Not that bad horse of yours, I hope? I know it is dangerous, so late
and alone,” said Rose, shrinking behind the big chair as Charlie
approached the fire, carefully avoiding a footstool in his way.
“Danger is exciting that’s why I like it. No man ever called me a
coward let him try it once. I never give in and that horse shall not
conquer me. I’ll break his neck, if he breaks my spirit doing it. No I
don’t mean that never mind it’s all right,” and Charlie laughed in a
way that troubled her, because there was no mirth in it.
“Have you had a pleasant day?” asked Rose, looking at him
intently as he stood pondering over the cigar and match which he
held, as if doubtful which to strike and which to smoke.
“Day? Oh, yes, capital. About two thousand calls, and a nice little
supper at the Club. Randal can’t sing any more than a crow, but I
left him with a glass of champagne upside down, trying to give
them my old favorite: