looking as if he had left his care behind him, for his moods varied
like the wind. Her attitude, as she stood motionless and alone with
downcast face, was so unlike the cheerful creature who came to
meet him an hour ago, it filled him with self-reproach, and,
coming up, he drew one hand through his arm, saying, as she
involuntarily followed him, “You must not stand still. Forget my
heroics and answer my question. Will you go with us, Rose??
“Not now that is asking too much, Charlie, and I will promise
nothing, because I cannot do it honestly,” she answered, so firmly
that he knew appeal was useless.
“Am I to go alone, then, leaving all I care for behind me??
“No, take your mother with you, and do your best to reunite your
parents. You could not give yourself to a better task.?
“She won’t go without you.?
“I think she will if you hold fast to your resolution. You won’t give
that up, I hope??
“No I must go somewhere, for I can’t stay here, and it may as well
be India, since that pleases Father,” answered Charlie doggedly.
“It will more than you can imagine. Tell him all the truth, and see
how glad he will be to help you, and how sincerely he will respect
you for what you’ve done.?
“If you respect me, I don’t care much about the opinion of anyone
else,” answered Charlie, clinging with a lover’s pertinacity to the
hope that was dearest.
“I shall, if you go manfully away and do the duty you owe your
father and yourself.?
“And when I’ve done it, may I come back to be rewarded, Rose?”
he asked, taking possession of the hand on his arm as if it was
already his.
“I wish I could say what you want me to. But how can I promise
when I am not sure of anything? I don’t love you as I ought, and
perhaps I never shall so why persist in making me bind myself in
this way? Be generous, Charlie, and don’t ask it,” implored Rose,
much afflicted by his persistence.
“I thought you did love me it looked very like it a month ago,
unless you have turned coquette, and I can’t quite believe that,” he
answered bitterly.
“I was beginning to love you, but you made me afraid to go on,”
murmured Rose, trying to tell the truth kindly.
“That cursed custom! What can a man do when his hostess asks
him to drink wine with her?” And Charlie looked as if he could
have cursed himself even more heartily.
“He can say ‘no.’ ?
“I can’t.?
“Ah, that’s the trouble! You never learned to say it even to
yourself, and now it is so hard, you want me to help you.?
“And you won’t.?
“Yes, I will, by showing you that I can say it to myself, for your
sake.” And Rose looked up with a face so full of tender sorrow he
could not doubt the words which both reproached and comforted
him.
“My little saint! I don’t deserve one half your goodness to me, but I
will, and go away without one complaint to do my best, for your
sake,” he cried, touched by her grief and stirred to emulation by
the example of courage and integrity she tried to set him.
Here Kitty and Steve bore down upon them; and, obeying the
impulse to put care behind them, which makes it possible for
young hearts to ache one minute and dance the next, Rose and
Charlie banished their troubles, joined in the sport that soon turned
the lonely little bay into a ballroom, and enjoyed the splendors of a
winter sunset forgetful of separation and Calcutta.
Chapter 15 ALAS FOR CHARLIE!
In spite of much internal rebellion, Charlie held fast to his
resolution, and Aunt Clara, finding all persuasions vain, gave in
and in a state of chronic indignation against the world in general
and Rose in particular, prepared to accompany him. The poor girl
had a hard time of it and, but for her uncle, would have fared still
worse. He was a sort of shield upon which Mrs. Clara’s