It seemed very long to wait, for no summons came till afternoon,
then her uncle arrived, and at the first sight of his face Rose began
to tremble.
“I came for my little girl myself, because we must go back at
once,” he said as she hurried toward him hat in hand.
“I’m ready, sir.” But her hands shook as she tried to tie the ribbons,
and her eyes never left the face that was full of tender pity for her.
He took her quickly into the carriage and, as they rolled away, said
with the quiet directness which soothes such agitation better than
any sympathetic demonstration: “Charlie is worse. I feared it when
the pain went so suddenly this morning, but the chief injuries are
internal and one can never tell what the chances are. He insists that
he is better, but he will soon begin to fail, I fear, become
unconscious, and slip away without more suffering. This is the
time for you to see him, for he has set his heart on it, and nothing
can hurt him now. My child, it is very hard, but we must help each
other bear it.?
Rose tried to say, “Yes, Uncle” bravely, but the words would not
come, and she could only slip her hand into his with a look of
mute submission. He laid her head on his shoulder and went on
talking so quietly that anyone who did not see how worn and
haggard his face had grown with two days and a night of sharp
anxiety might have thought him cold.
“Jessie has gone home to rest, and Jane is with poor Clara, who
has dropped asleep at last. I’ve sent for Steve and the other boys.
There will be time for them later, but he so begged to see you now,
I thought it best to come while this temporary strength keeps him
up. I have told him how it is, but he will not believe me. If he asks
you, answer honestly and try to fit him a little for this sudden
ending of so many hopes.?
“How soon, Uncle??
“A few hours, probably. This tranquil moment is yours make the
most of it and, when we can do no more for him, we’ll comfort one
another.?
Mac met them in the hall, but Rose hardly saw him. She was
conscious only of the task before her and, when her uncle led her
to the door, she said quietly, “Let me go in alone, please.?
Archie, who had been hanging over the bed, slipped away into the
inner room as she appeared, and Rose found Charlie waiting for
her with such a happy face, she could not believe what she had
heard and found it easy to say almost cheerfully as she took his
eager hand in both of hers: “Dear Charlie, I’m so glad you sent for
me. I longed to come, but waited till you were better. You surely
are?” she added, as a second glance showed to her the
indescribable change which had come upon the face which at first
seemed to have both light and color in it.
“Uncle says not, but I think he is mistaken, because the agony is all
gone, and except for this odd sinking now and then, I don’t feel so
much amiss,” he answered feebly but with something of the old
lightness in his voice.
“You will hardly be able to sail in the Rajah, I fear, but you won’t
mind waiting a little while we nurse you,” said poor Rose, trying to
talk on quietly, with her heart growing heavier every minute.
“I shall go if I’m carried! I’ll keep that promise, though it costs me
my life. Oh, Rose! You know? They’ve told you?” And, with a
sudden memory of what brought him there, he hid his face in the
pillow.
“You broke no promise, for I would not let you make one, you
remember. Forget all that, and let us talk about the better time that
may be coming for you.?
“Always so generous, so kind!” he murmured, with her hand
against his feverish cheek; then, looking up, he went on in a tone