Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

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

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