ooked 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:

"'Tis better to laugh than be sighing,"

and Charlie burst forth in that bacchanalian melody at the top of his
voice, waving an allumette holder over his head to represent Randal's
inverted wineglass.

"Hush! You'll wake Aunty," cried Rose in a tone so commanding that he
broke off in the middle of a roulade to stare at her with a blank look
as he said apologetically, "I was merely showing how it should be done.
Don't be angry, dearest look at me as you did this morning, and I'll
swear never to sing another note if you say so. I'm only a little gay we
drank your health handsomely, and they all congratulated me. Told 'em
it wasn't out yet. Stop, though I didn't mean to mention that. No matter
I'm always in a scrape, but you always forgive me in the sweetest way.
Do it now, and don't be angry, little darling." And, dropping the vase,
he went toward her with a sudden excitement that made