hat is just the way one ought to feel on such a day as this. Now let
us be off and have a good spin before anyone comes. There are only a few
children there now, but it is Saturday, you know, and everybody will be
out before long," answered Rose, carefully putting on her mittens as she
talked, for her heart was not as light as the one little Rose carried
under the brown jacket, and the boy of sixteen never looked at her with
the love and longing she read in the eyes of the young man before her.

Away they went, and were soon almost as merry and warm as the children
around them, for the ice was in good condition, the February sunshine
brilliant, and the keen wind set their blood a-tingle with a healthful
glow.

"Now tell me the plan your mother spoke of," began Rose as they went
gliding across the wide expanse before them, for Charlie seemed to have
forgotten everything but the bliss of having her all to himself for a
little while.

"Plan? Oh, yes! It is simply this. I'm going out to Father next month."

"Really?" and Rose looked both surprised and incredulous, for this plan
was not a new one.

"Really. You don't believe it, but I am, and mother means to go with
me. We've had another letter from the governor, and he says if she can't
part from her big baby to come along too, and all be happy together.
What do you think of that?" he asked, eyeing her intently, for they were
face to face as she went backward and he held both of her hands to steer
and steady her.

"I like it immensely, and do believe it now only it rather takes my
breath away to think of Aunty's going, when she never would hear of it
before."

"She doesn't like the plan very well now and consents to go only on one
condition."

"What is that?" asked Rose, trying to free her hands, for a look at
Charlie made her suspect what was coming.

"That you go with us." And, holding the hands fast, he added rapidly,
"Let me finish before you speak. I don't mean that anything is to be
changed till you are ready, but if you go, I am willing to give up
everything else and live anywhere as long as you like. Why shouldn't you
come to us for a year or two? We've never had our share. Father would be
delighted, mother contented, and I the happiest man alive."

"Who made this plan?" asked Rose as soon as she got the breath which
certainly had been rather taken away by this entirely new and by no
means agreeable scheme.

"Mother suggested it I shouldn't have dared