ent, Rose felt strongly tempted to add
the sequel Mac desired. But her eyes had fallen as he spoke, for she
knew his were fixed upon her, dark and dilated, with the same repressed
emotion that put such fervor into his quiet tones, and just as she was
about to look up, they fell on a shabby little footstool. Trifles affect
women curiously, and often most irresistibly when some agitation sways
them. The sight of the old hassock vividly recalled Charlie, for he
had kicked it on the night she never liked to remember. Like a spark it
fired a long train of recollections, and the thought went through her
mind: "I fancied I loved him, and let him see it, but I deceived myself,
and he reproached me for a single look that said too much. This feeling
is very different, but too new and sudden to be trusted. I'll neither
look nor speak till I am quite sure, for Mac's love is far deeper than
poor Charlie's, and I must be very true."

Not in words did the resolve shape itself, but in a quick impulse, which
she obeyed certain that it was right, since it was hard to yield to it.
Only an instant's silence followed Mac's answer as she stood looking
down with fingers intertwined and color varying in her cheeks. A foolish
attitude, but Mac thought it a sweet picture of maiden hesitation and
began to hope that a month's wooing was about to end in winning for a
lifetime. He deceived himself, however, and cold water fell upon his
flame, subduing but by no means quenching it, when Rose looked up with
an air of determination which could not escape eyes that were growing
wonderfully farsighted lately.

"I came in here to beg Uncle to advise you to go away soon. You are very
patient and forbearing, and I feel it more than I can tell. But it
is not good for you to depend on anyone so much for your happiness, I
think, and I know it is bad for me to feel that I have so much power
over a fellow creature. Go away, Mac, and see if this isn't all a
mistake. Don't let a fancy for me change or delay your work, because
it may end as suddenly as it began, and then we should both reproach
ourselves and each other. Please do! I respect and care for you so much,
I can't be happy to take all and give nothing. I try to, but I'm not
sure I want to think it is too soon to know yet."

Rose began bravely, but ended in a fluttered sort of way as she moved
toward the door, for Mac's face though it fell at first, brightened
as she went on, and at the last word, uttere