Old Rose and Silver

e that new gloves demand. The dancing flames picked out flashes of light from the silver spangles of her gown and sent them into the farthest corners of the room. A long white plu

in her delight at the immediate prospect and could scarcely wait for Allison to

dow for an unmarried man. Nor," she added as an afterthought,

m, smiling, her colour a little

ly, "in a cool, dry atmosphere. If you'll remember tha

laughed Rose, "from s

bel sighed, "and I haven't s

sant for you," Madame continued, regretfully, "but we'll try to

an staying alone in a ho

tinee a good deal, but

to go alone. Don't yo

nce

d Rose, "but I can't

ith the clever man who said that 'life would be very endurable were it not for its pleasures.' Far

at the things other people find am

ir, in a crowd, surrounded by many perfumes unhappily mixed, be played to by a bad orchestra, walked on at will by rude men, and, in

ce, in a frivolous moment," explaine

ned Madame. "I've been endeavo

he had a strong impulse to go to the window agai

clothes, came in with an apology for his tardiness. After greeting Madame Bernard and Rose,

h honour. I'm not at all sure that one esc

ibly. She had a secret sense of triu

he words of the poet,

il the sound of wheels had quite died away, then Rose sighed. With a swift pang, sh

I shouldn't say it," she remarked, "but it's a relief to

ose answered, trying not to wish that

verything. I suppose it was Allison who managed to

member that Allison hadn't

mean. How rapi

e twins

me and stimulating sort, even though

t been for the steady ticking of the clock. Madame leaned back in her chair and cl

ng of pleasure seekers and pretty women in gay attire. She heard the sound of wheels, the persistent "honk-honk" of motor cars, and, in

ed in her chair. "I've

o wait until they c

I? Isabel

r her, when some gallant cavalier had escorted her to opera

e went on, drowsily, "o

liv

it?" asked

we turned the key and went away, we must have left some of our love there. I've never been back, but I like to think th

Madame Bernard spoken of her brief marriage, yet Rose knew, by a tho

wife. If he had been taken away before we were married, I should have go

oom that was always locked. No one but Aunt Francesca ever entered it, and she but rarely. Once or twice, Rose had chanced to see her coming through the open door, tr

to purr industriously. She laughed as she stroked his taw

welcoming the change of mood. "I never knew a

" Madame answered. "Are you going

ourse

up and read for

ollowed her. It made a pretty picture-the little white-haired lady in grey on the long stairway,

her to read aloud, but, as it chanced, she did. However, the chosen book was of the sort which banishes insomnia, and, in l

the happy hours she and Allison had spent with their music and berated herself bitterly for her selfishness, but to no ava

and Allison watched her beautiful, changing face with an ever-increasing sense of delight. The play itself was an old sto

e window for a man who did not come, and, most happily, Isabel rem

she said, "to wai

Allison, se

unmarried man, nor for a married man,

he aske

in a cool dry atmospher

n to discover it,

smile, which meant much

ed something else that

n the front seat who had fallen asle

to be asleep. He may n

hat she was making a good impression, "that life wo

overing a bright star that had been tempo

talk so well," he observe

f sailing under false colours, but reflected the life about

them to catch the earlier of the two theatre trains. Allison was not wholly displeased, though he feared that Aunt Francesca and Rose might be u

y, she did not have to talk much, for the chatter of the gay crowd, and

e like this before," she v

njoy it, d

s that turned to his were full o

nsatiable love of Youth. "We'll do it ag

unt Francesca

own me ever since I was born and she helped father bri

Isabel, who did not care to talk about Aunt Frances

pleases you, for you might tire of it. Perhaps plays 'k

at me," she sai

love with a woman, and, as soon as he found that she care

at

each other, through satiety. You know it's said

about it," she murmur

ard, half-baked young man about twenty wi

ow any," sh

t, with the imported bonbons?" Allison's tone was not wholly kin

fairly radia

he too

y, "I'm afraid, however, that he'll be taking

e added with frankness utterly free fr

? Why,

much more, well, grown-up,

slight foreign polish d

ery distinguished." She watc

o one could be more so," he an

accompaniments for you, w

face. "I'm afraid n

can't

dame Grundy. It w

Isabel, daringly. "She's t

changed. "You're ten years younger," he replied, coldly,

air and watched the people around her until it was time to go. G

m so glad the Crosbys are going to ha

he had said the one thing calculated to make

Romeo?' How times have changed! The modern Lochinvar has a touring

im?" queried Isabel, with uplifted

on't. I hope Aunt Francesca won't be worried a

ares what I do. She's often been away for weeks

lips and reverted to the subject of the play. "I'm gla

sponded, with evident sincerity. "Isn't it wonderful w

good time, too, Silver G

me," she retu

on said little until they reached Madame Bernard's, and he had seen her safely into the house. He insisted upon taking off

e said. "We'll

night, and thank

t they said, and recognised a new tone in Allison's voice. She heard the door close, the carriage roll away, and, after a little, Isabe

surely beyond it now. Oppressed with loss and pain, her heart beat slowly, as though it were weary of livin

sleep, in the big Colonial house beyond th

ss me, Swee

stuff will