The Gold of Chickaree

forces about him, and with a bright greeting ready for Gyda. And then his face changed suddenly, and his manner. He came up

to find

herself in. But all colour was shut off as well. She rose to her feet, laying one hand on the chair back

minute or two? I have something to s

eor himselfhe stood for a moment still and thoughtful by the side of the fireplace. And Hazel, who had thought she would t

; he had himself well in hand now;I want you to give me, as a f

lted him with sharp speeches; nor the shy girl who had blushed if he but came near her; there was not even the faintest tinging of the cheeks, nor the least gleam from out the deep shadows of the eyes. Only in one way did the slightest agitation betray itself; but twice she began to speak, and twice could not command her lips; the third time she

ad waltzed with me. I saw him once or twice in the fall, and in town he came often to the house

all questions: One night, at Newport, we were both at an out-door party. There was music, of course;

waltz?" he said, as w

ld h

d, one of my guardia

ere to-n

know what you do." I

mis

my own pleasure I had

o

ish for the pleasure

when I hear

mised for

ecise date." I said (here for an instant

rled me off among the crowd. So much taller than I, so much stronger, so skilled a dancer, that at first I could only go where I was taken, obliged to keep the step, in my own self-defence. One hand of course he held; but the otherd

ws came into their wonted line; but Rollos eyes were the eyes of a man whose soul is on fire. He stood breathlessly at first, then sitting down beside the girl got possession of one of her hands, but only so speaking his sympathy or eagerness; till as she finished he brought it to his l

t the guardia

re is no strength for either; and the colour which flitted over her face at his demo

too quick, but she could not help

eeping, and merely inquired in the

trust me. But it wou

repeated, with a glow and sparkle of the gray eyes, which yet had an odd veil of soft

ly pay her the compliment of requesting to have the fact put in words, might be highly characteristic on his part, but was not exactly composing on hers. How could she think, or speak, without even one hand f

ed itwhy did y

e with undoubted

os l

said the girl, u

ack. And I wa

s if realizing that she was face to face with the one ques

Mr. Rollo,you did n

u staye

t it now, Hazel. Ill stand all your q

might beat least, there might have beenthings which I could not explain. And thenas you could doubt me once, you would again. And I could not

ertheless, though sorely tempted, he controlled the desire to giv

ll never do it again, Hazel! So take care what y

it was not

guardiansh

scarcely seen for a year; answering then with a grave quietness which again was very like he

tyou can have

imselfand her too,for the last three weeks; but then, having got what he wanted, for several minutes thereafter spoke not; partly for his own sak

your hair

starting,It is nothin

g else. The question is, how ca

as put there. And if

ll you. O

di

slow to come. Gyda

to a little distance from him, that he might look in her face bett

g to look up and laugh, and somehow failing. 'Andan

ntly, and then demanded imperious

she said. 'At least, aft

u faint?' in

citement was giving way to reaction; and Hazel dreaded lest, before she knew it, she should break down; lest, before she could hinder it, that wilful fountain of unshed tears might insist on having its way. She knew from old experience what that meant; but (except for the slight specimen before Prim's eyes) nobody had ever seen her in one of her tear

things. But let me go

home,it

curious, considerative way,

rom her chair. He sat looking at her, then touch

wly, 'you must have some of G

me go' and she rose up, steadying herself with one hand upon th

d, looking at her and noting how w

hing and drooping her head, and feeling as if every

is he w

I left him. O Mr.

know, if I am to fet

ch

use! She could not debate mat

the foot of the

the oth

other

y; then went straight thro

one way,' he answe

llI

again. You can hardly stand. You must rest and have a cup of coffee before I let you go

Hazel would as soon have dared do anything. Well she knew, that with even that slight veil between her and the outer world, the last remnant of self-command would go. No, she must face it out, somehow, and drink the coffee, and wait. If only Gyda would not come in! And what would she say when she did?'and I could not stop her now,' thought Hazel to herself, 'If I say three words about anything!'She passed her hands over her eyes with a quick gesture, then put them down and held them tight. Could she run away? No

in it. This chair Rollo proceeded to line and partially fill with cushions from whence obtained, was best known to himself; making sundry journeys into an inner room; from which finally he brought a great soft gray shawl, looking suspiciously like a travelling plaid, and laid it ov

said he, taking one of th

the cros

Didn't you come th

word just

a minute, conside

d you g

rt, and with his quick eyes seeing part, Rollo for a few minutes said nothing at all. But his lips came upon Wych Hazel's face with a recognition of what she did not want

ved her face when he placed her in the cushioned chair. But if he had turned her defences!and, with that, Hazel gave way. She caught her hand from him, and turning half round laid her head and hands upon the chair, and let the flood come she ha

He took this paroxysm of what it was; something that must in the first instance have its way and work its own relief. He did not speak to Hazel at first, nor attempt to check the outflow of feeling which he contemplated with a very grave brow. Indeed for a minute or two he left the room and went out to speak to Gyda. Coming back, he remained quite silent and still until t

t, trying for words. 'O you shou

ng her little foot upon it with extraordinary vehemence of purpose. Rollo did nothing to hinder this operation. Indeed he rather left her to herself, while he as usual made himself busy in helping Gyda, who came in to get her table ready. Rollo drew the table up into Wych Hazel's n

ered, not too sure of anyth

t it before

o nearly turned into trembling, th

ve you know ho

what vaguely, from und

orance. Here comes Gyda, and porri

d cheese and cream and broiled fish were set on the table; the coffee was at the fire. Roll

Gyda,' he said, in a ton

furtively, for a second, so giving the recognition which she could not speak. And Gyda was too gently wise to say a word. After that, both combined to wait upon Hazel, though Gyda did not get a chance to do much

lo, 'tell me wh

then Hazel remembered to her confusion, that she did not know. 'I

ht confronted her next; and with a dim consciousness of having stopped

t point. 'Is it very far along the foot of the

Rollo gravely, 'it might

lect,and nothing stood out from all that morning's w

d took the lit

you come over t

nking only of getting up; and you know there are no

ome throug

m sure o

come east or

eeling very much ashamed of herself. 'I was not lo

ou see, Haz

nding a little bit of her old self to the front. 'I am certain I can find the way

o ask, what orde

ders; to wait

n that he understood the whole matter, it did not m

of sight. And now Hazel sat among her cushions, her head down against the side of her chair, looking into the winking embers with very grave wide-open eyes. Mentally, she knew there had come a great lull over all troublous things; a lull which she was not just then strong enough to disturb by handling it in detail. But physical

id with a hand on her

ning her bright eyes upon

g of all this? my coming, and

placidly. 'My lady

the girl's head dismissed that s

hesitatingly, 'at least you will

or him to know. That was only me alone. To-day my lady will tell him a

de was heard again, and Rollo came in. He surveyed the group quietly, and then went off to his room to change his dress. And when he returned to relieve the guard, it was with a most composed and unexciting manner. He scarcely said three words, till a

silence of evening, when mill-work was done, over all and in everything. Rollo did not speak, and they heardif they heardonly the sound of their own steps down the path. When they were in the carriage, Rollo pr

imidly, finding that her act

ha

te able t

h whatever in t

t me trythe oth

her sho

sent the horses along, over the level smooth road, and the evening air came in crisp and fresh at the open window, and stars looked down winking in their quiet way of saying sweet things. They always do, when one is happy; sometimes in other states of mind they seem high above sympathy. But to-night they lo

ou were going

of many thoughts, through which

he best time. And you

ze

'All has been said; except that I