The Gold of Chickaree

estion just then. She had seen Mr. Rollo but three times for a whole year,so ran the first thought. And she had not seen him at all, since the other night,so chimed in the second. And th

stopped?then whe

t agree with her to-day) then took her way to the red room, entering noiselessly; also by a side door. Blushing as if she had

gs drop just before she spoke. Rollo was cool enough however to see the easy chair and come round it; but his greeting was grave and wordless. Perhaps he too remembered that she had not seen him since the other night. At any rate, a

d earnestly. 'And how has

aps you heard,' she said, wit

he fire and picked up his tongs again. 'I wish you would do something to

ay, and came again, and once more came back, growing very

atched him, at first with shy swift glances, then, as he did not look up, her look became more steady. What was he thinking of? It must be something she had done,something which he had just heard of, perhaps,some wild piece of mischief or thoughtlessness executed last summer or in the spring. Was he wondering whether he could ever bring her into order, and make her 'stand?'was he meditating the form of some new promise for her to take? winding in t

mine, which you did not like; orthingsI had done. And I suppose I can

came and put her into the big chair and sat down beside it. S

he said. 'What do yo

ch

ly retreating within herself again. 'But I

proper thing to do, when

course might vary in different cases. 'Generally,

ways like t

tter, especially about unknown things. But pondering this one a minu

. Rollo,I did not suppose you had

He did not wan

hat did

n in a contented state of mi

, why you are less co

serving h

hree whole days since?' he said gravely. 'You had bette

as I told Mr. Falkirk; and it has agreed with me splendidly. It was no

ough and smooth, where your little feet must have ha

t, for that was not true. But w

e yourself of your habit of making statements, some

he said coolly. 'Yo

he two small folded hands, and wondered to herself if Mr. Rollo had cross-questioned Gyda? if he meant to cross-question her?and if he did, where she should hide? That fainting, that walk across the hill!even now, with t

ks, in the sort of live way Wych Hazel's colour had, and then the brown eyes g

was unfolding and unwrapping; and presently he took one of the little folded hands, the left one, and put upon the forefinger a ring set with a very large emerald. The ring

derstand each other a

ts vivid return. But Hazel did not look at him, nor at the ring, not at anything,did not se

sunderstoodyo

stand an examinat

nsidered

g to hear an

o make a good many, sooner or later, just to make sure that you know what you ar

oughts, that she had no immediate intention of marrying anybo

y things that it meant did Mr. Rollo wish to have set forth!

and because of the meaning, as I said. In the description of John's vision in the Revelation, it is said "there was a rainbow round about the

nd, Hazel sat studying the ring, her eyes i

e rainbow mea

t,' she said slowly; very unconsciously bet

bow was the sign for the faithfulness

ure, for he saw she was scarcely able to take her part in

Lord, who is like unto thee, or to thy faithfulness round about thee!" So that is what the emerald means;faithfulness. First, your faith, an

owed his words quite out of sight; yet more to something past than towards other things to come. So leaning her head on her hand

anger he was, and that he was not a stranger at all; with probably some quick realization of what she was going t

days?"I want t

azel. 'And it is a great way off. I should have to

ime, and it would be pleasant to see it come. He would not hurry her; indeed, as he once had told her he never asked for what he could not have, so neither did he care for what was enforced in the giving. Better a free smile than a

came over the young mistress, with visions of Dingee and possibilities of Mr. Falkirk, and one glance at her ring. Then she turned to Mr. Rollo, giving her timid invitati

at this time?' he inquired when he had again

at I shall hardly see him again before dinner. Dingee, where

said Dingee; 'but M

fee,' said Hazel,

t the table, that he 'didn't feel as

s,' said Hazel. 'I thought you always ra

ary for me to make so

ing puzzled. I am very

a talk did

should have been all sugar and cream if he had not b

y busi

iness? Th

siness,

a little bit once more, though she felt a little frightened at herself when the words were out

thinkby and by, when we have been married a year or two, and he i

ared with baskets and bouquets, after the old fashion, which had grown to be an established one at Chickaree; and his mistress looked at them and ordered them away, and read