r ago, it filled
him with self-reproach, and, coming up, he drew one hand through his
arm, saying, as she involuntarily followed him, "You must not stand
still. Forget my heroics and answer my question. Will you go with us,
Rose?"

"Not now that is asking too much, Charlie, and I will promise nothing,
because I cannot do it honestly," she answered, so firmly that he knew
appeal was useless.

"Am I to go alone, then, leaving all I care for behind me?"

"No, take your mother with you, and do your best to reunite your
parents. You could not give yourself to a better task."

"She won't go without you."

"I think she will if you hold fast to your resolution. You won't give
that up, I hope?"

"No I must go somewhere, for I can't stay here, and it may as well be
India, since that pleases Father," answered Charlie doggedly.

"It will more than you can imagine. Tell him all the truth, and see how
glad he will be to help you, and how sincerely he will respect you for
what you've done."

"If you respect me, I don't care much about the opinion of anyone else,"
answered Charlie, clinging with a lover's pertinacity to the hope that
was dearest.

"I shall, if you go manfully away and do the duty you owe your father
and yourself."

"And when I've done it, may I come back to be rewarded, Rose?" he asked,
taking possession of the hand on his arm as if it was already his.

"I wish I could say what you want me to. But how can I promise when I am
not sure of anything? I don't love you as I ought, and perhaps I never
shall so why persist in making me bind myself in this way? Be generous,
Charlie, and don't ask it," implored Rose, much afflicted by his
persistence.

"I thought you did love me it looked very like it a month ago, unless
you have turned coquette, and I can't quite believe that," he answered
bitterly.

"I was beginning to love you, but you made me afraid to go on," murmured
Rose, trying to tell the truth kindly.

"That cursed custom! What can a man do when his hostess asks him to
drink wine with her?" And Charlie looked as if he could have cursed
himself even more heartily.

"He can say 'no.'"

"I can't."

"Ah, that's the trouble! You never learned to say it even to yourself,
and now it is so hard, you want me to help you."

"And you won't."

"Yes, I will, by showing you that I can say it to myself, for your
sake." And Rose looked up with a face so full of tender sorrow he could
not doubt the words whi