[Pink and White Tyranny by Harriet Beecher Stowe]@TWC D-Link bookPink and White Tyranny CHAPTER XXI 15/16
It was one of the dancing young men of New York, and it is no particular matter what his name was. "Thank you," said Rose: "I believe I left it on the sofa in the yellow drawing-room." He was gone in a moment. Rose wandered on a little way, through the labyrinth of flowers and shadowy trees and fountains, and sat down on an artificial rock where she fell into a deep reverie.
Rising to go back, she missed her way, and became quite lost, and went on uneasily, conscious that she had committed a rudeness in not waiting for her attendant. At this moment she looked through a distant alcove of shrubbery, and saw Harry and Lillie standing together,--she with both hands laid upon his arm, looking up to him and speaking rapidly with an imploring accent.
She saw him, with an angry frown, push Lillie from him so rudely that she almost fell backward, and sat down with her handkerchief to her eyes; he came forward hurriedly, and met the eyes of Rose fixed upon him. [Illustration: "She saw him, with an angry frown, push Lillie from him."] "Mr.Endicott," she said, "I have to ask a favor of you.
Will you be so good as to excuse me from the 'German' to-night, and order my carriage ?" "Why, Miss Ferguson, what is the matter ?" he said: "what has come over you? I hope I have not had the misfortune to do any thing to displease you ?" Without replying to this, Rose answered, "I feel very unwell.
My head is aching violently, and I cannot go through the rest of the evening. I must go home at once." She spoke it in a decided tone that admitted of no question. Without answer, Harry Endicott gave her his arm, accompanied her through the final leave-takings, went with her to the carriage, put her in, and sprang in after her. Rose sank back on her seat, and remained perfectly silent; and Harry, after a few remarks of his had failed to elicit a reply, rode by her side equally silent through the streets homeward. He had Mr.Van Astrachan's latch-key; and, when the carriage stopped, he helped Rose to alight, and went up the steps of the house. "Miss Ferguson," he said abruptly, "I have something I want to say to you." "Not now, not to-night," said Rose, hurriedly.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|