"I ought not to allow this sacrifice!" she faltered gratefully.
"Because I have the vapors, I have no right to keep you within reach
of the infection. It is shamefully, wickedly selfish!"
"It is no such thing!" he contradicted. "If you would know the
truth, I was, myself, averse to attending this 'crush.' But for your
indisposition, I should hail with unmixed pleasure the chance that
releases me from the obligation to form a part of the throng. It is
far more in consonance with my feelings to pass this, our last
evening together, as we have spent so many others, in quiet talk at
this fireside. I had not supposed it possible that I could ever feel
so much at home in a hotel--a Washington caravansary especially--as
I have within the last three weeks. Do you know, or have you not
burdened your memory with such unimportant memoranda as the fact,
that I must set my face Philadelphia-ward to-morrow?"
"I had not dreamed that the time was so near at hand--it seemed such
a little while since the evening of our arrival--until I happened,
last night, after you left us, to take up Mrs. Rogers'
invitation-card for this evening. THEN, I recollected!"
Her listless resignation had in it something piteous, and the lever
of compassion impelled him to further efforts of cheer.
"I have to thank you for all the enjoyment of my visit to this,
heretofore to me, dismal city. If you should ever visit
Philadelphia--as I earnestly hope you will--you must acquaint me
with your whereabouts immediately upon your arrival. I should be
sorry to think that our friendship is to end here and now."
"As well here and now, as anywhere and at any time!" returned Rosa,
yet more resignedly. "And the end must come, sooner or later. This
was what I was saying over to myself when you came in. I am a
fool--a baby--to mind it!" angrily dashing away the obtrusive brine
from her mournful eyelids. "I WISH you would leave me alone for a
few minutes, Mr. Chilton, until I can behave myself!"
For a second it seemed that her companion would take her at her
word, so puzzled and troubled was his countenance, and he moved
slightly, as about to obey the petulant behest; then sat still.
"I have found no fault in your behavior!" he said, too coolly to
please Rosa's notion.
"I know you despise me!" she burst forth, chokingly. "I believe I am
hysterical, and the more I rail at my stupidity and folly, the more
unmanageable my nerves--if it is my nerves that are out of order--
become. But I have been so happy, so content and grateful, lately!
And everything will be so different after--after TO-MORROW!"