Friendship and Folly

n, and he frequently stumbled; but he didn't mind the stumbles. He was chuckling to himself, and, w

ence's mother, holding up her hand. "

hearth between the two women, and stood in front of the fire; for

mer," he exclaim

ned again and Carolyn entered. She went up to her mothe

you, mamma, this la

her eyes fill, but s

asked. She stroked

rvous she couldn't stay in the house; besides, she had an engagement with L

"Won't there be a lammin' s'prise on the Vireo?" he exclaimed. "I hope he'll think she's

ter, and cried out, "What

y I shouldn't look at y

you needn'

y to each cheek; yet she could hardly have explained why her face should burn. And w

you to go sailing,"

nd they'll have a first-class br

's g

est, but she saw that her son wished to talk on t

Rod came rushin' down, 'n' I was goin' to get in, too, 'n' he said no, he wanted to go alone. 'N' so I let him; 'n' I bet he'll be frightened out of his boots,

" sai

and how funny Lee had made it. Then she glanced again in a startled way. She l

re's something dreadful in your eyes! It is like what I dreamed

. She put a hand over h

ish? And you must have a very vivid imagination to-night.

dly and replied that Letitia wa

bout the house; a puff of smoke leaped

"It was kinder mean that Rodney didn't let me go. Do y

erself that the first involuntary movement of her heart had been mean and disloyal, and she had thrust that emotion from her. Did she distrust the man to w

ound it out yet, Caro

e. How the wind does blow!" Another g

are you, sis? They both know how to sa

much, Lee; yo

way from the hearth and to th

g out, are you?"

I want

hy, it's a real

swept in full force. But Carolyn was aware, in spite of her anxiety, that she had no real cause to fear for the safety of those on the Vireo, since they knew how to manage a sailboat. The wind was off sh

hastened their steps. They stood a few moments on the narrow planking. The water was blac

eated. This grievance seemed to grow upon him. "But

nking one thoug

eft Prudence,-to-morrow we

Prudence. Had he not shown plainly enough that he had recovered from that infatuation? Was it an infatuation?

I will make him happy. Surely, sure

And now the wind seemed trying to take h

alking, talking. She wished his to

h led to the stable. He shrieked after his sister t

t the gale. Thus walking she came suddenly upon

exclamation, and taking

the other at fir

don," he said. "Is

t," was the answer; "an

en the gentle

occupation, Carolyn had the impression that L

ack to the ho

reply, Lord Maxwell turn

nce Ffollio

sity in his voice which a

sion; "she is staying here, as you kn

in?" He put the

n't k

eside her until they reached the piazza, where hung a lamp. By the light of this lamp Carolyn saw his fac

hank y

s prominent eyes had a strange fire in them. Carolyn's instant thought

then she said, "Won't you com

ved a

, really I can't. I say, now," he added, abruptly, "it's to

o much. Carolyn drew herself up a litt

Springs, you know. Lady Maxw

'm so

of course,-sor

erchief from his pocket an

but I had time to come over here. I wanted devilishly to see your cousin,-oh, I beg pardon, I wanted ver

n't k

e; dev-I mean, hard wind

N

s wit

Lawre

utmost coldness, but

Damn him!

Maxw

and two or three of us have been dining. And if I take a drop more'n usual it plays the dev-it goes to my head. Beastly shame! Do forgiv

t his watch and held

t, that Lady Maxwell's very ill,-not expected to live,-Sulphur Springs no good, af

fect steadiness, though he had talked thus. In fact, he wa

ome Lady Maxwell. But how could her cousin consent to pass her life with a man like that. Good-natured? Yes, perhaps, but a mere animal? Then the

the tower which overlooked the ocean. She opened the window next the water and leaned out of it; the

never see Rodney again,-that on this night all

quickly from such

rk masses. Carolyn's gaze was fastened on the sea, which lay black and strangely still beneat

aid, aloud. "They know how to manage a boat. Rodney will o

oom where her mother and aunt still sat over the smouldering fire on the hearth. She

ome yet?" asked P

's hard

ver happens to Prue; she'll do the strangest things, and n

e least," resp

at they said. One of them recalled how nervous she had been when her own wedding-day had been set. She said that, though she never doubted her lover

nion as that of Leander Ffolliott I'd bet

a minute late?" asked Carolyn,

complacently, "He was early; of course he w

s fowls. He announced that the wind was going down, and that it was time for "Rod 'n' Prue" to be back. He

ug before the fire, and in les

significant remark. She was evidently trying to keep awake. At last, when the clock struck eleven, she rose a

ore wood, which she placed carefully on the coals, as carefully as if her own fate depended upon the sticks

ittle; Carolyn gazed steadily at the fir

save for an occasional long

ight. She tried to look as

that they are very thoughtless, very

osition in the least. She sat with her arm acro

"I do wonder at them. Are you go

he answer, in a quiet voice; "but y

I'll stay

boy asleep on the hearth. Then she put her head ag

side her and walked noiselessly to the window. She flung aside the curtain and looked

closely on her breast, gazing up at t

-still," was her on

waken the sleepers. Silently she opened the door, and silently she close

thinking. She bent her head forwar

own fancy. Her temples were throbbin

back the bolt. When she stepped without she actually gasped in the intensity of her excitement

shore, but down the carriage-drive that led to the public highway. Once on the road, she did not slacken her pace until she was so breathless that she must pause. T

still one moment longer

w wind sobbed through some birches near her. It was

as she stood in the road, struggling for breath after her run. There was a damp perfume of rose-geranium c

aware that she had come away from the shore. She was also fully aware that by this time Lawrence and his

aying to Rodney? What the tone of her voic

t? W

de herself, and, knowing this, she shrank back as

said, again. "If I give way, I

istened. Then she said, wit

! hate her!

isfaction in shoutin

w fooli

, and was startled to feel how burning

hinking calmly of a subject indifferent to her. She went in at the do

kened and rai

, haven't the

N

they intended; but it was very thoughtless of them,-very; and I shall

do go," was the

the fire. "What curious things one will dream," she said, with a smile. "I must ha

rridge h

oved I

annoying, a little thing li

her mother's chair,

e renewe

oved I