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Show 5omctblng 'Uill.rong ®11:! 1Rose ani:! $tl"er this time. She told me she was coming out on the earlier train." "She may have met someone and gone to the matinee. It's Wednesday." "She didn't need to do that. I 'II take her whenever she wants to go and she knows it." "I didn't say she had gone-! only said she might have gone. She may be waiting for the trimming of a hat to be changed, or for an appointment with tailor or dressmaker or manicure, or any one of a thousand other things. When you see her, she can doubtless give a dear account of herself." "Did Rose go with her?" he asked, after a brief pause. "No, she 's asleep," sighed Madame. "Allison, I'm worried about Rose and have been for some time. She isn't well." "I thought something was wrong," he replied, without interest. "She can't seem to play even the simplest accompaniment any more, and she used to do wonders, even with heavy work." "I think," ventured Madame, cautiously, "that she needs to get out more. If someone would take her for a walk or a drive every day, it would do her good." "Probably," assented Allison, with a faraway look in his eyes. "If you want to borrow our horses at any time, Aunt Francesca, when yours are not available, I hope you 'II feel free :an :Encbantel:! bour 163 to telephone for them. They're almost eating SbOrt anb their heads off and the exercise would do them Sbarp good." "Thank you," she answered, shortly. Allison noted the veiled sharpness of her tone and wondered why anyone should take even slight offence at the friendly offer of a coach and pair. "It must be nearly time for the next train/' he resumed. "Is there anyone at the station to meet Isabel?" "Nobody but the coachman and the carriage," returned Madame, dryly. 01 I 'm not in the habit of being asked whether or not I have made proper provision for my guests." "I beg your pardon, Aunt Francesca. I would have known, of course, if I had stopped to think." "How is your father?" she put in, abruptly. "All right, I guess. He 's making a garden and the whole front yard is torn up as though sewer pipes were about to be put in." Madame's heart softened with pity, for she knew that only loneliness would have set the Colonel to gardening. "I must go over and see it," she said, in a different tone. "My valuable advice hasn't been asked, but I think I could help a little." "Undoubtedly. Your own garden is one of the loveliest I have ever seen. Isn't that the train?" |
