Miss Williams stood dumfounded.
Rose lay sobbing on the breast of her stalwart lover.
"There, Rose, darling, that will do," said the gentleman, leading her to a seat. "Were you not expecting me?"
"No indeed," cried Rose, as she brushed away the tears. "I read of the terrible accident, and my mind was full of forboding."
"Indeed! What a little goose you are, Rose."
"But you might have been killed, you know, and then—"
"Well?"
"And then what would have become of poor me?"
"Sure enough; but I wasn't killed, nor even seriously hurt, my dear, so we will discard such disagreeable thoughts from our minds."
He settled himself on the wide, cushioned couch at her side, and pressed a kiss on her cheek just as Miss Williams swept, with upturned nose, from the room.