"Why, dear, you there?" called grannie.
He ran to her and put his arm about her, and so they came onward to the chair which had been a throne for Rose. When she had sunken into it, he began to scold her gently. She had not been so far from home for many a day. She had chosen night and a rough path. Why did she do it?
"I had to see you, dear," said grannie. "Maybe I didn't consider how hard it would be, but when I started out, I wasn't thinking much about my aches and pains. I had to see you. So I just dressed me and came."
"But, grannie, it's the middle of the night!"
"Yes, child, I suppose it is. Night or day, it's all one. Osmond, her father's going to take her away from here."
"Rose!"
"Yes, dear, she's going. Do you think it's best to let her go with him?"
"No! It's outrageous and impossible."
"I thought you'd say so. Well, Osmond, she meant to go away to-morrow morning without seeing you. But she sent you her love. It seemed to me that.... So I thought you'd better have it to-night."
She heard him breathing heavily, but he did not speak. Once he walked away from her and back again.