At Times Charlotte Became Beautiful; a Warm Tide of Color
Mounted to Her Cheeks; Her Head Became Regally Erect.
When the Doctor drove up to the gate, Mr. Converse, moving with long, rapid strides, was well on his way across the common to the car, and feeling (if his unemotional nature would admit the charge) more than a little depressed.
Before Doctor Westbrook arrived at the porch steps, he noted the look of tenderness with which he was being regarded, and halted abruptly.
"You have heard, then?" said he.
"Yes," Charlotte softly replied, holding forth both her hands.
With pleased eagerness he took them into his own and gazed hungrily into the beautiful eyes. Her demonstrations were unusual, and he found therein more relief from his grief and anxiety than could have been contained in any spoken homily. But he drank from those liquid pools of truth and steadfastness as one who drinks for the last time.
For a moment they stood so; then—
"Your note said that your mother was suffering," he remarked, walking toward the open door. But Charlotte checked his movement.
"Wait, Mobley. I was not very exact. Mamma sustained a severe shock last night; but she has been sleeping all the morning.... Before you go in I wish to ask you a question."