“Four minutes after six, in the evening, my Rosannah, shall henceforth—”
“Twenty-three minutes after twelve, afternoon shall—”
“Why; Rosannah, darling, where are you?”
“In Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. And where are you? Stay by me; do not leave me for a moment. I cannot bear it. Are you at home?”
“No, dear, I am in New York—a patient in the doctor's hands.”
An agonizing shriek came buzzing to Alonzo's ear, like the sharp buzzing of a hurt gnat; it lost power in traveling five thousand miles. Alonzo hastened to say:
“Calm yourself, my child. It is nothing. Already I am getting well under the sweet healing of your presence. Rosannah?”
“Yes, Alonzo? Oh, how you terrified me! Say on.”
“Name the happy day, Rosannah!”
There was a little pause. Then a diffident small voice replied, “I blush—but it is with pleasure, it is with happiness. Would—would you like to have it soon?”