“Only a headache,” was her answer, as she pressed her hand upon her forehead.
She was fearfully pale, and I knew it was no common thing which had thus moved her, and when not long afterwards the young ladies left us, I was glad, for I felt that both she and Ada needed to be alone. The moment they were gone Anna left the parlor, while I, frightened by the agonized expression of her face, soon followed her; but the door of our room was locked, and it was in vain I called on her to admit me, for she only answered in a voice choked with tears, “Go away, Rosa; I would rather be alone.”
So I left her and returned to the parlor, where I found Ada weeping passionately, while my aunt, who had not been present during the conversation which had so affected her, was trying in vain to learn the cause of her grief.
“Nothing much,” was all Ada would say, except that “she wanted to go home.”
In the midst of our excitement, Herbert came in. He had repented of his ungracious refusal to ride with Ada, and now the carriage stood at the door, but she refused, saying petulantly, when urged by my aunt to go, that “if she couldn’t ride when she wanted to, she wouldn’t ride at all.”
“Where’s Anna? she’ll go, I know,” said Herbert, glancing around the room, and adding in a low tone, which reached my ear only, “and I’d far rather she would.”
When I explained to him that she had a headache, and did not wish to be disturbed, he exclaimed, “What ails all the girls to-day. Anything the matter with you, Rose? If there isn’t, put on your bonnet and I’ll show you the city, for I am resolved upon riding with somebody.”
As my aunt made no objection, I was soon ready and seated by the side of Herbert, in the light vehicle, which he drove himself. I think he exerted himself to be agreeable, for I never saw him appear so well before, and in my heart I did not blame my poor sister for liking him, as I was sure she did, while at the same time I wondered how he could fancy Ada Montrose. As if divining my thoughts, he turned suddenly towards me and said, “Rosa, how do you like Ada?”
Without stopping to reflect, I replied promptly, “Not at all.”
“Frankly spoken,” said he, and then for several minutes he was silent, while I was trying to decide in my own mind whether or not he was offended, and I was about to ask him, when he turned to me again, saying, “We are engaged—did you know it?”