Rosemary left the table and went back to her corner. "What did you see?" queried Edith. "Did you have any better luck than I did?"
"No," Rosemary answered, with a degree more of self-possession than she had shown previously. "There was nothing there but a black cloud."
The task of keeping up the conversation fell to Edith and Alden, for Madame had unconsciously withdrawn into herself as some small animals shut themselves into their shells. All were relieved, though insensibly, when Rosemary said she must go.
Alden went into the hall with her, to help her with her coat and hat, and, as opportunity offered, to kiss her twice, shyly, on her cheek. He wanted to go part way home with her, but Rosemary refused.
"You'd better not," she said, "but thank you just as much."
"Won't you even let me go to the corner with you?"
"No," said Rosemary, with trembling lips, "please don't."
So she went on alone, while Alden returned to the living-room. Edith was saying to Madame: "Poor little brown mouse! How one longs to take a girl like that and give her all the pretty things she needs!"
Edith's Desire for Rosemary
Madame took the crystal ball, wrapped it in its bit of velvet, and put it on the highest shelf of the bookcase, rolling it back behind the books, out of sight.