"Plan? Oh, yes! it is simply this. I'm going out to father next month."
"Really?" and Rose looked both surprised and incredulous; for this plan was not a new one.
"Really. You don't believe it, but I am; and mother means to go with me. We've had another letter from the governor, and he says if she can't part from her big baby to come along too, and all be happy together. What do you think of that?" he asked, eying her intently; for they were face to face, as she went backward and he held both her hands to steer and steady her.
"I like it immensely, and I do believe it now: only it rather takes my breath away to think of aunty's going, when she never would hear of it before."
"She doesn't like the plan very well now, and consents to go only on one condition."
"What is that?" asked Rose, trying to free her hands; for a look at Charlie made her suspect what was coming.
"That you go with us;" and, holding the hands fast, he added rapidly, "Let me finish before you speak. I don't mean that any thing is to be changed till you are ready; but if _you_ go I'm willing to give up every thing else, and live anywhere as long as you like. Why shouldn't you come to us for a year or two? We've never had our share. Father would be delighted, mother contented, and I the happiest man alive."
"Who made this plan?" asked Rose, as soon as she got the breath which certainly _had_ been rather taken away by this entirely new and by no means agreeable scheme.
"Mother suggested it: I shouldn't have dared to even dream of such richness. I'd made up my mind to go alone; and when I told her she was in despair, till this superb idea came into her head. After that, of course it was easy enough for me to stick to the resolution I'd made."
"Why did _you_ decide to go, Charlie?" and Rose looked up into the eyes that were fixed beseechingly on hers.
They wavered and glanced aside; then met hers honestly, yet full of a humility which made her own fall as he answered very low,--
"Very hard. I haven't the moral courage to own up and face ridicule, and it seems so mean to hide for fear of breaking my word. I _will_ keep it this time, Rose, if I go to the ends of the earth to do it."
"It is not cowardly to flee temptation; and nobody whose opinion is worth having will ridicule any brave attempt to conquer one's self. Don't mind it, Charlie, but stand fast; and I am sure you will succeed."