things."

"Oh, Charlotte, you take it so calm!"

"What do you want me to do?"

"If it was anybody else, I should think they didn't care."

"Maybe I don't."

"I couldn't bear it so, anyhow! I couldn't!" Rose cried out, with
sudden passion. "I wouldn't bear it. I'd go down on my knees to him
to come back!" Rose flung back her head and looked at Charlotte with
a curious defiance; her face grew suddenly intense, and seemed to
open out into bloom and color like a flower. The pupils of her blue
eyes dilated until they looked black; her thin lips looked full and
red; her cheeks were flaming; her slender chest heaved. "I would,"
said she; "I don't care, I would."

Charlotte looked at her, and a quivering flush like a reflection was
left on her fair, steady face.

"I would," said Rose again.

"It wouldn't do any good."

"It would if he cared anything about you."

"It would if he could give up to the care. Barney Thayer has got a
terrible will that won't always let him do what he wants to himself."