Page:Harper's New Monthly Magazine - v109.djvu/980



younger than either of us. How are dear "Belle-Air" and your beloved roses? Have you banished all the slugs? And where is the muffler I knitted for you?

Mr. Rivers (playfully stopping his ears). Chatterbox! Won't you even give me a moment to recover from your steep stairs? And no; I will not take off my coat; I can stay only a few moments to-day.

Eve. Not even to dinner! Now, papa, that is too bad of you.

Godfrey. My dear Mr. Rivers, you are surely not going to disappoint us in this way. Why, it is six months since you have been to town.

Mr. Rivers (shaking his head decisively). Impossible, Goff. I only ran in to-day to attend a sale; and, by the way, I picked up a superb Izaak Walton princeps—I wish I had it with me. You see, they have changed the time-tables; my ten-o'clock express has been taken off, and I must either catch the five or wait until midnight to get back.

[He consults his watch.

Godfrey (hesitatingly). But you could spend the night; we have asked you so many times.

Mr. Rivers. And leave my roses for old Mark to blunder over? Never! He would have them all frozen to the roots or baked to a crisp. No, my children; it must be only a flying visit to-day. Later on I may come, perhaps for a month—Oh, that startles you, does it? I was only joking, child. I have lived long enough to know that the young birds are happier in their own nest and alone. You used to feel offended that I would not come, but you see now that I was right. Is it not so?

[Godfrey makes an inarticulate assent.

Mr. Rivers (continuing). It is enough to see you again and to know that you are still happy. Half an hour and I am back to my roses again—the old man's roses, that must be so tenderly planted and cared for. You who are young have only to gather the flowers that spring unbidden beneath your feet. And yet be careful; even they may wither.

Eve (apart). Or the thorns may pierce.

Mr. Rivers (rising and walking down). I delight in a room like this. It is the true soul of a house—something that should be shown only to the most in-