In The Rebound

"I beg your pardon!" said a deep, familiar voice. Then the formality
vanished from face and address. "Is this YOU?" holding out his hand
in hearty friendliness that instantly dispelled Rosa's forebodings."
What or whom are you seeking in these wilds?"

The crystal beads glistened upon her lashes in the fulness and joy
of her deliverance from doubt and fear, and before she could twinkle
them back, broke into smaller brilliants upon her cheeks and the
bosom of her dress. It was very babyish and foolish, but it is to be
questioned whether she could have contrived a more telling situation
had she studied it for a month.

"What is it!" inquired Frederic, kindly, not releasing the fingers
that twitched, more than struggled, in his. "Have you been
frightened?"

"Yes," with grieved, but fearless simplicity, "I was frightened
because I thought I had offended you--perhaps driven you away--and
that I should never be able to ask your forgiveness for my cruel
abruptness last night! In thinking about and worrying over this, I
somehow lost my way, and was just trying to remember by what route I
reached this strange neighborhood, when your appearance startled
me."

"You did not know, then, that this is Bachelor's Hall--the haunt of
unmated Benedicts, wifeless visitors to the city, and celibate M.
C.'s?" he rejoined, pleasantly. "Let me be your guide to more
desirable as well as more accessible quarters!"