who would make love in public and insisted on proposing in the
middle of a dance. I seldom dance round dances except with our
boys, but that night I did because the girls laughed at me for being
so ‘prudish,’ as they called it. I don’t mind them now, for I found I
was right, and felt that I deserved my fate.?
“Is that all?” asked her uncle, looking “fierce,” as she predicted, at
the idea of his beloved girl obliged to listen to a declaration,
twirling on the arm of a lover.
“One more but him I shall not tell about, for I know he was in
earnest and really suffered, though I was as kind as I knew how to
be. I’m young in these things yet, so I grieved for him, and treat his
love with the tenderest respect.?
Rose’s voice sank almost to a whisper as she ended, and Dr. Alec
bent his head, as if involuntarily saluting a comrade in misfortune.
Then he got up, saying with a keen look into the face he lifted by a
finger under the chin: “Do you want another three months of this??
“I’ll tell you on New Year’s Day, Uncle.?
“Very well. Try to keep a straight course, my little captain, and if
you see dirty weather ahead, call on your first mate.?
“Aye, aye, sir. I’ll remember.?
Chapter 5 PRINCE CHARMING
The old glove lay upon the floor forgotten while Rose sat musing,
till a quick step sounded in the hall and a voice drew near,
tunefully humming.
“As he was walkin’ doun the street
The city for to view,
Oh, there he spied a bonny lass,
The window lookin’ through.?
“Sae licht he jumpЉd up the stair,
And tirled at the pin;
Oh, wha sae ready as hersel’
To let the laddie in??
sang Rose as the voice paused and a tap came at the door.
“Good morning, Rosamunda, here are your letters, and your most
devoted ready to execute any commissions you may have for him,”
was Charlie’s greeting as he came in looking comely, gay, and
debonair as usual.
“Thanks. I’ve no errands unless you mail my replies, if these need
answering, so by your leave, Prince,” and Rose began to open the
handful of notes he threw into her lap.
“Ha! What sight is this to blast mine eyes?” ejaculated Charlie, as
he pointed to the glove with a melodramatic start, for, like most
accomplished amateur actors, he was fond of introducing private
theatricals into his daily talk and conversation.
“Uncle left it.?
” ‘Tis well. Methought perchance a rival had been here,” and,
picking it up, Charlie amused himself with putting it on the head
of a little Psyche which ornamented the mantelpiece, softly singing
as he did so, another verse of the old song:
“He set his Jenny on his knee,
All in his Highland dress;
For brawly well he kenned the way
To please a bonny lass.?
Rose went on reading her letters, but all the while was thinking of
her conversation with her uncle as well as something else
suggested by the newcomer and his ditty.
During the three months since her return she had seen more of this
cousin than any of the others, for he seemed to be the only one
who had leisure to “play with Rose,” as they used to say years ago.
The other boys were all at work, even little Jamie, many of whose
play hours were devoted to manful struggles with Latin grammar,
the evil genius of his boyish life. Dr. Alec had many affairs to
arrange after his long absence; Phebe was busy with her music;
and Aunt Plenty still actively superintended her housekeeping.
Thus it fell out, quite naturally, that Charlie should form the habit
of lounging in at all hours with letters, messages, bits of news, and
agreeable plans for Rose. He helped her with her sketching, rode
with her, sang with her, and took her to parties as a matter of
course, for Aunt Clara, being the gaiest of the sisters, played
chaperon on all occasions.
For a time it was very pleasant, but, by and by, Rose began to wish