used to the pace very soon,” began Charlie, bent on making her go,
for he was in his element in a ballroom and never happier than
when he had his pretty cousin on his arm.
“Ah! But I don’t want to get used to it, for it costs too much in the
end. I don’t wish to get used to being whisked about a hot room by
men who have taken too much wine, to turn day into night,
wasting time that might be better spent, and grow into a
fashionable fast girl who can’t get along without excitement. I don’t
deny that much of it is pleasant, but don’t try to make me too fond
of gaiety. Help me to resist what I know is hurtful, and please don’t
laugh me out of the good habits Uncle has tried so hard to give
me.?
Rose was quite sincere in her appeal, and Charlie knew she was
right, but he always found it hard to give up anything he had set his
heart on, no matter how trivial, for the maternal indulgence which
had harmed the boy had fostered the habit of self-indulgence,
which was ruining the man. So when Rose looked up at him, with
a very honest desire to save him as well as herself from being
swept into the giddy vortex which keeps so many young people
revolving aimlessly, till they go down or are cast upon the shore,
wrecks of what they might have been, he gave a shrug and
answered briefly: “As you please. I’ll bring you home as early as
you like, and Effie Waring shall take your place in the German.
What flowers shall I send you??
Now, that was an artful speech of Charlie’s, for Miss Waring was a
fast and fashionable damsel who openly admired Prince Charming
and had given him the name. Rose disliked her and was sure her
influence was bad, for youth made frivolity forgivable, wit hid
want of refinement, and beauty always covers a multitude of sins
in a man’s eyes. At the sound of Effie’s name, Rose wavered, and
would have yielded but for the memory of the “first mate’s” last
words. She did desire to “keep a straight course”; so, though the
current of impulse set strongly in a southerly direction, principle,
the only compass worth having, pointed due north, and she tried to
obey it like a wise young navigator, saying steadily, while she
directed to Annabel the parcel containing a capacious pair of
slippers intended for Uncle Mac: “Don’t trouble yourself about me.
I can go with Uncle and slip away without disturbing anybody.?
“I don’t believe you’ll have the heart to do it,” said Charlie
incredulously as he sealed the last note.
“Wait and see.?
“I will, but I shall hope to the last.” And kissing his hand to her, he
departed to post her letters, quite sure that Miss Waring would not
lead the German.
It certainly looked for a moment as if Miss Campbell would,
because she ran to the door with the words “I’ll go” upon her lips.
But she did not open it till she had stood a minute staring hard at
the old glove on Psyche’s head; then like one who had suddenly
gotten a bright idea, she gave a decided nod and walked slowly out
of the room.
Chapter 6 POLISHING MAC
“Please could I say one word?” was the question three times
repeated before a rough head bobbed out from the grotto of books
in which Mac usually sat when he studied.
“Did anyone speak?” he asked, blinking in the flood of sunshine
that entered with Rose.
“Only three times, thank you. Don’t disturb yourself, I beg, for I
merely want to say a word,” answered Rose as she prevented him
from offering the easy chair in which he sat.
“I was rather deep in a compound fracture and didn’t hear. What
can I do for you, Cousin?” And Mac shoved a stack of pamphlets
off the chair near him with a hospitable wave of the hand that sent
his papers flying in all directions.
Rose sat down, but did not seem to find her “word” an easy one to