Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

long list as he turned away to gratify the old lady with all sorts of

merry and affectionate compliments as the glasses touched.

Rose did feel rather alarmed, for if he drank the health of all the

owners of those names, she felt sure that Charlie would need a

very strong head indeed. It was hard to say anything then and there

without seeming disrespect to Aunt Plenty, yet she longed to

remind her cousin of the example she tried to set him in this

respect, for Rose never touched wine, and the boys knew it. She

was thoughtfully turning the bracelet, with its pretty device of

turquoise forget-me-nots, when the giver came back to her, still

bubbling over with good spirits.

“Dear little saint, you look as if you’d like to smash all the punch

bowls in the city, and save us jolly young fellows from tomorrow’s

headache.?

“I should, for such headaches sometimes end in heartaches, I’m

afraid. Dear Charlie, don’t be angry, but you know better than I that

this is a dangerous day for such as you so do be careful for my

sake,” she added, with an unwonted touch of tenderness in her

voice, for, looking at the gallant figure before her, it was

impossible to repress the womanly longing to keep it always as

brave and blithe as now.

Charlie saw that new softness in the eyes that never looked

unkindly on him, fancied that it meant more than it did, and, with a

sudden fervor in his own voice, answered quickly: “My darling, I

will!?

The glow which had risen to his face was reflected in hers, for at

that moment it seemed as if it would be possible to love this

cousin who was so willing to be led by her and so much needed

some helpful influence to make a noble man of him. The thought

came and went like a flash, but gave her a quick heartthrob, as if

the old affection was trembling on the verge of some warmer

sentiment, and left her with a sense of responsibility never felt

before. Obeying the impulse, she said, with a pretty blending of

earnestness and playfulness, “If I wear the bracelet to remember

you by, you must wear this to remind you of your promise.?

“And you,” whispered Charlie, bending his head to kiss the hands

that put a little white rose in his buttonhole.

Just at that most interesting moment they became aware of an

arrival in the front drawing room, whither Aunt Plenty had

discreetly retired. Rose felt grateful for the interruption, because,

not being at all sure of the state of her heart as yet, she was afraid

of letting a sudden impulse lead her too far. But Charlie, conscious

that a very propitious instant had been spoiled, regarded the

newcomer with anything but a benignant expression of

countenance and, whispering, “Good-bye, my Rose, I shall look in

this evening to see how you are after the fatigues of the day,” he

went away, with such a cool nod to poor Fun See that the amiable

Asiatic thought he must have mortally offended him.

Rose had little leisure to analyze the new emotions of which she

was conscious, for Mr. Tokio came up at once to make his

compliments with a comical mingling of Chinese courtesy and

American awkwardness, and before he had got his hat on Jamie

shouted with admiring energy: “Here’s another! Oh, such a swell!?

They now came thick and fast for many hours, and the ladies stood

bravely at their posts till late into the evening. Then Aunt Jessie

went home, escorted by a very sleepy little son, and Aunt Plenty

retired to bed, used up. Dr. Alec had returned in good season, for

his friends were not fashionable ones, but Aunt Myra had sent up

for him in hot haste and he had good-naturedly obeyed the

summons. In fact, he was quite used to them now, for Mrs. Myra,

having tried a variety of dangerous diseases, had finally decided

upon heart complaint as the one most likely to keep her friends in

a chronic state of anxiety and was continually sending word that

she was dying. One gets used to palpitations as well as everything

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