Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

and try to keep my atmosphere as pure as I can, for she says every

woman has her own little circle and in it can use her influence for

good, if she will. I do will heartily, and I’ll prove that I’m neither

proud nor fussy by receiving, here or at home, any respectable man

you like to present to me, no matter how poor or plain or

insignificant he may be.?

With which declaration Rose ended her protest, and the four

damsels streamed downstairs together like a wandering rainbow.

But Kitty laid to heart what she had said; Annabel took credit

herself for siding with her; and Emma owned that she was not

trying to keep her atmosphere pure when she came to dance with

the objectionable Randal. So Rose’s “little circle” was the better

for the influence she tried to exert, although she never knew it.

At suppertime Charlie kept near her, and she was quite content

with him, for he drank only coffee, and she saw him shake his

head with a frown when young Van beckoned him toward an

anteroom, from whence the sound of popping corks had issued

with increasing frequency as the evening wore on.

“Dear fellow, he does try,” thought Rose, longing to show how she

admired his self-denial, but she could only say, as they left the

supper room with the aunts, who were going early: “If I had not

promised Uncle to get home as soon after midnight as possible, I’d

stay and dance the German with you, for you deserve a reward

tonight.?

“A thousand thanks, but I am going when you do,” answered

Charlie, understanding both her look and words and very grateful

for them.

“Really?” cried Rose, delighted.

“Really. I’ll be in the hall when you come down.” And Charlie

thought the Fra Angelico angel was not half so bright and beautiful

as the one who looked back at him out of a pale blue cloud as Rose

went upstairs as if on wings.

When she came down again Charlie was not in the hall, however,

and, after waiting a few minutes, Mac offered to go and find him,

for Aunt Jane was still hunting a lost rubber above.

“Please say I’m ready, but he needn’t come if he doesn’t want to,”

said Rose, not wishing to demand too much of her promising

penitent.

“If he has gone into that barroom, I’ll have him out, no matter who

is there!” growled Mac to himself as he made his way to the small

apartment whither the gentlemen retired for a little private

refreshment when the spirit moved, as it often did.

The door was ajar, and Charlie seemed to have just entered, for

Mac heard a familiar voice call out in a jovial tone: “Come,

Prince! You’re just in time to help us drink Steve’s health with all

the honors.?

“Can’t stop, only ran in to say good night, Van. Had a capital time,

but I’m on duty and must go.?

“That’s a new dodge. Take a stirrup cup anyway, and come back in

time for a merry-go-rounder when you’ve disposed of the ladies,”

answered the young host, diving into the wine cooler for another

bottle.

“Charlie’s going in for sanctity, and it doesn’t seem to agree with

him,” laughed one of the two other young men who occupied

several chairs apiece, resting their soles in every sense of the word.

“Apron strings are coming into fashion the bluer the better hey,

Prince?” added the other, trying to be witty, with the usual success.

“You’d better go home early yourself, Barrow, or that tongue of

yours will get you into trouble,” retorted Charlie, conscious that he

ought to take his own advice, yet lingering, nervously putting on

his gloves while the glasses were being filled.

“Now, brother-in-law, fire away! Here you are, Prince.” And Steve

handed a glass across the table to his cousin, feeling too much

elated with various pleasurable emotions to think what he was

doing, for the boys all knew Charlie’s weakness and usually tried

to defend him from it.

Before the glass could be taken, however, Mac entered in a great

hurry, delivering his message in an abbreviated and rather

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