"You think you do," answered Rose, with a mischievous sparkle in hereye.
"If it isn't Pem, I give it up. He is the best-bred fellow I know."
"Oh, dear, no! far superior to Mr. Pemberton, and many years older,"said Rose, with so much respect that Charlie looked perplexed as wellas anxious.
"Some apostolic minister, I fancy. You pious creatures always like toadore a parson. But all we know are married."
"He isn't."
"Give a name, for pity's sake: I'm suffering tortures of suspense,"begged Charlie.
"Alexander Campbell."
"Uncle? Well, upon my word, that's a relief, but mighty absurd all thesame. So, when you find a young saint of that sort, you intend tomarry him, do you?" demanded Charlie, much amused and ratherdisappointed.
"When I find any man half as honest, good, and noble as uncle, I shallbe proud to marry him, if he asks me," answered Rose, decidedly.
"What odd tastes women have!" And Charlie leaned his chin on his hand,to muse pensively for a moment over the blindness of one woman whocould admire an excellent old uncle more than a dashing young cousin.
Rose, meanwhile, tied up her parcels industriously, hoping she had notbeen too severe; for it was very hard to lecture Charlie, though heseemed to like it sometimes, and came to confession voluntarily,knowing that women love to forgive when the sinners are of his sort.
"It will be mail-time before you are done," she said presently; forsilence was less pleasant than his rattle.
Charlie took the hint, and dashed off several notes in his bestmanner. Coming to the business-letter, he glanced at it, and asked,with a puzzled expression,--
"What is all this? Cost of repairs, &c., from a man named Buffum?"
"Never mind that: I'll see to it by and by."
"But I do mind, for I'm interested in all your affairs; and, thoughyou think I've no head for business, you'll find I have, if you'll tryme."
"This is only about my two old houses in the city, which are beingrepaired and altered so that the rooms can be let singly."
"Going to make tenement-houses of them? Well, that's not a bad idea:such places pay well, I've heard."
"That is just what I'm _not_ going to do. I wouldn't have atenement-house on my conscience for a million of dollars,--not as theyare now," said Rose, decidedly.
"Why, what do _you_ know about it, except that poor people live inthem, and the owners turn a penny on the rents?"
"I know a good deal about them; for I've seen many such, both hereand abroad. It was not all pleasure with us, I assure you. Unclewas interested in hospitals and prisons, and I sometimes went withhim: but they made me sad; so he suggested other charities, thatI could help about when we came home. I visited Infant Schools,Working-women's Homes, Orphan Asylums, and places of that sort. Youdon't know how much good it did me, and how glad I am that I have themeans of lightening a little some of the misery in the world."
"But, my dear girl, you needn't make ducks and drakes of your fortunetrying to feed and cure and clothe all the poor wretches you see.Give, of course: every one should do something in that line, and noone likes it better than I. But don't, for mercy's sake, go at it assome women do, and get so desperately earnest, practical, andcharity-mad that there is no living in peace with you," protestedCharlie, looking alarmed at the prospect.
"You can do as you please. _I_ intend to do all the good I can byasking the advice and following the example of the most 'earnest,''practical,' and 'charitable' people I know: so, if you don't approve,you ca
n drop my acquaintance," answered Rose, emphasizing theobnoxious words, and assuming the resolute air she always wore whendefending her hobbies.
"You'll be laughed at."
"I'm used to that."
"And criticised and shunned."
"Not by people whose opinion I value."
"Women shouldn't go poking into such places."
"I've been taught that they should."
"Well, you'll get some dreadful disease and lose your beauty, andthen where are you?" added Charlie, thinking that might daunt theyoung philanthropist.
But it did not; for Rose answered, with a sudden kindling of the eyesas she remembered her talk with Uncle Alec,--
"I shouldn't like it: but there would be one satisfaction in it; for,when I'd lost my beauty and given away my money, I should know whoreally cared for me."
Charlie nibbled his pen in silence for a moment, then asked, meekly,--
"Could I respectfully inquire what great reform is to be carried on inthe old houses which their amiable owner is repairing?"
"I am merely going to make them comfortable homes for poor butrespectable women to live in. There is a class who cannot afford topay much, yet suffer a great deal from being obliged to stay in noisy,dirty, crowded places like tenement-houses and cheap lodgings. I canhelp a few of them, and I'm going to try."
"May I humbly ask if these decayed gentlewomen are to inhabit theirpalatial retreat rent-free?"
"That was my first plan; but uncle showed me that it was wiser not tomake genteel paupers of them, but let them pay a small rent and feelindependent. I don't want the money of course, and shall use it inkeeping the houses tidy, or helping other women in like case," saidRose, entirely ignoring her cousin's covert ridicule.
"Don't expect any gratitude, for you won't get it; nor much comfortwith a lot of forlornities on your hands; and be sure that when it istoo late you will tire of it all, and wish you had done as otherpeople do."
"Thanks for your cheerful prophecies; but I think I'll venture."
She looked so undaunted that Charlie was a little nettled, and firedhis last shot rather recklessly,--
"Well, one thing I do know: you'll never get a husband if you go on inthis absurd way; and, by Jove! you need one to take care of you andkeep the property together!"
Rose had a temper, but seldom let it get the better of her; now,however, it flashed up for a moment. Those last words were peculiarlyunfortunate, because Aunt Clara had used them more than once, whenwarning her against impecunious suitors and generous projects. She wasdisappointed in her cousin, annoyed at having her little plans laughedat, and indignant with him for his final suggestion.
"I'll never have one, if I must give up the liberty of doing what Iknow is right; and I'd rather go into the poor-house to-morrow than'keep the property together' in the selfish way you mean!"
That was all: but Charlie saw that he had gone too far, and hastenedto make his peace with the skill of a lover; for, turning to thelittle cabinet piano behind him, he sung in his best style the sweetold song,--
"Oh were thou in the cauld blast,"
dwelling with great effect, not only upon the tender assurance that
"My plaid should shelter thee,"
but also that, even if a king,
"The brightest jewel in my crown Wad be my queen, wad be my queen."
It was very evident that Prince Charming had not gone troubadouring invain; for Orpheus himself could not have restored harmony moresuccessfully. The tuneful apology was accepted with a forgiving smile,and a frank,--
"I'm sorry I was cross; but you haven't forgotten how to tease, andI'm rather out of sorts to-day. Late hours don't agree with me."
"Then you won't feel like going to Mrs. Hope's to-morrow night, I'mafraid," and Charlie took up the last note with an expression ofregret which was very flattering.
"I must go, because it is made for me; but I can come away early, andmake up lost sleep. I do hate to be so fractious," and Rose rubbed theforehead that ached with too much racketing.
"But the German does not begin till late: I'm to lead, and depend uponyou. Just stay this once to oblige me," pleaded Charlie; for he hadset his heart on distinguishing himself.
"No: I promised uncle to be temperate in my pleasures, and I must keepmy word. I'm so well now, it would be very foolish to get ill and makehim anxious: not to mention losing my beauty, as you are good enoughto call it; for that depends on health, you know."
"But the fun doesn't begin till after supper. Every thing will bedelightful, I assure you; and we'll have a gay old time as we did lastweek at Emma's."
"Then I certainly will not; for I'm ashamed of myself when I rememberwhat a romp that was, and how sober uncle looked, as he let me in atthree in the morning, all fagged out; my dress in rags, my headaching, my feet so tired I could hardly stand, and nothing to show forfive hours' hard work but a pocketful of bonbons, artificial flowers,and tissue-paper fool's-caps. Uncle said I'd better put one on and goto bed; for I looked as if I'd been to a French Bal Masque. I neverwant to hear him say so again, and I'll never let dawn catch me out insuch a plight any more."
"You were all right enough; for mother didn't object, and I got youboth home before daylight. Uncle is notional about such things, so Ishouldn't mind; for we had a jolly time, and we were none the worsefor it."
"Indeed we were, every one of us! Aunt Clara hasn't got over her coldyet; I slept all the next day; and you looked like a ghost, for you'dbeen out every night for weeks, I think."
"Oh, nonsense! every one does it during the season, and you'll getused to the pace very soon," began Charlie, bent on making her go; forhe was in his element in a ballroom, and never happier than when hehad his pretty cousin on his arm.
"Ah! but I don't want to get used to it; for it costs too much in theend. I don't wish to get used to being whisked about a hot room by menwho have taken too much wine; to turn day into night, wasting timethat might be better spent; and grow into a fashionable fast girl whocan't get on without excitement. I don't deny that much of it ispleasant, but don't try to make me too fond of gayety. Help me toresist what I know is hurtful, and please don't laugh me out of thegood 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 any thing he had set his heartupon, no matter how trivial; for the maternal indulgence which hadharmed the boy had fostered the habit of self-indulgence which wasruining the man. So when Rose looked up at him, with a very honestdesire to save him as well as herself from being swept into the giddyvortex which keeps so many young people revolving aimlessly, till theygo down or are cast upon the shore wrecks of what they might havebeen, he gave a shrug and answered briefly,--
"As you please. I'll bring you home as early as you like, and EffieWaring can take your place in the German. What flowers shall I sendyou?"
Now, that was an artful speech of Charlie's; for Miss Waring was afast and fashionable damsel, who openly admired Prince Charming, andhad given him the name. Rose disliked her, and was sure her influencewas bad; for youth made frivolity forgivable, wit hid want ofrefinement, and beauty always covers a multitude of sins in a man'seyes. At the sound of Effie's name, Rose wavered, and would haveyielded but for the memory of the "first mate's" last words. She diddesire to "keep a straight course;" so, though the current of impulseset strongly in a southerly direction, principle, the only compassworth having, pointed due north, and she tried to obey it like a wiseyoung navigator, saying steadily, while she directed to Annabel theparcel containing a capacious pair of slippers intended for UncleMac,--
"Don't trouble yourself about me. I can go with uncle, and slip awaywithout 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 shall hope to the last," and, kissing his hand to her, hedeparted to post her letters, qu
ite sure that Miss Waring would notlead the German.
It certainly looked for a moment as if Miss Campbell _would_, becauseshe ran to the door with the words "I'll go" upon her lips. But shedid not open it till she had stood a minute staring hard at the oldglove on Psyche's head; then, like one who had suddenly got a brightidea, she gave a decided nod and walked slowly out of the room.