"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 in vain; for Orpheus himself could not have restored harmony more successfully. 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, and I"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"m afraid," and Charlie took up the last note with an expression of regret which was very flattering.
"I must go, because it is made for me; but I can come away early, and make up lost sleep. I do hate to be so fractious," and Rose rubbed the forehead that ached with too much racketing.
"But the German does not begin till late: I"m to lead, and depend upon you. Just stay this once to oblige me," pleaded Charlie; for he had set his heart on distinguishing himself.
"No: I promised uncle to be temperate in my pleasures, and I must keep my word. I"m so well now, it would be very foolish to get ill and make him anxious: not to mention losing my beauty, as you are good enough to call it; for that depends on health, you know."
"But the fun doesn"t begin till after supper. Every thing will be delightful, I a.s.sure you; and we"ll have a gay old time as we did last week at Emma"s."
"Then I certainly will not; for I"m ashamed of myself when I remember what a romp that was, and how sober uncle looked, as he let me in at three in the morning, all f.a.gged out; my dress in rags, my head aching, my feet so tired I could hardly stand, and nothing to show for five 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 go to bed; for I looked as if I"d been to a French Bal Masque. I never want to hear him say so again, and I"ll never let dawn catch me out in such a plight any more."
"You were all right enough; for mother didn"t object, and I got you both home before daylight. Uncle is notional about such things, so I shouldn"t mind; for we had a jolly time, and we were none the worse for it."
"Indeed we were, every one of us! Aunt Clara hasn"t got over her cold yet; I slept all the next day; and you looked like a ghost, for you"d been out every night for weeks, I think."
"Oh, nonsense! every one does it during the season, and you"ll get 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 on without excitement. I don"t deny that much of it is pleasant, but don"t try to make me too fond of gayety. 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 any thing he had set his heart upon, 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 sh.o.r.e 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 can 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 mult.i.tude 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 compa.s.s 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 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 got a bright idea, she gave a decided nod and walked slowly out of the room.
CHAPTER VI.
_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 any one 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 utter; for she twisted her handkerchief about her fingers in embarra.s.sed silence, till Mac put on his gla.s.ses, and, after a keen look, asked soberly,--
"Is it a splinter, a cut, or a whitlow, ma"am?"
"It is neither; do forget your tiresome surgery for a minute, and be the kindest cousin that ever was," answered Rose, beginning rather sharply and ending with her most engaging smile.
"Can"t promise in the dark," said the wary youth.
"It is a favor, a great favor, and one I don"t choose to ask any of the other boys," answered the artful damsel.
Mac looked pleased, and leaned forward, saying more affably,--
"Name it, and be sure I"ll grant it if I can."
"Go with me to Mrs. Hope"s party to-morrow night."
"What!" and Mac recoiled as if she had put a pistol to his head.
"I"ve left you in peace a long time: but it is your turn now; so do your duty like a man and a cousin."
"But I never go to parties!" cried the unhappy victim in great dismay.
"High time you began, sir."
"But I don"t dance fit to be seen."
"I"ll teach you."
"My dress-coat isn"t decent, I know."
"Archie will lend you one: he isn"t going."
"I"m afraid there"s a lecture that I ought not to cut."
"No, there isn"t: I asked uncle."
"I"m always so tired and dull in the evening."
"This sort of thing is just what you want to rest and freshen up your spirits."
Mac gave a groan and fell back vanquished; for it was evident that escape was impossible.