第18章

'I've been perfectly devoted to her for weeks and hope she won't forget it,' said another.'If she doesn't give me some of her gloves, I shall think she's very mean, for she has heaps, and I tried on a pair in fun so she could see they fitted and take a hint,' added a third.I did take the hint, you see." And Rose opened a handsome box in which lay several pairs of her best gloves, with buttons enough to satisfy the heart of the most covetous.

"Plenty of silver paper and perfume, but not much love went into that bundle, I fancy?" And Dr.Alec could not help smiling at the disdainful little gesture with which Rose pushed away the box.

"Not a particle, nor in most of these.I have given them what they wanted and taken back the confidence and respect they didn't care for.It is wrong, I know, but I can't bear to think all the seeming goodwill and friendliness I've been enjoying was insincere and for a purpose.That's not the way I treat people.""I am sure of it.Take things for what they are worth, dear, and try to find the wheat among the tares, for there is plenty if one knows how to look.Is that all the trouble?""No, sir, that is the lightest part of it.I shall soon get over my disappointment in those girls and take them for what they are worth as you advise, but being deceived in them makes me suspicious of others, and that is hateful.If I cannot trust people I'd rather keep by myself and be happy.I do detest maneuvering and underhanded plots and plans!"Rose spoke petulantly and twitched her silk till it broke, while regret seemed to give place to anger as she spoke.

"There is evidently another thorn pricking.Let us have it out, and then I'll kiss the place to make it well as I used to do when I took the splinters from the fingers you are pricking so unmercifully," said the doctor, anxious to relieve his pet patient as soon as possible.

Rose laughed, but the color deepened in her cheeks as she answered with a pretty mixture of maidenly shyness and natural candor.

"Aunt Clara worries me by warning me against half the young men I meet and insisting that they want only my money.Now that is dreadful, and Iwon't listen, but I can't help thinking of it sometimes, for they are very kind to me and I'm not vain enough to think it is my beauty.I suppose I am foolish, but I do like to feel that I am something besides an heiress."The little quiver was in Rose's voice again as she ended, and Dr.Alec gave a quick sigh as he looked at the downcast face so full of the perplexity ingenuous spirits feel when doubt first mars their faith and dims the innocent beliefs still left from childhood.He had been expecting this and knew that what the girl just began to perceive and try modestly to tell had long ago been plain to worldlier eyes.The heiress was the attraction to most of the young men whom she met.Good fellows enough, but educated, as nearly all are nowadays, to believe that girls with beauty or money are brought to market to sell or buy as the case may be.

Rose could purchase anything she liked, as she combined both advantages, and was soon surrounded by many admirers, each striving to secure the prize.

Not being trained to believe that the only end and aim of a woman's life was a good match, she was a little disturbed, when the first pleasing excitement was over, to discover that her fortune was her chief attraction.

It was impossible for her to help seeing, hearing, guessing this from a significant glance, a stray word, a slight hint here and there, and the quick instinct of a woman felt even before it understood the self-interest which chilled for her so many opening friendships.In her eyes love was a very sacred thing, hardly to be thought of till it came, reverently received and cherished faithfully to the end.Therefore, it is not strange that she shrank from hearing it flippantly discussed and marriage treated as a bargain to be haggled over, with little thought of its high duties, great responsibilities, and tender joys.Many things perplexed her, and sometimes a doubt of all that till now she had believed and trusted made her feel as if at sea without a compass, for the new world was so unlike the one she had been living in that it bewildered while it charmed the novice.

Dr.Alec understood the mood in which he found her and did his best to warn without saddening by too much worldly wisdom.