第24章

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 though 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 anymore.""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 gotten 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! Everyone 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 along without excitement.I don't deny that much of it is pleasant, but don't try to make me too fond of gaiety.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 anything he had set his heart on, 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 shore, 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 shall take your place in the German.What flowers shall Isend 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 multitude 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 compass 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 I 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 gotten a bright idea, she gave a decided nod and walked slowly out of the room.