For a time everything went smoothly, and Rose was a happy girl.The world seemed a beautiful and friendly place, and fulfillmentof her brightest dreams appeared to be a possibility. Of course thiscould not last, and disappointment was inevitable, because youngeyes look for a Paradise and weep when they find a workadayworld which seems full of care and trouble till one learns togladden and glorify it with high thoughts and holy living.

Those who loved her waited anxiously for the disillusion whichmust come in spite of all their cherishing, for till now Rose hadbeen so busy with her studies, travels, and home duties that sheknew very little of the triumphs, trials, and temptations offashionable life. Birth and fortune placed her where she could notwell escape some of them, and Dr. Alec, knowing that experienceis the best teacher, wisely left her to learn this lesson as she mustmany another, devoutly hoping that it would not be a hard one.

October and November passed rapidly, and Christmas was at hand,with all its merry mysteries, home gatherings, and good wishes.

Rose sat in her own little sanctum, opening from the parlor, busilypreparing gifts for the dear five hundred friends who seemed togrow fonder and fonder as the holidays drew near. The drawers ofher commode stood open, giving glimpses of dainty trifles, whichshe was tying up with bright ribbons.

A young girl's face at such moments is apt to be a happy one, butRose's was very grave as she worked, and now and then she threwa parcel into the drawer with a careless toss, as if no love made thegift precious. So unusual was this expression that it struck Dr. Alecas he came in and brought an anxious look to his eyes, for anycloud on that other countenance dropped its shadow over his.

"Can you spare a minute from your pretty work to take a stitch inmy old glove?" he asked, coming up to the table strewn withribbon, lace, and colored papers.

"Yes, Uncle, as many as you please."

The face brightened with sudden sunshine; both hands were putout to receive the shabby driving glove, and the voice was full ofthat affectionate alacrity which makes the smallest service sweet.

"My Lady Bountiful is hard at work, I see. Can I help in any way?"he asked, glancing at the display before him.

"No, thank you, unless you can make me as full of interest andpleasure in these things as I used to be. Don't you think preparingpresents a great bore, except for those you love and who loveyou?" she added in a tone which had a slight tremor in it as sheuttered the last words.

"I don't give to people whom I care nothing for. Can't do it,especially at Christmas, when goodwill should go into everythingone does. If all these 'pretties' are for dear friends, you must have agreat many."

"I thought they were friends, but I find many of them are not, andthat's the trouble, sir."

"Tell me all about it, dear, and let the old glove go," he said, sittingdown beside her with his most sympathetic air.

But she held the glove fast, saying eagerly, "No, no, I love to dothis! I don't feel as if I could look at you while I tell what a bad,suspicious girl I am," she added, keeping her eyes on her work.

"Very well, I'm ready for confessions of any iniquity and glad toget them, for sometimes lately I've seen a cloud in my girl's eyesand caught a worried tone in her voice. Is there a bitter drop in thecup that promised to be so sweet, Rose?"

"Yes, Uncle. I've tried to think there was not, but it is there, and Idon't like it. I'm ashamed to tell, and yet I want to, because youwill show me how to make it sweet or assure me that I shall be thebetter for it, as you used to do when I took medicine."

She paused a minute, sewing swiftly; then out came the trouble allin one burst of girlish grief and chagrin.

"Uncle, half the people who are so kind to me don't care a bit forme, but for what I can give them, and that makes me unhappy,because I was so glad and proud to be liked. I do wish I hadn't apenny in the world, then I should know who my true friends were."

"Poor little lass! She has found out that all that glitters is not gold,and the disillusion has begun," said the doctor to himself, addingaloud, smiling yet pitiful, "And so all the pleasure is gone out ofthe pretty gifts and Christmas is a failure?"

"Oh, no not for those whom nothing can make me doubt! It issweeter than ever to make these things, because my heart is inevery stitch and I know that, poor as they are, they will be dear toyou, Aunty Plen, Aunt Jessie, Phebe, and the boys."

She opened a drawer where lay a pile of pretty gifts, wrought withloving care by her own hands, touching them tenderly as she spokeand patting the sailor's knot of blue ribbon on one fat parcel with asmile that told how unshakable her faith in someone was. "Butthese," she said, pulling open another drawer and tossing over itsgay contents with an air half sad, half scornful, "these I bought andgive because they are expected. These people care only for a richgift, not one bit for the giver, whom they will secretly abuse if sheis not as generous as they expect. How can I enjoy that sort ofthing, Uncle?"

"You cannot, but perhaps you do some of them injustice, my dear.Don't let the envy or selfishness of a few poison your faith in all.Are you sure that none of these girls care for you?" he asked,reading a name here and there on the parcels scattered about.

"I'm afraid I am. You see I heard several talking together the otherevening at Annabel's, only a few words, but it hurt me very much,for nearly everyone was speculating on what I would give themand hoping it would be something fine. 'She's so rich she ought tobe generous,' said one. 'I've been perfectly devoted to her for weeksand hope she won't forget it,' said another. 'If she doesn't give mesome of her gloves, I shall think she's very mean, for she hasheaps, and I tried on a pair in fun so she could see they fitted andtake a hint,' added a third. I did take the hint, you see." And Roseopened a handsome box in which lay several pairs of her bestgloves, with buttons enough to satisfy the heart of the mostcovetous.

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

"Not a particle, nor in most of these. I have given them what theywanted and taken back the confidence and respect they didn't carefor. It is wrong, I know, but I can't bear to think all the seeminggoodwill and friendliness I've been enjoying was insincere and fora purpose. That's not the way I treat people."

"I am sure of it. Take things for what they are worth, dear, and tryto find the wheat among the tares, for there is plenty if one knowshow to look. Is that all the trouble?"

"No, sir, that is the lightest part of it. I shall soon get over mydisappointment in those girls and take them for what they areworth as you advise, but being deceived in them makes mesuspicious of others, and that is hateful. If I cannot trust people I'drather keep by myself and be happy. I do detest maneuvering andunderhanded plots and plans!"

Rose spoke petulantly and twitched her silk till it broke, whileregret seemed to give place to anger as she spoke.

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

Rose laughed, but the color deepened in her cheeks as sheanswered with a pretty mixture of maidenly shyness and naturalcandor.

"Aunt Clara worries me by warning me against half the young menI meet and insisting that they want only my money. Now that isdreadful, and I won't listen, but I can't help thinking of itsometimes, for they are very kind to me and I'm not vain enough tothink it is my beauty. I suppose I am foolish, but I do like to feelthat 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 ofthe perplexity ingenuous spirits feel when doubt first mars theirfaith and dims the innocent beliefs still left from childhood. Hehad been expecting this and knew that what the girl just began toperceive and try modestly to tell had long ago been plain toworldlier eyes. The heiress was the attraction to most of the youngmen whom she met. Good fellows enough, but educated, as nearlyall are nowadays, to believe that girls with beauty or money arebrought to market to sell or buy as the case may be.

Rose could purchase anything she liked, as she combined bothadvantages, and was soon surrounded by many admirers, eachstriving to secure the prize. Not being trained to believe that theonly end and aim of a woman's life was a good match, she was alittle disturbed, when the first pleasing excitement was over, todiscover that her fortune was her chief attraction.

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

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

"You are something besides an heiress to those who know and loveyou, so take heart, my girl, and hold fast to the faith that is in you.There is a touchstone for all these things, and whatever does notring true, doubt and avoid. Test and try men and women as theycome along, and I am sure conscience, instinct, and experiencewill keep you from any dire mistake," he said, with a protectingarm about her and a trustful look that was very comforting.

After a moment's pause she answered, while a sudden smiledimpled around her mouth and the big glove went up to hide hertelltale cheeks: "Uncle, if I must have lovers, I do wish they'd bemore interesting. How can I like or respect men who go on assome of them do and then imagine women can feel honored by theoffer of their hands? Hearts are out of fashion, so they don't saymuch about them."

"Ah, ha! That is the trouble, is it? And we begin to have delicatedistresses, do we?" said Dr. Alec, glad to see her brightening andfull of interest in the new topic, for he was a romantic old fellow,as he had confessed to his brother.

Rose put down the glove and looked up with a droll mixture ofamusement and disgust in her face. "Uncle, it is perfectlydisgraceful! I've wanted to tell you, but I was ashamed, because Inever could boast of such things as some girls do, and they were soabsurd I couldn't feel as if they were worth repeating even to you.Perhaps I ought, though, for you may think it proper to commandme to make a good match, and of course I should have to obey,"she added, trying to look meek.

"Tell, by all means. Don't I always keep your secrets and give youthe best advice, like a model guardian? You must have a confidant,and where find a better one than here?" he asked, tapping hiswaistcoat with an inviting gesture.

"Nowhere so I'll tell all but the names. I'd best be prudent, for I'mafraid you may get a little fierce you do sometimes when peoplevex me," began Rose, rather liking the prospect of a confidentialchat with Uncle, for he had kept himself a good deal in thebackground lately.

"You know our ideas are old-fashioned, so I was not prepared tohave men propose at all times and places with no warning but afew smiles and soft speeches. I expected things of that sort wouldbe very interesting and proper, not to say thrilling, on my part butthey are not, and I find myself laughing instead of crying, feelingangry instead of glad, and forgetting all about it very soon. Why,Uncle, one absurd boy proposed when we'd met only half a dozentimes. But he was dreadfully in debt, so that accounted for itperhaps." And Rose dusted her fingers, as if she had soiled them.

"I know him, and I thought he'd do it," observed the doctor with ashrug.

"You see and know everything, so there's no need of going on, isthere?"

"Do, do! Who else? I won't even guess."

"Well, another went down upon his knees in Mrs. Van'sgreenhouse and poured forth his passion manfully, with a greatcactus pricking his poor legs all the while. Kitty found him there,and it was impossible to keep sober, so he has hated me eversince."

The doctor's "Ha! Ha!" was good to hear, and Rose joined him, forit was impossible to regard these episodes seriously, since no truesentiment redeemed them from absurdity.

"Another sent me reams of poetry and went on so Byronically thatI began to wish I had red hair and my name was Betsy Ann. I burntall the verses, so don't expect to see them, and he, poor fellow, isconsoling himself with Emma. But the worst of all was the onewho would make love in public and insisted on proposing in themiddle of a dance. I seldom dance round dances except with ourboys, but that night I did because the girls laughed at me for beingso 'prudish,' as they called it. I don't mind them now, for I found Iwas right, and felt that I deserved my fate."

"Is that all?" asked her uncle, looking "fierce," as she predicted, atthe idea of his beloved girl obliged to listen to a declaration,twirling on the arm of a lover.

"One more but him I shall not tell about, for I know he was inearnest and really suffered, though I was as kind as I knew how tobe. I'm young in these things yet, so I grieved for him, and treat hislove with the tenderest respect."

Rose's voice sank almost to a whisper as she ended, and Dr. Alecbent his head, as if involuntarily saluting a comrade in misfortune.Then he got up, saying with a keen look into the face he lifted by afinger under the chin: "Do you want another three months of this?"

"I'll tell you on New Year's Day, Uncle."

"Very well. Try to keep a straight course, my little captain, and ifyou see dirty weather ahead, call on your first mate."

"Aye, aye, sir. I'll remember."