"Now I'm going to turn over a new leaf, as I promised. I wonderwhat I shall find on the next page?" said Rose, coming down onNew Year's morning with a serious face and a thick letter in herhand.

"Tired of frivolity, my dear?" asked her uncle, pausing in his walkup and down the hall to glance at her with a quick, bright look sheliked to bring into his eyes.

"No, sir, and that's the sad part of it, but I've made up my mind tostop while I can because I'm sure it is not good for me. I've hadsome very sober thoughts lately, for since my Phebe went awayI've had no heart for gaiety, so it is a good place to stop and make afresh start," answered Rose, taking his arm and walking on withhim.

"An excellent time! Now, how are you going to fill the achingvoid?" he asked, well pleased.

"By trying to be as unselfish, brave, and good as she is." And Roseheld the letter against her bosom with a tender touch, for Phebe'sstrength had inspired her with a desire to be as self-reliant. "I'mgoing to set about living in earnest, as she has; though I think itwill be harder for me than for her, because she stands alone andhas a career marked out for her. I'm nothing but a commonplacesort of girl, with no end of relations to be consulted every time Iwink and a dreadful fortune hanging like a millstone round myneck to weigh me down if I try to fly. It is a hard case, Uncle, and Iget low in my mind when I think about it," sighed Rose, oppressedwith her blessings.

"Afflicted child! How can I relieve you?" And there wasamusement as well as sympathy in Dr. Alec's face as he patted thehand upon his arm.

"Please don't laugh, for I really am trying to be good. In the firstplace, help me to wean myself from foolish pleasures and show mehow to occupy my thoughts and time so that I may not idle aboutand dream instead of doing great things."

"Good! We'll begin at once. Come to town with me this morningand see your houses. They are all ready, and Mrs. Gardner has halfa dozen poor souls waiting to go in as soon as you give the word,"answered the doctor promptly, glad to get his girl back again,though not surprised that she still looked with regretful eyes at theVanity Fair, always so enticing when we are young.

"I'll give it today, and make the new year a happy one to those poorsouls at least. I'm so sorry that it's impossible for me to go withyou, but you know I must help Aunty Plen receive. We haven'tbeen here for so long that she had set her heart on having a grandtime today, and I particularly want to please her because I have notbeen as amiable as I ought lately. I really couldn't forgive her forsiding against Phebe."

"She did what she thought was right, so we must not blame her. Iam going to make my New Year's calls today and, as my friendslive down that way, I'll get the list of names from Mrs. G. and tellthe poor ladies, with Miss Campbell's compliments, that their newhome is ready. Shall I?"

"Yes, Uncle, but take all the credit to yourself, for I never shouldhave thought of it if you had not proposed the plan."

"Bless your heart! I'm only your agent, and suggest now and then.I've nothing to offer but advice, so I lavish that on all occasions."

"You have nothing because you've given your substance all awayas generously as you do your advice. Never mind you shall nevercome to want while I live. I'll save enough for us two, though I domake 'ducks and drakes of my fortune.'"

Dr. Alec laughed at the toss of the head with which she quotedCharlie's offensive words, then offered to take the letter, saying, ashe looked at his watch: "I'll post that for you in time for the earlymail. I like a run before breakfast."

But Rose held her letter fast, dimpling with sudden smiles, halfmerry and half shy.

"No thank you, sir. Archie likes to do that, and never fails to callfor all I write. He gets a peep at Phebe's in return and I cheer himup a bit, for, though he says nothing, he has a hard time of it, poorfellow."

"How many letters in five days?"

"Four, sir, to me. She doesn't write to him, Uncle."

"As yet. Well, you show hers, so it's all right and you are a set ofsentimental youngsters." And the doctor walked away, looking asif he enjoyed the sentiment as much as any of them.

Old Miss Campbell was nearly as great a favorite as young MissCampbell, so a succession of black coats and white gloves flowedin and out of the hospitable mansion pretty steadily all day. Theclan was out in great force, and came by in installments to paytheir duty to Aunt Plenty and wish the compliments of the seasonto "our cousin." Archie appeared first, looking sad but steadfast,and went away with Phebe's letter in his left breast pocket feelingthat life was still endurable, though his love was torn from him, forRose had many comfortable things to say and read him deliciousbits from the voluminous correspondence lately begun.

Hardly was he gone when Will and Geordie came marching in,looking as fine as gray uniforms with much scarlet piping couldmake them and feeling peculiarly important, as this was their firstessay in New Year's call-making. Brief was their stay, for theyplanned to visit every friend they had, and Rose could not helplaughing at the droll mixture of manly dignity and boyish delightwith which they drove off in their own carriage, both as erect asramrods, arms folded, and caps stuck at exactly the same angle oneach blond head.

"Here comes the other couple Steve, in full feather, with a bigbouquet for Kitty, and poor Mac, looking like a gentleman andfeeling like a martyr, I'm sure," said Rose, watching one carriageturn in as the other turned out of the great gate, with its arch ofholly, ivy, and evergreen.

"Here he is. I've got him in tow for the day and want you to cheerhim up with a word of praise, for he came without a strugglethough planning to bolt somewhere with Uncle," cried Steve,falling back to display his brother, who came in lookingremarkably well in his state and festival array, for polishing hadbegun to tell.

"A happy New Year, Aunty, same to you, Cousin, and best wishesfor as many more as you deserve," said Mac, heeding Steve nomore than if he had been a fly as he gave the old lady a hearty kissand offered Rose a quaint little nosegay of pansies.

"Heart's-ease do you think I need it?" she asked, looking up withsudden sobriety.

"We all do. Could I give you anything better on a day like this?"

"No thank you very much." And a sudden dew came to Rose'seyes, for, though often blunt in speech, when Mac did do a tenderthing, it always touched her because he seemed to understand hermoods so well.

"Has Archie been here? He said he shouldn't go anywhere else, butI hope you talked that nonsense out of his head," said Steve,settling his tie before the mirror.

"Yes, dear, he came but looked so out of spirits I really feltreproached. Rose cheered him up a little, but I don't believe he willfeel equal to making calls and I hope he won't, for his face tells thewhole story much too plainly," answered Aunty Plenty, rustlingabout her bountiful table in her richest black silk with all her oldlace on.

"Oh, he'll get over it in a month or two, and Phebe will soon findanother lover, so don't be worried about him, Aunty," said Steve,with the air of a man who knew all about that sort of thing.

"If Archie does forget, I shall despise him, and I know Phebe won'ttry to find another lover, though she'll probably have them she is sosweet and good!" cried Rose indignantly, for, having taken the pairunder her protection, she defended them valiantly.

"Then you'd have Arch hope against hope and never give up,would you?" asked Mac, putting on his glasses to survey the thinboots which were his especial abomination.

"Yes, I would, for a lover is not worth having if he's not inearnest!"

"Exactly. So you'd like them to wait and work and keep on lovingtill they made you relent or plainly proved that it was no use."

"If they were good as well as constant, I think I should relent intime."

"I'll mention that to Pemberton, for he seemed to be hit the hardest,and a ray of hope will do him good, whether he is equal to the tenyears' wait or not," put in Steve, who liked to rally Rose about herlovers.

"I'll never forgive you if you say a word to anyone. It is only Mac'sodd way of asking questions, and I ought not to answer them. Youwill talk about such things and I can't stop you, but I don't like it,"said Rose, much annoyed.

"Poor little Penelope! She shall not be teased about her suitors butleft in peace till her Ulysses comes home," said Mac, sitting downto read the mottoes sticking out of certain fanciful bonbons on thetable.

"It is this fuss about Archie which has demoralized us all. Even theowl waked up and hasn't got over the excitement yet, you see. He'shad no experience, poor fellow, so he doesn't know how tobehave," observed Steve, regarding his bouquet with tenderinterest.

"That's true, and I asked for information because I may be in lovemyself someday and all this will be useful, don't you see?"

"You in love!" And Steve could not restrain a laugh at the idea ofthe bookworm a slave to the tender passion.

Quite unruffled, Mac leaned his chin in both hands, regardingthem with a meditative eye as he answered in his whimsical way:"Why not? I intend to study love as well as medicine, for it is oneof the most mysterious and remarkable diseases that afflictmankind, and the best way to understand it is to have it. I maycatch it someday, and then I should like to know how to treat andcure it."

"If you take it as badly as you did measles and whooping cough, itwill go hard with you, old fellow," said Steve, much amused withthe fancy.

"I want it to. No great experience comes or goes easily, and this isthe greatest we can know, I believe, except death."

Something in Mac's quiet tone and thoughtful eyes made Roselook at him in surprise, for she had never heard him speak in thatway before. Steve also stared for an instant, equally amazed, thensaid below his breath, with an air of mock anxiety: "He's beencatching something at the hospital, typhoid probably, and isbeginning to wander. I'll take him quietly away before he gets anywilder. Come, old lunatic, we must be off."

"Don't be alarmed. I'm all right and much obliged for your advice,for I fancy I shall be a desperate lover when my time comes, if itever does. You don't think it impossible, do you?" And Mac put thequestion so soberly that there was a general smile.

"Certainly not you'll be a regular Douglas, tender and true,"answered Rose, wondering what queer question would come next.

"Thank you. The fact is, I've been with Archie so much in histrouble lately that I've gotten interested in this matter and verynaturally want to investigate the subject as every rational manmust, sooner or later, that's all. Now, Steve, I'm ready." And Macgot up as if the lesson was over.

"My dear, that boy is either a fool or a genius, and I'm sure I shouldbe glad to know which," said Aunt Plenty, putting her bonbons torights with a puzzled shake of her best cap.

"Time will show, but I incline to think that he is not a fool by anymeans," answered the girl, pulling a cluster of white roses out ofher bosom to make room for the pansies, though they did not suitthe blue gown half so well.

Just then Aunt Jessie came in to help them receive, with Jamie tomake himself generally useful, which he proceeded to do byhovering around the table like a fly about a honey pot when notflattening his nose against the windowpanes to announce excitedly,"Here's another man coming up the drive!"

Charlie arrived next in his most sunshiny humor, for anythingsocial and festive was his delight, and when in this mood thePrince was quite irresistible. He brought a pretty bracelet for Roseand was graciously allowed to put it on while she chid him gentlyfor his extravagance.

"I am only following your example, for you know 'nothing is toogood for those we love, and giving away is the best thing one cando,'" he retorted, quoting words of her own.

"I wish you would follow my example in some other things as wellas you do in this," said Rose soberly as Aunt Plenty called him tocome and see if the punch was right.

"Must conform to the customs of society. Aunty's heart would bebroken if we did not drink her health in the good old fashion. Butdon't be alarmed I've a strong head of my own, and that's lucky, forI shall need it before I get through," laughed Charlie, showing along list as he turned away to gratify the old lady with all sorts ofmerry and affectionate compliments as the glasses touched.

Rose did feel rather alarmed, for if he drank the health of all theowners of those names, she felt sure that Charlie would need avery strong head indeed. It was hard to say anything then and therewithout seeming disrespect to Aunt Plenty, yet she longed toremind her cousin of the example she tried to set him in thisrespect, for Rose never touched wine, and the boys knew it. Shewas thoughtfully turning the bracelet, with its pretty device ofturquoise forget-me-nots, when the giver came back to her, stillbubbling over with good spirits.

"Dear little saint, you look as if you'd like to smash all the punchbowls in the city, and save us jolly young fellows from tomorrow'sheadache."

"I should, for such headaches sometimes end in heartaches, I'mafraid. Dear Charlie, don't be angry, but you know better than I thatthis is a dangerous day for such as you so do be careful for mysake," she added, with an unwonted touch of tenderness in hervoice, for, looking at the gallant figure before her, it wasimpossible to repress the womanly longing to keep it always asbrave and blithe as now.

Charlie saw that new softness in the eyes that never lookedunkindly on him, fancied that it meant more than it did, and, with asudden fervor in his own voice, answered quickly: "My darling, Iwill!"

The glow which had risen to his face was reflected in hers, for atthat moment it seemed as if it would be possible to love thiscousin who was so willing to be led by her and so much neededsome helpful influence to make a noble man of him. The thoughtcame and went like a flash, but gave her a quick heartthrob, as ifthe old affection was trembling on the verge of some warmersentiment, and left her with a sense of responsibility never feltbefore. Obeying the impulse, she said, with a pretty blending ofearnestness and playfulness, "If I wear the bracelet to rememberyou by, you must wear this to remind you of your promise."

"And you," whispered Charlie, bending his head to kiss the handsthat put a little white rose in his buttonhole.

Just at that most interesting moment they became aware of anarrival in the front drawing room, whither Aunt Plenty haddiscreetly retired. Rose felt grateful for the interruption, because,not being at all sure of the state of her heart as yet, she was afraidof letting a sudden impulse lead her too far. But Charlie, consciousthat a very propitious instant had been spoiled, regarded thenewcomer with anything but a benignant expression ofcountenance and, whispering, "Good-bye, my Rose, I shall look inthis evening to see how you are after the fatigues of the day," hewent away, with such a cool nod to poor Fun See that the amiableAsiatic thought he must have mortally offended him.

Rose had little leisure to analyze the new emotions of which shewas conscious, for Mr. Tokio came up at once to make hiscompliments with a comical mingling of Chinese courtesy andAmerican awkwardness, and before he had got his hat on Jamieshouted with admiring energy: "Here's another! Oh, such a swell!"

They now came thick and fast for many hours, and the ladies stoodbravely at their posts till late into the evening. Then Aunt Jessiewent home, escorted by a very sleepy little son, and Aunt Plentyretired to bed, used up. Dr. Alec had returned in good season, forhis friends were not fashionable ones, but Aunt Myra had sent upfor him in hot haste and he had good-naturedly obeyed thesummons. In fact, he was quite used to them now, for Mrs. Myra,having tried a variety of dangerous diseases, had finally decidedupon heart complaint as the one most likely to keep her friends ina chronic state of anxiety and was continually sending word thatshe was dying. One gets used to palpitations as well as everythingelse, so the doctor felt no alarm but always went and prescribedsome harmless remedy with the most amiable sobriety andpatience.

Rose was tired but not sleepy and wanted to think over severalthings, so instead of going to bed she sat down before the open firein the study to wait for her uncle and perhaps Charlie, though shedid not expect him so late.

Aunt Myra's palpitations must have been unusually severe, for theclock struck twelve before Dr. Alec came, and Rose was preparingto end her reverie when the sound of someone fumbling at the halldoor made her jump up, saying to herself: "Poor man! His handsare so cold he can't get his latchkey in. Is that you, Uncle?" sheadded, running to admit him, for Jane was slow and the night asbitter as it was brilliant.

A voice answered, "Yes." And as the door swung open, in walked,not Dr. Alec, but Charlie, who immediately took one of the hallchairs and sat there with his hat on, rubbing his gloveless handsand blinking as if the light dazzled him, as he said in a rapid,abrupt sort of tone, "I told you I'd come left the fellows keeping itup gloriously going to see the old year out, you know. But Ipromised never break my word and here I am. Angel in blue, didyou slay your thousands?"

"Hush! The waiters are still about. Come to the study fire andwarm yourself, you must be frozen," said Rose, going before to rollup the easy chair.

"Not at all never warmer looks very comfortable, though. Where'sUncle?" asked Charlie, following with his hat still on, his hands inhis pockets, and his eye fixed steadily on the bright head in front ofhim.

"Aunt Myra sent for him, and I was waiting up to see how shewas," answered Rose, busily mending the fire.

Charlie laughed and sat down upon a corner of the library table."Poor old soul! What a pity she doesn't die before he is quite wornout. A little too much ether some of these times would send her offquite comfortably, you know."

"Don't speak in that way. Uncle says imaginary troubles are oftenas hard to bear as real ones," said Rose, turning around displeased.

Till now she had not fairly looked at him, for recollections of themorning made her a little shy. His attitude and appearancesurprised her as much as his words, and the quick change in herface seemed to remind him of his manners. Getting up, he hastilytook off his hat and stood looking at her with a curiously fixed yetabsent look as he said in the same rapid, abrupt way, as if, whenonce started, he found it hard to stop, "I beg pardon only jokingvery bad taste I know, and won't do it again. The heat of the roommakes me a little dizzy, and I think I got a chill coming out. It iscold I am frozen, I daresay though I drove like the devil."

"Not that bad horse of yours, I hope? I know it is dangerous, so lateand alone," said Rose, shrinking behind the big chair as Charlieapproached the fire, carefully avoiding a footstool in his way.

"Danger is exciting that's why I like it. No man ever called me acoward let him try it once. I never give in and that horse shall notconquer me. I'll break his neck, if he breaks my spirit doing it. No Idon't mean that never mind it's all right," and Charlie laughed in away that troubled her, because there was no mirth in it.

"Have you had a pleasant day?" asked Rose, looking at himintently as he stood pondering over the cigar and match which heheld, as if doubtful which to strike and which to smoke.

"Day? Oh, yes, capital. About two thousand calls, and a nice littlesupper at the Club. Randal can't sing any more than a crow, but Ileft him with a glass of champagne upside down, trying to givethem my old favorite:

"'Tis better to laugh than be sighing,"

and Charlie burst forth in that bacchanalian melody at the top ofhis voice, waving an allumette holder over his head to representRandal's inverted wineglass.

"Hush! You'll wake Aunty," cried Rose in a tone so commandingthat he broke off in the middle of a roulade to stare at her with ablank look as he said apologetically, "I was merely showing how itshould be done. Don't be angry, dearest look at me as you did thismorning, and I'll swear never to sing another note if you say so. I'monly a little gay we drank your health handsomely, and they allcongratulated me. Told 'em it wasn't out yet. Stop, though I didn'tmean to mention that. No matter I'm always in a scrape, but youalways forgive me in the sweetest way. Do it now, and don't beangry, little darling." And, dropping the vase, he went toward herwith a sudden excitement that made her shrink behind the chair.

She was not angry, but shocked and frightened, for she knew nowwhat the matter was and grew so pale, he saw it and asked pardonbefore she could utter a rebuke.

"We'll talk of that tomorrow. It is very late. Go home now, please,before Uncle comes," she said, trying to speak naturally yetbetraying her distress by the tremor of her voice and the sadanxiety in her eyes.

"Yes, yes, I will go you are tired I'll make it all right tomorrow."And as if the sound of his uncle's name steadied him for an instant,Charlie made for the door with an unevenness of gait which wouldhave told the shameful truth if his words had not already done so.Before he reached it, however, the sound of wheels arrested himand, leaning against the wall, he listened with a look of dismaymingled with amusement creeping over his face. "Brutus hasbolted now I am in a fix. Can't walk home with this horriddizziness in my head. It's the cold, Rose, nothing else, I do assureyou, and a chill yes, a chill. See here! Let one of those fellowsthere lend me an arm no use to go after that brute. Won't Motherbe frightened though when he gets home?" And with that emptylaugh again, he fumbled for the door handle.

"No, no don't let them see you! Don't let anyone know! Stay heretill Uncle comes, and he'll take care of you. Oh, Charlie! Howcould you do it! How could you when you promised?" And,forgetting fear in the sudden sense of shame and anguish that cameover her, Rose ran to him, caught his hand from the lock, andturned the key; then, as if she could not bear to see him standingthere with that vacant smile on his lips, she dropped into a chairand covered up her face.

The cry, the act, and, more than all, the sight of the bowed headwould have sobered poor Charlie if it had not been too late. Helooked about the room with a vague, despairing look, as if to findreason fast slipping from his control, but heat and cold, excitementand reckless pledging of many healths had done their work toowell to make instant sobriety possible, and owning his defeat witha groan, he turned away and threw himself face-downward on thesofa, one of the saddest sights the new year looked upon as it camein.

As she sat there with hidden eyes, Rose felt that something dear toher was dead forever. The ideal, which all women cherish, lookfor, and too often think they have found when love glorifies amortal man, is hard to give up, especially when it comes in thelikeness of the first lover who touches a young girl's heart. Rosehad just begun to feel that perhaps this cousin, despite his faults,might yet become the hero that he sometimes looked, and thethought that she might be his inspiration was growing sweet to her,although she had not entertained it until very lately. Alas, howshort the tender dream had been, how rude the awakening! Howimpossible it would be ever again to surround that fallen figurewith all the romance of an innocent fancy or gift it with the highattributes beloved by a noble nature!

Breathing heavily in the sudden sleep that kindly brought a briefoblivion of himself, he lay with flushed cheeks, disordered hair,and at his feet the little rose that never would be fresh and fairagain a pitiful contrast now to the brave, blithe young man whowent so gaily out that morning to be so ignominiously overthrownat night.

Many girls would have made light of a trespass so readily forgivenby the world, but Rose had not yet learned to offer temptation witha smile and shut her eyes to the weakness that makes a man abrute. It always grieved or disgusted her to see it in others, andnow it was very terrible to have it brought so near not in its worstform, by any means, but bad enough to wring her heart with shameand sorrow and fill her mind with dark forebodings for the future.So she could only sit mourning for the Charlie that might havebeen while watching the Charlie that was with an ache in her heartwhich found no relief till, putting her hands there as if to ease thepain, they touched the pansies, faded but still showing gold amongthe somber purple, and then two great tears dropped on them asshe sighed: "Ah, me! I do need heart's-ease sooner than I thought!"

Her uncle's step made her spring up and unlock the door, showinghim such an altered face that he stopped short, ejaculating indismay, "Good heavens, child! What's the matter?" adding, as shepointed to the sofa in pathetic silence, "Is he hurt? ill? dead?"

"No, Uncle, he is - " She could not utter the ugly word butwhispered with a sob in her throat, "Be kind to him," and fledaway to her own room, feeling as if a great disgrace had fallen onthe house.