"Oh, Rose, I've got something so exciting to tell you!" cried KittyVan Tassel, skipping into the carriage next morning when herfriend called for her to go shopping.

Kitty always did have some "perfectly thrilling" communication tomake and Rose had learned to take them quietly, but the nextdemonstration was a new one, for, regardless alike of curiousobservers outside and disordered hats within, Kitty caught Rosearound the neck, exclaiming in a rapturous whisper: "My dearestcreature, I'm engaged!"

"I'm so glad! Of course it is Steve?"

"Dear fellow, he did it last night in the nicest way, and Mama is sodelighted. Now what shall I be married in?" And Kitty composedherself with a face full of the deepest anxiety.

"How can you talk of that so soon? Why, Kit, you unromantic girl,you ought to be thinking of your lover and not your clothes," saidRose, amused yet rather scandalized at such want of sentiment.

"I am thinking of my lover, for he says he will not have a longengagement, so I must begin to think about the most importantthings at once, mustn't I?"

"Ah, he wants to be sure of you, for you are such a slipperycreature he is afraid you'll treat him as you did poor Jackson andthe rest," interrupted Rose, shaking her finger at her prospectivecousin, who had tried this pastime twice before and was ratherproud than otherwise of her brief engagements.

"You needn't scold, for I know I'm right, and when you've been insociety as long as I have you'll find that the only way to reallyknow a man is to be engaged to him. While they want you they areall devotion, but when they think they've got you, then you find outwhat wretches they are," answered Kitty with an air of worldlywisdom which contrasted oddly with her youthful face and giddymanners.

"A sad prospect for poor Steve, unless I give him a hint to lookwell to his ways."

"Oh, my dear child, I'm sure of him, for my experience has mademe very sharp and I'm convinced I can manage him without a bitof trouble. We've known each other for ages" Steve was twentyand Kitty eighteen "and always been the best of friends. Besides,he is quite my ideal man. I never could bear big hands and feet,and his are simply adorable. Then he's the best dancer I know anddresses in perfect taste. I really do believe I fell in love with hispocket handkerchiefs first, they were so enchanting I couldn'tresist," laughed Kitty, pulling a large one out of her pocket andburying her little nose in the folds, which shed a deliciousfragrance upon the air.

"Now, that looks promising, and I begin to think you have got alittle sentiment after all," said Rose, well pleased, for the merrybrown eyes had softened suddenly and a quick color came up inKitty's cheek as she answered, still half hiding her face in thebeloved handkerchief: "Of course I have, lots of it, only I'mashamed to show it to most people, because it's the style to takeeverything in the most nonchalant way. My gracious, Rose, you'dhave thought me a romantic goose last night while Steve proposedin the back parlor, for I actually cried, he was so dreadfully inearnest when I pretended that I didn't care for him, and so verydear and nice when I told the truth. I didn't know he had it in him,but he came out delightfully and never cared a particle, though Idropped tears all over his lovely shirtfront. Wasn't that good ofhim? For you know he hates his things to be mussed."

"He's a true Campbell, and has got a good warm heart of his ownunder those fine fronts of his. Aunt Jane doesn't believe insentiment, so he has been trained never to show any, but it is there,and you must encourage him to let it out, not foolishly, but in away to make him more manly and serious."

"I will if I can, for though I wouldn't own this to everybody, I likeit in him very much and feel as if Steve and I should get onbeautifully. Here we are now, be sure not to breathe a word if wemeet anyone. I want it to be a profound secret for a week at least,"added Kitty, whisking her handkerchief out of sight as the carriagestopped before the fashionable store they were about to visit.

Rose promised with a smile, for Kitty's face betrayed her withoutwords, so full was it of the happiness which few eyes fail tounderstand whenever they see it.

"Just a glance at the silks. You ask my opinion about white ones,and I'll look at the colors. Mama says satin, but that is out now,and I've set my heart on the heaviest corded thing I can find,"whispered Kitty as they went rustling by the long counters strewnwith all that could delight the feminine eye and tempt the femininepocket.

"Isn't that opal the loveliest thing you ever saw? I'm afraid I'm toodark to wear it, but it would just suit you. You'll need a variety,you know," added Kitty in a significant aside as Rose stood amongthe white silks while her companion affected great interest in thedelicate hues laid before her.

"But I have a variety now, and don't need a new dress of any sort."

"No matter, get it, else it will be gone. You've worn all yoursseveral times already and must have a new one whether you need itor not. Dear me! If I had as much pocket money as you have, I'dcome out in a fresh toilet at every party I went to," answered Kitty,casting an envious eye upon the rainbow piles before her.

The quick-witted shopman saw that a wedding was afoot, for whentwo pretty girls whisper, smile, and blush over their shopping,clerks scent bridal finery and a transient gleam of interestbrightens their imperturbable countenances and lends a briefenergy to languid voices weary with crying, "Cash!" Gatheringboth silks with a practiced turn of the hand, he held them up forinspection, detecting at a glance which was the bride-elect andwhich the friend, for Kitty fell back to study the effect of silverywhite folds with an absorbing interest impossible to mistake whileRose sat looking at the opal as if she scarcely heard a bland voicesaying, with the rustle of silk so dear to girlish ears: "A superbthing, just opened; all the rage in Paris; very rare shade; trying tomost, as the lady says, but quite perfect for a blonde."

Rose was not listening to those words but to others which AuntClara had lately uttered, laughed at then, but thought over morethan once since.

"I'm tired of hearing people wonder why Miss Campbell does notdress more. Simplicity is all very well for schoolgirls and womenwho can't afford anything better, but you can, and you really ought.Your things are pretty enough in their way, and I rather like you tohave a style of your own, but it looks odd and people will thinkyou are mean if you don't make more show. Besides, you don't dojustice to your beauty, which would be both peculiar and striking ifyou'd devote your mind to getting up ravishing costumes."

Much more to the same effect did her aunt say, discussing thesubject quite artistically and unconsciously appealing to several ofRose's ruling passions. One was a love for the delicate fabrics,colors, and ornaments which refined tastes enjoy and whosecostliness keeps them from ever growing common; another, herstrong desire to please the eyes of those she cared for and gratifytheir wishes in the smallest matter if she could. And last, but notleast, the natural desire of a young and pretty woman to enhancethe beauty which she so soon discovers to be her most potentcharm for the other sex, her passport to a high place among hermaiden peers.

She had thought seriously of surprising and delighting everyone byappearing in a costume which should do justice to the lovelinesswhich was so modest that it was apt to forget itself in admiringothers what girls call a "ravishing" dress, such as she couldimagine and easily procure by the magic of the Fortunatus' purse inher pocket. She had planned it all, the shimmer of pale silkthrough lace like woven frostwork, ornaments of some classicpattern, and all the dainty accessories as perfect as time, taste, andmoney could make them.

She knew that Uncle Alec's healthful training had given her afigure that could venture on any fashion and Nature blessed herwith a complexion that defied all hues. So it was little wonder thatshe felt a strong desire to use these gifts, not for the pleasure ofdisplay, but to seem fair in the eyes that seldom looked at herwithout a tender sort of admiration, all the more winning when nowords marred the involuntary homage women love.

These thoughts were busy in Rose's mind as she sat looking at thelovely silk and wondering what Charlie would say if she shouldsome night burst upon him in a pale rosy cloud, like the Aurora towhom he often likened her. She knew it would please him verymuch and she longed to do all she honestly could to gratify thepoor fellow, for her tender heart already felt some remorsefulpangs, remembering how severe she had been the night before. Shecould not revoke her words, because she meant them every one,but she might be kind and show that she did not wholly shut himout from her regard by asking him to go with her to Kitty's ball andgratify his artistic taste by a lovely costume. A very girlish butkindly plan, for that ball was to be the last of her frivolities, so shewanted it to be a pleasant one and felt that "being friends" withCharlie would add much to her enjoyment.

This idea made her fingers tighten on the gleaming fabric sotemptingly upheld, and she was about to take it when, "If yeplease, sir, would ye kindly tell me where I'd be finding the flannelplace?" said a voice behind her, and, glancing up, she saw a meeklittle Irishwoman looking quite lost and out of place among theluxuries around her.

"Downstairs, turn to the left," was the clerk's hasty reply, with avague wave of the hand which left the inquirer more in the darkthan ever.

Rose saw the woman's perplexity and said kindly, "I'll show youthis way."

"I'm ashamed to be throublin' ye, miss, but it's strange I am in it,and wouldn't be comin' here at all, at all, barrin' they tould me I'dget the bit I'm wantin' chaper in this big shop than the little onesmore becomin' the like o' me," explained the little woman humbly.

Rose looked again as she led the way through a well-dressedcrowd of busy shoppers, and something in the anxious, tired faceunder the old woolen hood the bare, purple hands holding fast ameager wallet and a faded scrap of the dotted flannel littlechildren's frocks are so often made of touched the generous heartthat never could see want without an impulse to relieve it. She hadmeant only to point the way, but, following a new impulse, shewent on, listening to the poor soul's motherly prattle about "mebaby" and the "throuble" it was to "find clothes for the growin'childer when me man is out av work and the bit and supinconvaynient these hard times" as they descended to thatdarksome lower world where necessities take refuge when luxuriescrowd them out from the gayer place above.

The presence of a lady made Mrs. Sullivan's shopping very easynow, and her one poor "bit" of flannel grew miraculously intoyards of several colors, since the shabby purse was no lighter whenshe went away, wiping her eyes on the corner of a big, brownbundle. A very little thing, and no one saw it but a wooden-facedclerk, who never told, yet it did Rose good and sent her up into thelight again with a sober face, thinking self-reproachfully, "Whatright have I to more gay gowns when some poor babies have none,or to spend time making myself fine while there is so much bitterwant in the world?"

Nevertheless the pretty things were just as tempting as ever, andshe yearned for the opal silk with a renewed yearning when she gotback. It is not certain that it would not have been bought in spite ofher better self if a good angel in the likeness of a stout lady withsilvery curls about the benevolent face, enshrined in a plainbonnet, had not accosted her as she joined Kitty, still broodingover the wedding gowns.

"I waited a moment for you, my dear, because I'm in haste, andvery glad to save myself a journey or a note," began the newcomerin a low tone as Rose shook hands with the most affectionaterespect. "You know the great box factory was burned a day or twoago and over a hundred girls thrown out of work. Some were hurtand are in the hospital, many have no homes to go to, and nearlyall need temporary help of some sort. We've had so many calls thiswinter I hardly know which way to turn, for want is pressing, andI've had my finger in so many purses I'm almost ashamed to askagain. Any little contribution ah, thank you, I was sure youwouldn't fail me, my good child," and Mrs. Gardener warmlypressed the hand that went so quickly into the little porte-monnaieand came out so generously filled.

"Let me know how else I can help, and thank you very much forallowing me to have a share in your good works," said Rose,forgetting all about gay gowns as she watched the black bonnet gobriskly away with an approving smile on the fine old face inside it.

"You extravagant thing! How could you give so much?" whisperedKitty, whose curious eye had seen three figures on the single billwhich had so rapidly changed hands.

"I believe if Mrs. Gardener asked me for my head I should give itto her," answered Rose lightly, then, turning to the silks, she asked,"Which have you decided upon, the yellow white or the blue, thecorded or the striped?"

"I've decided nothing; except that you are to have the pink andwear it at my ahem! ball," said Kitty, who had made up her mind,but could not give her orders till Mama had been consulted.

"No, I can't afford it just yet. I never overstep my allowance, and Ishall have to if I get any more finery. Come, we ought not to wastetime here if you have all the patterns you want." And Rose walkedquickly away, glad that it was out of her power to break throughtwo resolutions which hitherto had been faithfully kept one todress simply for example's sake, the other not to be extravagant forcharity's sake.

As Rosamond had her day of misfortunes, so this seemed to be oneof small temptations to Rose. After she had set Kitty down at homeand been to see her new houses, she drove about doing variouserrands for the aunts and, while waiting in the carriage for theexecution of an order, young Pemberton came by.

As Steve said, this gentleman had been "hard hit" and still hoveredmothlike about the forbidden light. Being the most eligible parti ofthe season, his regard was considered a distinction to be proud of,and Rose had been well scolded by Aunt Clara for refusing sohonorable a mate. The girl liked him, and he was the suitor ofwhom she had spoken so respectfully to Dr. Alec because he hadno need of the heiress and had sincerely loved Rose. He had beenaway, and she hoped had gotten over his disappointment as happilyas the rest, but now when he saw her, and came hurrying up sohungry for a word, she felt that he had not forgotten and was tookind to chill him with the bow which plainly says "Don't stop."

A personable youth was Pemberton, and had brought with himfrom the wilds of Canada a sable-lined overcoat which was theenvy of every masculine and the admiration of every femininefriend he had, and as he stood at her carriage window Rose knewthat this luxurious garment and its stalwart wearer were objects ofinterest to the passersby. It chanced that the tide of shoppersflowed in that direction and, as she chatted, familiar faces oftenpassed with glances, smiles, and nods of varying curiosity,significance, and wonder.

She could not help feeling a certain satisfaction in giving him amoment's pleasure, since she could do no more, but it was not thatamiable desire alone which made her ignore the neat white parcelswhich the druggist's boy deposited on the front seat and kept herlingering a little longer to enjoy one of the small triumphs whichgirls often risk more than a cold in the head to display. The sightof several snowflakes on the broad shoulders which partiallyobstructed her view, as well as the rapidly increasing animation ofPemberton's chat, reminded her that it was high time to go.

"I mustn't keep you it is beginning to storm," she said, taking upher muff, much to old Jacob's satisfaction, for small talk is notexciting to a hungry man whose nose feels like an icicle.

"Is it? I thought the sun was shining." And the absorbed gentlemanturned to the outer world with visible reluctance, for it looked verywarm and cozy in the red-lined carriage.

"Wise people say we must carry our sunshine with us," answeredRose, taking refuge in commonplaces, for the face at the windowgrew pensive suddenly as he answered, with a longing look, "Iwish I could." Then, smiling gratefully, he added, "Thank you forgiving me a little of yours."

"You are very welcome." And Rose offered him her hand whileher eyes mutely asked pardon for withholding her leave to keep it.

He pressed it silently and, shouldering the umbrella which heforgot to open, turned away with an "up again and take another"expression, which caused the soft eyes to follow him admiringly.

"I ought not to have kept him a minute longer than I could help, forit wasn't all pity; it was my foolish wish to show off and do as Iliked for a minute, to pay for being good about the gown. Oh, me!How weak and silly I am in spite of all my trying!" And MissCampbell fell into a remorseful reverie, which lasted till she gothome.

"Now, young man, what brought you out in this driving storm?"asked Rose as Jamie came stamping in that same afternoon.

"Mama sent you a new book thought you'd like it. I don't mindyour old storms!" replied the boy, wrestling his way out of his coatand presenting a face as round and red and shiny as a well-polishedBaldwin apple.

"Much obliged it is just the day to enjoy it and I was longing forsomething nice to read," said Rose as Jamie sat down upon thelower stair for a protracted struggle with his rubber boots.

"Here you are, then no yes I do believe I've forgotten it, after all!"cried Jamie, slapping his pockets one after the other with adismayed expression of countenance.

"Never mind, I'll hunt up something else. Let me help you withthose your hands are so cold." And Rose good-naturedly gave a tugat the boots while Jamie clutched the banisters, murmuringsomewhat incoherently as his legs flew up and down: "I'll go backif you want me to. I'm so sorry! It's very good of you, I'm sure.Getting these horrid things on made me forget. Mother wouldmake me wear 'em, though I told her they'd stick like likegumdrops," he added, inspired by recollections of certain diredisappointments when the above-mentioned sweetmeat melted inhis pockets and refused to come out.

"Now what shall we do?" asked Rose when he was finallyextricated. "Since I've nothing to read, I may as well play."

"I'll teach you to pitch and toss. You catch very well for a girl, butyou can't throw worth a cent," replied Jamie, gamboling down thehall in his slippers and producing a ball from some of themysterious receptacles in which boys have the art of storingrubbish enough to fill a peck measure.

Of course Rose agreed and cheerfully risked getting her eyesblackened and her fingers bruised till her young receptor gratefullyobserved that "it was no fun playing where you had to look out forwindows and jars and things, so I'd like that jolly book aboutCaptain Nemo and the Nautilus, please."

Being gratified, he spread himself upon the couch, crossed his legsin the air, and without another word dived Twenty ThousandLeagues Under the Sea, where he remained for two mortal hours,to the general satisfaction of his relatives.

Bereft both of her unexpected playfellow and the much desiredbook, Rose went into the parlor, there to discover a French novelwhich Kitty had taken from a library and left in the carriage amongthe bundles. Settling herself in her favorite lounging chair, sheread as diligently as Jamie while the wind howled and snow fellfast without.

For an hour nothing disturbed the cozy quiet of the house for AuntPlenty was napping upstairs and Dr. Alec writing in his ownsanctum; at least Rose thought so, till his step made her hastilydrop the book and look up with very much the expression she usedto wear when caught in mischief years ago.

"Did I startle you? Have a screen you are burning your face beforethis hot fire." And Dr. Alec pulled one forward.

"Thank you, Uncle. I didn't feel it." And the color seemed todeepen in spite of the screen while the uneasy eyes fell upon thebook in her lap.

"Have you got the Quarterly there? I want to glance at an article init if you can spare it for a moment," he said, leaning toward herwith an inquiring glance.

"No, sir, I am reading." And, without mentioning the name, Roseput the book into his hand.

The instant his eye fell on the title he understood the look she woreand knew what "mischief" she had been in. He knit his brows, thensmiled, because it was impossible to help it Rose looked soconscience-stricken in spite of her twenty years.

"How do you find it? Interesting?"

"Oh, very! I felt as if I was in another world and forgot all aboutthis."

"Not a very good world, I fancy, if you were afraid or ashamed tobe found in it. Where did this come from?" asked Dr. Alec,surveying the book with great disfavor. Rose told him, and addedslowly, "I particularly wanted to read it, and fancied I might,because you did when it was so much talked about the winter wewere in Rome."

"I did read it to see if it was fit for you."

"And decided that it was not, I suppose, since you never gave it tome!"

"Yes."

"Then I won't finish it. But, Uncle, I don't see why I should not,"added Rose wistfully, for she had reached the heart of the romanceand found it wonderfully fascinating.

"You may not see, but don't you feel why not?" asked Dr. Alecgravely.

Rose leaned her flushed cheek on her hand and thought a minute,then looked up and answered honestly, "Yes, I do, but can't explainit, except that I know something must be wrong, because I blushedand started when you came in."

"Exactly." And the doctor gave an emphatic nod, as if thesymptoms pleased him.

"But I really don't see any harm in the book so far. It is by afamous author, wonderfully well written, as you know, and thecharacters so lifelike that I feel as if I should really meet themsomewhere."

"I hope not!" ejaculated the doctor, shutting the book quickly, as ifto keep the objectionable beings from escaping.

Rose laughed, but persisted in her defense, for she did want tofinish the absorbing story, yet would not without leave.

"I have read French novels before, and you gave them to me. Notmany, to be sure, but the best, so I think I know what is good andshouldn't like this if it was harmful."

Her uncle's answer was to reopen the volume and turn the leavesan instant as if to find a particular place. Then he put it into herhand, saying quietly: "Read a page or two aloud, translating as yougo. You used to like that try it again."

Rose obeyed and went glibly down a page, doing her best to givethe sense in her purest English. Presently she went more slowly,then skipped a sentence here and there, and finally stopped short,looking as if she needed a screen again.

"What's the matter?" asked her uncle, who had been watching herwith a serious eye.

"Some phrases are untranslatable, and it only spoils them to try.They are not amiss in French, but sound coarse and bad in ourblunt English," she said a little pettishly, for she felt annoyed byher failure to prove the contested point.

"Ah, my dear, if the fine phrases won't bear putting into honestEnglish, the thoughts they express won't bear putting into yourinnocent mind! That chapter is the key to the whole book, and ifyou had been led up, or rather down, to it artfully and artistically,you might have read it to yourself without seeing how bad it is. Allthe worse for the undeniable talent which hides the evil so subtlyand makes the danger so delightful."

He paused a moment, then added with an anxious glance at thebook, over which she was still bending, "Finish it if you chooseonly remember, my girl, that one may read at forty what is unsafeat twenty, and that we never can be too careful what food we givethat precious yet perilous thing called imagination."

And taking his Review, he went away to look over a learned articlewhich interested him much less than the workings of a young mindnearby.

Another long silence, broken only by an occasional excited bouncefrom Jamie when the sociable cuttlefish looked in at the windowsor the Nautilus scuttled a ship or two in its terrific course. A bellrang, and the doctor popped his head out to see if he was wanted.It was only a message for Aunt Plenty, and he was about to pop inagain when his eye was caught by a square parcel on the slab.

"What's this?" he asked, taking it up.

"Rose wants me to leave it at Kitty Van's when I go. I forgot tobring her book from Mama, so I shall go and get it as soon as everI've done this," replied Jamie from his nest.

As the volume in his hands was a corpulent one, and Jamie only athird of the way through, Dr. Alec thought Rose's prospect ratherdoubtful and, slipping the parcel into his pocket, he walked away,saying with a satisfied air: "Virtue doesn't always get rewarded, butit shall be this time if I can do it."

More than half an hour afterward, Rose woke from a little nap andfound the various old favorites with which she had tried to solaceherself replaced by the simple, wholesome story promised by AuntJessie.

"Good boy! I'll go and thank him," she said half aloud, jumping up,wide awake and much pleased.

But she did not go, for just then she spied her uncle standing on therug warming his hands with a generally fresh and breezy lookabout him which suggested a recent struggle with the elements.

"How did this come?" she asked suspiciously.

"A man brought it."

"This man? Oh, Uncle! Why did you take so much trouble just togratify a wish of mine?" she cried, taking both the cold hands inhers with a tenderly reproachful glance from the storm without tothe ruddy face above her.

"Because, having taken away your French bonbons with thepoisonous color on them, I wanted to get you something better.Here it is, all pure sugar, the sort that sweetens the heart as well asthe tongue and leaves no bad taste behind."

"How good you are to me! I don't deserve it, for I didn't resisttemptation, though I tried. Uncle, after I'd put the book away, Ithought I must just see how it ended, and I'm afraid I should haveread it all if it had not been gone," said Rose, laying her face downon the hands she held as humbly as a repentant child.

But Uncle Alec lifted up the bent head and, looking into the eyesthat met his frankly, though either held a tear, he said, with theenergy that always made his words remembered: "My little girl, Iwould face a dozen storms far worse than this to keep your soul asstainless as snow, for it is the small temptations which undermineintegrity unless we watch and pray and never think them too trivialto be resisted."

Some people would consider Dr. Alec an overcareful man, butRose felt that he was right, and when she said her prayers thatnight, added a meek petition to be kept from yielding to three ofthe small temptations which beset a rich, pretty, and romantic girlextravagance, coquetry, and novel reading.