Steve would only jeer.

"Give me a list of them, please, and I'll cultivate their acquaintance.
A fellow must have some reward for making a teetotum of himself."

"I will with pleasure; and if you dance well they will make it very
pleasant for you, and you'll enjoy parties in spite of yourself."

"I cannot be a 'glass of fashion and a mold of form' like Dandy here,
but I'll do my best: only, if I had my choice, I'd much rather go round
the streets with an organ and a monkey," answered Mac despondently.

"Thank you kindly for the compliment," and Rose made him a low courtesy,
while Steve cried, "Now you have done it!" in a tone of reproach which
reminded the culprit, all too late, that he was Rose's chosen escort.

"By the gods, so I have!" And casting away the newspaper with a gesture
of comic despair, Mac strode from the room, chanting tragically the
words of Cassandra, "'Woe! woe! O Earth! O Apollo! I will dare to die; I
will accost the gates of Hades, and make my prayer that I may receive a
mortal blow!'"

Chapter 7 PHEBE

While Rose was making discoveries and having experiences, Phebe was
doing the same in a quieter way, but though they usually compared notes
during the bedtime tete-a-tete which always ended their day, certain
topics were never mentioned, so each had a little world of her own into
which even the eye of friendship did not peep.

Rose's life just now was the gaiest but Phebe's the happiest. Both went
out a good deal, for the beautiful voice was welcomed everywhere, and
many were ready to patronize the singer who would have been slow to
recognize the woman. Phebe knew this and made no attempt to assert
herself, content to know that those whose regard she valued felt her
worth and hopeful of a time when she could gracefully take the place she
was meant to fill.

Proud as a princess was Phebe about some things, though in most as
humble as a child; therefore, when each year lessened the service she
loved to give and increased the obligations she would have refused from
any other source, dependence became a burden which even the most fervent
gratitude could not lighten. Hitherto the children had gone on together,
finding no obstacles to their companionship in the secluded world
in which they lived. Now that they were women their paths inevitably
diverged, and both reluctantly felt that they must part before long.

It had been settled, when they were abroad, that on their return Phebe
shoul