loved. I'm sick of
being told that is all a woman is fit for! I won't have anything to do
with love till I prove that I am something besides a housekeeper and
baby-tender!"

"Heaven preserve us! Here's woman's rights with a vengeance!" cried
Charlie, starting up with mock horror, while the others regarded Rose
with mingled surprise and amusement, evidently fancying it all a girlish
outbreak.

"Ah, you needn't pretend to be shocked you will be in earnest presently,
for this is only the beginning of my strong-mindedness," continued Rose,
nothing daunted by the smiles of good-natured incredulity or derision on
the faces of her cousins. "I have made up my mind not to be cheated out
of the real things that make one good and happy and, just because I'm a
rich girl, fold my hands and drift as so many do. I haven't lived with
Phebe all these years in vain. I know what courage and self-reliance can
do for one, and I sometimes wish I hadn't a penny in the world so that I
could go and earn my bread with her, and be as brave and independent as
she will be pretty soon."

It was evident that Rose was in earnest now, for as she spoke she turned
to her friend with such respect as well as love in her face that the
look told better than any words how heartily the rich girl appreciated
the virtues hard experience had given the poor girl, and how eagerly she
desired to earn what all her fortune could not buy for her.

Something in the glance exchanged between the friends impressed the
young men in spite of their prejudices, and it was in a perfectly
serious tone that Archie said, "I fancy you'll find your hands full,
Cousin, if you want work, for I've heard people say that wealth has its
troubles and trials as well as poverty."

"I know it, and I'm going to try and fill my place well. I've got some
capital little plans all made, and have begun to study my profession
already," answered Rose with an energetic nod.

"Could I ask what it is to be?" inquired Charlie in a tone of awe.

"Guess!" and Rose looked up at him with an expression half-earnest,
half-merry.

"Well, I should say that you were fitted for a beauty and a belle, but
as that is evidently not to your taste, I am afraid you are going to
study medicine and be a doctor. Won't your patients have a heavenly time
though? It will be easy dying with an angel to poison them."

"Now, Charlie, that's base of you, when you know how well women have
succeeded in this profession and