r can, and he will never be again to me
the Charlie I've been so proud and fond of all these years. Oh, Uncle,
such a pity! Such a pity!"

"Don't break your tender heart about it, child, for it is not incurable,
thank God! I don't make light of it, but I am sure that under better
influences Charlie will redeem himself because his impulses are good and
this his only vice. I can hardly blame him for what he is, because his
mother did the harm. I declare to you, Rose, I sometimes feel as if I
must break out against that woman and thunder in her ears that she is
ruining the immortal soul for which she is responsible to heaven!"

Dr. Alec seldom spoke in this way, and when he did it was rather awful,
for his indignation was of the righteous sort and such thunder often
rouses up a drowsy soul when sunshine has no effect. Rose liked it, and
sincerely wished Aunt Clara had been there to get the benefit of the
outbreak, for she needed just such an awakening from the self-indulgent
dream in which she lived.

"Do it, and save Charlie before it is too late!" she cried, kindling
herself as she watched him, for he looked like a roused lion as he
walked about the room with his hand clenched and a spark in his eye,
evidently in desperate earnest and ready to do almost anything.

"Will you help?" he asked, stopping suddenly with a look that made her
stand up straight and strong as she answered with an eager voice: "I
will."

"Then don't love him yet."

That startled her, but she asked steadily, though her heart began to
beat and her color to come: "Why not?"

"Firstly, because no woman should give her happiness into the keeping
of a man without fixed principles; secondly, because the hope of being
worthy of you will help him more than any prayers or preaching of mine.
Thirdly, because it will need all our wit and patience to undo the work
of nearly four and twenty years. You understand what I mean?"

"Yes, sir."

"Can you say 'no' when he asks you to say 'yes' and wait a little for
your happiness?"

"I can."

"And will you?"

"I will."

"Then I'm satisfied, and a great weight taken off my heart. I can't help
seeing what goes on, or trembling when I think of you setting sail with
no better pilot than poor Charlie. Now you answer as I hoped you would,
and I am proud of my girl!"

They had been standing with the width of the room between them, Dr.
Alec looking very much like a commander issuing orders, Rose like a
well-