hrine and it piqued her vanity.

In spite of her quandary, Rose could not help smiling as she recalled
Mac's comparison, for Emma turned so red with spiteful chagrin, she
seemed to have added strawberry ice to the other varieties composing the
Harlequin.

"Each must judge for herself. I shall follow Aunt Jessie's advice and
try to keep my atmosphere as pure as I can, for she says every woman has
her own little circle and in it can use her influence for good, if she
will. I do will heartily, and I'll prove that I'm neither proud nor
fussy by receiving, here or at home, any respectable man you like to
present to me, no matter how poor or plain or insignificant he may be."

With which declaration Rose ended her protest, and the four damsels
streamed downstairs together like a wandering rainbow. But Kitty laid
to heart what she had said; Annabel took credit herself for siding with
her; and Emma owned that she was not trying to keep her atmosphere pure
when she came to dance with the objectionable Randal. So Rose's "little
circle" was the better for the influence she tried to exert, although
she never knew it.

At suppertime Charlie kept near her, and she was quite content with him,
for he drank only coffee, and she saw him shake his head with a frown
when young Van beckoned him toward an anteroom, from whence the sound of
popping corks had issued with increasing frequency as the evening wore
on.

"Dear fellow, he does try," thought Rose, longing to show how she
admired his self-denial, but she could only say, as they left the supper
room with the aunts, who were going early: "If I had not promised Uncle
to get home as soon after midnight as possible, I'd stay and dance the
German with you, for you deserve a reward tonight."

"A thousand thanks, but I am going when you do," answered Charlie,
understanding both her look and words and very grateful for them.

"Really?" cried Rose, delighted.

"Really. I'll be in the hall when you come down." And Charlie thought
the Fra Angelico angel was not half so bright and beautiful as the one
who looked back at him out of a pale blue cloud as Rose went upstairs as
if on wings.

When she came down again Charlie was not in the hall, however, and,
after waiting a few minutes, Mac offered to go and find him, for Aunt
Jane was still hunting a lost rubber above.

"Please say I'm ready, but he needn't come if he doesn't want to," said
Rose, not wishing to demand too much of her promi