about, and I shouldn't
get much sympathy if I did, just because I live in a big house, wear
good gowns, and have lots of lovers. Annabel used to say she envied me
above all created beings, but she doesn't now, and is perfectly absorbed
in her dear little Chinaman. Do you see how she ever could like him?"

So they began to gossip, and the sober talk was over for that time, but
when Kitty departed, after criticizing all her dear friends and their
respective sweethearts, she had a helpful little book in her muff, a
resolute expression on her bright face, and so many excellent plans for
self-improvement in her busy brain that she and Steve bid fair to turn
out the model couple of the century.

Chapter 14 AUNT CLARA'S PLAN

Being seriously alarmed by the fear of losing the desire of his heart,
Charlie had gone resolutely to work and, like many another young
reformer, he rather overdid the matter, for in trying to keep out of
the way of temptation, he denied himself much innocent enjoyment. The
"artistic fit" was a good excuse for the seclusion which he fancied
would be a proper penance, and he sat listlessly plying crayon or
paintbrush, with daily wild rides on black Brutus, which seemed to do
him good, for danger of that sort was his delight.

People were used to his whims and made light of what they considered a
new one, but when it lasted week after week and all attempts to draw him
out were vain, his jolly comrades gave him up and the family began
to say approvingly, "Now he really is going to settle down and do
something." Fortunately, his mother let him alone, for though Dr. Alec
had not "thundered in her ear" as he threatened, he had talked with her
in a way which first made her very angry, then anxious, and, lastly,
quite submissive, for her heart was set on the boy's winning Rose and
she would have had him put on sackcloth and ashes if that would have
secured the prize. She made light of the cause of Rose's displeasure,
considering her extremely foolish and straitlaced, "for all young men
of any spirit had their little vices, and came out well enough when the
wild oats were sowed." So she indulged Charlie in his new vagary, as she
had in all his others, and treated him like an ill-used being, which was
neither an inspiring nor helpful course on her part. Poor soul! She saw
her mistake by and by, and when too late repented of it bitterly.

Rose wanted to be kind, and tried in various ways to help her cousi