after her return the great change in his
appearance made her forget everything else. Some whim had seized him to
be shaven and shorn, and when he presented himself to welcome Rose, she
hardly knew him. The shaggy hair was nicely trimmed and brushed, the
cherished brown beard entirely gone, showing a well-cut mouth and
handsome chin and giving a new expression to the whole face.

"Are you trying to look like Keats?" she asked, after a critical glance,
which left her undecided whether the change was an improvement or not.

"I am trying not to look like Uncle," answered Mac coolly.

"And why, if you please?" demanded Rose in great surprise.

"Because I prefer to look like myself, and not resemble any other man,
no matter how good or great he may be."

"You haven't succeeded then, for you look now very much like the young
Augustus," returned Rose, rather pleased on the whole to see what a
finely shaped head appeared after the rough thatch was off.

"Trust a woman to find a comparison for everything under the sun!"
laughed Mac, not at all flattered by the one just made. "What do you
think of me, on the whole?" he asked a minute later, as he found Rose
still scrutinizing him with a meditative air.

"Haven't made up my mind. It is such an entire change, I don't know you,
and feel as if I ought to be introduced. You certainly look much more
tidy, and I fancy I shall like it when I'm used to seeing a somewhat
distinguished-looking man about the house instead of my old friend
Orson," answered Rose, with her head on one side to get a profile view.

"Don't tell Uncle why I did it, please he thinks it was for the sake of
coolness and likes it, so take no notice. They are all used to me now,
and don't mind," said Mac, roving about the room as if rather ashamed of
his whim after all.

"No, I won't, but you mustn't mind if I'm not as sociable as usual for
a while. I never can be with strangers, and you really do seem like
one. That will be a punishment for your want of taste and love of
originality," returned Rose, resolved to punish him for the slight put
upon her beloved uncle.

"As you like. I won't trouble you much anyway, for I'm going to be
very busy. May go to L this winter, if Uncle thinks best, and then my
'originality' can't annoy you."

"I hope you won't go. Why, Mac, I'm just getting to know and enjoy
you, and thought we'd have a nice time this winter reading something
together. Must you go?" And Rose seemed to