While the travelers unpack their trunks, we will pick up, as brieflyas possible, the dropped stitches in the little romance we areweaving.

Rose's life had been a very busy and quiet one for the four yearsfollowing the May day when she made her choice. Study, exercise,housework, and many wholesome pleasures kept her a happy,hearty creature, yearly growing in womanly graces, yet alwayspreserving the innocent freshness girls lose so soon when too earlyset upon the world's stage and given a part to play.

Not a remarkably gifted girl in any way, and far from perfect; fullof all manner of youthful whims and fancies; a little spoiled bymuch love; rather apt to think all lives as safe and sweet as herown; and, when want or pain appealed to her, the tender heartoverflowed with a remorseful charity which gave of its abundancerecklessly. Yet, with all her human imperfections, the uprightnature of the child kept her desires climbing toward the just andpure and true, as flowers struggle to the light; and the woman'ssoul was budding beautifully under the green leaves behind thelittle thorns.

At seventeen, Dr. Alec pronounced her ready for the voyagearound the world, which he considered a better finishing off thanany school could give her. But just then Aunt Peace began to failand soon slipped quietly away to rejoin the lover she had waitedfor so long. Youth seemed to come back in a mysterious way totouch the dead face with lost loveliness, and all the romance of herpast to gather around her memory. Unlike most aged women, herfriends were among the young, and at her funeral the grayheadsgave place to the band of loving girls who made the sweet oldmaiden ready for her rest, bore her pall, and covered her gravewith the white flowers she had never worn.

When this was over poor Aunt Plenty seemed so lost without herlifelong charge that Dr. Alec would not leave her, and Rose gladlypaid the debt she owed by the tender service which comfortswithout words. But Aunt Plenty, having lived for others all herdays, soon rebelled against this willing sacrifice, soon foundstrength in her own sincere piety, solace in cheerful occupation,and amusement in nursing Aunt Myra, who was a capital patient,as she never died and never got well.

So at last the moment came when, with free minds, the travelerscould set out, and on Rose's eighteenth birthday, with Uncle Alecand the faithful Phebe, she sailed away to see and study the big,beautiful world which lies ready for us all if we only know how touse and enjoy it.

Phebe was set to studying music in the best schools, and while shetrained her lovely voice with happy industry, Rose and her uncleroamed about in the most delightful way till two years were gonelike a dream and those at home clamored for their return.

Back they came, and now the heiress must make ready to take herplace, for at twenty-one she came into possession of the fortuneshe had been trying to learn how to use well. Great plansfermented in her brain, for, though the heart was as generous asever, time had taught her prudence and observation shown her thatthe wisest charity is that which helps the poor to help themselves.

Dr. Alec found it a little difficult to restrain the ardor of this youngphilanthropist who wanted to begin at once to endow hospitals,build homes, adopt children, and befriend all mankind.

"Take a little time to look about you and get your bearings, child.The world you have been living in is a much simpler, honester onethan that you are now to enter. Test yourself a bit and see if the oldways seem best after all, for you are old enough to decide, andwise enough to discover, what is for your truest good, I hope," hesaid, trying to feel ready to let the bird escape from under his wingand make little flights alone.

"Now, Uncle, I'm very much afraid you are going to bedisappointed in me," answered Rose with unusual hesitation yet avery strong desire visible in her eyes. "You like to have me quitehonest, and I've learned to tell you all my foolish thoughts so I'llspeak out, and if you find my wish very wrong and silly, please sayso, for I don't want you to cast me off entirely, though I am grownup. You say, wait a little, test myself, and try if the old ways arebest. I should like to do that, and can I in a better way than leadingthe life other girls lead? Just for a little while," she added, as heruncle's face grew grave.

He was disappointed, yet acknowledged that the desire was naturaland in a moment saw that a trial of this sort might have itsadvantages. Nevertheless, he dreaded it, for he had intended tochoose her society carefully and try to keep her unspoiled by theworld as long as possible, like many another fond parent andguardian. But the spirit of Eve is strong in all her daughtersforbidden fruit will look rosier to them than any in their ownorchards, and the temptation to take just one little bite provesirresistible to the wisest. So Rose, looking out from the safeseclusion of her girlhood into the woman's kingdom which she wasabout to take possession of, felt a sudden wish to try its pleasuresbefore assuming its responsibilities, and was too sincere to hidethe longing.

"Very well, my dear, try it if you like, only take care of your healthbe temperate in your gaiety and don't lose more than you gain, ifthat is possible," he added under his breath, endeavoring to speakcheerfully and not look anxious.

"I know it is foolish, but I do want to be a regular butterfly for alittle while and see what it is like. You know I couldn't help seeinga good deal of fashionable life abroad, though we were not in it,and here at home the girls tell me about all sorts of pleasant thingsthat are to happen this winter, so if you won't despise me verymuch, I should like to try it."

"For how long?"

"Would three months be too long? New Year is a good time to takea fresh start. Everyone is going to welcome me, so I must be gay inspite of myself, unless I'm willing to seem very ungrateful andmorose," said Rose, glad to have so good a reason to offer for hernew experiment.

"You may like it so well that the three months may become years.Pleasure is very sweet when we are young."

"Do you think it will intoxicate me?"

"We shall see, my dear."

"We shall!" And Rose marched away, looking as if she had taken apledge of some sort, and meant to keep it.

It was a great relief to the public mind when it became known thatMiss Campbell was really coming out at last, and invitations toAunt Plenty's party were promptly accepted. Aunt Clara was muchdisappointed about the grand ball she had planned, but Rose stoodfirm, and the dear old lady had her way about everything.

The consequence was a delightfully informal gathering of friendsto welcome the travelers home. Just a good, old-fashioned,hospitable housewarming, so simple, cordial, and genuine thatthose who came to criticize remained to enjoy, and many ownedthe charm they could neither describe nor imitate.

Much curiosity was felt about Phebe, and much gossip went onbehind fans that evening, for those who had known her years agofound it hard to recognize the little housemaid in the handsomeyoung woman who bore herself with such quiet dignity andcharmed them all with her fine voice. "Cinderella has turned out aprincess," was the general verdict, and Rose enjoyed the littlesensation immensely, for she had had many battles to fight for herPhebe since she came among them, and now her faith wasvindicated.

Miss Campbell herself was in great demand and did the honors soprettily that even Miss Bliss forgave her for her sad neglect ofWorth, though she shook her head over the white gowns, just alikeexcept that Phebe wore crimson and Rose, blue trimmings.

The girls swarmed eagerly around their recovered friend, for Rosehad been a favorite before she went away and found her thronewaiting for her now. The young men privately pronounced Phebethe handsomest "But then you know there's neither family normoney, so it's no use." Phebe, therefore, was admired as one of theornamental properties belonging to the house and left respectfullyalone.

But bonny Rose was "all right," as these amiable youths expressedit, and many a wistful eye followed the bright head as it flittedabout the rooms as if it were a second Golden Fleece to be wonwith difficulty, for stalwart kinsmen hedged it round, and watchfulaunts kept guard.

Little wonder that the girl found her new world an enchanting oneand that her first sip of pleasure rather went to her head, foreverybody welcomed and smiled on her, flattered and praised,whispered agreeable prophecies in her ear, and looked thecompliments and congratulations they dared not utter till she feltas if she must have left her old self somewhere abroad andsuddenly become a new and wonderfully gifted being.

"It is very nice, Uncle, and I'm not sure I mayn't want another threemonths of it when the first are gone," she whispered to Dr. Alec ashe stood watching the dance she was leading with Charlie in thelong hall after supper.

"Steady, my lass, steady, and remember that you are not really abutterfly but a mortal girl with a head that will ache tomorrow," heanswered, watching the flushed and smiling face before him. "I almost wish there wasn't any tomorrow, but that tonight wouldlast forever it is so pleasant, and everyone so kind," she said with alittle sigh of happiness as she gathered up her fleecy skirts like awhite bird pluming itself for flight.

"I'll ask your opinion about that at two A.M.," began her uncle witha warning nod.

"I'll give it honestly," was all Rose had time to say before Charlieswept her away into the particolored cloud before them.

"It's no use, Alec train a girl as wisely as you choose, she willbreak loose when the time comes and go in for pleasure as eagerlyas the most frivolous, for ''tis their nature to,'" said Uncle Mac,keeping time to the music as if he would not mind "going in" for abit of pleasure himself.

"My girl shall taste and try, but unless I'm much mistaken, a littlebit of it will satisfy her. I want to see if she will stand the test,because if not, all my work is a failure and I'd like to know it,"answered the doctor with a hopeful smile on his lips but ananxious look in his eyes.

"She will come out all right bless her heart! so let her sow herinnocent wild oats and enjoy herself till she is ready to settle down.I wish all our young folks were likely to have as small a crop andget through as safely as she will," added Uncle Mac with a shakeof the head as he glanced at some of the young men revolvingbefore him.

"Nothing amiss with your lads, I hope?"

"No, thank heaven! So far I've had little trouble with either, thoughMac is an odd stick and Steve a puppy. I don't complain, for bothwill outgrow that sort of thing and are good fellows at heart,thanks to their mother. But Clara's boy is in a bad way, and shewill spoil him as a man as she has as a boy if his father doesn'tinterfere."

"I told brother Stephen all about him when I was in Calcutta lastyear, and he wrote to the boy, but Clara has got no end of plans inher head and so she insisted on keeping Charlie a year longer whenhis father ordered him off to India," replied the doctor as theywalked away.

"It is too late to 'order' Charlie is a man now, and Stephen will findhe has been too easy with him all these years. Poor fellow, it hasbeen hard lines for him, and is likely to be harder, I fancy, unlesshe comes home and straightens things out."

"He won't do that if he can help it. He has lost all his energy livingin that climate and hates worry more than ever, so you can imaginewhat an effort it would be to manage a foolish woman and aheadstrong boy. We must lend a hand, Mac, and do our best forpoor old Steve."

"The best we can do for the lad is to marry and settle him as soonas possible."

"My dear fellow, he is only three and twenty," began the doctor, asif the idea was preposterous. Then a sudden change came over himas he added with a melancholy smile, "I forget how much one canhope and suffer, even at twenty-three."

"And be all the better for, if bravely outlived," said Uncle Mac,with his hand on his brother's shoulder and the sincerest approvalin his voice. Then, kindly returning to the younger people, he wenton inquiringly, "You don't incline to Clara's view of a certainmatter, I fancy?"

"Decidedly not. My girl must have the best, and Clara's trainingwould spoil an angel," answered Dr. Alec quickly.

"But we shall find it hard to let our little Rose go out of the family.How would Archie do? He has been well brought up and is athoroughly excellent lad."

The brothers had retired to the study by this time and were alone,yet Dr. Alec lowered his voice as he said with a tender sort ofanxiety pleasant to see: "You know I do not approve of cousinsmarrying, so I'm in a quandary, Mac, for I love the child as if shewere my own and feel as if I could not give her up to any manwhom I did not know and trust entirely. It is of no use for us toplan, for she must choose for herself yet I do wish we could keepher among us and give one of our boys a wife worth having."

"We must, so never mind your theories but devote yourself totesting our elder lads and making one of them a happy fellow. Allare heart-whole, I believe, and, though young still for this sort ofthing, we can be gently shaping matters for them, since no oneknows how soon the moment may come. My faith it is like livingin a powder mill to be among a lot of young folks nowadays! Alllooks as calm as possible till a sudden spark produces anexplosion, and heaven only knows where we find ourselves after itis over."

And Uncle Mac sat himself comfortably down to settle Rose's fatewhile the doctor paced the room, plucking at his beard and knittinghis brows as if he found it hard to see his way.

"Yes, Archie is a good fellow," he said, answering the question hehad ignored before. "An upright, steady, intelligent lad who willmake an excellent husband if he ever finds out that he has a heart.I suppose I'm an old fool, but I do like a little more romance in ayoung man than he seems to have more warmth and enthusiasm,you know. Bless the boy! He might be forty instead of three or fourand twenty, he's so sober, calm, and cool. I'm younger than he is,and could go a-wooing like a Romeo if I had any heart to offer awoman."

The doctor looked rather shamefaced as he spoke, and his brotherburst out laughing. "See here, Alec, it's a pity so much romanceand excellence as yours should be lost, so why don't you set theseyoung fellows an example and go a-wooing yourself? Jessie hasbeen wondering how you have managed to keep from falling inlove with Phebe all this time, and Clara is quite sure that youwaited only till she was safe under Aunt Plenty's wing to offeryourself in the good old-fashioned style."

"I!" And the doctor stood aghast at the mere idea, then he gave aresigned sort of sigh and added like a martyr, "If those dear womenwould let me alone, I'd thank them forever. Put the idea out oftheir minds for heaven's sake, Mac, or I shall be having that poorgirl flung at my head and her comfort destroyed. She is a finecreature and I'm proud of her, but she deserves a better lot than tobe tied to an old fellow like me whose only merit is his fidelity."

"As you please, I was only joking," and Uncle Mac dropped thesubject with secret relief. The excellent man thought a good dealof family and had been rather worried at the hints of the ladies.After a moment's silence he returned to a former topic, which wasrather a pet plan of his. "I don't think you do Archie justice, Alec.You don't know him as well as I do, but you'll find that he hasheart enough under his cool, quiet manner. I've grown very fond ofhim, think highly of him, and don't see how you could do better forRose than to give her to him."

"If she will go," said the doctor, smiling at his brother'sbusinesslike way of disposing of the young people.

"She'll do anything to please you," began Uncle Mac in perfectgood faith, for twenty-five years in the society of a very prosaicwife had taken nearly all the romance out of him.

"It is of no use for us to plan, and I shall never interfere except toadvise, and if I were to choose one of the boys, I should incline tomy godson," answered the doctor gravely.

"What, my Ugly Duckling!" exclaimed Uncle Mac in greatsurprise.

"The Ugly Duckling turned out a swan, you remember. I've alwaysbeen fond of the boy because he's so genuine and original. Crudeas a green apple now, but sound at the core, and only needs time toripen. I'm sure he'll turn out a capital specimen of the Campbellvariety."

"Much obliged, Alec, but it will never do at all. He's a good fellow,and may do something to be proud of by and by, but he's not themate for our Rose. She needs someone who can manage herproperty when we are gone, and Archie is the man for that, dependupon it."

"Confound the property!" cried Dr. Alec impetuously. "I want herto be happy, and I don't care how soon she gets rid of her money ifit is going to be a millstone round her neck. I declare to you, Idreaded the thought of this time so much that I've kept her away aslong as I could and trembled whenever a young fellow joined uswhile we were abroad. Had one or two narrow escapes, and nowI'm in for it, as you can see by tonight's 'success' as Clara calls it.Thank heaven I haven't many daughters to look after!"

"Come, come, don't be anxious take Archie and settle it right upsafely and happily. That's my advice, and you'll find it sound,"replied the elder conspirator, like one having experience.

"I'll think of it, but mind you, Mac, not a word of this to the sisters.We are a couple of old fools to be matchmaking so soon but I seewhat is before me and it's a comfort to free my mind to someone."

"So it is. Depend on me not a breath even to Jane," answeredUncle Mac, with a hearty shake and a sympathetic slap on theshoulder.

"Why, what dark and awful secrets are going on here? Is it aFreemason's Lodge and those the mystic signs?" asked a gay voiceat the door; and there stood Rose, full of smiling wonder at thesight of her two uncles hand in hand, whispering and nodding toone another mysteriously.

They stared like schoolboys caught plotting mischief and lookedso guilty that she took pity on them, innocently imagining thebrothers were indulging in a little sentiment on this joyfuloccasion, so she added quickly, as she beckoned, without crossingthe threshold, "Women not allowed, of course, but both of youdear Odd Fellows are wanted, for Aunt Plenty begs we will havean old-fashioned contra dance, and I'm to lead off with Uncle Mac.I chose you, sir, because you do it in style, pigeon wings and all.So, please come and Phebe is waiting for you, Uncle Alec. She israther shy you know, but will enjoy it with you to take care of her."

"Thank you, thank you!" cried both gentlemen, following withgreat alacrity.

Unconscious, Rose enjoyed that Virginia reel immensely, for thepigeon wings were superb, and her partner conducted her throughthe convolutions of the dance without a fault, going down themiddle in his most gallant style. Landing safely at the bottom, shestood aside to let him get his breath, for stout Uncle Mac wasbound to do or die on that occasion and would have danced hispumps through without a murmur if she had desired it.

Leaning against the wall with his hair in his eyes, and a decidedlybored expression of countenance, was Mac, Jr., who had beensurveying the gymnastics of his parent with respectfulastonishment.

"Come and take a turn, my lad. Rose is fresh as a daisy, but we oldfellows soon get enough of it, so you shall have my place," said hisfather, wiping his face, which glowed like a cheerful peony.

"No, thank you, sir I can't stand that sort of thing. I'll race youround the piazza with pleasure, Cousin, but his oven is too muchfor me," was Mac's uncivil reply as he backed toward the openwindow, as if glad of an excuse to escape.

"Fragile creature, don't stay on my account, I beg. I can't leave myguests for a moonlight run, even if I dared to take it on a frostynight in a thin dress," said Rose, fanning herself and not a bitruffled by Mac's refusal, for she knew his ways and they amusedher.

"Not half so bad as all this dust, gas, heat, and noise. What do yousuppose lungs are made of?" demanded Mac, ready for adiscussion then and there.

"I used to know, but I've forgotten now. Been so busy with otherthings that I've neglected the hobbies I used to ride five or six yearsago," she said, laughing.

"Ah, those were times worth having! Are you going in for much ofthis sort of thing, Rose?" he asked with a disapproving glance atthe dancers.

"About three months of it, I think."

"Then good-bye till New Year." And Mac vanished behind thecurtains.

"Rose, my dear, you really must take that fellow in hand before hegets to be quite a bear. Since you have been gone he has lived inhis books and got on so finely that we have let him alone, thoughhis mother groans over his manners. Polish him up a bit, I beg ofyou, for it is high time he mended his odd ways and did justice tothe fine gifts he hides behind them," said Uncle Mac, scandalizedat the bluntness of his son.

"I know my chestnut burr too well to mind his prickles. But othersdo not, so I will take him in hand and make him a credit to hisfamily," answered Rose readily.

"Take Archie for your model he's one of a thousand, and the girlwho gets him gets a prize, I do assure you," added Uncle Mac, whofound matchmaking to his taste and thought that closing remark adeep one.

"Oh, me, how tired I am!" cried Rose, dropping into a chair as thelast carriage rolled away somewhere between one and two.

"What is your opinion now, Miss Campbell?" asked the doctor,addressing her for the first time by the name which had beenuttered so often that night.

"My opinion is that Miss Campbell is likely to have a gay life ifshe goes on as she has begun, and that she finds it very delightfulso far," answered the girl, with lips still smiling from their firsttaste of what the world calls pleasure.