"You are something besides an heiress to those who know and love you, so take heart, my girl, and hold fast to the faith that is in you.There is a touchstone for all these things, and whatever does not ring true, doubt and avoid.Test and try men and women as they come along, and I am sure conscience, instinct, and experience will keep you from any dire mistake,"he said, with a protecting arm about her and a trustful look that was very comforting.
After a moment's pause she answered, while a sudden smile dimpled around her mouth and the big glove went up to hide her telltale cheeks: "Uncle, if I must have lovers, I do wish they'd be more interesting.How can Ilike or respect men who go on as some of them do and then imagine women can feel honored by the offer of their hands? Hearts are out of fashion, so they don't say much about them.""Ah, ha! That is the trouble, is it? And we begin to have delicate distresses, do we?" said Dr.Alec, glad to see her brightening and full of interest in the new topic, for he was a romantic old fellow, as he had confessed to his brother.
Rose put down the glove and looked up with a droll mixture of amusement and disgust in her face."Uncle, it is perfectly disgraceful! I've wanted to tell you, but I was ashamed, because I never could boast of such things as some girls do, and they were so absurd I couldn't feel as if they were worth repeating even to you.Perhaps I ought, though, for you may think it proper to command me to make a good match, and of course I should have to obey," she added, trying to look meek.
"Tell, by all means.Don't I always keep your secrets and give you the best advice, like a model guardian? You must have a confidant, and where find a better one than here?" he asked, tapping his waistcoat with an inviting gesture.
"Nowhere­so I'll tell all but the names.I'd best be prudent, for I'm afraid you may get a little fierce­you do sometimes when people vex me," began Rose, rather liking the prospect of a confidential chat with Uncle, for he had kept himself a good deal in the background lately.
"You know our ideas are old-fashioned, so I was not prepared to have men propose at all times and places with no warning but a few smiles and soft speeches.I expected things of that sort would be very interesting and proper, not to say thrilling, on my part­but they are not, and I find myself laughing instead of crying, feeling angry instead of glad, and forgetting all about it very soon.Why, Uncle, one absurd boy proposed when we'd met only half a dozen times.But he was dreadfully in debt, so that accounted for it perhaps." And Rose dusted her fingers, as if she had soiled them.
"I know him, and I thought he'd do it," observed the doctor with a shrug.
"You see and know everything, so there's no need of going on, is there?""Do, do! Who else? I won't even guess."
"Well, another went down upon his knees in Mrs.Van's greenhouse and poured forth his passion manfully, with a great cactus pricking his poor legs all the while.Kitty found him there, and it was impossible to keep sober, so he has hated me ever since."The doctor's "Ha! Ha!" was good to hear, and Rose joined him, for it was impossible to regard these episodes seriously, since no true sentiment redeemed them from absurdity.
"Another sent me reams of poetry and went on so Byronically that I began to wish I had red hair and my name was Betsy Ann.I burnt all the verses, so don't expect to see them, and he, poor fellow, is consoling himself with Emma.But the worst of all was the one who would make love in public and insisted on proposing in the middle of a dance.I seldom dance round dances except with our boys, but that night I did because the girls laughed at me for being so 'prudish,' as they called it.I don't mind them now, for I found I was right, and felt that I deserved my fate.""Is that all?" asked her uncle, looking "fierce," as she predicted, at the idea of his beloved girl obliged to listen to a declaration, twirling on the arm of a lover.
"One more­but him I shall not tell about, for I know he was in earnest and really suffered, though I was as kind as I knew how to be.
I'm young in these things yet, so I grieved for him, and treat his love with the tenderest respect."Rose's voice sank almost to a whisper as she ended, and Dr.Alec bent his head, as if involuntarily saluting a comrade in misfortune.Then he got up, saying with a keen look into the face he lifted by a finger under the chin: "Do you want another three months of this?""I'll tell you on New Year's Day, Uncle.""Very well.Try to keep a straight course, my little captain, and if you see dirty weather ahead, call on your first mate.""Aye, aye, sir.I'll remember."
