und,
where he was listening with interest. "I'm glad you asked him, Rosamond,
and I'll answer for your forgiveness. While you are inviting I should
like to invite his grandfather also. Christmas Eve is a lonely time for
him, I'll be bound, and it would do him good to meet Rufus and Phil, and
the rest again."

"I'll tell you what we're going to end by being," murmured Louis to
Roberta:--"a 'Discontented Millionaires' Home.'"

* * * * *

On the stairs an hour afterward a brief but significant colloquy took
place between Rosamond Gray and her sister-in-law, Roberta.

"Why do you mind having him come, Rob? Haven't you any charity for the
poor at Christmas time?"

"Poor! He's poor enough, but he doesn't know it."

"Doesn't he? The night he was here at dinner he told me he felt poor."
Rosamond's look was triumphant. "He feels it very much; he's never known
what family life meant."

"Do you imagine he can adapt himself to the conditions of the Christmas
party? If I catch him laughing--ever so covertly--I'll send him home!"

"You savage person! You don't expect to catch him laughing! He's a
gentleman. And I believe he's enough of a man to appreciate the aunts
and uncles and cousins, even those of them who don't patronize city
tailors and dressmakers. Why, they're perfectly delightful people, every
one of them, and he will have the discernment to see it."

"I don't believe it. Where have you seen him that you have so much more
confidence than I have?"

"I've had one or two little talks with him that have told me a good
deal. And this afternoon he met me as I was coming downstairs with
Gordon. Rob, what do you think? Gordon went to him exactly as he goes to
Stephen; they had the greatest time. Gordon knows better than you do
whom to trust."

"You and Gordon are very discerning. A handsome face and a wheedling
manner--and you think you have a fine, strong character. Handsome is as
handsome does, Rosy Gray of the soft heart, and a wheedling manner is
dust and ashes compared with the ability to accomplish something worth
effort. But--bring your nice young man to the party if you like; only
take care of him. I shall be busy with the real men!"

CHAPTER VIII

ROSES RED

It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew
Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays'
Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and
h