before he came into the
attic room to-night, he might have found no little enjoyment in her
bright society. But in his present condition his one hope and endeavour
was to get the queen of the revels, the rose of the garden, into his
possession.

With this end in view he faithfully devoted himself to whatever partner
was given him by Louis, who had taken him in charge and was enjoying to
the full the spectacle of "Rich" Kendrick exerting himself, as he had
probably never done before, to give pleasure to those with whom he was
thrown. At last Fate and Roberta were kind to him. It was Louis,
however, who manipulated Fate in his behalf.

Catching his sister as one of her cousins, a young son of Uncle Henry,
released her, Louis drew her into a corner--as much of a corner as one
could get into with a sister at whom, wherever she turned, half the
company was looking.

"See here, Rob, you're not playing fair with the guest. Here's the
evening half over and you haven't given him a solitary chance. What's
the matter? You're not afraid of His Highness?"

"This is a dance for the uncles and cousins," retorted Roberta, "not for
society young men."

"But he's done his duty like a man and a brother. He's danced with aunts
and cousins, too, and has done it as if it were the joy of his life. But
I know what he wants and I think he deserves a reward. The next waltz
will be a peach, 'Roses Red.' Give it to the poor young millionaire,
Robby; there's a good girl."

"Bring him here," said she with an air of resignation, and she turned to
a group of young people who had followed her as bees follow their queen.
"Not this time, dears," said she. "I'm engaged for this dance to a poor
young man who has wandered in here and must be made to feel at home."

"Is that the one?" asked one of the pretty country cousins, indicating
Richard, who, obeying Louis's beckoning hand, was crossing the floor in
their direction. "Oh, you won't mind dancing with him. He's as nice as
he is good-looking, too."

"I'm delighted to hear it," said Roberta.

The next minute "the poor young man" was before her. "Am I really to
have it?" he asked her. "Will you give me the whole of it and not cut it
in two, as I saw you do with the last one?"

"It would be rather a pity to cut 'Roses Red' in two, wouldn't it?" said
she.

"The greatest pity in the world." He was looking at her cheek in the
last instant before they were off. Talk of roses! Was there ever a rose