that is hateful. If I cannot trust people I'd rather keep by myself
and be happy. I do detest maneuvering and underhanded plots and plans!"

Rose spoke petulantly and twitched her silk till it broke, while regret
seemed to give place to anger as she spoke.

"There is evidently another thorn pricking. Let us have it out, and
then I'll kiss the place to make it well as I used to do when I took the
splinters from the fingers you are pricking so unmercifully," said the
doctor, anxious to relieve his pet patient as soon as possible.

Rose laughed, but the color deepened in her cheeks as she answered with
a pretty mixture of maidenly shyness and natural candor.

"Aunt Clara worries me by warning me against half the young men I meet
and insisting that they want only my money. Now that is dreadful, and
I won't listen, but I can't help thinking of it sometimes, for they
are very kind to me and I'm not vain enough to think it is my beauty. I
suppose I am foolish, but I do like to feel that I am something besides
an heiress."

The little quiver was in Rose's voice again as she ended, and Dr. Alec
gave a quick sigh as he looked at the downcast face so full of the
perplexity ingenuous spirits feel when doubt first mars their faith
and dims the innocent beliefs still left from childhood. He had been
expecting this and knew that what the girl just began to perceive and
try modestly to tell had long ago been plain to worldlier eyes. The
heiress was the attraction to most of the young men whom she met. Good
fellows enough, but educated, as nearly all are nowadays, to believe
that girls with beauty or money are brought to market to sell or buy as
the case may be.

Rose could purchase anything she liked, as she combined both advantages,
and was soon surrounded by many admirers, each striving to secure the
prize. Not being trained to believe that the only end and aim of a
woman's life was a good match, she was a little disturbed, when the
first pleasing excitement was over, to discover that her fortune was her
chief attraction.

It was impossible for her to help seeing, hearing, guessing this from a
significant glance, a stray word, a slight hint here and there, and
the quick instinct of a woman felt even before it understood the
self-interest which chilled for her so many opening friendships. In her
eyes love was a very sacred thing, hardly to be thought of till it came,
reverently received and cherished faithfully to the end. Ther