hisper 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."

Chapter 5 PRINCE CHARMING

The old glove lay upon the floor forgotten while Rose sat musing, till a
quick step sounded in the hall and a voice drew near, tunefully humming.

"As he was walkin' doun the street
The city for to view,
Oh, there he spied a bonny lass,
The window lookin' through."

"Sae licht he jumped up the stair,
And tirled at the pin;
Oh, wha sae ready as hersel'
To let the laddie in?"

sang Rose as the voice paused and a tap came at the door.

"Good morning, Rosamunda, here are your letters, and your most devoted
ready to execute any commissions you may have for him," was Charlie's
greeting as he came in looking comely, gay, and debonair as usual.

"Thanks. I've no errands unless you mail my replies, if these need
answering, so by your leave, Prince," and Rose began to open the handful
of notes he threw into her lap.

"Ha! What sight is this to blast mine eyes?" ejaculated Charlie, as
he pointed to the glove with a melodramatic start, for, like most
accomplished amateur actors, he was fond of introducing private
theatricals into his daily talk and conversation.

"Uncle left it."

"'Tis well. Methought perchance a rival had been here," and, picking
it up, Charlie amused himself with putting it on the head of a little
Psyche which ornamented the mantelpiece, softly singing as he did so,
another verse of the old song:

"He set his Jenny on his knee,
All in his Highland dress;
For brawly well he kenned the way
To please a bonny lass."

Rose went on reading her letters, but all the while was thinking of her
conversation with her uncle as well as something else suggested by the
newcomer and his ditty.

During the three months since her return she had seen more of this
cousin than any of the others, for he seemed to be the only one who had
leisure to "play with Rose," as they used to say years ago. The other
boys were all at work, even little Jamie, many of whose play hours were
devoted to manful stru