e one when I went away, you know, and I carried them
round the world with me in that very box."

"I wish the heads had gone too. Here's a jolly little amber god with
a gold ring in his back and a most balmy breath," continued Charlie,
taking a long sniff at the scent bottle.

"Uncle brought me that long ago, and I'm very fond of it."

"This now looks suspicious man's ring with a lotus cut on the stone and
a note attached. I tremble as I ask, who, when, and where?"

"A gentleman, on my birthday, in Calcutta."

"I breathe again it was my sire?"

"Don't be absurd. Of course it was, and he did everything to make my
visit pleasant. I wish you'd go and see him like a dutiful son, instead
of idling here."

"That's what Uncle Mac is eternally telling me, but I don't intend to
be lectured into the treadmill till I've had my fling first," muttered
Charlie rebelliously.

"If you fling yourself in the wrong direction, you may find it hard to
get back again," began Rose gravely.

"No fear, if you look after me as you seem to have promised to do,
judging by the thanks you get in this note. Poor old governor! I should
like to see him, for it's almost four years since he came home last and
he must be getting on."

Charlie was the only one of the boys who ever called his father
"governor," perhaps because the others knew and loved their fathers,
while he had seen so little of his that the less respectful name came
more readily to his lips, since the elder man in truth seemed a governor
issuing requests or commands, which the younger too often neglected or
resented.

Long ago Rose had discovered that Uncle Stephen found home made so
distasteful by his wife's devotion to society that he preferred to exile
himself, taking business as an excuse for his protracted absences.

The girl was thinking of this as she watched her cousin turn the ring
about with a sudden sobriety which became him well; and, believing that
the moment was propitious, she said earnestly: "He is getting on. Dear
Charlie, do think of duty more than pleasure in this case and I'm sure
you never will regret it."

"Do you want me to go?" he asked quickly.

"I think you ought."

"And I think you'd be much more charming if you wouldn't always be
worrying about right and wrong! Uncle Alec taught you that along with
the rest of his queer notions."

"I'm glad he did!" cried Rose warmly, then checked herself and said with
a patient sort of sigh, "You know wome