ain when I am so placed that I can't say anything. You will never
understand, and I cannot explain, for it is only a look, or a word, or
some little thing but I won't have it, and the best way to cure him is
to put it out of his power to annoy me so."

"He is a great flirt and wants to teach you how, I suppose. I'll speak
to him if you like and tell him you don't want to learn. Shall I?" asked
Mac, finding the case rather an interesting one.

"No, thank you that would only make trouble. If you will kindly play
escort a few times, it will show Charlie that I am in earnest without
more words and put a stop to the gossip," said Rose, coloring like a
poppy at the recollection of what she heard one young man whisper to
another as Charlie led her through a crowded supper room with his most
devoted air, "Lucky dog! He is sure to get the heiress, and we are
nowhere."

"There's no danger of people gossiping about us, is there?" And Mac
looked up with the oddest of all his odd expressions.

"Of course not you're only a boy."

"I'm twenty-one, thank you, and Prince is but a couple of years older,"
said Mac, promptly resenting the slight put upon his manhood.

"Yes, but he is like other young men, while you are a dear old bookworm.
No one would ever mind what you did, so you may go to parties with me
every night and not a word would be said or, if there was, I shouldn't
mind since it is 'only Mac,'" answered Rose, smiling as she quoted a
household phrase often used to excuse his vagaries.

"Then I am nobody?" he said, lifting his brows as if the discovery
surprised and rather nettled him.

"Nobody in society as yet, but my very best cousin in private, and I've
just proved my regard by making you my confidant and choosing you for my
knight," said Rose, hastening to soothe the feelings her careless words
seemed to have ruffled slightly.

"Much good that is likely to do me," grumbled Mac.

"You ungrateful boy, not to appreciate the honor I've conferred upon
you! I know a dozen who would be proud of the place, but you only care
for compound fractures, so I won't detain you any longer, except to ask
if I may consider myself provided with an escort for tomorrow night?"
said Rose, a trifle hurt at his indifference, for she was not used to
refusals.

"If I may hope for the honor." And, rising, he made her a bow which was
such a capital imitation of Charlie's grand manner that she forgave him
at once, exclaiming with amused sur