florist, for one part of her plan
had been carried out, and Prince was invited to be her escort, much
to his delight, though he wisely made no protestations of any sort and
showed his gratitude by being a model gentleman. This pleased Rose, for
the late humiliation and a very sincere desire to atone for it gave him
an air of pensive dignity which was very effective.

Aunt Clara could not go, for a certain new cosmetic, privately used to
improve the once fine complexion, which had been her pride till late
hours impaired it, had brought out an unsightly eruption, reducing her
to the depths of woe and leaving her no solace for her disappointment
but the sight of the elegant velvet dress spread forth upon her bed in
melancholy state.

So Aunt Jessie was chaperon, to Rose's great satisfaction, and looked as
"pretty as a pink," Archie thought, in her matronly pearl-colored gown
with a dainty trifle of rich lace on her still abundant hair. He was
very proud of his little mama, and as devoted as a lover, "to keep his
hand in against Phebe's return," she said laughingly when he brought her
a nosegay of blush roses to light up her quiet costume.

A happier mother did not live than Mrs. Jessie as she sat contentedly
beside Sister Jane (who graced the frivolous scene in a serious black
gown with a diadem of purple asters nodding above her severe brow), both
watching their boys with the maternal conviction that no other parent
could show such remarkable specimens as these. Each had done her best
according to her light, and years of faithful care were now beginning to
bear fruit in the promise of goodly men, so dear to the hearts of true
mothers.

Mrs. Jessie watched her three tall sons with something like wonder,
for Archie was a fine fellow, grave and rather stately, but full of the
cordial courtesy and respect we see so little of nowadays and which is
the sure sign of good home training. "The cadets," as Will and Geordie
called themselves, were there as gorgeous as you please, and the agonies
they suffered that night with tight boots and stiff collars no pen can
fitly tell. But only to one another did they confide these sufferings
and the rare moments of repose when they could stand on one aching foot
with heads comfortably sunken inside the excruciating collars, which
rasped their ears and made the lobes thereof a pleasing scarlet. Brief
were these moments, however, and the Spartan boys danced on with smiling
faces, undaunted