hebe all this
time, and Clara is quite sure that you waited only till she was safe
under Aunt Plenty's wing to offer yourself in the good old-fashioned
style."

"I!" And the doctor stood aghast at the mere idea, then he gave a
resigned sort of sigh and added like a martyr, "If those dear women
would let me alone, I'd thank them forever. Put the idea out of their
minds for heaven's sake, Mac, or I shall be having that poor girl flung
at my head and her comfort destroyed. She is a fine creature and I'm
proud of her, but she deserves a better lot than to be tied to an old
fellow like me whose only merit is his fidelity."

"As you please, I was only joking," and Uncle Mac dropped the subject
with secret relief. The excellent man thought a good deal of family and
had been rather worried at the hints of the ladies. After a moment's
silence he returned to a former topic, which was rather a pet plan of
his. "I don't think you do Archie justice, Alec. You don't know him as
well as I do, but you'll find that he has heart enough under his cool,
quiet manner. I've grown very fond of him, think highly of him, and
don't see how you could do better for Rose than to give her to him."

"If she will go," said the doctor, smiling at his brother's businesslike
way of disposing of the young people.

"She'll do anything to please you," began Uncle Mac in perfect good
faith, for twenty-five years in the society of a very prosaic wife had
taken nearly all the romance out of him.

"It is of no use for us to plan, and I shall never interfere except to
advise, and if I were to choose one of the boys, I should incline to my
godson," answered the doctor gravely.

"What, my Ugly Duckling!" exclaimed Uncle Mac in great surprise.

"The Ugly Duckling turned out a swan, you remember. I've always been
fond of the boy because he's so genuine and original. Crude as a green
apple now, but sound at the core, and only needs time to ripen. I'm sure
he'll turn out a capital specimen of the Campbell variety."

"Much obliged, Alec, but it will never do at all. He's a good fellow,
and may do something to be proud of by and by, but he's not the mate
for our Rose. She needs someone who can manage her property when we are
gone, and Archie is the man for that, depend upon it."

"Confound the property!" cried Dr. Alec impetuously. "I want her to
be happy, and I don't care how soon she gets rid of her money if it is
going to be a millstone round her neck. I de