‘Just like William,’ Rose cut her short; and we may guess her to have had some one in her head for her to conceive that Jenny must be speaking of any one in particular.

A young lady who can have male friends, as well as friends of her own sex, is not usually pressing and secret in her confidences, possibly because such a young lady is not always nursing baby-passions, and does not require her sex’s coddling and posseting to keep them alive.  With Rose love will be full grown when it is once avowed, and will know where to go to be nourished.

‘Merely an idea I had,’ she said to Jenny, who betrayed her mental pre-occupation by putting the question for the questions last.

Her Uncle Melville next received a visit from the restless young woman.  To him she spoke not a word of the inferior classes, but as a special favourite of the diplomatist’s, begged a gift of him for her proximate birthday.  Pushed to explain what it was, she said, ’It’s something I want you to do for a friend of mine, Uncle Mel.’

The diplomatist instanced a few of the modest requests little maids prefer to people they presume to have power to grant.

‘No, it’s nothing nonsensical,’ said Rose; ’I want you to get my friend Evan an appointment.  You can if you like, you know, Uncle Mel, and it’s a shame to make him lose his time when he’s young and does his work so well—­that you can’t deny!  Now, please, be positive, Uncle Mel.  You know I hate—­I have no faith in your ‘nous verrons’.  Say you will, and at once.’

The diplomatist pretended to have his weather-eye awakened.

‘You seem very anxious about feathering the young fellow’s nest, Rosey?’

‘There,’ cried Rose, with the maiden’s mature experience of us, ’isn’t that just like men?  They never can believe you can be entirely disinterested!’

‘Hulloa!’ the diplomatist sung out, ‘I didn’t say anything, Rosey.’

She reddened at her hastiness, but retrieved it by saying: 

’No, but you listen to your wife; you know you do, Uncle Mel; and now there’s Aunt Shorne and the other women, who make you think just what they like about me, because they hate Mama.’

‘Don’t use strong words, my dear.’

‘But it’s abominable!’ cried Rose.  ’They asked Mama yesterday what Evan’s being here meant?  Why, of course, he’s your secretary, and my friend, and Mama very properly stopped them, and so will I!  As for me, I intend to stay at Beckley, I can tell you, dear old boy.’  Uncle Mel had a soft arm round his neck, and was being fondled.  ’And I ’m not going to be bred up to go into a harem, you may be sure.’

The diplomatist whistled, ‘You talk your mother with a vengeance, Rosey.’

‘And she’s the only sensible woman I know,’ said Rose.  ’Now promise me—­ in earnest.  Don’t let them mislead you, for you know you’re quite a child, out of your politics, and I shall take you in hand myself.  Why, now, think, Uncle Mel! wouldn’t any girl, as silly as they make me out, hold her tongue—­not talk of him, as I do; and because I really do feel for him as a friend.  See the difference between me and Juley!’