"He isn't a young man. Let me describe him to you. His name is Parkinson; he is somewhere between forty and fifty; he is partially bald, and--I am not quite sure that he is not bow-legged." "And you love him?" queried Adeline, mischievously. "If so, I give my consent, for though I had hoped for a better-looking brother-in-law, I am not willing that your young affections should be blighted." "Nonsense, Addie," returned Rose, half-vexed. "Tell me all about it." Rose did so, and her sister listened with fixed interest. "And this young man who rescued you, and knocked your adorer's hat over his eyes. I suppose he was a commonplace young man, red-haired and freckled, perhaps?" "Indeed he was not," said Rose, indignantly. "Then he was handsome?" "Yes, I think that he would be considered so." "Take care you don't dream of him. It would be very romantic--wouldn't it?--if you should marry him, as generally happens in romances." "Don't be a goose, Addie!" said Rose; but she did not seem annoyed. Secretly, she thought Clinton Randall the most attractive young man she had ever met, and wondered if fate would ever throw them together again. CHAPTER XXIII. ON THE BORDERS OF THE LAKE OF GENEVA. It is time to look after our hero in his European wanderings. He had been travelling hither and thither with his guardian, who appeared to have no definite aim except to enjoy himself. Whether he succeeded in doing this was by no means certain. On the whole, he and Ben got along very well together. He did not undertake to control his young secretary, but left him very much to his own devices. There were times when he seemed irritable, but it generally happened when he had been losing money at the gaming-table, for he was fond of play, not so much because he was fascinated by it as because it served as a distraction in lieu of more serious pursuits. On the whole, he did not lose much, for he was cool and self-possessed. One thing was unsatisfactory to Ben--he had little or nothing to do. He was private secretary in name, but what use Major Grafton had for a private secretary Ben could not divine. Why Ben need have concerned himself, as long as he received his salary, may excite the wonder of some of my readers, but I think most people like to feel that they are doing something useful. Ben, however, found a use for part of his time. In his travels through France, Switzerland, and Italy, he had oftentimes found himself, when alone, at a loss on account of a want of knowledge of the French language. "Why should I not learn it?" he asked himself. He procured some elementary French books, including a grammar, dictionary, and tourist's guide, and set himself to the task with his usual energy. Having little else to do, he made remarkable progress, and found his studies a source of great interest. "What are you doing there, Philip?" asked Major Grafton, one afternoon.