“We all do. Could I give you anything better on a day like this?” “No thank you very much.” And a sudden dew came to Rose's eyes, for, though often blunt in speech, when Mac did do a tender thing, it always touched her because he seemed to understand her moods so well. “Has Archie been here? He said he shouldn't go anywhere else, but I hope you talked that nonsense out of his head,” said Steve, settling his tie before the mirror. “Yes, dear, he came but looked so out of spirits I really felt reproached. Rose cheered him up a little, but I don't believe he will feel equal to making calls and I hope he won't, for his face tells the whole story much too plainly,” answered Aunty Plenty, rustling about her bountiful table in her richest black silk with all her old lace on. “Oh, he'll get over it in a month or two, and Phebe will soon find another lover, so don't be worried about him, Aunty,” said Steve, with the air of a man who knew all about that sort of thing. “If Archie does forget, I shall despise him, and I know Phebe won't try to find another lover, though she'll probably have them she is so sweet and good!” cried Rose indignantly, for, having taken the pair under her protection, she defended them valiantly. “Then you'd have Arch hope against hope and never give up, would you?” asked Mac, putting on his glasses to survey the thin boots which were his especial abomination. “Yes, I would, for a lover is not worth having if he's not in earnest!” “Exactly. So you'd like them to wait and work and keep on loving till they made you relent or plainly proved that it was no use.” “If they were good as well as constant, I think I should relent in time.” “I'll mention that to Pemberton, for he seemed to be hit the hardest, and a ray of hope will do him good, whether he is equal to the ten years' wait or not,” put in Steve, who liked to rally Rose about her lovers. “I'll never forgive you if you say a word to anyone. It is only Mac's odd way of asking questions, and I ought not to answer them. You will talk about such things and I can't stop you, but I don't like it,” said Rose, much annoyed. “Poor little Penelope! She shall not be teased about her suitors but left in peace till her Ulysses comes home,” said Mac, sitting down to read the mottoes sticking out of certain fanciful bonbons on the table. “It is this fuss about Archie which has demoralized us all. Even the owl waked up and hasn't got over the excitement yet, you see. He's had no experience, poor fellow, so he doesn't know how to behave,” observed Steve, regarding his bouquet with tender interest. “That's true, and I asked for information because I may be in love myself someday and all this will be useful, don't you see?” “You in love!” And Steve could not restrain a laugh at the idea of the bookworm a slave to the tender passion.