"No one," with a rebellious blush, and the truthful addition, "I see much to admire and like in many persons, but none quite strong and good enough to suit me. My heroes are old-fashioned, you know." "Prigs, like Guy Carleton, Count Altenberg, and John Halifax: I know the pattern you goody girls like," sneered Charlie, who preferred the Guy Livingston, Beauclerc, and Rochester style. "Then I'm not a 'goody girl,' for I don't like prigs. I want a gentleman in the best sense of the word, and I can wait; for I've seen one, and know there are more in the world." "The deuce you have! Do I know him?" asked Charlie, much alarmed. "You think you do," answered Rose, with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. "If it isn't Pem, I give it up. He is the best-bred fellow I know." "Oh, dear, no! far superior to Mr. Pemberton, and many years older," said Rose, with so much respect that Charlie looked perplexed as well as anxious. "Some apostolic minister, I fancy. You pious creatures always like to adore a parson. But all we know are married." "He isn't." "Give a name, for pity's sake: I'm suffering tortures of suspense," begged Charlie. "Alexander Campbell." "Uncle? Well, upon my word, that's a relief, but mighty absurd all the same. So, when you find a young saint of that sort, you intend to marry him, do you?" demanded Charlie, much amused and rather disappointed. "When I find any man half as honest, good, and noble as uncle, I shall be proud to marry him, if he asks me," answered Rose, decidedly. "What odd tastes women have!" And Charlie leaned his chin on his hand, to muse pensively for a moment over the blindness of one woman who could admire an excellent old uncle more than a dashing young cousin. Rose, meanwhile, tied up her parcels industriously, hoping she had not been too severe; for it was very hard to lecture Charlie, though he seemed to like it sometimes, and came to confession voluntarily, knowing that women love to forgive when the sinners are of his sort. "It will be mail-time before you are done," she said presently; for silence was less pleasant than his rattle. Charlie took the hint, and dashed off several notes in his best manner. Coming to the business-letter, he glanced at it, and asked, with a puzzled expression,-- "What is all this? Cost of repairs, &c., from a man named Buffum?" "Never mind that: I'll see to it by and by." "But I do mind, for I'm interested in all your affairs; and, though you think I've no head for business, you'll find I have, if you'll try me." "This is only about my two old houses in the city, which are being repaired and altered so that the rooms can be let singly." "Going to make tenement-houses of them? Well, that's not a bad idea: such places pay well, I've heard." "That is just what I'm _not_ going to do. I wouldn't have a tenement-house on my conscience for a million of dollars,--not as they are now," said Rose, decidedly.