Looking pale and excited , she rose out of her chair , cast away the ring , and said in a voice that she vainly tried to keep steady , `` You are not at all the boy I thought you were , and I do n't respect you one bit . I 've tried to help you be good , but you wo n't let me , and I shall not try any more . You talk a great deal about being a gentleman , but you are not , for you 've broken your word , and I can never trust you again . I do n't wish you to go home with me . I 'd rather have Mary . Good-night . '' And with that last dreadful blow , Rose walked out of the room , leaving Charlie as much astonished as if one of his pet pigeons had flown in his face and pecked at him . She was so seldom angry , that when her temper did get the better of her it made a deep impression on the lads , for it was generally a righteous sort of indignation at some injustice or wrong-doing , not childish passion . Her little thunderstorm cleared off in a sob or two as she put on her things in the entry-closet , and when she emerged she looked the brighter for the shower . A hasty good-night to Aunt Clara now under the hands of the hairdresser and then she crept down to find Mary the maid . But Mary was out , so was the man , and Rose slipped away by the back-door , flattering herself that she had escaped the awkwardness of having Charlie for escort . There she was mistaken , however , for the gate had hardly closed behind her when a well-known tramp was heard , and the Prince was beside her , saying in a tone of penitent politeness that banished Rose 's wrath like magic , `` You need n't speak to me if you do n't choose , but I must see you safely home , cousin . '' She turned at once , put out her hand , and answered heartily , `` I was the cross one . Please forgive me , and let 's be friends again . '' Now that was better than a dozen sermons on the beauty of forgiveness , and did Charlie more good , for it showed him how sweet humility was , and proved that Rose practised as she preached . He shook the hand warmly , then drew it through his arm and said , as if anxious to recover the good opinion with the loss of which he had been threatened , `` Look here , Rosy , I 've put the ring back , and I 'm going to try again . But you do n't know how hard it is to stand being laughed at . '' `` Yes , I do ! Ariadne plagues me every time I see her , because I do n't wear ear-rings after all the trouble I had getting ready for them . '' `` Ah , but her twaddle is n't half as bad as the chaffing I get .
It takes a deal of pluck to hold out when you are told you are tied to an apron string , and all that sort of thing , '' sighed XXXXX .
Charlie Clara Mary Prince Rose entry-closet hairdresser thunderstorm twaddle wrong-doing