“Now I'm lost,” thought Rose, as she gave up her pin-cushion with a sternly defiant look that would have daunted anyone but the reckless Prince. In fact, it made even him think twice, and resolve to “let Rose off easy,'' she had been so clever.
“Here's a very pretty pawn, and what shall be done to redeem it?” asked Steve, holding the pin-cushion over Charlie's head, for he had insisted on being judge, and kept that for the last.
“Fine or superfine?”
“Super.”
“Hum, well, she shall take old Mac under the mistletoe, and kiss him prettily. Won't he be mad, though?” and this bad boy chuckled over the discomfort he had caused two harmless beings.
There was an impressive pause among the young folks in their corner, for they all knew that Mac would “be mad,” since he hated nonsense of this sort, and had gone to talk with the elders when the game began. At this moment he was standing before the fire, listening to a discussion between his uncles and his father, looking as wise as a young owl, and blissfully unconscious of the plots against him.
Charlie expected that Rose would say, “I won't!” therefore he was rather astonished, not to say gratified, when, after a look at the victim, she laughed suddenly, and, going up to the group of gentlemen, drew her uncle Mac under the mistletoe and surprised him with a hearty kiss.
“Thank you, my dear,” said the innocent gentleman, looking much pleased at the unexpected honour.
“Oh, come; that's not fair,” began Charlie. But Rose cut him short by saying, as she made him a fine courtesy,
“You said 'Old Mac,' and though it was very disrespectful, I did it. That was your last chance, sir, and you've lost it.”