第1章

ThreeyoungmenstoodtogetheronawharfonebrightOctoberdayawaitingthearrivalofanoceansteamerwithanimpatiencewhichfoundaventinlivelyskirmisheswithasmalllad,whopervadedthepremiseslikeawill—o"—the—wispandaffordedmuchamusementtotheothergroupsassembledthere。

"TheyaretheCampbells,waitingfortheircousin,whohasbeenabroadseveralyearswithheruncle,thedoctor,"whisperedoneladytoanotherasthehandsomestoftheyoungmentouchedhishattoherashepassed,luggingtheboy,whomhehadjustrescuedfromalittleexpeditiondownamongthepiles。

"Whichisthat？"askedthestranger。

"PrinceCharlie,ashe"scalled­afinefellow,themostpromisingoftheseven,butalittlefast,peoplesay,"answeredthefirstspeakerwithashakeofthehead。

"Aretheothershisbrothers？"

"No,cousins。TheelderisArchie,amostexemplaryyoungman。Hehasjustgoneintobusinesswiththemerchantuncleandbidsfairtobeanhonortohisfamily。Theother,withtheeyeglassesandnogloves,isMac,theoddone,justoutofcollege。"

"Andtheboy？"

"Oh,heisJamie,theyoungestbrotherofArchibald,andthepetofthewholefamily。Mercyonus­he"llbeiniftheydon"tholdontohim！"

Theladies"chatcametoasuddenendjustthere,forbythetimeJamiehadbeenfishedoutofahogshead,thesteamerhoveinsightandeverythingelsewasforgotten。Asitswungslowlyaroundtoenterthedock,aboyishvoiceshouted,"Theresheis！IseeherandUncleandPhebe！HoorayforCousinRose！"AndthreesmallcheersweregivenwithawillbyJamieashestoodonapostwavinghisarmslikeawindmillwhilehisbrotherheldontothetailofhisjacket。

Yes,theretheywere­UncleAlecswinginghishatlikeaboy,withPhebesmilingandnoddingononesideandRosekissingbothhandsdelightedlyontheotherassherecognizedfamiliarfacesandheardfamiliarvoiceswelcomingherhome。

"Blessherdearheart,she"sbonnierthanever！LookslikeaMadonna­doesn"tshe？­withthatbluecloakroundher,andherbrighthairflyinginthewind！"saidCharlieexcitedlyastheywatchedthegroupuponthedeckwitheagereyes。

"Madonnasdon"twearhatslikethat。Rosehasn"tchangedmuch,butPhebehas。Why,she"saregularbeauty！"answeredArchie,staringwithallhismightatthedark—eyedyoungwomanwiththebrilliantcolorandglossyblackbraidsshininginthesun。

"DearoldUncle！Doesn"titseemgoodtohavehimback？"wasallMacsaid,buthewasnotlookingat"dearolduncle"ashemadetheferventremark,forhesawonlytheslenderblondgirlnearbyandstretchedouthishandstomeethers,forgetfulofthegreenwatertumblingbetweenthem。

Duringtheconfusionthatreignedforamomentasthesteamersettledtohermoorings,Roselookeddownintothefourfacesupturnedtohersandseemedtoreadinthemsomethingthatbothpleasedandpainedher。

Itwasonlyaglance,andherowneyeswerefull,butthroughthemistofhappytearsshereceivedtheimpressionthatArchiewasaboutthesame,thatMachaddecidedlyimproved,andthatsomethingwasamisswithCharlie。

Therewasnotimeforobservation,however,forinamomenttheshorewardrushbegan,andbeforeshecouldgrasphertravelingbag,Jamiewasclingingtoherlikeanecstaticyoungbear。Shewaswithdifficultyreleasedfromhisembracetofallintothegentleronesoftheeldercousins,whotookadvantageofthegeneralexcitementtowelcomebothbloominggirlswithaffectionateimpartiality。Thenthewandererswereborneashoreinatriumphalprocession,whileJamiedancedrapturousjigsbeforethemevenonthegangway。

ArchieremainedtohelphisunclegettheluggagethroughtheCustomHouse,andtheothersescortedthedamselshome。Nosoonerweretheyshutupinacarriage,however,thananewandcuriousconstraintseemedtofallupontheyoungpeople,fortheyrealized,allatonce,thattheirformerplaymatesweremenandwomennow。Fortunately,Jamiewasquitefreefromthisfeelingofrestraintand,sittingbodkinwisebetweentheladies,tookallsortsoflibertieswiththemandtheirbelongings。

"Well,mymannikin,whatdoyouthinkofus？"askedRose,tobreakanawkwardpause。

"You"vebothgrownsopretty,Ican"tdecidewhichIlikebest。Phebeisthebiggestandbrightest—looking,andIwasalwaysfondofPhebe,butsomehowyouaresokindofsweetandprecious,IreallythinkImusthugyouagain,"andthesmallyouthdidittempestuously。

"Ifyoulovemebest,IshallnotmindabitaboutyourthinkingPhebethehandsomest,becausesheis。Isn"tshe,boys？"askedRose,withamischievouslookatthegentlemenopposite,whosefacesexpressedarespectfuladmirationwhichmuchamusedher。

"I"msodazzledbythebrilliancyandbeautythathassuddenlyburstuponme,Ihavenowordstoexpressmyemotions,"answeredCharlie,gallantlydodgingthedangerousquestion。

"Ican"tsayyet,forIhavenothadtimetolookatanyone。Iwillnow,ifyoudon"tmind。"And,tothegreatamusementoftherest,Macgravelyadjustedhiseyeglassesandtookanobservation。

"Well？"saidPhebe,smilingandblushingunderhishoneststare,yetseemingnottoresentitasshedidthelordlysortofapprovalwhichmadeheranswertheglanceofCharlie"saudaciousblueeyeswithaflashofherblackones。

"Ithinkifyouweremysister,Ishouldbeveryproudofyou,becauseyourfaceshowswhatIadmiremorethanitsbeauty­truthandcourage,Phebe,"answeredMacwithalittlebowfullofsuchgenuinerespectthatsurpriseandpleasurebroughtasuddendewtoquenchthefireofthegirl"seyesandsoothethesensitiveprideofthegirl"sheart。

Roseclappedherhandsjustassheusedtodowhenanythingdelightedher,andbeamedatMacapprovinglyasshesaid:"Nowthat"sacriticismworthhaving,andwearemuchobliged。Iwassureyou"dadmiremyPhebewhenyouknewher,butIdidn"tbelieveyouwouldbewiseenoughtoseeitatonce,andyouhavegoneupmanypegsinmyestimation,Iassureyou。"

"Iwasalwaysfondofmineralogyyouremember,andI"vebeentappingroundagooddeallately,soI"velearnedtoknowpreciousmetalswhenIseethem,"Macsaidwithhisshrewdsmile。

"Thatisthelatesthobby,then？Yourlettershaveamusedusimmensely,foreachonehadanewtheoryorexperiment,andthelatestwasalwaysthebest。IthoughtUnclewouldhavediedoflaughteroverthevegetarianmania­itwassofunnytoimagineyoulivingonbreadandmilk,bakedapples,andpotatoesroastedinyourownfire,"continuedRose,changingthesubjectagain。

"Thisoldchapwasthelaughingstockofhisclass。TheycalledhimDonQuixote,andthewayhewentatwindmillsofallsortswasasighttosee,"

putinCharlie,evidentlyfeelingthatMachadbeenpattedontheheadquiteasmuchaswasgoodforhim。

"ButinspiteofthattheDongotthroughcollegewithallthehonors。

Oh,wasn"tIproudwhenAuntJanewrotetousaboutit­anddidn"tsherejoicethatherboykeptattheheadofhisclassandwonthemedal！"

criedRose,shakingMacbybothhandsinawaythatcausedCharlietowish"theoldchap"hadbeenleftbehindwithDr。Alec。

"Oh,come,that"sallMother"snonsense。Ibeganearlierthantheotherfellowsandlikeditbetter,soIdon"tdeserveanypraise。Princeisright,though。Ididmakearegularjackofmyself,butonthewholeI"mnotsurethatmywildoatsweren"tbetterthansomeI"veseensowed。Anyway,theydidn"tcostmuch,andI"mnonetheworseforthem,"saidMacplacidly。

"Iknowwhat"wildoats"means。IheardUncleMacsayCharliewassowing"emtoofast,andIaskedMama,soshetoldme。AndIknowthathewassuspelledorexpended,Idon"trememberwhich,butitwassomethingbad,andAuntClaracried,"addedJamieallinonebreath,forhepossessedafatalgiftofmakingmalaproposremarks,whichcausedhimtobeaterrortohisfamily。

"Doyouwanttogoontheboxagain？"demandedPrincewithawarningfrown。

"No,Idon"t。"

"Thenholdyourtongue。"

"Well,Macneedn"tkickme,forIwasonly……"begantheculprit,innocentlytryingtomakeabadmatterworse。

"Thatwilldo,"interruptedCharliesternly,andJamessubsided,acrushedboy,consolinghimselfwithRose"snewwatchfortheindignitieshesufferedatthehandsofthe"oldfellows"ashevengefullycalledhiselders。

MacandCharlieimmediatelybegantotalkashardastheirtonguescouldwag,bringingupallsortsofpleasantsubjectssosuccessfullythatpealsoflaughtermadepassersbylookafterthemerryloadwithsympatheticsmiles。

AnavalancheofauntsfelluponRoseassoonasshereachedhome,andfortherestofthedaytheoldhousebuzzedlikeabeehive。Eveningfoundthewholetribecollectedinthedrawingrooms,withtheexceptionofAuntPeace,whoseplacewasemptynow。

Naturallyenough,theelderssettledintoonegroupafterawhile,andtheyoungfellowsclusteredaboutthegirlslikebutterfliesaroundtwoattractiveflowers。Dr。AlecwasthecentralfigureinoneroomandRoseintheother,forthelittlegirl,whomtheyhadalllovedandpetted,hadbloomedintoawoman,andtwoyearsofabsencehadwroughtacuriouschangeintherelativepositionsofthecousins,especiallythethreeelderones,whoeyedherwithamixtureofboyishaffectionandmanlyadmirationthatwasbothnewandpleasant。

Somethingsweetyetspiritedabouthercharmedthemandpiquedtheircuriosity,forshewasnotquitelikeothergirls,andratherstartledthemnowandthenbysomeindependentlittlespeechoractwhichmadethemlookatoneanotherwithaslysmile,asifremindedthatRosewas"Uncle"sgirl。"

Letuslisten,asindutybound,towhattheeldersaresayingfirst,fortheyarealreadybuildingcastlesinairfortheboysandgirlstoinhabit。

"Dearchild­howniceitistoseehersafelyback,sowellandhappyandlikehersweetlittleself！"saidAuntPlenty,foldingherhandsasifgivingthanksforagreathappiness。

"Ishouldn"twonderifyoufoundthatyou"dbroughtafirebrandintothefamily,Alec。Two,infact,forPhebeisafinegirl,andtheladshavefounditoutalreadyifI"mnotmistaken,"addedUncleMac,withanodtowardtheotherroom。

Alleyesfollowedhis,andahighlysuggestivetableaupresenteditselftothepaternalandmaternalaudienceinthebackparlor。

RoseandPhebe,sittingsidebysideonthesofa,hadevidentlyassumedatoncetheplaceswhichtheyweredestinedtofillbyrightofyouth,sex,andbeauty,forPhebehadlongsinceceasedtobethemaidandbecomethefriend,andRosemeanttohavethatfactestablishedatonce。

Jamieoccupiedtherug,onwhichWillandGeordiestoodatease,showingtheiruniformstothebestadvantage,fortheywerenowinagreatschool,wheremilitarydrillwasthedelightoftheirsouls。Steveposedgracefullyinanarmchair,withMacloungingoverthebackofit,whileArchieleanedononecornerofthelowchimneypiece,lookingdownatPhebeasshelistenedtohischatwithsmilinglipsandcheeksalmostasrichincolorasthecarnationsinherbelt。

ButCharliewasparticularlyeffective,althoughhesatuponamusicstool,thatmosttryingpositionforanymannotgiftedwithgraceinthemanagementofhislegs。FortunatelyPrincewas,andhadfallenintoaneasyattitude,withonearmoverthebackofthesofa,hishandsomeheadbentalittle,ashemonopolizedRose,withadevotedairandaverybecomingexpressionofcontentmentonhisface。

AuntClarasmiledasifwellpleased;AuntJessielookedthoughtful;

AuntJane"skeeneyeswentfromdapperStevetobroad—shoulderedMacwithananxiousglance;Mrs。Myramurmuredsomethingabouther"blessedCaroline";

andAuntPlentysaidwarmly,"Blessthedears！Anyonemightbeproudofsuchabonnyflockofbairnsasthat。"

"Iamallreadytoplaychaperonassoonasyouplease,Alec,forI

supposethedeargirlwillcomeoutatonce,asshedidnotbeforeyouwentaway。Myserviceswon"tbewantedlong,Ifancy,forwithhermanyadvantagesshewillbecarriedoffinherfirstseasonorI"mmuchmistaken,"

saidMrs。Clara,withsignificantnodsandsmiles。

"YoumustsettleallthosematterswithRose。Iamnolongercaptain,onlyfirstmatenow,youknow,"answeredDr。Alec,addingsoberly,halftohimself,halftohisbrother,"Iwonderpeopleareinsuchhasteto"bringout"theirdaughters,asit"scalled。Tomethereissomethingalmostpatheticinthesightofayounggirlstandingonthethresholdoftheworld,soinnocentandhopeful,soignorantofallthatliesbeforeher,andusuallysoillpreparedtomeettheupsanddownsoflife。Wedoourdutybetterbytheboys,butthepoorlittlewomenareseldomprovidedwithanyarmorworthhaving,andsoonerorlatertheyaresuretoneedit,foreveryonemustfightherownbattle,andonlythebraveandstrongcanwin。"

"Youcan"treproachyourselfwithneglectofthatsort,Alec,foryouhavedoneyourdutyfaithfullybyGeorge"sgirl,andIenvyyoutheprideandhappinessofhavingsuchadaughter,forsheisthattoyou,"answeredoldMac,unexpectedlybetrayingthepaternalsortoftendernessmenseldomfeelfortheirsons。

"I"vetried,Mac,andIambothproudandhappy,butwitheveryyearmyanxietyseemstoincrease。I"vedonemybesttofitRoseforwhatmaycome,asfarasIcanforeseeit,butnowshemuststandalone,andallmycareispowerlesstokeepherheartfromaching,herlifefrombeingsaddenedbymistakes,orthwartedbytheactsofothers。Icanonlystandreadytoshareherjoyandsorrowandwatchhershapeherlife。"

"Why,Alec,whatisthechildgoingtodothatyouneedlooksosolemn？"

exclaimedMrs。Clara,whoseemedtohaveassumedasortofrighttoRosealready。

"Hark！Andlethertellyouherself,"answeredDr。Alec,asRose"svoicewasheardsayingveryearnestly,"Now,youhavealltoldyourplansforthefuture,whydon"tyouaskusours？"

"Becauseweknowthatthereisonlyonethingforaprettygirltodo­breakadozenorsoheartsbeforeshefindsonetosuit,thenmarryandsettle,"

answeredCharlie,asifnootherreplywaspossible。

"Thatmaybethecasewithmany,butnotwithus,forPhebeandIbelievethatitisasmucharightandadutyforwomentodosomethingwiththeirlivesasformen,andwearenotgoingtobesatisfiedwithsuchfrivolouspartsasyougiveus,"criedRosewithkindlingeyes。"ImeanwhatIsay,andyoucannotlaughmedown。Wouldyoubecontentedtobetoldtoenjoyyourselfforalittlewhile,thenmarryanddonothingmoretillyoudie？"sheadded,turningtoArchie。

"Ofcoursenot­thatisonlyapartofaman"slife,"heanswereddecidedly。

"Averypreciousandlovelypart,butnotall,"continuedRose。

"Neithershoulditbeforawoman,forwe"vegotmindsandsoulsaswellashearts;ambitionandtalentsaswellasbeautyandaccomplishments;

andwewanttoliveandlearnaswellasloveandbeloved。I"msickofbeingtoldthatisallawomanisfitfor！Iwon"thaveanythingtodowithlovetillIprovethatIamsomethingbesidesahousekeeperandbaby—tender！"

"Heavenpreserveus！Here"swoman"srightswithavengeance！"criedCharlie,startingupwithmockhorror,whiletheothersregardedRosewithmingledsurpriseandamusement,evidentlyfancyingitallagirlishoutbreak。

"Ah,youneedn"tpretendtobeshocked­youwillbeinearnestpresently,forthisisonlythebeginningofmystrong—mindedness,"continuedRose,nothingdauntedbythesmilesofgood—naturedincredulityorderisiononthefacesofhercousins。"Ihavemadeupmymindnottobecheatedoutoftherealthingsthatmakeonegoodandhappyand,justbecauseI"marichgirl,foldmyhandsanddriftassomanydo。Ihaven"tlivedwithPhebealltheseyearsinvain。Iknowwhatcourageandself—reliancecandoforone,andIsometimeswishIhadn"tapennyintheworldsothatIcouldgoandearnmybreadwithher,andbeasbraveandindependentasshewillbeprettysoon。"

ItwasevidentthatRosewasinearnestnow,forasshespokesheturnedtoherfriendwithsuchrespectaswellasloveinherfacethatthelooktoldbetterthananywordshowheartilytherichgirlappreciatedthevirtueshardexperiencehadgiventhepoorgirl,andhoweagerlyshedesiredtoearnwhatallherfortunecouldnotbuyforher。

Somethingintheglanceexchangedbetweenthefriendsimpressedtheyoungmeninspiteoftheirprejudices,anditwasinaperfectlyserioustonethatArchiesaid,"Ifancyyou"llfindyourhandsfull,Cousin,ifyouwantwork,forI"veheardpeoplesaythatwealthhasitstroublesandtrialsaswellaspoverty。"

"Iknowit,andI"mgoingtotryandfillmyplacewell。I"vegotsomecapitallittleplansallmade,andhavebeguntostudymyprofessionalready,"

answeredRosewithanenergeticnod。

"CouldIaskwhatitistobe？"inquiredCharlieinatoneofawe。

"Guess！"andRoselookedupathimwithanexpressionhalf—earnest,half—merry。

"Well,Ishouldsaythatyouwerefittedforabeautyandabelle,butasthatisevidentlynottoyourtaste,Iamafraidyouaregoingtostudymedicineandbeadoctor。Won"tyourpatientshaveaheavenlytimethough？

Itwillbeeasydyingwithanangeltopoisonthem。"

"Now,Charlie,that"sbaseofyou,whenyouknowhowwellwomenhavesucceededinthisprofessionandwhatacomfortDr。MaryKirkwastodearAuntPeace。Ididwanttostudymedicine,butUnclethoughtitwouldn"tdotohavesomanyM。D。"sinonefamily,sinceMacthinksoftryingit。

Besides,IseemtohaveotherworkputintomyhandsthatIambetterfittedfor。"

"Youarefittedforanythingthatisgenerousandgood,andI"llstandbyyou,nomatterwhatyou"vechosen,"criedMacheartily,forthiswasanewstyleoftalkfromagirl"slips,andhelikeditimmensely。

"Philanthropyisagenerous,good,andbeautifulprofession,andI"vechosenitforminebecauseIhavemuchtogive。I"monlythestewardofthefortunePapaleftme,andIthink,ifIuseitwiselyforthehappinessofothers,itwillbemoreblestthanifIkeepitallformyself。"

Verysweetlyandsimplywasthissaid,butitwascurioustoseehowdifferentlythevarioushearersreceivedit。

Charlieshotaquicklookathismother,whoexclaimed,asifinspiteofherself,"Now,Alec,areyougoingtoletthatgirlsquanderafinefortuneonallsortsofcharitablenonsenseandwildschemesforthepreventionofpauperismandcrime？"

""TheywhogivetothepoorlendtotheLord,"andpracticalChristianityisthekindHelovesthebest,"wasallDr。Alecanswered,butitsilencedtheauntsandcausedevenprudentUncleMactothinkwithsuddensatisfactionofcertainsecretinvestmentshehadmadewhichpaidhimnointerestbutthethanksofthepoor。

ArchieandMaclookedwellpleasedandpromisedtheiradviceandassistancewiththeenthusiasmofgenerousyounghearts。Steveshookhishead,butsaidnothing,andtheladsontherugatonceproposedfoundingahospitalforinvaliddogsandhorses,whitemice,andwoundedheroes。

"Don"tyouthinkthatwillbeabetterwayforawomantospendherlifethanindancing,dressing,andhusband—hunting,Charlie？"askedRose,observinghissilenceandanxiousforhisapproval。

"Veryprettyforalittlewhile,andveryeffectivetoo,forIdon"tknowanythingmorecaptivatingthanasweetgirlinameeklittlebonnetgoingoncharitableerrandsandglorifyingpoorpeople"shouseswithadelightfulmixtureofbeautyandbenevolence。Fortunately,thedearsoulssoontireofit,butit"sheavenlywhileitlasts。"

Charliespokeinatoneofmingledadmirationandcontempt,andsmiledasuperiorsortofsmile,asifheunderstoodalltheinnocentdelusionsaswellastheartfuldevicesofthesexandexpectednothingmorefromthem。ItbothsurprisedandgrievedRose,foritdidnotsoundliketheCharlieshehadlefttwoyearsago。Butsheonlysaid,withareproachfullookandaproudlittlegestureofheadandhand,asifsheputthesubjectasidesinceitwasnottreatedwithrespect:"Iamsorryyouhavesolowanopinionofwomen。Therewasatimewhenyoubelievedinthemsincerely。"

"Idostill,uponmywordIdo！Theyhaven"tamoredevotedadmirerandslaveintheworldthanIam。Justtrymeandsee,"criedCharlie,gallantlykissinghishandtothesexingeneral。

ButRosewasnotappeased,andgaveadisdainfulshrugassheansweredwithalookinhereyesthathislordshipdidnotlike,"Thankyou。Idon"twantadmirersorslaves,butfriendsandhelpers。I"velivedsolongwithawise,goodmanthatIamratherhardtosuit,perhaps,butIdon"tintendtolowermystandard,andanyonewhocaresformyregardmustatleasttrytoliveuptoit。"

"Whew！Here"sawrathfuldove！Comeandsmoothherruffledplumage,Mac。I"lldodgebeforeIdofurthermischief,"andCharliestrolledawayintotheotherroom,privatelylamentingthatUncleAlechadspoiledafinegirlbymakingherstrong—minded。

Hewishedhimselfbackagaininfiveminutes,forMacsaidsomethingthatproducedagaleoflaughter,andwhenhetookalookoverhisshoulderthe"wrathfuldove"wascooingsopeacefullyandpleasantlyhewassorelytemptedtoreturnandsharethefun。ButCharliehadbeenspoiledbytoomuchindulgence,anditwashardforhimtoownhimselfinthewrongevenwhenheknewit。Healwaysgotwhathewantedsoonerorlater,andhavinglongagomadeuphismindthatRoseandherfortuneweretobehis,hewassecretlydispleasedatthenewplansandbeliefsoftheyounglady,butflatteredhimselfthattheywouldsoonbechangedwhenshesawhowunfashionableandinconvenienttheywere。

Musingoverthedelightfulfuturehehadlaidout,hemadehimselfcomfortableinthesofacornernearhismothertilltheappearanceofaslightrefectioncausedbothgroupstomeltintoone。AuntPlentybelievedineatinganddrinking,sotheslightestexcuseforfestivitydelightedherhospitablesoul,andonthisjoyfuloccasionshesurpassedherself。

ItwasduringthisinformalbanquetthatRose,roamingaboutfromoneadmiringrelativetoanother,cameuponthethreeyoungerlads,whowerehavingaquietlittlescuffleinasecludedcorner。

"Comeouthereandletmehavealookatyou,"shesaidenticingly,forshepredictedanexplosionandpublicdisgraceifpeacewasnotspeedilyrestored。

Hastilysmoothingthemselvesdown,theyounggentlemenpresentedthreeflushedandmerrycountenancesforinspection,feelinghighlyhonoredbythecommand。

"Dearme,howyoutwohavegrown！Youbigthings­howdareyougetheadofmeinthisway！"shesaid,standingontiptoetopatthecurlypatesbeforeher,forWillandGeordiehadshotuplikeweeds,andnowgrinnedcheerfullydownuponherasshesurveyedthemincomicamazement。

"TheCampbellsareallfine,tallfellows,andwemeantobethebestofthelot。Shouldn"twonderifweweresix—footerslikeGrandpa,"observedWillproudly,lookingsolikeayoungShanghairooster,alllegsandaninsignificanthead,thatRosekepthercountenancewithdifficulty。

"Weshallbroadenoutwhenwegetourgrowth。WearetallerthanStevenow,ahalfahead,bothofus,"addedGeordie,withhisnoseintheair。

RoseturnedtolookatSteveand,withasuddensmile,beckonedtohim。

Hedroppedhisnapkinandflewtoobeythesummons,forshewasqueenofthehour,andhehadopenlyannouncedhisdeathlessloyalty。

"Telltheotherboystocomehere。I"veafancytostandyouallinarowandlookyouover,asyoudidmethatdreadfuldaywhenyounearlyfrightenedmeoutofmywits,"shesaid,laughingatthememoryofitasshespoke。

Theycameinabodyand,standingshouldertoshoulder,madesuchanimposingarraythattheyoungcommanderwasratherdauntedforamoment。

Butshehadseentoomuchoftheworldlatelytobeabashedbyatrifle,andthedesiretoseeagirlishtestgavehercouragetofacethelineofsmilingcousinswithdignityandspirit。

"Now,I"mgoingtostareatyouasyoustaredatme。Itismyrevengeonyousevenbadboysforentrappingonepoorlittlegirlandenjoyingheralarm。I"mnotabitafraidofyounow,sotrembleandbeware！"

Asshespoke,RoselookedupintoArchie"sfaceandnoddedapprovingly,forthesteadygrayeyesmethersfairlyandsoftenedastheydidso­abecomingchange,fornaturallytheywereratherkeenthankind。

"AtrueCampbell,blessyou！"shesaid,andshookhishandheartilyasshepassedon。

Charliecamenext,andhereshefeltlesssatisfied,thoughscarcelyconsciouswhy,for,asshelooked,therecameadefiantsortofflash,changingsuddenlytosomethingwarmerthananger,strongerthanpride,makinghershrinkalittleandsay,hastily,"Idon"tfindtheCharlieIleft,butthePrinceistherestill,Isee。"

TurningtoMacwithasenseofrelief,shegentlytookoffhis"winkers,"

asJamiecalledthem,andlookedstraightintothehonestblueeyesthatlookedstraightbackather,fullofafrankandfriendlyaffectionthatwarmedherheartandmadeherowneyesbrightenasshegavebacktheglasses,saying,withalookandtoneofcordialsatisfaction,"Youarenotchanged,mydearoldMac,andI"msogladofthat！"

"Nowsaysomethingextrasweettome,becauseI"mtheflowerofthefamily,"saidSteve,twirlingtheblondmoustache,whichwasevidentlytheprideofhislife。

RosesawataglancethatDandydeservedhisnamemorethanever,andpromptlyquenchedhisvanitiesbyanswering,withaprovokinglaugh,"ThenthenameoftheflowerofthefamilyisCockscomb。"

"Ah,ha！who"sgotitnow？"jeeredWill。

"Letusoffeasy,please,"whisperedGeordie,mindfulthattheirturncamenext。

"Youblessedbeanstalks！I"mproudofyou­onlydon"tgrowquiteoutofsight,orevenbeashamedtolookawomanintheface,"answeredRose,withagentlepatonthecheekofeitherbashfulyounggiant,forbothwereredaspeonies,thoughtheirboyisheyeswereasclearandcalmassummerlakes。

"Nowme！"andJamieassumedhismanliestair,feelingthathedidnotappeartoadvantageamonghistallkinsmen。Buthewenttotheheadoftheclassineveryone"sopinionwhenRoseputherarmsaroundhim,saying,withakiss,"Youmustbemyboynow,foralltheothersaretooold,andIwantafaithfullittlepagetodomyerrandsforme。"

"Iwill,Iwill­I"llmarryyoutoo,ifyou"lljustholdontillIgrowup！"criedJamie,ratherlosinghisheadatthissuddenpromotion。

"Blessthebaby,whatishetalkingabout？"laughedRose,lookingdownatherlittleknightasheclungaboutherwithgratefulardor。

"Oh,Iheardtheauntssaythatyou"dbettermarryoneofus,andkeepthepropertyinthefamily,soIspeakfirst,becauseyouareveryfondofme,andIdolovecurls。"

AlasforJamie！ThisawfulspeechhadhardlylefthisinnocentlipswhenWillandGeordieswepthimoutoftheroomlikeawhirlwind,andthehowlsofthathaplessboywereheardfromthetorturehall,wherebeingshutintotheskeletoncasewasoneofthemildestpunishmentsinflicteduponhim。

Dismayfellupontheunfortunateswhoremained,buttheirconfusionwassoonended,forRose,withalookwhichtheyhadneverseenuponherfacebefore,dismissedthemwiththebriefcommand,"Breakranks­thereviewisover,"andwalkedawaytoPhebe。

"Confoundthatboy！Yououghttoshuthimuporgaghim！"fumedCharlieirritably。

"Heshallbeattendedto,"answeredpoorArchie,whowastryingtobringupthelittlemarplotwiththesuccessofmostparentsandguardians。

"Thewholethingwasdeuceddisagreeable,"growledSteve,whofeltthathehadnotdistinguishedhimselfinthelateengagement。

"Truthgenerallyis,"observedMacdrylyashestrolledawaywithhisoddsmile。