第4章
"TheUglyDucklingturnedoutaswan,youremember。I"vealwaysbeenfondoftheboybecausehe"ssogenuineandoriginal。Crudeasagreenapplenow,butsoundatthecore,andonlyneedstimetoripen。I"msurehe"llturnoutacapitalspecimenoftheCampbellvariety。"
"Muchobliged,Alec,butitwillneverdoatall。He"sagoodfellow,andmaydosomethingtobeproudofbyandby,buthe"snotthemateforourRose。Sheneedssomeonewhocanmanageherpropertywhenwearegone,andArchieisthemanforthat,dependuponit。"
"Confoundtheproperty！"criedDr。Alecimpetuously。"Iwanthertobehappy,andIdon"tcarehowsoonshegetsridofhermoneyifitisgoingtobeamillstoneroundherneck。Ideclaretoyou,IdreadedthethoughtofthistimesomuchthatI"vekeptherawayaslongasIcouldandtrembledwheneverayoungfellowjoineduswhilewewereabroad。Hadoneortwonarrowescapes,andnowI"minforit,asyoucanseebytonight"s"success"asClaracallsit。ThankheavenIhaven"tmanydaughterstolookafter！"
"Come,come,don"tbeanxioustakeArchieandsettleitrightupsafelyandhappily。That"smyadvice,andyou"llfinditsound,"repliedtheelderconspirator,likeonehavingexperience。
"I"llthinkofit,butmindyou,Mac,notawordofthistothesisters。
WeareacoupleofoldfoolstobematchmakingsosoonbutIseewhatisbeforemeandit"sacomforttofreemymindtosomeone。"
"Soitis。DependonmenotabreatheventoJane,"answeredUncleMac,withaheartyshakeandasympatheticslapontheshoulder。
"Why,whatdarkandawfulsecretsaregoingonhere？IsitaFreemason"sLodgeandthosethemysticsigns？"askedagayvoiceatthedoor;andtherestoodRose,fullofsmilingwonderatthesightofhertwouncleshandinhand,whisperingandnoddingtooneanothermysteriously。
Theystaredlikeschoolboyscaughtplottingmischiefandlookedsoguiltythatshetookpityonthem,innocentlyimaginingthebrotherswereindulginginalittlesentimentonthisjoyfuloccasion,sosheaddedquickly,asshebeckoned,withoutcrossingthethreshold,"Womennotallowed,ofcourse,butbothofyoudearOddFellowsarewanted,forAuntPlentybegswewillhaveanold—fashionedcontradance,andI"mtoleadoffwithUncleMac。
Ichoseyou,sir,becauseyoudoitinstyle,pigeonwingsandall。So,pleasecomeandPhebeiswaitingforyou,UncleAlec。Sheisrathershyyouknow,butwillenjoyitwithyoutotakecareofher。"
"Thankyou,thankyou！"criedbothgentlemen,followingwithgreatalacrity。
Unconscious,RoseenjoyedthatVirginiareelimmensely,forthepigeonwingsweresuperb,andherpartnerconductedherthroughtheconvolutionsofthedancewithoutafault,goingdownthemiddleinhismostgallantstyle。Landingsafelyatthebottom,shestoodasidetolethimgethisbreath,forstoutUncleMacwasboundtodoordieonthatoccasionandwouldhavedancedhispumpsthroughwithoutamurmurifshehaddesiredit。
Leaningagainstthewallwithhishairinhiseyes,andadecidedlyboredexpressionofcountenance,wasMac,Jr。,whohadbeensurveyingthegymnasticsofhisparentwithrespectfulastonishment。
"Comeandtakeaturn,mylad。Roseisfreshasadaisy,butweoldfellowssoongetenoughofit,soyoushallhavemyplace,"saidhisfather,wipinghisface,whichglowedlikeacheerfulpeony。
"No,thankyou,sirIcan"tstandthatsortofthing。I"llraceyouroundthepiazzawithpleasure,Cousin,buthisovenistoomuchforme,"wasMac"suncivilreplyashebackedtowardtheopenwindow,asifgladofanexcusetoescape。
"Fragilecreature,don"tstayonmyaccount,Ibeg。Ican"tleavemyguestsforamoonlightrun,evenifIdaredtotakeitonafrostynightinathindress,"saidRose,fanningherselfandnotabitruffledbyMac"srefusal,forsheknewhiswaysandtheyamusedher。
"Nothalfsobadasallthisdust,gas,heat,andnoise。Whatdoyousupposelungsaremadeof？"demandedMac,readyforadiscussionthenandthere。
"Iusedtoknow,butI"veforgottennow。BeensobusywithotherthingsthatI"veneglectedthehobbiesIusedtoridefiveorsixyearsago,"
shesaid,laughing。
"Ah,thoseweretimesworthhaving！Areyougoinginformuchofthissortofthing,Rose？"heaskedwithadisapprovingglanceatthedancers。
"Aboutthreemonthsofit,Ithink。"
"Thengood—byetillNewYear。"AndMacvanishedbehindthecurtains。
"Rose,mydear,youreallymusttakethatfellowinhandbeforehegetstobequiteabear。Sinceyouhavebeengonehehaslivedinhisbooksandgotonsofinelythatwehavelethimalone,thoughhismothergroansoverhismanners。Polishhimupabit,Ibegofyou,foritishightimehemendedhisoddwaysanddidjusticetothefinegiftshehidesbehindthem,"saidUncleMac,scandalizedatthebluntnessofhisson。
"Iknowmychestnutburrtoowelltomindhisprickles。Butothersdonot,soIwilltakehiminhandandmakehimacredittohisfamily,"
answeredRosereadily。
"TakeArchieforyourmodelhe"soneofathousand,andthegirlwhogetshimgetsaprize,Idoassureyou,"addedUncleMac,whofoundmatchmakingtohistasteandthoughtthatclosingremarkadeepone。
"Oh,me,howtiredIam！"criedRose,droppingintoachairasthelastcarriagerolledawaysomewherebetweenoneandtwo。
"Whatisyouropinionnow,MissCampbell？"askedthedoctor,addressingherforthefirsttimebythenamewhichhadbeenutteredsooftenthatnight。
"MyopinionisthatMissCampbellislikelytohaveagaylifeifshegoesonasshehasbegun,andthatshefindsitverydelightfulsofar,"
answeredthegirl,withlipsstillsmilingfromtheirfirsttasteofwhattheworldcallspleasure。Chapter4。Chapter4。4THORNSAMONGTHEROSESForatimeeverythingwentsmoothly,andRosewasahappygirl。Theworldseemedabeautifulandfriendlyplace,andfulfillmentofherbrightestdreamsappearedtobeapossibility。Ofcoursethiscouldnotlast,anddisappointmentwasinevitable,becauseyoungeyeslookforaParadiseandweepwhentheyfindaworkadayworldwhichseemsfullofcareandtroubletillonelearnstogladdenandglorifyitwithhighthoughtsandholyliving。
Thosewholovedherwaitedanxiouslyforthedisillusionwhichmustcomeinspiteofalltheircherishing,fortillnowRosehadbeensobusywithherstudies,travels,andhomedutiesthatsheknewverylittleofthetriumphs,trials,andtemptationsoffashionablelife。Birthandfortuneplacedherwhereshecouldnotwellescapesomeofthem,andDr。Alec,knowingthatexperienceisthebestteacher,wiselylefthertolearnthislessonasshemustmanyanother,devoutlyhopingthatitwouldnotbeahardone。
OctoberandNovemberpassedrapidly,andChristmaswasathand,withallitsmerrymysteries,homegatherings,andgoodwishes。
Rosesatinherownlittlesanctum,openingfromtheparlor,busilypreparinggiftsforthedearfivehundredfriendswhoseemedtogrowfonderandfonderastheholidaysdrewnear。Thedrawersofhercommodestoodopen,givingglimpsesofdaintytrifles,whichshewastyingupwithbrightribbons。
Ayounggirl"sfaceatsuchmomentsisapttobeahappyone,butRose"swasverygraveassheworked,andnowandthenshethrewaparcelintothedrawerwithacarelesstoss,asifnolovemadethegiftprecious。
SounusualwasthisexpressionthatitstruckDr。Alecashecameinandbroughtananxiouslooktohiseyes,foranycloudonthatothercountenancedroppeditsshadowoverhis。
"Canyouspareaminutefromyourprettyworktotakeastitchinmyoldglove？"heasked,cominguptothetablestrewnwithribbon,lace,andcoloredpapers。
"Yes,Uncle,asmanyasyouplease。"
Thefacebrightenedwithsuddensunshine;bothhandswereputouttoreceivetheshabbydrivingglove,andthevoicewasfullofthataffectionatealacritywhichmakesthesmallestservicesweet。
"MyLadyBountifulishardatwork,Isee。CanIhelpinanyway？"heasked,glancingatthedisplaybeforehim。
"No,thankyou,unlessyoucanmakemeasfullofinterestandpleasureinthesethingsasIusedtobe。Don"tyouthinkpreparingpresentsagreatbore,exceptforthoseyouloveandwholoveyou？"sheaddedinatonewhichhadaslighttremorinitassheutteredthelastwords。
"Idon"tgivetopeoplewhomIcarenothingfor。Can"tdoit,especiallyatChristmas,whengoodwillshouldgointoeverythingonedoes。Ifallthese"pretties"arefordearfriends,youmusthaveagreatmany。"
"Ithoughttheywerefriends,butIfindmanyofthemarenot,andthat"sthetrouble,sir。"
"Tellmeallaboutit,dear,andlettheoldglovego,"hesaid,sittingdownbesideherwithhismostsympatheticair。
Butsheheldtheglovefast,sayingeagerly,"No,no,Ilovetodothis！
Idon"tfeelasifIcouldlookatyouwhileItellwhatabad,suspiciousgirlIam,"sheadded,keepinghereyesonherwork。
"Verywell,I"mreadyforconfessionsofanyiniquityandgladtogetthem,forsometimeslatelyI"veseenacloudinmygirl"seyesandcaughtaworriedtoneinhervoice。Isthereabitterdropinthecupthatpromisedtobesosweet,Rose？"
"Yes,Uncle。I"vetriedtothinktherewasnot,butitisthere,andIdon"tlikeit。I"mashamedtotell,andyetIwantto,becauseyouwillshowmehowtomakeitsweetorassuremethatIshallbethebetterforit,asyouusedtodowhenItookmedicine。"
Shepausedaminute,sewingswiftly;thenoutcamethetroubleallinoneburstofgirlishgriefandchagrin。
"Uncle,halfthepeoplewhoaresokindtomedon"tcareabitforme,butforwhatIcangivethem,andthatmakesmeunhappy,becauseIwassogladandproudtobeliked。IdowishIhadn"tapennyintheworld,thenIshouldknowwhomytruefriendswere。"
"Poorlittlelass！Shehasfoundoutthatallthatglittersisnotgold,andthedisillusionhasbegun,"saidthedoctortohimself,addingaloud,smilingyetpitiful,"AndsoallthepleasureisgoneoutoftheprettygiftsandChristmasisafailure？"
"Oh,nonotforthosewhomnothingcanmakemedoubt！Itissweeterthanevertomakethesethings,becausemyheartisineverystitchandIknowthat,poorastheyare,theywillbedeartoyou,AuntyPlen,AuntJessie,Phebe,andtheboys。"
Sheopenedadrawerwherelayapileofprettygifts,wroughtwithlovingcarebyherownhands,touchingthemtenderlyasshespokeandpattingthesailor"sknotofblueribbonononefatparcelwithasmilethattoldhowunshakableherfaithinsomeonewas。"Butthese,"shesaid,pullingopenanotherdrawerandtossingoveritsgaycontentswithanairhalfsad,halfscornful,"theseIboughtandgivebecausetheyareexpected。Thesepeoplecareonlyforarichgift,notonebitforthegiver,whomtheywillsecretlyabuseifsheisnotasgenerousastheyexpect。HowcanIenjoythatsortofthing,Uncle？"
"Youcannot,butperhapsyoudosomeoftheminjustice,mydear。Don"tlettheenvyorselfishnessofafewpoisonyourfaithinall。Areyousurethatnoneofthesegirlscareforyou？"heasked,readinganamehereandthereontheparcelsscatteredabout。
"I"mafraidIam。YouseeIheardseveraltalkingtogethertheothereveningatAnnabel"s,onlyafewwords,butithurtmeverymuch,fornearlyeveryonewasspeculatingonwhatIwouldgivethemandhopingitwouldbesomethingfine。"She"ssorichsheoughttobegenerous,"saidone。
"I"vebeenperfectlydevotedtoherforweeksandhopeshewon"tforgetit,"saidanother。"Ifshedoesn"tgivemesomeofhergloves,Ishallthinkshe"sverymean,forshehasheaps,andItriedonapairinfunsoshecouldseetheyfittedandtakeahint,"addedathird。Ididtakethehint,yousee。"AndRoseopenedahandsomeboxinwhichlayseveralpairsofherbestgloves,withbuttonsenoughtosatisfytheheartofthemostcovetous。
"Plentyofsilverpaperandperfume,butnotmuchlovewentintothatbundle,Ifancy？"AndDr。AleccouldnothelpsmilingatthedisdainfullittlegesturewithwhichRosepushedawaythebox。
"Notaparticle,norinmostofthese。Ihavegiventhemwhattheywantedandtakenbacktheconfidenceandrespecttheydidn"tcarefor。Itiswrong,Iknow,butIcan"tbeartothinkalltheseeminggoodwillandfriendlinessI"vebeenenjoyingwasinsincereandforapurpose。That"snotthewayItreatpeople。"
"Iamsureofit。Takethingsforwhattheyareworth,dear,andtrytofindthewheatamongthetares,forthereisplentyifoneknowshowtolook。Isthatallthetrouble？"
"No,sir,thatisthelightestpartofit。Ishallsoongetovermydisappointmentinthosegirlsandtakethemforwhattheyareworthasyouadvise,butbeingdeceivedinthemmakesmesuspiciousofothers,andthatishateful。IfIcannottrustpeopleI"dratherkeepbymyselfandbehappy。Idodetestmaneuveringandunderhandedplotsandplans！"
Rosespokepetulantlyandtwitchedhersilktillitbroke,whileregretseemedtogiveplacetoangerasshespoke。
"Thereisevidentlyanotherthornpricking。Letushaveitout,andthenI"llkisstheplacetomakeitwellasIusedtodowhenItookthesplintersfromthefingersyouareprickingsounmercifully,"saidthedoctor,anxioustorelievehispetpatientassoonaspossible。
Roselaughed,butthecolordeepenedinhercheeksassheansweredwithaprettymixtureofmaidenlyshynessandnaturalcandor。
"AuntClaraworriesmebywarningmeagainsthalftheyoungmenImeetandinsistingthattheywantonlymymoney。Nowthatisdreadful,andI
won"tlisten,butIcan"thelpthinkingofitsometimes,fortheyareverykindtomeandI"mnotvainenoughtothinkitismybeauty。IsupposeIamfoolish,butIdoliketofeelthatIamsomethingbesidesanheiress。"
ThelittlequiverwasinRose"svoiceagainassheended,andDr。Alecgaveaquicksighashelookedatthedowncastfacesofulloftheperplexityingenuousspiritsfeelwhendoubtfirstmarstheirfaithanddimstheinnocentbeliefsstillleftfromchildhood。Hehadbeenexpectingthisandknewthatwhatthegirljustbegantoperceiveandtrymodestlytotellhadlongagobeenplaintoworldliereyes。Theheiresswastheattractiontomostoftheyoungmenwhomshemet。Goodfellowsenough,buteducated,asnearlyallarenowadays,tobelievethatgirlswithbeautyormoneyarebroughttomarkettosellorbuyasthecasemaybe。
Rosecouldpurchaseanythingsheliked,asshecombinedbothadvantages,andwassoonsurroundedbymanyadmirers,eachstrivingtosecuretheprize。
Notbeingtrainedtobelievethattheonlyendandaimofawoman"slifewasagoodmatch,shewasalittledisturbed,whenthefirstpleasingexcitementwasover,todiscoverthatherfortunewasherchiefattraction。
Itwasimpossibleforhertohelpseeing,hearing,guessingthisfromasignificantglance,astrayword,aslighthinthereandthere,andthequickinstinctofawomanfeltevenbeforeitunderstoodtheself—interestwhichchilledforhersomanyopeningfriendships。Inhereyeslovewasaverysacredthing,hardlytobethoughtoftillitcame,reverentlyreceivedandcherishedfaithfullytotheend。Therefore,itisnotstrangethatsheshrankfromhearingitflippantlydiscussedandmarriagetreatedasabargaintobehaggledover,withlittlethoughtofitshighduties,greatresponsibilities,andtenderjoys。Manythingsperplexedher,andsometimesadoubtofallthattillnowshehadbelievedandtrustedmadeherfeelasifatseawithoutacompass,forthenewworldwassounliketheoneshehadbeenlivinginthatitbewilderedwhileitcharmedthenovice。
Dr。Alecunderstoodthemoodinwhichhefoundheranddidhisbesttowarnwithoutsaddeningbytoomuchworldlywisdom。
"Youaresomethingbesidesanheiresstothosewhoknowandloveyou,sotakeheart,mygirl,andholdfasttothefaiththatisinyou。Thereisatouchstoneforallthesethings,andwhateverdoesnotringtrue,doubtandavoid。Testandtrymenandwomenastheycomealong,andIamsureconscience,instinct,andexperiencewillkeepyoufromanydiremistake,"
hesaid,withaprotectingarmaboutherandatrustfullookthatwasverycomforting。
Afteramoment"spausesheanswered,whileasuddensmiledimpledaroundhermouthandthebigglovewentuptohidehertelltalecheeks:"Uncle,ifImusthavelovers,Idowishthey"dbemoreinteresting。HowcanI
likeorrespectmenwhogoonassomeofthemdoandthenimaginewomencanfeelhonoredbytheofferoftheirhands？Heartsareoutoffashion,sotheydon"tsaymuchaboutthem。"
"Ah,ha！Thatisthetrouble,isit？Andwebegintohavedelicatedistresses,dowe？"saidDr。Alec,gladtoseeherbrighteningandfullofinterestinthenewtopic,forhewasaromanticoldfellow,ashehadconfessedtohisbrother。
Roseputdownthegloveandlookedupwithadrollmixtureofamusementanddisgustinherface。"Uncle,itisperfectlydisgraceful！I"vewantedtotellyou,butIwasashamed,becauseInevercouldboastofsuchthingsassomegirlsdo,andtheyweresoabsurdIcouldn"tfeelasiftheywereworthrepeatingeventoyou。PerhapsIought,though,foryoumaythinkitpropertocommandmetomakeagoodmatch,andofcourseIshouldhavetoobey,"sheadded,tryingtolookmeek。
"Tell,byallmeans。Don"tIalwayskeepyoursecretsandgiveyouthebestadvice,likeamodelguardian？Youmusthaveaconfidant,andwherefindabetteronethanhere？"heasked,tappinghiswaistcoatwithaninvitinggesture。
"NowheresoI"lltellallbutthenames。I"dbestbeprudent,forI"mafraidyoumaygetalittlefierceyoudosometimeswhenpeoplevexme,"beganRose,ratherlikingtheprospectofaconfidentialchatwithUncle,forhehadkepthimselfagooddealinthebackgroundlately。
"Youknowourideasareold—fashioned,soIwasnotpreparedtohavemenproposeatalltimesandplaceswithnowarningbutafewsmilesandsoftspeeches。Iexpectedthingsofthatsortwouldbeveryinterestingandproper,nottosaythrilling,onmypartbuttheyarenot,andIfindmyselflaughinginsteadofcrying,feelingangryinsteadofglad,andforgettingallaboutitverysoon。Why,Uncle,oneabsurdboyproposedwhenwe"dmetonlyhalfadozentimes。Buthewasdreadfullyindebt,sothataccountedforitperhaps。"AndRosedustedherfingers,asifshehadsoiledthem。
"Iknowhim,andIthoughthe"ddoit,"observedthedoctorwithashrug。
"Youseeandknoweverything,sothere"snoneedofgoingon,isthere？"
"Do,do！Whoelse？Iwon"tevenguess。"
"Well,anotherwentdownuponhiskneesinMrs。Van"sgreenhouseandpouredforthhispassionmanfully,withagreatcactusprickinghispoorlegsallthewhile。Kittyfoundhimthere,anditwasimpossibletokeepsober,sohehashatedmeeversince。"
Thedoctor"s"Ha！Ha！"wasgoodtohear,andRosejoinedhim,foritwasimpossibletoregardtheseepisodesseriously,sincenotruesentimentredeemedthemfromabsurdity。
"AnothersentmereamsofpoetryandwentonsoByronicallythatIbegantowishIhadredhairandmynamewasBetsyAnn。Iburntalltheverses,sodon"texpecttoseethem,andhe,poorfellow,isconsolinghimselfwithEmma。Buttheworstofallwastheonewhowouldmakeloveinpublicandinsistedonproposinginthemiddleofadance。Iseldomdancerounddancesexceptwithourboys,butthatnightIdidbecausethegirlslaughedatmeforbeingso"prudish,"astheycalledit。Idon"tmindthemnow,forIfoundIwasright,andfeltthatIdeservedmyfate。"
"Isthatall？"askedheruncle,looking"fierce,"asshepredicted,attheideaofhisbelovedgirlobligedtolistentoadeclaration,twirlingonthearmofalover。
"OnemorebuthimIshallnottellabout,forIknowhewasinearnestandreallysuffered,thoughIwasaskindasIknewhowtobe。
I"myounginthesethingsyet,soIgrievedforhim,andtreathislovewiththetenderestrespect。"
Rose"svoicesankalmosttoawhisperassheended,andDr。Alecbenthishead,asifinvoluntarilysalutingacomradeinmisfortune。Thenhegotup,sayingwithakeenlookintothefaceheliftedbyafingerunderthechin:"Doyouwantanotherthreemonthsofthis？"
"I"lltellyouonNewYear"sDay,Uncle。"
"Verywell。Trytokeepastraightcourse,mylittlecaptain,andifyouseedirtyweatherahead,callonyourfirstmate。"
"Aye,aye,sir。I"llremember。"Chapter5。Chapter5。5PRINCECHARMINGTheoldglovelayuponthefloorforgottenwhileRosesatmusing,tillaquickstepsoundedinthehallandavoicedrewnear,tunefullyhumming。"Ashewaswalkin"dounthestreetThecityfortoview,Oh,therehespiedabonnylass,Thewindowlookin"through。"
"Saelichthejumpèdupthestair,Andtirledatthepin;
Oh,whasaereadyashersel"
Tolettheladdiein？"sangRoseasthevoicepausedandatapcameatthedoor。
"Goodmorning,Rosamunda,hereareyourletters,andyourmostdevotedreadytoexecuteanycommissionsyoumayhaveforhim,"wasCharlie"sgreetingashecameinlookingcomely,gay,anddebonairasusual。
"Thanks。I"venoerrandsunlessyoumailmyreplies,iftheseneedanswering,sobyyourleave,Prince,"andRosebegantoopenthehandfulofnoteshethrewintoherlap。
"Ha！Whatsightisthistoblastmineeyes？"ejaculatedCharlie,ashepointedtotheglovewithamelodramaticstart,for,likemostaccomplishedamateuractors,hewasfondofintroducingprivatetheatricalsintohisdailytalkandconversation。
"Uncleleftit。"
""Tiswell。Methoughtperchancearivalhadbeenhere,"and,pickingitup,CharlieamusedhimselfwithputtingitontheheadofalittlePsychewhichornamentedthemantelpiece,softlysingingashedidso,anotherverseoftheoldsong:"HesethisJennyonhisknee,AllinhisHighlanddress;
ForbrawlywellhekennedthewayTopleaseabonnylass。"Rosewentonreadingherletters,butallthewhilewasthinkingofherconversationwithheruncleaswellassomethingelsesuggestedbythenewcomerandhisditty。
Duringthethreemonthssinceherreturnshehadseenmoreofthiscousinthananyoftheothers,forheseemedtobetheonlyonewhohadleisureto"playwithRose,"astheyusedtosayyearsago。Theotherboyswereallatwork,evenlittleJamie,manyofwhoseplayhoursweredevotedtomanfulstruggleswithLatingrammar,theevilgeniusofhisboyishlife。
Dr。Alechadmanyaffairstoarrangeafterhislongabsence;Phebewasbusywithhermusic;andAuntPlentystillactivelysuperintendedherhousekeeping。
Thusitfellout,quitenaturally,thatCharlieshouldformthehabitoflounginginatallhourswithletters,messages,bitsofnews,andagreeableplansforRose。Hehelpedherwithhersketching,rodewithher,sangwithher,andtookhertopartiesasamatterofcourse,forAuntClara,beingthegaiestofthesisters,playedchaperononalloccasions。
Foratimeitwasverypleasant,but,byandby,RosebegantowishCharliewouldfindsomethingtodoliketherestandnotmakedawdlingafterherthebusinessofhislife。Thefamilywasusedtohisself—indulgentways,andtherewasanamiabledelusioninthemindsoftheboysthathehadarighttothebestofeverything,fortothemhewasstillthePrince,thefloweroftheflock,andintimetobeanhonortothename。Nooneexactlyknewhow,for,thoughfulloftalent,heseemedtohavenoespecialgiftorbias,andtheeldersbegantoshaketheirheadsbecause,inspiteofmanygrandpromisesandprojects,themomentfordecisiveactionnevercame。
Rosesawallthisandlongedtoinspireherbrilliantcousinwithsomemanfulpurposewhichshouldwinforhimrespectaswellasadmiration。
Butshefounditveryhard,forthoughhelistenedwithimperturbablegoodhumor,andownedhisshortcomingswithdelightfulfrankness,healwayshadsomeargument,reason,orexcusetoofferandout—talkedherinfiveminutes,leavinghersilencedbutunconvinced。
Oflateshehadobservedthatheseemedtofeelasifhertimeandthoughtsbelongedexclusivelytohimandratherresentedtheapproachofanyotherclaimant。Thisannoyedherandsuggestedtheideathatheraffectionateinterestandeffortsweremisunderstoodbyhim,misrepresentedandtakenadvantageofbyAuntClara,whohadbeenmosturgentthatsheshould"useherinfluencewiththedearboy,"thoughthefondmotherresentedallotherinterference。ThistroubledRoseandmadeherfeelasifcaughtinasnare,for,whilesheownedtoherselfthatCharliewasthemostattractiveofhercousins,shewasnotreadytobetakenpossessionofinthismasterfulway,especiallysinceotherandsometimesbettermensoughtherfavormorehumbly。
Thesethoughtswerefloatingvaguelyinhermindasshereadherlettersandunconsciouslyinfluencedherinthechatthatfollowed。
"Onlyinvitations,andIcan"tstoptoanswerthemnoworIshallnevergetthroughthisjob,"shesaid,returningtoherwork。
"Letmehelp。Youdoup,andI"lldirect。Haveasecretary,donow,andseewhatacomfortitwillbe,"proposedCharlie,whocouldturnhishandtoanythingandhadmadehimselfquiteathomeinthesanctum。
"I"dratherfinishthismyself,butyoumayanswerthenotesifyouwill。Justregretstoallbuttwoorthree。ReadthenamesasyougoalongandI"lltellyouwhich。"
"Tohearistoobey。WhosaysI"ma"frivolousidler"now？"AndCharliesatdownatthewritingtablewithalacrity,forthesehoursinthelittleroomwerehisbestandhappiest。
"Orderisheaven"sfirstlaw,andtheviewalovelyone,butIdon"tseeanynotepaper,"headded,openingthedeskandsurveyingitscontentswithinterest。
"Right—handdrawervioletmonogramforthenotes,plainpaperforthebusinessletter。I"llseetothat,though,"answeredRose,tryingtodecidewhetherAnnabelorEmmashouldhavethelacedhandkerchief。
"Confidingcreature！SupposeIopenthewrongdrawerandcomeuponthetendersecretsofyoursoul？"continuedthenewsecretary,rummagingoutthedelicatenotepaperwithmasculinedisregardoforder。
"Ihaven"tgotany,"answeredRosedemurely。
"What,notonedespairingscrawl,onecherishedminiature,onefadedfloweret,etc。,etc。？Ican"tbelieveit,Cousin,"andheshookhisheadincredulously。
"IfIhad,Icertainlyshouldnotshowthemtoyou,impertinentperson！
Thereareafewlittlesouvenirsinthatdesk,butnothingverysentimentalorinteresting。"
"HowI"dliketosee"em！ButIshouldneverdaretoask,"observedCharlie,peeringoverthetopofthehalf—openlidwithamostpersuasivepairofeyes。
"Youmayifyouwantto,butyou"llbedisappointed,PaulPry。Lowerleft—handdrawerwiththekeyinit。"
""Angelofgoodness,howshallIrequitethee？Interestingmoment,withwhatpalpitatingemotionsartthoufraught！""And,quotingfromthe"MysteriesofUdolpho,"heunlockedandopenedthedrawerwithatragicgesture。
"Sevenlocksofhairinabox,alllight,for"here"syourstrawcolor,yourorangetawny,yourFrenchcrowncolor,andyourperfectyellow"Shakespeare。
Theylookveryfamiliar,andIfancyIknowtheheadstheythatched。"
"Yes,youallgavemeonewhenIwentaway,youknow,andIcarriedthemroundtheworldwithmeinthatverybox。"
"Iwishtheheadshadgonetoo。Here"sajollylittleambergodwithagoldringinhisbackandamostbalmybreath,"continuedCharlie,takingalongsniffatthescentbottle。
"Unclebroughtmethatlongago,andI"mveryfondofit。"
"Thisnowlookssuspiciousman"sringwithalotuscutonthestoneandanoteattached。ItrembleasIask,who,when,andwhere？"
"Agentleman,onmybirthday,inCalcutta。"
"Ibreatheagainitwasmysire？"
"Don"tbeabsurd。Ofcourseitwas,andhedideverythingtomakemyvisitpleasant。Iwishyou"dgoandseehimlikeadutifulson,insteadofidlinghere。"
"That"swhatUncleMaciseternallytellingme,butIdon"tintendtobelecturedintothetreadmilltillI"vehadmyflingfirst,"mutteredCharlierebelliously。
"Ifyouflingyourselfinthewrongdirection,youmayfindithardtogetbackagain,"beganRosegravely。