第11章
Mac,meantime,withglassesastridehisnose,surveyedhisbrother"sperformances"onthelightfantastic"verymuchasabenevolentNewfoundlandwouldthegambolsofatoyterrier,receivingwiththanksthehastyhintsforhisguidancewhichStevebreathedintohisearashepassedandforgettingallaboutthemthenextminute。WhennotthusengagedMacstoodaboutwithhisthumbsinhisvestpockets,regardingthelivelycrowdlikeameditativephilosopherofacheerfulaspect,oftensmilingtohimselfatsomewhimsicalfancyofhisown,knittinghisbrowsassomebitofill—naturedgossipmethisear,orstaringwithundisguisedadmirationasabeautifulfaceorfigurecaughthiseye。
"Ihopethatgirlknowswhatatreasureshehasgot。ButIdoubtifsheeverfullyappreciatesit,"saidMrs。Jane,bringingherspectaclestobearuponKittyasshewhiskedby,causingquiteagalewithherflyingskirts。
"Ithinkshewill,forStevehasbeensowellbroughtup,shecannotbutseeandfeeltheworthofwhatshehasneverhad,andbeingsoyoungshewillprofitbyit,"answeredMrs。Jessiesoftly,thinkingofthedayswhensheandherJemdancedtogether,justbetrothed。
"I"vedonemydutybyboththeboys,anddoneitthoroughly,ortheirfatherwouldhavespoiltthem,forhe"snomoreideaofdisciplinethanachild。"AndAuntJanegaveherownpalmasmartrapwithherclosedfan,emphasizingtheword"thoroughly"inamostsuggestivemanner。
"I"veoftenwishedIhadyourfirmness,Janebutafterall,I"mnotsurethatIdon"tlikemyownwaybest,atleastwithmyboys,forplentyoflove,andplentyofpatience,seemtohavesucceededprettywell。"
AndAuntJessieliftedthenosegayfromherlap,feelingasifthatunfailingloveandpatiencewerealreadybloomingintoherlifeasbeautifullyasthesweet—breathedrosesgivenbyherboyrefreshedandbrightenedtheselonghoursofpatientwaitinginacorner。
"Idon"tdenythatyou"vedonewell,Jessie,butyou"vebeenletaloneandhadnoonetoholdyourhandorinterfere。IfmyMachadgonetoseaasyourJemdid,InevershouldhavebeenassevereasIam。Menaresoperverseandshortsighted,theydon"ttroubleaboutthefutureaslongasthingsarequietandcomfortableinthepresent,"continuedMrs。Jane,quiteforgettingthattheshortsightedpartnerofthefirm,physicallyspeakingatleast,washerself。
"Ah,yes！Wemotherslovetoforeseeandforetellourchildren"slivesevenbeforetheyareborn,andareveryapttobedisappointediftheydonotturnoutasweplanned。IknowIamyetIreallyhavenocausetocomplainandamlearningtoseethatallwecandoistogivethedearboysgoodprinciplesandthebesttrainingwemay,thenleavethemtofinishwhatwehavebegun。"AndMrs。Jessie"seyewanderedawaytoArchie,dancingwithRose,quiteunconsciouswhataprettylittlecastleintheairtumbleddownwhenhefellinlovewithPhebe。
"Right,quiterightonthatpointweagreeexactly。Ihavesparednothingtogivemyboysgoodprinciplesandgoodhabits,andIamwillingtotrustthemanywhere。NinetimesdidIwhipmyStevetocurehimoffibbing,andoverandoveragaindidMacgowithouthisdinnerratherthanwashhishands。ButIwhippedandstarvedthembothintoobedience,andnowIhavemyreward,"concludedthe"sternparent"withaproudwaveofthefan,whichlookedverylikeaferule,beingasbig,hard,anduncompromisingassuchanarticlecouldbe。
Mrs。Jessiegaveamildmurmurofassent,butcouldnothelpthinking,withasmile,thatinspiteoftheirearlytribulationsthesinsforwhichtheboyssufferedhadgottenalittlemixedintheirresult,forfibbingStevewasnowthetidyone,andcarelessMacthetruthteller。Butsuchsmallcontradictionswillhappeninthebest—regulatedfamilies,andallperplexedparentscandoistokeepupasteadfastpreachingandpracticinginthehopethatitwillbearfruitsometime,foraccordingtoanoldproverb,Childrenpickupwordsaspigeonspease,ToutterthemagainasGodshallplease。"Ihopetheywon"tdancethechildtodeathamongthem,foreachoneseemsboundtohavehisturn,evenyoursoberMac,"saidMrs。JessieafewminuteslaterasshesawArchiehandRoseovertohiscousin,whocarriedheroffwithanairoftriumphfromseveralotherclaimants。
"She"sverygoodtohim,andherinfluenceisexcellent,forheisofanagenowwhenayoungwoman"sopinionhasmoreweightthananoldone"s。
Thoughheisalwaysgoodtohismother,andIfeelasifIshouldtakegreatcomfortinhim。He"soneofthesortwhowillnotmarrytilllate,ifever,beingfondofbooksandaquietlife,"respondedMrs。Jane,rememberinghowoftenhersonhadexpressedhisbeliefthatphilosophersshouldnotmarryandbroughtupPlatoasanexampleoftheserenewisdomtobeattainedonlybyasinglemanwhileherhusbandsidedwithSocrates,forwhomhefeltaprofoundsympathy,thoughhedidn"tdaretoownit。
"Well,Idon"tknowaboutthat。SincemyArchiesurprisedmebylosinghisheartashedid,I"mpreparedforanything,andadviseyoutodolikewise。
Ireallyshouldn"twonderifMacdidsomethingremarkableinthatline,thoughheshowsnosignofityet,Iconfess,"answeredMrs。Jessie,laughing。
"Itwon"tbeinthatdirection,youmaybesure,forherfateissealed。Dearme,howsaditistoseeasuperiorgirllikethatabouttothrowherselfawayonahandsomescapegrace。Iwon"tmentionnames,butyouunderstandme。"AndMrs。Janeshookherhead,asifshecouldmentionthenameofonesuperiorgirlwhohadthrownherselfawayandnowsawthefollyofit。
"I"mveryanxious,ofcourse,andsoisAlec,butitmaybethesavingofonepartyandthehappinessoftheother,forsomewomenlovetogivemorethantheyreceive,"saidMrs。Jessie,privatelywondering,forthethousandthtime,whybrotherMacevermarriedthelearnedMissHumphries。
"You"llseethatitwon"tprosper,andIshallalwaysmaintainthatawifecannotentirelyundoamother"swork。RosewillhaveherhandsfullifshetriestosetallClara"smistakesright,"answeredAuntJanegrimly,thenbegantofanviolentlyastheirhostessapproachedtohaveadishofchatabout"ourdearyoungpeople。"
Rosewasinamerrymoodthatnight,andfoundMacquitereadyforfun,whichwasfortunate,sinceherfirstremarksetthemoffonadrollsubject。
"Oh,Mac！AnnabelhasjustconfidedtomethatsheisengagedtoFunSee！ThinkofhergoingtohousekeepinginCantonsomedayandhavingtoorderrats,puppies,andbird"s—nestsoupfordinner,"whisperedRose,toomuchamusedtokeepthenewstoherself。
"ByConfucius！Isn"tthatasweetprospect？"AndMacburstoutlaughing,tothegreatsurpriseofhisneighbors,whowonderedwhattherewasamusingabouttheChinesesage。"Itisratheralarming,though,tohavetheseinfantsgoingonatthisrate。Seemstobecatching,anewsortofscarletfever,tojudgebyAnnabel"scheeksandKitty"sgown,"headded,regardingtheaforesaidladieswitheyesstilltwinklingwithmerriment。
"Don"tbeungallant,butgoanddolikewise,foritisallthefashion。
IheardMrs。VantelloldMrs。Joythatitwasgoingtobeamarryingyear,soyou"llbesuretocatchit,"answeredRose,reefingherskirts,for,withallhistraining,Macstillfounditdifficulttokeephislonglegsoutoftheman—traps。
"Itdoesn"tlooklikeapainfuldisease,butImustbecareful,forI"venotimetobeillnow。Whatarethesymptoms？"askedMac,tryingtocombinebusinesswithpleasureandimprovehismindwhiledoinghisduty。
"IfyouevercomebackI"lltellyou,"laughedRoseashedancedawayintothewrongcorner,bumpedsmartlyagainstanothergentleman,andreturnedassoberlyasifthatwastheproperfigure。
"Well,tellme"hownottodoit,""hesaid,subsidingforamoment"stalkwhenRosehadfloatedtoandfroinherturn。
"Oh！Youseesomeyounggirlwhostrikesyouasparticularlycharmingwhethershereallyisornotdoesn"tmatterabitandyoubegintothinkaboutheragreatdeal,towanttoseeher,andtogetgenerallysentimentalandabsurd,"beganRose,findingitdifficulttogiveadiagnosisofthemostmysteriousdiseaseunderthesun。
"Don"tthinkitsoundsenticing。Can"tIfindanantidotesomewhere,forifitisintheairthisyearI"msuretogetit,anditmaybefatal,"
saidMac,whofeltprettylivelyandlikedtomakeRosemerry,forhesuspectedthatshehadalittletroublefromahintDr。Alechadgivenhim。
"Ihopeyouwillcatchit,becauseyou"llbesofunny。"
"Willyoutakecareofmeasyoudidbefore,orhaveyougotyourhandsfull？"
"I"llhelp,butreallywithArchieandSteveandCharlie,Ishallhaveenoughtodo。You"dbettertakeitlightlythefirsttime,andsowon"tneedmuchcare。"
"Verywell,howshallIbegin？Enlightenmyignoranceandstartmeright,Ibeg。"
"Goaboutandseepeople,makeyourselfagreeable,andnotsitincornersobservingotherpeopleasiftheywerepuppetsdancingforyouramusement。
IheardMrs。Vanoncesaythatpropinquityworkswonders,andsheoughttoknow,havingmarriedofftwodaughters,andjustengagedathirdto"amostcharmingyoungman。""
"Goodlack！Thecuresoundsworsethanthedisease。Propinquity,hey？
Why,Imaybeindangerthisidenticalmomentandcan"tfleeformylife,"
saidMac,gentlycatchingherroundthewaistforageneralwaltz。
"Don"tbealarmed,butmindyoursteps,forCharlieislookingatus,andIwantyoutodoyourbest。That"sperfecttakemequiteround,forIlovetowaltzandseldomgetagoodturnexceptwithyouboys,"saidRose,smilingupathimapprovinglyashisstrongarmguidedheramongtherevolvingcouplesandhisfeetkepttimewithoutafault。
"Thiscertainlyisagreatimprovementonthechairbusiness,towhichIhavedevotedmyselfwithsuchenergythatI"vebrokenthebacksoftwopartnersanddislocatedthearmoftheoldrocker。Itookanoccasionalturnwiththatheavyparty,thinkingitgoodpracticeincaseIeverhappentodancewithstoutladies。"AndMacnoddedtowardAnnabel,poundinggailywithMr。Tokio,whoseyellowcountenancebeamedashisbeadyeyesrestedonhisplumpfiancée。
PausinginthemidstofhermerrimentattheimageofMacandtheoldrockingchair,Rosesaidreprovingly,"ThoughaheathenChinee,Funputsyoutoshame,forhedidnotaskfoolishquestionsbutwenta—wooinglikeasensiblelittleman,andI"venodoubtAnnabelwillbeveryhappy。"
"ChoosemeasuitabledivinityandIwilltrytoadore。CanIdomorethanthattoretrievemycharacter？"answeredMac,safelylandinghispartnerandplyingthefanaccordingtoinstructions。
"HowwouldEmmado？"inquiredRose,whosesenseoftheludicrouswasstrongandwhocouldnotresistthetemptationofhorrifyingMacbythesuggestion。
"Never！Itsetsmyteethonedgetolookathertonight。Isupposethatdressis"asweetthingjustout,"butuponmywordsheremindsmeofnothingbutaHarlequinice,"andMacturnedhisbackonherwithashudder,forhewassensitivetodiscordsofallkinds。
"Shecertainlydoes,andthatmixtureofchocolate,peagreen,andpinkissimplydetestable,thoughmanypeoplewouldconsideritdecidedly"chic,"
touseherfavoriteword。IsupposeyouwilldressyourwifelikeaSpartanmatronofthetimeofLycurgus,"addedRose,muchtickledbyhisnewconceit。
"I"llwaittillIgetherbeforeIdecide。ButonethingI"msureofsheshallnotdresslikeaGreekdancerofthetimeofPericles,"answeredMac,regardingwithgreatdisfavorayoungladywho,havingastatuesquefigure,affecteddraperyofthescantyandclingingdescription。
"Thenitisofnousetosuggestthatclassiccreature,soasyourejectmyfirstattempts,Iwon"tgoonbutlookaboutmequietly,andyouhadbetterdothesame。Seriously,Mac,moregaietyandlessstudywoulddoyougood,foryouwillgrowoldbeforeyourtimeifyoushutyourselfupandporeoverbookssomuch。"
"Idon"tbelievethereisayoungerorajollier—feelingfellowintheroomthanIam,thoughImaynotconductmyselflikeadancingdervish。
ButIownyoumayberightaboutthebooks,fortherearemanysortsofintemperance,andalibraryisasirresistibletomeasabarroomtoatoper。Ishallhavetosignapledgeandcorkuptheonlybottlethattemptsmemyink—stand。"
"I"lltellyouhowtomakeiteasiertoabstain。Stopstudyingandwriteanovelintowhichyoucanputallyourwisethings,andsoclearyourbrainsforanewstartbyandby。DoIshouldsoliketoreadit,"
criedRose,delightedwiththeproject,forshewassureMaccoulddoanythinghelikedinthatline。
"Firstlive,thenwrite。HowcanIgotoromancingtillIknowwhatromancemeans？"heaskedsoberly,feelingthatsofarhehadhadverylittleinhislife。
"Thenyoumustfindout,andnothingwillhelpyoumorethantolovesomeoneverymuch。DoasI"veadvisedandbeamodernDiogenesgoingaboutwithspectaclesinsteadofalanterninsearch,notofanhonestman,butaperfectwoman。Idohopeyouwillbesuccessful。"AndRosemadehercurtseyasthedanceended。
"Idon"texpectperfection,butIshouldlikeoneasgoodastheyevermakethemnowadays。Ifyouarelookingforthehonestman,I
wishyousuccessinreturn,"saidMac,relinquishingherfanwithaglanceofsuchsympatheticsignificancethataquickflushoffeelingrosetothegirl"sfaceassheansweredverylow,"IfhonestywasallIwanted,Icertainlyhavefounditinyou。"
ThenshewentawaywithCharlie,whowaswaitingforhisturn,andMacroamedabout,wonderingifanywhereinallthatcrowdhisfuturewifewashidden,sayingtohimself,asheglancedfromfacetoface,quiteunresponsivetothevariousallurementsdisplayed,"WhatcareIhowfairshebe,Ifshebenotfairforme？"Justbeforesupperseveralyoungladiesmetinthedressingroomtorepairdamagesand,beingfriends,theyfellintodiscourseastheysmoothedtheirlocksandhadtheirtatteredfurbelowssewedorpinnedupbytheneat—handedPhillis—in—waiting。
Wheneachhadaskedtheother,"HowdoIlooktonight,dear？"andbeenansweredwithreciprocalenthusiasm,"Perfectlylovely,darling！"KittysaidtoRose,whowashelpinghertorestoreorderoutofthechaostowhichmuchexercisehadreducedhercurls:"Bytheway,youngRandalisdyingtobepresentedtoyou。MayIaftersupper？"
"No,thankyou,"answeredRoseverydecidedly。
"Well,I"msureIdon"tseewhynot,"beganKitty,lookingdispleasedbutnotsurprised。
"Ithinkyoudo,elsewhydidn"tyoupresenthimwhenheasked？Youseldomstoptothinkofetiquettewhydidyounow？"
"Ididn"tliketodoittillIhadyouaresoparticularIthoughtyou"dsay"no,"butIcouldn"ttellhimso,"stammeredKitty,feelingthatshehadbetterhavesettledthematterherself,forRosewasveryparticularandhadespecialreasontodislikethispersonbecausehewasnotonlyadissipatedyoungreprobatehimselfbutseemedpossessedofSatantoleadothersastraylikewise。
"Idon"twishtoberude,dear,butIreallymustdecline,forIcannotknowsuchpeople,eventhoughImeetthemhere,"saidRose,rememberingCharlie"srevelationsonNewYear"snightandhardeningherheartagainstthemanwhohadbeenhisundoingonthataswellasonotheroccasions,shehadreasontobelieve。
"Icouldn"thelpit！OldMr。RandalandPapaarefriends,andthoughIspokeofit,brotherAlfwouldn"thearofpassingthatbadboyover,"
explainedKittyeagerly。
"YetAlfforbadeyoudrivingorskatingwithhim,forheknowsbetterthanwehowunfitheistocomeamongus。"
"I"ddrophimtomorrowifIcould,butImustbecivilinmyownhouse。
Hismotherbroughthim,andhewon"tdaretobehavehereashedoesattheirbachelorparties。"
"Sheoughtnottohavebroughthimtillhehadshownsomedesiretomendhisways。Itisnoneofmybusiness,Iknow,butIdowishpeoplewouldn"tbesoinconsistent,lettingboysgotodestructionandthenexpectingusgirlstoreceivethemlikedecentpeople。"Rosespokeinanenergeticwhisper,butAnnabelheardherandexclaimed,assheturnedroundwithapowderpuffinherhand:"Mygoodness,Rose！Whatisallthataboutgoingtodestruction？"
"Sheisbeingstrong—minded,andIdon"tverymuchblameherinthiscase。Butitleavesmeinadreadfulscrape,"saidKitty,supportingherspiritswithasniffofaromaticvinegar。
"Iappealtoyou,sinceyouheardme,andthere"snooneherebutourselvesdoyouconsideryoungRandalanicepersontoknow？"AndRoseturnedtoAnnabelandEmmawithananxiouseye,forshedidnotfinditeasytoabidebyherprincipleswhensodoingannoyedfriends。
"No,indeed,he"sperfectlyhorrid！PapasaysheandGorhamarethewildestyoungmenheknows,andenoughtospoilthewholeset。I"msogladI"vegotnobrothers,"respondedAnnabel,placidlypowderingherpinkarms,quiteundeterredbythememoryofsundrywhitestreaksleftonsundrycoatsleeves。
"Ithinkthatsortofscrupulousnessisveryill—bred,ifyou"llexcusemysayingso,Rose。Wearenotsupposedtoknowanythingaboutfastness,andwildness,andsoon,buttotreateverymanalikeandnotbefussyandprudish,"saidEmma,settlinghermany—coloredstreamerswiththesuperiorairofawomanoftheworld,agedtwenty。
"Ah！Butwedoknow,andifoursilenceandcivilityhavenoeffect,weoughttotrysomethingelseandnotencouragewickednessofanykind。
Weneedn"tscoldandpreach,butwecanrefusetoknowsuchpeopleandthatwilldosomegood,fortheydon"tliketobeshunnedandshutoutfromrespectablesociety。UncleAlectoldmenottoknowthatman,andIwon"t。"Rosespokewithunusualwarmth,forgettingthatshecouldnottelltherealreasonforherstrongprejudiceagainst"thatman。"
"Well,Iknowhim。Ithinkhimveryjolly,andI"mengagedtodancetheGermanwithhimaftersupper。HeleadsquiteaswellasyourcousinCharlieandisquiteasfascinating,somepeoplethink,"returnedEmma,tossingherheaddisdainfully,forPrinceCharmingdidnotworshipathershrineanditpiquedhervanity。
Inspiteofherquandary,RosecouldnothelpsmilingassherecalledMac"scomparison,forEmmaturnedsoredwithspitefulchagrin,sheseemedtohaveaddedstrawberryicetotheothervarietiescomposingtheHarlequin。
"Eachmustjudgeforherself。IshallfollowAuntJessie"sadviceandtrytokeepmyatmosphereaspureasIcan,forshesayseverywomanhasherownlittlecircleandinitcanuseherinfluenceforgood,ifshewill。Idowillheartily,andI"llprovethatI"mneitherproudnorfussybyreceiving,hereorathome,anyrespectablemanyouliketopresenttome,nomatterhowpoororplainorinsignificanthemaybe。"
WithwhichdeclarationRoseendedherprotest,andthefourdamselsstreameddownstairstogetherlikeawanderingrainbow。ButKittylaidtoheartwhatshehadsaid;Annabeltookcreditherselfforsidingwithher;
andEmmaownedthatshewasnottryingtokeepheratmospherepurewhenshecametodancewiththeobjectionableRandal。SoRose"s"littlecircle"wasthebetterfortheinfluenceshetriedtoexert,althoughsheneverknewit。
AtsuppertimeCharliekeptnearher,andshewasquitecontentwithhim,forhedrankonlycoffee,andshesawhimshakehisheadwithafrownwhenyoungVanbeckonedhimtowardananteroom,fromwhencethesoundofpoppingcorkshadissuedwithincreasingfrequencyastheeveningworeon。
"Dearfellow,hedoestry,"thoughtRose,longingtoshowhowsheadmiredhisself—denial,butshecouldonlysay,astheyleftthesupperroomwiththeaunts,whoweregoingearly:"IfIhadnotpromisedUncletogethomeassoonaftermidnightaspossible,I"dstayanddancetheGermanwithyou,foryoudeservearewardtonight。"
"Athousandthanks,butIamgoingwhenyoudo,"answeredCharlie,understandingbothherlookandwordsandverygratefulforthem。
"Really？"criedRose,delighted。
"Really。I"llbeinthehallwhenyoucomedown。"AndCharliethoughttheFraAngelicoangelwasnothalfsobrightandbeautifulastheonewholookedbackathimoutofapalebluecloudasRosewentupstairsasifonwings。
WhenshecamedownagainCharliewasnotinthehall,however,and,afterwaitingafewminutes,Macofferedtogoandfindhim,forAuntJanewasstillhuntingalostrubberabove。
"PleasesayI"mready,butheneedn"tcomeifhedoesn"twantto,"saidRose,notwishingtodemandtoomuchofherpromisingpenitent。
"Ifhehasgoneintothatbarroom,I"llhavehimout,nomatterwhoisthere！"growledMactohimselfashemadehiswaytothesmallapartmentwhitherthegentlemenretiredforalittleprivaterefreshmentwhenthespiritmoved,asitoftendid。
Thedoorwasajar,andCharlieseemedtohavejustentered,forMacheardafamiliarvoicecalloutinajovialtone:"Come,Prince！You"rejustintimetohelpusdrinkSteve"shealthwithallthehonors。"
"Can"tstop,onlyranintosaygoodnight,Van。Hadacapitaltime,butI"mondutyandmustgo。"
"That"sanewdodge。Takeastirrupcupanyway,andcomebackintimeforamerry—go—rounderwhenyou"vedisposedoftheladies,"answeredtheyounghost,divingintothewinecoolerforanotherbottle。
"Charlie"sgoinginforsanctity,anditdoesn"tseemtoagreewithhim,"laughedoneofthetwootheryoungmenwhooccupiedseveralchairsapiece,restingtheirsolesineverysenseoftheword。
"Apronstringsarecomingintofashionthebluerthebetterhey,Prince？"addedtheother,tryingtobewitty,withtheusualsuccess。
"You"dbettergohomeearlyyourself,Barrow,orthattongueofyourswillgetyouintotrouble,"retortedCharlie,consciousthatheoughttotakehisownadvice,yetlingering,nervouslyputtingonhisgloveswhiletheglasseswerebeingfilled。
"Now,brother—in—law,fireaway！Hereyouare,Prince。"AndStevehandedaglassacrossthetabletohiscousin,feelingtoomuchelatedwithvariouspleasurableemotionstothinkwhathewasdoing,fortheboysallknewCharlie"sweaknessandusuallytriedtodefendhimfromit。
Beforetheglasscouldbetaken,however,Macenteredinagreathurry,deliveringhismessageinanabbreviatedandratherperemptoryform:"Roseiswaitingforyou。Hurryup！"
"Allright。Goodnight,oldfellows！"AndCharliewasoff,asifthenamehadpowertostophimintheveryactofbreakingthepromisemadetohimself。
"Come,Solon,takeasocialdrop,andgiveusanepithalamiuminyourbestGreek。Here"stoyou！"AndStevewasliftingthewinetohisownlipswhenMacknockedtheglassoutofhishandwithaflashoftheeyethatcausedhisbrothertostareathimwithhismouthopeninanimbecilesortofway,whichseemedtoexciteMacstillmore,for,turningtohisyounghost,hesaid,inalowvoice,andwithalookthatmadethegentlemenonthechairssitupsuddenly:"Ibegpardon,Van,formakingamess,butIcan"tstandbyandseemyownbrothertemptanothermanbeyondhisstrengthormakeabruteofhimself。That"splainEnglish,butIcan"thelpspeakingout,forIknownotoneofyouwouldwillinglyhurtCharlie,andyouwillifyoudon"tlethimalone。"
"Whatdoyoupitchintomefor？I"vedonenothing。Afellowmustbecivilinhisownhouse,mustn"the？"askedVangood—humoredlyashefacedabout,corkscrewinhand。
"Yes,butitisnotciviltourgeorjokeaguestintodoingwhatyouknowandheknowsisbadforhim。That"sonlyaglassofwinetoyou,butitisperditiontoCharlie,andifSteveknewwhathewasabout,he"dcuthisrighthandoffbeforehe"dofferit。"
"DoyoumeantosayI"mtipsy？"demandedSteve,rufflinguplikealittlegamecock,forthoughhesawnowwhathehaddoneandwasashamedofit,hehatedtohaveMacairhispeculiarnotionsbeforeotherpeople。
"Withexcitement,notchampagne,Ihope,forIwouldn"townyouifyouwere,"answeredMac,inwhomindignationwaseffervescinglikethewineintheforgottenbottle,forthemenwereallyoung,friendsofSteve"sandadmirersofCharlie"s。"Lookhere,boys,"hewentonmorequietly,"IknowIoughtnottoexplodeinthisviolentsortofway,butuponmylifeIcouldn"thelpitwhenIheardwhatyouweresayingandsawwhatStevewasdoing。SinceIhavebegun,ImayaswellfinishandtellyoustraightoutthatPrincecan"tstandthissortofthing。Heistryingtofleetemptation,andwhoeverleadshimintoitdoesacowardlyandsinfulact,forthelossofone"sownself—respectisbadenough,withoutlosingthemorepreciousthingsthatmakelifeworthhaving。Don"ttellhimI"vesaidthis,butlendahandifyoucan,andneverhavetoreproachyourselveswiththeknowledgethatyouhelpedtoruinafellowcreature,soulandbody。"
ItwaswellforthesuccessofMac"sfirstcrusadethathishearersweregentlemenandsober,sohisoutburstwasnotreceivedwithjeersorlaughterbutlistenedtoinsilence,whiletheexpressionofthefaceschangedfromoneofsurprisetoregretandrespect,forearnestnessisalwayseffectiveandchampionshipofthissortseldomfailstotouchheartsasyetunspoiled。Ashepausedwithaneloquentlittlequiverinhiseagervoice,Vancorkedthebottleatablow,threwdownthecorkscrew,andofferedMachishand,sayingheartily,inspiteofhisslang:"Youareafirst—classoldbrick！I"lllendahandforone,anddomybesttobackupCharlie,forhe"sthefinestfellowIknow,andshan"tgotothedevillikepoorRandalifIcanhelpit。"
Murmursofapplausefromtheothersseemedtoexpressageneralassenttothisvigorousstatement,and,givingthehandagratefulshake,Macretreatedtothedoor,anxioustobeoffnowthathehadfreedhismindwithsuchunusualimpetuosity。
"CountonmeforanythingIcandoinreturnforthis,Van。I"msorrytobesuchamarplot,butyoucantakeitoutinquizzingmeafterI"mgone。I"mfairgame,andStevecansetyougoing。"
Withthat,Macdepartedasabruptlyashehadcome,feelingthathehad"madeamess"ofit,butcomfortinghimselfwiththethoughtthatperhapshehadsecuredhelpforCharlieathisownexpenseandthinkingwithadrollsmileashewentbacktohismother:"Myromancebeginsbylookingafterothergirls"loversinsteadoffindingasweetheartformyself,butIcan"ttellRose,soshewon"tlaughatme。"Chapter13。Chapter13。13BOTHSIDESSteve"sengagementmadeagreatstirinthefamilyapleasantonethistime,fornobodyobjected,everythingseemedfelicitous,andthecourseoftrueloveranverysmoothlyfortheyoungcouple,whopromisedtoremovetheonlyobstacletotheirunionbygrowingoldandwiseassoonaspossible。
Ifhehadnotbeensogenuinelyhappy,thelittlelover"sairswouldhavebeenunbearable,forhepatronizedallmankindingeneral,hisbrotherandeldercousinsinparticular。
"Now,thatisthewaytomanagematters,"hedeclared,standingbeforethefireinAuntClara"sbilliardroomadayortwoaftertheball,withhishandsbehindhisback。"Nononsense,nodelay,nodomesticrowsortragicseparations。Justchoosewithtasteandjudgment,makeyourselfagreeablethroughthickandthin,andwhenitisperfectlyevidentthatthedearcreatureadoresthegroundyouwalkon,saythewordlikeaman,andthereyouare。"
"AllveryeasytodothatwithagirllikeKitty,whohasnoconfoundednotionstospoilherandtripyouupeverytimeyoudon"texactlytoethemark,"mutteredCharlie,knockingtheballsaboutasifitwerearelieftohitsomething,forhewasinagloriouslybadhumorthatevening,becausetimehungheavyonhishandssincehehadforswornthecompanyhecouldnotkeepwithoutdangertohimself。
"Youshouldhumorthoselittlenotions,forallwomenhavethem,anditneedstacttosteerclearofthem。Kitty"sgotdozens,butItreatthemwithrespect,havemyownwaywhenIcan,giveinwithoutgrowlingwhenIcan"t,andwegetonlikeacoupleof"
"Spoons,"putinCharlie,whofeltthathehadnotsteeredclearandsosufferedshipwreckinsightofland。
Stevemeanttohavesaid"doves,"buthiscousin"slevitycausedhimtoaddwithcalmdignity,"reasonablebeings,"andthenrevengedhimselfbymakingagoodshotwhichwonhimthegame。
"Youalwayswerealuckylittledog,Steve。Idon"tbegrudgeyouaparticleofyourhappiness,butitdoesseemasifthingsweren"tquitefairsometimes,"
saidArchie,suppressinganenvioussigh,for,thoughheseldomcomplained,itwasimpossibletocontrasthisownandhiscousin"sprospectswithperfectequanimity。"HisworthshinesforththebrightestwhoinhopeAlwaysconfides:theAbjectsouldespairs,"observedMac,quotingEuripidesinaconversationaltoneashelayuponadivanreposingafterahardday"swork。
"Thankyou,"saidArchie,brighteningalittle,forahopefulwordfromanysourcewasverycomfortable。
"That"syourfavoriteRip,isn"tit？Hewasawiseoldboy,butyoucouldfindadviceasgoodasthatnearerhome,"putinSteve,whojustthenfeltequaltoslappingPlatoontheshoulder,soelatedwasheatbeingengaged"firstofallthelot,"ashegracefullyexpressedit。
"Don"thallootillyouareoutofthewood,DandyMrs。Kithasjiltedtwomen,andmayathird,soyou"dbetternotbragofyourwisdomtoosoon,forshemaymakeafoolofyouyet,"saidCharlie,cynically,hisviewsoflifebeingverygloomyaboutthistime。
"No,shewon"t,Steve,ifyoudoyourparthonestly。There"sthemakingofagoodlittlewomaninKitty,andshehasproveditbytakingyouinsteadofthoseotherfellows。YouarenotaSolomon,butyou"renotspoiltyet,andshehadthesensetoseeit,"saidMacencouraginglyfromhiscorner,forheandhisbrotherwerebetterfriendsthanevensincethelittlesceneattheVanTassels"。
"Hear！Hear！"criedSteve,lookingmorethaneverlikeacheerfulyoungcockereltryingtocrowashestooduponthehearthrugwithhishandsunderhiscoattails,risingandfallingalternatelyuponthetoesandheelsofhisneatlittleboots。