第12章

"Come,you"vegiventhemeachapatonthehead­haven"tyougotoneforme？Ineeditenough,forifevertherewasapoordevilbornunderanevilstar,itisC。C。Campbell,"exclaimedCharlie,leaninghischinonhiscuewithadiscontentedexpressionofcountenance,fortryingtobegoodisoftenveryhardworktillonegetsusedtoit。

"Oh,yes！Icanaccommodateyou。"And,asifhiswordssuggestedtheselection,Mac,stilllyingflatuponhisback,repeatedoneofhisfavoritebitsfromBeaumontandFletcher,forhehadawonderfulmemoryandcouldreeloffpoetrybythehourtogether。"Manishisownstar;andthesoulthatcanRenderanhonestandaperfectmanCommandsalllight,allinfluence,allfate。

Nothingtohimfallsearlyortoolate。

Ouractsourangelsare;orgoodorill,Ourfatalshadowsthatwalkbyusstill。""Confoundedlybadangelstheyaretoo,"mutteredCharlieruefully,rememberingtheonethatundidhim。

HiscousinsneverknewexactlywhatoccurredonNewYear"snight,butsuspectedthatsomethingwasamiss,forCharliehadtheblues,andRose,thoughaskindasever,expressednosurpriseathislongabsences。Theyhadallobservedandwonderedatthisstateofthings,yetdiscreetlymadenoremarktillSteve,whowasasinquisitiveasamagpie,seizedthisopportunitytosayinafriendlytone,whichshowedthatheborenomaliceforthedarkprophecyregardinghisKitty"sfaithfulness:"What"sthetrouble,Prince？Youaresoseldominabadhumorthatwedon"tknowwhattomakeofitandallfeeloutofspiritswhenyouhavetheblues。HadatiffwithRose？"

"Neveryoumind,littleboy,butthisIwillsay­thebetterwomenare,themoreunreasonabletheyare。Theydon"trequireustobesaintslikethemselves,whichislucky,buttheydoexpectustorenderan"honestandaperfectman"sometimes,andthatisaskingrathertoomuchinafallenworldlikethis,"saidCharlie,gladtogetalittlesympathy,thoughhehadnointentionofconfessinghistransgressions。

"No,itisn"t,"saidMac,decidedly。

"Muchyouknowaboutit,"beganCharlie,illpleasedtobesoflatlycontradicted。

"Well,Iknowthismuch,"addedMac,suddenlysittingupwithhishairinahighlydisheveledcondition。"Itisveryunreasonableinustoaskwomentobesaintsandthenexpectthemtofeelhonoredwhenweofferthemourdamagedheartsor,atbest,onenothalfasgoodastheirs。Iftheyweren"tblindedbylove,they"dseewhatameanadvantagewetakeofthemandnotmakesuchbadbargains。"

"Uponmyword,thephilosopheriscomingoutstronguponthesubject！

Weshallhavehimpreaching"Women"sRights"directly,"saidSteve,muchamazedatthisoutburst。

"I"vebegun,yousee,andmuchgoodmayitdoyou,"answeredMac,layinghimselfplacidlydownagain。

"Well,butlookhere,man­youarearguingonthewrongside,"putinArchie,quiteagreeingwithhim,butfeelingthathemuststandbyhisorderatallcosts。

"Nevermindsides,upholdtherightwhereveryoufindit。Youneedn"tstare,Steve­ItoldyouIwasgoingtolookintothismatter,andI

am。YouthinkI"mwrappedupinbooks,butIseeagreatdealmoreofwhatisgoingonaroundmethanyouimagine,andI"mgettingoninthisnewbranch,letmetellyou,quiteasfastasisgoodforme,Idaresay。"

"Goinginforperfection,areyou？"askedCharlie,bothamusedandinterested,forherespectedMacmorethanheownedeventohimself,andthoughhehadneveralludedtothetimelywarning,neitherforgot。

"Yes,Ithinkofit。"

"Howwillyoubegin？"

"Domybestall—round­keepgoodcompany,readgoodbooks,lovegoodthings,andcultivatesoulandbodyasfaithfullyandwiselyasIcan。"

"Andyouexpecttosucceed,doyou？"

"PleaseGod,Iwill。"

ThequietenergyofMac"slastwordsproducedamomentarysilence。Charliethoughtfullystudiedthecarpet;Archie,whohadbeenabsentlypokingthefire,lookedoveratMacasifhethankedhimagain,andSteve,forgettinghisself—conceit,begantowonderifitwasnotpossibletoimprovehimselfalittleforKitty"ssake。Onlyaminute,foryoungmendonotgivemuchtimetothoughtsofthiskind,evenwhenlovestirsupthenoblestimpulseswithinthem。Toactratherthantotalkismorenaturaltomostofthem,asCharlie"snextquestionshowed,for,havingthemattermuchatheart,heventuredtoaskinanoffhandwayashelaughedandtwirledhiscue:

"Doyouintendtoreachthehighestpointofperfectionbeforeyouaddressoneofthefairsaints,orshallyouaskhertolendahandsomewhereshortofthat？"

"AsittakesalonglifetimetodowhatIplan,IthinkIshallasksomegoodwoman"tolendahand"whenI"vegotanythingworthofferingher。Notasaint,forInevershallbeonemyself,butagentlecreaturewhowillhelpme,asIshalltrytohelpher,sothatwecangoontogetherandfinishourworkhereafter,ifwehaven"ttimetodoithere。"

IfMachadbeenalover,hewouldnothavediscussedthesubjectinthissimpleandsincerefashion,thoughhemighthavefeltitfarmoredeeply,butbeingquiteheart—free,hefranklyshowedhisinterestand,curiouslyenough,outofhiswiseyoungheadunconsciouslygavethethreeloversbeforehimcounselwhichtheyvalued,becausehepracticedwhathepreached。

"Well,Ihopeyou"llfindher！"saidCharlieheartilyashewentbacktohisgame。

"IthinkIshall。"Andwhiletheothersplayed,Maclaystaringatthewindowcurtainascontentedlyasif,throughit,hebeheld"adreamoffairwomen"fromwhichtochoosehisfuturemate。

Afewdaysafterthistalkinthebilliardroom,KittywenttocalluponRose,forasshewasabouttoenterthefamilyshefeltitherdutytobecomeacquaintedwithallitsbranches。Thisbranch,however,shecultivatedmoreassiduouslythananyotherandwascontinuallyrunningintoconferwith"CousinRose,"whomsheconsideredthewisest,dearest,kindestgirlevercreated。AndRose,findingthat,inspiteofherflightyhead,Kittyhadagoodheartofherown,didherbesttoencourageallthenewhopesandaspirationsspringingupinitunderthewarmthofthefirstgenuineaffectionshehadeverknown。

"Mydear,IwanttohavesomeseriousconversationwithyouuponasubjectinwhichItakeaninterestforthefirsttimeinmylife,"beganMissKitty,seatingherselfandpullingoffherglovesasifthesubjectwasonewhichneededafirmgrasp。

"Tellaway,anddon"tmindifIgoonworking,asIwanttofinishthisjobtoday,"answeredRose,withalong—handledpaintbrushinherhandandagreatpairofshearsatherside。

"Youarealwayssobusy！Whatisitnow？Letmehelp­IcantalkfasterwhenI"mdoingsomething,"whichseemedhardlypossible,forKitty"stonguewentlikeamillclapperatallhours。

"Makingpicturebooksformysickbabiesatthehospital。Prettywork,isn"tit？Youcutout,andI"llpastethemonthesesquaresofgaycambric­thenwejusttieupafewpageswitharibbonandthereisanice,light,durablebookforthepoordearstolookatastheylieintheirlittlebeds。"

"Acapitalidea。Doyougothereoften？Howeverdoyoufindthetimeforsuchthings？"askedKitty,busilycuttingfromabigsheetthetouchingpictureofaparentbirdwitharedheadandabluetailofferingwhatlookedlikeasmallboaconstrictortooneofitsnestlings,afatyoungsquabwithagreenhead,yellowbody,andnotailatall。

"IhaveplentyoftimenowIdon"tgooutsomuch,forapartyusesuptwodaysgenerally­onetoprepareforitandonetogetoverit,youknow。"

"Peoplethinkitissooddofyoutogiveupsocietyallofasudden。

Theysayyouhave"turnedpious"anditisowingtoyourpeculiarbringing—up。

Ialwaystakeyourpartandsayitisapityothergirlshaven"tassensibleaneducation,forIdon"tknowonewhoisassatisfactoryonthewholeasyouare。"

"Muchobliged。YoumayalsotellpeopleIgaveupgaietybecauseIvaluehealthmore。ButIhaven"tforsworneverythingofthekind,Kit。Igotoconcertsandlectures,andallsortsofearlythings,andhavenicetimesathome,asyouknow。Ilikefunaswellasever,butI"mgettingon,yousee,andmustbepreparingalittlefortheseriouspartoflife。Oneneverknowswhenitmaycome,"saidRose,thoughtfullyasshepastedasquirrelupsidedownonthepinkcottonpagebeforeher。

"ThatremindsmeofwhatIwantedtosay。Ifyou"llbelieveme,mydear,Stevehasgotthatveryideaintohishead！DidyouorMacputitthere？"

askedKitty,industriouslyclashinghershears。

"No,I"vegivenuplecturingtheboyslately­theyaresobignowtheydon"tlikeit,andIfancyI"dgotintoawaythatwasrathertiresome。"

"Well,then,heis"turningpious"too。Andwhatisverysingular,Ilikeit。Nowdon"tsmile­Ireallydo­andIwanttobegettingreadyforthe"seriouspartoflife,"asyoucallit。Thatis,IwanttogrowbetterasfastasIcan,forStevesaysheisn"thalfgoodenoughforme。Justthinkofthat！"

KittylookedsosurprisedandpleasedandproudthatRosefeltnodesiretolaughathersuddenfancyforsobrietybutsaidinhermostsympathetictone:"I"mverygladtohearit,foritshowsthathelovesyouintherightway。"

"Istheremorethanoneway？"

"Yes,Ifancyso,becausesomepeopleimprovesomuchaftertheyfallinlove,andothersdonotatall。Haveyouneverobservedthat？"

"Ineverlearnedhowtoobserve。OfcourseIknowthatsomematchesturnoutwellandsomedon"t,butIneverthoughtmuchaboutit。"

"Well,Ihave,forIwasratherinterestedinthesubjectlatelyandhadatalkwithAuntJessieandUncleaboutit。"

"Gracious！Youdon"ttalktothemaboutsuchthings,doyou？"

"Yes,indeed。IaskanyquestionsIlike,andalwaysgetagoodanswer。

Itissuchanicewaytolearn,Kitty,foryoudon"thavetoporeoverbooks,butasthingscomealongyoutalkaboutthemandremember,andwhentheyarespokenofafterwardyouunderstandandareinterested,thoughyoudon"tsayaword,"explainedRose。

"Itmustbenice,butIhaven"tanyonetodosoforme。Papaistoobusy,andMamaalwayssayswhenIaskquestion,"Don"ttroubleyourheadwithsuchthings,child,"soIdon"t。Whatdidyoulearnaboutmatchesturningoutwell？I"minterestedinthat,becauseIwantminetobequiteperfectinallrespects。"

"Afterthinkingitover,IcametotheconclusionthatUnclewasright,anditisnotalwayssafetomarryapersonjustbecauseyoulovehim,"beganRose,tryingtoenlightenKittywithoutbetrayingherself。

"Ofcoursenot­iftheyhaven"tmoneyorarebad。ButotherwiseI

don"tseewhatmoreisneeded,"saidKittywonderingly。

"Oneshouldstopandseeifitisawiselove,likelytohelpbothpartiesandwearwell,foryouknowitoughttolastallone"slifetime,anditisverysadifitdoesn"t。"

"Ideclareitquitescaresmetothinkofit,forIdon"tusuallygobeyondmyweddingdayinmakingplans。Iremember,though,thatwhenI

wasengagedthefirsttime­youdon"tknowtheman;itwasjustafteryouwentaway,andIwasonlysixteen­someoneveryill—naturedlysaidIshould"marryinhasteandrepentatleisure,"andthatmademetrytoimaginehowitwouldseemtogoonyearafteryearwithGustavus­whohadadreadfultemper,bytheway­anditworriedmesotothinkofitthatIbroketheengagement,andwassogladeverafterward。"

"Youwereawisegirl­andIhopeyou"lldoitagainifyoufind,afteratime,thatyouandStevedonottrulytrustandrespectaswellasloveoneanother。Ifyoudon"t,you"llbemiserablewhenitistoolate,assomanypeoplearewhodomarryinhasteandhavealifetimetorepentit。AuntJessiesaysso,andsheknows。"

"Don"tbesolemn,Rose。Itfidgetsmetothinkaboutlife—times,andrespecting,andallthoseresponsiblethings。I"mnotusedtoit,andI

don"tknowhowtodoit。"

"Butyoumustthink,andyoumustlearnhowbeforeyoutaketheresponsibilityuponyourself。Thatiswhatyourlifeisfor,andyoumustn"tspoilitbydoingaverysolemnthingwithoutseeingifyouarereadyforit。"

"Doyouthinkaboutallthis？"askedKitty,shrugginguphershouldersasifresponsibilityofanysortdidnotsitcomfortablyonthem。

"Onehastosometimes,youknow。Butisthatallyouwantedtotellme？"addedRose,anxioustoturntheconversationfromherself。

"Oh,dear,no！Themostseriousthingofallisthis。Steveisputtinghimselfinordergenerally,andsoIwanttodomypart,andImustbeginrightawaybeforemythoughtsgetdistractedwithclothesandallsortsofdear,delightful,frivolousthingsthatIcan"thelpliking。NowIwishyou"dtellmewheretobegin。Shouldn"tIimprovemymindbyreadingsomethingsolid？"AndKittylookedoveratthewell—filledbookcaseasiftoseeifitcontainedanythinglargeanddryenoughtobeconsidered"solid。"

"Itwouldbeanexcellentplan,andwe"lllookupsomething。Whatdoyoufeelasifyouneededmost？"

"AlittleofeverythingIshouldsay,forwhenIlookintomymindtherereallydoesn"tseemtobemuchtherebutoddsandends,andyetI"msureI"vereadagreatdealmorethansomegirlsdo。Isupposenovelsdon"tcount,though,andareofnouse,for,goodnessknows,thepeopleandthingstheydescribearen"tabitliketherealones。"

"Somenovelsareveryusefulanddoasmuchgoodassermons,I"veheardUnclesay,becausetheynotonlydescribetruly,butteachsopleasantlythatpeopleliketolearninthatway,"saidRose,whoknewthesortofbooksKittyhadreadanddidnotwonderthatshefeltratherastraywhenshetriedtoguideherselfbytheirteaching。

"Youpickmeoutsomeoftherightkind,andI"llapplymymindtothem。

ThenIoughttohavesome"seriousviews"and"methods"and"principles。"

Stevesaid"principles,"goodfirmones,youknow。"AndKittygavealittlepullatthebitofcambricshewascuttingashousewivespullcottonorcalicowhentheywant"agoodfirmarticle。"

Rosecouldnothelplaughingnow,thoughmuchpleased,forKittywassoprettilyinearnest,andyetsoperfectlyignoranthowtobeginontheself—improvementsheverymuchneeded,thatitwaspatheticaswellascomicaltoseeandhearher。

"Youcertainlywantsomeofthose,andmustbeginatoncetogetthem,butAuntJessiecanhelpyoutherebetterthanIcan,orAuntJane,forshehasvery"firm"ones,Iassureyou,"saidRose,soberingdownasquicklyaspossible。

"Mercyonus！IshouldneverdaretosayawordaboutittoMrs。Mac,forI"mdreadfullyafraidofher,sheissostern,andhowI"mevertogetonwhensheismymother—in—lawIdon"tknow！"criedKitty,claspingherhandsindismayattheidea。

"Sheisn"thalfassternasshelooks,andifyougotoherwithoutfear,you"venoideahowsensibleandhelpfulsheis。Iusedtobefrightenedoutofmywitswithher,butnowI"mnotabit,andwegetonnicely。Indeed,I"mfondofher,sheissoreliableanduprightinallthings。"

"ShecertainlyisthestraightestwomanIeversaw,andthemostprecise。

InevershallforgethowscaredIwaswhenStevetookmeuptoseeherthatfirsttime。Iputonallmyplainestthings,didmyhairinameekknob,andtriedtoactlikeasober,sedateyoungwoman。StevewouldlaughatmeandsayIlookedlikeaprettynun,soIcouldn"tbeasproperasIwished。Mrs。Macwasverykind,ofcourse,buthereyewassosharpI

feltasifshesawrightthroughme,andknewthatI"dpinnedonmybonnetstrings,lostabuttonoffmyboot,anddidn"tbrushmyhairfortenminuteseverynight,"saidKittyinanawe—strickentone。

"Shelikesyou,though,andsodoesUncle,andhe"ssethisheartonhavingyoulivewiththembyandby,sodon"tmindhereyesbutlookstraightupather,andyou"llseehowkindtheycangrow。"

"Maclikesme,too,andthatdidpleaseme,forhedoesn"tlikegirlsgenerally。StevetoldmehesaidIhadthe"makingofacapitallittlewomaninme。"Wasn"titniceofhim？Stevewassoproud,thoughhedoeslaughatMacsometimes。"

"Don"tdisappointthem,dear。EncourageSteveinallthegoodthingshelikesorwants,makefriendswithMac,loveAuntJane,andbeadaughtertoUncle,andyou"llfindyourselfaveryhappygirl。"

"Itrulywill,andthankyouverymuchfornotmakingfunofme。IknowI"malittlegoose,butlatelyI"vefeltasifImightcometosomethingifIhadtherightsortofhelp。I"llgoupandseeAuntJessietomorrow。

I"mnotabitafraidofher,andthenifyou"lljustquietlyfindoutfromUncleDoctorwhatImustread,I"llworkashardasIcan。Don"ttellanyone,please,they"llthinkitoddandaffected,andIcan"tbeartobelaughedat,thoughIdaresayitisgooddiscipline。"

Rosepromised,andbothworkedinsilenceforamoment,thenKittyaskedrathertimidly:"AreyouandCharlietryingthisplantoo？Sinceyou"veleftoffgoingoutsomuch,hekeepsawayalso,andwedon"tknowwhattomakeofit。"

"Hehashadwhathecallsan"artisticfit"lately,setupastudio,andisdoingsomecrayonsketchesofusall。Ifhe"donlyfinishhisthings,theywouldbeexcellent,buthelikestotryagreatvarietyatonce。I"lltakeyouinsometime,andperhapshewilldoaportraitofyouforSteve。

Helikesgirls"facesandgetsthelikenesseswonderfullywell。"

"PeoplesayyouareengagedbutIcontradictit,because,ofcourse,Ishouldknowifyouwere。"

"Wearenot。"

"I"mgladofit,forreally,Rose,I"mafraidCharliehasn"tgot"firmprinciples,"thoughheisafascinatingfellowandonecan"tscoldhim。

Youdon"tmindmysayingso,doyou,dear？"addedKitty,forRosedidnotansweratonce。

"Notintheleast,foryouareoneofusnow,andIcanspeakfranklyandIwill,forIthinkinonewayyoucanhelpSteveverymuch。

YouarerightaboutCharlie,bothastotheprinciplesandthefascination。

Steveadmireshimexceedingly,andalwaysfromaboylikedtoimitatehispleasantways。SomeofthemareveryharmlessanddoStevegood,butsomearenot。Ineedn"ttalkaboutit,onlyyoumustshowyourboythatyoudependonhimtokeepoutofharmandhelphimdoit。"

"Iwill,Iwill！Andthenperhaps,whenheisaperfectmodel,Charliewillimitatehim。IreallybegintofeelasifIhadagreatdealtodo。"

AndKittylookedasifshewasbeginningtolikeitalso。

"Weallhaveandthesoonerwegotoworkthebetterforusandthosewelove。Youwouldn"tthinknowthatPhebewasdoinganythingforArchie,butsheis,andwritessuchsplendidletters,theystirhimupwonderfullyandmakeusallloveandadmirehermorethanever。"

"Howisshegettingon？"askedKitty,who,thoughshecalledherselfa"littlegoose,"hadtactenoughtoseethatRosedidnotcaretotalkaboutCharlie。

"Nicely,foryouknowsheusedtosinginourchoir,sothatwasagoodrecommendationforanother。ShegotafineplaceinthenewchurchatL？

andthatgivesheracomfortablesalary,thoughshehassomethingputaway。

Shewasalwaysasavingcreatureandkeptherwagescarefully。Uncleinvestedthem,andshebeginstofeelquiteindependentalready。NofearbutmyPhebewillgeton­shehassuchenergyandmanagessowell。IsometimeswishIcouldrunawayandworkwithher。"

"Ah,mydear！Werichgirlshaveourtrialsaswellaspoorones,thoughwedon"tgetasmuchpityastheydo,"sighedKitty。"NobodyknowswhatIsuffersometimesfromworriesthatIcan"ttalkabout,andIshouldn"tgetmuchsympathyifIdid,justbecauseIliveinabighouse,weargoodgowns,andhavelotsoflovers。Annabelusedtosaysheenviedmeaboveallcreatedbeings,butshedoesn"tnow,andisperfectlyabsorbedinherdearlittleChinaman。Doyouseehowsheevercouldlikehim？"

Sotheybegantogossip,andthesobertalkwasoverforthattime,butwhenKittydeparted,aftercriticizingallherdearfriendsandtheirrespectivesweethearts,shehadahelpfullittlebookinhermuff,aresoluteexpressiononherbrightface,andsomanyexcellentplansforself—improvementinherbusybrainthatsheandStevebidfairtoturnoutthemodelcoupleofthecentury。Chapter14。Chapter14。14AUNTCLARA"SPLANBeingseriouslyalarmedbythefearoflosingthedesireofhisheart,Charliehadgoneresolutelytoworkand,likemanyanotheryoungreformer,heratheroverdidthematter,forintryingtokeepoutofthewayoftemptation,hedeniedhimselfmuchinnocentenjoyment。The"artisticfit"wasagoodexcusefortheseclusionwhichhefanciedwouldbeaproperpenance,andhesatlistlesslyplyingcrayonorpaintbrush,withdailywildridesonblackBrutus,whichseemedtodohimgood,fordangerofthatsortwashisdelight。

Peoplewereusedtohiswhimsandmadelightofwhattheyconsideredanewone,butwhenitlastedweekafterweekandallattemptstodrawhimoutwerevain,hisjollycomradesgavehimupandthefamilybegantosayapprovingly,"Nowhereallyisgoingtosettledownanddosomething。"

Fortunately,hismotherlethimalone,forthoughDr。Alechadnot"thunderedinherear"ashethreatened,hehadtalkedwithherinawaywhichfirstmadeherveryangry,thenanxious,and,lastly,quitesubmissive,forherheartwassetontheboy"swinningRoseandshewouldhavehadhimputonsackclothandashesifthatwouldhavesecuredtheprize。ShemadelightofthecauseofRose"sdispleasure,consideringherextremelyfoolishandstraitlaced,"forallyoungmenofanyspirithadtheirlittlevices,andcameoutwellenoughwhenthewildoatsweresowed。"SosheindulgedCharlieinhisnewvagary,asshehadinallhisothers,andtreatedhimlikeanill—usedbeing,whichwasneitheraninspiringnorhelpfulcourseonherpart。Poorsoul！Shesawhermistakebyandby,andwhentoolaterepentedofitbitterly。

Rosewantedtobekind,andtriedinvariouswaystohelphercousin,feelingverysuresheshouldsucceedasmanyanotherhopefulwomanhasdone,quiteunconscioushowmuchstrongeranundisciplinedwillisthanthetruestlove,andwhatadifficulttaskthewisestfindittoundothemistakesofabadeducation。Butitwasahardthingtodo,forattheleasthintofcommendationorencouragement,helookedsohopefulthatshewasafraidofseemingtopromisetoomuch,and,ofallthings,shedesiredtoescapetheaccusationofhavingtrifledwithhim。

Solifewasnotverycomfortabletoeitherjustthen;andwhileCharliewas"mortifyingsoulandbody"topleaseher,shewasstudyinghowtoservehimbest。AuntJessiehelpedherverymuch,andnooneguessed,whentheysawprettyMissCampbellgoingupanddownthehillwithsuchaseriousface,thatshewasintentuponanythingexcepttaking,withpraiseworthyregularity,theconstitutionalswhichgavehersuchacharmingcolor。

MatterswereinthisstatewhenonedayanotecametoRosefromMrs。

Clara。MYSWEETCHILD,Dotakepityonmypoorboyandcheerhimupwithasightofyou,forheissotristeitbreaksmyhearttoseehim。Hehasanewplaninhishead,whichstrikesmeasanexcellentone,ifyouwillonlyfavorit。Lethimcomeandtakeyouforadrivethisfineafternoonandtalkthingsover。ItwilldohimaworldofgoodanddeeplyobligeYoureverlovingAUNTCLARA。Rosereadthenotetwiceandstoodamomentpondering,withhereyesabsentlyfixedonthelittlebaybeforeherwindow。Thesightofseveralblackfiguresmovingbrisklytoandfroacrossitsfrozensurfaceseemedtosuggestamodeofescapefromthedriveshedreadedinmorewaysthanone。"Thatwillbesaferandpleasanter,"shesaid,andgoingtoherdeskwroteheranswer。DEARAUNTY,I"mafraidofBrutus,butifCharliewillgoskatingwithme,Ishouldenjoyitverymuchanditwoulddousbothgood。Icanlistentothenewplanwithanundividedmindthere,sogivehimmylove,please,andsayIshallexpecthimatthree。Affectionately,ROSE。PunctuallyatthreeCharlieappearedwithhisskatesoverhisarmandwithaverycontentedface,whichbrightenedwonderfullyasRosecamedownstairsinasealskinsuitandscarletskirt,soliketheonesheworeyearsagothatheinvoluntarilyexclaimedashetookherskates:"YoulooksolikelittleRoseIhardlyknowyou,anditseemssolikeoldtimesIfeelsixteenagain。"

"Thatisjustthewayoneoughttofeelonsuchadayasthis。Nowletusbeoffandhaveagoodspinbeforeanyonecomes。Thereareonlyafewchildrentherenow,butitisSaturday,youknow,andeverybodywillbeoutbeforelong,"answeredRose,carefullyputtingonhermittensasshetalked,forherheartwasnotaslightastheonelittleRosecarriedunderthebrownjacket,andtheboyofsixteenneverlookedatherwiththeloveandlongingshereadintheeyesoftheyoungmanbeforeher。

Awaytheywent,andweresoonalmostasmerryandwarmasthechildrenaroundthem,fortheicewasingoodcondition,theFebruarysunshinebrilliant,andthekeenwindsettheirblooda—tinglewithahealthfulglow。

"Nowtellmetheplanyourmotherspokeof,"beganRoseastheywentglidingacrossthewideexpansebeforethem,forCharlieseemedtohaveforgotteneverythingbuttheblissofhavingheralltohimselfforalittlewhile。

"Plan？Oh,yes！Itissimplythis。I"mgoingouttoFathernextmonth。"

"Really？"andRoselookedbothsurprisedandincredulous,forthisplanwasnotanewone。

"Really。Youdon"tbelieveit,butIam,andmothermeanstogowithme。We"vehadanotherletterfromthegovernor,andhesaysifshecan"tpartfromherbigbabytocomealongtoo,andallbehappytogether。Whatdoyouthinkofthat？"heasked,eyeingherintently,fortheywerefacetofaceasshewentbackwardandheheldbothofherhandstosteerandsteadyher。

"Ilikeitimmensely,anddobelieveitnow­onlyitrathertakesmybreathawaytothinkofAunty"sgoing,whensheneverwouldhearofitbefore。"

"Shedoesn"tliketheplanverywellnowandconsentstogoonlyononecondition。"

"Whatisthat？"askedRose,tryingtofreeherhands,foralookatCharliemadehersuspectwhatwascoming。

"Thatyougowithus。"And,holdingthehandsfast,headdedrapidly,"Letmefinishbeforeyouspeak。Idon"tmeanthatanythingistobechangedtillyouareready,butifyougo,Iamwillingtogiveupeverythingelseandliveanywhereaslongasyoulike。Whyshouldn"tyoucometousforayearortwo？We"veneverhadourshare。Fatherwouldbedelighted,mothercontented,andIthehappiestmanalive。"

"Whomadethisplan？"askedRoseassoonasshegotthebreathwhichcertainlyhadbeenrathertakenawaybythisentirelynewandbynomeansagreeablescheme。

"Mothersuggestedit­Ishouldn"thavedaredeventodreamofsuchrichness。I"dmadeupmymindtogoalone,andwhenItoldher,shewasindespairtillthissuperbideacameintoherhead。Afterthat,ofcourse,itwaseasyenoughformetosticktotheresolutionI"dmade。"

"Whydidyoudecidetogo,Charlie？"AndRoselookedupintotheeyesthatwerefixedbeseechinglyonhers。

Theywaveredandglancedaside,thenmethershonestlyyetfullofhumility,whichmadeherownfallasheansweredverylow:"BecauseIdon"tdaretostay。"

"Isitsohard？"shesaidpitifully。

"Veryhard。Ihaven"tthemoralcouragetoownupandfaceridicule,anditseemssomeantohideforfearofbreakingmyword。Iwillkeepitthistime,Rose,ifIgototheendsoftheearthtodoit。"

"Itisnotcowardlytofleetemptation,andnobodywhoseopinionisworthhavingwillridiculeanybraveattempttoconquerone"sself。Don"tmindit,Charlie,butstandfast,andIamsureyouwillsucceed。"

"Youdon"tknowwhatitis,andIcan"ttellyou,fortillItriedtogiveitupIneverguessedwhatagripithadonme。Ithoughtitwasonlyahabit,easytodropwhenIliked,butitisstrongerthanI,andsometimesIfeelasifpossessedofadevilthatwillgetthebetterofme,tryasImay。"

Hedroppedherhandsabruptlyashesaidthat,withtheenergyofdespair;

and,asifafraidofsayingtoomuch,heleftherforaminute,strikingawayatfullspeed,asifintruthhewould"gototheendsoftheearth"

toescapetheenemywithinhimself。