第16章

Simpleandsincereinallthings,MacgaveRoseanewsurprisebykeepinghispromisetotheletter­askednothingofher,saidnothingofhishope,andwentonasifnothinghadhappened,quiteintheoldfriendlyway。No,notquite,fornowandthen,whensheleastexpectedit,shesawagaintheindescribableexpressiononhisface,alookthatseemedtoshedasuddensunshineoverher,makinghereyesfallinvoluntarily,hercolorrise,andherheartbeatquickerforamoment。Notaworddidhesay,butshefeltthatanewatmospheresurroundedherwhenhewasby,andalthoughheusednoneofthelittledevicesmostloversemploytokeeptheflamealight,itwasimpossibletoforgetthatunderneathhisquietudetherewasahiddenworldoffireandforcereadytoappearatatouch,awordfromher。

ThiswasratherdangerousknowledgeforRose,andshesoonbegantofeelthatthereweremoresubtletemptationsthanshehadexpected,foritwasimpossibletobeunconsciousofherpower,oralwaystoresistthetrialsofitwhichdailycameunsought。Shehadneverfeltthisdesirebefore,forCharliewastheonlyonewhohadtouchedherheart,andhewasconstantlyaskingaswellasgiving,andweariedherbydemandingtoomuchoroppressedherbyofferingmorethanshecouldaccept。

Macdidneither;heonlylovedher,silently,patiently,hopefully,andthisgeneroussortoffidelitywasveryeloquenttoanaturelikehers。

Shecouldnotrefuseorchide,sincenothingwasaskedorurged;therewasnoneedofcoldness,forheneverpresumed;nocallforpity,sincehenevercomplained。Allthatcouldbedonewastotryandbeasjustandtrueashewas,andtowaitastrustfullyfortheend,whateveritwastobe。

Foratimeshelikedthenewinterestitputintoherlife,yetdidnothingtoencourageitandthoughtthatifshegavethislovenofooditwouldsoonstarvetodeath。Butitseemedtothriveonair,andpresentlyshebegantofeelasifaverystrongwillwasslowlybutsteadilyinfluencingherinmanyways。IfMachadnevertoldherthathemeantto"makeherlovehim,"shemighthaveyieldedunconsciously,butnowshemistooktheimpulsetoobeythisundercurrentforcompassionandresistedstoutly,notcomprehendingyetthereasonfortheunrestwhichtookpossessionofheraboutthistime。

ShehadasmanymoodsasanAprilday,andwouldhavemuchsurprisedDr。Alecbyhervagarieshadheknownthemall。Hesawenough,however,toguesswhatwasthematter,buttooknonotice,forheknewthisfevermustrunitscourse,andmuchmedicineonlydoesharm。Theotherswerebusyabouttheirownaffairs,andAuntPlentywastoomuchabsorbedinherrheumatismtothinkoflove,forthecoldweathersetinearly,andthepoorladykeptherroomfordaysatatimewithRoseasnurse。

MachadspokenofgoingawayinNovember,andRosebegantohopehewould,forshedecidedthatthissilentsortofadorationwasbadforher,asitpreventedherfromsteadilypursuingtheemploymentsshehadmarkedoutforthatyear。Whatwastheuseoftryingtoreadusefulbookswhenherthoughtscontinuallywanderedtothosecharmingessayson"Love"and"Friendship"？Tocopyantiquecasts,whenallthemasculineheadslookedlikeCupidandthefeminineoneslikethePsycheonhermantelpiece？TopracticethebestmusicifitendedinsingingoverandovertheprettyspringsongwithoutPhebe"sbirdchorus？Dulce"scompanywaspleasantestnow,forDulceseldomtalked,somuchmeditationwaspossible。EvenAuntPlenty"sredflannel,camphor,andPond"sExtractwerepreferabletogeneralsociety,andlongsolitaryridesonRosaseemedtheonlythingtoputherintuneafteroneofherattemptstofindoutwhatsheoughttodoorleaveundone。

Shemadeuphermindatlast,andarmingherselfwithanunmadepen,likeFannySqueers,sheboldlywentintothestudytoconferwithDr。AlecatanhourwhenMacwasusuallyabsent。

"Iwantapenformarking­canyoumakemeone,Uncle？"sheasked,poppingherheadintobesurehewasalone。

"Yes,mydear,"answeredavoicesolikethedoctor"sthatsheenteredwithoutdelay。

Butbeforeshehadtakenthreestepsshestopped,lookingratherannoyed,fortheheadthatrosefrombehindthetalldeskwasnotroughandgray,butbrownandsmooth,andMac,notUncleAlec,sattherewriting。Lateexperiencehadtaughtherthatshehadnothingtofearfromatête—à—têteand,havingwithdifficultytakenaresolution,shedidnotliketofailofcarryingitout。

"Don"tgetup,Iwon"ttroubleyouifyouarebusy,thereisnohurry,"

shesaid,notquitesurewhetheritwerewisertostayorrunaway。

Macsettledthepointbytakingthepenoutofherhandandbeginningtocutit,asquietlyasNicholasdidonthat"thrilling"occasion。Perhapshewasthinkingofthat,forhesmiledasheasked,"Hardorsoft？"

RoseevidentlyhadforgottenthatthefamilyofSqueerseverexisted,forsheanswered:"Hard,please,"inavoicetomatch。"I"mgladtoseeyoudoingthat,"sheadded,takingcouragefromhiscomposureandgoingasstraighttoherpointascouldbeexpectedofawoman。

"AndIamverygladtodoit。"

"Idon"tmeanmakingpens,buttheromanceIadvised,"andshetouchedthecloselywrittenpagebeforehim,lookingasifshewouldliketoreadit。

"Thatismyabstractonalectureonthecirculationoftheblood,"

heanswered,kindlyturningitsothatshecouldsee。"Idon"twriteromances­I"mlivingone,"andheglancedupwiththehappy,hopefulexpressionwhichalwaysmadeherfeelasifhewasheapingcoalsoffireonherhead。

"Iwishyouwouldn"tlookatmeinthatway­itfidgetsme,"shesaidalittlepetulantly,forshehadbeenoutriding,andknewthatshedidnotpresenta"spiritual"appearanceafterthefrostyairhadreddenednoseaswellascheeks。

"I"lltrytoremember。ItdoesitselfbeforeIknowit。Perhapsthismaymendmatters。"And,takingouttheblueglasseshesometimesworeinthewind,hegravelyputthemon。

Rosecouldnothelplaughing,buthisobedienceonlyaggravatedher,forsheknewhecouldobserveherallthebetterbehindhisuglyscreen。

"No,itwon"t­theyarenotbecoming,andIdon"twanttolookbluewhenIdonotfeelso,"shesaid,findingitimpossibletoguesswhathewoulddonextortohelpenjoyinghispeculiarities。

"Butyoudon"ttome,forinspiteofthegoggleseverythingisrose—colorednow。"Andhepocketedtheglasseswithoutamurmuratthecharminginconsistencyofhisidol。

"Really,Mac,I"mtiredofthisnonsense,itworriesmeandwastesyourtime。"

"Neverworkedharder。ButdoesitreallytroubleyoutoknowIloveyou？"heaskedanxiously。

"Don"tyouseehowcrossitmakesme？"Andshewalkedaway,feelingthatthingswerenotgoingassheintendedtohavethematall。

"Idon"tmindthethornsifIgettheroseatlast,andIstillhopeImay,sometenyearshence,"saidthispersistentsuitor,quiteundauntedbytheprospectofa"longwait。"

"IthinkitisratherhardtobelovedwhetherIlikeitornot,"objectedRose,atalosshowtomakeanyheadwayagainstsuchindomitablehopefulness。

"Butyoucan"thelpit,norcanI­soImustgoondoingitwithallmyhearttillyoumarry,andthen­well,thenI"mafraidImayhatesomebodyinstead,"andMacspoiltthepenbyaninvoluntaryslashofhisknife。

"Pleasedon"t,Mac！"

"Dowhich,loveorhate？"

"Don"tdoeither­goandcareforsomeoneelse;thereareplentyofnicegirlswhowillbegladtomakeyouhappy,"saidRose,intentuponendingherdisquietinsomeway。

"Thatistooeasy。Ienjoyworkingformyblessings,andtheharderIhavetowork,themoreIvaluethemwhentheycome。"

"ThenifIsuddenlygrewverykind,wouldyoustopcaringaboutme？"

askedRose,wonderingifthattreatmentwouldfreeherfromapassionwhichbothtouchedandtormentedher。

"Tryandsee。"ButtherewasatraitorousglimmerinMac"seyeswhichplainlyshowedwhatafailureitwouldbe。

"No,I"llgetsomethingtodo,soabsorbingIshallforgetallaboutyou。"

"Don"tthinkaboutmeifittroublesyou,"hesaidtenderly。

"Ican"thelpit。"Rosetriedtocatchbackthewords,butitwastoolate,andsheaddedhastily,"Thatis,Icannothelpwishingyouwouldforgetme。ItisagreatdisappointmenttofindIwasmistakenwhenIhopedsuchfinethingsofyou。"

"Yes,youwereverysurethatitwaslovewhenitwaspoetry,andnowyouwantpoetrywhenI"venothingonhandbutlove。Willbothtogetherpleaseyou？"

"Tryandsee。"

"I"lldomybest。Anythingelse？"heasked,forgettingthesmalltaskshehadgivenhiminhiseagernesstoattemptthegreater。

"Tellmeonething。I"veoftenwantedtoknow,andnowyouspeakofitI"llventuretoask。DidyoucareaboutmewhenyoureadKeatstomelastsummer？"

"No。"

"Whendidyoubegin？"askedRose,smilinginspiteofherselfathisunflatteringhonesty。

"HowcanItell？Perhapsitdidbeginupthere,though,forthattalksetuswriting,andthelettersshowedmewhatabeautifulsoulyouhad。

Ilovedthatfirst­itwassoquicktorecognizegoodthings,tousethemwhentheycame,andgivethemoutagainasunconsciouslyasaflowerdoesitsbreath。Ilongedforyoutocomehome,andwantedyoutofindmealteredforthebetterinsomewayasIhadfoundyou。AndwhenyoucameitwasveryeasytoseewhyIneededyou­toloveyouentirely,andtotellyouso。That"sall,Rose。"

Ashortstory,butitwasenough­thevoicethattolditwithsuchsimpletruthmadethefewwordssoeloquent,RosefeltstronglytemptedtoaddthesequelMacdesired。Buthereyeshadfallenashespoke,forsheknewhiswerefixeduponher,darkanddilated,withthesamerepressedemotionthatputsuchfervorintohisquiettones,andjustasshewasabouttolookup,theyfellonashabbylittlefootstool。Triflesaffectwomencuriously,andoftenmostirresistiblywhensomeagitationswaysthem。ThesightoftheoldhassockvividlyrecalledCharlie,forhehadkickeditonthenightsheneverlikedtoremember。Likeasparkitfiredalongtrainofrecollections,andthethoughtwentthroughhermind:"I

fanciedIlovedhim,andlethimseeit,butIdeceivedmyself,andhereproachedmeforasinglelookthatsaidtoomuch。Thisfeelingisverydifferent,buttoonewandsuddentobetrusted。I"llneitherlooknorspeaktillIamquitesure,forMac"sloveisfardeeperthanpoorCharlie"s,andImustbeverytrue。"

Notinwordsdidtheresolveshapeitself,butinaquickimpulse,whichsheobeyed­certainthatitwasright,sinceitwashardtoyieldtoit。Onlyaninstant"ssilencefollowedMac"sanswerasshestoodlookingdownwithfingersintertwinedandcolorvaryinginhercheeks。Afoolishattitude,butMacthoughtitasweetpictureofmaidenhesitationandbegantohopethatamonth"swooingwasabouttoendinwinningforalifetime。

Hedeceivedhimself,however,andcoldwaterfelluponhisflame,subduingbutbynomeansquenchingit,whenRoselookedupwithanairofdeterminationwhichcouldnotescapeeyesthatweregrowingwonderfullyfarsightedlately。

"IcameinheretobegUncletoadviseyoutogoawaysoon。Youareverypatientandforbearing,andIfeelitmorethanIcantell。Butitisnotgoodforyoutodependonanyonesomuchforyourhappiness,Ithink,andIknowitisbadformetofeelthatIhavesomuchpoweroverafellowcreature。Goaway,Mac,andseeifthisisn"tallamistake。Don"tletafancyformechangeordelayyourwork,becauseitmayendassuddenlyasitbegan,andthenweshouldbothreproachourselvesandeachother。

Pleasedo！Irespectandcareforyousomuch,Ican"tbehappytotakeallandgivenothing。Itryto,butI"mnotsure­Iwanttothink­itistoosoontoknowyet­"

Rosebeganbravely,butendedinaflutteredsortofwayasshemovedtowardthedoor,forMac"sfacethoughitfellatfirst,brightenedasshewenton,andatthelastword,utteredalmostinvoluntarily,heactuallylaughedlowtohimself,asifthisorderintoexilepleasedhimmuch。

"Don"tsaythatyougivenothing,whenyou"vejustshownmethatI"mgettingon。I"llgo;I"llgoatonce,andseeifabsencewon"thelpyou"tothink,toknow,andtobesure"asitdidme。IwishIcoulddosomethingmoreforyou。AsIcan"t,good—bye。"

"Areyougoingnow？"AndRosepausedinherretreattolookbackwithastartledfaceasheofferedherabadlymadepenandopenedthedoorforherjustasDr。Alecalwaysdid;for,inspiteofhimself,Macdidresemblethebestofuncles。

"Notyet,butyouseemtobe。"

Roseturnedasredasapoppy,snatchedthepen,andflewupstairs,tocallherselfhardnamesassheindustriouslyspoiledallAuntPlenty"snewpockethandkerchiefsbymarkingthem"A。M。C。"

ThreedayslaterMacsaid"good—bye"inearnest,andnoonewassurprisedthatheleftsomewhatabruptly,suchbeinghisway,andacourseoflecturesbyafamousphysiciantheostensiblereasonforatriptoL？UncleAlecdesertedmostshamefullyatthelastmomentbysendingwordthathewouldbeatthestationtoseethetraveleroff,AuntPlentywasstillinherroom,sowhenMaccamedownfromhisfarewelltoher,Rosemethiminthehall,asifanxiousnottodelayhim。Shewasalittleafraidofanothertête—à—tête,asshefaredsobadlyatthelast,andhadassumedacalmandcousinlyairwhichsheflatteredherselfwouldplainlyshowonwhattermsshewishedtopart。

Macapparentlyunderstood,andnotonlytookthehint,butsurpassedherincheerfulcomposure,for,merelysaying"Good—bye,Cousin;writewhenyoufeellikeit,"heshookhandsandwalkedoutofthehouseastranquillyasifonlyadayinsteadofthreemonthsweretopassbeforetheymetagain。

Rosefeltasifasuddenshowerbathhadchilledherandwasabouttoretire,sayingtoherselfwithdisdainfuldecision:"There"snoloveaboutitafterall,onlyoneoftheeccentricitiesofgenius,"whenarushofcoldairmadeherturntofindherselfinwhatappearedtobetheembraceofanimpetuousovercoat,whichwrappedhercloseforaninstant,thenvanishedassuddenlyasithadcome,leavinghertohideinthesanctumandconfidetoPsychewithatendersortoftriumphinherbreathlessvoice:"No,no,itisn"tgenius­thatmustbelove！"Chapter19。Chapter19。19BEHINDTHEFOUNTAINTwodaysafterChristmasayoungmanofseriousaspectmighthavebeenseenenteringoneofthelargechurchesatL？Beingshowntoaseat,hejoinedintheserviceswithpraiseworthydevotion,especiallythemusic,towhichhelistenedwithsuchevidentpleasurethatagentlemanwhosatnearbyfeltmovedtoaddressthisappreciativestrangerafterchurch。

"Finesermontoday。Everheardourministerbefore,sir？"hebegan,astheywentdowntheaisletogetheramongthelast,fortheyoungmanhadlingeredasifadmiringtheancientbuilding。

"Veryfine。No,sir,Ihaveneverhadthatpleasure。I"veoftenwishedtoseethisoldplace,andamnotatalldisappointed。Yourchoir,too,isunusuallygood,"answeredthestranger,glancingupatseveralbonnetsbobbingaboutbehindthehalf—drawncurtainsabove。

"Finestinthecity,sir。Weprideourselvesonourmusic,andalwayshavethebest。Peopleoftencomeforthatalone。"Andtheoldgentlemanlookedassatisfiedasifachoirofcherubimandseraphim"continuallydidcry"inhisorganloft。

"Whoisthecontralto？Thatsolowasbeautifullysung,"observedtheyoungerman,pausingtoreadatabletonthewall。

"ThatisMissMoore。Beenhereaboutayear,andisuniversallyadmired。

Excellentyounglady­couldn"tdowithouther。Singssuperblyinoratorios。

Everheardher？"

"Never。ShecamefromX？Ibelieve？

"Yes,highlyrecommended。Shewasbroughtupbyoneofthefirstfamiliesthere。Campbellisthename。IfyoucomefromX？youdoubtlessknowthem。"

"Ihavemetthem。Goodmorning。"Andwithbowsthegentlemenparted,foratthatinstanttheyoungmancaughtsightofatallladygoingdownthechurchstepswithadevoutexpressioninherfineeyesandaprayer—bookinherhand。

Hasteningafterher,theserious—mindedyoungmanaccostedherjustassheturnedintoaquietstreet。

"Phebe！"

Onlyaword,butitwroughtamarvelouschange,forthedevoutexpressionvanishedinthedrawingofabreath,andthequietfaceblossomedsuddenlywithcolor,warmth,and"thelightthatneverwasonseaorland"assheturnedtomeetherloverwithanansweringwordaseloquentashis。

"Archie！"

"Theyearisouttoday。ItoldyouIshouldcome。Haveyouforgotten？"

"No­Iknewyou"dcome。"

"Andareyouglad？"

"HowcanIhelpit？"

"Youcan"t­don"ttry。Comeintothislittleparkandletustalk。"

Anddrawingherhandthroughhisarm,Archieledherintowhattoothereyeswasaverydismalsquare,withaboarded—upfountaininthemiddle,soddengrassplots,anddeadleavesdancinginthewintrywind。

ButtothemitwasasummeryParadise,andtheywalkedtoandfrointhepalesunshine,quiteunconsciousthattheywereobjectsofinteresttoseveralladiesandgentlemenwaitinganxiouslyfortheirdinneroryawningoverthedullbookskeptforSundayreading。

"Areyoureadytocomehomenow,Phebe？"askedArchietenderlyashelookedatthedowncastfacebesidehimandwonderedwhyallwomendidnotweardelightfullittleblackvelvetbonnetswithonedeepredfloweragainsttheirhair。

"Notyet。Ihaven"tdoneenough,"beganPhebe,findingitveryhardtokeeptheresolutionmadeayearago。

"Youhaveprovedthatyoucansupportyourself,makefriends,andearnaname,ifyouchoose。Noonecandenythat,andweareallgettingproudofyou。Whatmorecanyouask,mydearest？"

"Idon"tquiteknow,butIamveryambitious。Iwanttobefamous,todosomethingforyouall,tomakesomesacrificeforRose,and,ifIcan,tohavesomethingtogiveupforyoursake。Letmewaitandworklonger­I

knowIhaven"tearnedmywelcomeyet,"pleadedPhebesoearnestlythatherloverknewitwouldbeinvaintotryandturnher,sowiselycontentedhimselfwithhalf,sincehecouldnothavethewhole。

"Suchaproudwoman！YetIloveyouallthebetterforit,andunderstandyourfeeling。Rosemademeseehowitseemstoyou,andIdon"twonderthatyoucannotforgettheunkindthingsthatwerelooked,ifnotsaid,bysomeofmyamiableaunts。I"lltrytobepatientononecondition,Phebe。"

"Andwhatisthat？"

"YouaretoletmecomesometimeswhileIwait,andwearthislestyoushouldforgetme,"hesaid,pullingaringfromhispocketandgentlydrawingawarm,barehandoutofthemuffwhereitlayhidden。

"Yes,Archie,butnothere­notnow！"criedPhebe,glancingaboutherasifsuddenlyawarethattheywerenotalone。

"Noonecanseeushere­Ithoughtofthat。Givemeonehappyminute,afterthislong,longyearofwaiting,"answeredArchie,pausingjustwherethefountainhidthemfromalleyes,fortherewerehousesonlyononeside。

PhebesubmittedandneverdidaplaingoldringslipmoreeasilytoitsplacethantheoneheputoninsuchahurrythatcoldDecemberday。

Thenonehandwentbackintothemuffredwiththegrasphegaveit,andtheothertoitsoldplaceonhisarmwithaconfidinggesture,asifithadarightthere。

"NowIfeelsureofyou,"saidArchieastheywentonagain,andnoonethewiserforthattendertransactionbehindtheuglypyramidofboards。

"Macwrotemethatyouweremuchadmiredbyyourchurchpeople,andthatcertainwealthybachelorsevidentlyhaddesignsontheretiringMissMoore。

Iwashorriblyjealous,butnowIdefyeverymanofthem。"

Phebesmiledwiththeairofproudhumilitythatwassobecomingandansweredbriefly:"Therewasnodanger­kingscouldnotchangeme,whetheryouevercameornot。ButMacshouldnothavetoldyou。"

"Youshallberevengedonhim,then,for,ashetoldsecretsaboutyou,I"lltellyouoneabouthim。Phebe,helovesRose！"AndArchielookedasifheexpectedtomakeagreatsensationwithhisnews。

"Iknowit。"AndPhebelaughedathissuddenchangeofcountenanceasheaddedinquiringly,"Shetoldyou,then？"

"Notaword。Iguesseditfromherletters,forlatelyshesaysnothingaboutMac,andbeforetherewasagooddeal,soIsuspectedwhatthesilencemeantandaskednoquestions。"

"Wisegirl！Thenyouthinkshedoescareforthedearoldfellow？"

"Ofcourseshedoes。Didn"thetellyouso？"

"No,heonlysaidwhenhewentaway,"TakecareofmyRose,andI"lltakecareofyourPhebe,"andnotanotherthingcouldIgetoutofhim,forIdidaskquestions。Hestoodbymelikeahero,andkeptAuntJanefromdrivingmestarkmadwithher"advice。"Idon"tforgetthat,andburnedtolendhimahandsomewhere,buthebeggedmetolethimmanagehiswooinginhisownway。AndfromwhatIsee,Ishouldsayheknewhowtodoit,"addedArchie,findingitverydelightfultogossipaboutloveaffairswithhissweetheart。

"Dearlittlemistress！Howdoesshebehave？"askedPhebe,longingfornews,buttoogratefultoaskatheadquarters,rememberinghowgenerouslyRosehadtriedtohelpher,evenbysilence,thegreatestsacrificeawomancanmakeatsuchinterestingperiods。

"Verysweetandshyandcharming。Itrynottowatch­butuponmywordIcannothelpitsometimes,sheisso"cunning,"asyougirlssay。

WhenIcarryheraletterfromMacshetriessohardnottoshowhowgladsheisthatIwanttolaughandtellherIknowallaboutit。ButIlookassoberasajudgeandasstupidasanowlbydaylight,andsheenjoysherlettersinpeaceandthinksI"msoabsorbedinmyownpassionthatI"mblindtohers。"

"ButwhydidMaccomeaway？Hesayslecturesbroughthim,andhegoes,butIamsuresomethingelseisinhismind,helookssohappyattimes。

Idon"tseehimveryoften,butwhenIdoI"mconsciousthatheisn"ttheMacIleftayearago,"saidPhebe,leadingArchieaway,forinexorableproprietyforbadealongerstay,evenifprudenceanddutyhadnotgivenheraremindingnudge,asitwasverycold,andafternoonchurchcameinanhour。

"Well,youseeMacwasalwayspeculiar,andhecannotevengrowuplikeotherfellows。Idon"tunderstandhimyet,andamsurehe"sgotsomeplaninhisheadthatnoonesuspects,unlessitisUncleAlec。Lovemakesusallcutqueercapers,andI"veanideathattheDonwilldistinguishhimselfinsomeuncommonway。Sobepreparedtoapplaudwhateveritis。Weowehimthat,youknow。"

"Indeedwedo！IfRoseeverspeaksofhimtoyou,tellherIshallseethathecomestonoharm,andshemustdothesameformyArchie。"

ThatunusualdemonstrationoftendernessfromreservedPhebeverynaturallyturnedtheconversationintoamorepersonalchannel,andArchiedevotedhimselftobuildingcastlesintheairsosuccessfullythattheypassedthematerialmansionwithouteitherbeingawareofit。

"Willyoucomein？"askedPhebewhenthemistakewasrectifiedandshestoodonherownstepslookingdownatherescort,whohaddiscreetlyreleasedherbeforeapullatthebellcausedfiveheadstopopupatfivedifferentwindows。

"No,thanks。Ishallbeatchurchthisafternoon,andtheoratoriothisevening。Imustbeoffearlyinthemorning,soletmemakethemostofprecioustimeandcomehomewithyoutonightasIdidbefore,"answeredArchie,makinghisbestbow,andquitesureofconsent。

"Youmay。"AndPhebevanished,closingthedoorsoftly,asifshefoundithardtoshutoutsomuchloveandhappinessasthatintheheartofthesedateyounggentlemanwhowentbrisklydownthestreethummingaverseofold"Clyde"likeatunefulbassviol:"Oh,letourminglingvoicesriseIngratefulrapturetotheskies,Wherelovehashaditsbirth。

LetsongsofjoythisdaydeclareThatspiritscometheirblisstoshareWithallthesonsofearth。"ThatafternoonMissMooresangremarkablywell,andthateveningquiteelectrifiedevenherbestfriendsbytheskillandpowerwithwhichsherendered"Inflammatus"intheoratorio。

"Ifthatisnotgenius,Ishouldliketoknowwhatitis？"saidoneyoungmantoanotherastheywentoutjustbeforethegeneralcrushattheend。

"Somegeniusandagreatdealoflove。Theyareagrandteam,and,whenwelldriven,astonishtheworldbythetimetheymakeinthegreatrace,"

answeredthesecondyoungmanwiththelookofoneinclinedtotryhishandatdrivingthatimmortalspan。

"Daresayyouareright。Can"tstopnow­she"swaitingforme。Don"tsitup,Mac。"

"Thegodsgowithyou,Archie。"

Andthecousinsseparated­onetowritetillmidnight,theothertobidhisPhebegood—bye,littledreaminghowunexpectedlyandsuccessfullyshewastoearnherwelcomehome。Chapter20。Chapter20。20WHATMACDIDRose,meantime,wastryingtofindoutwhatthesentimentwaswithwhichsheregardedhercousinMac。Shecouldnotseemtoreconcilethecharactershehadknownsolongwiththenewonelatelyshownher,andtheideaoflovingthedroll,bookish,absentmindedMacofformertimesappearedquiteimpossibleandabsurd,butthenewMac,wideawake,fulloftalent,ardentandhigh—handed,wassuchasurprisetoher,shefeltasifherheartwasbeingwonbyastranger,anditbecamehertostudyhimwellbeforeyieldingtoacharmwhichshecouldnotdeny。

Affectioncamenaturally,andhadalwaysbeenstrongfortheboy;regardforthestudiousyoutheasilydeepenedtorespectfortheintegrityoftheyoungman,andnowsomethingwarmerwasgrowingupwithinher;butatfirstshecouldnotdecidewhetheritwasadmirationfortherapidunfoldingoftalentofsomesortorloveansweringtolove。

Asiftosettlethatpoint,MacsentheronNewYear"sDayalittlebookplainlyboundandmodestlyentitledSongsandSonnets。Afterreadingthiswithever—growingsurpriseanddelight,Roseneverhadanotherdoubtaboutthewriter"sbeingapoet,forthoughshewasnocritic,shehadreadthebestauthorsandknewwhatwasgood。Unpretentiousasitwas,thishadthetruering,anditsverysimplicityshowedconsciouspowerfor,unlikesomanyfirstattempts,thebookwasnotfullof"MyLady,"

neitherdiditindulgeinSwinburnianconvulsionsabout"Theliliesandlanguorsofpeace,Therosesandrapturesoflove。";orcontainanyofthehighlycoloredmedievalwordpicturessomuchinvogue。"Mybookshouldsmellofpines,andresoundwiththehumofinsects,"

mighthavebeenitsmotto,sosweetandwholesomewasitwithaspringlikesortoffreshnesswhichplainlybetrayedthattheauthorhadlearnedsomeofNature"sdeepestsecretsandpossessedtheskilltotellthemintunefulwords。Thesongswentringingthroughone"smemorylongaftertheywereread,andthesonnetswerefullofthesubtlebeauty,insight,andhalf—unconsciouswisdom,whichseemtoprovethat"geniusisdivinewhenyoung。"

Manyfaultsithad,butwassofullofpromisethatitwasevidentMachadnot"keptgoodcompany,readgoodbooks,lovedgoodthings,andcultivatedsoulandbodyasfaithfullyashecould"invain。Italltoldnow,fortruthandvirtuehadblossomedintocharacterandhadalanguageoftheirownmoreeloquentthanthepoetrytowhichtheywerewhatthefragranceistotheflower。WisercriticsthanRosefeltandadmiredthis;lesspartialonescouldnotdenytheirpraisetoafirsteffort,whichseemedasspontaneousandaspiringasalark"ssong;and,whenoneortwooftheseJupitershadgivenanodofapproval,Macfoundhimself,notexactlyfamous,butmuchtalkedabout。Onesetabused,theothersetpraised,andthelittlebookwassadlymauledamongthem,foritwastoooriginaltobeignored,andtoorobusttobekilledbyhardusage,soitcameoutofthefraynonetheworsebutratherbrighter,ifanything,forthefrictionwhichprovedthegoldgenuine。

Thistooktime,however,andRosecouldonlysitathomereadingallthenoticesshecouldget,aswellastheliterarygossipPhebesenther,forMacseldomwrote,andneverawordabouthimself,soPhebeskillfullyextractedfromhimintheiroccasionalmeetingsallthepersonalnewsherfemininewitcouldcollectandfaithfullyreportedit。