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　　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。