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