\"Hesenttheflowers,hecameforme,and,onthewayhome,showedmehowwrongIhadbeentodoubthimforanhour。Don\'taskmetotellthatpart,butbesureIwasthehappiestcreatureintheworldthen。\"
AndPhebehidherfaceagain,allwetwithtendertearsthatfellsoftandsuddenasasummershower。
Roseletthemflowundisturbedwhileshesilentlycaressedthebenthead,wondering,withawistfullookinherownweteyes,whatthismysteriouspassionwaswhichcouldsomove,ennoble,andbeautifythebeingswhomitblessed。
AnimpertinentlittleclockuponthechimneypiecestrikingelevenbrokethesilenceandremindedPhebethatshecouldnotindulgeinlovedreamsthere。Shestartedup,brushedoffhertears,andsaidresolutely:\"Thatisenoughfortonight。Gohappilytobed,andleavethetroublesfortomorrow。\"
\"But,Phebe,Imustknowwhatyousaid,\"criedRose,likeachilddefraudedofhalfitsbedtimestory。
\"Isaid,\'No。\'\"
\"Ah！Butitwillchangeto\'yes\'byandby,I\'msureofthatsoI\'llletyougotodreamofhim。TheCampbellsareratherproudofbeingdescendantsofRoberttheBruce,buttheyhavecommonsenseandloveyoudearly,asyou\'llseetomorrow。\"
\"Perhaps,\"Andwithagoodnightkiss,poorPhebewentaway,tolieawaketilldawn。Chapter8。Chapter8。8BREAKERSAHEADAnxioustosmooththewayforPhebe,RosewasupbetimesandslippedintoAuntPlenty\'sroombeforetheoldladyhadgottenhercapon。
\"Aunty,I\'vesomethingpleasanttotellyou,andwhileyoulisten,I\'llbrushyourhair,asyouliketohaveme,\"shebegan,wellawarethattheproposedprocesswasaverysoothingone。
\"Yes,dearonlydon\'tbetooparticular,becauseI\'mlateandmusthurrydownorJanewon\'tgetthingsstraight,anditdoesfidgetmetohavethesaltcellarsuneven,theteastrainerforgotten,andyouruncle\'spapernotaired,\"returnedMissPlenty,brisklyunrollingthetwograycurlssheworeathertemples。
ThenRose,brushingawayatthescantybackhair,ledskillfullyuptothecrisisofhertalebydescribingPhebe\'spanicandbraveeffortstoconquerit;allabouttheflowersArchiesenther;andhowSteveforgot,anddear,thoughtfulArchietookhisplace。SofaritwentwellandAuntPlentywasfullofinterest,sympathy,andapprobation,butwhenRoseadded,asifitwasquiteamatterofcourse,\"So,onthewayhome,hetoldherhelovedher,\"agreatstarttwitchedthegraylocksoutofherhandsastheoldladyturnedaround,withthelittlecurlsstandingerect,exclaiming,inundisguiseddismay:\"Notseriously,Rose？\"
\"Yes,Aunty,veryseriously。Heneverjokesaboutsuchthings。\"
\"Mercyonus！Whatshallwedoaboutit？\"
\"Nothing,ma\'am,butbeasgladasweoughtandcongratulatehimassoonasshesays\'yes。\'\"
\"Doyoumeantosayshedidn\'tacceptatonce？\"
\"Sheneverwillifwedon\'twelcomeheraskindlyasifshebelongedtooneofourbestfamilies,andIdon\'tblameher。\"
\"I\'mgladthegirlhassomuchsense。Ofcoursewecan\'tdoanythingofthesort,andI\'msurprisedatArchie\'sforgettingwhatheowestothefamilyinthisrashmanner。Givememycap,childImustspeaktoAlecatonce。\"AndAuntPlentytwistedherhairintoabuttonatthebackofherheadwithoneenergetictwirl。
\"Dospeakkindly,Aunty,andrememberthatitwasnotPhebe\'sfault。
Sheneverthoughtofthistillverylatelyandbeganatoncetoprepareforgoingaway,\"saidRosepleadingly。
\"Sheoughttohavegonelongago。ItoldMyraweshouldhavetroublesomewhereassoonasIsawwhatagood—lookingcreatureshewas,andhereitisasbadascanbe。Dear,dear！Whycan\'tyoungpeoplehavealittleprudence？\"
\"Idon\'tseethatanyoneneedobjectifUncleJemandAuntJessieapprove,andIdothinkitwillbevery,veryunkindtoscoldpoorPhebeforbeingwell—bred,pretty,andgood,afterdoingallwecouldtomakeherso。\"
\"Child,youdon\'tunderstandthesethingsyet,butyououghttofeelyourdutytowardyourfamilyanddoallyoucantokeepthenameashonorableasitalwayshasbeen。WhatdoyousupposeourblessedancestressLadyMargetwouldsaytoouroldestboytakingawifefromthepoorhouse？\"
Asshespoke,MissPlentylookedup,almostapprehensively,atoneofthewooden—facedoldportraitswithwhichherroomwashung,asifaskingpardonofthesevere—nosedmatronwhostaredbackatherfromunderthesortofbluedishcoverwhichformedherheadgear。
\"AsLadyMargetdiedabouttwohundredyearsago,Idon\'tcareapinwhatshewouldsay,especiallyasshelookslikeaverynarrow—minded,haughtywoman。ButIdocareverymuchwhatMissPlentyCampbellsays,forsheisaverysensible,generous,discreet,anddearoldladywhowouldn\'thurtafly,muchlessagoodandfaithfulgirlwhohasbeenasistertome。Wouldshe？\"entreatedRose,knowingwellthattheelderauntledalltherestmoreorless。
ButMissPlentyhadhercaponnowandconsequentlyfeltherselftwicethewomanshewaswithoutit,soshenotonlygaveitasomewhatbelligerentairbysettingitwellup,butsheshookherheaddecidedly,smootheddownherstiffwhiteapron,andstoodupasifreadyforbattle。
\"Ishalldomyduty,Rose,andexpectthesameofothers。Don\'tsayanymorenowImustturnthematteroverinmymind,forithascomeuponmesuddenlyandneedsseriousconsideration。\"
Withwhichunusuallysolemnaddressshetookupherkeysandtrottedaway,leavingherniecetofollowwithananxiouscountenance,uncertainwhetherherchampionshiphaddonegoodorilltothecauseshehadatheart。
ShewasmuchcheeredbythesoundofPhebe\'svoiceinthestudy,forRosewassurethatifUncleAlecwasontheirsideallwouldbewell。Butthecloudsloweredagainwhentheycameintobreakfast,forPhebe\'sheavyeyesandpalecheeksdidnotlookencouraging,whileDr。AlecwasassoberasajudgeandsentaninquiringglancetowardRosenowandthenasifcurioustodiscoverhowsheborethenews。
Anuncomfortablemeal,thoughalltriedtoseemasusualandtalkedoverlastnight\'seventswithalltheinteresttheycould。Buttheoldpeacewasdisturbedbyaword,asapebblethrownintoaquietpoolsendstelltalecirclesripplingitssurfacefarandwide。AuntPlenty,while\"turningthesubjectoverinhermind,\"alsoseemedintentonupsettingeverythingshetouchedandmadesadhavocinherteatray;Dr。Alecunsociablyreadhispaper;Rose,havingsaltedinsteadofsugaredheroatmeal,absentlyateit,feelingthatthesweetnesshadgoneoutofeverything;andPhebe,afterchokingdownacupofteaandcrumblingaroll,excusedherselfandwentaway,sternlyresolvingnottobeaboneofcontentiontothisbelovedfamily。
AssoonasthedoorwasshutRosepushedawayherplateand,goingtoDr。Alec,shepeepedoverthepaperwithsuchananxiousfacethatheputitdownatonce。
\"Uncle,thisisaseriousmatter,andwemusttakeourstandatonce,foryouarePhebe\'sguardianandIamhersister,\"beganRosewithprettysolemnity。\"Youhaveoftenbeendisappointedinme,\"shecontinued,\"butIknowInevershallbeinyoubecauseyouaretoowiseandgoodtoletanyworldlyprideorprudencespoilyoursympathywithArchieandourPhebe。Youwon\'tdesertthem,willyou？\"
\"Never！\"answeredDr。Alecwithgratifyingenergy。
\"Thankyou！Thankyou！\"criedRose。\"Now,ifIhaveyouandAuntyonmyside,I\'mnotafraidofanybody。\"
\"Gently,gently,child。Idon\'tintendtodesertthelovers,butIcertainlyshalladvisethemtoconsiderwellwhattheyareabout。I\'llownIamratherdisappointed,becauseArchieisyoungtodecidehislifeinthiswayandPhebe\'scareerseemedsettledinanotherfashion。Oldpeopledon\'tliketohavetheirplansupset,youknow,\"headdedmorelightly,forRose\'sfacefellashewenton。
\"Oldpeopleshouldn\'tplantoomuchfortheyoungones,then。Weareverygrateful,I\'msure,butwecannotalwaysbedisposedofinthemostprudentandsensibleway,sodon\'tsetyourheartsonlittlearrangementsofthatsort,Ibeg,\"AndRoselookedwondrouswise,forshecouldnothelpsuspectingevenherbestuncleof\"plans\"inherbehalf。
\"Youarequiteright—weshouldn\'t,yetitisveryhardtohelpit,\"
confessedDr。Alecwithaconsciousair,and,returninghastilytothelovers,headdedkindly:\"IwasmuchpleasedwiththestraightforwardwayinwhichPhebecametomethismorningandtoldmeallaboutit,asifIreallywasherguardian。Shedidnotownitinwords,butitwasperfectlyevidentthatshelovesArchiewithallherheart,yet,knowingtheobjectionswhichwillbemade,verysensiblyandbravelyproposestogoawayatonceandendthematterasifthatwerepossible,poorchild。\"AndthetenderheartedmangaveasighofsympathythatdidRosegoodtohearandmollifiedherrisingindignationatthebareideaofendingPhebe\'sloveaffairsinsuchasummaryway。
\"Youdon\'tthinksheoughttogo,Ihope？\"
\"Ithinkshewillgo。\"
\"Wemustnotlether。\"
\"Wehavenorighttokeepher。\"
\"Oh,Uncle,surelywehave！OurPhebe,whomwealllovesomuch。\"
\"Youforgetthatsheisawomannow,andwehavenoclaimonher。Becausewe\'vebefriendedherforyearsistheveryreasonweshouldnotmakeourbenefitsaburden,butleaveherfree,andifshechoosestodothisinspiteofArchie,wemustletherwithaGodspeed。\"
BeforeRosecouldanswer,AuntPlentyspokeoutlikeonehavingauthority,forold—fashionedwaysweredeartohersoulandshethoughtevenloveaffairsshouldbeconductedwithaproperregardtothepowersthatbe。
\"Thefamilymusttalkthematteroveranddecidewhatisbestforthechildren,whoofcoursewilllistentoreasonanddonothingilladvised。
Formypart,Iamquiteupsetbythenews,butshallnotcommitmyselftillI\'veseenJessieandtheboy。Jane,clearaway,andbringmethehotwater。\"
Thatendedthemorningconference。And,leavingtheoldladytosoothehermindbypolishingspoonsandwashingcups,RosewentawaytofindPhebewhilethedoctorretiredtolaughoverthedownfallofbrotherMac\'smatchmakingschemes。
TheCampbellsdidnotgossipabouttheirconcernsinpublic,butbeingaveryunitedfamily,ithadlongbeenthecustomto\"talkover\"anyinterestingeventwhichoccurredtoanymemberthereof,andeveryonegavehisorheropinion,advice,orcensurewiththeutmostcandor。Thereforethefirstengagement,ifsuchitcouldbecalled,createdagreatsensation,amongtheauntsespecially,andtheywereinasmuchofaflutterasaflockofmaternalbirdswhentheiryoungbegintohopoutofthenest。Soatallhourstheexcellentladieswereseenexcitedlynoddingtheircapstogetherastheydiscussedtheaffairinallitsbearings,withouteverarrivingatanyunanimousdecision。
Theboystookitmuchmorecalmly。MacwastheonlyonewhocameoutstronglyinArchie\'sfavor。CharliethoughttheChiefoughttodobetterandcalledPhebe\"asirenwhohadbewitchedthesageyouth。\"Stevewasscandalizedanddeliveredlongorationsuponone\'sdutytosociety,keepingtheoldnameup,andthedangerofmésalliances,whileallthetimehesecretlysympathizedwithArchie,beingmuchsmittenwithKittyVanhimself。WillandGeordie,unfortunatelyhomefortheholidays,consideredit\"ajollylark,\"andlittleJamienearlydrovehiselderbrotherdistractedbycuriousinquiriesasto\"howfolksfeltwhentheywereinlove。\"
UncleMac\'sdismaywassocomicalthatitkeptDr。Alecingoodspirits,forhealoneknewhowdeepwasthedeludedman\'schagrinatthefailureofthelittleplotwhichhefanciedwasprosperingfinely。
\"I\'llneversetmyheartonanythingofthesortagain,andtheyoungrascalsmaymarrywhomtheylike。I\'mpreparedforanythingnow—soifStevebringshomethewasherwoman\'sdaughter,andMacrunsawaywithourprettychambermaid,Ishallsay,\'Blessyoumychildren,\'withmournfulresignation,for,uponmysoul,thatisallthat\'sleftforamodernparenttodo。\"
Withwhichtragicburst,poorUncleMacwashedhishandsofthewholeaffairandburiedhimselfinthecountinghousewhilethestormraged。
AboutthistimeArchiemighthaveechoedRose\'schildishwish,thatshehadnotquitesomanyaunts,forthetonguesofthoseinterestedrelativesmadesadhavocwithhislittleromanceandcausedhimtolongferventlyforadesertislandwherehecouldwooandwinhisloveindeliciouspeace。Thatnothingofthesortwaspossiblesoonbecameevident,sinceeverywordutteredonlyconfirmedPhebe\'sresolutiontogoawayandprovedtoRosehowmistakenshehadbeeninbelievingthatshecouldbringeveryonetoherwayofthinking。
Prejudicesareunmanageablethings,andthegoodaunts,likemostwomen,possessedaplentifulsupply,soRosefounditlikebeatingherheadagainstawalltotryandconvincethemthatArchiewaswiseinlovingpoorPhebe。
Hismother,whohadhopedtohaveRoseforherdaughternotbecauseofherfortune,butthetenderaffectionshefeltforherputawayherdisappointmentwithoutawordandwelcomedPhebeaskindlyasshecouldforherboy\'ssake。Butthegirlfeltthetruthwiththequicknessofanaturemadesensitivebyloveandclungtoherresolveallthemoretenaciously,thoughgratefulforthemotherlywordsthatwouldhavebeensosweetifgenuinehappinesshadpromptedthem。
AuntJanecalleditromanticnonsenseandadvisedstrongmeasures\"kind,butfirm,Jessie。\"AuntClarawassadlydistressedabout\"whatpeoplewouldsay\"ifoneof\"ourboys\"marriedanobody\'sdaughter。AndAuntMyranotonlysecondedherviewsbypaintingportraitsofPhebe\'sunknownrelationsinthedarkestcolorsbututtereddirefulpropheciesregardingthedisreputablebeingswhowouldstartupinswarmsthemomentthegirlmadeagoodmatch。
ThesesuggestionssowroughtuponAuntPlentythatsheturnedadeafeartothebenevolentemotionsnativetoherbreastand,takingrefugebehind\"ourblessedancestress,LadyMarget,\"refusedtosanctionanyengagementwhichcouldbringdiscredituponthestainlessnamewhichwasherpride。
Soitallendedwhereitbegan,forArchiesteadilyrefusedtolistentoanyonebutPhebe,andsheassteadilyreiteratedherbitter\"No！\"fortifyingherselfhalfunconsciouslywiththehopethat,byandby,whenshehadwonaname,fatemightbekinder。
Whiletheresttalked,shehadbeenworking,foreveryhourshowedherthatherinstincthadbeenatrueoneandpridewouldnotletherstay,thoughlovepleadedeloquently。So,afteraChristmasanythingbutmerry,Phebepackedhertrunks,richingiftsfromthosewhogenerouslygaveherallbuttheonethingshedesired,and,withapocketfulofletterstopeoplewhocouldfurtherherplans,shewentawaytoseekherfortune,withabravefaceandaveryheavyheart。
\"Writeoften,andletmeknowallyoudo,myPhebe,andrememberIshallneverbecontentedtillyoucomebackagain,\"whisperedRose,clingingtohertillthelast。
\"Shewillcomeback,forinayearI\'mgoingtobringherhome,pleaseGod,\"saidArchie,palewiththepainofpartingbutasresoluteasshe。
\"I\'llearnmywelcomethenperhapsitwillbeeasierforthemtogiveandmetoreceiveit,\"answeredPhebe,withabackwardglanceatthegroupofcapsinthehallasshewentdownthestepsonDr。Alec\'sarm。
\"Youearneditlongago,anditisalwayswaitingforyouwhileIamhere。Rememberthat,andGodblessyou,mygoodgirl,\"hesaid,withapaternalkissthatwarmedherheart。
\"Inevershallforgetit！\"AndPhebeneverdid。Chapter9。Chapter9。9NEWYEAR\'SCALLS\"NowI\'mgoingtoturnoveranewleaf,asIpromised。IwonderwhatI
shallfindonthenextpage？\"saidRose,comingdownonNewYear\'smorningwithaseriousfaceandathickletterinherhand。
\"Tiredoffrivolity,mydear？\"askedheruncle,pausinginhiswalkupanddownthehalltoglanceatherwithaquick,brightlookshelikedtobringintohiseyes。
\"No,sir,andthat\'sthesadpartofit,butI\'vemadeupmymindtostopwhileIcanbecauseI\'msureitisnotgoodforme。I\'vehadsomeverysoberthoughtslately,forsincemyPhebewentawayI\'vehadnoheartforgaiety,soitisagoodplacetostopandmakeafreshstart,\"answeredRose,takinghisarmandwalkingonwithhim。
\"Anexcellenttime！Now,howareyougoingtofilltheachingvoid？\"
heasked,wellpleased。
\"Bytryingtobeasunselfish,brave,andgoodassheis。\"AndRoseheldtheletteragainstherbosomwithatendertouch,forPhebe\'sstrengthhadinspiredherwithadesiretobeasself—reliant。\"I\'mgoingtosetaboutlivinginearnest,asshehas;thoughIthinkitwillbeharderformethanforher,becauseshestandsaloneandhasacareermarkedoutforher。I\'mnothingbutacommonplacesortofgirl,withnoendofrelationstobeconsultedeverytimeIwinkandadreadfulfortunehanginglikeamillstoneroundmynecktoweighmedownifItrytofly。Itisahardcase,Uncle,andIgetlowinmymindwhenIthinkaboutit,\"sighedRose,oppressedwithherblessings。
\"Afflictedchild！HowcanIrelieveyou？\"AndtherewasamusementaswellassympathyinDr。Alec\'sfaceashepattedthehanduponhisarm。
\"Pleasedon\'tlaugh,forIreallyamtryingtobegood。Inthefirstplace,helpmetoweanmyselffromfoolishpleasuresandshowmehowtooccupymythoughtsandtimesothatImaynotidleaboutanddreaminsteadofdoinggreatthings。\"
\"Good！We\'llbeginatonce。Cometotownwithmethismorningandseeyourhouses。Theyareallready,andMrs。Gardnerhashalfadozenpoorsoulswaitingtogoinassoonasyougivetheword,\"answeredthedoctorpromptly,gladtogethisgirlbackagain,thoughnotsurprisedthatshestilllookedwithregretfuleyesattheVanityFair,alwayssoenticingwhenweareyoung。
\"I\'llgiveittoday,andmakethenewyearahappyonetothosepoorsoulsatleast。I\'msosorrythatit\'simpossibleformetogowithyou,butyouknowImusthelpAuntyPlenreceive。Wehaven\'tbeenhereforsolongthatshehadsetherheartonhavingagrandtimetoday,andIparticularlywanttopleaseherbecauseIhavenotbeenasamiableasIoughtlately。
Ireallycouldn\'tforgiveherforsidingagainstPhebe。\"
\"Shedidwhatshethoughtwasright,sowemustnotblameher。IamgoingtomakemyNewYear\'scallstodayand,asmyfriendslivedownthatway,I\'llgetthelistofnamesfromMrs。G。andtellthepoorladies,withMissCampbell\'scompliments,thattheirnewhomeisready。ShallI？\"
\"Yes,Uncle,buttakeallthecredittoyourself,forInevershouldhavethoughtofitifyouhadnotproposedtheplan。\"
\"Blessyourheart！I\'monlyyouragent,andsuggestnowandthen。I\'venothingtoofferbutadvice,soIlavishthatonalloccasions。\"
\"Youhavenothingbecauseyou\'vegivenyoursubstanceallawayasgenerouslyasyoudoyouradvice。NevermindyoushallnevercometowantwhileIlive。I\'llsaveenoughforustwo,thoughIdomake\'ducksanddrakesofmyfortune。\'\"
Dr。AleclaughedatthetossoftheheadwithwhichshequotedCharlie\'soffensivewords,thenofferedtotaketheletter,saying,ashelookedathiswatch:\"I\'llpostthatforyouintimefortheearlymail。Ilikearunbeforebreakfast。\"
ButRoseheldherletterfast,dimplingwithsuddensmiles,halfmerryandhalfshy。
\"Nothankyou,sir。Archielikestodothat,andneverfailstocallforallIwrite。HegetsapeepatPhebe\'sinreturnandIcheerhimupabit,for,thoughhesaysnothing,hehasahardtimeofit,poorfellow。\"
\"Howmanylettersinfivedays？\"
\"Four,sir,tome。Shedoesn\'twritetohim,Uncle。\"
\"Asyet。Well,youshowhers,soit\'sallrightandyouareasetofsentimentalyoungsters。\"Andthedoctorwalkedaway,lookingasifheenjoyedthesentimentasmuchasanyofthem。
OldMissCampbellwasnearlyasgreatafavoriteasyoungMissCampbell,soasuccessionofblackcoatsandwhiteglovesflowedinandoutofthehospitablemansionprettysteadilyallday。Theclanwasoutingreatforce,andcamebyininstallmentstopaytheirdutytoAuntPlentyandwishthecomplimentsoftheseasonto\"ourcousin。\"Archieappearedfirst,lookingsadbutsteadfast,andwentawaywithPhebe\'sletterinhisleftbreastpocketfeelingthatlifewasstillendurable,thoughhislovewastornfromhim,forRosehadmanycomfortablethingstosayandreadhimdeliciousbitsfromthevoluminouscorrespondencelatelybegun。
HardlywashegonewhenWillandGeordiecamemarchingin,lookingasfineasgrayuniformswithmuchscarletpipingcouldmakethemandfeelingpeculiarlyimportant,asthiswastheirfirstessayinNewYear\'scall—making。
Briefwastheirstay,fortheyplannedtovisiteveryfriendtheyhad,andRosecouldnothelplaughingatthedrollmixtureofmanlydignityandboyishdelightwithwhichtheydroveoffintheirowncarriage,bothaserectasramrods,armsfolded,andcapsstuckatexactlythesameangleoneachblondhead。
\"HerecomestheothercoupleSteve,infullfeather,withabigbouquetforKitty,andpoorMac,lookinglikeagentlemanandfeelinglikeamartyr,I\'msure,\"saidRose,watchingonecarriageturninastheotherturnedoutofthegreatgate,withitsarchofholly,ivy,andevergreen。
\"Hereheis。I\'vegothimintowforthedayandwantyoutocheerhimupwithawordofpraise,forhecamewithoutastrugglethoughplanningtoboltsomewherewithUncle,\"criedSteve,fallingbacktodisplayhisbrother,whocameinlookingremarkablywellinhisstateandfestivalarray,forpolishinghadbeguntotell。
\"AhappyNewYear,Aunty,sametoyou,Cousin,andbestwishesforasmanymoreasyoudeserve,\"saidMac,heedingStevenomorethanifhehadbeenaflyashegavetheoldladyaheartykissandofferedRoseaquaintlittlenosegayofpansies。
\"Heart\'s—easedoyouthinkIneedit？\"sheasked,lookingupwithsuddensobriety。
\"Wealldo。CouldIgiveyouanythingbetteronadaylikethis？\"
\"Nothankyouverymuch。\"AndasuddendewcametoRose\'seyes,for,thoughoftenbluntinspeech,whenMacdiddoatenderthing,italwaystouchedherbecauseheseemedtounderstandhermoodssowell。
\"HasArchiebeenhere？Hesaidheshouldn\'tgoanywhereelse,butI
hopeyoutalkedthatnonsenseoutofhishead,\"saidSteve,settlinghistiebeforethemirror。
\"Yes,dear,hecamebutlookedsooutofspiritsIreallyfeltreproached。
Rosecheeredhimupalittle,butIdon\'tbelievehewillfeelequaltomakingcallsandIhopehewon\'t,forhisfacetellsthewholestorymuchtooplainly,\"answeredAuntyPlenty,rustlingaboutherbountifultableinherrichestblacksilkwithallheroldlaceon。
\"Oh,he\'llgetoveritinamonthortwo,andPhebewillsoonfindanotherlover,sodon\'tbeworriedabouthim,Aunty,\"saidSteve,withtheairofamanwhoknewallaboutthatsortofthing。
\"IfArchiedoesforget,Ishalldespisehim,andIknowPhebewon\'ttrytofindanotherlover,thoughshe\'llprobablyhavethemsheissosweetandgood！\"criedRoseindignantly,for,havingtakenthepairunderherprotection,shedefendedthemvaliantly。
\"Thenyou\'dhaveArchhopeagainsthopeandnevergiveup,wouldyou？\"
askedMac,puttingonhisglassestosurveythethinbootswhichwerehisespecialabomination。
\"Yes,Iwould,foraloverisnotworthhavingifhe\'snotinearnest！\"
\"Exactly。Soyou\'dlikethemtowaitandworkandkeeponlovingtilltheymadeyourelentorplainlyprovedthatitwasnouse。\"
\"Iftheyweregoodaswellasconstant,IthinkIshouldrelentintime。\"
\"I\'llmentionthattoPemberton,forheseemedtobehitthehardest,andarayofhopewilldohimgood,whetherheisequaltothetenyears\'
waitornot,\"putinSteve,wholikedtorallyRoseaboutherlovers。
\"I\'llneverforgiveyouifyousayawordtoanyone。ItisonlyMac\'soddwayofaskingquestions,andIoughtnottoanswerthem。YouwilltalkaboutsuchthingsandIcan\'tstopyou,butIdon\'tlikeit,\"saidRose,muchannoyed。
\"PoorlittlePenelope！SheshallnotbeteasedabouthersuitorsbutleftinpeacetillherUlyssescomeshome,\"saidMac,sittingdowntoreadthemottoesstickingoutofcertainfancifulbonbonsonthetable。
\"ItisthisfussaboutArchiewhichhasdemoralizedusall。Eventheowlwakedupandhasn\'tgotovertheexcitementyet,yousee。He\'shadnoexperience,poorfellow,sohedoesn\'tknowhowtobehave,\"observedSteve,regardinghisbouquetwithtenderinterest。
\"That\'strue,andIaskedforinformationbecauseImaybeinlovemyselfsomedayandallthiswillbeuseful,don\'tyousee？\"
\"Youinlove！\"AndStevecouldnotrestrainalaughattheideaofthebookwormaslavetothetenderpassion。
Quiteunruffled,Macleanedhischininbothhands,regardingthemwithameditativeeyeasheansweredinhiswhimsicalway:\"Whynot？Iintendtostudyloveaswellasmedicine,foritisoneofthemostmysteriousandremarkablediseasesthatafflictmankind,andthebestwaytounderstanditistohaveit。Imaycatchitsomeday,andthenIshouldliketoknowhowtotreatandcureit。\"
\"Ifyoutakeitasbadlyasyoudidmeaslesandwhoopingcough,itwillgohardwithyou,oldfellow,\"saidSteve,muchamusedwiththefancy。
\"Iwantitto。Nogreatexperiencecomesorgoeseasily,andthisisthegreatestwecanknow,Ibelieve,exceptdeath。\"
SomethinginMac\'squiettoneandthoughtfuleyesmadeRoselookathiminsurprise,forshehadneverheardhimspeakinthatwaybefore。
Stevealsostaredforaninstant,equallyamazed,thensaidbelowhisbreath,withanairofmockanxiety:\"He\'sbeencatchingsomethingatthehospital,typhoidprobably,andisbeginningtowander。I\'lltakehimquietlyawaybeforehegetsanywilder。Come,oldlunatic,wemustbeoff。\"
\"Don\'tbealarmed。I\'mallrightandmuchobligedforyouradvice,forIfancyIshallbeadesperateloverwhenmytimecomes,ifiteverdoes。
Youdon\'tthinkitimpossible,doyou？\"AndMacputthequestionsosoberlythattherewasageneralsmile。
\"Certainlynotyou\'llbearegularDouglas,tenderandtrue,\"answeredRose,wonderingwhatqueerquestionwouldcomenext。
\"Thankyou。Thefactis,I\'vebeenwithArchiesomuchinhistroublelatelythatI\'vegotteninterestedinthismatterandverynaturallywanttoinvestigatethesubjectaseveryrationalmanmust,soonerorlater,that\'sall。Now,Steve,I\'mready。\"AndMacgotupasifthelessonwasover。
\"Mydear,thatboyiseitherafooloragenius,andI\'msureIshouldbegladtoknowwhich,\"saidAuntPlenty,puttingherbonbonstorightswithapuzzledshakeofherbestcap。
\"Timewillshow,butIinclinetothinkthatheisnotafoolbyanymeans,\"answeredthegirl,pullingaclusterofwhiterosesoutofherbosomtomakeroomforthepansies,thoughtheydidnotsuitthebluegownhalfsowell。
JustthenAuntJessiecameintohelpthemreceive,withJamietomakehimselfgenerallyuseful,whichheproceededtodobyhoveringaroundthetablelikeaflyaboutahoneypotwhennotflatteninghisnoseagainstthewindowpanestoannounceexcitedly,\"Here\'sanothermancomingupthedrive！\"
Charliearrivednextinhismostsunshinyhumor,foranythingsocialandfestivewashisdelight,andwheninthismoodthePrincewasquiteirresistible。HebroughtaprettybraceletforRoseandwasgraciouslyallowedtoputitonwhileshechidhimgentlyforhisextravagance。
\"Iamonlyfollowingyourexample,foryouknow\'nothingistoogoodforthosewelove,andgivingawayisthebestthingonecando,\'\"heretorted,quotingwordsofherown。
\"Iwishyouwouldfollowmyexampleinsomeotherthingsaswellasyoudointhis,\"saidRosesoberlyasAuntPlentycalledhimtocomeandseeifthepunchwasright。
\"Mustconformtothecustomsofsociety。Aunty\'sheartwouldbebrokenifwedidnotdrinkherhealthinthegoodoldfashion。Butdon\'tbealarmedI\'veastrongheadofmyown,andthat\'slucky,forIshallneeditbeforeI
getthrough,\"laughedCharlie,showingalonglistasheturnedawaytogratifytheoldladywithallsortsofmerryandaffectionatecomplimentsastheglassestouched。
Rosedidfeelratheralarmed,forifhedrankthehealthofalltheownersofthosenames,shefeltsurethatCharliewouldneedaverystrongheadindeed。ItwashardtosayanythingthenandtherewithoutseemingdisrespecttoAuntPlenty,yetshelongedtoremindhercousinoftheexampleshetriedtosethiminthisrespect,forRosenevertouchedwine,andtheboysknewit。Shewasthoughtfullyturningthebracelet,withitsprettydeviceofturquoiseforget—me—nots,whenthegivercamebacktoher,stillbubblingoverwithgoodspirits。