Mac,meantime,withglassesastridehisnose,surveyedhisbrother\'sperformances\"onthelightfantastic\"verymuchasabenevolentNewfoundlandwouldthegambolsofatoyterrier,receivingwiththanksthehastyhintsforhisguidancewhichStevebreathedintohisearashepassedandforgettingallaboutthemthenextminute。WhennotthusengagedMacstoodaboutwithhisthumbsinhisvestpockets,regardingthelivelycrowdlikeameditativephilosopherofacheerfulaspect,oftensmilingtohimselfatsomewhimsicalfancyofhisown,knittinghisbrowsassomebitofill—naturedgossipmethisear,orstaringwithundisguisedadmirationasabeautifulfaceorfigurecaughthiseye。
\"Ihopethatgirlknowswhatatreasureshehasgot。ButIdoubtifsheeverfullyappreciatesit,\"saidMrs。Jane,bringingherspectaclestobearuponKittyasshewhiskedby,causingquiteagalewithherflyingskirts。
\"Ithinkshewill,forStevehasbeensowellbroughtup,shecannotbutseeandfeeltheworthofwhatshehasneverhad,andbeingsoyoungshewillprofitbyit,\"answeredMrs。Jessiesoftly,thinkingofthedayswhensheandherJemdancedtogether,justbetrothed。
\"I\'vedonemydutybyboththeboys,anddoneitthoroughly,ortheirfatherwouldhavespoiltthem,forhe\'snomoreideaofdisciplinethanachild。\"AndAuntJanegaveherownpalmasmartrapwithherclosedfan,emphasizingtheword\"thoroughly\"inamostsuggestivemanner。
\"I\'veoftenwishedIhadyourfirmness,Janebutafterall,I\'mnotsurethatIdon\'tlikemyownwaybest,atleastwithmyboys,forplentyoflove,andplentyofpatience,seemtohavesucceededprettywell。\"
AndAuntJessieliftedthenosegayfromherlap,feelingasifthatunfailingloveandpatiencewerealreadybloomingintoherlifeasbeautifullyasthesweet—breathedrosesgivenbyherboyrefreshedandbrightenedtheselonghoursofpatientwaitinginacorner。
\"Idon\'tdenythatyou\'vedonewell,Jessie,butyou\'vebeenletaloneandhadnoonetoholdyourhandorinterfere。IfmyMachadgonetoseaasyourJemdid,InevershouldhavebeenassevereasIam。Menaresoperverseandshortsighted,theydon\'ttroubleaboutthefutureaslongasthingsarequietandcomfortableinthepresent,\"continuedMrs。Jane,quiteforgettingthattheshortsightedpartnerofthefirm,physicallyspeakingatleast,washerself。
\"Ah,yes！Wemotherslovetoforeseeandforetellourchildren\'slivesevenbeforetheyareborn,andareveryapttobedisappointediftheydonotturnoutasweplanned。IknowIamyetIreallyhavenocausetocomplainandamlearningtoseethatallwecandoistogivethedearboysgoodprinciplesandthebesttrainingwemay,thenleavethemtofinishwhatwehavebegun。\"AndMrs。Jessie\'seyewanderedawaytoArchie,dancingwithRose,quiteunconsciouswhataprettylittlecastleintheairtumbleddownwhenhefellinlovewithPhebe。
\"Right,quiterightonthatpointweagreeexactly。Ihavesparednothingtogivemyboysgoodprinciplesandgoodhabits,andIamwillingtotrustthemanywhere。NinetimesdidIwhipmyStevetocurehimoffibbing,andoverandoveragaindidMacgowithouthisdinnerratherthanwashhishands。ButIwhippedandstarvedthembothintoobedience,andnowIhavemyreward,\"concludedthe\"sternparent\"withaproudwaveofthefan,whichlookedverylikeaferule,beingasbig,hard,anduncompromisingassuchanarticlecouldbe。
Mrs。Jessiegaveamildmurmurofassent,butcouldnothelpthinking,withasmile,thatinspiteoftheirearlytribulationsthesinsforwhichtheboyssufferedhadgottenalittlemixedintheirresult,forfibbingStevewasnowthetidyone,andcarelessMacthetruthteller。Butsuchsmallcontradictionswillhappeninthebest—regulatedfamilies,andallperplexedparentscandoistokeepupasteadfastpreachingandpracticinginthehopethatitwillbearfruitsometime,foraccordingtoanoldproverb,Childrenpickupwordsaspigeonspease,ToutterthemagainasGodshallplease。\"Ihopetheywon\'tdancethechildtodeathamongthem,foreachoneseemsboundtohavehisturn,evenyoursoberMac,\"saidMrs。JessieafewminuteslaterasshesawArchiehandRoseovertohiscousin,whocarriedheroffwithanairoftriumphfromseveralotherclaimants。
\"She\'sverygoodtohim,andherinfluenceisexcellent,forheisofanagenowwhenayoungwoman\'sopinionhasmoreweightthananoldone\'s。
Thoughheisalwaysgoodtohismother,andIfeelasifIshouldtakegreatcomfortinhim。He\'soneofthesortwhowillnotmarrytilllate,ifever,beingfondofbooksandaquietlife,\"respondedMrs。Jane,rememberinghowoftenhersonhadexpressedhisbeliefthatphilosophersshouldnotmarryandbroughtupPlatoasanexampleoftheserenewisdomtobeattainedonlybyasinglemanwhileherhusbandsidedwithSocrates,forwhomhefeltaprofoundsympathy,thoughhedidn\'tdaretoownit。
\"Well,Idon\'tknowaboutthat。SincemyArchiesurprisedmebylosinghisheartashedid,I\'mpreparedforanything,andadviseyoutodolikewise。
Ireallyshouldn\'twonderifMacdidsomethingremarkableinthatline,thoughheshowsnosignofityet,Iconfess,\"answeredMrs。Jessie,laughing。
\"Itwon\'tbeinthatdirection,youmaybesure,forherfateissealed。Dearme,howsaditistoseeasuperiorgirllikethatabouttothrowherselfawayonahandsomescapegrace。Iwon\'tmentionnames,butyouunderstandme。\"AndMrs。Janeshookherhead,asifshecouldmentionthenameofonesuperiorgirlwhohadthrownherselfawayandnowsawthefollyofit。
\"I\'mveryanxious,ofcourse,andsoisAlec,butitmaybethesavingofonepartyandthehappinessoftheother,forsomewomenlovetogivemorethantheyreceive,\"saidMrs。Jessie,privatelywondering,forthethousandthtime,whybrotherMacevermarriedthelearnedMissHumphries。
\"You\'llseethatitwon\'tprosper,andIshallalwaysmaintainthatawifecannotentirelyundoamother\'swork。RosewillhaveherhandsfullifshetriestosetallClara\'smistakesright,\"answeredAuntJanegrimly,thenbegantofanviolentlyastheirhostessapproachedtohaveadishofchatabout\"ourdearyoungpeople。\"
Rosewasinamerrymoodthatnight,andfoundMacquitereadyforfun,whichwasfortunate,sinceherfirstremarksetthemoffonadrollsubject。
\"Oh,Mac！AnnabelhasjustconfidedtomethatsheisengagedtoFunSee！ThinkofhergoingtohousekeepinginCantonsomedayandhavingtoorderrats,puppies,andbird\'s—nestsoupfordinner,\"whisperedRose,toomuchamusedtokeepthenewstoherself。
\"ByConfucius！Isn\'tthatasweetprospect？\"AndMacburstoutlaughing,tothegreatsurpriseofhisneighbors,whowonderedwhattherewasamusingabouttheChinesesage。\"Itisratheralarming,though,tohavetheseinfantsgoingonatthisrate。Seemstobecatching,anewsortofscarletfever,tojudgebyAnnabel\'scheeksandKitty\'sgown,\"headded,regardingtheaforesaidladieswitheyesstilltwinklingwithmerriment。
\"Don\'tbeungallant,butgoanddolikewise,foritisallthefashion。
IheardMrs。VantelloldMrs。Joythatitwasgoingtobeamarryingyear,soyou\'llbesuretocatchit,\"answeredRose,reefingherskirts,for,withallhistraining,Macstillfounditdifficulttokeephislonglegsoutoftheman—traps。
\"Itdoesn\'tlooklikeapainfuldisease,butImustbecareful,forI\'venotimetobeillnow。Whatarethesymptoms？\"askedMac,tryingtocombinebusinesswithpleasureandimprovehismindwhiledoinghisduty。
\"IfyouevercomebackI\'lltellyou,\"laughedRoseashedancedawayintothewrongcorner,bumpedsmartlyagainstanothergentleman,andreturnedassoberlyasifthatwastheproperfigure。
\"Well,tellme\'hownottodoit,\'\"hesaid,subsidingforamoment\'stalkwhenRosehadfloatedtoandfroinherturn。
\"Oh！Youseesomeyounggirlwhostrikesyouasparticularlycharmingwhethershereallyisornotdoesn\'tmatterabitandyoubegintothinkaboutheragreatdeal,towanttoseeher,andtogetgenerallysentimentalandabsurd,\"beganRose,findingitdifficulttogiveadiagnosisofthemostmysteriousdiseaseunderthesun。
\"Don\'tthinkitsoundsenticing。Can\'tIfindanantidotesomewhere,forifitisintheairthisyearI\'msuretogetit,anditmaybefatal,\"
saidMac,whofeltprettylivelyandlikedtomakeRosemerry,forhesuspectedthatshehadalittletroublefromahintDr。Alechadgivenhim。
\"Ihopeyouwillcatchit,becauseyou\'llbesofunny。\"
\"Willyoutakecareofmeasyoudidbefore,orhaveyougotyourhandsfull？\"
\"I\'llhelp,butreallywithArchieandSteveandCharlie,Ishallhaveenoughtodo。You\'dbettertakeitlightlythefirsttime,andsowon\'tneedmuchcare。\"
\"Verywell,howshallIbegin？Enlightenmyignoranceandstartmeright,Ibeg。\"
\"Goaboutandseepeople,makeyourselfagreeable,andnotsitincornersobservingotherpeopleasiftheywerepuppetsdancingforyouramusement。
IheardMrs。Vanoncesaythatpropinquityworkswonders,andsheoughttoknow,havingmarriedofftwodaughters,andjustengagedathirdto\'amostcharmingyoungman。\'\"
\"Goodlack！Thecuresoundsworsethanthedisease。Propinquity,hey？
Why,Imaybeindangerthisidenticalmomentandcan\'tfleeformylife,\"
saidMac,gentlycatchingherroundthewaistforageneralwaltz。
\"Don\'tbealarmed,butmindyoursteps,forCharlieislookingatus,andIwantyoutodoyourbest。That\'sperfecttakemequiteround,forIlovetowaltzandseldomgetagoodturnexceptwithyouboys,\"saidRose,smilingupathimapprovinglyashisstrongarmguidedheramongtherevolvingcouplesandhisfeetkepttimewithoutafault。
\"Thiscertainlyisagreatimprovementonthechairbusiness,towhichIhavedevotedmyselfwithsuchenergythatI\'vebrokenthebacksoftwopartnersanddislocatedthearmoftheoldrocker。Itookanoccasionalturnwiththatheavyparty,thinkingitgoodpracticeincaseIeverhappentodancewithstoutladies。\"AndMacnoddedtowardAnnabel,poundinggailywithMr。Tokio,whoseyellowcountenancebeamedashisbeadyeyesrestedonhisplumpfiancée。
PausinginthemidstofhermerrimentattheimageofMacandtheoldrockingchair,Rosesaidreprovingly,\"ThoughaheathenChinee,Funputsyoutoshame,forhedidnotaskfoolishquestionsbutwenta—wooinglikeasensiblelittleman,andI\'venodoubtAnnabelwillbeveryhappy。\"
\"ChoosemeasuitabledivinityandIwilltrytoadore。CanIdomorethanthattoretrievemycharacter？\"answeredMac,safelylandinghispartnerandplyingthefanaccordingtoinstructions。
\"HowwouldEmmado？\"inquiredRose,whosesenseoftheludicrouswasstrongandwhocouldnotresistthetemptationofhorrifyingMacbythesuggestion。
\"Never！Itsetsmyteethonedgetolookathertonight。Isupposethatdressis\'asweetthingjustout,\'butuponmywordsheremindsmeofnothingbutaHarlequinice,\"andMacturnedhisbackonherwithashudder,forhewassensitivetodiscordsofallkinds。
\"Shecertainlydoes,andthatmixtureofchocolate,peagreen,andpinkissimplydetestable,thoughmanypeoplewouldconsideritdecidedly\'chic,\'
touseherfavoriteword。IsupposeyouwilldressyourwifelikeaSpartanmatronofthetimeofLycurgus,\"addedRose,muchtickledbyhisnewconceit。
\"I\'llwaittillIgetherbeforeIdecide。ButonethingI\'msureofsheshallnotdresslikeaGreekdancerofthetimeofPericles,\"answeredMac,regardingwithgreatdisfavorayoungladywho,havingastatuesquefigure,affecteddraperyofthescantyandclingingdescription。
\"Thenitisofnousetosuggestthatclassiccreature,soasyourejectmyfirstattempts,Iwon\'tgoonbutlookaboutmequietly,andyouhadbetterdothesame。Seriously,Mac,moregaietyandlessstudywoulddoyougood,foryouwillgrowoldbeforeyourtimeifyoushutyourselfupandporeoverbookssomuch。\"
\"Idon\'tbelievethereisayoungerorajollier—feelingfellowintheroomthanIam,thoughImaynotconductmyselflikeadancingdervish。
ButIownyoumayberightaboutthebooks,fortherearemanysortsofintemperance,andalibraryisasirresistibletomeasabarroomtoatoper。Ishallhavetosignapledgeandcorkuptheonlybottlethattemptsmemyink—stand。\"
\"I\'lltellyouhowtomakeiteasiertoabstain。Stopstudyingandwriteanovelintowhichyoucanputallyourwisethings,andsoclearyourbrainsforanewstartbyandby。DoIshouldsoliketoreadit,\"
criedRose,delightedwiththeproject,forshewassureMaccoulddoanythinghelikedinthatline。
\"Firstlive,thenwrite。HowcanIgotoromancingtillIknowwhatromancemeans？\"heaskedsoberly,feelingthatsofarhehadhadverylittleinhislife。
\"Thenyoumustfindout,andnothingwillhelpyoumorethantolovesomeoneverymuch。DoasI\'veadvisedandbeamodernDiogenesgoingaboutwithspectaclesinsteadofalanterninsearch,notofanhonestman,butaperfectwoman。Idohopeyouwillbesuccessful。\"AndRosemadehercurtseyasthedanceended。
\"Idon\'texpectperfection,butIshouldlikeoneasgoodastheyevermakethemnowadays。Ifyouarelookingforthehonestman,I
wishyousuccessinreturn,\"saidMac,relinquishingherfanwithaglanceofsuchsympatheticsignificancethataquickflushoffeelingrosetothegirl\'sfaceassheansweredverylow,\"IfhonestywasallIwanted,Icertainlyhavefounditinyou。\"
ThenshewentawaywithCharlie,whowaswaitingforhisturn,andMacroamedabout,wonderingifanywhereinallthatcrowdhisfuturewifewashidden,sayingtohimself,asheglancedfromfacetoface,quiteunresponsivetothevariousallurementsdisplayed,\"WhatcareIhowfairshebe,Ifshebenotfairforme？\"Justbeforesupperseveralyoungladiesmetinthedressingroomtorepairdamagesand,beingfriends,theyfellintodiscourseastheysmoothedtheirlocksandhadtheirtatteredfurbelowssewedorpinnedupbytheneat—handedPhillis—in—waiting。
Wheneachhadaskedtheother,\"HowdoIlooktonight,dear？\"andbeenansweredwithreciprocalenthusiasm,\"Perfectlylovely,darling！\"KittysaidtoRose,whowashelpinghertorestoreorderoutofthechaostowhichmuchexercisehadreducedhercurls:\"Bytheway,youngRandalisdyingtobepresentedtoyou。MayIaftersupper？\"
\"No,thankyou,\"answeredRoseverydecidedly。
\"Well,I\'msureIdon\'tseewhynot,\"beganKitty,lookingdispleasedbutnotsurprised。
\"Ithinkyoudo,elsewhydidn\'tyoupresenthimwhenheasked？Youseldomstoptothinkofetiquettewhydidyounow？\"
\"Ididn\'tliketodoittillIhadyouaresoparticularIthoughtyou\'dsay\'no,\'butIcouldn\'ttellhimso,\"stammeredKitty,feelingthatshehadbetterhavesettledthematterherself,forRosewasveryparticularandhadespecialreasontodislikethispersonbecausehewasnotonlyadissipatedyoungreprobatehimselfbutseemedpossessedofSatantoleadothersastraylikewise。
\"Idon\'twishtoberude,dear,butIreallymustdecline,forIcannotknowsuchpeople,eventhoughImeetthemhere,\"saidRose,rememberingCharlie\'srevelationsonNewYear\'snightandhardeningherheartagainstthemanwhohadbeenhisundoingonthataswellasonotheroccasions,shehadreasontobelieve。
\"Icouldn\'thelpit！OldMr。RandalandPapaarefriends,andthoughIspokeofit,brotherAlfwouldn\'thearofpassingthatbadboyover,\"
explainedKittyeagerly。
\"YetAlfforbadeyoudrivingorskatingwithhim,forheknowsbetterthanwehowunfitheistocomeamongus。\"
\"I\'ddrophimtomorrowifIcould,butImustbecivilinmyownhouse。
Hismotherbroughthim,andhewon\'tdaretobehavehereashedoesattheirbachelorparties。\"
\"Sheoughtnottohavebroughthimtillhehadshownsomedesiretomendhisways。Itisnoneofmybusiness,Iknow,butIdowishpeoplewouldn\'tbesoinconsistent,lettingboysgotodestructionandthenexpectingusgirlstoreceivethemlikedecentpeople。\"Rosespokeinanenergeticwhisper,butAnnabelheardherandexclaimed,assheturnedroundwithapowderpuffinherhand:\"Mygoodness,Rose！Whatisallthataboutgoingtodestruction？\"
\"Sheisbeingstrong—minded,andIdon\'tverymuchblameherinthiscase。Butitleavesmeinadreadfulscrape,\"saidKitty,supportingherspiritswithasniffofaromaticvinegar。
\"Iappealtoyou,sinceyouheardme,andthere\'snooneherebutourselvesdoyouconsideryoungRandalanicepersontoknow？\"AndRoseturnedtoAnnabelandEmmawithananxiouseye,forshedidnotfinditeasytoabidebyherprincipleswhensodoingannoyedfriends。
\"No,indeed,he\'sperfectlyhorrid！PapasaysheandGorhamarethewildestyoungmenheknows,andenoughtospoilthewholeset。I\'msogladI\'vegotnobrothers,\"respondedAnnabel,placidlypowderingherpinkarms,quiteundeterredbythememoryofsundrywhitestreaksleftonsundrycoatsleeves。
\"Ithinkthatsortofscrupulousnessisveryill—bred,ifyou\'llexcusemysayingso,Rose。Wearenotsupposedtoknowanythingaboutfastness,andwildness,andsoon,buttotreateverymanalikeandnotbefussyandprudish,\"saidEmma,settlinghermany—coloredstreamerswiththesuperiorairofawomanoftheworld,agedtwenty。
\"Ah！Butwedoknow,andifoursilenceandcivilityhavenoeffect,weoughttotrysomethingelseandnotencouragewickednessofanykind。
Weneedn\'tscoldandpreach,butwecanrefusetoknowsuchpeopleandthatwilldosomegood,fortheydon\'tliketobeshunnedandshutoutfromrespectablesociety。UncleAlectoldmenottoknowthatman,andIwon\'t。\"Rosespokewithunusualwarmth,forgettingthatshecouldnottelltherealreasonforherstrongprejudiceagainst\"thatman。\"
\"Well,Iknowhim。Ithinkhimveryjolly,andI\'mengagedtodancetheGermanwithhimaftersupper。HeleadsquiteaswellasyourcousinCharlieandisquiteasfascinating,somepeoplethink,\"returnedEmma,tossingherheaddisdainfully,forPrinceCharmingdidnotworshipathershrineanditpiquedhervanity。
Inspiteofherquandary,RosecouldnothelpsmilingassherecalledMac\'scomparison,forEmmaturnedsoredwithspitefulchagrin,sheseemedtohaveaddedstrawberryicetotheothervarietiescomposingtheHarlequin。
\"Eachmustjudgeforherself。IshallfollowAuntJessie\'sadviceandtrytokeepmyatmosphereaspureasIcan,forshesayseverywomanhasherownlittlecircleandinitcanuseherinfluenceforgood,ifshewill。Idowillheartily,andI\'llprovethatI\'mneitherproudnorfussybyreceiving,hereorathome,anyrespectablemanyouliketopresenttome,nomatterhowpoororplainorinsignificanthemaybe。\"
WithwhichdeclarationRoseendedherprotest,andthefourdamselsstreameddownstairstogetherlikeawanderingrainbow。ButKittylaidtoheartwhatshehadsaid;Annabeltookcreditherselfforsidingwithher;
andEmmaownedthatshewasnottryingtokeepheratmospherepurewhenshecametodancewiththeobjectionableRandal。SoRose\'s\"littlecircle\"wasthebetterfortheinfluenceshetriedtoexert,althoughsheneverknewit。
AtsuppertimeCharliekeptnearher,andshewasquitecontentwithhim,forhedrankonlycoffee,andshesawhimshakehisheadwithafrownwhenyoungVanbeckonedhimtowardananteroom,fromwhencethesoundofpoppingcorkshadissuedwithincreasingfrequencyastheeveningworeon。
\"Dearfellow,hedoestry,\"thoughtRose,longingtoshowhowsheadmiredhisself—denial,butshecouldonlysay,astheyleftthesupperroomwiththeaunts,whoweregoingearly:\"IfIhadnotpromisedUncletogethomeassoonaftermidnightaspossible,I\'dstayanddancetheGermanwithyou,foryoudeservearewardtonight。\"
\"Athousandthanks,butIamgoingwhenyoudo,\"answeredCharlie,understandingbothherlookandwordsandverygratefulforthem。
\"Really？\"criedRose,delighted。
\"Really。I\'llbeinthehallwhenyoucomedown。\"AndCharliethoughttheFraAngelicoangelwasnothalfsobrightandbeautifulastheonewholookedbackathimoutofapalebluecloudasRosewentupstairsasifonwings。
WhenshecamedownagainCharliewasnotinthehall,however,and,afterwaitingafewminutes,Macofferedtogoandfindhim,forAuntJanewasstillhuntingalostrubberabove。
\"PleasesayI\'mready,butheneedn\'tcomeifhedoesn\'twantto,\"saidRose,notwishingtodemandtoomuchofherpromisingpenitent。
\"Ifhehasgoneintothatbarroom,I\'llhavehimout,nomatterwhoisthere！\"growledMactohimselfashemadehiswaytothesmallapartmentwhitherthegentlemenretiredforalittleprivaterefreshmentwhenthespiritmoved,asitoftendid。
Thedoorwasajar,andCharlieseemedtohavejustentered,forMacheardafamiliarvoicecalloutinajovialtone:\"Come,Prince！You\'rejustintimetohelpusdrinkSteve\'shealthwithallthehonors。\"
\"Can\'tstop,onlyranintosaygoodnight,Van。Hadacapitaltime,butI\'mondutyandmustgo。\"
\"That\'sanewdodge。Takeastirrupcupanyway,andcomebackintimeforamerry—go—rounderwhenyou\'vedisposedoftheladies,\"answeredtheyounghost,divingintothewinecoolerforanotherbottle。
\"Charlie\'sgoinginforsanctity,anditdoesn\'tseemtoagreewithhim,\"laughedoneofthetwootheryoungmenwhooccupiedseveralchairsapiece,restingtheirsolesineverysenseoftheword。
\"Apronstringsarecomingintofashionthebluerthebetterhey,Prince？\"addedtheother,tryingtobewitty,withtheusualsuccess。
\"You\'dbettergohomeearlyyourself,Barrow,orthattongueofyourswillgetyouintotrouble,\"retortedCharlie,consciousthatheoughttotakehisownadvice,yetlingering,nervouslyputtingonhisgloveswhiletheglasseswerebeingfilled。
\"Now,brother—in—law,fireaway！Hereyouare,Prince。\"AndStevehandedaglassacrossthetabletohiscousin,feelingtoomuchelatedwithvariouspleasurableemotionstothinkwhathewasdoing,fortheboysallknewCharlie\'sweaknessandusuallytriedtodefendhimfromit。
Beforetheglasscouldbetaken,however,Macenteredinagreathurry,deliveringhismessageinanabbreviatedandratherperemptoryform:\"Roseiswaitingforyou。Hurryup！\"
\"Allright。Goodnight,oldfellows！\"AndCharliewasoff,asifthenamehadpowertostophimintheveryactofbreakingthepromisemadetohimself。
\"Come,Solon,takeasocialdrop,andgiveusanepithalamiuminyourbestGreek。Here\'stoyou！\"AndStevewasliftingthewinetohisownlipswhenMacknockedtheglassoutofhishandwithaflashoftheeyethatcausedhisbrothertostareathimwithhismouthopeninanimbecilesortofway,whichseemedtoexciteMacstillmore,for,turningtohisyounghost,hesaid,inalowvoice,andwithalookthatmadethegentlemenonthechairssitupsuddenly:\"Ibegpardon,Van,formakingamess,butIcan\'tstandbyandseemyownbrothertemptanothermanbeyondhisstrengthormakeabruteofhimself。That\'splainEnglish,butIcan\'thelpspeakingout,forIknownotoneofyouwouldwillinglyhurtCharlie,andyouwillifyoudon\'tlethimalone。\"
\"Whatdoyoupitchintomefor？I\'vedonenothing。Afellowmustbecivilinhisownhouse,mustn\'the？\"askedVangood—humoredlyashefacedabout,corkscrewinhand。
\"Yes,butitisnotciviltourgeorjokeaguestintodoingwhatyouknowandheknowsisbadforhim。That\'sonlyaglassofwinetoyou,butitisperditiontoCharlie,andifSteveknewwhathewasabout,he\'dcuthisrighthandoffbeforehe\'dofferit。\"
\"DoyoumeantosayI\'mtipsy？\"demandedSteve,rufflinguplikealittlegamecock,forthoughhesawnowwhathehaddoneandwasashamedofit,hehatedtohaveMacairhispeculiarnotionsbeforeotherpeople。
\"Withexcitement,notchampagne,Ihope,forIwouldn\'townyouifyouwere,\"answeredMac,inwhomindignationwaseffervescinglikethewineintheforgottenbottle,forthemenwereallyoung,friendsofSteve\'sandadmirersofCharlie\'s。\"Lookhere,boys,\"hewentonmorequietly,\"IknowIoughtnottoexplodeinthisviolentsortofway,butuponmylifeIcouldn\'thelpitwhenIheardwhatyouweresayingandsawwhatStevewasdoing。SinceIhavebegun,ImayaswellfinishandtellyoustraightoutthatPrincecan\'tstandthissortofthing。Heistryingtofleetemptation,andwhoeverleadshimintoitdoesacowardlyandsinfulact,forthelossofone\'sownself—respectisbadenough,withoutlosingthemorepreciousthingsthatmakelifeworthhaving。Don\'ttellhimI\'vesaidthis,butlendahandifyoucan,andneverhavetoreproachyourselveswiththeknowledgethatyouhelpedtoruinafellowcreature,soulandbody。\"
ItwaswellforthesuccessofMac\'sfirstcrusadethathishearersweregentlemenandsober,sohisoutburstwasnotreceivedwithjeersorlaughterbutlistenedtoinsilence,whiletheexpressionofthefaceschangedfromoneofsurprisetoregretandrespect,forearnestnessisalwayseffectiveandchampionshipofthissortseldomfailstotouchheartsasyetunspoiled。Ashepausedwithaneloquentlittlequiverinhiseagervoice,Vancorkedthebottleatablow,threwdownthecorkscrew,andofferedMachishand,sayingheartily,inspiteofhisslang:\"Youareafirst—classoldbrick！I\'lllendahandforone,anddomybesttobackupCharlie,forhe\'sthefinestfellowIknow,andshan\'tgotothedevillikepoorRandalifIcanhelpit。\"
Murmursofapplausefromtheothersseemedtoexpressageneralassenttothisvigorousstatement,and,givingthehandagratefulshake,Macretreatedtothedoor,anxioustobeoffnowthathehadfreedhismindwithsuchunusualimpetuosity。
\"CountonmeforanythingIcandoinreturnforthis,Van。I\'msorrytobesuchamarplot,butyoucantakeitoutinquizzingmeafterI\'mgone。I\'mfairgame,andStevecansetyougoing。\"
Withthat,Macdepartedasabruptlyashehadcome,feelingthathehad\"madeamess\"ofit,butcomfortinghimselfwiththethoughtthatperhapshehadsecuredhelpforCharlieathisownexpenseandthinkingwithadrollsmileashewentbacktohismother:\"Myromancebeginsbylookingafterothergirls\'loversinsteadoffindingasweetheartformyself,butIcan\'ttellRose,soshewon\'tlaughatme。\"Chapter13。Chapter13。13BOTHSIDESSteve\'sengagementmadeagreatstirinthefamilyapleasantonethistime,fornobodyobjected,everythingseemedfelicitous,andthecourseoftrueloveranverysmoothlyfortheyoungcouple,whopromisedtoremovetheonlyobstacletotheirunionbygrowingoldandwiseassoonaspossible。
Ifhehadnotbeensogenuinelyhappy,thelittlelover\'sairswouldhavebeenunbearable,forhepatronizedallmankindingeneral,hisbrotherandeldercousinsinparticular。
\"Now,thatisthewaytomanagematters,\"hedeclared,standingbeforethefireinAuntClara\'sbilliardroomadayortwoaftertheball,withhishandsbehindhisback。\"Nononsense,nodelay,nodomesticrowsortragicseparations。Justchoosewithtasteandjudgment,makeyourselfagreeablethroughthickandthin,andwhenitisperfectlyevidentthatthedearcreatureadoresthegroundyouwalkon,saythewordlikeaman,andthereyouare。\"
\"AllveryeasytodothatwithagirllikeKitty,whohasnoconfoundednotionstospoilherandtripyouupeverytimeyoudon\'texactlytoethemark,\"mutteredCharlie,knockingtheballsaboutasifitwerearelieftohitsomething,forhewasinagloriouslybadhumorthatevening,becausetimehungheavyonhishandssincehehadforswornthecompanyhecouldnotkeepwithoutdangertohimself。
\"Youshouldhumorthoselittlenotions,forallwomenhavethem,anditneedstacttosteerclearofthem。Kitty\'sgotdozens,butItreatthemwithrespect,havemyownwaywhenIcan,giveinwithoutgrowlingwhenIcan\'t,andwegetonlikeacoupleof\"
\"Spoons,\"putinCharlie,whofeltthathehadnotsteeredclearandsosufferedshipwreckinsightofland。
Stevemeanttohavesaid\"doves,\"buthiscousin\'slevitycausedhimtoaddwithcalmdignity,\"reasonablebeings,\"andthenrevengedhimselfbymakingagoodshotwhichwonhimthegame。
\"Youalwayswerealuckylittledog,Steve。Idon\'tbegrudgeyouaparticleofyourhappiness,butitdoesseemasifthingsweren\'tquitefairsometimes,\"
saidArchie,suppressinganenvioussigh,for,thoughheseldomcomplained,itwasimpossibletocontrasthisownandhiscousin\'sprospectswithperfectequanimity。\"HisworthshinesforththebrightestwhoinhopeAlwaysconfides:theAbjectsouldespairs,\"observedMac,quotingEuripidesinaconversationaltoneashelayuponadivanreposingafterahardday\'swork。
\"Thankyou,\"saidArchie,brighteningalittle,forahopefulwordfromanysourcewasverycomfortable。
\"That\'syourfavoriteRip,isn\'tit？Hewasawiseoldboy,butyoucouldfindadviceasgoodasthatnearerhome,\"putinSteve,whojustthenfeltequaltoslappingPlatoontheshoulder,soelatedwasheatbeingengaged\"firstofallthelot,\"ashegracefullyexpressedit。
\"Don\'thallootillyouareoutofthewood,DandyMrs。Kithasjiltedtwomen,andmayathird,soyou\'dbetternotbragofyourwisdomtoosoon,forshemaymakeafoolofyouyet,\"saidCharlie,cynically,hisviewsoflifebeingverygloomyaboutthistime。
\"No,shewon\'t,Steve,ifyoudoyourparthonestly。There\'sthemakingofagoodlittlewomaninKitty,andshehasproveditbytakingyouinsteadofthoseotherfellows。YouarenotaSolomon,butyou\'renotspoiltyet,andshehadthesensetoseeit,\"saidMacencouraginglyfromhiscorner,forheandhisbrotherwerebetterfriendsthanevensincethelittlesceneattheVanTassels\'。
\"Hear！Hear！\"criedSteve,lookingmorethaneverlikeacheerfulyoungcockereltryingtocrowashestooduponthehearthrugwithhishandsunderhiscoattails,risingandfallingalternatelyuponthetoesandheelsofhisneatlittleboots。