第11章

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。