第12章

"Come,you\'vegiventhemeachapatonthehead­haven\'tyougotoneforme？Ineeditenough,forifevertherewasapoordevilbornunderanevilstar,itisC。C。Campbell,"exclaimedCharlie,leaninghischinonhiscuewithadiscontentedexpressionofcountenance,fortryingtobegoodisoftenveryhardworktillonegetsusedtoit。

"Oh,yes！Icanaccommodateyou。"And,asifhiswordssuggestedtheselection,Mac,stilllyingflatuponhisback,repeatedoneofhisfavoritebitsfromBeaumontandFletcher,forhehadawonderfulmemoryandcouldreeloffpoetrybythehourtogether。"Manishisownstar;andthesoulthatcanRenderanhonestandaperfectmanCommandsalllight,allinfluence,allfate。

Nothingtohimfallsearlyortoolate。

Ouractsourangelsare;orgoodorill,Ourfatalshadowsthatwalkbyusstill。""Confoundedlybadangelstheyaretoo,"mutteredCharlieruefully,rememberingtheonethatundidhim。

HiscousinsneverknewexactlywhatoccurredonNewYear\'snight,butsuspectedthatsomethingwasamiss,forCharliehadtheblues,andRose,thoughaskindasever,expressednosurpriseathislongabsences。Theyhadallobservedandwonderedatthisstateofthings,yetdiscreetlymadenoremarktillSteve,whowasasinquisitiveasamagpie,seizedthisopportunitytosayinafriendlytone,whichshowedthatheborenomaliceforthedarkprophecyregardinghisKitty\'sfaithfulness:"What\'sthetrouble,Prince？Youaresoseldominabadhumorthatwedon\'tknowwhattomakeofitandallfeeloutofspiritswhenyouhavetheblues。HadatiffwithRose？"

"Neveryoumind,littleboy,butthisIwillsay­thebetterwomenare,themoreunreasonabletheyare。Theydon\'trequireustobesaintslikethemselves,whichislucky,buttheydoexpectustorenderan\'honestandaperfectman\'sometimes,andthatisaskingrathertoomuchinafallenworldlikethis,"saidCharlie,gladtogetalittlesympathy,thoughhehadnointentionofconfessinghistransgressions。

"No,itisn\'t,"saidMac,decidedly。

"Muchyouknowaboutit,"beganCharlie,illpleasedtobesoflatlycontradicted。

"Well,Iknowthismuch,"addedMac,suddenlysittingupwithhishairinahighlydisheveledcondition。"Itisveryunreasonableinustoaskwomentobesaintsandthenexpectthemtofeelhonoredwhenweofferthemourdamagedheartsor,atbest,onenothalfasgoodastheirs。Iftheyweren\'tblindedbylove,they\'dseewhatameanadvantagewetakeofthemandnotmakesuchbadbargains。"

"Uponmyword,thephilosopheriscomingoutstronguponthesubject！

Weshallhavehimpreaching\'Women\'sRights\'directly,"saidSteve,muchamazedatthisoutburst。

"I\'vebegun,yousee,andmuchgoodmayitdoyou,"answeredMac,layinghimselfplacidlydownagain。

"Well,butlookhere,man­youarearguingonthewrongside,"putinArchie,quiteagreeingwithhim,butfeelingthathemuststandbyhisorderatallcosts。

"Nevermindsides,upholdtherightwhereveryoufindit。Youneedn\'tstare,Steve­ItoldyouIwasgoingtolookintothismatter,andI

am。YouthinkI\'mwrappedupinbooks,butIseeagreatdealmoreofwhatisgoingonaroundmethanyouimagine,andI\'mgettingoninthisnewbranch,letmetellyou,quiteasfastasisgoodforme,Idaresay。"

"Goinginforperfection,areyou？"askedCharlie,bothamusedandinterested,forherespectedMacmorethanheownedeventohimself,andthoughhehadneveralludedtothetimelywarning,neitherforgot。

"Yes,Ithinkofit。"

"Howwillyoubegin？"

"Domybestall—round­keepgoodcompany,readgoodbooks,lovegoodthings,andcultivatesoulandbodyasfaithfullyandwiselyasIcan。"

"Andyouexpecttosucceed,doyou？"

"PleaseGod,Iwill。"

ThequietenergyofMac\'slastwordsproducedamomentarysilence。Charliethoughtfullystudiedthecarpet;Archie,whohadbeenabsentlypokingthefire,lookedoveratMacasifhethankedhimagain,andSteve,forgettinghisself—conceit,begantowonderifitwasnotpossibletoimprovehimselfalittleforKitty\'ssake。Onlyaminute,foryoungmendonotgivemuchtimetothoughtsofthiskind,evenwhenlovestirsupthenoblestimpulseswithinthem。Toactratherthantotalkismorenaturaltomostofthem,asCharlie\'snextquestionshowed,for,havingthemattermuchatheart,heventuredtoaskinanoffhandwayashelaughedandtwirledhiscue:

"Doyouintendtoreachthehighestpointofperfectionbeforeyouaddressoneofthefairsaints,orshallyouaskhertolendahandsomewhereshortofthat？"

"AsittakesalonglifetimetodowhatIplan,IthinkIshallasksomegoodwoman\'tolendahand\'whenI\'vegotanythingworthofferingher。Notasaint,forInevershallbeonemyself,butagentlecreaturewhowillhelpme,asIshalltrytohelpher,sothatwecangoontogetherandfinishourworkhereafter,ifwehaven\'ttimetodoithere。"

IfMachadbeenalover,hewouldnothavediscussedthesubjectinthissimpleandsincerefashion,thoughhemighthavefeltitfarmoredeeply,butbeingquiteheart—free,hefranklyshowedhisinterestand,curiouslyenough,outofhiswiseyoungheadunconsciouslygavethethreeloversbeforehimcounselwhichtheyvalued,becausehepracticedwhathepreached。

"Well,Ihopeyou\'llfindher！"saidCharlieheartilyashewentbacktohisgame。

"IthinkIshall。"Andwhiletheothersplayed,Maclaystaringatthewindowcurtainascontentedlyasif,throughit,hebeheld"adreamoffairwomen"fromwhichtochoosehisfuturemate。

Afewdaysafterthistalkinthebilliardroom,KittywenttocalluponRose,forasshewasabouttoenterthefamilyshefeltitherdutytobecomeacquaintedwithallitsbranches。Thisbranch,however,shecultivatedmoreassiduouslythananyotherandwascontinuallyrunningintoconferwith"CousinRose,"whomsheconsideredthewisest,dearest,kindestgirlevercreated。AndRose,findingthat,inspiteofherflightyhead,Kittyhadagoodheartofherown,didherbesttoencourageallthenewhopesandaspirationsspringingupinitunderthewarmthofthefirstgenuineaffectionshehadeverknown。

"Mydear,IwanttohavesomeseriousconversationwithyouuponasubjectinwhichItakeaninterestforthefirsttimeinmylife,"beganMissKitty,seatingherselfandpullingoffherglovesasifthesubjectwasonewhichneededafirmgrasp。

"Tellaway,anddon\'tmindifIgoonworking,asIwanttofinishthisjobtoday,"answeredRose,withalong—handledpaintbrushinherhandandagreatpairofshearsatherside。

"Youarealwayssobusy！Whatisitnow？Letmehelp­IcantalkfasterwhenI\'mdoingsomething,"whichseemedhardlypossible,forKitty\'stonguewentlikeamillclapperatallhours。

"Makingpicturebooksformysickbabiesatthehospital。Prettywork,isn\'tit？Youcutout,andI\'llpastethemonthesesquaresofgaycambric­thenwejusttieupafewpageswitharibbonandthereisanice,light,durablebookforthepoordearstolookatastheylieintheirlittlebeds。"

"Acapitalidea。Doyougothereoften？Howeverdoyoufindthetimeforsuchthings？"askedKitty,busilycuttingfromabigsheetthetouchingpictureofaparentbirdwitharedheadandabluetailofferingwhatlookedlikeasmallboaconstrictortooneofitsnestlings,afatyoungsquabwithagreenhead,yellowbody,andnotailatall。

"IhaveplentyoftimenowIdon\'tgooutsomuch,forapartyusesuptwodaysgenerally­onetoprepareforitandonetogetoverit,youknow。"

"Peoplethinkitissooddofyoutogiveupsocietyallofasudden。

Theysayyouhave\'turnedpious\'anditisowingtoyourpeculiarbringing—up。

Ialwaystakeyourpartandsayitisapityothergirlshaven\'tassensibleaneducation,forIdon\'tknowonewhoisassatisfactoryonthewholeasyouare。"

"Muchobliged。YoumayalsotellpeopleIgaveupgaietybecauseIvaluehealthmore。ButIhaven\'tforsworneverythingofthekind,Kit。Igotoconcertsandlectures,andallsortsofearlythings,andhavenicetimesathome,asyouknow。Ilikefunaswellasever,butI\'mgettingon,yousee,andmustbepreparingalittlefortheseriouspartoflife。Oneneverknowswhenitmaycome,"saidRose,thoughtfullyasshepastedasquirrelupsidedownonthepinkcottonpagebeforeher。

"ThatremindsmeofwhatIwantedtosay。Ifyou\'llbelieveme,mydear,Stevehasgotthatveryideaintohishead！DidyouorMacputitthere？"

askedKitty,industriouslyclashinghershears。

"No,I\'vegivenuplecturingtheboyslately­theyaresobignowtheydon\'tlikeit,andIfancyI\'dgotintoawaythatwasrathertiresome。"

"Well,then,heis\'turningpious\'too。Andwhatisverysingular,Ilikeit。Nowdon\'tsmile­Ireallydo­andIwanttobegettingreadyforthe\'seriouspartoflife,\'asyoucallit。Thatis,IwanttogrowbetterasfastasIcan,forStevesaysheisn\'thalfgoodenoughforme。Justthinkofthat！"

KittylookedsosurprisedandpleasedandproudthatRosefeltnodesiretolaughathersuddenfancyforsobrietybutsaidinhermostsympathetictone:"I\'mverygladtohearit,foritshowsthathelovesyouintherightway。"

"Istheremorethanoneway？"

"Yes,Ifancyso,becausesomepeopleimprovesomuchaftertheyfallinlove,andothersdonotatall。Haveyouneverobservedthat？"

"Ineverlearnedhowtoobserve。OfcourseIknowthatsomematchesturnoutwellandsomedon\'t,butIneverthoughtmuchaboutit。"

"Well,Ihave,forIwasratherinterestedinthesubjectlatelyandhadatalkwithAuntJessieandUncleaboutit。"

"Gracious！Youdon\'ttalktothemaboutsuchthings,doyou？"

"Yes,indeed。IaskanyquestionsIlike,andalwaysgetagoodanswer。

Itissuchanicewaytolearn,Kitty,foryoudon\'thavetoporeoverbooks,butasthingscomealongyoutalkaboutthemandremember,andwhentheyarespokenofafterwardyouunderstandandareinterested,thoughyoudon\'tsayaword,"explainedRose。

"Itmustbenice,butIhaven\'tanyonetodosoforme。Papaistoobusy,andMamaalwayssayswhenIaskquestion,\'Don\'ttroubleyourheadwithsuchthings,child,\'soIdon\'t。Whatdidyoulearnaboutmatchesturningoutwell？I\'minterestedinthat,becauseIwantminetobequiteperfectinallrespects。"

"Afterthinkingitover,IcametotheconclusionthatUnclewasright,anditisnotalwayssafetomarryapersonjustbecauseyoulovehim,"beganRose,tryingtoenlightenKittywithoutbetrayingherself。

"Ofcoursenot­iftheyhaven\'tmoneyorarebad。ButotherwiseI

don\'tseewhatmoreisneeded,"saidKittywonderingly。

"Oneshouldstopandseeifitisawiselove,likelytohelpbothpartiesandwearwell,foryouknowitoughttolastallone\'slifetime,anditisverysadifitdoesn\'t。"

"Ideclareitquitescaresmetothinkofit,forIdon\'tusuallygobeyondmyweddingdayinmakingplans。Iremember,though,thatwhenI

wasengagedthefirsttime­youdon\'tknowtheman;itwasjustafteryouwentaway,andIwasonlysixteen­someoneveryill—naturedlysaidIshould\'marryinhasteandrepentatleisure,\'andthatmademetrytoimaginehowitwouldseemtogoonyearafteryearwithGustavus­whohadadreadfultemper,bytheway­anditworriedmesotothinkofitthatIbroketheengagement,andwassogladeverafterward。"

"Youwereawisegirl­andIhopeyou\'lldoitagainifyoufind,afteratime,thatyouandStevedonottrulytrustandrespectaswellasloveoneanother。Ifyoudon\'t,you\'llbemiserablewhenitistoolate,assomanypeoplearewhodomarryinhasteandhavealifetimetorepentit。AuntJessiesaysso,andsheknows。"

"Don\'tbesolemn,Rose。Itfidgetsmetothinkaboutlife—times,andrespecting,andallthoseresponsiblethings。I\'mnotusedtoit,andI

don\'tknowhowtodoit。"

"Butyoumustthink,andyoumustlearnhowbeforeyoutaketheresponsibilityuponyourself。Thatiswhatyourlifeisfor,andyoumustn\'tspoilitbydoingaverysolemnthingwithoutseeingifyouarereadyforit。"

"Doyouthinkaboutallthis？"askedKitty,shrugginguphershouldersasifresponsibilityofanysortdidnotsitcomfortablyonthem。

"Onehastosometimes,youknow。Butisthatallyouwantedtotellme？"addedRose,anxioustoturntheconversationfromherself。

"Oh,dear,no！Themostseriousthingofallisthis。Steveisputtinghimselfinordergenerally,andsoIwanttodomypart,andImustbeginrightawaybeforemythoughtsgetdistractedwithclothesandallsortsofdear,delightful,frivolousthingsthatIcan\'thelpliking。NowIwishyou\'dtellmewheretobegin。Shouldn\'tIimprovemymindbyreadingsomethingsolid？"AndKittylookedoveratthewell—filledbookcaseasiftoseeifitcontainedanythinglargeanddryenoughtobeconsidered"solid。"

"Itwouldbeanexcellentplan,andwe\'lllookupsomething。Whatdoyoufeelasifyouneededmost？"

"AlittleofeverythingIshouldsay,forwhenIlookintomymindtherereallydoesn\'tseemtobemuchtherebutoddsandends,andyetI\'msureI\'vereadagreatdealmorethansomegirlsdo。Isupposenovelsdon\'tcount,though,andareofnouse,for,goodnessknows,thepeopleandthingstheydescribearen\'tabitliketherealones。"

"Somenovelsareveryusefulanddoasmuchgoodassermons,I\'veheardUnclesay,becausetheynotonlydescribetruly,butteachsopleasantlythatpeopleliketolearninthatway,"saidRose,whoknewthesortofbooksKittyhadreadanddidnotwonderthatshefeltratherastraywhenshetriedtoguideherselfbytheirteaching。

"Youpickmeoutsomeoftherightkind,andI\'llapplymymindtothem。

ThenIoughttohavesome\'seriousviews\'and\'methods\'and\'principles。\'

Stevesaid\'principles,\'goodfirmones,youknow。"AndKittygavealittlepullatthebitofcambricshewascuttingashousewivespullcottonorcalicowhentheywant"agoodfirmarticle。"

Rosecouldnothelplaughingnow,thoughmuchpleased,forKittywassoprettilyinearnest,andyetsoperfectlyignoranthowtobeginontheself—improvementsheverymuchneeded,thatitwaspatheticaswellascomicaltoseeandhearher。

"Youcertainlywantsomeofthose,andmustbeginatoncetogetthem,butAuntJessiecanhelpyoutherebetterthanIcan,orAuntJane,forshehasvery\'firm\'ones,Iassureyou,"saidRose,soberingdownasquicklyaspossible。

"Mercyonus！IshouldneverdaretosayawordaboutittoMrs。Mac,forI\'mdreadfullyafraidofher,sheissostern,andhowI\'mevertogetonwhensheismymother—in—lawIdon\'tknow！"criedKitty,claspingherhandsindismayattheidea。

"Sheisn\'thalfassternasshelooks,andifyougotoherwithoutfear,you\'venoideahowsensibleandhelpfulsheis。Iusedtobefrightenedoutofmywitswithher,butnowI\'mnotabit,andwegetonnicely。Indeed,I\'mfondofher,sheissoreliableanduprightinallthings。"

"ShecertainlyisthestraightestwomanIeversaw,andthemostprecise。

InevershallforgethowscaredIwaswhenStevetookmeuptoseeherthatfirsttime。Iputonallmyplainestthings,didmyhairinameekknob,andtriedtoactlikeasober,sedateyoungwoman。StevewouldlaughatmeandsayIlookedlikeaprettynun,soIcouldn\'tbeasproperasIwished。Mrs。Macwasverykind,ofcourse,buthereyewassosharpI

feltasifshesawrightthroughme,andknewthatI\'dpinnedonmybonnetstrings,lostabuttonoffmyboot,anddidn\'tbrushmyhairfortenminuteseverynight,"saidKittyinanawe—strickentone。

"Shelikesyou,though,andsodoesUncle,andhe\'ssethisheartonhavingyoulivewiththembyandby,sodon\'tmindhereyesbutlookstraightupather,andyou\'llseehowkindtheycangrow。"

"Maclikesme,too,andthatdidpleaseme,forhedoesn\'tlikegirlsgenerally。StevetoldmehesaidIhadthe\'makingofacapitallittlewomaninme。\'Wasn\'titniceofhim？Stevewassoproud,thoughhedoeslaughatMacsometimes。"

"Don\'tdisappointthem,dear。EncourageSteveinallthegoodthingshelikesorwants,makefriendswithMac,loveAuntJane,andbeadaughtertoUncle,andyou\'llfindyourselfaveryhappygirl。"

"Itrulywill,andthankyouverymuchfornotmakingfunofme。IknowI\'malittlegoose,butlatelyI\'vefeltasifImightcometosomethingifIhadtherightsortofhelp。I\'llgoupandseeAuntJessietomorrow。

I\'mnotabitafraidofher,andthenifyou\'lljustquietlyfindoutfromUncleDoctorwhatImustread,I\'llworkashardasIcan。Don\'ttellanyone,please,they\'llthinkitoddandaffected,andIcan\'tbeartobelaughedat,thoughIdaresayitisgooddiscipline。"

Rosepromised,andbothworkedinsilenceforamoment,thenKittyaskedrathertimidly:"AreyouandCharlietryingthisplantoo？Sinceyou\'veleftoffgoingoutsomuch,hekeepsawayalso,andwedon\'tknowwhattomakeofit。"

"Hehashadwhathecallsan\'artisticfit\'lately,setupastudio,andisdoingsomecrayonsketchesofusall。Ifhe\'donlyfinishhisthings,theywouldbeexcellent,buthelikestotryagreatvarietyatonce。I\'lltakeyouinsometime,andperhapshewilldoaportraitofyouforSteve。

Helikesgirls\'facesandgetsthelikenesseswonderfullywell。"

"PeoplesayyouareengagedbutIcontradictit,because,ofcourse,Ishouldknowifyouwere。"

"Wearenot。"

"I\'mgladofit,forreally,Rose,I\'mafraidCharliehasn\'tgot\'firmprinciples,\'thoughheisafascinatingfellowandonecan\'tscoldhim。

Youdon\'tmindmysayingso,doyou,dear？"addedKitty,forRosedidnotansweratonce。

"Notintheleast,foryouareoneofusnow,andIcanspeakfranklyandIwill,forIthinkinonewayyoucanhelpSteveverymuch。

YouarerightaboutCharlie,bothastotheprinciplesandthefascination。

Steveadmireshimexceedingly,andalwaysfromaboylikedtoimitatehispleasantways。SomeofthemareveryharmlessanddoStevegood,butsomearenot。Ineedn\'ttalkaboutit,onlyyoumustshowyourboythatyoudependonhimtokeepoutofharmandhelphimdoit。"

"Iwill,Iwill！Andthenperhaps,whenheisaperfectmodel,Charliewillimitatehim。IreallybegintofeelasifIhadagreatdealtodo。"

AndKittylookedasifshewasbeginningtolikeitalso。

"Weallhaveandthesoonerwegotoworkthebetterforusandthosewelove。Youwouldn\'tthinknowthatPhebewasdoinganythingforArchie,butsheis,andwritessuchsplendidletters,theystirhimupwonderfullyandmakeusallloveandadmirehermorethanever。"

"Howisshegettingon？"askedKitty,who,thoughshecalledherselfa"littlegoose,"hadtactenoughtoseethatRosedidnotcaretotalkaboutCharlie。

"Nicely,foryouknowsheusedtosinginourchoir,sothatwasagoodrecommendationforanother。ShegotafineplaceinthenewchurchatL？

andthatgivesheracomfortablesalary,thoughshehassomethingputaway。

Shewasalwaysasavingcreatureandkeptherwagescarefully。Uncleinvestedthem,andshebeginstofeelquiteindependentalready。NofearbutmyPhebewillgeton­shehassuchenergyandmanagessowell。IsometimeswishIcouldrunawayandworkwithher。"

"Ah,mydear！Werichgirlshaveourtrialsaswellaspoorones,thoughwedon\'tgetasmuchpityastheydo,"sighedKitty。"NobodyknowswhatIsuffersometimesfromworriesthatIcan\'ttalkabout,andIshouldn\'tgetmuchsympathyifIdid,justbecauseIliveinabighouse,weargoodgowns,andhavelotsoflovers。Annabelusedtosaysheenviedmeaboveallcreatedbeings,butshedoesn\'tnow,andisperfectlyabsorbedinherdearlittleChinaman。Doyouseehowsheevercouldlikehim？"

Sotheybegantogossip,andthesobertalkwasoverforthattime,butwhenKittydeparted,aftercriticizingallherdearfriendsandtheirrespectivesweethearts,shehadahelpfullittlebookinhermuff,aresoluteexpressiononherbrightface,andsomanyexcellentplansforself—improvementinherbusybrainthatsheandStevebidfairtoturnoutthemodelcoupleofthecentury。Chapter14。Chapter14。14AUNTCLARA\'SPLANBeingseriouslyalarmedbythefearoflosingthedesireofhisheart,Charliehadgoneresolutelytoworkand,likemanyanotheryoungreformer,heratheroverdidthematter,forintryingtokeepoutofthewayoftemptation,hedeniedhimselfmuchinnocentenjoyment。The"artisticfit"wasagoodexcusefortheseclusionwhichhefanciedwouldbeaproperpenance,andhesatlistlesslyplyingcrayonorpaintbrush,withdailywildridesonblackBrutus,whichseemedtodohimgood,fordangerofthatsortwashisdelight。

Peoplewereusedtohiswhimsandmadelightofwhattheyconsideredanewone,butwhenitlastedweekafterweekandallattemptstodrawhimoutwerevain,hisjollycomradesgavehimupandthefamilybegantosayapprovingly,"Nowhereallyisgoingtosettledownanddosomething。"

Fortunately,hismotherlethimalone,forthoughDr。Alechadnot"thunderedinherear"ashethreatened,hehadtalkedwithherinawaywhichfirstmadeherveryangry,thenanxious,and,lastly,quitesubmissive,forherheartwassetontheboy\'swinningRoseandshewouldhavehadhimputonsackclothandashesifthatwouldhavesecuredtheprize。ShemadelightofthecauseofRose\'sdispleasure,consideringherextremelyfoolishandstraitlaced,"forallyoungmenofanyspirithadtheirlittlevices,andcameoutwellenoughwhenthewildoatsweresowed。"SosheindulgedCharlieinhisnewvagary,asshehadinallhisothers,andtreatedhimlikeanill—usedbeing,whichwasneitheraninspiringnorhelpfulcourseonherpart。Poorsoul！Shesawhermistakebyandby,andwhentoolaterepentedofitbitterly。

Rosewantedtobekind,andtriedinvariouswaystohelphercousin,feelingverysuresheshouldsucceedasmanyanotherhopefulwomanhasdone,quiteunconscioushowmuchstrongeranundisciplinedwillisthanthetruestlove,andwhatadifficulttaskthewisestfindittoundothemistakesofabadeducation。Butitwasahardthingtodo,forattheleasthintofcommendationorencouragement,helookedsohopefulthatshewasafraidofseemingtopromisetoomuch,and,ofallthings,shedesiredtoescapetheaccusationofhavingtrifledwithhim。

Solifewasnotverycomfortabletoeitherjustthen;andwhileCharliewas"mortifyingsoulandbody"topleaseher,shewasstudyinghowtoservehimbest。AuntJessiehelpedherverymuch,andnooneguessed,whentheysawprettyMissCampbellgoingupanddownthehillwithsuchaseriousface,thatshewasintentuponanythingexcepttaking,withpraiseworthyregularity,theconstitutionalswhichgavehersuchacharmingcolor。

MatterswereinthisstatewhenonedayanotecametoRosefromMrs。

Clara。MYSWEETCHILD,Dotakepityonmypoorboyandcheerhimupwithasightofyou,forheissotristeitbreaksmyhearttoseehim。Hehasanewplaninhishead,whichstrikesmeasanexcellentone,ifyouwillonlyfavorit。Lethimcomeandtakeyouforadrivethisfineafternoonandtalkthingsover。ItwilldohimaworldofgoodanddeeplyobligeYoureverlovingAUNTCLARA。Rosereadthenotetwiceandstoodamomentpondering,withhereyesabsentlyfixedonthelittlebaybeforeherwindow。Thesightofseveralblackfiguresmovingbrisklytoandfroacrossitsfrozensurfaceseemedtosuggestamodeofescapefromthedriveshedreadedinmorewaysthanone。"Thatwillbesaferandpleasanter,"shesaid,andgoingtoherdeskwroteheranswer。DEARAUNTY,I\'mafraidofBrutus,butifCharliewillgoskatingwithme,Ishouldenjoyitverymuchanditwoulddousbothgood。Icanlistentothenewplanwithanundividedmindthere,sogivehimmylove,please,andsayIshallexpecthimatthree。Affectionately,ROSE。PunctuallyatthreeCharlieappearedwithhisskatesoverhisarmandwithaverycontentedface,whichbrightenedwonderfullyasRosecamedownstairsinasealskinsuitandscarletskirt,soliketheonesheworeyearsagothatheinvoluntarilyexclaimedashetookherskates:"YoulooksolikelittleRoseIhardlyknowyou,anditseemssolikeoldtimesIfeelsixteenagain。"

"Thatisjustthewayoneoughttofeelonsuchadayasthis。Nowletusbeoffandhaveagoodspinbeforeanyonecomes。Thereareonlyafewchildrentherenow,butitisSaturday,youknow,andeverybodywillbeoutbeforelong,"answeredRose,carefullyputtingonhermittensasshetalked,forherheartwasnotaslightastheonelittleRosecarriedunderthebrownjacket,andtheboyofsixteenneverlookedatherwiththeloveandlongingshereadintheeyesoftheyoungmanbeforeher。

Awaytheywent,andweresoonalmostasmerryandwarmasthechildrenaroundthem,fortheicewasingoodcondition,theFebruarysunshinebrilliant,andthekeenwindsettheirblooda—tinglewithahealthfulglow。

"Nowtellmetheplanyourmotherspokeof,"beganRoseastheywentglidingacrossthewideexpansebeforethem,forCharlieseemedtohaveforgotteneverythingbuttheblissofhavingheralltohimselfforalittlewhile。

"Plan？Oh,yes！Itissimplythis。I\'mgoingouttoFathernextmonth。"

"Really？"andRoselookedbothsurprisedandincredulous,forthisplanwasnotanewone。

"Really。Youdon\'tbelieveit,butIam,andmothermeanstogowithme。We\'vehadanotherletterfromthegovernor,andhesaysifshecan\'tpartfromherbigbabytocomealongtoo,andallbehappytogether。Whatdoyouthinkofthat？"heasked,eyeingherintently,fortheywerefacetofaceasshewentbackwardandheheldbothofherhandstosteerandsteadyher。

"Ilikeitimmensely,anddobelieveitnow­onlyitrathertakesmybreathawaytothinkofAunty\'sgoing,whensheneverwouldhearofitbefore。"

"Shedoesn\'tliketheplanverywellnowandconsentstogoonlyononecondition。"

"Whatisthat？"askedRose,tryingtofreeherhands,foralookatCharliemadehersuspectwhatwascoming。

"Thatyougowithus。"And,holdingthehandsfast,headdedrapidly,"Letmefinishbeforeyouspeak。Idon\'tmeanthatanythingistobechangedtillyouareready,butifyougo,Iamwillingtogiveupeverythingelseandliveanywhereaslongasyoulike。Whyshouldn\'tyoucometousforayearortwo？We\'veneverhadourshare。Fatherwouldbedelighted,mothercontented,andIthehappiestmanalive。"

"Whomadethisplan？"askedRoseassoonasshegotthebreathwhichcertainlyhadbeenrathertakenawaybythisentirelynewandbynomeansagreeablescheme。

"Mothersuggestedit­Ishouldn\'thavedaredeventodreamofsuchrichness。I\'dmadeupmymindtogoalone,andwhenItoldher,shewasindespairtillthissuperbideacameintoherhead。Afterthat,ofcourse,itwaseasyenoughformetosticktotheresolutionI\'dmade。"

"Whydidyoudecidetogo,Charlie？"AndRoselookedupintotheeyesthatwerefixedbeseechinglyonhers。

Theywaveredandglancedaside,thenmethershonestlyyetfullofhumility,whichmadeherownfallasheansweredverylow:"BecauseIdon\'tdaretostay。"

"Isitsohard？"shesaidpitifully。

"Veryhard。Ihaven\'tthemoralcouragetoownupandfaceridicule,anditseemssomeantohideforfearofbreakingmyword。Iwillkeepitthistime,Rose,ifIgototheendsoftheearthtodoit。"

"Itisnotcowardlytofleetemptation,andnobodywhoseopinionisworthhavingwillridiculeanybraveattempttoconquerone\'sself。Don\'tmindit,Charlie,butstandfast,andIamsureyouwillsucceed。"

"Youdon\'tknowwhatitis,andIcan\'ttellyou,fortillItriedtogiveitupIneverguessedwhatagripithadonme。Ithoughtitwasonlyahabit,easytodropwhenIliked,butitisstrongerthanI,andsometimesIfeelasifpossessedofadevilthatwillgetthebetterofme,tryasImay。"

Hedroppedherhandsabruptlyashesaidthat,withtheenergyofdespair;

and,asifafraidofsayingtoomuch,heleftherforaminute,strikingawayatfullspeed,asifintruthhewould"gototheendsoftheearth"

toescapetheenemywithinhimself。