\"Dearlittlesaint,youlookasifyou\'dliketosmashallthepunchbowlsinthecity,andsaveusjollyyoungfellowsfromtomorrow\'sheadache。\"
\"Ishould,forsuchheadachessometimesendinheartaches,I\'mafraid。
DearCharlie,don\'tbeangry,butyouknowbetterthanIthatthisisadangerousdayforsuchasyousodobecarefulformysake,\"sheadded,withanunwontedtouchoftendernessinhervoice,for,lookingatthegallantfigurebeforeher,itwasimpossibletorepressthewomanlylongingtokeepitalwaysasbraveandblitheasnow。
Charliesawthatnewsoftnessintheeyesthatneverlookedunkindlyonhim,fanciedthatitmeantmorethanitdid,and,withasuddenfervorinhisownvoice,answeredquickly:\"Mydarling,Iwill！\"
Theglowwhichhadrisentohisfacewasreflectedinhers,foratthatmomentitseemedasifitwouldbepossibletolovethiscousinwhowassowillingtobeledbyherandsomuchneededsomehelpfulinfluencetomakeanoblemanofhim。Thethoughtcameandwentlikeaflash,butgaveheraquickheartthrob,asiftheoldaffectionwastremblingonthevergeofsomewarmersentiment,andleftherwithasenseofresponsibilityneverfeltbefore。Obeyingtheimpulse,shesaid,withaprettyblendingofearnestnessandplayfulness,\"IfIwearthebracelettorememberyouby,youmustwearthistoremindyouofyourpromise。\"
\"Andyou,\"whisperedCharlie,bendinghisheadtokissthehandsthatputalittlewhiteroseinhisbuttonhole。
Justatthatmostinterestingmomenttheybecameawareofanarrivalinthefrontdrawingroom,whitherAuntPlentyhaddiscreetlyretired。
Rosefeltgratefulfortheinterruption,because,notbeingatallsureofthestateofherheartasyet,shewasafraidoflettingasuddenimpulseleadhertoofar。ButCharlie,consciousthataverypropitiousinstanthadbeenspoiled,regardedthenewcomerwithanythingbutabenignantexpressionofcountenanceand,whispering,\"Good—bye,myRose,Ishalllookinthiseveningtoseehowyouareafterthefatiguesoftheday,\"hewentaway,withsuchacoolnodtopoorFunSeethattheamiableAsiaticthoughthemusthavemortallyoffendedhim。
Rosehadlittleleisuretoanalyzethenewemotionsofwhichshewasconscious,forMr。TokiocameupatoncetomakehiscomplimentswithacomicalminglingofChinesecourtesyandAmericanawkwardness,andbeforehehadgothishatonJamieshoutedwithadmiringenergy:\"Here\'sanother！
Oh,suchaswell！\"
Theynowcamethickandfastformanyhours,andtheladiesstoodbravelyattheirpoststilllateintotheevening。ThenAuntJessiewenthome,escortedbyaverysleepylittleson,andAuntPlentyretiredtobed,usedup。Dr。Alechadreturnedingoodseason,forhisfriendswerenotfashionableones,butAuntMyrahadsentupforhiminhothasteandhehadgood—naturedlyobeyedthesummons。Infact,hewasquiteusedtothemnow,forMrs。Myra,havingtriedavarietyofdangerousdiseases,hadfinallydecideduponheartcomplaintastheonemostlikelytokeepherfriendsinachronicstateofanxietyandwascontinuallysendingwordthatshewasdying。Onegetsusedtopalpitationsaswellaseverythingelse,sothedoctorfeltnoalarmbutalwayswentandprescribedsomeharmlessremedywiththemostamiablesobrietyandpatience。
Rosewastiredbutnotsleepyandwantedtothinkoverseveralthings,soinsteadofgoingtobedshesatdownbeforetheopenfireinthestudytowaitforheruncleandperhapsCharlie,thoughshedidnotexpecthimsolate。
AuntMyra\'spalpitationsmusthavebeenunusuallysevere,fortheclockstrucktwelvebeforeDr。Aleccame,andRosewaspreparingtoendherreveriewhenthesoundofsomeonefumblingatthehalldoormadeherjumpup,sayingtoherself:\"Poorman！Hishandsaresocoldhecan\'tgethislatchkeyin。Isthatyou,Uncle？\"sheadded,runningtoadmithim,forJanewasslowandthenightasbitterasitwasbrilliant。
Avoiceanswered,\"Yes。\"Andasthedoorswungopen,inwalked,notDr。Alec,butCharlie,whoimmediatelytookoneofthehallchairsandsattherewithhishaton,rubbinghisglovelesshandsandblinkingasifthelightdazzledhim,ashesaidinarapid,abruptsortoftone,\"I
toldyouI\'dcomeleftthefellowskeepingitupgloriouslygoingtoseetheoldyearout,youknow。ButIpromisedneverbreakmywordandhereIam。Angelinblue,didyouslayyourthousands？\"
\"Hush！Thewaitersarestillabout。Cometothestudyfireandwarmyourself,youmustbefrozen,\"saidRose,goingbeforetorolluptheeasychair。
\"Notatallneverwarmerlooksverycomfortable,though。Where\'sUncle？\"askedCharlie,followingwithhishatstillon,hishandsinhispockets,andhiseyefixedsteadilyonthebrightheadinfrontofhim。
\"AuntMyrasentforhim,andIwaswaitinguptoseehowshewas,\"answeredRose,busilymendingthefire。
Charlielaughedandsatdownuponacornerofthelibrarytable。\"Pooroldsoul！Whatapityshedoesn\'tdiebeforeheisquitewornout。Alittletoomuchethersomeofthesetimeswouldsendheroffquitecomfortably,youknow。\"
\"Don\'tspeakinthatway。Unclesaysimaginarytroublesareoftenashardtobearasrealones,\"saidRose,turningarounddispleased。
Tillnowshehadnotfairlylookedathim,forrecollectionsofthemorningmadeheralittleshy。Hisattitudeandappearancesurprisedherasmuchashiswords,andthequickchangeinherfaceseemedtoremindhimofhismanners。Gettingup,hehastilytookoffhishatandstoodlookingatherwithacuriouslyfixedyetabsentlookashesaidinthesamerapid,abruptway,asif,whenoncestarted,hefoundithardtostop,\"IbegpardononlyjokingverybadtasteIknow,andwon\'tdoitagain。
Theheatoftheroommakesmealittledizzy,andIthinkIgotachillcomingout。ItiscoldIamfrozen,IdaresaythoughIdrovelikethedevil。\"
\"Notthatbadhorseofyours,Ihope？Iknowitisdangerous,solateandalone,\"saidRose,shrinkingbehindthebigchairasCharlieapproachedthefire,carefullyavoidingafootstoolinhisway。
\"Dangerisexcitingthat\'swhyIlikeit。Nomanevercalledmeacowardlethimtryitonce。Inevergiveinandthathorseshallnotconquerme。I\'llbreakhisneck,ifhebreaksmyspiritdoingit。NoIdon\'tmeanthatnevermindit\'sallright,\"andCharlielaughedinawaythattroubledher,becausetherewasnomirthinit。
\"Haveyouhadapleasantday？\"askedRose,lookingathimintentlyashestoodponderingoverthecigarandmatchwhichheheld,asifdoubtfulwhichtostrikeandwhichtosmoke。
\"Day？Oh,yes,capital。Abouttwothousandcalls,andanicelittlesupperattheClub。Randalcan\'tsinganymorethanacrow,butIlefthimwithaglassofchampagneupsidedown,tryingtogivethemmyoldfavorite:\"\'Tisbettertolaughthanbesighing,\"
andCharlieburstforthinthatbacchanalianmelodyatthetopofhisvoice,wavinganallumetteholderoverhisheadtorepresentRandal\'sinvertedwineglass。
\"Hush！You\'llwakeAunty,\"criedRoseinatonesocommandingthathebrokeoffinthemiddleofarouladetostareatherwithablanklookashesaidapologetically,\"Iwasmerelyshowinghowitshouldbedone。
Don\'tbeangry,dearestlookatmeasyoudidthismorning,andI\'llswearnevertosinganothernoteifyousayso。I\'monlyalittlegaywedrankyourhealthhandsomely,andtheyallcongratulatedme。Told\'emitwasn\'toutyet。Stop,thoughIdidn\'tmeantomentionthat。NomatterI\'malwaysinascrape,butyoualwaysforgivemeinthesweetestway。Doitnow,anddon\'tbeangry,littledarling。\"And,droppingthevase,hewenttowardherwithasuddenexcitementthatmadehershrinkbehindthechair。
Shewasnotangry,butshockedandfrightened,forsheknewnowwhatthematterwasandgrewsopale,hesawitandaskedpardonbeforeshecouldutterarebuke。
\"We\'lltalkofthattomorrow。Itisverylate。Gohomenow,please,beforeUnclecomes,\"shesaid,tryingtospeaknaturallyyetbetrayingherdistressbythetremorofhervoiceandthesadanxietyinhereyes。
\"Yes,yes,IwillgoyouaretiredI\'llmakeitallrighttomorrow。\"
Andasifthesoundofhisuncle\'snamesteadiedhimforaninstant,Charliemadeforthedoorwithanunevennessofgaitwhichwouldhavetoldtheshamefultruthifhiswordshadnotalreadydoneso。Beforehereachedit,however,thesoundofwheelsarrestedhimand,leaningagainstthewall,helistenedwithalookofdismaymingledwithamusementcreepingoverhisface。\"BrutushasboltednowIaminafix。Can\'twalkhomewiththishorriddizzinessinmyhead。It\'sthecold,Rose,nothingelse,Idoassureyou,andachillyes,achill。Seehere！Letoneofthosefellowstherelendmeanarmnousetogoafterthatbrute。
Won\'tMotherbefrightenedthoughwhenhegetshome？\"Andwiththatemptylaughagain,hefumbledforthedoorhandle。
\"No,nodon\'tletthemseeyou！Don\'tletanyoneknow！StayheretillUnclecomes,andhe\'lltakecareofyou。Oh,Charlie！Howcouldyoudoit！Howcouldyouwhenyoupromised？\"And,forgettingfearinthesuddensenseofshameandanguishthatcameoverher,Roserantohim,caughthishandfromthelock,andturnedthekey;then,asifshecouldnotbeartoseehimstandingtherewiththatvacantsmileonhislips,shedroppedintoachairandcoveredupherface。
Thecry,theact,and,morethanall,thesightofthebowedheadwouldhavesoberedpoorCharlieifithadnotbeentoolate。Helookedabouttheroomwithavague,despairinglook,asiftofindreasonfastslippingfromhiscontrol,butheatandcold,excitementandrecklesspledgingofmanyhealthshaddonetheirworktoowelltomakeinstantsobrietypossible,andowninghisdefeatwithagroan,heturnedawayandthrewhimselfface—downwardonthesofa,oneofthesaddestsightsthenewyearlookeduponasitcamein。
Asshesattherewithhiddeneyes,Rosefeltthatsomethingdeartoherwasdeadforever。Theideal,whichallwomencherish,lookfor,andtoooftenthinktheyhavefoundwhenloveglorifiesamortalman,ishardtogiveup,especiallywhenitcomesinthelikenessofthefirstloverwhotouchesayounggirl\'sheart。Rosehadjustbeguntofeelthatperhapsthiscousin,despitehisfaults,mightyetbecometheherothathesometimeslooked,andthethoughtthatshemightbehisinspirationwasgrowingsweettoher,althoughshehadnotentertainedituntilverylately。Alas,howshortthetenderdreamhadbeen,howrudetheawakening！Howimpossibleitwouldbeeveragaintosurroundthatfallenfigurewithalltheromanceofaninnocentfancyorgiftitwiththehighattributesbelovedbyanoblenature！
Breathingheavilyinthesuddensleepthatkindlybroughtabriefoblivionofhimself,helaywithflushedcheeks,disorderedhair,andathisfeetthelittlerosethatneverwouldbefreshandfairagainapitifulcontrastnowtothebrave,blitheyoungmanwhowentsogailyoutthatmorningtobesoignominiouslyoverthrownatnight。
Manygirlswouldhavemadelightofatrespasssoreadilyforgivenbytheworld,butRosehadnotyetlearnedtooffertemptationwithasmileandshuthereyestotheweaknessthatmakesamanabrute。Italwaysgrievedordisgustedhertoseeitinothers,andnowitwasveryterribletohaveitbroughtsonearnotinitsworstform,byanymeans,butbadenoughtowringherheartwithshameandsorrowandfillhermindwithdarkforebodingsforthefuture。SoshecouldonlysitmourningfortheCharliethatmighthavebeenwhilewatchingtheCharliethatwaswithanacheinherheartwhichfoundnorelieftill,puttingherhandsthereasiftoeasethepain,theytouchedthepansies,fadedbutstillshowinggoldamongthesomberpurple,andthentwogreattearsdroppedonthemasshesighed:\"Ah,me！
Idoneedheart\'s—easesoonerthanIthought！\"
Heruncle\'sstepmadeherspringupandunlockthedoor,showinghimsuchanalteredfacethathestoppedshort,ejaculatingindismay,\"Goodheavens,child！What\'sthematter？\"adding,asshepointedtothesofainpatheticsilence,\"Ishehurt？ill？dead？\"
\"No,Uncle,heis\"Shecouldnotuttertheuglywordbutwhisperedwithasobinherthroat,\"Bekindtohim,\"andfledawaytoherownroom,feelingasifagreatdisgracehadfallenonthehouse。Chapter10。Chapter10。10THESADANDSOBERPART\"Howwillhelook？Whatwillhesay？Cananythingmakeusforgetandbehappyagain？\"werethefirstquestionsRoseaskedherselfassoonasshewokefromthebriefsleepwhichfollowedalong,sadvigil。Itseemedasifthewholeworldmustbechangedbecauseatroubledarkeneditforher。
Shewastooyoungyettoknowhowpossibleitistoforgivemuchgreatersinsthanthis,forgetfarheavierdisappointments,outlivehigherhopes,andburylovescomparedtowhichherswasbutagirlishfancy。Shewishedithadnotbeensobrightaday,wonderedhowherbirdscouldsingwithsuchshrillgaiety,putnoribboninherhair,andsaid,asshelookedatthereflectionofherowntiredfaceintheglass,\"Poorthing！Youthoughtthenewleafwouldhavesomethingpleasantonit。Thestoryhasbeenverysweetandeasytoreadsofar,butthesadandsoberpartiscomingnow。\"
Atapatthedoorremindedherthat,inspiteofherafflictions,breakfastmustbeeaten,andthesuddenthoughtthatCharliemightstillbeinthehousemadeherhurrytothedoor,tofindDr。Alecwaitingforherwithhismorningsmile。Shedrewhiminandwhisperedanxiously,asifsomeonelaydangerouslyillnearby,\"Ishebetter,Uncle？TellmeallaboutitI
canbearitnow。\"
Somemenwouldhavesmiledatherinnocentdistressandtoldherthiswasonlywhatwastobeexpectedandendured,butDr。Alecbelievedinthepureinstinctsthatmakeyouthbeautiful,desiredtokeepthemtrue,andhopedhisgirlwouldneverlearntolookunmovedbypainandpityuponanyhumanbeingvanquishedbyavice,nomatterhowtrivialitseemed,howvenialitwasheld。Sohisfacegrewgrave,thoughhisvoicewascheerfulasheanswered:\"Allright,Idaresay,bythistime,forsleepisthebestmedicineinsuchcases。Itookhimhomelastnight,andnooneknowshecamebutyouandI。\"
\"Nooneevershall。Howdidyoudoit,Uncle？\"
\"Justslippedoutofthelongstudywindowandgothimcannilyoff,fortheairandmotion,afteradashofcoldwater,broughthimaround,andhewasgladtobesafelylandedathome。Hisroomsarebelow,youknow,sonoonewasdisturbed,andIlefthimsleepingnicely。\"
\"Thankyousomuch,\"sighedRose。\"AndBrutus？Weren\'ttheyfrightenedwhenhegotbackalone？\"
\"Notatall。Thesagaciousbeastwentquietlytothestable,andthesleepygroomaskednoquestions,forCharlieoftensendsthehorseroundbyhimselfwhenitislateorstormy。Resteasy,dearnoeyebutourssawthepoorladcomeandgo,andwe\'llforgiveitforlove\'ssake。\"
\"Yes,butnotforgetit。Inevercan,andhewillneverbeagaintometheCharlieI\'vebeensoproudandfondofalltheseyears。Oh,Uncle,suchapity！Suchapity！\"
\"Don\'tbreakyourtenderheartaboutit,child,foritisnotincurable,thankGod！Idon\'tmakelightofit,butIamsurethatunderbetterinfluencesCharliewillredeemhimselfbecausehisimpulsesaregoodandthishisonlyvice。Icanhardlyblamehimforwhatheis,becausehismotherdidtheharm。Ideclaretoyou,Rose,IsometimesfeelasifImustbreakoutagainstthatwomanandthunderinherearsthatsheisruiningtheimmortalsoulforwhichsheisresponsibletoheaven！\"
Dr。Alecseldomspokeinthisway,andwhenhediditwasratherawful,forhisindignationwasoftherighteoussortandsuchthunderoftenrousesupadrowsysoulwhensunshinehasnoeffect。Roselikedit,andsincerelywishedAuntClarahadbeentheretogetthebenefitoftheoutbreak,forsheneededjustsuchanawakeningfromtheself—indulgentdreaminwhichshelived。
\"Doit,andsaveCharliebeforeitistoolate！\"shecried,kindlingherselfasshewatchedhim,forhelookedlikearousedlionashewalkedabouttheroomwithhishandclenchedandasparkinhiseye,evidentlyindesperateearnestandreadytodoalmostanything。
\"Willyouhelp？\"heasked,stoppingsuddenlywithalookthatmadeherstandupstraightandstrongassheansweredwithaneagervoice:\"Iwill。\"
\"Thendon\'tlovehimyet。\"
Thatstartledher,butsheaskedsteadily,thoughherheartbegantobeatandhercolortocome:\"Whynot？\"
\"Firstly,becausenowomanshouldgiveherhappinessintothekeepingofamanwithoutfixedprinciples;secondly,becausethehopeofbeingworthyofyouwillhelphimmorethananyprayersorpreachingofmine。
Thirdly,becauseitwillneedallourwitandpatiencetoundotheworkofnearlyfourandtwentyyears。YouunderstandwhatImean？\"
\"Yes,sir。\"
\"Canyousay\'no\'whenheasksyoutosay\'yes\'andwaitalittleforyourhappiness？\"
\"Ican。\"
\"Andwillyou？\"
\"Iwill。\"
\"ThenI\'msatisfied,andagreatweighttakenoffmyheart。Ican\'thelpseeingwhatgoeson,ortremblingwhenIthinkofyousettingsailwithnobetterpilotthanpoorCharlie。NowyouanswerasIhopedyouwould,andIamproudofmygirl！\"
Theyhadbeenstandingwiththewidthoftheroombetweenthem,Dr。
Aleclookingverymuchlikeacommanderissuingorders,Roselikeawell—drilledprivateobedientlyreceivingthem,andbothworetheairofsoldiersgettingreadyforabattle,withthebracingofnervesandquickeningofthebloodbravesoulsfeelastheyputontheirarmor。Atthelastwordshewenttoher,brushedbackthehair,andkissedherontheforeheadwithatendersortofgravityandalookthatmadeherfeelasifhehadendowedherwiththeVictoriaCrossforcourageonthefield。
Nomorewassaidthen,forAuntPlentycalledthemdownandtheday\'sdutiesbegan。ButthatbrieftalkshowedRosewhattodoandfittedhertodoit,foritsethertothinkingofthedutyoneowesone\'sselfinlovingasinalltheothergreatpassionsorexperienceswhichmakeormaralife。
Shehadplentyoftimeforquietmeditationthatdaybecauseeveryonewasrestingafteryesterday\'sfestivity,andshesatinherlittleroomplanningoutanewyearsofullofgoodworks,grandsuccesses,andbeautifulromancesthatifitcouldhavebeenrealized,theMillenniumwouldhavebegun。Itwasagreatcomforttoher,however,andlightenedthelonghourshauntedbyasecretdesiretoknowwhenCharliewouldcomeandasecretfearofthefirstmeeting。Shewassurehewouldbeboweddownwithhumiliationandrepentance,andastruggletookplaceinhermindbetweenthepityshecouldnothelpfeelingandthedisapprobationsheoughttoshow。Shedecidedtobegentle,butveryfrank;toreprove,butalsotoconsole;
andtotrytoimprovethesoftenedmomentbyinspiringtheculpritwithawishforallthevirtueswhichmakeaperfectman。
Thefonddelusiongrewquiteabsorbing,andhermindwasfullofitasshesatwatchingthesunsetfromherwesternwindowandadmiringwithdreamyeyesthefineeffectofthedistanthillsclearanddarkagainstadaffodilskywhenthebangofadoormadehersitsuddenlyerectinherlowchairandsaywithacatchinherbreath:\"He\'scoming！ImustrememberwhatIpromisedUncleandbeveryfirm。\"
UsuallyCharlieannouncedhisapproachwithmusicofsomesort。Nowheneitherwhistled,hummed,norsang,butcamesoquietlyRosewassurethathedreadedthismeetingasmuchasshedidand,compassionatinghisnaturalconfusion,didnotlookaroundasthestepsdrewnear。Shethoughtperhapshewouldgodownuponhisknees,asheusedtoafteraboyishoffense,buthopednot,fortoomuchhumilitydistressedher,soshewaitedforthefirstdemonstrationanxiously。
Itwasratherashockwhenitcame,however,foragreatnosegaydroppedintoherlapandavoice,boldandgayasusual,saidlightly:\"Heresheis,asprettyandpensiveasyouplease。Istheworldhollow,ourdollstuffedwithsawdust,anddowewanttogointoanunnerytoday,Cousin？\"
Rosewassotakenabackbythisunexpectedcoolnessthattheflowerslayunnoticedasshelookedupwithafacesofullofsurprise,reproach,andsomethinglikeshamethatitwasimpossibletomistakeitsmeaning。
Charliedidnot,andhadthegracetoreddendeeply,andhiseyesfellashesaidquickly,thoughinthesamelighttone:\"Ihumblyapologizeforcomingsolatelastnight。Don\'tbeharduponme,Cousin。YouknowAmericaexpectseverymantodohisdutyonNewYear\'sDay。\"
\"Iamtiredofforgiving！Youmakeandbreakpromisesaseasilyasyoudidyearsago,andIshallneveraskyouforanother,\"answeredRose,puttingthebouquetaway,fortheapologydidnotsatisfyherandshewouldnotbebribedtosilence。
\"But,mydeargirl,youaresoveryexacting,sopeculiarinyournotions,andsoangryabouttriflesthatapoorfellowcan\'tpleaseyou,tryashewill,\"beganCharlie,illatease,buttooproudtoshowhalfthepenitencehefelt,notsomuchforthefaultasforherdiscoveryofit。
\"IamnotangryIamgrievedanddisappointed,forIexpecteverymantodohisdutyinanotherwayandkeephiswordtotheuttermost,asItrytodo。Ifthatisexacting,I\'msorry,andwon\'ttroubleyouwithmyold—fashionednotionsanymore。\"
\"Blessmysoul！Whataroutaboutnothing！IownthatIforgotI
knowIactedlikeafoolandIbegpardon。WhatmorecanIdo？\"
\"Actlikeaman,andneverletmebesoterriblyashamedofyouagainasIwaslastnight。\"AndRosegavealittleshiverasshethoughtofit。
ThatinvoluntaryacthurtCharliemorethanherwords,anditwashisturnnowtofeel\"terriblyashamed,\"fortheeventsofthepreviouseveningwereveryhazyinhismindandfearmagnifiedthemgreatly。Turningsharplyaway,hewentandstoodbythefire,quiteatalosshowtomakehispeacethistime,becauseRosewassounlikeherself。Usuallyawordofexcusesufficed,andsheseemedgladtopardonandforget;now,thoughveryquiet,therewassomethingalmoststernaboutherthatsurprisedanddauntedhim,forhowcouldheknowthatallthewhileherpitifulheartwaspleadingforhimandtheveryefforttocontrolitmadeheralittlehardandcold？
Ashestoodthere,restlesslyfingeringtheornamentsuponthechimneypiece,hiseyebrightenedsuddenlyand,takinguptheprettybraceletlyingthere,hewentslowlybacktoher,sayinginatonethatwashumbleandseriousenoughnow:\"Iwillactlikeaman,andyoushallneverbeashamedagain。Onlybekindtome。Letmeputthison,andpromiseafreshthistimeIswearI\'llkeepit。Won\'tyoutrustme,Rose？\"
Itwasveryhardtoresistthepleadingvoiceandeyes,forthishumilitywasdangerous;and,butforUncleAlec,Rosewouldhaveanswered\"yes。\"
Theblueforget—me—notsremindedherofherownpromise,andshekeptitwithdifficultynow,tobegladalwaysafterward。Puttingbacktheofferedtrinketwithagentletouch,shesaidfirmly,thoughshedarednotlookupintotheanxiousfacebendingtowardher:\"No,CharlieIcan\'twearit。MyhandsmustbefreeifI\'mtohelpyouasIought。Iwillbekind,Iwilltrustyou,butdon\'tswearanything,onlytrytoresisttemptation,andwe\'llallstandbyyou。\"
Charliedidnotlikethatandlostthegroundhehadgainedbysayingimpetuously:\"Idon\'twantanyonebutyoutostandbyme,andImustbesureyouwon\'tdesertme,else,whileI\'mmortifyingsoulandbodytopleaseyou,somestrangerwillcomeandstealyourheartawayfromme。Icouldn\'tbearthat,soIgiveyoufairwarning,insuchacaseI\'llbreakthebargain,andgostraighttothedevil。\"
Thelastsentencespoileditall,foritwasbothmasterfulanddefiant。
RosehadtheCampbellspiritinher,thoughitseldomshowed;asyetshevaluedherlibertymorethananyloveofferedher,andsheresentedtheauthorityheassumedtoosoonresenteditallthemorewarmlybecauseoftheeffortshewasmakingtoreinstateherhero,whowouldinsistonbeingaveryfaultyandungratefulman。Sherosestraightoutofherchair,sayingwithalookandtonewhichratherstartledherhearerandconvincedhimthatshewasnolongeratenderheartedchildbutawomanwithawillofherownandaspiritasproudandfieryasanyofherrace:\"Myheartismyown,todisposeofasIplease。Don\'tshutyourselfoutofitbypresumingtoomuch,foryouhavenoclaimonmebutthatofcousinship,andyouneverwillhaveunlessyouearnit。Rememberthat,andneitherthreatennordefymeanymore。\"
ForaminuteitwasdoubtfulwhetherCharliewouldanswerthisflashwithanother,andageneralexplosionensue,orwiselyquenchtheflamewiththemildanswerwhichturnethawaywrath。Hechosethelattercourseandmadeitveryeffectivebythrowinghimselfdownbeforehisoffendedgoddess,ashehadoftendoneinjest。Thistimeitwasnotacting,butserious,earnest,andtherewasrealpassioninhisvoiceashecaughtRose\'sdressinbothhands,sayingeagerly:\"No,no！Don\'tshutyourheartagainstmeorIshallturndesperate。I\'mnothalfgoodenoughforsuchasaintasyou,butyoucandowhatyouwillwithme。Ionlyneedamotivetomakeamanofme,andwherecanIfindastrongeronethanintryingtokeepyourlove？\"
\"Itisnotyoursyet,\"beganRose,muchmoved,thoughallthewhileshefeltasifshewereonastageandhadaparttoplay,forCharliehadmadelifesolikeamelodramathatitwashardforhimtobequitesimpleevenwhenmostsincere。
\"Letmeearnit,then。Showmehow,andI\'lldoanything,foryouaremygoodangel,Rose,andifyoucastmeoff,IfeelasifIshouldn\'tcarehowsoontherewasanendofme,\"criedCharlie,gettingtragicinhisearnestnessandputtingbotharmsaroundher,asifhisonlysafetylayinclingingtothisbelovedfellowcreature。
Behindfootlightsitwouldhavebeenirresistible,butsomehowitdidnottouchtheonespectator,thoughshehadneithertimenorskilltodiscoverwhy。Foralltheirardorthewordsdidnotringquitetrue。Despitethegraceoftheattitude,shewouldhavelikedhimbettermanfullyerectuponhisfeet,andthoughthegesturewasfulloftenderness,asubtleinstinctmadehershrinkawayasshesaidwithacomposurethatsurprisedherselfevenmorethanitdidhim:\"Pleasedon\'t。No,Iwillpromisenothingyet,forImustrespectthemanIlove。\"
ThatbroughtCharlietohisfeet,palewithsomethingdeeperthananger,fortherecoiltoldhimmoreplainlythanthewordshowmuchhehadfalleninherregardsinceyesterday。Thememoryofthehappymomentwhenshegavetherosewiththatnewsoftnessinhereyes,theshycolor,thesweet\"formysake\"camebackwithsuddenvividness,contrastingsharplywiththenowavertedface,thehandoutstretchedtoputhimback,theshrinkingfigure,andinthatinstant\'ssilence,poorCharlierealizedwhathehadlost,foragirl\'sfirstthoughtofloveisasdelicateathingastherosymorningglory,whichabreathofaircanshatter。Onlyahintofevil,onlyanhour\'sdebasementforhim,amoment\'sglimpseforherofthecoarserpleasuresmenknow,andtheinnocentheart,justopeningtoblessandtobeblessed,closedagainlikeasensitiveplantandshuthimoutperhapsforever。
Theconsciousnessofthisturnedhimpalewithfear,forhislovewasdeeperthansheknew,andheprovedthiswhenhesaidinatonesofullofmingledpainandpatiencethatittouchedhertotheheart:\"YoushallrespectmeifIcanmakeyou,andwhenI\'veearnedit,mayIhopeforsomethingmore？\"
Shelookedupthen,sawinhisfacethenobleshame,thehumblesortofcouragethatshowsrepentancetobegenuineandgivespromiseofsuccess,and,withahopefulsmilethatwasacordialtohim,answeredheartily:
\"Youmay。\"
\"Blessyouforthat！I\'llmakenopromises,I\'llaskfornoneonlytrustme,Rose,andwhileyoutreatmelikeacousin,rememberthatnomatterhowmanyloversyoumayhaveyou\'llneverbetoanyofthemasdearasyouaretome。\"
AtraitorousbreakinhisvoicewarnedCharlietostopthere,andwithnoothergood—bye,heverywiselywentaway,leavingRosetoputtheneglectedflowersintowaterwithremorsefulcareandlayawaythebracelet,sayingtoherself:\"I\'llneverwearittillIfeelasIdidbefore。ThenheshallputitonandI\'llsay\'yes。\'\"Chapter11。Chapter11。11SMALLTEMPTATIONS\"Oh,Rose,I\'vegotsomethingsoexcitingtotellyou！\"criedKittyVanTassel,skippingintothecarriagenextmorningwhenherfriendcalledforhertogoshopping。
Kittyalwaysdidhavesome\"perfectlythrilling\"communicationtomakeandRosehadlearnedtotakethemquietly,butthenextdemonstrationwasanewone,for,regardlessalikeofcuriousobserversoutsideanddisorderedhatswithin,KittycaughtRosearoundtheneck,exclaiminginarapturouswhisper:\"Mydearestcreature,I\'mengaged！\"
\"I\'msoglad！OfcourseitisSteve？\"
\"Dearfellow,hediditlastnightinthenicestway,andMamaissodelighted。NowwhatshallIbemarriedin？\"AndKittycomposedherselfwithafacefullofthedeepestanxiety。
\"Howcanyoutalkofthatsosoon？Why,Kit,youunromanticgirl,yououghttobethinkingofyourloverandnotyourclothes,\"saidRose,amusedyetratherscandalizedatsuchwantofsentiment。
\"Iamthinkingofmylover,forhesayshewillnothavealongengagement,soImustbegintothinkaboutthemostimportantthingsatonce,mustn\'tI？\"
\"Ah,hewantstobesureofyou,foryouaresuchaslipperycreatureheisafraidyou\'lltreathimasyoudidpoorJacksonandtherest,\"interruptedRose,shakingherfingeratherprospectivecousin,whohadtriedthispastimetwicebeforeandwasratherproudthanotherwiseofherbriefengagements。
\"Youneedn\'tscold,forIknowI\'mright,andwhenyou\'vebeeninsocietyaslongasIhaveyou\'llfindthattheonlywaytoreallyknowamanistobeengagedtohim。Whiletheywantyoutheyarealldevotion,butwhentheythinkthey\'vegotyou,thenyoufindoutwhatwretchestheyare,\"
answeredKittywithanairofworldlywisdomwhichcontrastedoddlywithheryouthfulfaceandgiddymanners。
