\"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。
