Simpleandsincereinallthings,MacgaveRoseanewsurprisebykeepinghispromisetotheletteraskednothingofher,saidnothingofhishope,andwentonasifnothinghadhappened,quiteintheoldfriendlyway。No,notquite,fornowandthen,whensheleastexpectedit,shesawagaintheindescribableexpressiononhisface,alookthatseemedtoshedasuddensunshineoverher,makinghereyesfallinvoluntarily,hercolorrise,andherheartbeatquickerforamoment。Notaworddidhesay,butshefeltthatanewatmospheresurroundedherwhenhewasby,andalthoughheusednoneofthelittledevicesmostloversemploytokeeptheflamealight,itwasimpossibletoforgetthatunderneathhisquietudetherewasahiddenworldoffireandforcereadytoappearatatouch,awordfromher。
ThiswasratherdangerousknowledgeforRose,andshesoonbegantofeelthatthereweremoresubtletemptationsthanshehadexpected,foritwasimpossibletobeunconsciousofherpower,oralwaystoresistthetrialsofitwhichdailycameunsought。Shehadneverfeltthisdesirebefore,forCharliewastheonlyonewhohadtouchedherheart,andhewasconstantlyaskingaswellasgiving,andweariedherbydemandingtoomuchoroppressedherbyofferingmorethanshecouldaccept。
Macdidneither;heonlylovedher,silently,patiently,hopefully,andthisgeneroussortoffidelitywasveryeloquenttoanaturelikehers。
Shecouldnotrefuseorchide,sincenothingwasaskedorurged;therewasnoneedofcoldness,forheneverpresumed;nocallforpity,sincehenevercomplained。Allthatcouldbedonewastotryandbeasjustandtrueashewas,andtowaitastrustfullyfortheend,whateveritwastobe。
Foratimeshelikedthenewinterestitputintoherlife,yetdidnothingtoencourageitandthoughtthatifshegavethislovenofooditwouldsoonstarvetodeath。Butitseemedtothriveonair,andpresentlyshebegantofeelasifaverystrongwillwasslowlybutsteadilyinfluencingherinmanyways。IfMachadnevertoldherthathemeantto\"makeherlovehim,\"shemighthaveyieldedunconsciously,butnowshemistooktheimpulsetoobeythisundercurrentforcompassionandresistedstoutly,notcomprehendingyetthereasonfortheunrestwhichtookpossessionofheraboutthistime。
ShehadasmanymoodsasanAprilday,andwouldhavemuchsurprisedDr。Alecbyhervagarieshadheknownthemall。Hesawenough,however,toguesswhatwasthematter,buttooknonotice,forheknewthisfevermustrunitscourse,andmuchmedicineonlydoesharm。Theotherswerebusyabouttheirownaffairs,andAuntPlentywastoomuchabsorbedinherrheumatismtothinkoflove,forthecoldweathersetinearly,andthepoorladykeptherroomfordaysatatimewithRoseasnurse。
MachadspokenofgoingawayinNovember,andRosebegantohopehewould,forshedecidedthatthissilentsortofadorationwasbadforher,asitpreventedherfromsteadilypursuingtheemploymentsshehadmarkedoutforthatyear。Whatwastheuseoftryingtoreadusefulbookswhenherthoughtscontinuallywanderedtothosecharmingessayson\"Love\"and\"Friendship\"？Tocopyantiquecasts,whenallthemasculineheadslookedlikeCupidandthefeminineoneslikethePsycheonhermantelpiece？TopracticethebestmusicifitendedinsingingoverandovertheprettyspringsongwithoutPhebe\'sbirdchorus？Dulce\'scompanywaspleasantestnow,forDulceseldomtalked,somuchmeditationwaspossible。EvenAuntPlenty\'sredflannel,camphor,andPond\'sExtractwerepreferabletogeneralsociety,andlongsolitaryridesonRosaseemedtheonlythingtoputherintuneafteroneofherattemptstofindoutwhatsheoughttodoorleaveundone。
Shemadeuphermindatlast,andarmingherselfwithanunmadepen,likeFannySqueers,sheboldlywentintothestudytoconferwithDr。AlecatanhourwhenMacwasusuallyabsent。
\"Iwantapenformarkingcanyoumakemeone,Uncle？\"sheasked,poppingherheadintobesurehewasalone。
\"Yes,mydear,\"answeredavoicesolikethedoctor\'sthatsheenteredwithoutdelay。
Butbeforeshehadtakenthreestepsshestopped,lookingratherannoyed,fortheheadthatrosefrombehindthetalldeskwasnotroughandgray,butbrownandsmooth,andMac,notUncleAlec,sattherewriting。Lateexperiencehadtaughtherthatshehadnothingtofearfromatête—à—têteand,havingwithdifficultytakenaresolution,shedidnotliketofailofcarryingitout。
\"Don\'tgetup,Iwon\'ttroubleyouifyouarebusy,thereisnohurry,\"
shesaid,notquitesurewhetheritwerewisertostayorrunaway。
Macsettledthepointbytakingthepenoutofherhandandbeginningtocutit,asquietlyasNicholasdidonthat\"thrilling\"occasion。Perhapshewasthinkingofthat,forhesmiledasheasked,\"Hardorsoft？\"
RoseevidentlyhadforgottenthatthefamilyofSqueerseverexisted,forsheanswered:\"Hard,please,\"inavoicetomatch。\"I\'mgladtoseeyoudoingthat,\"sheadded,takingcouragefromhiscomposureandgoingasstraighttoherpointascouldbeexpectedofawoman。
\"AndIamverygladtodoit。\"
\"Idon\'tmeanmakingpens,buttheromanceIadvised,\"andshetouchedthecloselywrittenpagebeforehim,lookingasifshewouldliketoreadit。
\"Thatismyabstractonalectureonthecirculationoftheblood,\"
heanswered,kindlyturningitsothatshecouldsee。\"Idon\'twriteromancesI\'mlivingone,\"andheglancedupwiththehappy,hopefulexpressionwhichalwaysmadeherfeelasifhewasheapingcoalsoffireonherhead。
\"Iwishyouwouldn\'tlookatmeinthatwayitfidgetsme,\"shesaidalittlepetulantly,forshehadbeenoutriding,andknewthatshedidnotpresenta\"spiritual\"appearanceafterthefrostyairhadreddenednoseaswellascheeks。
\"I\'lltrytoremember。ItdoesitselfbeforeIknowit。Perhapsthismaymendmatters。\"And,takingouttheblueglasseshesometimesworeinthewind,hegravelyputthemon。
Rosecouldnothelplaughing,buthisobedienceonlyaggravatedher,forsheknewhecouldobserveherallthebetterbehindhisuglyscreen。
\"No,itwon\'ttheyarenotbecoming,andIdon\'twanttolookbluewhenIdonotfeelso,\"shesaid,findingitimpossibletoguesswhathewoulddonextortohelpenjoyinghispeculiarities。
\"Butyoudon\'ttome,forinspiteofthegoggleseverythingisrose—colorednow。\"Andhepocketedtheglasseswithoutamurmuratthecharminginconsistencyofhisidol。
\"Really,Mac,I\'mtiredofthisnonsense,itworriesmeandwastesyourtime。\"
\"Neverworkedharder。ButdoesitreallytroubleyoutoknowIloveyou？\"heaskedanxiously。
\"Don\'tyouseehowcrossitmakesme？\"Andshewalkedaway,feelingthatthingswerenotgoingassheintendedtohavethematall。
\"Idon\'tmindthethornsifIgettheroseatlast,andIstillhopeImay,sometenyearshence,\"saidthispersistentsuitor,quiteundauntedbytheprospectofa\"longwait。\"
\"IthinkitisratherhardtobelovedwhetherIlikeitornot,\"objectedRose,atalosshowtomakeanyheadwayagainstsuchindomitablehopefulness。
\"Butyoucan\'thelpit,norcanIsoImustgoondoingitwithallmyhearttillyoumarry,andthenwell,thenI\'mafraidImayhatesomebodyinstead,\"andMacspoiltthepenbyaninvoluntaryslashofhisknife。
\"Pleasedon\'t,Mac！\"
\"Dowhich,loveorhate？\"
\"Don\'tdoeithergoandcareforsomeoneelse;thereareplentyofnicegirlswhowillbegladtomakeyouhappy,\"saidRose,intentuponendingherdisquietinsomeway。
\"Thatistooeasy。Ienjoyworkingformyblessings,andtheharderIhavetowork,themoreIvaluethemwhentheycome。\"
\"ThenifIsuddenlygrewverykind,wouldyoustopcaringaboutme？\"
askedRose,wonderingifthattreatmentwouldfreeherfromapassionwhichbothtouchedandtormentedher。
\"Tryandsee。\"ButtherewasatraitorousglimmerinMac\'seyeswhichplainlyshowedwhatafailureitwouldbe。
\"No,I\'llgetsomethingtodo,soabsorbingIshallforgetallaboutyou。\"
\"Don\'tthinkaboutmeifittroublesyou,\"hesaidtenderly。
\"Ican\'thelpit。\"Rosetriedtocatchbackthewords,butitwastoolate,andsheaddedhastily,\"Thatis,Icannothelpwishingyouwouldforgetme。ItisagreatdisappointmenttofindIwasmistakenwhenIhopedsuchfinethingsofyou。\"
\"Yes,youwereverysurethatitwaslovewhenitwaspoetry,andnowyouwantpoetrywhenI\'venothingonhandbutlove。Willbothtogetherpleaseyou？\"
\"Tryandsee。\"
\"I\'lldomybest。Anythingelse？\"heasked,forgettingthesmalltaskshehadgivenhiminhiseagernesstoattemptthegreater。
\"Tellmeonething。I\'veoftenwantedtoknow,andnowyouspeakofitI\'llventuretoask。DidyoucareaboutmewhenyoureadKeatstomelastsummer？\"
\"No。\"
\"Whendidyoubegin？\"askedRose,smilinginspiteofherselfathisunflatteringhonesty。
\"HowcanItell？Perhapsitdidbeginupthere,though,forthattalksetuswriting,andthelettersshowedmewhatabeautifulsoulyouhad。
Ilovedthatfirstitwassoquicktorecognizegoodthings,tousethemwhentheycame,andgivethemoutagainasunconsciouslyasaflowerdoesitsbreath。Ilongedforyoutocomehome,andwantedyoutofindmealteredforthebetterinsomewayasIhadfoundyou。AndwhenyoucameitwasveryeasytoseewhyIneededyoutoloveyouentirely,andtotellyouso。That\'sall,Rose。\"
Ashortstory,butitwasenoughthevoicethattolditwithsuchsimpletruthmadethefewwordssoeloquent,RosefeltstronglytemptedtoaddthesequelMacdesired。Buthereyeshadfallenashespoke,forsheknewhiswerefixeduponher,darkanddilated,withthesamerepressedemotionthatputsuchfervorintohisquiettones,andjustasshewasabouttolookup,theyfellonashabbylittlefootstool。Triflesaffectwomencuriously,andoftenmostirresistiblywhensomeagitationswaysthem。ThesightoftheoldhassockvividlyrecalledCharlie,forhehadkickeditonthenightsheneverlikedtoremember。Likeasparkitfiredalongtrainofrecollections,andthethoughtwentthroughhermind:\"I
fanciedIlovedhim,andlethimseeit,butIdeceivedmyself,andhereproachedmeforasinglelookthatsaidtoomuch。Thisfeelingisverydifferent,buttoonewandsuddentobetrusted。I\'llneitherlooknorspeaktillIamquitesure,forMac\'sloveisfardeeperthanpoorCharlie\'s,andImustbeverytrue。\"
Notinwordsdidtheresolveshapeitself,butinaquickimpulse,whichsheobeyedcertainthatitwasright,sinceitwashardtoyieldtoit。Onlyaninstant\'ssilencefollowedMac\'sanswerasshestoodlookingdownwithfingersintertwinedandcolorvaryinginhercheeks。Afoolishattitude,butMacthoughtitasweetpictureofmaidenhesitationandbegantohopethatamonth\'swooingwasabouttoendinwinningforalifetime。
Hedeceivedhimself,however,andcoldwaterfelluponhisflame,subduingbutbynomeansquenchingit,whenRoselookedupwithanairofdeterminationwhichcouldnotescapeeyesthatweregrowingwonderfullyfarsightedlately。
\"IcameinheretobegUncletoadviseyoutogoawaysoon。Youareverypatientandforbearing,andIfeelitmorethanIcantell。Butitisnotgoodforyoutodependonanyonesomuchforyourhappiness,Ithink,andIknowitisbadformetofeelthatIhavesomuchpoweroverafellowcreature。Goaway,Mac,andseeifthisisn\'tallamistake。Don\'tletafancyformechangeordelayyourwork,becauseitmayendassuddenlyasitbegan,andthenweshouldbothreproachourselvesandeachother。
Pleasedo！Irespectandcareforyousomuch,Ican\'tbehappytotakeallandgivenothing。Itryto,butI\'mnotsureIwanttothinkitistoosoontoknowyet\"
Rosebeganbravely,butendedinaflutteredsortofwayasshemovedtowardthedoor,forMac\'sfacethoughitfellatfirst,brightenedasshewenton,andatthelastword,utteredalmostinvoluntarily,heactuallylaughedlowtohimself,asifthisorderintoexilepleasedhimmuch。
\"Don\'tsaythatyougivenothing,whenyou\'vejustshownmethatI\'mgettingon。I\'llgo;I\'llgoatonce,andseeifabsencewon\'thelpyou\'tothink,toknow,andtobesure\'asitdidme。IwishIcoulddosomethingmoreforyou。AsIcan\'t,good—bye。\"
\"Areyougoingnow？\"AndRosepausedinherretreattolookbackwithastartledfaceasheofferedherabadlymadepenandopenedthedoorforherjustasDr。Alecalwaysdid;for,inspiteofhimself,Macdidresemblethebestofuncles。
\"Notyet,butyouseemtobe。\"
Roseturnedasredasapoppy,snatchedthepen,andflewupstairs,tocallherselfhardnamesassheindustriouslyspoiledallAuntPlenty\'snewpockethandkerchiefsbymarkingthem\"A。M。C。\"
ThreedayslaterMacsaid\"good—bye\"inearnest,andnoonewassurprisedthatheleftsomewhatabruptly,suchbeinghisway,andacourseoflecturesbyafamousphysiciantheostensiblereasonforatriptoL？UncleAlecdesertedmostshamefullyatthelastmomentbysendingwordthathewouldbeatthestationtoseethetraveleroff,AuntPlentywasstillinherroom,sowhenMaccamedownfromhisfarewelltoher,Rosemethiminthehall,asifanxiousnottodelayhim。Shewasalittleafraidofanothertête—à—tête,asshefaredsobadlyatthelast,andhadassumedacalmandcousinlyairwhichsheflatteredherselfwouldplainlyshowonwhattermsshewishedtopart。
Macapparentlyunderstood,andnotonlytookthehint,butsurpassedherincheerfulcomposure,for,merelysaying\"Good—bye,Cousin;writewhenyoufeellikeit,\"heshookhandsandwalkedoutofthehouseastranquillyasifonlyadayinsteadofthreemonthsweretopassbeforetheymetagain。
Rosefeltasifasuddenshowerbathhadchilledherandwasabouttoretire,sayingtoherselfwithdisdainfuldecision:\"There\'snoloveaboutitafterall,onlyoneoftheeccentricitiesofgenius,\"whenarushofcoldairmadeherturntofindherselfinwhatappearedtobetheembraceofanimpetuousovercoat,whichwrappedhercloseforaninstant,thenvanishedassuddenlyasithadcome,leavinghertohideinthesanctumandconfidetoPsychewithatendersortoftriumphinherbreathlessvoice:\"No,no,itisn\'tgeniusthatmustbelove！\"Chapter19。Chapter19。19BEHINDTHEFOUNTAINTwodaysafterChristmasayoungmanofseriousaspectmighthavebeenseenenteringoneofthelargechurchesatL？Beingshowntoaseat,hejoinedintheserviceswithpraiseworthydevotion,especiallythemusic,towhichhelistenedwithsuchevidentpleasurethatagentlemanwhosatnearbyfeltmovedtoaddressthisappreciativestrangerafterchurch。
\"Finesermontoday。Everheardourministerbefore,sir？\"hebegan,astheywentdowntheaisletogetheramongthelast,fortheyoungmanhadlingeredasifadmiringtheancientbuilding。
\"Veryfine。No,sir,Ihaveneverhadthatpleasure。I\'veoftenwishedtoseethisoldplace,andamnotatalldisappointed。Yourchoir,too,isunusuallygood,\"answeredthestranger,glancingupatseveralbonnetsbobbingaboutbehindthehalf—drawncurtainsabove。
\"Finestinthecity,sir。Weprideourselvesonourmusic,andalwayshavethebest。Peopleoftencomeforthatalone。\"Andtheoldgentlemanlookedassatisfiedasifachoirofcherubimandseraphim\"continuallydidcry\"inhisorganloft。
\"Whoisthecontralto？Thatsolowasbeautifullysung,\"observedtheyoungerman,pausingtoreadatabletonthewall。
\"ThatisMissMoore。Beenhereaboutayear,andisuniversallyadmired。
Excellentyoungladycouldn\'tdowithouther。Singssuperblyinoratorios。
Everheardher？\"
\"Never。ShecamefromX？Ibelieve？
\"Yes,highlyrecommended。Shewasbroughtupbyoneofthefirstfamiliesthere。Campbellisthename。IfyoucomefromX？youdoubtlessknowthem。\"
\"Ihavemetthem。Goodmorning。\"Andwithbowsthegentlemenparted,foratthatinstanttheyoungmancaughtsightofatallladygoingdownthechurchstepswithadevoutexpressioninherfineeyesandaprayer—bookinherhand。
Hasteningafterher,theserious—mindedyoungmanaccostedherjustassheturnedintoaquietstreet。
\"Phebe！\"
Onlyaword,butitwroughtamarvelouschange,forthedevoutexpressionvanishedinthedrawingofabreath,andthequietfaceblossomedsuddenlywithcolor,warmth,and\"thelightthatneverwasonseaorland\"assheturnedtomeetherloverwithanansweringwordaseloquentashis。
\"Archie！\"
\"Theyearisouttoday。ItoldyouIshouldcome。Haveyouforgotten？\"
\"NoIknewyou\'dcome。\"
\"Andareyouglad？\"
\"HowcanIhelpit？\"
\"Youcan\'tdon\'ttry。Comeintothislittleparkandletustalk。\"
Anddrawingherhandthroughhisarm,Archieledherintowhattoothereyeswasaverydismalsquare,withaboarded—upfountaininthemiddle,soddengrassplots,anddeadleavesdancinginthewintrywind。
ButtothemitwasasummeryParadise,andtheywalkedtoandfrointhepalesunshine,quiteunconsciousthattheywereobjectsofinteresttoseveralladiesandgentlemenwaitinganxiouslyfortheirdinneroryawningoverthedullbookskeptforSundayreading。
\"Areyoureadytocomehomenow,Phebe？\"askedArchietenderlyashelookedatthedowncastfacebesidehimandwonderedwhyallwomendidnotweardelightfullittleblackvelvetbonnetswithonedeepredfloweragainsttheirhair。
\"Notyet。Ihaven\'tdoneenough,\"beganPhebe,findingitveryhardtokeeptheresolutionmadeayearago。
\"Youhaveprovedthatyoucansupportyourself,makefriends,andearnaname,ifyouchoose。Noonecandenythat,andweareallgettingproudofyou。Whatmorecanyouask,mydearest？\"
\"Idon\'tquiteknow,butIamveryambitious。Iwanttobefamous,todosomethingforyouall,tomakesomesacrificeforRose,and,ifIcan,tohavesomethingtogiveupforyoursake。LetmewaitandworklongerI
knowIhaven\'tearnedmywelcomeyet,\"pleadedPhebesoearnestlythatherloverknewitwouldbeinvaintotryandturnher,sowiselycontentedhimselfwithhalf,sincehecouldnothavethewhole。
\"Suchaproudwoman！YetIloveyouallthebetterforit,andunderstandyourfeeling。Rosemademeseehowitseemstoyou,andIdon\'twonderthatyoucannotforgettheunkindthingsthatwerelooked,ifnotsaid,bysomeofmyamiableaunts。I\'lltrytobepatientononecondition,Phebe。\"
\"Andwhatisthat？\"
\"YouaretoletmecomesometimeswhileIwait,andwearthislestyoushouldforgetme,\"hesaid,pullingaringfromhispocketandgentlydrawingawarm,barehandoutofthemuffwhereitlayhidden。
\"Yes,Archie,butnotherenotnow！\"criedPhebe,glancingaboutherasifsuddenlyawarethattheywerenotalone。
\"NoonecanseeushereIthoughtofthat。Givemeonehappyminute,afterthislong,longyearofwaiting,\"answeredArchie,pausingjustwherethefountainhidthemfromalleyes,fortherewerehousesonlyononeside。
PhebesubmittedandneverdidaplaingoldringslipmoreeasilytoitsplacethantheoneheputoninsuchahurrythatcoldDecemberday。
Thenonehandwentbackintothemuffredwiththegrasphegaveit,andtheothertoitsoldplaceonhisarmwithaconfidinggesture,asifithadarightthere。
\"NowIfeelsureofyou,\"saidArchieastheywentonagain,andnoonethewiserforthattendertransactionbehindtheuglypyramidofboards。
\"Macwrotemethatyouweremuchadmiredbyyourchurchpeople,andthatcertainwealthybachelorsevidentlyhaddesignsontheretiringMissMoore。
Iwashorriblyjealous,butnowIdefyeverymanofthem。\"
Phebesmiledwiththeairofproudhumilitythatwassobecomingandansweredbriefly:\"Therewasnodangerkingscouldnotchangeme,whetheryouevercameornot。ButMacshouldnothavetoldyou。\"
\"Youshallberevengedonhim,then,for,ashetoldsecretsaboutyou,I\'lltellyouoneabouthim。Phebe,helovesRose！\"AndArchielookedasifheexpectedtomakeagreatsensationwithhisnews。
\"Iknowit。\"AndPhebelaughedathissuddenchangeofcountenanceasheaddedinquiringly,\"Shetoldyou,then？\"
\"Notaword。Iguesseditfromherletters,forlatelyshesaysnothingaboutMac,andbeforetherewasagooddeal,soIsuspectedwhatthesilencemeantandaskednoquestions。\"
\"Wisegirl！Thenyouthinkshedoescareforthedearoldfellow？\"
\"Ofcourseshedoes。Didn\'thetellyouso？\"
\"No,heonlysaidwhenhewentaway,\'TakecareofmyRose,andI\'lltakecareofyourPhebe,\'andnotanotherthingcouldIgetoutofhim,forIdidaskquestions。Hestoodbymelikeahero,andkeptAuntJanefromdrivingmestarkmadwithher\'advice。\'Idon\'tforgetthat,andburnedtolendhimahandsomewhere,buthebeggedmetolethimmanagehiswooinginhisownway。AndfromwhatIsee,Ishouldsayheknewhowtodoit,\"addedArchie,findingitverydelightfultogossipaboutloveaffairswithhissweetheart。
\"Dearlittlemistress！Howdoesshebehave？\"askedPhebe,longingfornews,buttoogratefultoaskatheadquarters,rememberinghowgenerouslyRosehadtriedtohelpher,evenbysilence,thegreatestsacrificeawomancanmakeatsuchinterestingperiods。
\"Verysweetandshyandcharming。ItrynottowatchbutuponmywordIcannothelpitsometimes,sheisso\'cunning,\'asyougirlssay。
WhenIcarryheraletterfromMacshetriessohardnottoshowhowgladsheisthatIwanttolaughandtellherIknowallaboutit。ButIlookassoberasajudgeandasstupidasanowlbydaylight,andsheenjoysherlettersinpeaceandthinksI\'msoabsorbedinmyownpassionthatI\'mblindtohers。\"
\"ButwhydidMaccomeaway？Hesayslecturesbroughthim,andhegoes,butIamsuresomethingelseisinhismind,helookssohappyattimes。
Idon\'tseehimveryoften,butwhenIdoI\'mconsciousthatheisn\'ttheMacIleftayearago,\"saidPhebe,leadingArchieaway,forinexorableproprietyforbadealongerstay,evenifprudenceanddutyhadnotgivenheraremindingnudge,asitwasverycold,andafternoonchurchcameinanhour。
\"Well,youseeMacwasalwayspeculiar,andhecannotevengrowuplikeotherfellows。Idon\'tunderstandhimyet,andamsurehe\'sgotsomeplaninhisheadthatnoonesuspects,unlessitisUncleAlec。Lovemakesusallcutqueercapers,andI\'veanideathattheDonwilldistinguishhimselfinsomeuncommonway。Sobepreparedtoapplaudwhateveritis。Weowehimthat,youknow。\"
\"Indeedwedo！IfRoseeverspeaksofhimtoyou,tellherIshallseethathecomestonoharm,andshemustdothesameformyArchie。\"
ThatunusualdemonstrationoftendernessfromreservedPhebeverynaturallyturnedtheconversationintoamorepersonalchannel,andArchiedevotedhimselftobuildingcastlesintheairsosuccessfullythattheypassedthematerialmansionwithouteitherbeingawareofit。
\"Willyoucomein？\"askedPhebewhenthemistakewasrectifiedandshestoodonherownstepslookingdownatherescort,whohaddiscreetlyreleasedherbeforeapullatthebellcausedfiveheadstopopupatfivedifferentwindows。
\"No,thanks。Ishallbeatchurchthisafternoon,andtheoratoriothisevening。Imustbeoffearlyinthemorning,soletmemakethemostofprecioustimeandcomehomewithyoutonightasIdidbefore,\"answeredArchie,makinghisbestbow,andquitesureofconsent。
\"Youmay。\"AndPhebevanished,closingthedoorsoftly,asifshefoundithardtoshutoutsomuchloveandhappinessasthatintheheartofthesedateyounggentlemanwhowentbrisklydownthestreethummingaverseofold\"Clyde\"likeatunefulbassviol:\"Oh,letourminglingvoicesriseIngratefulrapturetotheskies,Wherelovehashaditsbirth。
LetsongsofjoythisdaydeclareThatspiritscometheirblisstoshareWithallthesonsofearth。\"ThatafternoonMissMooresangremarkablywell,andthateveningquiteelectrifiedevenherbestfriendsbytheskillandpowerwithwhichsherendered\"Inflammatus\"intheoratorio。
\"Ifthatisnotgenius,Ishouldliketoknowwhatitis？\"saidoneyoungmantoanotherastheywentoutjustbeforethegeneralcrushattheend。
\"Somegeniusandagreatdealoflove。Theyareagrandteam,and,whenwelldriven,astonishtheworldbythetimetheymakeinthegreatrace,\"
answeredthesecondyoungmanwiththelookofoneinclinedtotryhishandatdrivingthatimmortalspan。
\"Daresayyouareright。Can\'tstopnowshe\'swaitingforme。Don\'tsitup,Mac。\"
\"Thegodsgowithyou,Archie。\"
Andthecousinsseparatedonetowritetillmidnight,theothertobidhisPhebegood—bye,littledreaminghowunexpectedlyandsuccessfullyshewastoearnherwelcomehome。Chapter20。Chapter20。20WHATMACDIDRose,meantime,wastryingtofindoutwhatthesentimentwaswithwhichsheregardedhercousinMac。Shecouldnotseemtoreconcilethecharactershehadknownsolongwiththenewonelatelyshownher,andtheideaoflovingthedroll,bookish,absentmindedMacofformertimesappearedquiteimpossibleandabsurd,butthenewMac,wideawake,fulloftalent,ardentandhigh—handed,wassuchasurprisetoher,shefeltasifherheartwasbeingwonbyastranger,anditbecamehertostudyhimwellbeforeyieldingtoacharmwhichshecouldnotdeny。
Affectioncamenaturally,andhadalwaysbeenstrongfortheboy;regardforthestudiousyoutheasilydeepenedtorespectfortheintegrityoftheyoungman,andnowsomethingwarmerwasgrowingupwithinher;butatfirstshecouldnotdecidewhetheritwasadmirationfortherapidunfoldingoftalentofsomesortorloveansweringtolove。
Asiftosettlethatpoint,MacsentheronNewYear\'sDayalittlebookplainlyboundandmodestlyentitledSongsandSonnets。Afterreadingthiswithever—growingsurpriseanddelight,Roseneverhadanotherdoubtaboutthewriter\'sbeingapoet,forthoughshewasnocritic,shehadreadthebestauthorsandknewwhatwasgood。Unpretentiousasitwas,thishadthetruering,anditsverysimplicityshowedconsciouspowerfor,unlikesomanyfirstattempts,thebookwasnotfullof\"MyLady,\"
neitherdiditindulgeinSwinburnianconvulsionsabout\"Theliliesandlanguorsofpeace,Therosesandrapturesoflove。\";orcontainanyofthehighlycoloredmedievalwordpicturessomuchinvogue。\"Mybookshouldsmellofpines,andresoundwiththehumofinsects,\"
mighthavebeenitsmotto,sosweetandwholesomewasitwithaspringlikesortoffreshnesswhichplainlybetrayedthattheauthorhadlearnedsomeofNature\'sdeepestsecretsandpossessedtheskilltotellthemintunefulwords。Thesongswentringingthroughone\'smemorylongaftertheywereread,andthesonnetswerefullofthesubtlebeauty,insight,andhalf—unconsciouswisdom,whichseemtoprovethat\"geniusisdivinewhenyoung。\"
Manyfaultsithad,butwassofullofpromisethatitwasevidentMachadnot\"keptgoodcompany,readgoodbooks,lovedgoodthings,andcultivatedsoulandbodyasfaithfullyashecould\"invain。Italltoldnow,fortruthandvirtuehadblossomedintocharacterandhadalanguageoftheirownmoreeloquentthanthepoetrytowhichtheywerewhatthefragranceistotheflower。WisercriticsthanRosefeltandadmiredthis;lesspartialonescouldnotdenytheirpraisetoafirsteffort,whichseemedasspontaneousandaspiringasalark\'ssong;and,whenoneortwooftheseJupitershadgivenanodofapproval,Macfoundhimself,notexactlyfamous,butmuchtalkedabout。Onesetabused,theothersetpraised,andthelittlebookwassadlymauledamongthem,foritwastoooriginaltobeignored,andtoorobusttobekilledbyhardusage,soitcameoutofthefraynonetheworsebutratherbrighter,ifanything,forthefrictionwhichprovedthegoldgenuine。
Thistooktime,however,andRosecouldonlysitathomereadingallthenoticesshecouldget,aswellastheliterarygossipPhebesenther,forMacseldomwrote,andneverawordabouthimself,soPhebeskillfullyextractedfromhimintheiroccasionalmeetingsallthepersonalnewsherfemininewitcouldcollectandfaithfullyreportedit。
