_NEW-YEAR'S CALLS._
"Now I'm going to turn over a new leaf, as I promised. I wonder what I
shall find on the next page?" said Rose, coming down on New-Year's
morning, with a serious face, and a thick letter in her hand.
"Tired of frivolity, my dear?" asked her uncle, pausing, in his walk
up and down the hall, to glance at her with the quick, bright look she
liked to bring into his eyes.
"No, sir, and that's the sad part of it; but I've made up my mind to
stop while I can, because I'm sure it is not good for me. I've had
some very sober thoughts lately; for, since my Phebe went away, I've
had no heart for gayety: so it is a good place to stop and make a
fresh start," answered Rose, taking his arm, and walking on with him.
"An excellent time! Now, how are you going to fill the aching void?"
he asked, well pleased.
"By trying to be as unselfish, brave, and good as she is." And Rose
held the letter against her bosom with a tender touch, for Phebe's
strength had inspired her with a desire to be as self-reliant. "I'm
going to set about living in earnest, as she has; though I think it
will be harder for me than for her, because she stands alone, and has
a career marked out for her. I'm nothing but a common-place sort of
girl, with no end of relations to be consulted every time I wink, and
a dreadful fortune hanging like a millstone round my neck, to weigh me
down if I try to fly. It is a hard case, uncle, and I get low in my
mind when I think about it," sighed Rose, oppressed with her
blessings.
"Afflicted child! how can I relieve you?" And there was amusement as
well as sympathy in Dr. Alec's face, as he patted the hand upon his
arm.
"Please don't laugh, for I really _am_ trying to be good. In the first
place, help me to wean myself from foolish pleasures, and show me how
to occupy my thoughts and time so that I may not idle about and dream,
instead of doing great things."
"Good! we'll begin at once. Come to town with me this morning, and see
your houses. They are all ready, and Mrs. Gardener has half a dozen
poor souls waiting to go in as soon as you give the word," answered
the doctor, promptly, glad to get his girl back again, though not
surprised that she still looked with regretful eyes at the Vanity
Fair, always so enticing when we are young.
"I'll give it to-day, and make the new year a happy one to those poor
souls at least. I'm so sorry that it's impossible for me to go with
you, but you know I must help Aunty Plen receive. We haven't been here
for so long that she has set her heart on having a grand time to-day;
and I particularly want to please her, because I have not been as
amiable as I ought lately. I really couldn't forgive her for siding
against Phebe."
"She did what she thought was right: so we must not blame her. I am
going to make my New-Year's calls to-day; and, as my friends live down
that way, I'll get the list of names from Mrs. G., and tell the poor
ladies, with Miss Campbell's compliments, that their new home is
ready. Shall I?"
"Yes, uncle, but take all the credit to yourself; for I never should
have thought of it if you had not proposed the plan."
"Bless your heart! I'm only your agent, and suggest now and then. I've
nothing to offer but advice: so I lavish that on all occasions."
"You have nothing because you've given your substance all away as
generously as you do your advice. Never mind: you shall never come to
want while I live. I'll save enough for us two, though I do make
'ducks and drakes of my fortune.'"
Dr. Alec laughed at the toss of the head with which she quoted
Charlie's offensive words, then offered to take the letter, saying, as
he looked at his watch,--
"I'll post that for you in time for the early mail. I like a run
before breakfast."
But Rose held her letter fast, dimpling with sudden smiles, half merry
and half shy.
"No, thank you, sir: Archie likes to do that, and never fails to call
for all I write. He gets a peep at Phebe's in return, and I cheer him
up a bit; for, though he says nothing, he has a hard time of it, poor
fellow."
"How many letters in five days?"
"Four, sir, to me: she doesn't write to him, uncle."
"As yet. Well, you show hers: so it's all right; and you are a set of
sentimental youngsters." And the doctor walked away, looking as if he
enjoyed the sentiment as much as any of them.
Old Miss Campbell was nearly as great a favorite as young Miss
Campbell; so a succession of black coats and white gloves flowed in
and out of the hospitable mansion pretty steadily all day. The clan
were out in great force, and came by instalments to pay their duty to
Aunt Plenty, and wish the compliments of the season to "our cousin."
Archie appeared first, looking sad but steadfast, and went away with
Phebe's letter in his left breast-pocket; feeling that life was still
endurable, though his love was torn from him: for Rose had many
comfortable things to say, and read him delicious bits from the
voluminous correspondence lately begun.
Hardly was he gone, when Will and Geordie came marching in, looking as
fine as gray uniforms with much scarlet piping could make them, and
feeling peculiarly important, as this was their first essay in
New-Year's call-making. Brief was their stay, for they planned to
visit every friend they had; and Rose could not help laughing at the
droll mixture of manly dignity and boyish delight with which they
drove off in their own carriage, both as erect as ramrods, arms
folded, and caps stuck at exactly the same angle on each blonde head.
"Here comes the other couple,--Steve, in full feather, with a big
bouquet for Kitty; and poor Mac, looking like a gentleman and feeling
like a martyr, I'm sure," said Rose, watching one carriage turn in as
the other turned out of the great gate, with its arch of holly, ivy,
and evergreen.
"Here he is: I've got him in tow for the day, and want you to cheer
him up with a word of praise; for he came without a struggle, though
planning to bolt somewhere with uncle," cried Steve, falling back to
display his brother, who came in, looking remarkably well in his state
and festival array; for polishing began to tell.
"A happy New Year, aunty; same to you, cousin, and best wishes for as
many more as you deserve," said Mac, heeding Steve no more than if he
had been a fly, as he gave the old lady a hearty kiss, and offered
Rose a quaint little nosegay of pansies.
"Heart's-ease: do you think I need it?" she asked, looking up with
sudden sobriety.
"We all do. Could I give you any thing better on a day like this?"
"No: thank you very much," and a sudden dew came to Rose's eyes; for,
though often blunt in speech, when Mac did do a tender thing, it
always touched her; because he seemed to understand her moods so well.
"Has Archie been here? He said he shouldn't go anywhere else; but I
hope you talked that nonsense out of his head," said Steve, settling
his tie before the mirror.
"Yes, dear, he came; but looked so out of spirits, I really felt
reproached. Rose cheered him up a little: but I don't believe he will
feel equal to making calls, and I hope he won't; for his face tells
the whole story much too plainly," answered Aunt Plenty, rustling
about her bountiful table in her richest black silk, with all her old
lace on.
"Oh, he'll get over it in a month or two, and Phebe will soon find
another lover; so don't be worried about him, aunty," said Steve, with
the air of a man who knew all about that sort of thing.
"If Archie does forget, I shall despise him; and I know Phebe won't
try to find another lover, though she'll probably have them: she is
so sweet and good!" cried Rose, indignantly; for, having taken the
pair under her protection, she defended them valiantly.
"Then you'd have Arch hope against hope, and never give up, would
you?" asked Mac, putting on his glasses to survey the thin boots which
were his especial abomination.
"Yes, I would! for a lover is not worth having if he's not in
earnest."
"Exactly: so you'd like them to wait and work and keep on loving till
they made you relent, or plainly proved that it was no use."
"If they were good as well as constant, I think I should relent in
time."
"I'll mention that to Pemberton; for he seemed to be hit the hardest,
and a ray of hope will do him good, whether he is equal to the ten
years' wait or not," put in Steve, who liked to rally Rose about her
lovers.
"I'll never forgive you if you say a word to any one. It is only Mac's
odd way of asking questions, and I ought not to answer them. You
_will_ talk about such things, and I can't stop you; but I don't like
it," said Rose, much annoyed.
"Poor little Penelope! she shall not be teased about her suitors, but
left in peace till her Ulysses comes home," said Mac, sitting down to
read the mottoes sticking out of certain fanciful bonbons on the
table.
"It is this fuss about Archie which has demoralized us all. Even the
owl waked up, and hasn't got over the excitement yet, you see. He's
had no experience, poor fellow; so he doesn't know how to behave,"
observed Steve, regarding his bouquet with tender interest.
"That's true; and I asked for information, because I may be in love
myself some day, and all this will be useful, don't you see?"
"You in love!" and Steve could not restrain a laugh at the idea of the
bookworm a slave to the tender passion.
Quite unruffled, Mac leaned his chin in both hands, regarding them
with a meditative eye, and he answered in his whimsical way,--
"Why not? I intend to study love as well as medicine; for it is one of
the most mysterious and remarkable diseases that afflict mankind, and
the best way to understand it is to have it. I may catch it some day,
and then I should like to know how to treat and cure it."
"If you take it as badly as you did measles and hooping-cough, it will
go hard with you, old fellow," said Steve, much amused with the fancy.
"I want it to: no great experience comes or goes easily; and this is
the greatest we can know, I believe, except death."
Something in Mac's quiet tone and thoughtful eyes made Rose look at
him in surprise; for she had never heard him speak in that way before.
Steve also stared for an instant, equally amazed; then said below his
breath, with an air of mock anxiety,--
"He's been catching something at the hospital, typhoid probably, and
is beginning to wander. I'll take him quietly away before he gets any
wilder. Come, old lunatic, we must be off."
"Don't be alarmed: I'm all right and much obliged for your advice; for
I fancy I shall be a desperate lover when my time comes, if it ever
does. You don't think it impossible, do you?" and Mac put the question
so soberly that there was a general smile.
"Certainly not: you'll be a regular Douglas, tender and true,"
answered Rose, wondering what queer question would come next.
"Thank you. The fact is, I've been with Archie so much in his trouble
lately that I've got interested in this matter, and very naturally
want to investigate the subject as every rational man must, sooner or
later: that's all. Now, Steve, I'm ready," and Mac got up as if the
lesson was over.
"My dear, that boy is either a fool or a genius, and I'm sure I should
be glad to know which," said Aunt Plenty, putting her bonbons to
rights with a puzzled shake of her best cap.
"Time will show; but I incline to think that he is not a fool by any
means," answered the girl, pulling a cluster of white roses out of her
bosom to make room for the pansies, though they did not suit the blue
gown half so well.
Just then Aunt Jessie came in to help them receive, with Jamie to make
himself generally useful; which he proceeded to do by hovering round
the table like a fly about a honey-pot, when not flattening his nose
against the window-panes, to announce excitedly, "Here's another man
coming up the drive!"
Charlie arrived next, in his most sunshiny humor; for any thing social
and festive was his delight, and when in this mood the Prince was
quite irresistible. He brought a pretty bracelet for Rose, and was
graciously allowed to put it on, while she chid him gently for his
extravagance.
"I am only following your example; for, you know, 'nothing is too good
for those we love, and giving away is the best thing one can do,'" he
retorted, quoting words of her own.
"I wish you would follow my example in some other things as well as
you do in this," said Rose, soberly, as Aunt Plenty called him to come
and see if the punch was right.
"Must conform to the customs of society. Aunty's heart would be
broken, if we did not drink her health in the good old fashion. But
don't be alarmed: I've a strong head of my own, and that's lucky; for
I shall need it before I get through," laughed Charlie, showing a long
list, as he turned away to gratify the old lady with all sorts of
merry and affectionate compliments as the glasses touched.
Rose did feel rather alarmed; for, if he drank the health of all the
owners of those names, she felt sure that Charlie would need a very
strong head indeed. It was hard to say any thing, then and there,
without seeming disrespect to Aunt Plenty: yet she longed to remind
her cousin of the example she tried to set him in this respect; for
Rose never touched wine, and the boys knew it. She was thoughtfully
turning the bracelet with its pretty device of turquoise
forget-me-nots, when the giver came back to her, still bubbling over
with good spirits.
"Dear little saint, you look as if you'd like to smash all the
punch-bowls in the city, and save us jolly young fellows from
to-morrow's headache."
"I should; for such headaches sometimes end in heartaches, I'm afraid.
Dear Charlie, don't be angry; but you know better than I that this is
a dangerous day for such as you: so do be careful for my sake," she
added, with an unwonted touch of tenderness in her voice; for, looking
at the gallant figure before her, it was impossible to repress the
womanly longing to keep it always as brave and blithe as now.
Charlie saw that new softness in the eyes that never looked unkindly
on him, fancied that it meant more than it did, and, with a sudden
fervor in his own voice, answered quickly,--
"My darling, I will!"
The glow which had risen to his face was reflected in hers; for at
that moment it seemed as if it would be possible to love this cousin,
who was so willing to be led by her, and so much needed some helpful
influence to make a noble man of him. The thought came and went like
a flash; but gave her a quick heart-throb, as if the old affection was
trembling on the verge of some warmer sentiment, and left her with a
sense of responsibility never felt before. Obeying the impulse, she
said, with a pretty blending of earnestness and playfulness,--
"If I wear the bracelet to remember you by, you must wear this to
remind you of your promise."
"And you," whispered Charlie, bending his head to kiss the hands that
put a little white rose in his button-hole.
Just at that most interesting moment, they became aware of an arrival
in the front drawing-room, whither Aunt Plenty had discreetly retired.
Rose felt grateful for the interruption; because, not being at all
sure of the state of her heart as yet, she was afraid of letting a
sudden impulse lead her too far. But Charlie, conscious that a very
propitious instant had been spoilt, regarded the newcomer with any
thing but a benignant expression of countenance; and whispering,
"Good-by, my Rose, I shall look in this evening to see how you are
after the fatigues of the day," he went away, with such a cool nod to
poor Fun See that the amiable Asiatic thought he must have mortally
offended him.
Rose had little leisure to analyze the new emotions of which she was
conscious: for Mr. Tokio came up at once to make his compliments with
a comical mingling of Chinese courtesy and American awkwardness; and
before he had got his hat on Jamie shouted with admiring energy,--
"Here's another! Oh, such a swell!"
They now came thick and fast for many hours; and the ladies stood
bravely at their posts till late into the evening. Then Aunt Jessie
went home, escorted by a very sleepy little son, and Aunt Plenty
retired to bed used up. Dr. Alec had returned in good season; for
_his_ friends were not fashionable ones: but Aunt Myra had sent up for
him in hot haste, and he had good-naturedly obeyed the summons. In
fact, he was quite used to them now; for Mrs. Myra, having tried a
variety of dangerous diseases, had finally decided upon
heart-complaint as the one most likely to keep her friends in a
chronic state of anxiety, and was continually sending word that she
was dying. One gets used to palpitations as well as every thing else;
so the doctor felt no alarm, but always went, and prescribed some
harmless remedy with the most amiable sobriety and patience.
Rose was tired, but not sleepy, and wanted to think over several
things; so instead of going to bed she sat down before the open fire
in the study to wait for her uncle, and perhaps Charlie, though she
did not expect him so late.
Aunt Myra's palpitations must have been unusually severe; for the
clock struck twelve before Dr. Alec came, and Rose was preparing to
end her reverie, when the sound of some one fumbling at the hall-door
made her jump up, saying to herself,--
"Poor man! his hands are so cold he can't get his latch-key in. Is
that you, uncle?" she added, running to admit him; for Jane was slow,
and the night as bitter as it was brilliant.
A voice answered "Yes," and as the door swung open in walked,--not Dr.
Alec, but Charlie, who immediately took one of the hall chairs, and
sat there with his hat on, rubbing his gloveless hands, and blinking
as if the light dazzled him, as he said in a rapid, abrupt sort of
tone,--
"I told you I'd come--left the fellows keeping it up gloriously--going
to see the old year out, you know. But I promised--never break my
word--and here I am. Angel in blue, did you slay your thousands?"
"Hush! the waiters are still about: come to the study fire and warm
yourself; you must be frozen," said Rose, going before to roll up the
easy-chair.
"Not at all--never warmer--looks very comfortable, though. Where's
uncle?" asked Charlie, following with his hat still on, his hands in
his pockets, and his eye fixed steadily on the bright head in front of
him.
"Aunt Myra sent for him, and I was waiting up to see how she was,"
answered Rose, busily mending the fire.
Charlie laughed, and sat down upon a corner of the library table.
"Poor old soul! what a pity she doesn't die before he is quite worn
out. A little too much ether some of these times would send her off
quite comfortably, you know."
"Don't speak in that way. Uncle says imaginary troubles are often as
hard to bear as real ones," said Rose, turning round displeased.
Till now she had not fairly looked at him; for recollections of the
morning made her a little shy. His attitude and appearance surprised
her as much as his words, and the quick change in her face seemed to
remind him of his manners. Getting up, he hastily took off his hat,
and stood looking at her with a curiously fixed yet absent look, as he
said in the same rapid, abrupt way, as if, when once started, he found
it hard to stop,--
"I beg pardon--only joking--very bad taste I know, and won't do it
again. The heat of the room makes me a little dizzy, and I think I got
a chill coming out. It _is_ cold--I _am_ frozen, I dare say--though I
drove like the devil."
"Not that bad horse of yours, I hope? I know it is dangerous, so late
and alone," said Rose, shrinking behind the big chair, as Charlie
approached the fire, carefully avoiding a footstool in his way.
"Danger is exciting--that's why I like it. No man ever called me a
coward--let him try it once. I never give in--and that horse shall
_not_ conquer me. I'll break his neck, if he breaks my spirit doing
it. No--I don't mean that--never mind--it's all right," and Charlie
laughed in a way that troubled her, because there was no mirth in it.
"Have you had a pleasant day?" asked Rose, looking at him intently, as
he stood pondering over the cigar and match which he held, as if
doubtful which to strike and which to smoke.
"Day? oh, yes, capital. About two thousand calls, and a nice little
supper at the Club. Randal can't sing any more than a crow; but I left
him with a glass of champagne upside-down trying to give them my old
favorite,--
"''Tis better to laugh than be sighing;'"
and Charlie burst forth in that bacchanalian melody at the top of his
voice, waving an allumette-holder over his head to represent Randal's
inverted wine-glass.
"Hush! you'll wake aunty," cried Rose, in a tone so commanding that he
broke off in the middle of a _roulade_ to stare at her with a blank
look, as he said apologetically,--
"I was merely showing how it should be done. Don't be angry,
dearest--look at me as you did this morning, and I'll swear never to
sing another note if you say so. I'm only a little gay--we drank your
health handsomely, and they all congratulated me. Told 'em it wasn't
out yet. Stop, though--I didn't mean to mention that. No matter--I'm
always in a scrape; but you always forgive me in the sweetest way. Do
it now, and don't be angry, little darling;" and, dropping the vase,
he went toward her with a sudden excitement that made her shrink
behind the chair.
She was not angry, but shocked and frightened; for she knew now what
the matter was, and grew so pale he saw it, and asked pardon before
she could utter a rebuke.
"We'll talk of that to-morrow: it is very late; go home, now, please,
before uncle comes," she said, trying to speak naturally; yet
betraying her distress by the tremor of her voice, and the sad anxiety
in her eyes.
"Yes, yes, I will go--you are tired--I'll make it all right
to-morrow;" and, as if the sound of his uncle's name steadied him for
an instant, Charlie made for the door with an unevenness of gait which
would have told the shameful truth, if his words had not already done
so. Before he reached it, however, the sound of wheels arrested him;
and, leaning against the wall, he listened with a look of dismay
mingled with amusement creeping over his face. "Brutus has bolted--now
I _am_ in a fix. Can't walk home with this horrid dizziness in my
head. It's the cold, Rose, nothing else, I do assure you; and a
chill--yes, a chill. See here! let one of those fellows there lend me
an arm--no use to go after that brute. Won't mother be frightened
though, when he gets home?" and with that empty laugh again, he
fumbled for the door-handle.
"No, no: don't let them see you! don't let any one know! Stay here
till uncle comes, and he'll take care of you. O Charlie! how could you
do it! how could you when you promised?" and, forgetting fear in the
sudden sense of shame and anguish that came over her, Rose ran to him,
caught his hand from the lock, and turned the key; then, as if she
could not bear to see him standing there with that vacant smile upon
his lips, she dropped into a chair and covered up her face.
The cry, the act, and more than all, the sight of the bowed head would
have sobered poor Charlie, if it had not been too late. He looked
about the room, with a vague, despairing look, as if to find the
reason fast slipping from his control: but heat and cold, excitement
and reckless pledging of many healths, had done their work too well to
make instant sobriety possible; and owning his defeat with a groan, he
turned away and threw himself face-downward on the sofa; one of the
saddest sights the new year looked upon as it came in.
As she sat there with hidden eyes, Rose felt that something dear to
her was dead for ever. The ideal, which all women cherish, look for,
and too often think they have found when love glorifies a mortal man,
is hard to give up, especially when it comes in the likeness of the
first lover who touches a young girl's heart. Rose had just begun to
feel that perhaps this cousin, despite his faults, might yet become
the hero that he sometimes looked; and the thought that she might be
his inspiration was growing sweet to her, although she had not
entertained it until very lately. Alas, how short the tender dream had
been, how rude the awakening! how impossible it would be ever again
to surround that fallen figure with all the romance of an innocent
fancy, or gift it with the high attributes beloved by a noble nature!
Breathing heavily in the sudden sleep that kindly brought a brief
oblivion of himself, he lay with flushed cheeks, disordered hair, and
at his feet the little rose, that never would be fresh and fair
again,--a pitiful contrast now to the brave, blithe young man who went
so gayly out that morning to be so ignominiously overthrown at night.
Many girls would have made light of a trespass so readily forgiven by
the world; but Rose had not yet learned to offer temptation with a
smile, and shut her eyes to the weakness that makes a man a brute. It
always grieved or disgusted her to see it in others, and now it was
very terrible to have it brought so near,--not in its worst form, by
any means, but bad enough to wring her heart with shame and sorrow,
and fill her mind with dark forebodings for the future. So she could
only sit mourning for the Charlie that might have been, while watching
the Charlie that was, with an ache at her heart which found no relief
till, putting her hands there as if to ease the pain, they touched the
pansies, faded, but still showing gold among the sombre purple; and
then two great tears dropped on them as she sighed,--
"Ah me! I do need heart's-ease sooner than I thought!"
Her uncle's step made her spring up and unlock the door, showing him
such an altered face that he stopped short, ejaculating in dismay,--
"Good heavens, child! what's the matter?" adding, as she pointed to
the sofa in pathetic silence, "Is he hurt?--ill?--dead?"
"No, uncle: he is--" She could not utter the ugly word, but whispered,
with a sob in her throat, "Be kind to him," and fled away to her own
room, feeling as if a great disgrace had fallen on the house.