_BOTH SIDES._
Steve's engagement made a great stir in the family: a pleasant one
this time; for nobody objected, every thing seemed felicitous, and the
course of true love ran very smoothly for the young couple, who
promised to remove the only obstacle to their union by growing old and
wise as soon as possible. If he had not been so genuinely happy, the
little lover's airs would have been unbearable; for he patronized all
mankind in general, his brother and elder cousins in particular.
"Now that is the way to manage matters," he declared, standing before
the fire in Aunt Clara's billiard room a day or two after the ball,
with his hands behind his back,--"no nonsense, no delay, no domestic
rows or tragic separations. Just choose with taste and judgment, make
yourself agreeable through thick and thin; and, when it is perfectly
evident that the dear creature adores the ground you walk on, say the
word like a man, and there you are."
"All very easy to do that with a girl like Kitty, who has no
confounded notions to spoil her and trip you up every time you don't
exactly toe the mark," muttered Charlie, knocking the balls about as
if it were a relief to hit something; for he was in a gloriously bad
humor that evening, because time hung heavy on his hands since he had
forsworn the company he could not keep without danger to himself.
"You should humor those little notions; for all women have them, and
it needs tact to steer clear of them. Kitty's got dozens; but I treat
them with respect, have my own way when I can, give in without
growling when I can't, and we get on like a couple of--"
"Spoons," put in Charlie, who felt that he had _not_ steered clear,
and so suffered shipwreck in sight of land.
Steve meant to have said "doves," but his cousin's levity caused him
to add with calm dignity, "reasonable beings," and then revenged
himself by making a good shot which won him the game.
"You always were a lucky little dog, Steve. I don't begrudge you a
particle of your happiness, but it does seem as if things weren't
quite fair sometimes," said Archie, suppressing an envious sigh; for,
though he seldom complained, it was impossible to contrast his own and
his cousin's prospects with perfect equanimity.
"'His worth shines forth the brightest who in hope
Always confides: the abject soul despairs,'"
observed Mac, quoting Euripides in a conversational tone, as he lay
upon a divan reposing after a hard day's work.
"Thank you," said Archie, brightening a little; for a hopeful word
from any source was very comfortable.
"That's your favorite Rip, isn't it? He was a wise old boy, but you
could find advice as good as that nearer home," put in Steve, who just
then felt equal to slapping Plato on the shoulder; so elated was he at
being engaged "first of all the lot," as he gracefully expressed it.
"Don't halloo till you are out of the wood, Dandy: Mrs. Kit has jilted
two men, and may a third; so you'd better not brag of your wisdom too
soon; for she may make a fool of you yet," said Charlie, cynically,
his views of life being very gloomy about this time.
"No, she won't, Steve, if you do your part honestly. There's the
making of a good little woman in Kitty, and she has proved it by
taking you instead of those other fellows. You are not a Solomon, but
you're not spoilt yet; and she had the sense to see it," said Mac,
encouragingly from his corner; for he and his brother were better
friends than ever since the little scene at the Van Tassels.
"Hear! hear!" cried Steve, looking more than ever like a cheerful
young cockerel trying to crow, as he stood upon the hearth-rug with
his hands under his coat-tails, rising and falling alternately upon
the toes and heels of his neat little boots.
"Come, you've given them each a pat on the head: haven't you got one
for me? I need it enough; for if ever there was a poor devil born
under an evil star, it is C. C. Campbell," exclaimed Charlie, leaning
his chin on his cue with a discontented expression of countenance; for
trying to be good is often very hard work till one gets used to it.
"Oh, yes! I can accommodate you;" and, as if his words suggested the
selection, Mac, still lying flat upon his back, repeated one of his
favorite bits from Beaumont and Fletcher; for he had a wonderful
memory, and could reel off poetry by the hour together.
"'Man is his own star: and the soul that can
Render an honest and a perfect man
Commands all light, all influence, all fate;
Nothing to him falls early or too late.
Our acts our angels are; or good or ill,
Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.'"
"Confoundedly bad angels they are too," muttered Charlie, ruefully;
remembering the one that undid him.
His cousins never knew exactly what occurred on New-Year's night, but
suspected that something was amiss; for Charlie had the blues, and
Rose, though as kind as ever, expressed no surprise at his long
absences. They had all observed and wondered at this state of things,
yet discreetly made no remark, till Steve, who was as inquisitive as a
magpie, seized this opportunity to say in a friendly tone, which
showed that he bore no malice for the dark prophecy regarding his
Kitty's faithfulness,--
"What's the trouble, Prince? You are so seldom in a bad humor that we
don't know what to make of it, and all feel out of spirits when you
have the blues. Had a tiff with Rose?"
"Never you mind, little boy; but this I will say,--the better women
are, the more unreasonable they are. They don't require us to be
saints like themselves, which is lucky; but they do expect us to
render 'an honest and a perfect man' sometimes, and that is asking
rather too much in a fallen world like this," said Charlie, glad to
get a little sympathy, though he had no intention of confessing his
transgressions.
"No, it isn't," said Mac, decidedly.
"Much you know about it," began Charlie, ill pleased to be so flatly
contradicted.
"Well, I know this much," added Mac, suddenly sitting up with his hair
in a highly dishevelled condition. "It is very unreasonable in us to
ask women to be saints, and then expect them to feel honored when we
offer them our damaged hearts, or, at best, ones not half as good as
theirs. If they weren't blinded by love, they'd see what a mean
advantage we take of them, and not make such bad bargains."
"Upon my word, the philosopher is coming out strong upon the subject!
We shall have him preaching 'Women's Rights' directly," cried Steve,
much amazed at this outburst.
"I've begun you see, and much good may it do you," answered Mac,
laying himself placidly down again.
"Well, but look here, man: you are arguing on the wrong side," put in
Archie, quite agreeing with him, but feeling that he must stand by his
order at all costs.
"Never mind sides, uphold the right wherever you find it. You needn't
stare, Steve: I told you I was going to look into this matter, and I
am. You think I'm wrapt up in books: but I see a great deal more of
what is going on round me than you imagine; and I'm getting on in this
new branch, let me tell you; quite as fast as is good for me, I dare
say."
"Going in for perfection, are you?" asked Charlie, both amused and
interested; for he respected Mac more than he owned even to himself,
and though he had never alluded to the timely warning, neither forgot.
"Yes, I think of it."
"How will you begin?"
"Do my best all round: keep good company, read good books, love good
things, and cultivate soul and body as faithfully and wisely as I
can."
"And you expect to succeed, do you?"
"Please God, I will."
The quiet energy of Mac's last words produced a momentary silence.
Charlie thoughtfully studied the carpet; Archie, who had been absently
poking the fire, looked over at Mac as if he thanked him again; and
Steve, forgetting his self-conceit, began to wonder if it was not
possible to improve himself a little for Kitty's sake. Only a minute;
for young men do not give much time to thoughts of this kind, even
when love stirs up the noblest impulses within them. To act rather
than to talk is more natural to most of them, as Charlie's next
question showed; for, having the matter much at heart, he ventured to
ask in an offhand way, as he laughed and twirled his cue,--
"Do you intend to reach the highest point of perfection before you
address one of the fair saints, or shall you ask her to lend a hand
somewhere short of that?"
"As it takes a long lifetime to do what I plan, I think I shall ask
some good woman 'to lend a hand' when I've got any thing worth
offering her. Not a saint, for I never shall be one myself, but a
gentle creature who will help me, as I shall try to help her; so that
we can go on together, and finish our work hereafter, if we haven't
time to do it here."
If Mac had been a lover, he would not have discussed the subject in
this simple and sincere fashion, though he might have felt it far more
deeply; but being quite heart-free he frankly showed his interest,
and, curiously enough, out of his wise young head unconsciously gave
the three lovers before him counsel which they valued, because he
practised what he preached.
"Well, I hope you'll find her!" said Charlie, heartily, as he went
back to his game.
"I think I shall," and, while the others played, Mac lay staring at
the window-curtain, as contentedly as if, through it, he beheld "a
dream of fair women," from which to choose his future mate.
A few days after this talk in the billiard-room, Kitty went to call
upon Rose; for, as she was about to enter the family, she felt it her
duty to become acquainted with all its branches. This branch, however,
she cultivated more assiduously than any other, and was continually
running in to confer with "Cousin Rose," whom she considered the
wisest, dearest, kindest girl ever created. And Rose, finding that, in
spite of her flighty head, Kitty had a good heart of her own, did her
best to encourage all the new hopes and aspirations springing up in it
under the warmth of the first genuine affection she had ever known.
"My dear, I want to have some serious conversation with you upon a
subject in which I take an interest for the first time in my life,"
began Miss Kitty, seating herself and pulling off her gloves, as if
the subject was one which needed a firm grasp.
"Tell away, and don't mind if I go on working, as I want to finish
this job to-day," answered Rose, with a long-handled paint-brush in
her hand, and a great pair of shears at her side.
"You are always so busy! What is it now? Let me help: I can talk
faster when I'm doing something," which seemed hardly possible; for
Kitty's tongue went like a mill-clapper at all hours.
"Making picture-books for my sick babies at the hospital. Pretty work,
isn't it? You cut out, and I'll paste them on these squares of gay
cambric: then we just tie up a few pages with a ribbon; and there is a
nice, light, durable book for the poor dears to look at as they lie in
their little beds."
"A capital idea. Do you go there often? How ever do you find the time
for such things?" asked Kitty, busily cutting from a big sheet the
touching picture of a parent bird with a red head and a blue tail,
offering what looked like a small boa-constrictor to one of its
nestlings; a fat young squab with a green head, yellow body, and no
tail at all.
"I have plenty of time now I don't go out so much; for a party uses up
two days generally,--one to prepare for it, and one to get over it,
you know."
"People think it is so odd of you to give up society all of a sudden.
They say you have 'turned pious,' and it is owing to your peculiar
bringing up. I always take your part, and say it is a pity other girls
haven't as sensible an education; for I don't know one who is as
satisfactory on the whole as you are."
"Much obliged. You may also tell people I gave up gayety because I
valued health more. But I haven't forsworn every thing of the kind,
Kit. I go to concerts and lectures, and all sorts of early things, and
have nice times at home, as you know. I like fun as well as ever: but
I'm getting on, you see, and must be preparing a little for the
serious part of life; one never knows when it may come," said Rose,
thoughtfully, as she pasted a squirrel upside-down on the pink cotton
page before her.
"That reminds me of what I wanted to say. If you'll believe me, my
dear, Steve has got that very idea into his head! Did you or Mac put
it there?" asked Kitty, industriously clashing her shears.
"No, I've given up lecturing the boys lately: they are so big now they
don't like it, and I fancy I'd got into a way that was rather
tiresome."
"Well, then, _he_ is 'turning pious' too. And what is very singular, I
like it. Now don't smile: I really do; and I want to be getting ready
for the 'serious part of life,' as you call it. That is, I want to
grow better as fast as I can; for Steve says he isn't half good enough
for me. Just think of that!"
Kitty looked so surprised and pleased and proud, that Rose felt no
desire to laugh at her sudden fancy for sobriety, but said in her most
sympathetic tone,--
"I'm very glad to hear it; for it shows that he loves you in the right
way."
"Is there more than one way?"
"Yes, I fancy so; because some people improve so much after they fall
in love, and others do not at all. Have you never observed that?"
"I never learned how to observe. Of course, I know that some matches
turn out well and some don't; but I never thought much about it."
"Well, I have; for I was rather interested in the subject lately, and
had a talk with Aunt Jessie and uncle about it."
"Gracious! you don't talk to them about such things, do you?"
"Yes, indeed; I ask any question I like, and always get a good answer.
It is such a nice way to learn, Kitty; for you don't have to poke over
books, but as things come along you talk about them, and remember; and
when they are spoken of afterward you understand and are interested,
though you don't say a word," explained Rose.
"It must be nice; but I haven't any one to do so for me. Papa is too
busy, and mamma always says when I ask questions, 'Don't trouble your
head with such things, child;' so I don't. What did you learn about
matches turning out well? I'm interested in that, because I want mine
to be quite perfect in all respects."
"After thinking it over, I came to the conclusion that uncle _was_
right, and it is _not_ always safe to marry a person just because you
love him," began Rose, trying to enlighten Kitty without betraying
herself.
"Of course not: if they haven't money or are bad. But otherwise I
don't see what more is needed," said Kitty, wonderingly.
"One should stop and see if it is a wise love, likely to help both
parties, and wear well; for you know it ought to last all one's
lifetime, and it is very sad if it doesn't."
"I declare it quite scares me to think of it; for I don't usually go
beyond my wedding-day in making plans. I remember, though, that when I
was engaged the first time (you don't know the man: it was just after
you went away, and I was only sixteen), some one very ill-naturedly
said I should 'marry in haste and repent at leisure;' and that made me
try to imagine how it would seem to go on year after year with
Gustavus (who had a dreadful temper, by the way), and it worried me so
to think of it that I broke the engagement, and was so glad ever
afterward."
"You were a wise girl; and I hope you'll do it again, if you find,
after a time, that you and Steve do not truly trust and respect as
well as love one another. If you don't, you'll be miserable when it is
too late, as so many people are who do marry in haste and have a
lifetime to repent in. Aunt Jessie says so, and she knows."
"Don't be solemn, Rose. It fidgets me to think about lifetimes, and
respecting, and all those responsible things. I'm not used to it, and
I don't know how to do it."
"But you _must_ think, and you must learn how before you take the
responsibility upon yourself. That is what your life is for; and you
mustn't spoil it by doing a very solemn thing without seeing if you
are ready for it."
"Do you think about all this?" asked Kitty, shrugging up her shoulders
as if responsibility of any sort did not sit comfortably on them.
"One has to sometimes, you know. But is that all you wanted to tell
me?" added Rose, anxious to turn the conversation from herself.
"Oh, dear, no! The most serious thing of all is this. Steve is putting
himself in order generally, and so I want to do my part; and I must
begin right away before my thoughts get distracted with clothes, and
all sorts of dear, delightful, frivolous things that I can't help
liking. Now I wish you'd tell me where to begin. Shouldn't I improve
my mind by reading something solid?" and Kitty looked over at the
well-filled book-case, as if to see if it contained any thing large
and dry enough to be considered "solid."
"It would be an excellent plan, and we'll look up something. What do
you feel as if you needed most?"
"A little of every thing I should say; for when I look into my mind
there really doesn't seem to be much there but odds and ends, and yet
I'm sure I've read a great deal more than some girls do. I suppose
novels don't count, though, and are of no use; for, goodness knows,
the people and things they describe aren't a bit like the real ones."
"Some novels are very useful and do as much good as sermons, I've
heard uncle say; because they not only describe truly, but teach so
pleasantly that people like to learn in that way," said Rose, who knew
the sort of books Kitty had read, and did not wonder that she felt
rather astray when she tried to guide herself by their teaching.
"You pick me out some of the right kind, and I'll apply my mind to
them. Then I ought to have some 'serious views' and 'methods' and
'principles;' Steve said 'principles,' good firm ones, you know," and
Kitty gave a little pull at the bit of cambric she was cutting, as
housewives pull cotton or calico when they want "a good firm article."
Rose could not help laughing now, though much pleased; for Kitty was
so prettily in earnest, and yet so perfectly ignorant how to begin on
the self-improvement she very much needed, that it was pathetic as
well as comical to see and hear her.
"You certainly want some of those, and must begin at once to get them:
but Aunt Jessie can help you there better than I can; or Aunt Jane,
for she has very 'firm' ones, I assure you," said Rose, sobering down
as quickly as possible.
"Mercy on us! I should never dare to say a word about it to Mrs. Mac:
for I'm dreadfully afraid of her, she is so stern; and how I'm ever to
get on when she is my mother-in-law I don't know!" cried Kitty,
clasping her hands in dismay at the idea.
"She isn't half as stern as she looks; and if you go to her without
fear, you've no idea how sensible and helpful she is. I used to be
frightened out of my wits with her, but now I'm not a bit, and we get
on nicely: indeed I'm fond of her, she is so reliable and upright in
all things."
"She certainly is the straightest woman I ever saw, and the most
precise. I never shall forget how scared I was when Steve took me up
to see her that first time. I put on all my plainest things, did my
hair in a meek knob, and tried to act like a sober, sedate young
woman. Steve would laugh at me, and say I looked like a pretty nun, so
I couldn't be as proper as I wished. Mrs. Mac was very kind, of
course; but her eye was so sharp I felt as if she saw right through
me, and knew that I'd pinned on my bonnet-strings, lost a button off
my boot, and didn't brush my hair for ten minutes every night," said
Kitty, in an awe-stricken tone.
"She likes you, though, and so does uncle, and he's set his heart on
having you live with them by and by; so don't mind her eyes, but look
straight up at her, and you'll see how kind they can grow."
"Mac likes me too, and that did please me; for he doesn't like girls
generally. Steve told me he said I had the 'making of a capital little
woman in me.' Wasn't it nice of him? Steve was _so_ proud, though he
does laugh at Mac sometimes."
"Don't disappoint them, dear. Encourage Steve in all the good things
he likes or wants, make friends with Mac, love Aunt Jane, and be a
daughter to uncle, and you'll find yourself a very happy girl."
"I truly will, and thank you very much for not making fun of me. I
know I'm a little goose; but lately I've felt as if I might come to
something if I had the right sort of help. I'll go up and see Aunt
Jessie to-morrow; I'm not a bit afraid of her: and then if you'll just
quietly find out from Uncle Doctor what I must read, I'll work as hard
as I can. Don't tell any one, please; they'll think it odd and
affected, and I can't bear to be laughed at, though I dare say it is
good discipline."
Rose promised, and both worked in silence for a moment; then Kitty
asked rather timidly,--
"Are you and Charlie trying this plan too? Since you've left off going
out so much, he keeps away also; and we don't know what to make of
it."
"He has had what he calls an 'artistic fit' lately, set up a studio,
and is doing some crayon sketches of us all. If he'd only finish his
things, they would be excellent; but he likes to try a great variety
at once. I'll take you in sometime, and perhaps he will do a portrait
of you for Steve. He likes girls' faces, and gets the likenesses
wonderfully well."
"People say you are engaged: but I contradict it; because, of course,
_I_ should know if you were."
"We are not."
"I'm glad of it; for really, Rose, I'm afraid Charlie hasn't got 'firm
principles,' though he is a fascinating fellow and one can't scold
him. You don't mind my saying so, do you, dear?" added Kitty; for Rose
did not answer at once.
"Not in the least: for you are one of us now, and I can speak frankly,
and I will; for I think in one way you _can_ help Steve very much. You
are right about Charlie, both as to the principles and the
fascination: Steve admires him exceedingly, and always from a boy
liked to imitate his pleasant ways. Some of them are very harmless and
do Steve good, but some are not. I needn't talk about it, only you
must show your boy that you depend on him to keep out of harm, and
help him do it."
"I will, I will! and then perhaps, when he is a perfect model, Charlie
will imitate him. I really begin to feel as if I had a great deal to
do," and Kitty looked as if she was beginning to like it also.
"We all have; and the sooner we go to work the better for us and those
we love. You wouldn't think now that Phebe was doing any thing for
Archie, but she is; and writes such splendid letters, they stir him up
wonderfully, and make us all love and admire her more than ever."
"How is she getting on?" asked Kitty, who, though she called herself a
"little goose," had tact enough to see that Rose did not care to talk
about Charlie.
"Nicely; for you know she used to sing in our choir, so that was a
good recommendation for another. She got a fine place in the new
church at L----; and that gives her a comfortable salary, though she
has something put away. She was always a saving creature and kept her
wages carefully; uncle invested them, and she begins to feel quite
independent already. No fear but my Phebe will get on: she has such
energy, and manages so well. I sometimes wish I could run away and
work with her."
"Ah, my dear! we rich girls have our trials as well as poor ones,
though we don't get as much pity as they do," sighed Kitty. "Nobody
knows what I suffer sometimes from worries that I can't talk about,
and I shouldn't get much sympathy if I did; just because I live in a
big house, wear good gowns, and have lots of lovers. Annabel used to
say she envied me above all created beings; but she doesn't now, and
is perfectly absorbed in her dear little Chinaman. Do you see how she
ever could like him?"
So they began to gossip, and the sober talk was over for that time;
but when Kitty departed, after criticising all her dear friends and
their respective sweethearts, she had a helpful little book in her
muff, a resolute expression on her bright face, and so many excellent
plans for self-improvement in her busy brain, that she and Steve bid
fair to turn out the model couple of the century.