While the travelers unpack their trunks, we will pick up, as briefly as
possible, the dropped stitches in the little romance we are weaving.
Rose's life had been a very busy and quiet one for the four years
following the May day when she made her choice. Study, exercise,
housework, and many wholesome pleasures kept her a happy, hearty
creature, yearly growing in womanly graces, yet always preserving
the innocent freshness girls lose so soon when too early set upon the
world's stage and given a part to play.
Not a remarkably gifted girl in any way, and far from perfect; full of
all manner of youthful whims and fancies; a little spoiled by much love;
rather apt to think all lives as safe and sweet as her own; and,
when want or pain appealed to her, the tender heart overflowed with a
remorseful charity which gave of its abundance recklessly. Yet, with
all her human imperfections, the upright nature of the child kept her
desires climbing toward the just and pure and true, as flowers struggle
to the light; and the woman's soul was budding beautifully under the
green leaves behind the little thorns.
At seventeen, Dr. Alec pronounced her ready for the voyage around the
world, which he considered a better finishing off than any school
could give her. But just then Aunt Peace began to fail and soon slipped
quietly away to rejoin the lover she had waited for so long. Youth
seemed to come back in a mysterious way to touch the dead face with lost
loveliness, and all the romance of her past to gather around her memory.
Unlike most aged women, her friends were among the young, and at her
funeral the grayheads gave place to the band of loving girls who made
the sweet old maiden ready for her rest, bore her pall, and covered her
grave with the white flowers she had never worn.
When this was over poor Aunt Plenty seemed so lost without her lifelong
charge that Dr. Alec would not leave her, and Rose gladly paid the debt
she owed by the tender service which comforts without words. But Aunt
Plenty, having lived for others all her days, soon rebelled against this
willing sacrifice, soon found strength in her own sincere piety, solace
in cheerful occupation, and amusement in nursing Aunt Myra, who was a
capital patient, as she never died and never got well.
So at last the moment came when, with free minds, the travelers could
set out, and on Rose's eighteenth birthday, with Uncle Alec and the
faithful Phebe, she sailed away to see and study the big, beautiful
world which lies ready for us all if we only know how to use and enjoy
it.
Phebe was set to studying music in the best schools, and while she
trained her lovely voice with happy industry, Rose and her uncle roamed
about in the most delightful way till two years were gone like a dream
and those at home clamored for their return.
Back they came, and now the heiress must make ready to take her place,
for at twenty-one she came into possession of the fortune she had been
trying to learn how to use well. Great plans fermented in her brain,
for, though the heart was as generous as ever, time had taught her
prudence and observation shown her that the wisest charity is that which
helps the poor to help themselves.
Dr. Alec found it a little difficult to restrain the ardor of this young
philanthropist who wanted to begin at once to endow hospitals, build
homes, adopt children, and befriend all mankind.
“Take a little time to look about you and get your bearings, child. The
world you have been living in is a much simpler, honester one than that
you are now to enter. Test yourself a bit and see if the old ways seem
best after all, for you are old enough to decide, and wise enough to
discover, what is for your truest good, I hope,” he said, trying to feel
ready to let the bird escape from under his wing and make little flights
alone.
“Now, Uncle, I'm very much afraid you are going to be disappointed in
me,” answered Rose with unusual hesitation yet a very strong desire
visible in her eyes. “You like to have me quite honest, and I've learned
to tell you all my foolish thoughts so I'll speak out, and if you find
my wish very wrong and silly, please say so, for I don't want you to
cast me off entirely, though I am grown up. You say, wait a little, test
myself, and try if the old ways are best. I should like to do that, and
can I in a better way than leading the life other girls lead? Just for a
little while,” she added, as her uncle's face grew grave.
He was disappointed, yet acknowledged that the desire was natural and
in a moment saw that a trial of this sort might have its advantages.
Nevertheless, he dreaded it, for he had intended to choose her society
carefully and try to keep her unspoiled by the world as long as
possible, like many another fond parent and guardian. But the spirit of
Eve is strong in all her daughters forbidden fruit will look rosier to
them than any in their own orchards, and the temptation to take just one
little bite proves irresistible to the wisest. So Rose, looking out from
the safe seclusion of her girlhood into the woman's kingdom which she
was about to take possession of, felt a sudden wish to try its pleasures
before assuming its responsibilities, and was too sincere to hide the
longing.
“Very well, my dear, try it if you like, only take care of your health
be temperate in your gaiety and don't lose more than you gain, if that
is possible,” he added under his breath, endeavoring to speak cheerfully
and not look anxious.
“I know it is foolish, but I do want to be a regular butterfly for a
little while and see what it is like. You know I couldn't help seeing a
good deal of fashionable life abroad, though we were not in it, and here
at home the girls tell me about all sorts of pleasant things that are to
happen this winter, so if you won't despise me very much, I should like
to try it.”
“For how long?”
“Would three months be too long? New Year is a good time to take a fresh
start. Everyone is going to welcome me, so I must be gay in spite of
myself, unless I'm willing to seem very ungrateful and morose,” said
Rose, glad to have so good a reason to offer for her new experiment.
“You may like it so well that the three months may become years.
Pleasure is very sweet when we are young.”
“Do you think it will intoxicate me?”
“We shall see, my dear.”
“We shall!” And Rose marched away, looking as if she had taken a pledge
of some sort, and meant to keep it.
It was a great relief to the public mind when it became known that Miss
Campbell was really coming out at last, and invitations to Aunt Plenty's
party were promptly accepted. Aunt Clara was much disappointed about the
grand ball she had planned, but Rose stood firm, and the dear old lady
had her way about everything.
The consequence was a delightfully informal gathering of friends to
welcome the travelers home. Just a good, old-fashioned, hospitable
housewarming, so simple, cordial, and genuine that those who came to
criticize remained to enjoy, and many owned the charm they could neither
describe nor imitate.
Much curiosity was felt about Phebe, and much gossip went on behind fans
that evening, for those who had known her years ago found it hard to
recognize the little housemaid in the handsome young woman who bore
herself with such quiet dignity and charmed them all with her fine
voice. “Cinderella has turned out a princess,” was the general verdict,
and Rose enjoyed the little sensation immensely, for she had had many
battles to fight for her Phebe since she came among them, and now her
faith was vindicated.
Miss Campbell herself was in great demand and did the honors so prettily
that even Miss Bliss forgave her for her sad neglect of Worth, though
she shook her head over the white gowns, just alike except that Phebe
wore crimson and Rose, blue trimmings.
The girls swarmed eagerly around their recovered friend, for Rose had
been a favorite before she went away and found her throne waiting for
her now. The young men privately pronounced Phebe the handsomest “But
then you know there's neither family nor money, so it's no use.” Phebe,
therefore, was admired as one of the ornamental properties belonging to
the house and left respectfully alone.
But bonny Rose was “all right,” as these amiable youths expressed it,
and many a wistful eye followed the bright head as it flitted about the
rooms as if it were a second Golden Fleece to be won with difficulty,
for stalwart kinsmen hedged it round, and watchful aunts kept guard.
Little wonder that the girl found her new world an enchanting one and
that her first sip of pleasure rather went to her head, for everybody
welcomed and smiled on her, flattered and praised, whispered agreeable
prophecies in her ear, and looked the compliments and congratulations
they dared not utter till she felt as if she must have left her old self
somewhere abroad and suddenly become a new and wonderfully gifted being.
“It is very nice, Uncle, and I'm not sure I mayn't want another three
months of it when the first are gone,” she whispered to Dr. Alec as he
stood watching the dance she was leading with Charlie in the long hall
after supper.
“Steady, my lass, steady, and remember that you are not really a
butterfly but a mortal girl with a head that will ache tomorrow,” he
answered, watching the flushed and smiling face before him. “I almost
wish there wasn't any tomorrow, but that tonight would last forever it
is so pleasant, and everyone so kind,” she said with a little sigh of
happiness as she gathered up her fleecy skirts like a white bird pluming
itself for flight.
“I'll ask your opinion about that at two A.M.,” began her uncle with a
warning nod.
“I'll give it honestly,” was all Rose had time to say before Charlie
swept her away into the particolored cloud before them.
“It's no use, Alec train a girl as wisely as you choose, she will break
loose when the time comes and go in for pleasure as eagerly as the most
frivolous, for ''tis their nature to,'” said Uncle Mac, keeping time
to the music as if he would not mind “going in” for a bit of pleasure
himself.
“My girl shall taste and try, but unless I'm much mistaken, a little
bit of it will satisfy her. I want to see if she will stand the test,
because if not, all my work is a failure and I'd like to know it,”
answered the doctor with a hopeful smile on his lips but an anxious look
in his eyes.
“She will come out all right bless her heart! so let her sow her
innocent wild oats and enjoy herself till she is ready to settle down.
I wish all our young folks were likely to have as small a crop and get
through as safely as she will,” added Uncle Mac with a shake of the head
as he glanced at some of the young men revolving before him.
“Nothing amiss with your lads, I hope?”
“No, thank heaven! So far I've had little trouble with either, though
Mac is an odd stick and Steve a puppy. I don't complain, for both will
outgrow that sort of thing and are good fellows at heart, thanks to
their mother. But Clara's boy is in a bad way, and she will spoil him as
a man as she has as a boy if his father doesn't interfere.”
“I told brother Stephen all about him when I was in Calcutta last year,
and he wrote to the boy, but Clara has got no end of plans in her head
and so she insisted on keeping Charlie a year longer when his father
ordered him off to India,” replied the doctor as they walked away.
“It is too late to 'order' Charlie is a man now, and Stephen will find
he has been too easy with him all these years. Poor fellow, it has been
hard lines for him, and is likely to be harder, I fancy, unless he comes
home and straightens things out.”
“He won't do that if he can help it. He has lost all his energy living
in that climate and hates worry more than ever, so you can imagine what
an effort it would be to manage a foolish woman and a headstrong boy. We
must lend a hand, Mac, and do our best for poor old Steve.”
“The best we can do for the lad is to marry and settle him as soon as
possible.”
“My dear fellow, he is only three and twenty,” began the doctor, as
if the idea was preposterous. Then a sudden change came over him as
he added with a melancholy smile, “I forget how much one can hope and
suffer, even at twenty-three.”
“And be all the better for, if bravely outlived,” said Uncle Mac, with
his hand on his brother's shoulder and the sincerest approval in
his voice. Then, kindly returning to the younger people, he went on
inquiringly, “You don't incline to Clara's view of a certain matter, I
fancy?”
“Decidedly not. My girl must have the best, and Clara's training would
spoil an angel,” answered Dr. Alec quickly.
“But we shall find it hard to let our little Rose go out of the family.
How would Archie do? He has been well brought up and is a thoroughly
excellent lad.”
The brothers had retired to the study by this time and were alone, yet
Dr. Alec lowered his voice as he said with a tender sort of anxiety
pleasant to see: “You know I do not approve of cousins marrying, so I'm
in a quandary, Mac, for I love the child as if she were my own and feel
as if I could not give her up to any man whom I did not know and trust
entirely. It is of no use for us to plan, for she must choose for
herself yet I do wish we could keep her among us and give one of our
boys a wife worth having.”
“We must, so never mind your theories but devote yourself to testing our
elder lads and making one of them a happy fellow. All are heart-whole,
I believe, and, though young still for this sort of thing, we can be
gently shaping matters for them, since no one knows how soon the moment
may come. My faith it is like living in a powder mill to be among a lot
of young folks nowadays! All looks as calm as possible till a sudden
spark produces an explosion, and heaven only knows where we find
ourselves after it is over.”
And Uncle Mac sat himself comfortably down to settle Rose's fate while
the doctor paced the room, plucking at his beard and knitting his brows
as if he found it hard to see his way.
“Yes, Archie is a good fellow,” he said, answering the question he had
ignored before. “An upright, steady, intelligent lad who will make an
excellent husband if he ever finds out that he has a heart. I suppose
I'm an old fool, but I do like a little more romance in a young man than
he seems to have more warmth and enthusiasm, you know. Bless the boy! He
might be forty instead of three or four and twenty, he's so sober, calm,
and cool. I'm younger than he is, and could go a-wooing like a Romeo if
I had any heart to offer a woman.”
The doctor looked rather shamefaced as he spoke, and his brother
burst out laughing. “See here, Alec, it's a pity so much romance and
excellence as yours should be lost, so why don't you set these young
fellows an example and go a-wooing yourself? Jessie has been wondering
how you have managed to keep from falling in love with Phebe all this
time, and Clara is quite sure that you waited only till she was safe
under Aunt Plenty's wing to offer yourself in the good old-fashioned
style.”
“I!” And the doctor stood aghast at the mere idea, then he gave a
resigned sort of sigh and added like a martyr, “If those dear women
would let me alone, I'd thank them forever. Put the idea out of their
minds for heaven's sake, Mac, or I shall be having that poor girl flung
at my head and her comfort destroyed. She is a fine creature and I'm
proud of her, but she deserves a better lot than to be tied to an old
fellow like me whose only merit is his fidelity.”
“As you please, I was only joking,” and Uncle Mac dropped the subject
with secret relief. The excellent man thought a good deal of family and
had been rather worried at the hints of the ladies. After a moment's
silence he returned to a former topic, which was rather a pet plan of
his. “I don't think you do Archie justice, Alec. You don't know him as
well as I do, but you'll find that he has heart enough under his cool,
quiet manner. I've grown very fond of him, think highly of him, and
don't see how you could do better for Rose than to give her to him.”
“If she will go,” said the doctor, smiling at his brother's businesslike
way of disposing of the young people.
“She'll do anything to please you,” began Uncle Mac in perfect good
faith, for twenty-five years in the society of a very prosaic wife had
taken nearly all the romance out of him.
“It is of no use for us to plan, and I shall never interfere except to
advise, and if I were to choose one of the boys, I should incline to my
godson,” answered the doctor gravely.
“What, my Ugly Duckling!” exclaimed Uncle Mac in great surprise.
“The Ugly Duckling turned out a swan, you remember. I've always been
fond of the boy because he's so genuine and original. Crude as a green
apple now, but sound at the core, and only needs time to ripen. I'm sure
he'll turn out a capital specimen of the Campbell variety.”
“Much obliged, Alec, but it will never do at all. He's a good fellow,
and may do something to be proud of by and by, but he's not the mate
for our Rose. She needs someone who can manage her property when we are
gone, and Archie is the man for that, depend upon it.”
“Confound the property!” cried Dr. Alec impetuously. “I want her to
be happy, and I don't care how soon she gets rid of her money if it is
going to be a millstone round her neck. I declare to you, I dreaded the
thought of this time so much that I've kept her away as long as I could
and trembled whenever a young fellow joined us while we were abroad.
Had one or two narrow escapes, and now I'm in for it, as you can see
by tonight's 'success' as Clara calls it. Thank heaven I haven't many
daughters to look after!”
“Come, come, don't be anxious take Archie and settle it right up safely
and happily. That's my advice, and you'll find it sound,” replied the
elder conspirator, like one having experience.
“I'll think of it, but mind you, Mac, not a word of this to the sisters.
We are a couple of old fools to be matchmaking so soon but I see what is
before me and it's a comfort to free my mind to someone.”
“So it is. Depend on me not a breath even to Jane,” answered Uncle Mac,
with a hearty shake and a sympathetic slap on the shoulder.
“Why, what dark and awful secrets are going on here? Is it a Freemason's
Lodge and those the mystic signs?” asked a gay voice at the door; and
there stood Rose, full of smiling wonder at the sight of her two uncles
hand in hand, whispering and nodding to one another mysteriously.
They stared like schoolboys caught plotting mischief and looked so
guilty that she took pity on them, innocently imagining the brothers
were indulging in a little sentiment on this joyful occasion, so she
added quickly, as she beckoned, without crossing the threshold, “Women
not allowed, of course, but both of you dear Odd Fellows are wanted, for
Aunt Plenty begs we will have an old-fashioned contra dance, and I'm to
lead off with Uncle Mac. I chose you, sir, because you do it in style,
pigeon wings and all. So, please come and Phebe is waiting for you,
Uncle Alec. She is rather shy you know, but will enjoy it with you to
take care of her.”
“Thank you, thank you!” cried both gentlemen, following with great
alacrity.
Unconscious, Rose enjoyed that Virginia reel immensely, for the
pigeon wings were superb, and her partner conducted her through the
convolutions of the dance without a fault, going down the middle in his
most gallant style. Landing safely at the bottom, she stood aside to let
him get his breath, for stout Uncle Mac was bound to do or die on that
occasion and would have danced his pumps through without a murmur if she
had desired it.
Leaning against the wall with his hair in his eyes, and a decidedly
bored expression of countenance, was Mac, Jr., who had been surveying
the gymnastics of his parent with respectful astonishment.
“Come and take a turn, my lad. Rose is fresh as a daisy, but we old
fellows soon get enough of it, so you shall have my place,” said his
father, wiping his face, which glowed like a cheerful peony.
“No, thank you, sir I can't stand that sort of thing. I'll race you
round the piazza with pleasure, Cousin, but his oven is too much for
me,” was Mac's uncivil reply as he backed toward the open window, as if
glad of an excuse to escape.
“Fragile creature, don't stay on my account, I beg. I can't leave my
guests for a moonlight run, even if I dared to take it on a frosty night
in a thin dress,” said Rose, fanning herself and not a bit ruffled by
Mac's refusal, for she knew his ways and they amused her.
“Not half so bad as all this dust, gas, heat, and noise. What do you
suppose lungs are made of?” demanded Mac, ready for a discussion then
and there.
“I used to know, but I've forgotten now. Been so busy with other things
that I've neglected the hobbies I used to ride five or six years ago,”
she said, laughing.
“Ah, those were times worth having! Are you going in for much of
this sort of thing, Rose?” he asked with a disapproving glance at the
dancers.
“About three months of it, I think.”
“Then good-bye till New Year.” And Mac vanished behind the curtains.
“Rose, my dear, you really must take that fellow in hand before he gets
to be quite a bear. Since you have been gone he has lived in his books
and got on so finely that we have let him alone, though his mother
groans over his manners. Polish him up a bit, I beg of you, for it is
high time he mended his odd ways and did justice to the fine gifts he
hides behind them,” said Uncle Mac, scandalized at the bluntness of his
son.
“I know my chestnut burr too well to mind his prickles. But others do
not, so I will take him in hand and make him a credit to his family,”
answered Rose readily.
“Take Archie for your model he's one of a thousand, and the girl who
gets him gets a prize, I do assure you,” added Uncle Mac, who found
matchmaking to his taste and thought that closing remark a deep one.
“Oh, me, how tired I am!” cried Rose, dropping into a chair as the last
carriage rolled away somewhere between one and two.
“What is your opinion now, Miss Campbell?” asked the doctor, addressing
her for the first time by the name which had been uttered so often that
night.
“My opinion is that Miss Campbell is likely to have a gay life if she
goes on as she has begun, and that she finds it very delightful so far,”
answered the girl, with lips still smiling from their first taste of
what the world calls pleasure.