CHAPTER IX.
_NEW-YEAR'S CALLS._
"Now I'm going to turn over a new leaf, as I promised. I wonder what Ishall find on the next page?" said Rose, coming down on New-Year'smorning, with a serious face, and a thick letter in her hand.
"Tired of frivolity, my dear?" asked her uncle, pausing, in his walkup and down the hall, to glance at her with the quick, bright look sheliked to bring into his eyes.
"No, sir, and that's the sad part of it; but I've made up my mind tostop while I can, because I'm sure it is not good for me. I've hadsome very sober thoughts lately; for, since my Phebe went away, I'vehad no heart for gayety: so it is a good place to stop and make afresh 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 Roseheld the letter against her bosom with a tender touch, for Phebe'sstrength had inspired her with a desire to be as self-reliant. "I'mgoing to set about living in earnest, as she has; though I think itwill be harder for me than for her, because she stands alone, and hasa career marked out for her. I'm nothing but a common-place sort ofgirl, with no end of relations to be consulted every time I wink, anda dreadful fortune hanging like a millstone round my neck, to weigh medown if I try to fly. It is a hard case, uncle, and I get low in mymind when I think about it," sighed Rose, oppressed with herblessings.
"Afflicted child! how can I relieve you?" And there was amusement aswell as sympathy in Dr. Alec's face, as he patted the hand upon hisarm.
"Please don't laugh, for I really _am_ trying to be good. In the firstplace, help me to wean myself from foolish pleasures, and show me howto 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 seeyour houses. They are all ready, and Mrs. Gardener has half a dozenpoor souls waiting to go in as soon as you give the word," answeredthe doctor, promptly, glad to get his girl back again, though notsurprised that she still looked with regretful eyes at the VanityFair, always so enticing when we are young.
"I'll give it to-day, and make the new year a happy one to those poorsouls at least. I'm so sorry that it's impossible for me to go withyou, but you know I must help Aunty Plen receive. We haven't been herefor 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 asamiable as I ought lately. I really couldn't forgive her for sidingagainst Phebe."
"She did what she thought was right: so we must not blame her. I amgoing to make my New-Year's calls to-day; and, as my friends live downthat way, I'll get the list of names from Mrs. G., and tell the poorladies, with Miss Campbell's compliments, that their new home isready. Shall I?"
"Yes, uncle, but take all the credit to yourself; for I never shouldhave thought of it if you had not proposed the plan."
"Bless your heart! I'm only your agent, and suggest now and then. I'venothing to offer but advice: so I lavish that on all occasions."
"You have nothing because you've given your substance all away asgenerously as you do your advice. Never mind: you shall never come towant 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 quotedCharlie's offensive words, then offered to take the letter, saying, ashe looked at his watch,--
"I'll post that for you in time for the early mail. I like a runbefore breakfast."
But Rose held her letter fast, dimpling with sudden smiles, half merryand half shy.
"No, thank you, sir: Archie likes to do that, and never fails to callfor all I write. He gets a peep at Phebe's in return, and I cheer himup a bit; for, though he says nothing, he has a hard time of it, poorfellow."
"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 ofsentimental youngsters." And the doctor walked away, looking as if heenjoyed the sentiment as much as any of them.
Old Miss Campbell was nearly as great a favorite as young MissCampbell; so a succession of black coats and white gloves flowed inand out of the hospitable mansion pretty steadily all day. The clanwere out in great force, and came by instalments to pay their duty toAunt Plenty, and wish the compliments of the season to "our cousin."Archie appeared first, looking sad but steadfast, and went away withPhebe's letter in his left breast-pocket; feeling that life was stillendurable, though his love was torn from him: for Rose had manycomfortable things to say, and read him delicious bits from thevoluminous correspondence lately begun.
Hardly was he gone, when Will and Geordie came marching in, looking asfine as gray uniforms with much scarlet piping could make them, andfeeling peculiarly important, as this was their first essay inNew-Year's call-making. Brief was their stay, for they planned tovisit every friend they had; and Rose could not help laughing at thedroll mixture of manly dignity and boyish delight with which theydrove off in their own carriage, both as erect as ramrods, armsfolded, and caps stuck at exactly the same angle on each blonde head.
"Here comes the other couple,--Steve, in full feather, with a bigbouquet for Kitty; and poor Mac, looking like a gentleman and feelinglike a martyr, I'm sure," said Rose, watching one carriage turn in asthe 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 cheerhim up with a word of praise; for he came without a struggle, thoughplanning to bolt somewhere with uncle," cried Steve, falling back todisplay his brother, who came in, looking remarkably well in his stateand festival array; for polishing began to tell.
"A happy New Year, aunty; same to you, cousin, and best wishes for asmany more as you deserve," said Mac, heeding Steve no more than if hehad been a fly, as he gave the old lady a hearty kiss, and offeredRose a quaint little nosegay of pansies.
"Heart's-ease: do you think I need it?" she asked, looking up withsudden 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, italways touched her; because he seemed to understand her moods so well.
"Has Archie been here? He said he shouldn't go anywhere else; but Ihope you talked that nonsense out of his head," said Steve, settlinghis tie before the mirror.
"Yes, dear, he came; but looked so out of spirits, I really feltreproached. Rose cheered him up a little: but I don't believe he willfeel equal to making calls, and I hope he won't; for his face tellsthe whole story much too plainly," answered Aunt Plenty, rustlingabout her bountiful table in her richest black silk, with all her oldlace on.
"Oh, he'll get over it in a month or two, and Phebe will soon findanother lover; so don't be worried about him, aunty," said Steve, withthe 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'ttry to find another lover, though she'll probably have them: she isso sweet and good!" cried Rose, indignantly; for, having taken thepair under her protection, she defended them valiantly.
"Then you'd have Arch hope against hope, and never give up, wouldyou?" asked Mac, putting on his glasses to survey the thin boots whichwere his especial abomination.
"Yes, I would! for a lover is not worth having if he's not inearnest."
"Exactly: so you'd like them to wait and work and keep on loving tillthey made you relent, or plainly proved that it was no use."
"If they were good as well as constant, I think I should relent intime."
"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 tenyears' wait or not," put in Steve, who liked to rally Rose about herlovers.
"I'll never forgive you if you say a word to any one. It is only Mac'sodd 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 likeit," said Rose, much annoyed.
"Poor little Penelope! she shall not be teased about her suitors, butleft in peace till her Ulysses comes home," said Mac, sitting down toread the mottoes sticking out of certain fanciful bonbons on thetable.
"It is this fuss about Archie which has demoralized us all. Even theowl waked up, and hasn't got over the excitement yet, you see. He'shad 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 lovemyself 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 thebookworm a slave to the tender passion.
Quite unruffled, Mac leaned his chin in both hands, regarding themwith 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 ofthe most mysterious and remarkable diseases that afflict mankind, andthe 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 willgo 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 isthe greatest we can know, I believe, except death."
Something in Mac's quiet tone and thoughtful eyes made Rose look athim in surprise; for she had never heard him speak in that way before.Steve also stared for an instant, equally amazed; then said below hisbreath, with an air of mock anxiety,--
"He's been catching something at the hospital, typhoid probably, andis beginning to wander. I'll take him quietly away before he gets anywilder. Come, old lunatic, we must be off."
"Don't be alarmed: I'm all right and much obliged for your advice; forI fancy I shall be a desperate lover when my time comes, if it everdoes. You don't think it impossible, do you?" and Mac put the questionso 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 troublelately that I've got interested in this matter, and very naturallywant to investigate the subject as every rational man must, sooner orlater: that's all. Now, Steve, I'm ready," and Mac got up as if thelesson was over.