"And be all the better for, if bravely outlived," said Uncle Mac, withhis hand on his brother's shoulder, and the sincerest approval in hisvoice. Then, kindly returning to the younger people, he went oninquiringly, "You don't incline to Clara's view of a certain matter, Ifancy?"
"Decidedly not. My girl must have the best, and Clara's training wouldspoil an angel," answered Dr. Alec, quickly.
"But we shall find it hard to let our little Rose go out of thefamily. How would Archie do? He has been well brought up, and is athoroughly 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 ofanxiety 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 Icould not give her up to any man whom I did not know and trustentirely. It is of no use for us to plan; for she must choose forherself: yet I do wish we could keep her among us, and give one of ourboys a wife worth having."
"We must; so never mind your theories, but devote yourself to testingour elder lads, and making one of them a happy fellow. All areheart-whole, I believe, and, though young still for this sort ofthing, we can be gently shaping matters for them, since no one knowshow soon the moment may come. My faith! it is like living in apowder-mill to be among a lot of young folks now-a-days. All looks ascalm as possible, till a sudden spark produces an explosion, andheaven 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 knittinghis brows, as if he found it hard to see his way.
"Yes, Archie is a good fellow," he said, answering the question he hadignored before. "An upright, steady, intelligent lad, who will make anexcellent husband, if he ever finds out that he has a heart. I supposeI'm an old fool, but I do like a little more romance in a young manthan he seems to have; more warmth and enthusiasm, you know. Bless theboy! he might be forty instead of three or four and twenty: he's sosober, calm, and cool. I'm younger now than he is, and could goa-wooing like a Romeo if I had any heart to offer a woman."
The doctor looked rather shamefaced as he spoke, and his brother burstout laughing,--
"See here, Alec, it's a pity so much romance and excellence as yoursshould be lost; so why don't you set these young fellows an example,and go a-wooing yourself? Jessie has been wondering how you havemanaged to keep from falling in love with Phebe all this time; andClara is quite sure that you only waited till she was safe under AuntPlenty's wing to offer yourself in the good old-fashioned style."
"I!" and the doctor stood aghast at the mere idea; then he gave aresigned sort of sigh and added like a martyr, "If those dear womenwould let me alone, I'd thank them for ever. Put the idea out of theirminds for heaven's sake, Mac, or I shall be having that poor girlflung 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 toan old fellow like me, whose only merit is his fidelity."
"As you please, I was only joking," and Uncle Mac dropped the subjectwith secret relief; for the excellent man thought a good deal offamily, and had been rather worried at the hints of the ladies. Aftera moment's silence, he returned to a former topic, which was rather apet plan of his. "I don't think you do Archie justice, Alec. You don'tknow him as well as I do; but you'll find that he has heart enoughunder his cool, quiet manner. I've grown very fond of him, thinkhighly of him, and don't see how you could do better for Rose than togive her to him."
"If she will go," said the doctor, smiling at his brother'sbusiness-like way of disposing of the young people.
"She'll do any thing to please you," began Uncle Mac, in perfect goodfaith; for twenty-five years in the society of a very prosaic wife hadtaken nearly all the romance out of him.
"It is of no use for us to plan, and I shall never interfere except toadvise; but, if I _were_ to choose one of the boys, I should inclineto 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 beenfond of the boy, because he's so genuine and original. Crude as agreen 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 w
ill 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 matefor our Rose. She needs some one who can manage her property when weare gone; and Archie is the man for that, depend upon it."
"Confound the property!" cried Dr. Alec, impetuously. "I want her tobe _happy_; and I don't care how soon she gets rid of her money if itis going to be a millstone round her neck. I declare to you, Idreaded the thought of this time so much that I've kept her away aslong as I could, and trembled whenever a young fellow joined us whilewe were abroad. Had one or two narrow escapes, and now I'm in for it,as you can see by to-night's 'success,' as Clara calls it. Thankheaven, I haven't _many_ daughters to look after!"
"Come, come, don't be anxious: take Archie, and settle it right upsafely 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 thesisters. We are a couple of old fools to be match-making so soon; butI 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 UncleMac, with a hearty shake and a sympathetic slap on the shoulder.
"Why, what dark and awful secrets are going on here? Is it aFreemasons' Lodge, and those the mystic signs?" asked a gay voice atthe door; and there stood Rose, full of smiling wonder at the sight ofher two uncles hand in hand, whispering and nodding to one anothermysteriously.
They started, like school-boys caught plotting mischief, and looked soguilty that she took pity on them, innocently imagining that thebrothers were indulging in a little sentiment on this joyful occasion;so she added quickly, as she beckoned, without crossing thethreshold,--
"Women not allowed, of course: but both of you dear Odd Fellows arewanted; for Aunt Plenty begs we will have an old-fashioned contradance, and I'm to lead off with Uncle Mac. I chose you, sir, becauseyou do it in style, pigeon-wings and all. So, please come; and Phebeis waiting for you, Uncle Alec. She is rather shy you know, but willenjoy it with you to take care of her."
"Thank you, thank you!" cried both gentlemen, following with greatalacrity.
Unconscious Rose enjoyed that Virginia reel immensely; for thepigeon-wings were superb, and her partner conducted her through theconvolutions of the dance without a fault, going down the middle inhis most gallant style. Landing safely at the bottom, she stood asideto let him get his breath; for stout Uncle Mac was bound to do or dieon that occasion, and would have danced his pumps through without amurmur if she had desired it.
Leaning against the wall with his hair in his eyes, and a decidedlybored expression of countenance, was Mac, Jr., who had been surveyingthe gymnastics of his parent with respectful astonishment.
"Come and take a turn, my lad. Rose is as fresh as a daisy; but we oldfellows soon get enough of it, so you shall have my place," said hisfather, wiping his face, which glowed like a cheerful peony.
"No, thank you, sir: I can't stand that sort of thing. I'll race youround the piazza with pleasure, cousin; but this oven is too much forme," was Mac's uncivil reply, as he backed toward the open window, asif glad of an excuse to escape.
"Fragile creature, don't stay on my account, I beg. _I_ can't leave myguests for a moonlight run, even if I dared to take it on a frostynight in a thin dress," said Rose, fanning herself, and not a bitruffled 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 yousuppose lungs are made of?" demanded Mac, ready for a discussion thenand there.
"I used to know, but I've forgotten now. Been so busy with otherthings that I've neglected the hobbies I used to ride five or sixyears ago," she said, laughing.
"Ah, those were times worth having! Are you going in for much of thissort of thing, Rose?" he asked, with a disapproving glance at thedancers.
"About three months of it, I think."
"Then good-by till New Year," and Mac vanished behind the curtains.
"Rose, my dear, you really must take that fellow in hand before hegets to be quite a bear. Since you have been gone, he has lived in hisbooks, and got on so finely that we have let him alone, though hismother groans over his manners. Polish him up a bit, I beg of you; forit is high time he mended his odd ways, and did justice to the finegifts he hides behind them," said Uncle Mac, scandalized at thebluntness of his son.
"I know my chestnut-burr too well to mind his prickles. But others donot; so I _will_ take him in hand and make him a credit to thefamily," answered Rose, readily.
"Take Archie for your model: he's one of a thousand; and the girl whogets him gets a prize I do assure you," added Uncle Mac, who foundmatch-making 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 lastcarriage 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 utteredso often that night.
"My opinion is that Miss Campbell is likely to have a gay life if shegoes on as she has begun; and that she finds it very delightful sofar," answered the girl, with lips still smiling from their firsttaste of what the world calls pleasure.