CHAPTER XII.
_AT KITTY'S BALL._
Rose had no new gown to wear on this festive occasion, and gave onelittle sigh of regret as she put on the pale blue silk, refreshed withclouds of _gaze de Chambrey_. But a smile followed, very bright andsweet, as she added the clusters of forget-me-not which Charlie hadconjured up through the agency of an old German florist: for one partof her plan _had_ been carried out, and Prince was invited to be herescort, much to his delight; though he wisely made no protestations ofany sort, and showed his gratitude by being a model gentleman. Thispleased Rose; for the late humiliation and a very sincere desire toatone for it, gave him an air of pensive dignity which was veryeffective.
Aunt Clara could not go; for a certain new cosmetic, privately used toimprove the once fine complexion, which had been her pride till latehours impaired it, had brought out an unsightly eruption, reducing herto the depths of woe, and leaving her no solace for her disappointmentbut the sight of the elegant velvet dress spread forth upon her bed inmelancholy state.
So Aunt Jessie was chaperon, to Rose's great satisfaction, and lookedas "pretty as a pink," Archie thought, in her matronly pearl-coloredgown, with a dainty trifle of rich lace on her still abundant hair. Hewas very proud of his little mamma, and as devoted as a lover, "tokeep his hand in against Phebe's return," she said laughingly, when hebrought her a nosegay of blush-roses to light up her quiet costume.
A happier mother did not live than Mrs. Jessie, as she sat contentedlybeside Sister Jane (who graced the frivolous scene in a serious blackgown with a diadem of purple asters nodding above her severe brow),both watching their boys with the maternal conviction that no otherparent could show such remarkable specimens as these. Each had doneher best according to her light; and years of faithful care were nowbeginning to bear fruit in the promise of goodly men, so dear to thehearts of true mothers.
Mrs. Jessie watched her three tall sons with something like wonder;for Archie was a fine fellow, grave and rather stately, but full ofthe cordial courtesy and respect we see so little of now-a-days, andwhich is the sure sign of good home-training. "The cadets," as Willand Geordie called themselves, were there as gorgeous as you please;and the agonies they suffered that night with tight boots and stiffcollars no pen can fitly tell. But only to one another did theyconfide these sufferings, in the rare moments of repose when theycould stand on one aching foot with heads comfortably sunken insidethe excruciating collars, which rasped their ears and made the lobesthereof a pleasing scarlet. Brief were these moments, however; andthe Spartan boys danced on with smiling faces, undaunted by the hiddenanguish which preyed upon them "fore and aft," as Will expressed it.
Mrs. Jane's pair were an odd contrast, and even the sterndisciplinarian herself could not help smiling as she watched them.Steve was superb, and might have been married on the spot, sosuperfine was his broadcloth, glossy his linen, and perfect the fit ofhis gloves; while pride and happiness so fermented in his youthfulbosom, that there would have been danger of spontaneous combustion ifdancing had not proved a safety-valve; for his strong sense of theproprieties would not permit him to vent his emotions in any otherway.
Kitty felt no such restraint, and looked like a blissful little gypsy,with her brunette prettiness set off by a dashing costume of cardinaland cream color, and every hair on her head curled in a MerryPecksniffian crop; for youth was her strong point, and she muchenjoyed the fact that she had been engaged three times before she wasnineteen.
To see her and Steve spin round the room was a sight to bring a smileto the lips of the crustiest bachelor or saddest spinster; for happylovers are always a pleasing spectacle, and two such merry littlegrigs as these are seldom seen.
Mac, meantime, with glasses astride of his nose, surveyed hisbrother's performances "on the light fantastic" very much as abenevolent Newfoundland would the gambols of a toy terrier, receivingwith thanks the hasty hints for his guidance which Steve breathed intohis ear as he passed, and forgetting all about them the next minute.When not thus engaged, Mac stood about with his thumbs in his vestpockets, regarding the lively crowd like a meditative philosopher of acheerful aspect, often smiling to himself at some whimsical fancy ofhis own, knitting his brows as some bit of ill-natured gossip met hisear, or staring with undisguised admiration as a beautiful face orfigure caught his eye.
"I hope that girl knows what a treasure she has got. But I doubt ifshe ever fully appreciates it," said Mrs. Jane, bringing herspectacles to bear upon Kitty, as she whisked by, causing quite a galewith her flying skirts.
"I think she will: for Steve has been so well brought up, she cannotbut see and feel the worth of what she has never had; and being soyoung she will profit by it," answered Mrs. Jessie, softly; thinkingof the days when she and her Jem danced together, just betrothed.
"I've done my duty by both the boys, and done it _thoroughly_: ortheir father would have spoilt them; for he's no more idea ofdiscipline than a child," and Aunt Jane gave her own palm a smart rapwith her closed fan, emphasizing the word "thoroughly" in a mostsuggestive manner.
"I've often wished I had your firmness, Jane: but, after all, I'm notsure that I don't like my own way best, at least with my boys; forplenty of love, and plenty of patience, seem to have succeeded prettywell;" and Aunt Jessie lifted the nosegay from her lap, feeling as ifthat unfailing love and patience were already blooming into her life,as beautifully as the sweet-breathed roses given by her boy refreshedand brightened these long hours of patient waiting in a corner.
"I don't deny that you've done well, Jessie; but you've been letalone, and had no one to hold your hand or interfere. If my Mac hadgone to sea as your Jem did, I never should have been as severe as Iam. Men are so perverse and short-sighted, they don't trouble aboutthe future as long as things are quiet and comfortable in thepresent," continued Mrs. Jane, quite forgetting that the short-sightedpartner of the firm, physically speaking at least, was herself.
"Ah, yes! we mothers love to foresee and foretell our children's liveseven before they are born, and are very apt to be disappointed if theydo not turn out as we planned. I know I am: yet I really have no causeto complain, and am learning to see that all we can do is to give thedear boys good principles, and the best training we may, then leavethem to finish what we have begun;" and Mrs. Jessie's eye wanderedaway to Archie, dancing with Rose, quite unconscious what a prettylittle castle in the air tumbled down when he fell in love withPhebe.
"Right, quite right: on that point we agree exactly. I have sparednothing to give my boys good principles and good habits, and I amwilling to trust them anywhere. Nine times did I whip my Steve to curehim of fibbing, and over and over again did Mac go without his dinnerrather than wash his hands. But I whipped and starved them both intoobedience, and _now_ I have my reward," concluded the "stern parent,"with a proud wave of the fan, which looked very like a ferule, beingas big, hard, and uncompromising as such an article could be.
Mrs. Jessie gave a mild murmur of assent, but could not help thinking,with a smile, that, in spite of their early tribulations, the sins forwhich the boys suffered had got a little mixed in their results; forfibbing Steve was now the tidy one, and careless Mac the truth-teller.But such small contradictions will happen in the best-regulatedfamilies, and all perplexed parents can do is to keep up a steadfastpreaching and practising, in the hope that it will bear fruitsometime; for according to the old proverb,--
"'Children pick up words as pigeons pease, To utter them again as God shall please.'"
"I hope they won't dance the child to death among them; for each oneseems bound to have his turn, even your sober Mac," said Mrs. Jessie,a few minutes later, as she saw Archie hand Rose over to his cousin,who carried her off with an air of triumph from several otherclaimants.
"She's very good to him, and her influence is excellent; for he is ofan age now when a young woman's opinion has more weight than an oldone's. Though he is always good to his mother, and I feel as if Ishould take great comfort in him. He's one of
the sort who will notmarry till late, if ever, being fond of books and a quiet life,"responded Mrs. Jane, remembering how often her son had expressed hisbelief that philosophers should not marry, and brought up Plato as anexample of the serene wisdom only to be attained by a single man,while her husband sided with Socrates, for whom he felt a profoundsympathy, though he didn't dare to own it.
"Well, I don't know about that. Since my Archie surprised me by losinghis heart as he did, I'm prepared for any thing, and advise you to dolikewise. I really shouldn't wonder if Mac did something remarkable inthat line, though he shows no signs of it yet, I confess," answeredMrs. Jessie, laughing.
"It won't be in that direction, you may be sure; for _her_ fate issealed. Dear me, how sad it is to see a superior girl, like that,about to throw herself away on a handsome scapegrace. I won't mentionnames, but you understand me;" and Mrs. Jane shook her head, as if she_could_ mention the name of one superior girl who had thrown herselfaway, and now saw the folly of it.
"I'm very anxious, of course, and so is Alec: but it may be the savingof one party, and the happiness of the other; for some women love togive more than they receive," said Mrs. Jessie, privately wondering,for the thousandth time, why brother Mac ever married the learned MissHumphries.
"You'll see that it won't prosper; and I shall always maintain that awife cannot entirely undo a mother's work. Rose will have her handsfull if she tries to set all Clara's mistakes right," answered AuntJane, grimly; then began to fan violently as their hostess approachedto have a dish of chat about "our dear young people."
Rose was in a merry mood that night, and found Mac quite ready forfun, which was fortunate, since her first remark set them off on adroll subject.
"O Mac! Annabel has just confided to me that she is engaged to FunSee! Think of her going to housekeeping in Canton some day, and havingto order rats, puppies, and birds'-nest soup for dinner," whisperedRose, too much amused to keep the news to herself.
"By Confucius! isn't that a sweet prospect?" and Mac burst outlaughing, to the great surprise of his neighbors, who wondered whatthere was amusing about the Chinese sage. "It is rather alarming,though, to have these infants going on at this rate. Seems to becatching; a new sort of scarlet-fever, to judge by Annabel's cheeksand Kitty's gown," he added, regarding the aforesaid ladies with eyesstill twinkling with merriment.
"Don't be ungallant, but go and do likewise; for it is all thefashion. I heard Mrs. Van tell old Mrs. Joy that it was going to be amarrying year; so you'll be sure to catch it," answered Rose, reefingher skirts; for, with all his training, Mac still found it difficultto keep his long legs out of the man-traps.
"It doesn't look like a painful disease; but I must be careful, forI've no time to be ill now. What are the symptoms?" asked Mac, tryingto combine business with pleasure, and improve his mind while doinghis duty.
"If you ever come back I'll tell you," laughed Rose, as he danced awayinto the wrong corner, bumped smartly against another gentleman, andreturned as soberly as if that was the proper figure.
"Well, tell me 'how not to do it,'" he said, subsiding for a moment'stalk when Rose had floated to and fro in her turn.
"Oh! you see some young girl who strikes you as particularlycharming,--whether she really is or not doesn't matter a bit,--and youbegin to think about her a great deal, to want to see her, and to getgenerally sentimental and absurd," began Rose, finding it difficult togive a diagnosis of the most mysterious disease under the sun.
"Don't think it sounds enticing. Can't I find an antidote somewhere;for if it is in the air this year I'm sure to get it, and it may befatal," said Mac, who felt pretty lively and liked to make Rose merry;for he suspected that she had a little trouble from a hint Dr. Alechad given him.
"I hope you will catch it, because you'll be so funny."
"Will you take care of me as you did before, or have you got yourhands full?"
"I'll help; but really with Archie and Steve and--Charlie, I shallhave enough to do. You'd better take it lightly the first time, and sowon't need much care."
"Very well, how shall I begin? Enlighten my ignorance and start meright, I beg."
"Go about and see people; make yourself agreeable, and not sit incorners observing other people as if they were puppets dancing foryour amusement. I heard Mrs. Van once say that propinquity workswonders; and she ought to know, having married off two daughters, andjust engaged a third to 'a most charming young man.'"
"Good lack! the cure sounds worse than the disease. Propinquity, hey?Why, I may be in danger this identical moment, and can't flee for mylife," said Mac, gently catching her round the waist for a generalwaltz.
"Don't be alarmed, but mind your steps; for Charlie is looking at us,and I want you to do your best. That's perfect: take me quite round;for I love to waltz, and seldom get a good turn except with you boys,"said Rose, smiling up at him approvingly, as his strong arm guided heramong the revolving couples, and his feet kept time without a fault.
"This certainly is a great improvement on the chair business, towhich I have devoted myself with such energy that I've broken thebacks of two partners and dislocated the arm of the old rocker. I tookan occasional turn with that heavy party, thinking it good practice incase I ever happen to dance with stout ladies," and Mac nodded towardAnnabel, pounding gaily away with Mr. Tokio, whose yellow countenancebeamed as his beady eyes rested on his plump _fiancee_.
Pausing in the midst of her merriment at the image of Mac and the oldrocking-chair, Rose said reprovingly,--
"Though a heathen Chinee, Fun puts you to shame; for _he_ did not askfoolish questions, but went a wooing like a sensible little man; andI've no doubt Annabel will be very happy."
"Choose me a suitable divinity, and I will try to adore. Can I do morethan that to retrieve my character?" answered Mac, safely landing hispartner, and plying the fan according to instructions.
"How would Emma do?" inquired Rose, whose sense of the ludicrous wasstrong, and who could not resist the temptation of horrifying Mac bythe suggestion.
"Never! It sets my teeth on edge to look at her to-night. I supposethat dress is 'a sweet thing just out;' but, upon my word, she remindsme of nothing but a harlequin ice," and Mac turned his back on herwith a shudder; for he was sensitive to discords of all kinds.
"She certainly does; and that mixture of chocolate, pea green, andpink is simply detestable, though many people would consider itdecidedly 'chic,' to use her favorite word. I suppose you will dressyour wife like a Spartan matron of the time of Lycurgus," added Rose,much tickled by his new conceit.
"I'll wait till I get her before I decide. But one thing I'm sureof,--she shall _not_ dress like a Greek dancer of the time ofPericles," answered Mac, regarding with great disfavor a young ladywho, having a statuesque figure, affected drapery of the scanty andclinging description.
"Then it is of no use to suggest that classic creature; so, as youreject my first attempts, I won't go on, but look about me quietly,and you had better do the same. Seriously, Mac, more gayety and lessstudy would do you good; for you will grow old before your time, ifyou shut yourself up and pore over books so much."
"I don't believe there is a younger or a jollier feeling fellow in theroom than I am, though I may not conduct myself like a dancingdervish. But I own you may be right about the books; for there aremany sorts of intemperance, and a library is as irresistible to me asa bar-room to a toper. I shall have to sign a pledge, and cork up theonly bottle that tempts me,--my inkstand."
"I'll tell you how to make it easier to abstain. Stop studying, andwrite a novel into which you can put all your wise things, and soclear your brains for a new start by and by. Do: I should _so_ liketo read it," cried Rose, delighted with the project; for she was sureMac could do any thing he liked in that line.
"First live, then write. How can I go to romancing till I know whatromance means?" he asked soberly, feeling that so far he had had verylittle in his life.
"Then you must find out, and nothing will help
you more than to lovesome one very much. Do as I've advised, and be a modern Diogenes goingabout with spectacles, instead of a lantern, in search, not of anhonest man, but a perfect woman. I do hope you will be successful,"and Rose made her courtesy as the dance ended.
"I don't expect perfection, but I _should_ like one as good as theyever make them now-a-days. If you are looking for the honest man, Iwish you success in return," said Mac, relinquishing her fan with aglance of such sympathetic significance that a quick flush of feelingrose to the girl's face, as she answered very low,--
"If honesty was all I wanted, I certainly have found it in you."