"steve, i want you to tell me something," said rose to dandy, whowas making faces at himself in the glass, while he waited for ananswer to the note he brought from his mother to aunt plenty.
"p'raps i will, and p'raps i won't. what is it?""haven't arch and charlie quarrelled?""dare say; we fellows are always having little rows, you know. ido believe a sty is coming on my star-board eye," and steveaffected to be absorbed in a survey of his yellow lashes.
"no, that won't do; i want to know all about it; for i'm suresomething more serious than a 'little row' is the matter. come,please tell me, stenie, there's a dear.""botheration! you don't want me to turn telltale, do you?" growledsteve, pulling his top-knot, as he always did when perplexed.
"yes, i do," was rose's decided answer for she saw from hismanner that she was right, and determined to have the secret out ofhim if coaxing would do it. "i don't wish you to tell things toeveryone, of course, but to me you may, and you must, because ihave a right to know. you boys need somebody to look after you,and i'm going to do it, for girls are nice peacemakers, and knowhow to manage people. uncle said so, and he is never wrong."steve was about to indulge in a derisive hoot at the idea of herlooking after them, but a sudden thought restrained him, andsuggested a way in which he could satisfy rose, and better himselfat the same time.
"what will you give me if i'll tell you every bit about it?" he asked,with a sudden red in his cheeks and an uneasy look in his eyes, forhe was half ashamed of the proposition.
"what do you want?" and rose looked up rather surprised at hisquestion.
"i'd like to borrow some money. i shouldn't think of asking you,only mac never has a cent. since he's set up his old chemical shop,where he'll blow himself to bits some day, and you and uncle willhave the fun of putting him together again," and steve tried to lookas if the idea amused him.
"i'll lend it to you with pleasure, so tell away," said rose, bound toget at the secret.
evidently much relieved by the promise, steve set his top-knotcheerfully erect again, and briefly stated the case.
"as you say, it's all right to tell you, but don't let the boys know iblabbed, or prince will take my head off. you see, archie don'tlike some of the fellows charlie goes with, and cuts 'em. thatmakes prince mad, and he holds on just to plague arch, so theydon't speak to one another, if they can help it, and that's the row.""are those boys bad?" asked rose, anxiously.
"guess not, only rather wild. they are older than our fellows, butthey like prince, he's such a jolly boy; sings so well, dances jigsand breakdowns, you know, and plays any game that's going. hebeat morse at billiards, and that's something to brag of, for morsethinks he knows everything. i saw the match, and it was great fun!"steve got quite excited over the prowess of charlie, whom headmired immensely, and tried to imitate. rose did not know halfthe danger of such gifts and tastes as charlie's, but feltinstinctively that something must be wrong if archie disapproved.
"if prince likes any billiard-playing boy better than archie, i don'tthink much of his sense," she said severely.
"of course he doesn't; but, you see, charlie and arch are both asproud as they can be, and won't give in. i suppose arch is right, buti don't blame charlie a bit for liking to be with the otherssometimes, they are such a jolly set," and steve shook his headmorally, even while his eye twinkled over the memory of some ofthe exploits of the "jolly set.""oh, dear me!" sighed rose, "i don't see what i can do about it, buti wish the boys would make up, for prince can't come to any harmwith archie, he's so good and sensible.""that's the trouble; arch preaches, and prince won't stand it. hetold arch he was a prig and a parson, and arch told him he wasn'ta gentleman. my boots! weren't they both mad, though! i thoughtfor a minute they'd pitch into one another and have it out. wishthey had, and not gone stalking round stiff and glum ever since.
mac and i settle our rows with a bat or so over the head, and thenwe are all right."rose couldn't help laughing as steve sparred away at a fatsofa-pillow, to illustrate his meaning; and, having given it severalscientific whacks, he pulled down his cuffs and smiled upon herwith benign pity for her feminine ignorance of this summary wayof settling a quarrel.
"what droll things boys are!" she said, with a mixture ofadmiration and perplexity in her face, which steve accepted as acompliment to his sex.
"we're a pretty clever invention, miss, and you can't get on withoutus," he answered, with his nose in the air. then, taking a suddenplunge into business, he added, "how about that bit of money youwere going to lend me? i've told, now you pay up.""of course i will! how much do you want?" and rose pulled outher purse.
"could you spare five dollars? i want to pay a little debt of honourthat is rather pressing," and steve put on a mannish air that wascomical to see.
"aren't all debts honourable?" asked innocent rose.
"yes, of course; but this is a bet i made, and it ought to be settledup at once," began steve, finding it awkward to explain.
"oh, don't bet, it's not right, and i know your father wouldn't like it.
promise you won't do so again; please promise!" and rose heldfast the hand into which she had just put the money.
"well, i won't. it's worried me a good deal, but i was joked into it.
much obliged, cousin, i'm all right now," and steve departedhastily.
having decided to be a peace-maker, rose waited for anopportunity, and very soon it came.
she was spending the day with aunt clara, who had beenentertaining some young guests, and invited rose to meet them,for she thought it high time her niece conquered her bashfulnessand saw a little of society. dinner was over, and everyone hadgone. aunt clara was resting before going out to an evening party,and rose was waiting for charlie to come and take her home.
she sat alone in the elegant drawing-room, feeling particularlynice and pretty, for she had her best frock on, a pair of gold bandsher aunt had just given her, and a tea-rose bud in her sash, like thebeautiful miss van tassel, whom everyone admired. she hadspread out her little skirts to the best advantage, and, leaning backin a luxurious chair, sat admiring her own feet in new slippers withrosettes almost as big as dahlias. presently charlie came loungingin, looking rather sleepy and queer, rose thought. on seeing her,however, he roused up and said with a smile that ended in a gape"i thought you were with mother, so i took forty winks after i gotthose girls off. now, i'm at your service, rosamunda, wheneveryou like.""you look as if your head ached. if it does, don't mind me. i'm notafraid to run home alone, it's so early," answered rose, observingthe flushed cheeks and heavy eyes of her cousin.
"i think i see myself letting you do it. champagne always makesmy headache, but the air will set me up.""why do you drink it, then?" asked rose, anxiously.
"can't help it, when i'm host. now, don't you begin to lecture; i'vehad enough of archie's old-fashioned notions, and i don't want anymore."charlie's tone was decidedly cross, and his whole manner so unlikehis usual merry good-nature, that rose felt crushed, and answeredmeekly"i wasn't going to lecture, only when people like other people, theycan't bear to see them suffer pain."that brought charlie round at once, for rose's lips trembled alittle, though she tried to hide it by smelling the flower she pulledfrom her sash.
"i'm a regular bear, and i beg your pardon for being so cross,rosy," he said in the old frank way that was so winning.
"i wish you'd beg archie's too, and be good friends again. younever were cross when he was your chum," rose said, looking upat him as he bent toward her from the low chimney-piece, wherehe had been leaning his elbows.
in an instant he stood as stiff and straight as a ramrod, and theheavy eyes kindled with an angry spark as he said, in his high andmighty manner"you'd better not meddle with what you don't understand, cousin.""but i do understand, and it troubles me very much to see you socold and stiff to one another. you always used to be together, andnow you hardly speak. you are so ready to beg my pardon i don'tsee why you can't beg archie's, if you are in the wrong.""i'm not!" this was so short and sharp that rose started, andcharlie added in a calmer but still very haughty tone: "agentleman always begs pardon when he has been rude to a lady,but one man doesn't apologize to another man who has insultedhim.""oh, my heart, what a pepperpot!" thought rose, and, hoping tomake him laugh, she added slyly: "i was not talking about men, butboys, and one of them a prince, who ought to set a good exampleto his subjects."but charlie would not relent, and tried to turn the subject bysaying gravely, as he unfastened the little gold ring from hiswatch-guard"i've broken my word, so i want to give this back and free youfrom the bargain. i'm sorry, but i think it a foolish promise, anddon't intend to keep it. choose a pair of ear-rings to suit yourself,as my forfeit. you have a right to wear them now.""no, i can only wear one, and that is no use, for archie will keephis word i'm sure!" rose was so mortified and grieved at thisdownfall of her hopes that she spoke sharply, and would not takethe ring the deserter offered her.
he shrugged his shoulders, and threw it into her lap, trying to lookcool and careless, but failing entirely, for he was ashamed ofhimself, and out of sorts generally. rose wanted to cry, but pridewould not let her, and, being very angry, she relieved herself bytalk instead of tears. looking pale and excited, she rose out of herchair, cast away the ring, and said in a voice that she vainly tried tokeep steady"you are not at all the boy i thought you were, and i don't respectyou one bit. i've tried to help you be good, but you won't let me,and i shall not try any more. you talk a great deal about being agentleman, but you are not, for you've broken your word, and i cannever trust you again. i don't wish you to go home with me. i'drather have mary. good-night."and with that last dreadful blow, rose walked out of the room,leaving charlie as much astonished as if one of his pet pigeons hadflown in his face and pecked at him. she was so seldom angry, thatwhen her temper did get the better of her it made a deepimpression on the lads, for it was generally a righteous sort ofindignation at some injustice or wrong-doing, not childish passion.
her little thunderstorm cleared off in a sob or two as she put onher things in the entry-closet, and when she emerged she lookedthe brighter for the shower. a hasty good-night to aunt clara nowunder the hands of the hairdresser and then she crept down to findmary the maid. but mary was out, so was the man, and roseslipped away by the back-door, flattering herself that she hadescaped the awkwardness of having charlie for escort.
there she was mistaken, however, for the gate had hardly closedbehind her when a well-known tramp was heard, and the princewas beside her, saying in a tone of penitent politeness thatbanished rose's wrath like magic"you needn't speak to me if you don't choose, but i must see yousafely home, cousin."she turned at once, put out her hand, and answered heartily"i was the cross one. please forgive me, and let's be friends again."now that was better than a dozen sermons on the beauty offorgiveness, and did charlie more good, for it showed him howsweet humility was, and proved that rose practised as shepreached.
he shook the hand warmly, then drew it through his arm and said,as if anxious to recover the good opinion with the loss of which hehad been threatened"look here, rosy, i've put the ring back, and i'm going to try again.
but you don't know how hard it is to stand being laughed at.""yes, i do! ariadne plagues me every time i see her, because idon't wear ear-rings after all the trouble i had getting ready forthem.""ah, but her twaddle isn't half as bad as the chaffing i get. it takesa deal of pluck to hold out when you are told you are tied to anapron string, and all that sort of thing," sighed charlie.
"i thought you had a 'deal of pluck,' as you call it. the boys all sayyou are the bravest of the seven," said rose.
"so i am about some things, but i cannot bear to be laughed at.""it is hard, but if one is right won't that make it easier?""not to me; it might to a pious parson like arch.""please don't call him names! i guess he has what is called moralcourage, and you physical courage. uncle explained the differenceto me, and moral is the best, though often it doesn't look so," saidrose thoughtfully.
charlie didn't like that, and answered quickly, "i don't believe he'dstand it any better than i do, if he had those fellows at him.""perhaps that's why he keeps out of their way, and wants you to."rose had him there, and charlie felt it, but would not give in justyet, though he was going fast, for somehow, in the dark he seemedto see things clearer than in the light, and found it very easy to beconfidential when it was "only rose.""if he was my brother, now, he'd have some right to interfere,"began charlie, in an injured tone.
"i wish he was!" cried rose.
"so do i," answered charlie, and then they both laughed at hisinconsistency.
the laugh did them good, and when prince spoke again, it was in adifferent tone pensive, not proud nor perverse.
"you see, it's hard upon me that i have no brothers and sisters. theothers are better off and needn't go abroad for chums if they don'tlike. i am all alone, and i'd be thankful even for a little sister."rose thought that very pathetic, and, overlooking theuncomplimentary word "even" in that last sentence, she said, witha timid sort of earnestness that conquered her cousin at once"play i was a little sister. i know i'm silly, but perhaps i'm betterthan nothing, and i'd dearly love to do it.""so should i! and we will, for you are not silly, my dear, but a verysensible girl, we all think, and i'm proud to have you for a sister.
there, now!" and charlie looked down at the curly head bobbingalong beside him with real affection in his face.
rose gave a skip of pleasure, and laid one seal-skin mitten over theother on his arm, as she said happily"that's so nice of you! now, you needn't be lonely any more, andi'll try to fill archie's place till he comes back, for i know he will,as soon as you let him.""well, i don't mind telling you that while he was my mate i nevermissed brothers and sisters, or wanted anyone else; but since hecast me off, i'll be hanged if i don't feel as forlorn as old crusoebefore friday turned up."this burst of confidence confirmed rose in her purpose ofwinning charlie's mentor back to him, but she said no more,contented to have done so well. they parted excellent friends, andprince went home, wondering why "a fellow didn't mind sayingthings to a girl or woman which they would die before they'd ownto another fellow."rose also had some sage reflections upon the subject, and fellasleep thinking that there were a great many curious things in thisworld, and feeling that she was beginning to find out some ofthem.
next day she trudged up the hill to see archie, and having told himas much as she thought best about her talk with charlie, beggedhim to forget and forgive.
"i've been thinking that perhaps i ought to, though i am in theright. i'm no end fond of charlie, and he's the best-hearted ladalive; but he can't say no, and that will play the mischief with him,if he does not take care," said archie in his grave, kind way.
"while father was home, i was very busy with him, so prince gotinto a set i don't like. they try to be fast, and think it's manly, andthey flatter him, and lead him on to do all sorts of things play formoney, and bet, and loaf about. i hate to have him do so, and triedto stop it, but went to work the wrong way, so we got into a mess.""he is all ready to make up if you don't say much, for he owned tome he was wrong; but i don't think he will own it to you, inwords," began rose.
"i don't care for that; if he'll just drop those row-dies and comeback, i'll hold my tongue and not preach. i wonder if he owes thosefellows money, and so doesn't like to break off till he can pay it. ihope not, but don't dare to ask; though, perhaps, steve knows, he'salways after prince, more's the pity," and archie looked anxious.
"i think steve does know, for he talked about debts of honour theday i gave him " there rose stopped short and turned scarlet.
but archie ordered her to "fess," and had the whole story in fiveminutes, for none dared disobey the chief. he completed heraffliction by putting a five-dollar bill into her pocket by mainforce, looking both indignant and resolute as he said"never do so again; but send steve to me, if he is afraid to go tohis father. charlie had nothing to do with that; he wouldn't borrowa penny of a girl, don't think it. but that's the harm he does steve,who adores him, and tries to be like him in all things. don't say aword; i'll make it all right, and no one shall blame you.""oh me! i always make trouble by trying to help, and then lettingout the wrong thing," sighed rose, much depressed by her slip ofthe tongue.
archie comforted her with the novel remark that it was always bestto tell the truth, and made her quite cheerful by promising to healthe breach with charlie as soon as possible.
he kept his word so well that the very next afternoon, as roselooked out of the window, she beheld the joyful spectacle ofarchie and prince coming up the avenue, arm-in-arm, as of old,talking away as if to make up for the unhappy silence of the pastweeks.
rose dropped her work, hurried to the door, and, opening it wide,stood there smiling down upon them so happily, that the faces ofthe lads brightened as they ran up the steps eager to show that allwas well with them.
"here's our little peace-maker!" said archie, shaking hands withvigour.
but charlie added, with a look that made rose very proud andhappy, "and my little sister."
