Chapter 3 MISS CAMPBELL

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.