Chapter 12—“The Other Fellows”
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eethelookthethreetallladscastatthelittlepersonsedatelythreadinganeedlewithgreensilk.Theyallwantedtosaysomethingexpressiveofrepentance,butnooneknewhowtobegin,anditwasevident,fromtheprimexpressionofRose'sface,thatsheintendedtostanduponherdignitytilltheyhadproperlyabasedthemselves.Thepausewasbecomingveryawkward,whenCharlie,whopossessedallthepersuasiveartsofabornscapegrace,wentslowlydownuponhiskneesbeforeher,beathisbreast,andsaid,inaheart-brokentone,
“Pleaseforgivemethistime,andI'llneverdosoanymore.”
Itwasveryhardtokeepsober,butRosemanageditandansweredgravely,
“ItisMac'spardonyoushouldask,notmine,foryouhaven'thurtme,andIshouldn'twonderifyouhadhimagreatdeal,withallthatlightandracket,andtalkaboutthingsthatonlyworryhim.”
“Doyoureallythinkwe'vehurthim,cousin?”askedArchie,withatroubledlook,whileCharliesettleddowninaremorsefulheapamongthetablelegs.
“Yes,Ido,forhehasgotaragingheadache,andhiseyesareasredasasthisemerybag,”answeredRose,solemnlyplungingherneedleintoafatflannelstrawberry.
Stevetorehishair,metaphoricallyspeaking,forheclutchedhischerishedtop-knot,andwildlydishevelledit,asifthatwastheheaviestpenancehecouldinflictuponhimselfatsuchshortnotice.Charlielaidhimselfoutflat,melodramaticallybeggingsomeonetotakehimawayandhanghimbutArchie,whofeltworstofall,saidnothingexcepttovowwithinhimselfthathewouldreadtoMactillhisowneyeswereasredasadozenemerybagscombined.
Seeingthewholesomeeffectsofhertreatmentupontheseculprits,Rosefeltthatshemightrelentandallowthemagleamofhope.ShefounditimpossibletohelptramplingupontheprostratePrincealittle,inwordsatleast,forhehadhurtherfeelingsoftenerthanheknewsoshegavehimathimble-pieonthetopofhishead,andsaid,withanairofaninfinitelysuperiorbeing,
“Don'tbesilly,butgetup,andI'lltellyousomethingmuchbettertodothansprawlingonthefloorandgettingalloverlint.”
Charlieobedientlysathimselfuponahassockatherfeettheothersinnersdrewneartocatchthewordsofwisdomabouttofallfromherlips,andRose,softenedbythisgratifyinghumility,addressedtheminhermostmaternaltone.
“Now,boys,ifyoureallywanttobegoodtoMac,youcandoitinthisway.Don'tkeeptalkingaboutthingshecan'tdo,orgoandtellwhatfunyouhavehadbattingyourridiculousballsabout.Getsomenicebookandreadquietlycheerhimupaboutschool,andoffertohelphimstudybyandbyyoucandothatbetterthanI,becauseI'monlyagirl,anddon'tlearnGreekandLatinandallsortsofheadachystuff.”
“Yes,butyoucandoheapsofthingsbetterthanwecanyou'veprovedthat,”saidArchie,withanapprovinglookthatdelightedRose,thoughshecouldnotresistgi