Chapter 12—“The Other Fellows”

vingCharlieonemorerebuke,bysaying,withalittlebridlingofthehead,andacurlofthelipthatwantedtosmileinstead, “I'mgladyouthinkso,thoughIama'queerchicken.”' ThisscathingremarkcausedthePrincetohidehisfaceforshame,andStevetoerecthisheadintheproudconsciousnessthatthisshotwasnotmeantforhim.Archielaughed,andRose,seeingamerryblueeyewinkingatherfrombehindtwobrownhands,gaveCharlie'searafriendlytweak,andextendedtheolive-branchofpeace. “Nowwe'llallbegood,andplannicethingsforpoorMac,”shesaid,smilingsograciouslythattheboysfeltasifthesunhadsuddenlyburstoutfrombehindaheavycloudandwasshiningwithgreatbrilliancy. Thestormhadclearedtheair,andquiteaheavenlycalmsucceeded,duringwhichplansofamostvariedandsurprisingsortwerelaid,foreveryoneburnedtomakenoblesacrificesupontheshrineof“poorMac,”andRosewastheguidingstartowhomtheotherslookedwithmostgratifyingsubmission.Ofcourse,thiselevatedstateofthingscouldnotendurelong,butitwasverynicewhileitlasted,andleftanexcellenteffectuponthemindsofallwhenthefirstardourhadsubsided. “There,that'sreadyforto-morrow,andIdohopeitwillbecloudy,”saidRose,asshefinishedoffthenewshade,theprogressofwhichtheboyshadwatchedwithinterest. “I'dbespokenanextrasunnyday,butI'lltelltheclerkoftheweathertochangeit.He'sanobligingfellow,andhe'llattendtoit,somakeyourselfeasy,”saidCharlie,whohadbecomequiteperkyagain. “Itisveryeasyforyoutojoke,buthowwouldyouliketowearablinderlikethatforweeksandweeks,sir?”andRosequenchedhisrisingspiritsbyslippingtheshadeoverhiseyes,ashestillsatonthecushionatherfeet. “It'shorrid!Takeitoff,takeitoff!Idon'twonderthepooroldboyhastheblueswithathinglikethaton”andCharliesatlookingatwhatseemedtohimaninstrumentoftorture,withsuchasoberfacethatRosetookitgentlyaway,andwentintobidMacgood-night. “Ishallgohomewithher,foritisgettingdarkish,andsheisrathertimid,”saidArchie,forgettingthathehadoftenlaughedatthisverytimidity. “IthinkImight,forshe'stakingcareofmybrother,”putinSteve,assertinghisrights. “Let'sallgo,thatwillpleaseher”proposedCharlie,withaburstofgallantrywhichelectrifiedhismates. “Wewill!”theysaidwithonevoice,andtheydid,toRose'sgreatsurpriseandsecretcontentmentthoughArchiehadallthecareofher,fortheothertwowereleapingfences,runningraces,andhavingwrestlingmatchesallthewaydown. Theycomposedthemselvesonreachingthedoor,howevershookhandscordiallyallround,madetheirbestbows,andretiredwithgreateleganceanddignity,leavingRosetosaytoherself,withgirlishsatisfaction,asshewentin, “Now,thatisthewayIliketobetreated.”