Chapter 17—Good Bargains

ItwasarainySundayafternoon,andfourboysweretryingtospenditquietlyinthe“liberry,”asJamiecalledtheroomdevotedtobooksandboys,atAuntJessie's.WillandGeordieweresprawlingonthesofa,deepintheadventuresofthescapegracesandragamuffinswhosehistoriesarenowthefashion.Archieloungedintheeasychair,surroundedbynewspapersCharliestoodupontherug,inanEnglishman'sfavouriteattitude,and,Iregrettosay,bothweresmokingcigars. “Itismyopinionthatthisdaywillnevercometoanend,”saidPrince,withayawnthatnearlyrenthimasunder. “Readandimproveyourmind,myson,”answeredArchie,peeringsolemnlyoverthepaperbehindwhichhehadbeendozing. “Don'tyoupreach,parson,butputonyourbootsandcomeoutforatramp,insteadofmullingoverthefirelikeagranny.” “No,thankyou,trampsinaneasterlystormdon'tstrikemeasamusing.”ThereArchiestoppedandhelduphishand,forapleasantvoicewasheardsayingoutside, “Aretheboysinthelibrary,auntie?” “Yes,dear,andlongingforsunshinesoruninandmakeitforthem,”answeredMrs.Jessie. “It'sRose,”andArchiethrewhiscigarintothefire. “What'sthatfor?”askedCharlie. “Gentlemendon'tsmokebeforeladies.” “TruebutI'mnotgoingtowastemyweed,”andPrincepokedhisintotheemptyinkstandthatservedthemforanashtray. Agentletapatthedoorwasansweredbyachorusof“Comein,”andRoseappeared,lookingbloomingandbreezywiththechillyair. “IfIdisturbyou,sayso,andI'llgoaway,”shebegan,pausingonthethresholdwithmodesthesitation,forsomethingintheelderboys'facesexcitedhercuriosity. “Youneverdisturbus,cousin,”saidthesmokers,whilethereaderstorethemselvesfromtheheroesofthebar-roomandgutterlongenoughtonodaffablytotheirguest. AsRosebenttowarmherhands,oneendofArchie'scigarstuckoutoftheashes,smokingfuriouslyandsmellingstrongly. “Oh,youbadboys,howcouldyoudoit,to-dayofalldays?”shesaidreproachfully. “Where'stheharm?”askedArchie. “YouknowaswellasIdoyourmotherdoesn'tlikeit,andit'sabadhabit,foritwastesmoneyanddoesyounogood.” “Fiddlesticks!everymansmokes,evenUncleAlec,whomyouthinksoperfect,”beganCharlie,inhisteasingway. “No,hedoesn't!Hehasgivenitup,andIknowwhy,”criedRoseeagerly. “NowIthinkofit,Ihaven'tseentheoldmeerschaumsincehecamehome.Didhestopitonouraccount?”askedArchie. “Yes,”andRosetoldthelittlesceneontheseashoreinthecamping-outtime. Archieseemedmuchimpressed,andsaidmanfully,“Hewon'thavedonethatinvainsofarasI'mconcerned.Idon'tcareapinaboutsmoking,socangiveitupaseasyasnot,andIpromiseyouIwill.Ionlydoitnowandthenforfun.” “Youtoo?”andRoselookedupatthebonnyPrince,whoneverlookedlessbonnythanatthatmoment,forhehadresumedhiscigarjusttotormenther. NowCharliecaredaslittleasArchieaboutsmoking,butitwouldnotdotoyieldtoosoon:soheshookhishead,gaveagreatpuff,andsaidloftily, “Youwomenarealwaysaskingustogiveupharmlesslittlethingsjustbecauseyoudon'tapproveofthem.Howwouldyoulikeitifwedidthesamebyyou,miss?” “IfIdidharmfulorsillythings,I'dthankyoufortellingmeofthem,andI'dtrytomendmyways,”answeredRoseheartily. “Well,now,we