Chapter 17—Good Bargains
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'llseeifyoumeanwhatyousay.I'llgiveupsmokingtopleaseyou,ifyouwillgiveupsomethingtopleaseme,”saidPrince,seeingagoodchancetolorditovertheweakervesselatsmallcosttohimself.
“I'llagreeifitisasfoolishascigars.”
“Oh,it'seversomuchsillier.”
“ThenIpromisewhatisit?”andRosequitetrembledwithanxietytoknowwhichofherpethabitsorpossessionsshemustlose.
“Giveupyourear-rings,”andCharlielaughedwickedly,surethatshewouldneverholdtothatbargain.
Roseutteredacryandclappedbothhandstoherearswherethegoldringshung.
“Oh,Charlie,wouldn'tanythingelsedoaswell?I'vebeenthroughsomuchteasingandtrouble,Idowanttoenjoymyprettyear-rings,forIcanwearthemnow.”
“Wearasmanyasyoulike,andI'llsmokeinpeace,”returnedthisbadboy.
“Willnothingelsesatisfyyou?”imploringly.
“Nothing,”sternly.
Rosestoodsilentforaminute,thinkingofsomethingAuntJessieoncesaid“Youhavemoreinfluenceovertheboysthanyouknowuseitfortheirgood,andIshallthankyouallmylife.”Herewasachancetodosomegoodbysacrificingalittlevanityofherown.Shefeltitwasrighttodoit,yetfounditveryhard,andaskedwistfully,
“Doyoumeanneverwearthem,Charlie?”
“Never,unlessyouwantmetosmoke.”
“Ineverdo.”
“Thenclinchthebargain.”
Hehadnoideashewoulddoit,andwasmuchsurprisedwhenshetookthedearringsfromherears,withaquickgesture,andheldthemouttohim,saying,inatonethatmadethecolourcomeuptohisbrowncheek,itwassofullofsweetgoodwill,
“Icaremoreformycousinsthanformyear-rings,soIpromise,andI'llkeepmyword.”
“Forshame,Prince!letherwearherlittledanglersifshelikes,anddon'tbargainaboutdoingwhatyouknowisright,”criedArchie,comingoutofhisgroveofnewspaperswithanindignantbounce.
ButRosewasbentonshowingherauntthatshecoulduseherinfluencefortheboys'good,andsaidsteadily,
“Itisfair,andIwantittobeso,thenyouwillbelieveI'minearnest.Here,eachofyouwearoneoftheseonyourwatch-guardtoremindyou.Ishallnotforget,becauseverysoonIcannotwearear-ringsifIwantto.”
Asshespoke,Roseofferedalittleringtoeachcousin,andtheboys,seeinghowsincereshewas,obeyedher.Whenthepledgesweresafe,Rosestretchedahandtoeach,andtheladsgavehersaheartygrip,halfpleasedandhalfashamedoftheirpartinthecompact.
JustatthatmomentDr.AlecandMrs.Jessiecamein.
“What'sthis?DancingLadies'TriumphonSunday?”exclaimedUncleAlec,surveyingthetriowithsurprise.
“No,sir,itistheAnti-TobaccoLeague.Willyoujoin?”saidCharlie,whileRoseslippedawaytoheraunt,andArchieburiedbothcigarsbehindthebacklog.
Whenthemysterywasexplained,theelderswerewellpleased,andRosereceivedavoteofthanks,whichmadeherfeelasifshehaddoneaservicetohercountry,asshehad,foreveryboywhogrowsupfreefrombadhabitsbidsfairtomakeagoodcitizen.
“IwishRosewoulddriveabargainwithWillandGeordiealso,forIthinkthesebooksareasbadforthesmallboysascigarsforthelargeones,”saidMrs.Jessie,sittingdownonthesofabetweenthereaders,whopolitelycurleduptheirlegstomakeroomforher.
“Ithoughttheywereallthefashion,”answeredDr.Alec,settlinginthebigchairwithRose.
“Soissmoking,butit