Chapter 20—Under The Mistletoe

epChristmashoweverythinghadconspiredtothwarthisplanandhow,attheverylastminute,hehadmanagedtodoit,andhadsentatelegramtoArchie,biddinghimkeepthesecret,andbereadyforhisfatheratanymoment,fortheshipgotintoanotherport,andhemightbelate. ThenArchietoldhowthattelegramhadburntinhispocketalldinner-timehowhehadtotakePhebeintohisconfidence,andhowclevershewastokeeptheCaptainbacktillthespeechwasoverandhecouldcomeinwitheffect. Theelderswouldhavesatandtalkedalltheevening,buttheyoungfolkswerebentonhavingtheirusualChristmasfrolicso,afteranhourofpleasantchat,theybegantogetrestless,andhavingconsultedtogetherindumbshow,theydevisedawaytoveryeffectuallybreakupthefamilycouncil. Stevevanished,and,soonerthantheboysimaginedDandycouldgethimselfup,theskirlofthebag-pipewasheardinthehall,andthebonnypipercametoleadClanCampbelltotherevel. “Drawitmild,Stevie,mymanyeplayuncoweel,butyemakamostinfernaldin,”criedUncleJem,withhishandsoverhisears,forthisaccomplishmentwasnewtohim,and“tookhimallaback,”asheexpressedit. SoStevedronedoutaHighlandreelassoftlyashecould,andtheboysdancedittoacircleofadmiringrelations.CaptainJemwasatruesailor,however,andcouldnotstandidlewhileanythinglivelywasgoingonso,whenthepiper'sbreathgaveout,hecutasplendidpigeon-wingintothemiddleofthehall,saying,“WhocandanceaForeandAfter?”and,waitingfornoreply,begantowhistletheairsoinvitinglythatMrsJessie“set”tohimlaughinglikeagirlRoseandCharlietooktheirplacesbehind,andawaywentthefourwithaspiritandskillthatinspiredalltherestto“cutin”asfastastheycould. Thatwasagrandbeginning,andtheyhadmanyanotherdancebeforeanyonewouldowntheyweretired.EvenFunSeedistinguishedhimselfwithAuntPlenty,whomhegreatlyadmiredasthestoutestladyinthecompanyplumpnessbeingconsideredabeautyinhiscountry.Themerryoldsoulprofessedherselfimmenselyflatteredbyhisadmiration,andtheboysdeclaredshe“sethercapathim,”elsehewouldneverhavedaredtocatchherunderthemistletoe,and,risingonthetipsofhisowntoes,gallantlysaluteherfatcheek. Howtheyalllaughedatherastonishment,andhowFun'slittleblackeyestwinkledoverthisexploit!Charlieputhimuptoit,andCharliewassobentoncatchingRose,thathelaidallsortsofpitfallsforher,andbribedtheotherladstohelphim.ButRosewaswide-awake,andescapedallhissnares,professinggreatcontemptforsuchfoolishcustoms.PoorPhebedidnotfaresowell,andArchiewastheonlyonewhotookabaseadvantageofherasshestoodinnocentlyofferingteatoAuntMyra,whomshehappenedtomeetjustunderthefatalbough.Ifhisfather'sarrivalhadnotratherupsethim,IdoubtifthedignifiedChiefwouldhavedoneit,forheapologizedatonceinthehandsomestmanner,andcaughtthetraythatnearlydroppedfromPhebe'shands. JamieboldlyinvitedalltheladiestocomeandsalutehimandasforUncleJem,hebehavedasiftheentireroomwasagroveofmistletoe.UncleAlecslylylaidabitofitonAuntPeace'scap,andthensoftlykissedherwhichlittlejokeseemedtopleaseherverymuch,forshelikedtohavepartinallthehomepastimes,andAlecwasherfavouritenephew. Charliealonefailedtocatchhisshybird,andtheoftenersheescapedthemoredeterminedhewastoensnareher.Wheneveryotherwilehadbeentriedinvain,hegotArchietoproposeagamewithforfeits. “Iunderstandthatdodge,”thoughtRose,andwasonherguardsocarefullythatnotoneamongthepilesooncollectedbelongedtoher. “Nowletusredeemthemandplaysomethingelse,”saidWill,quiteunconsciousofthedeeply