Chapter 20—Under The Mistletoe

-laidplotsallabouthim. “Onemoreroundandthenwewill,”answeredthePrince,whohadnowbaitedhistrapanew. JustasthequestioncametoRose,Jamie'svoicewasheardinthehall,cryingdistressfully,“Oh,comequick,quick!”Rosestartedup,missedthequestion,andwasgreetedwithageneralcryof“Forfeit!forfeit!”inwhichthelittletraitorcametojoin. “NowI'vegother,”thoughttheyoungrascal,exultinginhisfun-lovingsoul. “NowI'mlost,”thoughtRose,asshegaveupherpin-cushionwithasternlydefiantlookthatwouldhavedauntedanyonebuttherecklessPrince.Infact,itmadeevenhimthinktwice,andresolveto“letRoseoffeasy,''shehadbeensoclever. “Here'saveryprettypawn,andwhatshallbedonetoredeemit?”askedSteve,holdingthepin-cushionoverCharlie'shead,forhehadinsistedonbeingjudge,andkeptthatforthelast. “Fineorsuperfine?” “Super.” “Hum,well,sheshalltakeoldMacunderthemistletoe,andkisshimprettily.Won'thebemad,though?”andthisbadboychuckledoverthediscomforthehadcausedtwoharmlessbeings. Therewasanimpressivepauseamongtheyoungfolksintheircorner,fortheyallknewthatMacwould“bemad,”sincehehatednonsenseofthissort,andhadgonetotalkwiththeelderswhenthegamebegan.Atthismomenthewasstandingbeforethefire,listeningtoadiscussionbetweenhisunclesandhisfather,lookingaswiseasayoungowl,andblissfullyunconsciousoftheplotsagainsthim. CharlieexpectedthatRosewouldsay,“Iwon't!”thereforehewasratherastonished,nottosaygratified,when,afteralookatthevictim,shelaughedsuddenly,and,goinguptothegroupofgentlemen,drewheruncleMacunderthemistletoeandsurprisedhimwithaheartykiss. “Thankyou,mydear,”saidtheinnocentgentleman,lookingmuchpleasedattheunexpectedhonour. “Oh,comethat'snotfair,”beganCharlie.ButRosecuthimshortbysaying,asshemadehimafinecourtesy, “Yousaid'OldMac,'andthoughitwasverydisrespectful,Ididit.Thatwasyourlastchance,sir,andyou'velostit.” Hecertainlyhad,for,ashespoke,Rosepulleddownthemistletoeandthrewitintothefire,whiletheboysjeeredatthecrestfallenPrince,andexaltedquick-wittedRosetotheskies. “What'sthejoke?”askedyoungMac,wakedoutofabrownstudybythelaughter,inwhichtheeldersjoined. Buttherewasaregularshoutwhen,thematterhavingbeenexplainedtohim,MactookameditativestareatRosethroughhisgoggles,andsaidinaphilosophicaltone,“Well,Idon'tthinkIshouldhavemindedmuchifshehaddoneit.” Thattickledtheladsimmensely,andnothingbuttheappearanceofaslightrefectionwouldhaveinducedthemtostopchaffingthepoorWorm,whocouldnotseeanythingfunnyinthebeautifulresignationhehadshownonthistryingoccasion. Soonafterthis,thediscoveryofJamiecurledupinthesofacorner,assoundasleepasadormouse,suggestedtheproprietyofgoinghome,andageneralmovewasmade. Theywereallstandingaboutthehalllingeringoverthegood-nights,whenthesoundofavoicesoftlysinging“SweetHome,”madethempauseandlisten.ItwasPhebe,poorlittlePhebe,whoneverhadahome,neverknewtheloveoffatherormother,brotherorsisterwhostoodallaloneinthewideworld,yetwasnotsadnorafraid,buttookherbitsofhappinessgratefully,andsungoverherworkwithoutathoughtofdiscontent. Ifancythehappyfamilystandingtheretogetherrememberedthisandfeltthebeautyofit,forwhenthesolitaryvoicecametotheburdenofitssong,othervoicestookitupandfinisheditsosweetly,thattheoldhouseseemedtoechotheword“Home”intheearsofboththeorphangirls,whohadjustspenttheirfirstChristmasunderitshospitableroof.