Chapter 23—Peace-Making

swouldmakeup,forPrincecan'tcometoanyharmwithArchie,he'ssogoodandsensible.” “That'sthetroubleArchpreaches,andPrincewon'tstandit.HetoldArchhewasaprigandaparson,andArchtoldhimhewasn'tagentleman.Myboots!weren'ttheybothmad,though!Ithoughtforaminutethey'dpitchintooneanotherandhaveitout.Wishtheyhad,andnotgonestalkingroundstiffandglumeversince.MacandIsettleourrowswithabatorsooverthehead,andthenweareallright.” Rosecouldn'thelplaughingasStevesparredawayatafatsofa-pillow,toillustratehismeaningand,havinggivenitseveralscientificwhacks,hepulleddownhiscuffsandsmileduponherwithbenignpityforherfeminineignoranceofthissummarywayofsettlingaquarrel. “Whatdrollthingsboysare!”shesaid,withamixtureofadmirationandperplexityinherface,whichSteveacceptedasacomplimenttohissex. “We'reaprettycleverinvention,miss,andyoucan'tgetonwithoutus,”heanswered,withhisnoseintheair.Then,takingasuddenplungeintobusiness,headded,“Howaboutthatbitofmoneyyouweregoingtolendme?I'vetold,nowyoupayup.” “OfcourseIwill!Howmuchdoyouwant?”andRosepulledoutherpurse. “Couldyousparefivedollars?Iwanttopayalittledebtofhonourthatisratherpressing,”andSteveputonamannishairthatwascomicaltosee. “Aren'talldebtshonourable?”askedinnocentRose. “Yes,ofcoursebutthisisabetImade,anditoughttobesettledupatonce,”beganSteve,findingitawkwardtoexplain. “Oh,don'tbet,it'snotright,andIknowyourfatherwouldn'tlikeit.Promiseyouwon'tdosoagainpleasepromise!”andRoseheldfastthehandintowhichshehadjustputthemoney. “Well,Iwon't.It'sworriedmeagooddeal,butIwasjokedintoit.Muchobliged,cousin,I'mallrightnow,”andStevedepartedhastily. Havingdecidedtobeapeace-maker,Rosewaitedforanopportunity,andverysoonitcame. ShewasspendingthedaywithAuntClara,whohadbeenentertainingsomeyoungguests,andinvitedRosetomeetthem,forshethoughtithightimeherniececonqueredherbashfulnessandsawalittleofsociety.Dinnerwasover,andeveryonehadgone.AuntClarawasrestingbeforegoingouttoaneveningparty,andRosewaswaitingforCharlietocomeandtakeherhome. Shesataloneintheelegantdrawing-room,feelingparticularlyniceandpretty,forshehadherbestfrockon,apairofgoldbandsheraunthadjustgivenher,andatea-rosebudinhersash,likethebeautifulMissVanTassel,whomeveryoneadmired.Shehadspreadoutherlittleskirtstothebestadvantage,and,leaningbackinaluxuriouschair,satadmiringherownfeetinnewslipperswithrosettesalmostasbigasdahlias.PresentlyCharliecameloungingin,lookingrathersleepyandqueer,Rosethought.Onseeingher,however,herousedupandsaidwithasmilethatendedinagape, “Ithoughtyouwerewithmother,soItookfortywinksafterIgotthosegirlsoff.Now,I'matyourservice,Rosamunda,wheneveryoulike.” “Youlookasifyourheadached.Ifitdoes,don'tmindme.I'mnotafraidtorunhomealone,it'ssoearly,”answeredRose,observingtheflushedcheeksandheavyeyesofhercousin. “IthinkIseemyselflettingyoudoit.Champagnealwaysmakesmyheadache,buttheairwillsetmeup.” “Whydoyoudrinkit,then?”askedRose,anxiously. “Can'thelpit,whenI'mhost.Now,don'tyoubegintolectureI'vehadenoughofArchie'sold-fashionednotions,andIdon'twantanymore.” Charlie'stonewasdecidedlycross,andhiswholemannersounli