Chapter 23—Peace-Making

kehisusualmerrygood-nature,thatRosefeltcrushed,andansweredmeekly, “Iwasn'tgoingtolecture,onlywhenpeoplelikeotherpeople,theycan'tbeartoseethemsufferpain.” ThatbroughtCharlieroundatonce,forRose'slipstrembledalittle,thoughshetriedtohideitbysmellingtheflowershepulledfromhersash. “I'maregularbear,andIbegyourpardonforbeingsocross,Rosy,”hesaidintheoldfrankwaythatwassowinning. “Iwishyou'dbegArchie'stoo,andbegoodfriendsagain.Youneverwerecrosswhenhewasyourchum,”Rosesaid,lookingupathimashebenttowardherfromthelowchimney-piece,wherehehadbeenleaninghiselbows. Inaninstanthestoodasstiffandstraightasaramrod,andtheheavyeyeskindledwithanangrysparkashesaid,inhishighandmightymanner, “You'dbetternotmeddlewithwhatyoudon'tunderstand,cousin.” “ButIdounderstand,andittroublesmeverymuchtoseeyousocoldandstifftooneanother.Youalwaysusedtobetogether,andnowyouhardlyspeak.YouaresoreadytobegmypardonIdon'tseewhyyoucan'tbegArchie's,ifyouareinthewrong.” “I'mnot!”thiswassoshortandsharpthatRosestarted,andCharlieaddedinacalmerbutstillveryhaughtytone:“Agentlemanalwaysbegspardonwhenhehasbeenrudetoalady,butonemandoesn'tapologizetoanothermanwhohasinsultedhim.” “Oh,myheart,whatapepperpot!”thoughtRose,and,hopingtomakehimlaugh,sheaddedslyly:“Iwasnottalkingaboutmen,butboys,andoneofthemaPrince,whooughttosetagoodexampletohissubjects.” ButCharliewouldnotrelent,andtriedtoturnthesubjectbysayinggravely,asheunfastenedthelittlegoldringfromhiswatch-guard, “I'vebrokenmyword,soIwanttogivethisbackandfreeyoufromthebargain.I'msorry,butIthinkitafoolishpromise,anddon'tintendtokeepit.Chooseapairofear-ringstosuityourself,asmyforfeit.Youhavearighttowearthemnow.” “No,Icanonlywearone,andthatisnouse,forArchiewillkeephiswordI'msure!”Rosewassomortifiedandgrievedatthisdownfallofherhopesthatshespokesharply,andwouldnottaketheringthedeserterofferedher. Heshruggedhisshoulders,andthrewitintoherlap,tryingtolookcoolandcareless,butfailingentirely,forhewasashamedofhimself,andoutofsortsgenerally.Rosewantedtocry,butpridewouldnotlether,and,beingveryangry,sherelievedherselfbytalkinsteadoftears.Lookingpaleandexcited,sheroseoutofherchair,castawaythering,andsaidinavoicethatshevainlytriedtokeepsteady, “YouarenotatalltheboyIthoughtyouwere,andIdon'trespectyouonebit.I'vetriedtohelpyoubegood,butyouwon'tletme,andIshallnottryanymore.Youtalkagreatdealaboutbeingagentleman,butyouarenot,foryou'vebrokenyourword,andIcannevertrustyouagain.Idon'twishyoutogohomewithme.I'dratherhaveMary.Good-night.” Andwiththatlastdreadfulblow,Rosewalkedoutoftheroom,leavingCharlieasmuchastonishedasifoneofhispetpigeonshadflowninhisfaceandpeckedathim.Shewassoseldomangry,thatwhenhertemperdidgetthebetterofheritmadeadeepimpressiononthelads,foritwasgenerallyarighteoussortofindignationatsomeinjusticeorwrong-doing,notchildishpassion. Herlittlethunderstormclearedoffinasobortwoassheputonherthingsintheentry-closet,andwhensheemergedshelookedthebrighterfortheshower.Ahastygood-nighttoAuntClaranowunderthehandsofthehairdresserandthenshecreptdowntofindMarythemaid.ButMarywasout,sowastheman,and