Chapter 23—Peace-Making

Roseslippedawaybytheback-door,flatteringherselfthatshehadescapedtheawkwardnessofhavingCharlieforescort. Thereshewasmistaken,however,forthegatehadhardlyclosedbehindherwhenawell-knowntrampwasheard,andthePrincewasbesideher,sayinginatoneofpenitentpolitenessthatbanishedRose'swrathlikemagic, “Youneedn'tspeaktomeifyoudon'tchoose,butImustseeyousafelyhome,cousin.” Sheturnedatonce,putoutherhand,andansweredheartily, “Iwasthecrossone.Pleaseforgiveme,andlet'sbefriendsagain.” Nowthatwasbetterthanadozensermonsonthebeautyofforgiveness,anddidCharliemoregood,foritshowedhimhowsweethumilitywas,andprovedthatRosepractisedasshepreached. Heshookthehandwarmly,thendrewitthroughhisarmandsaid,asifanxioustorecoverthegoodopinionwiththelossofwhichhehadbeenthreatened, “Lookhere,Rosy,I'veputtheringback,andI'mgoingtotryagain.Butyoudon'tknowhowharditistostandbeinglaughedat.” “Yes,Ido!AriadneplaguesmeeverytimeIseeher,becauseIdon'twearear-ringsafterallthetroubleIhadgettingreadyforthem.” “Ah,buthertwaddleisn'thalfasbadasthechaffingIget.Ittakesadealofplucktoholdoutwhenyouaretoldyouaretiedtoanapronstring,andallthatsortofthing,”sighedCharlie. “Ithoughtyouhada'dealofpluck,'asyoucallit.Theboysallsayyouarethebravestoftheseven,”saidRose. “SoIamaboutsomethings,butIcannotbeartobelaughedat.” “Itishard,butifoneisrightwon'tthatmakeiteasier?” “NottomeitmighttoapiousparsonlikeArch.” “Pleasedon'tcallhimnames!Iguesshehaswhatiscalledmoralcourage,andyouphysicalcourage.Uncleexplainedthedifferencetome,andmoralisthebest,thoughoftenitdoesn'tlookso,”saidRosethoughtfully. Charliedidn'tlikethat,andansweredquickly,“Idon'tbelievehe'dstanditanybetterthanIdo,ifhehadthosefellowsathim.” “Perhapsthat'swhyhekeepsoutoftheirway,andwantsyouto.” Rosehadhimthere,andCharliefeltit,butwouldnotgiveinjustyet,thoughhewasgoingfast,forsomehow,inthedarkheseemedtoseethingsclearerthaninthelight,andfounditveryeasytobeconfidentialwhenitwas“onlyRose.” “Ifhewasmybrother,now,he'dhavesomerighttointerfere,”beganCharlie,inaninjuredtone. “Iwishhewas!”criedRose. “SodoI,”answeredCharlie,andthentheybothlaughedathisinconsistency. Thelaughdidthemgood,andwhenPrincespokeagain,itwasinadifferenttonepensive,notproudnorperverse. “Yousee,it'sharduponmethatIhavenobrothersandsisters.Theothersarebetteroffandneedn'tgoabroadforchumsiftheydon'tlike.Iamallalone,andI'dbethankfulevenforalittlesister.” Rosethoughtthatverypathetic,and,overlookingtheuncomplimentaryword“even”inthatlastsentence,shesaid,withatimidsortofearnestnessthatconqueredhercousinatonce, “PlayIwasalittlesister.IknowI'msilly,butperhapsI'mbetterthannothing,andI'ddearlylovetodoit.” “SoshouldI!andwewill,foryouarenotsilly,mydear,butaverysensiblegirl,weallthink,andI'mproudtohaveyouforasister.There,now!”andCharlielookeddownatthecurlyheadbobbingalongbesidehimwithrealaffectioninhisface. Rosegaveaskipofpleasure,andlaidoneseal-skinmittenovertheotheronhisarm,asshesaidhappily, “That'ssoniceofyou!Now,youneedn'tbelonelyanymore,andI'lltrytofillArchie'splacetillhecomesback,forIknowhewill