Chapter XVI. Up at Merry's

“Youbearyourworriessowellthatnobodyknowsyouhavethem.Ioughtnottocomplain,andIwon't,forIdohaveallIneed.I'msogladyouaregoingtogetwhatyouwantatlast”andMerryheldoutherhandtosaygood-night,withsomuchpleasureinherfacethatRalphcouldnotmakeuphismindtogojustyet. “IshallhavetoscratchroundinalivelywaybeforeIdogetit,forDavidsaysafellowcan'tliveonlessthanfourorfivehundredayear,evenlivingaspoorartistshaveto,ingarretsandoncrusts.Idon'tmindaslongasGrandmaisallright.Sheisawayto-night,orIshouldnotbehere,”headded,asifsomeexcusewasnecessary.Merryneedednohint,forhertenderheartwastouchedbythevisionofherfriendinagarret,andshesuddenlyrejoicedthattherewashamandeggsforsupper,sothathemightbewellfedonce,atleast,beforehewentawaytofeedonartisticcrusts. “Beinghere,comeinandspendtheevening.Theboyswillliketohearthenews,andsowillfather.Do,now.” Itwasimpossibletorefusetheinvitationhehadbeenlongingfor,andintheywenttothegreatdelightofRoxy,whoinstantlyretiredtothepantry,smilingsignificantly,andbroughtoutthemostelaboratepieinhonoroftheoccasion.Merrytouchedupthetable,andputalittlevaseofflowersinthemiddletoredeemthevulgarityofdoughnuts.Ofcoursetheboysupsetit,butastherewascompanynothingwassaid,andRalphdevouredhissupperwiththeappetiteofahungryboy,whilewatchingMerryeatbreadandcreamoutofanold-fashionedsilverporringer,andthinkingitthesweetestsightheeverbeheld. Thentheyoungpeoplegatheredaboutthetable,fullofthenewplans,andtheelderslistenedastheyrestedaftertheweek'swork.Apleasantevening,fortheyalllikedRalph,butastheparentswatchedMerrysittingamongthegreatladslikealittlequeenamonghersubjects,halfunconsciousasyetofthepowerinherhands,theynoddedtooneanother,andthenshooktheirheadsasiftheysaid,— “I'mafraidthetimeiscoming,mother.” “Nodangeraslongasshedon'tknowit,father.” Atninetheboyswentofftothebarn,thefarmertowinduptheeight-dayclock,andthehousewifetoseehowthebakedbeansandIndianpuddingforto-morrowweregettingonintheoven.Ralphtookuphishattogo,sayingashelookedattheshadeonthetallstudentlamp,— “Whatagoodlightthatgives!IcanseeitasIgohomeeverynight,anditburnsupherelikeabeacon.Ialwayslookforit,andithardlyeverfailstobeburning.Sortofcheersuptheway,youknow,whenI'mtiredorlowinmymind.” “ThenI'mverygladIgotit.Ilikedtheshape,buttheboyslaughedatitastheydidatmybulrushesinaginger-jaroverthere.I'dbeenreadingabout'householdart,'andIthoughtI'dtryalittle,”answeredMerry,laughingatherownwhims. “You'vegotabettersortofhouseholdart,Ithink,foryoumakepeoplehappyandplacespretty,withoutfussingoverit.ThisroomiseversomuchimprovedeverytimeIcome,thoughIhardlyseewhatitisexcepttheflowers,”saidRalph,lookingfromthegirltothetallcallathatbentitswhitecupaboveherasiftopouritsdewuponherhead. “Isn'tthatlovely?Itriedtodrawit—theshapewassogracefulIwantedtokeepit.ButIcouldn't.Isn'titapitysuchbeautifulthingswon'tlastforever?”andMerrylookedregretfullyatthehalf-fadedonethatgrewbesidethefreshblossom. “Icankeepitforyou.Itwouldlookwellinplaster.MayI?”askedRalph. “Thankyou,Ishouldlikethatverymuch.Taketherealoneasamodel—pleasedotherearemorecoming,andthiswillbrightenupyourroomforadayortwo.” Asshespoke,Merrycutthestem,and,addingtwoorthreeofthegreatgreenleaves,putthehandsomeflowerinhishandwithsomuchgood-willthathefeltasifhehadreceivedaverypreciousgift.Thenhesaidgood-nightsogratefullythatMerry'shandquitetingledwiththegraspofhis,andwentaway,oftenlookingbackwardthroughthedarknesstowherethelightburnedbrightlyonthehill-top—thebeaconkindledbyanunconsciousHeroforayoungLeanderswimminggallantlyagainstwindandtidetowardthegoalofhisambition.