your plans last night the other boys all talked at once, and you only
got a word now and then. What have you decided to be, Mac?”
asked Rose as they went up the avenue side by side.
“A man first, and a good one if possible. After that, what God
pleases.?
Something in the tone, as well as the words, made Rose look up
quickly into Mac’s face to see a new expression there. It was
indescribable, but she felt as she had often done when watching
the mists part suddenly, giving glimpses of some mountaintop,
shining serene and high against the blue.
“I think you will be something splendid, for you really look quite
glorified, walking under this arch of yellow leaves with the
sunshine on your face,” she exclaimed, conscious of a sudden
admiration never felt before, for Mac was the plainest of all the
cousins.
“I don’t know about that, but I have my dreams and aspirations,
and some of them are pretty high ones. Aim at the best, you know,
and keep climbing if you want to get on,” he said, looking at the
asters with an inward sort of smile, as if he and they had some
sweet secret between them.
“You are queerer than ever. But I like your ambition, and hope you
will get on. Only mustn’t you begin at something soon? I fancied
you would study medicine with Uncle that used to be our plan, you
know.?
“I shall, for the present at least, because I quite agree with you that
it is necessary to have an anchor somewhere and not go floating
off into the world of imagination without ballast of the right sort.
Uncle and I had some talk about it last night and I’m going to begin
as soon as possible, for I’ve mooned long enough,” and giving
himself a shake, Mac threw down the pretty spray, adding half
aloud:
“Chide me not, laborious band,
For the idle flowers I brought:
Every aster in my hand
Goes home laden with a thought.?
Rose caught the words and smiled, thinking to herself, “Oh, that’s
it he is getting into the sentimental age and Aunt Jane has been
lecturing him. Dear me, how we are growing up!?
“You look as if you didn’t like the prospect very well,” she said
aloud, for Mac had rammed the volume of Shelley into his pocket
and the glorified expression was so entirely gone, Rose fancied she
had been mistaken about the mountaintop behind the mists.
“Yes, well enough I always thought the profession a grand one,
and where could I find a better teacher than Uncle? I’ve got into
lazy ways lately, and it is high time I went at something useful, so
here I go,” and Mac abruptly vanished into the study while Rose
joined Phebe in Aunt Plenty’s room.
The dear old lady had just decided, after long and earnest
discussion, which of six favorite puddings should be served for
dinner, and thus had a few moments to devote to sentiment, so
when Rose came in she held out her arms, saying fondly: “I shall
not feel as if I’d got my child back again until I have her in my lap
a minute. No, you’re not a bit too heavy, my rheumatism doesn’t
begin much before November, so sit here, darling, and put your
two arms round my neck.?
Rose obeyed, and neither spoke for a moment as the old woman
held the young one close and appeased the two years’ longing of a
motherly heart by the caresses women give the creatures dearest to
them. Right in the middle of a kiss, however, she stopped suddenly
and, holding out one arm, caught Phebe, who was trying to steal
away unobserved.
“Don’t go there’s room for both in my love, though there isn’t in my
lap. I’m so grateful to get my dear girls safely home again that I
hardly know what I’m about,” said Aunt Plenty, embracing Phebe
so heartily that she could not feel left out in the cold and stood
there with her black eyes shining through the happiest tears.
“There, now I’ve had a good hug, and feel as if I was all right