Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

and wide awake, in spite of his dishevelment, that Rose gave an

approving nod and said behind her fan: “It is a trying spectacle,

Steve yet, on the whole, I think his own odd ways suit him best and

I fancy we shall be proud of him, for he knows more than all the

rest of us put together. Hear that now.” And Rose paused that they

might listen to the following burst of eloquence from Mac’s lips:

“You know Frenzal has shown that the globular forms of silicate of

bismuth at Schneeburg and Johanngeorgenstadt are not isometric,

but monoclinic in crystalline form, and consequently he separates

them from the old eulytite and gives them the new name

Agricolite.?

“Isn’t it awful? Let us get out of this before there’s another

avalanche or we shall be globular silicates and isometric crystals

in spite of ourselves,” whispered Steve with a panic-stricken air,

and they fled from the hailstorm of hard words that rattled about

their ears, leaving Mac to enjoy himself in his own way.

But when Rose was ready to go home and looked about for her

escort, he was nowhere to be seen, for the professor had departed,

and Mac with him, so absorbed in some new topic that he entirely

forgot his cousin and went placidly home, still pondering on the

charms of geology. When this pleasing fact dawned upon Rose her

feelings may be imagined. She was both angry and amused it was

so like Mac to go mooning off and leave her to her fate. Not a hard

one, however; for, though Steve was gone with Kitty before her

plight was discovered, Mrs. Bliss was only too glad to take the

deserted damsel under her wing and bear her safely home.

Rose was warming her feet and sipping the chocolate which Phebe

always had ready for her, as she never ate supper, when a hurried

tap came at the long window whence the light streamed and Mac’s

voice was heard softly asking to be let in “just for one minute.?

Curious to know what had befallen him, Rose bade Phebe obey his

call and the delinquent cavalier appeared, breathless, anxious, and

more dilapidated than ever, for he had forgotten his overcoat; his

tie was at the back of his neck now; and his hair as rampantly erect

as if all the winds of heaven had been blowing freely through it, as

they had, for he had been tearing to and fro the last half hour,

trying to undo the dreadful deed he had so innocently committed.

“Don’t take any notice of me, for I don’t deserve it. I only came to

see that you were safe, Cousin, and then go hang myself, as Steve

advised,” he began in a remorseful tone that would have been very

effective if he had not been obliged to catch his breath with a

comical gasp now and then.

“I never thought you would be the one to desert me,” said Rose

with a reproachful look, thinking it best not to relent too soon,

though she was quite ready to do it when she saw how sincerely

distressed he was.

“It was that confounded man! He was a regular walking

encyclopedia, and, finding I could get a good deal out of him, I

went in for general information, as the time was short. You know I

always forget everything else when I get hold of such a fellow.?

“That is evident. I wonder how you came to remember me at all,”

answered Rose, on the brink of a laugh it was so absurd.

“I didn’t till Steve said something that reminded me then it burst

upon me, in one awful shock, that I’d gone and left you, and you

might have knocked me down with a feather,” said honest Mac,

hiding none of his iniquity.

“What did you do then??

“Do! I went off like a shot and never stopped till I reached the

Hopes’ ?

“You didn’t walk all the way?” cried Rose.

“Bless you, no I ran. But you were gone with Mrs. Bliss, so I pelted

back again to see with my own eyes that you were safe at home,”

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