answered Mac with a sigh of relief, wiping his hot forehead.
“But it is three miles at least each way, and twelve o’clock, and
dark and cold. Oh, Mac! How could you!” exclaimed Rose,
suddenly realizing what he had done as she heard his labored
breathing, saw the state of the thin boots, and detected the absence
of an overcoat.
“Couldn’t do less, could I?” asked Mac, leaning up against the door
and trying not to pant.
“There was no need of half killing yourself for such a trifle. You
might have known I could take care of myself for once, at least,
with so many friends about. Sit down this minute. Bring another
cup, please, Phebe this boy isn’t going home till he is rested and
refreshed after such a run as that,” commanded Rose.
“Don’t be good to me I’d rather take a scolding than a chair, and
drink hemlock instead of chocolate if you happen to have any
ready,” answered Mac with a pathetic puff as he subsided onto the
sofa and meekly took the draft Phebe brought him.
“If you had anything the matter with your heart, sir, a race of this
sort might be the death of you so never do it again,” said Rose,
offering her fan to cool his heated countenance.
“Haven’t got any heart.?
“Yes, you have, for I hear it beating like a trip-hammer, and it is
my fault I ought to have stopped as we went by and told you I was
all right.?
“It’s the mortification, not the miles, that upsets me. I often take
that run for exercise and think nothing of it but tonight I was so
mad I made extra-good time, I fancy. Now don’t you worry, but
compose your mind and ‘sip your dish of tea,’ as Evelina says,”
answered Mac, artfully turning the conversation from himself.
“What do you know about Evelina?” asked Rose in great surprise.
“All about her. Do you suppose I never read a novel??
“I thought you read nothing but Greek and Latin, with an
occasional glance at Websky’s pseudophites and the monoclinics
of Johanngeorgenstadt.?
Mac opened his eyes wide at this reply, then seemed to see the
joke and joined in the laugh with such heartiness that Aunt Plenty’s
voice was heard demanding from above with sleepy anxiety: “Is
the house afire??
“No, ma’am, everything is safe, and I’m only saying good night,”
answered Mac, diving for his cap.
“Then go at once and let that child have her sleep,” added the old
lady, retiring to her bed.
Rose ran into the hall, and catching up her uncle’s fur coat, met
Mac as he came out of the study, absently looking about for his
own.
“You haven’t any, you benighted boy! So take this, and have your
wits about you next time or I won’t let you off so easily,” she said,
holding up the heavy garment and peeping over it, with no sign of
displeasure in her laughing eyes.
“Next time! Then you do forgive me? You will try me again, and
give me a chance to prove that I’m not a fool?” cried Mac,
embracing the big coat with emotion.
“Of course I will, and, so far from thinking you a fool, I was much
impressed with your learning tonight and told Steve that we ought
to be proud of our philosopher.?
“Learning be hanged! I’ll show you that I’m not a bookworm but as
much a man as any of them, and then you may be proud or not, as
you like!” cried Mac with a defiant nod that caused the glasses to
leap wildly off his nose as he caught up his hat and departed as he
came.
A day or two later Rose went to call upon Aunt Jane, as she
dutifully did once or twice a week. On her way upstairs she heard a
singular sound in the drawing room and involuntarily stopped to
listen.
“One, two, three, slide! One, two, three, turn! Now, then, come
on!” said one voice impatiently.
“It’s very easy to say ‘come on,’ but what the dickens do I do with
my left leg while I’m turning and sliding with my right?”