owl waked up and hasn’t got over the excitement yet, you see. He’s
had no experience, poor fellow, so he doesn’t know how to
behave,” observed Steve, regarding his bouquet with tender
interest.
“That’s true, and I asked for information because I may be in love
myself someday and all this will be useful, don’t you see??
“You in love!” And Steve could not restrain a laugh at the idea of
the bookworm a slave to the tender passion.
Quite unruffled, Mac leaned his chin in both hands, regarding
them with a meditative eye as he answered in his whimsical way:
“Why not? I intend to study love as well as medicine, for it is one
of the most mysterious and remarkable diseases that afflict
mankind, and the best way to understand it is to have it. I may
catch it someday, and then I should like to know how to treat and
cure it.?
“If you take it as badly as you did measles and whooping cough, it
will go hard with you, old fellow,” said Steve, much amused with
the fancy.
“I want it to. No great experience comes or goes easily, and this is
the greatest we can know, I believe, except death.?
Something in Mac’s quiet tone and thoughtful eyes made Rose
look at him in surprise, for she had never heard him speak in that
way before. Steve also stared for an instant, equally amazed, then
said below his breath, with an air of mock anxiety: “He’s been
catching something at the hospital, typhoid probably, and is
beginning to wander. I’ll take him quietly away before he gets any
wilder. Come, old lunatic, we must be off.?
“Don’t be alarmed. I’m all right and much obliged for your advice,
for I fancy I shall be a desperate lover when my time comes, if it
ever does. You don’t think it impossible, do you?” And Mac put the
question so soberly that there was a general smile.
“Certainly not you’ll be a regular Douglas, tender and true,”
answered Rose, wondering what queer question would come next.
“Thank you. The fact is, I’ve been with Archie so much in his
trouble lately that I’ve gotten interested in this matter and very
naturally want to investigate the subject as every rational man
must, sooner or later, that’s all. Now, Steve, I’m ready.” And Mac
got up as if the lesson was over.
“My dear, that boy is either a fool or a genius, and I’m sure I should
be glad to know which,” said Aunt Plenty, putting her bonbons to
rights with a puzzled shake of her best cap.
“Time will show, but I incline to think that he is not a fool by any
means,” answered the girl, pulling a cluster of white roses out of
her bosom to make room for the pansies, though they did not suit
the blue gown half so well.
Just then Aunt Jessie came in to help them receive, with Jamie to
make himself generally useful, which he proceeded to do by
hovering around the table like a fly about a honey pot when not
flattening his nose against the windowpanes to announce excitedly,
“Here’s another man coming up the drive!?
Charlie arrived next in his most sunshiny humor, for anything
social and festive was his delight, and when in this mood the
Prince was quite irresistible. He brought a pretty bracelet for Rose
and was graciously allowed to put it on while she chid him gently
for his extravagance.
“I am only following your example, for you know ‘nothing is too
good for those we love, and giving away is the best thing one can
do,’ ” he retorted, quoting words of her own.
“I wish you would follow my example in some other things as well
as you do in this,” said Rose soberly as Aunt Plenty called him to
come and see if the punch was right.
“Must conform to the customs of society. Aunty’s heart would be
broken if we did not drink her health in the good old fashion. But
don’t be alarmed I’ve a strong head of my own, and that’s lucky, for
I shall need it before I get through,” laughed Charlie, showing a