第56章

"Oh! You see some young girl who strikes you as particularly charming­whether she really is or not doesn't matter a bit­and you begin to think about her a great deal, to want to see her, and to get generally sentimental and absurd," began Rose, finding it difficult to give a diagnosis of the most mysterious disease under the sun.

"Don't think it sounds enticing.Can't I find an antidote somewhere, for if it is in the air this year I'm sure to get it, and it may be fatal,"said Mac, who felt pretty lively and liked to make Rose merry, for he suspected that she had a little trouble from a hint Dr.Alec had given him.

"I hope you will catch it, because you'll be so funny.""Will you take care of me as you did before, or have you got your hands full?""I'll help, but really with Archie and Steve and­Charlie, I shall have enough to do.You'd better take it lightly the first time, and so won't need much care.""Very well, how shall I begin? Enlighten my ignorance and start me right, I beg.""Go about and see people, make yourself agreeable, and not sit in corners observing other people as if they were puppets dancing for your amusement.

I heard Mrs.Van once say that propinquity works wonders, and she ought to know, having married off two daughters, and just engaged a third to 'a most charming young man.'""Good lack! The cure sounds worse than the disease.Propinquity, hey?

Why, I may be in danger this identical moment and can't flee for my life,"said Mac, gently catching her round the waist for a general waltz.

"Don't be alarmed, but mind your steps, for Charlie is looking at us, and I want you to do your best.That's perfect­take me quite round, for I love to waltz and seldom get a good turn except with you boys," said Rose, smiling up at him approvingly as his strong arm guided her among the revolving couples and his feet kept time without a fault.

"This certainly is a great improvement on the chair business, to which I have devoted myself with such energy that I've broken the backs of two partners and dislocated the arm of the old rocker.I took an occasional turn with that heavy party, thinking it good practice in case I ever happen to dance with stout ladies." And Mac nodded toward Annabel, pounding gaily with Mr.Tokio, whose yellow countenance beamed as his beady eyes rested on his plump fiancée.

Pausing in the midst of her merriment at the image of Mac and the old rocking chair, Rose said reprovingly, "Though a heathen Chinee, Fun puts you to shame, for he did not ask foolish questions but went a-wooing like a sensible little man, and I've no doubt Annabel will be very happy.""Choose me a suitable divinity and I will try to adore.Can I do more than that to retrieve my character?" answered Mac, safely landing his partner and plying the fan according to instructions.

"How would Emma do?" inquired Rose, whose sense of the ludicrous was strong and who could not resist the temptation of horrifying Mac by the suggestion.

"Never! It sets my teeth on edge to look at her tonight.I suppose that dress is 'a sweet thing just out,' but upon my word she reminds me of nothing but a Harlequin ice," and Mac turned his back on her with a shudder, for he was sensitive to discords of all kinds.

"She certainly does, and that mixture of chocolate, pea green, and pink is simply detestable, though many people would consider it decidedly 'chic,'

to use her favorite word.I suppose you will dress your wife like a Spartan matron of the time of Lycurgus," added Rose, much tickled by his new conceit.

"I'll wait till I get her before I decide.But one thing I'm sure of­she shall not dress like a Greek dancer of the time of Pericles," answered Mac, regarding with great disfavor a young lady who, having a statuesque figure, affected drapery of the scanty and clinging description.

"Then it is of no use to suggest that classic creature, so as you reject my first attempts, I won't go on but look about me quietly, and you had better do the same.Seriously, Mac, more gaiety and less study would do you good, for you will grow old before your time if you shut yourself up and pore over books so much.""I don't believe there is a younger or a jollier-feeling fellow in the room than I am, though I may not conduct myself like a dancing dervish.

But I own you may be right about the books, for there are many sorts of intemperance, and a library is as irresistible to me as a barroom to a toper.I shall have to sign a pledge and cork up the only bottle that tempts me­my ink-stand.""I'll tell you how to make it easier to abstain.Stop studying and write a novel into which you can put all your wise things, and so clear your brains for a new start by and by.Do­I should so like to read it,"cried Rose, delighted with the project, for she was sure Mac could do anything he liked in that line.

"First live, then write.How can I go to romancing till I know what romance means?" he asked soberly, feeling that so far he had had very little in his life.

"Then you must find out, and nothing will help you more than to love someone very much.Do as I've advised and be a modern Diogenes going about with spectacles instead of a lantern in search, not of an honest man, but a perfect woman.I do hope you will be successful." And Rose made her curtsey as the dance ended.