第87章

"Mac wrote me that you were much admired by your church people, and that certain wealthy bachelors evidently had designs on the retiring Miss Moore.

I was horribly jealous, but now I defy every man of them."Phebe smiled with the air of proud humility that was so becoming and answered briefly: "There was no danger­kings could not change me, whether you ever came or not.But Mac should not have told you.""You shall be revenged on him, then, for, as he told secrets about you, I'll tell you one about him.Phebe, he loves Rose!" And Archie looked as if he expected to make a great sensation with his news.

"I know it." And Phebe laughed at his sudden change of countenance as he added inquiringly, "She told you, then?""Not a word.I guessed it from her letters, for lately she says nothing about Mac, and before there was a good deal, so I suspected what the silence meant and asked no questions.""Wise girl! Then you think she does care for the dear old fellow?""Of course she does.Didn't he tell you so?""No, he only said when he went away, 'Take care of my Rose, and I'll take care of your Phebe,' and not another thing could I get out of him, for I did ask questions.He stood by me like a hero, and kept Aunt Jane from driving me stark mad with her 'advice.' I don't forget that, and burned to lend him a hand somewhere, but he begged me to let him manage his wooing in his own way.And from what I see, I should say he knew how to do it," added Archie, finding it very delightful to gossip about love affairs with his sweetheart.

"Dear little mistress! How does she behave?" asked Phebe, longing for news, but too grateful to ask at headquarters, remembering how generously Rose had tried to help her, even by silence, the greatest sacrifice a woman can make at such interesting periods.

"Very sweet and shy and charming.I try not to watch­but upon my word I cannot help it sometimes, she is so 'cunning,' as you girls say.

When I carry her a letter from Mac she tries so hard not to show how glad she is that I want to laugh and tell her I know all about it.But I look as sober as a judge and as stupid as an owl by daylight, and she enjoys her letters in peace and thinks I'm so absorbed in my own passion that I'm blind to hers.""But why did Mac come away? He says lectures brought him, and he goes, but I am sure something else is in his mind, he looks so happy at times.

I don't see him very often, but when I do I'm conscious that he isn't the Mac I left a year ago," said Phebe, leading Archie away, for inexorable propriety forbade a longer stay, even if prudence and duty had not given her a reminding nudge, as it was very cold, and afternoon church came in an hour.

"Well, you see Mac was always peculiar, and he cannot even grow up like other fellows.I don't understand him yet, and am sure he's got some plan in his head that no one suspects, unless it is Uncle Alec.Love makes us all cut queer capers, and I've an idea that the Don will distinguish himself in some uncommon way.So be prepared to applaud whatever it is.We owe him that, you know.""Indeed we do! If Rose ever speaks of him to you, tell her I shall see that he comes to no harm, and she must do the same for my Archie."That unusual demonstration of tenderness from reserved Phebe very naturally turned the conversation into a more personal channel, and Archie devoted himself to building castles in the air so successfully that they passed the material mansion without either being aware of it.

"Will you come in?" asked Phebe when the mistake was rectified and she stood on her own steps looking down at her escort, who had discreetly released her before a pull at the bell caused five heads to pop up at five different windows.

"No, thanks.I shall be at church this afternoon, and the oratorio this evening.I must be off early in the morning, so let me make the most of precious time and come home with you tonight as I did before," answered Archie, making his best bow, and quite sure of consent.

"You may." And Phebe vanished, closing the door softly, as if she found it hard to shut out so much love and happiness as that in the heart of the sedate young gentleman who went briskly down the street humming a verse of old "Clyde" like a tuneful bass viol: "Oh, let our mingling voices rise In grateful rapture to the skies, Where love has had its birth.

Let songs of joy this day declare That spirits come their bliss to share With all the sons of earth." That afternoon Miss Moore sang remarkably well, and that evening quite electrified even her best friends by the skill and power with which she rendered "Inflammatus" in the oratorio.

"If that is not genius, I should like to know what it is?" said one young man to another as they went out just before the general crush at the end.

"Some genius and a great deal of love.They are a grand team, and, when well driven, astonish the world by the time they make in the great race,"answered the second young man with the look of one inclined to try his hand at driving that immortal span.

"Daresay you are right.Can't stop now­she's waiting for me.Don't sit up, Mac.""The gods go with you, Archie."

And the cousins separated­one to write till midnight, the other to bid his Phebe good-bye, little dreaming how unexpectedly and successfully she was to earn her welcome home.