POLISHING MAC
"Please could I say one word?" was the question three times repeated before a rough head bobbed out from the grotto of books in which Mac usually sat when he studied.
"Did anyone speak?" he asked, blinking in the flood of sunshine that entered with Rose.
"Only three times, thank you.Don't disturb yourself, I beg, for I merely want to say a word," answered Rose as she prevented him from offering the easy chair in which he sat.
"I was rather deep in a compound fracture and didn't hear.What can I do for you, Cousin?" And Mac shoved a stack of pamphlets off the chair near him with a hospitable wave of the hand that sent his papers flying in all directions.
Rose sat down, but did not seem to find her "word" an easy one to utter, for she twisted her handkerchief about her fingers in embarrassed silence till Mac put on his glasses and, after a keen look, asked soberly: "Is it a splinter, a cut, or a whitlow, ma'am?""It is neither.Do forget your tiresome surgery for a minute and be the kindest cousin that ever was," answered Rose, beginning rather sharply and ending with her most engaging smile.
"Can't promise in the dark," said the wary youth.
"It is a favor, a great favor, and one I don't choose to ask any of the other boys," answered the artful damsel.
Mac looked pleased and leaned forward, saying more affably, "Name it, and be sure I'll grant it if I can.""Go with me to Mrs.Hope's party tomorrow night.""What!" And Mac recoiled as if she had put a pistol to his head.
"I've left you in peace a long time, but it is your turn now, so do your duty like a man and a cousin.""But I never go to parties!" cried the unhappy victim in great dismay.
"High time you began, sir."
"But I don't dance fit to be seen."
"I'll teach you."
"My dress coat isn't decent, I know."
"Archie will lend you one­he isn't going.""I'm afraid there's a lecture that I ought not to cut.""No, there isn't­I asked Uncle."
"I'm always so tired and dull in the evening.""This sort of thing is just what you want to rest and freshen up your spirits."Mac gave a groan and fell back vanquished, for it was evident that escape was impossible.
"What put such a perfectly wild idea into your head?" he demanded, rather roughly, for hitherto he had been left in peace and this sudden attack decidedly amazed him.
"Sheer necessity, but don't do it if it is so very dreadful to you.
I must go to several more parties, because they are made for me, but after that I'll refuse, and then no one need be troubled with me."Something in Rose's voice made Mac answer penitently, even while he knit his brows in perplexity."I don't mean to be rude, and of course I'll go anywhere if I'm really needed.But I don't understand where the sudden necessity is, with three other fellows at command, all better dancers and beaus than I am.""I don't want them, and I do want you, for I haven't the heart to drag Uncle out anymore, and you know I never go with any gentleman but those of my own family.""Now look here, Rose­if Steve has been doing anything to tease you, just mention it and I'll attend to him," cried Mac, plainly seeing that something was amiss and fancying that Dandy was at the bottom of it, as he had done escort duty several times lately.
"No, Steve has been very good, but I know he had rather be with Kitty Van, so of course I feel like a marplot, though he is too polite to hint it.""What a noodle that boy is! But there's Archie­he's steady as a church and has no sweetheart to interfere," continued Mac, bound to get at the truth and half suspecting what it was.
"He is on his feet all day, and Aunt Jessie wants him in the evening.
He does not care for dancing as he used, and I suppose he really does prefer to rest and read." Rose might have added, "And hear Phebe sing," for Phebe did not go out as much as Rose did, and Aunt Jessie often came to sit with the old lady when the young folks were away and, of course, dutiful Archie came with her, so willingly of late!
"What's amiss with Charlie? I thought he was the prince of cavaliers.
Annabel says he dances 'like an angel,' and I know a dozen mothers couldn't keep him at home of an evening.Have you had a tiff with Adonis and so fall back on poor me?" asked Mac, coming last to the person of whom he thought first but did not mention, feeling shy about alluding to a subject often discussed behind her back.
"Yes, I have, and I don't intend to go with him any more for some time.
His ways do not suit me, and mine do not suit him, so I want to be quite independent, and you can help me if you will," said Rose, rather nervously spinning the big globe close by.
Mac gave a low whistle, looking wide awake all in a minute as he said with a gesture, as if he brushed a cobweb off his face: "Now, see here, Cousin, I'm not good at mysteries­and shall only blunder if you put me blindfold into any nice maneuver.Just tell me straight out what you want and I'll do it if I can.Play I'm Uncle and free your mind­come now."He spoke so kindly, and the honest eyes were so full of merry goodwill, that Rose thought she might confide in him and answered as frankly as he could desire: "You are right, Mac, and I don't mind talking to you almost as freely as to Uncle, because you are such a reliable fellow and won't think me silly for trying to do what I believe to be right.Charlie does, and so makes it hard for me to hold to my resolutions.I want to keep early hours, dress simply, and behave properly­no matter what fashionable people do.You will agree to that, I'm sure, and stand by me through thick and thin for principle's sake.""I will, and begin by showing you that I understand the case.I don't wonder you are not pleased, for Charlie is too presuming, and you do need someone to help you head him off a bit.Hey, Cousin?""What a way to put it!" And Rose laughed in spite of herself, adding with an air of relief, "That is it, and I do want someone to help me make him understand that I don't choose to be taken possession of in that lordly way, as if I belonged to him more than to the rest of the family.
