Chapter 19 134my head spin with Kant and Hegel and that lot.''I promised Dora West I'd give her a turn. Must look her up; she's a jolly little thing, and doesn't bother aboutanything but keeping in step.'And arm in arm the boys strolled away, leaving Alice to read music as diligently as if society had indeed nocharms for her. As she bent to turn a page, the eager young man behind the piano saw the rose and was struckspeechless with delight. A moment he gazed, then hastened to seize the coveted place before a newdetachment of bores arrived.'Alice, I can't believe it--did you understand--how shall I ever thank you?' murmured Demi, bending as if he,too, read the song, not a note or word of which did he see, however.'Hush! not now. I understood--I don't deserve it--we are too young, we must wait, but--I'm very proud andhappy, John!'What would have happened after that tender whisper I tremble to think, if Tom Bangs had not come bustlingup, with the cheerful remark:'Music? just the thing. People are thinning out, and we all want a little refreshment. My <strong>br</strong>ain fairly reels withthe 'ologies and 'isms I've heard discussed tonight. Yes, give us this; sweet thing! Scotch songs are alwayscharming.'Demi glowered; but the obtuse boy never saw it, and Alice, feeling that this would be a safe vent for sundryunruly emotions, sat down at once, and sang the song which gave her answer better than she could have done:BIDE A WEE'The puir auld folk at home, ye mind, Are frail and failing sair; And weel I ken they'd miss me, lad, Gin Icome hame nae mair. The grist is out, the times are hard, The kine are only three; I canna leave the auld folknow. We'd better bide a wee.'I fear me sair they're failing baith; For when I sit apart, They talk o' Heaven so earnestly, It well nigh <strong>br</strong>eaksmy heart. So, laddie, dinna urge me now, It surely winna be; I canna leave the auld folk yet. We'd better bide awee.'The room was very still before the first verse ended; and Alice skipped the next, fearing she could not getthrough; for John's eyes were on her, showing that he knew she sang for him and let the plaintive little balladtell what her reply must be. He took it as she meant it, and smiled at her so happily that her heart got the betterof her voice, and she rose a<strong>br</strong>uptly, saying something about the heat.'Yes, you are tired; come out and rest, my dearest'; and with a masterful air Demi took her into the starlight,leaving Tom to stare after them winking as if a sky-rocket had suddenly gone off under his nose.'Bless my soul! the Deacon really meant business last summer and never told me. Won't Dora laugh?' AndTom departed in hot haste to impart and exult over his discovery.What was said in the garden was never exactly known; but the Brooke family sat up very late that night, andany curious eye at the window would have seen Demi receiving the homage of his womankind as he told hislittle romance. Josie took great credit to herself in the matter, insisting that she had made the match; Daisywas full of the sweetest sympathy and joy, and Mrs Meg so happy that when Jo had gone to dream of <strong>br</strong>idalveils, and Demi sat in his room blissfully playing the air of 'Bide a Wee', she had her talk about Nat, ending
Chapter 20 135with her arms round her dutiful daughter and these welcome words as her reward:'Wait till Nat comes home, and then my good girl shall wear white roses too.'Chapter 20LIFE FOR LIFEThe summer days that followed were full of rest and pleasure for young and old, as they did the honours ofPlumfield to their happy guests. While Franz and Emil were busy with the affairs of Uncle Hermann andCaptain Hardy, Mary and Ludmilla made friends everywhere; for, though very unlike, both were excellent andcharming girls. Mrs Meg and Daisy found the German <strong>br</strong>ide a Hausfrau after their own hearts, and haddelightful times learning new dishes, hearing about the semi-yearly washes and the splendid linen-room atHamburg, or discussing domestic life in all its <strong>br</strong>anches. Ludmilla not only taught, but learned, many things,and went home with many new and useful ideas in her blonde head.Mary had seen so much of the world that she was unusually lively for an English girl; while her variousaccomplishments made her a most agreeable companion. Much good sense gave her ballast; and the lateexperiences of danger and happiness added a sweet gravity at times, which contrasted well with her naturalgaiety. Mrs Jo was quite satisfied with Emil's choice, and felt sure this true and tender pilot would <strong>br</strong>ing himsafe to port through fair or stormy weather. She had feared that Franz would settle down into a comfortable,moneymaking burgher, and be content with that; but she soon saw that his love of music and his placidLudmilla put much poetry into his busy life, and kept it from being too prosaic. So she felt at rest about theseboys, and enjoyed their visit with real, maternal satisfaction; parting with them in September most regretfully,yet hopefully, as they sailed away to the new life that lay before them.Demi's engagement was confided to the immediate family only, as both were pronounced too young to doanything but love and wait. They were so happy that time seemed to stand still for them, and after a blissfulweek they parted <strong>br</strong>avely--Alice to home duties, with a hope that sustained and cheered her through manytrials; and John to his business, full of a new ardour which made all things possible when such a reward wasoffered.Daisy rejoiced over them, and was never tired of hearing her <strong>br</strong>other's plans for the future. Her own hope soonmade her what she used to be--a cheery, busy creature, with a smile, kind word, and helping hand for all; andas she went singing about the house again, her mother felt that the right remedy for past sadness had beenfound. The dear Pelican still had doubts and fears, but kept them wisely to herself, preparing sundry searchingtests to be applied when Nat came home, and keeping a sharp eye on the letters from London; for somemysterious hint had flown across the sea, and Daisy's content seemed reflected in Nat's present cheerful stateof mind.Having passed through the Werther period, and tried a little Faust-- of which experience he spoke to hisMarguerite as if it had included an acquaintance with Mephistopheles, Blocksburg, and Auerbach'swine-cellar--he now felt that he was a Wilhelm Meister, serving his apprenticeship to the great masters of life.As she knew the truth of his small sins and honest repentance, Daisy only smiled at the mixture of love andphilosophy he sent her, knowing that it was impossible for a young man to live in Germany without catchingthe German spirit.'His heart is all right; and his head will soon grow clear when he gets out of the fog of tobacco, beer, andmetaphysics he's been living in. England will wake up his common sense, and good salt air blow his littlefollies all away,' said Mrs Jo, much pleased with the good prospects of her violinist--whose return wasdelayed till spring, to his private regret, but professional advancement.
- Page 1 and 2:
Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter
- Page 3 and 4:
Information about Project Gutenberg
- Page 5 and 6:
The Legal Small Print 5hart@pobox.c
- Page 7 and 8:
Chapter 1 7[*] You provide, or agre
- Page 9 and 10:
Chapter 16 9Chapter 16In the Tennis
- Page 11 and 12:
Chapter 1 11long, useful, and honou
- Page 13 and 14:
Chapter 1 13'Never! I'm sure it doe
- Page 15 and 16:
Chapter 1 15'They are like my chick
- Page 17 and 18:
Chapter 2 17well, not even the Witc
- Page 19 and 20:
Chapter 2 19flesh-and-blood girl, n
- Page 21 and 22:
Chapter 2 21'Oh, Fritz, I'm so deli
- Page 23 and 24:
Chapter 2 23young women, who were a
- Page 25 and 26:
Chapter 3 25'I couldn't find anythi
- Page 27 and 28:
Chapter 3 27A sketch of one day may
- Page 29 and 30:
Chapter 3 29suffice to show a few o
- Page 31 and 32:
Chapter 3 31Mrs Parmalee paused at
- Page 33 and 34:
Chapter 3 33gone off with the guest
- Page 36 and 37:
Chapter 4 36Arbaces in The Last Day
- Page 38 and 39:
Chapter 4 38'I'm not sure the farmi
- Page 40 and 41:
Chapter 4 40a good man, and asked n
- Page 42 and 43:
Chapter 5 42step into the wet grass
- Page 44 and 45:
Chapter 5 44over the lawn at a grea
- Page 46 and 47:
Chapter 5 46Tom and Nan took all th
- Page 48 and 49:
Chapter 5 48gloomy, and peculiar" s
- Page 50 and 51:
Chapter 5 50His order was obeyed pr
- Page 52 and 53:
Chapter 5 52were our representative
- Page 54 and 55:
Chapter 6 54shining with Sunday nea
- Page 56 and 57:
Chapter 6 56the letters; and you ca
- Page 58 and 59:
Chapter 6 58'Please God, I will!''T
- Page 60 and 61:
Chapter 6 60'Yes, you can this time
- Page 62 and 63:
Chapter 7 62The sea air seemed to h
- Page 64 and 65:
Chapter 7 64everyone when all is in
- Page 66 and 67:
Chapter 7 66'He is growing up, hear
- Page 68 and 69:
Chapter 8 68answered Ted, pulling h
- Page 70 and 71:
Chapter 8 70excitedly:'There she is
- Page 72 and 73:
Chapter 8 72'Run over the beach and
- Page 74 and 75:
Chapter 8 74'Oh, I don't think I'm
- Page 76 and 77:
Chapter 9 76Josie wrote reams to he
- Page 78 and 79:
Chapter 9 78finding it nice and coo
- Page 80 and 81:
Chapter 9 80'A common-sense view of
- Page 82 and 83:
Chapter 9 82burns warm and clear fo
- Page 84 and 85: Chapter 10 84'Mother dear, I think
- Page 86 and 87: Chapter 10 86Mrs Meg actually blush
- Page 88 and 89: Chapter 11 88'That's nothing; it's
- Page 90 and 91: Chapter 11 90not last long, and hel
- Page 92 and 93: Chapter 12 92Chapter 12DAN'S CHRIST
- Page 94 and 95: Chapter 12 94or those still later a
- Page 96 and 97: Chapter 13 96brewing, and fear that
- Page 98 and 99: Chapter 13 98The sum placed at his
- Page 100 and 101: Chapter 13 100impulse was to seek h
- Page 102 and 103: Chapter 14 102would prove that trut
- Page 104 and 105: Chapter 14 104And in slouched a deg
- Page 106 and 107: Chapter 14 106wounded hero, with bl
- Page 108 and 109: Chapter 15 108One can easily imagin
- Page 110 and 111: Chapter 15 110Franz and Emil being
- Page 112 and 113: Chapter 16 112Josie was about to si
- Page 114 and 115: Chapter 16 114which he answered, wi
- Page 116 and 117: Chapter 16 116'I'm going to talk to
- Page 118 and 119: Chapter 17 118satisfied, and said,
- Page 120 and 121: Chapter 17 120'Cultivate cheerfulne
- Page 122 and 123: Chapter 17 122splendid to know that
- Page 124 and 125: Chapter 18 124of the poor, better t
- Page 126 and 127: Chapter 18 126mates, who welcomed h
- Page 128 and 129: Chapter 18 128'And it was, my dear,
- Page 130 and 131: Chapter 19 130'You are very kind, c
- Page 132 and 133: Chapter 19 132Alice did not hear wh
- Page 136 and 137: Chapter 20 136Josie had a month wit
- Page 138 and 139: Chapter 20 138and Ted, finding his
- Page 140 and 141: Chapter 20 140other big bug in the
- Page 142 and 143: Chapter 21 142the poor fellow often
- Page 144 and 145: Chapter 21 144Froda, and the fair d
- Page 146 and 147: Chapter 21 146crazy fancy of mine,
- Page 148 and 149: Chapter 22 148'Forgive him, Bess. H
- Page 150 and 151: Chapter 22 150'I knew I should get
- Page 152: Chapter 22 152'I thought the seed h