Rose in Bloom: A Sequel to "Eight Cousins"Alcott, Louisa May
General
Rose in Bloom: A Sequel to "Eight Cousins"
Alcott, Louisa May
Cousins -- Fiction; Family life -- Fiction; Orphans -- Fiction
“Yes, highly recommended. She was brought up by one of the first
families there. Campbell is the name. If you come from X, you doubtless
know them.”
“I have met them. Good morning.” And with bows the gentlemen parted, for
at that instant the young man caught sight of a tall lady going down the
church steps with a devout expression in her fine eyes and a prayer-book
in her hand.
Hastening after her, the serious-minded young man accosted her just as
she turned into a quiet street.
“Phebe!”
Only a word, but it wrought a marvelous change, for the devout
expression vanished in the drawing of a breath, and the quiet face
blossomed suddenly with color, warmth, and “the light that never was on
sea or land” as she turned to meet her lover with an answering word as
eloquent as his.
“Archie!”
“The year is out today. I told you I should come. Have you forgotten?”
“No I knew you'd come.”
“And are you glad?”
“How can I help it?”
“You can't don't try. Come into this little park and let us talk.” And
drawing her hand through his arm, Archie led her into what to other
eyes was a very dismal square, with a boarded-up fountain in the middle,
sodden grass plots, and dead leaves dancing in the wintry wind.
But to them it was a summery Paradise, and they walked to and fro in the
pale sunshine, quite unconscious that they were objects of interest
to several ladies and gentlemen waiting anxiously for their dinner or
yawning over the dull books kept for Sunday reading. “Are you ready
to come home now, Phebe?” asked Archie tenderly as he looked at the
downcast face beside him and wondered why all women did not wear
delightful little black velvet bonnets with one deep red flower against
their hair.
“Not yet. I haven't done enough,” began Phebe, finding it very hard to
keep the resolution made a year ago.
“You have proved that you can support yourself, make friends, and earn a
name, if you choose. No one can deny that, and we are all getting proud
of you. What more can you ask, my dearest?”
“I don't quite know, but I am very ambitious. I want to be famous, to do
something for you all, to make some sacrifice for Rose, and, if I can,
to have something to give up for your sake. Let me wait and work longer
I know I haven't earned my welcome yet,” pleaded Phebe so earnestly
that her lover knew it would be in vain to try and turn her, so wisely
contented himself with half, since he could not have the whole.
“Such a proud woman! Yet I love you all the better for it, and
understand your feeling. Rose made me see how it seems to you, and I
don't wonder that you cannot forget the unkind things that were looked,
if not said, by some of my amiable aunts. I'll try to be patient on one
condition, Phebe.”
“And what is that?”
“You are to let me come sometimes while I wait, and wear this lest you
should forget me,” he said, pulling a ring from his pocket and gently
drawing a warm, bare hand out of the muff where it lay hidden.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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