Part 45 (1/2)
”The most sociable, because the most magnetic, shape it could take.
You will see the power it will develop. There's a great deal in merely taking form according to fundamental principles. Witness the getting round a fireside. Isn't that a horseshoe? And could half as much sympathy be evolved from a straight line?”
”I believe in firesides,” said Rose.
”And in women who can organize and inform them,” said Kenneth.
”First, firesides; then neighborhoods; that is the way the world's life works out; and women have their hands at the heart of it. They can do so much more there than by making the laws! When the life is right, the laws will make themselves, or be no longer needed. They are such mere outside patchwork,--makes.h.i.+fts till a better time!”
”Wrong living must make wrong laws, whoever does the voting,” said Rosamond, sagely.
”False social standards make false commercial ones; inflated pretensions demand inflated currency; selfish, untrue domestic living eventuates in greedy speculations and business shams; and all in the intriguing for corrupt legislation, to help out partial interests. It isn't by multiplying the voting power, but by purifying it, that the end is to be reached.”
”That is so sententious, Kenneth, that I shall have to take it home and ravel it out gradually in my mind in little shreds. In the mean while, dear, suppose we stop in the village, and get some little brown-ware cups for top-overs. You never ate any of my top-overs?
Well, when you do, you'll say that all the world ought to be brought up on top-overs.”
Rosamond was very particular about her little brown-ware cups. They had to be real stone,--brown outside, and gray-blue in; and they must be of a special size and depth. When they were found, and done up in a long parcel, one within another, in stout paper, she carried it herself to the chaise, and would scarcely let Kenneth hold it while she got in; after which, she laid it carefully across her lap, instead of putting it behind upon the cus.h.i.+on.
'You see they were rather dear; but they are the only kind worth while. Those little yellow things would soak and crack, and never look comfortable in the kitchen-closet. I give you very fair warning, I shall always want the best of things but then I shall take very fierce and jealous care of them,--like this.'
And she laid her little nicely-gloved hand across her homely parcel, guardingly.
How nice it was to go buying little homely things together! Again, it was as good and pleasant,--and meant ever so much more,--than if it had been ordering china with a monogram in Dresden, or gla.s.s in Prague, with a coat-of-arms engraved.
When they drove up to the Horseshoe, Dakie Thayne and Ruth met them.
They had been getting ”spiritual ferns” and sumach leaves with Dorris; ”the dearest little tips,” Ruth said, ”of scarlet and carbuncle, just like jets of fire.”
And now they would go back to tea, and eat up the brown cake?
”Real Westover summum-bonum cake?” Dakie wanted to know. ”Well, he couldn't stand against that. Come, Ruthie!” And Ruthie came.
”What do you think Rosamond says?” said Kenneth, at the tea-table, over the cake. ”That everybody ought to live in a city or a village, or, at least, a Horseshoe. She thinks n.o.body has a right to stick his elbows out, in this world. She's in a great hurry to be packed as closely as possible here.”
”I wish the houses were all finished, and our neighbors in; that is what I said,” said Rosamond. ”I should like to begin to know about them, and feel settled; and to see flowers in their windows, and lights at night.”
”And you always hated so a 'little crowd!'” said Ruth.
”It isn't a crowd when they _don't_ crowd,” said Rosamond. ”I can't bear little miserable jostles.”
”How good it will be to see Rosamond here, at the head of her court; at the top of the Horseshoe,” said Dakie Thayne. ”She will be quite the 'Queen of the County.'”
”Don't!” said Rosamond. ”I've a very weak spot in my head. You can't tell the mischief you might do. No, I won't be queen!”
”Any more than you can help,” said Dakie.
”She'll be Rosa Mundi, wherever she is,” said Ruth affectionately.
”I think that is just grand of Kenneth and Rosamond,” said Dakie Thayne, as he and Ruth were walking home up West Hill in the moonlight, afterward. ”What do you think you and I ought to do, one of these days, Ruthie? It sets me to considering. There are more Horseshoes to make, I suppose, if the world is to jog on.”
”_You_ have a great deal to consider about,” said Ruth, thoughtfully. ”It was quite easy for Kenneth and Rosamond to see what they ought to do. But you might make a great many Horseshoes,--or something!”