Part 23 (2/2)
It was for such an hour that Jack Sherrill would have given his entire fortune.
XIII
A SOCIAL ADDITION
It was a chastened household that gathered about the breakfast table the next morning; and for a week afterwards, every one was so thoughtful and considerate of everybody else that Mrs. Blossom said, laughing, to her husband; ”They 're so angelic, Ben, I 'm afraid they are all going to be ill. I declare, I miss their little naughtinesses.”
Several things had been settled during the week and, apparently, to everyone's satisfaction. At a very serious-minded meeting of the N.B.B.O.O., it had been decided to keep the larger part of the money in order to start March on his career. Not without protest, however, on March's part. But he was overruled. Rose argued that if he were going to college, he must begin to prepare that very winter, and if their earnings were divided among the five, no one would reap any special benefit from them, least of all, March.
”I can wait well enough another year, perhaps two,” she said; ”and, meanwhile, we 'll be earning more. But you, March, ought to be in the academy at Barton's this very minute.”
”I know it,” said March, dejectedly; ”but I do hate to take girls'
money; somehow, it does not seem quite--quite manly.”
”Better remember what your mother talked to you 'bout last Sunday, 'bout its bein' more of a blessin' to give than to get,” said Chi, sententiously.
”I do remember, and there 's n.o.body in the world I 'd be more willing to take it from than from you, all of you, but--”
”Me, too?” interrupted Hazel, leaning nearer with great, eager, questioning eyes.
”Yes, you, too, Hazel,” March replied gently, with such unwonted humility of spirit s.h.i.+ning through his rare, sweet smile, that Hazel bounced up from her seat at the table, and, going behind March's chair, clasped both arms tightly around his neck, laid the dark, curly head down upon the top of his golden one, exclaiming delightedly:
”Oh, March, you are the dearest fellow in the world. I never thought you 'd give in so--and I love you for it! There now,”--with a big squeeze of the golden head--”you 've made me superfluously happy.” Hazel took her seat, flushed rosy red in pleasurable antic.i.p.ation of being allowed, at last, to give to those she loved, and wholly unmindful of her slip of the tongue.
”Now that's settled, I move that each of you keep three dollars of that money 'gainst the Wis.h.i.+n'-Tree business. Chris'mus 'll be here 'fore you can say 'Jack Robinson.'”
”Second the motion,” said Budd and Cherry in the same breath.
It was a unanimous vote.
”There is just one thing I want to say,” said March, who, in a bewilderment of happy emotions, had been unable to reply one word to Hazel, ”and that is, that I want you to consider that you have lent it to me and let me have the pleasure of paying back, sometime, when I am a man.”
”That's fair enough,” said Chi. ”I glory in your independence, Markis.
That's the right kind to have. Put it to vote.”
Again there was a unanimous vote of approval, for they all knew that to one of March's proud spirit it meant much to accept the money, from the girls especially; and they felt it would make him happier if he were to accept it as a loan.
”I can save a lot by not boarding down at Barton's, and by working for my board at the tavern, or in some family,” said March, thoughtfully.
”No you don't,” said Chi, emphatically. ”'T ain't no way for a boy to be doin' ch.o.r.es before he goes to school in the mornin' 'n' tendin'
horses after he gets out in the afternoon. If you 're goin' to try for college in two years, you 've got to buckle right down to it--'n' not waste time workin' for other folks that ain't your own. Here comes Mis'
Blossom, we 'll ask her what she has to say about it.”
”Why, Martie, where have you been all this afternoon? I saw you and father driving off in such a sly sort of way, I knew you did n't want us to know where you were going. Now, 'fess!” laughed Rose.
<script>