'Certainly, dear. No bad news, I hope?' and Mrs Meg looked up fromher sewing with a mixture of pleasure and anxiety on her motherlyface; for she dearly loved a good talk with her son, and knew that healways had something worth telling.

 

　　'It will be good news for you, I think,' answered Demi, smiling as hethrew away his paper and went to sit beside her on the little sofawhich just held two.

 

　　'Let me hear it, then, at once.'

 

　　'I know you don't like the reporting, and will be glad to hear that Ihave given it up.'

 

　　'I am very glad! It is too uncertain a business, and there is noprospect of getting on for a long time. I want you settled in somegood place where you can stay, and in time make money. I wish youliked a profession; but as you don't, any clean, well-establishedbusiness will do.'

 

　　'What do you say to a railroad office?'

 

　　'I don't like it. A noisy, hurried kind of place, I know, with allsorts of rough men about. I hope it isn't that, dear?'

 

　　'I could have it; but does book-keeping in a wholesale leatherbusiness please you better?'

 

　　'No; you'll get round-shouldered writing at a tall desk; and theysay, once a book-keeper always a book-keeper.'

 

　　'How does a travelling agent suit your views?'

 

　　'Not at all; with all those dreadful accidents, and the exposure andbad food as you go from place to place, you are sure to get killed orlose your health.'

 

　　'I could be private secretary to a literary man; but the salary issmall, and may end any time.'

 

　　'That would be better, and more what I want. It isn't that I objectto honest work of any kind; but I don't want my son to spend his bestyears grubbing for a little money in a dark office, or be knockedabout in a rough-and-tumble scramble to get on. I want to see you insome business where your tastes and talents can be developed and madeuseful; where you can go on rising, and in time put in your littlefortune and be a partner; so that your years of apprenticeship willnot be wasted, but fit you to take your place among the honourablemen who make their lives and work useful and respected. I talked itall over with your dear father when you were a child; and if he hadlived he would have shown you what I mean, and helped you to be whathe was.'

 

　　Mrs Meg wiped away a quiet tear as she spoke; for the memory of herhusband was a very tender one, and the education of his children hadbeen a sacred task to which she gave all her heart and life, and sofar she had done wonderfully well--as her good son and lovingdaughters tried to prove. Demi's arm was round her now, as he said,in a voice so like his father's that it was the sweetest music to herear:

 

　　'Mother dear, I think I have got just what you want for me; and itshall not be my fault if I don't become the man you hope to see me.

 

　　Let me tell you all about it. I didn't say anything till it was surebecause it would only worry you; but Aunt Jo and I have been on thelook-out for it some time, and now it has come. You know herpublisher, Mr Tiber, is one of the most successful men in thebusiness; also generous, kind, and the soul of honour--as histreatment of Aunty proves. Well, I've rather hankered for that place;for I love books, and as I can't make them I'd like to publish them.

 

　　That needs some literary taste and judgement, it brings you incontact with fine people, and is an education in itself. Whenever Igo into that large, handsome room to see Mr Tiber for Aunt Jo, Ialways want to stay; for it's lined with books and pictures, famousmen and women come and go, and Mr Tiber sits at his desk like a sortof king, receiving his subjects; for the greatest authors are humbleto him, and wait his Yes or No with anxiety. Of course I've nothingto do with all that, and may never have; but I like to see it, andthe atmosphere is so different from the dark offices and hurly-burlyof many other trades, where nothing but money is talked about, thatit seems another world, and I feel at home in it. Yes, I'd ratherbeat the door-mats and make fires there than be head clerk in thegreat hide and leather store at a big salary.' Here Demi paused forbreath; and Mrs Meg, whose face had been growing brighter andbrighter, exclaimed eagerly:

 

　　'Just what I should like! Have you got it? Oh, my dear boy! yourfortune is made if you go to that well-established and flourishingplace, with those good men to help you along!'

 

　　'I think I have, but we mustn't be too sure of anything yet. I maynot suit; I'm only on trial, and must begin at the beginning and workmy way up faithfully. Mr Tiber was very kind, and will push me on asfast as is fair to the other fellows, and as I prove myself fit to goup. I'm to begin the first of next month in the book-room, fillingorders; and I go round and get orders, and do various other things ofthe sort. I like it. I am ready to do anything about books, if it'sonly to dust them,' laughed Demi, well pleased with his prospects,for, after trying various things, he seemed at last to have found thesort of work he liked, and a prospect that was very inviting to him.

 

　　'You inherit that love of books from grandpa; he can't live withoutthem. I'm glad of it. Tastes of that kind show a refined nature, andare both a comfort and a help all one's life. I am truly glad andgrateful, John, that at last you want to settle, and have got such anentirely satisfactory place. Most boys begin much earlier; but Idon't believe in sending them out to face the world so young, justwhen body and soul need home care and watchfulness. Now you are aman, and must begin your life for yourself. Do your best, and be ashonest, useful, and happy as your father, and I won't care aboutmaking a fortune.'

 

　　'I'll try, mother. Couldn't have a better chance; for Tiber & Co.

 

　　treat their people like gentlemen, and pay generously for faithfulwork. Things are done in a businesslike way there, and that suits me.

 

　　I hate promises that are not kept, and shiftless or tyrannical waysanywhere. Mr Tiber said: "This is only to teach you the ropes,Brooke; I shall have other work for you by and by." Aunty told him Ihad done book notices, and had rather a fancy for literature; sothough I can't produce any "works of Shakespeare", as she says, I mayget up some little things later. If I don't, I think it a veryhonourable and noble profession to select and give good books to theworld; and I'm satisfied to be a humble helper in the work.'

 

　　'I'm glad you feel so. It adds so much to one's happiness to love thetask one does. I used to hate teaching; but housekeeping for my ownfamily was always sweet, though much harder in many ways. Isn't AuntJo pleased about all this?' asked Mrs Meg, already seeing in hermind's eye a splendid sign with 'Tiber, Brooke & Co.' over the doorof a famous publishing house.

 

　　'So pleased that I could hardly keep her from letting the cat out ofthe bag too soon. I've had so many plans, and disappointed you sooften, I wanted to be very sure this time. I had to bribe Rob and Tedto keep her at home tonight till I'd told my news, she was eager torush down and tell you herself. The castles that dear woman has builtfor me would fill all Spain, and have kept us jolly while we waitedto know our fate. Mr Tiber doesn't do things in a hurry; but when hemakes up his mind, you are all right; and I feel that I am fairlylaunched.'

 

　　'Bless you, dear, I hope so! It is a happy day for me, because I'vebeen so anxious lest, with all my care, I have been too easy andindulgent, and my boy, with his many good gifts, might fritter histime away in harmless but unsatisfactory things. Now I am at easeabout you. If only Daisy can be happy, and Josie give up her dream, Ishall be quite contented.'

 

　　Demi let his mother enjoy herself for a few minutes, while he smiledover a certain little dream of his own, not ready yet for thetelling; then he said, in the paternal tone which he unconsciouslyused when speaking of his sisters:

 

　　'I'll see to the girls; but I begin to think grandpa is right insaying we must each be what God and nature makes us. We can't changeit much--only help to develop the good and control the bad elementsin us. I have fumbled my way into my right place at last, I hope. LetDaisy be happy in her way, since it is a good and womanly one. If Natcomes home all right, I'd say: "Bless you, my children," and givethem a nest of their own. Then you and I will help little Jo to findout if it is to be "All the world's a stage" or "Home, sweet home",for her.'

 

　　'I suppose we must, John; but I can't help making plans, and hopingthey will come to pass. I see that Daisy is bound up in Nat; and ifhe is worthy of her I shall let them be happy in their own way, as myparents let me. But Josie will be a trial, I foresee; and much as Ilove the stage, and always did, I don't see how I can ever let mylittle girl be an actress, though she certainly has great talent forit.'

 

　　'Whose fault is that?' asked Demi, smiling, as he remembered hismother's early triumphs and unquenchable interest in the dramaticefforts of the young people round her.

 

　　'Mine, I know. How could it be otherwise when I acted Babes in theWood with you and Daisy before you could speak, and taught Josie todeclaim Mother Goose in her cradle. Ah, me! the tastes of the mothercome out in her children, and she must atone for them by letting themhave their own way, I suppose.' And Mrs Meg laughed, even while sheshook her head over the undeniable fact that the Marches were atheatrical family.

 

　　'Why not have a great actress of our name, as well as an authoress, aminister, and an eminent publisher? We don't choose our talents, butwe needn't hide them in a napkin because they are not just what wewant. I say, let Jo have her way, and do what she can. Here am I totake care of her; and you can't deny you'd enjoy fixing herfurbelows, and seeing he............