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diff --git a/old/8csns10.txt b/old/8csns10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9720e73 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8csns10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8932 @@ +*The Project Gutenberg Etext Eight Cousins, by Louisa M. Alcott* + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + +*It must legally be the first thing seen when opening the book.* +In fact, our legal advisors said we can't even change margins. + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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Alcott + + + + +Preface + +The Author is quite aware of the defects of this little story, many +of which were unavoidable, as it first appeared serially. But, as +Uncle Alec's experiment was intended to amuse the young folks, +rather than suggest educational improvements for the +consideration of the elders, she trusts that these shortcomings will +be overlooked by the friends of the Eight Cousins, and she will try +to make amends in a second volume, which shall attempt to show +The Rose in Bloom. + +L.M.A. + + + + +Chapter 1 - Two Girls + +Rose sat all alone in the big best parlor, with her little +handkerchief laid ready to catch the first tear, for she was thinking +of her troubles, and a shower was expected. She had retired to this +room as a good place in which to be miserable; for it was dark and +still, full of ancient furniture, sombre curtains, and hung all around +with portraits of solemn old gentlemen in wigs, severe-nosed +ladies in top-heavy caps, and staring children in little bob-tailed +coats or short-waisted frocks. It was an excellent place for woe; +and the fitful spring rain that pattered on the window-pane seemed +to sob, "Cry away: I'm with you." + +Rose really did have some cause to be sad; for she had no mother, +and had lately lost her father also, which left her no home but this +with her great-aunts. She had been with them only a week, and, +though the dear old ladies had tried their best to make her happy, +they had not succeeded very well, for she was unlike any child they +had ever seen, and they felt very much as if they had the care of a +low-spirited butterfly. + +They had given her the freedom of the house, and for a day or two +she had amused herself roaming all over it, for it was a capital old +mansion, and was full of all manner of odd nooks, charming +rooms, and mysterious passages. Windows broke out in +unexpected places, little balconies overhung the garden most +romantically, and there was a long upper hall full of curiosities +from all parts of the world; for the Campbells had been +sea-captains for generations. + +Aunt Plenty had even allowed Rose to rummage in her great china +closet a spicy retreat, rich in all the "goodies" that children love; +but Rose seemed to care little for these toothsome temptations; +and when that hope failed, Aunt Plenty gave up in despair. + +Gentle Aunt Peace had tried all sorts of pretty needle-work, and +planned a doll's wardrobe that would have won the heart of even +an older child. But Rose took little interest in pink satin hats and +tiny hose, though she sewed dutifully till her aunt caught her +wiping tears away with the train of a wedding-dress, and that +discovery put an end to the sewing society. + +Then both old ladies put their heads together and picked out the +model child of the neighbourhood to come and play with their +niece. But Ariadne Blish was the worst failure of all, for Rose +could not bear the sight of her, and said she was so like a wax doll +she longed to give her a pinch and see if she would squeak. So +prim little Ariadne was sent home, and the exhausted aunties left +Rose to her own devices for a day or two. + +Bad weather and a cold kept her in-doors, and she spent most of +her time in the library where her father's books were stored. Here +she read a great deal, cried a little, and dreamed many of the +innocent bright dreams in which imaginative children find such +comfort and delight. This suited her better than anything else, but +it was not good for her, and she grew pale, heavy-eyed and listless, +though Aunt Plenty gave her iron enough to make a cooking-stove, +and Aunt Peace petted her like a poodle. + +Seeing this, the poor aunties racked their brains for a new +amusement and determined to venture a bold stroke, though not +very hopeful of its success. They said nothing to Rose about their +plan for this Saturday afternoon, but let her alone till the time +came for the grand surprise, little dreaming that the odd child +would find pleasure for herself in a most unexpected quarter. + +Before she had time to squeeze out a single tear a sound broke the +stillness, making her prick up her ears. It was only the soft twitter +of a bird, but it seemed to be a peculiarly gifted bird, for while she +listened the soft twitter changed to a lively whistle, then a trill, a +coo, a chirp, and ended in a musical mixture of all the notes, as if +the bird burst out laughing. Rose laughed also, and, forgetting her +woes, jumped up, saying eagerly + +"It is a mocking-bird. Where is it?" + +Running down the long hall, she peeped out at both doors, but saw +nothing feathered except a draggle-tailed chicken under a burdock +leaf. She listened again, and the sound seemed to be in the house. +Away she went, much excited by the chase, and following the +changeful song, it led her to the china-closet door. + +"In there? How funny!" she said. But when she entered, not a bird +appeared except the everlastingly kissing swallows on the Canton +china that lined the shelves. All of a sudden Rose's face +brightened, and, softly opening the slide, she peered into the +kitchen. But the music had stopped, and all she saw was a girl in a +blue apron scrubbing the hearth. Rose stared about her for a +minute, and then asked abruptly + +"Did you hear that mocking-bird?" + +"I should call it a phebe-bird," answered the girl, looking up with a +twinkle in her black eyes. + +"Where did it go?" + +"It is here still." + +"Where?" + +"In my throat. Do you want to hear it?" + +"Oh, yes! I'll come in." And Rose crept through the slide to the +wide shelf on the other side, being too hurried and puzzled to go +round by the door. + +The girl wiped her hands, crossed her feet on the little island of +carpet where she was stranded in a sea of soap-suds, and then, sure +enough, out of her slender throat came the swallow's twitter, the +robin's whistle, the blue-jay's call, the thrush's song, the +wood-dove's coo, and many another familiar note, all ending as +before with the musical ecstacy of a bobolink singing and +swinging among the meadow grass on a bright June day. + +Rose was so astonished that she nearly fell off her perch, and when +the little concert was over clapped her hands delightedly. + +"Oh, it was lovely! Who taught you?" + +"The birds," answered the girl, with a smile, as she fell to work +again. + +"It is very wonderful! I can sing, but nothing half so fine as that. +What is your name, please?" + +"Phebe Moore." + +"I've heard of phebe-birds; but I don't believe the real ones could +do that," laughed Rose, adding, as she watched with interest the +scattering of dabs of soft soap over the bricks, "May I stay and see +you work? It is very lonely in the parlor." + +"Yes, indeed, if you want to," answered Phebe, wringing out her +cloth in a capable sort of way that impressed Rose very much. + +"It must be fun to swash the water round and dig out the soap. I'd +love to do it, only aunt wouldn't like it, I suppose," said Rose, quite +taken with the new employment. + +"You'd soon get tired, so you'd better keep tidy and look on." + +"I suppose you help your mother a good deal?" + +"I haven't got any folks." + +"Why, where do you live, then?" + +"I'm going to live here, I hope. Debby wants some one to help +round, and I've come to try for a week." + +"I hope you will stay, for it is very dull," said Rose, who had taken +a sudden fancy to this girl, who sung like a bird and worked like a +woman. + +"Hope I shall; for I'm fifteen now, and old enough to earn my own +living. You have come to stay a spell, haven't you?" asked Phebe, +looking up at her guest and wondering how life could be dull to a +girl who wore a silk frock, a daintily frilled apron, a pretty locket, +and had her hair tied up with a velvet snood. + +"Yes, I shall stay till my uncle comes. He is my guardian now, and +I don't know what he will do with me. Have you a guardian?" + +"My sakes, no! I was left on the poor-house steps a little mite of a +baby, and Miss Rogers took a liking to me, so I've been there ever +since. But she is dead now, and I take care of myself." + +"How interesting! It is like Arabella Montgomery in the 'Gypsy's +Child.' Did you ever read that sweet story?" asked Rose, who was +fond of tales of found-lings, and had read many. + +"I don't have any books to read, and all the spare time I get I run +off into the woods; that rests me better than stories," answered +Phebe, as she finished one job and began on another. + +Rose watched her as she got out a great pan of beans to look over, +and wondered how it would seem to have life all work and no play. +Presently Phebe seemed to think it was her turn to ask questions, +and said, wistfully + +"You've had lots of schooling, I suppose?" + +"Oh, dear me, yes! I've been at boarding school nearly a year, and +I'm almost dead with lessons. The more I got, the more Miss +Power gave me, and I was so miserable that I 'most cried my eyes +out. Papa never gave me hard things to do, and he always taught +me so pleasantly I loved to study. Oh, we were so happy and so +fond of one another! But now he is gone, and I am left all alone." + +The tear that would not come when Rose sat waiting for it came +now of its own accord two of them in fact and rolled down her +cheeks, telling the tale of love and sorrow better than any words +could do it. + +For a minute there was no sound in the kitchen but the little +daughter's sobbing and the sympathetic patter of the rain. Phebe +stopped rattling her beans from one pan to another, and her eyes +were full of pity as they rested on the curly head bent down on +Rose's knee, for she saw that the heart under the pretty locket +ached with its loss, and the dainty apron was used to dry sadder +tears than any she had ever shed. + +Somehow, she felt more contented with her brown calico gown +and blue-checked pinafore; envy changed to compassion; and if +she had dared she would have gone and hugged her afflicted guest. + +Fearing that might not be considered proper, she said, in her +cheery voice + +"I'm sure you ain't all alone with such a lot of folks belonging to +you, and all so rich and clever. You'll be petted to pieces, Debby +says, because you are the only girl in the family." + +Phebe's last words made Rose smile in spite of her tears, and she +looked out from behind her apron with an April face, saying in a +tone of comic distress + +"That's one of my troubles! I've got six aunts, and they all want me, +and I don't know any of them very well. Papa named this place the +Aunt-hill, and now I see why." + +Phebe laughed with her as she said encouragingly, + +"Everyone calls it so, and it's a real good name, for all the Mrs. +Campbells live handy by, and keep coming up to see the old +ladies." + +"I could stand the aunts, but there are dozens of cousins, dreadful +boys all of them, and I detest boys! Some of them came to see me +last Wednesday, but I was lying down, and when auntie came to +call me I went under the quilt and pretended to be asleep. I shall +have to see them some time, but I do dread it so." And Rose gave a +shudder, for, having lived alone with her invalid father, she knew +nothing of boys, and considered them a species of wild animal. + +"Oh! I guess you'll like 'em. I've seen 'em flying round when they +come over from the Point, sometimes in their boats and sometimes +on horseback. If you like boats and horses, you'll enjoy yourself +first-rate." + +"But I don't! I'm afraid of horses, and boats make me ill, and I hate +boys!" And poor Rose wrung her hands at the awful prospect +before her. One of these horrors alone she could have borne, but +all together were too much for her, and she began to think of a +speedy return to the detested school. + +Phebe laughed at her woe till the beans danced in the pan, but tried +to comfort her by suggesting a means of relief. + +"Perhaps your uncle will take you away where there ain't any boys. +Debby says he is a real kind man, and always bring heaps of nice +things when he comes." + +"Yes, but you see that is another trouble, for I don't know Uncle +Alec at all. He hardly ever came to see us, though he sent me +pretty things very often. Now I belong to him, and shall have to +mind him, till I am eighteen. I may not like him a bit, and I fret +about it all the time." + +"Well, I wouldn't borrow trouble, but have a real good time. I'm +sure I should think I was in clover if I had folks and money, and +nothing to do but enjoy myself," began Phebe, but got no further, +for a sudden rush and tumble outside made them both jump. + +"It's thunder," said Phebe. + +"It's a circus!" cried Rose, who from her elevated perch had caught +glimpses of a gay cart of some sort and several ponies with flying +manes and tails. + +The sound died away, and the girls were about to continue their +confidences when old Debby appeared, looking rather cross and +sleepy after her nap. + +"You are wanted in the parlor, Miss Rose." + +"Has anybody come?" + +"Little girls shouldn't ask questions, but do as they are bid," was +all Debby would answer. + +"I do hope it isn't Aunt Myra; she always scares me out of my wits +asking how my cough is, and groaning over me as if I was going to +die," said Rose, preparing to retire the way she came, for the slide, +being cut for the admission of bouncing Christmas turkeys and +puddings, was plenty large enough for a slender girl. + +"Guess you'll wish it was Aunt Myra when you see who has come. +Don't never let me catch you coming into my kitchen that way +again, or I'll shut you up in the big b'iler," growled Debby, who +thought it her duty to snub children on all occasions. + + + +Chapter 2 - The Clan + +Rose scrambled into the china-closet as rapidly as possible, and +there refreshed herself by making faces at Debby, while she settled +her plumage and screwed up her courage. Then she crept softly +down the hall and peeped into the parlor. No one appeared, and all +was so still she felt sure the company was upstairs. So she skipped +boldly through the half-open folding-doors, to behold on the other +side a sight that nearly took her breath away. + +Seven boys stood in a row all ages, all sizes, all yellow-haired and +blue-eyed, all in full Scotch costume, and all smiling, nodding, and +saying as with one voice, "How are you, cousin?" + +Rose gave a little gasp, and looked wildly about her as if ready to +fly, for fear magnified the seven and the room seemed full of boys. +Before she could run, however, the tallest lad stepped out of the +line, saying pleasantly + +"Don't be frightened. This is the Clan come to welcome you; and +I'm the chief, Archie, at your service." + +He held out his hand as he spoke, and Rose timidly put her own +into a brown paw, which closed over the white morsel and held it +as the chief continued his introductions. + +"We came in full rig, for we always turn out in style on grand +occasions. Hope you like it. Now I'll tell you who these chaps are, +and then we shall be all right. This big one is Prince Charlie, Aunt +Clara's boy. She has but one, so he is an extra good one. This old +fellow is Mac, the bookworm, called Worm for short. This sweet +creature is Steve the Dandy. Look at his gloves and top-knot, if you +please. They are Aunt Jane's lads, and a precious pair you'd better +believe. These are the Brats, my brothers, Geordie and Will, and +Jamie the Baby. Now, my men, step out and show your manners." + +At this command, to Rose's great dismay, six more hands were +offered, and it was evident that she was expected to shake them +all. It was a trying moment to the bashful child; but, remembering +that they were her kinsmen come to welcome her, she tried her +best to return the greeting cordially. + +This impressive ceremony being over, the Clan broke ranks, and +both rooms instantly appeared to be pervaded with boys. Rose +hastily retired to the shelter of a big chair and sat there watching +the invaders and wondering when her aunt would come and rescue +her. + +As if bound to do their duty manfully, yet rather oppressed by it, +each lad paused beside her chair in his wanderings, made a brief +remark, received a still briefer answer, and then sheered off with a +relieved expression. + +Archie came first, and, leaning over the chair-back, observed in a +paternal tone + +"I'm glad you've come, cousin, and I hope you'll find the Aunt-hill +pretty jolly." + +"I think I shall." + +Mac shook his hair out of his eyes, stumbled over a stool, and +asked abruptly + +"Did you bring any books with you?" + +"Four boxes full. They are in the library." + +Mac vanished from the room, and Steve, striking an attitude which +displayed his costume effectively, said with an affable smile + +"We were sorry not to see you last Wednesday. I hope your cold is +better." + +"Yes, thank you." And a smile began to dimple about Rose's +mouth, as she remembered her retreat under the bed-cover. + +Feeling that he had been received with distinguished marks of +attention, Steve strolled away with his topknot higher than ever, +and Prince Charlie pranced across the room, saying in a free and +easy tone + +"Mamma sent her love and hopes you will be well enough to come +over for a day next week. It must be desperately dull here for a +little thing like you." + +"I'm thirteen and a half, though I do look small," cried Rose, +forgetting her shyness in indignation at this insult to her newly +acquired teens. + +"Beg pardon, ma'am; never should have guessed it." And Charlie +went off with a laugh, glad to have struck a spark out of his meek +cousin. + +Geordie and Will came together, two sturdy eleven and twelve +year olders, and, fixing their round blue eyes on Rose, fired off a +question apiece, as if it was a shooting match and she the target. + +"Did you bring your monkey?" + +"No; he is dead." + +"Are you going to have a boat?" + +"I hope not." + +Here the two, with a right-about-face movement, abruptly marched +away, and little Jamie demanded with childish frankness + +"Did you bring me anything nice?" + +"Yes, lots of candy," answered Rose, whereupon Jamie ascended +into her lap with a sounding kiss and the announcement that he +liked her very much. + +This proceeding rather startled Rose, for the other lads looked and +laughed, and in her confusion she said hastily to the young usurper + +"Did you see the circus go by?" + +"When? Where?" cried all the boys in great excitement at once. + +"Just before you came. At least I thought it was a circus, for I saw +a red and black sort of cart and ever so many little ponies, and--" + +She got no farther, for a general shout made her pause suddenly, as +Archie explained the joke by saying in the middle of his laugh + +"It was our new dog-cart and the Shetland ponies. You'll never +hear the last of your circus, cousin." + +"But there were so many, and they went so fast, and the cart was so +very red," began Rose, trying to explain her mistake. + +"Come and see them all!" cried the Prince. And before she knew +what was happening, she was borne away to the barn and +tumultuously introduced to three shaggy ponies and the gay new +dog-cart. + +She had never visited these regions before, and had her doubts as +to the propriety of her being there now, but when she suggested +that "Auntie might not like it," there was a general cry of + +"She told us to amuse you, and we can do it ever so much better +out here than poking round in the house." + +"I'm afraid I shall get cold without my sacque," began Rose, who +wanted to stay, but felt rather out of her element. + +"No, you won't! We'll fix you," cried the lads, as one clapped his +cap on her head, another tied a rough jacket round her neck by the +sleeves, a third neatly smothered her in a carriage blanket, and a +fourth threw open the door of the old barouche that stood there, +saying with a flourish + +"Step in, ma'am, and make yourself comfortable while we show +you some fun." + +So Rose sat in state enjoying herself very much, for the lads +proceeded to dance a Highland Fling with a spirit and skill that +made her clap her hands and laugh as she had not done for weeks. + +"How is that, my lassie?" asked the Prince, coming up all flushed +and breathless when the ballet was over. + +"It was splendid! I never went to the theatre but once, and the +dancing was not half so pretty as this. What clever boys you must +be!" said Rose, smiling upon her kinsmen like a little queen upon +her subjects. + +"Ah, we're a fine lot, and that is only the beginning of our larks. +We haven't got the pipes here or we'd + + 'Sing for you, play for you + A dulcy melody."' + +answered Charlie, looking much elated at her praise. + +"I did not know we were Scotch; papa never said anything about it, +or seemed to care about Scotland, except to have me sing the old +ballads," said Rose, beginning to feel as if she had left America +behind her somewhere. + +"Neither did we till lately. We've been reading Scott's novels, and +all of a sudden we remembered that our grandfather was a +Scotchman. So we hunted up the old stories, got a bagpipe, put on +our plaids, and went in, heart and soul, for the glory of the Clan. +We've been at it some time now, and it's great fun. Our people like +it, and I think we are a pretty canny set." + +Archie said this from the other coach-step, where he had perched, +while the rest climbed up before and behind to join in the chat as +they rested. + +"I'm Fitzjames and he's Roderick Dhu, and we'll give you the +broadsword combat some day. It's a great thing, you'd better +believe," added the Prince. + +"Yes, and you should hear Steve play the pipes. He makes 'em skirl +like a good one," cried Will from the box, eager to air the +accomplishments of his race. + +"Mac's the fellow to hunt up the old stories and tell us how to dress +right, and pick out rousing bits for us to speak and sing," put in +Geordie, saying a good word for the absent Worm. + +"And what do you and Will do?" asked Rose of Jamie, who sat +beside her as if bound to keep her in sight till the promised gift had +been handed over. + +"Oh, I'm the little foot-page, and do errands, and Will and Geordie +are the troops when we march, and the stags when we hunt, and +the traitors when we want to cut any heads off." + +"They are very obliging, I'm sure," said Rose, whereat the "utility +men" beamed with modest pride and resolved to enact Wallace +and Montrose as soon as possible for their cousin's special benefit. + +"Let's have a game of tag," cried the Prince, swinging himself up to +a beam with a sounding slap on Stevie's shoulder. + +Regardless of his gloves, Dandy tore after him, and the rest +swarmed in every direction as if bent on breaking their necks and +dislocating their joints as rapidly as possible. + +It was a new and astonishing spectacle to Rose, fresh from a prim +boarding-school, and she watched the active lads with breathless +interest, thinking their antics far superior to those of Mops, the +dear departed monkey. + +Will had just covered himself with glory by pitching off a high loft +head first and coming up all right, when Phebe appeared with a +cloak, hood, and rubbers, also a message from Aunt Plenty that +"Miss Rose was to come in directly." + +"All right; we'll bring her!" answered Archie, issuing some +mysterious order, which was so promptly obeyed that, before Rose +could get out of the carriage, the boys had caught hold of the pole +and rattled her out of the barn, round the oval and up to the front +door with a cheer that brought two caps to an upper window, and +caused Debby to cry aloud from the back porch + +"Them harum-scarum boys will certainly be the death of that +delicate little creter!" + +But the "delicate little creter" seemed all the better for her trip, and +ran up the steps looking rosy, gay, and dishevelled, to be received +with lamentation by Aunt Plenty, who begged her to go and lie +down at once. + +"Oh, please don't! We have come to tea with our cousin, and we'll +be as good as gold if you'll let us stay, auntie," clamoured the boys, +who not only approved of "our cousin" but had no mind to lose +their tea, for Aunt Plenty's name but feebly expressed her bountiful +nature. + +"Well, dears, you can; only be quiet, and let Rose go and take her +iron and be made tidy, and then we will see what we can find for +supper," said the old lady as she trotted away, followed by a volley +of directions for the approaching feast. + +"Marmalade for me, auntie." + +"Plenty of plum-cake, please." + +"Tell Debby to trot out the baked pears." + +"I'm your man for lemon-pie, ma'am." + +"Do have fritters; Rose will like 'em." + +"She'd rather have tarts, I know." + +When Rose came down, fifteen minutes later, with every curl +smoothed and her most beruffled apron on, she found the boys +loafing about the long hall, and paused on the half-way landing to +take an observation, for till now she had not really examined her +new-found cousins. + +There was a strong family resemblance among them, though some +of the yellow heads were darker than others, some of the cheeks +brown instead of rosy, and the ages varied all the way from +sixteen-year-old Archie to Jamie, who was ten years younger. +None of them were especially comely but the Prince, yet all were +hearty, happy-looking lads, and Rose decided that boys were not as +dreadful as she had expected to find them. + +They were all so characteristically employed that she could not +help smiling as she looked. Archie and Charlie, evidently great +cronies, were pacing up and down, shoulder to shoulder, whistling +"Bonnie Dundee"; Mac was reading in a corner, with his book +close to his near-sighted eyes; Dandy was arranging his hair before +the oval glass in the hat-stand; Geordie and Will investigating the +internal economy of the moon-faced clock; and Jamie lay kicking +up his heels on the mat at the foot of the stairs, bent on demanding +his sweeties the instant Rose appeared. + +She guessed his intention, and forestalled his demand by dropping +a handful of sugar-plums down upon him. + +At his cry of rapture the other lads looked up and smiled +involuntarily, for the little kinswoman standing there above was a +winsome sight with her shy, soft eyes, bright hair, and laughing +face. The black frock reminded them of her loss, and filled the +boyish hearts with a kindly desire to be good to "our cousin," who +had no longer any home but this. + +"There she is, as fine as you please," cried Steve, kissing his hand +to her. + +"Come on, Missy; tea is ready," added the Prince encouragingly. + +"I shall take her in." And Archie offered his arm with great dignity, +an honour that made Rose turn as red as a cherry and long to run +upstairs again. + +It was a merry supper, and the two elder boys added much to the +fun by tormenting the rest with dark hints of some interesting +event which was about to occur. Something uncommonly fine, +they declared it was, but enveloped in the deepest mystery for the +present. + +"Did I ever see it?" asked Jamie. + +"Not to remember it; but Mac and Steve have, and liked it +immensely," answered Archie, thereby causing the two mentioned +to neglect Debby's delectable fritters for several minutes, while +they cudgelled their brains. + +"Who will have it first?" asked Will, with his mouth full of +marmalade. + +"Aunt Plenty, I guess." + +"When will she have it?" demanded Geordie, bouncing in his seat +with impatience. + +"Sometime on Monday." + +"Heart alive! what is the boy talking about?" cried the old lady +from behind the tall urn, which left little to be seen but the +topmost bow of her cap. + +"Doesn't auntie know?" asked a chorus of voices. + +"No; and that's the best of the joke, for she is desperately fond of +it." + +"What colour is it?" asked Rose, joining in the fun. + +"Blue and brown." + +"Is it good to eat?" asked Jamie. + +"Some people think so, but I shouldn't like to try it," answered +Charlie, laughing so he split his tea. + +"Who does it belong to?" put in Steve. + +Archie and the Prince stared at one another rather blankly for a +minute, then Archie answered with a twinkle of the eye that made +Charlie explode again + +"To Grandfather Campbell." + +This was a poser, and they gave up the puzzle, though Jamie +confided to Rose that he did not think he could live till Monday +without knowing what this remarkable thing was. + +Soon after tea the Clan departed, singing "All the blue bonnets are +over the border," at the tops of their voices. + +"Well, dear, how do you like your cousins?" asked Aunt Plenty, as +the last pony frisked round the corner and the din died away. + +"Pretty well, ma'am; but I like Phebe better." An answer which +caused Aunt Plenty to hold up her hands in despair and trot away +to tell sister Peace that she never should understand that child, and +it was a mercy Alec was coming soon to take the responsibility off +their hands. + +Fatigued by the unusual exertions of the afternoon, Rose curled +herself up in the sofa corner to rest and think about the great +mystery, little guessing that she was to know it first of all. + +Right in the middle of her meditations she fell asleep and dreamed +she was at home again in her own little bed. She seemed to wake +and see her father bending over her; to hear him say, "My little +Rose"; to answer, "Yes, papa"; and then to feel him take her in his +arms and kiss her tenderly. So sweet, so real was the dream, that +she started up with a cry of joy to find herself in the arms of a +brown, bearded man, who held her close, and whispered in a voice +so like her father's that she clung to him involuntarily + +"This is my little girl, and I am Uncle Alec." + + + +Chapter 3 - Uncles + +When Rose woke next morning, she was not sure whether she had +dreamed what occurred the night before, or it had actually +happened. So she hopped up and dressed, although it was an hour +earlier than she usually rose, for she could not sleep any more, +being possessed with a strong desire to slip down and see if the big +portmanteau and packing cases were really in the hall. She seemed +to remember tumbling over them when she went to bed, for the +aunts had sent her off very punctually, because they wanted their +pet nephew all to themselves. + +The sun was shining, and Rose opened her window to let in the +soft May air fresh from the sea. As she leaned over her little +balcony, watching an early bird get the worm, and wondering how +she should like Uncle Alec, she saw a man leap the garden wall +and come whistling up the path. At first she thought it was some +trespasser, but a second look showed her that it was her uncle +returning from an early dip into the sea. She had hardly dared to +look at him the night before, because whenever she tried to do so +she always found a pair of keen blue eyes looking at her. Now she +could take a good stare at him as he lingered along, looking about +him as if glad to see the old place again. + +A brown, breezy man, in a blue jacket, with no hat on the curly +head, which he shook now and then like a water dog; +broad-shouldered, alert in his motions, and with a general air of +strength and stability about him which pleased Rose, though she +could not explain the feeling of comfort it gave her. She had just +said to herself, with a sense of relief, "I guess I shall like him, +though he looks as if he made people mind," when he lifted his +eyes to examine the budding horse-chestnut overhead, and saw the +eager face peering down at him. He waved his hand to her, +nodded, and called out in a bluff, cheery voice + +"You are on deck early, little niece." + +"I got up to see if you had really come, uncle." + +"Did you? Well, come down here and make sure of it." + +"I'm not allowed to go out before breakfast, sir." + +"Oh, indeed!" with a shrug. "Then I'll come aboard and salute," he +added; and, to Rose's great amazement, Uncle Alec went up one of +the pillars of the back piazza hand over hand, stepped across the +roof, and swung himself into her balcony, saying, as he landed on +the wide balustrade: "Have you any doubts about me now, ma'am?" + +Rose was so taken aback, she could only answer with a smile as +she went to meet him. + +"How does my girl do this morning?" he asked, taking the little +cold hand she gave him in both his big warm ones. + +"Pretty well, thank you, sir." + +"Ah, but it should be very well. Why isn't it?" + +"I always wake up with a headache, and feel tired." + +"Don't you sleep well?" + +"I lie awake a long time, and then I dream, and my sleep does not +seem to rest me much." + +"What do you do all day?" + +"Oh, I read, and sew a little, and take naps, and sit with auntie." + +"No running about out of doors, or house-work, or riding, hey?" + +"Aunt Plenty says I'm not strong enough for much exercise. I drive +out with her sometimes, but I don't care for it." + +"I'm not surprised at that," said Uncle Alec, half to himself, adding, +in his quick way: "Who have you had to play with?" + +"No one but Ariadne Blish, and she was such a goose I couldn't +bear her. The boys came yesterday, and seemed rather nice; but, of +course, I couldn't play with them." + +"Why not?" + +"I'm too old to play with boys." + +"Not a bit of it; that's just what you need, for you've been +molly-coddled too much. They are good lads, and you'll be mixed +up with them more or less for years to come, so you may as well +be friends and playmates at once. I will look you up some girls +also, if I can find a sensible one who is not spoilt by her +nonsensical education." + +"Phebe is sensible, I'm sure, and I like her, though I only saw her +yesterday," cried Rose, waking up suddenly. + +"And who is Phebe, if you please?" + +Rose eagerly told all she knew, and Uncle Alec listened, with an +odd smile lurking about his mouth, though his eyes were quite +sober as he watched the face before him. + +"I'm glad to see that you are not aristocratic in your tastes, but I +don't quite make out why you like this young lady from the +poor-house." + +"You may laugh at me, but I do. I can't tell why, only she seems so +happy and busy, and sings so beautifully, and is strong enough to +scrub and sweep, and hasn't any troubles to plague her," said Rose, +making a funny jumble of reasons in her efforts to explain. + +"How do you know that?" + +"Oh, I was telling her about mine, and asked if she had any, and +she said, 'No, only I'd like to go to school, and I mean to some +day." + +"So she doesn't call desertion, poverty, and hard work, troubles? +She's a brave little girl, and I shall be proud to know her." And +Uncle Alec gave an approving nod, that made Rose wish she had +been the one to earn it. + +"But what are these troubles of yours, child?" he asked, after a +minute of silence. + +"Please don't ask me, uncle." + +"Can't you tell them to me as well as to Phebe?" + +Something in his tone made Rose feel that it would be better to +speak out and be done with it, so she answered, with sudden colour +and averted eyes + +"The greatest one was losing dear papa." + +As she said that, Uncle Alec's arm came gently round her, and he +drew her to him, saying, in the voice so like papa's + +"That is a trouble which I cannot cure, my child; but I shall try to +make you feel it less. What else, dear?" + +"I am so tired and poorly all the time, I can't do anything I want to, +and it makes me cross," sighed Rose, rubbing the aching head like +a fretful child. + +"That we can cure and we will," said her uncle, with a decided nod +that made the curls bob on his head, to that Rose saw the gray ones +underneath the brown. + +"Aunt Myra says I have no constitution, and never shall be strong," +observed Rose, in a pensive tone, as if it was rather a nice thing to +be an invalid. + +"Aunt Myra is a ahem! an excellent woman, but it is her hobby to +believe that everyone is tottering on the brink of the grave; and, +upon my life, I believe she is offended if people don't fall into it! +We will show her how to make constitutions and turn pale-faced +little ghosts into rosy, hearty girls. That's my business, you know," +he added, more quietly, for his sudden outburst had rather startled +Rose. + +"I had forgotten you were a doctor. I'm glad of it, for I do want to +be well, only I hope you won't give me much medicine, for I've +taken quarts already, and it does me no good." + +As she spoke, Rose pointed to a little table just inside the window, +on which appeared a regiment of bottles. + +"Ah, ha! Now we'll see what mischief these blessed women have +been at." And, making a long arm, Dr. Alec set the bottles on the +wide railing before him, examined each carefully, smiled over +some, frowned over others, and said, as he put down the last: "Now +I'll show you the best way to take these messes." And, as quick as a +flash, he sent one after another smashing down into the posy-beds +below. + +"But Aunt Plenty won't like it; and Aunt Myra will be angry, for +she sent most of them!" cried Rose, half frightened and half +pleased at such energetic measures. + +"You are my patient now, and I'll take the responsibility. My way +of giving physic is evidently the best, for you look better already," +he said, laughing so infectiously that Rose followed suit, saying +saucily + +"If I don't like your medicines any better than those, I shall throw +them into the garden, and then what will you do?" + +"When I prescribe such rubbish, I'll give you leave to pitch it +overboard as soon as you like. Now what is the next trouble?" + +"I hoped you would forget to ask." + +"But how can I help you if I don't know them? Come, let us have +No. 3." + +"It is very wrong, I suppose, but I do sometimes wish I had not +quite so many aunts. They are all very good to me, and I want to +please them; but they are so different, I feel sort of pulled to pieces +among them," said Rose, trying to express the emotions of a stray +chicken with six hens all clucking over it at once. + +Uncle Alec threw back his head and laughed like a boy, for he +could entirely understand how the good ladies had each put in her +oar and tried to paddle her own way, to the great disturbance of the +waters and the entire bewilderment of poor Rose. + +"I intend to try a course of uncles now, and see how that suits your +constitution. I'm going to have you all to myself, and no one is to +give a word of advice unless I ask it. There is no other way to keep +order aboard, and I am captain of this little craft, for a time at +least. What comes next?" + +But Rose stuck there, and grew so red, her uncle guessed what that +trouble was. + +"I don't think I can tell this one. It wouldn't be polite, and I feel +pretty sure that it isn't going to be a trouble any more." + +As she blushed and stammered over these words, Dr. Alec turned +his eyes away to the distant sea, and said so seriously, so tenderly, +that she felt every word and long remembered them + +"My child, I don't expect you to love and trust me all at once, but I +do want you to believe that I shall give my whole heart to this new +duty; and if I make mistakes, as I probably shall, no one will grieve +over them more bitterly than I. It is my fault that I am a stranger to +you, when I want to be your best friend. That is one of my +mistakes, and I never repented it more deeply than I do now. Your +father and I had a trouble once, and I thought I could never forgive +him; so I kept away for years. Thank God, we made it all up the +last time I saw him, and he told me then, that if he was forced to +leave her he should bequeath his little girl to me as a token of his +love. I can't fill his place, but I shall try to be a father to her; and if +she learns to love me half as well as she did the good one she has +lost, I shall be a proud and happy man. Will she believe this and +try?" + +Something in Uncle Alec's face touched Rose to the heart, and +when he held out his hand with that anxious troubled look in his +eyes, she was moved to put up her innocent lips and seal the +contract with a confiding kiss. The strong arm held her close a +minute, and she felt the broad chest heave once as if with a great +sigh of relief; but not a word was spoken till a tap at the door made +both start. + +Rose popped her head through the window to say "come in," while +Dr. Alec hastily rubbed the sleeve of his jacket across his eyes and +began to whistle again. + +Phebe appeared with a cup of coffee. + +"Debby told me to bring this and help you get up," she said, +opening her black eyes wide, as if she wondered how on earth "the +sailor man" got there. + +"I'm all dressed, so I don't need any help. I hope that is good and +strong," added Rose, eyeing the steaming cup with an eager look. + +But she did not get it, for a brown hand took possession of it as her +uncle said quickly + +"Hold hard, my lass, and let me overhaul that dose before you take +it. Do you drink all this strong coffee every morning, Rose?" + +"Yes, sir, and I like it. Auntie says it 'tones' me up, and I always +feel better after it." + +"This accounts for the sleepless nights, the flutter your heart gets +into at the least start, and this is why that cheek of yours is pale +yellow instead of rosy red. No more coffee for you, my dear, and +by and by you'll see that I am right. Any new milk downstairs, +Phebe?" + +"Yes, sir, plenty right in from the barn." + +"That's the drink for my patient. Go bring me a pitcherful, and +another cup; I want a draught myself. This won't hurt the +honeysuckles, for they have no nerves to speak of." And, to Rose's +great discomfort, the coffee went after the medicine. + +Dr. Alec saw the injured look she put on, but took no notice, and +presently banished it by saying pleasantly + +"I've got a capital little cup among my traps, and I'll give it to you +to drink your milk in, as it is made of wood that is supposed to +improve whatever is put into it something like a quassia cup. That +reminds me; one of the boxes Phebe wanted to lug upstairs last +night is for you. Knowing that I was coming home to find a +ready-made daughter, I picked up all sorts of odd and pretty trifles +along the way, hoping she would be able to find something she +liked among them all. Early to-morrow we'll have a grand +rummage. Here's our milk! I propose the health of Miss Rose +Campbell and drink it with all my heart." + +It was impossible for Rose to pout with the prospect of a delightful +boxful of gifts dancing before her eyes; so, in spite of herself, she +smiled as she drank her own health, and found that fresh milk was +not a hard dose to take. + +"Now I must be off, before I am caught again with my wig in a +toss," said Dr. Alec, preparing to descend the way he came. + +"Do you always go in and out like a cat, uncle?" asked Rose, much +amused at his odd ways. + +"I used to sneak out of my window when I was a boy, so I need not +disturb the aunts, and now I rather like it, for it's the shortest road, +and it keeps me limber when I have no rigging to climb. Good-bye +till breakfast." And away he went down the water-spout, over the +roof, and vanished among the budding honey-suckles below. + +"Ain't he a funny guardeen?" exclaimed Phebe, as she went off +with the cups. + +"He is a very kind one, I think," answered Rose, following, to +prowl round the big boxes and try to guess which was hers. + +When her uncle appeared at sound of the bell, he found her +surveying with an anxious face a new dish that smoked upon the +table. + +"Got a fresh trouble, Rosy?" he asked, stroking her smooth head. + +"Uncle, are you going to make me eat oatmeal?" asked Rose, in a +tragic tone. + +"Don't you like it?" + +"I de-test it!" answered Rose, with all the emphasis which a +turned-up nose, a shudder, and a groan could give to the three +words. + +"You are not a true Scotchwoman, if you don't like the 'parritch.' +It's a pity, for I made it myself, and thought we'd have such a good +time with all that cream to float it in. Well, never mind." And he +sat down with a disappointed air. + +Rose had made up her mind to be obstinate about it, because she +did heartily "detest" the dish; but as Uncle Alec did not attempt to +make her obey, she suddenly changed her mind and thought she +would. + +"I'll try to eat it to please you, uncle; but people are always saying +how wholesome it is, and that makes me hate it," she said, +half-ashamed at her silly excuse. + +"I do want you to like it, because I wish my girl to be as well and +strong as Jessie's boys, who are brought up on this in the good old +fashion. No hot bread and fried stuff for them, and they are the +biggest and bonniest lads of the lot. Bless you, auntie, and good +morning!" + +Dr. Alec turned to greet the old lady, and, with a firm resolve to +eat or die in the attempt, Rose sat down. + +In five minutes she forgot what she was eating, so interested was +she in the chat that went on. It amused her very much to hear Aunt +Plenty call her forty-year-old nephew "my dear boy"; and Uncle +Alec was so full of lively gossip about all creation in general, and +the Aunt-hill in particular, that the detested porridge vanished +without a murmur. + +"You will go to church with us, I hope, Alec, if you are not too +tired," said the old lady, when breakfast was over. + +"I came all the way from Calcutta for that express purpose, ma'am. +Only I must send the sisters word of my arrival, for they don't +expect me till to-morrow, you know, and there will be a row in +church if those boys see me without warning." + +"I'll send Ben up the hill, and you can step over to Myra's yourself; +it will please her, and you will have plenty of time." + +Dr. Alec was off at once, and they saw no more of him till the old +barouche was at the door, and Aunt Plenty just rustling downstairs +in her Sunday best, with Rose like a little black shadow behind +her. + +Away they drove in state, and all the way Uncle Alec's hat was +more off his head than on, for everyone they met smiled and +bowed, and gave him as blithe a greeting as the day permitted. + +It was evident that the warning had been a wise one, for, in spite of +time and place, the lads were in such a ferment that their elders sat +in momentary dread of an unseemly outbreak somewhere. It was +simply impossible to keep those fourteen eyes off Uncle Alec, and +the dreadful things that were done during sermon-time will hardly +be believed. + +Rose dared not look up after a while, for these bad boys vented +their emotions upon her till she was ready to laugh and cry with +mingled amusement and vexation. Charlie winked rapturously at +her behind his mother's fan; Mac openly pointed to the tall figure +beside her; Jamie stared fixedly over the back of his pew, till Rose +thought his round eyes would drop out of his head; George fell +over a stool and dropped three books in his excitement; Will drew +sailors and Chinamen on his clean cuffs, and displayed them, to +Rose's great tribulation; Steve nearly upset the whole party by +burning his nose with salts, as he pretended to be overcome by his +joy; even dignified Archie disgraced himself by writing in his +hymn book, "Isn't he blue and brown?" and passing it politely to +Rose. + +Her only salvation was trying to fix her attention upon Uncle Mac +a portly, placid gentleman, who seemed entirely unconscious of +the iniquities of the Clan, and dozed peacefully in his pew corner. +This was the only uncle Rose had met for years, for Uncle Jem and +Uncle Steve, the husbands of Aunt Jessie and Aunt Clara, were at +sea, and Aunt Myra was a widow. Uncle Mac was a merchant, very +rich and busy, and as quiet as a mouse at home, for he was in such +a minority among the women folk he dared not open his lips, and +let his wife rule undisturbed. + +Rose liked the big, kindly, silent man who came to her when papa +died, was always sending her splendid boxes of goodies at school, +and often invited her into his great warehouse, full of teas and +spices, wines and all sorts of foreign fruits, there to eat and carry +away whatever she liked. She had secretly regretted that he was +not to be her guardian; but since she had seen Uncle Alec she felt +better about it, for she did not particularly admire Aunt Jane. + +When church was over, Dr. Alec got into the porch as quickly as +possible, and there the young bears had a hug all round, while the +sisters shook hands and welcomed him with bright faces and glad +hearts. Rose was nearly crushed flat behind a door in that +dangerous passage from pew to porch; but Uncle Mac rescued her, +and put her into the carriage for safe keeping. + +"Now, girls, I want you to come and dine with Alec; Mac also, of +course. But I cannot ask the boys, for we did not expect this dear +fellow till tomorrow, you know, so I made no preparations. Send +the lads home, and let them wait till Monday, for really I was +shocked at their behaviour in church," said Aunt Plenty, as she +followed Rose. + +In any other place the defrauded boys would have set up a howl; as +it was, they growled and protested till Dr. Alec settled the matter +by saying + +"Never mind, old chaps, I'll make it up to you to-morrow, if you +sheer off quietly; if you don't, not a blessed thing shall you have +out of my big boxes." + + + +Chapter 4 - Aunts + +All dinner-time Rose felt that she was going to be talked about, +and afterward she was sure of it, for Aunt Plenty whispered to her +as they went into the parlour + +"Run up and sit awhile with Sister Peace, my dear. She likes to +have you read while she rests, and we are going to be busy." + +Rose obeyed, and the quiet rooms above were so like a church that +she soon composed her ruffled feelings, and was unconsciously a +little minister of happiness to the sweet old lady, who for years had +sat there patiently waiting to be set free from pain. + +Rose knew the sad romance of her life, and it gave a certain tender +charm to this great-aunt of hers, whom she already loved. When +Peace was twenty, she was about to be married; all was done, the +wedding dress lay ready, the flowers were waiting to be put on, the +happy hour at hand, when word came that the lover was dead. +They thought that gentle Peace would die, too; but she bore it +bravely, put away her bridal gear, took up her life afresh, and lived +on a beautiful, meek woman, with hair as white as snow and +cheeks that never bloomed again. She wore no black, but soft, pale +colours, as if always ready for the marriage that had never come. + +For thirty years she had lived on, fading slowly, but cheerful, busy, +and full of interest in all that went on in the family; especially the +joys and sorrows of the young girls growing up about her, and to +them she was adviser, confidante, and friend in all their tender +trials and delights. A truly beautiful old maiden, with her silvery +hair, tranquil face, and an atmosphere of repose about her that +soothed whoever came to her! + +Aunt Plenty was utterly dissimilar, being a stout, brisk old lady, +with a sharp eye, a lively tongue, and a face like a winter-apple. +Always trotting, chatting, and bustling, she was a regular Martha, +cumbered with the cares of this world and quite happy in them. + +Rose was right; and while she softly read psalms to Aunt Peace, +the other ladies were talking about her little self in the frankest +manner. + +"Well, Alec, how do you like your ward?" began Aunt Jane, as they +all settled down, and Uncle Mac deposited himself in a corner to +finish his doze. + +"I should like her better if I could have begun at the beginning, and +so got a fair start. Poor George led such a solitary life that the child +has suffered in many ways, and since he died she has been going +on worse than ever, judging from the state I find her in." + +"My dear boy, we did what we thought best while waiting for you +to wind up your affairs and get home. I always told George he was +wrong to bring her up as he did; but he never took my advice, and +now here we are with this poor dear child upon our hands. I, for +one, freely confess that I don't know what to do with her any more +than if she was one of those strange, outlandish birds you used to +bring home from foreign parts." And Aunt Plenty gave a perplexed +shake of the head which caused great commotion among the stiff +loops of purple ribbon that bristled all over the cap like crocus +buds. + +"If my advice had been taken, she would have remained at the +excellent school where I placed her. But our aunt thought best to +remove her because she complained, and she has been dawdling +about ever since she came. A most ruinous state of things for a +morbid, spoilt girl like Rose," said Mrs. Jane, severely. + +She had never forgiven the old ladies for yielding to Rose's +pathetic petition that she might wait her guardian's arrival before +beginning another term at the school, which was a regular Blimber +hot-bed, and turned out many a feminine Toots. + +"I never thought it the proper school for a child in good +circumstances an heiress, in fact, as Rose is. It is all very well for +girls who are to get their own living by teaching, and that sort of +thing; but all she needs is a year or two at a fashionable finishing +school, so that at eighteen she can come out with eclat," put in +Aunt Clara, who had been a beauty and a belle, and was still a +handsome woman. + +"Dear, dear! how short-sighted you all are to be discussing +education and plans for the future, when this unhappy child is so +plainly marked for the tomb," sighed Aunt Myra, with a lugubrious +sniff and a solemn wag of the funereal bonnet, which she refused +to remove, being afflicted with a chronic catarrh. + +"Now, it is my opinion that the dear thing only wants freedom, +rest, and care. There is look in her eyes that goes to my heart, for it +shows that she feels the need of what none of us can give her a +mother," said Aunt Jessie, with tears in her own bright eyes at the +thought of her boys being left, as Rose was, to the care of others. + +Uncle Alec, who had listened silently as each spoke, turned +quickly towards the last sister, and said, with a decided nod of +approval + +"You've got it, Jessie; and, with you to help me, I hope to make the +child feel that she is not quite fatherless and motherless." + +"I'll do my best, Alec; and I think you will need me, for, wise as +you are, you cannot understand a tender, timid little creature like +Rose as a woman can," said Mrs. Jessie, smiling back at him with +a heart full of motherly goodwill. + +"I cannot help feeling that I, who have had a daughter of my own, +can best bring up a girl; and I am very much surprised that George +did not entrust her to me," observed Aunt Myra, with an air of +melancholy importance, for she was the only one who had given a +daughter to the family, and she felt that she had distinguished +herself, though ill-natured people said that she had dosed her +darling to death. + +"I never blamed him in the least, when I remember the perilous +experiments you tried with poor Carrie," began Mrs. Jane, in her +hard voice. + +"Jane Campbell, I will not hear a word! My sainted Caroline is a +sacred object," cried Aunt Myra, rising as if to leave the room. + +Dr. Alec detained her, feeling that he must define his position at +once, and maintain it manfully if he hoped to have any success in +his new undertaking. + +"Now, my dear souls, don't let us quarrel and make Rose a bone of +contention though, upon my word, she is almost a bone, poor little +lass! You have had her among you for a year, and done what you +liked. I cannot say that your success is great, but that is owing to +too many fingers in the pie. Now, I intend to try my way for a year, +and if at the end of it she is not in better trim than now, I'll give up +the case, and hand her over to someone else. That's fair, I think." + +"She will not be here a year hence, poor darling, so no one need +dread future responsibility," said Aunt Myra, folding her black +gloves as if all ready for the funeral. + +"By Jupiter! Myra, you are enough to damp the ardour of a saint!" +cried Dr. Alec, with a sudden spark in his eyes. "Your croaking +will worry that child out of her wits, for she is an imaginative puss, +and will fret and fancy untold horrors. You have put it into her +head that she has no constitution, and she rather likes the idea. If +she had not had a pretty good one, she would have been 'marked +for the tomb' by this time, at the rate you have been going on with +her. I will not have any interference please understand that; so just +wash your hands of her, and let me manage till I want help, then +I'll ask for it." + +"Hear, hear!" came from the corner where Uncle Mac was +apparently wrapt in slumber. + +"You were appointed guardian, so we can do nothing. But I predict +that the girl will be spoilt, utterly spoilt," answered Mrs. Jane, +grimly. + +"Thank you, sister. I have an idea that if a woman can bring up two +boys as perfectly as you do yours, a man, if he devotes his whole +mind to it, may at least attempt as much with one girl," replied Dr. +Alec, with a humorous look that tickled the others immensely, for +it was a well-known fact in the family that Jane's boys were more +indulged than all the other lads put together. + +"I am quite easy, for I really do think that Alec will improve the +child's health; and by the time his year is out, it will be quite soon +enough for her to go to Madame Roccabella's and be finished off," +said Aunt Clara, settling her rings, and thinking, with languid +satisfaction, of the time when she could bring out a pretty and +accomplished niece. + +"I suppose you will stay here in the old place, unless you think of +marrying, and it's high time you did," put in Mrs. Jane, much +nettled at her brother's last hit. + +"No, thank you. Come and have a cigar, Mac," said Dr. Alec, +abruptly. + +"Don't marry; women enough in the family already," muttered +Uncle Mac; and then the gentlemen hastily fled. + +"Aunt Peace would like to see you all, she says," was the message +Rose brought before the ladies could begin again. + +"Hectic, hectic! dear me, dear me!" murmured Aunt Myra, as the +shadow of her gloomy bonnet fell upon Rose, and the stiff tips of a +black glove touched the cheek where the colour deepened under so +many eyes. + +"I am glad these pretty curls are natural; they will be invaluable by +and by," said Aunt Clara, taking an observation with her head on +one side. + +"Now that your uncle has come, I no longer expect you to review +the studies of the past year. I trust your time will not be entirely +wasted in frivolous sports, however," added Aunt Jane, sailing out +of the room with the air of a martyr. + +Aunt Jessie said not a word, but kissed her little niece, with a look +of tender sympathy that made Rose cling to her a minute, and +follow her with grateful eyes as the door closed behind her. + +After everybody had gone home, Dr. Alec paced up and down the +lower hall in the twilight for an hour, thinking so intently that +sometimes he frowned, sometimes he smiled, and more than once +he stood still in a brown study. All of a sudden he said, half aloud, +as if he had made up his mind + +"I might as well begin at once, and give the child something new to +think about, for Myra's dismals and Jane's lectures have made her +as blue as a little indigo bag." + +Diving into one of the trunks that stood in a corner, he brought up, +after a brisk rummage, a silken cushion, prettily embroidered, and +a quaint cup of dark carved wood. + +"This will do for a start," he said, as he plumped up the cushion +and dusted the cup. "It won't do to begin too energetically, or Rose +will be frightened. I must beguile her gently and pleasantly along +till I've won her confidence, and then she will be ready for +anything." + +Just then Phebe came out of the dining-room with a plate of brown +bread, for Rose had been allowed no hot biscuit for tea. + +"I'll relieve you of some of that," said Dr. Alec, and, helping +himself to a generous slice, he retired to the study, leaving Phebe +to wonder at his appetite. + +She would have wondered still more if she had seen him making +that brown bread into neat little pills, which he packed into an +attractive ivory box, out of which he emptied his own bits of +lovage. + +"There! if they insist on medicine, I'll order these, and no harm +will be done. I will have my own way, but I'll keep the peace, if +possible, and confess the joke when my experiment has +succeeded," he said to himself, looking very much like a +mischievous boy, as he went on with his innocent prescriptions. + +Rose was playing softly on the small organ that stood in the upper +hall, so that Aunt Peace could enjoy it; and all the while he talked +with the old ladies, Uncle Alec was listening to the fitful music of +the child, and thinking of another Rose who used to play for him. + +As the clock struck eight, he called out + +"Time for my girl to be abed, else she won't be up early, and I'm +full of jolly plans for to-morrow. Come and see what I've found for +you to begin upon." + +Rose ran in and listened with bright attentive face, while Dr. Alec +said impressively + +"In my wanderings over the face of the earth, I have picked up +some excellent remedies, and, as they are rather agreeable ones, I +think you and I will try them. This is a herb-pillow, given to me by +a wise old woman when I was ill in India. It is filled with saffron, +poppies, and other soothing plants; so lay your little head on it +to-night, sleep sweetly without a dream, and wake to-morrow +without a pain." + +"Shall I really? How nice it smells." And Rose willingly received +the pretty pillow, and stood enjoying its faint, sweet odour, as she +listened to the doctor's next remedy. + +"This is the cup I told you of. Its virtue depends, they say, on the +drinker filling it himself; so you must learn to milk. I'll teach you." + +"I'm afraid I never can," said Rose; but she surveyed the cup with +favour, for a funny little imp danced on the handle, as if all ready +to take a header into the white sea below. + +"Don't you think she ought to have something more strengthening +than milk, Alec? I really shall feel anxious if she does not have a +tonic of some sort," said Aunt Plenty, eyeing the new remedies +suspiciously, for she had more faith in her old-fashioned doses +than all the magic cups and poppy pillows of the East. + +"Well, ma'am, I'm willing to give her a pill, if you think best. It is +a very simple one, and very large quantities may be taken without +harm. You know hasheesh is the extract of hemp? Well, this is a +preparation of corn and rye, much used in old times, and I hope +it will be again." + +"Dear me, how singular!" said Aunt Plenty, bringing her spectacles +to bear upon the pills, with a face so full of respectful interest that +it was almost too much for Dr. Alec's gravity. + +"Take one in the morning, and a good-night to you, my dear," he +said, dismissing his patient with a hearty kiss. + +Then, as she vanished, he put both hands into his hair, exclaiming, +with a comical mixture of anxiety and amusement + +"When I think what I have undertaken, I declare to you, aunt, I feel +like running away and not coming back till Rose is eighteen!" + + + +Chapter 5 - A Belt and a Box + +When Rose came out of her chamber, cup in hand, next morning, +the first person she saw was Uncle Alec standing on the threshold +of the room opposite, which he appeared to be examining with +care. When he heard her step, he turned about and began to sing + +"Where are you going, my pretty maid?" + +"I'm going a-milking, sir, she said," answered Rose, waving the +cup; and then they finished the verse together in fine style. + +Before either spoke, a head, in a nightcap so large and beruffled +that it looked like a cabbage, popped out of a room farther down +the hall, and an astonished voice exclaimed + +"What in the world are you doing about so early?" + +"Clearing our pipes for the day, ma'am. Look here, auntie, can I +have this room?" said Dr. Alec, making her a sailor's bow. + +"Any room you like, except sister's." + +"Thanks. And may I go rummaging round in the garrets and +glory-holes to furnish it as I like?" + +"My dear boy, you may turn the house upside down if you will +only stay in it." + +"That's a handsome offer, I'm sure. I'll stay, ma'am; here's my little +anchor, so you will get more than you want of me this time." + +"That's inpossible! Put on your jacket, Rose. Don't tire her out with +antics, Alec. Yes, sister, I'm coming!" and the cabbage vanished +suddenly. + +The first milking lesson was a droll one; but after several scares +and many vain attempts, Rose at last managed to fill her cup, while +Ben held Clover's tail so that it could not flap, and Dr. Alec kept +her from turning to stare at the new milkmaid, who objected to +both these proceedings very much. + +"You look chilly in spite of all this laughing. Take a smart run +round the garden and get up a glow," said the doctor, as they left +the barn. + +"I'm too old for running, uncle; Miss Power said it was not +lady-like for girls in their teens," answered Rose, primly. + +"I take the liberty of differing from Madame Prunes and Prisms, +and, as your physician, I order you to run. Off with you!" said +Uncle Alec, with a look and a gesture that made Rose scurry away +as fast as she could go. + +Anxious to please him, she raced round the beds till she came back +to the porch where he stood, and, dropping down upon the steps, +she sat panting, with cheeks as rosy as the rigolette on her +shoulders. + +"Very well done, child; I see you have not lost the use of your +limbs though you are in your teens. That belt is too tight; unfasten +it, then you can take a long breath without panting so." + +"It isn't tight, sir; I can breathe perfectly well," began Rose, trying +to compose herself. + +Her uncle's only answer was to lift her up and unhook the new belt +of which she was so proud. The moment the clasp was open the +belt flew apart several inches, for it was impossible to restrain the +involuntary sigh of relief that flatly contradicted her words. + +"Why, I didn't know it was tight! it didn't feel so a bit. Of course it +would open if I puff like this, but I never do, because I hardly ever +run," explained Rose, rather discomfited by this discovery. + +"I see you don't half fill your lungs, and so you can wear this +absurd thing without feeling it. The idea of cramping a tender little +waist in a stiff band of leather and steel just when it ought to be +growing," said Dr. Alec, surveying the belt with great disfavour as +he put the clasp forward several holes, to Rose's secret dismay, for +she was proud of her slender figure, and daily rejoiced that she +wasn't as stout as Luly Miller, a former schoolmate, who vainly +tried to repress her plumpness. + +"It will fall off if it is so loose," she said anxiously, as she stood +watching him pull her precious belt about. + +"Not if you keep taking long breaths to hold it on. That is what I +want you to do, and when you have filled this out we will go on +enlarging it till your waist is more like that of Hebe, goddess of +health, and less like that of a fashion-plate the ugliest thing +imaginable." + +"How it does look!" and Rose gave a glance of scorn at the loose +belt hanging round her trim little waist. "It will be lost, and then I +shall feel badly, for it cost ever so much, and is real steel and +Russia leather. Just smell how nice." + +"If it is lost I'll give you a better one. A soft silken sash is much +fitter for a pretty child like you than a plated harness like this; and +I've got no end of Italian scarfs and Turkish sashes among my +traps. Ah! that makes you feel better, doesn't it?" and he pinched +the cheek that had suddenly dimpled with a smile. + +"It is very silly of me, but I can't help liking to know that" here she +stopped and blushed and held down her head, ashamed to add, +"you think I am pretty." + +Dr. Alec's eyed twinkled, but he said very soberly + +"Rose, are you vain?" + +"I'm afraid I am," answered a very meek voice from behind the veil +of hair that hid the red face. + +"That is a sad fault." And he sighed as if grieved at the confession. + +"I know it is, and I try not to be; but people praise me, and I can't +help liking it, for I really don't think I am repulsive." + +The last word and the funny tone in which it was uttered were too +much for Dr. Alec, and he laughed in spite of himself, to Rose's +great relief. + +"I quite agree with you; and in order that you may be still less +repulsive, I want you to grow as fine a girl as Phebe." + +"Phebe!" and Rose looked so amazed that her uncle nearly went +off again. + +"Yes, Phebe; for she has what you need health. If you dear little +girls would only learn what real beauty is, and not pinch and starve +and bleach yourselves out so, you'd save an immense deal of time +and money and pain. A happy soul in a healthy body makes the +best sort of beauty for man or woman. Do you understand that, my +dear?" + +"Yes, sir," answered Rose, much taken down by this comparison +with the girl from the poor-house. It nettled her sadly, and she +showed that it did by saying quickly + +"I suppose you would like to have me sweep and scrub, and wear +an old brown dress, and go round with my sleeves rolled up, as +Phebe does?" + +"I should very much, if you could work as well as she does, and +show as strong a pair of arms as she can. I haven't seen a prettier +picture for some time than she made of herself this morning, up to +the elbows in suds, singing like a blackbird whilst she scrubbed on +the back stoop." + +"Well, I do think you are the queerest man that ever lived!" was all +Rose could find to say after this display of bad taste. + +"I haven't begun to show you my oddities yet, so you must make up +your mind to worse shocks than this," he said, with such a +whimsical look that she was glad the sound of a bell prevented her +showing more plainly what a blow her little vanities had already +received. + +"You will find your box all open up in auntie's parlor, and there +you can amuse her and yourself by rummaging to your heart's +content; I've got to be cruising round all the morning getting my +room to rights," said Dr. Alec, as they rose from breakfast. + +"Can't I help you, uncle?" asked Rose, quite burning to be useful. + +"No, thank you, I'm going to borrow Phebe for a while, if Aunt +Plenty can spare her." + +"Anybody anything, Alec. You will want me, I know, so I'll give +orders about dinner and be all ready to lend a hand"; and the old +lady bustled away full of interest and good-will. + +"Uncle will find that I can do some things that Phebe can't, so +now!" thought Rose, with a toss of the head as she flew to Aunt +Peace and the long-desired box. + +Every little girl can easily imagine what an extra good time she +had diving into a sea of treasures and fishing up one pretty thing +after another, till the air was full of the mingled odours of musk +and sandalwood, the room gay with bright colours, and Rose in a +rapture of delight. She began to forgive Dr. Alec for the oatmeal +diet when she saw a lovely ivory workbox; became resigned to the +state of her belt when she found a pile of rainbow-coloured sashes; +and when she came to some distractingly pretty bottles of attar of +rose, she felt that they almost atoned for the great sin of thinking +Phebe the finer girl of the two. + +Dr. Alec meanwhile had apparently taken Aunt Plenty at her word, +and was turning the house upside down. A general revolution was +evidently going on in the green-room, for the dark damask curtains +were seen bundling away in Phebe's arms; the air-tight stove +retiring to the cellar on Ben's shoulder; and the great bedstead +going up garret in a fragmentary state, escorted by three bearers. +Aunt Plenty was constantly on the trot among her store-rooms, +camphor-chests, and linen-closets, looking as if the new order of +things both amazed and amused her. + +Half the peculiar performances of Dr. Alec cannot be revealed; but +as Rose glanced up from her box now and then she caught +glimpses of him striding by, bearing a bamboo chair, a pair of +ancient andirons, a queer Japanese screen, a rug or two, and finally +a large bathing-pan upon his head. + +"What a curious room it will be," she said, as she sat resting and +refreshing herself with "Lumps of Delight," all the way from +Cairo. + +"I fancy you will like it, deary," answered Aunt Peace, looking up +with a smile from some pretty trifle she was making with blue silk +and white muslin. + +Rose did not see the smile, for just at that moment her uncle +paused at the door, and she sprang up to dance before him, saying, +with a face full of childish happiness + +"Look at me! look at me! I'm splendid I don't know myself. I +haven't put these things on right, I dare say, but I do like them so +much!" + +"You look as gay as a parrot in your fez and cabaja, and it does my +heart good to see the little black shadow turned into a rainbow," +said Uncle Alec, surveying the bright figure before him with great +approbation. + +He did not say it, but he thought she made a much prettier picture +than Phebe at the wash-tub, for she had stuck a purple fez on her +blonde head, tied several brilliant scarfs about her waist, and put +on a truly gorgeous scarlet jacket with a golden sun embroidered +on the back, a silver moon on the front, and stars of all sizes on the +sleeves. A pair of Turkish slippers adorned her feet, and necklaces +of amber, coral, and filigree hung about her neck, while one hand +held a smelling-bottle, and the other the spicy box of oriental +sweetmeats. + +"I feel like a girl in the 'Arabian Nights,' and expect to find a magic +carpet or a wonderful talisman somewhere. Only I don't see how I +ever can thank you for all these lovely things," she said, stopping +her dance, as if suddenly oppressed with gratitude. + +"I'll tell you how by leaving off the black clothes, that never should +have been kept so long on such a child, and wearing the gay ones +I've brought. It will do your spirits good, and cheer up this sober +old house. Won't it, auntie?" + +"I think you are right, Alec, and it is fortunate that we have not +begun on her spring clothes yet, for Myra thought she ought not to +wear anything brighter than violet, and she is too pale for that." + +"You just let me direct Miss Hemming how to make some of these +things. You will be surprised to see how much I know about piping +hems and gathering arm-holes and shirring biases," began Dr. +Alec, patting a pile of muslin, cloth and silk with a knowing air. + +Aunt Peace and Rose laughed so that he could not display his +knowledge any farther, till they stopped, when he said +good-naturedly + +"That will go a great way toward filling out the belt, so laugh +away, Morgiana, and I'll go back to my work, or I never shall be +done." + +"I couldn't help it, 'shirred biases' were so very funny!" Rose said, +as she turned to her box after the splendid laugh. "But really, +auntie," she added soberly, "I feel as if I ought not to have so many +nice things. I suppose it wouldn't do to give Phebe some of them? +Uncle might not like it." + +"He would not mind; but they are not suitable for Phebe. Some of +the dresses you are done with would be more useful, if they can be +made over to fit her," answered Aunt Peace in the prudent, +moderate tone which is so trying to our feelings when we indulge +in little fits of charitable enthusiasm. + +"I'd rather give her new ones, for I think she is a little bit proud and +might not like old things. If she was my sister it would do, because +sisters don't mind, but she isn't, and that makes it bad, you see. I +know how I can manage beautifully; I'll adopt her!" and Rose +looked quite radiant with this new idea. + +"I'm afraid you could not do it legally till you are older, but you +might see if she likes the plan, and at any rate you can be very kind +to her, for in one sense we are all sisters, and should help one +another." + +The sweet old face looked at her so kindly that Rose was fired +with a desire to settle the matter at once, and rushed away to the +kitchen, just as she was. Phebe was there, polishing up the antique +andirons so busily that she started when a voice cried out: "Smell +that, taste this, and look at me!" + +Phebe sniffed attar of rose, crunched the "Lump of Delight" tucked +into her mouth, and stared with all her eyes at little Morgiana +prancing about the room like a brilliant paroquet. + +"My stars, ain't you splendid!" was all she could say, holding up +two dusty hands. + +"I've got heaps of lovely things upstairs, and I'll show them all to +you, and I'd go halves, only auntie thinks they wouldn't be useful, +so I shall give you something else; and you won't mind, will you? +because I want to adopt you as Arabella was in the story. Won't +that be nice?" + +"Why, Miss Rose, have you lost your wits?" + +No wonder Phebe asked, for Rose talked very fast, and looked so +odd in her new costume, and was so eager she could not stop to +explain. Seeing Phebe's bewilderment, she quieted down and said, +with a pretty air of earnestness + +"It isn't fair that I should have so much and you so little, and I want +to be as good to you as if you were my sister, for Aunt Peace says +we are all sisters really. I thought if I adopted you as much as I can +now, it would be nicer. Will you let me, please?" + +To Rose's great surprise, Phebe sat down on the floor and hid her +face in her apron for a minute without answering a word. + +"Oh, dear, now she's offended, and I don't know what to do," +thought Rose, much discouraged by this reception of her offer. + +"Please, forgive me; I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, and hope +you won't think--" she faltered presently, feeling that she must undo +the mischief, if possible. + +But Phebe gave her another surprise, by dropping the apron and +showing a face all smiles, in spite of tears in the eyes, as she put +both arms round Rose and said, with a laugh and sob + +"I think you are the dearest girl in the world, and I'll let you do +anything you like with me." + +"Then you do like the plan? You didn't cry because I seemed to be +kind of patronising? I truly didn't mean to be," cried Rose, +delighted. + +"I guess I do like it! and cried because no one was ever so good to +me before, and I couldn't help it. As for patronising, you may walk +on me if you want to, and I won't mind," said Phebe, in a burst of +gratitude, for the words, "we are sisters" went straight to her lonely +heart and nestled there. + +"Well, now, we can play I'm a good sprite out of the box, or, what +is better, a fairy godmother come down the chimney, and you are +Cinderella, and must say what you want," said Rose, trying to put +the question delicately. + +Phebe understood that, for she had a good deal of natural +refinement, though she did come from the poor-house. + +"I don't feel as if I wanted anything now, Miss Rose, but to find +some way of thanking you for all you've done," she said, rubbing +off a tear that went rolling down the bridge of her nose in the most +unromantic way. + +"Why, I haven't done anything but given you a bit of candy! Here, +have some more, and eat 'em while you work, and think what I can +do. I must go and clear up, so good-bye, and don't forget I've +adopted you." + +"You've given me sweeter things than candy, and I'm not likely to +forget it." And carefully wiping off the brick-dust, Phebe pressed +the little hand Rose offered warmly in both her hard ones, while +the black eyes followed the departing visitor with a grateful look +that made them very soft and bright. + + + +Chapter 6 - Uncle Alec's Room + +Soon after dinner, and before she had got acquainted with half her +new possessions, Dr. Alec proposed a drive, to carry round the first +instalment of gifts to the aunts and cousins. Rose was quite ready +to go, being anxious to try a certain soft burnous from the box, +which not only possessed a most engaging little hood, but had +funny tassels bobbing in all directions. + +The big carriage was full of parcels, and even Ben's seat was +loaded with Indian war clubs, a Chinese kite of immense size, and +a pair of polished ox-horns from Africa. Uncle Alec, very blue as +to his clothes, and very brown as to his face, sat bolt upright, +surveying well known places with interest, while Rose, feeling +unusually elegant and comfortable, leaned back folded in her soft +mantle, and played she was an Eastern princess making a royal +progress among her subjects. + +At three of the places their calls were brief, for Aunt Myra's +catarrh was unusually bad; Aunt Clara had a room full of +company; and Aunt Jane showed such a tendency to discuss the +population, productions, and politics of Europe, Asia and Africa, +that even Dr. Alec was dismayed, and got away as soon as +possible. + +"Now we will have a good time! I do hope the boys will be at +home," said Rose, with a sigh of relief, as they wound yet higher +up the hill to Aunt Jessie's. + +"I left this for the last call, so that we might find the lads just in +from school. Yes, there is Jamie on the gate watching for us; now +you'll see the Clan gather; they are always swarming about +together." + +The instant Jamie saw the approaching guests he gave a shrill +whistle, which was answered by echoes from meadow, house and +barn, as the cousins came running from all directions, shouting, +"Hooray for Uncle Alec!" They went at the carriage like +highwaymen, robbed it of every parcel, took the occupants +prisoners, and marched them into the house with great exultation. + +"Little Mum! little Mum! here they are with lots of goodies! Come +down and see the fun right away! Quick!" bawled Will and +Geordie amidst a general ripping off of papers and a reckless +cutting of strings that soon turned the tidy room into a chaos. + +Down came Aunt Jessie with her pretty cap half on, but such a +beaming face below it that one rather thought the fly-away +head-gear an improvement than otherwise. She had hardly time to +greet Rose and the doctor before the boys were about her, each +clamouring for her to see his gift and rejoice over it with him, for +"little Mum" went halves in everything. The great horns +skirmished about her as if to toss her to the ceiling; the war clubs +hurtled over her head as if to annihilate her; an amazing medley +from the four quarters of the globe filled her lap, and seven excited +boys all talked to her at once. + +But she liked it; oh dear, yes! and sat smiling, admiring, and +explaining, quite untroubled by the din, which made Rose cover up +her ears and Dr. Alec threaten instant flight if the riot was not +quelled. That threat produced a lull, and while the uncle received +thanks in one corner, the aunt had some little confidences made to +her in the other. + +"Well, dear, and how are things going with you now? Better, I +hope, than they were a week ago." + +"Aunt Jessie, I think I'm going to be very happy, now uncle has +come. He does the queerest things, but he is so good to me I can't +help loving him"; and, nestling closer to little Mum, Rose told all +that had happened, ending with a rapturous account of the splendid +box. + +"I am very glad, dear. But, Rose, I must warn you of one thing; +don't let uncle spoil you." + +"But I like to be spoilt, auntie." + +"I don't doubt it; but if you turn out badly when the year is over he +will be blamed, and his experiment prove a failure. That would be +a pity, wouldn't it? when he wants to do so much for you, and can +do it if his kind heart does not get in the way of his good +judgment." + +"I never thought of that, and I'll try not to be spoilt. But how +can I help it?" asked Rose anxiously. + +"By not complaining of the wholesome things he wants you to do; +by giving him cheerful obedience as well as love; and even making +some small sacrifices for his sake." + +"I will, I truly will! and when I get in a worry about things may I +come to you? Uncle told me to, and I feel as if I shouldn't be +afraid." + +"You may, darling; this is the place where little troubles are best +cured, and this is what mothers are for, I fancy"; and Aunt Jessie +drew the curly head to her shoulder with a tender look that proved +how well she knew what medicine the child most needed. + +It was so sweet and comfortable that Rose sat still enjoying it till a +little voice said + +"Mamma, don't you think Pokey would like some of my shells? +Rose gave Phebe some of her nice things, and it was very good of +her. Can I?" + +"Who is Pokey?" asked Rose, popping up her head, attracted by the +odd name. + +"My dolly; do you want to see her?" asked Jamie, who had been +much impressed by the tale of adoption he had overheard. + +"Yes; I'm fond of dollies, only don't tell the boys, or they will laugh +at me." + +"They don't laugh at me, and they play with my dolly a great deal; +but she likes me best"; and Jamie ran away to produce his pet. + +"I brought my old doll, but I keep her hidden because I am too big +to play with her, and yet I can't bear to throw her away, I'm so fond +of her," said Rose, continuing her confidences in a whisper. + +"You can come and play with Jamie's whenever you like, for we +believe in dollies up here," began Aunt Jessie, smiling to herself as +if something amused her. + +Just then Jamie came back, and Rose understood the smile, for his +dolly proved to be a pretty four-year-old little girl, who trotted in +as fast as her fat legs would carry her, and making straight for the +shells, scrambled up an armful, saying, with a laugh that showed +her little white teeth + +"All for Dimmy and me, for Dimmy and me!" + +"That's my dolly; isn't she a nice one?" asked Jamie, proudly +surveying his pet with his hands behind him and his short legs +rather far apart a manly attitude copied from his brothers. + +"She is a dear dolly. But why call her Pokey?" asked Rose, +charmed with the new plaything. + +"She is such an inquisitive little body she is always poking that +mite of a nose into everything; and as Paul Pry did not suit, the +boys fell to calling her Pokey. Not a pretty name, but very +expressive." + +It certainly was, for, having examined the shells, the busy tot laid +hold of everything she could find, and continued her researches till +Archie caught her sucking his carved ivory chessmen to see if they +were not barley sugar. Rice paper pictures were also discovered +crumpled up in her tiny pocket, and she nearly smashed Will's +ostrich egg by trying to sit upon it. + +"Here, Jim, take her away; she's worse than the puppies, and we +can't have her round," commanded the elder brother, picking her +up and handing her over to the little fellow, who received her with +open arms and the warning remark + +"You'd better mind what you do, for I'm going to 'dopt Pokey like +Rose did Phebe, and then you'll have to be very good to her, you +big fellows." + +"'Dopt away, baby, and I'll give you a cage to keep her in, or you +won't have her long, for she is getting worse than a monkey"; and +Archie went back to his mates, while Aunt Jessie, foreseeing a +crisis, proposed that Jamie should take his dolly home, as she was +borrowed, and it was time her visit ended. + +"My dolly is better than yours, isn't she? 'cause she can walk and +talk and sing and dance, and yours can't do anything, can she?" +asked Jamie with pride, as he regarded his Pokey, who just then +had been moved to execute a funny little jig and warble the +well-known couplet + + "'Puss-tat, puss-tat, where you been?' + 'I been Lunnin, to saw a Tween."' + +After which superb display she retired, escorted by Jamie, both +making a fearful din blowing on conch shells. + +"We must tear ourselves away, Rose, because I want to get you +home before sunset. Will you come for a drive, Jessie?" said Dr. +Alec, as the music died away in the distance. + +"No, thank you; but I see the boys want a scamper, so, if you don't +mind, they may escort you home, but not go in. That is only +allowed on holidays." + +The words were hardly out of Aunt Jessie's mouth when Archie +said, in a tone of command + +"Pass the word, lads. Boot and saddle, and be quick about it." + +"All right!" And in a moment not a vestige of boy remained but the +litter on the floor. + +The cavalcade went down the hill at a pace that made Rose cling +to her uncle's arm, for the fat old horses got excited by the antics +of the ponies careering all about them, and went as fast as they +could pelt, with the gay dog-cart rattling in front, for Archie and +Charlie scorned shelties since this magnificent equipage had been +set up. Ben enjoyed the fun, and the lads cut up capers till Rose +declared that "circus" was the proper name for them after all. + +When they reached the house they dismounted, and stood, three on +each side the steps, in martial attitudes, while her ladyship was +handed out with great elegance by Uncle Alec. Then the Clan +saluted, mounted at word of command, and with a wild whoop tore +down the avenue in what they considered the true Arab style. + +"That was splendid, now it is safely ended," said Rose, skipping up +the steps with her head over her shoulder to watch the dear tassels +bob about. + +"I shall get you a pony as soon as you are a little stronger," said Dr. +Alec, watching her with a smile. + +"Oh, I couldn't ride one of those horrid, frisky little beasts! They +roll their eyes and bounce about so, I should die of fright," cried +Rose, clasping her hands tragically. + +"Are you a coward?" + +"About horses I am." + +"Never mind, then; come and see my new room"; and he led the +way upstairs without another word. + +As Rose followed she remembered her promise to Aunt Jessie, and +was sorry she had objected so decidedly. She was a great deal +more sorry five minutes later, and well she might be. + +"Now, take a good look, and tell me what you think of it," said Dr. +Alec, opening the door and letting her enter before him, while +Phebe was seen whisking down the backstairs with a dust-pan. + +Rose walked to the middle of the room, stood still, and gazed +about her with eyes that brightened as they looked, for all was +changed. + +This chamber had been built out over the library to suit some +fancy, and had been unused for years, except at Christmas times, +when the old house overflowed. It had three windows one to the +east, that overlooked the bay; one to the south, where the +horse-chestnuts waved their green fans; and one to the west, +towards the hill and the evening sky. A ruddy sunset burned there +now, filling the room with an enchanted glow; the soft murmur of +the sea was heard, and a robin chirped "Good-night!" among the +budding trees. + +Rose saw and heard these things first, and felt their beauty with a +child's quick instinct; then her eye took in the altered aspect of the +room, once so shrouded, still and solitary, now so full of light and +warmth and simple luxury. + +India matting covered the floor, with a gay rug here and there; the +antique andirons shone on the wide hearth, where a cheery blaze +dispelled the dampness of the long-closed room. Bamboo lounges +and chairs stood about, and quaint little tables in cosy corners; one +bearing a pretty basket, one a desk, and on a third lay several +familiar-looking books. In a recess stood a narrow white bed, with +a lovely Madonna hanging over it. The Japanese screen half-folded +back showed a delicate toilet service of blue and white set forth on +a marble slab, and near by was the great bath-pan, with Turkish +towels and a sponge as big as Rose's head. + +"Uncle must love cold water like a duck," she thought, with a +shiver. + +Then her eye went on to the tall cabinet, where a half-open door +revealed a tempting array of the drawers, shelves and "cubby +holes," which so delight the hearts of children. + +"What a grand place for my new things," she thought, wondering +what her uncle kept in that cedar retreat. + +"Oh me, what a sweet toilet table!" was her next mental +exclamation, as she approached this inviting spot. + +A round old-fashioned mirror hung over it, with a gilt eagle a-top, +holding in his beak the knot of blue ribbon that tied up a curtain of +muslin falling on either side of the table, where appeared little +ivory-handled brushes, two slender silver candle-sticks, a porcelain +match-box, several pretty trays for small matters, and, most +imposing of all, a plump blue silk cushion, coquettishly trimmed +with lace, and pink rose-buds at the corners. + +That cushion rather astonished Rose; in fact, the whole table did, +and she was just thinking, with a sly smile + +"Uncle is a dandy, but I never should have guessed it," when he +opened the door of a large closet, saying, with a careless wave of +the hand + +"Men like plenty of room for their rattle-traps; don't you think that +ought to satisfy me?" + +Rose peeped in and gave a start, though all she saw was what one +usually finds in closets clothes and boots, boxes and bags. Ah! but +you see these clothes were small black and white frocks; the row +of little boots that stood below had never been on Dr. Alec's feet; +the green bandbox had a gray veil straying out of it, and yes! the +bag hanging on the door was certainly her own piece-bag, with a +hole in one corner. She gave a quick look round the room and +understood now why it had seemed too dainty for a man, why her +Testament and Prayer Book were on the table by the bed, and what +those rose-buds meant on the blue cushion. It came upon her in +one delicious burst that this little paradise was all for her, and, not +knowing how else to express her gratitude, she caught Dr. Alec +round the neck, saying impetuously + +"O uncle, you are too good to me! I'll do anything you ask me; ride +wild horses and take freezing baths and eat bad-tasting messes, and +let my clothes hang on me, to show how much I thank you for this +dear, sweet, lovely room!" + +"You like it, then? But why do you think it is yours, my lass?" +asked Dr. Alec, as he sat down looking well pleased, and drew his +excited little niece to his knee. + +"I don't think, I know it is for me; I see it in your face, and I feel as +if I didn't half deserve it. Aunt Jessie said you would spoil me, and +I must not let you. I'm afraid this looks like it, and perhaps oh me! +perhaps I ought not to have this beautiful room after all!" and Rose +tried to look as if she could be heroic enough to give it up if it was +best. + +"I owe Mrs. Jessie one for that," said Dr. Alec, trying to frown, +though in his secret soul he felt that she was quite right. Then he +smiled that cordial smile, which was like sunshine on his brown +face, as he said + +"This is part of the cure, Rose, and I put you here that you might +take my three great remedies in the best and easiest way. Plenty of +sun, fresh air, and cold water; also cheerful surroundings, and +some work; for Phebe is to show you how to take care of this +room, and be your little maid as well as friend and teacher. Does +that sound hard and disagreeable to you, dear?" + +"No, sir; very, very pleasant, and I'll do my best to be a good +patient. But I really don't think anyone could be sick in this +delightful room," she said, with a long sigh of happiness as her eye +went from one pleasant object to another. + +"Then you like my sort of medicine better than Aunt Myra's, and +don't want to throw it out of the window, hey?" + + + +Chapter 7 - A Trip to China + +"Come, little girl, I've got another dose for you. I fancy you won't +take it as well as you did the last, but you will like it better after a +while," said Dr. Alec, about a week after the grand surprise. + +Rose was sitting in her pretty room, where she would gladly have +spent all her time if it had been allowed; but she looked up with a +smile, for she had ceased to fear her uncle's remedies, and was +always ready to try a new one. The last had been a set of light +gardening tools, with which she had helped him put the +flower-beds in order, learning all sorts of new and pleasant things +about the plants as she worked, for, though she had studied botany +at school, it seemed very dry stuff compared with Uncle Alec's +lively lesson. + +"What is it now?" she asked, shutting her work-box without a +murmur. + +"Salt-water." + +"How must I take it?" + +"Put on the new suit Miss Hemming sent home yesterday, and +come down to the beach; then I'll show you." + +"Yes, sir," answered Rose obediently, adding to herself, with a +shiver, as he went off: "It is too early for bathing, so I know it is +something to do with a dreadful boat." + +Putting on the new suit of blue flannel, prettily trimmed with +white, and the little sailor-hat with long streamers, diverted her +mind from the approaching trial, till a shrill whistle reminded her +that her uncle was waiting. Away she ran through the garden, +down the sandy path, out upon the strip of beach that belonged to +the house, and here she found Dr. Alec busy with a slender red and +white boat that lay rocking on the rising tide. + +"That is a dear little boat; and 'Bonnie Belle' is a pretty name," she +said, trying not to show how nervous she felt. + +"It is for you; so sit in the stern and learn to steer, till you are ready +to learn to row." + +"Do all boats wiggle about in that way?" she asked, lingering as if +to tie her hat more firmly. + +"Oh, yes, pitch about like nutshells when the sea is a bit rough," +answered her sailor uncle, never guessing her secret woe. + +"Is it rough to-day?" + +"Not very; it looks a trifle squally to the eastward, but we are all +right till the wind changes. Come." + +"Can you swim, uncle?" asked Rose, clutching at his arm as he +took her hand. + +"Like a fish. Now then." + +"Oh, please hold me very tight till I get there! Why do you have the +stern so far away?" and, stifling several squeaks of alarm in her +passage, Rose crept to the distant seat, and sat there holding on +with both hands and looking as if she expected every wave to bring +a sudden shipwreck. + +Uncle Alec took no notice of her fear, but patiently instructed her +in the art of steering, till she was so absorbed in remembering +which was starboard and which larboard, that she forgot to say +"OW!" every time a big wave slapped against the boat. + +"Now where shall we go?" she asked, as the wind blew freshly in +her face, and a few, long swift strokes sent them half across the +little bay. + +"Suppose we go to China?" + +"Isn't that rather a long voyage?" + +"Not as I go. Steer round the Point into the harbour, and I'll give +you a glimpse of China in twenty minutes or so." + +"I should like that!" and Rose sat wondering what he meant, while +she enjoyed the new sights all about her. + +Behind them the green Aunt-hill sloped gently upward to the grove +at the top, and all along the seaward side stood familiar houses, +stately, cosy, or picturesque. As they rounded the Point, the great +bay opened before them full of shipping, and the city lay beyond, +its spires rising above the tall masts with their gay streamers. + +"Are we going there?" she asked, for she had never seen this aspect +of the rich and busy old city before. + +"Yes. Uncle Mac has a ship just in from Hong Kong, and I thought +you would like to go and see it." + +"Oh, I should. I love dearly to go poking about in the warehouses +with Uncle Mac; everything is so curious and new to me; and I'm +specially interested in China because you have been there." + +"I'll show you two genuine Chinamen who have just arrived. You +will like to welcome Whang Lo and Fun See, I'm sure." + +"Don't ask me to speak to them, uncle; I shall be sure to laugh at +the odd names and the pig-tails and the slanting eyes. Please let me +just trot round after you; I like that best." + +"Very well; now steer toward the wharf where the big ship with the +queer flag is. That's the 'Rajah,' and we will go aboard if we can." + +In among the ships they went, by the wharves where the water was +green and still, and queer barnacles grew on the slippery piles. Odd +smells saluted her nose, and odd sights met her eyes, but Rose +liked it all, and played she was really landing in Hong Kong when +they glided up to the steps in the shadow of the tall "Rajah." Boxes +and bales were rising out of the hold and being carried into the +warehouse by stout porters, who tugged and bawled and clattered +about with small trucks, or worked cranes with iron claws that +came down and clutched heavy weights, whisking them aloft to +where wide doors like mouths swallowed them up. + +Dr. Alec took her aboard the ship, and she had the satisfaction of +poking her inquisitive little nose into every available corner, at the +risk of being crushed, lost, or drowned. + +"Well, child, how would you like to take a voyage round the world +with me in a jolly old craft like this?" asked her uncle, as they +rested a minute in the captain's cabin. + +"I should like to see the world, but not in such a small, untidy, +smelly place as this. We would go in a yacht all clean and +comfortable; Charlie says that is the proper way," answered Rose, +surveying the close quarters with little favour. + +"You are not a true Campbell if you don't like the smell of tar and +salt-water, nor Charlie either, with his luxurious yacht. Now come +ashore and chin-chin with the Celestials." + +After a delightful progress through the great warehouse, peeping +and picking as they went, they found Uncle Mac and the yellow +gentlemen in his private room, where samples, gifts, curiosities, +and newly arrived treasures of all sorts were piled up in pleasing +pro-fusion and con-fusion. + +As soon as possible Rose retired to a corner, with a porcelain god +on one side, a green dragon on the other, and, what was still more +embarrassing, Fun See sat on a tea-chest in front, and stared at her +with his beady black eyes till she did not know where to look. + +Mr. Whang Lo was an elderly gentleman in American costume, +with his pig-tail neatly wound round his head. He spoke English, +and was talking busily with Uncle Mac in the most commonplace +way so Rose considered him a failure. But Fun See was +delightfully Chinese from his junk-like shoes to the button on his +pagoda hat; for he had got himself up in style, and was a mass of +silk jackets and slouchy trousers. He was short and fat, and +waddled comically; his eyes were very "slanting," as Rose said; his +queue was long, so were his nails; his yellow face was plump and +shiny, and he was altogether a highly satisfactory Chinaman. + +Uncle Alec told her that Fun See had come out to be educated and +could only speak a little pigeon English; so she must be kind to the +poor fellow, for he was only a lad, though he looked nearly as old +as Mr. Whang Lo. Rose said she would be kind; but had not the +least idea how to entertain the queer guest, who looked as if he had +walked out of one of the rice-paper landscapes on the wall, and sat +nodding at her so like a toy Mandarin that she could hardly keep +sober. + +In the midst of her polite perplexity, Uncle Mac saw the two young +people gazing wistfully at one another, and seemed to enjoy the +joke of this making acquaintance under difficulties. Taking a box +from his table, he gave it to Fun See, with an order that seemed to +please him very much. + +Descending from his perch, he fell to unpacking it with great +neatness and despatch, while Rose watched him, wondering what +was going to happen. Presently, out from the wrappings came a +teapot, which caused her to clasp her hands with delight, for it was +made in the likeness of a plump little Chinaman. His hat was the +cover, his queue the handle, and his pipe the nose. It stood upon +feet in shoes turned up at the toes, and the smile on the fat, sleepy +face was so like that on Fun's when he displayed the teapot, that +Rose couldn't help laughing, which pleased him much. + +Two pretty cups with covers, and a fine scarlet tray completed the +set, and made one long to have a "dish of tea," even in Chinese +style, without cream or sugar. + +When he had arranged them on a little table before her, Fun +signified in pantomime that they were hers, from her uncle. She +returned her thanks in the same way, whereupon he returned to his +tea-chest, and, having no other means of communication, they sat +smiling and nodding at one another in an absurd sort of way till a +new idea seemed to strike Fun. Tumbling off his seat, he waddled +away as fast as his petticoats permitted, leaving Rose hoping that +he had not gone to get a roasted rat, a stewed puppy, or any other +foreign mess which civility would oblige her to eat. + +While she waited for her funny new friend, she improved her mind +in a way that would have charmed Aunt Jane. The gentlemen were +talking over all sorts of things, and she listened attentively, storing +up much of what she heard, for she had an excellent memory, and +longed to distinguish herself by being able to produce some useful +information when reproached with her ignorance. + +She was just trying to impress upon her mind that Amoy was two +hundred and eighty miles from Hong Kong, when Fun came +scuffling back, bearing what she thought was a small sword, till he +unfurled an immense fan, and presented it with a string of Chinese +compliments, the meaning of which would have amused her even +more than the sound, if she could have understood it. + +She had never seen such an astonishing fan, and at once became +absorbed in examining it. Of course, there was no perspective +whatever, which only gave it a peculiar charm to Rose, for in one +place a lovely lady, with blue knitting-needles in her hair, sat +directly upon the spire of a stately pagoda. In another charming +view a brook appeared to flow in at the front door of a stout +gentleman's house, and out at his chimney. In a third a zig-zag wall +went up into the sky like a flash of lightning, and a bird with two +tails was apparently brooding over a fisherman whose boat was +just going aground upon the moon. + +It was altogether a fascinating thing, and she would have sat +wafting it to and fro all the afternoon, to Fun's great satisfaction, +if Dr. Alec's attention had not suddenly been called to her by a +breeze from the big fan that blew his hair into his eyes, and +reminded him that they must go. So the pretty china was repacked, +Rose furled her fan, and with several parcels of choice teas for the +old ladies stowed away in Dr. Alec's pockets, they took their leave, +after Fun had saluted them with "the three bendings and the nine +knockings," as they salute the Emperor, or "Son of Heaven," at +home. + +"I feel as if I had really been to China, and I'm sure I look so," +said Rose, as they glided out of the shadow of the "Rajah." + +She certainly did, for Mr. Whang Lo had given her a Chinese +umbrella; Uncle Alec had got some lanterns to light up her +balcony; the great fan lay in her lap, and the tea-set reposed at her +feet. + +"This is not a bad way to study geography, is it?" asked her uncle, +who had observed her attention to the talk. + +"It is a very pleasant way, and I really think I have learned more +about China to-day than in all the lessons I had at school, though I +used to rattle off the answers as fast as I could go. No one +explained anything to us, so all I remember is that tea and silk +come from there, and the women have little bits of feet. I saw Fun +looking at mine, and he must have thought them perfectly +immense," answered Rose, surveying her stout boots with sudden +contempt. + +"We will have out the maps and the globe, and I'll show you some +of my journeys, telling stories as we go. That will be next best to +doing it actually." + +"You are so fond of travelling, I should think it would be very dull +for you here, uncle. Do you know, Aunt Plenty says she is sure you +will be off in a year or two." + +"Very likely." + +"Oh, me! what shall I do then?" sighed Rose, in a tone of despair +that made Uncle Alec's face brighten with a look of genuine +pleasure as he said significantly + +"Next time I go I shall take my little anchor with me. How will that +suit?" + +"Really, uncle?" + +"Really, niece." + +Rose gave a little bounce of rapture which caused the boat to +"wiggle" in a way that speedily quieted her down. But she sat +beaming joyfully and trying to think which of some hundred +questions she would ask first, when Dr. Alec said, pointing to a +boat that was coming up behind them in great style + +"How well those fellows row! Look at them, and take notes for +your own use by and by." + +The "Stormy Petrel" was manned by half a dozen jaunty looking +sailors, who made a fine display of blue shirts and shiny hats, with +stars and anchors in every direction. + +"How beautifully they go, and they are only boys. Why, I do +believe they are our boys! Yes, I see Charlie laughing over his +shoulder. Row, uncle, row! Oh, please do, and not let them catch +up with us!" cried Rose, in such a state of excitement that the new +umbrella nearly went overboard. + +"All right, here we go!" and away they did go with a long steady +sweep of the oars that carried the "Bonnie Belle" through the water +with a rush. + +The lads pulled their prettiest, but Dr. Alec would have reached +the Point first, if Rose, in her flurry, had not retarded him by +jerking the rudder ropes in a most unseamanlike way, and just as +she got right again her hat blew off. That put an end to the race, +and while they were still fishing for the hat the other boat came +alongside, with all the oars in the air, and the jolly young tars ready +for a frolic. + +"Did you catch a crab, uncle?" + +"No, a blue-fish," he answered, as the dripping hat was landed on a +seat to dry. + +"What have you been doing?" + +"Seeing Fun." + +"Good for you, Rose! I know what you mean. We are going to have +him up to show us how to fly the big kite, for we can't get the hang +of it. Isn't he great fun, though?" + +"No, little Fun." + +"Come, stop joking, and show us what you've got." + +"You'd better hoist that fan for a sail." + +"Lend Dandy your umbrella; he hates to burn his pretty nose." + +"I say, uncle, are you going to have a Feast of Lanterns?" + +"No, I'm going to have a feast of bread and butter, for it's tea-time. +If that black cloud doesn't lie, we shall have a gust before long, so +you had better get home as soon as you can, or your mother will be +anxious, Archie." + +"Ay, ay, skipper. Good-night, Rose; come out often, and we'll +teach you all there is to know about rowing," was Charlie's modest +invitation. + +Then the boats parted company, and across the water from the +"Petrel's" crew came a verse from one of the Nonsense songs in +which the boys delighted. + + "Oh, Timballoo! how happy we are, + We live in a sieve and a crockery jar! + And all night long, in the starlight pale, + We sail away, with a pea-green sail, + And whistle and warble a moony song + To the echoing sound of a coppery gong. + Far and few, far and few + Are the lands where the Jumblies live; + Their heads are green, and their hands are blue, + And they went to sea in a sieve." + + + +Chapter 8 - And what came of it + +"Uncle, could you lend me a ninepence? I'll return it as soon as I +get my pocket-money," said Rose, coming into the library in a +great hurry that evening. + +"I think I could, and I won't charge any interest for it, so you need +not be in any hurry to repay me. Come back here and help me +settle these books if you have nothing pleasanter to do," answered +Dr. Alec, handing out the money with that readiness which is so +delightful when we ask small loans. + +"I'll come in a minute; I've been longing to fix my books, but didn't +dare to touch them, because you always shake your head when I +read." + +"I shall shake my head when you write, if you don't do it better +than you did in making out this catalogue." + +"I know it's bad, but I was in a hurry when I did it, and I am in one +now." And away went Rose, glad to escape a lecture. + +But she got it when she came back, for Uncle Alec was still +knitting his brows over the list of books, and sternly demanded, +pointing to a tipsy-looking title staggering down the page + +"Is that meant for 'Pulverized Bones,' ma'am?" + +"No, sir; it's 'Paradise Lost.' " + +"Well, I'm glad to know it, for I began to think you were planning +to study surgery or farming. And what is this, if you please? +'Babies' Aprons' is all I can make of it." + +Rose looked hard at the scrawl, and presently announced, with an +air of superior wisdom + +"Oh, that's 'Bacon's Essays.' " + +"Miss Power did not teach anything so old-fashioned as writing, I +see. Now look at this memorandum Aunt Plenty gave me, and see +what a handsome plain hand that is. She went to a dame-school +and learnt a few useful things well; that is better than a smattering +of half a dozen so-called higher branches, I take the liberty of +thinking." + +"Well, I'm sure I was considered a bright girl at school, and learned +everything I was taught. Luly and me were the first in all our +classes, and 'specially praised for our French and music and those +sort of things," said Rose, rather offended at Uncle Alec's +criticism. + +"I dare say; but if your French grammar was no better than your +English, I think the praise was not deserved, my dear." + +"Why, uncle, we did study English grammar, and I could parse +beautifully. Miss Power used to have us up to show off when +people came. I don't see but I talk as right as most girls." + +"I dare say you do, but we are all too careless about our English. +Now, think a minute, and tell me if these expressions are correct +'Luly and me,' 'those sort of things,' and 'as right as most girls.' " + +Rose pulled her pet curl and put up her lip, but had to own that she +was wrong, and said meekly, after a pause which threatened to be +sulky + +"I suppose I should have said 'Luly and I,' in that case, and 'that sort +of things' and 'rightly,' though 'correctly' would have been a better +word, I guess." + +"Thank you; and if you will kindly drop 'I guess,' I shall like my +little Yankee all the better. Now, see here, Rosy, I don't pretend to +set myself up for a model in anything, and you may come down on +my grammar, manners or morals as often as you think I'm wrong, +and I'll thank you. I've been knocking about the world for years, +and have got careless, but I want my girl to be what I call +well-educated, even if she studies nothing but the three 'Rs' for a +year to come. Let us be thorough, no matter how slowly we go." + +He spoke so earnestly and looked so sorry to have ruffled her that +Rose went and sat on the arm of his chair, saying, with a pretty air +of penitence + +"I'm sorry I was cross, uncle, when I ought to thank you for taking +so much interest in me. I guess no, I think you are right about +being thorough, for I used to understand a great deal better when +papa taught me a few lessons than when Miss Power hurried me +through so many. I declare my head used to be such a jumble of +French and German, history and arithmetic, grammar and music, I +used to feel sometimes as if it would split. I'm sure I don't wonder +it ached." And she held on to it as if the mere memory of the +"jumble" made it swim. + +"Yet that is considered an excellent school, I find, and I dare say it +would be if the benighted lady did not think it necessary to cram +her pupils like Thanks-giving turkeys, instead of feeding them in a +natural and wholesome way. It is the fault with most American +schools, and the poor little heads will go on aching till we learn +better." + +This was one of Dr. Alec's hobbies, and Rose was afraid he was off +for a gallop, but he reined himself in and gave her thoughts a new +turn by saying suddenly, as he pulled out a fat pocket-book + +"Uncle Mac has put all your affairs into my hands now, and here is +your month's pocket money. You keep your own little accounts, I +suppose?" + +"Thank you. Yes, Uncle Mac gave me an account book when I +went to school, and I used to put down my expenses, but I couldn't +make them go very well, for figures are the one thing I am not at +all clever about," said Rose, rummaging in her desk for a +dilapidated little book, which she was ashamed to show when she +found it. + +"Well, as figures are rather important things to most of us, and you +may have a good many accounts to keep some day, wouldn't it be +wise to begin at once and learn to manage your pennies before the +pounds come to perplex you?" + +"I thought you would do all that fussy part and take care of the +pounds, as you call them. Need I worry about it? I do hate sums, +so!" + +"I shall take care of things till you are of age, but I mean that you +shall know how your property is managed, and do as much of it as +you can by and by; then you won't be dependent on the honesty of +other people." + +"Gracious me! as if I wouldn't trust you with millions of billions if +I had them," cried Rose, scandalised at the mere suggestion. + +"Ah, but I might be tempted; guardians are sometimes; so you'd +better keep your eye on me, and in order to do that you must learn +all about these affairs," answered Dr. Alec, as he made an entry in +his own very neat account-book. + +Rose peeped over his shoulder at it, and then turned to the +arithmetical puzzle in her hand with a sigh of despair. + +"Uncle, when you add up your expenses do you ever find you have +got more money than you had in the beginning?" + +"No; I usually find that I have a good deal less than I had in the +beginning. Are you troubled in the peculiar way you mention?" + +"Yes; it is very curious, but I never can make things come out +square." + +"Perhaps I can help you," began Uncle Alec, in the most respectful +tone. + +"I think you had better, for if I have got to keep accounts I may as +well begin in the right way. But please don't laugh! I know I'm very +stupid, and my book is a disgrace, but I never could get it straight." +And with great trepidation, Rose gave up her funny little accounts. + +It really was good in Dr. Alec not to laugh, and Rose felt deeply +grateful when he said in a mildly suggestive tone + +"The dollars and cents seem to be rather mixed, perhaps if I just +straightened them out a bit we should find things all right." + +"Please do, and then show me on a fresh leaf how to make mine +look nice and ship-shape as yours do." + +As Rose stood by him watching the ease with which he quickly +brought order out of chaos, she privately resolved to hunt up her +old arithmetic and perfect herself in the four first rules, with a +good tug at fractions, before she read any more fairy tales. + +"Am I a rich girl, uncle?" she asked suddenly, as he was copying a +column of figures. + +"Rather a poor one, I should say, since you had to borrow a +ninepence." + +"That was your fault, because you forgot my pocket-money. But, +really, shall I be rich by and by?" + +"I am afraid you will." + +"Why afraid, uncle?" + +"Too much money is a bad thing." + +"But I can give it away, you know; that is always the pleasantest +part of having it I think." + +"I'm glad you feel so, for you can do much good with your fortune +if you know how to use it well." + +"You shall teach me, and when I am a woman we will set up a +school where nothing but the three R's shall be taught, and all the +children live on oatmeal, and the girls have waists a yard round," +said Rose, with a sudden saucy smile dimpling her cheeks. + +"You are an impertinent little baggage, to turn on me in that way +right in the midst of my first attempt at teaching. Never mind, I'll +have an extra bitter dose for you next time, miss." + +"I knew you wanted to laugh, so I gave you a chance. Now, I will +be good, master, and do my lesson nicely." + +So Dr. Alec had his laugh, and then Rose sat down and took a +lesson in accounts which she never forgot. + +"Now come and read aloud to me; my eyes are tired, and it is +pleasant to sit here by the fire while the rain pours outside and +Aunt Jane lectures upstairs," said Uncle Alec, when last month's +accounts had been put in good order and a fresh page neatly begun. + +Rose liked to read aloud, and gladly gave him the chapter in +"Nicholas Nickleby" where the Miss Kenwigses take their French +lesson. She did her very best, feeling that she was being criticised, +and hoping that she might not be found wanting in this as in other +things. + +"Shall I go on, sir?" she asked very meekly, when the chapter +ended. + +"If you are not tired, dear. It is a pleasure to hear you, for you read +remarkably well," was the answer that filled her heart with pride +and pleasure. + +"Do you really think so, uncle? I'm so glad! Papa taught me, and I +read for hours to him, but I thought perhaps, he liked it because he +was fond of me." + +"So am I; but you really do read unusually well, and I'm very glad +of it, for it is a rare accomplishment, and one I value highly. Come +here in this cosy, low chair; the light is better, and I can pull these +curls if you go too fast. I see you are going to be a great comfort as +well as a great credit to your old uncle, Rosy." And Dr. Alec drew +her close beside him with such a fatherly look and tone that she +felt it would be very easy to love and obey him, since he knew how +to mix praise and blame so pleasantly together. + +Another chapter was just finished, when the sound of a carriage +warned them that Aunt Jane was about to depart. Before they +could go to meet her, however, she appeared in the doorway +looking like an unusually tall mummy in her waterproof, with her +glasses shining like cat's eyes from the depths of the hood. + +"Just as I thought! petting that child to death and letting her sit up +late reading trash. I do hope you feel the weight of the +responsibility you have taken upon yourself, Alec," she said, with a +certain grim sort of satisfaction at seeing things go wrong. + +"I think I have a very realising sense of it, sister Jane," answered +Dr. Alec, with a comical shrug of the shoulders and a glance at +Rose's bright face. + +"It is sad to see a great girl wasting these precious hours so. Now, +my boys have studied all day, and Mac is still at his books, I've no +doubt, while you have not had a lesson since you came, I suspect." + +"I've had five to-day, ma'am," was Rose's very unexpected answer. + +"I'm glad to hear it; and what were they, pray?" Rose looked very +demure as she replied + +"Navigation, geography, grammar, arithmetic, and keeping my +temper." + +"Queer lessons, I fancy; and what have you learned from this +remarkable mixture, I should like to know?" + +A naughty sparkle came into Rose's eyes as she answered, with a +droll look at her uncle + +"I can't tell you all, ma'am, but I have collected some useful +information about China, which you may like, especially the teas. +The best are Lapsing Souchong, Assam Pekoe, rare Ankoe, +Flowery Pekoe, Howqua's mixture, Scented Caper, Padral tea, +black Congou, and green Twankey. Shanghai is on the Woosung +River. Hong Kong means 'Island of Sweet waters.' Singapore is +'Lion's Town.' 'Chops' are the boats they live in; and they drink tea +out of little saucers. Principal productions are porcelain, tea, +cinnamon, shawls, tin, tamarinds and opium. They have beautiful +temples and queer gods; and in Canton is the Dwelling of the Holy +Pigs, fourteen of them, very big, and all blind." + +The effect of this remarkable burst was immense, especially the +fact last mentioned. It entirely took the wind out of Aunt Jane's +sails; it was so sudden, so varied and unexpected, that she had not +a word to say. The glasses remained fixed full upon Rose for a +moment, and then, with a hasty "Oh, indeed!" the excellent lady +bundled into her carriage and drove away, somewhat bewildered +and very much disturbed. + +She would have been more so if she had seen her reprehensible +brother-in-law dancing a triumphal polka down the hall with Rose +in honour of having silenced the enemy's battery for once. + + + +Chapter 9 - Phebe's Secret + +"Why do you keep smiling to yourself, Phebe?" asked Rose, as +they were working together one morning, for Dr. Alec considered +house-work the best sort of gymnastics for girls; so Rose took +lessons of Phebe in sweeping, dusting and bed-making. + +"I was thinking about a nice little secret I know, and couldn't help +smiling." + +"Shall I know it, sometime?" + +"Guess you will." + +"Shall I like it?" + +"Oh, won't you, though!" + +"Will it happen soon?" + +"Sometime this week." + +"I know what it is! The boys are going to have fireworks on the +fourth, and have got some surprise for me. Haven't they?" + +"That's telling." + +"Well, I can wait; only tell me one thing is uncle in it?" + +"Of course he is; there's never any fun without him." + +"Then it's all right, and sure to be nice." + +Rose went out on the balcony to shake the rugs, and, having given +them a vigorous beating, hung them on the balustrade to air, while +she took a look at her plants. Several tall vases and jars stood +there, and a month of June sun and rain had worked wonders with +the seeds and slips she had planted. Morning-glories and +nasturtiums ran all over the bars, making haste to bloom. Scarlet +beans and honeysuckles were climbing up from below to meet +their pretty neighbours, and the woodbine was hanging its green +festoons wherever it could cling. + +The waters of the bay were dancing in the sunshine, a fresh wind +stirred the chestnut-trees with a pleasant sound, and the garden +below was full of roses, butterflies and bees. A great chirping and +twittering went on among the birds, busy with their summer +house-keeping, and, far away, the white-winged gulls were dipping +and diving in the sea, where ships, like larger birds, went sailing to +and fro. + +"Oh, Phebe, it's such a lovely day, I do wish your fine secret was +going to happen right away! I feel just like having a good time; +don't you?" said Rose, waving her arms as if she was going to fly. + +"I often feel that way, but I have to wait for my good times, and +don't stop working to wish for 'em. There, now you can finish as +soon as the dust settles; I must go do my stairs," and Phebe trudged +away with the broom, singing as she went. + +Rose leaned where she was, and fell to thinking how many good +times she had had lately, for the gardening had prospered finely, +and she was learning to swim and row, and there were drives and +walks, and quiet hours of reading and talk with Uncle Alec, and, +best of all, the old pain and ennui seldom troubled her now. She +could work and play all day, sleep sweetly all night, and enjoy life +with the zest of a healthy, happy child. She was far from being as +strong and hearty as Phebe, but she was getting on; the once pale +cheeks had colour in them now, the hands were growing plump +and brown, and the belt was not much too loose. No one talked to +her about her health, and she forgot that she had "no constitution." +She took no medicine but Dr. Alec's three great remedies, and they +seemed to suit her excellently. Aunt Plenty said it was the pills; +but, as no second batch had ever followed the first, I think the old +lady was mistaken. + +Rose looked worthy of her name as she stood smiling to herself +over a happier secret than any Phebe had a secret which she did +not know herself till she found out, some years later, the magic of +good health. + + "'Look only,' said the brownie, + 'At the pretty gown of blue, + At the kerchief pinned about her head, + And at her little shoe,"' + +said a voice from below, as a great cabbage-rose came flying +against her cheek. + +"What is the princess dreaming about up there in her +hanging-garden?" added Dr. Alec as she flung back a +morning-glory. + +"I was wishing I could do something pleasant this fine day; +something very new and interesting, for the wind makes me feel +frisky and gay." + +"Suppose we take a pull over to the Island? I intended to go this +afternoon; but if you feel more like it now, we can be off at once." + +"I do! I do! I'll come in fifteen minutes, uncle. I must just scrabble +my room to rights, for Phebe has got a great deal to do." + +Rose caught up the rugs and vanished as she spoke, while Dr. Alec +went in, saying to himself, with an indulgent smile + +"It may upset things a trifle, but half a child's pleasure consists in +having their fun when they want it." + +Never did duster flap more briskly than the one Rose used that +day, and never was a room "scrabbled" to rights in such haste as +hers. Tables and chairs flew into their places as if alive; curtains +shook as if a gale was blowing; china rattled and small articles +tumbled about as if a young earthquake was playing with them. +The boating suit went on in a twinkling, and Rose was off with a +hop and a skip, little dreaming how many hours it would be before +she saw her pretty room again. + +Uncle Alec was putting a large basket into the boat when she +arrived, and before they were off Phebe came running down with a +queer, knobby bundle done up in a water-proof. + +"We can't eat half that luncheon, and I know we shall not need so +many wraps. I wouldn't lumber the boat up so," said Rose, who +still had secret scares when on the water. + +"Couldn't you make a smaller parcel, Phebe?" asked Dr. Alec, +eyeing the bundle suspiciously. + +"No, sir, not in such a hurry," and Phebe laughed as she gave a +particularly large knob a good poke. + +"Well, it will do for ballast. Don't forget the note to Mrs. Jessie, I +beg of you." + +"No, sir. I'll send it right off," and Phebe ran up the bank as if she +had wings to her feet. + +"We'll take a look at the lighthouse first, for you have not been +there yet, and it is worth seeing. By the time we have done that it +will be pretty warm, and we will have lunch under the trees on the +Island." + +Rose was ready for anything, and enjoyed her visit to the +lighthouse on the Point very much, especially climbing up the +narrow stairs and going inside the great lantern. They made a long +stay, for Dr. Alec seemed in no hurry to go, and kept looking +through his spy-glass as if he expected to discover something +remarkable on sea or land. It was past twelve before they reached +the Island, and Rose was ready for her lunch long before she got it. + +"Now this is lovely! I do wish the boys were here. Won't it be nice +to have them with us all their vacation? Why, it begins to-day, +doesn't it? Oh, I wish I'd remembered it sooner, and perhaps they +would have come with us," she said, as they lay luxuriously eating +sandwiches under the old apple-tree. + +"So we might. Next time we won't be in such a hurry. I expect the +lads will take our heads off when they find us out," answered Dr. +Alec, placidly drinking cold tea. + +"Uncle, I smell a frying sort of a smell," Rose said, pausing +suddenly as she was putting away the remains of the lunch half an +hour later. + +"So do I; it is fish, I think." + +For a moment they both sat with their noses in the air, sniffing like +hounds; then Dr. Alec sprang up, saying with great decision + +"Now, this won't do! No one is permitted on this island without +asking leave. I must see who dares to fry fish on my private +property." + +Taking the basket on one arm and the bundle on the other, he +strode away towards the traitorous smell, looking as fierce as a +lion, while Rose marched behind under her umbrella. + +"We are Robinson Crusoe and his man Friday going to see if the +savages have come," she said presently, for her fancy was full of +the dear old stories that all children love so well. + +"And there they are! Two tents and two boats, as I live! These +rascals mean to enjoy themselves, that's evident." + +"There ought to be more boats and no tents. I wonder where the +prisoners are?" + +"There are traces of them," and Dr. Alec pointed to the heads and +tails of fishes strewn on the grass. + +"And there are more," said Rose, laughing, as she pointed to a +scarlet heap of what looked like lobsters. + +"The savages are probably eating their victims now; don't you hear +the knives rattle in that tent?" + +"We ought to creep up and peep; Crusoe was cautious, you know, +and Friday scared out of his wits," added Rose, still keeping up the +joke. + +"But this Crusoe is going to pounce upon them, regardless of +consequences. If I am killed and eaten, you seize the basket and +run for the boat; there are provisions enough for your voyage +home." + +With that Uncle Alec slipped round to the front of the tent and, +casting in the big bundle like a bomb-shell, roared out, in a voice +of thunder + +"Pirates, surrender!" + +A crash, a shout, a laugh, and out came the savages, brandishing +knives and forks, chicken bones, and tin mugs, and all fell upon +the intruder, pommelling him unmercifully as they cried + +"You came too soon! We are not half ready! You've spoilt it all! +Where is Rose?" + +"Here I am," answered a half-stifled voice, and Rose was +discovered sitting on the pile of red flannel bathing clothes, which +she had mistaken for lobsters, and where she had fallen in a fit of +merriment when she discovered that the cannibals were her merry +cousins. + +"You good-for-nothing boys! You are always bursting out upon me +in some ridiculous way, and I always get taken in because I'm not +used to such pranks. Uncle is as bad as the rest, and it's great fun," +she said, as the lads came round her, half scolding, half +welcoming, and wholly enjoying the double surprise. + +"You were not to come till afternoon, and mamma was to be here +to receive you. Everything is in a mess now, except your tent; we +got that in order the first thing, and you can sit there and see us +work," said Archie, doing the honours as usual. + +"Rose felt it in her bones, as Dolly says, that something was in the +wind, and wanted to be off at once. So I let her come, and should +have kept her away an hour longer if your fish had not betrayed +you," explained Uncle Alec, subsiding from a ferocious Crusoe +into his good-natured self again. + +"As this seat is rather damp, I think I'll rise," said Rose, as the +excitement lessened a little. + +Several fishy hands helped her up, and Charlie said, as he scattered +the scarlet garments over the grass with an oar + +"We had a jolly good swim before dinner, and I told the Brats to +spread these to dry. Hope you brought your things, Rose, for you +belong to the Lobsters, you know, and we can have no end of fun +teaching you to dive and float and tread water." + +"I didn't bring anything--" began Rose, but was interrupted by the +Brats (otherwise Will and Geordie), who appeared bearing the big +bundle, so much demoralised by its fall that a red flannel tunic +trailed out at one end and a little blue dressing-gown at the other, +while the knobs proved to be a toilet-case, rubbers, and a silver +mug. + +"Oh, that sly Phebe! This was the secret, and she bundled up those +things after I went down to the boat," cried Rose, with sparkling +eyes. + +"Guess something is smashed inside, for a bit of glass fell out," +observed Will, as they deposited the bundle at her feet. + +"Catch a girl going anywhere without a looking-glass. We haven't +got one among the whole lot of us," added Mac, with masculine +scorn. + +"Dandy has; I caught him touching up his wig behind the trees +after our swim," cut in Geordie, wagging a derisive finger at Steve, +who promptly silenced him by a smart rap on the head with the +drum-stick he had just polished off. + +"Come, come, you lazy lubbers, fall to work, or we shall not be +ready for mamma. Take Rose's things to her tent, and tell her all +about it, Prince. Mac and Steve, you cut away and bring up the rest +of the straw; and you small chaps, clear off the table, if you have +stuffed all you can. Please, uncle, I'd like your advice about the +boundary lines and the best place for the kitchen." + +Everyone obeyed the chief, and Rose was escorted to her tent by +Charlie, who devoted himself to her service. She was charmed +with her quarters, and still more so with the programme which he +unfolded before her as they worked. + +"We always camp out somewhere in vacation, and this year we +thought we'd try the Island. It is handy, and our fireworks will +show off well from here." + +"Shall we stay over the Fourth? Three whole days! Oh, me! what a +frolic it will be!" + +"Bless your heart, we often camp for a week, we big fellows; but +this year the small chaps wanted to come, so we let them. We have +great larks, as you'll see; for we have a cave and play Captain +Kidd, and have shipwrecks, and races, and all sorts of games. Arch +and I are rather past that kind of thing now, but we do it to please +the children," added Charlie, with a sudden recollection of his +sixteen years. + +"I had no idea boys had such good times. Their plays never seemed +a bit interesting before. But I suppose that was because I never +knew any boys very well, or perhaps you are unusually nice ones," +observed Rose, with an artless air of appreciation that was very +flattering. + +"We are a pretty clever set, I fancy; but we have a good many +advantages, you see. There are a tribe of us, to begin with; then our +family has been here for ages, and we have plenty of 'spondulics,' +so we can rather lord it over the other fellows, and do as we like. +There, ma'am, you can hang your smashed glass on that nail and +do up your back hair as fine as you please. You can have a blue +blanket or a red one, and a straw pillow or an air cushion for your +head, whichever you like. You can trim up to any extent, and be as +free and easy as squaws in a wigwam, for this corner is set apart +for you ladies and we never cross the line uncle is drawing until +we ask leave. Anything more I can do for you, cousin?" + +"No, thank you. I think I'll leave the rest till auntie comes, and go +and help you somewhere else, if I may." + +"Yes, indeed, come on and see to the kitchen. Can you cook?" +asked Charlie, as he led the way to the rocky nook where Archie +was putting up a sail-cloth awning. + +"I can make tea and toast bread." + +"Well, we'll shew you how to fry fish, and make chowder. Now +you just set these pots and pans round tastefully, and sort of tidy up +a bit, for Aunt Jessie insists on doing some of the work, and I want +it to be decent here." + +By four o'clock the camp was in order, and the weary workers +settled down on Lookout Rock to watch for Mrs. Jessie and Jamie, +who was never far from mamma's apron string. They looked like a +flock of blue-birds, all being in sailor rig, with blue ribbon enough +flying from the seven hats to have set up a milliner. Very tuneful +blue-birds they were, too, for all the lads sang, and the echo of +their happy voices reached Mrs. Jessie long before she saw them. + +The moment the boat hove in sight up went the Island flag, and the +blue-jackets cheered lustily, as they did on every possible +occasion, like true young Americans. This welcome was answered +by the flapping of a handkerchief and the shrill "Rah! Rah! Rah!" +of the one small tar who stood in the stern waving his hat +manfully, while a maternal hand clutched him firmly in the rear. + +Cleopatra landing from her golden galley never received a heartier +greeting than "Little Mum" as she was borne to her tent by the +young folk, for love of whom she smilingly resigned herself to +three days of discomfort; while Jamie immediately attached +himself to Rose, assuring her of his protection from the manifold +perils which might assail them. + +Taught by long experience that boys are always hungry, Aunt +Jessie soon proposed supper, and proceeded to get it, enveloped in +an immense apron, with an old hat of Archie's stuck atop of her +cap. Rose helped, and tried to be as handy as Phebe, though the +peculiar style of table she had to set made it no easy task. It was +accomplished at last, and a very happy party lay about under the +trees, eating and drinking out of anyone's plate and cup, and quite +untroubled by the frequent appearance of ants and spiders in places +which these interesting insects are not expected to adorn. + +"I never thought I should like to wash dishes, but I do," said Rose, +as she sat in a boat after supper lazily rinsing plates in the sea, and +rocking luxuriously as she wiped them. + +"Mum is mighty particular; we just give 'em a scrub with sand, and +dust 'em off with a bit of paper. It's much the best way, I think," +replied Geordie, who reposed in another boat alongside. + +"How Phebe would like this! I wonder uncle did not have her +come." + +"I believe he tried to, but Dolly was as cross as two sticks, and said +she couldn't spare her. I'm sorry, for we all like the Phebe bird, and +she'd chirp like a good one out here, wouldn't she?" + +"She ought to have a holiday like the rest of us. It's too bad to leave +her out." + +This thought came back to Rose several times that evening, for +Phebe would have added much to the little concert they had in the +moonlight, would have enjoyed the stories told, been quick at +guessing the conundrums, and laughed with all her heart at the fun. +The merry going to bed would have been the best of all, for Rose +wanted someone to cuddle under the blue blanket with her, there +to whisper and giggle and tell secrets, as girls delight to do. + +Long after the rest were asleep, Rose lay wide awake, excited by +the novelty of all about her, and a thought that had come into her +mind. Far away she heard a city clock strike twelve; a large star +like a mild eye peeped in at the opening of the tent, and the soft +plash of the waves seemed calling her to come out. Aunt Jessie lay +fast asleep, with Jamie rolled up like a kitten at her feet, and +neither stirred as Rose in her wrapper crept out to see how the +world looked at midnight. + +She found it very lovely, and sat down on a cracker keg to enjoy it +with a heart full of the innocent sentiment of her years. +Fortunately, Dr. Alec saw her before she had time to catch cold, +for coming out to tie back the door-flap of his tent for more air, he +beheld the small figure perched in the moonlight. Having no fear +of ghosts, he quietly approached, and, seeing that she was wide +awake, said, with a hand on her shining hair + +"What is my girl doing here?" + +"Having a good time," answered Rose, not at all startled. + +"I wonder what she was thinking about with such a sober look." + +"The story you told of the brave sailor who gave up his place on +the raft to the woman, and the last drop of water to the poor baby. +People who make sacrifices are very much loved and admired, +aren't they?" she asked, earnestly. + +"If the sacrifice is a true one. But many of the bravest never are +known, and get no praise. That does not lessen their beauty, though +perhaps it makes them harder, for we all like sympathy," and Dr. +Alec sighed a patient sort of sigh. + +"I suppose you have made a great many? Would you mind telling +me one of them?" asked Rose, arrested by the sigh. + +"My last was to give up smoking," was the very unromantic answer +to her pensive question. + +"Why did you?" + +"Bad example for the boys." + +"That was very good of you, uncle! Was it hard?" + +"I'm ashamed to say it was. But as a wise old fellow once said, 'It is +necessary to do right; it is not necessary to be happy.' " + +Rose pondered over the saying as if it pleased her, and then said, +with a clear, bright look + +"A real sacrifice is giving up something you want or enjoy very +much, isn't it?" + +"Yes." + +"Doing it one's own self because one loves another person very +much and wants her to be happy?" + +"Yes." + +"And doing it pleasantly, and being glad about it, and not minding +the praise if it doesn't come?" + +"Yes, dear, that is the true spirit of self-sacrifice; you seem to +understand it, and I dare say you will have many chances in your +life to try the real thing. I hope they won't be very hard ones." + +"I think they will," began Rose, and there stopped short. + +"Well, make one now, and go to sleep, or my girl will be ill +to-morrow, and then the aunts will say camping out was bad for +her." + +"I'll go good night!" and throwing him a kiss, the little ghost +vanished, leaving Uncle Alec to pace the shore and think about +some of the unsuspected sacrifices that had made him what he +was. + + + +Chapter 10 - Rose's Sacrifice + +There certainly were "larks" on Campbell's Island next day, as +Charlie had foretold, and Rose took her part in them like one +intent on enjoying every minute to the utmost. There was a merry +breakfast, a successful fishing expedition, and then the lobsters +came out in full force, for even Aunt Jessie appeared in red +flannel. There was nothing Uncle Alec could not do in the water, +and the boys tried their best to equal him in strength and skill, so +there was a great diving and ducking, for every one was bent on +distinguishing himself. + +Rose swam out far beyond her depth, with uncle to float her back; +Aunt Jessie splashed placidly in the shallow pools, with Jamie +paddling near by like a little whale beside its mother; while the +lads careered about, looking like a flock of distracted flamingoes, +and acting like the famous dancing party in "Alice's Adventures in +Wonderland." + +Nothing but chowder would have lured them from their gambols in +the briny deep; that time-honoured dish demanded the +concentrated action of several mighty minds; so the "Water +Babies" came ashore and fell to cooking. + +It is unnecessary to say that, when done, it was the most +remarkable chowder ever cooked, and the quantity eaten would +have amazed the world if the secret had been divulged. After this +exertion a siesta was considered the thing, and people lay about in +tents or out as they pleased, the boys looking like warriors +slumbering where they fell. + +The elders had just settled to a comfortable nap when the +youngsters rose, refreshed and ready for further exploits. A hint +sent them all off to the cave, and there were discovered bows and +arrows, battle clubs, old swords, and various relics of an +interesting nature. Perched upon a commanding rock, with Jamie +to "splain" things to her, Rose beheld a series of stirring scenes +enacted with great vigour and historical accuracy by her gifted +relatives. + +Captain Cook was murdered by the natives of Owhyhee in the +most thrilling manner. Captain Kidd buried untold wealth in the +chowder kettle at the dead of night, and shot both the trusting +villains who shared the secret of the hiding place. Sinbad came +ashore there and had manifold adventures, and numberless wrecks +bestrewed the sands. + +Rose considered them by far the most exciting dramas she had +ever witnessed; and when the performance closed with a grand +ballet of Feejee Islanders, whose barbaric yells alarmed the gulls, +she had no words in which to express her gratification. + +Another swim at sunset, another merry evening on the rocks +watching the lighted steamers pass seaward and the pleasure-boats +come into port, ended the second day of the camping out, and sent +everyone to bed early that they might be ready for the festivities of +the morrow. + +"Archie, didn't I hear uncle ask you to row home in the morning +for fresh milk and things?" + +"Yes, why?" + +"Please, may I go too? I have something of great importance to +arrange; you know I was carried off in a hurry," Rose said in a +confidential whisper as she was bidding her cousins good night. + +"I'm willing, and I guess Charlie won't mind." + +"Thank you; be sure you stand by me when I ask leave in the +morning, and don't say anything till then, except to Charlie. +Promise," urged Rose, so eagerly, that Archie struck an attitude +and cried dramatically + +"By yonder moon I swear!" + +"Hush! it's all right, go along"; and Rose departed as if satisfied. + +"She's a queer little thing, isn't she, Prince?" + +"Rather a nice little thing, I think. I'm quite fond of her." + +Rose's quick ears caught both remarks, and she retired to her tent, +saying to herself with sleepy dignity + +"Little thing, indeed! Those boys talk as if I was a baby. They will +treat me with more respect after to-morrow, I guess." + +Archie did stand by her in the morning, and her request was readily +granted, as the lads were coming directly back. Off they went, and +Rose waved her hand to the islanders with a somewhat pensive air, +for an heroic purpose glowed within her, and the spirit of +self-sacrifice was about to be illustrated in a new and touching +manner. + +While the boys got the milk Rose ran to Phebe, ordered her to +leave her dishes, to put on her hat, and take a note back to Uncle +Alec, which would explain this somewhat mysterious +performance. Phebe obeyed, and when she went to the boat Rose +accompanied her, telling the boys she was not ready to go yet, but +they could, some of them, come for her when she hung a white +signal on her balcony. + +"But why not come now? What are you about, miss? Uncle won't +like it," protested Charlie, in great amazement. + +"Just do as I tell you, little boy; uncle will understand and explain. +Obey, as Phebe does, and ask no questions. I can have secrets as +well as other people"; and Rose walked off with an air of lofty +independence that impressed her friends immensely. + +"It's some plot between uncle and herself, so we won't meddle. All +right, Phebe? Pull away, Prince"; and off they went to be received +with much surprise by the islanders. + +This was the note Phebe bore: + +"Dear Uncle, I am going to take Phebe's place to-day, and let her +have all the fun she can. Please don't mind what she says, but keep +her, and tell the boys to be very good to her for my sake. Don't +think it is easy to do this; it is very hard to give up the best day of +all, but I feel so selfish to have all the pleasure and Phebe none, +that I wish to make this sacrifice. Do let me, and don't laugh at it; I +truly do not wish to be praised, and I truly want to do it. Love to all +from + +"Rose." + +"Bless the little dear, what a generous heart she has! Shall we go +after her, Jessie, or let her have her way?" said Dr. Alec, after the +first mingled amusement and astonishment had subsided. + +"Let her alone, and don't spoil her little sacrifice. She means it, I +know, and the best way in which we can show our respect for her +effort is to give Phebe a pleasant day. I'm sure she has earned it"; +and Mrs. Jessie made a sign to the boys to suppress their +disappointment and exert themselves to please Rose's guest. + +Phebe was with difficulty kept from going straight home, and +declared that she should not enjoy herself one bit without Miss +Rose. + +"She won't hold out all day, and we shall see her paddling back +before noon, I'll wager anything," said Charlie; and the rest so +strongly inclined to his opinion that they resigned themselves to +the loss of the little queen of the revels, sure that it would be only +a temporary one. + +But hour after hour passed, and no signal appeared on the balcony, +though Phebe watched it hopefully. No passing boat brought the +truant back, though more than one pair of eyes looked out for the +bright hair under the round hat; and sunset came, bringing no Rose +but the lovely colour in the western sky. + +"I really did not think the child had it in her. I fancied it was a bit +of sentiment, but I see she was in earnest, and means that her +sacrifice shall be a true one. Dear little soul! I'll make it up to her a +thousand times over, and beg her pardon for thinking it might be +done for effect," Dr. Alec said remorsefully, as he strained his eyes +through the dusk, fancying he saw a small figure sitting in the +garden as it had sat on the keg the night before, laying the +generous little plot that had cost more than he could guess. + +"Well, she can't help seeing the fireworks, any way, unless she is +goose enough to think she must hide in a dark closet and not look," +said Archie, who was rather disgusted at Rose's seeming +ingratitude. + +"She will see ours capitally, but miss the big ones on the hill, +unless papa has forgotten all about them," added Steve, cutting +short the harangue Mac had begun upon the festivals of the +ancients. + +"I'm sure the sight of her will be better than the finest fireworks +that ever went off," said Phebe, meditating an elopement with one +of the boats if she could get a chance. + +"Let things work; if she resists a brilliant invitation we give her she +will be a heroine," added Uncle Alec, secretly hoping that she +would not. + +Meanwhile Rose had spent a quiet, busy day helping Dolly, +waiting on Aunt Peace, and steadily resisting Aunt Plenty's +attempts to send her back to the happy island. It had been hard in +the morning to come in from the bright world outside, with flags +flying, cannon booming, crackers popping, and everyone making +ready for a holiday, and go to washing cups, while Dolly grumbled +and the aunts lamented. It was very hard to see the day go by, +knowing how gay each hour must have been across the water, and +how a word from her would take her where she longed to be with +all her heart. But it was hardest of all when evening came and +Aunt Peace was asleep, Aunt Plenty seeing a gossip in the parlor, +Dolly established in the porch to enjoy the show, and nothing left +for the little maid to do but sit alone in her balcony and watch the +gay rockets whizz up from island, hill, and city, while bands +played and boats laden with happy people went to and fro in the +fitful light. + +Then it must be confessed that a tear or two dimmed the blue eyes, +and once, when a very brilliant display illuminated the island for a +moment, and she fancied she saw the tents, the curly head went +down on the railing, and a wide-awake nasturtium heard a little +whisper + +"I hope someone wishes I was there!" + +The tears were all gone, however, and she was watching the hill +and island answer each other with what Jamie called "whizzers, +whirligigs and busters," and smiling as she thought how hard the +boys must be working to keep up such a steady fire, when Uncle +Mac came walking in upon her, saying hurriedly + +"Come, child, put on your tippet, pelisse, or whatever you call it, +and run off with me. I came to get Phebe, but aunt says she is +gone, so I want you. I've got Fun down in the boat, and I want you +to go with us and see my fireworks. Got them up for you, and you +mustn't miss them, or I shall be disappointed." + +"But, uncle," began Rose, feeling as if she ought to refuse even a +glimpse of bliss, "perhaps " + +"I know, my dear, I know; aunt told me; but no one needs you now +so much as I do, and I insist on your coming," said Uncle Mac, +who seemed in a great hurry to be off, yet was unusually kind. + +So Rose went and found the little Chinaman with a funny lantern +waiting to help her in and convulse her with laughter trying to +express his emotions in pigeon English. The city clocks were +striking nine as they got out into the bay, and the island fireworks +seemed to be over, for no rocket answered the last Roman candle +that shone on the Aunt-hill. + +"Ours are done, I see, but they are going up all round the city, and +how pretty they are," said Rose, folding her mantle about her, and +surveying the scene with pensive interest. + +"Hope my fellows have not got into trouble up there," muttered +Uncle Mac, adding with a satisfied chuckle, as a spark shone out, +"No; there it goes! Look, Rosy, and see how you like this one; it +was ordered especially in honour of your coming." + +Rose looked with all her eyes, and saw the spark grow into the +likeness of a golden vase, then green leaves came out, and then a +crimson flower glowing on the darkness with a splendid lustre. + +"Is it a rose, uncle?" she asked, clasping her hands with delight as +she recognised the handsome flower. + +"Of course it is! Look again, and guess what those are," answered +Uncle Mac, chuckling and enjoying it all like a boy. + +A wreath of what looked at first like purple brooms appeared +below the vase, but Rose guessed what they were meant for, and +stood straight up, holding by his shoulder, and crying excitedly + +"Thistles, uncle, Scotch thistles! There are seven of them one for +each boy! Oh, what a joke!" and she laughed so that she plumped +into the bottom of the boat and stayed there till the brilliant +spectacle was quite gone. + +"That was rather a neat thing, I flatter myself," said Uncle Mac, in +high glee at the success of his illumination. "Now, shall I leave you +on the Island or take you home again, my good little girl?" he +added, lifting her up with such a tone of approbation in his voice +that Rose kissed him on the spot. + +"Home, please uncle; and I thank you very very much for the +beautiful firework you got up for me. I'm so glad I saw it; and I +know I shall dream about it," answered Rose steadily, though a +wistful glance went toward the Island, now so near that she could +smell powder and see shadowy figures flitting about. + +Home they went; and Rose fell asleep saying to herself, "It was +harder than I thought, but I'm glad I did it, and I truly don't want +any reward but Phebe's pleasure." + + + +Chapter 11 - Poor Mac + +Rose's sacrifice was a failure in one respect, for, though the elders +loved her the better for it, and showed that they did, the boys were +not inspired with the sudden respect which she had hoped for. In +fact, her feelings were much hurt by overhearing Archie say that +he couldn't see any sense in it; and the Prince added another blow +by pronouncing her "the queerest chicken ever seen." + +It is apt to be so, and it is hard to bear; for, though we do not want +trumpets blown, we do like to have our little virtues appreciated, +and cannot help feeling disappointed if they are not. + +A time soon came, however, when Rose, quite unconsciously, won +not only the respect of her cousins, but their gratitude and +affection likewise. + +Soon after the Island episode, Mac had a sunstroke, and was very +ill for some time. It was so sudden that everyone was startled, and +for some days the boy's life was in danger. He pulled through, +however; and then, just as the family were rejoicing, a new trouble +appeared which cast a gloom over them all. + +Poor Mac's eyes gave out; and well they might, for he had abused +them, and never being very strong, they suffered doubly now. + +No one dared to tell him the dark predictions of the great oculist +who came to look at them, and the boy tried to be patient, thinking +that a few weeks of rest would repair the overwork of several +years. + +He was forbidden to look at a book, and as that was the one thing +he most delighted in, it was a terrible affliction to the Worm. +Everyone was very ready to read to him, and at first the lads +contended for this honour. But as week after week went by, and +Mac was still condemned to idleness and a darkened room, their +zeal abated, and one after the other fell off. It was hard for the +active fellows, right in the midst of their vacation; and nobody +blamed them when they contented themselves with brief calls, +running of errands, and warm expressions of sympathy. + +The elders did their best, but Uncle Mac was a busy man, Aunt +Jane's reading was of a funereal sort, impossible to listen to long, +and the other aunties were all absorbed in their own cares, though +they supplied the boy with every delicacy they could invent. + +Uncle Alec was a host in himself, but he could not give all his time +to the invalid; and if it had not been for Rose, the afflicted Worm +would have fared ill. Her pleasant voice suited him, her patience +was unfailing, her time of no apparent value, and her eager +good-will was very comforting. + +The womanly power of self-devotion was strong in the child, and +she remained faithfully at her post when all the rest dropped away. +Hour after hour she sat in the dusky room, with one ray of light on +her book, reading to the boy, who lay with shaded eyes silently +enjoying the only pleasure that lightened the weary days. +Sometimes he was peevish and hard to please, sometimes he +growled because his reader could not manage the dry books he +wished to hear, and sometimes he was so despondent that her heart +ached to see him. Through all these trials Rose persevered, using +all her little arts to please him. When he fretted, she was patient; +when he growled, she ploughed bravely through the hard pages not +dry to her in one sense, for quiet tears dropped on them now and +then; and when Mac fell into a despairing mood, she comforted +him with every hopeful word she dared to offer. + +He said little, but she knew he was grateful, for she suited him +better than anyone else. If she was late, he was impatient; when +she had to go, he seemed forlorn; and when the tired head ached +worst, she could always soothe him to sleep, crooning the old +songs her father used to love. + +"I don't know what I should do without that child," Aunt Jane often +said. + +"She's worth all those racketing fellows put together," Mac would +add, fumbling about to discover if the little chair was ready for her +coming. + +That was the sort of reward Rose liked, the thanks that cheered +her; and whenever she grew very tired, one look at the green +shade, the curly head so restless on the pillow, and the poor +groping hands, touched her tender heart and put new spirit into the +weary voice. + +She did not know how much she was learning, both from the +books she read and the daily sacrifices she made. Stories and +poetry were her delight, but Mac did not care for them; and since +his favourite Greeks and Romans were forbidden, he satisfied +himself with travels, biographies, and the history of great +inventions or discoveries. Rose despised this taste at first, but soon +got interested in Livingstone's adventures, Hobson's stirring life in +India, and the brave trials and triumphs of Watt and Arkwright, +Fulton, and "Palissy, the Potter." The true, strong books helped the +dreamy girl; her faithful service and sweet patience touched and +won the boy; and long afterward both learned to see how useful +those seemingly hard and weary hours had been to them. + +One bright morning, as Rose sat down to begin a fat volume +entitled "History of the French Revolution," expecting to come to +great grief over the long names, Mac, who was lumbering about +the room like a blind bear, stopped her by asking abruptly + +"What day of the month is it?" + +"The seventh of August, I believe." + +"More than half my vacation gone, and I've only had a week of it! I +call that hard," and he groaned dismally. + +"So it is; but there is more to come, and you may be able to enjoy +that." + +"May be able! I will be able! Does that old noodle think I'm going +to stay stived up here much longer?" + +"I guess he does, unless your eyes get on faster than they have yet." + +"Has he said anything more lately?" + +"I haven't seen him, you know. Shall I begin? this looks rather +nice." + +"Read away; it's all one to me." And Mac cast himself down upon +the old lounge, where his heavy head felt easiest. + +Rose began with great spirit, and kept on gallantly for a couple of +chapters, getting over the unpronounceable names with unexpected +success, she thought, for her listener did not correct her once, and +lay so still she fancied he was deeply interested. All of a sudden +she was arrested in the middle of a fine paragraph by Mac, who sat +bolt upright, brought both feet down with a thump, and said, in a +rough, excited tone + +"Stop! I don't hear a word, and you may as well save your breath to +answer my question." + +"What is it?" asked Rose, looking uneasy, for she had something +on her mind, and feared that he suspected what it was. His next +words proved that she was right. + +"Now, look here, I want to know something, and you've got to tell +me." + +"Please, don't--" began Rose, beseechingly. + +"You must, or I'll pull off this shade and stare at the sun as hard as +ever I can stare. Come now!" and he half rose, as if ready to +execute the threat. + +"I will! oh, I will tell, if I know! But don't be reckless and do +anything so crazy as that," cried Rose, in great distress. + +"Very well; then listen, and don't dodge, as everyone else does. +Didn't the doctor think my eyes worse the last time he came? +Mother won't say, but you shall." + +"I believe he did," faltered Rose. + +"I thought so! Did he say I should be able to go to school when it +begins?" + +"No, Mac," very low. + +"Ah!" + +That was all, but Rose saw her cousin set his lips together and take +a long breath, as if she had hit him hard. He bore the +disappointment bravely, however, and asked quite steadily in a +minute + +"How soon does he think I can study again?" + +It was so hard to answer that! Yet Rose knew she must, for Aunt +Jane had declared she could not do it, and Uncle Mac had begged +her to break the truth to the poor lad. + +"Not for a good many months." + +"How many?" he asked with a pathetic sort of gruffness. + +"A year, perhaps." + +"A whole year! Why, I expected to be ready for college by that +time." And, pushing up the shade, Mac stared at her with startled +eyes, that soon blinked and fell before the one ray of light. + +"Plenty of time for that; you must be patient now, and get them +thoroughly well, or they will trouble you again when it will be +harder to spare them," she said, with tears in her own eyes. + +"I won't do it! I will study and get through somehow. It's all +humbug about taking care so long. These doctors like to keep hold +of a fellow if they can. But I won't stand it I vow I won't!" and he +banged his fist down on the unoffending pillow as if he were +pommelling the hard-hearted doctor. + +"Now, Mac, listen to me," Rose said very earnestly, though her +voice shook a little and her heart ached. "You know you have hurt +your eyes reading by fire-light and in the dusk, and sitting up late, +and now you'll have to pay for it; the doctor said so. You must be +careful, and do as he tells you, or you will be blind." + +"No!" + +"Yes, it is true, and he wanted us to tell you that nothing but entire +rest would cure you. I know it's dreadfully hard, but we'll all help +you; I'll read all day long, and lead you, and wait upon you, and try +to make it easier " + +She stopped there, for it was evident that he did not hear a sound; +the word "blind" seemed to have knocked him down, for he had +buried his face in the pillow, and lay so still that Rose was +frightened. She sat motionless for many minutes, longing to +comfort him, but not knowing how, and wishing Uncle Alec would +come, for he had promised to tell Mac. + +Presently, a sort of choking sound came out of the pillow, and +went straight to her heart the most pathetic sob she ever heard, for, +though it was the most natural means of relief, the poor fellow +must not indulge in it because of the afflicted eyes. The "French +Revolution" tumbled out of her lap, and, running to the sofa, she +knelt down by it, saying, with the motherly sort of tenderness girls +feel for any sorrowing creature + +"Oh, my dear, you mustn't cry! It is so bad for your poor eyes. Take +your head out of that hot pillow, and let me cool it. I don't wonder +you feel so, but please don't cry. I'll cry for you; it won't hurt me." + +As she spoke she pulled away the cushion with gentle force, and +saw the green shade all crushed and stained with the few hot tears +that told how bitter the disappointment had been. Mac felt her +sympathy, but, being a boy, did not thank her for it; only sat up +with a jerk, saying, as he tried to rub away the tell-tale drops with +the sleeve of his jacket, "Don't bother; weak eyes always water. I'm +all right." + +But Rose cried out, and caught his arm, "Don't touch them with +that rough woollen stuff! Lie down and let me bathe them, there's a +dear boy; then there will be no harm done." + +"They do smart confoundedly. I say, don't you tell the other fellows +that I made a baby of myself, will you?" he added, yielding with a +sigh to the orders of his nurse, who had flown for the eye-wash and +linen cambric handkerchief. + +"Of course I won't; but anyone would be upset at the idea of being +well troubled in this way. I'm sure you bear it splendidly, and you +know it isn't half so bad when you get used to it. Besides, it is only +for a time, and you can do lots of pleasant things if you can't study. +You'll have to wear blue goggles, perhaps; won't that be funny?" + +And while she was pouring out all the comfortable words she +could think of, Rose was softly bathing the eyes and dabbing the +hot forehead with lavender-water, as her patient lay quiet with a +look on his face that grieved her sadly. + +"Homer was blind, and so was Milton, and they did something to +be remembered by, in spite of it," he said, as if to himself, in a +solemn tone, for even the blue goggles did not bring a smile. + +"Papa had a picture of Milton and his daughters writing for him. It +was a very sweet picture, I thought," observed Rose in a serious +voice, trying to meet the sufferer on his own ground. + +"Perhaps I could study if someone read and did the eye part. Do +you suppose I could, by and by?" he asked, with a sudden ray of +hope. + +"I dare say, if your head is strong enough. This sunstroke, you +know, is what upset you, and your brain needs rest, the doctor +says." + +"I'll have a talk with the old fellow next time he comes, and find +out just what I may do; then I shall know where I am. What a fool I +was that day to be stewing my brains and letting the sun glare on +my book till the letters danced before me! I see 'em now when I +shut my eyes; black balls bobbing round, and stars and all sorts of +queer things. Wonder if all blind people do?" + +"Don't think about them; I'll go on reading, shall I? We shall come +to the exciting part soon, and then you'll forget all this," suggested +Rose. + +"No, I never shall forget. Hang the old 'Revolution'! I don't want to +hear another word of it. My head aches, and I'm hot. Oh, wouldn't I +like to go for a pull in the 'Stormy Petrel!"' and poor Mac tossed +about as if he did not know what to do with himself. + +"Let me sing, and perhaps you'll drop off; then the day will seem +shorter," said Rose, taking up a fan and sitting down beside him. + +"Perhaps I shall; I didn't sleep much last night, and when I did I +dreamed like fun. See here, you tell the people that I know, and it's +all right, and I don't want them to talk about it or howl over me. +That's all; now drone away, and I'll try to sleep. Wish I could for a +year, and wake up cured." + +"Oh, I wish, I wish you could!" + +Rose said it so fervently that Mac was moved to grope for her +apron and hold on to a corner of it, as if it was comfortable to feel +her near him. But all he said was + +"You are a good little soul, Rosy. Give us 'The Birks'; that is a +drowsy one that always sends me off." + +Quite contented with this small return for all her sympathy, Rose +waved her fan and sang, in a dreamy tone, the pretty Scotch air, the +burden of which is + + "Bonny lassie, will ye gang, will ye gang + To the Birks of Aberfeldie?" + +Whether the lassie went or not I cannot say, but the laddie was off +to the land of Nod, in about ten minutes, quite worn out with +hearing the bad tidings and the effort to bear them manfully. + + + +Chapter 12 - "The Other Fellows" + +Rose did tell "the people" what had passed, and no one "howled" +over Mac, or said a word to trouble him. He had his talk with the +doctor, and got very little comfort out of it, for he found that "just +what he might do" was nothing at all; though the prospect of some +study by and by, if all went well, gave him courage to bear the +woes of the present. Having made up his mind to this, he behaved +so well that everyone was astonished, never having suspected so +much manliness in the quiet Worm. + +The boys were much impressed, both by the greatness of the +affliction which hung over him and by his way of bearing it. They +were very good to him, but not always particularly wise in their +attempts to cheer and amuse; and Rose often found him much +downcast after a visit of condolence from the Clan. She still kept +her place as head-nurse and chief-reader, though the boys did their +best in an irregular sort of way. They were rather taken aback +sometimes at finding Rose's services preferred to their's, and +privately confided to one another that "Old Mac was getting fond +of being molly-coddled." But they could not help seeing how +useful she was, and owning that she alone had remained faithful a +fact which caused some of them much secret compunction now +and then. + +Rose felt that she ruled in that room, if nowhere else, for Aunt +Jane left a great deal to her, finding that her experience with her +invalid father fitted her for a nurse, and in a case like this, her +youth was an advantage rather than a drawback. Mac soon came to +think that no one could take care of him so well as Rose, and Rose +soon grew fond of her patient, though at first she had considered +this cousin the least attractive of the seven. He was not polite and +sensible like Archie, nor gay and handsome like Prince Charlie, +nor neat and obliging like Steve, nor amusing like the "Brats," nor +confiding and affectionate like little Jamie. He was rough, +absent-minded, careless, and awkward, rather priggish, and not at +all agreeable to a dainty, beauty-loving girl like Rose. + +But when his trouble came upon him, she discovered many good +things in this cousin of hers, and learned not only to pity but to +respect and love the poor Worm, who tried to be patient, brave, +and cheerful, and found it a harder task than anyone guessed, +except the little nurse, who saw him in his gloomiest moods. She +soon came to think that his friends did not appreciate him, and +upon one occasion was moved to free her mind in a way that made +a deep impression on the boys. + +Vacation was almost over, and the time drawing near when Mac +would be left outside the happy school-world which he so much +enjoyed. This made him rather low in his mind, and his cousins +exerted themselves to cheer him up, especially one afternoon when +a spasm of devotion seemed to seize them all. Jamie trudged down +the hill with a basket of blackberries which he had "picked all his +ownself," as his scratched fingers and stained lips plainly testified. +Will and Geordie brought their puppies to beguile the weary hours, +and the three elder lads called to discuss baseball, cricket, and +kindred subjects, eminently fitted to remind the invalid of his +privations. + +Rose had gone to drive with Uncle Alec, who declared she was +getting as pale as a potato sprout, living so much in a dark room. +But her thoughts were with her boy all the while, and she ran up to +him the moment she returned, to find things in a fine state of +confusion. + +With the best intentions in life, the lads had done more harm than +good, and the spectacle that met Nurse Rose's eye was a trying +one. The puppies were yelping, the small boys romping, and the +big boys all talking at once; the curtains were up, the room close, +berries scattered freely about, Mac's shade half off, his cheeks +flushed, his temper ruffled, and his voice loudest of all as he +disputed hotly with Steve about lending certain treasured books +which he could no longer use. + +Now Rose considered this her special kingdom, and came down +upon the invaders with an energy which amazed them and quelled +the riot at once. They had never seen her roused before, and the +effect was tremendous; also comical, for she drove the whole flock +of boys out of the room like an indignant little hen defending her +brood. They all went as meekly as sheep; the small lads fled from +the house precipitately, but the three elder ones only retired to the +next room, and remained there hoping for a chance to explain and +apologise, and so appease the irate young lady, who had suddenly +turned the tables and clattered them about their ears. + +As they waited, they observed her proceedings through the +half-open door, and commented upon them briefly but +expressively, feeling quite bowed down with remorse at the harm +they had innocently done. + +"She's put the room to rights in a jiffey. What jacks we were to let +those dogs in and kick up such a row," observed Steve, after a +prolonged peep. + +"The poor old Worm turns as if she was treading on him instead of +cuddling him like a pussy cat. Isn't he cross, though?" added +Charlie, as Mac was heard growling about his "confounded head." + +"She will manage him; but it's mean in us to rumple him up and +then leave her to smooth him down. I'd go and help, but I don't +know how," said Archie. looking much depressed, for he was a +conscientious fellow, and blamed himself for his want of thought. + +"No, more do I. Odd, isn't it, what a knack women have for taking +care of sick folks?" and Charlie fell a-musing over this undeniable +fact. + +"She has been ever so good to Mac," began Steve, in a +self-reproachful tone. + +"Better than his own brother, hey?" cut in Archie, finding relief for +his own regret in the delinquencies of another. + +"Well, you needn't preach; you didn't any of you do any more, and +you might have, for Mac likes you better than he does me. I always +fret him, he says, and it isn't my fault if I am a quiddle," protested +Steve, in self-defence. + +"We have all been selfish and neglected him, so we won't fight +about it, but try and do better," said Archie, generously taking +more than his share of blame, for he had been less inattentive than +either of the others. + +"Rose has stood by him like a good one, and it's no wonder he likes +to have her round best. I should myself if I was down on my luck +as he is," put in Charlie, feeling that he really had not done "the +little thing" justice. + +"I'll tell you what it is, boys we haven't been half good enough to +Rose, and we've got to make it up to her somehow," said Archie, +who had a very manly sense of honour about paying his debts, +even to a girl. + +"I'm awfully sorry I made fun of her doll when Jamie lugged it out; +and I called her 'baby bunting' when she cried over the dead kitten. +Girls are such geese sometimes, I can't help it," said Steve, +confessing his transgressions handsomely, and feeling quite ready +to atone for them if he only knew how. + +"I'll go down on my knees and beg her pardon for treating her as if +she was a child. Don't it make her mad, though? Come to think of +it, she's only two years or so younger than I am. But she is so small +and pretty, she always seems like a dolly to me," and the Prince +looked down from his lofty height of five feet five as if Rose was +indeed a pygmy beside him. + +"That dolly has got a real good little heart, and a bright mind of her +own, you'd better believe. Mac says she understands some things +quicker than he can, and mother thinks she is an uncommonly nice +girl, though she don't know all creation. You needn't put on airs, +Charlie, though you are a tall one, for Rose likes Archie better than +you; she said she did because he treated her respectfully." + +"Steve looks as fierce as a game-cock; but don't you get excited, +my son, for it won't do a bit of good. Of course, everybody likes +the Chief best; they ought to, and I'll punch their heads if they +don't. So calm yourself, Dandy, and mend your own manners +before you come down on other people's." + +Thus the Prince with great dignity and perfect good nature, while +Archie looked modestly gratified with the flattering opinions of his +kinsfolk, and Steve subsided, feeling he had done his duty as a +cousin and a brother. A pause ensued, during which Aunt Jane +appeared in the other room, accompanied by a tea-tray +sumptuously spread, and prepared to feed her big nestling, as that +was a task she allowed no one to share with her. + +"If you have a minute to spare before you go, child, I wish you'd +just make Mac a fresh shade; this has got a berry stain on it, and he +must be tidy, for he is to go out to-morrow if it is a cloudy day," +said Mrs. Jane, spreading toast in a stately manner, while Mac +slopped his tea about without receiving a word of reproof. + +"Yes, aunt," answered Rose, so meekly that the boys could hardly +believe it could be the same voice which had issued the stern +command, "Out of this room, every one of you!" not very long ago. + +They had not time to retire, without unseemly haste, before she +walked into the parlour and sat down at the work-table without a +word. It was funny to see the look the three tall lads cast at the +little person sedately threading a needle with green silk. They all +wanted to say something expressive of repentance, but no one +knew how to begin, and it was evident, from the prim expression +of Rose's face, that she intended to stand upon her dignity till they +had properly abased themselves. The pause was becoming very +awkward, when Charlie, who possessed all the persuasive arts of a +born scapegrace, went slowly down upon his knees before her, +beat his breast, and said, in a heart-broken tone + +"Please forgive me this time, and I'll never do so any more." + +It was very hard to keep sober, but Rose managed it and answered +gravely + +"It is Mac's pardon you should ask, not mine, for you haven't hurt +me, and I shouldn't wonder if you had him a great deal, with all +that light and racket, and talk about things that only worry him." + +"Do you really think we've hurt him, cousin?" asked Archie, with a +troubled look, while Charlie settled down in a remorseful heap +among the table legs. + +"Yes, I do, for he has got a raging headache, and his eyes are as red +as as this emery bag," answered Rose, solemnly plunging her +needle into a fat flannel strawberry. + +Steve tore his hair, metaphorically speaking, for he clutched his +cherished top-knot, and wildly dishevelled it, as if that was the +heaviest penance he could inflict upon himself at such short +notice. Charlie laid himself out flat, melodramatically begging +someone to take him away and hang him; but Archie, who felt +worst of all, said nothing except to vow within himself that he +would read to Mac till his own eyes were as red as a dozen emery +bags combined. + +Seeing the wholesome effects of her treatment upon these culprits, +Rose felt that she might relent and allow them a gleam of hope. +She found it impossible to help trampling upon the prostrate +Prince a little, in words at least, for he had hurt her feelings oftener +than he knew; so she gave him a thimble-pie on the top of his +head, and said, with an air of an infinitely superior being + +"Don't be silly, but get up, and I'll tell you something much better +to do than sprawling on the floor and getting all over lint." + +Charlie obediently sat himself upon a hassock at her feet; the other +sinners drew near to catch the words of wisdom about to fall from +her lips, and Rose, softened by this gratifying humility, addressed +them in her most maternal tone. + +"Now, boys, if you really want to be good to Mac, you can do it in +this way. Don't keep talking about things he can't do, or go and tell +what fun you have had batting your ridiculous balls about. Get +some nice book and read quietly; cheer him up about school, and +offer to help him study by and by; you can do that better than I, +because I'm only a girl, and don't learn Greek and Latin and all +sorts of headachy stuff." + +"Yes, but you can do heaps of things better than we can; you've +proved that," said Archie, with an approving look that delighted +Rose, though she could not resist giving Charlie one more rebuke, +by saying, with a little bridling of the head, and a curl of the lip +that wanted to smile instead + +"I'm glad you think so, though I am a 'queer chicken."' + +This scathing remark caused the Prince to hide his face for shame, +and Steve to erect his head in the proud consciousness that this +shot was not meant for him. Archie laughed, and Rose, seeing a +merry blue eye winking at her from behind two brown hands, gave +Charlie's ear a friendly tweak, and extended the olive-branch of +peace. + +"Now we'll all be good, and plan nice things for poor Mac," she +said, smiling so graciously that the boys felt as if the sun had +suddenly burst out from behind a heavy cloud and was shining +with great brilliancy. + +The storm had cleared the air, and quite a heavenly calm +succeeded, during which plans of a most varied and surprising sort +were laid, for everyone burned to make noble sacrifices upon the +shrine of "poor Mac," and Rose was the guiding star to whom the +others looked with most gratifying submission. Of course, this +elevated state of things could not endure long, but it was very nice +while it lasted, and left an excellent effect upon the minds of all +when the first ardour had subsided. + +"There, that's ready for to-morrow, and I do hope it will be +cloudy," said Rose, as she finished off the new shade, the progress +of which the boys had watched with interest. + +"I'd bespoken an extra sunny day, but I'll tell the clerk of the +weather to change it. He's an obliging fellow, and he'll attend to it, +so make yourself easy," said Charlie, who had become quite perky +again. + +"It is very easy for you to joke, but how would you like to wear a +blinder like that for weeks and weeks, sir?" and Rose quenched his +rising spirits by slipping the shade over his eyes, as he still sat on +the cushion at her feet. + +"It's horrid! Take it off, take it off! I don't wonder the poor old boy +has the blues with a thing like that on"; and Charlie sat looking at +what seemed to him an instrument of torture, with such a sober +face that Rose took it gently away, and went in to bid Mac +good-night. + +"I shall go home with her, for it is getting darkish, and she is rather +timid," said Archie, forgetting that he had often laughed at this +very timidity. + +"I think I might, for she's taking care of my brother," put in Steve, +asserting his rights. + +"Let's all go, that will please her"; proposed Charlie, with a burst +of gallantry which electrified his mates. + +"We will!" they said with one voice, and they did, to Rose's great +surprise and secret contentment; though Archie had all the care of +her, for the other two were leaping fences, running races, and +having wrestling matches all the way down. + +They composed themselves on reaching the door, however; shook +hands cordially all round, made their best bows, and retired with +great elegance and dignity, leaving Rose to say to herself, with +girlish satisfaction, as she went in + +"Now, that is the way I like to be treated." + + + +Chapter 13 - Cosey Corner + +Vacation was over, the boys went back to school, and poor Mac +was left lamenting. He was out of the darkened room now, and +promoted to blue goggles, through which he took a gloomy view of +life, as might have been expected; for there was nothing he could +do but wander about, and try to amuse himself without using his +eyes. Anyone who has ever been condemned to that sort of +idleness knows how irksome it is, and can understand the state of +mind which caused Mac to say to Rose in a desperate tone one day + +"Look here, if you don't invent some new employment or +amusement for me, I shall knock myself on the head as sure as you +live." + +Rose flew to Uncle Alec for advice, and he ordered both patient +and nurse to the mountains for a month, with Aunt Jessie and +Jamie as escort. Pokey and her mother joined the party, and one +bright September morning six very happy-looking people were +aboard the express train for Portland two smiling mammas, laden +with luncheon baskets and wraps; a pretty young girl with a bag of +books on her arm; a tall thin lad with his hat over his eyes; and two +small children, who sat with their short legs straight out before +them, and their chubby faces beaming with the first speechless +delight of "truly travelling." + +An especially splendid sunset seemed to have been prepared to +welcome them when, after a long day's journey, they drove into a +wide, green door-yard, where a white colt, a red cow, two cats, +four kittens, many hens, and a dozen people, old and young, were +gaily disporting themselves. Everyone nodded and smiled in the +friendliest manner, and a lively old lady kissed the new-comers all +round, as she said heartily + +"Well, now, I'm proper glad to see you! Come right in and rest, and +we'll have tea in less than no time, for you must be tired. Lizzie, +you show the folks upstairs; Kitty, you fly round and help father in +with the trunks; and Jenny and I will have the table all ready by the +time you come down. Bless the dears, they want to go see the +pussies, and so they shall!" + +The three pretty daughters did "fly round," and everyone felt at +home at once, all were so hospitable and kind. Aunt Jessie had +raptures over the home-made carpets, quilts and quaint furniture; +Rose could not keep away from the windows, for each framed a +lovely picture; and the little folks made friends at once with the +other children, who filled their arms with chickens and kittens, and +did the honours handsomely. + +The toot of a horn called all to supper, and a goodly party, +including six children besides the Camp-bells, assembled in the +long dining-room, armed with mountain appetites and the gayest +spirits. It was impossible for anyone to be shy or sober, for such +gales of merriment arose they blew the starch out of the stiffest, +and made the saddest jolly. Mother Atkinson, as all called their +hostess, was the merriest there, and the busiest; for she kept flying +up to wait on the children, to bring out some new dish, or to banish +the live stock, who were of such a social turn that the colt came +into the entry and demanded sugar; the cats sat about in people's +laps, winking suggestively at the food; and speckled hens cleared +the kitchen floor of crumbs, as they joined in the chat with a +cheerful clucking. + +Everybody turned out after tea to watch the sunset till all the lovely +red was gone, and mosquitoes wound their shrill horns to sound +the retreat. The music of an organ surprised the new-comers, and +in the parlor they found Father Atkinson playing sweetly on the +little instrument made by himself. All the children gathered about +him, and, led by the tuneful sisters, sang prettily till Pokey fell +asleep behind the door, and Jamie gaped audibly right in the +middle of his favourite + + "Coo," said the little doves: "Coo," said she, + "All in the top of the old pine-tree." + +The older travellers, being tired, went to "bye low" at the same +time, and slept like tops in home-spun sheets, on husk mattresses +made by Mother Atkinson, who seemed to have put some soothing +powder among them, so deep and sweet was the slumber that +came. + +Next day began the wholesome out-of-door life, which works such +wonders with tired minds and feeble bodies. The weather was +perfect, and the mountain air made the children as frisky as young +lambs; while the elders went about smiling at one another, and +saying, "Isn't it splendid?" Even Mac, the "slow coach," was seen +to leap over a fence as if he really could not help it; and when +Rose ran after him with his broad-brimmed hat, he made the +spirited proposal to go into the woods and hunt for a catamount. + +Jamie and Pokey were at once enrolled in the Cosey Corner Light +Infantry a truly superb company, composed entirely of officers, all +wearing cocked hats, carrying flags, waving swords, or beating +drums. It was a spectacle to stir the dullest soul when this gallant +band marched out of the yard in full regimentals, with Captain +Dove a solemn, big-headed boy of eleven issuing his orders with +the gravity of a general, and his Falstaffian regiment obeying them +with more docility than skill. The little Snow children did very +well, and Lieutenant Jack Dove was fine to see; so was Drummer +Frank, the errand-boy of the house, as he rub-a-dub-dubbed with +all his heart and drumsticks. Jamie had "trained" before, and was +made a colonel at once; but Pokey was the best of all, and called +forth a spontaneous burst of applause from the spectators as she +brought up the rear, her cocked hat all over one eye, her flag +trailing over her shoulder, and her wooden sword straight up in the +air; her face beaming and every curl bobbing with delight as her +fat legs tottered in the vain attempt to keep step manfully. + +Mac and Rose were picking blackberries in the bushes beside the +road when the soldiers passed without seeing them, and they +witnessed a sight that was both pretty and comical. A little farther +on was one of the family burial spots so common in those parts, +and just this side of it Captain Fred Dove ordered his company to +halt, explaining his reason for so doing in the following words + +"That's a graveyard, and it's proper to muffle the drums and lower +the flags as we go by, and we'd better take off our hats, too; it's +more respectable, I think." + +"Isn't that cunning of the dears?" whispered Rose, as the little troop +marched slowly by to the muffled roll of the drums, every flag and +sword held low, all the little heads uncovered, and the childish +faces very sober as the leafy shadows flickered over them. + +"Let's follow and see what they are after," proposed Mac, who +found sitting on the wall and being fed with blackberries luxurious +but tiresome. + +So they followed and heard the music grow lively, saw the banners +wave in the breeze again when the graveyard was passed, and +watched the company file into the dilapidated old church that +stood at the corner of three woodland roads. Presently the sound of +singing made the outsiders quicken their steps, and, stealing up, +they peeped in at one of the broken windows. + +Captain Dove was up in the old wooden pulpit, gazing solemnly +down upon his company, who, having stacked their arms in the +porch, now sat in the bare pews singing a Sunday-school hymn +with great vigour and relish. + +"Let us pray," said Captain Dove, with as much reverence as an +army chaplain; and, folding his hands, he repeated a prayer which +he thought all would know an excellent little prayer, but not +exactly appropriate to the morning, for it was + + "Now I lay me down to sleep." + +Everyone joined in saying it, and it was a pretty sight to see the +little creatures bowing their curly heads and lisping out the words +they knew so well. Tears came into Rose's eyes as she looked; Mac +took his hat off involuntarily, and then clapped it on again as if +ashamed of showing any feeling. + +"Now I shall preach you a short sermon, and my text is, 'Little +children, love one another.' I asked mamma to give me one, and +she thought that would be good; so you all sit still and I'll preach it. +You mustn't whisper, Marion, but hear me. It means that we +should be good to each other, and play fair, and not quarrel as we +did this very day about the wagon. Jack can't always drive, and +needn't be mad because I like to go with Frank. Annette ought to +be horse sometimes and not always driver; and Willie may as well +make up his mind to let Marion build her house by his, for she will +do it, and he needn't fuss about it. Jamie seems to be a good boy, +but I shall preach to him if he isn't. No, Pokey, people don't kiss in +church or put their hats on. Now you must all remember what I tell +you, because I am the captain, and you should mind me." + +Here Lieutenant Jack spoke right out in meeting with the +rebellious remark + +"Don't care if you are; you'd better mind yourself, and tell how you +took away my strap, and kept the biggest doughnut, and didn't +draw fair when we had the truck." + +"Yes, and you slapped Frank; I saw you!" bawled Willie Snow, +bobbing up in his pew. + +"And you took my book away and hid it 'cause I wouldn't go and +swing when you wanted me to," added Annette, the oldest of the +Snow trio. + +"I shan't build my house by Willie's if he don't want me to, so +now!" put in little Marion, joining the mutiny. + +"I will tiss Dimmy! and I tored up my hat 'tause a pin picked me," +shouted Pokey, regardless of Jamie's efforts to restrain her. + +Captain Dove looked rather taken aback at this outbreak in the +ranks; but, being a dignified and calm personage, he quelled the +rising rebellion with great tact and skill, by saying, briefly + +"We'll sing the last hymn; 'Sweet, sweet good-by' you all know +that, so do it nicely, and then we will go and have luncheon." + +Peace was instantly restored, and a burst of melody drowned the +suppressed giggles of Rose and Mac, who found it impossible to +keep sober during the latter part of this somewhat remarkable +service. Fifteen minutes of repose rendered it a physical +impossibility for the company to march out as quietly as they had +marched in. I grieve to state that the entire troop raced home as +hard as they could pelt, and were soon skirmishing briskly over +their lunch, utterly oblivious of what Jamie (who had been much +impressed by the sermon) called "the captain's beautiful teck." + +It was astonishing how much they all found to do at Cosey Corner; +and Mac, instead of lying in a hammock and being read to, as he +had expected, was busiest of all. He was invited to survey and lay +out Skeeterville, a town which the children were getting up in a +huckleberry pasture; and he found much amusement in planning +little roads, staking off house-lots, attending to the water-works, +and consulting with the "selectmen" about the best sites for public +buildings; for Mac was a boy still, in spite of his fifteen years and +his love of books. + +Then he went fishing with a certain jovial gentleman from the +West; and though they seldom caught anything but colds, they had +great fun and exercise chasing the phantom trout they were bound +to have. Mac also developed a geological mania, and went tapping +about at rocks and stones, discoursing wisely of "strata, periods, +and fossil remains"; while Rose picked up leaves and lichens, and +gave him lessons in botany in return for his lectures on geology. + +They led a very merry life; for the Atkinson girls kept up a sort of +perpetual picnic; and did it so capitally, that one was never tired of +it. So their visitors throve finely, and long before the month was +out it was evident that Dr. Alec had prescribed the right medicine +for his patients. + + + +Chapter 14 - A Happy Birthday + +The twelfth of October was Rose's birthday, but no one seemed to +remember that interesting fact, and she felt delicate about +mentioning it, so fell asleep the night before wondering if she +would have any presents. That question was settled early the next +morning, for she was awakened by a soft tap on her face, and +opening her eyes she beheld a little black and white figure sitting +on her pillow, staring at her with a pair of round eyes very like +blueberries, while one downy paw patted her nose to attract her +notice. It was Kitty Comet, the prettiest of all the pussies, and +Comet evidently had a mission to perform, for a pink bow adorned +her neck, and a bit of paper was pinned to it bearing the words, +"For Miss Rose, from Frank." + +That pleased her extremely, and that was only the beginning of the +fun, for surprises and presents kept popping out in the most +delightful manner all through the day, the Atkinson girls being +famous jokers and Rose a favourite. But the best gift of all came +on the way to Mount Windy-Top, where it was decided to picnic in +honour of the great occasion. Three jolly loads set off soon after +breakfast, for everybody went, and everybody seemed bound to +have an extra good time, especially Mother Atkinson, who wore a +hat as broad-brimmed as an umbrella, and took the dinner-horn to +keep her flock from straying away. + +"I'm going to drive auntie and a lot of the babies, so you must ride +the pony. And please stay behind us a good bit when we go to the +station, for a parcel is coming, and you are not to see it till +dinner-time. You won't mind, will you?" said Mac, in a +confidential aside during the wild flurry of the start. + +"Not a bit," answered Rose. "It hurts my feelings very much to be +told to keep out of the way at any other time, but birthdays and +Christmas it is part of the fun to be blind and stupid, and poked +into corners. I'll be ready as soon as you are, Giglamps." + +"Stop under the big maple till I call then you can't possibly see +anything," added Mac, as he mounted her on the pony his father +had sent up for his use. "Barkis" was so gentle and so "willin'," +however, that Rose was ashamed to be afraid to ride him; so she +had learned, that she might surprise Dr. Alec when she got home; +meantime she had many a fine canter "over the hills and far away" +with Mac, who preferred Mr. Atkinson's old Sorrel. + +Away they went, and, coming to the red maple, Rose obediently +paused; but could not help stealing a glance in the forbidden +direction before the call came. Yes, there was a hamper going +under the seat, and then she caught sight of a tall man whom Mac +seemed to be hustling into the carriage in a great hurry. One look +was enough, and with a cry of delight, Rose was off down the road +as fast as Barkis could go. + +"Now I'll astonish uncle," she thought. "I'll dash up in grand style, +and show him that I am not a coward, after all." + +Fired by this ambition, she startled Barkis by a sharp cut, and still +more bewildered him by leaving him to his own guidance down +the steep, stony road. The approach would have been a fine +success if, just as Rose was about to pull up and salute, two or +three distracted hens had not scuttled across the road with a great +squawking, which caused Barkis to shy and stop so suddenly that +his careless rider landed in an ignominious heap just under old +Sorrel's astonished nose. + +Rose was up again before Dr. Alec was out of the carryall, and +threw two dusty arms about his neck crying with a breathless voice + +"O uncle, I'm so glad to see you! It is better than a cart-load of +goodies, and so dear of you to come!" + +"But aren't you hurt, child! That was a rough tumble, and I'm afraid +you must be damaged somewhere," answered the Doctor, full of +fond anxiety, as he surveyed his girl with pride. + +"My feelings are hurt, but my bones are all safe. It's too bad! I was +going to do it so nicely, and those stupid hens spoilt it all," said +Rose, quite crestfallen, as well as much shaken. + +"I couldn't believe my eyes when I asked 'Where is Rose?' and Mac +pointed to the little Amazon pelting down the hill at such a rate. +You couldn't have done anything that would please me more, and +I'm delighted to see how well you ride. Now, will you mount again, +or shall we turn Mac out and take you in?" asked Dr. Alec, as Aunt +Jessie proposed a start, for the others were beckoning them to +follow. + +"Pride goeth before a fall better not try to show off again, ma'am," +said Mac, who would have been more than mortal if he had +refrained from teasing when so good a chance offered. + +"Pride does go before a fall, but I wonder if a sprained ankle +always comes after it?" thought Rose, bravely concealing her pain, +as she answered, with great dignity + +"I prefer to ride. Come on, and see who will catch up first." + +She was up and away as she spoke, doing her best to efface the +memory of her downfall by sitting very erect, elbows down, head +well up, and taking the motion of the pony as Barkis cantered +along as easily as a rocking-chair. + +"You ought to see her go over a fence and race when we ride +together. She can scud, too, like a deer when we play 'Follow the +leader,' and skip stones and bat balls almost as well as I can," said +Mac, in reply to his uncle's praise of his pupil. + +"I'm afraid you will think her a sad tomboy, Alec; but really she +seems so well and happy, I have not the heart to check her. She has +broken out in the most unexpected way, and frisks like a colt; for +she says she feels so full of spirits she must run and shout whether +it is proper or not," added Mrs. Jessie, who had been a pretty +hoyden years ago herself. + +"Good good! that's the best news you could tell me," and Dr. Alec +rubbed his hands heartily. "Let the girl run and shout as much as +she will it is a sure sign of health, and as natural to a happy child +as frisking is to any young animal full of life. Tomboys make +strong women usually, and I had far rather find Rose playing +football with Mac than puttering over bead-work like that affected +midget, Ariadne Blish." + +"But she cannot go on playing football very long, and we must not +forget that she has a woman's work to do by and by," began Mrs. +Jessie. + +"Neither will Mac play football much longer, but he will be all the +better fitted for business, because of the health it gives him. Polish +is easily added, if the foundations are strong; but no amount of +gilding will be of use if your timber is not sound. I'm sure I'm right, +Jessie; and if I can do as well by my girl during the next six +months as I have the last, my experiment will succeed." + +"It certainly will; for when I contrast that bright, blooming face +with the pale, listless one that made my heart ache a while ago, I +can believe in almost any miracle," said Mrs. Jessie, as Rose +looked round to point out a lovely view, with cheeks like the ruddy +apples in the orchard near by, eyes clear as the autumn sky +overhead, and vigour in every line of her girlish figure. + +A general scramble among the rocks was followed by a regular +gypsy lunch, which the young folks had the rapture of helping to +prepare. Mother Atkinson put on her apron, turned up her sleeves, +and fell to work as gaily as if in her own kitchen, boiling the kettle +slung on three sticks, over a fire of cones and fir boughs; while the +girls spread the mossy table with a feast of country goodies, and +the children tumbled about in everyone's way till the toot of the +horn made them settle down like a flock of hungry birds. + +As soon as the merry meal and a brief interval of repose were over, +it was unanimously voted to have some charades. A smooth, green +spot between two stately pines was chosen for the stage; shawls +hung up, properties collected, audience and actors separated, and a +word quickly chosen. + +The first scene discovered Mac in a despondent attitude and +shabby dress, evidently much troubled in mind. To him entered a +remarkable creature with a brown paper bag over its head. A little +pink nose peeped through one hole in the middle, white teeth +through another, and above two eyes glared fiercely. Spires of +grass stuck in each side of the mouth seemed meant to represent +whiskers; the upper corners of the bag were twisted like ears, and +no one could doubt for a moment that the black scarf pinned on +behind was a tail. + +This singular animal seemed in pantomime to be comforting his +master and offering advice, which was finally acted upon, for Mac +pulled off his boots, helped the little beast into them, and gave him +a bag; then, kissing his paw, with a hopeful gesture, the creature +retired, purring so successfully that there was a general cry of "Cat, +puss, boots!" + +"Cat is the word," replied a voice, and the curtain fell. + +The next scene was a puzzler, for in came another animal, on +all-fours this time, with a new sort of tail and long ears. A gray +shawl concealed its face, but an inquisitive sunbeam betrayed the +glitter as of goggles under the fringe. On its back rode a small +gentleman in Eastern costume, who appeared to find some +difficulty in keeping his seat as his steed jogged along. Suddenly a +spirit appeared, all in white, with long newspaper wings upon its +back and golden locks about its face. Singularly enough, the beast +beheld this apparition and backed instantly, but the rider evidently +saw nothing and whipped up unmercifully, also unsuccessfully, for +the spirit stood directly in the path, and the amiable beast would +not budge a foot. A lively skirmish followed, which ended in the +Eastern gentleman being upset into a sweet-fern bush, while the +better bred animal abased itself before the shining one. + +The children were all in the dark till Mother Atkinson said, in an +inquiring tone + +"If that isn't Balaam and the ass, I'd like to know what it is. Rose +makes a sweet angel, doesn't she?" + +"Ass" was evidently the word, and the angel retired, smiling with +mundane satisfaction over the compliment that reached her ears. + +The next was a pretty little scene from the immortal story of +"Babes in the Wood." Jamie and Pokey came trotting in, hand in +hand, and, having been through the parts many times before, acted +with great ease and much fluency, audibly directing each other +from time to time as they went along. The berries were picked, the +way lost, tears shed, baby consolation administered, and then the +little pair lay down among the brakes and died with their eyes wide +open and the toes of their four little boots turned up to the daisies +in the most pathetic manner. + +"Now the wobins tum. You be twite dead, Dimmy, and I'll peep in +and see 'em," one defunct innocent was heard to say. + +"I hope they'll be quick, for I'm lying on a stone, and ants are +walking up my leg like fury," murmured the other. + +Here the robins came flapping in with red scarves over their +breasts and leaves in their mouths, which they carefully laid upon +the babes wherever they would show best. A prickly blackberry +leaf placed directly over Pokey's nose caused her to sneeze so +violently that her little legs flew into the air; Jamie gave a startled +"Ow!" and the pitying fowls fled giggling. + +After some discussion it was decided that the syllable must be +"strew or strow" and then they waited to see if it was a good guess. + +This scene discovered Annette Snow in bed, evidently very ill; +Miss Jenny was her anxious mamma, and her merry conversation +amused the audience till Mac came in as a physician, and made +great fun with his big watch, pompous manner, and absurd +questions. He prescribed one pellet with an unpronounceable +name, and left after demanding twenty dollars for his brief visit. + +The pellet was administered, and such awful agonies immediately +set in that the distracted mamma bade a sympathetic neighbour run +for Mother Know-all. The neighbour ran, and in came a brisk little +old lady in cap and specs, with a bundle of herbs under her arm, +which she at once applied in all sorts of funny ways, explaining +their virtues as she clapped a plantain poultice here, put a pounded +catnip plaster there, or tied a couple of mullein leaves round the +sufferer's throat. Instant relief ensued, the dying child sat up and +demanded baked beans. The grateful parent offered fifty dollars; +but Mother Know-all indignantly refused it and went smiling +away, declaring that a neighbourly turn needed no reward, and a +doctor's fee was all a humbug. + +The audience were in fits of laughter over this scene, for Rose +imitated Mrs. Atkinson capitally, and the herb cure was a good hit +at the excellent lady's belief that "yarbs" would save mankind if +properly applied. No one enjoyed it more than herself, and the +saucy children prepared for the grand finale in high feather. + +This closing scene was brief but striking, for two trains of cars +whizzed in from opposite sides, met with a terrible collision in the +middle of the stage, and a general smash-up completed the word +catastrophe. + +"Now let us act a proverb. I've got one all ready," said Rose, who +was dying to distinguish herself in some way before Uncle Alec. + +So everyone but Mac, the gay Westerner, and Rose, took their +places on the rocky seats and discussed the late beautiful and +varied charade, in which Pokey frankly pronounced her own scene +the "bestest of all." + +In five minutes the curtain was lifted; nothing appeared but a very +large sheet of brown paper pinned to a tree, and on it was drawn a +clock-face, the hands pointing to four. A small note below +informed the public that 4 A.M. was the time. Hardly had the +audience grasped this important fact when a long waterproof +serpent was seen uncoiling itself from behind a stump. An +inch-worm, perhaps, would be a better description, for it travelled +in the same humpy way as that pleasing reptile. Suddenly a very +wide-awake and active fowl advanced, pecking, chirping, and +scratching vigorously. A tuft of green leaves waved upon his crest, +a larger tuft of brakes made an umbrageous tail, and a shawl of +many colours formed his flapping wings. A truly noble bird, whose +legs had the genuine strut, whose eyes shone watchfully, and +whose voice had a ring that evidently struck terror into the +catterpillar's soul, if it was a catterpillar. He squirmed, he +wriggled, he humped as fast as he could, trying to escape; but all in +vain. The tufted bird espied him, gave one warbling sort of crow, +pounced upon him, and flapped triumphantly away. + +"That early bird got such a big worm he could hardly carry him +off," laughed Aunt Jessie, as the children shouted over the joke +suggested by Mac's nickname. + +"That is one of uncle's favourite proverbs, so I got it up for his +especial benefit," said Rose, coming up with the two-legged worm +beside her. + +"Very clever; what next?" asked Dr. Alec as she sat down beside +him. + +"The Dove boys are going to give us an 'Incident in the Life of +Napoleon,' as they call it; the children think it very splendid, and +the little fellows do it rather nicely," answered Mac with +condescension. + +A tent appeared, and pacing to and fro before it was a little +sentinel, who, in a brief soliloquy, informed the observers that the +elements were in a great state of confusion, that he had marched +some hundred miles or so that day, and that he was dying for want +of sleep. Then he paused, leaned upon his gun, and seemed to +doze; dropped slowly down, overpowered with slumber, and +finally lay flat, with his gun beside him, a faithless little sentinel. +Enter Napoleon, cocked hat, gray coat, high boots, folded arms, +grim mouth, and a melodramatic stride. Freddy Dove always +covered himself with glory in this part, and "took the stage" with a +Napoleonic attitude that brought down the house; for the +big-headed boy, with solemn, dark eyes and square brow, was "the +very moral of that rascal, Boneyparty," Mother Atkinson said. + +Some great scheme was evidently brewing in his mighty mind a +trip across the Alps, a bonfire at Moscow, or a little skirmish at +Waterloo perhaps, for he marched in silent majesty till suddenly a +gentle snore disturbed the imperial reverie. He saw the sleeping +soldier and glared upon him, saying in an awful tone + +"Ha! asleep at his post! Death is the penalty he must die!" + +Picking up the musket, he is about to execute summary justice, as +emperors are in the habit of doing, when something in the face of +the weary sentinel appears to touch him. And well it might, for a +most engaging little warrior was Jack as he lay with his shako half +off, his childish face trying to keep sober, and a great black +moustache over his rosy mouth. It would have softened the heart of +any Napoleon, and the Little Corporal proved himself a man by +relenting, and saying, with a lofty gesture of forgiveness + +"Brave fellow, he is worn out; I will let him sleep, and mount +guard in his place." + +Then, shouldering the gun, this noble being strode to and fro with +a dignity which thrilled the younger spectators. The sentinel +awakes, sees what has happened, and gives himself up for lost. But +the Emperor restores his weapon, and, with that smile which won +all hearts, says, pointing to a high rock whereon a crow happens to +be sitting, "Be brave, be vigilant, and remember that from yonder +Pyramid generations are beholding you," and with these +memorable words he vanishes, leaving the grateful soldier bolt +upright, with his hand at his temple and deathless devotion +stamped upon his youthful countenance. + +The applause which followed this superb piece had hardly +subsided, when a sudden splash and a shrill cry caused a general +rush toward the waterfall that went gambolling down the rocks, +singing sweetly as it ran. Pokey had tried to gambol also, and had +tumbled into a shallow pool, whither Jamie had gallantly followed, +in a vain attempt to fish her out, and both were paddling about half +frightened, half pleased with the unexpected bath. + +This mishap made it necessary to get the dripping infants home as +soon as possible; so the wagons were loaded up, and away they +went, as merry as if the mountain air had really been "Oxygenated +Sweets not Bitters," as Dr. Alec suggested when Mac said he felt +as jolly as if he had been drinking champagne instead of the +current wine that came with a great frosted cake wreathed with +sugar roses in Aunt Plenty's hamper of goodies. + +Rose took part in all the fun, and never betrayed by look or word +the twinges of pain she suffered in her ankle. She excused herself +from the games in the evening, however, and sat talking to Uncle +Alec in a lively way, that both amazed and delighted him; for she +confided to him that she played horse with the children, drilled +with the light infantry, climbed trees, and did other dreadful things +that would have caused the aunts to cry aloud if they knew of +them. + +"I don't care a pin what they say if you don't mind, uncle," she +answered, when he pictured the dismay of the good ladies. + +"Ah, it's all very well to defy them, but you are getting so rampant, +I'm afraid you will defy me next, and then where are we?" + +"No, I won't! I shouldn't dare; because you are my guardian, and +can put me in a strait-jacket if you like;" and Rose laughed in his +face, even while she nestled closer with a confiding gesture +pleasant to see. + +"Upon my word, Rosy, I begin to feel like the man who bought an +elephant, and then didn't know what to do with him. I thought I +had got a pet and plaything for years to come; but here you are +growing up like a bean-stalk, and I shall find I've got a +strong-minded little woman on my hands before I can turn round. +There's predicament for a man and an uncle!" + +Dr. Alec's comic distress was mercifully relieved for the time +being by a dance of goblins on the lawn, where the children, with +pumpkin lanterns on their heads, frisked about like +will-o'-the-wisps, as a parting surprise. + +When Rose went to bed, she found that Uncle Alec had not +forgotten her; for on the table stood a delicate little easel, holding +two miniatures set in velvet. She knew them both, and stood +looking at them till her eyes brimmed over with tears that were +both sweet and sad; for they were the faces of her father and +mother, beautifully copied from portraits fast fading away. + +Presently, she knelt down, and, putting her arms round the little +shrine, kissed one after the other, saying with an earnest voice, "I'll +truly try to make them glad to see me by and by." + +And that was Rose's little prayer on the night of her fourteenth +birthday. + +Two days later the Campbells went home, a larger party than when +they came; for Dr. Alec was escort and Kitty Comet was borne in +state in a basket, with a bottle of milk, some tiny sandwiches, and +a doll's dish to drink out of, as well as a bit of carpet to lie on in +her palace car, out of which she kept popping her head in the most +fascinating manner. + +There was a great kissing and cuddling, waving of handkerchiefs, +and last good-byes, as they went; and when they had started, +Mother Atkinson came running after them, to tuck in some little +pies, hot from the oven, "for the dears, who might get tired of +bread and butter during that long day's travel." + +Another start, and another halt; for the Snow children came +shrieking up to demand the three kittens that Pokey was cooly +carrying off in a travelling bag. The unhappy kits were rescued, +half smothered, and restored to their lawful owners, amid dire +lamentation from the little kidnapper, who declared that she only +"tooked um 'cause they'd want to go wid their sister Tomit." + +Start number three and stoppage number three, as Frank hailed +them with the luncheon basket, which had been forgotten, after +everyone had protested that it was safely in. + +All went well after that, and the long journey was pleasantly +beguiled by Pokey and Pussy, who played together so prettily that +they were considered public benefactors. + +"Rose doesn't want to go home, for she knows the aunts won't let +her rampage as she did up at Cosey Corner," said Mac, as they +approached the old house. + +"I can't rampage if I want to for a time, at least; and I'll tell you +why. I sprained my ankle when I tumbled off of Barkis, and it gets +worse and worse; though I've done all I know to cure it and hide it, +so it shouldn't trouble anyone," whispered Rose, knitting her brows +with pain, as she prepared to descend, wishing her uncle would +take her instead of her bundles. + +How he did it, she never knew; but Mac had her up the steps and +on the parlour sofa before she could put her foot to the ground. + +"There you are right side up with care; and mind, now, if your +ankle bothers you, and you are laid up with it, I am to be your +footman. It's only fair, you know; for I don't forget how good you +have been to me." And Mac went to call Phebe, so full of gratitude +and good-will that his very goggles shone. + + + +Chapter 15 - Ear-Rings + +Rose's sprain proved to be a serious one, owing to neglect, and Dr. +Alec ordered her to lie on the sofa for a fortnight at least; whereat +she groaned dismally, but dared not openly complain, lest the boys +turn upon her with some of the wise little sermons on patience +which she had delivered for their benefit. + +It was Mac's turn now, and honourably did he repay his debt; for, +as school was still forbidden, he had plenty of leisure, and devoted +most of it to Rose. He took many steps for her, and even allowed +her to teach him to knit, after assuring himself that many a brave +Scotchman knew how to "click the pricks." She was obliged to +take a solemn vow of secrecy, however, before he would consent; +for, though he did not mind being called "Giglamps," "Granny" +was more than his boyish soul could bear, and at the approach of +any of the Clan his knitting vanished as if by magic, which +frequent "chucking" out of sight did not improve the stripe he was +doing for Rose's new afghan. + +She was busy with this pretty work one bright October afternoon, +all nicely established on her sofa in the upper hall, while Jamie +and Pokey (lent for her amusement) were keeping house in a +corner, with Comet and Rose's old doll for their "childerns." + +Presently, Phebe appeared with a card. Rose read it, made a +grimace, then laughed and said + +"I'll see Miss Blish," and immediately put on her company face, +pulled out her locket, and settled her curls. + +"You dear thing, how do you do? I've been trying to call every day +since you got back, but I have so many engagements, I really +couldn't manage it till to-day. So glad you are alone, for mamma +said I could sit awhile, and I brought my lace-work to show you, +for it's perfectly lovely." cried Miss Blish, greeting Rose with a +kiss, which was not very warmly returned, though Rose politely +thanked her for coming, and bid Phebe roll up the easy chair. + +"How nice to have a maid!" said Ariadne, as she settled herself +with much commotion. "Still, dear, you must be very lonely, and +feel the need of a bosom friend." + +"I have my cousins," began Rose, with dignity, for her visitor's +patronising manner ruffled her temper. + +"Gracious, child! you don't make friends of those great boys, do +you? Mamma says she really doesn't think it's proper for you to be +with them so much." + +"They are like brothers, and my aunts do think it's proper," replied +Rose, rather sharply, for it struck her that this was none of Miss +Blish's business. + +"I was merely going to say I should be glad to have you for my +bosom friend, for Hatty Mason and I have had an awful quarrel, +and don't speak. She is too mean to live, so I gave her up. Just +think, she never paid back one of the caramels I've given her, and +never invited me to her party. I could have forgiven the caramels, +but to be left out in that rude way was more than I could bear, and +I told her never to look at me again as long as she lived." + +"You are very kind, but I don't think I want a bosom friend, thank +you," said Rose, as Ariadne stopped to bridle and shake her flaxen +head over the delinquent Hatty Mason. + +Now, in her heart Miss Blish thought Rose "a stuck-up puss," but +the other girls wanted to know her and couldn't, the old house was +a charming place to visit, the lads were considered fine fellows, +and the Campbells "are one of our first families," mamma said. So +Ariadne concealed her vexation at Rose's coolness, and changed +the subject as fast as possible. + +"Studying French, I see; who is your teacher?" she asked, flitting +over the leaves of "Paul and Virginia," that lay on the table. + +"I don't study it, for I read French as well as English, and uncle and +I often speak it for hours. He talks like a native, and says I have a +remarkably good accent." + +Rose really could not help this small display of superiority, for +French was one of her strong points, and she was vain of it, though +she usually managed to hide this weakness. She felt that Ariadne +would be the better for a little crushing, and could not resist the +temptation to patronise in her turn. + +"Oh, indeed!" said Miss Blish, rather blankly, for French was not +her strong point by any means. + +"I am to go abroad with uncle in a year or two, and he knows how +important it is to understand the languages. Half the girls who +leave school can't speak decent French, and when they go abroad +they are so mortified. I shall be very glad to help you, if you like, +for, of course, you have no one to talk with at home." + +Now Ariadne, though she looked like a wax doll, had feelings +within her instead of sawdust, and these feelings were hurt by +Rose's lofty tone. She thought her more "stuck up" than ever, but +did not know how to bring her down, yet longed to do it, for she +felt as if she had received a box on the ear, and involuntarily put +her hand up to it. The touch of an ear-ring consoled her, and +suggested a way of returning tit for tat in a telling manner. + +"Thank you, dear; I don't need any help, for our teacher is from +Paris, and of course he speaks better French than your uncle." +Then she added, with a gesture of her head that set the little bells +on her ears to tingling: "How do you like my new ear-rings? Papa +gave them to me last week, and everyone says they are lovely." + +Rose came down from her high horse with a rapidity that was +comical, for Ariadne had the upper hand now. Rose adored pretty +things, longed to wear them, and the desire of her girlish soul was +to have her ears bored, only Dr. Alec thought it foolish, so she +never had done it. She would gladly have given all the French she +could jabber for a pair of golden bells with pearl-tipped tongues, +like those Ariadne wore; and, clasping her hands, she answered, in +a tone that went to the hearer's heart + +"They are too sweet for anything! If uncle would only let me wear +some, I should be perfectly happy." + +"I wouldn't mind what he says. Papa laughed at me at first, but he +likes them now, and says I shall have diamond solitaires when I +am eighteen," said Ariadne, quite satisfied with her shot. + +"I've got a pair now that were mamma's, and a beautiful little pair +of pearl and turquoise ones, that I am dying to wear," sighed Rose. + +"Then do it. I'll pierce your ears, and you must wear a bit of silk in +them till they are well; your curls will hide them nicely; then, +some day, slip in your smallest ear-rings, and see if your uncle +don't like them." + +"I asked him if it wouldn't do my eyes good once when they were +red, and he only laughed. People do cure weak eyes that way, don't +they?" + +"Yes, indeed, and yours are sort of red. Let me see. Yes, I really +think you ought to do it before they get worse," said Ariadne, +peering into the large clear eye offered for inspection. + +"Does it hurt much?" asked Rose, wavering. + +"Oh dear, no; just a prick and a pull, and it's all over. I've done lots +of ears, and know just how. Come, push up your hair and get a big +needle." + +"I don't quite like to do it without asking uncle's leave," faltered +Rose, when all was ready for the operation. + +"Did he ever forbid it?" demanded Ariadne, hovering over her prey +like a vampire. + +"No, never!" + +"Then do it, unless you are afraid," cried Miss Blish, bent on +accomplishing the deed. + +That last word settled the matter, and, closing her eyes, Rose said +"Punch!" in the tone of one giving the fatal order "Fire!" + +Ariadne punched, and the victim bore it in heroic silence, though +she turned pale and her eyes were full of tears of anguish. + +"There! Now pull the bits of silk often, and cold-cream your ears +every night, and you'll soon be ready for the rings," said Ariadne, +well pleased with her job, for the girl who spoke French with "a +fine accent" lay flat upon the sofa, looking as exhausted as if she +had had both ears cut off. + +"It does hurt dreadfully, and I know uncle won't like it," sighed +Rose, as remorse began to gnaw. "Promise not to tell, or I shall be +teased to death," she added, anxiously, entirely forgetting the two +little pitchers gifted with eyes as well as ears, who had been +watching the whole performance from afar. + +"Never. Mercy me, what's that?" and Ariadne started as a sudden +sound of steps and voices came up from below. + +"It's the boys! Hide the needle. Do my ears show? Don't breathe a +word!" whispered Rose, scrambling about to conceal all traces of +their iniquity from the sharp eyes of the Clan. + +Up they came, all in good order, laden with the proceeds of a +nutting expedition, for they always reported to Rose and paid +tribute to their queen in the handsomest manner. + +"How many, and how big! We'll have a grand roasting frolic after +tea, won't we?" said Rose, plunging both hands into a bag of glossy +brown nuts, while the Clan "stood at ease" and nodded to Ariadne. + +"That lot was picked especially for you, Rosy. I got every one +myself, and they are extra whackers," said Mac, presenting a +bushel or so. + +"You should have seen Giglamps when he was after them. He +pitched out of the tree, and would have broken his blessed old +neck if Arch had not caught him," observed Steve, as he lounged +gracefully in the window seat. + +"You needn't talk, Dandy, when you didn't know a chestnut from a +beech, and kept on thrashing till I told you of it," retorted Mac, +festooning himself over the back of the sofa, being a privileged +boy. + +"I don't make mistakes when I thrash you, old Worm, so you'd +better mind what you are about," answered Steve, without a ray of +proper respect for his elder brother. + +"It is getting dark, and I must go, or mamma will be alarmed," said +Ariadne, rising in sudden haste, though she hoped to be asked to +remain to the nut-party. + +No one invited her; and all the while she was putting on her things +and chatting to Rose the boys were telegraphing to one another the +sad fact that someone ought to escort the young lady home. Not a +boy felt heroic enough to cast himself into the breach, however; +even polite Archie shirked the duty, saying to Charlie, as they +quietly slipped into an adjoining room + +"I'm not going to do all the gallivanting. Let Steve take that chit +home and show his manners." + +"I'll be hanged if I do!" answered Prince, who disliked Miss Blish +because she tried to be coquettish with him. + +"Then I will," and, to the dismay of both recreant lads, Dr. Alec +walked out of the room to offer his services to the "chit." + +He was too late, however, for Mac, obeying a look from Rose, had +already made a victim of himself, and trudged meekly away, +wishing the gentle Ariadne at the bottom of the Red Sea. + +"Then I will take this lady down to tea, as the other one has found +a gentleman to go home with her. I see the lamps are lighted +below, and I smell a smell which tells me that auntie has +something extra nice for us to-night." + +As he spoke, Dr. Alec was preparing to carry Rose downstairs as +usual; but Archie and Prince rushed forward, begging with penitent +eagerness for the honour of carrying her in an arm-chair. Rose +consented, fearing that her uncle's keen eye would discover the +fatal bits of silk; so the boys crossed hands, and, taking a good grip +of each curly pate, she was borne down in state, while the others +followed by way of the banisters. + +Tea was ordered earlier than usual, so that Jamie and his dolly +could have a taste, at least, of the holiday fun, for they were to stay +till seven, and be allowed twelve roasted chestnuts apiece, which +they were under bonds not to eat till next day. + +Tea was despatched rapidly, therefore, and the party gathered +round the wide hearth in the dining-room, where the nuts were +soon dancing gaily on hot shovels or bouncing out among the +company, thereby causing delightful panics among the little ones. + +"Come, Rosy, tell us a story while we work, for you can't help +much, and must amuse us as your share," proposed Mac, who sat +in the shade pricking nuts, and who knew by experience what a +capital little Scheherazade his cousin was. + +"Yes, we poor monkeys can't burn our paws for nothing, so tell +away, Pussy," added Charlie, as he threw several hot nuts into her +lap and shook his fingers afterwards. + +"Well, I happen to have a little story with a moral to it in my mind, +and I will tell it, though it is intended for younger children than +you," answered Rose, who was rather fond of telling instructive +tales. + +"Fire away," said Geordie, and she obeyed, little thinking what a +disastrous story it would prove to herself. + +"Well, once upon a time, a little girl went to see a young lady who +was very fond of her. Now, the young lady happened to be lame, +and had to have her foot bandaged up every day; so she kept a +basketful of bandages, all nicely rolled and ready. The little girl +liked to play with this basket, and one day, when she thought no +one saw her, she took one of the rolls without asking leave, and put +it in her pocket." + +Here Pokey, who had been peering lovingly down at the five warm +nuts that lay at the bottom of her tiny pocket, suddenly looked up +and said, "Oh!" in a startled tone, as if the moral tale had become +intensely interesting all at once. + +Rose heard and saw the innocent betrayal of the small sinner, and +went on in a most impressive manner, while the boys nudged one +another and winked as they caught the joke. + +"But an eye did see this naughty little girl, and whose eye do you +think it was?" + +"Eye of Dod," murmured conscience-stricken Pokey, spreading +two chubby little hands before the round face, which they were not +half big enough to hide. + +Rose was rather taken aback by this reply, but, feeling that she was +producing a good effect, she added seriously + +"Yes, God saw her, and so did the young lady, but she did not say +anything; she waited to see what the little girl would do about it. +She had been very happy before she took the bandage, but when it +was in her pocket she seemed troubled, and pretty soon stopped +playing, and sat down in a corner looking very sober. She thought +a few minutes, and then went and put back the roll very softly, and +her face cleared up, and she was a happy child again. The young +lady was glad to see that, and wondered what made the little girl +put it back." + +"Tonscience p'icked her," murmured a contrite voice from behind +the small hands pressed tightly over Pokey's red face. + +"And why did she take it, do you suppose?" asked Rose, in a +school-marmish tone, feeling that all the listeners were interested +in her tale and its unexpected application. + +"It was so nice and wound, and she wanted it deffly," answered the +little voice. + +"Well, I'm glad she had such a good conscience. The moral is that +people who steal don't enjoy what they take, and are not happy till +they put it back. What makes that little girl hide her face?" asked +Rose, as she concluded. + +"Me's so 'shamed of Pokey," sobbed the small culprit, quite +overcome by remorse and confusion at this awful disclosure. + +"Come, Rose, it's too bad to tell her little tricks before everyone, +and preach at her in that way; you wouldn't like it yourself," began +Dr. Alec, taking the weeper on his knee and administering +consolation in the shape of kisses and nuts. + +Before Rose could express her regret, Jamie, who had been +reddening and ruffling like a little turkey-cock for several minutes, +burst out indignantly, bent on avenging the wound given to his +beloved dolly. + +"I know something bad that you did, and I'm going to tell right out. +You thought we didn't see you, but we did, and you said uncle +wouldn't like it, and the boys would tease, and you made Ariadne +promise not to tell, and she punched holes in your ears to put +ear-rings in. So now! and that's much badder than to take an old +piece of rag; and I hate you for making my Pokey cry." + +Jamie's somewhat incoherent explosion produced such an effect +that Pokey's small sin was instantly forgotten, and Rose felt that +her hour had come. + +"What! what! what!" cried the boys in a chorus, dropping their +shovels and knives to gather round Rose, for a guilty clutching at +her ears betrayed her, and with a feeble cry of "Ariadne made me!" +she hid her head among the pillows like an absurd little ostrich. + +"Now she'll go prancing round with bird cages and baskets and +carts and pigs, for all I know, in her ears, as the other girls do, and +won't she look like a goose?" asked one tormentor, tweaking a curl +that strayed out from the cushions. + +"I didn't think she'd be so silly," said Mac, in a tone of +disappointment that told Rose she had sunk in the esteem of her +wise cousin. + +"That Blish girl is a nuisance, and ought not to be allowed to come +here with her nonsensical notions," said the Prince, feeling a strong +desire to shake that young person as an angry dog might shake a +mischievous kitten. + +"How do you like it, uncle?" asked Archie, who, being the head of +a family himself, believed in preserving discipline at all costs. + +"I am very much surprised; but I see she is a girl, after all, and +must have her vanities like all the rest of them," answered Dr. +Alec, with a sigh, as if he had expected to find Rose a sort of +angel, above all earthly temptations. + +"What shall you do about it, sir?" inquired Geordie, wondering +what punishment would be inflicted on a feminine culprit. + +"As she is fond of ornaments, perhaps we had better give her a +nose-ring also. I have one somewhere that a Fiji belle once wore; +I'll look it up," and, leaving Pokey to Jamie's care, Dr. Alec rose as +if to carry out his suggestion in earnest. + +"Good! good! We'll do it right away! Here's a gimlet, so you hold +her, boys, while I get her dear little nose all ready," cried Charlie, +whisking away the pillow as the other boys danced about the sofa +in true Fiji style. + +It was a dreadful moment, for Rose could not run away she could +only grasp her precious nose with one hand and extend the other, +crying distractedly + +"O uncle, save me, save me!" + +Of course he saved her; and when she was securely barricaded by +his strong arm, she confessed her folly in such humiliation of +spirit, that the lads, after a good laugh at her, decided to forgive +her and lay all the blame on the tempter, Ariadne. Even Dr. Alec +relented so far as to propose two gold rings for the ears instead of +one copper one for the nose; a proceeding which proved that if +Rose had all the weakness of her sex for jewellery, he had all the +inconsistency of his in giving a pretty penitent exactly what she +wanted, spite of his better judgment. + + + +Chapter 16 - Bread and Button-Holes + +"What in the world is my girl thinking about all alone here, with +such a solemn face?" asked Dr. Alec, coming into the study, one +November day, to find Rose sitting there with folded hands and a +very thoughtful aspect. + +"Uncle, I want to have some serious conversation with you, if you +have time," she said, coming out of a brown study, as if she had +not heard his question. + +"I'm entirely at your service, and most happy to listen," he +answered, in his politest manner, for when Rose put on her +womanly little airs he always treated her with a playful sort of +respect that pleased her very much. + +Now, as he sat down beside her, she said, very soberly + +"I've been trying to decide what trade I would learn, and I want you +to advise me." + +"Trade, my dear?" and Dr. Alec looked so astonished that she +hastened to explain. + +"I forgot that you didn't hear the talk about it up at Cosey Corner. +You see we used to sit under the pines and sew, and talk a great +deal all the ladies, I mean and I liked it very much. Mother +Atkinson thought that everyone should have a trade, or something +to make a living out of, for rich people may grow poor, you know, +and poor people have to work. Her girls were very clever, and +could do ever so many things, and Aunt Jessie thought the old lady +was right; so when I saw how happy and independent those young +ladies were, I wanted to have a trade, and then it wouldn't matter +about money, though I like to have it well enough." + +Dr. Alec listened to this explanation with a curious mixture of +surprise, pleasure, and amusement in his face, and looked at his +little niece as if she had suddenly changed into a young woman. +She had grown a good deal in the last six months, and an amount +of thinking had gone on in that young head which would have +astonished him greatly could he have known it all, for Rose was +one of the children who observe and meditate much, and now and +then nonplus their friends by a wise or curious remark. + +"I quite agree with the ladies, and shall be glad to help you decide +on something if I can," said the Doctor seriously. "What do you +incline to? A natural taste or talent is a great help in choosing, you +know." + +"I haven't any talent, or any especial taste that I can see, and that is +why I can't decide, uncle. So, I think it would be a good plan to +pick out some very useful business and learn it, because I don't do +it for pleasure, you see, but as a part of my education, and to be +ready in case I'm ever poor," answered Rose, looking as if she +rather longed for a little poverty so that her useful gift might be +exercised. + +"Well, now, there is one very excellent, necessary, and womanly +accomplishment that no girl should be without, for it is a help to +rich and poor, and the comfort of families depends upon it. This +fine talent is neglected nowadays, and considered old-fashioned, +which is a sad mistake, and one that I don't mean to make in +bringing up my girl. It should be a part of every girl's education, +and I know of a most accomplished lady who will teach you in the +best and pleasantest manner." + +"Oh, what is it?" cried Rose eagerly, charmed to be met in this +helpful and cordial way. + +"Housekeeping!" answered Dr. Alec. + +"Is that an accomplishment?" asked Rose, while her face fell, for +she had indulged in all sorts of vague, delightful dreams. + +"Yes; it is one of the most beautiful as well as useful of all the arts +a woman can learn. Not so romantic, perhaps, as singing, painting, +writing, or teaching, even; but one that makes many happy and +comfortable, and home the sweetest place in the world. Yes, you +may open your big eyes; but it is a fact that I had rather see you a +good housekeeper than the greatest belle in the city. It need not +interfere with any talent you may possess, but it is a necessary part +of your training, and I hope that you will set about it at once, now +that you are well and strong." + +"Who is the lady?" asked Rose, rather impressed by her uncle's +earnest speech. + +"Aunt Plenty." + +"Is she accomplished?" began Rose in a wondering tone, for this +great-aunt of hers had seemed the least cultivated of them all. + +"In the good old-fashioned way she is very accomplished, and has +made this house a happy home to us all, ever since we can +remember. She is not elegant, but genuinely good, and so beloved +and respected that there will be universal mourning for her when +her place is empty. No one can fill it, for the solid, homely virtues +of the dear soul have gone out of fashion, as I say, and nothing new +can be half so satisfactory, to me at least." + +"I should like to have people feel so about me. Can she teach me to +do what she does, and to grow as good?" asked Rose, with a little +prick of remorse for even thinking that Aunt Plenty was a +commonplace old lady. + +"Yes, if you don't despise such simple lessons as she can give. I +know it would fill her dear old heart with pride and pleasure to +feel that anyone cared to learn of her, for she fancies her day gone +by. Let her teach you how to be what she has been a skilful, frugal, +cheerful housewife; the maker and the keeper of a happy home, +and by and by you will see what a valuable lesson it is." + +"I will, uncle. But how shall I begin?" + +"I'll speak to her about it, and she will make it all right with Dolly, +for cooking is one of the main things, you know." + +"So it is! I don't mind that a bit, for I like to mess, and used to try +at home; but I had no one to tell me, so I never did much but spoil +my aprons. Pies are great fun, only Dolly is so cross, I don't believe +she will ever let me do a thing in the kitchen." + +"Then we'll cook in the parlour. I fancy Aunt Plenty will manage +her, so don't be troubled. Only mind this, I'd rather you learned +how to make good bread than the best pies ever baked. When you +bring me a handsome, wholesome loaf, entirely made by yourself, +I shall be more pleased than if you offered me a pair of slippers +embroidered in the very latest style. I don't wish to bribe you, but +I'll give you my heartiest kiss, and promise to eat every crumb of +the loaf myself." + +"It's a bargain! it's a bargain! Come and tell aunty all about it, for +I'm in a hurry to begin," cried Rose, dancing before him toward the +parlor, where Miss Plenty sat alone knitting contentedly, yet ready +to run at the first call for help of any sort, from any quarter. + +No need to tell how surprised and gratified she was at the +invitation she received to teach the child the domestic arts which +were her only accomplishments, nor to relate how energetically +she set about her pleasant task. Dolly dared not grumble, for Miss +Plenty was the one person whom she obeyed, and Phebe openly +rejoiced, for these new lessons brought Rose nearer to her, and +glorified the kitchen in the good girl's eyes. + +To tell the truth, the elder aunts had sometimes felt that they did +not have quite their share of the little niece who had won their +hearts long ago, and was the sunshine of the house. They talked it +over together sometimes, but always ended by saying that as Alec +had all the responsibility, he should have the larger share of the +dear girl's love and time, and they would be contented with such +crumbs of comfort as they could get. + +Dr. Alec had found out this little secret, and, after reproaching +himself for being blind and selfish, was trying to devise some way +of mending matters without troubling anyone, when Rose's new +whim suggested an excellent method of weaning her a little from +himself. He did not know how fond he was of her till he gave her +up to the new teacher, and often could not resist peeping in at the +door to see how she got on, or stealing sly looks through the slide +when she was deep in dough, or listening intently to some +impressive lecture from Aunt Plenty. They caught him at it now +and then, and ordered him off the premises at the point of the +rolling-pin; or, if unusually successful, and, therefore, in a milder +mood, they lured him away with bribes of ginger-bread, a stray +pickle, or a tart that was not quite symmetrical enough to suit their +critical eyes. + +Of course he made a point of partaking copiously of all the +delectable messes that now appeared at table, for both the cooks +were on their mettle, and he fared sumptuously every day. But an +especial relish was given to any dish when, in reply to his honest +praise of it, Rose coloured up with innocent pride, and said +modestly + +"I made that, uncle, and I'm glad you like it." + +It was some time before the perfect loaf appeared, for +bread-making is an art not easily learned, and Aunt Plenty was +very thorough in her teaching; so Rose studied yeast first, and +through various stages of cake and biscuit came at last to the +crowning glory of the "handsome, wholesome loaf." It appeared at +tea-time, on a silver salver, proudly borne in by Phebe, who could +not refrain from whispering, with a beaming face, as she set it +down before Dr. Alec + +"Ain't it just lovely, sir?" + +"It is a regularly splendid loaf! Did my girl make it all herself?" he +asked, surveying the shapely, sweet-smelling object with real +interest and pleasure. + +"Every particle herself, and never asked a bit of help or advice +from anyone," answered Aunt Plenty, folding her hands with an air +of unmitigated satisfaction, for her pupil certainly did her great +credit. + +"I've had so many failures and troubles that I really thought I never +should be able to do it alone. Dolly let one splendid batch burn up +because I forgot it. She was there and smelt it, but never did a +thing, for she said, when I undertook to bake bread I must give my +whole mind to it. Wasn't it hard? She might have called me at +least," said Rose, recollecting, with a sigh, the anguish of that +moment. + +"She meant you should learn by experience, as Rosamond did in +that little affair of the purple jar, you remember." + +"I always thought it very unfair in her mother not to warn the poor +thing a little bit; and she was regularly mean when Rosamond +asked for a bowl to put the purple stuff in, and she said, in such a +provoking way, 'I did not agree to lend you a bowl, but I will, my +dear.' Ugh! I always want to shake that hateful woman, though she +was a moral mamma." + +"Never mind her now, but tell me all about my loaf," said Dr. Alec, +much amused at Rose's burst of indignation. + +"There's nothing to tell, uncle, except that I did my best, gave my +mind to it, and sat watching over it all the while it was in the oven +till I was quite baked myself. Everything went right this time, and +it came out a nice, round, crusty loaf, as you see. Now taste it, and +tell me if it is good as well as handsome." + +"Must I cut it? Can't I put it under a glass cover and keep it in the +parlor as they do wax flowers and fine works of that sort?" + +"What an idea, uncle! It would mould and be spoilt. Besides, +people would laugh at us, and make fun of my old-fashioned +accomplishment. You promised to eat it, and you must; not all at +once, but as soon as you can, so I can make you some more." + +Dr. Alec solemnly cut off his favourite crusty slice, and solemnly +ate it; then wiped his lips, and brushing back Rose's hair, solemnly +kissed her on the forehead, saying, heartily + +"My dear, it is perfect bread, and you are an honour to your +teacher. When we have our model school I shall offer a prize for +the best bread, and you will get it." + +"I've got it already, and I'm quite satisfied," said Rose, slipping into +her seat, and trying to hide her right hand which had a burn on it. + +But Dr. Alec saw it, guessed how it came there, and after tea +insisted on easing the pain which she would hardly confess. + +"Aunt Clara says I am spoiling my hands, but I don't care, for I've +had such good times with Aunt Plenty, and I think she has enjoyed +it as much as I have. Only one thing troubles me, uncle, and I want +to ask you about it," said Rose, as they paced up and down the hall +in the twilight, the bandaged hand very carefully laid on Dr. Alec's +arm. + +"More little confidences? I like them immensely, so tell away, my +dear." + +"Well, you see I feel as if Aunt Peace would like to do something +for me, and I've found out what it can be. You know she can't go +about like Aunty Plen, and we are so busy nowadays that she is +rather lonely, I'm afraid. So I want to take lessons in sewing of her. +She works so beautifully, and it is a useful thing, you know, and I +ought to be a good needlewoman as well as housekeeper, oughtn't +I?" + +"Bless your kind little heart, that is what I was thinking of the +other day when Aunt Peace said she saw you very seldom now, +you were so busy I wanted to speak of it, but fancied you had as +much on your hands as you could manage. It would delight the +dear woman to teach you all her delicate handicraft, especially +button-holes, for I believe that is where young ladies fail; at least, +I've heard them say so. So, do you devote your mind to +button-holes; make 'em all over my clothes if you want something +to practice on. I'll wear any quantity." + +Rose laughed at this reckless offer, but promised to attend to that +important branch, though she confessed that darning was her weak +point. Whereupon Uncle Alec engaged to supply her with socks in +all stages of dilapidation, and to have a new set at once, so that she +could run the heels for him as a pleasant beginning. + +Then they went up to make their request in due form, to the great +delight of gentle Aunt Peace, who got quite excited with the fun +that went on while they would yarn, looked up darning needles, +and fitted out a nice little mending basket for her pupil. + +Very busy and very happy were Rose's days now, for in the +morning she went about the house with Aunt Plenty attending to +linen-closets and store-rooms, pickling and preserving, exploring +garret and cellar to see that all was right, and learning, in the good +old-fashioned manner, to look well after the ways of the +household. + +In the afternoon, after her walk or drive, she sat with Aunt Peace +plying her needle, while Aunt Plenty, whose eyes were failing, +knitted and chatted briskly, telling many a pleasant story of old +times, till the three were moved to laugh and cry together, for the +busy needles were embroidering all sorts of bright patterns on the +lives of the workers, though they seemed to be only stitching +cotton and darning hose. + +It was a pretty sight to see the rosy-faced little maid sitting +between the two old ladies, listening dutifully to their instructions, +and cheering the lessons with her lively chatter and blithe laugh. If +the kitchen had proved attractive to Dr. Alec when Rose was there +at work, the sewing-room was quite irresistible, and he made +himself so agreeable that no one had the heart to drive him away, +especially when he read aloud or spun yarns. + +"There! I've made you a new set of warm night-gowns with four +button-holes in each. See if they are not neatly done," said Rose, +one day, some weeks after the new lessons began. + +"Even to a thread, and nice little bars across the end so I can't tear +them when I twitch the buttons out. Most superior work, ma'am, +and I'm deeply grateful; so much so, that I'll sew on these buttons +myself, and save those tired fingers from another prick." + +"You sew them on?" cried Rose, with her eyes wide open in +amazement. + +"Wait a bit till I get my sewing tackle, and then you shall see what +I can do." + +"Can he, really?" asked Rose of Aunt Peace, as Uncle Alec +marched off with a comical air of importance. + +"Oh, yes, I taught him years ago, before he went to sea; and I +suppose he has had to do things for himself, more or less, ever +since; so he has kept his hand in." + +He evidently had, for he was soon back with a funny little +work-bag, out of which he produced a thimble without a top; and, +having threaded his needle, he proceeded to sew on the buttons so +handily that Rose was much impressed and amused. + +"I wonder if there is anything in the world that you cannot do," she +said, in a tone of respectful admiration. + +"There are one or two things that I am not up to yet," he answered, +with a laugh in the corner of his eye, as he waxed his thread with a +flourish. + +"I should like to know what?" + +"Bread and button-holes, ma'am." + + + +Chapter 17 - Good Bargains + +It was a rainy Sunday afternoon, and four boys were trying to +spend it quietly in the "liberry," as Jamie called the room devoted +to books and boys, at Aunt Jessie's. Will and Geordie were +sprawling on the sofa, deep in the adventures of the scapegraces +and ragamuffins whose histories are now the fashion. Archie +lounged in the easy chair, surrounded by newspapers; Charlie +stood upon the rug, in an Englishman's favourite attitude, and, I +regret to say, both were smoking cigars. + +"It is my opinion that this day will never come to an end," said +Prince, with a yawn that nearly rent him asunder. + +"Read and improve your mind, my son," answered Archie, peering +solemnly over the paper behind which he had been dozing. + +"Don't you preach, parson, but put on your boots and come out for +a tramp, instead of mulling over the fire like a granny." + +"No, thank you, tramps in an easterly storm don't strike me as +amusing." There Archie stopped and held up his hand, for a +pleasant voice was heard saying outside + +"Are the boys in the library, auntie?" + +"Yes, dear, and longing for sunshine; so run in and make it for +them," answered Mrs. Jessie. + +"It's Rose," and Archie threw his cigar into the fire. + +"What's that for?" asked Charlie. + +"Gentlemen don't smoke before ladies." + +"True; but I'm not going to waste my weed," and Prince poked his +into the empty inkstand that served them for an ash tray. + +A gentle tap at the door was answered by a chorus of "Come in," +and Rose appeared, looking blooming and breezy with the chilly +air. + +"If I disturb you, say so, and I'll go away," she began, pausing on +the threshold with modest hesitation, for something in the elder +boys' faces excited her curiosity. + +"You never disturb us, cousin," said the smokers, while the readers +tore themselves from the heroes of the bar-room and gutter long +enough to nod affably to their guest. + +As Rose bent to warm her hands, one end of Archie's cigar stuck +out of the ashes, smoking furiously and smelling strongly. + +"Oh, you bad boys, how could you do it, to-day of all days?" she +said reproachfully. + +"Where's the harm?" asked Archie. + +"You know as well as I do; your mother doesn't like it, and it's a +bad habit, for it wastes money and does you no good." + +"Fiddlesticks! every man smokes, even Uncle Alec, whom you +think so perfect," began Charlie, in his teasing way. + +"No, he doesn't! He has given it up, and I know why," cried Rose +eagerly. + +"Now I think of it, I haven't seen the old meerschaum since he +came home. Did he stop it on our account?" asked Archie. + +"Yes," and Rose told the little scene on the seashore in the +camping-out time. + +Archie seemed much impressed, and said manfully, "He won't +have done that in vain so far as I'm concerned. I don't care a pin +about smoking, so can give it up as easy as not, and I promise you I +will. I only do it now and then for fun." + +"You too?" and Rose looked up at the bonny Prince, who never +looked less bonny than at that moment, for he had resumed his +cigar just to torment her. + +Now Charlie cared as little as Archie about smoking, but it would +not do to yield too soon: so he shook his head, gave a great puff, +and said loftily + +"You women are always asking us to give up harmless little things +just because you don't approve of them. How would you like it if +we did the same by you, miss?" + +"If I did harmful or silly things, I'd thank you for telling me of +them, and I'd try to mend my ways," answered Rose heartily. + +"Well, now, we'll see if you mean what you say. I'll give up +smoking to please you, if you will give up something to please +me," said Prince, seeing a good chance to lord it over the weaker +vessel at small cost to himself. + +"I'll agree if it is as foolish as cigars." + +"Oh, it's ever so much sillier." + +"Then I promise; what is it?" and Rose quite trembled with anxiety +to know which of her pet habits or possessions she must lose. + +"Give up your ear-rings," and Charlie laughed wickedly, sure that +she would never hold to that bargain. + +Rose uttered a cry and clapped both hands to her ears where the +gold rings hung. + +"Oh, Charlie, wouldn't anything else do as well? I've been through +so much teasing and trouble, I do want to enjoy my pretty +ear-rings, for I can wear them now." + +"Wear as many as you like, and I'll smoke in peace," returned this +bad boy. + +"Will nothing else satisfy you?" imploringly. + +"Nothing," sternly. + +Rose stood silent for a minute, thinking of something Aunt Jessie +once said "You have more influence over the boys than you know; +use it for their good, and I shall thank you all my life." Here was a +chance to do some good by sacrificing a little vanity of her own. +She felt it was right to do it, yet found it very hard, and asked +wistfully + +"Do you mean never wear them, Charlie?" + +"Never, unless you want me to smoke." + +"I never do." + +"Then clinch the bargain." + +He had no idea she would do it, and was much surprised when she +took the dear rings from her ears, with a quick gesture, and held +them out to him, saying, in a tone that made the colour come up to +his brown cheek, it was so full of sweet good will + +"I care more for my cousins than for my ear-rings, so I promise, +and I'll keep my word." + +"For shame, Prince! let her wear her little danglers if she likes, and +don't bargain about doing what you know is right," cried Archie, +coming out of his grove of newspapers with an indignant bounce. + +But Rose was bent on showing her aunt that she could use her +influence for the boys' good, and said steadily + +"It is fair, and I want it to be so, then you will believe I'm in +earnest. Here, each of you wear one of these on your watch-guard +to remind you. I shall not forget, because very soon I cannot wear +ear-rings if I want to." + +As she spoke, Rose offered a little ring to each cousin, and the +boys, seeing how sincere she was, obeyed her. When the pledges +were safe, Rose stretched a hand to each, and the lads gave hers a +hearty grip, half pleased and half ashamed of their part in the +compact. + +Just at that moment Dr. Alec and Mrs. Jessie came in. + +"What's this? Dancing Ladies' Triumph on Sunday?" exclaimed +Uncle Alec, surveying the trio with surprise. + +"No, sir, it is the Anti-Tobacco League. Will you join?" said +Charlie, while Rose slipped away to her aunt, and Archie buried +both cigars behind the back log. + +When the mystery was explained, the elders were well pleased, +and Rose received a vote of thanks, which made her feel as if she +had done a service to her country, as she had, for every boy who +grows up free from bad habits bids fair to make a good citizen. + +"I wish Rose would drive a bargain with Will and Geordie also, for +I think these books are as bad for the small boys as cigars for the +large ones," said Mrs. Jessie, sitting down on the sofa between the +readers, who politely curled up their legs to make room for her. + +"I thought they were all the fashion," answered Dr. Alec, settling in +the big chair with Rose. + +"So is smoking, but it is harmful. The writers of these popular +stories intend to do good, I have no doubt, but it seems to me they +fail because their motto is, 'Be smart, and you will be rich,' instead +of 'Be honest, and you will be happy.' I do not judge hastily, Alec, +for I have read a dozen, at least, of these stories, and, with much +that is attractive to boys, I find a great deal to condemn in them, +and other parents say the same when I ask them." + +"Now, Mum, that's too bad! I like 'em tip-top. This one is a regular +screamer," cried Will. + +"They're bully books, and I'd like to know where's the harm," +added Geordie. + +"You have just shown us one of the chief evils, and that is slang," +answered their mother quickly. + +"Must have it, ma'am. If these chaps talked all right, there'd be no +fun in 'em," protested Will. + +"A boot-black mustn't use good grammar, and a newsboy must +swear a little, or he wouldn't be natural," explained Geordie, both +boys ready to fight gallantly for their favourites. + +"But my sons are neither boot-blacks nor newsboys, and I object to +hearing them use such words as 'screamer,' 'bully,' and 'buster.' In +fact, I fail to see the advantage of writing books about such people +unless it is done in a very different way. I cannot think they will +help to refine the ragamuffins if they read them, and I'm sure they +can do no good to the better class of boys, who through these +books are introduced to police courts, counterfeiters' dens, +gambling houses, drinking saloons, and all sorts of low life." + +"Some of them are about first-rate boys, mother; and they go to sea +and study, and sail round the world, having great larks all the +way." + +"I have read about them, Geordie, and though they are better than +the others, I am not satisfied with these optical delusions, as I call +them. Now, I put it to you, boys, is it natural for lads from fifteen +to eighteen to command ships, defeat pirates, outwit smugglers, +and so cover themselves with glory, that Admiral Farragut invites +them to dinner, saying, 'Noble boy, you are an honour to your +country!' Or, if the hero is in the army, he has hair-breadth escapes +and adventures enough in one small volume to turn his hair white, +and in the end he goes to Washington at the express desire of the +President or Commander-in-chief to be promoted to no end of stars +and bars. Even if the hero is merely an honest boy trying to get his +living, he is not permitted to do so in a natural way, by hard work +and years of patient effort, but is suddenly adopted by a millionaire +whose pocket-book he has returned; or a rich uncle appears from +sea just in the nick of time; or the remarkable boy earns a few +dollars, speculates in pea-nuts or neckties, and grows rich so +rapidly that Sinbad in the diamond valley is a pauper compared to +him. Isn't it so, boys?" + +"Well, the fellows in these books are mighty lucky, and very smart, +I must say," answered Will, surveying an illustration on the open +page before him, where a small but virtuous youth is upsetting a +tipsy giant in a bar-room, and under it the elegant inscription, +"Dick Dauntless punches the head of Sam Soaker." + +"It gives boys such wrong ideas of life and business; shows them +so much evil and vulgarity that they need not know about, and +makes the one success worth having a fortune, a lord's daughter, or +some worldly honour, often not worth the time it takes to win. It +does seem to me that some one might write stories that should be +lively, natural and helpful tales in which the English should be +good, the morals pure, and the characters such as we can love in +spite of the faults that all may have. I can't bear to see such crowds +of eager little fellows at the libraries reading such trash; weak, +when it is not wicked, and totally unfit to feed the hungry minds +that feast on it for want of something better. There! my lecture is +done; now I should like to hear what you gentlemen have to say," +and Aunt Jessie subsided with a pretty flush on the face that was +full of motherly anxiety for her boys. + +"Tom Brown just suits mother, and me too, so I wish Mr. Hughes +would write another story as good," said Archie. + +"You don't find things of this sort in Tom Brown; yet these books +are all in the Sunday-school libraries" and Mrs. Jessie read the +following paragraph from the book she had taken from Will's hand + +" 'In this place we saw a tooth of John the Baptist. Ben said he +could see locust and wild honey sticking to it. I couldn't. Perhaps +John used a piece of the true cross for a tooth-pick.' " + +"A larky sort of a boy says that, Mum, and we skip the parts where +they describe what they saw in the different countries," cried Will. + +"And those descriptions, taken mostly from guidebooks, I fancy, +are the only parts of any real worth. The scrapes of the bad boys +make up the rest of the story, and it is for those you read these +books, I think," answered his mother, stroking back the hair off the +honest little face that looked rather abashed at this true statement +of the case. + +"Anyway, mother, the ship part is useful, for we learn how to sail +her, and by and by that will all come handy when we go to sea," +put in Geordie. + +"Indeed, then you can explain this manoeuvre to me, of course," and +Mrs. Jessie read from another page the following nautical +paragraph + +"The wind is south-south-west, and we can have her up four points +closer to the wind, and still be six points off the wind. As she luffs +up we shall man the fore and main sheets, slack on the weather, +and haul on the lee braces." + +"I guess I could, if I wasn't afraid of uncle. He knows so much +more than I do, he'd laugh," began Geordie, evidently puzzled by +the question. + +"Ho, you know you can't, so why make believe? We don't +understand half of the sea lingo, Mum, and I dare say it's all +wrong," cried Will, suddenly going over to the enemy, to Geordie's +great disgust. + +"I do wish the boys wouldn't talk to me as if I was a ship," said +Rose, bringing forward a private grievance. "Coming home from +church this morning, the wind blew me about, and Will called out, +right in the street, 'Brail up the foresail, and take in the flying-jib, +that will ease her.' " + +The boys shouted at the plaintive tone in which Rose repeated the +words that offended her, and Will vainly endeavoured to explain +that he only meant to tell her to wrap her cloak closer, and tie a +veil over the tempest-tossed feathers in her hat. + +"To tell the truth, if the boys must have slang, I can bear the 'sea +lingo,' as Will calls it, better than the other. It afflicts me less to +hear my sons talk about 'brailing up the foresail' than doing as they +'darn please,' and 'cut your cable' is decidedly preferable to 'let her +rip.' I once made a rule that I would have no slang in the house. I +give it up now, for I cannot keep it; but I will not have rubbishy +books; so, Archie, please send these two after your cigars." + +Mrs. Jessie held both the small boys fast with an arm round each +neck, and when she took this base advantage of them they could +only squirm with dismay. "Yes, right behind the back log," she +continued, energetically. "There, my hearties (you like sea slang, +so I'll give you a bit) now, I want you to promise not to read any +more stuff for a month, and I'll agree to supply you with +wholesome fare." + +"Oh, mother, not a single one?" cried Will. + +"Couldn't we just finish those?" pleaded Geordie. + +"The boys threw away half-smoked cigars; and your books must go +after them. Surely you would not be outdone by the 'old fellows,' as +you call them, or be less obedient to little Mum than they were to +Rose." + +"Course not! Come on, Geordie," and Will took the vow like a +hero. His brother sighed and obeyed, but privately resolved to +finish his story the minute the month was over. + +"You have laid out a hard task for yourself, Jessie, in trying to +provide good reading for boys who have been living on sensation +stories. It will be like going from raspberry tarts to plain bread and +butter; but you will probably save them from a bilious fever," said +Dr. Alec, much amused at the proceedings. + +"I remember hearing grandpa say that a love for good books was +one of the best safeguards a man could have," began Archie, +staring thoughtfully at the fine library before him. + +"Yes, but there's no time to read nowadays; a fellow has to keep +scratching round to make money or he's nobody," cut in Charlie, +trying to look worldly-wise. + +"This love of money is the curse of America, and for the sake of it +men will sell honour and honesty, till we don't know whom to +trust, and it is only a genius like Agassiz who dares to say, 'I cannot +waste my time in getting rich,' " said Mrs. Jessie sadly. + +"Do you want us to be poor, mother?" asked Archie, wondering. + +"No, dear, and you never need be, while you can use your hands; +but I am afraid of this thirst for wealth, and the temptations it +brings. O, my boys! I tremble for the time when I must let you go, +because I think it would break my heart to have you fail as so +many fail. It would be far easier to see you dead if it could be said +of you as of Sumner 'No man dared offer him a bribe.' " + +Mrs. Jessie was so earnest in her motherly anxiety that her voice +faltered over the last words, and she hugged the yellow heads +closer in her arms, as if she feared to let them leave that safe +harbour for the great sea where so many little boats go down. The +younger lads nestled closer to her, and Archie said, in his quiet, +resolute way + +"I cannot promise to be an Agassiz or a Sumner, mother; but I do +promise to be an honest man, please God." + +"Then I'm satisfied!" and holding fast the hand he gave her, she +sealed his promise with a kiss that had all a mother's hope and +faith in it. + +"I don't see how they ever can be bad, she is so fond and proud of +them," whispered Rose, quite touched by the little scene. + +"You must help her make them what they should be. You have +begun already, and when I see those rings where they are, my girl +is prettier in my sight than if the biggest diamonds that ever +twinkled shone in her ears," answered Dr. Alec, looking at her +with approving eyes. + +"I'm so glad you think I can do anything, for I perfectly ache to be +useful; everyone is so good to me, especially Aunt Jessie." + +"I think you are in a fair way to pay your debts, Rosy, for when +girls give up their little vanities, and boys their small vices, and try +to strengthen each other in well-doing, matters are going as they +ought. Work away, my dear, and help their mother keep these sons +fit friends for an innocent creature like yourself; they will be the +manlier men for it, I can assure you." + + + +Chapter 18 - Fashion and Physiology + +"Please, sir, I guess you'd better step up right away, or it will be too +late, for I heard Miss Rose say she knew you wouldn't like it, and +she'd never dare to let you see her." + +Phebe said this as she popped her head into the study, where Dr. +Alec sat reading a new book. + +"They are at it, are they?" he said, looking up quickly, and giving +himself a shake, as if ready for a battle of some sort. + +"Yes, sir, as hard as they can talk, and Miss Rose don't seem to +know what to do, for the things are ever so stylish, and she looks +elegant in 'em; though I like her best in the old ones," answered +Phebe. + +"You are a girl of sense. I'll settle matters for Rosy, and you'll lend +a hand. Is everything ready in her room, and are you sure you +understand how they go?" + +"Oh, yes, sir; but they are so funny! I know Miss Rose will think +it's a joke," and Phebe laughed as if something tickled her +immensely. + +"Never mind what she thinks so long as she obeys. Tell her to do it +for my sake, and she will find it the best joke she ever saw. I +expect to have a tough time of it, but we'll win yet," said the +Doctor, as he marched upstairs with the book in his hand, and an +odd smile on his face. + +There was such a clatter of tongues in the sewing-room that no one +heard his tap at the door, so he pushed it open and took an +observation. Aunt Plenty, Aunt Clara, and Aunt Jessie were all +absorbed in gazing at Rose, who slowly revolved between them +and the great mirror, in a full winter costume of the latest fashion. + +"Bless my heart! worse even than I expected," thought the Doctor, +with an inward groan, for, to his benighted eyes, the girl looked +like a trussed fowl, and the fine new dress had neither grace, +beauty, nor fitness to recommend it. + +The suit was of two peculiar shades of blue, so arranged that +patches of light and dark distracted the eye. The upper skirt was +tied so lightly back that it was impossible to take a long step, and +the under one was so loaded with plaited frills that it "wobbled" no +other word will express it ungracefully, both fore and aft. A bunch +of folds was gathered up just below the waist behind, and a great +bow rode a-top. A small jacket of the same material was adorned +with a high ruff at the back, and laid well open over the breast, to +display some lace and a locket. Heavy fringes, bows, puffs, ruffles, +and revers finished off the dress, making one's head ache to think +of the amount of work wasted, for not a single graceful line struck +the eye, and the beauty of the material was quite lost in the +profusion of ornament. + +A high velvet hat, audaciously turned up in front, with a bunch of +pink roses and a sweeping plume, was cocked over one ear, and, +with her curls braided into a club at the back of her neck, Rose's +head looked more like that of a dashing young cavalier than a +modest little girl's. High-heeled boots tilted her well forward, a +tiny muff pinioned her arms, and a spotted veil, tied so closely +over her face that her eyelashes were rumpled by it, gave the last +touch of absurdity to her appearance. + +"Now she looks like other girls, and as I like to see her," Mrs. +Clara was saying, with an air of great satisfaction. + +"She does look like a fashionable young lady, but somehow I miss +my little Rose, for children dressed like children in my day," +answered Aunt Plenty, peering through her glasses with a troubled +look, for she could not imagine the creature before her ever sitting +in her lap, running to wait upon her, or making the house gay with +a child's blithe presence. + +"Things have changed since your day, Aunt, and it takes time to +get used to new ways. But you, Jessie, surely like this costume +better than the dowdy things Rose has been wearing all summer. +Now, be honest, and own you do," said Mrs. Clara, bent on being +praised for her work. + +"Well, dear to be quite honest, then, I think it is frightful," +answered Mrs. Jessie, with a candour that caused revolving Rose +to stop in dismay. + +"Hear, hear," cried a deep voice, and with a general start the ladies +became aware that the enemy was among them. + +Rose blushed up to her hat brim, and stood, looking, as she felt, +like a fool, while Mrs. Clara hastened to explain. + +"Of course, I don't expect you to like it, Alec, but I don't consider +you a judge of what is proper and becoming for a young lady. +Therefore, I have taken the liberty of providing a pretty street suit +for Rose. She need not wear it if you object, for I know we +promised to let you do what you liked with the poor dear for a +year." + +"It is a street costume, is it?" asked the Doctor, mildly. "Do you +know, I never should have guessed that it was meant for winter +weather and brisk locomotion. Take a turn, Rosy, and let me see +all its beauties and advantages." + +Rose tried to walk off with her usual free tread, but the under-skirt +got in her way, the over-skirt was so tight she could not take a long +step, and her boots made it impossible to carry herself perfectly +erect. + +"I haven't got used to it yet," she said, petulantly, kicking at her +train, as she turned to toddle back again. + +"Suppose a mad dog or a runaway horse was after you, could you +get out of the way without upsetting, Colonel," asked the Doctor, +with a twinkle in the eyes that were fixed on the rakish hat. + +"Don't think I could, but I'll try," and Rose made a rush across the +room. Her boot-heels caught on a rug, several strings broke, her +hat tipped over her eyes, and she plunged promiscuously into a +chair, where she sat laughing so infectiously that all but Mrs. Clara +joined in her mirth. + +"I should say that a walking suit in which one could not walk, and +a winter suit which exposes the throat, head, and feet to cold and +damp, was rather a failure, Clara, especially as it has no beauty to +reconcile one to its utter unfitness," said Dr. Alec, as he helped +Rose undo her veil, adding, in a low tone, "Nice thing for the eyes; +you'll soon see spots when it's off as well as when it's on, and, by +and by, be a case for an oculist." + +"No beauty!" cried Mrs. Clara, warmly, "Now, that is just a man's +blindness. This is the best of silk and camel's hair, real ostrich +feathers, and an expensive ermine muff. What could be in better +taste, or more proper for a young girl?" + +"I'll shew you, if Rose will go to her room and oblige me by +putting on what she finds there," answered the Doctor, with +unexpected readiness. + +"Alec, if it is a Bloomer, I shall protest. I've been expecting it, but I +know I cannot bear to see that pretty child sacrificed to your wild +ideas of health. Tell me it isn't a Bloomer!" and Mrs. Clara clasped +her hands imploringly. + +"It is not." + +"Thank Heaven!" and she resigned herself with a sigh of relief, +adding plaintively, "I did hope you'd accept my suit, for poor Rose +has been afflicted with frightful clothes long enough to spoil the +taste of any girl." + +"You talk of my afflicting the child, and then make a helpless guy +like that of her!" answered the Doctor, pointing to the little fashion +plate that was scuttling out of sight as fast as it could go. + +He closed the door with a shrug, but before anyone could speak, +his quick eye fell upon an object which caused him to frown, and +demand in an indignant tone + +"After all I have said, were you really going to tempt my girl with +those abominable things?" + +"I thought we put them away when she wouldn't wear them," +murmured Mrs. Clara, whisking a little pair of corsets out of sight +with guilty haste. "I only brought them to try, for Rose is growing +stout, and will have no figure if it is not attended to soon," she +added, with an air of calm conviction that roused the Doctor still +more, for this was one of his especial abominations. + +"Growing stout! Yes, thank Heaven, she is, and shall continue to +do it, for Nature knows how to mould a woman better than any +corset-maker, and I won't have her interfered with. My dear Clara, +have you lost your senses that you can for a moment dream of +putting a growing girl into an instrument of torture like this?" and +with a sudden gesture he plucked forth the offending corsets from +under the sofa cushion, and held them out with the expression one +would wear on beholding the thumbscrews or the rack of ancient +times. + +"Don't be absurd, Alec. There is no torture about it, for tight lacing +is out of fashion, and we have nice, sensible things nowadays. +Everyone wears them; even babies have stiffened waists to support +their weak little backs," began Mrs. Clara, rushing to the defence +of the pet delusion of most women. + +"I know it, and so the poor little souls have weak backs all their +days, as their mothers had before them. It is vain to argue the +matter, and I won't try, but I wish to state, once for all, that if I ever +see a pair of corsets near Rose, I'll put them in the fire, and you +may send the bill to me." + +As he spoke the corsets were on their way to destruction, but Mrs. +Jessie caught his arm, exclaiming merrily, "Don't burn them, for +mercy sake, Alec; they are full of whalebones, and will make a +dreadful odour. Give them to me. I'll see that they do no harm." + +"Whalebones, indeed! A regular fence of them, and metal +gate-posts in front. As if our own bones were not enough, if we'd +give them a chance to do their duty," growled the Doctor, yielding +up the bone of contention with a last shake of contempt. Then his +face cleared suddenly, and he held up his finger, saying, with a +smile, "Hear those girls laugh; cramped lungs could not make +hearty music like that." + +Peals of laughter issued from Rose's room, and smiles +involuntarily touched the lips of those who listened to the happy +sound. + +"Some new prank of yours, Alec?" asked Aunt Plenty, indulgently, +for she had come to believe in most of her nephew's odd notions, +because they seemed to work so well. + +"Yes, ma'am, my last, and I hope you will like it. I discovered what +Clara was at, and got my rival suit ready for to-day. I'm not going +to 'afflict' Rose, but let her choose, and if I'm not entirely mistaken, +she will like my rig best. While we wait I'll explain, and then you +will appreciate the general effect better. I got hold of this little +book, and was struck with its good sense and good taste, for it +suggests a way to clothe women both healthfully and handsomely, +and that is a great point. It begins at the foundations, as you will +see if you will look at these pictures, and I should think women +would rejoice at this lightening of their burdens." + +As he spoke, the Doctor laid the book before Aunt Plenty, who +obediently brought her spectacles to bear upon the illustrations, +and after a long look exclaimed, with a scandalised face + +"Mercy on us, these things are like the night-drawers Jamie wears! +You don't mean to say you want Rose to come out in this costume? +It's not proper, and I won't consent to it!" + +"I do mean it, and I'm sure my sensible aunt will consent when she +understands that these well I'll call them by an Indian name, and +say pajamas are for underwear, and Rose can have as pretty frocks +as she likes outside. These two suits of flannel, each in one piece +from head to foot, with a skirt or so hung on this easily-fitting +waist, will keep the child warm without burdening her with belts, +and gathers, and buckles, and bunches round the waist, and leave +free the muscles that need plenty of room to work in. She shall +never have the back-ache if I can help it, nor the long list of ills +you dear women think you cannot escape." + +"I don't consider it modest, and I'm sure Rose will be shocked at +it," began Mrs. Clara, but stopped suddenly, as Rose appeared in +the doorway, not looking shocked a bit. + +"Come on, my hygienic model, and let us see you," said her uncle, +with an approving glance, as she walked in, looking so +mischievously merry, that it was evident she enjoyed the joke. + +"Well, I don't see anything remarkable. That is a neat, plain suit; +the materials are good, and it's not unbecoming, if you want her to +look like a little school-girl; but it has not a particle of style, and +no one would ever give it a second glance," said Mrs. Clara, +feeling that her last remark condemned the whole thing. + +"Exactly what I want," answered the provoking Doctor, rubbing his +hands with a satisfied air. "Rosy looks now like what she is, a +modest little girl, who does not want to be stared at. I think she +would get a glance of approval, though, from people who like +sense and simplicity rather than fuss and feathers. Revolve, my +Hebe, and let me refresh my eyes by the sight of you." + +There was very little to see, however, only a pretty Gabrielle dress, +of a soft warm shade of brown, coming to the tops of a trim pair of +boots with low heels. A seal-skin sack, cap, and mittens, with a +glimpse of scarlet at the throat, and the pretty curls tied up with a +bright velvet of the same colour, completed the external +adornment, making her look like a robin redbreast wintry, yet +warm. + +"How do you like it, Rosy?" asked the Doctor, feeling that her +opinion was more important to the success of his new idea than +that of all the aunts on the hill. + +"I feel very odd and light, but I'm warm as a toast, and nothing +seems to be in my way," answered Rose, with a skip which +displayed shapely gaiters on legs that now might be as free and +active as a boy's under the modest skirts of the girl. + +"You can run away from the mad dogs, and walk off at a smart +pace without tumbling on your nose, now, I fancy?" + +"Yes, uncle! suppose the dog coming, I just hop over a wall so and +when I walk of a cold day, I go like this " + +Entering fully into the spirit of the thing, Rose swung herself over +the high back of the sofa as easily as one of her cousins, and then +went down the long hall as if her stout boots were related to the +famous seven-leaguers. + +"There! you see how it will be; dress her in that boyish way and +she will act like a boy. I do hate all these inventions of +strong-minded women!" exclaimed Mrs. Clara, as Rose came back +at a run. + +"Ah, but you see some of these sensible inventions come from the +brain of a fashionable modiste, who will make you more lovely, or +what you value more 'stylish' outside and comfortable within. Mrs. +Van Tassel has been to Madame Stone, and is wearing a full suit +of this sort. Van himself told me, when I asked how she was, that +she had given up lying on the sofa, and was going about in a most +astonishing way, considering her feeble health." + +"You don't say so! Let me see that book a moment," and Aunt +Clara examined the new patterns with a more respectful air, for if +the elegant Mrs. Van Tassel wore these "dreadful things" it would +never do to be left behind, in spite of her prejudices. + +Dr. Alec looked at Mrs. Jessie, and both smiled, for "little Mum" +had been in the secret, and enjoyed it mightily. + +"I thought that would settle it," he said with a nod. + +"I didn't wait for Mrs. Van to lead the way, and for once in my life +I have adopted a new fashion before Clara. My freedom suit is +ordered, and you may see me playing tag with Rose and the boys +before long," answered Mrs. Jessie, nodding back at him. + +Meantime Aunt Plenty was examining Rose's costume, for the hat +and sack were off, and the girl was eagerly explaining the new +under-garments. + +"See, auntie, all nice scarlet flannel, and a gay little petticoat, and +long stockings, oh, so warm! Phebe and I nearly died laughing +when I put this rig on, but I like it ever so much. The dress is so +comfortable, and doesn't need any belt or sash, and I can sit +without rumpling any trimming, that's such a comfort! I like to be +tidy, and so, when I wear fussed-up things, I'm thinking of my +clothes all the time, and that's tiresome. Do say you like it. I +resolved I would, just to please uncle, for he does know more +about health than anyone else, I'm sure, and I'd wear a bag if he +asked me to do it." + +"I don't ask that, Rose, but I wish you'd weigh and compare the two +suits, and then choose which seems best. I leave it to your own +commonsense," answered Dr. Alec, feeling pretty sure he had won. + +"Why, I take this one, of course, uncle. The other is fashionable, +and yes I must say I think it's pretty but it's very heavy, and I +should have to go round like a walking doll if I wore it. I'm much +obliged to auntie, but I'll keep this, please." + +Rose spoke gently but decidedly, though there was a look of regret +when her eye fell on the other suit which Phebe had brought in; +and it was very natural to like to look as other girls did. Aunt Clara +sighed; Uncle Alec smiled, and said heartily + +"Thank you, dear; now read this book and you will understand why +I ask it of you. Then, if you like, I'll give you a new lesson; you +asked for one yesterday, and this is more necessary than French or +housekeeping." + +"Oh, what?" and Rose caught up the book which Mrs. Clara had +thrown down with a disgusted look. + +Though Dr. Alec was forty, the boyish love of teasing was not yet +dead in him, and, being much elated at his victory, he could not +resist the temptation of shocking Mrs. Clara by suggesting dreadful +possibilities, so he answered, half in earnest, half in jest, +"Physiology, Rose. Wouldn't you like to be a little medical student, +with Uncle Doctor for teacher, and be ready to take up his practice +when he has to stop? If you agree, I'll hunt up my old skeleton +to-morrow." + +That was too much for Aunt Clara, and she hastily departed, with +her mind in a sad state of perturbation about Mrs. Van Tassel's +new costume and Rose's new study. + + + +Chapter 19 - Brother Bones + +Rose accepted her uncle's offer, as Aunt Myra discovered two or +three days later. Coming in for an early call, and hearing voices in +the study, she opened the door, gave a cry and shut it quickly, +looking a good deal startled. The Doctor appeared in a moment, +and begged to know what the matter was. + +"How can you ask when that long box looks so like a coffin I +thought it was one, and that dreadful thing stared me in the face as +I opened the door," answered Mrs. Myra, pointing to the skeleton +that hung from the chandelier cheerfully grinning at all beholders. + +"This is a medical college where women are freely admitted, so +walk in, madam, and join the class if you'll do me the honour," +said the Doctor, waving her forward with his politest bow. + +"Do, auntie, it's perfectly splendid," cried Rose's voice, and Rose's +blooming face was seen behind the ribs of the skeleton, smiling +and nodding in the gayest possible manner. + +"What are you doing, child?" demanded Aunt Myra, dropping into +a chair and staring about her. + +"Oh, I'm learning bones to-day, and I like it so much. There are +twelve ribs, you know, and the two lower ones are called floating +ribs, because they are not fastened to the breastbone. That's why +they go in so easily if you lace tight and squeeze the lungs and +heart in the let me see, what was that big word oh, I know thoracic +cavity," and Rose beamed with pride as she aired her little bit of +knowledge. + +"Do you think that is a good sort of thing for her to be poking +over? She is a nervous child, and I'm afraid it will be bad for her," +said Aunt Myra, watching Rose as she counted vertebrae, and +waggled a hip-joint in its socket with an inquiring expression. + +"An excellent study, for she enjoys it, and I mean to teach her how +to manage her nerves so that they won't be a curse to her, as many +a woman's become through ignorance or want of thought. To make +a mystery or terror of these things is a mistake, and I mean Rose +shall understand and respect her body so well that she won't dare +to trifle with it as most women do." + +"And she really likes it?" + +"Very much, auntie! It's all so wonderful, and so nicely planned, +you can hardly believe what you see. Just think, there are +600,000,000 air cells in one pair of lungs, and 2,000 pores to a +square inch of surface; so you see what quantities of air we must +have, and what care we should take of our skin so all the little +doors will open and shut right. And brains, auntie, you've no idea +how curious they are; I haven't got to them yet, but I long to, and +uncle is going to show me a manikin that you can take to pieces. +Just think how nice it will be to see all the organs in their places; +I only wish they could be made to work as ours do." + +It was funny to see Aunt Myra's face as Rose stood before her +talking rapidly with one hand laid in the friendliest manner on the +skeleton's shoulder. Every word both the Doctor and Rose uttered +hit the good lady in her weakest spot, and as she looked and +listened a long array of bottles and pill-boxes rose up before her, +reproaching her with the "ignorance and want of thought" that +made her what she was, a nervous, dyspeptic, unhappy old woman. + +"Well, I don't know but you may be right, Alec, only I wouldn't +carry it too far. Women don't need much of this sort of knowledge, +and are not fit for it. I couldn't bear to touch that ugly thing, and it +gives me the creeps to hear about 'organs,' " said Aunt Myra, with a +sigh and her hand on her side. + +"Wouldn't it be a comfort to know that your liver was on the right +side, auntie, and not on the left!" asked Rose with a naughty laugh +in her eyes, for she had lately learnt that Aunt Myra's liver +complaint was not in the proper place. + +"It's a dying world, child, and it don't much matter where the pain +is, for sooner or later we all drop off and are seen no more," was +Aunt Myra's cheerful reply. + +"Well, I intend to know what kills me if I can, and meantime, I'm +going to enjoy myself in spite of a dying world. I wish you'd do so +too, and come and study with uncle, it would do you good, I'm +sure," and Rose went back to counting vertebrae with such a happy +face, that Aunt Myra had not the heart to say a word to dampen her +ardour. + +"Perhaps it's as well to let her do what she likes the little while she +is with us. But pray be careful of her, Alec, and not allow her to +overwork," she whispered as she went out. + +"That's exactly what I'm trying to do, ma'am, and rather a hard job +I find it," he added, as he shut the door, for the dear aunts were +dreadfully in his way sometimes. + +Half an hour later came another interruption in the shape of Mac, +who announced his arrival by the brief but elegant remark + +"Hullo! what new game is this?" + +Rose explained, Mac gave a long whistle of surprise, and then took +a promenade round the skeleton, observing gravely + +"Brother Bones looks very jolly, but I can't say much for his +beauty." + +"You mustn't make fun of him, for he's a good old fellow, and +you'd be just as ugly if your flesh was off," said Rose, defending +her new friend with warmth. + +"I dare say, so I'll keep my flesh on, thank you. You are so busy +you can't read to a fellow, I suppose?" asked Mac, whose eyes +were better, but still too weak for books. + +"Don't you want to come and join my class? Uncle explains it all to +us, and you can take a look at the plates as they come along. We'll +give up bones today and have eyes instead; that will be more +interesting to you," added Rose, seeing no ardent thirst for +physiological information in his face. + +"Rose, we must not fly about from one thing to another in this +way," began Dr. Alec, but she whispered quickly, with a nod +towards Mac, whose goggles were turned wistfully in the direction +of the forbidden books + +"He's blue to-day, and we must amuse him; give a little lecture on +eyes, and it will do him good. No matter about me, uncle." + +"Very well; the class will please be seated," and the Doctor gave a +sounding rap on the table. + +"Come, sit by me, dear, then we can both see the pictures; and if +your head gets tired you can lie down," said Rose, generously +opening her little college to a brother, and kindly providing for the +weaknesses that all humanity is subject to. + +Side by side they sat and listened to a very simple explanation of +the mechanism of the eye, finding it as wonderful as a fairy tale, +for fine plates illustrated it, and a very willing teacher did his best +to make the lesson pleasant. + +"Jove! if I'd known what mischief I was doing to that mighty +delicate machine of mine, you wouldn't have caught me reading by +firelight, or studying with a glare of sunshine on my book," said +Mac, peering solemnly at a magnified eye-ball; then, pushing it +away, he added indignantly, "Why isn't a fellow taught all about +his works, and how to manage 'em, and not left to go blundering +into all sorts of worries? Telling him after he's down isn't much +use, for then he's found it out himself and won't thank you." + +"Ah, Mac, that's just what I keep lecturing about, and people won't +listen. You lads need that sort of knowledge so much, and fathers +and mothers ought to be able to give it to you. Few of them are +able, and so we all go blundering, as you say. Less Greek and Latin +and more knowledge of the laws of health for my boys, if I had +them. Mathematics are all very well, but morals are better, and I +wish, how I wish that I could help teachers and parents to feel it as +they ought." + +"Some do; Aunt Jessie and her boys have capital talks, and I wish +we could; but mother's so busy with her housekeeping, and father +with his business, there never seems to be any time for that sort of +thing; even if there was, it don't seem as if it would be easy to talk +to them, because we've never got into the way of it, you know." + +Poor Mac was right there, and expressed a want that many a boy +and girl feels. Fathers and mothers are too absorbed in business +and housekeeping to study their children, and cherish that sweet +and natural confidence which is a child's surest safeguard, and a +parent's subtlest power. So the young hearts hide trouble or +temptation till the harm is done, and mutual regret comes too late. +Happy the boys and girls who tell all things freely to father or +mother, sure of pity, help, and pardon; and thrice happy the parents +who, out of their own experience, and by their own virtues, can +teach and uplift the souls for which they are responsible. + +This longing stirred in the hearts of Rose and Mac, and by a +natural impulse both turned to Dr. Alec, for in this queer world of +ours, fatherly and motherly hearts often beat warm and wise in the +breasts of bachelor uncles and maiden aunts; and it is my private +opinion that these worthy creatures are a beautiful provision of +nature for the cherishing of other people's children. They certainly +get great comfort out of it, and receive much innocent affection +that otherwise would be lost. + +Dr. Alec was one of these, and his big heart had room for every +one of the eight cousins, especially orphaned Rose and afflicted +Mac; so, when the boy uttered that unconscious reproach to his +parents, and Rose added with a sigh, "It must be beautiful to have a +mother!" the good Doctor yearned over them, and, shutting his +book with a decided slam, said in that cordial voice of his + +"Now, look here, children, you just come and tell me all your +worries, and with God's help, I'll settle them for you. That is what +I'm here for, I believe, and it will be a great happiness to me if you +can trust me." + +"We can, uncle, and we will!" both answered, with a heartiness +that gratified him much. + +"Good! now school is dismissed, and I advise you to go and refresh +your 600,000,000 air cells by a brisk run in the garden. Come +again whenever you like, Mac, and we'll teach you all we can +about your 'works,' as you call them, so you can keep them running +smoothly." + +"We'll come, sir, much obliged," and the class in physiology went +out to walk. + +Mac did come again, glad to find something he could study in spite +of his weak eyes, and learned much that was of more value than +anything his school had ever taught him. + +Of course, the other lads made great fun of the whole thing, and +plagued Dr. Alec's students half out of their lives. But they kept on +persistently, and one day something happened which made the +other fellows behave themselves for ever after. + +It was a holiday, and Rose up in her room thought she heard the +voices of her cousins, so she ran down to welcome them, but found +no one there. + +"Never mind, they will be here soon, and then we'll have a frolic," +she said to herself, and thinking she had been mistaken she went +into the study to wait. She was lounging over the table looking at a +map when an odd noise caught her ear. A gentle tapping +somewhere, and following the sound it seemed to come from the +inside of the long case in which the skeleton lived when not +professionally engaged. This case stood upright in a niche between +two book-cases at the back of the room, a darkish corner, where +Brother Bones, as the boys would call him, was out of the way. + +As Rose stood looking in that direction, and wondering if a rat had +got shut in, the door of the case swung slowly open, and with a +great start she saw a bony arm lifted, and a bony finger beckon to +her. For a minute she was frightened, and ran to the study door +with a fluttering heart, but just as she touched the handle a queer, +stifled sort of giggle made her stop short and turn red with anger. +She paused an instant to collect herself, and then went softly +toward the bony beckoner. A nearer look revealed black threads +tied to the arm and fingers, the ends of threads disappearing +through holes bored in the back of the case. Peeping into the dark +recess, she also caught sight of the tip of an elbow covered with a +rough gray cloth which she knew very well. + +Quick as a flash she understood the joke, her fear vanished, and +with a wicked smile, she whipped out her scissors, cut the threads, +and the bony arm dropped with a rattle. Before she could say, +"Come out, Charlie, and let my skeleton alone," a sudden irruption +of boys, all in a high state of tickle, proclaimed to the hidden rogue +that his joke was a failure. + +"I told him not to do it, because it might give you a start," +explained Archie, emerging from the closet. + +"I had a smelling bottle all ready if she fainted away," added Steve, +popping up from behind the great chair. + +"It's too bad of you not to squawk and run; we depended on it, it's +such fun to howl after you," said Will and Geordie, rolling out +from under the sofa in a promiscuous heap. + +"You are getting altogether too strong-minded, Rose; most girls +would have been in a jolly twitter to see this old fellow waggling +his finger at them," complained Charlie, squeezing out from his +tight quarters, dusty and disgusted. + +"I'm used to your pranks now, so I'm always on the watch and +prepared. But I won't have Brother Bones made fun of. I know +uncle wouldn't like it, so please don't," began Rose just as Dr. Alec +came in, and, seeing the state of the case at a glance, he said +quietly + +"Hear how I got that skeleton, and then I'm sure you will treat it +with respect." + +The boys settled down at once on any article of furniture that was +nearest and listened dutifully. + +"Years ago, when I was in the hospital, a poor fellow was brought +there with a rare and very painful disease. There was no hope for +him, but we did our best, and he was so grateful that when he died +he left us his body that we might discover the mysteries of his +complaint, and so be able to help others afflicted in the same way. +It did do good, and his brave patience made us remember him long +after he was gone. He thought I had been kind to him, and said to a +fellow-student of mine, 'Tell the Doctor I lave him me bones, for +I've nothing else in the wide world, and I'll nos be wanting 'em at +all, at all, when the great pain hat kilt me entirely.' So that is how +they came to be mine, and why I've kept them carefully, for, +though only a poor, ignorant fellow, Mike Nolan did what he could +to help others, and prove his gratitude to those who tried to help +him." + +As Dr. Alec paused, Archie closed the door of the case as +respectfully as if the mummy of an Egyptian king was inside; Will +and Geordie looked solemnly at one another, evidently much +impressed, and Charlie pensively remarked from the coal-hod +where he sat + +"I've often heard of a skeleton in the house, but I think few people +have one as useful and as interesting as ours." + + + +Chapter 20 - Under The Mistletoe + +Rose made Phebe promise that she would bring her stocking into +the "Bower," as she called her pretty room, on Christmas morning, +because that first delicious rummage loses half its charm if two +little night-caps at least do not meet over the treasures, and two +happy voices Oh and Ah together. + +So when Rose opened her eyes that day they fell upon faithful +Phebe, rolled up in a shawl, sitting on the rug before a blazing fire, +with her untouched stocking laid beside her. + +"Merry Christmas!" cried the little mistress smiling gaily. + +"Merry Christmas!" answered the little maid, so heartily that it did +one good to hear her. + +"Bring the stockings right away, Phebe, and let's see what we've +got," said Rose, sitting up among the pillows, and looking as eager +as a child. + +A pair of long knobby hose were laid out upon the coverlet, and +their contents examined with delight, though each knew every +blessed thing that had been put into the other's stocking. + +Never mind what they were; it is evident that they were quite +satisfactory, for as Rose leaned back, she said, with a luxurious +sigh of satisfaction, "Now, I believe I've got everything in the +world that I want," and Phebe answered, smiling over a lapful of +treasures, "This is the most splendid Christmas I ever had since I +was born." Then she added with an important air + +"Do wish for something else, because I happen to know of two +more presents outside the door this minute." + +"Oh, me, what richness!" cried Rose, much excited. "I used to wish +for a pair of glass slippers like Cinderella's, but as I can't have +them, I really don't know what to ask for." + +Phebe clapped her hands as she skipped off the bed and ran to the +door, saying merrily, "One of them is for your feet, anyway. I don't +know what you'll say to the other, but I think it's elegant." + +So did Rose, when a shining pair of skates and a fine sled +appeared. + +"Uncle sent those; I know he did; and, now I see them, I remember +that I did want to skate and coast. Isn't it a beauty? See! they fit +nicely," and, sitting on the new sled, Rose tried a skate on her little +bare foot, while Phebe stood by admiring the pretty tableau. + +"Now we must hurry and get dressed, for there is a deal to do +to-day, and I want to get through in time to try my sled before +dinner." + +"Gracious me, and I ought to be dusting my parlors this blessed +minute!" and mistress and maid separated with such happy faces +that anyone would have known what day it was without being told. + +"Birnam Wood has come to Dunsinane, Rosy," said Dr. Alec, as he +left the breakfast table to open the door for a procession of holly, +hemlock, and cedar boughs that came marching up the steps. + +Snowballs and "Merry Christmases!" flew about pretty briskly for +several minutes; then all fell to work trimming the old house, for +the family always dined together there on that day. + +"I rode miles and mileses, as Ben says, to get this fine bit, and I'm +going to hang it there as the last touch to the rig-a-madooning," +said Charlie, as he fastened a dull green branch to the chandelier in +the front parlor. + +"It isn't very pretty," said Rose, who was trimming the +chimney-piece with glossy holly sprays. + +"Never mind that, it's mistletoe, and anyone who stands under it +will get kissed whether they like it or not. Now's your time, ladies," +answered the saucy Prince, keeping his place and looking +sentimentally at the girls, who retired precipitately from the +dangerous spot. + +"You won't catch me," said Rose, with great dignity. + +"See if I don't!" + +"I've got my eye on Phebe," observed Will, in a patronising tone +that made them all laugh. + +"Bless the dear; I shan't mind it a bit," answered Phebe, with such a +maternal air that Will's budding gallantry was chilled to death. + +"Oh, the mistletoe bough," sang Rose. + +"Oh, the mistletoe bough!" echoed all the boys, and the teasing +ended in the plaintive ballad they all liked so well. + +There was plenty of time to try the new skates before dinner, and +then Rose took her first lesson on the little bay, which seemed to +have frozen over for that express purpose. She found tumbling +down and getting up again warm work for a time, but with six boys +to teach her, she managed at last to stand alone; and, satisfied with +that success, she refreshed herself with a dozen grand coasts on the +Amazon, as her sled was called. + +"Ah, that fatal colour! it breaks my heart to see it," croaked Aunt +Myra, as Rose came down a little late, with cheeks almost as ruddy +as the holly berries on the wall, and every curl as smooth as +Phebe's careful hands could make it. + +"I'm glad to see that Alec allows the poor child to make herself +pretty in spite of his absurd notions," added Aunt Clara, taking +infinite satisfaction in the fact that Rose's blue silk dress had three +frills on it. + +"She's a very intelligent child, and has a nice little manner of her +own," observed Aunt Jane, with unusual affability; for Rose had +just handed Mac a screen to guard his eyes from the brilliant fire. + +"If I had a daughter like that to show my Jem when he gets home, I +should be a very proud and happy woman," thought Aunt Jessie, +and then reproached herself for not being perfectly satisfied with +her four brave lads. + +Aunt Plenty was too absorbed in the dinner to have an eye for +anything else; if she had not been, she would have seen what an +effect her new cap produced upon the boys. The good lady owned +that she did "love a dressy cap," and on this occasion her head gear +was magnificent; for the towering structure of lace was adorned +with buff ribbons to such an extent that it looked as if a flock of +yellow butterflies had settled on her dear old head. When she +trotted about the rooms the ruches quivered, the little bows all +stood erect, and the streamers waved in the breeze so comically +that it was absolutely necessary for Archie to smother the Brats in +the curtains till they had had their first laugh out. + +Uncle Mac had brought Fun See to dinner, and it was a mercy he +did, for the elder lads found a vent for their merriment in joking +the young Chinaman on his improved appearance. He was in +American costume now, with a cropped head, and spoke +remarkably good English after six months at school; but, for all +that, his yellow face and beady eyes made a curious contrast to the +blonde Campbells all about him. Will called him the "Typhoon," +meaning Tycoon, and the name stuck to him to his great disgust. + +Aunt Peace was brought down and set in the chair of state at table, +for she never failed to join the family on this day, and sat smiling +at them all, "like an embodiment of Peace on earth," Uncle Alec +said, as he took his place beside her, while Uncle Mac supported +Aunt Plenty at the other end. + +"I ate hardly any breakfast, and I've done everything I know to +make myself extra hungry, but I really don't think I can eat straight +through, unless I burst my buttons off," whispered Geordie to Will, +as he surveyed the bounteous stores before him with a hopeless +sigh. + +"A fellow never knows what he can do till he tries," answered +Will, attacking his heaped-up plate with an evident intention of +doing his duty like a man. + +Everybody knows what a Christmas dinner is, so we need waste no +words in describing this one, but hasten at once to tell what +happened at the end of it. The end, by the way, was so long in +coming that the gas was lighted before dessert was over, for a +snow flurry had come on and the wintry daylight faded fast. But +that only made it all the jollier in the warm, bright rooms, full of +happy souls. Everyone was very merry, but Archie seemed +particularly uplifted so much so, that Charlie confided to Rose that +he was afraid the Chief had been at the decanters. + +Rose indignantly denied the insinuation, for when healths were +drunk in the good old-fashioned way to suit the elders, she had +observed that Aunt Jessie's boys filled their glasses with water, and +had done the same herself in spite of the Prince's jokes about "the +rosy." + +But Archie certainly was unusually excited, and when someone +remembered that it was the anniversary of Uncle Jem's wedding, +and wished he was there to make a speech, his son electrified the +family by trying to do it for him. It was rather incoherent and +flowery, as maiden speeches are apt to be, but the end was +considered superb; for, turning to his mother with a queer little +choke in his voice, he said that she "deserved to be blessed with +peace and plenty, to be crowned with roses and lads'-love, and to +receive the cargo of happiness sailing home to her in spite of wind +or tide to add another Jem to the family jewels." + +That allusion to the Captain, now on his return trip, made Mrs. +Jessie sob in her napkin, and set the boys cheering. Then, as if that +was not sensation enough, Archie suddenly dashed out of the +room, as if he had lost his wits. + +"Too bashful to stay and be praised," began Charlie, excusing the +peculiarities of his chief as in duty bound. + +"Phebe beckoned to him; I saw her," cried Rose, staring hard at the +door. + +"Is it more presents coming?" asked Jamie, just as his brother +re-appeared, looking more excited than ever. + +"Yes; a present for mother, and here it is!" roared Archie, flinging +wide the door to let in a tall man, who cried out + +"Where's my little woman? The first kiss for her, then the rest may +come on as fast as they like." + +Before the words were out of his mouth, Mrs. Jessie was +half-hidden under his rough great-coat, and four boys were +prancing about him clamouring for their turn. + +Of course, there was a joyful tumult for a time, during which Rose +slipped into the window recess and watched what went on, as if it +were a chapter in a Christmas story. It was good to see bluff Uncle +Jem look proudly at his tall son, and fondly hug the little ones. It +was better still to see him shake his brothers' hands as if he would +never leave off, and kiss all the sisters in a way that made even +solemn Aunt Myra brighten up for a minute. But it was best of all +to see him finally established in grandfather's chair, with his "little +woman" beside him, his three youngest boys in his lap, and Archie +hovering over him like a large-sized cherub. That really was, as +Charlie said, "A landscape to do one's heart good." + +"All hearty and all here, thank God!" said Captain Jem in the first +pause that came, as he looked about him with a grateful face. + +"All but Rose," answered loyal little Jamie, remembering the +absent. + +"Faith, I forgot the child! Where is George's little girl?" asked the +Captain, who had not seen her since she was a baby. + +"You'd better say Alec's great girl," said Uncle Mac, who professed +to be madly jealous of his brother. + +"Here I am, sir," and Rose appeared from behind the curtains, +looking as if she had rather have stayed there. + +"Saint George Germain, how the mite has grown!" cried Captain +Jem, as he tumbled the boys out of his lap, and rose to greet the +tall girl, like a gentleman as he was. But, somehow, when he shook +her hand it looked so small in his big one, and her face reminded +him so strongly of his dead brother, that he was not satisfied with +so cold a welcome, and with a sudden softening of the keen eyes +he took her up in his arms, whispering, with a rough cheek against +her smooth one + +"God bless you, child! forgive me if I forgot you for a minute, and +be sure that not one of your kinsfolk is happier to see you here than +Uncle Jem." + +That made it all right; and when he set her down, Rose's face was +so bright it was evident that some spell had been used to banish the +feeling of neglect that had kept her moping behind the curtain so +long. + +That everyone sat round and heard all about the voyage home how +the Captain had set his heart on getting there in time to keep +Christmas; how everything had conspired to thwart his plan; and +how, at the very last minute, he had managed to do it, and had sent +a telegram to Archie, bidding him keep the secret, and be ready for +his father at any moment, for the ship got into another port, and he +might be late. + +Then Archie told how that telegram had burnt in his pocket all +dinner-time; how he had to take Phebe into his confidence, and +how clever she was to keep the Captain back till the speech was +over and he could come in with effect. + +The elders would have sat and talked all the evening, but the +young folks were bent on having their usual Christmas frolic; so, +after an hour of pleasant chat, they began to get restless, and +having consulted together in dumb show, they devised a way to +very effectually break up the family council. + +Steve vanished, and, sooner than the boys imagined Dandy could +get himself up, the skirl of the bag-pipe was heard in the hall, and +the bonny piper came to lead Clan Campbell to the revel. + +"Draw it mild, Stenie, my man; ye play unco weel, but ye mak a +most infernal din," cried Uncle Jem, with his hands over his ears, +for this accomplishment was new to him, and "took him all aback," +as he expressed it. + +So Steve droned out a Highland reel as softly as he could, and the +boys danced it to a circle of admiring relations. Captain Jem was a +true sailor, however, and could not stand idle while anything lively +was going on; so, when the piper's breath gave out, he cut a +splendid pigeon-wing into the middle of the hall, saying, "Who can +dance a Fore and After?" and, waiting for no reply, began to +whistle the air so invitingly that Mrs Jessie "set" to him laughing +like a girl; Rose and Charlie took their places behind, and away +went the four with a spirit and skill that inspired all the rest to "cut +in" as fast as they could. + +That was a grand beginning, and they had many another dance +before anyone would own they were tired. Even Fun See +distinguished himself with Aunt Plenty, whom he greatly admired +as the stoutest lady in the company; plumpness being considered a +beauty in his country. The merry old soul professed herself +immensely flattered by his admiration, and the boys declared she +"set her cap at him," else he would never have dared to catch her +under the mistletoe, and, rising on the tips of his own toes, +gallantly salute her fat cheek. + +How they all laughed at her astonishment, and how Fun's little +black eyes twinkled over this exploit! Charlie put him up to it, and +Charlie was so bent on catching Rose, that he laid all sorts of +pitfalls for her, and bribed the other lads to help him. But Rose +was wide-awake, and escaped all his snares, professing great +contempt for such foolish customs. Poor Phebe did not fare so +well, and Archie was the only one who took a base advantage of +her as she stood innocently offering tea to Aunt Myra, whom she +happened to meet just under the fatal bough. If his father's arrival +had not rather upset him, I doubt if the dignified Chief would have +done it, for he apologized at once in the handsomest manner, and +caught the tray that nearly dropped from Phebe's hands. + +Jamie boldly invited all the ladies to come and salute him; and as +for Uncle Jem, he behaved as if the entire room was a grove of +mistletoe. Uncle Alec slyly laid a bit of it on Aunt Peace's cap, and +then softly kissed her; which little joke seemed to please her very +much, for she liked to have part in all the home pastimes, and Alec +was her favourite nephew. + +Charlie alone failed to catch his shy bird, and the oftener she +escaped the more determined he was to ensnare her. When every +other wile had been tried in vain, he got Archie to propose a game +with forfeits. + +"I understand that dodge," thought Rose, and was on her guard so +carefully that not one among the pile soon collected belonged to +her. + +"Now let us redeem them and play something else," said Will, +quite unconscious of the deeply-laid plots all about him. + +"One more round and then we will," answered the Prince, who had +now baited his trap anew. + +Just as the question came to Rose, Jamie's voice was heard in the +hall, crying distressfully, "Oh, come quick, quick!" Rose started +up, missed the question, and was greeted with a general cry of +"Forfeit! forfeit!" in which the little traitor came to join. + +"Now I've got her," thought the young rascal, exulting in his +fun-loving soul. + +"Now I'm lost," thought Rose, as she gave up her pin-cushion with +a sternly defiant look that would have daunted anyone but the +reckless Prince. In fact, it made even him think twice, and resolve +to "let Rose off easy,'' she had been so clever. + +"Here's a very pretty pawn, and what shall be done to redeem it?" +asked Steve, holding the pin-cushion over Charlie's head, for he +had insisted on being judge, and kept that for the last. + +"Fine or superfine?" + +"Super." + +"Hum, well, she shall take old Mac under the mistletoe, and kiss +him prettily. Won't he be mad, though?" and this bad boy chuckled +over the discomfort he had caused two harmless beings. + +There was an impressive pause among the young folks in their +corner, for they all knew that Mac would "be mad," since he hated +nonsense of this sort, and had gone to talk with the elders when the +game began. At this moment he was standing before the fire, +listening to a discussion between his uncles and his father, looking +as wise as a young owl, and blissfully unconscious of the plots +against him. + +Charlie expected that Rose would say, "I won't!" therefore he was +rather astonished, not to say gratified, when, after a look at the +victim, she laughed suddenly, and, going up to the group of +gentlemen, drew her uncle Mac under the mistletoe and surprised +him with a hearty kiss. + +"Thank you, my dear," said the innocent gentleman, looking much +pleased at the unexpected honour. + +"Oh, come; that's not fair," began Charlie. But Rose cut him short +by saying, as she made him a fine courtesy + +"You said 'Old Mac,' and though it was very disrespectful, I did it. +That was your last chance, sir, and you've lost it." + +He certainly had, for, as he spoke, Rose pulled down the mistletoe +and threw it into the fire, while the boys jeered at the crestfallen +Prince, and exalted quick-witted Rose to the skies. + +"What's the joke?" asked young Mac, waked out of a brown study +by the laughter, in which the elders joined. + +But there was a regular shout when, the matter having been +explained to him, Mac took a meditative stare at Rose through his +goggles, and said in a philosophical tone, "Well, I don't think I +should have minded much if she had done it." + +That tickled the lads immensely, and nothing but the appearance of +a slight refection would have induced them to stop chaffing the +poor Worm, who could not see anything funny in the beautiful +resignation he had shown on this trying occasion. + +Soon after this, the discovery of Jamie curled up in the sofa corner, +as sound asleep as a dormouse, suggested the propriety of going +home, and a general move was made. + +They were all standing about the hall lingering over the +good-nights, when the sound of a voice softly singing "Sweet +Home," made them pause and listen. It was Phebe, poor little +Phebe, who never had a home, never knew the love of father or +mother, brother or sister; who stood all alone in the wide world, +yet was not sad nor afraid, but took her bits of happiness +gratefully, and sung over her work without a thought of discontent. + +I fancy the happy family standing there together remembered this +and felt the beauty of it, for when the solitary voice came to the +burden of its song, other voices took it up and finished it so +sweetly, that the old house seemed to echo the word "Home" in the +ears of both the orphan girls, who had just spent their first +Christmas under its hospitable roof. + + + +Chapter 21 - A Scare + +"Brother Alec, you surely don't mean to allow that child to go out +such a bitter cold day as this," said Mrs. Myra, looking into the +study, where the Doctor sat reading his paper, one February +morning. + +"Why not? If a delicate invalid like yourself can bear it, surely my +hearty girl can, especially as she is dressed for cold weather," +answered Dr. Alec with provoking confidence. + +"But you have no idea how sharp the wind is. I am chilled to the +very marrow of my bones," answered Aunt Myra, chafing the end +of her purple nose with her sombre glove. + +"I don't doubt it, ma'am, if you will wear crape and silk instead of +fur and flannel. Rosy goes out in all weathers, and will be none the +worse for an hour's brisk skating." + +"Well, I warn you that you are trifling with the child's health, and +depending too much on the seeming improvement she has made +this year. She is a delicate creature for all that, and will drop away +suddenly at the first serious attack, as her poor mother did," +croaked Aunt Myra, with a despondent wag of the big bonnet. + +"I'll risk it," answered Dr. Alec, knitting his brows, as he always +did when any allusion was made to that other Rose. + +"Mark my words, you will repent it," and with that awful prophecy, +Aunt Myra departed like a black shadow. + +Now it must be confessed that among the Doctor's failings and he +had his share was a very masculine dislike of advice which was +thrust upon him unasked. He always listened with respect to the +great-aunts, and often consulted Mrs. Jessie; but the other three +ladies tried his patience sorely, by constant warnings, complaints +and counsels. Aunt Myra was an especial trial, and he always +turned contrary the moment she began to talk. He could not help it, +and often laughed about it with comic frankness. Here now was a +sample of it, for he had just been thinking that Rose had better +defer her run till the wind went down and the sun was warmer. But +Aunt Myra spoke, and he could not resist the temptation to make +light of her advice, and let Rose brave the cold. He had no fear of +its harming her, for she went out every day, and it was a great +satisfaction to him to see her run down the avenue a minute +afterward, with her skates on her arm, looking like a rosy-faced +Esquimaux in her seal-skin suit, as she smiled at Aunt Myra +stalking along as solemnly as a crow. + +"I hope the child won't stay out long, for this wind is enough to +chill the marrow in younger bones than Myra's," thought Dr. Alec, +half an hour later, as he drove toward the city to see the few +patients he had consented to take for old acquaintance' sake. + +The thought returned several times that morning, for it was truly a +bitter day, and, in spite of his bear-skin coat, the Doctor shivered. +But he had great faith in Rose's good sense, and it never occurred +to him that she was making a little Casabianca of herself, with the +difference of freezing instead of burning at her post. + +You see, Mac had made an appointment to meet her at a certain +spot, and have a grand skating bout as soon as the few lessons he +was allowed were over. She had promised to wait for him, and did +so with a faithfulness that cost her dear, because Mac forgot his +appointment when the lessons were done, and became absorbed in +a chemical experiment, till a general combustion of gases drove +him out of his laboratory. Then he suddenly remembered Rose, +and would gladly have hurried away to her, but his mother forbade +his going out, for the sharp wind would hurt his eyes. + +"She will wait and wait, mother, for she always keeps her word, +and I told her to hold on till I came," explained Mac, with visions +of a shivering little figure watching on the windy hill-top. + +"Of course, your uncle won't let her go out such a day as this. If he +does, she will have the sense to come here for you, or to go home +again when you don't appear," said Aunt Jane, returning to her +"Watts on the Mind." + +"I wish Steve would just cut up and see if she's there, since I can't +go," began Mac, anxiously. + +"Steve won't stir a peg, thank you. He's got his own toes to thaw +out, and wants his dinner," answered Dandy, just in from school, +and wrestling impatiently with his boots. + +So Mac resigned himself, and Rose waited dutifully till +dinner-time assured her that her waiting was in vain. She had done +her best to keep warm, had skated till she was tired and hot, then +stood watching others till she was chilled; tried to get up a glow +again by trotting up and down the road, but failed to do so, and +finally cuddled disconsolately under a pine-tree to wait and watch. +When she at length started for home, she was benumbed with cold, +and could hardly make her way against the wind that buffeted the +frost-bitten rose most unmercifully. + +Dr. Alec was basking in the warmth of the study fire, after his +drive, when the sound of a stifled sob made him hurry to the door +and look anxiously into the hall. Rose lay in a shivering bunch +near the register, with her things half off, wringing her hands, and +trying not to cry with the pain returning warmth brought to her +half-frozen fingers. + +"My darling, what is it?" and Uncle Alec had her in his arms in a +minute. + +"Mac didn't come I can't get warm the fire makes me ache!" and +with a long shiver Rose burst out crying, while her teeth chattered, +and her poor little nose was so blue, it made one's heart ache to see +it. + +In less time than it takes to tell it, Dr. Alec had her on the sofa +rolled up in the bear-skin coat, with Phebe rubbing her cold feet +while he rubbed the aching hands, and Aunt Plenty made a +comfortable hot drink, and Aunt Peace sent down her own +foot-warmer and embroidered blanket "for the dear." + +Full of remorseful tenderness, Uncle Alec worked over his new +patient till she declared she was all right again. He would not let +her get up to dinner, but fed her himself, and then forgot his own +while he sat watching her fall into a drowse, for Aunt Plenty's +cordial made her sleepy. + +She lay so several hours for the drowse deepened into a heavy +sleep, and Uncle Alec, still at his post, saw with growing anxiety +that a feverish colour began to burn in her cheeks, that her +breathing was quick and uneven, and now and then she gave a +little moan, as if in pain. Suddenly she woke up with a start, and +seeing Aunt Plenty bending over her, put out her arms like a sick +child, saying wearily + +"Please, could I go to bed?" + +"The best place for you, deary. Take her right up, Alec; I've got the +hot water ready, and after a nice bath, she shall have a cup of my +sage tea, and be rolled up in blankets to sleep off her cold," +answered the old lady, cheerily, as she bustled away to give orders. + +"Are you in pain, darling?" asked Uncle Alec, as he carried her up. + +"My side aches when I breathe, and I feel stiff and queer; but it +isn't bad, so don't be troubled, uncle," whispered Rose, with a little +hot hand against his cheek. + +But the poor doctor did look troubled, and had cause to do so, for +just then Rose tried to laugh at Dolly charging into the room with a +warming-pan, but could not, for the sharp pain took her breath +away and made her cry out. + +"Pleurisy," sighed Aunt Plenty, from the depths of the bath-tub. + +"Pewmonia!" groaned Dolly, burrowing among the bedclothes with +the long-handled pan, as if bent on fishing up that treacherous +disease. + +"Oh, is it bad?" asked Phebe, nearly dropping a pail of hot water in +her dismay, for she knew nothing of sickness, and Dolly's +suggestion had a peculiarly dreadful sound to her. + +"Hush!" ordered the Doctor, in a tone that silenced all further +predictions, and made everyone work with a will. + +"Make her as comfortable as you can, and when she is in her little +bed I'll come and say good-night," he added, when the bath was +ready and the blankets browning nicely before the fire. + +Then he went away to talk quite cheerfully to Aunt Peace about its +being "only a chill"; after which he tramped up and down the hall, +pulling his beard and knitting his brows, sure signs of great inward +perturbation. + +"I thought it would be too good luck to get through the year +without a downfall. Confound my perversity! Why couldn't I take +Myra's advice and keep Rose at home. It's not fair that the poor +child should suffer for my sinful over-confidence. She shall not +suffer for it! Pneumonia, indeed! I defy it," and he shook his fist in +the ugly face of an Indian idol that happened to be before him, as +if that particularly hideous god had some spite against his own +little goddess. + +In spite of his defiance his heart sunk when he saw Rose again, for +the pain was worse, and the bath and blankets, the warming-pan +and piping-hot sage tea, were all in vain. For several hours there +was no rest for the poor child, and all manner of gloomy +forebodings haunted the minds of those who hovered about her +with faces full of the tenderest anxiety. + +In the midst of the worst paroxysm Charlie came to leave a +message from his mother, and was met by Phebe coming +despondently downstairs with a mustard plaster that had brought +no relief. + +"What the dickens is the matter? You look as dismal as a +tombstone," he said, as she held up her hand to stop his lively +whistling. + +"Miss Rose is dreadful sick." + +"The deuce she is!" + +"Don't swear, Mr. Charlie; she really is, and it's Mr. Mac's fault," +and Phebe told the sad tale in a few sharp words, for she felt at war +with the entire race of boys at that moment. + +"I'll give it to him, make your mind easy about that," said Charlie, +with an ominous doubling up of his fist. "But Rose isn't +dangerously ill, is she?" he added anxiously, as Aunt Plenty was +seen to trot across the upper hall, shaking a bottle violently as she +went. + +"Oh, but she is though. The Doctor don't say much, but he don't +call it a 'chill' any more. It's 'pleurisy' now, and I'm so afraid it will +be pewmonia to-morrow," answered Phebe, with a despairing +glance at the plaster. + +Charlie exploded into a stifled laugh at the new pronunciation of +pneumonia, to Phebe's great indignation. + +"How can you have the heart to do it, and she in such horrid pain? +Hark to that, and then laugh if you darst," she said with a tragic +gesture, and her black eyes full of fire. + +Charlie listened and heard little moans that went to his heart and +made his face as sober as Phebe's. "O uncle, please stop the pain, +and let me rest a minute! Don't tell the boys I wasn't brave. I try to +bear it, but it's so sharp I can't help crying." + +Neither could Charlie, when he heard the broken voice say that; +but, boy-like, he wouldn't own it, and said pettishly, as he rubbed +his sleeve across his eyes + +"Don't hold that confounded thing right under my nose; the +mustard makes my eyes smart." + +"Don't see how it can, when it hasn't any more strength in it than +meal. The Doctor said so, and I'm going to get some better," began +Phebe, not a bit ashamed of the great tears that were bedewing the +condemned plaster. + +"I'll go!" and Charlie was off like a shot, glad of an excuse to get +out of sight for a few minutes. + +When he came back all inconvenient emotion had been disposed +of, and, having delivered a box of the hottest mustard procurable +for money, he departed to "blow up" Mac, that being his next duty +in his opinion. He did it so energetically and thoroughly that the +poor Worm was cast into the depths of remorseful despair, and +went to bed that evening feeling that he was an outcast from +among men, and bore the mark of Cain upon his brow. + +Thanks to the skill of the Doctor, and the devotion of his helpers, +Rose grew easier about midnight, and all hoped that the worst was +over. Phebe was making tea by the study fire, for the Doctor had +forgotten to eat and drink since Rose was ill, and Aunt Plenty +insisted on his having a "good cordial dish of tea" after his +exertions. A tap on the window startled Phebe, and, looking up, +she saw a face peering in. She was not afraid, for a second look +showed her that it was neither ghost nor burglar, but Mac, looking +pale and wild in the wintry moonlight. + +"Come and let a fellow in," he said in a low tone, and when he +stood in the hall he clutched Phebe's arm, whispering gruffly, +"How is Rose?" + +"Thanks be to goodness, she's better," answered Phebe, with a +smile that was like broad sunshine to the poor lad's anxious heart. + +"And she will be all right again to-morrow?" + +"Oh, dear no! Dolly says she's sure to have rheumatic fever, if she +don't have noo-monia!" answered Phebe, careful to pronounce the +word rightly this time. + +Down went Mac's face, and remorse began to gnaw at him again as +he gave a great sigh and said doubtfully + +"I suppose I couldn't see her?" + +"Of course not at this time of night, when we want her to go to +sleep!" + +Mac opened his mouth to say something more, when a sneeze +came upon him unawares, and a loud "Ah rash hoo!" awoke the +echoes of the quiet house. + +"Why didn't you stop it?" said Phebe reproachfully. "I dare say +you've waked her up." + +"Didn't know it was coming. Just my luck!" groaned Mac, turning +to go before his unfortunate presence did more harm. + +But a voice from the stair-head called softly, "Mac, come up; Rose +wants to see you." + +Up he went, and found his uncle waiting for him. + +"What brings you here at this hour, my boy?" asked the Doctor in a +whisper. + +"Charlie said it was all my fault, and if she died I'd killed her. I +couldn't sleep, so I came to see how she was, and no one knows it +but Steve," he said with such a troubled face and voice that the +Doctor had not the heart to blame him. + +Before he could say anything more a feeble voice called "Mac!" +and with a hasty "Stay a minute just to please her, and then slip +away, for I want her to sleep," the Doctor led him into the room. + +The face on the pillow looked very pale and childish, and the smile +that welcomed Mac was very faint, for Rose was spent with pain, +yet could not rest till she had said a word of comfort to her cousin. + +"I knew your funny sneeze, and I guessed that you came to see how +I did, though it is very late. Don't be worried, I'm better now, and it +is my fault I was ill, not yours; for I needn't have been so silly as to +wait in the cold just because I said I would." + +Mac hastened to explain, to load himself with reproaches, and to +beg her not to die on any account, for Charlie's lecture had made a +deep impression on the poor boy's mind. + +"I didn't know there was any danger of my dying," and Rose looked +up at him with a solemn expression in her great eyes. + +"Oh, I hope not; but people do sometimes go suddenly, you know, +and I couldn't rest till I'd asked you to forgive me," faltered Mac, +thinking that Rose looked very like an angel already, with the +golden hair loose on the pillow, and the meekness of suffering on +her little white face. + +"I don't think I shall die; uncle won't let me; but if I do, remember I +forgave you." + +She looked at him with a tender light in her eyes, and, seeing how +pathetic his dumb grief was, she added softly, drawing his head +down, "I wouldn't kiss you under the mistletoe, but I will now, for I +want you to be sure I do forgive and love you just the same." + +That quite upset poor Mac; he could only murmur his thanks and +get out of the room as fast as possible, to grope his way to the +couch at the far end of the hall, and lie there till he fell asleep, +worn out with trying not to "make a baby" of himself. + + + +Chapter 22 - Something to do + +Whatever danger there might have been from the effects of that +sudden chill, it was soon over, though, of course, Aunt Myra +refused to believe it, and Dr. Alec cherished his girl with +redoubled vigilance and tenderness for months afterward. Rose +quite enjoyed being sick, because as soon as the pain ended the fun +began, and for a week or two she led the life of a little princess +secluded in the Bower, while every one served, amused, and +watched over her in the most delightful manner. But the doctor +was called away to see an old friend, who was dangerously ill, and +then Rose felt like a young bird deprived of its mother's sheltering +wing; especially on one afternoon when the aunts were taking their +naps, and the house was very still within while snow fell softly +without. + +"I'll go and hunt up Phebe, she is always nice and busy, and likes to +have me help her. If Dolly is out of the way we can make caramels +and surprise the boys when they come," Rose said to herself, as she +threw down her book and felt ready for society of some sort. + +She took the precaution to peep through the slide before she +entered the kitchen, for Dolly allowed no messing when she was +round. But the coast was clear, and no one but Phebe appeared, +sitting at the table with her head on her arms apparently asleep. +Rose was just about to wake her with a "Boo!" when she lifted her +head, dried her wet eyes with her blue apron, and fell to work with +a resolute face on something she was evidently much interested in. +Rose could not make out what it was, and her curiosity was greatly +excited, for Phebe was writing with a sputtering pen on some bits +of brown paper, apparently copying something from a little book. + +"I must know what the dear thing is about, and why she cried, and +then set her lips tight and went to work with all her might," +thought Rose, forgetting all about the caramels, and, going round +to the door, she entered the kitchen, saying pleasantly + +"Phebe, I want something to do. Can't you let me help you about +anything, or shall I be in the way?" + +"Oh, dear no, miss; I always love to have you round when things +are tidy. What would you like to do?" answered Phebe, opening a +drawer as if about to sweep her own affairs out of sight; but Rose +stopped her, exclaiming, like a curious child + +"Let me see! What is it? I won't tell if you'd rather not have Dolly +know." + +"I'm only trying to study a bit; but I'm so stupid I don't get on +much," answered the girl reluctantly, permitting her little mistress +to examine the poor contrivances she was trying to work with. + +A broken slate that had blown off the roof, an inch or two of +pencil, an old almanac for a reader, several bits of brown or yellow +paper ironed smoothly and sewn together for a copy-book, and the +copies sundry receipts written in Aunt Plenty's neat hand. These, +with a small bottle of ink and a rusty pen, made up Phebe's outfit, +and it was little wonder that she did not "get on" in spite of the +patient persistence that dried the desponding tears and drove along +the sputtering pen with a will. + +"You may laugh if you want to, Miss Rose, I know my things are +queer, and that's why I hide 'em; but I don't mind since you've +found me out, and I ain't a bit ashamed except of being so +backward at my age," said Phebe humbly, though her cheeks grew +redder as she washed out some crooked capitals with a tear or two +not yet dried upon the slate. + +"Laugh at you! I feel more like crying to think what a selfish girl I +am, to have loads of books and things and never remember to give +you some. Why didn't you come and ask me, and not go struggling +along alone in this way? It was very wrong of you, Phebe, and I'll +never forgive you if you do so again," answered Rose, with one +hand on Phebe's shoulder, while the other gently turned the leaves +of the poor little copy-book. + +"I didn't like to ask for anything more when you are so good to me +all the time, miss, dear," began Phebe, looking up with grateful +eyes. + +"O you proud thing! just as if it wasn't fun to give away, and I had +the best of it. Now, see here, I've got a plan and you mustn't say no, +or I shall scold. I want something to do, and I'm going to teach you +all I know; it won't take long," and Rose laughed as she put her +arm around Phebe's neck, and patted the smooth dark head with +the kind little hand that so loved to give. + +"It would be just heavenly!" and Phebe's face shone at the mere +idea; but fell again as she added wistfully, "Only I'm afraid I ought +not to let you do it, Miss Rose. It will take time, and maybe the +Doctor wouldn't like it." + +"He didn't want me to study much, but he never said a word about +teaching, and I don't believe he will mind a bit. Anyway, we can +try it till he comes, so pack up your things and go right to my room +and we'll begin this very day; I'd truly like to do it, and we'll have +nice times, see if we don't!" cried Rose eagerly. + +It was a pretty sight to see Phebe bundle her humble outfit into her +apron, and spring up as if the desire of her heart had suddenly been +made a happy fact to her; it was a still prettier sight to see Rose +run gaily on before, smiling like a good fairy as she beckoned to +the other, singing as she went + + "The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, + And many are the curious things I'll show you when you're there. + Will you, will you walk in, Phebe dear?" + +"Oh, won't I!" answered Phebe fervently, adding, as they entered +the Bower, "You are the dearest spider that ever was, and I'm the +happiest fly." + +"I'm going to be very strict, so sit down in that chair and don't say a +word till school is ready to open," ordered Rose, delighted with the +prospect of such a useful and pleasant "something to do." + +So Phebe sat demurely in her place while her new teacher laid +forth books and slates, a pretty inkstand and a little globe; hastily +tore a bit off her big sponge, sharpened pencils with more energy +than skill, and when all was ready gave a prance of satisfaction +that set the pupil laughing. + +"Now the school is open, and I shall hear you read, so that I may +know in which class to put you, Miss Moore," began Rose with +great dignity, as she laid a book before her scholar, and sat down +in the easy chair with a long rule in her hand. + +Phebe did pretty well, only tripping now and then over a hard +word, and pronouncing identical "identickle," in a sober way that +tickled Rose, though never a smile betrayed her. The spelling +lesson which followed was rather discouraging; Phebe's ideas of +geography were very vague, and grammar was nowhere, though +the pupil protested that she tried so hard to "talk nice like educated +folks" that Dolly called her "a stuck-up piece who didn't know her +place." + +"Dolly's an old goose, so don't you mind her, for she will say +'nater,' 'vittles,' and 'doos' as long as she lives, and insist that they +are right. You do talk very nicely, Phebe, I've observed it, and +grammar will help you, and show you some things are right and +others ain't are not, I mean," added Rose, correcting herself, and +feeling that she must mind her own parts of speech if she was to +serve as an example for Phebe. + +When the arithmetic came, the little teacher was surprised to find +her scholar quicker in some things than herself, for Phebe had +worked away at the columns in the butcher's and baker's books till +she could add so quickly and correctly that Rose was amazed, and +felt that in this branch the pupil would soon excel the teacher if +she kept on at the same pace. Her praise cheered Phebe +immensely, and they went bravely on, both getting so interested +that time flew unheeded till Aunt Plenty appeared, exclaiming, as +she stared at the two heads bent over one slate + +"Bless my heart, what is going on now?" + +"School, aunty. I'm teaching Phebe, and it's great fun!" cried Rose, +looking up with a bright face. + +But Phebe's was brighter, though she added with a wistful look + +"Maybe I ought to have asked leave first; only when Miss Rose +proposed this, I was so happy I forgot to. Shall I stop, ma'am?" + +"Of course not, child; I'm glad to see you fond of your book, and to +find Rose helping you along. My blessed mother used to sit at +work with her maids about her, teaching them many a useful thing +in the good old fashion that's gone by now. Only don't neglect your +work, dear, or let the books interfere with the duties." + +As Aunt Plenty spoke, with her kind old face beaming approvingly +upon the girls, Phebe glanced at the clock, saw that it pointed to +five, knew that Dolly would soon be down, expecting to find +preparations for supper under way, and, hastily dropping her +pencil, she jumped up, saying + +"Please, can I go? I'll clear up after I've done my chores." + +"School is dismissed," answered Rose, and with a grateful "Thank +you, heaps and heaps!" Phebe ran away singing the multiplication +table as she set the tea ditto. + +That was the way it began, and for a week the class of one went on +with great pleasure and profit to all concerned; for the pupil +proved a bright one, and came to her lessons as to a feast, while +the young teacher did her best to be worthy the high opinion held +of her, for Phebe firmly believed that Miss Rose knew everything +in the way of learning. + +Of course the lads found out what was going on, and chaffed the +girls about the "Seminary," as they called the new enterprise; but +they thought it a good thing on the whole, kindly offered to give +lessons in Greek and Latin gratis, and decided among themselves +that "Rose was a little trump to give the Phebe-bird such a capital +boost." + +Rose herself had some doubts as to how it would strike her uncle, +and concocted a wheedlesome speech which should at once +convince him that it was the most useful, wholesome, and +delightful plan ever devised. But she got no chance to deliver her +address, for Dr. Alec came upon her so unexpectedly that it went +out of her head entirely. She was sitting on the floor in the library, +poring over a big book laid open in her lap, and knew nothing of +the long-desired arrival till two large, warm hands met under her +chin and gently turned her head back, so that someone could kiss +her heartily on either cheek, while a fatherly voice said, half +reproachfully, "Why is my girl brooding over a dusty Encyclopedia +when she ought to be running to meet the old gentleman who +couldn't get on another minute without her?" + +"O uncle! I'm so glad! and so sorry! Why didn't you let us know +what time you'd be here, or call out the minute you came? Haven't +I been home-sick for you? and now I'm so happy to have you back +I could hug your dear old curly head off," cried Rose, as the +Encyclopedia went down with a bang, and she up with a spring +that carried her into Dr. Alec's arms, to be kept there in the sort of +embrace a man gives to the dearest creature the world holds for +him. + +Presently he was in his easy chair with Rose upon his knee smiling +up in his face and talking as fast as her tongue could go, while he +watched her with an expression of supreme content, as he stroked +the smooth round cheek, or held the little hand in his, rejoicing to +see how rosy was the one, how plump and strong the other. + +"Have you had a good time? Did you save the poor lady? Aren't +you glad to be home again with your girl to torment you?" + +"Yes, to all those questions. Now tell me what you've been at, little +sinner? Aunty Plen says you want to consult me about some new +and remarkable project which you have dared to start in my +absence." + +"She didn't tell you, I hope?" + +"Not a word more expect that you were rather doubtful how I'd +take it, and so wanted to 'fess' yourself and get round me as you +always try to do, though you don't often succeed. Now, then, own +up and take the consequences." + +So Rose told about her school in her pretty, earnest way, dwelling +on Phebe's hunger for knowledge, and the delight it was to help +her, adding, with a wise nod + +"And it helps me too, uncle, for she is so quick and eager I have to +do my best or she will get ahead of me in some things. To-day, +now, she had the word 'cotton' in a lesson and asked all about it, +and I was ashamed to find I really knew so little that I could only +say that it was a plant that grew down South in a kind of a pod, and +was made into cloth. That's what I was reading up when you came, +and to-morrow I shall tell her all about it, and indigo too. So you +see it teaches me also, and is as good as a general review of what +I've learned, in a pleasanter way than going over it alone." + +"You artful little baggage! that's the way you expect to get round +me, is it? That's not studying, I suppose?" + +"No, sir, it's teaching; and please, I like it much better than having +a good time by myself. Besides, you know, I adopted Phebe and +promised to be a sister to her, so I am bound to keep my word, am +I not?" answered Rose, looking both anxious and resolute as she +waited for her sentence. + +Dr. Alec was evidently already won, for Rose had described the +old slate and brown paper copy-book with pathetic effect, and the +excellent man had not only decided to send Phebe to school long +before the story was done, but reproached himself for forgetting +his duty to one little girl in his love for another. So when Rose +tried to look meek and failed utterly, he laughed and pinched her +cheek, and answered in that genial way which adds such warmth +and grace to any favour + +"I haven't the slightest objection in the world. In fact, I was +beginning to think I might let you go at your books again, +moderately, since you are so well; and this is an excellent way to +try your powers. Phebe is a brave, bright lass, and shall have a fair +chance in the world, if we can give it to her, so that if she ever +finds her friends they need not be ashamed of her." + +"I think she has found some already," began Rose eagerly. + +"Hey? what? has anyone turned up since I've been gone?" asked +Dr. Alec quickly, for it was a firm belief in the family that Phebe +would prove to be "somebody" sooner or later. + +"No, her best friend turned up when you came home, uncle," +answered Rose with an approving pat, adding gratefully, "I can't +half thank you for being so good to my girl, but she will, because I +know she is going to make a woman to be proud of, she's so strong +and true, and loving." + +"Bless your dear heart, I haven't begun to do anything yet, more +shame to me! But I'm going at it now, and as soon as she gets on a +bit, she shall go to school as long as she likes. How will that do for +a beginning?" + +"It will be 'just heavenly,' as Phebe says, for it is the wish of her +life to 'get lots of schooling,' and she will be too happy when I tell +her. May I, please? it will be so lovely to see the dear thing open +her big eyes and clap her hands at the splendid news." + +"No one shall have a finger in this nice little pie; you shall do it all +yourself, only don't go too fast, or make too many castles in the air, +my dear; for time and patience must go into this pie of ours if it is +to turn out well." + +"Yes, uncle, only when it is opened won't 'the birds begin to sing?"' +laughed Rose, taking a turn about the room as a vent for the joyful +emotions that made her eyes shine. All of a sudden she stopped +and asked soberly + +"If Phebe goes to school who will do her work? I'm willing, if I +can." + +"Come here and I'll tell you a secret. Dolly's 'bones' are getting so +troublesome, and her dear old temper so bad, that the aunts have +decided to pension her off and let her go and live with her +daughter, who has married very well. I saw her this week, and +she'd like to have her mother come, so in the spring we shall have +a grand change, and get a new cook and chamber-girl if any can be +found to suit our honoured relatives." + +"Oh, me! how can I ever get on without Phebe? Couldn't she stay, +just so I could see her? I'd pay her board rather than have her go, +I'm so fond of her." + +How Dr. Alec laughed at that proposal, and how satisfied Rose +was when he explained that Phebe was still to be her maid, with no +duties except such as she could easily perform between +school-hours. + +"She is a proud creature, for all her humble ways, and even from +us would not take a favour if she did not earn it somewhere. So +this arrangement makes it all square and comfortable, you see, and +she will pay for the schooling by curling these goldilocks a dozen +times a day if you let her." + +"Your plans are always so wise and kind! That's why they work so +well, I suppose, and why people let you do what you like with +them. I really don't see how other girls get along without an Uncle +Alec!" answered Rose, with a sigh of pity for those who had +missed so great a blessing. + +When Phebe was told the splendid news, she did not "stand on her +head with rapture," as Charlie prophesied she would, but took it +quietly, because it was such a happy thing she had no words "big +and beautiful enough to thank them in," she said; but every hour of +her day was brightened by this granted wish, and dedicated to the +service of those who gave it. + +Her heart was so full of content that if overflowed in music, and +the sweet voice singing all about the house gave thanks so blithely +that no other words were needed. Her willing feet were never tired +of taking steps for those who had smoothed her way; her skilful +hands were always busy in some labour of love for them, and on +the face fast growing in comeliness there was an almost womanly +expression of devotion, which proved how well Phebe had already +learned one of life's great lessons gratitude. + + + +Chapter 23 - Peace-Making + +"Steve, I want you to tell me something," said Rose to Dandy, who +was making faces at himself in the glass, while he waited for an +answer to the note he brought from his mother to Aunt Plenty. + +"P'raps I will, and p'raps I won't. What is it?" + +"Haven't Arch and Charlie quarrelled?" + +"Dare say; we fellows are always having little rows, you know. I +do believe a sty is coming on my star-board eye," and Steve +affected to be absorbed in a survey of his yellow lashes. + +"No, that won't do; I want to know all about it; for I'm sure +something more serious than a 'little row' is the matter. Come, +please tell me, Stenie, there's a dear." + +"Botheration! you don't want me to turn telltale, do you?" growled +Steve, pulling his top-knot, as he always did when perplexed. + +"Yes, I do," was Rose's decided answer for she saw from his +manner that she was right, and determined to have the secret out of +him if coaxing would do it. "I don't wish you to tell things to +everyone, of course, but to me you may, and you must, because I +have a right to know. You boys need somebody to look after you, +and I'm going to do it, for girls are nice peacemakers, and know +how to manage people. Uncle said so, and he is never wrong." + +Steve was about to indulge in a derisive hoot at the idea of her +looking after them, but a sudden thought restrained him, and +suggested a way in which he could satisfy Rose, and better himself +at the same time. + +"What will you give me if I'll tell you every bit about it?" he asked, +with a sudden red in his cheeks and an uneasy look in his eyes, for +he was half ashamed of the proposition. + +"What do you want?" and Rose looked up rather surprised at his +question. + +"I'd like to borrow some money. I shouldn't think of asking you, +only Mac never has a cent. since he's set up his old chemical shop, +where he'll blow himself to bits some day, and you and uncle will +have the fun of putting him together again," and Steve tried to look +as if the idea amused him. + +"I'll lend it to you with pleasure, so tell away," said Rose, bound to +get at the secret. + +Evidently much relieved by the promise, Steve set his top-knot +cheerfully erect again, and briefly stated the case. + +"As you say, it's all right to tell you, but don't let the boys know I +blabbed, or Prince will take my head off. You see, Archie don't +like some of the fellows Charlie goes with, and cuts 'em. That +makes Prince mad, and he holds on just to plague Arch, so they +don't speak to one another, if they can help it, and that's the row." + +"Are those boys bad?" asked Rose, anxiously. + +"Guess not, only rather wild. They are older than our fellows, but +they like Prince, he's such a jolly boy; sings so well, dances jigs +and breakdowns, you know, and plays any game that's going. He +beat Morse at billiards, and that's something to brag of, for Morse +thinks he knows everything. I saw the match, and it was great fun!" + +Steve got quite excited over the prowess of Charlie, whom he +admired immensely, and tried to imitate. Rose did not know half +the danger of such gifts and tastes as Charlie's, but felt +instinctively that something must be wrong if Archie disapproved. + +"If Prince likes any billiard-playing boy better than Archie, I don't +think much of his sense," she said severely. + +"Of course he doesn't; but, you see, Charlie and Arch are both as +proud as they can be, and won't give in. I suppose Arch is right, but +I don't blame Charlie a bit for liking to be with the others +sometimes, they are such a jolly set," and Steve shook his head +morally, even while his eye twinkled over the memory of some of +the exploits of the "jolly set." + +"Oh, dear me!" sighed Rose, "I don't see what I can do about it, but +I wish the boys would make up, for Prince can't come to any harm +with Archie, he's so good and sensible." + +"That's the trouble; Arch preaches, and Prince won't stand it. He +told Arch he was a prig and a parson, and Arch told him he wasn't +a gentleman. My boots! weren't they both mad, though! I thought +for a minute they'd pitch into one another and have it out. Wish +they had, and not gone stalking round stiff and glum ever since. +Mac and I settle our rows with a bat or so over the head, and then +we are all right." + +Rose couldn't help laughing as Steve sparred away at a fat +sofa-pillow, to illustrate his meaning; and, having given it several +scientific whacks, he pulled down his cuffs and smiled upon her +with benign pity for her feminine ignorance of this summary way +of settling a quarrel. + +"What droll things boys are!" she said, with a mixture of +admiration and perplexity in her face, which Steve accepted as a +compliment to his sex. + +"We're a pretty clever invention, miss, and you can't get on without +us," he answered, with his nose in the air. Then, taking a sudden +plunge into business, he added, "How about that bit of money you +were going to lend me? I've told, now you pay up." + +"Of course I will! How much do you want?" and Rose pulled out +her purse. + +"Could you spare five dollars? I want to pay a little debt of honour +that is rather pressing," and Steve put on a mannish air that was +comical to see. + +"Aren't all debts honourable?" asked innocent Rose. + +"Yes, of course; but this is a bet I made, and it ought to be settled +up at once," began Steve, finding it awkward to explain. + +"Oh, don't bet, it's not right, and I know your father wouldn't like it. +Promise you won't do so again; please promise!" and Rose held +fast the hand into which she had just put the money. + +"Well, I won't. It's worried me a good deal, but I was joked into it. +Much obliged, cousin, I'm all right now," and Steve departed +hastily. + +Having decided to be a peace-maker, Rose waited for an +opportunity, and very soon it came. + +She was spending the day with Aunt Clara, who had been +entertaining some young guests, and invited Rose to meet them, +for she thought it high time her niece conquered her bashfulness +and saw a little of society. Dinner was over, and everyone had +gone. Aunt Clara was resting before going out to an evening party, +and Rose was waiting for Charlie to come and take her home. + +She sat alone in the elegant drawing-room, feeling particularly +nice and pretty, for she had her best frock on, a pair of gold bands +her aunt had just given her, and a tea-rose bud in her sash, like the +beautiful Miss Van Tassel, whom everyone admired. She had +spread out her little skirts to the best advantage, and, leaning back +in a luxurious chair, sat admiring her own feet in new slippers with +rosettes almost as big as dahlias. Presently Charlie came lounging +in, looking rather sleepy and queer, Rose thought. On seeing her, +however, he roused up and said with a smile that ended in a gape + +"I thought you were with mother, so I took forty winks after I got +those girls off. Now, I'm at your service, Rosamunda, whenever +you like." + +"You look as if your head ached. If it does, don't mind me. I'm not +afraid to run home alone, it's so early," answered Rose, observing +the flushed cheeks and heavy eyes of her cousin. + +"I think I see myself letting you do it. Champagne always makes +my headache, but the air will set me up." + +"Why do you drink it, then?" asked Rose, anxiously. + +"Can't help it, when I'm host. Now, don't you begin to lecture; I've +had enough of Archie's old-fashioned notions, and I don't want any +more." + +Charlie's tone was decidedly cross, and his whole manner so unlike +his usual merry good-nature, that Rose felt crushed, and answered +meekly + +"I wasn't going to lecture, only when people like other people, they +can't bear to see them suffer pain." + +That brought Charlie round at once, for Rose's lips trembled a +little, though she tried to hide it by smelling the flower she pulled +from her sash. + +"I'm a regular bear, and I beg your pardon for being so cross, +Rosy," he said in the old frank way that was so winning. + +"I wish you'd beg Archie's too, and be good friends again. You +never were cross when he was your chum," Rose said, looking up +at him as he bent toward her from the low chimney-piece, where +he had been leaning his elbows. + +In an instant he stood as stiff and straight as a ramrod, and the +heavy eyes kindled with an angry spark as he said, in his high and +mighty manner + +"You'd better not meddle with what you don't understand, cousin." + +"But I do understand, and it troubles me very much to see you so +cold and stiff to one another. You always used to be together, and +now you hardly speak. You are so ready to beg my pardon I don't +see why you can't beg Archie's, if you are in the wrong." + +"I'm not!" this was so short and sharp that Rose started, and +Charlie added in a calmer but still very haughty tone: "A +gentleman always begs pardon when he has been rude to a lady, +but one man doesn't apologize to another man who has insulted +him." + +"Oh, my heart, what a pepperpot!" thought Rose, and, hoping to +make him laugh, she added slyly: "I was not talking about men, but +boys, and one of them a Prince, who ought to set a good example +to his subjects." + +But Charlie would not relent, and tried to turn the subject by +saying gravely, as he unfastened the little gold ring from his +watch-guard + +"I've broken my word, so I want to give this back and free you +from the bargain. I'm sorry, but I think it a foolish promise, and +don't intend to keep it. Choose a pair of ear-rings to suit yourself, +as my forfeit. You have a right to wear them now." + +"No, I can only wear one, and that is no use, for Archie will keep +his word I'm sure!" Rose was so mortified and grieved at this +downfall of her hopes that she spoke sharply, and would not take +the ring the deserter offered her. + +He shrugged his shoulders, and threw it into her lap, trying to look +cool and careless, but failing entirely, for he was ashamed of +himself, and out of sorts generally. Rose wanted to cry, but pride +would not let her, and, being very angry, she relieved herself by +talk instead of tears. Looking pale and excited, she rose out of her +chair, cast away the ring, and said in a voice that she vainly tried to +keep steady + +"You are not at all the boy I thought you were, and I don't respect +you one bit. I've tried to help you be good, but you won't let me, +and I shall not try any more. You talk a great deal about being a +gentleman, but you are not, for you've broken your word, and I can +never trust you again. I don't wish you to go home with me. I'd +rather have Mary. Good-night." + +And with that last dreadful blow, Rose walked out of the room, +leaving Charlie as much astonished as if one of his pet pigeons had +flown in his face and pecked at him. She was so seldom angry, that +when her temper did get the better of her it made a deep +impression on the lads, for it was generally a righteous sort of +indignation at some injustice or wrong-doing, not childish passion. + +Her little thunderstorm cleared off in a sob or two as she put on +her things in the entry-closet, and when she emerged she looked +the brighter for the shower. A hasty good-night to Aunt Clara now +under the hands of the hairdresser and then she crept down to find +Mary the maid. But Mary was out, so was the man, and Rose +slipped away by the back-door, flattering herself that she had +escaped the awkwardness of having Charlie for escort. + +There she was mistaken, however, for the gate had hardly closed +behind her when a well-known tramp was heard, and the Prince +was beside her, saying in a tone of penitent politeness that +banished Rose's wrath like magic + +"You needn't speak to me if you don't choose, but I must see you +safely home, cousin." + +She turned at once, put out her hand, and answered heartily + +"I was the cross one. Please forgive me, and let's be friends again." + +Now that was better than a dozen sermons on the beauty of +forgiveness, and did Charlie more good, for it showed him how +sweet humility was, and proved that Rose practised as she +preached. + +He shook the hand warmly, then drew it through his arm and said, +as if anxious to recover the good opinion with the loss of which he +had been threatened + +"Look here, Rosy, I've put the ring back, and I'm going to try again. +But you don't know how hard it is to stand being laughed at." + +"Yes, I do! Ariadne plagues me every time I see her, because I +don't wear ear-rings after all the trouble I had getting ready for +them." + +"Ah, but her twaddle isn't half as bad as the chaffing I get. It takes +a deal of pluck to hold out when you are told you are tied to an +apron string, and all that sort of thing," sighed Charlie. + +"I thought you had a 'deal of pluck,' as you call it. The boys all say +you are the bravest of the seven," said Rose. + +"So I am about some things, but I cannot bear to be laughed at." + +"It is hard, but if one is right won't that make it easier?" + +"Not to me; it might to a pious parson like Arch." + +"Please don't call him names! I guess he has what is called moral +courage, and you physical courage. Uncle explained the difference +to me, and moral is the best, though often it doesn't look so," said +Rose thoughtfully. + +Charlie didn't like that, and answered quickly, "I don't believe he'd +stand it any better than I do, if he had those fellows at him." + +"Perhaps that's why he keeps out of their way, and wants you to." + +Rose had him there, and Charlie felt it, but would not give in just +yet, though he was going fast, for somehow, in the dark he seemed +to see things clearer than in the light, and found it very easy to be +confidential when it was "only Rose." + +"If he was my brother, now, he'd have some right to interfere," +began Charlie, in an injured tone. + +"I wish he was!" cried Rose. + +"So do I," answered Charlie, and then they both laughed at his +inconsistency. + +The laugh did them good, and when Prince spoke again, it was in a +different tone pensive, not proud nor perverse. + +"You see, it's hard upon me that I have no brothers and sisters. The +others are better off and needn't go abroad for chums if they don't +like. I am all alone, and I'd be thankful even for a little sister." + +Rose thought that very pathetic, and, overlooking the +uncomplimentary word "even" in that last sentence, she said, with +a timid sort of earnestness that conquered her cousin at once + +"Play I was a little sister. I know I'm silly, but perhaps I'm better +than nothing, and I'd dearly love to do it." + +"So should I! and we will, for you are not silly, my dear, but a very +sensible girl, we all think, and I'm proud to have you for a sister. +There, now!" and Charlie looked down at the curly head bobbing +along beside him with real affection in his face. + +Rose gave a skip of pleasure, and laid one seal-skin mitten over the +other on his arm, as she said happily + +"That's so nice of you! Now, you needn't be lonely any more, and +I'll try to fill Archie's place till he comes back, for I know he will, +as soon as you let him." + +"Well, I don't mind telling you that while he was my mate I never +missed brothers and sisters, or wanted anyone else; but since he +cast me off, I'll be hanged if I don't feel as forlorn as old Crusoe +before Friday turned up." + +This burst of confidence confirmed Rose in her purpose of +winning Charlie's Mentor back to him, but she said no more, +contented to have done so well. They parted excellent friends, and +Prince went home, wondering why "a fellow didn't mind saying +things to a girl or woman which they would die before they'd own +to another fellow." + +Rose also had some sage reflections upon the subject, and fell +asleep thinking that there were a great many curious things in this +world, and feeling that she was beginning to find out some of +them. + +Next day she trudged up the hill to see Archie, and having told him +as much as she thought best about her talk with Charlie, begged +him to forget and forgive. + +"I've been thinking that perhaps I ought to, though I am in the +right. I'm no end fond of Charlie, and he's the best-hearted lad +alive; but he can't say No, and that will play the mischief with him, +if he does not take care," said Archie in his grave, kind way. + +"While father was home, I was very busy with him, so Prince got +into a set I don't like. They try to be fast, and think it's manly, and +they flatter him, and lead him on to do all sorts of things play for +money, and bet, and loaf about. I hate to have him do so, and tried +to stop it, but went to work the wrong way, so we got into a mess." + +"He is all ready to make up if you don't say much, for he owned to +me he was wrong; but I don't think he will own it to you, in +words," began Rose. + +"I don't care for that; if he'll just drop those row-dies and come +back, I'll hold my tongue and not preach. I wonder if he owes those +fellows money, and so doesn't like to break off till he can pay it. I +hope not, but don't dare to ask; though, perhaps, Steve knows, he's +always after Prince, more's the pity," and Archie looked anxious. + +"I think Steve does know, for he talked about debts of honour the +day I gave him--" There Rose stopped short and turned scarlet. + +But Archie ordered her to "fess," and had the whole story in five +minutes, for none dared disobey the Chief. He completed her +affliction by putting a five-dollar bill into her pocket by main +force, looking both indignant and resolute as he said + +"Never do so again; but send Steve to me, if he is afraid to go to +his father. Charlie had nothing to do with that; he wouldn't borrow +a penny of a girl, don't think it. But that's the harm he does Steve, +who adores him, and tries to be like him in all things. Don't say a +word; I'll make it all right, and no one shall blame you." + +"Oh me! I always make trouble by trying to help, and then letting +out the wrong thing," sighed Rose, much depressed by her slip of +the tongue. + +Archie comforted her with the novel remark that it was always best +to tell the truth, and made her quite cheerful by promising to heal +the breach with Charlie as soon as possible. + +He kept his word so well that the very next afternoon, as Rose +looked out of the window, she beheld the joyful spectacle of +Archie and Prince coming up the avenue, arm-in-arm, as of old, +talking away as if to make up for the unhappy silence of the past +weeks. + +Rose dropped her work, hurried to the door, and, opening it wide, +stood there smiling down upon them so happily, that the faces of +the lads brightened as they ran up the steps eager to show that all +was well with them. + +"Here's our little peace-maker!" said Archie, shaking hands with +vigour. + +But Charlie added, with a look that made Rose very proud and +happy, "And my little sister." + + + +Chapter 24 - Which? + +"Uncle, I have discovered what girls are made for," said Rose, the +day after the reconciliation of Archie and the Prince. + +"Well, my dear, what is it?" asked Dr. Alec, who was "planking the +deck," as he called his daily promenade up and down the hall. + +"To take care of boys," answered Rose, quite beaming with +satisfaction as she spoke. "Phebe laughed when I told her, and said +she thought girls had better learn to take care of themselves first. +But that's because she hasn't got seven boy-cousins as I have." + +"She is right, nevertheless, Rosy, and so are you, for the two things +go together, and in helping seven lads you are unconsciously doing +much to improve one lass," said Dr. Alec, stopping to nod and +smile at the bright-faced figure resting on the old bamboo chair, +after a lively game of battledore and shuttlecock, in place of a run +which a storm prevented. + +"Am I? I'm glad of that; but really, uncle, I do feel as if I must take +care of the boys, for they come to me in all sorts of troubles, and +ask advice, and I like it so much. Only I don't always know what to +do, and I'm going to consult you privately and then surprise them +with my wisdom." + +"All right, my dear; what's the first worry? I see you have +something on your little mind, so come and tell uncle." + +Rose put her arm in his, and, pacing to and fro, told him all about +Charlie, asking what she could do to keep him straight, and be a +real sister to him. + +"Could you make up your mind to go and stay with Aunt Clara a +month?" asked the Doctor, when she ended. + +"Yes, sir; but I shouldn't like it. Do you really want me to go?" + +"The best cure for Charlie is a daily dose of Rose water, or Rose +and water, or Rose and water; will you go and see that he takes it?" +laughed Dr. Alec. + +"You mean that if I'm there and try to make it pleasant, he will stay +at home and keep out of mischief?" + +"Exactly." + +"But could I make it pleasant? He would want the boys." + +"No danger but he'd have the boys, for they swarm after you like +bees after their queen. Haven't you found that out?" + +"Aunt Plen often says they never used to be here half so much +before I came, but I never thought I made the difference, it seemed +so natural to have them round." + +"Little modesty doesn't know what a magnet she is; but she will +find it out some day," and the Doctor softly stroked the cheek that +had grown rosy with pleasure at the thought of being so much +loved. "Now, you see, if I move the magnet to Aunt Clara's, the +lads will go there as sure as iron to steel, and Charlie will be so +happy at home he won't care for these mischievous mates of his I +hope," added the Doctor, well knowing how hard it was to wean a +seventeen-year-old boy from his first taste of what is called "seeing +life," which, alas! often ends in seeing death. + +"I'll go, uncle, right away! Aunt Clara is always asking me, and +will be glad to get me. I shall have to dress and dine late, and see +lots of company, and be very fashionable, but I'll try not to let it +hurt me; and if I get in a puzzle or worried about anything I can +run to you," answered Rose, good-will conquering timidity. + +So it was decided, and without saying much about the real reason +for this visit, Rose was transplanted to Aunt Clara's, feeling that +she had a work to do, and very eager to do it well. + +Dr. Alec was right about the bees, for the boys did follow their +queen, and astonished Mrs. Clara by their sudden assiduity in +making calls, dropping in to dinner, and getting up evening frolics. +Charlie was a devoted host, and tried to show his gratitude by +being very kind to his "little sister," for he guessed why she came, +and his heart was touched by her artless endeavours to "help him +be good." + +Rose often longed to be back in the old house with the simpler +pleasures and more useful duties of the life there; but, having +made up her mind, in spite of Phebe, that "girls were made to take +care of boys," here motherly little soul found much to enjoy in the +new task she had undertaken. + +It was a pretty sight to see the one earnest, sweet-faced girl among +the flock of tall lads, trying to understand, to help and please them +with a patient affection that worked many a small miracle +unperceived. Slang, rough manners, and careless habits were +banished or bettered by the presence of a little gentlewoman; and +all the manly virtues cropping up were encouraged by the hearty +admiration bestowed upon them by one whose good opinion all +valued more than they confessed; while Rose tried to imitate the +good qualities she praised in them, to put away her girlish vanities +and fears, to be strong and just, and frank and brave, as well as +modest, kind, and beautiful. + +This trial worked so well that when the month was over, Mac and +Steve demanded a visit in their turn, and Rose went, feeling that +she would like to hear grim Aunt Jane say, as Aunt Clara did at +parting, "I wish I could keep you all my life, dear." + +After Mac and Steve had had their turn, Archie and Company bore +her away for some weeks; and with them she was so happy, she +felt as if she would like to stay for ever, if she could have Uncle +Alec also. + +Of course, Aunt Myra could not be neglected, and, with secret +despair, Rose went to the "Mausoleum," as the boys called her +gloomy abode. Fortunately, she was very near home, and Dr. Alec +dropped in so often that her visit was far less dismal than she +expected. Between them, they actually made Aunt Myra laugh +heartily more than once; and Rose did her so much good by letting +in the sunshine, singing about the silent house, cooking wholesome +messes, and amusing the old lady with funny little lectures on +physiology, that she forgot to take her pills and gave up "Mum's +Elixir," because she slept so well, after the long walks and drives +she was beguiled into taking, that she needed no narcotic. + +So the winter flew rapidly away, and it was May before Rose was +fairly settled again at home. They called her the "Monthly Rose," +because she had spent a month with each of the aunts, and left +such pleasant memories of bloom and fragrance behind her, that +all wanted the family flower back again. + +Dr. Alec rejoiced greatly over his recovered treasure; but as the +time drew near when his year of experiment ended, he had many a +secret fear that Rose might like to make her home for the next +twelve month with Aunt Jessie, or even Aunt Clara, for Charlie's +sake. He said nothing, but waited with much anxiety for the day +when the matter should be decided; and while he waited he did his +best to finish as far as possible the task he had begun so well. + +Rose was very happy now, being out nearly all day enjoying the +beautiful awakening of the world, for spring came bright and early, +as if anxious to do its part. The old horse-chestnuts budded round +her windows, green things sprung up like magic in the garden +under her hands, hardy flowers bloomed as fast as they could, the +birds sang blithely overhead, and every day a chorus of pleasant +voices cried, "Good morning, cousin, isn't it jolly weather?" + +No one remembered the date of the eventful conversation which +resulted in the Doctor's experiment (no one but himself at least); +so when the aunts were invited to tea one Saturday they came quite +unsuspiciously, and were all sitting together having a social chat, +when Brother Alec entered with two photographs in his hand. + +"Do you remember that?" he said, showing one to Aunt Clara, who +happened to be nearest. + +"Yes, indeed; it is very like her when she came. Quite her sad, +unchildlike expression, and thin little face, with the big dark eyes." + +The picture was passed round, and all agreed that "it was very like +Rose a year ago." This point being settled, the Doctor showed the +second picture, which was received with great approbation, and +pronounced a "charming likeness." + +It certainly was, and a striking contrast to the first one, for it was a +blooming, smiling face, full of girlish spirit and health, with no +sign of melancholy, though the soft eyes were thoughtful, and the +lines about the lips betrayed a sensitive nature. + +Dr. Alec set both photographs on the chimneypiece, and, falling +back a step or two, surveyed them with infinite satisfaction for +several minutes, then wheeled round, saying briefly, as he pointed +to the two faces + +"Time is up; how do you think my experiment has succeeded, +ladies?" + +"Bless me, so it is!" cried Aunt Plenty, dropping a stitch in her +surprise. + +"Beautifully, dear," answered Aunt Peace, smiling entire approval. + +"She certainly has improved, but appearances are deceitful, and +she had no constitution to build upon," croaked Aunt Myra. + +"I am willing to allow that, as far as mere health goes, the +experiment is a success," graciously observed Aunt Jane, unable to +forget Rose's kindness to her Mac. + +"So am I; and I'll go farther, for I really do believe Alec has done +wonders for the child; she will be a beauty in two or three years," +added Aunt Clara, feeling that she could say nothing better than +that. + +"I always knew he would succeed, and I'm so glad you all allow it, +for he deserves more credit than you know, and more praise than +he will ever get," cried Aunt Jessie, clapping her hands with an +enthusiasm that caused Jamie's little red stocking to wave like a +triumphal banner in the air. + +Dr. Alec made them a splendid bow, looking much gratified, and +then said soberly + +"Thank you; now the question is, shall I go on? for this is only the +beginning. None of you know the hindrances I've had, the mistakes +I've made, the study I've given the case, and the anxiety I've often +felt. Sister Myra is right is one thing Rose is a delicate creature, +quick to flourish in the sunshine, and as quick to droop without it. +She has no special weakness, but inherits her mother's sensitive +nature, and needs the wisest, tenderest care, to keep a very ardent +little soul from wearing out a finely organised little body. I think I +have found the right treatment, and; with you to help me, I believe +we may build up a lovely and a noble woman, who will be a pride +and comfort to us all." + +There Dr. Alec stopped to get his breath, for he had spoken very +earnestly, and his voice got a little husky over the last words. A +gentle murmur from the aunts seemed to encourage him, and he +went on with an engaging smile, for the good man was slyly trying +to win all the ladies to vote for him when the time came. + +"Now, I don't wish to be selfish or arbitrary, because I am her +guardian, and I shall leave Rose free to choose for herself. We all +want her, and if she likes to make her home with any of you rather +than with me, she shall do so. In fact, I encouraged her visits last +winter, that she might see what we can all offer her, and judge +where she will be happiest. Is not that the fairest way? Will you +agree to abide by her choice, as I do?" + +"Yes, we will," said all the aunts, in quite a flutter of excitement at +the prospect of having Rose for a whole year. + +"Good! she will be here directly, and then we will settle the +question for another year. A most important year, mind you, for +she has got a good start, and will blossom rapidly now if all goes +well with her. So I beg of you don't undo my work, but deal very +wisely and gently with my little girl, for if any harm come to her, I +think it would break my heart." + +As he spoke, Dr. Alec turned his back abruptly and affected to be +examining the pictures again; but the aunts understood how dear +the child was to the solitary man who had loved her mother years +ago, and who now found his happiness in cherishing the little Rose +who was so like her. The good ladies nodded and sighed, and +telegraphed to one another that none of them would complain if +not chosen, or ever try to rob Brother Alec of his "Heart's Delight," +as the boys called Rose. + +Just then a pleasant sound of happy voices came up from the +garden, and smiles broke out on all serious faces. Dr. Alec turned +at once, saying, as he threw back his head, "There she is; now for +it!" + +The cousins had been a-Maying, and soon came flocking in laden +with the spoils. + +"Here is our bonny Scotch rose with all her thorns about her," said +Dr. Alec, surveying her with unusual pride and tenderness, as she +went to show Aunt Peace her basket full of early flowers, fresh +leaves, and curious lichens. + +"Leave your clutter in the hall, boys, and sit quietly down if you +choose to stop here, for we are busy," said Aunt Plenty, shaking +her finger at the turbulent Clan, who were bubbling over with the +jollity born of spring sunshine and healthy exercise. + +"Of course, we choose to stay! Wouldn't miss our Saturday high +tea for anything," said the Chief, as he restored order among his +men with a nod, a word, and an occasional shake. + +"What is up? a court-martial?" asked Charlie, looking at the +assembled ladies with affected awe and real curiosity, for these +faces betrayed that some interesting business was afloat. + +Dr. Alec explained in a few words, which he made as brief and +calm as he could; but the effect was exciting, nevertheless, for +each of the lads began at once to bribe, entice, and wheedle "our +cousin" to choose his home. + +"You really ought to come to us for mother's sake, as a relish, you +know, for she must be perfectly satiated with boys," began Archie, +using the strongest argument he could think of at the moment. + +"Ah! yes," she thought, "he wants me most! I've often longed to +give him something that he wished for very much, and now I can." + +So, when, at a sudden gesture from Aunt Peace, silence fell, Rose +said slowly, with a pretty colour in her cheeks, and a beseeching +look about the room, as if asking pardon of the boys + +"It's very hard to choose when everybody is so fond of me; +therefore I think I'd better go to the one who seems to need me +most." + +"No, dear, the one you love the best and will be happiest with," +said Dr. Alec quickly, as a doleful sniff from Aunt Myra, and a +murmur of "My sainted Caroline," made Rose pause and look that +way. + +"Take time, cousin; don't be in a hurry to make up your mind, and +remember, 'Codlin's your friend,' " added Charlie, hopeful still. + +"I don't want any time! I know who I love best, who I'm happiest +with, and I choose uncle. Will he have me?" cried Rose, in a tone +that produced a sympathetic thrill among the hearers, it was so full +of tender confidence and love. + +If she really had any doubt, the look in Dr. Alec's face banished it +without a word, as he opened wide his arms, and she ran into them, +feeling that home was there. + +No one spoke for a minute, but there were signs of emotion among +the aunts, which warned the boys to bestir themselves before the +water-works began to play. So they took hands and began to +prance about uncle and niece, singing, with sudden inspiration, the +nursery rhyme + + "Ring around a Rosy!" + +Of course that put an end to all sentiment, and Rose emerged +laughing from Dr. Alec's bosom, with the mark of a waistcoat +button nicely imprinted on her left cheek. He saw it, and said with +a merry kiss that half effaced it, "This is my ewe lamb, and I have +set my mark on her, so no one can steal her away." + +That tickled the boys, and they set up a shout of + + "Uncle had a little lamb!" + +But Rose hushed the noise by slipping into the circle, and making +them dance prettily like lads and lasses round a May-pole; while +Phebe, coming in with fresh water for the flowers, began to twitter, +chirp, and coo, as if all the birds of the air had come to join in the +spring revel of the eight cousins. + + + + + +For the sequel, see "The Rose in Bloom." +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext Eight Cousins, by Louisa M. Alcott + diff --git a/old/8csns10.zip b/old/8csns10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b08b2ad --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8csns10.zip |