when rose came out of her chamber, cup in hand, next morning,the first person she saw was uncle alec standing on the thresholdof the room opposite, which he appeared to be examining withcare. 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 thecup; and then they finished the verse together in fine style.
before either spoke, a head, in a nightcap so large and beruffledthat it looked like a cabbage, popped out of a room farther downthe 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 ihave 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 andglory-holes to furnish it as i like?""my dear boy, you may turn the house upside down if you willonly stay in it.""that's a handsome offer, i'm sure. i'll stay, ma'am; here's my littleanchor, 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 withantics, alec. yes, sister, i'm coming!" and the cabbage vanishedsuddenly.
the first milking lesson was a droll one; but after several scaresand many vain attempts, rose at last managed to fill her cup, whileben held clover's tail so that it could not flap, and dr. alec kepther from turning to stare at the new milkmaid, who objected toboth these proceedings very much.
"you look chilly in spite of all this laughing. take a smart runround the garden and get up a glow," said the doctor, as they leftthe barn.
"i'm too old for running, uncle; miss power said it was notlady-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!" saiduncle alec, with a look and a gesture that made rose scurry awayas fast as she could go.
anxious to please him, she raced round the beds till she came backto the porch where he stood, and, dropping down upon the steps,she sat panting, with cheeks as rosy as the rigolette on hershoulders.
"very well done, child; i see you have not lost the use of yourlimbs though you are in your teens. that belt is too tight; unfastenit, then you can take a long breath without panting so.""it isn't tight, sir; i can breathe perfectly well," began rose, tryingto compose herself.
her uncle's only answer was to lift her up and unhook the new beltof which she was so proud. the moment the clasp was open thebelt flew apart several inches, for it was impossible to restrain theinvoluntary 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 itwould open if i puff like this, but i never do, because i hardly everrun," explained rose, rather discomfited by this discovery.
"i see you don't half fill your lungs, and so you can wear thisabsurd thing without feeling it. the idea of cramping a tender littlewaist in a stiff band of leather and steel just when it ought to begrowing," said dr. alec, surveying the belt with great disfavour ashe put the clasp forward several holes, to rose's secret dismay, forshe was proud of her slender figure, and daily rejoiced that shewasn't as stout as luly miller, a former schoolmate, who vainlytried to repress her plumpness.
"it will fall off if it is so loose," she said anxiously, as she stoodwatching him pull her precious belt about.
"not if you keep taking long breaths to hold it on. that is what iwant you to do, and when you have filled this out we will go onenlarging it till your waist is more like that of hebe, goddess ofhealth, and less like that of a fashion-plate the ugliest thingimaginable.""how it does look!" and rose gave a glance of scorn at the loosebelt hanging round her trim little waist. "it will be lost, and then ishall feel badly, for it cost ever so much, and is real steel andrussia leather. just smell how nice.""if it is lost i'll give you a better one. a soft silken sash is muchfitter for a pretty child like you than a plated harness like this; andi've got no end of italian scarfs and turkish sashes among mytraps. ah! that makes you feel better, doesn't it?" and he pinchedthe cheek that had suddenly dimpled with a smile.
"it is very silly of me, but i can't help liking to know that" here shestopped 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 veilof 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'thelp liking it, for i really don't think i am repulsive."the last word and the funny tone in which it was uttered were toomuch for dr. alec, and he laughed in spite of himself, to rose'sgreat relief.
"i quite agree with you; and in order that you may be still lessrepulsive, i want you to grow as fine a girl as phebe.""phebe!" and rose looked so amazed that her uncle nearly wentoff again.
"yes, phebe; for she has what you need health. if you dear littlegirls would only learn what real beauty is, and not pinch and starveand bleach yourselves out so, you'd save an immense deal of timeand money and pain. a happy soul in a healthy body makes thebest sort of beauty for man or woman. do you understand that, mydear?""yes, sir," answered rose, much taken down by this comparisonwith the girl from the poor-house. it nettled her sadly, and sheshowed that it did by saying quickly"i suppose you would like to have me sweep and scrub, and wearan old brown dress, and go round with my sleeves rolled up, asphebe does?""i should very much, if you could work as well as she does, andshow as strong a pair of arms as she can. i haven't seen a prettierpicture for some time than she made of herself this morning, up tothe elbows in suds, singing like a blackbird whilst she scrubbed onthe back stoop.""well, i do think you are the queerest man that ever lived!" was allrose could find to say after this display of bad taste.
"i haven't begun to show you my oddities yet, so you must make upyour mind to worse shocks than this," he said, with such awhimsical look that she was glad the sound of a bell prevented hershowing more plainly what a blow her little vanities had alreadyreceived.
"you will find your box all open up in auntie's parlor, and thereyou can amuse her and yourself by rummaging to your heart'scontent; i've got to be cruising round all the morning getting myroom 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 auntplenty can spare her.""anybody anything, alec. you will want me, i know, so i'll giveorders about dinner and be all ready to lend a hand"; and the oldlady bustled away full of interest and good-will.
"uncle will find that i can do some things that phebe can't, sonow!" thought rose, with a toss of the head as she flew to auntpeace and the long-desired box.
every little girl can easily imagine what an extra good time shehad diving into a sea of treasures and fishing up one pretty thingafter another, till the air was full of the mingled odours of muskand sandalwood, the room gay with bright colours, and rose in arapture of delight. she began to forgive dr. alec for the oatmealdiet when she saw a lovely ivory workbox; became resigned to thestate of her belt when she found a pile of rainbow-coloured sashes;and when she came to some distractingly pretty bottles of attar ofrose, she felt that they almost atoned for the great sin of thinkingphebe 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 wasevidently going on in the green-room, for the dark damask curtainswere seen bundling away in phebe's arms; the air-tight stoveretiring to the cellar on ben's shoulder; and the great bedsteadgoing 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 ofthings both amazed and amused her.
half the peculiar performances of dr. alec cannot be revealed; butas rose glanced up from her box now and then she caughtglimpses of him striding by, bearing a bamboo chair, a pair ofancient andirons, a queer japanese screen, a rug or two, and finallya large bathing-pan upon his head.
"what a curious room it will be," she said, as she sat resting andrefreshing herself with "lumps of delight," all the way fromcairo.
"i fancy you will like it, deary," answered aunt peace, looking upwith a smile from some pretty trifle she was making with blue silkand white muslin.
rose did not see the smile, for just at that moment her unclepaused 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. ihaven't put these things on right, i dare say, but i do like them somuch!""you look as gay as a parrot in your fez and cabaja, and it does myheart good to see the little black shadow turned into a rainbow,"said uncle alec, surveying the bright figure before him with greatapprobation.
he did not say it, but he thought she made a much prettier picturethan phebe at the wash-tub, for she had stuck a purple fez on herblonde head, tied several brilliant scarfs about her waist, and puton a truly gorgeous scarlet jacket with a golden sun embroideredon the back, a silver moon on the front, and stars of all sizes on thesleeves. a pair of turkish slippers adorned her feet, and necklacesof amber, coral, and filigree hung about her neck, while one handheld a smelling-bottle, and the other the spicy box of orientalsweetmeats.
"i feel like a girl in the 'arabian nights,' and expect to find a magiccarpet or a wonderful talisman somewhere. only i don't see how iever can thank you for all these lovely things," she said, stoppingher dance, as if suddenly oppressed with gratitude.
"i'll tell you how by leaving off the black clothes, that never shouldhave been kept so long on such a child, and wearing the gay onesi've brought. it will do your spirits good, and cheer up this soberold house. won't it, auntie?""i think you are right, alec, and it is fortunate that we have notbegun on her spring clothes yet, for myra thought she ought not towear anything brighter than violet, and she is too pale for that.""you just let me direct miss hemming how to make some of thesethings. you will be surprised to see how much i know about pipinghems 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 hisknowledge any farther, till they stopped, when he saidgood-naturedly"that will go a great way toward filling out the belt, so laughaway, morgiana, and i'll go back to my work, or i never shall bedone.""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 manynice 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 ofthe dresses you are done with would be more useful, if they can bemade over to fit her," answered aunt peace in the prudent,moderate tone which is so trying to our feelings when we indulgein little fits of charitable enthusiasm.
"i'd rather give her new ones, for i think she is a little bit proud andmight not like old things. if she was my sister it would do, becausesisters don't mind, but she isn't, and that makes it bad, you see. iknow how i can manage beautifully; i'll adopt her!" and roselooked quite radiant with this new idea.
"i'm afraid you could not do it legally till you are older, but youmight see if she likes the plan, and at any rate you can be very kindto her, for in one sense we are all sisters, and should help oneanother."the sweet old face looked at her so kindly that rose was firedwith a desire to settle the matter at once, and rushed away to thekitchen, just as she was. phebe was there, polishing up the antiqueandirons so busily that she started when a voice cried out: "smellthat, taste this, and look at me!"phebe sniffed attar of rose, crunched the "lump of delight" tuckedinto her mouth, and stared with all her eyes at little morgianaprancing about the room like a brilliant paroquet.
"my stars, ain't you splendid!" was all she could say, holding uptwo dusty hands.
"i've got heaps of lovely things upstairs, and i'll show them all toyou, 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'tthat be nice?""why, miss rose, have you lost your wits?"no wonder phebe asked, for rose talked very fast, and looked soodd in her new costume, and was so eager she could not stop toexplain. 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 wantto be as good to you as if you were my sister, for aunt peace sayswe are all sisters really. i thought if i adopted you as much as i cannow, it would be nicer. will you let me, please?"to rose's great surprise, phebe sat down on the floor and hid herface 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 hopeyou won't think " she faltered presently, feeling that she must undothe mischief, if possible.
but phebe gave her another surprise, by dropping the apron andshowing a face all smiles, in spite of tears in the eyes, as she putboth 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 doanything you like with me.""then you do like the plan? you didn't cry because i seemed to bekind 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 tome before, and i couldn't help it. as for patronising, you may walkon me if you want to, and i won't mind," said phebe, in a burst ofgratitude, for the words, "we are sisters" went straight to her lonelyheart and nestled there.
"well, now, we can play i'm a good sprite out of the box, or, whatis better, a fairy godmother come down the chimney, and you arecinderella, and must say what you want," said rose, trying to putthe question delicately.
phebe understood that, for she had a good deal of naturalrefinement, though she did come from the poor-house.
"i don't feel as if i wanted anything now, miss rose, but to findsome way of thanking you for all you've done," she said, rubbingoff a tear that went rolling down the bridge of her nose in the mostunromantic 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 cando. i must go and clear up, so good-bye, and don't forget i'veadopted you.""you've given me sweeter things than candy, and i'm not likely toforget it." and carefully wiping off the brick-dust, phebe pressedthe little hand rose offered warmly in both her hard ones, whilethe black eyes followed the departing visitor with a grateful lookthat made them very soft and bright.
