there certainly were "larks" on campbell's island next day, ascharlie had foretold, and rose took her part in them like oneintent on enjoying every minute to the utmost. there was a merrybreakfast, a successful fishing expedition, and then the lobsterscame out in full force, for even aunt jessie appeared in redflannel. there was nothing uncle alec could not do in the water,and the boys tried their best to equal him in strength and skill, sothere was a great diving and ducking, for every one was bent ondistinguishing himself.
rose swam out far beyond her depth, with uncle to float her back;aunt jessie splashed placidly in the shallow pools, with jamiepaddling near by like a little whale beside its mother; while thelads careered about, looking like a flock of distracted flamingoes,and acting like the famous dancing party in "alice's adventures inwonderland."nothing but chowder would have lured them from their gambols inthe briny deep; that time-honoured dish demanded theconcentrated action of several mighty minds; so the "waterbabies" came ashore and fell to cooking.
it is unnecessary to say that, when done, it was the mostremarkable chowder ever cooked, and the quantity eaten wouldhave amazed the world if the secret had been divulged. after thisexertion a siesta was considered the thing, and people lay about intents or out as they pleased, the boys looking like warriorsslumbering where they fell.
the elders had just settled to a comfortable nap when theyoungsters rose, refreshed and ready for further exploits. a hintsent them all off to the cave, and there were discovered bows andarrows, battle clubs, old swords, and various relics of aninteresting nature. perched upon a commanding rock, with jamieto "splain" things to her, rose beheld a series of stirring scenesenacted with great vigour and historical accuracy by her giftedrelatives.
captain cook was murdered by the natives of owhyhee in themost thrilling manner. captain kidd buried untold wealth in thechowder kettle at the dead of night, and shot both the trustingvillains who shared the secret of the hiding place. sinbad cameashore there and had manifold adventures, and numberless wrecksbestrewed the sands.
rose considered them by far the most exciting dramas she hadever witnessed; and when the performance closed with a grandballet 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 rockswatching the lighted steamers pass seaward and the pleasure-boatscome into port, ended the second day of the camping out, and senteveryone to bed early that they might be ready for the festivities ofthe morrow.
"archie, didn't i hear uncle ask you to row home in the morningfor fresh milk and things?""yes, why?""please, may i go too? i have something of great importance toarrange; you know i was carried off in a hurry," rose said in aconfidential 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 themorning, and don't say anything till then, except to charlie.
promise," urged rose, so eagerly, that archie struck an attitudeand 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 willtreat me with more respect after to-morrow, i guess."archie did stand by her in the morning, and her request was readilygranted, as the lads were coming directly back. off they went, androse waved her hand to the islanders with a somewhat pensive air,for an heroic purpose glowed within her, and the spirit ofself-sacrifice was about to be illustrated in a new and touchingmanner.
while the boys got the milk rose ran to phebe, ordered her toleave her dishes, to put on her hat, and take a note back to unclealec, which would explain this somewhat mysteriousperformance. phebe obeyed, and when she went to the boat roseaccompanied her, telling the boys she was not ready to go yet, butthey could, some of them, come for her when she hung a whitesignal on her balcony.
"but why not come now? what are you about, miss? uncle won'tlike 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 aswell as other people"; and rose walked off with an air of loftyindependence that impressed her friends immensely.
"it's some plot between uncle and herself, so we won't meddle. allright, phebe? pull away, prince"; and off they went to be receivedwith 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 herhave all the fun she can. please don't mind what she says, but keepher, and tell the boys to be very good to her for my sake. don'tthink it is easy to do this; it is very hard to give up the best day ofall, 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; itruly do not wish to be praised, and i truly want to do it. love to allfrom"rose.""bless the little dear, what a generous heart she has! shall we goafter her, jessie, or let her have her way?" said dr. alec, after thefirst mingled amusement and astonishment had subsided.
"let her alone, and don't spoil her little sacrifice. she means it, iknow, and the best way in which we can show our respect for hereffort 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 theirdisappointment and exert themselves to please rose's guest.
phebe was with difficulty kept from going straight home, anddeclared that she should not enjoy herself one bit without missrose.
"she won't hold out all day, and we shall see her paddling backbefore noon, i'll wager anything," said charlie; and the rest sostrongly inclined to his opinion that they resigned themselves tothe loss of the little queen of the revels, sure that it would be onlya temporary one.
but hour after hour passed, and no signal appeared on the balcony,though phebe watched it hopefully. no passing boat brought thetruant back, though more than one pair of eyes looked out for thebright hair under the round hat; and sunset came, bringing no rosebut the lovely colour in the western sky.
"i really did not think the child had it in her. i fancied it was a bitof sentiment, but i see she was in earnest, and means that hersacrifice shall be a true one. dear little soul! i'll make it up to her athousand times over, and beg her pardon for thinking it might bedone for effect," dr. alec said remorsefully, as he strained his eyesthrough the dusk, fancying he saw a small figure sitting in thegarden as it had sat on the keg the night before, laying thegenerous little plot that had cost more than he could guess.
"well, she can't help seeing the fireworks, any way, unless she isgoose enough to think she must hide in a dark closet and not look,"said archie, who was rather disgusted at rose's seemingingratitude.
"she will see ours capitally, but miss the big ones on the hill,unless papa has forgotten all about them," added steve, cuttingshort the harangue mac had begun upon the festivals of theancients.
"i'm sure the sight of her will be better than the finest fireworksthat ever went off," said phebe, meditating an elopement with oneof the boats if she could get a chance.
"let things work; if she resists a brilliant invitation we give her shewill be a heroine," added uncle alec, secretly hoping that shewould not.
meanwhile rose had spent a quiet, busy day helping dolly,waiting on aunt peace, and steadily resisting aunt plenty'sattempts to send her back to the happy island. it had been hard inthe morning to come in from the bright world outside, with flagsflying, cannon booming, crackers popping, and everyone makingready for a holiday, and go to washing cups, while dolly grumbledand the aunts lamented. it was very hard to see the day go by,knowing how gay each hour must have been across the water, andhow a word from her would take her where she longed to be withall her heart. but it was hardest of all when evening came andaunt peace was asleep, aunt plenty seeing a gossip in the parlor,dolly established in the porch to enjoy the show, and nothing leftfor the little maid to do but sit alone in her balcony and watch thegay rockets whizz up from island, hill, and city, while bandsplayed and boats laden with happy people went to and fro in thefitful 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 amoment, and she fancied she saw the tents, the curly head wentdown on the railing, and a wide-awake nasturtium heard a littlewhisper"i hope someone wishes i was there!"the tears were all gone, however, and she was watching the hilland island answer each other with what jamie called "whizzers,whirligigs and busters," and smiling as she thought how hard theboys must be working to keep up such a steady fire, when unclemac 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 isgone, so i want you. i've got fun down in the boat, and i want youto go with us and see my fireworks. got them up for you, and youmustn't miss them, or i shall be disappointed.""but, uncle," began rose, feeling as if she ought to refuse even aglimpse of bliss, "perhaps ""i know, my dear, i know; aunt told me; but no one needs you nowso 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 lanternwaiting to help her in and convulse her with laughter trying toexpress his emotions in pigeon english. the city clocks werestriking nine as they got out into the bay, and the island fireworksseemed to be over, for no rocket answered the last roman candlethat shone on the aunt-hill.
"ours are done, i see, but they are going up all round the city, andhow pretty they are," said rose, folding her mantle about her, andsurveying the scene with pensive interest.
"hope my fellows have not got into trouble up there," muttereduncle mac, adding with a satisfied chuckle, as a spark shone out,"no; there it goes! look, rosy, and see how you like this one; itwas ordered especially in honour of your coming."rose looked with all her eyes, and saw the spark grow into thelikeness of a golden vase, then green leaves came out, and then acrimson flower glowing on the darkness with a splendid lustre.
"is it a rose, uncle?" she asked, clasping her hands with delight asshe recognised the handsome flower.
"of course it is! look again, and guess what those are," answereduncle mac, chuckling and enjoying it all like a boy.
a wreath of what looked at first like purple brooms appearedbelow the vase, but rose guessed what they were meant for, andstood straight up, holding by his shoulder, and crying excitedly"thistles, uncle, scotch thistles! there are seven of them one foreach boy! oh, what a joke!" and she laughed so that she plumpedinto the bottom of the boat and stayed there till the brilliantspectacle was quite gone.
"that was rather a neat thing, i flatter myself," said uncle mac, inhigh glee at the success of his illumination. "now, shall i leave youon the island or take you home again, my good little girl?" headded, lifting her up with such a tone of approbation in his voicethat rose kissed him on the spot.
"home, please uncle; and i thank you very very much for thebeautiful firework you got up for me. i'm so glad i saw it; and iknow i shall dream about it," answered rose steadily, though awistful glance went toward the island, now so near that she couldsmell powder and see shadowy figures flitting about.
home they went; and rose fell asleep saying to herself, "it washarder than i thought, but i'm glad i did it, and i truly don't wantany reward but phebe's pleasure."
