_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 honorably 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 Bliss," 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 Bliss, 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 Annabel, 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
patronizing 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
Bliss'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 Annabel stopped to bridle and shake her flaxen head over
the delinquent Hatty Mason.
Now, in her heart Miss Bliss 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 Annabel
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, flirting 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 Annabel would be the better
for a little crushing, and could not resist the temptation to patronize
in her turn.
"Oh, indeed!" said Miss Bliss, 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 Annabel, 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 every one says they are lovely."
Rose came down from her high horse with a rapidity that was comical, for
Annabel 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 Annabel wore; and,
clasping her hands, she answered, in a tone that went to the hearer's
heart,--
"They are _too_ sweet for any thing! 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 Annabel, 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 Annabel, 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 Annabel hovering over her prey like a
vampire.
"No, never!"
[Illustration: "PUNCH!" SAID ROSE, IN THE TONE OF ONE GIVING THE ORDER
"FIRE!"]
"Then do it, unless you are _afraid_," cried Miss Bliss, 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!"
Annabel 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 Annabel, 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 Annabel 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 Annabel.
"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
Annabel 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 some one 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 Bliss
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
Annabel 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 aunty 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 honor 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 gayly
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 afterward.
"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 any
thing; 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 every one,
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 Annabel 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 "Annabel 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 Bliss 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 temptation.
"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 pillows 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, Annabel. 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.