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?”