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.”