Chapter 6--Uncle Alec's Room
Soon after dinner, and before she had got acquainted with half hernew possessions, Dr. Alec proposed a drive, to carry round the firstinstalment of gifts to the aunts and cousins. Rose was quite ready togo, being anxious to try a certain soft burnous from the box, whichnot only possessed a most engaging little hood, but had funny tasselsbobbing in all directions.
The big carriage was full of parcels, and even Ben's seat was loadedwith Indian war clubs, a Chinese kite of immense size, and a pair ofpolished ox-horns from Africa. Uncle Alec, very blue as to his clothes,and very brown as to his face, sat bolt upright, surveying wellknown places with interest, while Rose, feeling unusually elegant andcomfortable, leaned back folded in her soft mantle, and played she wasan Eastern princess making a royal progress among her subjects.
At three of the places their calls were brief, for Aunt Myra's catarrhwas unusually bad; Aunt Clara had a room full of company; and AuntJane showed such a tendency to discuss the population, productions, andpolitics 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," saidRose, with a sigh of relief, as they wound yet higher up the hill toAunt Jessie's.
"I left this for the last call, so that we might find the lads just infrom school. Yes, there is Jamie on the gate watching for us; now you'llsee 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 cousinscame 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 greatexultation.
"Little Mum! little Mum! here they are with lots of goodies! Come downand see the fun right away! Quick!" bawled Will and Geordie amidst ageneral ripping off of papers and a reckless cutting of strings thatsoon turned the tidy room into a chaos.
Down came Aunt Jessie with her pretty cap half on, but such a beamingface below it that one rather thought the fly-away head-gear animprovement than otherwise. She had hardly time to greet Rose and thedoctor before the boys were about her, each clamouring for her to seehis gift and rejoice over it with him, for "little Mum" went halves ineverything. The great horns skirmished about her as if to toss her tothe ceiling; the war clubs hurtled over her head as if to annihilateher; an amazing medley from the four quarters of the globe filled herlap, and seven excited boys all talked to her at once.
But she liked it; oh dear, yes! and sat smiling, admiring, andexplaining, quite untroubled by the din, which made Rose cover up herears and Dr. Alec threaten instant flight if the riot was not quelled.That threat produced a lull, and while the uncle received thanks in onecorner, 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, thanthey 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 helploving him"; and, nestling closer to little Mum, Rose told all that hadhappened, ending with a rapturous account of the splendid box.
"I am very glad, dear. But, Rose, I must warn you of one thing; don'tlet 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 hewill be blamed, and his experiment prove a failure. That would be apity, wouldn't it? when he wants to do so much for you, and can do it ifhis 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 Ihelp it?" asked Rose anxiously.
"By not complaining of the wholesome things he wants you to do; bygiving him cheerful obedience as well as love; and even making somesmall sacrifices for his sake."
"I will, I truly will! and when I get in a worry about things may I cometo 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 bestcured, and this is what mothers are for, I fancy"; and Aunt Jessie drewthe curly head to her shoulder with a tender look that proved how wellshe knew what medicine the child most needed.
It was so sweet and comfortable that Rose sat still enjoying it till alittle voice said,
"Mamma, don't you think Pokey would like some of my shells? Rose gavePhebe 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 oddname.
"My dolly; do you want to see her?" asked Jamie, who had been muchimpressed by the tale of adoption he had overheard.
"Yes; I'm fond of dollies, only don't tell the boys, or they will laughat me."
"They don't laugh at me, and they play with my dolly a great deal; butshe 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 toplay with her, and yet I can't bear to throw her away, I'm so fond ofher," said Rose, continuing her confidences in a whisper.
"You can come and play with Jamie's whenever you like, for we believe indollies up here," began Aunt Jessie, smiling to herself as if somethingamused her.
Just then Jamie came back, and Rose understood the smile, for his dollyproved to be a pretty four-year-old little girl, who trotted in as fastas her fat legs would carry her, and making straight for the shells,scrambled up an armful, saying, with a laugh that showed her littlewhite teeth,
"All for Dimmy and me, for Dimmy and me!"
"That's my dolly; isn't she a nice one?" asked Jamie, proudly surveyinghis pet with his hands behind him and his short legs rather far apart amanly attitude copied from his brothers.
"She is a dear dolly. But why call her Pokey?" asked Rose, charmed withthe new plaything.
"She is such an inquisitive little body she is always poking that miteof a nose into everything; and as Paul Pry did not suit, the boys fellto calling her Pokey. Not a pretty name, but very expressive."
It certainly was, for, having examined the shells, the busy tot laidhold of everything she could find, and continued her researches tillArchie caught her sucking his carved ivory chessmen to see if they werenot barley sugar. Rice paper pictures were also discovered crumpled upin her tiny pocket, and she nearly smashed Will's ostrich egg by tryingto sit upon it.
"Here, Jim, take her away; she's worse than the puppies, and we can'thave her round," commanded the elder brother, picking her up and handingher over to the little fellow, who received her with open arms and thewarning remark,
"You'd better mind what you do, for I'm going to 'dopt Pokey likeRose did Phebe, and then you'll have to be very good to her, you bigfellows."
"'Dopt away, baby, and I'll give you a cage to keep her in, or you won'thave her long, for she is getting worse than a monkey"; and Archie wentback to his mates, while Aunt Jessie, foreseeing a crisis, proposed thatJamie should take his dolly home, as she was borrowed, and it was timeher visit ended.
"My dolly is better than yours, isn't she? 'cause she can walk and talkand sing and dance, and yours can't do anything, can she?" asked Jamiewith pride, as he regarded his Pokey, who just then had been moved toexecute a funny little jig and warble the well-known couplet,
"'Puss-tat, puss-tat, where you been?' 'I been Lunnin, to saw a Tween."'