Chapter 8--And what came of it
"Uncle, could you lend me a ninepence? I'll return it as soon as I getmy pocket-money," said Rose, coming into the library in a great hurrythat evening.
"I think I could, and I won't charge any interest for it, so you neednot be in any hurry to repay me. Come back here and help me settle thesebooks if you have nothing pleasanter to do," answered Dr. Alec, handingout the money with that readiness which is so delightful when we asksmall loans.
"I'll come in a minute; I've been longing to fix my books, but didn'tdare to touch them, because you always shake your head when I read."
"I shall shake my head when you write, if you don't do it better thanyou did in making out this catalogue."
"I know it's bad, but I was in a hurry when I did it, and I am in onenow." And away went Rose, glad to escape a lecture.
But she got it when she came back, for Uncle Alec was still knittinghis brows over the list of books, and sternly demanded, pointing to atipsy-looking title staggering down the page,
"Is that meant for 'Pulverized Bones,' ma'am?"
"No, sir; it's 'Paradise Lost.'"
"Well, I'm glad to know it, for I began to think you were planning tostudy surgery or farming. And what is this, if you please? 'Babies'Aprons' is all I can make of it."
Rose looked hard at the scrawl, and presently announced, with an air ofsuperior wisdom,
"Oh, that's 'Bacon's Essays.'"
"Miss Power did not teach anything so old-fashioned as writing, I see.Now look at this memorandum Aunt Plenty gave me, and see what a handsomeplain hand that is. She went to a dame-school and learnt a few usefulthings well; that is better than a smattering of half a dozen so-calledhigher branches, I take the liberty of thinking."
"Well, I'm sure I was considered a bright girl at school, and learnedeverything I was taught. Luly and me were the first in all our classes,and 'specially praised for our French and music and those sort ofthings," said Rose, rather offended at Uncle Alec's criticism.
"I dare say; but if your French grammar was no better than your English,I think the praise was not deserved, my dear."
"Why, uncle, we did study English grammar, and I could parsebeautifully. Miss Power used to have us up to show off when people came.I don't see but I talk as right as most girls."
"I dare say you do, but we are all too careless about our English. Now,think a minute, and tell me if these expressions are correct 'Luly andme,' 'those sort of things,' and 'as right as most girls.'"
Rose pulled her pet curl and put up her lip, but had to own that she waswrong, and said meekly, after a pause which threatened to be sulky,
"I suppose I should have said 'Luly and I,' in that case, and 'that sortof things' and 'rightly,' though 'correctly' would have been a betterword, I guess."
"Thank you; and if you will kindly drop 'I guess,' I shall like mylittle Yankee all the better. Now, see here, Rosy, I don't pretendto set myself up for a model in anything, and you may come down on mygrammar, manners or morals as often as you think I'm wrong, and I'llthank you. I've been knocking about the world for years, and have gotcareless, but I want my girl to be what I call well-educated, even ifshe studies nothing but the three 'Rs' for a year to come. Let us bethorough, no matter how slowly we go."
He spoke so earnestly and looked so sorry to have ruffled her thatRose went and sat on the arm of his chair, saying, with a pretty air ofpenitence,
"I'm sorry I was cross, uncle, when I ought to thank you for takingso much interest in me. I guess no, I think you are right about beingthorough, for I used to understand a great deal better when papa taughtme a few lessons than when Miss Power hurried me through so many. Ideclare my head used to be such a jumble of French and German, historyand arithmetic, grammar and music, I used to feel sometimes as if itwould split. I'm sure I don't wonder it ached." And she held on to it asif the mere memory of the "jumble" made it swim.
"Yet that is considered an excellent school, I find, and I dare say itwould be if the benighted lady did not think it necessary to cram herpupils like Thanks-giving turkeys, instead of feeding them in a naturaland wholesome way. It is the fault with most American schools, and thepoor little heads will go on aching till we learn better."
This was one of Dr. Alec's hobbies, and Rose was afraid he was off fora gallop, but he reined himself in and gave her thoughts a new turn bysaying suddenly, as he pulled out a fat pocket-book,
"Uncle Mac has put all your affairs into my hands now, and here is yourmonth's pocket money. You keep your own little accounts, I suppose?"
"Thank you. Yes, Uncle Mac gave me an account book when I went toschool, and I used to put down my expenses, but I couldn't make them govery well, for figures are the one thing I am not at all clever about,"said Rose, rummaging in her desk for a dilapidated little book, whichshe was ashamed to show when she found it.
"Well, as figures are rather important things to most of us, and you mayhave a good many accounts to keep some day, wouldn't it be wise tobegin at once and learn to manage your pennies before the pounds come toperplex you?"
"I thought you would do all that fussy part and take care of the pounds,as you call them. Need I worry about it? I do hate sums, so!"
"I shall take care of things till you are of age, but I mean that youshall know how your property is managed, and do as much of it as you canby and by; then you won't be dependent on the honesty of other people."
"Gracious me! as if I wouldn't trust you with millions of billions if Ihad them," cried Rose, scandalised at the mere suggestion.
"Ah, but I might be tempted; guardians are sometimes; so you'd betterkeep your eye on me, and in order to do that you must learn all aboutthese affairs," answered Dr. Alec, as he made an entry in his own veryneat account-book.
Rose peeped over his shoulder at it, and then turned to the arithmeticalpuzzle in her hand with a sigh of despair.
"Uncle, when you add up your expenses do you ever find you have got moremoney than you had in the beginning?"
"No; I usually find that I have a good deal less than I had in thebeginning. Are you troubled in the peculiar way you mention?"
"Yes; it is very curious, but I never can make things come out square."
"Perhaps I can help you," began Uncle Alec, in the most respectful tone.
"I think you had better, for if I have got to keep accounts I may aswell begin in the right way. But please don't laugh! I know I'm verystupid, and my book is a disgrace, but I never could get it straight."And with great trepidation, Rose gave up her funny little accounts.