But Rose was not appeased, and gave a disdainful shrug, as sheanswered with a look in her eyes that his lordship did not like,--
"Thank you: I don't want admirers or slaves, but friends and helpers.I've lived so long with a wise, good man that I am rather hard tosuit, perhaps; but I don't intend to lower my standard, and any onewho cares for my regard must at least try to live up to it."
"Whew! here's a wrathful dove! Come and smooth her ruffled plumage,Mac. I'll dodge before I do further mischief," and Charlie strolledaway into the other room, privately lamenting that Uncle Alec hadspoiled a fine girl by making her strong-minded.
He wished himself back again in five minutes; for Mac said somethingthat produced a gale of laughter, and when he took a look over hisshoulder the "wrathful dove" was cooing so peacefully and pleasantlyhe was sorely tempted to return and share the fun. But Charlie hadbeen spoiled by too much indulgence, and it was hard for him to ownhimself in the wrong even when he knew it. He always got what hewanted sooner or later; and, having long ago made up his mind thatRose and her fortune were to be his, he was secretly displeased at thenew plans and beliefs of the young lady, but flattered himself thatthey would soon be changed when she saw how unfashionable andinconvenient they were.
Musing over the delightful future he had laid out, he made himselfcomfortable in the sofa corner near his mother, till the appearance ofa slight refection caused both groups to melt into one. Aunt Plentybelieved in eating and drinking; so the slightest excuse for festivitydelighted her hospitable soul, and on this joyful occasion shesurpassed herself.
It was during this informal banquet that Rose, roaming about from oneadmiring relative to another, came upon the three younger lads, whowere having a quiet little scuffle in a secluded corner.
"Come out here and let me have a look at you," she said enticingly;for she predicted an explosion and public disgrace if peace was notspeedily restored.
Hastily smoothing themselves down, the young gentlemen presented threeflushed and merry countenances for inspection, feeling highly honoredby the command.
"Dear me, how you two have grown! You big things! how dare you getahead of me in this way?" she said, standing on tiptoe to pat thecurly pates before her; for Will and Geordie had shot up like weeds,and now grinned cheerfully down upon her as she surveyed them in comicamazement.
"The Campbells are all fine, tall fellows; and we mean to be the bestof the lot. Shouldn't wonder if we were six-footers, like Grandpa,"observed Will proudly, looking so like a young Shanghae rooster, alllegs and an insignificant head, that Rose kept her countenance withdifficulty.
"We shall broaden out when we get our growth. We are taller than Stevenow, a half a head, both of us," added Geordie, with his nose in theair.
Rose turned to look at Steve, and, with a sudden smile, beckoned tohim. He dropped his napkin, and flew to obey the summons; for she wasqueen of the hour, and he had openly announced his deathless loyalty.
"Tell the other boys to come here. I've a fancy to stand you all in arow and look you over, as you did me that dreadful day when you nearlyfrightened me out of my wits," she said, laughing at the memory of itas she spoke.
They came in a body, and, standing shoulder to shoulder, made such animposing array that the young commander was rather daunted for amoment. But she had seen too much of the world lately to be abashed bya trifle; and the desire to try a girlish test gave her courage toface the line of smiling cousins with dignity and spirit.
"Now I'm going to stare at you as you stared at me. It is my revengeon you seven bad boys for entrapping one poor little girl, andenjoying her alarm. I'm not a bit afraid of you now; so tremble andbeware!"
As she spoke, Rose looked up into Archie's face and noddedapprovingly; for the steady gray eyes met hers fairly, and softened asthey did so,--a becoming change, for naturally they were rather keenthan kind.
"A true Campbell, bless you!" she said, and shook his hand heartily asshe passed on.
Charlie came next, and here she felt less satisfied, though scarcelyconscious why; for, as she looked, there came a defiant sort of flash,changing suddenly to something warmer than anger, stronger than pride,making her shrink a little and say, hastily,--
"I don't find the Charlie I left; but the Prince is there still, Isee."
Turning to Mac with a sense of relief, she gently t
ook off his"winkers," as Jamie called them, and looked straight into the honestblue eyes that looked straight back at her, full of a frank andfriendly affection that warmed her heart, and made her own eyesbrighten as she gave back the glasses, saying, with a look and tone ofcordial satisfaction,--
"_You_ are not changed, my dear old Mac; and I'm so glad of that!"
"Now say something extra sweet to me, because I'm the flower of thefamily," said Steve, twirling the blonde moustache, which wasevidently the pride of his life.
Rose saw at a glance that Dandy deserved his name more than ever, andpromptly quenched his vanities by answering, with a provoking laugh,--
"Then the name of the flower of the family is Cock's-comb."
"Ah, ha! who's got it now?" jeered Will.
"Let us off easy, please," whispered Geordie, mindful that their turncame next.
"You blessed beanstalks! I'm proud of you: only don't grow quite outof sight, or ever be ashamed to look a woman in the face," answeredRose, with a gentle pat on the cheek of either bashful young giant;for both were as red as peonies, though their boyish eyes were asclear and calm as summer lakes.
"Now me!" And Jamie assumed his manliest air, feeling that he did notappear to advantage among his tall kinsmen. But he went to the head ofthe class in every one's opinion when Rose put her arms round him,saying, with a kiss,--
"You must be my boy now; for all the others are too old, and I want afaithful little page to do my errands for me."
"I will, I will! and I'll marry you too, if you'll just hold on till Igrow up!" cried Jamie, rather losing his head at this suddenpromotion.
"Bless the baby, what is he talking about?" laughed Rose, looking downat her little knight, as he clung about her with grateful ardor.
"Oh, I heard the aunts say that you'd better marry one of us, andkeep the property in the family; so I speak first, because you arevery fond of me, and I _do_ love curls."
Alas for Jamie! this awful speech had hardly left his innocent lipswhen Will and Geordie swept him out of the room like a whirlwind; andthe howls of that hapless boy were heard from the torture-hall, wherebeing shut into the skeleton-case was one of the mildest punishmentsinflicted upon him.
Dismay fell upon the unfortunates who remained: but their confusionwas soon ended; for Rose, with a look which they had never seen uponher face before, dismissed them with the brief command, "Breakranks,--the review is over," and walked away to Phebe.
"Confound that boy! You ought to shut him up, or gag him!" fumedCharlie, irritably.
"He shall be attended to," answered poor Archie, who was trying tobring up the little marplot with the success of most parents andguardians.
"The whole thing was deuced disagreeable," growled Steve, who feltthat he had not distinguished himself in the late engagement.
"Truth generally is," observed Mac dryly, as he strolled away with hisodd smile.
As if he suspected discord somewhere, Dr. Alec proposed music at thiscrisis; and the young people felt that it was a happy thought.
"I want you to hear both my birds; for they have improved immensely,and I am very proud of them," said the Doctor, twirling up the stooland pulling out the old music-books.
"I had better come first, for after you have heard the nightingale youwon't care for the canary," added Rose, wishing to put Phebe at herease; for she sat among them looking like a picture, but rather shyand silent, remembering the days when her place was in the kitchen.
"I'll give you some of the dear old songs you used to like so much.This was a favorite, I think;" and sitting down she sang the firstfamiliar air that came, and sang it well in a pleasant, but by nomeans finished, manner.
It chanced to be "The Birks of Aberfeldie," and vividly recalled thetime when Mac was ill, and she took care of him. The memory was sweetto her, and involuntarily her eye wandered in search of him. He wasnot far away, sitting just as he used to sit when she soothed his mostdespondent moods,--astride of a chair with his head down on his arms,as if the song suggested the attitude. Her heart quite softened to himas she looked, and she decided to forgive _him_ if no one else; forshe was sure that he had no mercenary plans about her tiresome money.
Charlie had assumed a pensive air, and fixed his fine eyes upon herwith an expression of tender admiration, which made her laugh in spiteof all her efforts to seem unconscious of it. She was both amused andannoyed at his very evident desire to remind her of certainsentimental passages in the last year of their girl and boyhood, andto change what she had considered a childish joke into romanticearnest. This did not suit her; for, young as she was, Rose had veryserious ideas of love, and had no intention of being beguiled intoeven a flirtation with her handsome cousin.
So Charlie attitudinized unnoticed, and was getting rather out oftemper when Phebe began to sing; and he forgot all about himself inadmiration of her. It took every one by surprise: for two years offoreign training added to several at home had worked wonders; and thebeautiful voice that used to warble cheerily over pots and kettles,now rang out melodiously or melted to a mellow music that woke asympathetic thrill in those who listened. Rose glowed with pride asshe accompanied her friend; for Phebe was in her own world now,--alovely world where no depressing memory of poor-house or kitchen,ignorance or loneliness, came to trouble her; a happy world where shecould be herself, and rule others by the magic of her sweet gift.
Yes, Phebe was herself now, and showed it in the change that came overher at the first note of music. No longer shy and silent, no longerthe image of a handsome girl, but a blooming woman, alive and full ofthe eloquence her art gave her, as she laid her hands softly together,fixed her eye on the light, and just poured out her song as simplyand joyfully as the lark does soaring toward the sun.
"My faith, Alec! that's the sort of voice that wins a man's heart outof his breast!" exclaimed Uncle Mac, wiping his eyes after one of theplaintive ballads that never grow old.
"So it would!" answered Dr. Alec, delightedly.
"So it has," added Archie to himself; and he was right: for, just atthat moment, he fell in love with Phebe. He actually did, and couldfix the time almost to a second: for, at a quarter past nine, hemerely thought her a very charming young person; at twenty minutespast, he considered her the loveliest woman he ever beheld; at fiveand twenty minutes past, she was an angel singing his soul away; andat half after nine he was a lost man, floating over a delicious sea tothat temporary heaven on earth where lovers usually land after thefirst rapturous plunge.
If any one had mentioned this astonishing fact, nobody would havebelieved it; nevertheless, it was quite true: and sober, business-likeArchie suddenly discovered a fund of romance at the bottom of hishitherto well-conducted heart that amazed him. He was not quite clearwhat had happened to him at first, and sat about in a dazed sort ofway; seeing, hearing, knowing nothing but Phebe: while the unconsciousidol found something wanting in the cordial praise so modestlyreceived, because Mr. Archie never said a word.
This was one of the remarkable things which occurred that evening;another was that Mac paid Rose a compliment, which was such anunprecedented fact, it produced a great sensation, though only oneperson heard it.
Everybody had gone but Mac and his father, who was busy with theDoctor. Aunt Plenty was counting the teaspoons in the dining-room, andPhebe was helping her as of old. Mac and Rose were alone,--heapparently in a brown study, leaning his elbows on the chimney-piece;and she lying back in a low chair, looking thoughtfully at the fire.She was tired; and the quiet was grateful to her: so she kept silenceand Mac respectfully held his tongue. Presently, however, she becameconscious that he was looking at her as intently as eyes and glassescould do it; and, without stirring from her comfortable attitude, shesaid, smiling up at him,--
"He looks as wise as an owl: I wonder what he's thinking about?"
"You, cousin."
"Something good, I hope?"
"I was thinking Leigh Hunt was about right when he said, 'A girl isthe sweetest thing God ever mad
e.'"
"Why, Mac!" and Rose sat bolt upright with an astonished face: thiswas such an entirely unexpected sort of remark for the philosopher tomake.
Evidently interested in the new discovery, Mac placidly continued,"Do you know, it seems as if I never really saw a girl before, or hadany idea what agreeable creatures they could be. I fancy you are aremarkably good specimen, Rose."
"No, indeed! I'm only hearty and happy; and being safe at home againmay make me look better than usual perhaps: but I'm no beauty exceptto uncle."
"'Hearty and happy,'--that must be it," echoed Mac, soberlyinvestigating the problem. "Most girls are sickly or silly, I think Ihave observed; and that is probably why I am so struck with you."
"Of all queer boys you are the queerest! Do you really mean that youdon't like or notice girls?" asked Rose, much amused at this newpeculiarity of her studious cousin.
"Well, no: I am only conscious of two sorts,--noisy and quiet ones. Iprefer the latter: but, as a general thing, I don't notice any of themmuch more than I do flies, unless they bother me; then I'd like toflap them away; but, as that won't do, I hide."
Rose leaned back and laughed till her eyes were full: it was socomical to hear Mac sink his voice to a confidential whisper at thelast words, and see him smile with sinful satisfaction at the memoryof the tormentors he had eluded.
"You needn't laugh: it's a fact, I assure you. Charlie likes thecreatures, and they spoil him; Steve follows suit, of course. Archieis a respectful slave when he can't help himself. As for me, I don'toften give them a chance; and, when I get caught, I talk science anddead languages till they run for their lives. Now and then I find asensible one, and then we get on excellently."
"A sad prospect for Phebe and me," sighed Rose, trying to keep sober.
"Phebe is evidently a quiet one. I know she is sensible, or youwouldn't care for her. I can see that she is pleasant to look at, so Ifancy I shall like her. As for you, I helped bring you up; therefore Iam a little anxious to see how you turn out. I was afraid your foreignpolish might spoil you, but I think it has not. In fact, I find youquite satisfactory so far, if you don't mind my saying it. I don'tquite know what the charm is, though. Must be the power of inwardgraces, since you insist that you have no outward ones."
Mac was peering at her with a shrewd smile on his lips, but such akindly look behind the glasses, that she found both words and glancevery pleasant, and answered merrily,--
"I am glad you approve of me, and much obliged for your care of myearly youth. I hope to be a credit to you, and depend on your keepingme straight; for I'm afraid I shall be spoilt among you all."
"I'll keep my eye on you upon one condition," replied the youthfulMentor.
"Name it."
"If you are going to have a lot of lovers round, I wash my hands ofyou. If not, I'm your man."
"You must be sheep-dog, and help keep them away; for I don't want anyyet awhile; and, between ourselves, I don't believe I shall have anyif it is known that I am strong-minded. That fact will scare most menaway like a yellow flag," said Rose: for, thanks to Dr. Alec'sguardianship, she had wasted neither heart nor time in the foolishflirtations so many girls fritter away their youth upon.
"Hum! I rather doubt that," muttered Mac, as he surveyed the damselbefore him.
She certainly did not look unpleasantly strong-minded, for she _was_beautiful in spite of her modest denials. Beautiful with the truestsort of beauty; for nobility of character lent its subtle charm to thebloom of youth, the freshness of health, the innocence of a naturewhose sweet maidenliness Mac felt but could not describe. Gentle yetfull of spirit, and all aglow with the earnestness that suggestslovely possibilities, and makes one hope that such human flowers mayhave heaven's purest air and warmest sunshine to blossom in.
"Wait and see," answered Rose; then, as her uncle's voice was heard inthe hall, she held out her hand, adding pleasantly, "The old times areto begin again, so come soon and tell me all your doings, and help mewith mine just as you used to do."
"You really mean it?" and Mac looked much pleased.
"I really do. You are so little altered, except to grow big, that Idon't feel at all strange with you, and want to begin where we leftoff."
"That will be capital. Good-night, cousin," and to her great amazementhe gave her a hearty kiss.
"Oh, but that is not the old way at all!" cried Rose, stepping back inmerry confusion; while the audacious youth assumed an air of mildsurprise, as he innocently asked,--
"Didn't we always say good-night in that way? I had an impression thatwe did, and were to begin just as we left off."
"Of course not; no power on earth would have bribed you to do it, asyou know well enough. I don't mind the first night, but we are too oldfor that sort of thing now."
"I'll remember. It was the force of habit, I suppose; for I'm sure Imust have done it in former times, it seemed so natural. Coming,father!" and Mac retired, evidently convinced that he was right.
"Dear old thing! he is as much a boy as ever, and that is such acomfort; for some of the others have grown up very fast," said Rose toherself, recalling Charlie's sentimental airs, and Archie's beatifiedexpression while Phebe sang.