All dinner-time Rose felt that she was going to be talked about,and afterward1 she was sure of it, for Aunt Plenty whispered to heras they went into the parlour"Run up and sit awhile with Sister Peace, my dear. She likes tohave you read while she rests, and we are going to be busy."Rose obeyed, and the quiet rooms above were so like a church thatshe soon composed her ruffled3 feelings, and was unconsciously alittle minister of happiness to the sweet old lady, who for years hadsat there patiently waiting to be set free from pain.
Rose knew the sad romance of her life, and it gave a certain tendercharm to this great-aunt of hers, whom she already loved. WhenPeace was twenty, she was about to be married; all was done, thewedding dress lay ready, the flowers were waiting to be put on, thehappy hour at hand, when word came that the lover was dead.
They thought that gentle Peace would die, too; but she bore itbravely, put away her bridal gear, took up her life afresh, and livedon a beautiful, meek4 woman, with hair as white as snow andcheeks that never bloomed again. She wore no black, but soft, palecolours, as if always ready for the marriage that had never come.
For thirty years she had lived on, fading slowly, but cheerful, busy,and full of interest in all that went on in the family; especially thejoys and sorrows of the young girls growing up about her, and tothem she was adviser5, confidante, and friend in all their tendertrials and delights. A truly beautiful old maiden6, with her silveryhair, tranquil7 face, and an atmosphere of repose8 about her thatsoothed whoever came to her!
Aunt Plenty was utterly9 dissimilar, being a stout10, brisk old lady,with a sharp eye, a lively tongue, and a face like a winter-apple.
Always trotting11, chatting, and bustling12, she was a regular Martha,cumbered with the cares of this world and quite happy in them.
Rose was right; and while she softly read psalms13 to Aunt Peace,the other ladies were talking about her little self in the frankestmanner.
"Well, Alec, how do you like your ward2?" began Aunt Jane, as theyall settled down, and Uncle Mac deposited himself in a corner tofinish his doze14.
"I should like her better if I could have begun at the beginning, andso got a fair start. Poor George led such a solitary15 life that the childhas suffered in many ways, and since he died she has been goingon worse than ever, judging from the state I find her in.""My dear boy, we did what we thought best while waiting for youto wind up your affairs and get home. I always told George he waswrong to bring her up as he did; but he never took my advice, andnow here we are with this poor dear child upon our hands. I, forone, freely confess that I don't know what to do with her any morethan if she was one of those strange, outlandish birds you used tobring home from foreign parts." And Aunt Plenty gave a perplexedshake of the head which caused great commotion16 among the stiffloops of purple ribbon that bristled17 all over the cap like crocusbuds.
"If my advice had been taken, she would have remained at theexcellent school where I placed her. But our aunt thought best toremove her because she complained, and she has been dawdlingabout ever since she came. A most ruinous state of things for amorbid, spoilt girl like Rose," said Mrs. Jane, severely18.
She had never forgiven the old ladies for yielding to Rose'spathetic petition that she might wait her guardian19's arrival beforebeginning another term at the school, which was a regular Blimberhot-bed, and turned out many a feminine Toots.
"I never thought it the proper school for a child in goodcircumstances an heiress, in fact, as Rose is. It is all very well forgirls who are to get their own living by teaching, and that sort ofthing; but all she needs is a year or two at a fashionable finishingschool, so that at eighteen she can come out with eclat," put inAunt Clara, who had been a beauty and a belle20, and was still ahandsome woman.
"Dear, dear! how short-sighted you all are to be discussingeducation and plans for the future, when this unhappy child is soplainly marked for the tomb," sighed Aunt Myra, with a lugubrioussniff and a solemn wag of the funereal21 bonnet22, which she refusedto remove, being afflicted23 with a chronic24 catarrh.
"Now, it is my opinion that the dear thing only wants freedom,rest, and care. There is look in her eyes that goes to my heart, for itshows that she feels the need of what none of us can give her amother," said Aunt Jessie, with tears in her own bright eyes at thethought of her boys being left, as Rose was, to the care of others.
Uncle Alec, who had listened silently as each spoke25, turnedquickly towards the last sister, and said, with a decided26 nod ofapproval"You've got it, Jessie; and, with you to help me, I hope to make thechild feel that she is not quite fatherless and motherless.""I'll do my best, Alec; and I think you will need me, for, wise asyou are, you cannot understand a tender, timid little creature likeRose as a woman can," said Mrs. Jessie, smiling back at him witha heart full of motherly goodwill27.
"I cannot help feeling that I, who have had a daughter of my own,can best bring up a girl; and I am very much surprised that Georgedid not entrust28 her to me," observed Aunt Myra, with an air ofmelancholy importance, for she was the only one who had given adaughter to the family, and she felt that she had distinguishedherself, though ill-natured people said that she had dosed herdarling to death.
"I never blamed him in the least, when I remember the perilousexperiments you tried with poor Carrie," began Mrs. Jane, in herhard voice.
"Jane Campbell, I will not hear a word! My sainted Caroline is asacred object," cried Aunt Myra, rising as if to leave the room.
Dr. Alec detained her, feeling that he must define his position atonce, and maintain it manfully if he hoped to have any success inhis new undertaking30.
"Now, my dear souls, don't let us quarrel and make Rose a bone ofcontention though, upon my word, she is almost a bone, poor littlelass! You have had her among you for a year, and done what youliked. I cannot say that your success is great, but that is owing totoo many fingers in the pie. Now, I intend to try my way for a year,and if at the end of it she is not in better trim than now, I'll give upthe case, and hand her over to someone else. That's fair, I think.""She will not be here a year hence, poor darling, so no one needdread future responsibility," said Aunt Myra, folding her blackgloves as if all ready for the funeral.
"By Jupiter! Myra, you are enough to damp the ardour of a saint!"cried Dr. Alec, with a sudden spark in his eyes. "Your croakingwill worry that child out of her wits, for she is an imaginative puss,and will fret31 and fancy untold32 horrors. You have put it into herhead that she has no constitution, and she rather likes the idea. Ifshe had not had a pretty good one, she would have been 'markedfor the tomb' by this time, at the rate you have been going on withher. I will not have any interference please understand that; so justwash your hands of her, and let me manage till I want help, thenI'll ask for it.""Hear, hear!" came from the corner where Uncle Mac wasapparently wrapt in slumber33.
"You were appointed guardian, so we can do nothing. But I predictthat the girl will be spoilt, utterly spoilt," answered Mrs. Jane,grimly.
"Thank you, sister. I have an idea that if a woman can bring up twoboys as perfectly34 as you do yours, a man, if he devotes his wholemind to it, may at least attempt as much with one girl," replied Dr.
Alec, with a humorous look that tickled35 the others immensely, forit was a well-known fact in the family that Jane's boys were moreindulged than all the other lads put together.
"I am quite easy, for I really do think that Alec will improve thechild's health; and by the time his year is out, it will be quite soonenough for her to go to Madame Roccabella's and be finished off,"said Aunt Clara, settling her rings, and thinking, with languidsatisfaction, of the time when she could bring out a pretty andaccomplished niece.
"I suppose you will stay here in the old place, unless you think ofmarrying, and it's high time you did," put in Mrs. Jane, muchnettled at her brother's last hit.
"No, thank you. Come and have a cigar, Mac," said Dr. Alec,abruptly.
"Don't marry; women enough in the family already," mutteredUncle Mac; and then the gentlemen hastily fled.
"Aunt Peace would like to see you all, she says," was the messageRose brought before the ladies could begin again.
"Hectic36, hectic! dear me, dear me!" murmured Aunt Myra, as theshadow of her gloomy bonnet fell upon Rose, and the stiff tips of ablack glove touched the cheek where the colour deepened under somany eyes.
"I am glad these pretty curls are natural; they will be invaluable37 byand by," said Aunt Clara, taking an observation with her head onone side.
"Now that your uncle has come, I no longer expect you to reviewthe studies of the past year. I trust your time will not be entirelywasted in frivolous38 sports, however," added Aunt Jane, sailing outof the room with the air of a martyr39.
Aunt Jessie said not a word, but kissed her little niece, with a lookof tender sympathy that made Rose cling to her a minute, andfollow her with grateful eyes as the door closed behind her.
After everybody had gone home, Dr. Alec paced up and down thelower hall in the twilight40 for an hour, thinking so intently thatsometimes he frowned, sometimes he smiled, and more than oncehe stood still in a brown study. All of a sudden he said, half aloud,as if he had made up his mind"I might as well begin at once, and give the child something new tothink about, for Myra's dismals and Jane's lectures have made heras blue as a little indigo41 bag."Diving into one of the trunks that stood in a corner, he brought up,after a brisk rummage42, a silken cushion, prettily43 embroidered44, anda quaint45 cup of dark carved wood.
"This will do for a start," he said, as he plumped up the cushionand dusted the cup. "It won't do to begin too energetically, or Rosewill be frightened. I must beguile46 her gently and pleasantly alongtill I've won her confidence, and then she will be ready foranything."Just then Phebe came out of the dining-room with a plate of brownbread, for Rose had been allowed no hot biscuit for tea.
"I'll relieve you of some of that," said Dr. Alec, and, helpinghimself to a generous slice, he retired47 to the study, leaving Phebeto wonder at his appetite.
She would have wondered still more if she had seen him makingthat brown bread into neat little pills, which he packed into anattractive ivory box, out of which he emptied his own bits oflovage.
"There! if they insist on medicine, I'll order these, and no harmwill be done. I will have my own way, but I'll keep the peace, ifpossible, and confess the joke when my experiment hassucceeded," he said to himself, looking very much like amischievous boy, as he went on with his innocent prescriptions48.
Rose was playing softly on the small organ that stood in the upperhall, so that Aunt Peace could enjoy it; and all the while he talkedwith the old ladies, Uncle Alec was listening to the fitful music ofthe child, and thinking of another Rose who used to play for him.
As the clock struck eight, he called out"Time for my girl to be abed, else she won't be up early, and I'mfull of jolly plans for to-morrow. Come and see what I've found foryou to begin upon."Rose ran in and listened with bright attentive49 face, while Dr. Alecsaid impressively"In my wanderings over the face of the earth, I have picked upsome excellent remedies, and, as they are rather agreeable ones, Ithink you and I will try them. This is a herb-pillow, given to me bya wise old woman when I was ill in India. It is filled with saffron,poppies, and other soothing50 plants; so lay your little head on itto-night, sleep sweetly without a dream, and wake to-morrowwithout a pain.""Shall I really? How nice it smells." And Rose willingly receivedthe pretty pillow, and stood enjoying its faint, sweet odour, as shelistened to the doctor's next remedy.
"This is the cup I told you of. Its virtue51 depends, they say, on thedrinker filling it himself; so you must learn to milk. I'll teach you.""I'm afraid I never can," said Rose; but she surveyed the cup withfavour, for a funny little imp29 danced on the handle, as if all readyto take a header into the white sea below.
"Don't you think she ought to have something more strengtheningthan milk, Alec? I really shall feel anxious if she does not have atonic of some sort," said Aunt Plenty, eyeing the new remediessuspiciously, for she had more faith in her old-fashioned dosesthan all the magic cups and poppy pillows of the East.
"Well, ma'am, I'm willing to give her a pill, if you think best. It is avery simple one, and very large quantities may be taken withoutharm. You know hasheesh is the extract of hemp52? Well, this is apreparation of corn and rye, much used in old times, and I hope itwill be again.""Dear me, how singular!" said Aunt Plenty, bringing her spectaclesto bear upon the pills, with a face so full of respectful interest thatit was almost too much for Dr. Alec's gravity.
"Take one in the morning, and a good-night to you, my dear," hesaid, dismissing his patient with a hearty53 kiss.
Then, as she vanished, he put both hands into his hair, exclaiming,with a comical mixture of anxiety and amusement"When I think what I have undertaken, I declare to you, aunt, I feellike running away and not coming back till Rose is eighteen!"
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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psalms
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| n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的) | |
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doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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funereal
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| adj.悲哀的；送葬的 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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hectic
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| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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indigo
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| n.靛青，靛蓝 | |
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rummage
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| v./n.翻寻，仔细检查 | |
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prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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beguile
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| vt.欺骗，消遣 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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prescriptions
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| 药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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hemp
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| n.大麻；纤维 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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