Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

Rose felt as if something splendid was going to happen and set her

affairs in order so that the approaching crisis might find her fully

prepared. She had “found out” now, was quite sure, and put away

all doubts and fears to be ready to welcome home the cousin

whom she was sure Uncle would bring as her reward. She was

thinking of this one day as she got out her paper to write a long

letter to poor Aunt Clara, who pined for news far away there in

Calcutta.

Something in the task reminded her of that other lover whose

wooing ended so tragically, and opening a little drawer of

keepsakes, she took out the blue bracelet, feeling that she owed

Charlie a tender thought in the midst of her new happiness, for of

late she had forgotten him.

She had worn the trinket hidden under her black sleeve for a long

time after his death, with the regretful constancy one sometimes

shows in doing some little kindness all too late. But her arm had

grown too round to hide the ornament, the forget-me-nots had

fallen one by one, the clasp had broken, and that autumn she laid

the bracelet away, acknowledging that she had outgrown the

souvenir as well as the sentiment that gave it.

She looked at it in silence for a moment, then put it softly back

and, shutting the drawer, took up the little gray book which was

her pride, thinking as she contrasted the two men and their

influence on her life the one sad and disturbing, the other sweet

and inspiring “Charlie’s was passion Mac’s is love.?

“Rose! Rose!” called a shrill voice, rudely breaking the pensive

reverie, and with a start, she shut the desk, exclaiming as she ran

to the door: “They have come! They have come!?

Chapter 21 HOW PHEBE EARNED HER WELCOME

Dr. Alec had not arrived, but bad tidings had, as Rose guessed the

instant her eyes fell upon Aunt Plenty, hobbling downstairs with

her cap awry, her face pale, and a letter flapping wildly in her hand

as she cried distractedly: “Oh, my boy! My boy! Sick, and I not

there to nurse him! Malignant fever, so far away. What can those

children do? Why did I let Alec go??

Rose got her into the parlor, and while the poor old lady lamented,

she read the letter which Phebe had sent to her that she might

“break the news carefully to Rose.?

DEAR MISS PLENTY, Please read this to yourself first, and tell

my little mistress as you think best. The dear doctor is very ill, but

I am with him, and shall not leave him day or night till he is safe.

So trust me, and do not be anxious, for everything shall be done

that care and skill and entire devotion can do. He would not let us

tell you before, fearing you would try to come at the risk of your

health. Indeed it would be useless, for only one nurse is needed,

and I came first, so do not let Rose or anybody else rob me of my

right to the danger and the duty. Mac has written to his father, for

Dr. Alec is now too ill to know what we do, and we both felt that

you ought to be told without further delay. He has a bad malignant

fever, caught no one can tell how, unless among some poor

emigrants whom he met wandering about quite forlorn in a strange

city. He understood Portuguese and sent them to a proper place

when they had told their story. But I fear he has suffered for his

kindness, for this fever came on rapidly, and before he knew what

it was I was there, and it was too late to send me away.

Now I can show you how grateful I am, and if need be give my life

so gladly for this friend who has been a father to me. Tell Rose his

last conscious word and thought were for her. “Don’t let her come;

keep my darling safe.” Oh, do obey him! Stay safely at home and,

God helping me, I’ll bring Uncle Alec back in time. Mac does all I

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