her in her arms, whispering with a laugh and a cry struggling in her
voice: “I did it for you, my darling, all for you!?
“Oh, Phebe, never say again you owe me anything! I never can
repay you for this,” was all Rose had time to answer as they stood
one instant cheek to cheek, heart to heart, both too full of
happiness for many words.
Aunt Plenty had heard the wheels also and, as everybody rose en
masse, had said as impressively as extreme agitation would allow,
while she put her glasses on upside down and seized a lace tidy
instead of her handkerchief: “Stop! All stay here, and let me
receive Alec. Remember his weak state, and be calm, quite calm,
as I am.’
“Yes, Aunt, certainly,” was the general murmur of assent, but it
was as impossible to obey as it would have been to keep feathers
still in a gale, and one irresistible impulse carried the whole
roomful into the hall to behold Aunt Plenty beautifully illustrating
her own theory of composure by waving the tidy wildly, rushing
into Dr. Alec’s arms, and laughing and crying with a hysterical
abandonment which even Aunt Myra could not have surpassed.
The tearful jubilee was soon over, however, and no one seemed
the worse for it, for the instant his arms were at liberty, Dr. Alec
forgot himself and began to make other people happy by saying
seriously, though his thin face beamed paternally, as he drew
Phebe forward: “Aunt Plenty, but for this good daughter I never
should have come back to be so welcomed. Love her for my sake.?
Then the old lady came out splendidly and showed her mettle, for,
turning to Phebe, she bowed her gray head as if saluting an equal
and, offering her hand, answered with repentance, admiration, and
tenderness trembling in her voice: “I’m proud to do it for her own
sake. I ask pardon for my silly prejudices, and I’ll prove that I’m
sincere by where’s that boy??
There were six boys present, but the right one was in exactly the
right place at the right moment, and, seizing Archie’s hand, Aunt
Plenty put Phebe’s into it, trying to say something appropriately
solemn, but could not, so hugged them both and sobbed out: “If I
had a dozen nephews, I’d give them all to you, my dear, and dance
at the wedding, though I had rheumatism in every limb.?
That was better than any oration, for it set them all to laughing,
and Dr. Alec was floated to the sofa on a gentle wave of
merriment. Once there, everyone but Rose and Aunt Plenty was
ordered off by Mac, who was in command now and seemed to
have sunk the poet in the physician.
“The house must be perfectly quiet, and he must go to sleep as
soon as possible after the journey, so all say ‘good-bye’ now and
call again tomorrow,” he said, watching his uncle anxiously as he
leaned in the sofa corner, with four women taking off his wraps,
three boys contending for his overshoes, two brothers shaking
hands at short intervals, and Aunt Myra holding a bottle of strong
salts under his devoted nose every time there was an opening
anywhere.
With difficulty the house was partially cleared, and then, while
Aunt Plenty mounted guard over her boy, Rose stole away to see if
Mac had gone with the rest, for as yet they had hardly spoken in
the joyful flurry, though eyes and hands had met.
Chapter 22 SHORT AND SWEET
In the hall she found Steve and Kitty, for he had hidden his little
sweetheart behind the big couch, feeling that she had a right there,
having supported his spirits during the late anxiety with great
constancy and courage. They seemed so cozy, billing and cooing in
the shadow of the gay vase, that Rose would have slipped silently
away if they had not seen and called to her.
“He’s not gone I guess you’ll find him in the parlor,” said Steve,
divining with a lover’s instinct the meaning of the quick look she
had cast at the hat rack as she shut the study door behind her.