here among my little sisters in misfortune? I’ll sing for them with
all my heart only I must be one of them and have no flourish made
about me.?
“You shall arrange it as you like, and as there is to be little vocal
music but yours and the children’s, I’ll see that you have everything
as you please,” promised Rose.
It was well she did, for the family got much excited over the
prospect of “our Phebe’s debut” and would have made a flourish if
the girls had not resisted. Aunt Clara was in despair about the
dress because Phebe decided to wear a plain claret-colored merino
with frills at neck and wrists so that she might look, as much as
possible, like the other orphans in their stuff gowns and white
aprons. Aunt Plenty wanted to have a little supper afterward in
honor of the occasion, but Phebe begged her to change it to a
Christmas dinner for the poor children. The boys planned to throw
bushels of flowers, and Charlie claimed the honor of leading the
singer in. But Phebe, with tears in her eyes, declined their kindly
offers, saying earnestly: “I had better begin as I am to go on and
depend upon myself entirely. Indeed, Mr. Charlie, I’d rather walk
in alone, for you’d be out of place among us and spoil the pathetic
effect we wish to produce.” And a smile sparkled through the tears
as Phebe looked at the piece of elegance before her and thought of
the brown gowns and pinafores.
So, after much discussion, it was decided that she should have her
way in all things and the family content themselves with
applauding from the front.
“We’ll blister our hands every man of us, and carry you home in a
chariot and four see if we don’t, you perverse prima donna!”
threatened Steve, not at all satisfied with the simplicity of the
affair.
“A chariot and two will be very acceptable as soon as I’m done. I
shall be quite steady till my part is all over, and then I may feel a
little upset, so I’d like to get away before the confusion begins.
Indeed, I don’t mean to be perverse, but you are all so kind to me,
my heart is full whenever I think of it, and that wouldn’t do if I’m
to sing,” said Phebe, dropping one of the tears on the little frill she
was making.
“No diamond could have adorned it better,” Archie thought as he
watched it shine there for a moment, and felt like shaking Steve
for daring to pat the dark head with an encouraging “All right. I’ll
be on hand and whisk you away while the rest are splitting their
gloves. No fear of your breaking down. If you feel the least bit like
it, though, just look at me and I’ll glare at you and shake my fist,
since kindness upsets you.?
“I wish you would, because one of my ballads is rather touching
and I always want to cry when I sing it. The sight of you trying to
glare will make me want to laugh and that will steady me nicely,
so sit in front, please, ready to slip out when I come off the last
time.?
“Depend upon me!” And the little man departed, taking great
credit to himself for his influence over tall, handsome Phebe.
If he had known what was going on in the mind of the silent young
gentleman behind the newspaper, Steve would have been much
astonished, for Archie, though apparently engrossed by business,
was fathoms deep in love by this time. No one suspected this but
Rose, for he did his wooing with his eyes, and only Phebe knew
how eloquent they could be. He had discovered what the matter
was long ago had made many attempts to reason himself out of it,
but, finding it a hopeless task, had given up trying and let himself
drift deliciously. The knowledge that the family would not approve
only seemed to add ardor to his love and strength to his purpose,
for the same energy and persistence which he brought to business
went into everything he did, and having once made up his mind to