to have the saltcellars uneven, the tea strainer forgotten, and your
uncle’s paper not aired,” returned Miss Plenty, briskly unrolling the
two gray curls she wore at her temples.
Then Rose, brushing away at the scanty back hair, led skillfully up
to the crisis of her tale by describing Phebe’s panic and brave
efforts to conquer it; all about the flowers Archie sent her; and
how Steve forgot, and dear, thoughtful Archie took his place. So
far it went well and Aunt Plenty was full of interest, sympathy, and
approbation, but when Rose added, as if it was quite a matter of
course, “So, on the way home, he told her he loved her,” a great
start twitched the gray locks out of her hands as the old lady turned
around, with the little curls standing erect, exclaiming, in
undisguised dismay: “Not seriously, Rose??
“Yes, Aunty, very seriously. He never jokes about such things.?
“Mercy on us! What shall we do about it??
“Nothing, ma’am, but be as glad as we ought and congratulate him
as soon as she says ‘yes.’?
“Do you mean to say she didn’t accept at once??
“She never will if we don’t welcome her as kindly as if she
belonged to one of our best families, and I don’t blame her.?
“I’m glad the girl has so much sense. Of course we can’t do
anything of the sort, and I’m surprised at Archie’s forgetting what
he owes to the family in this rash manner. Give me my cap, child I
must speak to Alec at once.” And Aunt Plenty twisted her hair into
a button at the back of her head with one energetic twirl.
“Do speak kindly, Aunty, and remember that it was not Phebe’s
fault. She never thought of this till very lately and began at once to
prepare for going away,” said Rose pleadingly.
“She ought to have gone long ago. I told Myra we should have
trouble somewhere as soon as I saw what a good-looking creature
she was, and here it is as bad as can be. Dear, dear! Why can’t
young people have a little prudence??
“I don’t see that anyone need object if Uncle Jem and Aunt Jessie
approve, and I do think it will be very, very unkind to scold poor
Phebe for being well-bred, pretty, and good, after doing all we
could to make her so.?
“Child, you don’t understand these things yet, but you ought to feel
your duty toward your family and do all you can to keep the name
as honorable as it always has been. What do you suppose our
blessed ancestress Lady Marget would say to our oldest boy taking
a wife from the poorhouse??
As she spoke, Miss Plenty looked up, almost apprehensively, at
one of the wooden-faced old portraits with which her room was
hung, as if asking pardon of the severe-nosed matron who stared
back at her from under the sort of blue dish cover which formed
her headgear.
“As Lady Marget died about two hundred years ago, I don’t care a
pin what she would say, especially as she looks like a very
narrow-minded, haughty woman. But I do care very much what
Miss Plenty Campbell says, for she is a very sensible, generous,
discreet, and dear old lady who wouldn’t hurt a fly, much less a
good and faithful girl who has been a sister to me. Would she?”
entreated Rose, knowing well that the elder aunt led all the rest
more or less.
But Miss Plenty had her cap on now and consequently felt herself
twice the woman she was without it, so she not only gave it a
somewhat belligerent air by setting it well up, but she shook her
head decidedly, smoothed down her stiff white apron, and stood up
as if ready for battle.
“I shall do my duty, Rose, and expect the same of others. Don’t say
any more now I must turn the matter over in my mind, for it has
come upon me suddenly and needs serious consideration.?
With which unusually solemn address she took up her keys and
trotted away, leaving her niece to follow with an anxious
countenance, uncertain whether her championship had done good