or ill to the cause she had at heart.
She was much cheered by the sound of Phebe’s voice in the study,
for Rose was sure that if Uncle Alec was on their side all would be
well. But the clouds lowered again when they came in to breakfast,
for Phebe’s heavy eyes and pale cheeks did not look encouraging,
while Dr. Alec was as sober as a judge and sent an inquiring
glance toward Rose now and then as if curious to discover how she
bore the news.
An uncomfortable meal, though all tried to seem as usual and
talked over last night’s events with all the interest they could. But
the old peace was disturbed by a word, as a pebble thrown into a
quiet pool sends telltale circles rippling its surface far and wide.
Aunt Plenty, while “turning the subject over in her mind,” also
seemed intent on upsetting everything she touched and made sad
havoc in her tea tray; Dr. Alec unsociably read his paper; Rose,
having salted instead of sugared her oatmeal, absently ate it,
feeling that the sweetness had gone out of everything; and Phebe,
after choking down a cup of tea and crumbling a roll, excused
herself and went away, sternly resolving not to be a bone of
contention to this beloved family.
As soon as the door was shut Rose pushed away her plate and,
going to Dr. Alec, she peeped over the paper with such an anxious
face that he put it down at once.
“Uncle, this is a serious matter, and we must take our stand at
once, for you are Phebe’s guardian and I am her sister,” began Rose
with pretty solemnity. “You have often been disappointed in me,”
she continued, “but I know I never shall be in you because you are
too wise and good to let any worldly pride or prudence spoil your
sympathy with Archie and our Phebe. You won’t desert them, will
you??
“Never!” answered Dr. Alec with gratifying energy.
“Thank you! Thank you!” cried Rose. “Now, if I have you and
Aunty on my side, I’m not afraid of anybody.?
“Gently, gently, child. I don’t intend to desert the lovers, but I
certainly shall advise them to consider well what they are about.
I’ll own I am rather disappointed, because Archie is young to
decide his life in this way and Phebe’s career seemed settled in
another fashion. Old people don’t like to have their plans upset,
you know,” he added more lightly, for Rose’s face fell as he went
on.
“Old people shouldn’t plan too much for the young ones, then. We
are very grateful, I’m sure, but we cannot always be disposed of in
the most prudent and sensible way, so don’t set your hearts on little
arrangements of that sort, I beg,” And Rose looked wondrous wise,
for she could not help suspecting even her best uncle of “plans” in
her behalf.
“You are quite right-we shouldn’t, yet it is very hard to help it,”
confessed Dr. Alec with a conscious air, and, returning hastily to
the lovers, he added kindly: “I was much pleased with the
straightforward way in which Phebe came to me this morning and
told me all about it, as if I really was her guardian. She did not
own it in words, but it was perfectly evident that she loves Archie
with all her heart, yet, knowing the objections which will be made,
very sensibly and bravely proposes to go away at once and end the
matter as if that were possible, poor child.” And the tenderhearted
man gave a sigh of sympathy that did Rose good to hear and
mollified her rising indignation at the bare idea of ending Phebe’s
love affairs in such a summary way.
“You don’t think she ought to go, I hope??
“I think she will go.?
“We must not let her.?
“We have no right to keep her.?
“Oh, Uncle, surely we have! Our Phebe, whom we all love so
much.?
“You forget that she is a woman now, and we have no claim on
her. Because we’ve befriended her for years is the very reason we
should not make our benefits a burden, but leave her free, and if