she chooses to do this in spite of Archie, we must let her with a
Godspeed.?
Before Rose could answer, Aunt Plenty spoke out like one having
authority, for old-fashioned ways were dear to her soul and she
thought even love affairs should be conducted with a proper regard
to the powers that be.
“The family must talk the matter over and decide what is best for
the children, who of course will listen to reason and do nothing ill
advised. For my part, I am quite upset by the news, but shall not
commit myself till I’ve seen Jessie and the boy. Jane, clear away,
and bring me the hot water.?
That ended the morning conference. And, leaving the old lady to
soothe her mind by polishing spoons and washing cups, Rose went
away to find Phebe while the doctor retired to laugh over the
downfall of brother Mac’s matchmaking schemes.
The Campbells did not gossip about their concerns in public, but
being a very united family, it had long been the custom to “talk
over” any interesting event which occurred to any member thereof,
and everyone gave his or her opinion, advice, or censure with the
utmost candor. Therefore the first engagement, if such it could be
called, created a great sensation, among the aunts especially, and
they were in as much of a flutter as a flock of maternal birds when
their young begin to hop out of the nest. So at all hours the
excellent ladies were seen excitedly nodding their caps together as
they discussed the affair in all its bearings, without ever arriving at
any unanimous decision.
The boys took it much more calmly. Mac was the only one who
came out strongly in Archie’s favor. Charlie thought the Chief
ought to do better and called Phebe “a siren who had bewitched
the sage youth.” Steve was scandalized and delivered long orations
upon one’s duty to society, keeping the old name up, and the
danger of m‚salliances, while all the time he secretly sympathized
with Archie, being much smitten with Kitty Van himself. Will and
Geordie, unfortunately home for the holidays, considered it “a jolly
lark,” and little Jamie nearly drove his elder brother distracted by
curious inquiries as to “how folks felt when they were in love.?
Uncle Mac’s dismay was so comical that it kept Dr. Alec in good
spirits, for he alone knew how deep was the deluded man’s chagrin
at the failure of the little plot which he fancied was prospering
finely.
“I’ll never set my heart on anything of the sort again, and the young
rascals may marry whom they like. I’m prepared for anything now –
so if Steve brings home the washerwoman’s daughter, and Mac
runs away with our pretty chambermaid, I shall say, ‘Bless you my
children,’ with mournful resignation, for, upon my soul, that is all
that’s left for a modern parent to do.?
With which tragic burst, poor Uncle Mac washed his hands of the
whole affair and buried himself in the countinghouse while the
storm raged.
About this time Archie might have echoed Rose’s childish wish,
that she had not quite so many aunts, for the tongues of those
interested relatives made sad havoc with his little romance and
caused him to long fervently for a desert island where he could
woo and win his love in delicious peace. That nothing of the sort
was possible soon became evident, since every word uttered only
confirmed Phebe’s resolution to go away and proved to Rose how
mistaken she had been in believing that she could bring everyone
to her way of thinking.
Prejudices are unmanageable things, and the good aunts, like most
women, possessed a plentiful supply, so Rose found it like beating
her head against a wall to try and convince them that Archie was
wise in loving poor Phebe. His mother, who had hoped to have
Rose for her daughter not because of her fortune, but the tender
affection she felt for her put away her disappointment without a
word and welcomed Phebe as kindly as she could for her boy’s
sake. But the girl felt the truth with the quickness of a nature made