Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott

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