Part 39 (2/2)
Alec, surveying her with unusual pride and tenderness, as she went to show Aunt Peace her basket full of early flowers, fresh leaves, and curious lichens.
”Leave your clutter in the hall, boys, and sit quietly down if you choose to stop here, for we are busy,” said Aunt Plenty, shaking her finger at the turbulent clan, who were bubbling over with the jollity born of spring suns.h.i.+ne and healthy exercise.
”Of course, we choose to stay! Wouldn't miss our Sat.u.r.day high tea for any thing,” said the Chief, as he restored order among his men with a nod, a word, and an occasional shake.
”What is up? a court-martial?” asked Charlie, looking at the a.s.sembled ladies with affected awe and real curiosity, for their faces betrayed that some interesting business was afloat.
Dr. Alec explained in a few words, which he made as brief and calm as he could; but the effect was exciting, nevertheless, for each of the lads began at once to bribe, entice, and wheedle ”our cousin” to choose his home.
”You really ought to come to us for mother's sake, as a relish, you know, for she must be perfectly satiated with boys,” began Archie, using the strongest argument he could think of at the moment.
”Oh, do! we'll never slam, or bounce at you or call you 'fraid cat,' if you only will,” besought Geordie and Will, distorting their countenances in the attempt to smile with overpowering sweetness.
”And I'll always wash my hands 'fore I touch you, and you shall be my dolly, 'cause Pokey's gone away, and I'll love you _hard_,” cried Jamie, clinging to her with his chubby face full of affection.
”Brothers and sisters ought to live together; especially when the brother needs some one to make home pleasant for him,” added Charlie, with the wheedlesome tone and look that Rose always found so difficult to resist.
”You had her longest, and it's our turn now; Mac needs her more than you do, Prince, for she's 'the light of his eyes,' he says. Come, Rose, choose us, and I'll never use the musky pomade you hate again as long as I live,” said Steve, with his most killing air, as he offered this n.o.ble sacrifice.
Mac peered wistfully over his goggles, saying in an unusually wide-awake and earnest way,--
”Do, cousin, then we can study chemistry together. My experiments don't blow up very often now, and the gases aren't at all bad when you get used to them.”
Rose meantime had stood quite still, with the flowers dropping from her hands as her eyes went from one eager face to another, while smiles rippled over her own at the various enticements offered her. During the laugh that followed Mac's handsome proposition, she looked at her uncle, whose eyes were fixed on her with an expression of love and longing that went to her heart.
”Ah! yes,” she thought, ”_he_ wants me most! I've often longed to give him something that he wished for very much, and now I can.”
So, when, at a sudden gesture from Aunt Peace, silence fell, Rose said slowly, with a pretty color in her cheeks, and a beseeching look about the room, as if asking pardon of the boys,--
”It's very hard to choose when everybody is so fond of me; therefore I think I'd better go to the one who seems to need me most.”
”No, dear, the one you love the best and will be happiest with,” said Dr. Alec quickly, as a doleful sniff from Aunt Myra, and a murmur of ”My sainted Caroline,” made Rose pause and look that way.
”Take time, cousin; don't be in a hurry to make up your mind, and remember, 'Codlin's your friend,'” added Charlie, hopeful still.
”I don't want any time! I _know_ who I love best, who I'm happiest with, and I choose uncle. Will he have me?” cried Rose, in a tone that produced a sympathetic thrill among the hearers, it was so full of tender confidence and love.
If she really had any doubt, the look in Dr. Alec's face banished it without a word, as he opened wide his arms, and she ran into them, feeling that home was there.
No one spoke for a minute, but there were signs of emotion among the aunts, which warned the boys to bestir themselves before the water-works began to play. So they took hands and began to prance about uncle and niece, singing, with sudden inspiration, the nursery rhyme,--
”Ring around a Rosy!”
Of course that put an end to all sentiment, and Rose emerged laughing from Dr. Alec's bosom, with the mark of a waistcoat b.u.t.ton nicely imprinted on her left cheek. He saw it, and said with a merry kiss that half effaced it, ”This is my ewe lamb, and I have set my mark on her, so no one can steal her away.”
That tickled the boys, and they set up a shout of
”Uncle had a little lamb!”
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