Chapter 4—Aunts

orethanifshewasoneofthosestrange,outlandishbirdsyouusedtobringhomefromforeignparts.”AndAuntPlentygaveaperplexedshakeoftheheadwhichcausedgreatcommotionamongthestiffloopsofpurpleribbonthatbristledalloverthecaplikecrocusbuds. “Ifmyadvicehadbeentaken,shewouldhaveremainedattheexcellentschoolwhereIplacedher.Butourauntthoughtbesttoremoveherbecauseshecomplained,andshehasbeendawdlingabouteversinceshecame.Amostruinousstateofthingsforamorbid,spoiltgirllikeRose,”saidMrs.Jane,severely. ShehadneverforgiventheoldladiesforyieldingtoRose'spatheticpetitionthatshemightwaitherguardian'sarrivalbeforebeginninganothertermattheschool,whichwasaregularBlimberhot-bed,andturnedoutmanyafeminineToots. “Ineverthoughtittheproperschoolforachildingoodcircumstancesanheiress,infact,asRoseis.Itisallverywellforgirlswhoaretogettheirownlivingbyteaching,andthatsortofthingbutallsheneedsisayearortwoatafashionablefinishingschool,sothatateighteenshecancomeoutwitheclat,”putinAuntClara,whohadbeenabeautyandabelle,andwasstillahandsomewoman. “Dear,dear!howshort-sightedyouallaretobediscussingeducationandplansforthefuture,whenthisunhappychildissoplainlymarkedforthetomb,”sighedAuntMyra,withalugubrioussniffandasolemnwagofthefunerealbonnet,whichsherefusedtoremove,beingafflictedwithachroniccatarrh. “Now,itismyopinionthatthedearthingonlywantsfreedom,rest,andcare.Thereislookinhereyesthatgoestomyheart,foritshowsthatshefeelstheneedofwhatnoneofuscangiveheramother,”saidAuntJessie,withtearsinherownbrighteyesatthethoughtofherboysbeingleft,asRosewas,tothecareofothers. UncleAlec,whohadlistenedsilentlyaseachspoke,turnedquicklytowardsthelastsister,andsaid,withadecidednodofapproval, “You'vegotit,Jessieand,withyoutohelpme,Ihopetomakethechildfeelthatsheisnotquitefatherlessandmotherless.” “I'lldomybest,AlecandIthinkyouwillneedme,for,wiseasyouare,youcannotunderstandatender,timidlittlecreaturelikeRoseasawomancan,”saidMrs.Jessie,smilingbackathimwithaheartfullofmotherlygoodwill. “IcannothelpfeelingthatI,whohavehadadaughterofmyown,canbestbringupagirlandIamverymuchsurprisedthatGeorgedidnotentrusthertome,”observedAuntMyra,withanairofmelancholyimportance,forshewastheonlyonewhohadgivenadaughtertothefamily,andshefeltthatshehaddistinguishedherself,thoughill-naturedpeoplesaidthatshehadd