Chapter 5—A Belt and a Box

WhenRosecameoutofherchamber,cupinhand,nextmorning,thefirstpersonshesawwasUncleAlecstandingonthethresholdoftheroomopposite,whichheappearedtobeexaminingwithcare.Whenheheardherstep,heturnedaboutandbegantosing, “Whereareyougoing,myprettymaid?” “I'mgoinga-milking,sir,shesaid,”answeredRose,wavingthecupandthentheyfinishedtheversetogetherinfinestyle. Beforeeitherspoke,ahead,inanightcapsolargeandberuffledthatitlookedlikeacabbage,poppedoutofaroomfartherdownthehall,andanastonishedvoiceexclaimed, “Whatintheworldareyoudoingaboutsoearly?” “Clearingourpipesfortheday,ma'am.Lookhere,auntie,canIhavethisroom?”saidDr.Alec,makingherasailor'sbow. “Anyroomyoulike,exceptsister's.” “Thanks.AndmayIgorummagingroundinthegarretsandglory-holestofurnishitasIlike?” “Mydearboy,youmayturnthehouseupsidedownifyouwillonlystayinit.” “That'sahandsomeoffer,I'msure.I'llstay,ma'amhere'smylittleanchor,soyouwillgetmorethanyouwantofmethistime.” “That'simpossible!Putonyourjacket,Rose.Don'ttireheroutwithantics,Alec.Yes,sister,I'mcoming!”andthecabbagevanishedsuddenly. Thefirstmilkinglessonwasadrollonebutafterseveralscaresandmanyvainattempts,Roseatlastmanagedtofillhercup,whileBenheldClover'stailsothatitcouldnotflap,andDr.Aleckeptherfromturningtostareatthenewmilkmaid,whoobjectedtoboththeseproceedingsverymuch. “Youlookchillyinspiteofallthislaughing.Takeasmartrunroundthegardenandgetupaglow,”saidthedoctor,astheyleftthebarn. “I'mtoooldforrunning,uncleMissPowersaiditwasnotlady-likeforgirlsintheirteens,”answeredRose,primly. “ItakethelibertyofdifferingfromMadamePrunesandPrisms,and,asyourphysician,Iorderyoutorun.Offwithyou!”saidUncleAlec,withalookandagesturethatmadeRosescurryawayasfastasshecouldgo. Anxioustopleasehim,sheracedroundthebedstillshecamebacktotheporchwherehestood,and,droppingdownuponthesteps,shesatpanting,withcheeksasrosyastherigoletteonhershoulders. “Verywelldone,childIseeyouhavenotlosttheuseofyourlimbsthoughyouareinyourteens.Thatbeltistootightunfastenit,thenyoucantakealongbreathwithoutpantingso.” “Itisn'ttight,sirIcanbreatheperfectlywell,”beganRose,tryingtocomposeherself. Heruncle'sonlyanswerwastoliftherupandunhookthenewbeltofwhichshewassoproud.Themomenttheclaspwasopenthebeltflewapartseveralinches,foritwasimpossibletorestraintheinvoluntarysighofreliefthatflatlycontradictedherwords. “Why,Ididn'tknowitwastight!itdidn'tfeelsoabit.OfcourseitwouldopenifIpufflikethis,butIneverdo,becauseIhardlyeverrun,”explainedRose,ratherdiscomfitedbythisdiscovery. “Iseeyoudon'thalffillyourlungs,andsoyoucanwearthisabsurdthingwithoutfeelingit.Theideaofcrampingatenderlittlewaistinastiffbandofleatherandsteeljustwhenitoughttobegrowin