Chapter 5—A Belt and a Box

g,”saidDr.Alec,surveyingthebeltwithgreatdisfavourasheputtheclaspforwardseveralholes,toRose'ssecretdismay,forshewasproudofherslenderfigure,anddailyrejoicedthatshewasn'tasstoutasLulyMiller,aformerschoolmate,whovainlytriedtorepressherplumpness. “Itwillfalloffifitissoloose,”shesaidanxiously,asshestoodwatchinghimpullherpreciousbeltabout. “Notifyoukeeptakinglongbreathstoholditon.ThatiswhatIwantyoutodo,andwhenyouhavefilledthisoutwewillgoonenlargingittillyourwaistismorelikethatofHebe,goddessofhealth,andlesslikethatofafashion-platetheugliestthingimaginable.” “Howitdoeslook!”andRosegaveaglanceofscornattheloosebelthangingroundhertrimlittlewaist.“Itwillbelost,andthenIshallfeelbadly,foritcosteversomuch,andisrealsteelandRussialeather.Justsmellhownice.” “IfitislostI'llgiveyouabetterone.AsoftsilkensashismuchfitterforaprettychildlikeyouthanaplatedharnesslikethisandI'vegotnoendofItalianscarfsandTurkishsashesamongmytraps.Ah!thatmakesyoufeelbetter,doesn'tit?”andhepinchedthecheekthathadsuddenlydimpledwithasmile. “Itisverysillyofme,butIcan'thelplikingtoknowthat”hereshestoppedandblushedandhelddownherhead,ashamedtoadd,“youthinkIampretty.” Dr.Alec'seyedtwinkled,buthesaidverysoberly, “Rose,areyouvain?” “I'mafraidIam,”answeredaverymeekvoicefrombehindtheveilofhairthathidtheredface. “Thatisasadfault.”Andhesighedasifgrievedattheconfession. “Iknowitis,andItrynottobebutpeoplepraiseme,andIcan'thelplikingit,forIreallydon'tthinkIamrepulsive.” ThelastwordandthefunnytoneinwhichitwasutteredweretoomuchforDr.Alec,andhelaughedinspiteofhimself,toRose'sgreatrelief. “Iquiteagreewithyouandinorderthatyoumaybestilllessrepulsive,IwantyoutogrowasfineagirlasPhebe.” “Phebe!”andRoselookedsoamazedthatherunclenearlywentoffagain. “Yes,Phebeforshehaswhatyouneedhealth.Ifyoudearlittlegirlswouldonlylearnwhatrealbeautyis,andnotpinchandstarveandbleachyourselvesoutso,you'dsaveanimmensedealoftimeandmoneyandpain.Ahappysoulinahealthybodymakesthebestsortofbeautyformanorwoman.Doyouunderstandthat,mydear?” “Yes,sir,”answeredRose,muchtakendownbythiscomparisonwiththegirlfromthepoor-house.Itnettledhersadly,andsheshowedthatitdidbysayingquickly, “Isupposeyouwouldliketohavemesweepandscrub,andwearanoldbrowndress,andgoroundwithmysleevesrolledup,asPhebedoes?” “Ishouldverymuch,ifyoucouldworkaswellasshedoes,andshowasstrongapairofarmsasshecan.Ihaven'tseenaprettierpictureforsometimethanshemadeofherselfthismorning,uptotheelbowsinsuds,singinglikeablackbirdwhilstshescrubbedonthebackstoop.” “Well,Idothinkyouarethequeerestmanthateverlived!”wasallRosecouldfindtosayafterthisdisplayofbadtaste. “Ihaven'tbeguntoshowyoumyodditiesyet,soyoumustmakeupyourmindt