Chapter 5—A Belt and a Box

oworseshocksthanthis,”hesaid,withsuchawhimsicallookthatshewasgladthesoundofabellpreventedhershowingmoreplainlywhatablowherlittlevanitieshadalreadyreceived. “Youwillfindyourboxallopenupinauntie'sparlor,andthereyoucanamuseherandyourselfbyrummagingtoyourheart'scontentI'vegottobecruisingroundallthemorninggettingmyroomtorights,”saidDr.Alec,astheyrosefrombreakfast. “Can'tIhelpyou,uncle?”askedRose,quiteburningtobeuseful. “No,thankyou,I'mgoingtoborrowPhebeforawhile,ifAuntPlentycanspareher.” “Anybodyanything,Alec.Youwillwantme,Iknow,soI'llgiveordersaboutdinnerandbeallreadytolendahand”andtheoldladybustledawayfullofinterestandgood-will. “UnclewillfindthatIcandosomethingsthatPhebecan't,sonow!”thoughtRose,withatossoftheheadassheflewtoAuntPeaceandthelong-desiredbox. Everylittlegirlcaneasilyimaginewhatanextragoodtimeshehaddivingintoaseaoftreasuresandfishinguponeprettythingafteranother,tilltheairwasfullofthemingledodoursofmuskandsandalwood,theroomgaywithbrightcolours,andRoseinaraptureofdelight.ShebegantoforgiveDr.Alecfortheoatmealdietwhenshesawalovelyivoryworkboxbecameresignedtothestateofherbeltwhenshefoundapileofrainbow-colouredsashesandwhenshecametosomedistractinglyprettybottlesofattarofrose,shefeltthattheyalmostatonedforthegreatsinofthinkingPhebethefinergirlofthetwo. Dr.AlecmeanwhilehadapparentlytakenAuntPlentyatherword,andwasturningthehouseupsidedown.Ageneralrevolutionwasevidentlygoingoninthegreen-room,forthedarkdamaskcurtainswereseenbundlingawayinPhebe'sarmstheair-tightstoveretiringtothecellaronBen'sshoulderandthegreatbedsteadgoingupgarretinafragmentarystate,escortedbythreebearers.AuntPlentywasconstantlyonthetrotamongherstore-rooms,camphor-chests,andlinen-closets,lookingasiftheneworderofthingsbothamazedandamusedher. HalfthepeculiarperformancesofDr.AleccannotberevealedbutasRoseglancedupfromherboxnowandthenshecaughtglimpsesofhimstridingby,bearingabamboochair,apairofancientandirons,aqueerJapanesescreen,arugortwo,andfinallyalargebathing-panuponhishead. “Whatacuriousroomitwillbe,”shesaid,asshesatrestingandrefreshingherselfwith“LumpsofDelight,”allthewayfromCairo. “Ifancyyouwilllikeit,deary,”answeredAuntPeace,lookingupwithasmilefromsomeprettytrifleshewasmakingwithbluesilkandwhitemuslin. Rosedidnotseethesmile,forjustatthatmomentherunclepausedatthedoor,andshespranguptodancebeforehim,saying,withafacefullofchildishhappiness, “Lookatme!lookatme!I'msplendidIdon'tknowmyself.Ihaven'tputthesethingsonright,Idaresay,butIdolikethemsomuch!” “Youlookasgayasaparrotinyourfezandcabaja,anditdoesmyheartgoodtoseethelittleblackshadowturnedintoarainbow,”saidUncleAlec,surveyingthebrightfigurebeforehimwithgreatapprobation.