Chapter 6—Uncle Alec's Room

se,skippingupthestepswithherheadoverhershouldertowatchthedeartasselsbobabout. “Ishallgetyouaponyassoonasyouarealittlestronger,”saidDr.Alec,watchingherwithasmile. “Oh,Icouldn'trideoneofthosehorrid,friskylittlebeasts!Theyrolltheireyesandbounceaboutso,Ishoulddieoffright,”criedRose,claspingherhandstragically. “Areyouacoward?” “AbouthorsesIam.” “Nevermind,thencomeandseemynewroom”andheledthewayupstairswithoutanotherword. AsRosefollowedsherememberedherpromisetoAuntJessie,andwassorryshehadobjectedsodecidedly.Shewasagreatdealmoresorryfiveminuteslater,andwellshemightbe. “Now,takeagoodlook,andtellmewhatyouthinkofit,”saidDr.Alec,openingthedoorandlettingherenterbeforehim,whilePhebewasseenwhiskingdownthebackstairswithadust-pan. Rosewalkedtothemiddleoftheroom,stoodstill,andgazedaboutherwitheyesthatbrightenedastheylooked,forallwaschanged. Thischamberhadbeenbuiltoutoverthelibrarytosuitsomefancy,andhadbeenunusedforyears,exceptatChristmastimes,whentheoldhouseoverflowed.Ithadthreewindowsonetotheeast,thatoverlookedthebayonetothesouth,wherethehorse-chestnutswavedtheirgreenfansandonetothewest,towardsthehillandtheeveningsky.Aruddysunsetburnedtherenow,fillingtheroomwithanenchantedglowthesoftmurmuroftheseawasheard,andarobinchirped“Good-night!”amongthebuddingtrees. Rosesawandheardthesethingsfirst,andfelttheirbeautywithachild'squickinstinctthenhereyetookinthealteredaspectoftheroom,oncesoshrouded,stillandsolitary,nowsofulloflightandwarmthandsimpleluxury. Indiamattingcoveredthefloor,withagayrughereandtheretheantiqueandironsshoneonthewidehearth,whereacheeryblazedispelledthedampnessofthelong-closedroom.Bambooloungesandchairsstoodabout,andquaintlittletablesincosycornersonebearingaprettybasket,oneadesk,andonathirdlayseveralfamiliar-lookingbooks.Inarecessstoodanarrowwhitebed,withalovelyMadonnahangingoverit.TheJapanesescreenhalf-foldedbackshowedadelicatetoiletserviceofblueandwhitesetforthonamarbleslab,andnearbywasthegreatbath-pan,withTurkishtowelsandaspongeasbigasRose'shead. “Unclemustlovecoldwaterlikeaduck,”shethought,withashiver. Thenhereyewentontothetallcabinet,whereahalf-opendoorrevealedatemptingarrayofthedrawers,shelvesand“cubbyholes,”whichsodelighttheheartsofchildren. “Whatagrandplaceformynewthings,”shethought,wonderingwhatherunclekeptinthatcedarretreat. “Ohme,whatasweettoilettable!”washernextmentalexclamation,assheapproachedthisinvitingspot. Aroundold-fashionedmirrorhungoverit,withagilteaglea-top,holdinginhisbeaktheknotofblueribbonthattiedupacurtainofmuslinfallingoneithersideofthetable,whereap