Chapter 9—Phebe's Secret

“Whydoyoukeepsmilingtoyourself,Phebe?”askedRose,astheywereworkingtogetheronemorning,forDr.Alecconsideredhouse-workthebestsortofgymnasticsforgirlssoRosetooklessonsofPhebeinsweeping,dustingandbed-making. “IwasthinkingaboutanicelittlesecretIknow,andcouldn'thelpsmiling.” “ShallIknowit,sometime?” “Guessyouwill.” “ShallIlikeit?” “Oh,won'tyou,though!” “Willithappensoon?” “Sometimethisweek.” “Iknowwhatitis!Theboysaregoingtohavefireworksonthefourth,andhavegotsomesurpriseforme.Haven'tthey?” “That'stelling.” “Well,Icanwaitonlytellmeonethingisuncleinit?” “Ofcourseheisthere'sneveranyfunwithouthim.” “Thenit'sallright,andsuretobenice.” Rosewentoutonthebalconytoshaketherugs,and,havinggiventhemavigorousbeating,hungthemonthebalustradetoair,whileshetookalookatherplants.Severaltallvasesandjarsstoodthere,andamonthofJunesunandrainhadworkedwonderswiththeseedsandslipsshehadplanted.Morning-gloriesandnasturtiumsranalloverthebars,makinghastetobloom.Scarletbeansandhoneysuckleswereclimbingupfrombelowtomeettheirprettyneighbours,andthewoodbinewashangingitsgreenfestoonswhereveritcouldcling. Thewatersofthebayweredancinginthesunshine,afreshwindstirredthechestnut-treeswithapleasantsound,andthegardenbelowwasfullofroses,butterfliesandbees.Agreatchirpingandtwitteringwentonamongthebirds,busywiththeirsummerhouse-keeping,and,faraway,thewhite-wingedgullsweredippinganddivinginthesea,whereships,likelargerbirds,wentsailingtoandfro. “Oh,Phebe,it'ssuchalovelyday,Idowishyourfinesecretwasgoingtohappenrightaway!Ifeeljustlikehavingagoodtimedon'tyou?”saidRose,wavingherarmsasifshewasgoingtofly. “Ioftenfeelthatway,butIhavetowaitformygoodtimes,anddon'tstopworkingtowishfor'em.There,nowyoucanfinishassoonasthedustsettlesImustgodomystairs,”andPhebetrudgedawaywiththebroom,singingasshewent. Roseleanedwhereshewas,andfelltothinkinghowmanygoodtimesshehadhadlately,forthegardeninghadprosperedfinely,andshewaslearningtoswimandrow,andthereweredrivesandwalks,andquiethoursofreadingandtalkwithUncleAlec,and,bestofall,theoldpainandennuiseldomtroubledhernow.Shecouldworkandplayallday,sleepsweetlyallnight,andenjoylifewiththezestofahealthy,happychild.ShewasfarfrombeingasstrongandheartyasPhebe,butshewasgettingontheoncepalecheekshadcolourinthemnow,thehandsweregrowingplumpandbrown,andthebeltwasnotmuchtooloose.Noonetalkedtoheraboutherhealth,andsheforgotthatshehad“noconstitution.”ShetooknomedicinebutDr.Alec'sthreegreatremedies,andtheyseemedtosuitherexcellently.AuntPlentysaiditwasthepillsbut,asnosecondbatchhadeverfollowedthefirst,Ithinktheoldladywasmistaken. RoselookedworthyofhernameasshestoodsmilingtoherselfoverahappiersecretthananyPhebehadasecretwhichshedidnotknowherselftillshefoundout,someyearslater,themagicofgoodhealth. “'Lookonly,'saidthebrownie, 'Attheprettygownofblue, Atthekerchiefpinnedaboutherhead, Andatherlittleshoe,”' saidavoicefrombelow,asagreatcabbage-rosecameflyingagainsthercheek. “Whatistheprincessdreamingaboutupthereinherhanging-garden?”addedDr.Alecassheflungbackamorning-glory. “IwaswishingIcoulddosomethingpleasantthisfinedaysomethingverynewandinteresting,forthewindmakesmefeelfriskyandgay.” “SupposewetakeapullovertotheIsland?Iintendedtogothisafternoonbutifyoufeelmorelikeitnow,wecanbeoffatonce.” “Ido!Ido!I'llcomeinfifteenminutes,un