Chapter 9—Phebe's Secret

ingluxuriouslyasshewipedthem. “Mumismightyparticularwejustgive'emascrubwithsand,anddust'emoffwithabitofpaper.It'smuchthebestway,Ithink,”repliedGeordie,whoreposedinanotherboatalongside. “HowPhebewouldlikethis!Iwonderuncledidnothavehercome.” “Ibelievehetriedto,butDollywasascrossastwosticks,andsaidshecouldn'tspareher.I'msorry,forwealllikethePhebebird,andshe'dchirplikeagoodoneouthere,wouldn'tshe?” “Sheoughttohaveaholidayliketherestofus.It'stoobadtoleaveherout.” ThisthoughtcamebacktoRoseseveraltimesthatevening,forPhebewouldhaveaddedmuchtothelittleconcerttheyhadinthemoonlight,wouldhaveenjoyedthestoriestold,beenquickatguessingtheconundrums,andlaughedwithallherheartatthefun.Themerrygoingtobedwouldhavebeenthebestofall,forRosewantedsomeonetocuddleundertheblueblanketwithher,theretowhisperandgiggleandtellsecrets,asgirlsdelighttodo. Longaftertherestwereasleep,Roselaywideawake,excitedbythenoveltyofallabouther,andathoughtthathadcomeintohermind.Farawaysheheardacityclockstriketwelvealargestarlikeamildeyepeepedinattheopeningofthetent,andthesoftplashofthewavesseemedcallinghertocomeout.AuntJessielayfastasleep,withJamierolleduplikeakittenatherfeet,andneitherstirredasRoseinherwrappercreptouttoseehowtheworldlookedatmidnight. Shefounditverylovely,andsatdownonacrackerkegtoenjoyitwithaheartfulloftheinnocentsentimentofheryears.Fortunately,Dr.Alecsawherbeforeshehadtimetocatchcold,forcomingouttotiebackthedoor-flapofhistentformoreair,hebeheldthesmallfigureperchedinthemoonlight.Havingnofearofghosts,hequietlyapproached,and,seeingthatshewaswideawake,said,withahandonhershininghair, “Whatismygirldoinghere?” “Havingagoodtime,”answeredRose,notatallstartled. “Iwonderwhatshewasthinkingaboutwithsuchasoberlook.” “Thestoryyoutoldofthebravesailorwhogaveuphisplaceontherafttothewoman,andthelastdropofwatertothepoorbaby.Peoplewhomakesacrificesareverymuchlovedandadmired,aren'tthey?”sheasked,earnestly. “Ifthesacrificeisatrueone.Butmanyofthebravestneverareknown,andgetnopraise.Thatdoesnotlessentheirbeauty,thoughperhapsitmakesthemharder,forwealllikesympathy,”andDr.Alecsighedapatientsortofsigh. “Isupposeyouhavemadeagreatmany?Wouldyoumindtellingmeoneofthem?”askedRose,arrestedbythesigh. “Mylastwastogiveupsmoking,”wastheveryunromanticanswertoherpensivequestion. “Whydidyou?” “Badexamplefortheboys.” “Thatwasverygoodofyou,uncle!Wasithard?” “I'mashamedtosayitwas.Butasawiseoldfellowoncesaid,'Itisnecessarytodorightitisnotnecessarytobehappy.'” Roseponderedoverthesayingasifitpleasedher,andthensaid,withaclear,brightlook, “Arealsacrificeisgivingupsomethingyouwantorenjoyverymuch,isn'tit?” “Yes.” “Doingitone'sownselfbecauseonelovesanotherpersonverymuchandwantshertobehappy?” “Yes.” “Anddoingitpleasantly,andbeinggladaboutit,andnotmindingthepraiseifitdoesn'tcome?” “Yes,dear,thatisthetruespiritofself-sacrificeyouseemtounderstandit,andIdaresayyouwillhavemanychancesinyourlifetotrytherealthing.Ihopetheywon'tbeveryhardones.” “Ithinktheywill,”beganRose,andtherestoppedshort. “Well,makeonenow,andgotosleep,ormygirlwillbeillto-morrow,andthentheauntswillsaycampingoutwasbadforher.” “I'llgogoodnight!”andthrowinghimakiss,thelittleghostvanished,leavingUncleAlectopacetheshoreandthinkaboutsomeoftheunsuspectedsacrificesthathadmadehimwhathewas.