Chapter 16—Bread and Button-Holes

skedRose,whileherfacefell,forshehadindulgedinallsortsofvague,delightfuldreams. “Yesitisoneofthemostbeautifulaswellasusefulofalltheartsawomancanlearn.Notsoromantic,perhaps,assinging,painting,writing,orteaching,evenbutonethatmakesmanyhappyandcomfortable,andhomethesweetestplaceintheworld.Yes,youmayopenyourbigeyesbutitisafactthatIhadratherseeyouagoodhousekeeperthanthegreatestbelleinthecity.Itneednotinterferewithanytalentyoumaypossess,butitisanecessarypartofyourtraining,andIhopethatyouwillsetaboutitatonce,nowthatyouarewellandstrong.” “Whoisthelady?”askedRose,ratherimpressedbyheruncle'searnestspeech. “AuntPlenty.” “Issheaccomplished?”beganRoseinawonderingtone,forthisgreat-auntofhershadseemedtheleastcultivatedofthemall. “Inthegoodold-fashionedwaysheisveryaccomplished,andhasmadethishouseahappyhometousall,eversincewecanremember.Sheisnotelegant,butgenuinelygood,andsobelovedandrespectedthattherewillbeuniversalmourningforherwhenherplaceisempty.Noonecanfillit,forthesolid,homelyvirtuesofthedearsoulhavegoneoutoffashion,asIsay,andnothingnewcanbehalfsosatisfactory,tomeatleast.” “Ishouldliketohavepeoplefeelsoaboutme.Cansheteachmetodowhatshedoes,andtogrowasgood?”askedRose,withalittleprickofremorseforeventhinkingthatAuntPlentywasacommonplaceoldlady. “Yes,ifyoudon'tdespisesuchsimplelessonsasshecangive.Iknowitwouldfillherdearoldheartwithprideandpleasuretofeelthatanyonecaredtolearnofher,forshefanciesherdaygoneby.Letherteachyouhowtobewhatshehasbeenaskilful,frugal,cheerfulhousewifethemakerandthekeeperofahappyhome,andbyandbyyouwillseewhatavaluablelessonitis.” “Iwill,uncle.ButhowshallIbegin?” “I'llspeaktoheraboutit,andshewillmakeitallrightwithDolly,forcookingisoneofthemainthings,youknow.” “Soitis!Idon'tmindthatabit,forIliketomess,andusedtotryathomebutIhadnoonetotellme,soIneverdidmuchbutspoilmyaprons.Piesaregreatfun,onlyDollyissocross,Idon'tbelieveshewilleverletmedoathinginthekitchen.” “Thenwe'llcookintheparlour.IfancyAuntPlentywillmanageher,sodon'tbetroubled.Onlymindthis,I'dratheryoulearnedhowtomakegoodbreadthanthebestpieseverbaked.Whenyoubringmeahandsome,wholesomeloaf,entirelymadebyyourself,Ishallbemorepleasedthanifyouofferedmeapairofslippersembroideredintheverylateststyle.Idon'twishtobribeyou,butI'llgiveyoumyheartiestkiss,andpromisetoeateverycrumboftheloafmyself.” “It'sabargain!it'sabargain!Comeandtellauntyallaboutit,forI'minahurrytobegin,”criedRose,dancingbeforehimtowardtheparlor,whereMissPlentysataloneknittingcontentedly,yetreadytorunatthefirstcallforhelpofanysort,fromanyquarter. Noneedtotellhowsurprisedandgratifiedshewasattheinvitationshereceivedtoteachthechildthedomesticartswhichwereheronlyaccomp