Chapter 16—Bread and Button-Holes

lishments,nortorelatehowenergeticallyshesetaboutherpleasanttask.Dollydarednotgrumble,forMissPlentywastheonepersonwhomsheobeyed,andPhebeopenlyrejoiced,forthesenewlessonsbroughtRosenearertoher,andglorifiedthekitcheninthegoodgirl'seyes. Totellthetruth,theelderauntshadsometimesfeltthattheydidnothavequitetheirshareofthelittleniecewhohadwontheirheartslongago,andwasthesunshineofthehouse.Theytalkeditovertogethersometimes,butalwaysendedbysayingthatasAlechadalltheresponsibility,heshouldhavethelargershareofthedeargirl'sloveandtime,andtheywouldbecontentedwithsuchcrumbsofcomfortastheycouldget. Dr.Alechadfoundoutthislittlesecret,and,afterreproachinghimselfforbeingblindandselfish,wastryingtodevisesomewayofmendingmatterswithouttroublinganyone,whenRose'snewwhimsuggestedanexcellentmethodofweaningheralittlefromhimself.Hedidnotknowhowfondhewasofhertillhegaveheruptothenewteacher,andoftencouldnotresistpeepinginatthedoortoseehowshegoton,orstealingslylooksthroughtheslidewhenshewasdeepindough,orlisteningintentlytosomeimpressivelecturefromAuntPlenty.Theycaughthimatitnowandthen,andorderedhimoffthepremisesatthepointoftherolling-pinor,ifunusuallysuccessful,and,therefore,inamildermood,theyluredhimawaywithbribesofginger-bread,astraypickle,oratartthatwasnotquitesymmetricalenoughtosuittheircriticaleyes. Ofcoursehemadeapointofpartakingcopiouslyofallthedelectablemessesthatnowappearedattable,forboththecookswereontheirmettle,andhefaredsumptuouslyeveryday.Butanespecialrelishwasgiventoanydishwhen,inreplytohishonestpraiseofit,Rosecolouredupwithinnocentpride,andsaidmodestly, “Imadethat,uncle,andI'mgladyoulikeit.” Itwassometimebeforetheperfectloafappeared,forbread-makingisanartnoteasilylearned,andAuntPlentywasverythoroughinherteachingsoRosestudiedyeastfirst,andthroughvariousstagesofcakeandbiscuitcameatlasttothecrowninggloryofthe“handsome,wholesomeloaf.”Itappearedattea-time,onasilversalver,proudlyborneinbyPhebe,whocouldnotrefrainfromwhispering,withabeamingface,asshesetitdownbeforeDr.Alec, “Ain'titjustlovely,sir?” “Itisaregularlysplendidloaf!Didmygirlmakeitallherself?”heasked,surveyingtheshapely,sweet-smellingobjectwithrealinterestandpleasure. “Everyparticleherself,andneveraskedabitofhelporadvicefromanyone,”answeredAuntPlenty,foldingherhandswithanairofunmitigatedsatisfaction,forherpupilcertainlydidhergreatcredit. “I'vehadsomanyfailuresandtroublesthatIreallythoughtInevershouldbeabletodoitalone.DollyletonesplendidbatchburnupbecauseIforgotit.Shewasthereandsmeltit,butneverdidathing,forshesaid,whenIundertooktobakebreadImustgivemywholemindtoit.Wasn'tithard?Shemighthavecalledmeatleast,”saidRose,recollecting,withasigh,theanguishofthatmome