Chapter 16—Bread and Button-Holes

nt. “Shemeantyoushouldlearnbyexperience,asRosamonddidinthatlittleaffairofthepurplejar,youremember.” “IalwaysthoughtitveryunfairinhermothernottowarnthepoorthingalittlebitandshewasregularlymeanwhenRosamondaskedforabowltoputthepurplestuffin,andshesaid,insuchaprovokingway,'Ididnotagreetolendyouabowl,butIwill,mydear.'Ugh!Ialwayswanttoshakethathatefulwoman,thoughshewasamoralmamma.” “Nevermindhernow,buttellmeallaboutmyloaf,”saidDr.Alec,muchamusedatRose'sburstofindignation. “There'snothingtotell,uncle,exceptthatIdidmybest,gavemymindtoit,andsatwatchingoveritallthewhileitwasintheoventillIwasquitebakedmyself.Everythingwentrightthistime,anditcameoutanice,round,crustyloaf,asyousee.Nowtasteit,andtellmeifitisgoodaswellashandsome.” “MustIcutit?Can'tIputitunderaglasscoverandkeepitintheparlorastheydowaxflowersandfineworksofthatsort?” “Whatanidea,uncle!Itwouldmouldandbespoilt.Besides,peoplewouldlaughatus,andmakefunofmyold-fashionedaccomplishment.Youpromisedtoeatit,andyoumustnotallatonce,butassoonasyoucan,soIcanmakeyousomemore.” Dr.Alecsolemnlycutoffhisfavouritecrustyslice,andsolemnlyateitthenwipedhislips,andbrushingbackRose'shair,solemnlykissedherontheforehead,saying,heartily, “Mydear,itisperfectbread,andyouareanhonourtoyourteacher.WhenwehaveourmodelschoolIshallofferaprizeforthebestbread,andyouwillgetit.” “I'vegotitalready,andI'mquitesatisfied,”saidRose,slippingintoherseat,andtryingtohideherrighthandwhichhadaburnonit. ButDr.Alecsawit,guessedhowitcamethere,andafterteainsistedoneasingthepainwhichshewouldhardlyconfess. “AuntClarasaysIamspoilingmyhands,butIdon'tcare,forI'vehadsuchgoodtimeswithAuntPlenty,andIthinkshehasenjoyeditasmuchasIhave.Onlyonethingtroublesme,uncle,andIwanttoaskyouaboutit,”saidRose,astheypacedupanddownthehallinthetwilight,thebandagedhandverycarefullylaidonDr.Alec'sarm. “Morelittleconfidences?Ilikethemimmensely,sotellaway,mydear.” “Well,youseeIfeelasifAuntPeacewouldliketodosomethingforme,andI'vefoundoutwhatitcanbe.Youknowshecan'tgoaboutlikeAuntyPlen,andwearesobusynowadaysthatsheisratherlonely,I'mafraid.SoIwanttotakelessonsinsewingofher.Sheworkssobeautifully,anditisausefulthing,youknow,andIoughttobeagoodneedlewomanaswellashousekeeper,oughtn'tI?” “Blessyourkindlittleheart,thatiswhatIwasthinkingoftheotherdaywhenAuntPeacesaidshesawyouveryseldomnow,youweresobusyIwantedtospeakofit,butfanciedyouhadasmuchonyourhandsasyoucouldmanage.Itwoulddelightthedearwomantoteachyouallherdelicatehandicraft,especiallybutton-holes,forIbelievethatiswhereyoungladiesfailatleast,I'veheardthemsayso.So,doyoudevoteyourmindtobutton-holesmake'emallovermyclothesifyouwantsomethingtopracticeon.I'llwearanyquantit