Chapter 16—Bread and Button-Holes

y.” Roselaughedatthisrecklessoffer,butpromisedtoattendtothatimportantbranch,thoughsheconfessedthatdarningwasherweakpoint.WhereuponUncleAlecengagedtosupplyherwithsocksinallstagesofdilapidation,andtohaveanewsetatonce,sothatshecouldruntheheelsforhimasapleasantbeginning. Thentheywentuptomaketheirrequestindueform,tothegreatdelightofgentleAuntPeace,whogotquiteexcitedwiththefunthatwentonwhiletheywouldyarn,lookedupdarningneedles,andfittedoutanicelittlemendingbasketforherpupil. VerybusyandveryhappywereRose'sdaysnow,forinthemorningshewentaboutthehousewithAuntPlentyattendingtolinen-closetsandstore-rooms,picklingandpreserving,exploringgarretandcellartoseethatallwasright,andlearning,inthegoodold-fashionedmanner,tolookwellafterthewaysofthehousehold. Intheafternoon,afterherwalkordrive,shesatwithAuntPeaceplyingherneedle,whileAuntPlenty,whoseeyeswerefailing,knittedandchattedbriskly,tellingmanyapleasantstoryofoldtimes,tillthethreeweremovedtolaughandcrytogether,forthebusyneedleswereembroideringallsortsofbrightpatternsonthelivesoftheworkers,thoughtheyseemedtobeonlystitchingcottonanddarninghose. Itwasaprettysighttoseetherosy-facedlittlemaidsittingbetweenthetwooldladies,listeningdutifullytotheirinstructions,andcheeringthelessonswithherlivelychatterandblithelaugh.IfthekitchenhadprovedattractivetoDr.AlecwhenRosewasthereatwork,thesewing-roomwasquiteirresistible,andhemadehimselfsoagreeablethatnoonehadthehearttodrivehimaway,especiallywhenhereadaloudorspunyarns. “There!I'vemadeyouanewsetofwarmnight-gownswithfourbutton-holesineach.Seeiftheyarenotneatlydone,”saidRose,oneday,someweeksafterthenewlessonsbegan. “Eventoathread,andnicelittlebarsacrosstheendsoIcan'ttearthemwhenItwitchthebuttonsout.Mostsuperiorwork,ma'am,andI'mdeeplygratefulsomuchso,thatI'llsewonthesebuttonsmyself,andsavethosetiredfingersfromanotherprick.” “Yousewthemon?”criedRose,withhereyeswideopeninamazement. “WaitabittillIgetmysewingtackle,andthenyoushallseewhatIcando.” “Canhe,really?”askedRoseofAuntPeace,asUncleAlecmarchedoffwithacomicalairofimportance. “Oh,yes,Itaughthimyearsago,beforehewenttoseaandIsupposehehashadtodothingsforhimself,moreorless,eversincesohehaskepthishandin.” Heevidentlyhad,forhewassoonbackwithafunnylittlework-bag,outofwhichheproducedathimblewithoutatopand,havingthreadedhisneedle,heproceededtosewonthebuttonssohandilythatRosewasmuchimpressedandamused. “Iwonderifthereisanythingintheworldthatyoucannotdo,”shesaid,inatoneofrespectfuladmiration. “ThereareoneortwothingsthatIamnotuptoyet,”heanswered,withalaughinthecornerofhiseye,ashewaxedhisthreadwithaflourish. “Ishouldliketoknowwhat?” “Breadandbutton-holes,ma'am.”