Chapter 20—Under The Mistletoe

RosemadePhebepromisethatshewouldbringherstockingintothe“Bower,”asshecalledherprettyroom,onChristmasmorning,becausethatfirstdeliciousrummageloseshalfitscharmiftwolittlenight-capsatleastdonotmeetoverthetreasures,andtwohappyvoicesOhandAhtogether. SowhenRoseopenedhereyesthatdaytheyfelluponfaithfulPhebe,rolledupinashawl,sittingontherugbeforeablazingfire,withheruntouchedstockinglaidbesideher. “MerryChristmas!”criedthelittlemistresssmilinggaily. “MerryChristmas!”answeredthelittlemaid,soheartilythatitdidonegoodtohearher. “Bringthestockingsrightaway,Phebe,andlet'sseewhatwe'vegot,”saidRose,sittingupamongthepillows,andlookingaseagerasachild. Apairoflongknobbyhosewerelaidoutuponthecoverlet,andtheircontentsexaminedwithdelight,thougheachkneweveryblessedthingthathadbeenputintotheother'sstocking. Nevermindwhattheywereitisevidentthattheywerequitesatisfactory,forasRoseleanedback,shesaid,withaluxurioussighofsatisfaction,“Now,IbelieveI'vegoteverythingintheworldthatIwant,”andPhebeanswered,smilingoveralapfuloftreasures,“ThisisthemostsplendidChristmasIeverhadsinceIwasborn.”Thensheaddedwithanimportantair, “Dowishforsomethingelse,becauseIhappentoknowoftwomorepresentsoutsidethedoorthisminute.” “Oh,me,whatrichness!”criedRose,muchexcited.“IusedtowishforapairofglassslipperslikeCinderella's,butasIcan'thavethem,Ireallydon'tknowwhattoaskfor.” Phebeclappedherhandsassheskippedoffthebedandrantothedoor,sayingmerrily,“Oneofthemisforyourfeet,anyway.Idon'tknowwhatyou'llsaytotheother,butIthinkit'selegant.” SodidRose,whenashiningpairofskatesandafinesledappeared. “UnclesentthoseIknowhedidand,nowIseethem,IrememberthatIdidwanttoskateandcoast.Isn'titabeauty?See!theyfitnicely,”and,sittingonthenewsled,Rosetriedaskateonherlittlebarefoot,whilePhebestoodbyadmiringtheprettytableau. “Nowwemusthurryandgetdressed,forthereisadealtodoto-day,andIwanttogetthroughintimetotrymysledbeforedinner.” “Graciousme,andIoughttobedustingmyparlorsthisblessedminute!”andmistressandmaidseparatedwithsuchhappyfacesthatanyonewouldhaveknownwhatdayitwaswithoutbeingtold. “BirnamWoodhascometoDunsinane,Rosy,”saidDr.Alec,asheleftthebreakfasttabletoopenthedoorforaprocessionofholly,hemlock,andcedarboughsthatcamemarchingupthesteps. Snowballsand“MerryChristmases!”flewaboutprettybrisklyforseveralminutesthenallfelltoworktrimmingtheoldhouse,forthefamilyalwaysdinedtogetherthereonthatday. “Irodemilesandmileses,asBensays,togetthisfinebit,andI'mgoingtohangitthereasthelasttouchtotherig-a-madooning,”saidCharlie,ashefastenedadullgreenbranchtothechandelierinthefrontparlor. “Itisn'tverypretty,”saidRose,whowastrimmingthechimney-piecewithglossyhollysprays. “Nevermindthat,it'smistletoe,andanyonewhostandsunderitwillgetkissedwhethertheylikeitornot.Now'syourtime,ladies,”answeredthesaucyPrince,keepinghisplaceandlookingsentimentallyatthegirls,whoretiredprecipitatelyfromthedangerousspot. “Youwon'tcatchme,”saidRose,withgreatdignity. “SeeifIdon't!” “I'vegotmyeyeonPhebe,”observedWill,inapatronisingtonethatmadethemalllaugh. “BlessthedearIshan'tminditabit,”answeredPhebe,withsuchamaternalairthatWill'sbuddinggallantrywaschilledtodeath. “Oh,themistletoebough,”sangRose. “Oh,themistletoebough!”echoedalltheboys,andtheteasingendedinth