Chapter 20—Under The Mistletoe

eplaintiveballadtheyalllikedsowell. Therewasplentyoftimetotrythenewskatesbeforedinner,andthenRosetookherfirstlessononthelittlebay,whichseemedtohavefrozenoverforthatexpresspurpose.Shefoundtumblingdownandgettingupagainwarmworkforatime,butwithsixboystoteachher,shemanagedatlasttostandaloneand,satisfiedwiththatsuccess,sherefreshedherselfwithadozengrandcoastsontheAmazon,ashersledwascalled. “Ah,thatfatalcolour!itbreaksmyhearttoseeit,”croakedAuntMyra,asRosecamedownalittlelate,withcheeksalmostasruddyasthehollyberriesonthewall,andeverycurlassmoothasPhebe'scarefulhandscouldmakeit. “I'mgladtoseethatAlecallowsthepoorchildtomakeherselfprettyinspiteofhisabsurdnotions,”addedAuntClara,takinginfinitesatisfactioninthefactthatRose'sbluesilkdresshadthreefrillsonit. “She'saveryintelligentchild,andhasanicelittlemannerofherown,”observedAuntJane,withunusualaffabilityforRosehadjusthandedMacascreentoguardhiseyesfromthebrilliantfire. “IfIhadadaughterlikethattoshowmyJemwhenhegetshome,Ishouldbeaveryproudandhappywoman,”thoughtAuntJessie,andthenreproachedherselffornotbeingperfectlysatisfiedwithherfourbravelads. AuntPlentywastooabsorbedinthedinnertohaveaneyeforanythingelseifshehadnotbeen,shewouldhaveseenwhataneffecthernewcapproducedupontheboys.Thegoodladyownedthatshedid“loveadressycap,”andonthisoccasionherheadgearwasmagnificentforthetoweringstructureoflacewasadornedwithbuffribbonstosuchanextentthatitlookedasifaflockofyellowbutterflieshadsettledonherdearoldhead.Whenshetrottedabouttheroomstheruchesquivered,thelittlebowsallstooderect,andthestreamerswavedinthebreezesocomicallythatitwasabsolutelynecessaryforArchietosmothertheBratsinthecurtainstilltheyhadhadtheirfirstlaughout. UncleMachadbroughtFunSeetodinner,anditwasamercyhedid,fortheelderladsfoundaventfortheirmerrimentinjokingtheyoungChinamanonhisimprovedappearance.HewasinAmericancostumenow,withacroppedhead,andspokeremarkablygoodEnglishaftersixmonthsatschoolbut,forallthat,hisyellowfaceandbeadyeyesmadeacuriouscontrasttotheblondeCampbellsallabouthim.Willcalledhimthe“Typhoon,”meaningTycoon,andthenamestucktohimtohisgreatdisgust. AuntPeacewasbroughtdownandsetinthechairofstateattable,forsheneverfailedtojointhefamilyonthisday,andsatsmilingatthemall,“likeanembodimentofPeaceonearth,”UncleAlecsaid,ashetookhisplacebesideher,whileUncleMacsupportedAuntPlentyattheotherend. “Iatehardlyanybreakfast,andI'vedoneeverythingIknowtomakemyselfextrahungry,butIreallydon'tthinkIcaneatstraightthrough,unlessIburstmybuttonsoff,”whisperedGeordietoWill,ashesurveyedthebounteousstoresbeforehimwithahopelesssigh. “Afellowneverknowswhathecandotillhetries,”answeredWill,attackinghisheaped-upplatewithanevidentintentionofdoinghisdutylikeaman. EverybodyknowswhataChristmasdinneris,soweneedwastenowordsindescribingthisone,buthastenatoncetotellwhathappenedattheendofit.Theend,bytheway,wassolongincomingthatthegaswaslightedbeforedessertwasover,forasnowflurryhadcomeonandthewintrydaylightfadedfast.Butthatonlymadeitallthejollierinthewarm,brightrooms,fullofhappysouls.Everyonewasverymerry,butArchieseemedparticularlyupliftedsomuchso,thatCharlieconfidedtoRosethathewasafraidtheChiefhadbeenatthedecanters. Roseindignantlydeniedtheinsinuation,forwhenhealthsweredrunkinthegoodold-fashionedwaytosuit