Chapter 20—Under The Mistletoe

theelders,shehadobservedthatAuntJessie'sboysfilledtheirglasseswithwater,andhaddonethesameherselfinspiteofthePrince'sjokesabout“therosy.” ButArchiecertainlywasunusuallyexcited,andwhensomeonerememberedthatitwastheanniversaryofUncleJem'swedding,andwishedhewastheretomakeaspeech,hissonelectrifiedthefamilybytryingtodoitforhim.Itwasratherincoherentandflowery,asmaidenspeechesareapttobe,buttheendwasconsideredsuperbfor,turningtohismotherwithaqueerlittlechokeinhisvoice,hesaidthatshe“deservedtobeblessedwithpeaceandplenty,tobecrownedwithrosesandlads'-love,andtoreceivethecargoofhappinesssailinghometoherinspiteofwindortidetoaddanotherJemtothefamilyjewels.” ThatallusiontotheCaptain,nowonhisreturntrip,madeMrs.Jessiesobinhernapkin,andsettheboyscheering.Then,asifthatwasnotsensationenough,Archiesuddenlydashedoutoftheroom,asifhehadlosthiswits. “Toobashfultostayandbepraised,”beganCharlie,excusingthepeculiaritiesofhischiefasindutybound. “PhebebeckonedtohimIsawher,”criedRose,staringhardatthedoor. “Isitmorepresentscoming?”askedJamie,justashisbrotherre-appeared,lookingmoreexcitedthanever. “Yesapresentformother,andhereitis!”roaredArchie,flingingwidethedoortoletinatallman,whocriedout, “Where'smylittlewoman?Thefirstkissforher,thentherestmaycomeonasfastastheylike.” Beforethewordswereoutofhismouth,Mrs.Jessiewashalf-hiddenunderhisroughgreat-coat,andfourboyswereprancingabouthimclamouringfortheirturn. Ofcourse,therewasajoyfultumultforatime,duringwhichRoseslippedintothewindowrecessandwatchedwhatwenton,asifitwereachapterinaChristmasstory.ItwasgoodtoseebluffUncleJemlookproudlyathistallson,andfondlyhugthelittleones.Itwasbetterstilltoseehimshakehisbrothers'handsasifhewouldneverleaveoff,andkissallthesistersinawaythatmadeevensolemnAuntMyrabrightenupforaminute.Butitwasbestofalltoseehimfinallyestablishedingrandfather'schair,withhis“littlewoman”besidehim,histhreeyoungestboysinhislap,andArchiehoveringoverhimlikealarge-sizedcherub.Thatreallywas,asCharliesaid,“Alandscapetodoone'sheartgood.” “Allheartyandallhere,thankGod!”saidCaptainJeminthefirstpausethatcame,ashelookedabouthimwithagratefulface. “AllbutRose,”answeredloyallittleJamie,rememberingtheabsent. “Faith,Iforgotthechild!WhereisGeorge'slittlegirl?”askedtheCaptain,whohadnotseenhersinceshewasababy. “You'dbettersayAlec'sgreatgirl,”saidUncleMac,whoprofessedtobemadlyjealousofhisbrother. “HereIam,sir,”andRoseappearedfrombehindthecurtains,lookingasifshehadratherhavestayedthere. “SaintGeorgeGermain,howthemitehasgrown!”criedCaptainJem,ashetumbledtheboysoutofhislap,androsetogreetthetallgirl,likeagentlemanashewas.But,somehow,whenheshookherhanditlookedsosmallinhisbigone,andherfaceremindedhimsostronglyofhisdeadbrother,thathewasnotsatisfiedwithsocoldawelcome,andwithasuddensofteningofthekeeneyeshetookherupinhisarms,whispering,witharoughcheekagainsthersmoothone, “Godblessyou,child!forgivemeifIforgotyouforaminute,andbesurethatnotoneofyourkinsfolkishappiertoseeyouherethanUncleJem.” Thatmadeitallrightandwhenhesetherdown,Rose'sfacewassobrightitwasevidentthatsomespellhadbeenusedtobanishthefeelingofneglectthathadkepthermopingbehindthecurtainsolong. ThateveryonesatroundandheardallaboutthevoyagehomehowtheCaptainhadsethisheartongettingthereintimetoke