Chapter 22—Something to do

ofbooksandthingsandneverremembertogiveyousome.Whydidn'tyoucomeandaskme,andnotgostrugglingalongaloneinthisway?Itwasverywrongofyou,Phebe,andI'llneverforgiveyouifyoudosoagain,”answeredRose,withonehandonPhebe'sshoulder,whiletheothergentlyturnedtheleavesofthepoorlittlecopy-book. “Ididn'tliketoaskforanythingmorewhenyouaresogoodtomeallthetime,miss,dear,”beganPhebe,lookingupwithgratefuleyes. “Oyouproudthing!justasifitwasn'tfuntogiveaway,andIhadthebestofit.Now,seehere,I'vegotaplanandyoumustn'tsayno,orIshallscold.Iwantsomethingtodo,andI'mgoingtoteachyouallIknowitwon'ttakelong,”andRoselaughedassheputherarmaroundPhebe'sneck,andpattedthesmoothdarkheadwiththekindlittlehandthatsolovedtogive. “Itwouldbejustheavenly!”andPhebe'sfaceshoneatthemereideabutfellagainassheaddedwistfully,“OnlyI'mafraidIoughtnottoletyoudoit,MissRose.Itwilltaketime,andmaybetheDoctorwouldn'tlikeit.” “Hedidn'twantmetostudymuch,butheneversaidawordaboutteaching,andIdon'tbelievehewillmindabit.Anyway,wecantryittillhecomes,sopackupyourthingsandgorighttomyroomandwe'llbeginthisverydayI'dtrulyliketodoit,andwe'llhavenicetimes,seeifwedon't!”criedRoseeagerly. ItwasaprettysighttoseePhebebundleherhumbleoutfitintoherapron,andspringupasifthedesireofherhearthadsuddenlybeenmadeahappyfacttoheritwasastillprettiersighttoseeRoserungailyonbefore,smilinglikeagoodfairyasshebeckonedtotheother,singingasshewent, “Thewayintomyparlourisupawindingstair, AndmanyarethecuriousthingsI'llshowyouwhenyou'rethere. Willyou,willyouwalkin,Phebedear?” “Oh,won'tI!”answeredPhebefervently,adding,astheyenteredtheBower,“Youarethedearestspiderthateverwas,andI'mthehappiestfly.” “I'mgoingtobeverystrict,sositdowninthatchairanddon'tsayawordtillschoolisreadytoopen,”orderedRose,delightedwiththeprospectofsuchausefulandpleasant“somethingtodo.” SoPhebesatdemurelyinherplacewhilehernewteacherlaidforthbooksandslates,aprettyinkstandandalittleglobehastilytoreabitoffherbigsponge,sharpenedpencilswithmoreenergythanskill,andwhenallwasreadygaveapranceofsatisfactionthatsetthepupillaughing. “Nowtheschoolisopen,andIshallhearyouread,sothatImayknowinwhichclasstoputyou,MissMoore,”beganRosewithgreatdignity,asshelaidabookbeforeherscholar,andsatdownintheeasychairwithalongruleinherhand. Phebedidprettywell,onlytrippingnowandthenoverahardword,andpronouncingidentical“identickle,”inasoberwaythattickledRose,thoughneverasmilebetrayedher.ThespellinglessonwhichfollowedwasratherdiscouragingPhebe'sideasofgeographywereveryvague,andgrammarwasnowhere,thoughthepupilprotestedthatshetriedsohardto“talknicelikeeducatedfolks”thatDollycalledher“astuck-uppiecewhodidn'tknowherplace.” “Dolly'sanoldgoose,sodon'tyoumindher,forshewillsay'nater,''vittles,'and'doos'aslongasshelives,andinsistthattheyareright.Youdotalkverynicely,Phebe,I'veobservedit,andgrammarwillhelpyou,andshowyousomethingsarerightandothersain'tarenot,Imean,”