Chapter 22—Something to do

addedRose,correctingherself,andfeelingthatshemustmindherownpartsofspeechifshewastoserveasanexampleforPhebe. Whenthearithmeticcame,thelittleteacherwassurprisedtofindherscholarquickerinsomethingsthanherself,forPhebehadworkedawayatthecolumnsinthebutcher'sandbaker'sbookstillshecouldaddsoquicklyandcorrectlythatRosewasamazed,andfeltthatinthisbranchthepupilwouldsoonexceltheteacherifshekeptonatthesamepace.HerpraisecheeredPhebeimmensely,andtheywentbravelyon,bothgettingsointerestedthattimeflewunheededtillAuntPlentyappeared,exclaiming,asshestaredatthetwoheadsbentoveroneslate, “Blessmyheart,whatisgoingonnow?” “School,aunty.I'mteachingPhebe,andit'sgreatfun!”criedRose,lookingupwithabrightface. ButPhebe'swasbrighter,thoughsheaddedwithawistfullook, “MaybeIoughttohaveaskedleavefirstonlywhenMissRoseproposedthis,IwassohappyIforgotto.ShallIstop,ma'am?” “Ofcoursenot,childI'mgladtoseeyoufondofyourbook,andtofindRosehelpingyoualong.Myblessedmotherusedtositatworkwithhermaidsabouther,teachingthemmanyausefulthinginthegoodoldfashionthat'sgonebynow.Onlydon'tneglectyourwork,dear,orletthebooksinterferewiththeduties.” AsAuntPlentyspoke,withherkindoldfacebeamingapprovinglyuponthegirls,Phebeglancedattheclock,sawthatitpointedtofive,knewthatDollywouldsoonbedown,expectingtofindpreparationsforsupperunderway,and,hastilydroppingherpencil,shejumpedup,saying, “Please,canIgo?I'llclearupafterI'vedonemychores.” “Schoolisdismissed,”answeredRose,andwithagrateful“Thankyou,heapsandheaps!”Pheberanawaysingingthemultiplicationtableasshesettheteaditto. Thatwasthewayitbegan,andforaweektheclassofonewentonwithgreatpleasureandprofittoallconcernedforthepupilprovedabrightone,andcametoherlessonsastoafeast,whiletheyoungteacherdidherbesttobeworthythehighopinionheldofher,forPhebefirmlybelievedthatMissRosekneweverythinginthewayoflearning. Ofcoursetheladsfoundoutwhatwasgoingon,andchaffedthegirlsaboutthe“Seminary,”astheycalledthenewenterprisebuttheythoughtitagoodthingonthewhole,kindlyofferedtogivelessonsinGreekandLatingratis,anddecidedamongthemselvesthat“RosewasalittletrumptogivethePhebe-birdsuchacapitalboost.” Roseherselfhadsomedoubtsastohowitwouldstrikeheruncle,andconcoctedawheedlesomespeechwhichshouldatonceconvincehimthatitwasthemostuseful,wholesome,anddelightfulplaneverdevised.Butshegotnochancetodeliverheraddress,forDr.Aleccameuponhersounexpectedlythatitwentoutofherheadentirely.Shewassittingonthefloorinthelibrary,poringoverabigbooklaidopeninherlap,andknewnothingofthelong-desiredarrivaltilltwolarge,warmhandsmetunderherchinandgentlyturnedherheadback,sothatsomeonecouldkissherheartilyoneithercheek,whileafatherlyvoicesaid,halfreproachfully,“WhyismygirlbroodingoveradustyEncyclopediawhensheoughttoberunningtomeettheoldgentlemanwhocouldn'tgetonanotherminutewithouther?” “Ouncle!I'msoglad!andsosorry!Whydidn'tyouletusknowwhattimeyou'dbehere,orcalloutth