Chapter 22—Something to do

“No,herbestfriendturnedupwhenyoucamehome,uncle,”answeredRosewithanapprovingpat,addinggratefully,“Ican'thalfthankyouforbeingsogoodtomygirl,butshewill,becauseIknowsheisgoingtomakeawomantobeproudof,she'ssostrongandtrue,andloving.” “Blessyourdearheart,Ihaven'tbeguntodoanythingyet,moreshametome!ButI'mgoingatitnow,andassoonasshegetsonabit,sheshallgotoschoolaslongasshelikes.Howwillthatdoforabeginning?” “Itwillbe'justheavenly,'asPhebesays,foritisthewishofherlifeto'getlotsofschooling,'andshewillbetoohappywhenItellher.MayI,please?itwillbesolovelytoseethedearthingopenherbigeyesandclapherhandsatthesplendidnews.” “Nooneshallhaveafingerinthisnicelittlepieyoushalldoitallyourself,onlydon'tgotoofast,ormaketoomanycastlesintheair,mydearfortimeandpatiencemustgointothispieofoursifitistoturnoutwell.” “Yes,uncle,onlywhenitisopenedwon't'thebirdsbegintosing?”'laughedRose,takingaturnabouttheroomasaventforthejoyfulemotionsthatmadehereyesshine.Allofasuddenshestoppedandaskedsoberly, “IfPhebegoestoschoolwhowilldoherwork?I'mwilling,ifIcan.” “ComehereandI'lltellyouasecret.Dolly's'bones'aregettingsotroublesome,andherdearoldtempersobad,thattheauntshavedecidedtopensionheroffandlethergoandlivewithherdaughter,whohasmarriedverywell.Isawherthisweek,andshe'dliketohavehermothercome,sointhespringweshallhaveagrandchange,andgetanewcookandchamber-girlifanycanbefoundtosuitourhonouredrelatives.” “Oh,me!howcanIevergetonwithoutPhebe?Couldn'tshestay,justsoIcouldseeher?I'dpayherboardratherthanhavehergo,I'msofondofher.” HowDr.Aleclaughedatthatproposal,andhowsatisfiedRosewaswhenheexplainedthatPhebewasstilltobehermaid,withnodutiesexceptsuchasshecouldeasilyperformbetweenschool-hours. “Sheisaproudcreature,forallherhumbleways,andevenfromuswouldnottakeafavourifshedidnotearnitsomewhere.Sothisarrangementmakesitallsquareandcomfortable,yousee,andshewillpayfortheschoolingbycurlingthesegoldilocksadozentimesadayifyoulether.” “Yourplansarealwayssowiseandkind!That'swhytheyworksowell,Isuppose,andwhypeopleletyoudowhatyoulikewiththem.Ireallydon'tseehowothergirlsgetalongwithoutanUncleAlec!”answeredRose,withasighofpityforthosewhohadmissedsogreatablessing. WhenPhebewastoldthesplendidnews,shedidnot“standonherheadwithrapture,”asCharlieprophesiedshewould,buttookitquietly,becauseitwassuchahappythingshehadnowords“bigandbeautifulenoughtothankthemin,”shesaidbuteveryhourofherdaywasbrightenedbythisgrantedwish,anddedicatedtotheserviceofthosewhogaveit. Herheartwassofullofcontentthatifoverflowedinmusic,andthesweetvoicesingingallaboutthehousegavethankssoblithelythatnootherwordswereneeded.Herwillingfeetwerenevertiredoftakingstepsforthosewhohadsmoothedherwayherskilfulhandswerealwaysbusyinsomelabourofloveforthem,andonthefacefastgrowingincomelinesstherewasanalmostwomanlyexpressionofdevotion,whichprovedhowwellPhebehadalreadylearnedoneoflife'sgreatlessonsgratitude.