Chapter 24—Which?

“Uncle,Ihavediscoveredwhatgirlsaremadefor,”saidRose,thedayafterthereconciliationofArchieandthePrince. “Well,mydear,whatisit?”askedDr.Alec,whowas“plankingthedeck,”ashecalledhisdailypromenadeupanddownthehall. “Totakecareofboys,”answeredRose,quitebeamingwithsatisfactionasshespoke.“PhebelaughedwhenItoldher,andsaidshethoughtgirlshadbetterlearntotakecareofthemselvesfirst.Butthat'sbecauseshehasn'tgotsevenboy-cousinsasIhave.” “Sheisright,nevertheless,Rosy,andsoareyou,forthetwothingsgotogether,andinhelpingsevenladsyouareunconsciouslydoingmuchtoimproveonelass,”saidDr.Alec,stoppingtonodandsmileatthebright-facedfigurerestingontheoldbamboochair,afteralivelygameofbattledoreandshuttlecock,inplaceofarunwhichastormprevented. “AmI?I'mgladofthatbutreally,uncle,IdofeelasifImusttakecareoftheboys,fortheycometomeinallsortsoftroubles,andaskadvice,andIlikeitsomuch.OnlyIdon'talwaysknowwhattodo,andI'mgoingtoconsultyouprivatelyandthensurprisethemwithmywisdom.” “Allright,mydearwhat'sthefirstworry?Iseeyouhavesomethingonyourlittlemind,socomeandtelluncle.” Roseputherarminhis,and,pacingtoandfro,toldhimallaboutCharlie,askingwhatshecoulddotokeephimstraight,andbearealsistertohim. “CouldyoumakeupyourmindtogoandstaywithAuntClaraamonth?”askedtheDoctor,whensheended. “Yes,sirbutIshouldn'tlikeit.Doyoureallywantmetogo?” “ThebestcureforCharlieisadailydoseofRosewater,orRoseandwater,orRoseandwaterwillyougoandseethathetakesit?”laughedDr.Alec. “YoumeanthatifI'mthereandtrytomakeitpleasant,hewillstayathomeandkeepoutofmischief?” “Exactly.” “ButcouldImakeitpleasant?Hewouldwanttheboys.” “Nodangerbuthe'dhavetheboys,fortheyswarmafteryoulikebeesaftertheirqueen.Haven'tyoufoundthatout?” “AuntPlenoftensaystheyneverusedtobeherehalfsomuchbeforeIcame,butIneverthoughtImadethedifference,itseemedsonaturaltohavethemround.” “Littlemodestydoesn'tknowwhatamagnetsheisbutshewillfinditoutsomeday,”andtheDoctorsoftlystrokedthecheekthathadgrownrosywithpleasureatthethoughtofbeingsomuchloved.“Now,yousee,ifImovethemagnettoAuntClara's,theladswillgothereassureasirontosteel,andCharliewillbesohappyathomehewon'tcareforthesemischievousmatesofhisIhope,”addedtheDoctor,wellknowinghowharditwastoweanaseventeen-year-oldboyfromhisfirsttasteofwhatiscalled“seeinglife,”which,alas!oftenendsinseeingdeath. “I'llgo,uncle,rightaway!AuntClaraisalwaysaskingme,andwillbegladtogetme.Ishallhavetodressanddinelate,andseelotsofcompany,andbeveryfashionable,butI'lltrynottoletithurtmeandifIgetinapuzzleorworriedaboutanythingIcanruntoyou,”answeredRose,good-willconqueringtimidity. Soitwasdecided,andwithoutsayingmuchabouttherealreasonforthisvisit,RosewastransplantedtoAuntClara's,feelingthatshehadaworktodo,andveryeagertodoitwell. Dr.Alecwasrightaboutthebees,fortheboysdidfollowtheirqueen,andastonishedMrs.Clarabytheirsuddenassiduityi