Chapter 24—Which?

nmakingcalls,droppingintodinner,andgettingupeveningfrolics.Charliewasadevotedhost,andtriedtoshowhisgratitudebybeingverykindtohis“littlesister,”forheguessedwhyshecame,andhisheartwastouchedbyherartlessendeavoursto“helphimbegood.” Roseoftenlongedtobebackintheoldhousewiththesimplerpleasuresandmoreusefuldutiesofthelifetherebut,havingmadeuphermind,inspiteofPhebe,that“girlsweremadetotakecareofboys,”heremotherlylittlesoulfoundmuchtoenjoyinthenewtaskshehadundertaken. Itwasaprettysighttoseetheoneearnest,sweet-facedgirlamongtheflockoftalllads,tryingtounderstand,tohelpandpleasethemwithapatientaffectionthatworkedmanyasmallmiracleunperceived.Slang,roughmanners,andcarelesshabitswerebanishedorbetteredbythepresenceofalittlegentlewomanandallthemanlyvirtuescroppingupwereencouragedbytheheartyadmirationbestoweduponthembyonewhosegoodopinionallvaluedmorethantheyconfessedwhileRosetriedtoimitatethegoodqualitiesshepraisedinthem,toputawayhergirlishvanitiesandfears,tobestrongandjust,andfrankandbrave,aswellasmodest,kind,andbeautiful. Thistrialworkedsowellthatwhenthemonthwasover,MacandStevedemandedavisitintheirturn,andRosewent,feelingthatshewouldliketoheargrimAuntJanesay,asAuntClaradidatparting,“IwishIcouldkeepyouallmylife,dear.” AfterMacandStevehadhadtheirturn,ArchieandCompanyboreherawayforsomeweeksandwiththemshewassohappy,shefeltasifshewouldliketostayforever,ifshecouldhaveUncleAlecalso. Ofcourse,AuntMyracouldnotbeneglected,and,withsecretdespair,Rosewenttothe“Mausoleum,”astheboyscalledhergloomyabode.Fortunately,shewasverynearhome,andDr.Alecdroppedinsooftenthathervisitwasfarlessdismalthansheexpected.Betweenthem,theyactuallymadeAuntMyralaughheartilymorethanonceandRosedidhersomuchgoodbylettinginthesunshine,singingaboutthesilenthouse,cookingwholesomemesses,andamusingtheoldladywithfunnylittlelecturesonphysiology,thatsheforgottotakeherpillsandgaveup“Mum'sElixir,”becauseshesleptsowell,afterthelongwalksanddrivesshewasbeguiledintotaking,thatsheneedednonarcotic. Sothewinterflewrapidlyaway,anditwasMaybeforeRosewasfairlysettledagainathome.Theycalledherthe“MonthlyRose,”becauseshehadspentamonthwitheachoftheaunts,andleftsuchpleasantmemoriesofbloomandfragrancebehindher,thatallwantedthefamilyflowerbackagain. Dr.Alecrejoicedgreatlyoverhisrecoveredtreasurebutasthetimedrewnearwhenhisyearofexperimentended,hehadmanyasecretfearthatRosemightliketomakeherhomeforthenexttwelvemonthwithAuntJessie,orevenAuntClara,forCharlie'ssake.Hesaidnothing,butwaitedwithmuchanxietyforthedaywhenthemattershouldbedecidedandwhilehewaitedhedidhisbesttofinishasfaraspossiblethetaskhehadbegunsowell. Rosewasveryhappynow,beingoutnearlyalldayenjoyingthebeautifulawakeningoftheworld,forspringcamebrightandearly,asifanxioustodoitspart.Theoldhorse-chestnutsbuddedroundherwindows,greenthingssprunguplikemagicinthegardenunderherhands,har