Rose's sprain proved to be a serious one, owing to neglect, and Dr.
Alec ordered her to lie on the sofa for a fortnight at least; whereatshe groaned dismally, but dared not openly complain, lest the boysturn upon her with some of the wise little sermons on patiencewhich she had delivered for their benefit.
It was Mac's turn now, and honourably did he repay his debt; for,as school was still forbidden, he had plenty of leisure, and devotedmost of it to Rose. He took many steps for her, and even allowedher to teach him to knit, after assuring himself that many a braveScotchman knew how to "click the pricks." She was obliged totake a solemn vow of secrecy, however, before he would consent;for, though he did not mind being called "Giglamps," "Granny"was more than his boyish soul could bear, and at the approach ofany of the Clan his knitting vanished as if by magic, whichfrequent "chucking" out of sight did not improve the stripe he wasdoing for Rose's new afghan.
She was busy with this pretty work one bright October afternoon,all nicely established on her sofa in the upper hall, while Jamieand Pokey (lent for her amusement) were keeping house in acorner, with Comet and Rose's old doll for their "childerns."Presently, Phebe appeared with a card. Rose read it, made agrimace, then laughed and said"I'll see Miss Blish," and immediately put on her company face,pulled out her locket, and settled her curls.
"You dear thing, how do you do? I've been trying to call every daysince you got back, but I have so many engagements, I reallycouldn't manage it till to-day. So glad you are alone, for mammasaid I could sit awhile, and I brought my lace-work to show you,for it's perfectly lovely." cried Miss Blish, greeting Rose with akiss, which was not very warmly returned, though Rose politelythanked her for coming, and bid Phebe roll up the easy chair.
"How nice to have a maid!" said Ariadne, as she settled herselfwith much commotion. "Still, dear, you must be very lonely, andfeel the need of a bosom friend.""I have my cousins," began Rose, with dignity, for her visitor'spatronising manner ruffled her temper.
"Gracious, child! you don't make friends of those great boys, doyou? Mamma says she really doesn't think it's proper for you to bewith them so much.""They are like brothers, and my aunts do think it's proper," repliedRose, rather sharply, for it struck her that this was none of MissBlish's business.
"I was merely going to say I should be glad to have you for mybosom friend, for Hatty Mason and I have had an awful quarrel,and don't speak. She is too mean to live, so I gave her up. Justthink, she never paid back one of the caramels I've given her, andnever invited me to her party. I could have forgiven the caramels,but to be left out in that rude way was more than I could bear, andI told her never to look at me again as long as she lived.""You are very kind, but I don't think I want a bosom friend, thankyou," said Rose, as Ariadne stopped to bridle and shake her flaxenhead over the delinquent Hatty Mason.
Now, in her heart Miss Blish thought Rose "a stuck-up puss," butthe other girls wanted to know her and couldn't, the old house wasa charming place to visit, the lads were considered fine fellows,and the Campbells "are one of our first families," mamma said. SoAriadne concealed her vexation at Rose's coolness, and changedthe subject as fast as possible.
"Studying French, I see; who is your teacher?" she asked, flittingover the leaves of "Paul and Virginia," that lay on the table.
"I don't study it, for I read French as well as English, and uncle andI often speak it for hours. He talks like a native, and says I have aremarkably good accent."Rose really could not help this small display of superiority, forFrench was one of her strong points, and she was vain of it, thoughshe usually managed to hide this weakness. She felt that Ariadnewould be the better for a little crushing, and could not resist thetemptation to patronise in her turn.
"Oh, indeed!" said Miss Blish, rather blankly, for French was nother strong point by any means.
"I am to go abroad with uncle in a year or two, and he knows howimportant it is to understand the languages. Half the girls wholeave school can't speak decent French, and when they go abroadthey are so mortified. I shall be very glad to help you, if you like,for, of course, you have no one to talk with at home."Now Ariadne, though she looked like a wax doll, had feelingswithin her instead of sawdust, and these feelings were hurt byRose's lofty tone. She thought her more "stuck up" than ever, butdid not know how to bring her down, yet longed to do it, for shefelt as if she had received a box on the ear, and involuntarily puther hand up to it. The touch of an ear-ring consoled her, andsuggested a way of returning tit for tat in a telling manner.
"Thank you, dear; I don't need any help, for our teacher is fromParis, and of course he speaks better French than your uncle."Then she added, with a gesture of her head that set the little bellson her ears to tingling: "How do you like my new ear-rings? Papagave them to me last week, and everyone says they are lovely."Rose came down from her high horse with a rapidity that wascomical, for Ariadne had the upper hand now. Rose adored prettythings, longed to wear them, and the desire of her girlish soul wasto have her ears bored, only Dr. Alec thought it foolish, so shenever had done it. She would gladly have given all the French shecould jabber for a pair of golden bells with pearl-tipped tongues,like those Ariadne wore; and, clasping her hands, she answered, ina tone that went to the hearer's heart"They are too sweet for anything! If uncle would only let me wearsome, I should be perfectly happy.""I wouldn't mind what he says. Papa laughed at me at first, but helikes them now, and says I shall have diamond solitaires when Iam eighteen," said Ariadne, quite satisfied with her shot.
"I've got a pair now that were mamma's, and a beautiful little pairof pearl and turquoise ones, that I am dying to wear," sighed Rose.
"Then do it. I'll pierce your ears, and you must wear a bit of silk inthem till they are well; your curls will hide them nicely; then,some day, slip in your smallest ear-rings, and see if your uncledon't like them.""I asked him if it wouldn't do my eyes good once when they werered, and he only laughed. People do cure weak eyes that way, don'tthey?""Yes, indeed, and yours are sort of red. Let me see. Yes, I reallythink you ought to do it before they get worse," said Ariadne,peering into the large clear eye offered for inspection.
"Does it hurt much?" asked Rose, wavering.
"Oh dear, no; just a prick and a pull, and it's all over. I've done lotsof ears, and know just how. Come, push up your hair and get a bigneedle.""I don't quite like to do it without asking uncle's leave," falteredRose, when all was ready for the operation.
"Did he ever forbid it?" demanded Ariadne, hovering over her preylike a vampire.
"No, never!""Then do it, unless you are afraid," cried Miss Blish, bent onaccomplishing the deed.
That last word settled the matter, and, closing her eyes, Rose said"Punch!" in the tone of one giving the fatal order "Fire!"Ariadne punched, and the victim bore it in heroic silence, thoughshe turned pale and her eyes were full of tears of anguish.
"There! Now pull the bits of silk often, and cold-cream your earsevery night, and you'll soon be ready for the rings," said Ariadne,well pleased with her job, for the girl who spoke French with "afine accent" lay flat upon the sofa, looking as exhausted as if shehad had both ears cut off.
"It does hurt dreadfully, and I know uncle won't like it," sighedRose, as remorse began to gnaw. "Promise not to tell, or I shall beteased to death," she added, anxiously, entirely forgetting the twolittle pitchers gifted with eyes as well as ears, who had beenwatching the whole performance from afar.
"Never. Mercy me, what's that?" and Ariadne started as a suddensound of steps and voices came up from below.
"It's the boys! Hide the needle. Do my ears show? Don't breathe aword!" whispered Rose, scrambling about to conceal all traces oftheir iniquity from the sharp eyes of the Clan.
Up they came, all in good order, laden with the proceeds of anutting expedition, for they always reported to Rose and paidtribute to their queen in the handsomest manner.
"How many, and how big! We'll have a grand roasting frolic aftertea, won't we?" said Rose, plunging both hands into a bag of glossybrown nuts, while the Clan "stood at ease" and nodded to Ariadne.
"That lot was picked especially for you, Rosy. I got every onemyself, and they are extra whackers," said Mac, presenting abushel or so.
"You should have seen Giglamps when he was after them. Hepitched out of the tree, and would have broken his blessed oldneck if Arch had not caught him," observed Steve, as he loungedgracefully in the window seat.
"You needn't talk, Dandy, when you didn't know a chestnut from abee............