Chapter 15--Ear-Rings
Rose's sprain proved to be a serious one, owing to neglect, and Dr. Alecordered her to lie on the sofa for a fortnight at least; whereat shegroaned dismally, but dared not openly complain, lest the boys turnupon her with some of the wise little sermons on patience which she haddelivered for their benefit.
It was Mac's turn now, and honourably did he repay his debt; for, asschool was still forbidden, he had plenty of leisure, and devoted mostof it to Rose. He took many steps for her, and even allowed her to teachhim to knit, after assuring himself that many a brave Scotchman knew howto "click the pricks." She was obliged to take a solemn vow of secrecy,however, before he would consent; for, though he did not mind beingcalled "Giglamps," "Granny" was more than his boyish soul could bear,and at the approach of any of the Clan his knitting vanished as if bymagic, which frequent "chucking" out of sight did not improve the stripehe was doing for Rose's new afghan.
She was busy with this pretty work one bright October afternoon, allnicely established on her sofa in the upper hall, while Jamie and Pokey(lent for her amusement) were keeping house in a corner, with Comet andRose's old doll for their "childerns."
Presently, Phebe appeared with a card. Rose read it, made a grimace,then laughed and said,
"I'll see Miss Blish," and immediately put on her company face, pulledout her locket, and settled her curls.
"You dear thing, how do you do? I've been trying to call every day sinceyou got back, but I have so many engagements, I really couldn't manageit till to-day. So glad you are alone, for mamma said I could sitawhile, and I brought my lace-work to show you, for it's perfectlylovely." cried Miss Blish, greeting Rose with a kiss, which was not verywarmly returned, though Rose politely thanked her for coming, and bidPhebe roll up the easy chair.
"How nice to have a maid!" said Ariadne, as she settled herself withmuch commotion. "Still, dear, you must be very lonely, and feel the needof 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, do you?Mamma says she really doesn't think it's proper for you to be with themso 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 my bosomfriend, for Hatty Mason and I have had an awful quarrel, and don'tspeak. She is too mean to live, so I gave her up. Just think, she neverpaid back one of the caramels I've given her, and never invited me toher party. I could have forgiven the caramels, but to be left out inthat rude way was more than I could bear, and I told her never to lookat me again as long as she lived."
"You are very kind, but I don't think I want a bosom friend, thank you,"said Rose, as Ariadne stopped to bridle and shake her flaxen head overthe 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 was acharming place to visit, the lads were considered fine fellows, andthe Campbells "are one of our first families," mamma said. So Ariadneconcealed her vexation at Rose's coolness, and changed the subject asfast as possible.
"Studying French, I see; who is your teacher?" she asked, flitting overthe 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, for Frenchwas one of her strong points, and she was vain of it, though she usuallymanaged to hide this weakness. She felt that Ariadne would be the betterfor a little crushing, and could not resist the temptation to patronisein her turn.
"Oh, indeed!" said Miss Blish, rather blankly, for French was not herstrong 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 who leaveschool can't speak decent French, and when they go abroad they areso mortified. I shall be very glad to help you, if you like, for, ofcourse, you have no one to talk with at home."
Now Ariadne, though she looked like a wax doll, had feelings within herinstead of sawdust, and these feelings were hurt by Rose's lofty tone.She thought her more "stuck up" than ever, but did not know how to bringher down, yet longed to do it, for she felt as if she had received abox on the ear, and involuntarily put her hand up to it. The touch of anear-ring consoled her, and suggested a way of returning tit for tat in atelling manner.
"Thank you, dear; I don't need any help, for our teacher is from Paris,and of course he speaks better French than your uncle." Then she added,with a gesture of her head that set the little bells on her ears totingling: "How do you like my new ear-rings? Papa gave them to me lastweek, and everyone says they are lovely."
Rose came down from her high horse with a rapidity that was comical,for Ariadne had the upper hand now. Rose adored pretty things, longedto wear them, and the desire of her girlish soul was to have her earsbored, only Dr. Alec thought it foolish, so she never had done it. Shewould gladly have given all the French she could jabber for a pair ofgolden bells with pearl-tipped tongues, like those Ariadne wore; and,clasping her hands, she answered, in a tone that went to the hearer'sheart,
"They are too sweet for anything! If uncle would only let me wear some,I should be perfectly happy."
"I wouldn't mind what he says. Papa laughed at me at first, but he likesthem now, and says I shall have diamond solitaires when I am eighteen,"said Ariadne, quite satisfied with her shot.
"I've got a pair now that were mamma's, and a beautiful little pair ofpearl 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, someday, slip in your smallest ear-rings, and see if your uncle don't likethem."
"I asked him if it wouldn't do my eyes good once when they were red, andhe only laughed. People do cure weak eyes that way, don't they?"
"Yes, indeed, and yours are sort of red. Let me see. Yes, I really thinkyou ought to do it before they get worse," said Ariadne, peering intothe 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 donelots of 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 prey like avampire.
"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, though sheturned pale and her eyes were full of tears of anguish.
"There! Now pull the bits of silk often, and cold-cream your ears everynight, and you'll soon be ready for the rings," said Ariadne, wellpleased with her job, for the girl who spoke French with "a fine accent"lay flat upon the sofa, looking as exhausted as if she had had both earscut off.
"It does hurt dreadfully, and I know uncle won't like it," sighed Rose,as remorse began to gnaw. "Promise not to tell, or I shall be teasedto death," she added, anxiously, entirely forgetting the two littlepitchers gifted with eyes as well as ears, who had been watching thewhole performance from afar.
"Never. Mercy me, what's that?" and Ariadne started as a sudden sound ofsteps and voices came up from below.
"It's the boys! Hide the needle. Do my ears show? Don't breathe a word!"whispered Rose, scrambling about to conceal all traces of their iniquityfrom the sharp eyes
of the Clan.
Up they came, all in good order, laden with the proceeds of a nuttingexpedition, for they always reported to Rose and paid tribute to theirqueen in the handsomest manner.
"How many, and how big! We'll have a grand roasting frolic after tea,won't we?" said Rose, plunging both hands into a bag of glossy brownnuts, while the Clan "stood at ease" and nodded to Ariadne.
"That lot was picked especially for you, Rosy. I got every one myself,and they are extra whackers," said Mac, presenting a bushel or so.
"You should have seen Giglamps when he was after them. He pitched outof the tree, and would have broken his blessed old neck if Arch hadnot caught him," observed Steve, as he lounged gracefully in the windowseat.
"You needn't talk, Dandy, when you didn't know a chestnut from a beech,and kept on thrashing till I told you of it," retorted Mac, festooninghimself over the back of the sofa, being a privileged boy.