Eight Cousins; Or, The Aunt-Hill

by Louisa May Alcott

  CHAPTER IV.

  _AUNTS._

  ALL dinner-time Rose felt that she was going to be talked about, andafterward she was sure of it, for Aunt Plenty whispered to her as theywent into the parlor,--

  "Run up and sit awhile with Sister Peace, my dear. She likes to have youread while she rests, and we are going to be busy."

  Rose obeyed, and the quiet rooms above were so like a church that shesoon composed her ruffled feelings, and was unconsciously a littleminister of happiness to the sweet old lady, who for years had sat therepatiently waiting to be set free from pain.

  Rose knew the sad romance of her life, and it gave a certain tendercharm to this great-aunt of hers, whom she already loved. When Peace wastwenty, she was about to be married; all was done, the wedding-dress layready, the flowers were waiting to be put on, the happy hour at hand,when word came that the lover was dead. They thought that gentle Peacewould die too; but she bore it bravely, put away her bridal gear, tookup her life afresh, and lived on,--a beautiful, meek woman, with hairas white as snow and cheeks that never bloomed again. She wore noblack, but soft, pale colors, as if always ready for the marriage thathad never come.

  For thirty years she had lived on, fading slowly, but cheerful, busy,and full of interest in all that went on in the family; especially thejoys and sorrows of the young girls growing up about her, and to themshe was adviser, confidante, and friend in all their tender trials anddelights. A truly beautiful old maiden, with her silvery hair, tranquilface, and an atmosphere of repose about her that soothed whoever came toher!

  Aunt Plenty was utterly dissimilar, being a stout, brisk old lady, witha sharp eye, a lively tongue, and a face like a winter-apple. Alwaystrotting, chatting, and bustling, she was a regular Martha, cumberedwith the cares of this world and quite happy in them.

  Rose was right; and while she softly read psalms to Aunt Peace, theother ladies were talking about her little self in the frankest manner.

  "Well, Alec, how do you like your ward?" began Aunt Jane, as they allsettled down, and Uncle Mac deposited himself in a corner to finish hisdoze.

  "I should like her better if I could have begun at the beginning, and sogot a fair start. Poor George led such a solitary life that the childhas suffered in many ways, and since he died she has been going on worsethan ever, judging from the state I find her in."

  "My dear boy, we did what we thought best while waiting for you to windup your affairs and get home. I always told George he was wrong to bringher up as he did; but he never took my advice and now here we are withthis poor dear child upon our hands. I, for one, freely confess that Idon't know what to do with her any more than if she was one of thosestrange, outlandish birds you used to bring home from foreign parts."And Aunt Plenty gave a perplexed shake of the head which caused greatcommotion among the stiff loops of purple ribbon that bristled all overher cap like crocus buds.

  "If _my_ advice had been taken, she would have remained at the excellentschool where I placed her. But our aunt thought best to remove herbecause she complained, and she has been dawdling about ever since shecame. A most ruinous state of things for a morbid, spoilt girl likeRose," said Mrs. Jane, severely.

  She had never forgiven the old ladies for yielding to Rose's patheticpetition that she might wait her guardian's arrival before beginninganother term at the school, which was a regular Blimber hot-bed, andturned out many a feminine Toots.

  "_I_ never thought it the proper school for a child in goodcircumstances,--an heiress, in fact, as Rose is. It is all very well forgirls who are to get their own living by teaching, and that sort ofthing; but all _she_ needs is a year or two at a fashionablefinishing-school, so that at eighteen she can come out with _eclat_,"put in Aunt Clara, who had been a beauty and a belle, and was still ahandsome woman.

  "Dear, dear! how short-sighted you all are to be discussing educationand plans for the future, when this unhappy child is so plainly markedfor the tomb," sighed Aunt Myra, with a lugubrious sniff and a solemnwag of the funereal bonnet, which she refused to remove, being afflictedwith a chronic catarrh.

  "Now, it is my opinion that the dear thing only wants freedom, rest, andcare. There is a look in her eyes that goes to my heart, for it showsthat she feels the need of what none of us can give her,--a mother,"said Aunt Jessie, with tears in her own bright eyes at the thought ofher boys being left, as Rose was, to the care of others.

  Uncle Alec, who had listened silently as each spoke, turned quicklytoward the last sister, and said, with a decided nod of approval,--

  "You've got it, Jessie; and, with you to help me, I hope to make thechild feel that she is not quite fatherless and motherless."

  "I'll do my best, Alec; and I think you _will_ need me, for, wise as youare, you cannot understand a tender, timid little creature like Rose asa woman can," said Mrs. Jessie, smiling back at him with a heart full ofmotherly good-will.

  "I cannot help feeling that _I_, who have had a daughter of my own, canbest bring up a girl; and I am _very_ much surprised that George did notintrust her to me," observed Aunt Myra, with an air of melancholyimportance, for she was the only one who had given a daughter to thefamily, and she felt that she had distinguished herself, thoughill-natured people said that she had dosed her darling to death.

  "I never blamed him in the least, when I remember the perilousexperiments you tried with poor Carrie," began Mrs. Jane, in her hardvoice.

  "Jane Campbell, I will _not_ hear a word! My sainted Caroline is asacred subject," cried Aunt Myra, rising as if to leave the room.

  Dr. Alec detained her, feeling that he must define his position at once,and maintain it manfully if he hoped to have any success in his newundertaking.

  "Now, my dear souls, don't let us quarrel and make Rose a bone ofcontention,--though, upon my word, she _is_ almost a bone, poor littlelass! You have had her among you for a year, and done what you liked. Icannot say that your success is great, but that is owing to too manyfingers in the pie. Now, I intend to try my way for a year, and if atthe end of it she is not in better trim than now, I'll give up the case,and hand her over to some one else. That's fair, I think."

  "She will not be here a year hence, poor darling, so no one need dreadfuture responsibility," said Aunt Myra, folding her black gloves as ifall ready for the funeral.

  "By Jupiter, Myra, you are enough to damp the ardor of a saint!" criedDr. Alec, with a sudden spark in his eyes. "Your croaking will worrythat child out of her wits, for she is an imaginative puss, and willfret and fancy untold horrors. You have put it into her head that shehas no constitution, and she rather likes the idea. If she had not had apretty good one, she _would_ have been 'marked for the tomb' by thistime, at the rate you have been going on with her. I will not have anyinterference,--please understand that; so just wash your hands of her,and let me manage till I want help, then I'll ask for it."

  "Hear, hear!" came from the corner where Uncle Mac was apparently wraptin slumber.

  "You were appointed guardian, so we can do nothing. But I predict thatthe girl will be spoilt, utterly spoilt," answered Mrs. Jane, grimly.

  "Thank you, sister. I have an idea that if a woman can bring up two boysas perfectly as you do yours, a man, if he devotes his whole mind to it,may at least attempt as much with one girl," replied Dr. Alec, with ahumorous look that tickled the others immensely, for it was a well-knownfact in the family that Jane's boys were more indulged than all theother lads put together.

  "_I_ am quite easy, for I really do think that Alec will improve thechild's health; and by the time his year is out, it will be quite soonenough for her to go to Madame Roccabella's and be finished off," saidAunt Clara, settling her rings, and thinking, with languid satisfaction,of the time when she could bring out a pretty and accomplished niece.

  "I suppose you will stay here in the old place, unless you think ofmarrying, and it's high time you did," put in Mrs. Jane, much nettled ather brother's last hit.

  "No, thank you. Come and have a cigar, Mac," said Dr. Alec, ab
ruptly.

  "Don't marry; women enough in the family already," muttered Uncle Mac;and then the gentlemen hastily fled.

  "Aunt Peace would like to see you all, she says," was the message Rosebrought before the ladies could begin again.

  "Hectic, hectic!--dear me, dear me!" murmured Aunt Myra, as the shadowof her gloomy bonnet fell upon Rose, and the stiff tips of a blackglove touched the cheek where the color deepened under so many eyes.

  "I am glad these pretty curls are natural; they will be invaluable byand by," said Aunt Clara, taking an observation with her head on oneside.

  "Now that your uncle has come, I no longer expect you to review thestudies of the past year. I trust your time will not be _entirely_wasted in frivolous sports, however," added Aunt Jane, sailing out ofthe room with the air of a martyr.

  Aunt Jessie said not a word, but kissed her little niece, with a look oftender sympathy that made Rose cling to her a minute, and follow herwith grateful eyes as the door closed behind her.

  After everybody had gone home, Dr. Alec paced up and down the lower hallin the twilight for an hour, thinking so intently that sometimes hefrowned, sometimes he smiled, and more than once he stood still in abrown study. All of a sudden he said, half aloud, as if he had made uphis mind,--

  "I might as well begin at once, and give the child something new tothink about, for Myra's dismals and Jane's lectures have made her asblue as a little indigo bag."

  Diving into one of the trunks that stood in a corner, he brought up,after a brisk rummage, a silken cushion, prettily embroidered, and aquaint cup of dark carved wood.

  "This will do for a start," he said, as he plumped up the cushion anddusted the cup. "It won't do to begin too energetically, or Rose will befrightened. I must beguile her gently and pleasantly along till I'vewon her confidence, and then she will be ready for any thing."

  Just then Phebe came out of the dining-room with a plate of brown bread,for Rose had been allowed no hot biscuit for tea.

  "I'll relieve you of some of that," said Dr. Alec, and, helping himselfto a generous slice, he retired to the study, leaving Phebe to wonder athis appetite.

  She would have wondered still more if she had seen him making that brownbread into neat little pills, which he packed into an attractive ivorybox, out of which he emptied his own bits of lovage.

  "There! if they insist on medicine, I'll order these, and no harm willbe done. I _will_ have my own way, but I'll keep the peace, if possible,and confess the joke when my experiment has succeeded," he said tohimself, looking very much like a mischievous boy, as he went off withhis innocent prescriptions.

  Rose was playing softly on the small organ that stood in the upper hall,so that Aunt Peace could enjoy it; and all the while he talked with theold ladies Uncle Alec was listening to the fitful music of the child,and thinking of another Rose who used to play for him.

  As the clock struck eight, he called out,--

  "Time for my girl to be abed, else she won't be up early, and I'm fullof jolly plans for to-morrow. Come and see what I have found for you tobegin upon."

  Rose ran in and listened with bright, attentive face, while Dr. Alecsaid, impressively,--

  "In my wanderings over the face of the earth, I have picked up someexcellent remedies, and, as they are rather agreeable ones, I think youand I will try them. This is an herb-pillow, given to me by a wise oldwoman when I was ill in India. It is filled with saffron, poppies, andother soothing plants; so lay your little head on it to-night, sleepsweetly without a dream, and wake to-morrow without a pain."

  "Shall I really? How nice it smells." And Rose willingly received thepretty pillow, and stood enjoying its faint, sweet odor, as she listenedto the doctor's next remedy.

  "This is the cup I told you of. Its virtue depends, they say, on thedrinker filling it himself; so you must learn to milk. I'll teach you."

  "I'm afraid I never can," said Rose; but she surveyed the cup withfavor, for a funny little imp danced on the handle, as if all ready totake a header into the white sea below.

  "Don't you think she ought to have something more strengthening thanmilk, Alec? I really shall feel anxious if she does not have a tonic ofsome sort," said Aunt Plenty, eying the new remedies suspiciously, forshe had more faith in her old-fashioned doses than all the magic cupsand poppy pillows of the East.

  "Well, ma'am, I'm willing to give her a pill, if you think best. It is avery simple one, and very large quantities may be taken without harm.You know hasheesh is the extract of hemp? Well, this is a preparation ofcorn and rye, much used in old times, and I hope it will be again."

  "Dear me, how singular!" said Aunt Plenty, bringing her spectacles tobear upon the pills, with a face so full of respectful interest that itwas almost too much for Dr. Alec's gravity.

  "Take one in the morning, and a good-night to you, my dear," he said,dismissing his patient with a hearty kiss.

  Then, as she vanished, he put both hands into his hair, exclaiming, witha comical mixture of anxiety and amusement,--

  "When I think what I have undertaken, I declare to you, aunt, I feellike running away and not coming back till Rose is eighteen!"