Chapter 8 - And what came of it

by Louisa May Alcott

　　"Uncle, could you lend me a ninepence? I'll return it as soon as I get mypocket-money," said Rose, coming into the library in a great hurry thatevening."I think I could, and I won't charge any interest for it, so you need notbe in any hurry to repay me. Come back here and help me settle these booksif you have nothing pleasanter to do," answered Dr. Alec, handing out themoney with that readiness which is so delightful when we ask small loans."I'll come in a minute; I've been longing to fix my books, but didn't dareto touch them, because you always shake your head when I read.""I shall shake my head when you write, if you don't do it better than youdid in making out this catalogue.""I know it's bad, but I was in a hurry when I did it, and I am in one now."And away went Rose, glad to escape a lecture.But she got it when she came back, for Uncle Alec was still knitting hisbrows over the list of books, and sternly demanded, pointing to atipsy-looking title staggering down the page"Is that meant for 'Pulverized Bones,' ma'am?""No, sir; it's 'Paradise Lost.' ""Well, I'm glad to know it, for I began to think you were planning to studysurgery or farming. And what is this, if you please? 'Babies' Aprons' isall I can make of it."Rose looked hard at the scrawl, and presently announced, with an air ofsuperior wisdom"Oh, that's 'Bacon's Essays.' ""Miss Power did not teach anything so old-fashioned as writing, I see. Nowlook at this memorandum Aunt Plenty gave me, and see what a handsome plainhand that is. She went to a dame-school and learnt a few useful thingswell; that is better than a smattering of half a dozen so-called higherbranches, I take the liberty of thinking.""Well, I'm sure I was considered a bright girl at school, and learnedeverything I was taught. Luly and me were the first in all our classes, and'specially praised for our French and music and those sort of things," saidRose, rather offended at Uncle Alec's criticism."I dare say; but if your French grammar was no better than your English, Ithink the praise was not deserved, my dear.""Why, uncle, we did study English grammar, and I could parse beautifully.Miss Power used to have us up to show off when people came. I don't see butI talk as right as most girls.""I dare say you do, but we are all too careless about our English. Now,think a minute, and tell me if these expressions are correct 'Luly and me,''those sort of things,' and 'as right as most girls.' "Rose pulled her pet curl and put up her lip, but had to own that she waswrong, and said meekly, after a pause which threatened to be sulky"I suppose I should have said 'Luly and I,' in that case, and 'that sort ofthings' and 'rightly,' though 'correctly' would have been a better word, Iguess.""Thank you; and if you will kindly drop 'I guess,' I shall like my littleYankee all the better. Now, see here, Rosy, I don't pretend to set myselfup for a model in anything, and you may come down on my grammar, manners ormorals as often as you think I'm wrong, and I'll thank you. I've beenknocking about the world for years, and have got careless, but I want mygirl to be what I call well-educated, even if she studies nothing but thethree 'Rs' for a year to come. Let us be thorough, no matter how slowly wego."He spoke so earnestly and looked so sorry to have ruffled her that Rosewent and sat on the arm of his chair, saying, with a pretty air ofpenitence"I'm sorry I was cross, uncle, when I ought to thank you for taking so muchinterest in me. I guess no, I think you are right about being thorough, forI used to understand a great deal better when papa taught me a few lessonsthan when Miss Power hurried me through so many. I declare my head used tobe such a jumble of French and German, history and arithmetic, grammar andmusic, I used to feel sometimes as if it would split. I'm sure I don'twonder it ached." And she held on to it as if the mere memory of the"jumble" made it swim."Yet that is considered an excellent school, I find, and I dare say itwould be if the benighted lady did not think it necessary to cram herpupils like Thanks-giving turkeys, instead of feeding them in a natural andwholesome way. It is the fault with most American schools, and the poorlittle heads will go on aching till we learn better."This was one of Dr. Alec's hobbies, and Rose was afraid he was off for agallop, but he reined himself in and gave her thoughts a new turn by sayingsuddenly, as he pulled out a fat pocket-book"Uncle Mac has put all your affairs into my hands now, and here is yourmonth's pocket money. You keep your own little accounts, I suppose?""Thank you. Yes, Uncle Mac gave me an account book when I went to school,and I used to put down my expenses, but I couldn't make them go very well,for figures are the one thing I am not at all clever about," said Rose,rummaging in her desk for a dilapidated little book, which she was ashamedto show when she found it."Well, as figures are rather important things to most of us, and you mayhave a good many accounts to keep some day, wouldn't it be wise to begin atonce and learn to manage your pennies before the pounds come to perplexyou?""I thought you would do all that fussy part and take care of the pounds, asyou call them. Need I worry about it? I do hate sums, so!""I shall take care of things till you are of age, but I mean that you shallknow how your property is managed, and do as much of it as you can by andby; then you won't be dependent on the honesty of other people.""Gracious me! as if I wouldn't trust you with millions of billions if I hadthem," cried Rose, scandalised at the mere suggestion."Ah, but I might be tempted; guardians are sometimes; so you'd better keepyour eye on me, and in order to do that you must learn all about theseaffairs," answered Dr. Alec, as he made an entry in his own very neataccount-book.Rose peeped over his shoulder at it, and then turned to the arithmeticalpuzzle in her hand with a sigh of despair."Uncle, when you add up your expenses do you ever find you have got moremoney than you had in the beginning?""No; I usually find that I have a good deal less than I had in thebeginning. Are you troubled in the peculiar way you mention?""Yes; it is very curious, but I never can make things come out square.""Perhaps I can help you," began Uncle Alec, in the most respectful tone."I think you had better, for if I have got to keep accounts I may as wellbegin in the right way. But please don't laugh! I know I'm very stupid, andmy book is a disgrace, but I never could get it straight." And with greattrepidation, Rose gave up her funny little accounts.It really was good in Dr. Alec not to laugh, and Rose felt deeply gratefulwhen he said in a mildly suggestive tone"The dollars and cents seem to be rather mixed, perhaps if I juststraightened them out a bit we should find things all right.""Please do, and then show me on a fresh leaf how to make mine look nice andship-shape as yours do."As Rose stood by him watching the ease with which he quickly brought orderout of chaos, she privately resolved to hunt up her old arithmetic andperfect herself in the four first rules, with a good tug at fractions,before she read any more fairy tales."Am I a rich girl, uncle?" she asked suddenly, as he was copying a columnof figures."Rather a poor one, I should say, since you had to borrow a ninepence.""That was your fault, because you forgot my pocket-money. But, really,shall I be rich by and by?""I am afraid you will.""Why afraid, uncle?""Too much money is a bad thing.""But I can give it away, you know; that is always the pleasantest part ofhaving it I think.""I'm glad you feel so, for you can do much good with your fortune if youknow how to use it well.""You shall teach me, and when I am a woman we will set up a school wherenothing but the three R's shall be taught, and all the children live onoatmeal, and the girls have waists a yard round," said Rose, with a suddensaucy smile dimpling her cheeks."You are an impertinent little baggage, to turn on me in that way right inthe midst of my first attempt at teaching. Never mind, I'll have an extrabitter dose for you next time, miss.""I knew you wanted to laugh, so I gave you a chance. Now, I will be good,master, and do my lesson nicely."So Dr. Alec had his laugh, and then Rose sat down and took a lesson inaccounts which she never forgot."Now come and read aloud to me; my eyes are tired, and it is pleasant tosit here by the fire while the rain pours outside and Aunt Jane lecturesupstairs," said Uncle Alec, when last month's accounts had been put in goodorder and a fresh page neatly begun.Rose liked to read aloud, and gladly gave him the chapter in "NicholasNickleby" where the Miss Kenwigses take their French lesson. She did hervery best, feeling that she was being criticised, and hoping that she mightnot be found wanting in this as in other things."Shall I go on, sir?" she asked very meekly, when the chapter ended."If you are not tired, dear. It is a pleasure to hear you, for you readremarkably well," was the answer that filled her heart with pride andpleasure."Do you really think so, uncle? I'm so glad! Papa taught me, and I read forhours to him, but I thought perhaps, he liked it because he was fond ofme.""So am I; but you really do read unusually well, and I'm very glad of it,for it is a rare accomplishment, and one I value highly. Come here in thiscosy, low chair; the light is better, and I can pull these curls if you gotoo fast. I see you are going to be a great comfort as well as a greatcredit to your old uncle, Rosy." And Dr. Alec drew her close beside himwith such a fatherly look and tone that she felt it would be very easy tolove and obey him, since he knew how to mix praise and blame so pleasantlytogether.Another chapter was just finished, when the sound of a carriage warned themthat Aunt Jane was about to depart. Before they could go to meet her,however, she appeared in the doorway looking like an unusually tall mummyin her waterproof, with her glasses shining like cat's eyes from the depthsof the hood."Just as I thought! petting that child to death and letting her sit up latereading trash. I do hope you feel the weight of the responsibility you havetaken upon yourself, Alec," she said, with a certain grim sort ofsatisfaction at seeing things go wrong."I think I have a very realising sense of it, sister Jane," answered Dr.Alec, with a comical shrug of the shoulders and a glance at Rose's brightface."It is sad to see a great girl wasting these precious hours so. Now, myboys have studied all day, and Mac is still at his books, I've no doubt,while you have not had a lesson since you came, I suspect.""I've had five to-day, ma'am," was Rose's very unexpected answer."I'm glad to hear it; and what were they, pray?" Rose looked very demure asshe replied"Navigation, geography, grammar, arithmetic, and keeping my temper.""Queer lessons, I fancy; and what have you learned from this remarkablemixture, I should like to know?"A naughty sparkle came into Rose's eyes as she answered, with a droll lookat her uncle"I can't tell you all, ma'am, but I have collected some useful informationabout China, which you may like, especially the teas. The best are LapsingSouchong, Assam Pekoe, rare Ankoe, Flowery Pekoe, Howqua's mixture, ScentedCaper, Padral tea, black Congou, and green Twankey. Shanghai is on theWoosung River. Hong Kong means 'Island of Sweet waters.' Singapore is'Lion's Town.' 'Chops' are the boats they live in; and they drink tea outof little saucers. Principal productions are porcelain, tea, cinnamon,shawls, tin, tamarinds and opium. They have beautiful temples and queergods; and in Canton is the Dwelling of the Holy Pigs, fourteen of them,very big, and all blind."The effect of this remarkable burst was immense, especially the fact lastmentioned. It entirely took the wind out of Aunt Jane's sails; it was sosudden, so varied and unexpected, that she had not a word to say. Theglasses remained fixed full upon Rose for a moment, and then, with a hasty"Oh, indeed!" the excellent lady bundled into her carriage and drove away,somewhat bewildered and very much disturbed.She would have been more so if she had seen her reprehensiblebrother-in-law dancing a triumphal polka down the hall with Rose in honourof having silenced the enemy's battery for once.