Anxious to smooth the way for Phebe, Rose was up betimes andslipped into Aunt Plenty's room before the old lady had gotten hercap on.

"Aunty, I've something pleasant to tell you, and while you listen,I'll brush your hair, as you like to have me," she began, well awarethat the proposed process was a very soothing one.

"Yes, dear only don't be too particular, because I'm late and musthurry down or Jane won't get things straight, and it does fidget meto have the saltcellars uneven, the tea strainer forgotten, and youruncle's paper not aired," returned Miss Plenty, briskly unrolling thetwo gray curls she wore at her temples.

Then Rose, brushing away at the scanty back hair, led skillfully upto the crisis of her tale by describing Phebe's panic and braveefforts to conquer it; all about the flowers Archie sent her; andhow Steve forgot, and dear, thoughtful Archie took his place. Sofar it went well and Aunt Plenty was full of interest, sympathy, andapprobation, but when Rose added, as if it was quite a matter ofcourse, "So, on the way home, he told her he loved her," a greatstart twitched the gray locks out of her hands as the old lady turnedaround, with the little curls standing erect, exclaiming, inundisguised dismay: "Not seriously, Rose?"

"Yes, Aunty, very seriously. He never jokes about such things."

"Mercy on us! What shall we do about it?"

"Nothing, ma'am, but be as glad as we ought and congratulate himas soon as she says 'yes.'?

"Do you mean to say she didn't accept at once?"

"She never will if we don't welcome her as kindly as if shebelonged to one of our best families, and I don't blame her."

"I'm glad the girl has so much sense. Of course we can't doanything of the sort, and I'm surprised at Archie's forgetting whathe owes to the family in this rash manner. Give me my cap, child Imust speak to Alec at once." And Aunt Plenty twisted her hair intoa button at the back of her head with one energetic twirl.

"Do speak kindly, Aunty, and remember that it was not Phebe'sfault. She never thought of this till very lately and began at once toprepare for going away," said Rose pleadingly.

"She ought to have gone long ago. I told Myra we should havetrouble somewhere as soon as I saw what a good-looking creatureshe was, and here it is as bad as can be. Dear, dear! Why can'tyoung people have a little prudence?"

"I don't see that anyone need object if Uncle Jem and Aunt Jessieapprove, and I do think it will be very, very unkind to scold poorPhebe for being well-bred, pretty, and good, after doing all wecould to make her so."

"Child, you don't understand these things yet, but you ought to feelyour duty toward your family and do all you can to keep the nameas honorable as it always has been. What do you suppose ourblessed ancestress Lady Marget would say to our oldest boy takinga wife from the poorhouse?"

As she spoke, Miss Plenty looked up, almost apprehensively, atone of the wooden-faced old portraits with which her room washung, as if asking pardon of the severe-nosed matron who staredback at her from under the sort of blue dish cover which formedher headgear.

"As Lady Marget died about two hundred years ago, I don't care apin what she would say, especially as she looks like a verynarrow-minded, haughty woman. But I do care very much whatMiss Plenty Campbell says, for she is a very sensible, generous,discreet, and dear old lady who wouldn't hurt a fly, much less agood and faithful girl who has been a sister to me. Would she?"entreated Rose, knowing well that the elder aunt led all the restmore or less.

But Miss Plenty had her cap on now and consequently felt herselftwice the woman she was without it, so she not only gave it asomewhat belligerent air by setting it well up, but she shook herhead decidedly, smoothed down her stiff white apron, and stood upas if ready for battle.

"I shall do my duty, Rose, and expect the same of others. Don't sayany more now I must turn the matter over in my mind, for it hascome upon me suddenly and needs serious consideration."

With which unusually solemn address she took up her keys andtrotted away, leaving her niece to follow with an anxiouscountenance, uncertain whether her championship had done goodor ill to the cause she had at heart.

She was much cheered by the sound of Phebe's voice in the study,for Rose was sure that if Uncle Alec was on their side all would bewell. But the clouds lowered again when they came in to breakfast,for Phebe's heavy eyes and pale cheeks did not look encouraging,while Dr. Alec was as sober as a judge and sent an inquiringglance toward Rose now and then as if curious to discover how shebore the news.

An uncomfortable meal, though all tried to seem as usual andtalked over last night's events with all the interest they could. Butthe old peace was disturbed by a word, as a pebble thrown into aquiet pool sends telltale circles rippling its surface far and wide.Aunt Plenty, while "turning the subject over in her mind," alsoseemed intent on upsetting everything she touched and made sadhavoc in her tea tray; Dr. Alec unsociably read his paper; Rose,having salted instead of sugared her oatmeal, absently ate it,feeling that the sweetness had gone out of everything; and Phebe,after choking down a cup of tea and crumbling a roll, excusedherself and went away, sternly resolving not to be a bone ofcontention to this beloved family.

As soon as the door was shut Rose pushed away her plate and,going to Dr. Alec, she peeped over the paper with such an anxiousface that he put it down at once.

"Uncle, this is a serious matter, and we must take our stand atonce, for you are Phebe's guardian and I am her sister," began Rosewith pretty solemnity. "You have often been disappointed in me,"she continued, "but I know I never shall be in you because you aretoo wise and good to let any worldly pride or prudence spoil yoursympathy with Archie and our Phebe. You won't desert them, willyou?"

"Never!" answered Dr. Alec with gratifying energy.

"Thank you! Thank you!" cried Rose. "Now, if I have you andAunty on my side, I'm not afraid of anybody."

"Gently, gently, child. I don't intend to desert the lovers, but Icertainly shall advise them to consider well what they are about.I'll own I am rather disappointed, because Archie is young todecide his life in this way and Phebe's career seemed settled inanother fashion. Old people don't like to have their plans upset,you know," he added more lightly, for Rose's face fell as he wenton.

"Old people shouldn't plan too much for the young ones, then. Weare very grateful, I'm sure, but we cannot always be disposed of inthe most prudent and sensible way, so don't set your hearts on littlearrangements of that sort, I beg," And Rose looked wondrous wise,for she could not help suspecting even her best uncle of "plans" inher behalf.

"You are quite right-we shouldn't, yet it is very hard to help it,"confessed Dr. Alec with a conscious air, and, returning hastily tothe lovers, he added kindly: "I was much pleased with thestraightforward way in which Phebe came to me this morning andtold me all about it, as if I really was her guardian. She did notown it in words, but it was perfectly evident that she loves Archiewith all her heart, yet, knowing the objections which will be made,very sensibly and bravely proposes to go away at once and end thematter as if that were possible, poor child." And the tenderheartedman gave a sigh of sympathy that did Rose good to hear andmollified her rising indignation at the bare idea of ending Phebe'slove affairs in such a summary way.

"You don't think she ought to go, I hope?"

"I think she will go."

"We must not let her."

"We have no right to keep her."

"Oh, Uncle, surely we have! Our Phebe, whom we all love somuch."

"You forget that she is a woman now, and we have no claim onher. Because we've befriended her for years is the very reason weshould not make our benefits a burden, but leave her free, and ifshe chooses to do this in spite of Archie, we must let her with aGodspeed."

Before Rose could answer, Aunt Plenty spoke out like one havingauthority, for old-fashioned ways were dear to her soul and shethought even love affairs should be conducted with a proper regardto the powers that be.

"The family must talk the matter over and decide what is best forthe children, who of course will listen to reason and do nothing illadvised. For my part, I am quite upset by the news, but shall notcommit myself till I've seen Jessie and the boy. Jane, clear away,and bring me the hot water."

That ended the morning conference. And, leaving the old lady tosoothe her mind by polishing spoons and washing cups, Rose wentaway to find Phebe while the doctor retired to laugh over thedownfall of brother Mac's matchmaking schemes.

The Campbells did not gossip about their concerns in public, butbeing a very united family, it had long been the custom to "talkover" any interesting event which occurred to any member thereof,and everyone gave his or her opinion, advice, or censure with theutmost candor. Therefore the first engagement, if such it could becalled, created a great sensation, among the aunts especially, andthey were in as much of a flutter as a flock of maternal birds whentheir young begin to hop out of the nest. So at all hours theexcellent ladies were seen excitedly nodding their caps together asthey discussed the affair in all its bearings, without ever arriving atany unanimous decision.

The boys took it much more calmly. Mac was the only one whocame out strongly in Archie's favor. Charlie thought the Chiefought to do better and called Phebe "a siren who had bewitchedthe sage youth." Steve was scandalized and delivered long orationsupon one's duty to society, keeping the old name up, and thedanger of mésalliances, while all the time he secretly sympathizedwith Archie, being much smitten with Kitty Van himself. Will andGeordie, unfortunately home for the holidays, considered it "a jollylark," and little Jamie nearly drove his elder brother distracted bycurious inquiries as to "how folks felt when they were in love."

Uncle Mac's dismay was so comical that it kept Dr. Alec in goodspirits, for he alone knew how deep was the deluded man's chagrinat the failure of the little plot which he fancied was prosperingfinely.

"I'll never set my heart on anything of the sort again, and the youngrascals may marry whom they like. I'm prepared for anything now - so if Steve brings home the washerwoman's daughter, and Macruns away with our pretty chambermaid, I shall say, 'Bless you mychildren,' with mournful resignation, for, upon my soul, that is allthat's left for a modern parent to do."

With which tragic burst, poor Uncle Mac washed his hands of thewhole affair and buried himself in the countinghouse while thestorm raged.

About this time Archie might have echoed Rose's childish wish,that she had not quite so many aunts, for the tongues of thoseinterested relatives made sad havoc with his little romance andcaused him to long fervently for a desert island where he couldwoo and win his love in delicious peace. That nothing of the sortwas possible soon became evident, since every word uttered onlyconfirmed Phebe's resolution to go away and proved to Rose howmistaken she had been in believing that she could bring everyoneto her way of thinking.

Prejudices are unmanageable things, and the good aunts, like mostwomen, possessed a plentiful supply, so Rose found it like beatingher head against a wall to try and convince them that Archie waswise in loving poor Phebe. His mother, who had hoped to haveRose for her daughter not because of her fortune, but the tenderaffection she felt for her put away her disappointment without aword and welcomed Phebe as kindly as she could for her boy'ssake. But the girl felt the truth with the quickness of a nature madesensitive by love and clung to her resolve all the more tenaciously,though grateful for the motherly words that would have been sosweet if genuine happiness had prompted them.

Aunt Jane called it romantic nonsense and advised strongmeasures "kind, but firm, Jessie." Aunt Clara was sadly distressedabout "what people would say" if one of "our boys" married anobody's daughter. And Aunt Myra not only seconded her views bypainting portraits of Phebe's unknown relations in the darkestcolors but uttered direful prophecies regarding the disreputablebeings who would start up in swarms the moment the girl made agood match.

These suggestions so wrought upon Aunt Plenty that she turned adeaf ear to the benevolent emotions native to her breast and, takingrefuge behind "our blessed ancestress, Lady Marget," refused tosanction any engagement which could bring discredit upon thestainless name which was her pride.

So it all ended where it began, for Archie steadily refused to listento anyone but Phebe, and she as steadily reiterated her bitter "No!"fortifying herself half unconsciously with the hope that, by and by,when she had won a name, fate might be kinder.

While the rest talked, she had been working, for every hourshowed her that her instinct had been a true one and pride wouldnot let her stay, though love pleaded eloquently. So, after aChristmas anything but merry, Phebe packed her trunks, rich ingifts from those who generously gave her all but the one thing shedesired, and, with a pocketful of letters to people who couldfurther her plans, she went away to seek her fortune, with a braveface and a very heavy heart.

"Write often, and let me know all you do, my Phebe, andremember I shall never be contented till you come back again,"whispered Rose, clinging to her till the last.

"She will come back, for in a year I'm going to bring her home,please God," said Archie, pale with the pain of parting but asresolute as she.

"I'll earn my welcome then perhaps it will be easier for them togive and me to receive it," answered Phebe, with a backwardglance at the group of caps in the hall as she went down the stepson Dr. Alec's arm.

"You earned it long ago, and it is always waiting for you while Iam here. Remember that, and God bless you, my good girl," hesaid, with a paternal kiss that warmed her heart.

"I never shall forget it!" And Phebe never did.