Dr. Alec had not arrived, but bad tidings had, as Rose guessed theinstant her eyes fell upon Aunt Plenty, hobbling downstairs withher cap awry, her face pale, and a letter flapping wildly in her handas she cried distractedly: "Oh, my boy! My boy! Sick, and I notthere to nurse him! Malignant fever, so far away. What can thosechildren do? Why did I let Alec go?"

Rose got her into the parlor, and while the poor old lady lamented,she read the letter which Phebe had sent to her that she might"break the news carefully to Rose."

DEAR MISS PLENTY, Please read this to yourself first, and tellmy little mistress as you think best. The dear doctor is very ill, butI am with him, and shall not leave him day or night till he is safe.So trust me, and do not be anxious, for everything shall be donethat care and skill and entire devotion can do. He would not let ustell you before, fearing you would try to come at the risk of yourhealth. Indeed it would be useless, for only one nurse is needed,and I came first, so do not let Rose or anybody else rob me of myright to the danger and the duty. Mac has written to his father, forDr. Alec is now too ill to know what we do, and we both felt thatyou ought to be told without further delay. He has a bad malignantfever, caught no one can tell how, unless among some pooremigrants whom he met wandering about quite forlorn in a strangecity. He understood Portuguese and sent them to a proper placewhen they had told their story. But I fear he has suffered for hiskindness, for this fever came on rapidly, and before he knew whatit was I was there, and it was too late to send me away.

Now I can show you how grateful I am, and if need be give my lifeso gladly for this friend who has been a father to me. Tell Rose hislast conscious word and thought were for her. "Don't let her come;keep my darling safe." Oh, do obey him! Stay safely at home and,God helping me, I'll bring Uncle Alec back in time. Mac does all Iwill let him. We have the best physicians, and everything is goingas well as can be hoped till the fever turns.

Dear Miss Plenty, pray for him and for me, that I may do this onehappy thing for those who have done so much forYour ever dutiful and loving

PHEBE

As Rose looked up from the letter, half stunned by the suddennews and the great danger, she found that the old lady had alreadystopped useless bewailing and was praying heartily, like one whoknew well where help was to be found. Rose went and knelt downat her knee, laying her face on the clasped hands in her lap, and fora few minutes neither wept nor spoke. Then a stifled sob brokefrom the girl, and Aunt Plenty gathered the young head in herarms, saying, with the slow tears of age trickling down her ownwithered cheeks: "Bear up, my lamb, bear up. The good Lord won'ttake him from us I am sure and that brave child will be allowed topay her debt to him. I feel she will."

"But I want to help. I must go, Aunty, I must no matter what thedanger is," cried Rose, full of a tender jealousy of Phebe for beingfirst to brave peril for the sake of him who had been a father tothem both.

"You can't go, dear, it's no use now, and she is right to say, 'Keepaway.' I know those fevers, and the ones who nurse often take it,and fare worse for the strain they've been through. Good girl tostand by so bravely, to be so sensible, and not let Mac go too near!She's a grand nurse Alec couldn't have a better, and she'll neverleave him till he's safe," said Miss Plenty excitedly.

"Ah, you begin to know her now, and value her as you ought. Ithink few would have done as she has, and if she does get ill anddie, it will be our fault partly, because she'd go through fire andwater to make us do her justice and receive her as we ought," criedRose, proud of an example which she longed to follow.

"If she brings my boy home, I'll never say another word. She maymarry every nephew I've got, if she likes, and I'll give her myblessing," exclaimed Aunt Plenty, feeling that no price would betoo much to pay for such a deed.

Rose was going to clap her hands, but wrung them instead,remembering with a sudden pang that the battle was not over yet,and it was much too soon to award the honors.

Before she could speak Uncle Mac and Aunt Jane hurried in, forMac's letter had come with the other, and dismay fell upon thefamily at the thought of danger to the well-beloved Uncle Alec.His brother decided to go at once, and Aunt Jane insisted onaccompanying him, though all agreed that nothing could be donebut wait, and leave Phebe at her post as long as she held out, sinceit was too late to save her from danger now and Mac reported herquite equal to the task.

Great was the hurry and confusion till the relief party was off.Aunt Plenty was heartbroken that she could not go with them, butfelt that she was too infirm to be useful and, like a sensible oldsoul, tried to content herself with preparing all sorts of comfortsfor the invalid. Rose was less patient, and at first had wild ideas ofsetting off alone and forcing her way to the spot where all herthoughts now centered. But before she could carry out any rashproject, Aunt Myra's palpitations set in so alarmingly that they didgood service for once and kept Rose busy taking her last directionsand trying to soothe her dying bed, for each attack was declaredfatal till the patient demanded toast and tea, when hope was againallowable and the rally began.

The news flew fast, as such tidings always do, and Aunt Plentywas constantly employed in answering inquiries, for her knockerkept up a steady tattoo for several days. All sorts of people came:gentlefolk and paupers, children with anxious little faces, oldpeople full of sympathy, pretty girls sobbing as they went away,and young men who relieved their feelings by swearing at allemigrants in general and Portuguese in particular. It was touchingand comforting to see how many loved the good man who wasknown only by his benefactions and now lay suffering far away,quite unconscious how many unsuspected charities were broughtto light by this grateful solicitude as hidden flowers spring upwhen warm rains fall.

If Rose had ever felt that the gift of living for others was a poorone, she saw now how beautiful and blessed it was how rich thereturns, how wide the influence, how much more precious thetender tie which knit so many hearts together than any breath offame or brilliant talent that dazzled but did not win and warm. Inafter years she found how true her uncle's words had been and,listening to eulogies of great men, felt less moved and inspired bypraises of their splendid gifts than by the sight of some good man'spatient labor for the poorest of his kind. Her heroes ceased to bethe world's favorites and became such as Garrison fighting for hischosen people; Howe restoring lost senses to the deaf, the dumb,and blind; Sumner unbribable, when other men were bought andsold and many a large-hearted woman working as quietly as AbbyGibbons, who for thirty years had made Christmas merry for twohundred little paupers in a city almshouse, besides savingMagdalens and teaching convicts.

The lesson came to Rose when she was ready for it, and showedher what a noble profession philanthropy is, made her glad of herchoice, and helped fit her for a long life full of the loving labor andsweet satisfaction unostentatious charity brings to those who askno reward and are content if "only God knows."

Several anxious weeks went by with wearing fluctuations of hopeand fear, for Life and Death fought over the prize each wanted, andmore than once Death seemed to have won. But Phebe stood at herpost, defying both danger and Death with the courage and devotionwomen often show. All her soul and strength were in her work,and when it seemed most hopeless, she cried out with thepassionate energy which seems to send such appeals straight up toheaven: "Grant me this one boon, dear Lord, and I will never askanother for myself!"

Such prayers avail much, and such entire devotion often seems towork miracles when other aids are in vain. Phebe's cry wasanswered, her self-forgetful task accomplished, and her long vigilrewarded with a happy dawn. Dr. Alec always said that she kepthim alive by the force of her will, and that, during the hours whenhe seemed to lie unconscious, he felt a strong, warm hand holdinghis, as if keeping him away from the swift current trying to sweephim away. The happiest hour of all her life was that in which heknew her, looked up with the shadow of a smile in his hollow eyes,and tried to say in his old cheery way: "Tell Rose I've turned thecorner, thanks to you, my child."

She answered very quietly, smoothed the pillow, and saw him dropasleep again before she stole away into the other room, meaning towrite the good news, but could only throw herself down and findrelief for a full heart in the first tears she had shed for weeks. Macfound her there, and took such care of her that she was ready to goback to her place now indeed a post of honor while he ran off tosend home a telegram which made many hearts sing for joy andcaused Jamie, in his first burst of delight, to propose to ring all thecity bells and order out the cannon: "Saved thanks to God andPhebe."

That was all, but everyone was satisfied, and everyone fella-crying, as if hope needed much salty water to strengthen it. Thatwas soon over, however, and then people went about smiling andsaying to one another, with handshakes or embraces, "He is betterno doubt of it now!" A general desire to rush away and assurethemselves of the truth pervaded the family for some days, andnothing but awful threats from Mac, stern mandates from thedoctor, and entreaties from Phebe not to undo her work kept MissPlenty, Rose, and Aunt Jessie at home.

As the only way in which they could ease their minds and bear thedelay, they set about spring cleaning with an energy which scaredthe spiders and drove charwomen distracted. If the old house hadbeen infected with smallpox, it could not have been morevigorously scrubbed, aired, and refreshed. Early as it was, everycarpet was routed up, curtains pulled down, cushions banged, andglory holes turned out till not a speck of dust, a last year's fly, orstray straw could be found. Then they all sat down and rested insuch an immaculate mansion that one hardly dared to move forfear of destroying the shining order everywhere visible.

It was late in April before this was accomplished, and thenecessary quarantine of the absentees well over. The first milddays seemed to come early, so that Dr. Alec might return withsafety from the journey which had so nearly been his last. It wasperfectly impossible to keep any member of the family away onthat great occasion. They came from all quarters in spite of expressdirections to the contrary, for the invalid was still very feeble andno excitement must be allowed. As if the wind carried the gladnews, Uncle Jem came into port the night before; Will andGeordie got a leave on their own responsibility; Steve would havedefied the entire faculty, had it been necessary; and Uncle Mac andArchie said simultaneously, "Business be hanged today."

Of course the aunts arrived in all their best, all cautioningeverybody else to keep quiet and all gabbling excitedly at the leastprovocation. Jamie suffered the most during that day, so dividedwas he between the desire to behave well and the frantic impulseto shout at the top of his voice, turn somersaults, and race all overthe house. Occasional bolts into the barn, where he let off steam byroaring and dancing jigs, to the great dismay of the fat old horsesand two sedate cows, helped him to get through that trying period.

But the heart that was fullest beat and fluttered in Rose's bosom asshe went about putting spring flowers everywhere; very silent, butso radiant with happiness that the aunts watched her, saying softlyto one another, "Could an angel look sweeter?"

If angels ever wore pale green gowns and snowdrops in their hair,had countenances full of serenest joy, and large eyes shining withan inward light that made them very lovely, then Rose did looklike one. But she felt like a woman and well she might, for was notlife very rich that day, when Uncle, friend, and lover were comingback to her together? Could she ask anything more, except thepower to be to all of them the creature they believed her, and toreturn the love they gave her with one as faithful, pure, and deep?Among the portraits in the hall hung one of Dr. Alec, done soonafter his return by Charlie in one of his brief fits of inspiration.Only a crayon, but wonderfully lifelike and carefully finished, asfew of the others were. This had been handsomely framed and nowheld the place of honor, garlanded with green wreaths, while thegreat Indian jar below blazed with a pyramid of hothouse flowerssent by Kitty. Rose was giving these a last touch, with Dulce closeby, cooing over a handful of sweet "daffydowndillies," when thesound of wheels sent her flying to the door. She meant to havespoken the first welcome and had the first embrace, but when shesaw the altered face in the carriage, the feeble figure being borneup the steps by all the boys, she stood motionless till Phebe caughther in her arms, whispering with a laugh and a cry struggling in hervoice: "I did it for you, my darling, all for you!"

"Oh, Phebe, never say again you owe me anything! I never canrepay you for this," was all Rose had time to answer as they stoodone instant cheek to cheek, heart to heart, both too full ofhappiness for many words.

Aunt Plenty had heard the wheels also and, as everybody rose enmasse, had said as impressively as extreme agitation would allow,while she put her glasses on upside down and seized a lace tidyinstead of her handkerchief: "Stop! All stay here, and let mereceive Alec. Remember his weak state, and be calm, quite calm,as I am.'

"Yes, Aunt, certainly," was the general murmur of assent, but itwas as impossible to obey as it would have been to keep feathersstill in a gale, and one irresistible impulse carried the wholeroomful into the hall to behold Aunt Plenty beautifully illustratingher own theory of composure by waving the tidy wildly, rushinginto Dr. Alec's arms, and laughing and crying with a hystericalabandonment which even Aunt Myra could not have surpassed.

The tearful jubilee was soon over, however, and no one seemedthe worse for it, for the instant his arms were at liberty, Dr. Alecforgot himself and began to make other people happy by sayingseriously, though his thin face beamed paternally, as he drewPhebe forward: "Aunt Plenty, but for this good daughter I nevershould have come back to be so welcomed. Love her for my sake."

Then the old lady came out splendidly and showed her mettle, for,turning to Phebe, she bowed her gray head as if saluting an equaland, offering her hand, answered with repentance, admiration, andtenderness trembling in her voice: "I'm proud to do it for her ownsake. I ask pardon for my silly prejudices, and I'll prove that I'msincere by where's that boy?"

There were six boys present, but the right one was in exactly theright place at the right moment, and, seizing Archie's hand, AuntPlenty put Phebe's into it, trying to say something appropriatelysolemn, but could not, so hugged them both and sobbed out: "If Ihad a dozen nephews, I'd give them all to you, my dear, and danceat the wedding, though I had rheumatism in every limb."

That was better than any oration, for it set them all to laughing,and Dr. Alec was floated to the sofa on a gentle wave ofmerriment. Once there, everyone but Rose and Aunt Plenty wasordered off by Mac, who was in command now and seemed tohave sunk the poet in the physician.

"The house must be perfectly quiet, and he must go to sleep assoon as possible after the journey, so all say 'good-bye' now andcall again tomorrow," he said, watching his uncle anxiously as heleaned in the sofa corner, with four women taking off his wraps,three boys contending for his overshoes, two brothers shakinghands at short intervals, and Aunt Myra holding a bottle of strongsalts under his devoted nose every time there was an openinganywhere.

With difficulty the house was partially cleared, and then, whileAunt Plenty mounted guard over her boy, Rose stole away to see ifMac had gone with the rest, for as yet they had hardly spoken inthe joyful flurry, though eyes and hands had met.