Presently he was in his easy chair with Rose upon

Presentlyhe was in his easy chair with Rose upon his knee smiling up in hisface andboyswalking boot talkingas fast as her tongue could go, while he watched her with anexpression of supreme content, as he stroked the smooth round cheek,or held the little hand in his, rejoicing to see how rosy was theone, how plump and strong the other.
"Havejordan shoseyou had a good time?Did you save the poor lady? Aren't you glad to be home again withyour girl to torment you?"
"Yes,to all those questions. Now tell me what you've been at, littlesinner? Aunty Plen says you want to consult me about some newairjordan shoesand remarkable project which you have dared to start in my absence."
"Shedidn't tell you, I hope?"
"Nota word more expect that you were rather doubtful how I'd take it, andso wanted to 'fess' yourself and get round me as you always try todo, thoughslouchboot you don't often succeed. Now, then, own up and take theconsequences."
SoRose told about her school in her pretty, earnest way, dwelling onPhebe's hunger for knowledge, and the delight it was to help her,adding, with a wise nod "And it helps me too, uncle, for she isso quick and eager I have to do my best or she will get ahead of mein somecheapboot shoes things.To-day, now, she had the word 'cotton' in a lesson and asked allabout it, and I was ashamed to find I really knew so little that Icould only say that it was a plant that grew down South in a kind ofa pod, and was made into cloth. That's what I was reading up when youcame, and to-morrow I shall tell her all about it, and indigo too.Somensshoe bootyou see it teaches me also, and is as good as a general review ofwhat I've learned, in a pleasanter way than going over it alone."
"Youartful little baggage! that's the way you expect to get round me, isit? That's not studying, I suppose?"
"No,sir, it's teaching; and please, I like it much better thanhavingwintershoes boots a good time by myself. Besides, you know, I adopted Phebe andpromised to be a sister to her, so I am bound to keep my word, am Inot?" answered Rose, looking both anxious and resolute as shewaited for her sentence.
Dr.Alec was evidently already won, for Rose had described the old slateand brownshoesboot salepaper copy-book with pathetic effect, and the excellent man had notonly decided to send Phebe to school long before the story was done,but reproached himself for forgetting his duty to one little girl inhis love for another. So when Rose tried to look meek and failedutterly, he laughed and pinched her cheek, and answered in thatgenial wayredwing 877 bootwhich adds such warmth and grace to any favour "I haven't theslightest objection in the world. In fact, I was beginning to think Imight let you go at your books again, moderately, since you are sowell; and this is an excellent way toblackboottry your powers. Phebe is a brave, bright lass, and shall have a fairchance in the world, if we can give it to her, so that if she everfinds her friends they need not be ashamed of her."
"Ithink she has found some already," began Rose eagerly.
"Hey?what? hasclearancebootanyone turned up since I've been gone?" asked Dr. Alec quickly,for it was a firm belief in the family that Phebe would prove to be"somebody" sooner or later.