`` Now she 'll go prancing round with bird cages and baskets and carts and pigs , for all I know , in her ears , as the other girls do , and wo n't she look like a goose ? '' asked one tormentor , tweaking a curl that strayed out from the cushions . `` I did n't think she 'd be so silly , '' said Mac , in a tone of disappointment that told Rose she had sunk in the esteem of her wise cousin . `` That Blish girl is a nuisance , and ought not to be allowed to come here with her nonsensical notions , '' said the Prince , feeling a strong desire to shake that young person as an angry dog might shake a mischievous kitten . `` How do you like it , uncle ? '' asked Archie , who , being the head of a family himself , believed in preserving discipline at all costs . `` I am very much surprised ; but I see she is a girl , after all , and must have her vanities like all the rest of them , '' answered Dr. Alec , with a sigh , as if he had expected to find Rose a sort of angel , above all earthly temptations . `` What shall you do about it , sir ? '' inquired Geordie , wondering what punishment would be inflicted on a feminine culprit . `` As she is fond of ornaments , perhaps we had better give her a nose-ring also . I have one somewhere that a Fiji belle once wore ; I 'll look it up , '' and , leaving Pokey to Jamie 's care , Dr. Alec rose as if to carry out his suggestion in earnest . `` Good ! good ! We 'll do it right away ! Here 's a gimlet , so you hold her , boys , while I get her dear little nose all ready , '' cried Charlie , whisking away the pillow as the other boys danced about the sofa in true Fiji style . It was a dreadful moment , for Rose could not run away she could only grasp her precious nose with one hand and extend the other , crying distractedly , `` O uncle , save me , save me ! '' Of course he saved her ; and when she was securely barricaded by his strong arm , she confessed her folly in such humiliation of spirit , that the lads , after a good laugh at her , decided to forgive her and lay all the blame on the tempter , Ariadne . Even Dr. Alec relented so far as to propose two gold rings for the ears instead of one copper one for the nose ; a proceeding which proved that if Rose had all the weakness of her sex for jewellery , he had all the inconsistency of his in giving a pretty penitent exactly what she wanted , spite of his better judgment . Chapter 16 -- Bread and Button-Holes `` What in the world is my girl thinking about all alone here , with such a solemn face ? '' asked Dr. Alec , coming into the study , one November day , to find Rose sitting there with folded hands and a very thoughtful aspect .
`` Uncle , I want to have some serious conversation with you , if you have time , '' she said , coming out of a brown XXXXX , as if she had not heard his question .
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