How will that do for a beginning ?" "It will be 'just heavenly,' as Phebe says, for it is the wish of her life to 'get lots of schooling,' and she will be too happy when I tell her.

May I, please?
it will be so lovely to see the dear thing open her big eyes and clap her hands at the splendid news." "No one shall have a finger in this nice little pie; you shall do it all yourself, only don't go too fast, or make too many castles in the air, my dear; for time and patience must go into this pie of ours if it is to turn out well." "Yes, uncle, only when it is opened won't 'the birds begin to sing ?"' laughed Rose, taking a turn about the room as a vent for the joyful emotions that made her eyes shine.

All of a sudden she stopped and asked soberly, "If Phebe goes to school who will do her work?
I'm willing, if I can." "Come here and I'll tell you a secret.

Dolly's 'bones' are getting so troublesome, and her dear old temper so bad, that the aunts have decided to pension her off and let her go and live with her daughter, who has married very well.

I saw her this week, and she'd like to have her mother come, so in the spring we shall have a grand change, and get a new cook and chamber-girl if any can be found to suit our honoured relatives." "Oh, me! how can I ever get on without Phebe?
Couldn't she stay, just so I could see her?
I'd pay her board rather than have her go, I'm so fond of her." How Dr.Alec laughed at that proposal, and how satisfied Rose was when he explained that Phebe was still to be her maid, with no duties except such as she could easily perform between school-hours.
"She is a proud creature, for all her humble ways, and even from us would not take a favour if she did not earn it somewhere.