Will and Geordie brought their puppies to beguile the weary hours , and the three elder lads called to discuss baseball , cricket , and kindred subjects , eminently fitted to remind the invalid of his privations . Rose had gone to drive with Uncle Alec , who declared she was getting as pale as a potato sprout , living so much in a dark room . But her thoughts were with her boy all the while , and she ran up to him the moment she returned , to find things in a fine state of confusion . With the best intentions in life , the lads had done more harm than good , and the spectacle that met Nurse Rose 's eye was a trying one . The puppies were yelping , the small boys romping , and the big boys all talking at once ; the curtains were up , the room close , berries scattered freely about , Mac 's shade half off , his cheeks flushed , his temper ruffled , and his voice loudest of all as he disputed hotly with Steve about lending certain treasured books which he could no longer use . Now Rose considered this her special kingdom , and came down upon the invaders with an energy which amazed them and quelled the riot at once . They had never seen her roused before , and the effect was tremendous ; also comical , for she drove the whole flock of boys out of the room like an indignant little hen defending her brood . They all went as meekly as sheep ; the small lads fled from the house precipitately , but the three elder ones only retired to the next room , and remained there hoping for a chance to explain and apologise , and so appease the irate young lady , who had suddenly turned the tables and clattered them about their ears . As they waited , they observed her proceedings through the half-open door , and commented upon them briefly but expressively , feeling quite bowed down with remorse at the harm they had innocently done . `` She 's put the room to rights in a jiffey . What jacks we were to let those dogs in and kick up such a row , '' observed Steve , after a prolonged peep . `` The poor old Worm turns as if she was treading on him instead of cuddling him like a pussy cat . Is n't he cross , though ? '' added Charlie , as Mac was heard growling about his `` confounded head . '' `` She will manage him ; but it 's mean in us to rumple him up and then leave her to smooth him down . I 'd go and help , but I do n't know how , '' said Archie , looking much depressed , for he was a conscientious fellow , and blamed himself for his want of thought . `` No , more do I. Odd , is n't it , what a knack women have for taking care of sick folks ? '' and Charlie fell a-musing over this undeniable fact . `` She has been ever so good to Mac , '' began Steve , in a self-reproachful tone . `` Better than his own brother , hey ? ''
cut in XXXXX , finding relief for his own regret in the delinquencies of another .
Alec Archie Charlie Mac Rose Steve a-musing hours jacks jiffey