Rose obeyed , and the quiet rooms above were so like a church that she soon composed her ruffled feelings , and was unconsciously a little minister of happiness to the sweet old lady , who for years had sat there patiently waiting to be set free from pain . Rose knew the sad romance of her life , and it gave a certain tender charm to this great-aunt of hers , whom she already loved . When Peace was twenty , she was about to be married ; all was done , the wedding dress lay ready , the flowers were waiting to be put on , the happy hour at hand , when word came that the lover was dead . They thought that gentle Peace would die , too ; but she bore it bravely , put away her bridal gear , took up her life afresh , and lived on a beautiful , meek woman , with hair as white as snow and cheeks that never bloomed again . She wore no black , but soft , pale colours , as if always ready for the marriage that had never come . For thirty years she had lived on , fading slowly , but cheerful , busy , and full of interest in all that went on in the family ; especially the joys and sorrows of the young girls growing up about her , and to them she was adviser , confidante , and friend in all their tender trials and delights . A truly beautiful old maiden , with her silvery hair , tranquil face , and an atmosphere of repose about her that soothed whoever came to her ! Aunt Plenty was utterly dissimilar , being a stout , brisk old lady , with a sharp eye , a lively tongue , and a face like a winter-apple . Always trotting , chatting , and bustling , she was a regular Martha , cumbered with the cares of this world and quite happy in them . Rose was right ; and while she softly read psalms to Aunt Peace , the other ladies were talking about her little self in the frankest manner . `` Well , Alec , how do you like your ward ? '' began Aunt Jane , as they all settled down , and Uncle Mac deposited himself in a corner to finish his doze . `` I should like her better if I could have begun at the beginning , and so got a fair start . Poor George led such a solitary life that the child has suffered in many ways , and since he died she has been going on worse than ever , judging from the state I find her in . '' `` My dear boy , we did what we thought best while waiting for you to wind up your affairs and get home . I always told George he was wrong to bring her up as he did ; but he never took my advice , and now here we are with this poor dear child upon our hands . I , for one , freely confess that I do n't know what to do with her any more than if she was one of those strange , outlandish birds you used to bring home from foreign parts . '' And Aunt Plenty gave a perplexed shake of the head which caused great commotion among the stiff loops of purple ribbon that bristled all over the cap like crocus buds . `` If my advice had been taken , she would have remained at the excellent school where I placed her . But our aunt thought best to remove her because she complained , and she has been dawdling about ever since she came .
A most ruinous state of things for a morbid , spoilt girl like Rose , '' said Mrs. XXXXX , severely .
Alec Jane Mac Martha Peace Rose colours doze great-aunt right