`` What ! what ! what ! '' cried the boys in a chorus , dropping their shovels and knives to gather round Rose , for a guilty clutching at her ears betrayed her , and with a feeble cry of `` Ariadne made me ! '' she hid her head among the pillows like an absurd little ostrich . `` 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 XXXXX 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 ! ''
Alec Archie Charlie Jamie Mac Rose ostrich right tormentor tweaking