`` Home , please uncle ; and I thank you very very much for the beautiful firework you got up for me . I 'm so glad I saw it ; and I know I shall dream about it , '' answered Rose steadily , though a wistful glance went toward the Island , now so near that she could smell powder and see shadowy figures flitting about . Home they went ; and Rose fell asleep saying to herself , `` It was harder than I thought , but I 'm glad I did it , and I truly do n't want any reward but Phebe 's pleasure . '' Chapter 11 -- Poor Mac Rose 's sacrifice was a failure in one respect , for , though the elders loved her the better for it , and showed that they did , the boys were not inspired with the sudden respect which she had hoped for . In fact , her feelings were much hurt by overhearing Archie say that he could n't see any sense in it ; and the Prince added another blow by pronouncing her `` the queerest chicken ever seen . '' It is apt to be so , and it is hard to bear ; for , though we do not want trumpets blown , we do like to have our little virtues appreciated , and can not help feeling disappointed if they are not . A time soon came , however , when Rose , quite unconsciously , won not only the respect of her cousins , but their gratitude and affection likewise . Soon after the Island episode , Mac had a sunstroke , and was very ill for some time . It was so sudden that everyone was startled , and for some days the boy 's life was in danger . He pulled through , however ; and then , just as the family were rejoicing , a new trouble appeared which cast a gloom over them all . Poor Mac 's eyes gave out ; and well they might , for he had abused them , and never being very strong , they suffered doubly now . No one dared to tell him the dark predictions of the great oculist who came to look at them , and the boy tried to be patient , thinking that a few weeks of rest would repair the overwork of several years . He was forbidden to look at a book , and as that was the one thing he most delighted in , it was a terrible affliction to the Worm . Everyone was very ready to read to him , and at first the lads contended for this honour . But as week after week went by , and Mac was still condemned to idleness and a darkened room , their zeal abated , and one after the other fell off . It was hard for the active fellows , right in the midst of their vacation ; and nobody blamed them when they contented themselves with brief calls , running of errands , and warm expressions of sympathy . The elders did their best , but Uncle Mac was a busy man , Aunt Jane 's reading was of a funereal sort , impossible to listen to long , and the other aunties were all absorbed in their own cares , though they supplied the boy with every delicacy they could invent . Uncle Alec was a host in himself , but he could not give all his time to the invalid ; and if it had not been for Rose , the afflicted Worm would have fared ill . Her pleasant voice suited him , her patience was unfailing , her time of no apparent value , and her eager good-will was very comforting . The womanly power of self-devotion was strong in the child , and she remained faithfully at her post when all the rest dropped away .
Hour after hour she sat in the dusky room , with one ray of light on her book , reading to the boy , who lay with shaded eyes silently enjoying the only pleasure that lightened the weary XXXXX .
Archie Jane Prince Rose days errands first sunstroke weeks years