A happy soul in a healthy body makes the best sort of beauty for man or woman . Do you understand that , my dear ? '' `` Yes , sir , '' answered Rose , much taken down by this comparison with the girl from the poor-house . It nettled her sadly , and she showed that it did by saying quickly , `` I suppose you would like to have me sweep and scrub , and wear an old brown dress , and go round with my sleeves rolled up , as Phebe does ? '' `` I should very much , if you could work as well as she does , and show as strong a pair of arms as she can . I have n't seen a prettier picture for some time than she made of herself this morning , up to the elbows in suds , singing like a blackbird whilst she scrubbed on the back stoop . '' `` Well , I do think you are the queerest man that ever lived ! '' was all Rose could find to say after this display of bad taste . `` I have n't begun to show you my oddities yet , so you must make up your mind to worse shocks than this , '' he said , with such a whimsical look that she was glad the sound of a bell prevented her showing more plainly what a blow her little vanities had already received . `` You will find your box all open up in auntie 's parlor , and there you can amuse her and yourself by rummaging to your heart 's content ; I 've got to be cruising round all the morning getting my room to rights , '' said Dr. Alec , as they rose from breakfast . `` Ca n't I help you , uncle ? '' asked Rose , quite burning to be useful . `` No , thank you , I 'm going to borrow Phebe for a while , if Aunt Plenty can spare her . '' `` Anybody anything , Alec . You will want me , I know , so I 'll give orders about dinner and be all ready to lend a hand '' ; and the old lady bustled away full of interest and good-will . `` Uncle will find that I can do some things that Phebe ca n't , so now ! '' thought Rose , with a toss of the head as she flew to Aunt Peace and the long-desired box . Every little girl can easily imagine what an extra good time she had diving into a sea of treasures and fishing up one pretty thing after another , till the air was full of the mingled odours of musk and sandalwood , the room gay with bright colours , and Rose in a rapture of delight . She began to forgive Dr. Alec for the oatmeal diet when she saw a lovely ivory workbox ; became resigned to the state of her belt when she found a pile of rainbow-coloured sashes ; and when she came to some distractingly pretty bottles of attar of rose , she felt that they almost atoned for the great sin of thinking Phebe the finer girl of the two . Dr. Alec meanwhile had apparently taken Aunt Plenty at her word , and was turning the house upside down .
A general revolution was evidently going on in the green-room , for the dark damask curtains were seen bundling away in XXXXX 's arms ; the air-tight stove retiring to the cellar on Ben 's shoulder ; and the great bedstead going up garret in a fragmentary state , escorted by three bearers .
Alec Peace Phebe Rose attar blackbird colours morning poor-house sashes