`` If you have a minute to spare before you go , child , I wish you 'd just make Mac a fresh shade ; this has got a berry stain on it , and he must be tidy , for he is to go out to-morrow if it is a cloudy day , '' said Mrs. Jane , spreading toast in a stately manner , while Mac slopped his tea about without receiving a word of reproof . `` Yes , aunt , '' answered Rose , so meekly that the boys could hardly believe it could be the same voice which had issued the stern command , `` Out of this room , every one of you ! '' not very long ago . They had not time to retire , without unseemly haste , before she walked into the parlour and sat down at the work-table without a word . It was funny to see the look the three tall lads cast at the little person sedately threading a needle with green silk . They all wanted to say something expressive of repentance , but no one knew how to begin , and it was evident , from the prim expression of Rose 's face , that she intended to stand upon her dignity till they had properly abased themselves . The pause was becoming very awkward , when Charlie , who possessed all the persuasive arts of a born scapegrace , went slowly down upon his knees before her , beat his breast , and said , in a heart-broken tone , `` Please forgive me this time , and I 'll never do so any more . '' It was very hard to keep sober , but Rose managed it and answered gravely , `` It is Mac 's pardon you should ask , not mine , for you have n't hurt me , and I should n't wonder if you had him a great deal , with all that light and racket , and talk about things that only worry him . '' `` Do you really think we 've hurt him , cousin ? '' asked Archie , with a troubled look , while Charlie settled down in a remorseful heap among the table legs . `` Yes , I do , for he has got a raging headache , and his eyes are as red as as this emery bag , '' answered Rose , solemnly plunging her needle into a fat flannel strawberry . Steve tore his hair , metaphorically speaking , for he clutched his cherished top-knot , and wildly dishevelled it , as if that was the heaviest penance he could inflict upon himself at such short notice . Charlie laid himself out flat , melodramatically begging someone to take him away and hang him ; but Archie , who felt worst of all , said nothing except to vow within himself that he would read to Mac till his own eyes were as red as a dozen emery bags combined . Seeing the wholesome effects of her treatment upon these culprits , Rose felt that she might relent and allow them a gleam of hope . She found it impossible to help trampling upon the prostrate Prince a little , in words at least , for he had hurt her feelings oftener than he knew ; so she gave him a thimble-pie on the top of his head , and said , with an air of an infinitely superior being , `` Do n't be silly , but get up , and I 'll tell you something much better to do than sprawling on the floor and getting all over lint . '' Charlie obediently sat himself upon a hassock at her feet ; the other sinners drew near to catch the words of wisdom about to fall from her lips , and Rose , softened by this gratifying humility , addressed them in her most maternal tone . `` Now , boys , if you really want to be good to Mac , you can do it in this way . Do n't keep talking about things he ca n't do , or go and tell what fun you have had batting your ridiculous balls about . Get some nice book and read quietly ; cheer him up about school , and offer to help him study by and by ; you can do that better than I , because I 'm only a girl , and do n't learn Greek and Latin and all sorts of headachy stuff . '' `` Yes , but you can do heaps of things better than we can ; you 've proved that , '' said Archie , with an approving look that delighted Rose , though she could not resist giving Charlie one more rebuke , by saying , with a little bridling of the head , and a curl of the lip that wanted to smile instead , `` I 'm glad you think so , though I am a ` queer chicken . '' '
This scathing remark caused the Prince to hide his face for shame , and XXXXX to erect his head in the proud consciousness that this shot was not meant for him .
Charlie Greek Prince Steve bridling fall minute scapegrace strawberry thimble-pie