`` Brothers and sister ought to live together ; especially when the brother needs some one to make home pleasant for him , '' added Charlie , with the wheedlesome tone and look that Rose always found so difficult to resist . `` You had her longest , and it 's our turn now ; Mac needs her more than you do , Prince , for she 's ` the light of his eyes , ' he says . Come , Rose , choose us , and I 'll never use the musky pomade you hate again as long as I live , '' said Steve , with his most killing air , as he offered this noble sacrifice . Mac peered wistfully over his goggles , saying in an unusually wide-awake and earnest way , -- `` Do , cousin , then we can study chemistry together . My experiments do n't blow up very often now , and the gases are n't at all bad when you get used to them . '' Rose meantime had stood quite still , with the flowers dropping from her hands as her eyes went from one eager face to another , while smiles rippled over her own at the various enticements offered her . During the laugh that followed Mac 's handsome proposition , she looked at her uncle , whose eyes were fixed on her with an expression of love and longing that went to her heart . `` Ah ! yes , '' she thought , `` he wants me most ! I 've often longed to give him something that he wished for very much , and now I can . '' So , when , at a sudden gesture from Aunt Peace , silence fell , Rose said slowly , with a pretty colour in her cheeks , and a beseeching look about the room , as if asking pardon of the boys , `` It 's very hard to choose when everybody is so fond of me ; therefore I think I 'd better go to the one who seems to need me most . '' `` No , dear , the one you love the best and will be happiest with , '' said Dr. Alec quickly , as a doleful sniff from Aunt Myra , and a murmur of `` My sainted Caroline , '' made Rose pause and look that way . `` Take time , cousin ; do n't be in a hurry to make up your mind , and remember , ` Codlin 's your friend , ' '' added Charlie , hopeful still . `` I do n't want any time ! I know who I love best , who I 'm happiest with , and I choose uncle . Will he have me ? '' cried Rose , in a tone that produced a sympathetic thrill among the hearers , it was so full of tender confidence and love . If she really had any doubt , the look in Dr. Alec 's face banished it without a word , as he opened wide his arms , and she ran into them , feeling that home was there . No one spoke for a minute , but there were signs of emotion among the aunts , which warned the boys to bestir themselves before the water-works began to play . So they took hands and began to prance about uncle and niece , singing , with sudden inspiration , the nursery rhyme , `` Ring around a Rosy ! ''
Of course that put an end to all sentiment , and Rose emerged laughing from Dr. XXXXX 's bosom , with the mark of a waistcoat button nicely imprinted on her left cheek .
Alec Caroline Codlin Myra Rose Steve colour minute pomade water-works