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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tzhfsh6" data-source="post: 11441459" data-attributes="member: 380662">〈Eight Cousins〉Serial•uncle-2"I don't think I can tell this one. It wouldn't be polite, and I feelpretty sure that it isn't going to be a trouble any more."As she blushed and stammered over these words, Dr. Alec turnedhis eyes away to the distant sea, and said so seriously, so tenderly,that she felt every word and long remembered them"My child, I don't expect you to love and trust me all at once, but Ido want you to believe that I shall give my whole heart to this newduty; and if I make mistakes, as I probably shall, no one will grieveover them more bitterly than I. It is my fault that I am a stranger toyou, when I want to be your best friend. That is one of mymistakes, and I never repented it more deeply than I do now. Yourfather and I had a trouble once, and I thought I could never forgivehim; so I kept away for years. Thank God, we made it all up thelast time I saw him, and he told me then, that if he was forced toleave her he should bequeath his little girl to me as a token of hislove. I can't fill his place, but I shall try to be a father to her; and ifshe learns to love me half as well as she did the good one she haslost, I shall be a proud and happy man. Will she believe this andtry?"Something in Uncle Alec's face touched Rose to the heart, andwhen he held out his hand with that anxious troubled look in hiseyes, she was moved to put up her innocent lips and seal thecontract with a confiding kiss. The strong arm held her close aminute, and she felt the broad chest heave once as if with a greatsigh of relief; but not a word was spoken till a tap at the door madeboth start.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Rose popped her head through the window to say "come in," whileDr. Alec hastily rubbed the sleeve of his jacket across his eyes andbegan to whistle again.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Phebe appeared with a cup of coffee.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Debby told me to bring this and help you get up," she said,opening her black eyes wide, as if she wondered how on earth "thesailor man" got there.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"I'm all dressed, so I don't need any help. I hope that is good andstrong," added Rose, eyeing the steaming cup with an eager look.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]But she did not get it, for a brown hand took possession of it as heruncle said quickly"Hold hard, my lass, and let me overhaul that dose before you takeit. Do you drink all this strong coffee every morning, Rose?""Yes, sir, and I like it. Auntie says it 'tones' me up, and I alwaysfeel better after it.""This accounts for the sleepless nights, the flutter your heart getsinto at the least start, and this is why that cheek of yours is paleyellow instead of rosy red. No more coffee for you, my dear, andby and by you'll see that I am right. Any new milk downstairs,Phebe?""Yes, sir, plenty right in from the barn.""That's the drink for my patient. Go bring me a pitcherful, andanother cup; I want a draught myself. This won't hurt thehoneysuckles, for they have no nerves to speak of." And, to Rose'sgreat discomfort, the coffee went after the medicine.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Dr. Alec saw the injured look she put on, but took no notice, andpresently banished it by saying pleasantly"I've got a capital little cup among my traps, and I'll give it to youto drink your milk in, as it is made of wood that is supposed toimprove whatever is put into it something like a quassia cup. Thatreminds me; one of the boxes Phebe wanted to lug upstairs lastnight is for you. Knowing that I was coming home to find aready-made daughter, I picked up all sorts of odd and pretty triflesalong the way, hoping she would be able to find something sheliked among them all. Early to-morrow we'll have a grandrummage. Here's our milk! I propose the health of Miss RoseCampbell and drink it with all my heart."It was impossible for Rose to pout with the prospect of a delightfulboxful of gifts dancing before her eyes; so, in spite of herself, shesmiled as she drank her own health, and found that fresh milk wasnot a hard dose to take.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Now I must be off, before I am caught again with my wig in atoss," said Dr. Alec, preparing to descend the way he came.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Do you always go in and out like a cat, uncle?" asked Rose, muchamused at his odd ways.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"I used to sneak out of my window when I was a boy, so I need notdisturb the aunts, and now I rather like it, for it's the shortest road,and it keeps me limber when I have no rigging to climb. Good-byetill breakfast." And away he went down the water-spout, over theroof, and vanished among the budding honey-suckles below.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Ain't he a funny guardeen?" exclaimed Phebe, as she went offwith the cups.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"He is a very kind one, I think," answered Rose, following, toprowl round the big boxes and try to guess which was hers.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]When her uncle appeared at sound of the bell, he found hersurveying with an anxious face a new dish that smoked upon thetable.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Got a fresh trouble, Rosy?" he asked, stroking her smooth head.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Uncle, are you going to make me eat oatmeal?" asked Rose, in atragic tone.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Don't you like it?""I de-test it!" answered Rose, with all the emphasis which aturned-up nose, a shudder, and a groan could give to the threewords.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"You are not a true Scotchwoman, if you don't like the 'parritch.'[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]It's a pity, for I made it myself, and thought we'd have such a goodtime with all that cream to float it in. Well, never mind." And hesat down with a disappointed air.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Rose had made up her mind to be obstinate about it, because shedid heartily "detest" the dish; but as Uncle Alec did not attempt tomake her obey, she suddenly changed her mind and thought shewould.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"I'll try to eat it to please you, uncle; but people are always sayinghow wholesome it is, and that makes me hate it," she said,half-ashamed at her silly excuse.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"I do want you to like it, because I wish my girl to be as well andstrong as Jessie's boys, who are brought up on this in the good oldfashion. No hot bread and fried stuff for them, and they are thebiggest and bonniest lads of the lot. Bless you, auntie, and goodmorning!"Dr. Alec turned to greet the old lady, and, with a firm resolve toeat or die in the attempt, Rose sat down.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]In five minutes she forgot what she was eating, so interested wasshe in the chat that went on. It amused her very much to hear AuntPlenty call her forty-year-old nephew "my dear boy"; and UncleAlec was so full of lively gossip about all creation in general, andthe Aunt-hill in particular, that the detested porridge vanishedwithout a murmur.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"You will go to church with us, I hope, Alec, if you are not tootired," said the old lady, when breakfast was over.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"I came all the way from Calcutta for that express purpose, ma'am.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Only I must send the sisters word of my arrival, for they don'texpect me till to-morrow, you know, and there will be a row inchurch if those boys see me without warning.""I'll send Ben up the hill, and you can step over to Myra's yourself;it will please her, and you will have plenty of time."Dr. Alec was off at once, and they saw no more of him till the oldbarouche was at the door, and Aunt Plenty just rustling downstairsin her Sunday best, with Rose like a little black shadow behindher.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Away they drove in state, and all the way Uncle Alec's hat wasmore off his head than on, for everyone they met smiled andbowed, and gave him as blithe a greeting as the day permitted.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]It was evident that the warning had been a wise one, for, in spite oftime and place, the lads were in such a ferment that their elders satin momentary dread of an unseemly outbreak somewhere. It wassimply impossible to keep those fourteen eyes off Uncle Alec, andthe dreadful things that were done during sermon-time will hardlybe believed.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Rose dared not look up after a while, for these bad boys ventedtheir emotions upon her till she was ready to laugh and cry withmingled amusement and vexation. Charlie winked rapturously ather behind his mother's fan; Mac openly pointed to the tall figurebeside her; Jamie stared fixedly over the back of his pew, till Rosethought his round eyes would drop out of his head; George fellover a stool and dropped three books in his excitement; Will drewsailors and Chinamen on his clean cuffs, and displayed them, toRose's great tribulation; Steve nearly upset the whole party byburning his nose with salts, as he pretended to be overcome by hisjoy; even dignified Archie disgraced himself by writing in hishymn book, "Isn't he blue and brown?" and passing it politely toRose.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Her only salvation was trying to fix her attention upon Uncle Maca portly, placid gentleman, who seemed entirely unconscious ofthe iniquities of the Clan, and dozed peacefully in his pew corner.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]This was the only uncle Rose had met for years, for Uncle Jem andUncle Steve, the husbands of Aunt Jessie and Aunt Clara, were atsea, and Aunt Myra was a widow. Uncle Mac was a merchant, veryrich and busy, and as quiet as a mouse at home, for he was in sucha minority among the women folk he dared not open his lips, andlet his wife rule undisturbed.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]Rose liked the big, kindly, silent man who came to her when papadied, was always sending her splendid boxes of goodies at school,and often invited her into his great warehouse, full of teas andspices, wines and all sorts of foreign fruits, there to eat and carryaway whatever she liked. She had secretly regretted that he wasnot to be her guardian; but since she had seen Uncle Alec she feltbetter about it, for she did not particularly admire Aunt Jane.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]When church was over, Dr. Alec got into the porch as quickly aspossible, and there the young bears had a hug all round, while thesisters shook hands and welcomed him with bright faces and gladhearts. Rose was nearly crushed flat behind a door in thatdangerous passage from pew to porch; but Uncle Mac rescued her,and put her into the carriage for safe keeping.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]"Now, girls, I want you to come and dine with Alec; Mac also, ofcourse. But I cannot ask the boys, for we did not expect this dearfellow till tomorrow, you know, so I made no preparations. Sendthe lads home, and let them wait till Monday, for really I wasshocked at their behaviour in church," said Aunt Plenty, as shefollowed Rose.[FONT=宋体]　　[/FONT]In any other place the defrauded boys would have set up a howl; asit was, they growled and protested till Dr. Alec settled the matterby saying"Never mind, old chaps, I'll make it up to you to-morrow, if yousheer off quietly; if you don't, not a blessed thing shall you haveout of my big boxes."</blockquote>

Verification: Hathara warak wissa keeyada? (Hathara wadi karanna 20)

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