when rose woke next morning, she was not sure whether she haddreamed what occurred the night before, or it had actuallyhappened. so she hopped up and dressed, although it was an hourearlier than she usually rose, for she could not sleep any more,being possessed with a strong desire to slip down and see if the bigportmanteau and packing cases were really in the hall. she seemedto remember tumbling over them when she went to bed, for theaunts had sent her off very punctually, because they wanted theirpet nephew all to themselves.
the sun was shining, and rose opened her window to let in thesoft may air fresh from the sea. as she leaned over her littlebalcony, watching an early bird get the worm, and wondering howshe should like uncle alec, she saw a man leap the garden walland come whistling up the path. at first she thought it was sometrespasser, but a second look showed her that it was her unclereturning from an early dip into the sea. she had hardly dared tolook at him the night before, because whenever she tried to do soshe always found a pair of keen blue eyes looking at her. now shecould take a good stare at him as he lingered along, looking abouthim as if glad to see the old place again.
a brown, breezy man, in a blue jacket, with no hat on the curlyhead, which he shook now and then like a water dog;broad-shouldered, alert in his motions, and with a general air ofstrength and stability about him which pleased rose, though shecould not explain the feeling of comfort it gave her. she had justsaid to herself, with a sense of relief, "i guess i shall like him,though he looks as if he made people mind," when he lifted hiseyes to examine the budding horse-chestnut overhead, and saw theeager face peering down at him. he waved his hand to her,nodded, and called out in a bluff, cheery voice"you are on deck early, little niece.""i got up to see if you had really come, uncle.""did you? well, come down here and make sure of it.""i'm not allowed to go out before breakfast, sir.""oh, indeed!" with a shrug. "then i'll come aboard and salute," headded; and, to rose's great amazement, uncle alec went up one ofthe pillars of the back piazza hand over hand, stepped across theroof, and swung himself into her balcony, saying, as he landed onthe wide balustrade: "have you any doubts about me now, ma'am?"rose was so taken aback, she could only answer with a smile asshe went to meet him.
"how does my girl do this morning?" he asked, taking the littlecold hand she gave him in both his big warm ones.
"pretty well, thank you, sir.""ah, but it should be very well. why isn't it?""i always wake up with a headache, and feel tired.""don't you sleep well?""i lie awake a long time, and then i dream, and my sleep does notseem to rest me much.""what do you do all day?""oh, i read, and sew a little, and take naps, and sit with auntie.""no running about out of doors, or house-work, or riding, hey?""aunt plenty says i'm not strong enough for much exercise. i driveout with her sometimes, but i don't care for it.""i'm not surprised at that," said uncle alec, half to himself, adding,in his quick way: "who have you had to play with?""no one but ariadne blish, and she was such a goose i couldn'tbear her. the boys came yesterday, and seemed rather nice; but, ofcourse, i couldn't play with them.""why not?""i'm too old to play with boys.""not a bit of it; that's just what you need, for you've beenmolly-coddled too much. they are good lads, and you'll be mixedup with them more or less for years to come, so you may as wellbe friends and playmates at once. i will look you up some girlsalso, if i can find a sensible one who is not spoilt by hernonsensical education.""phebe is sensible, i'm sure, and i like her, though i only saw heryesterday," cried rose, waking up suddenly.
"and who is phebe, if you please?"rose eagerly told all she knew, and uncle alec listened, with anodd smile lurking about his mouth, though his eyes were quitesober as he watched the face before him.
"i'm glad to see that you are not aristocratic in your tastes, but idon't quite make out why you like this young lady from thepoor-house.""you may laugh at me, but i do. i can't tell why, only she seems sohappy and busy, and sings so beautifully, and is strong enough toscrub and sweep, and hasn't any troubles to plague her," said rose,making a funny jumble of reasons in her efforts to explain.
"how do you know that?""oh, i was telling her about mine, and asked if she had any, andshe said, 'no, only i'd like to go to school, and i mean to someday.""so she doesn't call desertion, poverty, and hard work, troubles?
she's a brave little girl, and i shall be proud to know her." anduncle alec gave an approving nod, that made rose wish she hadbeen the one to earn it.
"but what are these troubles of yours, child?" he asked, after aminute of silence.
"please don't ask me, uncle.""can't you tell them to me as well as to phebe?"something in his tone made rose feel that it would be better tospeak out and be done with it, so she answered, with sudden colourand averted eyes"the greatest one was losing dear papa."as she said that, uncle alec's arm came gently round her, and hedrew her to him, saying, in the voice so like papa's"that is a trouble which i cannot cure, my child; but i shall try tomake you feel it less. what else, dear?""i am so tired and poorly all the time, i can't do anything i want to,and it makes me cross," sighed rose, rubbing the aching head likea fretful child.
"that we can cure and we will," said her uncle, with a decided nodthat made the curls bob on his head, to that rose saw the gray onesunderneath the brown.
"aunt myra says i have no constitution, and never shall be strong,"observed rose, in a pensive tone, as if it was rather a nice thing tobe an invalid.
"aunt myra is a ahem! an excellent woman, but it is her hobby tobelieve that everyone is tottering on the brink of the grave; and,upon my life, i believe she is offended if people don't fall into it!
we will show her how to make constitutions and turn pale-facedlittle ghosts into rosy, hearty girls. that's my business, you know,"he added, more quietly, for his sudden outburst had rather startledrose.
"i had forgotten you were a doctor. i'm glad of it, for i do want tobe well, only i hope you won't give me much medicine, for i'vetaken quarts already, and it does me no good."as she spoke, rose pointed to a little table just inside the window,on which appeared a regiment of bottles.
"ah, ha! now we'll see what mischief these blessed women havebeen at." and, making a long arm, dr. alec set the bottles on thewide railing before him, examined each carefully, smiled oversome, frowned over others, and said, as he put down the last: "nowi'll show you the best way to take these messes." and, as quick as aflash, he sent one after another smashing down into the posy-bedsbelow.
"but aunt plenty won't like it; and aunt myra will be angry, forshe sent most of them!" cried rose, half frightened and halfpleased at such energetic measures.
"you are my patient now, and i'll take the responsibility. my wayof giving physic is evidently the best, for you look better already,"he said, laughing so infectiously that rose followed suit, sayingsaucily"if i don't like your medicines any better than those, i shall throwthem into the garden, and then what will you do?""when i prescribe such rubbish, i'll give you leave to pitch itoverboard as soon as you like. now what is the next trouble?""i hoped you would forget to ask.""but how can i help you if i don't know them? come, let us haveno. 3.""it is very wrong, i suppose, but i do sometimes wish i had notquite so many aunts. they are all very good to me, and i want toplease them; but they are so different, i feel sort of pulled to piecesamong them," said rose, trying to express the emotions of a straychicken with six hens all clucking over it at once.
uncle alec threw back his head and laughed like a boy, for hecould entirely understand how the good ladies had each put in heroar and tried to paddle her own way, to the great disturbance of thewaters and the entire bewilderment of poor rose.
"i intend to try a course of uncles now, and see how that suits yourconstitution. i'm going to have you all to myself, and no one is togive a word of advice unless i ask it. there is no other way to keeporder aboard, and i am captain of this little craft, for a time atleast. what comes next?"but rose stuck there, and grew so red, her uncle guessed what thattrouble was.
"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.
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.
phebe appeared with a cup of coffee.
"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.
"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.
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.
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.
"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.
"do you always go in and out like a cat, uncle?" asked rose, muchamused at his odd ways.
"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.
"ain't he a funny guardeen?" exclaimed phebe, as she went offwith the cups.
"he is a very kind one, i think," answered rose, following, toprowl round the big boxes and try to guess which was hers.
when her uncle appeared at sound of the bell, he found hersurveying with an anxious face a new dish that smoked upon thetable.
"got a fresh trouble, rosy?" he asked, stroking her smooth head.
"uncle, are you going to make me eat oatmeal?" asked rose, in atragic tone.
"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.
"you are not a true scotchwoman, if you don't like the 'parritch.'
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.
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.
"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.
"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.
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.
"you will go to church with us, i hope, alec, if you are not tootired," said the old lady, when breakfast was over.
"i came all the way from calcutta for that express purpose, ma'am.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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."
