Chapter 3—Uncles

WhenRosewokenextmorning,shewasnotsurewhethershehaddreamedwhatoccurredthenightbefore,orithadactuallyhappened.Soshehoppedupanddressed,althoughitwasanhourearlierthansheusuallyrose,forshecouldnotsleepanymore,beingpossessedwithastrongdesiretoslipdownandseeifthebigportmanteauandpackingcaseswerereallyinthehall.Sheseemedtoremembertumblingoverthemwhenshewenttobed,fortheauntshadsentheroffverypunctually,becausetheywantedtheirpetnephewalltothemselves. Thesunwasshining,andRoseopenedherwindowtoletinthesoftMayairfreshfromthesea.Assheleanedoverherlittlebalcony,watchinganearlybirdgettheworm,andwonderinghowsheshouldlikeUncleAlec,shesawamanleapthegardenwallandcomewhistlingupthepath.Atfirstshethoughtitwassometrespasser,butasecondlookshowedherthatitwasherunclereturningfromanearlydipintothesea.Shehadhardlydaredtolookathimthenightbefore,becausewhenevershetriedtodososhealwaysfoundapairofkeenblueeyeslookingather.Nowshecouldtakeagoodstareathimashelingeredalong,lookingabouthimasifgladtoseetheoldplaceagain. Abrown,breezyman,inabluejacket,withnohatonthecurlyhead,whichheshooknowandthenlikeawaterdogbroad-shouldered,alertinhismotions,andwithageneralairofstrengthandstabilityabouthimwhichpleasedRose,thoughshecouldnotexplainthefeelingofcomfortitgaveher.Shehadjustsaidtoherself,withasenseofrelief,“IguessIshalllikehim,thoughhelooksasifhemadepeoplemind,”whenheliftedhiseyestoexaminethebuddinghorse-chestnutoverhead,andsawtheeagerfacepeeringdownathim.Hewavedhishandtoher,nodded,andcalledoutinabluff,cheeryvoice, “Youareondeckearly,littleniece.” “Igotuptoseeifyouhadreallycome,uncle.” “Didyou?Well,comedownhereandmakesureofit.” “I'mnotallowedtogooutbeforebreakfast,sir.” “Oh,indeed!”withashrug.“ThenI'llcomeaboardandsalute,”headdedand,toRose'sgreatamazement,UncleAlecwentuponeofthepillarsofthebackpiazzahandoverhand,steppedacrosstheroof,andswunghimselfintoherbalcony,saying,ashelandedonthewidebalustrade:“Haveyouanydoubtsaboutmenow,ma'am?” Rosewassotakenaback,shecouldonlyanswerwithasmileasshewenttomeethim. “Howdoesmygirldothismorning?”heasked,takingthelittlecoldhandshegavehiminbothhisbigwarmones. “Prettywell,thankyou,sir.” “Ah,butitshouldbeverywell.Whyisn'tit?” “Ialwayswakeupwithaheadache,andfeeltired.” “Don'tyousleepwell?” “Ilieawakealongtime,andthenIdream,andmysleepdoesnotseemtorestmemuch.” “Whatdoyoudoallday?” “Oh,Iread,andsewalittle,andtakenaps,andsitwithauntie.” “Norunningaboutoutofdoors,orhouse-work,orriding,hey?” “AuntPlentysaysI'mnotstrongenoughformuchexercise.Idriveoutwithhersometimes,butIdon'tcareforit.” “I'mnotsurprisedatthat,”saidUncleAlec,halftohimself,adding,inhisquickway:“Whohaveyouhadtoplaywith?” “NoonebutAriadneBlish,andshewassuchagooseIcouldn'tbearher.Theboyscameyesterday,andseemedrathernicebut,ofcourse,Icouldn'tplaywiththem.” “Whynot?” “I'mtoooldtoplaywithboys.” “Notabitofitthat'sjustwhatyouneed,foryou'vebeenmolly-coddledtoomuch.Theyaregoodlads,andyou'llbemixedupwiththemmoreorlessforyearstocome,soyoumayaswellbefriendsandplaymatesatonce.Iwilllookyouupsomegirlsalso,ifIcanfindasensibleonewhoisnotspoiltbyhernonsensicaleducation.” “Phebeissensible,I'msure,andIlike