Chapter 3—Uncles

her,thoughIonlysawheryesterday,”criedRose,wakingupsuddenly. “AndwhoisPhebe,ifyouplease?” Roseeagerlytoldallsheknew,andUncleAleclistened,withanoddsmilelurkingabouthismouth,thoughhiseyeswerequitesoberashewatchedthefacebeforehim. “I'mgladtoseethatyouarenotaristocraticinyourtastes,butIdon'tquitemakeoutwhyyoulikethisyoungladyfromthepoor-house.” “Youmaylaughatme,butIdo.Ican'ttellwhy,onlysheseemssohappyandbusy,andsingssobeautifully,andisstrongenoughtoscrubandsweep,andhasn'tanytroublestoplagueher,”saidRose,makingafunnyjumbleofreasonsinhereffortstoexplain. “Howdoyouknowthat?” “Oh,Iwastellingheraboutmine,andaskedifshehadany,andshesaid,'No,onlyI'dliketogotoschool,andImeantosomeday.” “Soshedoesn'tcalldesertion,poverty,andhardwork,troubles?She'sabravelittlegirl,andIshallbeproudtoknowher.”AndUncleAlecgaveanapprovingnod,thatmadeRosewishshehadbeentheonetoearnit. “Butwhatarethesetroublesofyours,child?”heasked,afteraminuteofsilence. “Pleasedon'taskme,uncle.” “Can'tyoutellthemtomeaswellastoPhebe?” SomethinginhistonemadeRosefeelthatitwouldbebettertospeakoutandbedonewithit,sosheanswered,withsuddencolourandavertedeyes, “Thegreatestonewaslosingdearpapa.” Asshesaidthat,UncleAlec'sarmcamegentlyroundher,andhedrewhertohim,saying,inthevoicesolikepapa's, “ThatisatroublewhichIcannotcure,mychildbutIshalltrytomakeyoufeelitless.Whatelse,dear?” “Iamsotiredandpoorlyallthetime,Ican'tdoanythingIwantto,anditmakesmecross,”sighedRose,rubbingtheachingheadlikeafretfulchild. “Thatwecancureandwewill,”saidheruncle,withadecidednodthatmadethecurlsbobonhishead,tothatRosesawthegrayonesunderneaththebrown. “AuntMyrasaysIhavenoconstitution,andnevershallbestrong,”observedRose,inapensivetone,asifitwasratheranicethingtobeaninvalid. “AuntMyraisaahem!anexcellentwoman,butitisherhobbytobelievethateveryoneistotteringonthebrinkofthegraveand,uponmylife,Ibelievesheisoffendedifpeopledon'tfallintoit!Wewillshowherhowtomakeconstitutionsandturnpale-facedlittleghostsintorosy,heartygirls.That'smybusiness,youknow,”headded,morequietly,forhissuddenoutbursthadratherstartledRose. “Ihadforgottenyouwereadoctor.I'mgladofit,forIdowanttobewell,onlyIhopeyouwon'tgivememuchmedicine,forI'vetakenquartsalready,anditdoesmenogood.” Asshespoke,Rosepointedtoalittletablejustinsidethewindow,onwhichappearedaregimentofbottles. “Ah,ha!Nowwe'llseewhatmischieftheseblessedwomenhavebeenat.”And,makingalongarm,Dr.Alecsetthebottlesonthewiderailingbeforehim,examinedeachcarefully,smiledoversome,frownedoverothers,andsaid,asheputdownthelast:“NowI'llshowyouthebestwaytotakethesemesses.”And,asquickasaflash,hesentoneafteranothersmashingdownintotheposy-bedsbelow. “ButAuntPlentywon'tlikeitandAuntMyrawillbeangry,forshesentmostofthem!”criedRose,halffrightenedandhalfpleasedatsuchenergeticmeasures. “Youaremypatientnow,andI'lltaketheresponsibility.Mywayofgivingphysicisevidentlythebest,foryoulookbetteralready,”hesaid,laughingsoinfectiouslythatRosefollowedsuit,sayingsaucily, “IfIdon'tlikeyourmedicinesanybetterthanthose,Ishallthrowthemintothegarden,andthenwhatwillyoudo?” “WhenIprescribesuchrubbish,I'llgiveyouleavetopitchitoverboardassoonasy