Chapter 3—Uncles

oulike.Nowwhatisthenexttrouble?” “Ihopedyouwouldforgettoask.” “ButhowcanIhelpyouifIdon'tknowthem?Come,letushaveNo.3.” “Itisverywrong,Isuppose,butIdosometimeswishIhadnotquitesomanyaunts.Theyareallverygoodtome,andIwanttopleasethembuttheyaresodifferent,Ifeelsortofpulledtopiecesamongthem,”saidRose,tryingtoexpresstheemotionsofastraychickenwithsixhensallcluckingoveritatonce. UncleAlecthrewbackhisheadandlaughedlikeaboy,forhecouldentirelyunderstandhowthegoodladieshadeachputinheroarandtriedtopaddleherownway,tothegreatdisturbanceofthewatersandtheentirebewildermentofpoorRose. “Iintendtotryacourseofunclesnow,andseehowthatsuitsyourconstitution.I'mgoingtohaveyoualltomyself,andnooneistogiveawordofadviceunlessIaskit.Thereisnootherwaytokeeporderaboard,andIamcaptainofthislittlecraft,foratimeatleast.Whatcomesnext?” ButRosestuckthere,andgrewsored,heruncleguessedwhatthattroublewas. “Idon'tthinkIcantellthisone.Itwouldn'tbepolite,andIfeelprettysurethatitisn'tgoingtobeatroubleanymore.” Assheblushedandstammeredoverthesewords,Dr.Alecturnedhiseyesawaytothedistantsea,andsaidsoseriously,sotenderly,thatshefelteverywordandlongrememberedthem, “Mychild,Idon'texpectyoutoloveandtrustmeallatonce,butIdowantyoutobelievethatIshallgivemywholehearttothisnewdutyandifImakemistakes,asIprobablyshall,noonewillgrieveoverthemmorebitterlythanI.ItismyfaultthatIamastrangertoyou,whenIwanttobeyourbestfriend.Thatisoneofmymistakes,andIneverrepenteditmoredeeplythanIdonow.YourfatherandIhadatroubleonce,andIthoughtIcouldneverforgivehimsoIkeptawayforyears.ThankGod,wemadeitallupthelasttimeIsawhim,andhetoldmethen,thatifhewasforcedtoleaveherheshouldbequeathhislittlegirltomeasatokenofhislove.Ican'tfillhisplace,butIshalltrytobeafathertoherandifshelearnstolovemehalfaswellasshedidthegoodoneshehaslost,Ishallbeaproudandhappyman.Willshebelievethisandtry?” SomethinginUncleAlec'sfacetouchedRosetotheheart,andwhenheheldouthishandwiththatanxioustroubledlookinhiseyes,shewasmovedtoputupherinnocentlipsandsealthecontractwithaconfidingkiss.Thestrongarmheldhercloseaminute,andshefeltthebroadchestheaveonceasifwithagreatsighofreliefbutnotawordwasspokentillatapatthedoormadebothstart. Rosepoppedherheadthroughthewindowtosay“comein,”whileDr.Alechastilyrubbedthesleeveofhisjacketacrosshiseyesandbegantowhistleagain. Phebeappearedwithacupofcoffee. “Debbytoldmetobringthisandhelpyougetup,”shesaid,openingherblackeyeswide,asifshewonderedhowonearth“thesailorman”gotthere. “I'malldressed,soIdon'tneedanyhelp.Ihopethatisgoodandstrong,”addedRose,eyeingthesteamingcupwithaneagerlook. Butshedidnotgetit,forabrownhandtookpossessionofitasherunclesaidquickly, “Holdhard,mylass,andletmeoverhaulthatdosebeforeyoutakeit.Doyoudrinkallthisstrongcoffeeeverymorning,Rose?” “Yes,sir,andIlikeit.Auntiesaysit'tones'meup,andIalwaysfeelbetterafterit.” “Thisaccountsforthesleeplessnights,theflutteryourheartgetsintoattheleaststart,andthisiswhythatcheekofyoursispaleyellowinsteadofrosyred.Nomorecoffeeforyou,mydear,andbyandbyyou'llseethatIamright.Anynewmilkdownstairs,Phebe?” “Yes,sir,plentyrightinfromthebarn.” “That'sthedrinkformypatient.Gobringmeapitcherful,andanot