Chapter 3—Uncles

hercupIwantadraughtmyself.Thiswon'thurtthehoneysuckles,fortheyhavenonervestospeakof.”And,toRose'sgreatdiscomfort,thecoffeewentafterthemedicine. Dr.Alecsawtheinjuredlooksheputon,buttooknonotice,andpresentlybanisheditbysayingpleasantly, “I'vegotacapitallittlecupamongmytraps,andI'llgiveittoyoutodrinkyourmilkin,asitismadeofwoodthatissupposedtoimprovewhateverisputintoitsomethinglikeaquassiacup.ThatremindsmeoneoftheboxesPhebewantedtolugupstairslastnightisforyou.KnowingthatIwascominghometofindaready-madedaughter,Ipickedupallsortsofoddandprettytriflesalongtheway,hopingshewouldbeabletofindsomethingshelikedamongthemall.Earlyto-morrowwe'llhaveagrandrummage.Here'sourmilk!IproposethehealthofMissRoseCampbellanddrinkitwithallmyheart.” ItwasimpossibleforRosetopoutwiththeprospectofadelightfulboxfulofgiftsdancingbeforehereyesso,inspiteofherself,shesmiledasshedrankherownhealth,andfoundthatfreshmilkwasnotaharddosetotake. “NowImustbeoff,beforeIamcaughtagainwithmywiginatoss,”saidDr.Alec,preparingtodescendthewayhecame. “Doyoualwaysgoinandoutlikeacat,uncle?”askedRose,muchamusedathisoddways. “IusedtosneakoutofmywindowwhenIwasaboy,soIneednotdisturbtheaunts,andnowIratherlikeit,forit'stheshortestroad,anditkeepsmelimberwhenIhavenoriggingtoclimb.Good-byetillbreakfast.”Andawayhewentdownthewater-spout,overtheroof,andvanishedamongthebuddinghoney-sucklesbelow. “Ain'theafunnyguardeen?”exclaimedPhebe,asshewentoffwiththecups. “Heisaverykindone,Ithink,”answeredRose,following,toprowlroundthebigboxesandtrytoguesswhichwashers. Whenheruncleappearedatsoundofthebell,hefoundhersurveyingwithananxiousfaceanewdishthatsmokeduponthetable. “Gotafreshtrouble,Rosy?”heasked,strokinghersmoothhead. “Uncle,areyougoingtomakemeeatoatmeal?”askedRose,inatragictone. “Don'tyoulikeit?” “Ide-testit!”answeredRose,withalltheemphasiswhichaturned-upnose,ashudder,andagroancouldgivetothethreewords. “YouarenotatrueScotchwoman,ifyoudon'tlikethe'parritch.'It'sapity,forImadeitmyself,andthoughtwe'dhavesuchagoodtimewithallthatcreamtofloatitin.Well,nevermind.”Andhesatdownwithadisappointedair. Rosehadmadeuphermindtobeobstinateaboutit,becauseshedidheartily“detest”thedishbutasUncleAlecdidnotattempttomakeherobey,shesuddenlychangedhermindandthoughtshewould. “I'lltrytoeatittopleaseyou,unclebutpeoplearealwayssayinghowwholesomeitis,andthatmakesmehateit,”shesaid,half-ashamedathersillyexcuse. “Idowantyoutolikeit,becauseIwishmygirltobeaswellandstrongasJessie'sboys,whoarebroughtuponthisinthegoodoldfashion.Nohotbreadandfriedstuffforthem,andtheyarethebiggestandbonniestladsofthelot.Blessyou,auntie,andgoodmorning!” Dr.Alecturnedtogreettheoldlady,and,withafirmresolvetoeatordieintheattempt,Rosesatdown. Infiveminutessheforgotwhatshewaseating,sointerestedwassheinthechatthatwenton.ItamusedherverymuchtohearAuntPlentycallherforty-year-oldnephew“mydearboy”andUncleAlecwassofulloflivelygossipaboutallcreationingeneral,andtheAunt-hillinparticular,thatthedetestedporridgevanishedwithoutamurmur. “Youwillgotochurchwithus,Ihope,Alec,ifyouarenottootired,”saidtheoldlady,whenbreakfastwasover. “IcameallthewayfromCalcuttaforthatexpresspurpose,ma'am