Chapter 3—Uncles

.OnlyImustsendthesisterswordofmyarrival,fortheydon'texpectmetillto-morrow,youknow,andtherewillbearowinchurchifthoseboysseemewithoutwarning.” “I'llsendBenupthehill,andyoucanstepovertoMyra'syourselfitwillpleaseher,andyouwillhaveplentyoftime.” Dr.Alecwasoffatonce,andtheysawnomoreofhimtilltheoldbarouchewasatthedoor,andAuntPlentyjustrustlingdownstairsinherSundaybest,withRoselikealittleblackshadowbehindher. Awaytheydroveinstate,andallthewayUncleAlec'shatwasmoreoffhisheadthanon,foreveryonetheymetsmiledandbowed,andgavehimasblitheagreetingasthedaypermitted. Itwasevidentthatthewarninghadbeenawiseone,for,inspiteoftimeandplace,theladswereinsuchafermentthattheirelderssatinmomentarydreadofanunseemlyoutbreaksomewhere.ItwassimplyimpossibletokeepthosefourteeneyesoffUncleAlec,andthedreadfulthingsthatweredoneduringsermon-timewillhardlybebelieved. Rosedarednotlookupafterawhile,forthesebadboysventedtheiremotionsuponhertillshewasreadytolaughandcrywithmingledamusementandvexation.Charliewinkedrapturouslyatherbehindhismother'sfanMacopenlypointedtothetallfigurebesideherJamiestaredfixedlyoverthebackofhispew,tillRosethoughthisroundeyeswoulddropoutofhisheadGeorgefelloverastoolanddroppedthreebooksinhisexcitementWilldrewsailorsandChinamenonhiscleancuffs,anddisplayedthem,toRose'sgreattribulationStevenearlyupsetthewholepartybyburninghisnosewithsalts,ashepretendedtobeovercomebyhisjoyevendignifiedArchiedisgracedhimselfbywritinginhishymnbook,“Isn'theblueandbrown?”andpassingitpolitelytoRose. HeronlysalvationwastryingtofixherattentionuponUncleMacaportly,placidgentleman,whoseemedentirelyunconsciousoftheiniquitiesoftheClan,anddozedpeacefullyinhispewcorner.ThiswastheonlyuncleRosehadmetforyears,forUncleJemandUncleSteve,thehusbandsofAuntJessieandAuntClara,wereatsea,andAuntMyrawasawidow.UncleMacwasamerchant,veryrichandbusy,andasquietasamouseathome,forhewasinsuchaminorityamongthewomenfolkhedarednotopenhislips,andlethiswiferuleundisturbed. Roselikedthebig,kindly,silentmanwhocametoherwhenpapadied,wasalwayssendinghersplendidboxesofgoodiesatschool,andofteninvitedherintohisgreatwarehouse,fullofteasandspices,winesandallsortsofforeignfruits,theretoeatandcarryawaywhateversheliked.ShehadsecretlyregrettedthathewasnottobeherguardianbutsinceshehadseenUncleAlecshefeltbetteraboutit,forshedidnotparticularlyadmireAuntJane. Whenchurchwasover,Dr.Alecgotintotheporchasquicklyaspossible,andtheretheyoungbearshadahugallround,whilethesistersshookhandsandwelcomedhimwithbrightfacesandgladhearts.RosewasnearlycrushedflatbehindadoorinthatdangerouspassagefrompewtoporchbutUncleMacrescuedher,andputherintothecarriageforsafekeeping. “Now,girls,IwantyoutocomeanddinewithAlecMacalso,ofcourse.ButIcannotasktheboys,forwedidnotexpectthisdearfellowtilltomorrow,youknow,soImadenopreparations.Sendtheladshome,andletthemwaittillMonday,forreallyIwasshockedattheirbehaviourinchurch,”saidAuntPlenty,asshefollowedRose. Inanyotherplacethedefraudedboyswouldhavesetupahowlasitwas,theygrowledandprotestedtillDr.Alecsettledthematterbysaying, “Nevermind,oldchaps,I'llmakeituptoyouto-morrow,ifyousheeroffquietlyifyoudon't,notablessedthingshallyouhaveoutofmybigboxes.”