Chapter 4—Aunts

osedherdarlingtodeath. “Ineverblamedhimintheleast,whenIremembertheperilousexperimentsyoutriedwithpoorCarrie,”beganMrs.Jane,inherhardvoice. “JaneCampbell,Iwillnothearaword!MysaintedCarolineisasacredobject,”criedAuntMyra,risingasiftoleavetheroom. Dr.Alecdetainedher,feelingthathemustdefinehispositionatonce,andmaintainitmanfullyifhehopedtohaveanysuccessinhisnewundertaking. “Now,mydearsouls,don'tletusquarrelandmakeRoseaboneofcontentionthough,uponmyword,sheisalmostabone,poorlittlelass!Youhavehadheramongyouforayear,anddonewhatyouliked.Icannotsaythatyoursuccessisgreat,butthatisowingtotoomanyfingersinthepie.Now,Iintendtotrymywayforayear,andifattheendofitsheisnotinbettertrimthannow,I'llgiveupthecase,andhandherovertosomeoneelse.That'sfair,Ithink.” “Shewillnotbehereayearhence,poordarling,sonooneneeddreadfutureresponsibility,”saidAuntMyra,foldingherblackglovesasifallreadyforthefuneral. “ByJupiter!Myra,youareenoughtodamptheardourofasaint!”criedDr.Alec,withasuddensparkinhiseyes.“Yourcroakingwillworrythatchildoutofherwits,forsheisanimaginativepuss,andwillfretandfancyuntoldhorrors.Youhaveputitintoherheadthatshehasnoconstitution,andsheratherlikestheidea.Ifshehadnothadaprettygoodone,shewouldhavebeen'markedforthetomb'bythistime,attherateyouhavebeengoingonwithher.Iwillnothaveanyinterferencepleaseunderstandthatsojustwashyourhandsofher,andletmemanagetillIwanthelp,thenI'llaskforit.” “Hear,hear!”camefromthecornerwhereUncleMacwasapparentlywraptinslumber. “Youwereappointedguardian,sowecandonothing.ButIpredictthatthegirlwillbespoilt,utterlyspoilt,”answeredMrs.Jane,grimly. “Thankyou,sister.Ihaveanideathatifawomancanbringuptwoboysasperfectlyasyoudoyours,aman,ifhedevoteshiswholemindtoit,mayatleastattemptasmuchwithonegirl,”repliedDr.Alec,withahumorouslookthattickledtheothersimmensely,foritwasawell-knownfactinthefamilythatJane'sboysweremoreindulgedthanalltheotherladsputtogether. “Iamquiteeasy,forIreallydothinkthatAlecwillimprovethechild'shealthandbythetimehisyearisout,itwillbequitesoonenoughforhertogotoMadameRoccabella'sandbefinishedoff,”saidAuntClara,settlingherrings,andthinking,withlanguidsatisfaction,ofthetimewhenshecouldbringoutaprettyandaccomplishedniece. “Isupposeyouwillstayhereintheoldplace,unlessyouthinkofmarrying,andit'sh