Chapter 4—Aunts
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ightimeyoudid,”putinMrs.Jane,muchnettledatherbrother'slasthit.
“No,thankyou.Comeandhaveacigar,Mac,”saidDr.Alec,abruptly.
“Don'tmarrywomenenoughinthefamilyalready,”mutteredUncleMacandthenthegentlemenhastilyfled.
“AuntPeacewouldliketoseeyouall,shesays,”wasthemessageRosebroughtbeforetheladiescouldbeginagain.
“Hectic,hectic!dearme,dearme!”murmuredAuntMyra,astheshadowofhergloomybonnetfelluponRose,andthestifftipsofablackglovetouchedthecheekwherethecolourdeepenedundersomanyeyes.
“Iamgladtheseprettycurlsarenaturaltheywillbeinvaluablebyandby,”saidAuntClara,takinganobservationwithherheadononeside.
“Nowthatyourunclehascome,Inolongerexpectyoutoreviewthestudiesofthepastyear.Itrustyourtimewillnotbeentirelywastedinfrivoloussports,however,”addedAuntJane,sailingoutoftheroomwiththeairofamartyr.
AuntJessiesaidnotaword,butkissedherlittleniece,withalookoftendersympathythatmadeRoseclingtoheraminute,andfollowherwithgratefuleyesasthedoorclosedbehindher.
Aftereverybodyhadgonehome,Dr.Alecpacedupanddownthelowerhallinthetwilightforanhour,thinkingsointentlythatsometimeshefrowned,sometimeshesmiled,andmorethanoncehestoodstillinabrownstudy.Allofasuddenhesaid,halfaloud,asifhehadmadeuphismind,
“Imightaswellbeginatonce,andgivethechildsomethingnewtothinkabout,forMyra'sdismalsandJane'slectureshavemadeherasblueasalittleindigobag.”
Divingintooneofthetrunksthatstoodinacorner,hebroughtup,afterabriskrummage,asilkencushion,prettilyembroidered,andaquaintcupofdarkcarvedwood.
“Thiswilldoforastart,”hesaid,asheplumpedupthecushionanddustedthecup.“Itwon'tdotobegintooenergetically,orRosewillbefrightened.ImustbeguilehergentlyandpleasantlyalongtillI'vewonherconfidence,andthenshewillbereadyforanything.”
JustthenPhebecameoutofthedining-roomwithaplateofbrownbread,forRosehadbeenallowednohotbiscuitfortea.
“I'llrelieveyouofsomeofthat,”saidDr.Alec,and,helpinghimselftoagenerousslice,heretiredtothestudy,leavingPhebetowonderathisappetite.
Shewouldhavewonderedstillmoreifshehadseenhimmakingthatbrownbreadintoneatlittlepills,whichhepackedintoanattractiveivorybox,outofwhichheemptiedhisownbitsoflovage.
“There!iftheyinsistonmedicine,I'llorderthese,andnoharmwillbedone.Iwillhavemyownway,butI'llkeepthepeace,ifpossible,andconfessthejokewhenmyexperimenthassucc
