When her uncle appeared at sound of the bell , he found her surveying with an anxious face a new dish that smoked upon the table . `` Got a fresh trouble , Rosy ? '' he asked , stroking her smooth head . `` Uncle , are you going to make me eat oatmeal ? '' asked Rose , in a tragic tone . `` Do n't you like it ? '' `` I de-test it ! '' answered Rose , with all the emphasis which a turned-up nose , a shudder , and a groan could give to the three words . `` You are not a true Scotchwoman , if you do n't like the ` parritch . ' It 's a pity , for I made it myself , and thought we 'd have such a good time with all that cream to float it in . Well , never mind . '' And he sat down with a disappointed air . Rose had made up her mind to be obstinate about it , because she did heartily `` detest '' the dish ; but as Uncle Alec did not attempt to make her obey , she suddenly changed her mind and thought she would . `` I 'll try to eat it to please you , uncle ; but people are always saying how wholesome it is , and that makes me hate it , '' she said , half-ashamed at her silly excuse . `` I do want you to like it , because I wish my girl to be as well and strong as Jessie 's boys , who are brought up on this in the good old fashion . No hot bread and fried stuff for them , and they are the biggest and bonniest lads of the lot . Bless you , auntie , and good morning ! '' Dr. Alec turned to greet the old lady , and , with a firm resolve to eat or die in the attempt , Rose sat down . In five minutes she forgot what she was eating , so interested was she in the chat that went on . It amused her very much to hear Aunt Plenty call her forty-year-old nephew `` my dear boy '' ; and Uncle Alec was so full of lively gossip about all creation in general , and the Aunt-hill in particular , that the detested porridge vanished without a murmur .
`` You will go to church with us , I hope , XXXXX , if you are not too tired , '' said the old lady , when breakfast was over .
Alec Aunt-hill Jessie Rose Scotchwoman fashion forty-year-old mind minutes parritch