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 , Alec , if you are not too tired , '' said the old lady , when breakfast was over . `` I came all the way from Calcutta for that express purpose , ma'am . Only I must send the sisters word of my arrival , for they do n't expect me till to-morrow , you know , and there will be a row in church if those boys see me without warning . '' `` I 'll send Ben up the hill , and you can step over to Myra 's yourself ; it will please her , and you will have plenty of time . '' Dr. Alec was off at once , and they saw no more of him till the old barouche was at the door , and Aunt Plenty just rustling downstairs in her Sunday best , with Rose like a little black shadow behind her . Away they drove in state , and all the way Uncle Alec 's hat was more off his head than on , for everyone they met smiled and bowed , and gave him as blithe a greeting as the day permitted . It was evident that the warning had been a wise one , for , in spite of time and place , the lads were in such a ferment that their elders sat in momentary dread of an unseemly outbreak somewhere . It was simply impossible to keep those fourteen eyes off Uncle Alec , and the dreadful things that were done during sermon-time will hardly be believed . Rose dared not look up after a while , for these bad boys vented their emotions upon her till she was ready to laugh and cry with mingled amusement and vexation . Charlie winked rapturously at her behind his mother 's fan ; Mac openly pointed to the tall figure beside her ; Jamie stared fixedly over the back of his pew , till Rose thought his round eyes would drop out of his head ; George fell over a stool and dropped three books in his excitement ; Will drew sailors and Chinamen on his clean cuffs , and displayed them , to Rose 's great tribulation ; Steve nearly upset the whole party by burning his nose with salts , as he pretended to be overcome by his joy ; even dignified Archie disgraced himself by writing in his hymn book , `` Is n't he blue and brown ? '' and passing it politely to Rose . Her only salvation was trying to fix her attention upon Uncle Mac a portly , placid gentleman , who seemed entirely unconscious of the iniquities of the Clan , and dozed peacefully in his pew corner . This was the only uncle Rose had met for years , for Uncle Jem and Uncle Steve , the husbands of Aunt Jessie and Aunt Clara , were at sea , and Aunt Myra was a widow . Uncle Mac was a merchant , very rich and busy , and as quiet as a mouse at home , for he was in such a minority among the women folk he dared not open his lips , and let his wife rule undisturbed . Rose liked the big , kindly , silent man who came to her when papa died , was always sending her splendid boxes of goodies at school , and often invited her into his great warehouse , full of teas and spices , wines and all sorts of foreign fruits , there to eat and carry away whatever she liked . She had secretly regretted that he was not to be her guardian ; but since she had seen Uncle Alec she felt better about it , for she did not particularly admire Aunt Jane .
When church was over , Dr. XXXXX got into the porch as quickly as possible , and there the young bears had a hug all round , while the sisters shook hands and welcomed him with bright faces and glad hearts .
Alec Aunt-hill Calcutta Charlie George Jem Mac Myra Steve vexation