Fearing that might not be considered proper , she said , in her cheery voice , `` I 'm sure you ai n't all alone with such a lot of folks belonging to you , and all so rich and clever . You 'll be petted to pieces , Debby says , because you are the only girl in the family . '' Phebe 's last words made Rose smile in spite of her tears , and she looked out from behind her apron with an April face , saying in a tone of comic distress , `` That 's one of my troubles ! I 've got six aunts , and they all want me , and I do n't know any of them very well . Papa named this place the Aunt-hill , and now I see why . '' Phebe laughed with her as she said encouragingly , `` Everyone calls it so , and it 's a real good name , for all the Mrs. Campbells live handy by , and keep coming up to see the old ladies . '' `` I could stand the aunts , but there are dozens of cousins , dreadful boys all of them , and I detest boys ! Some of them came to see me last Wednesday , but I was lying down , and when auntie came to call me I went under the quilt and pretended to be asleep . I shall have to see them some time , but I do dread it so . '' And Rose gave a shudder , for , having lived alone with her invalid father , she knew nothing of boys , and considered them a species of wild animal . `` Oh ! I guess you 'll like 'em . I 've seen 'em flying round when they come over from the Point , sometimes in their boats and sometimes on horseback . If you like boats and horses , you 'll enjoy yourself first-rate . '' `` But I do n't ! I 'm afraid of horses , and boats make me ill , and I hate boys ! '' And poor Rose wrung her hands at the awful prospect before her . One of these horrors alone she could have borne , but all together were too much for her , and she began to think of a speedy return to the detested school . Phebe laughed at her woe till the beans danced in the pan , but tried to comfort her by suggesting a means of relief . `` Perhaps your uncle will take you away where there ai n't any boys .
XXXXX says he is a real kind man , and always bring heaps of nice things when he comes . ''
Aunt-hill Campbells Debby Papa Phebe Rose auntie aunts ladies quilt