So Dr. Alec had his laugh , and then Rose sat down and took a lesson in accounts which she never forgot . `` Now come and read aloud to me ; my eyes are tired , and it is pleasant to sit here by the fire while the rain pours outside and Aunt Jane lectures upstairs , '' said Uncle Alec , when last month 's accounts had been put in good order and a fresh page neatly begun . Rose liked to read aloud , and gladly gave him the chapter in `` Nicholas Nickleby '' where the Miss Kenwigses take their French lesson . She did her very best , feeling that she was being criticised , and hoping that she might not be found wanting in this as in other things . `` Shall I go on , sir ? '' she asked very meekly , when the chapter ended . `` If you are not tired , dear . It is a pleasure to hear you , for you read remarkably well , '' was the answer that filled her heart with pride and pleasure . `` Do you really think so , uncle ? I 'm so glad ! Papa taught me , and I read for hours to him , but I thought perhaps , he liked it because he was fond of me . '' `` So am I ; but you really do read unusually well , and I 'm very glad of it , for it is a rare accomplishment , and one I value highly . Come here in this cosy , low chair ; the light is better , and I can pull these curls if you go too fast . I see you are going to be a great comfort as well as a great credit to your old uncle , Rosy . '' And Dr. Alec drew her close beside him with such a fatherly look and tone that she felt it would be very easy to love and obey him , since he knew how to mix praise and blame so pleasantly together . Another chapter was just finished , when the sound of a carriage warned them that Aunt Jane was about to depart . Before they could go to meet her , however , she appeared in the doorway looking like an unusually tall mummy in her waterproof , with her glasses shining like cat 's eyes from the depths of the hood . `` Just as I thought ! petting that child to death and letting her sit up late reading trash . I do hope you feel the weight of the responsibility you have taken upon yourself , Alec , '' she said , with a certain grim sort of satisfaction at seeing things go wrong .
`` I think I have a very realising sense of it , sister Jane , '' answered Dr. Alec , with a comical shrug of the shoulders and a glance at XXXXX 's bright face .
Alec French Jane Kenwigses Nickleby Rose Rosy fire hours mummy