Do you think I could bear life else ? I 've an interest in it that the Bayside folk know nothing of . It has kept youth in my heart and joy in my soul through long , lonely years . And it 's not ended yet , Master -- it 's not ended yet ! Some day I hope to bring a wife here to my old house -- my wife , my rose of joy ! '' He was silent for a space , gazing at the stars . I too kept silence , fearing to intrude into the holy places of his thought , although I was tingling with interest in this unsuspected outflowering of romance in Uncle Dick 's life . After a time he said gently , `` Shall I tell you about it , Master ? I mean , do you care to know ? '' `` Yes , '' I answered , `` I do care to know . And I shall respect your confidence , Uncle Dick . '' `` I know that . I could n't tell you , otherwise , '' he said . `` I do n't want the Bayside folk to know -- it would be a kind of desecration . They would laugh and joke me about it , as they tease other people , and I could n't bear that . Nobody in Bayside knows or suspects , unless it 's old Joe Hammond at the post office . And he has kept my secret , or what he knows of it , well . But somehow I feel that I 'd like to tell you , Master . `` Twenty-five years ago I loved Rose Lawrence . The Lawrences lived where you are boarding now .
There was just the father , a sickly man , and Rose , my `` Rose of joy , '' as I called her , XXXXX I knew my Emerson pretty well even then .
After about ago as for in of that through unless