`` He has always longed to be friends with you again , Uncle William . But he thought you were still bitter against him . '' `` No -- no -- nothing but stubborn pride , '' said Uncle William . `` Now , girls , since you are my guests I must try to give you a good time . We 'll take the double sleigh and have a jolly drive this afternoon . And about those trinkets there -- they are yours . I did get them for some young friends of mine here , but I 'll give them something else . I want you to have these . That watch looked very nice on your blouse , Mary , and the bracelet became Alberta 's pretty wrist very well . Come and give your cranky old uncle a hug for them . '' Uncle William got his hugs heartily ; then we washed up the dishes and went for our drive . We got back just in time to catch the evening train home . Uncle William saw us off at the station , under promise to come back and stay a week with him when his housekeeper came home . `` One of you will have to come and stay with me altogether , pretty soon , '' he said . `` Tell your father he must be prepared to hand over one of his girls to me as a token of his forgiveness . I 'll be down to talk it over with him shortly . '' When we got home and told our story , Father said , `` Thank God ! '' very softly . There were tears in his eyes . He did not wait for Uncle William to come down , but went to Monkshead himself the next day .
In the spring Alberta is to go and live XXXXX Uncle William .
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