nionship with the girls,
affected the crusty old gentleman. He would sit by the hour with Jean on
his knee, listening to her quaint childish talk, and looking alternately
at her and at Olive, sketching or sewing, in the window seat; and the
dear knows, what all he might be thinking about; but it must have been
much; for it sometimes got the better of him, in a way that made easy
breathing difficult, and brought the red handkerchief into vigorous use;
and then he would jump up, flurry about, as though he were scaring a
whole brood of chickens from the room.

"There! clear out, clear out; God bless my soul! I want to read and be
quiet awhile. Jeanie, hunt up my glasses, and get down my book, and
then trot out, and be quick about it."

The first time he dismissed them in this abrupt fashion, Olive left with
dignity, and told Jean that they would not trouble him again; then she
thought it over, and changed her mind, and went back the next day as
usual, to his evident surprise, for he had noticed her heightened color
the day before, and little expected to see her back; so that when she
came in, he gave vent to an astonished "humph!" and after a moment's
pause, took one or two thoughtful turns around the room.

"So you are determined to put up with the crusty old uncle, are you?" he
said, pausing beside her, and looking down at the little sketch that was
growing under her busy fingers. "Well, my dear, I'll turn in and help
you; but if I ever get too much like a bear to be called human, you must
remember that I'm getting old, and rather on the cross-grain; and not
mind me any more than you can help. Now I just enjoy seeing you sit here
and sketch," he went on more briskly. "Robert used to sit here in this
very window, and draw mountains and valleys, and all sorts of things,
and he did 'em well, though not as quick and true as you. I suppose he
would have been an artist, and a splendid good one, too; but then I
didn't want him to, so he gave it up,--a good boy was Robert, a splendid
good boy, and I hope the dear Lord will forgive me for ever forgetting
what my duty was to him, and letting my thundering temper get the better
of me;--there now, draw away; I'm going off for a little tramp in the
garden, and I'll be back a great deal sooner than you'll want me, I
expect;" and off he went, with a great racket, which he never failed to
make, when at all excited.

One day, when he startled them with the usual abrupt dismissal, Oliv