Uncle Alec , who had listened silently as each spoke , turned quickly towards the last sister , and said , with a decided nod of approval , `` You 've got it , Jessie ; and , with you to help me , I hope to make the child feel that she is not quite fatherless and motherless . '' `` I 'll do my best , Alec ; and I think you will need me , for , wise as you are , you can not understand a tender , timid little creature like Rose as a woman can , '' said Mrs. Jessie , smiling back at him with a heart full of motherly goodwill . `` I can not help feeling that I , who have had a daughter of my own , can best bring up a girl ; and I am very much surprised that George did not entrust her to me , '' observed Aunt Myra , with an air of melancholy importance , for she was the only one who had given a daughter to the family , and she felt that she had distinguished herself , though ill-natured people said that she had dosed her darling to death . `` I never blamed him in the least , when I remember the perilous experiments you tried with poor Carrie , '' began Mrs. Jane , in her hard voice . `` Jane Campbell , I will not hear a word ! My sainted Caroline is a sacred object , '' cried Aunt Myra , rising as if to leave the room . Dr. Alec detained her , feeling that he must define his position at once , and maintain it manfully if he hoped to have any success in his new undertaking . `` Now , my dear souls , do n't let us quarrel and make Rose a bone of contention though , upon my word , she is almost a bone , poor little lass ! You have had her among you for a year , and done what you liked . I can not say that your success is great , but that is owing to too many fingers in the pie . Now , I intend to try my way for a year , and if at the end of it she is not in better trim than now , I 'll give up the case , and hand her over to someone else . That 's fair , I think . '' `` She will not be here a year hence , poor darling , so no one need dread future responsibility , '' said Aunt Myra , folding her black gloves as if all ready for the funeral . `` By Jupiter ! Myra , you are enough to damp the ardour of a saint ! '' cried Dr. Alec , with a sudden spark in his eyes . `` Your croaking will worry that child out of her wits , for she is an imaginative puss , and will fret and fancy untold horrors . You have put it into her head that she has no constitution , and she rather likes the idea . If she had not had a pretty good one , she would have been ` marked for the tomb ' by this time , at the rate you have been going on with her . I will not have any interference please understand that ; so just wash your hands of her , and let me manage till I want help , then I 'll ask for it . ''
`` Hear , XXXXX ! ''
am damp felt hear hoped let maintain said spark tried