happened. So she hopped up and dressed, although it was an hour
earlier than she usually rose, for she could not sleep any more,
being possessed with a strong desire to slip down and see if the big
portmanteau and packing cases were really in the hall. She seemed
to remember tumbling over them when she went to bed, for the
aunts had sent her off very punctually, because they wanted their
pet nephew all to themselves.

The sun was shining, and Rose opened her window to let in the
soft May air fresh from the sea. As she leaned over her little
balcony, watching an early bird get the worm, and wondering how
she should like Uncle Alec, she saw a man leap the garden wall
and come whistling up the path. At first she thought it was some
trespasser, but a second look showed her that it was her uncle
returning from an early dip into the sea. She had hardly dared to
look at him the night before, because whenever she tried to do so
she always found a pair of keen blue eyes looking at her. Now she
could take a good stare at him as he lingered along, looking about
him as if glad to see the old place again.

A brown, breezy man, in a blue jacket, with no hat on the curly
head, which he shook now and then like a water dog;
broad-shouldered, alert in his motions, and with a general air of
strength and stability about him which pleased Rose, though she
could not explain the feeling of comfort it gave her. She had just
said to herself, with a sense of relief, "I guess I shall like him,
though he looks as if he made people mind," when he lifted his
eyes to examine the budding horse-chestnut overhead, and saw the
eager face peering down at him. He waved his hand to her,
nodded, and called out in a bluff, cheery voice