“You must try to learn thoughtfulness as you grow older,” said Uncle Fred, kindly; “that will be one of your battles.”
“All right,” cried Phil; “I’ll try to think of it like that. Are you going to punish us, Uncle Fred, for bullying Bertie? because if you are, I wish you’d set about it sharp. I hate having a thing hanging over one’s head.”
Uncle Fred could not help laughing.
“Well, as I’m not your father, but only an uncle, I don’t know that I have any right to punish you, and, besides Bertie almost made me promise not to.
“And as you seem sorry for being unkind and unmanly, I would much rather say no more about it, but let bygones be bygones. I don’t think you will be tempted to repeat the offence, and all I will ask of you is to try and be kinder to the little boy in the future, remembering that he is very lonely, and has nobody in the wide world whom he can really look to for love or kindness.”
“Oh yes, poor little chap!” cried Phil; “we’ll be good to him now;” and all the boys echoed Phil’s words heartily; and Uncle Fred left the room, feeling that there was no need to punish his thoughtless nephews. It was in ignorance and carelessness that they had acted, not with intentional cruelty.
“And don’t you call yourself ‘only an uncle’ any more,” cried out Phil after him; and all the boys broke out into the chorus—
“For he’s a jolly good fellow,”
which pursued their uncle all down the long passage.
They had all recovered their usual high spirits and good temper except Queenie, who still felt annoyed, though she could hardly have explained why.