“Yes, Dorothy is a good, kind-hearted, helpful girl,” he responded, “almost as dear to me as my own nieces; even the two who have no father to love and care for them.”
“Dear uncle, it makes me feel very happy to hear you say you love Ethel and me. I don’t remember that ever you told me so before, though I always thought you did—at least a little bit,” Blanche returned, her eyes shining, while she ventured to put an arm about his neck and touch his cheek with her lips.
“A good big bit, my dear child,” he said in reply, putting an arm about her and returning her caress with interest. “I hope you will be very happy in the new home which that young man is getting ready for you, but that you won’t entirely forget your old uncles who have loved and tried to provide for their dead brother’s children.”
“Not dead, uncle dear, but only gone before to the better land,” Ethel said in tones tremulous with emotion. “No, no, indeed; we could not possibly forget you or Uncle Albert, who has been so very kind to us; if we could we ought to be considered the basest of ingrates.”
“I agree with you there, Ethel,” said Harry. “And Uncle George, I am delighted with the idea you have advanced. I think I should like nothing better; and in case you decide to try the experiment I promise to do my very best to make it a success.”
“Well, my boy, I will talk to my brother about it. Ah, here he is,” as at that moment Mr. Albert Eldon entered the room.
“What was that you were talking of as I came in?” he asked when he had exchanged greetings with his nieces and taken an offered armchair.
At that his brother told of the suggestion he had made to Harry, concluding by asking his opinion of the matter.
“I think it might be very well to try it,” returned Mr. Albert, “but we will be better able to decide that question after learning more about the place from Percy and Stuart; their fathers too, who will probably be the better judges of the wisdom of such an undertaking.”
“Very well, then, we will take the thing into consideration; and in the meantime let you, Harry, make the needed enquiries,” said Mr. George; then turned the talk upon other topics, asking his nieces what was the time fixed upon for the weddings.