“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. “Bertie _is_ a coward!” she exclaimed, in her very determined fashion. “He is a horrid little coward, whatever anybody says; and _I_ think it served him quite right.” The boys were secretly rather pleased that their little sister stood by them, as it were, so boldly. They were very fond of Queenie, and liked to look upon her as the little queen she had always been taught to consider herself. “Well, I’m not quite so sure of that,” answered Phil, who was always honest, whatever faults he might have besides. “I heard Dr. Lighton say once that he was afraid of the water because he had been so nearly drowned, and that he could not help it, and would most likely grow out of it if only he was let alone.” The elder boys exchanged glances, conscious that their idea of curing him had differed from the doctor’s. “Why didn’t you say so before, Phil?” asked Walter. “I never thought of it,” he answered; “I always do forget everything.” “I should take him out every day in a boat till he gave over being silly about it—that’s what I should do if he were _my_ little boy,” announced Queenie, very grandly. “I have no idea of spoiling children like that.” And at that all the boys laughed, but they laughed admiringly, for they were proud of their sister’s spirit, although they all knew quite well that she had been spoiled by every one in the house, save her nurse, from the hour of her birth until now. “That’s right, Queenie,” cried Bernard. “Never you let anybody have a will of his own but yourself. You stick to your opinion, and let all the rest go. But we can’t bully that little chap any more, after what Uncle Fred said. Shall we try to make it up with him instead, and show him we didn’t mean any harm?” “Uncle Fred would like that,” remarked Ralph. “Only I don’t know if he’d care to make friends just to-day—Bertie, I mean, you know.”