“The story you told of the brave sailor who gave up his place on the raft to the woman, and the last drop of water to the poor baby. People who make sacrifices are very much loved and admired, aren't they?” she asked, earnestly. “If the sacrifice is a true one. But many of the bravest never are known, and get no praise. That does not lessen their beauty, though perhaps it makes them harder, for we all like sympathy,” and Dr. Alec sighed a patient sort of sigh. “I suppose you have made a great many? Would you mind telling me one of them?” asked Rose, arrested by the sigh. “My last was to give up smoking,” was the very unromantic answer to her pensive question. “Why did you?” “Bad example for the boys.” “That was very good of you, uncle! Was it hard?” “I'm ashamed to say it was. But as a wise old fellow once said, 'It is necessary to do right; it is not necessary to be happy.'” Rose pondered over the saying as if it pleased her, and then said, with a clear, bright look, “A real sacrifice is giving up something you want or enjoy very much, isn't it?” “Yes.” “Doing it one's own self because one loves another person very much and wants her to be happy?” “Yes.” “And doing it pleasantly, and being glad about it, and not minding the praise if it doesn't come?” “Yes, dear, that is the true spirit of self-sacrifice; you seem to understand it, and I dare say you will have many chances in your life to try the real thing. I hope they won't be very hard ones.” “I think they will,” began Rose, and there stopped short. “Well, make one now, and go to sleep, or my girl will be ill to-morrow, and then the aunts will say camping out was bad for her.” “I'll go good night!” and throwing him a kiss, the little ghost vanished, leaving Uncle Alec to pace the shore and think about some of the unsuspected sacrifices that had made him what he was. Chapter 10--Rose's Sacrifice There certainly were “larks” on Campbell's Island next day, as Charlie had foretold, and Rose took her part in them like one intent on enjoying every minute to the utmost. There was a merry breakfast, a successful fishing expedition, and then the lobsters came out in full force, for even Aunt Jessie appeared in red flannel. There was nothing Uncle Alec could not do in the water, and the boys tried their best to equal him in strength and skill, so there was a great diving and ducking, for every one was bent on distinguishing himself. Rose swam out far beyond her depth, with uncle to float her back; Aunt Jessie splashed placidly in the shallow pools, with Jamie paddling near by like a little whale beside its mother; while the lads careered about, looking like a flock of distracted flamingoes, and acting like the famous dancing party in “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.”