"But I'll admit he's a queer lad, and has a bad temper.

It may be due to his lack of bringin' up, you know; for he just runs wild, and old Mr.Chase, who comes from the village to tutor him, is a poor lot, and lets the boy do as he pleases.

For that reason he won't study, and he won't work, and I'm sure I don't know whatever will become of him, when Miss Jane dies." "Thank you," said Beth, much relieved, and the girls walked away with lighter hearts.
"There's no danger in that quarter, after all," said Louise, gaily.
"The boy is a mere hanger-on.

You see, Aunt Jane's old sweetheart, Thomas Bradley, left everything to her when he died, and she can do as she likes with it." After luncheon, which they ate alone and unattended save by the maid Susan, who was old Misery's daughter, the girls walked away to the rose arbor, where Beth declared they could read or sew quite undisturbed.
But sitting upon the bench they found a little old man, his legs extended, his hands thrust deep into his pockets, and a look of calm meditation upon his round and placid face.

Between his teeth was a black brier pipe, which he puffed lazily.
Beth was for drawing back, but Louise took her arm and drew her forward.
"Isn't this Uncle John ?" she asked.
The little man turned his eyes upon them, withdrew his hands from his pockets and his pipe from his mouth, and then bowed profoundly.
"If you are my nieces, then I am Uncle John," he said, affably.