Mr Fraser sat watching the two with his amused old face, one side of it twitching in the effort to suppress the smile which sought to break from the useful half of his mouth.

His gout could not have been very bad just then.
"I see, Katie, what that long chin of yours is thinking," he said.
"What is my chin thinking, uncle ?" she asked.
"That uncles are not always nice either.

They snub little girls, sometimes, don't they ?" "I know one who _is_ nice, all except one naughty leg." She rose, as she said this, and going round to the back of his chair, leaned over it, and kissed his forehead.

The old man looked up to her gratefully.
"Ah, Katie!" he said, "you may make game of an old man like me.

But don't try your tricks on Mr Forbes there.