If you were you'd be Mamma's brother, like--like Uncle Charlie, you know." It was the second time she had mentioned "Uncle Charlie." Jed had never heard Mrs.Armstrong speak of having a brother, and he wondered vaguely why.

However, he did not wonder long on this particular occasion.
"Humph!" he grunted.

"Well, let's see.

I tell you: I'll be your step-uncle.

That'll do, won't it?
You've heard of step-fathers?
Um-hm.