It was Barbara who answered.
"Not my really uncle," she announced.

"He's just my make-believe uncle.

He says he's my step-uncle 'cause he comes to our back steps so much.

But he's almost better than a real uncle," she declared, emphatically.
The major laughed heartily and said he was sure of it.

He seemed to find the pair hugely entertaining.
"Well, good-by," he said.