Eight cousins : or, The aunt-hill

SOON"CHAPTER VI.UNCLE ALECS ROOM.after dinner, and before she had got acquaintedwith half her new possessions, Dr. Alecproposed a drive, to carry round the first instalmentof gifts to the aunts and cousins. Rose was quiteready to go, being anxious to try a certain soft burnousfrom the box, which not only possessed a mostengaging little hood, but had funny tassels bobbingin all directions.The big carriage was full of parcels, and even Ben'sseat was loaded with Indian war-clubs, a Chinese kiteof immense size, and a pair of polished ox-horns fromAfrica. Uncle Alec, very blue as to his clothes, andvery brown as to his face, sat bolt upright, surveyingwell-known places with interest, while Rose, feelingunusually elegant and comfortable, leaned back foldedin her soft mantle, and played she was an Easternprincess making a royal progress among her subjects.At three of the places their calls were brief, forAunt Myra's catarrh was unusually bad; Aunt Clarahad a room full of company ; and Aunt Jane showedsuch a tendency to discuss the population, productions,and politics of Europe, Asia, and Africa, that even