The only little girl he knew intimately was Ella and, so far, she had done nothing to command his respect or liking.
After a long interval Dr. Meade and Uncle Rhett came down the stairs and stood talking in the hall in low voices.
After the door shut behind the doctor, Uncle Rhett came swiftly into the dining room and poured himself a large drink from the decanter before he saw Wade.
Wade shrank back, expecting to be told again that he was naughty and must return to Aunt Pitty's, but instead, Uncle Rhett smiled.
Wade had never seen him smile like that or look so happy and, encouraged, he leaped from the sill and ran to him.
"You've got a sister," said Rhett, squeezing him.
"By God, the most beautiful baby you ever saw!
Now, why are you crying?"
"Mother--"
"Your mother's eating a great big dinner, chicken and rice and gravy and coffee, and we're going to make her some ice cream in a little while and you can have two plates if you want them.
And I'll show you your sister too."
Weak with relief, Wade tried to be polite about his new sister but failed.
Everyone was interested in this girl.
No one cared anything about him any more, not even Aunt Melly or Uncle Rhett.
"Uncle Rhett," he began, "do people like girls better than boys?"
Rhett set down his glass and looked sharply into the small face and instant comprehension came into his eyes.
"No, I can't say they do," he answered seriously, as though giving the matter due thought.
"It's just that girls are more trouble than boys and people are apt to worry more about troublesome people than those who aren't."
"Mammy just said boys were troublesome."
"Well, Mammy was upset.
She didn't mean it."
"Uncle Rhett, wouldn't you rather have had a little boy than a little girl?" questioned Wade hopefully.
"No," answered Rhett swiftly and, seeing the boy's face fall, he continued: "Now, why should I want a boy when I've already got one?"
"You have?" cried Wade, his mouth falling open at this information.
"Where is he?"
"Right here," answered Rhett and, picking the child up, drew him to his knee.
"You are boy enough for me, son."
For a moment, the security and happiness of being wanted was so great that Wade almost cried again.
His throat worked and he ducked his head against Rhett's waistcoat.
"You are my boy, aren't you?"
"Can you be--well, two men's boy?" questioned Wade, loyalty to the father he had never known struggling with love for the man who held him so understandingly.
"Yes," said Rhett firmly.
"Just like you can be your mother's boy and Aunt Melly's, too."
Wade digested this statement.
It made sense to him and he smiled and wriggled against Rhett's arm shyly.
"You understand little boys, don't you, Uncle Rhett?"
Rhett's dark face fell into its old harsh lines and his lip twisted.
"Yes," he said bitterly, "I understand little boys."
For a moment, fear came back to Wade, fear and a sudden sense of jealousy.
Uncle Rhett was not thinking of him but of some one else.
"You haven't got any other little boys have you?"
Rhett set him on his feet.
"I'm going to have a drink and so are you, Wade, your first drink, a toast to your new sister."
"You haven't got any other--" began Wade and then seeing Rhett reach for the decanter of claret, the excitement at being included in this grown-up ceremony diverted him.
"Oh, I can't, Uncle Rhett!
I promised Aunt Melly I wouldn't drink till I graduated from the university and she's going to give me a watch, if I don't."
"And I'll give you a chain for it--this one I'm wearing now, if you want it," said Rhett and he was smiling again.
"Aunt Melly's quite right.
But she was talking about spirits, not wine.
You must learn to drink wine like a gentleman, son, and there's no time like the present to learn."