" as he saw symptoms of Mrs. Whitney's joining
in the conversation. "You've been good; just as good as can be under the
circumstances; but Mason will be home in the fall, and then I suppose
you'll have to go with him. Now I," said the old gentleman, forgetting
all about his head, and straightening himself up suddenly in the chair,
"am going to get things into shape, so that the house will be kept for
all of us; so that we can come or go. And how can I do it better than to
have the Peppers--you, Mrs. Pepper, and all your children--come here and
live, and--"

"Oh, father!" cried Jasper, rushing up to him; and flinging his arms
around his neck, he gave him such a hug as he hadn't received for many a
day.

"Goodness, Jasper!" cried his father, feeling of his throat. "How can
you express your feelings so violently! And, besides, you interrupt."

"Beg pardon, sir," said Jasper, swallowing his excitement, and trying to
control his eagerness.

"Do you say yes, Mrs. Pepper?" queried the old gentleman impatiently.
"I must get this thing fixed up to-day. I'm really too ill to be worried
ma'am."

"Why sir," stammered Mrs. Pepper, "I don't know what to say. I couldn't
think of imposing all my children on you, and--"

"Imposing! Who's talking of imposing!" said Mr. King in a loud key.
"I want my house kept; will you live here and keep it? That is the
question."

"But sir," began Mrs. Pepper again, "you don't think--"

"I do think; I tell you, ma'am, I do think," snapped the old gentleman.
"It's just because I have thought that I've made up my mind. Will you do
it Mrs. Pepper?"

"What are you goin' to do, mamsie?" asked Joel quickly.

"I don't know as I'm going to do anything yet," said poor Mrs. Pepper,
who was almost stunned.

"To come here and live!" cried Jasper, unable to keep still any
longer--and springing to the children. "Don't you want to, Joe?"

"To live!" screamed Joel. "Oh whickety, yes! Do ma, do come here and
live--do!"

"To live?" echoed Phronsie, over in the old gentleman's lap. "In this
be-yew-ti-ful place? Oh, oh!"

"Oh, mamsie!" that was all Polly could say.

And even Ben had his arms around his mother's neck, whispering "Do" into
her ear, while little Davie got into her lap and teased her with all his
might.

"What shall I do!" cried the poor woman. "Did ever anybody see the
like?"

"It's the very best thing you could possibly do," cried the old
gentleman. "Don't you see it's for the childr