e had but
a numb and sickening consciousness, he made a discovery of himself,
creeping out of a brier-bush, on the road-side.

The first object that attracted his attention was a riderless horse
darting up the next hill, a quarter of a mile off; and here we must
leave the bold adventurer, limping slowly, and with much trouble, over
the road, in the dim hope of catching, at some future time, a fleet
animal, going at the rate of fifteen miles an hour.

After sending Sam with the horse, Chester walked towards the house; but
the family there assembled appearing to be in a sad state of confusion
generally, he stopped before reaching the door. Willie was shrieking in
the shed, and striking his cousin Hepsy, because she insisted on washing
his feet before putting him to bed. Georgie was in the kitchen,
blubbering sullenly; he had seen Sam trot Frank out of the yard, and was
angry at losing the ride he had anticipated on Chester's return. Lizzie
was trying to get a book away from Sarah, with much ado, and Mrs. Royden
was scolding promiscuously.

"What a home to cheer a fellow, after six months' absence!" murmured the
young man, feeling sick at heart; "and it would seem so easy to make it
cheerful and pleasant!"

He turned away, and, walking into the orchard, met his brother James.

"Hasn't father returned?" he asked.

"Oh, yes; two hours ago."

"Did he bring my trunks?"

"Yes," said James; "and a load he had of it. The old minister is come,
with baggage enough of his own to last, I should think, a year or two."

Chester expressed some disagreeable sentiments touching the old
clergyman's visit, and walked with James into the lane, behind the barn,
to find his father.

Mr. Royden was rejoiced to meet his long-absent son.

"You milk the old red cow yet, I see," said Chester.

"Yes," replied his father, continuing the humble occupation; "I suppose
I shall have to as long as we keep her."

"How many times that foot of hers has knocked over a frothing pail for
me!" rejoined Chester.

"I don't know why it is, but nobody except me can do anything with her,"
said Mr. Royden. "The hired men are as afraid of her foot as of a streak
of lightning. Sometimes, when I am away, the boys try to milk her; but
she thinks she has a perfect right to knock them around as she pleases.
I believe it is because they are not gentle; they fool with her, and
milk so slow that she gets out of patience; then, when she kicks, they
whip her. T