effect of his speech and his demeanor was to cause Lucinda to turn and
leave him at once--too outraged to address another word to him.

Aunt Mary herself did not awake until ten o'clock. She rang her bell
vigorously then and Janice flew to its answering.

"I dreamed of Jack," said the old lady, looking up with a smile. "I
dreamed we was each ridin' on camels in a merry-go-round."

Janice smiled too, and then set briskly to work to put the room in order
and arrange its occupant for the day.

"Did there come any mail?" Aunt Mary inquired, when her coiffure was made
and her dressing-gown adjusted. "I feel jus' like I might hear from Jack.
Seems as if I sort of can't think of anythin' but him."

"I'll go and see," said Janice pleasantly, and she went to the dining room
where the Reformed Prodigal sat reading the newspaper with his feet on the
table--an action which convinced Lucinda that he had not reformed so very
much after all.

"Suppose you go to her--instead of me," suggested the maid, pausing before
the reader and usurping all the attention to which the paper should have
laid claim.

"Suppose I do," said Jack, jumping up, "and suppose you stay away and let
me try what I can accomplish single-handed."

"Only--" began Janice--and then she stopped and lifted a warning finger.

Jack listened and a stealthy creak betrayed Lucinda's proximity somewhere
in the vicinity.

It was plain to be seen that there were many issues to be kept in mind,
and the young man grit his teeth because he didn't dare embrace his
betrothed, and then walked away in the direction of Aunt Mary's room.

If she was glad to see him! One would have supposed that ten years and two
oceans had elapsed since their last meeting the month before.

She fairly screamed with joy.

"Jack!--You dear, dear, dear boy! Well, if I ever did!--When did you come?"

He was by the bed hugging her. "And how are they all? How is the city? Oh,
Jack, if I could only go back with you this time!"

"Never mind, Aunt Mary; you'll be coming soon--in the spring, you know."

Aunt Mary sank back on the pillows.

"Jack," she said, "if I have to wait for spring, I shall die. I ain't
strong enough to be able to bear livin' in the country much longer. I've
pretty much made up my mind to buy a house in town and just keep this
place so's to have somewhere to put Lucinda."

"Do you think you'd be happy in town, Aunt Mary?" Jack yelled; "I mean if
you lived there right alo