ve in that barn," said
Sarah, as they were sitting together after supper.

"It may not be so bad as you think for, Sarah," said her mother; but
she secretly sympathized with her daughter.

"I wish Squire Hudson had to live there himself," said Walter, in an
angry outburst.

Usually Walter was checked by his father when uttering such speeches;
but to-night Mark Nelson took no notice of his son's angry remark. He
felt that it would only be a righteous retribution upon the squire for
his cold selfishness.

While they were sitting in the plain room endeared to them by the
association of years, a sound of wheels was heard, and the village stage
stopped before the door.

"Who can it be?" said Sarah, wonderingly.

The whole family hurried to the window. What youthful, yet manly figure,
was that actively descending from his perch beside the driver?

"It's Tom!" exclaimed Mrs. Nelson. "Heaven be praised! It is my dear
boy."

Tom was almost suffocated by the embraces which he received on entering
the house.

"How you have grown, Tom!" said Sarah. "And how well you look!"

"Thank you for the compliment," said Tom, laughing. "But I don't feel
well."

"What is the matter?" asked his mother, with maternal solicitude.

"I am as hungry as a bear. Have you got anything to eat in the house?"

This hint was enough. Fresh tea was made, and the wanderer was soon
sitting before a bountiful supply of food, cooked in his mother's best
style.

"It seems good to be at home," said Tom, looking around him, his face
beaming with happiness.

"Did you get my letter, Tom, announcing the squire's intention to
foreclose the mortgage?" asked his father, gravely.

"Yes, father; is it really true?"

"Yes; he will listen to no persuasions."

"When does the sale take place?"

"To-morrow."

"I shall be present. Have you thought of any other house, father?"

"The old Belcher house is the only one I can hire."

"That is a poor place."

"It must do for lack of a better."

"I didn't think the squire would act so meanly. At any rate, father, I
will see that you don't any of you suffer for lack of money."

"Have you been doing well, Tom?" asked Walter.

"Ask me to-morrow, Walter. To-night I want to hear all the news, and
everything that has happened since I went away."

CHAPTER XXXI.

BIDDING FOR THE FARM.

"I apprehend," said the squire to his brother-in-law the next morning,
"that we shall get the farm at our own pr