teep path, with
many pauses to look back on the gleaming bay and the boat riding at
anchor--the boat that was to carry them away to the ends of the earth.

"We will go to St. Petersburg," said Sergia, watching the shining light.

"And Italy."

"And build castles there."

"Castles! And then we will come home at last--"

"Home!" He said the word under his breath. They had come close to the
little house. Through the open door they saw the red room,--half in
shadow, half in light,--and in the red room the two old men looking at
each other.

Uncle William saw them first and got to his feet, his big face filled
with welcome. "Come in, my dear." He took the girl's face between his
hands, looking down into it with gentle delight. "We're glad you've
come," he said slowly. "It was jest about time." He studied the face.
"We want you to feel to home," he went on. "'Most everybody does feel
to home, that comes here." He bent and kissed the face with rough
tenderness.

Juno, from her perch, jumped down and rubbed a sidewise welcome along
the gray skirt.

The girl stooped to stroke her. When she looked up, her eyes were filled
with tears. She brushed them hastily aside.

Uncle William, from his height, looked down on them benignly. "You
needn't mind those, my dear. Good salt water never hurt anybody yet--on
sea or land. You do it all you want to."

The girl laughed out. And the music of her laugh filled the room.
The twilight was lighted with it. Down below the tide came in slowly,
lapping the stones. Across the harbor a single star shone out.

Uncle William glanced across to it. "Time to light up," he said. He
took down the lantern from its place and lighted it with clumsy, careful
fingers, setting it in the window. Then he surveyed the little room and
his guests, a look of affection in his big face. "Must be 'most time for
supper," he said.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Uncle William, by Jennette Lee

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