doubtedly, if he
were sure of himself, sure that no false light--I perceive the mixture
of metaphors, but this cannot always be avoided--would again fall
across his path."

"He is sure of that!" said Will Jaquith, under his breath.

He had risen, and the two men were standing side by side, both intent
upon the picture. Twilight was falling, but a ray of the setting sun
stole through the little window, and rested upon the Peak in Darien.

"He is sure of that!" repeated William Jaquith.

When he spoke again, his voice was husky, his speech rapid and broken.

"Mr. Homer" (no one ever said "Mr. Hollopeter," nor would he have been
pleased if any one had), "I have been here six months, have I not? six
months to-morrow?"

"Yes, William," said Mr. Homer, turning his mild eyes on his assistant.

"Have I--have I given satisfaction, sir?"

"Eminent satisfaction!" said Mr. Homer, cordially. "William, I have had
no fault to find; none. Your punctuality, your exactness, your
assiduity, leave nothing to be desired. This has been a great
gratification to me--on many accounts."

"Then, you--you think I have the right to call myself a man once more;
that I have the right to take up a man's life, its joys, as well as its
labors?"

"I think so, most emphatically," cried the little gentleman, nodding his
head. "I think you deserve the best that life has to give."

"Then--then, Mr. Homer, may I have a day off to-morrow, please? I
want"--he broke into a tremulous laugh, and laid his hand on the elder
man's shoulder,--"I want to climb the Peak, Mr. Homer!"

* * * * *

So it came to pass one day, soon after this, that as Mrs. Tree was
sitting by her fire, with the parrot dozing on his perch beside her,
there came to the house two young people, who entered without knock or
ring, and coming hand in hand to her side, bent down, not saying a word,
and kissed her.

"Highty tighty!" cried Mrs. Tree, her eyes twinkling very brightly under
a tremendous frown.

"What is the meaning of all this, I should like to know? How dare you
kiss me, Willy Jaquith?"

"Old friends to love!" said Jocko, opening one yellow eye, and ruffling
his feathers knowingly.

"Jocko knows how I dare!" said Will Jaquith. "Dear old friend, I will
tell you what it means. It means that I have brought you another Golden
Lily in place of the one you said I spoiled. You can only have her to
look at, though, for she is mine, mine and