you in."

Jedediah stared at her.

"What--what," he faltered. "Do you mean--Thankful, do you mean you're
goin' to let me stay here for--for good?"

"Yes, of course I do. You don't think I'll let you get out of my sight
again, do you? That is, unless you're real set on goin' gold-huntin'.
I'm sure you shan't go cook on any whaler; I've got too much regard for
sailors' digestions to let you do that."

"Thankful, I--I'll work my hands off for you. I'll--"

"All right, all right. Now trot along and warm those hands or you won't
have any left to work off; they'll be SHOOK off with the shivers. Come,
Jed, I forgive you; after all, you're my brother, though you did run
away and leave me."

"Then--then you're glad I came back?"

"Glad!" Thankful shook her head with a tearful smile. "Glad!" she
repeated. "I've been workin' heavens and earth to get you back ever
since I got that pitiful letter of yours. You poor thing! You MUST have
had a hard time of it. Well, you can tell me all about it by and by. Now
you march into that kitchen."

Another hour had passed before Mrs. Barnes reentered the living-room.
There, to her astonishment, she found Emily awaiting her.

"Why, for goodness sakes!" cried Thankful. "What are you doin' here? I
thought you'd gone to bed long ago."

Emily's reply was given in an odd tone. She did not look at her cousin
when she spoke.

"No, no," she said, quickly. "I--I haven't gone to bed."

"I see you haven't, but why?"

"I didn't want to. I--I'm not sleepy."

"Not sleepy! At two o'clock in the mornin'? Well," with a sigh, "I
suppose 'tain't to be wondered at. What's happened this night is enough
to keep anybody awake. I can't believe it even yet. To think of his
comin' back after I've given him up for dead twice over. It's like a
story-book."

"Where is he?"

"Up in bed, in one of the attic rooms. If he hasn't got his death of
cold it'll be a wonder. And SUCH yarns as he's been spinnin' to me.
I--Emily, what's the matter with you? What makes you act so queer?"

Emily did not answer. Mrs. Barnes walked across the room and, stooping,
peered into her face.

"You're white as a sheet!" she cried, in alarm. "And you're tremblin'
all over. What in the world IS the matter?"

Emily tried to smile, but it was a poor attempt.

"Nothing, nothing, Auntie," she said. "That is, I--I'm sure it can't be
anything to be afraid of."

"But you are afraid, just the same. What is it? Tell me this minut