the most comical double rap
ever thumped upon a big front door.

There was a click; the door was thrown open by one who had seen the
brown young sailor pass the window, and Don Lavington was tightly held
in his mother's arms, while two little hands held his, and Kitty jumped
up to get a kiss placed upon his cheek.

The explanations were in full swing as, unheard by those in the parlour,
the front door was opened by a latch-key, and that of the parlour
followed suit, for Uncle Josiah to stand looking smilingly at the group
before him.

When at last he was seen, Don started up and gazed dubiously in the
grave, stern face before him, recalling in those brief moments scene
after scene in the past, when he and his uncle had been, as Jem
expressed it, "at loggerheads again," and his life had seemed to him a
time of misery and care. His first coherent thoughts were as to what he
should say--how he should enter into full explanations of his movements
since that eventful night when he encountered the press-gang. It was
better to attack, he thought, than to await the coming on of his
adversary, and he had just made up his mind to the former course of
action, when all his plans and words were blown to the wind, and there
was no need for either attack or defence, for the old man advanced with
extended hand.

"Don, my lad," he said quietly, "I've felt the want of you badly at the
office. Glad to see you back."

"I ought to tell you, sir--"

"Ah, well explain all by-and-by, my boy," said the old man. "I know
that you can't have been to blame; and, look here, time back you were as
stubborn as could be, and thought you were ill-used, and that I was your
enemy. You've been round the world since then, and you are bigger, and
broader, and wiser now than you were."

"I hope so, uncle."

"And you don't believe that I ever was your enemy?"

"I believe, uncle, that I was very foolish, and--and--"

"That's enough. P'r'aps I was a bit too hard, but not so hard as they
are at sea. You haven't got to go again?"

"No, uncle."

"Then God bless you, my boy! I'm glad to have you back."

Don could not speak, only hold his weeping mother to his breast.

It was some time before Don was able to begin his explanations, and the
account of what had passed; and when he did it was with his mother
sitting on his right, holding his hand in both of hers, and with his
cousin seated upon his left, following her aunt's suit, while the old