was
laughing in a nervous way that had grown upon him with his illness,
and that told to Aunt Sally's keen ear how really frail he still was.

But Master Ned, the cause of all this emotion, looked calmly upon the
stranger, and demanded:

"Where's that printing press you promised, hey? I can say five, ten
letters now, and I can spell cat backwards!"

"Is it possible? Before such erudition I bow my humble head!" laughed
the visitor, grateful for any, even nonsensical, words that would
relieve the tension of the moment.

But here Aunt Sally caught up the boy and looked him over anxiously;
then joyfully declared:

"He's got his senses back. Oh! Gabriella, where are you? Neddy's all
right!"

"Oh, auntie, hush! There's no need to tell mother anything of this
last danger, and if you'll only please put Ned back to bed she won't
have to know."

"Ain't goin' to bed. Been a-bed 'nough," protested the supposed
invalid. "Want my clothes. Want to go downstairs and get my supper."

"Get my supper," assented Luis, creeping forward from the corner where
he had hidden in fear of he knew not what.

"Hello, echo! You on hand again? How's business?" demanded Ninian,
drawing the child towards him.

"First rate," answered Ned, for his comrade, who promptly echoed:
"'Strate."

But now came the mother, hurrying up the stairs, with a bowl of gruel
she had gone to prepare, and interest in which had opportunely
prevented her knowing either of the reporter's arrival or her son's
peril. And the visitor sprang to his feet again, while she welcomed
him as cordially and gracefully as if she had been sitting in state,
expectant, within her own pretty parlor.

One flash of her eyes toward her boy, safe in Mrs. Benton's arms again
and carefully wrapped about in her capacious apron, relieved any
anxiety she might have felt in coming upon this unexpected group, and
she asked, with a little burst of laughter:

"Is it possible that Ned was so quick to welcome you? Well, son, it
might have been more courteous to have gone downstairs; but I'm sure
our friend will pardon a little lad who's been ill. He's really
better, isn't he, Aunt Sally? He looks quite natural."

"Yes, honey, he's better. I reckon he's passed the turnin' point now,
if nothin' new sets in. You take Mr. Sharp down into the settin'-room,
'cause he's seen the children and I'll set with them a spell. Wun Lung
can get the supper well's I can, if he'll put his heatheny mind to it