be to get you to look
again like a publican's son."

The reconciliation on the old man's side was without cordiality,
yet it was accepted by all present with cheers and handshakings.

It was but too obvious that the modish appearance of his son had
offended the old man.

"Heaven bless me!" exclaimed Iver, when this commotion was somewhat
allayed. He was looking with undisguised admiration and surprise
at Mehetabel.

"Why," asked he, pushing his way towards her, "What is the meaning
of all this?"

"That is Matabel, indeed," explained his mother. "And this is her
wedding day."

"You married! You, Matabel! And, to-day! The day of my return!
Where is the happy man? Show him to me."

His mother indicated the bridegroom. Mehetabel's heart was too
full to speak; she was too dazed with the new turn of affairs to
know what to do.

Iver looked steadily at Jonas.

"What!" he exclaimed, "Bideabout! Never, surely! I cannot mistake
your face nor the look of your eyes. So, you have won the
prize--you!"

Still he looked at Jonas. He refrained from extending his hand in
congratulation. Whether thoughtlessly or not, he put it behind his
back. An expression passed over his face that the bride observed,
and it sent the blood flying to her cheek and temples.

"So," said Iver, and now he held out both hands, "Little Matabel,
I have returned to lose you!"

He wrung her hands, both,--he would not let them go.

"I wish you all joy. I wish you everything, everything that your
heart can desire. But I am surprised. I can't realize it all at
once. My little Matabel grown so big, become so handsome--and,
hang me, leaving the Old Ship! Poor Old Ship! Bideabout, I ought
to have been consulted. I gave Matabel her name. I have certain
rights over her, and I won't surrender them all in a hurry. Here,
mother, give me a glass, 'tis a strange day on which I come home."

Dissatisfaction appeared in his face, hardly to be expected in one
who should have been in cloudless radiance on his return after
years of absence, and with his quarrel with the father at an end.

Now old acquaintances crowded about him to ask questions as to how
he had lived during his absence, upon what he had been employed,
how the world had fared with him, whether he was married, and if
so, how many children he had got, and what were their respective
ages and sexes, and names and statures.

For a while bride and bridegroom were outside the circle, and
Iver was th