e."

Beaming his pleasure, Belding shook hands with the ladies, who showed
their agitation clearly.

"Mr. Belding, I've come west to look up my lost son," said Mr. Gale.
"His sister's letters were unanswered. We haven't heard from him in
months. Is he still here with you?"

"Well, now, sure I'm awful sorry," began Belding, his slow mind at
work. "Dick's away just now--been away for a considerable spell. I'm
expecting him back any day.... Won't you come in? You're all dusty and
hot and tired. Come in, and let mother and Nell make you comfortable.
Of course you'll stay. We've a big house. You must stay till Dick
comes back. Maybe that 'll be-- Aw, I guess it won't be long.... Let
me handle the baggage, Mr. Gale.... Come in. I sure am glad to meet you
all."

Eager, excited, delighted, Belding went on talking as he ushered the
Gales into the sitting-room, presenting them in his hearty way to the
astounded Mrs. Belding and Nell. For the space of a few moments his
wife and daughter were bewildered. Belding did not recollect any other
occasion when a few callers had thrown them off their balance. But of
course this was different. He was a little flustered himself--a
circumstance that dawned upon him with surprise. When the Gales had
been shown to rooms, Mrs. Belding gained the poise momentarily lost;
but Nell came rushing back, wilder than a deer, in a state of
excitement strange even for her.

"Oh! Dick's mother, his sister!" whispered Nell.

Belding observed the omission of the father in Nell's exclamation of
mingled delight and alarm.

"His mother!" went on Nell. "Oh, I knew it! I always guessed it!
Dick's people are proud, rich; they're somebody. I thought I'd faint
when she looked at me. She was just curious--curious, but so cold and
proud. She was wondering about me. I'm wearing his ring. It was his
mother's, he said. I won't--I can't take it off. And I'm scared....
But the sister--oh, she's lovely and sweet--proud, too. I felt warm
all over when she looked at me. I--I wanted to kiss her. She looks
like Dick when he first came to us. But he's changed. They'll hardly
recognize him.... To think they've come! And I had to be looking a
fright, when of all times on earth I'd want to look my best."

Nell, out of breath, ran away evidently to make herself presentable,
according to her idea of the exigency of the case. Belding caught a
glimpse of his wife's face as she went out, and it wo