Mothercutflowersforthediningtable，andallthroughthehouse。Shelefttheblindsdowntokeeptheroomscool，chilledbuttermilktodrink，andifshedidn’tthinkofeverysingle，leastlittlething，Icouldn’tseewhatitwas。Thenallofusputonourbestdresses。Motherlookedasgladandsweetasanygirl，whenshesattorestalittlewhile。Ididn’tdareclimbthecatalpainmywhitedress，soIwatchedfromthehorseblock，andwhenIsawthegrayscomeoverthetopofthehill，Irantotell。Asmotherwenttothegate，shetoldMayandmetowalkbehind，tostaybackuntilwewerespokento，andthentokeepourheadslevel，andrememberourmanners。Idon’tknowwhereLeonwent。Hesaidhelostallinterestwhenhefoundtherewastobeanotherweak-eyedtowheadinthefamily，andIguesshewasinearnestaboutit，becausehewasn’tevencuriousenoughtobeatthegatewhenMr。Pagetcame。
Fatherstoppedwithaflourish，LaddiehurriedaroundandhelpedShelley，andthenMr。Pagetsteppeddown。Goodness，gracious，sakesalive！Little？Towhead？HewastallerthanLaddie。Hishairwasmostasblackasink，andwavy。Hiseyeswerebiganddark；hewasbroadandstrongandtherewasthecleanest，freshestlookabouthim。HeputhisarmspangaroundShelley，rightthereintheroad，andmothersaid：“Holdthere！Notsofast，youngman！Ihaven’tgivenmyconsenttothat。“
Helaughed，andhesaid：“Yes，butyou’ahgoingto！“Andheputhisotherarmaroundmother，soMayandIcrowdedup，andwehadafamilyreunionrightbetweenthedayliliesandthesnowballbush。Wewentintothehouse，andheLIKEDus，hisroom，andeverythingwentexactlyright。Hewascrazyaboutthecoldbuttermilk，andwhilehewasdrinkingitLeonwalkedintothedining-room，becausehethoughtofcourseMr。PagetandShelleywouldbeonthedavenportintheparlour。WhenhesawRoberthesaidlowliketoShelley：“Didn’tMr。Pagetcome？Who’sthat？“
Shelleylookedsofunnyforaminute，thensherememberedwhatshehadtoldhimandshejustlaughedasshesaid：“Mr。Paget，thisismybrother。“
Robertwenttoshakehands，andLeonsaidrighttohisteeth：
“Welladivilofatowheadyouare！“
“Towhead？“saidRobert，bewildered-like。
“Shelleysaidyouwerealittlebitofaman，withwateryblueeyes，andwhiterhairthanmine。“
“OhIsay！“criedRobert。“Shemusthavebeenstringin’you！“
Leonjustwhooped；becausewhileMr。Pagetdidn’ttalklikethe’orse，’ousepeople，hemadeyouthinkoftheminthewayhesaidthings，andthesoundofhisvoice。Thenwehaddinner，andI
don’trememberthatweeverhadquitesuchafeastbefore。
Motherhadputoneverysingleflourishsheknew。Sheusedherverybestdishes，andlinen，andnocookanywherecouldbeatCandacealone；nowshehadMrs。Freshetttohelpher，andmotheralso。IfshetriedtoshowMr。Paget，shedidit！Novisitorwasthereexcepthim，butwemusthavebeenatthetabletwohourstalking，andeatingfromonedishafteranother。CandaceLIKEDtowearherwhitedress，andcarrythingsaround，andtheycertainlyweregood。
Andtalk！Father，Laddie，andRoberttalkedoverallcreation。
Everyonceinawhilewhenmothersawanopening，sheputinherpaddle，andnoonecouldbequicker，whenshewatchedsharpandwastryingtomakeagoodimpression。Shelleywasveryquiet；
shescarcelyspokeortouchedthatdeliciousfood。OncethePagetmanturnedtoher，lookingathersofondlike，ashepickeduponeofhersaucedishesandherspoonandwantedtofeedher。
Andhesaid：“Heahchild，eatyourdinnah！Youhavenawthingtobefussedovah！Imeantoproposetoyou，andyourparentsbefowrnight。ThatiswhatIamheahfor。“
Everyonelaughedso，Shelleynevergotthebite；butafterthatsheperkedupmoreandatealittlebyherself。
Atlastfathercouldn’tstanditanylonger，sohebeganaskingRobertabouthistriptoEngland，andthecasehehadwon。Whenthetablewasclearedfordessert，Mr。PagetaskedmothertohaveCandacetobringhissatchel。Heopeneditandspreadpapersallover，sothatfatherandLaddiecouldseetheevidence，whilehetoldthemhowitwas。
ItseemedtherewasalawinEngland，allofusknewaboutit，becausefatheroftenhadexplainedit。Thislawsaidthatamanwhohadlotsofmoneyandlandmustleavealmostallofittohiseldestson；andtheyoungeronesmustgointolaw，thearmy，beclergymen，orentertradeandearnaliving，whiletheeldestkeptupthehomeplace。Thenheleftittohiseldestson，andhisotherboyshadtoworkforaliving。Itkeptthebigestatestogether；butmy！itwashardontheyoungersons，andnooneseemedeventothinkaboutthedaughters。Ineverheardthemmentioned。
Nowtherewasaveryrichman；hehadonlytwosons，andeachofthemmarried，andhadoneson。Theyoungersondied，andsenthisboyforhiselderbrothertotakecareof。Hepretendedtobegood，butforsure，hewasbadaseverhecouldbe。Heknewthatifhiscousinwereoutoftheway，allthatlandandmoneywouldbehiswhenhisuncledied。Sohewenttoworkandhetriedforyears，andalawyermanwhohadnoconscienceatall，helpedhim。Atlastwhentheyhaddoneeverythingtheycouldthinkof，theytookalotofmoneyandputitinthepocketofthesontheywantedtoruin；thenwhenhisfathermissedthemoney，andthehousewasfilledwithpolicemen，detectives，andneighbours，thebadmansaidhe’dfeelmorecomfortabletohavethefamilysearchedtoo，merelyasaformality，sohesteppedoutandwasgoneover，andwhentheson’sturncame，therewasthemoneyonhim！Thatmadehimapublicdisgracetohisfamily，andacriminalwhocouldn’tinherittheestate，andhisfatherwentravingmadandtriedtokillhim，sohehadtorunaway。Atfirsthedidn’tcarewhathedid，sohecameoverhere。Robertsaidthatmanwashisbestfriend，andasmenwent，hewasadecentfellow，sohecheeredhimupallhecould，andwenttoworkwithallhismighttoprovehewasinnocent，andtogetbackhisfamily，andhismoneyforhim。
WhenRoberthadenoughevidencethathewasalmostreadytostarttoEngland，hismangotacablefromanoldfriendofhisfather’s，whoalwayshadbelievedinhim，anditsaidthatthebadmanwasdying——tocomequick。SoRobertwentallofasudden，liketheDeadLetterstoldabout。Now，hedescribedhowhereachedthere，tooktheoldfriendofthefatherofhisfriendwithhim，andotherwitnesses，andalltheevidencehehad，andwenttoseethesickman。WhenRobertshowedhimwhathecouldprove，thebadmansaiditwasnouse，hehadtodieinafewdays，sohemightaswellgowithacleanconscience，andhetoldabouteverythinghehaddone。Roberthaditallwrittenout，signedandswornto。Hetoldaboutallofit，andthenhesaidtofather：“HaveImadeitcleartoyou？“
Leonwassoexcitedheforgotallthemannersheeverhad，forhepoppedupbeforefathercouldopenhishead，andcried：“Clearasmud！Igotthatsonbusinesssoplaininmymind，I’dknowthepartyofthefirstpart，fromthepartyofthesecondpart，ifI
methimpromenadingontheStoneWallofChina！“
FatherandLaddieknewsomuchlawtheyaskeddozensofquestions；butthatRobertmanwasn’tasmidginbehind，foreverycliphehadtheanswerready，andthenhecouldgoonandtellmuchmorethanhehadbeenasked。HesaidasaCase，itwasaprettythingtoworkon；butitwasmuchmorethanacasetohim，becausehealwayshadknownthathisfriendwasnotguilty；thathewasseparatedfromhisfamily，sufferingterriblyunderthedisgrace，andtheymustbealso。Hehadworkedforlifeforhisfriend，becausethewholethingmeantsomuchtobothofthem。
Hesaidhemustgobacksoonandfinishupalittlemorethatheshouldhavedonewhilehewasthere，ifithadn’tbeenthathereceivednowordfromShelley。
“WhenIdidn’theahfromhehforsolong，andwrotesomanyletters，andhadnoreply，Ithoughtpossiblysomegay`youngLochinvahhadcomeoutfromthewest，’andtakenmysweet’eart，“
hesaid，“andwhileIhadmyarmouron，ImadeupmymindthatI’dgivehimafighttoo。Ididn’tproposetoloseShelley，ifitwereinmypowahtowinheh。Ihadn’tbeenabletosaytohehexactlywhatIdesiahed，onaccountofgettingastartaloneinthiscountry；butifIwonthiscase，Iwouldhaveamplemeans。
WhenIsecuahedtherequiahedevidence，Icouldn’twaittofinish，soIcamestraightovah，tomakesureofheh。“
Hearoseandhandedthesatcheltofather。
“Inoticeyouhaveaverygoodlookinggunconvenient，“hesaid。
“WouldyouputthesepapahswhereyouconsiderthemsafeuntilI’mreadytoreturn？Ourhome，ourliving，andthehonahofamanarethere，andwearemightyparticularaboutthatbag，arewenot，Shelley？“
“WellIshouldthinkweare！“criedShelley。“Forgoodnesssake，father，hangtoit！Isthemanstillliving？Couldyougetthatevidenceoveragain？“
“HewasalivewhenIleft，butthedoctorssaidtendayswouldbehislimit，sohemaybegonebefowrthis。“
Fatherpickedupthesatchel，setitonhisknees，andstrokeditasifitwerealive。
“Well！Well！“hesaid。“Nowwouldanyonethinksuchalittlethingcouldcontainsomuch？“
ShelleyleanedtowardRobert。
“Yourfriend！“shecried，“Yourfriend！WhatDIDhesaytoyou？
WhatdidheDO？“
“Well，foratimehewaswildlyhappyovahhavingthestainremovedfromhishonah，andknowingthathewouldhavehisfamilyandfaw’tnback；butthereisanextremelysadfeaturetohiscasethatisnotyetsettled，sohemustkeephisheadleveluntilweworkthatout。Nowaboutthathossyouwantedtoshowme——“heturnedtoLeon。
Mothergavethesignal，andweleftthetable。Fathercarriedthesatcheltohischest，maderoomforit，lockeditinandputthekeyinhispocket。ThenourmenstartedtothebarntoshowtheArab-Kentuckyhorse。Mr。PagetwenttoShelleyandtookherinhisarmsexactlylikePeterdidSallybeforetheparlourdoorthattimewhenIgotintotrouble，andhelookedatmotherandlaughedashesaid：“Ihopeyouwillexcuseme，butI“ebeenhavingaverynawsty，anxioustime，andIcawn’tconformtotherulesforafewdays，untilIbecomeaccustomedtothefawctthatShelleyisnotlosttome。ItwasbeastlywhenIreachedChicago，hadbackallmyletters，andfoundshehadgonehomeill。I’vemuchsufferingtorecompense。I’llatoneforasmallportionimmediately。“
HeliftedShelleyrightoffthefloor——that’showbigandstronghewas——hehuggedhertight，andkissedherforehead，cheeks，andeyes。
“WhenI’vegonethroughthefahmalityofaskingyourparentsforyou，andtheyhavesaidagracious`yes，’I’llputthefustoneonyourlips，“hesaid，settingherdowncarefully。“Inthemeantime，youbefixingyourmouthtosay，`yes，’also，whenI
proposetoyou，becauseit’scomingbefowryousleep。“
Shelleywaslikeapeachblossom。Shereachedupandtouchedhischeek，whileshelookedatmotherallsmiling，andsparkling，asshesaid：“Yousee！“
Mothersmiledback。
“Ido，indeed！“sheanswered。
LeonpulledMr。Paget’ssleeve。
“Awquitlally-gaggin’andcomeseearealhorse，“hesaid。
RobertputhisotherarmaroundLeon，drewhimtohissideandhuggedhimasifhewereagirl。“I’msogladShelleyhasalawgefamily，“hesaid。“Bigfamiliesarejolly。I’msoproudofallthebrothersI’mgoingtohave。Iwastheonlyboyathome。“
“Youhaven’ttoldusaboutyourfamily，“saidmother。
“No，“saidRobert，“butIintendto。Ihaveafamily！Oneofthefinestonuth。We’lltalkaboutthemafterthishossisinspected。“
HeletShelleygoandwalkedaway，hisarmstillaroundLeon。
Shelleyrantomotherandbothofthemsobbedoutloud。
“NOWYOUSEEHOWITWAS！“shesaid。
“Youpoorchild！“criedmother。“IndeedIDOseehowitwas。
You’vebeenabravegirl。Agood，bravegirl！FatherandIaremightyproudofyou！“
“Ohmother！Ithoughtyouwereashamedofme！“sobbedShelley。
“Ohmychild！“saidmotherquavery-like。“Ohmychild！Yousurelyseethatnoneofuscouldunderstand，aswedonow。“
ShepattedShelley，andtoldhertorunupstairsandliedownforawhile，becauseshewasafraidshewouldbesick。
“Wemustn’thaveapale，tiredgirlrightnow，“saidmother。
Well！“saidShelley，butshejuststoodthereholdingmother。
“Well？“saidmothergrippingher。
“Yousee！“saidShelley。
“Child，“saidmother，“IDOsee！IseesixfeetofashandsomemanhoodasIeverhaveseenanywhere。Hismannerisperfect，andIfindhisspeechmostattractive。Iamdelightedwithhim。I
doseeindeed！YourfatherisquiteasproudandpleasedasI
am。Nowgotobed。“