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。“