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 damp, an' he breathes in a good deal healthier way than I expected. Fever's gone down as soon as it came up, I dare say. How han'some he is!—a reg'lar picture. From New York, did you say?"

Obed looked in at the door in anxious interest. "You stay here with him while I fly around and get things sort o' settled and more ready for whatever's best for us to do." She glided out, closing the door after her. Smothered sounds, that now and then came from behind it, hinted to Philip as he sat that the flying around had begun to some purpose.

Excellent Mrs. Probasco! Whatever may have been the sentiments of your housekeeper's heart at such a delayed home-coming and such a finding of your entire domestic establishment taken possession of by boys, and not only an asylum, but a hospital, all at once on your hands—whatever the amusement or vexation at the general upsetting of order on each side, you kept it all to yourself! She darted softly about. "Time enough for talk, by and by," she said, sharply, to Obed, who was accustomed to act pretty much as she commanded. "Then we'll talk. We know plenty to start right at.