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 Gerald! my son!" and when Philip found himself seized in a mighty hug by Mr. Marcy, with a general turmoil and uproar and hand-shaking and questioning beginning in a most deafening and delightful manner—then he did something that he never did afterward. He staggered to the arbor-steps, holding Mr. Marcy's big hand, and exclaiming with something like a laugh, "Well, here you are—at last! We'd nearly—given you up! We're—not left to ourselves any more!" Then the stress of responsibility was over, and he dropped on the step, unconscious.