"
"Ah! some one in the train spoke of sickness at Wil'sbro', but I
would ask no questions, for I saw faces I knew, and I would lead to
no recognition. I could not stay away from getting one sight of the
old place. Miles made it all burn within me; but here's my return-
ticket for the mail-train."
"Never mind return-tickets. Come home with me."
"I shall startle your mother."
"I meant my home--the Rectory. It was my wife who saw you in the
churchyard, and sent me after you. She is watching for you."
Archie, still bewildered, as if spell-bound by his ticket, muttered,
"I thought I should have time to walk over and look at Strawyers."
"Joanna is here."
"Julius! It is too much. You are sure I am awake? This is not the
old dream!" cried the exile, grasping his cousin's arm quite
gainfully.
"I am a waking man, and I trust you are," said Julius. "Come into
the light. No, that is not Jenny on the step. It is my Rose. Yes,
here he is!"
And as they came into the stream of light from the porch, Irish
Rosamond, forgetting that Archie was not a brother, caught him by
both hands, and kissed him in overpowering welcome, exclaiming, "Oh,
I am so glad! Come in--come in!"
There he stood, blinking in the lamplight, a tall, powerful, broad-
chested figure, but hardly a hero of romance to suit Terry's fancy,
after a rapid summary of the history from Rosamond.
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