“I like the claim it gives me upon all your remembrances. Then your interest need only last a little while, if you so elect, while mine stretches over a whole life.”
“There is papa!” I exclaimed, with a great breath of relief, and sprang towards him. He put his dear arm around me, and I felt as if my perplexities had come to a sudden end.
On the porch we found Fanny and mamma, and the conversation became very bright and general. Indeed, we sat up past our usual hour.
When Fan and I were up stairs she began at once.
“Mr. Duncan is just splendid! I envied you your walk, and I came back so soon that I had half a mind to run after you.”
“I wish you had been in my place. We did not get on at all. I wonder if we shall like the boys.”
“I shall not worry about them until they come.”
“But a fortnight soon passes, and then good-by to our quiet house.”
“A quiet house, with seven children in it!” and Fan laughed merrily.
“Well they are not—”