"O Hal! and where's Granny? And"—
She paused before Joe.
"Why, Charlie, you're grown so handsome that you really don't know your poor relations."
"It's Joe! What a great giant! Oh! when did he come?"
"And we thought him drowned," said Dot, half crying. "We heard it ever so long ago! It was so splendid to have him come back!"
"Shut the door," exclaimed Hal.
"Why, I thought it was dreadful cold," said Kit, glancing round at the wide open door.
"Cold isn't any word for it! If we had a cast-iron dog we should have to tie him to the stove-leg to keep his hair from freezing off. It's lucky I wear a wig."
"You're the same old Joe," said Charlie, laughing.
"But where have you been, Charlie?"