"It is so wonderful to have Joe safe!"
"And to think how sad we were last night," Dot began. "We did not expect any one to help us keep Christmas but Kit."
"O Dot! tell me all about it," said Charlie eagerly. "I do like to hear it so. And how Joe came home."
Dot was a little shy at first; but presently she commenced at Hal's losing the school, Granny's sickness, Joe's shipwreck, the trouble and sorrow that followed in succession, the misfortune of the flowers, and then she came to the night when Granny wanted to die and go to heaven. Only last night; but oh, how far off it appeared! She told it very simply, but with such unconscious pathos that they were all crying softly Florence leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, hiding her face.
"And I never knew a word of it!" exclaimed Charlie with the quiver of tears in her voice. "I didn't want to tell you about my going, for fear you'd worry over me, or, if I should be disappointed, you would feel it all the more keenly. But I never thought any thing sad could happen to you."
"I should like to hear the first part of Charlie's adventures," said Mr. Darol. "How did she come to know that she had a genius?"
"She used to be punished enough in school for drawing comical faces," answered Joe. "Little did Mr. Fielder think that you would make an artist!"
"But I planned then to run away and live in the woods. I believe I once took you off, Kit."
"Yes; and we were threatened with the jail, weren't we, because we made a fire. But how you did talk, Charlie! You were always splendid on the fighting side."
"I was made to go right straight ahead," said Charlie. "And, if I had been afraid, I should never have done any thing."