"I'm so glad to see you!" he cried. "I'm so glad to get back. I declare I can't say a word."
"And I'm glad; very, very glad," replied Elizabeth.
"And we congratulate you heartily on your new fortune," said the widow, joining in and extending both hands.
"Oh, don't speak of it," cried Tom; "it's no end of a bother to me already. God bless you, I don't know what to do with it! How—how is your sister?" he stammered, addressing Mellen with desperate energy; for Elsie's name came up from his heart with a jerk.
"She is quite well," Mellen answered, "and will be charmed to see you; we were expecting you."
"That's nice of you. So you've only just got back! Well, it's good to get home, isn't it? that is, if I had any home—but it's dreary for a solitary chap like me, now isn't it?"
"This house will always seem like home to you, I hope," said Mellen, kindly.
"Always," added Elizabeth; "don't forget that, Tom."
"You're too good to me," cried the soft-hearted fellow; "you always were!"
"Of course they were," said a laughing voice, that made Tom start, and appeared to take every particle of strength out of his limbs.