"I should think so, indeed. You'll see!"
"There, Maggie!" observed Mr. Marvel to his wife later on in the evening. "What did I tell you? And you was against it all the while, and wanted him to be a wood-turner. He'll be a captain before he's thirty."
"He is spared, I hope, for great things." said Mrs. Marvel meekly; "and to be a blessing to us all."
That same night, Dan and Joshua and Ellen spent some very happy hours together. Minnie was with Susan attending her father, so that the three were undisturbed. Mrs. Marvel opened the door once; but seeing the group, and observing how engrossed they were, she shut it softly, and went down again into the kitchen. Once, also, George Marvel was going out of the kitchen when his wife called to to him,--
"Where are you going, father?"
"To Joshua's room."
"Don't go, George. Come and sit down; I want to speak to you."
Mr. Marvel resumed his seat, and Mrs. Marvel refilled his pipe and handed it to him, with a light, "There! smoke your pipe and don't be so restless."
He took a few whiffs, and asked who was with Joshua.
"Ellen and Dan; and they are very happy and comfortable. I peeped in once, and I wouldn't disturb them."