Hiram soon joined the party, it being his night off. As of old, he stammered, or stuttered, when excited, and the sight of Quincy and Alice was enough to entirely disorganize his speaking apparatus.
“Ain't this jolly?” said he. “Just like old times. I heerd you was at Miss Hawkinses, but I didn't think as how you'd git round here so quick. But we're mighty glad to see 'em, ain't we, Mandy? I hope you're all as hungry as I am.” He went to the kitchen door and called, “Mrs. Crowley, we're waiting for the supper.”
“How I wish Uncle Ike could be with us,” said Alice.
“Why can't you call him?” asked Quincy.
“He's too weak in his legs to come down,” said Mandy.
“I'll fetch him,” and Quincy bounded up stairs, while Mandy got a place ready for him.
Quincy soon returned with Uncle Ike in his arms and placed him in a big arm-chair at the head of the table.
Alice looked up and smiled at her husband.
“Now it is much more like old times,” she said, softly.
Maude, who had been an interested listener and spectator, finally exclaimed, “I'm not surprised that you stayed down here four months, Quincy, but we used to wonder, until we saw Alice, what the great attraction was.”