“This is from your father, Joe,” said she. “He wants you in all haste up at the town; and I've packed your clothes, and sent off Patsey for Mooney's car; so come in and eat something at once.”
Joseph took the note from her hand and perused it in silence. It was brief, and ran thus:—
“Dear Joe,—I want you up here as soon as possible, to meet
a friend whom you 'll be surprised to see. I say no more,
but that I expect you by dinner-time.—Yours ever,
“D.N.”
“What does that mean, Joe?” asked his mother.
He only shrugged his shoulders in reply.
“And who can it be?” said she again.
“Some of the townspeople, of course,” said he, carelessly.
“No, no, Joe; it must be a stranger. Maybe it's Morgan Drake; his aunt expected him back from Jamaica before Christmas. Or it 's Corny Dwyer 's come home from Africa; you know he went on the deploring expedition—” “Exploring, mother,—exploring.”
“Well, exploring or deploring, it's all the same. He went four years ago, and all the tidings they 've had of him was an elephant's tooth he sent home to his stepfather. I know it's Corny, for your father always liked him and the funny stories he told.”
“Perhaps so!” replied Joe.