“I only went along to—for fun!” stoutly declared Gerald; and so calmly stated all the rest. Even the old Captain rubbed his bald spot till it shone, while tears of laughter sparkled behind his “specs;” and some were there, looking upon this “nigh useless old hull,” as he called himself, who felt that the expedition had not failed since he could find so much enjoyment from it.
As for Mrs. Josephine, her face was transformed with the happiness of that morning’s reunion with her father and it needed but one thing to make her joy perfect.
“Oh! Daddy, if only the Doctor were here! But it’s only a little delay, for of course, you’re going home with me to the Manor House now, to stay forever and a day. Say, Daddy dear? How’s farming? And oh! where, how is Billy?”
The Colonel was actually smiling. Nay, more, was laughing! for as if he had heard himself inquired for, old Billy answered in his loudest bray—“Ah! umph! A-a-a-ao-o-m-p-h!”
Then into that merry company came running again little Eunice, who had for a moment slipped away with Elsa. In her little hand she held Joan’s chain, while with a saucy glance around Jocko sat grinning upon Elsa’s shoulder.
“I beg pardon, but she will not leave them, lady. I never saw anybody so pleased with monkeys as she is, and not one mite afraid. That’s more than some of us can say:” sweetly apologized Elsa, with a mischievous glance toward Aurora who had gathered up her skirts and mounted a chair.
“Mamma! I want the monkeys! The lovely monkeys! I do, I do! Don’t you know? Don’t you ’member? Always you told me I should have anything I wanted that day when Grandpa comes, anything—any single thing. You wouldn’t like to tell a wrong story, would you, Mamma dear? Because he’s comed—this is the day—and what Eunice wants is the lovely, lovely monkeys! Buy ’em for me, Mamma darling! Grandpa, make her!” pleaded the child, for once wholly forgetful that she was displaying her deformity to all these people, and running from her mother back to the Colonel.
With a return of his usual sadness, he lifted her and kissed her, then set her gently down, saying:
“Honey, I cayn’t. I never could. Ah! hum, she was a deal younger ’n you when she took the reins into her hands an’ begun drivin’ for herself. I cayn’t help ye, sweetheart, but I’d give—give—even Billy if she’d do what you want.”
“Oh! Colonel, you can’t give again what you’ve already given! Billy—”