“Yes, Yankee Charlie, and right glad I am to see you.”
“My wife and children, Vesey. Though you and I have often met in town since my marriage, you’ve never seen them before. My brother, whom you know.”
Vesey was not long in making himself one of the family circle, and he gave his promise to stay at Burley Old Farm for a week at least.
Rupert and Elsie took to him at once. How could they help it? a sailor and gentleman, and a man of the world to boot. Besides, coming directly from Archie.
“I just popped into the house the very morning after he had written the letter I now hand to you,” said Captain Vesey. “He had an idea it would be safer for me to bring it. Well, here it is; and I’m going straight away out to the garden to smoke a pipe under the moon while you read it. Friend as I am of Archie’s, you must have the letter all to yourselves;” and away went Vesey.
“Send for old Kate and Branson,” cried the Squire, and they accordingly marched in all expectancy.
Then the father unfolded the letter with as much reverence almost as if it had been Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.
Every eye was fixed upon him as he slowly read it. Even Bounder, the great Newfoundland, knew something unusual was up, and sat by Elsie all the time.
Archie’s Letter Home.