Helen returned the pressure of the cold fingers.
"Try to imagine you're in church," she suggested. "You won't break down, my dear, I feel quite sure."
"I—I—air goin' to try to be awful careful anyhow," replied Tess, hopefully, but she heaved a deep sigh as Deforrest Young lifted her quite into his arms and placed her on the low, broad porch-stone.
Amid a crowd of laughing people, they passed into the house, and while they were removing their wraps, Helen took the opportunity to give her little protege a few last admonitions.
"Don't forget to put the 'g's' on your 'ing's,' and remember always to say 'your' quite plainly," she whispered.
"I will," Tessibel promised.
By this time, they had entered the crowded reception hall, and the squatter girl's heart leapt into her throat when Ebenezer Waldstricker came forward to meet them. He welcomed Helen Young tenderly, taking her hands in his. Tess noticed both corners of his mouth were up.
"I'm so happy to have you here, Helen, my darling," he murmured, bending over the hands he held.
A flushed face smiled into the speaker's.
"And I'm happy to be here, too, dear." Then turning, Helen announced "Here's Miss Skinner ... Tessibel, Mr. Waldstricker."