And now, my children, I end this tale, sitting here on the old porch at Fairlee. The pen drops from my hand, but my eyes are not too dim to see the flash of the sunlight on the waters of the great bay through the break in the trees.
Nor are they too dim, Miss Jean, in spite of the impertinent toss of your head, to see in you the likeness of the maid that led me such a wild dance in the days of my youth. And I promise you, if you do not smile on young Dick Ringgold and stop your outrageous treatment of him, I will not leave you a cent in my will.
There, there; I retract every word that I said. Was there ever so audacious a monkey in the world?
There, I have finished. Oh, yes, I forgot—
"John Cotton, bring me some more mint."
THE END.