After a few hesitating words of welcome, the men folks sat down and Tom began telling of those things that had befallen him in the year and a half past. He spun his yarn pretty steadily, though every now and then he would stop in his speech, for as he told of the finding of the money on the island, his words brought before him all of those hopes that had borne him up through the toil; then a rush of feeling would sweep over him as he thought how all this had been taken out of his life, and he would stop in his talking to steady himself. He said nothing of this to the others, but I think that they all felt the sorrow that was lying at the bottom of his heart. Then they sat down to supper.
Tom’s father tried to turn the talk more cheerfully.
“We haven’t told thee the great news, Thomas,” said he.
“What is it?” said Tom.
“Thee sees, thy coming upset us all, so that we didn’t think of it. Thee tell him, Susan.”
Susan looked down, and the color rose in her face.
“What is the news?” said Tom, again.
“Well,” said his father, “as Susan don’t seem inclined to tell thee, I suppose I must do it myself. How would thee like Will Gaines for a brother?”
Tom did not speak for a moment, then he said, a little unsteadily; “I—I wish thee joy, Susan; thee’s chosen a good man for thy husband, and I believe he’ll make thee happy.”
Then they were silent for a while.