"After this," said he, "I should hardly think he would come. But, if he does, we must try and make the best of it."
II.
CHESTER.
It was on a warm and beautiful afternoon, several days subsequent to the scenes just described, when little Willie, who was catching flies on the sitting-room window, suddenly cried out, at the top of his voice,
"There comes Ches', full garlick! I guess the witches are after him!"
There was a general rush to the window. Willie had spoken truly. There, indeed, was Chester, riding down the road, full gallop, yet hardly with the air of one pursued by hags. He sat the horse bravely, and waved his graceful hand to the faces at the window.
Scrambling and screaming with joy, the children ran to the door to meet their brother. Only Hepsy remained in the sitting-room. Her poor heart beat fearfully, her breath came very short, and she was pale, faint and trembling. She had neither strength nor courage to go forward and welcome her cousin. Samuel came from the garden, James from the barn, and the three younger children from the house, to meet Chester at the gate. The latter swung himself from the saddle, and catching up Willie, who had climbed the fence, tossed him playfully upon the horse's back.
"How are you, chuck?" he cried, kissing Lizzie. "Folks all well? Why, Jim, how you have grown!"
"O! O! O!" screamed Willie, afraid of falling, as Sam led the horse into the yard; "take me down!"