Then Mrs. Dean entered to take up her duties of nurse once more, and Seth went into the barn, where he could be alone to think over the strange turn which his affairs appeared to be taking.
Gladys joined him half an hour later, and asked abruptly:
“What did Aunt Hannah say to you?”
“Why do you think she counted on talkin’ to me?”
“Because I read that story in the newspaper. Then she wanted me to go out for a walk, and said I’d better ask Mr. Dean to come over this afternoon. I couldn’t help knowing it was about you; but didn’t say anything to her because Mrs. Dean thinks she oughtn’t to be excited. Did you tell her why you and Snippey ran away?”
“Of course I did, an’ was countin’ on doin’ that same thing the first chance I had to speak with her alone, though I made sure she’d send me away.”
Then Seth repeated that which he had told Aunt Hannah, and while he was thus engaged Mr. Dean entered the house.
During the two days which followed, Gladys and Seth held long conversations regarding the possible good fortune which might come to the latter; but nothing definite was known until the hour when Aunt Hannah was allowed to sit in an easy-chair for the first time since the accident.
Then it was that Mr. Dean returned from New York, and came to make his report.
There was no longer any question but that it was really Seth’s uncle who had lately died in San Francisco, or that he had bequeathed the sum of five thousand dollars to his nephew.