She turned to meet the sunburned sailor half way, and let him kiss her heartily.
Just at this moment, the carrier entered. Upon seeing them thus, he started back.
“Look, John!” cried Caleb. “Look here! My own son! Him that you fitted out, and sent away yourself! Him you were always such a friend to!”
The carrier advanced to seize him by the hand, but stepped back as he noticed his resemblance to the deaf man in the cart.
“Edward! Was it you?”
“Now tell him all!” cried Dot. “Tell him all, Edward, and don’t spare me.”
“I was the man,” said Edward.
“And you stole, disguised, into the home of your old friend!” the carrier said. “I would never have believed it of you! There was a true and frank boy once—how many years is it, Caleb, since we heard that he was dead, and had it proved, we thought? He would never have done that!”
“There was a generous friend of mine, once, a friend, who was more a father than a friend; he never would have judged a man before he heard his case. You were he. So I am certain you will hear me now.”
The carrier, with a troubled glance at Dot, replied, “Well, that’s but fair. I will.”