“For the land sakes! Well,” after a moment, “did it come? Where is it?”
“Oh, yes, it came. It's right there in the buggy. Don't you see it?”
Thankful looked at the buggy. The only thing in it, so far as she could see, was the little boy on the seat. The little boy grinned.
“Hello, Aunt Thankful,” he said. “I've come to stay with you, I have.”
Thankful started, stared, and then made a rush for the buggy.
“Georgie Hobbs!” she cried. “You blessed little scamp! Come here to me this minute. Well, well, well!”
Georgie came and was received with a bear hug and a shower of kisses.
“Well, well!” repeated Thankful. “And to think I didn't know you! I'm ashamed of myself. And you're the surprise, I suppose. You ARE one, sure and sartin. How did you get here?”
“I came on the cars,” declared Georgie, proudly. “Ma and Emmie put me on 'em and told me to sit right still until I got to Wellmouth Centre and then get off. And I did, too; didn't I, Mr.—I mean Captain Bangs.”
“You bet you did!” agreed the delighted captain. “That's some relation you've got there, Mrs. Barnes. He's little but Oh my! He and I have had a good talk on the way down. We got along fust-rate; hey, commodore? The commodore's agreed to ship second-mate along with me next v'yage I make, if I ever make one.”