“Who is most active in circulating this report?” asked the widow.
“I suspect my pupil, Herbert Ross, who never liked your son, has been active in the matter. He is a selfish, purse-proud idle boy, and Andy is worth half a dozen of him.”
“Who is speaking so well of Andy?” asked a young, fresh voice, the sound of which startled all three.
Immediately the door was thrown open, and Andy himself, closely followed by a weak, old man, entered the room.
“Andy, my dear boy!” exclaimed his mother, and folded him with inexpressible joy, in her arms.
“Mother, this is Uncle Simon Dodge,” said our hero, when the first greeting was over. “Won’t you give him a welcome?”
“Uncle Simon,” said Mrs. Gordon, cordially, “I am glad to see you. If you are willing to share our humble home you may consider yourself now at home.”
“It is my strongest wish,” said the old man, with beaming face.
Here Andy introduced his uncle to Miss Peabody and Dr. Euclid, who gave him a friendly greeting, and expressed a wish to know him better.
“It is well you have come, Andy,” said Miss Peabody, “to quiet the reports that are circulating about you.”