"Why, how's this? hae we all been sleepin' a week or ten days?" exclaimed Mr. Lilburn. "The lad was to hae been absent that length o' time, and I thought it was but yesterday he went; yet here he is!"
"This is an unexpected pleasure, my dear boy," was his mother's greeting.
The others said "Good-morning," and all smilingly awaited an explanation.
"Good-morning to you all," returned Edward, taking his seat. "Of course I have not had time to attend to the business matter that took me away; but the fact is, I found I could not do without my wife, so came back after her."
"Where is she now?" asked his mother.
"I left her still in bed and asleep. I came home by the stage, found her awake—indeed, I think she said she had not slept at all—and kept her awake for some time talking——"
"So much to say after so lengthened a separation?" laughingly interrupted his grandfather.
"Yes, sir, a good deal," Edward answered, coloring slightly. "So she has to make it up now, and I would not wake her."
"Quite right," said his mother. "Her breakfast shall be sent up whenever she is ready for it."
"I'm very glad you've come, Ned," remarked Rosie, "for Zoe nearly cried her eyes out yesterday, grieving after you. 'Twouldn't be I that would fret so after any man living—unless it might be grandpa," with a coquettish, laughing look at him.