He gazed around him with the joyous expression of one who, after a long absence, again treads his native soil, and to whom every tree and bush is familiar.
A rough seaman's cape rested on his shoulders, his head was covered by a round straw hat, and his white shirt collar turned over a loosely tied scarf; he was probably a young sailor who, after a long voyage, had again come near his home and was permitted to pay it a short visit.
The path was just as he had left it, perhaps a little more uneven than in the old days; the doves were cooing, and the white cat purred in the doorway just as of yore. The new-comer approached with noiseless tread, softly turned the handle of the door, and entered.
A gray-haired woman sat inside in a large armchair. She was the young man's grandmother. With her were three girls—two were fair, the third was dark, with starry eyes and a face like the young dawn.
All started at his entrance, exclaiming in one breath; "William!" The two sisters ran to meet him, the grandmother, unable to leave her chair, only held out her arms, his betrothed bride was the last to greet him that she might remain the longer in his embrace.
There was great delight in the little circle, a hundred questions rained upon him.
"It is a whole year since we saw you last," said the grandmother, with tears in her eyes.
"A whole eternity," murmured his betrothed bride, laying her head on his shoulder.
"You won't leave us again, will you?" asked his youngest sister, clinging to her brother's neck as if she could hold him at her side.
"I can stay an hour. The ship is in the offing while the sailors are getting a supply of fresh water on shore."