"Why! is it possible that you are our friends from Constance House? It is, Maggie, it is! And this is Jennie Barton!"
"I declare that I was never so surprised and delighted in my life! Can this be Mrs. Barton?" And then such kissing and handshaking.
"And how do you do, Mrs. Barton? I would not have known you. How you have improved!" And Mrs. Jones scanned her face very critically. "Are you entirely recovered?"
"She is so much better that we no longer consider her an invalid. But I was desirous that the Doctor should see her again, and so we have come down. We were in Montreal when I saw in a paper an account of your return to Washington. That was the first we had heard of you since you sailed from Constance House, and you can well believe that we were exceedingly pleased to hear of your safe return. So we made up our minds that we would run down and see you at once," said Mr. Barton.
After they had conversed a few moments and had inquired after Joe and Sam, Mrs. Jones conducted them to two chambers, insisting that they must be her guests while in the city.
The Doctor and other members of the party were delighted to met the Bartons. Dr. Jones was well pleased with the progress that Mrs. Barton had made. He considered her cure but a question of a short time, but insisted, in order that no chances might be incurred, that she should remain during the winter at Washington. He did not anticipate that they would be gone more than thirty days on their South Pole expedition, and certainly not more than two months. And so they arranged that they should stay at least until the return of the expedition.
"And that settles it that we are to remain here until next summer, for it is very late even now for us to return to Constance House. So I will write the boys to that effect, and shall settle down to the study of American politics," said John Barton.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Ho! for the South Pole!